The Witch Hunter System

621 Preparing for Departure

In the history of the Great Ratholos Empire's Ten-Year Glory Evaluations, every champion of the Rising Dragon Division had always been in their late thirties. It was very rare for someone in their early thirties to win the championship.

After all, no matter how talented a young warrior was, they didn't have enough time to cultivate compared to their older opponents.

As for those below thirty, it was unthinkable.

Duke Zaahir found himself strangely excited to see everyone's expressions when they found out the next champion of the Rising Dragon Division was only twenty years of age.

The glory would be shared with his domain.

'This year's Ten-Year Glory Evaluation is going to be exciting,' Duke Zaahir thought with a smile.

The previous champions of the Rising Dragon Division had always been around Low-level Rank 4 to Mid-level Rank 4 in battle power, whether from body refining, aura cultivation, or a combination of both.

It was impossible for someone from the younger generation to cultivate both body refinement and aura to Rank 4 under the age of forty. After all, it was already difficult enough to cultivate even one path to Rank 4 by age forty, let alone two paths.

There simply wasn't enough time to cultivate both paths to great success unless one was a monstrous genius who defied all common sense.

As such, this year's Rising Dragon Division champion spot was guaranteed to belong to the Dukedom of Dragonmoor with Young Master Vanderlin's help.

…

Three hours after Duke Zaahir informed his men to prepare for their trip to the capital, a group of ten warriors gathered in the castle's main courtyard, packed and ready to leave at any time.

These men were all below the age of forty and possessed roughly Low-level Rank 4 battle power.

Among them, three were Low-level Rank 4 Body Refiners, four were Peal-level Rank 3 Body Refiners with Early-stage Aura Master cultivation, two were High-level Rank 3 Body Refiners with Peak-

stage Aura Master cultivation, and one was a Rank 2 Body Refiner with Peak-stage Aura Grandmaster cultivation.

If Duke Zaahir had not learned about Vaan and succeeded in hiring him as a guest fighter for the Dukedom of Dragonmoor in the Ten-

Year Glory Evaluation's Rising Dragon Division, the Rank 4 Body Reformation Pill would have originally been given to one of the three Low-level Rank 4 Body Refiners.

Unfortunately for them, Vaan existed.

Thus, not only would none of them get the chance to obtain Duke Zaahir's Rank 4 Body Reformation Pill, but their upcoming training time on the Black Mountain would also be shortened. Their lost time was given to Vaan.

And yet, despite all that, they still had to head to the capital two days ahead of the original schedule.

"Did you guys hear? Our Lord hired a guest fighter to participate in this year's Rising Dragon Division with us."

"Of course, I've heard about it. How could I not be aware of such an abrupt change? Our Lord is pinning all his hopes on this person. Because of that, our original one-day training pass at the Black Mountain had been reduced to sixteen-odd hours."

"What?! We all lost eight hours because of this new guy?! How amazing must this person be for our Lord to wrong us like this? I won't be convinced unless I experience his strength for myself!"

"Don't say you heard this from me, but I overheard a rumor from one of the servants this morning that Sir Bakram challenged the new guy to a duel and lost."

"What?! Is that true, Raaj?! Sir Bakram lost to the new guy in a duel?!"

"Oh my god, Judani, you bastard! What the hell are you shouting for? What if Sir Bakram heard you? Are you trying to screw me over?!"

The angry Dunean Warrior, Raaj, grabbed the other Dunean Warrior, Judani, by the collar as he cussed at him. However, Judani did not put up any form of resistance as he remained in a state of shock along with the rest.

Raaj's information was like thunder to their ears.

After all, who among them didn't know about Sir Bakram's true strength? They had all been trained by Sir Bakram before. Sir Bakram was only half a step from becoming a High-level Rank 4 Body Refiner.

Yet, Sir Bakram lost to the new guy!

Did this mean the new guy's battle power was at least High-level Rank 4?

Everyone couldn't help but have this thought.

During this sensitive moment, Vaan entered the main courtyard and caught everyone's attention immediately.

"I don't think I've seen you around here before. Are you lost, young man?"

The group of ten warriors all looked at Vaan with doubt. They found it weird that someone unfamiliar would stumble into the main courtyard, which was currently being used to prepare the participating warriors of the Rising Dragon Division.

It did not cross their minds that someone so young-looking would be exactly the hired fighter they were discussing.

"Lost?" Vaan took a moment to glance around the courtyard before nonchalantly asking, "Is this not the gathering spot for the participating members of the Rising Dragon Division?"

"It is… but what does that have to do with you being here?" a Low-

level Rank 4 Body Refiner named Gurken asked with a frown.

"I am Duke Zaahir's guest fighter for the Ten-Year Glory Evaluation's Rising Dragon Division. You tell me whether I should be here or not?" Vaan replied with a shrug.

Gurken went blank for a moment before he burst into laughter, "Hahaha, that's a good one. You're funny, but this Big Brother has no time for your jokes."

"The participants for the Junior Dragon Division don't gather here until two days later. You should leave before you get in trouble," Gurken kindly suggested, but then he added, "It's impossible for someone as young as you to beat Sir Bakram."

"What's impossible?" Bakram asked with a gloomy and depressed look when he stepped into the courtyard shortly after Vaan did.

Duke Zaahir had sent Bakram over, knowing the ten warriors may not believe Vaan was his hired fighter.

"This kid really did beat me in a duel," Bakram admitted in a low tone.

In that instant, Bakram felt like he had lost all his face in front of the younger generation. It was really embarrassing to lose to someone half a century younger than him.

"Hahaha… Nice one, Sir Bakram. I didn't know you were also in on the joke," Judani laughed.

Bakram felt even more gloomy and depressed. He really didn't want to deal with the current situation if he was given a choice.

And yet, no one believed him even when he told the truth!

Bakram suddenly gritted his teeth angrily and cussed at the warrior who had last spoken, "You goddam brat! Is your butt itching for a beating?! If I said he beat me, then he beat me! Who has the time to joke with you?!"

Judani almost sh*t himself. He didn't expect Sir Bakram to erupt in anger suddenly, and much less for him to bear the brunt of it.

But why did Sir Bakram suddenly become angry? Or maybe it was still part of the joke?

"Hahaha… Sir Bakram, we've already seen through your joke… You can stop now," Judani laughed nervously.

"Scram!" Bakram barked.