Legacy of the Dark Sage

Chapter 1011: Fierce Competition

"Group number 19, entry pass: Tower level 3."

"Group number 20, entry pass: Tower level 2."

"Group number 21, entry pass: Tower level 3."

"Group number 22, entry pass: Tower level..."

With each mechanical voice announcing the results of the clan representatives' entry pass level, a wave of anticipation and excitement swept through the room. The successful formation of a group of three marked the beginning of a thrilling treasure hunt.

This year, 117 clans participated, with some having more than three representatives. These clans managed to form two or three groups each, giving them more opportunities to hunt for treasures and putting their clan at an advantage against clans that could only form one group.

Some clans that did not have enough members to form a second group teamed up with another clan they were on good terms with, similar to what Leif and Ladon did. Others who did not want to team up with others in fear of raising disputes on the treasures they would find only sent one group and left the remaining representatives on the platform outside the tower.

Meanwhile, not all clans were in a hurry to enter. Among them were the Adamas, Blade Dancer Clan, and Glacio Clan. Since they had enough members to form two groups each, they quietly stayed on one side and watched the proceedings.

In front of the tower's entrance were ten array formations. These arrays were the designated areas where a group would be assessed. Thus far, many groups were still waiting for their turn outside each array.

"The highest entry pass is at tower level 3," the leader representative of Blade Dancer Clan spoke out loud.

Some nodded their heads while the rest frowned at this development.

"Thus far, the highest recorded tower level was six. Why is this year's level so low?"

"The higher the level, the better the treasures are up for grabs. However, the danger would also increase," the Glacio Clan's leader representative said. "That time when the tower gave an entry pass to the sixth level, most representatives were High Sovereigns. From this, we can say that the tower judges the overall strength of each participant. However..."

He paused and narrowed his eyes before continuing, "... we can also glean something from this."

The Blade Dancer Clan's leader representative nodded his head in agreement, "Yes. When the tower allowed a clan to enter the sixth level, apart from the participants having more High Sovereigns, the number of members each clan had was more than five.

This year's condition doesn't restrict mage levels, but the fact that a group that only had peak Sovereigns at most can still receive an entry pass to the third level means their overall strength is good."

"This means this year's hunt will have fierce competition," the Adamas Clan's leader representative chimed with an amused smile.

The raspy-voiced, red-eyed member of the Adamas Clan looked in the direction of the Dragon Clan's representatives and smiled mischievously.

"Pick the same floor as them, Yule. I want to be on the same floor as them," he told their leader representative, a young man with shoulder-length dark blue hair, red eyes, and wearing a dark blue robe.

Yule rarely speaks. This was why the raspy-voiced, red-eyed young man acted like he was the one in charge.

This time, a group had already been granted entry passes to the fifth level, and all of them were only peak Sovereigns. Kyran did not think that the difficulty from the fifth level to the sixth was that huge to have such a difference, which was why he believed that the tower looked at the group's potential rather than their overall strength.

After all, the potential of High Sovereigns would have already been established compared to peak Sovereigns who had yet to realize it.

Considering this, Kyran was concerned about how the tower would assess their group. Though he was accompanied by two High Sovereigns, and their potential was already greatly reduced, Kyran's identity as the possessor of two Ancient magic could not be ignored. He might be disguised at the moment, but he had an inkling that the tower could easily see through it and give a proper assessment.

Finally, Ladon and his group were given their assessment. The result shocked everyone on the platform further.

"Group number 146, entry pass: Tower level 7."

Kyran kept an indifferent expression, but inwardly, he was sweating buckets.

Err...

Actually, that was Shaiha, which inadvertently affected Kyran's mood.

[This is not good... although most clans have already entered the tower, there are still a few witnesses on the platform. The fact that the tower granted the Young Mistress's group access to the seventh level spoke volumes!]

'Calm down,' Kyran told her in exasperation. 'She is with two High Sovereigns from the Dragon Clan. Of course, their assessment will be high.'

[You say that, yet you're also worried! Wasn't it you who believed the tower looks at a group's potential rather than their overall strength? True, the Dragon Clan is powerful, and their potential is there. But compared to the Young Mistress's potential...]

'Are you here to make me feel better or worse? If it is the latter, can you keep your thoughts to yourself?'

As soon as Kyran said this, he inwardly groaned because Shaiha's thoughts would still be exposed to him.

[I will do my best to conceal your magic cores...]

Shaiha said after a tense silence.

[... but I can't promise that the tower will not be able to detect them.]

'Don't do anything,' Kyran pleaded. 'If you try to conceal them, the tower will detect your abilities and will likely add that up to my potential.'

[...yes, you're quite right.]

In the end, Kyran could not think of any countermeasure as he, Leif, and Ias stepped into the array formation.

"Group number 152, entry pass: Tower level..."

There was an obvious pause from the mechanical voice before it finally said, "...7."