Due to the Aran Army and the Church Court being overturned, railway construction came to a complete halt, breaking off just midway to Silver Moon City.

From here on, we can only proceed on horseback.

The group of Black Sail returning to Golden Palm Port to inspect the fief won't reach Drifting City until tomorrow.

So they had to set up a camp near an oasis by the river and continue the journey the next day.

Because it was a small team on a rapid march, only simple cookware was carried to handle special situations, while dry rations sufficed for meals on the road.

It turned out that those dry rations given by the Mulong Palace were surprisingly tasty. Prepared with secret methods, the meat was not at all dry, and Fafna finished it all by herself.

Luckily, some supplies were purchased in Silver Moon City, or else they would have gone hungry tonight.

Due to Archer being utterly obnoxious, relentlessly claiming the Emperor is just a singer, high above and out of reach—"What can you do about it?"—completely unaware of how the Emperor's attitude tonight would impact Black Sail.

Quickly sent that dude to cook.

There's a big event tonight, might as well eat something good.

"What an execution meal at the Stargazing Festival performance!"

Rein spits nonsense like a dog.

"After this reunion meal, we're all heading to hell."

Morison, having grown tired of the ring-toss machine game, started reading the effects of tabletop game cards.

"Unforgettable Tonight, start!"

Rein noticed a blind spot. In earlier years, there were broadcasts, but they were all crystal images—impossible for the average person to afford. Not even the middle-class nobles would waste money on them, only those with overwhelming power would splurge on the exorbitantly priced magic energy industrial crystals.

The poor folks would just make do with newspapers from the adventurer's guild and such to join the fun.

Not to mention the news-starved Heaven Port, guarding people on some deserted islands in the East Sea, responsible for receiving and relaying Flying Falcon messages, transmitting them to Heaven Port, at least a week or so before knowing who won the championship—the excitement long gone by the time the news arrives.

The big events travel so slowly, let alone other things—a complete disconnect on the island for a while, while the inland has a different climate altogether—this is the edge of the world.

Cheap energy industries indeed have era-defining magic.

Meaning tonight, they can listen to the musicians' songs at the halftime show.

In the hastily erected camp, a circle of people gathered around the self-developed radio transmitter from Heaven Port. Though crude, it was fully functional—with some tuning of the dial, it could capture any frequency signal.

The sound quality left much to be desired, occasionally stuttering and buffering.

But as the first self-developed product from Heaven Port, expectations shouldn't be too high.

"Quick, tune in to the Continent Martial Arts Competition channel."

Shadi urged, while Archer was cooking, the wine already served, and Shadi gulped it down straight, hoping the Immortal Emperor wouldn't make a name tonight. If Mr. Mai became famous tonight, he would outshine Qili in popularity.

Qili is just an actor, a singer—damn, Mika's name might end up in history books one day.

Classmates, turn to page twenty in your textbooks, covering the Rashomon Incident of the Stargazing Festival in the Holy Spirit Calendar year 2690.

Damn it!

"It's not even started yet."

Liszt took out his pocket watch, and it was just 6:50; the Boxed Night officially began at 7. Saleret, don't blow it at the crucial moment, self-destructing in front of the Emperor with a truck explosion—Kai Deng still wants to be an official—damn you.

Even Rashomon didn't soften the Emperor's heart.

Then let's fight.

When the time comes, Saleret will lead an expedition to Heaven Port, the left hand fighting the right—just fighting for fun, drag it out for a year and a half and let you boast for a while while waiting for the greatest adventure return of the 27th century.

Thirty-three swords, reshaping the glory of the Holy Principle Church! Dominating the Western Continent.

Liszt could only turn the channel to civilian media to hear what those adventurers' guild people had to say.

They were merely repeating the reporters' interviews during the day, asking the sixteen contestants to share their thoughts on what dreams they had, what they wanted after winning first prize.

Because the Emperor is a wish-granter, every year's champion is highly appreciated by the Emperor.

The most terrifying year led the Emperor to exempt an affiliated country from three years of taxes—a gold number of astronomical proportions.

If such a wish could be granted, what couldn't be?

[Shadow of Death claims he won't receive any rewards, only coming for the pinnacle of martial arts, and hopes to spar with past champions, especially the Sword King.]

"These people are really too damn arrogant."

Rein tutted in wonder, this guy knew how to talk tough.

[Valentina, the chief disciple of the Sword King, is in a tough spot tonight. Whether it's Divine Sword Xiaolong or Shadow of Death, they all seem particularly fixated on the number one of the Sword Dao, and she must uphold her teacher's dignity. Her current performance is impressive—the legends of the first Championship winner might continue or come to an end.]

"Wasn't Zahak also the Sword King's disciple? More like a junior disciple,"

Shadi recalled Zahak still being held in Golden Palm Port.

"The Sword King also needs to earn a living."

Rein could imagine the Sword King's tuition fee also exploding, the clubs making a killing—not shameful.

Morison was dumbfounded. Zahak actually wasn't that fierce, just hasn't grown enough brains to pick his battles.

[Dead Dance Julius stated that after winning, he would directly challenge the black sword Netherflame of the Guard Team to a duel, seemingly holding a grudge against Netherflame. As the King's guard team, the Guard Team would also attend the event tonight—one doesn't look forward to this happening, as promoting martial friendship is the spirit the Continent Martial Arts Competition has always sought to embody.]

"Simply spirited."

Shadi was speechless at the adventurer's guild's flattery towards the Royal Court. "Look at yourself, you suck-up."

"Again with the Black Sword Netherflame."

The iron claw of Brutal Punishment rested on his chin, and Rein pondered why everything seemed to involve these people, not sure if that rascal had been regularized or not—several years ago, just a subordinate, now maybe even a formal member of the Guard Team.

[Gray Wolf King Reksey in an interview mentioned that due to the high altitude of Chenfeng Plateau, geographical constraints and trade difficulties with the outside world, he greatly supports the Continent Transportation Law and the Advancement Movement. If he wins the championship and gets the opportunity, he hopes to engage in massive construction, establishing traffic roads between the Chenfeng Mountain Range and the outside world.]

The Alan Royal Court is very sly, with its energy department eager at the scent—there is no magic energy veins or other utilities over there.

It's purely scenic—an area of mountains and rivers with birds and flowers—Heidi and Grandpa, a landscape so beautiful that a disabled person on a wheelchair who travels there could miraculously stand up.

Having railways brings only advantages to the Plateau, no harm, encouraging tourism with guesthouses, and masses of yuanzi yielding massive profits.

Two consecutive contestants' remarks left the entire Black Sail group silent.

Highland Wolfmen have strong hometown feelings; Reksey wants to rely on his capabilities to rejuvenate his homeland.

Then take a look at Rein—damn, killing all his fellow countrymen and fleeing with eight thousand Golden Dragons to become a pirate in Heaven Port—the Plateau likely has a reputation so tainted that even Three-body people dare not invade.

"Damn it, still a few minutes to the opening."

Liszt awkwardly lit a cigarette and started randomly griping.

[Highway Ranger Bai Xing is the bravest, wanting the dragon head the King chopped off years ago. During a dragon calamity west of the Narrow Sea a few years ago, it seems she was involved, carrying some unknown ties with the Dragon Clan. Ivanovic is completely different from rumors; how could such an honest and sincere person be called the Orphan Maker? Does he have some mystery behind him?]

[Gunfire Pocket Watch, also known as Gun Tomb's contestant, Louis, such a flashy person is rarely seen, he...]

[...]

[Of course, the most heavyweight news is whether the Overlord Descendant truly exists. Kai Deng already expressed in the day his desire for the King's horse and troops to clear out pirates in the East Sea. As for the reason, is it yesterday's whistleblower, or the tarnishing incident happening this morning, where a Dark Elf impersonating a reporter revealed Kai Deng's involvement with the infamous pirate captain Snake Kiss, even claiming they were a couple? With the relationship fallout, it's become extortion for breakup fees. Who to believe, who's lying—that mystery awaits revelation tonight.]

"My hair!"

Liszt was dumbfounded.

"What, did you really kiss that scoundrel Snake?"

Shadi was also stunned—he hadn't heard of this.

"Yeah, Kai Deng is the one who posed as Goria to kiss Liszt—that's why Lao Da was poisoned, total tragedy."

Rein wailed in fake grief.

"Counting these teeth, isn't he doomed to die already!"

Morison thought Liszt was sure to be punched into hell tonight.

"I've already had to die tonight!"

Liszt lamented the unforgettable night.

At 7 o'clock, the Continent Martial Arts Competition organizer's channel opened, and the Stargazing Festival finals officially kicked off.

That man was about to make an appearance.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.