The inspection took a long time. Every minute felt like an hour.Lucien stood with his head lowered, face pale but composed. Inside, his heart raced. He could almost hear his own pulse pounding against his skull but outwardly, he appeared calm, wounded, even noble.Ronan, meanwhile, stood beside him in complete contrast—shoulders straight, gaze steady, even a faint smile curving his lips. He wasn’t nervous at all. He looked like a man watching a play whose ending he already knew.Across the arena, Aveline Westmere kept her composure with great effort. Her fingers were trembling, but she hid them inside her sleeves. She couldn’t afford to show any sign of unease… not now.The inspectors worked in silence. Their hands glowed faintly as their tools and spells scanned for energy fluctuations and residue. The entire arena held its breath.Finally, the chief inspector—an elderly man with a silver insignia on his robe—stepped forward with the report in his hands.His voice echoed through the

The cheers still hadn’t faded when silence fell once again.All eyes turned toward Ronan Crowne, the man who had just been named the heir of Thalric Valeheart—the strongest being on Planet Arken.Everyone waited for his next words.Even now, the air around the arena buzzed with tension.Would he name someone to receive his tournament rewards?Would he finally reveal who he deemed worthy of his generosity?Ronan, however, did not speak immediately.Instead, he looked up at Thalric Valeheart, his expression steady.When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but carried the weight of command.“Before I give away my rewards,” he said, “there is something I wish to request—if I may.”The entire audience stirred in confusion.Principal Voss turned slightly toward Thalric, who remained silent for a moment before nodding once.“Speak,” Thalric said. “What is your request, Crowne?”Ronan turned, his gaze cold as it landed on Lucien Cross—who still stood near the edge of the arena, pale and sile

The arena was still buzzing with shock from Lucien’s punishment when Ronan Crowne stepped forward once more.He bowed slightly toward the three highest authorities present.“Principal Voss. Minister Dorrian Blackthorne. And Lord Thalric Valeheart,” Ronan said with steady respect. “May I have permission to announce who will receive the rewards granted to the champion of this year’s Genius Tournament?”Principal Voss nodded immediately.“Permission granted.”Dorrian folded his arms, interested.“Go ahead, Ronan.”Thalric Valeheart smiled faintly.“Speak. I am curious whom you deem worthy.”Ronan straightened, aura calm and confident.All eyes in the entire arena fixed on him.Students who had insulted him earlier now lowered their heads, faces burning with shame.Some of them actually prayed Ronan would pick them, even though they knew it was impossible.Garrick Crowne and Magnus Crowne watched with pride swelling in their chests.“That boy…” Magnus whispered, “…he carries the dignity o

The news spread across Thalara like wildfire.Ronan Crowne, Champion of the Genius Tournament.Ronan Crowne, Chosen Successor of Thalric Valeheart.Ronan Crowne, the youngest Rank 7 cultivator in the kingdom.Magical newspapers—Thalara’s Today, Arken Herald, The Martial Chronicle—all blasted his name in enchanted ink, their headlines glowing in the evening streets. Even the floating mana-screens in the city squares broadcast the moment Thalric Valeheart pointed at Ronan and named him as his successor.By nightfall, the entire city was vibrating with excitement.***Up in the Crowne family skybox, the two uncles were practically glowing.Magnus Crowne paced with both hands behind his back, chest swelling with pride.Garrick Crowne was already activating a communication orb, mana spinning rapidly within its core.“Lucas must hear this immediately,” Garrick muttered.A moment later&

Morning light filtered through the crystalline walls of Thalara Academy, casting long beams across the training courtyard.Ronan Crowne adjusted the collar of his academy uniform as he stepped out of his residence.The events of yesterday had not yet settled, but today marked the beginning of something far more tangible—his first official lesson under Thalric Valeheart.A summons bearing the seal of the Valeheart Lineage had arrived at dawn.Report to the Eastern Pavilion. Immediately.At nearly the same moment, across the compound, another summons was delivered.Not to Ronan, but to Lucien Cross.Lucien walked stiffly through the stone corridors, each step echoing faintly. His injuries from the previous day had mostly healed, but the dull ache beneath his ribs reminded him of the humiliation he had suffered.Despite his carefully maintained calm, irritation simmered just beneath the surface.Ahead of him, at the intersection of the main hall, Ronan Crowne emerged from another corrido