Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Unlucky Challenger

"Does Wang Luo live here? I want to challenge him!"

At dawn, just awakening from cultivation and pondering the strange events of the previous night, Wang Luo, his brows tightly knit, suddenly heard someone outside calling his name. Slightly surprised, he remembered the words of Priel and his companions from yesterday.

"Idisa, top-level fire talent, peak-level warrior of the first rank?!"

Hearing the voice, Priel looked toward the arrogant, shouting chubby boy standing at the gate, and information flashed through his mind as he asked with certainty.

"That's right, I am Idisa, about to become the thirty-ninth genius to break through to the second rank!"

Hearing Priel call his name so directly, Idisa, pleased and thinking himself quite famous, boasted loudly.

"Our boss said, if you want to challenge him, you have to defeat us first. I'm a warrior too—beat me, and you can challenge our boss!"

Abigail, ears flapping, strode out with a large sword and declared.

"Alright, I'll defeat you first!"

Without hesitation, Idisa agreed to Abigail's challenge, unslinging his sword and preparing to fight immediately.

"Fighting like this isn't much fun; let's add a wager. Whoever wins gets five points—what do you say? If you can't afford it—"

"You must be Wang Luo. I'll bet with you!"

Seeing Wang Luo step out from the hall, simply dressed in a white warrior's robe, Idisa readily agreed, secretly delighted at the chance to gain both fame and points.

"Where's your sword?"

"To beat you, I don't need a sword."

Hearing Wang Luo's words, Idisa didn't hesitate further, charging at Wang Luo with a roar, determined to teach this reckless youth a lesson.

"Omnipresent earth element, heed my call—sharpen into a piercing earth spike, impale my enemy's fragile body... Earth Spike Spell!"

Bang—

Raging and running, Idisa suddenly tripped and fell flat on his face. Before he could even get angry, a sharp earth spike shot up swiftly before him.

"You're not a warrior, you're a mage!"

Covered in dust, Idisa climbed to his feet, glaring angrily at Wang Luo and gritting his teeth.

"You lost! Anyone else want to bet?"

Wang Luo no longer paid attention to Idisa, turning instead to the crowd outside the gate, where many children had gathered, eager to try their luck.

"I want to fight you again!"

"Alright, but send over the points you lost first!"

Catching the points card Wang Luo tossed, Idisa reluctantly transferred five points from his own card.

"Omnipresent earth element, heed my call—become a misty veil, bury the world's wickedness... Earth Mist Spell!"

"Omnipresent earth element, heed my call—sharpen into a piercing earth spike, impale my enemy's fragile body... Earth Spike Spell!"

Bang—

After a swirl of dust, Idisa was once again sprawled on the ground, burning with fury.

"Wang Luo, this is outrageous!"

"A wager is a wager. If you can't handle losing, consider this one free. Anyone else want to bet?"

Casting a contemptuous glance at Idisa, Wang Luo looked outside again and spoke.

"Such arrogance! Passing the magical illusion is nothing special. I'll bet with you!"

"Omnipresent earth element, heed my call—become a misty veil, bury the world's wickedness... Earth Mist Spell!"

"Omnipresent earth element, heed my call—sharpen into a piercing earth spike, impale my enemy's fragile body... Earth Spike Spell!"

Dust swirled and earth spikes ambushed, the seamless combination leaving each challenger sprawled in the dirt, faces covered in dust, departing unwillingly and leaving behind five points.

"Hey, Cairo, what's going on with the boss? He seems off, just like you did when he beat you and you were furious."

Watching Wang Luo cast magic again to face the next challenger, Abigail whispered to Cairo.

Cairo shot Abigail a glare, said nothing, and glanced at Priel, who was deep in thought, signaling him to speak.

"I don't know what's up with the boss either, but haven't you noticed? He's been casting spells continuously, almost without pause. He doesn't seem tired at all. Even if they're just first-level spells, after so many times, a second-level mage's magic should be exhausted—let alone his mental energy..."

Hearing Priel's words, Abigail and Cairo's eyes widened. They looked at Priel, then in disbelief at Wang Luo, who kept casting spells.

...Dividing Line...

"Brother, what are you thinking about?"

In a bamboo grove cottage, Mir asked her brother, who was lost in thought, while playing with a small green snake with two heads, ignoring the snake's pitiful, teary gaze.

"It's nothing. Mir, how has your cultivation been lately?"

Drawing his gaze back, Kiel smiled at Mir as she played with the snake, his eyes carrying a sorrow she didn't notice.

"Brother, your smile is so beautiful. No wonder that boy kissed you yesterday. Oh, brother, let me ask you something. The books I read always write about boys kissing girls, so why did that boy kiss you? I've thought about it for ages and still don't understand. I asked Grandpa, but he wouldn't tell me!"

Ignoring Kiel's changing expression, Mir babbled on, still fiddling with the snake.

"Mir, do you like Grandpa very much?"

"Of course! Besides you, I like Grandpa best. Oh, and I really like Little Green!"

"Mir, you cannot like—"

Hearing Mir's words and seeing her innocent face, Kiel's eyes flickered with helplessness and fear, and deep hatred. But before he could finish, he sensed that familiar presence, swallowed his words, and turned respectfully to greet the newcomer.

"Grandpa!"

"Mm."

Geda glanced at Kiel, responded blandly, and reached out to Mir, his face blossoming into a warm smile.

"Mir, come here, let Grandpa hold you. I just heard you say you liked Grandpa. How about always staying with Grandpa from now on?"

"No, Grandpa, when I grow up, I want to get married!"

"Get married? Who told you that?"

Hearing Mir's words, Geda glanced at Kiel, who stood respectfully nearby, his smile unchanged as he held Mir and asked.

"I read it in a novel. When girls grow up, they'll meet their unicorn prince, and then they'll be together. But don't worry, Grandpa—when that happens, I'll ride his unicorn to visit you often..."

Kiel watched Mir speak nonstop, feeling the chill emanate from Geda, his body trembling slightly...

Azure Dragon of Another World 69—Chapter Sixty-Nine: Unlucky Challengers, update complete!