Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

After Xenias finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the hall.

The expressions on the officials' faces immediately became a fascinating mix: astonishment, confusion, doubt, and even a hint of absurd laughter.

The once solemn and dignified council chamber was nearly out of control.

Has Cohen broken through to the Gold rank?

The news itself wasn't exactly earth-shattering.

After all, the strength he had shown in the Silver Group competition was far beyond that of ordinary Silver-level peak superhumans.

His foundation was so profound that many people speculated that he was deliberately suppressing his cultivation level.

Just like Jinlunjia and Qiaolun, he only wanted to sweep through the Silver Group and win the title of "Strongest Silver" for Effie.

But... after breaking through to the Gold rank, should he immediately sign up for the Gold Group competition?
This is simply unbelievable!
"incredible……"

A senior bureaucrat muttered to himself, his voice filled with confusion.

"Did his easy victory in the Silver Group give him such blind confidence?"

Did he think he could dominate the Golden Group?

Doesn't he understand what the Gold rank means?
That's a realm that's already approaching the pinnacle of mortal life!
Each advancement is a transformation of the essence of life, and the gap between powers is as insurmountable as an insurmountable chasm.

Bronze and Silver ranks might be able to fight against opponents of higher ranks by relying on talent, secret techniques, or divine weapons, but what about the Gold rank?

The suppression of a ninth-tier cultivator by an eighth-tier cultivator is almost an absolute crushing, let alone a seventh-tier gold cultivator who has just broken through!

Countless gazes fell upon him, some filled with shock, others with doubt, and still others with a hint of mockery.

Shinys ignored the stares and calmly looked at Heisenberg.

Heisenberg's chest heaved slightly as he forcefully suppressed the absurdity he felt at Cohen's madness. He bowed slightly and responded in a low, clear voice:
"Yes, Your Majesty."

His Majesty Corleone is eligible to participate in the Gold Division competition.

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Shanis didn't linger any longer.

With an elegant turn, surrounded silently by the Rose Guards, she quietly and swiftly left the council hall, just as she had arrived.

The heavy oak door slowly closed behind her.

The moment the doors closed, the council hall seemed to unleash a torrent of information.

The long-suppressed astonishment, discussions, and even ridicule erupted like a flood bursting its banks.

"crazy!
"His Majesty the King of Effie is absolutely insane!"

An official's voice was filled with disbelief:

"Could he be hallucinating from stomping noobs in the Silver tier?"
Do you really think the Gold Rank battlefield is child's play?
Doesn't he know that for a seventh-tier transcendent who has just broken through to the Gold rank, any ninth-tier transcendent could easily crush him?

"Unprecedented! Absolutely unprecedented!"

Another older official stroked his beard, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

"Since its inception, the Noble Martial Arts Festival has never seen anyone register for two competitions at the same time!"

Not to mention a king...

Our royal consort truly always manages to do something as outrageous and unconventional.

"hey-hey!"

Someone let out a gloating chuckle:
"We just made a name for ourselves in front of all the countries on the continent, and trampled the faces of the five great empires under our feet."

God knows how many people he offended.

If this player were in the Gold Group, and in the first round they were utterly defeated by some unknown ninth-tier player, even severely injured and eliminated... what a scene that would be...

I don't think we need those carefully cultivated monsters from the empire to even lift a finger. Any ninth-tier expert with a bit of strength could easily humiliate him!

"Director Oberon, please be careful with your words. What do you mean by 'trampling the faces of the five great empires underfoot'? Don't forget, His Majesty Corleone is also the future Crown Prince Consort of our Central Empire!"

The murmurs filled the hall like boiling oil.

The official in charge of registration looked at Chief Heisenberg and Archduke Ferdinand, his voice questioning:

"Sir, Your Excellency, is this name... really to be added?"

Heisenberg remained expressionless, but a thoughtful glint occasionally flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Archduke Ferdinand shook his head slightly and let out a barely audible sigh:

"His Majesty personally inquired about this matter, how could we not add to it?"

Chief Heisenberg regained his composure and said in a deep voice:
"Let's do as His Majesty says, add his name, but the order of the competition..."

The news that broke in the council chamber of the House of Nobles spread like wildfire across the continent at an astonishing speed.

In less than a day, this news, which was enough to shake the entire continent—

"After breaking through to the Gold rank, King Cohen Corleone of Efein will be temporarily added as the fifth contestant in the Gold Group of Efein to participate in the Gold Group competition of the Noble Martial Arts Festival."

It spread like a plague to diplomatic missions and high-ranking officials of various powers, causing a new wave of uproar.

The gaze of the entire continent, filled with indescribable complex emotions, once again focused on the ever-unpredictable King Efein.

……

After nearly a week of silence, the magnificent Imperial Arena was once again infused with an even more frenzied atmosphere.

The sun hung high in the sky, casting brilliant spots of light on the massive defensive barrier that had been reinforced to its limit.

These magical barriers, constructed by dozens of Protective School mages, have runes that shine countless times brighter than those of the previous Bronze and Silver sets.

It is strong enough to withstand a fully charged attack from a legendary-level transcendent.

The stands were already packed, with everyone focused on this ultimate showdown representing the power of the continent's top young extraordinary individuals.

The core area at the very front of the arena is where the focus of the entire continent converges.

A row of luxurious chairs was placed in the center, and the identity of each person seated there was enough to change the course of events on the mainland:
Imperial envoys and powerful princes from five great empires, dressed in magnificent robes and wearing crowns;
A powerful business tycoon who controls the lifeline of a vast commercial empire and wields magical artifacts with the flick of his finger;

A military marshal, clad in uniform, his medals gleaming coldly on his chest;
There were also several elderly men dressed in simple robes embroidered with ancient and mysterious runes. They were sages who guarded ancient knowledge, or pillars of stability for a certain country.

Most of them were not there to watch the spectacle, but to assess future adversaries and potential allies before the mainland was about to descend into unprecedented turmoil!

Behind them, separated like a barrier, was an even more surging crowd.

The empire's citizens, enthusiastic spectators who traveled from distant lands, and supporters from every corner of the continent, waving different flags and emblems.

They were crammed onto the countless tiers of stairs that surrounded the giant arena.

The crowd was densely packed, but the noise was not as boisterous as before; instead, there was a sense of holding one's breath and a reverent silence.

Everyone who enters this place, even the most ordinary people, understands that what they are about to witness is a clash of supernatural powers that are truly at the pinnacle of mortal strength.

Transcendent Ninth Rank, Gold Rank!
This is the end of the ladder that mortals can climb, the final chasm between the mundane and the legendary!
Every strong person who can stand at this level before the age of forty is undoubtedly a prodigy nurtured by their respective forces with all their resources.

He is almost certain to step into the legendary realm and become a top powerhouse of legend!
Here, the flashy and fluid moves of the Bronze and Silver groups are worthless.

Instead, there will be speeds that are difficult to detect with the naked eye, pure power that shakes the earth, and energy torrents that tear through space.

For most ordinary people, they will never have the chance to see more than a few Gold-level superhumans in their lifetime, let alone a duel between peak Gold-level superhumans.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three deep, resonant magical horn sounds, like the tolling of a morning bell and the sound of evening drums, echoed through the sky, instantly silencing all subtle noises.

A massive magical projection screen slowly unfolded above the center of the arena, and the imperial emblem, intertwined with golden thorns and roses, rotated gently, signifying the official start of the Gold Division competition at the Noble Martial Arts Festival.

Before the competition begins, the contestants are announced, which also serves as an incentive!
The Noble Martial Arts Festival is a stage to make a name for yourself, a stage to become famous throughout the continent!

The names of contestants from various countries flashed on the screen in turn—each flash of a name would trigger a small cheer and commotion in a certain area of ​​the audience.

These are all renowned talents, carrying the high expectations of various forces and their respective countries.

Unlike the bronze and silver groups, which often have hundreds or thousands of participants, the gold group has far fewer.

Just as Heisenberg said before, there are very few extraordinary individuals who can break through to the Gold Rank before the age of forty. In addition, to participate in the Noble Martial Arts Festival, one must at least reach the ninth rank.

This makes the conditions even more stringent. Many small countries can barely manage to send even one ninth-rank member under the age of forty, let alone five.

Therefore, apart from the five great empires and some powerful kingdoms, most countries sent fewer than five contestants.

The names on the "Mirror of the Sky" continued to scroll: Gabriel Dela, the first in line to inherit the Darkwing family representing the Central Empire and a ninth-tier "Shadow Assassin," and Xia Zuo Tang, a ninth-tier "Dragon Vein Sorcerer" representing the Eastern Empire...

Many familiar names also appeared on it.

Until... in the Kingdom of Efein, the name of Cohen Corleone, a seventh-tier "Dragon Seal Weapon Master," flashed on the light screen.

News of Cohen's participation in the competition circulated only among the aristocracy; most ordinary people did not have the means or ability to learn about it.

Therefore, when Cohen's name appeared on the screen, the entire arena fell into a moment of deathly silence.

Then, it was as if a meteorite had crashed into the calm surface of a lake—

Seventh level?

A seventh-ranked player actually appeared in the Gold Group of the Noble Martial Arts Festival?
Wait, the name that follows...

Countless viewers' eyes were drawn to that familiar name as if by an invisible magnet!

Cohen Corleone!
King Efein!
That "strongest Silver" who crushed all the seeded players from the various empires in the Silver Group, and even Jinlunga, the "Frost Giant" in his complete form, could not withstand a single move from him!
He actually came to participate in the Gold Group competition?!

After a brief moment of suffocation, countless sounds exploded:
"What the hell! Am I seeing things?"

Didn't he just win the Silver Division championship? Why is he competing in the Gold Division now?

"It's obvious that they've broken through to the Gold rank again!"

"But this is too unbelievable. Does he think the Gold Group and the Silver Group are on the same level?"

"He's insane... absolutely insane... what's he after?"
Not embarrassed enough already?
Could he defeat any one of those players?

"Does playing well in the Silver Group make you think you're invincible?"
Innocent!

Anyone here could easily crush him!

The discussion was filled with disbelief, a sense of absurdity, and undisguised sneer.

Nobody believed that Cohen could win even one game in the Gold Group.

In the Eastern Empire's contestant area, Prince Xia Zuo stared intently at the name on the screen, even though he had already heard the news.

But when I actually saw that the other party had come to participate, I couldn't help but feel shocked.

Has this kid really gone mad?

How dare they participate in the Gold Group competition right after breaking through to the seventh rank?

After a brief moment of astonishment, his eyes blazed with intense light.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth—there are no orc legions, legendary ranks, or saintly helpers for you to use on the arena!

This time, I'm going to trample you under my feet in front of hundreds of millions of viewers!
On the other side, in the Southern Empire's camp, Crown Prince Greg's expression also became much more playful.

Previously, he suffered heavy losses on the Northwest Continent and became the first prince in history to be kidnapped and extorted. Such a huge humiliation was brought about by this King Aifein.

Now, the chance to avenge our humiliation and wash away our shame has arrived!
"You asked for this..."

It's not just them.

Countless gazes, whether from heirs of ancient lineages, genius spellcasters of the Mage Alliance, or assassin candidates from some ancient secret organization, were all focused on this king who had just broken through to the Gold rank and was about to participate in the Gold Group competition.

His eyes gleamed with an aggressive light.

Like a pack of starving beasts, they set their sights on a prey that had strayed into their hunting grounds!

They all had the same idea.

They rose to power by stepping on this "strongest Silver" who dominated the Silver group, created countless legends, and attracted the attention of the entire continent.

This is simply the perfect stepping stone to make a name for oneself and achieve great success!
The atmosphere off the field reached an unprecedented climax.

Not long after Cohen's name scrolled across the screen, the betting odds surrounding the Gold Group match, like sharks smelling blood, instantly boiled over.

Deep within a shadowy, temporary complex on the outskirts of the Imperial Arena, a silent war is unfolding that is even more gripping than the battle about to begin inside.

"Golden Eye," the official betting platform for the tournament.

On the magic crystal display board of the gold group's opening odds, the largest odds were:
What kind of results can King Cohen Corleone of Effie achieve in the Gold Group?

1. Eliminated in the first round (1 to 0.1)

2. Advance to the knockout stage (1 to 10 odds)

3. Advance to the quarterfinals (1 to 20)

4. Reach the semi-finals (50/1 odds)

5. Reach the final (80/1 odds)

6. Win the "Strongest Gold" title (1 to 100 odds)

Almost without hesitation, nearly all the funds rushed into the "first-round exit" option.

The payout ratio has plummeted from an initial 0.8 to an appalling 0.1.

Yet it still attracts the greedy nerves of everyone who wants to make a quick buck, just like a magnet.

The clinking of gold coins, the glow of magic crystal cards, and the unique hum of wealth transfer formed the noisiest background noise outside the venue.

Whether it was a small merchant waving a money bag or an old nobleman stroking his beard, no one wanted to believe that a superhuman who had just broken through to the early stage of the Gold Rank could get through the group stage.

Some people even started betting privately that Cohen would be severely injured in the first game and have to be carried off the field.

In a battle between a seventh-tier and a ninth-tier opponent, even a simple ordinary spell would be too much for the former to withstand.

However, there are requirements for the betting: individual players can only bet less than 1,000 gold coins, while those betting more than 1,000 gold coins must be from a well-known force or organization.

However, amidst this overwhelming wave of "first-round eliminations," suddenly, the progress bar on the magic bulletin board representing the "Cohen wins the strongest gold" option was struck hard by an invisible giant hammer, and it shot forward by a huge distance!

Om-!
A deep, magical tremor swept through all the betting rooms, and the previously wildly fluctuating numbers on the other betting platforms seemed to freeze for a moment.

This means someone has bet on the last option – that King Effie will make it to the finals and win the ultimate gold medal!
Immediately afterwards, the exact numbers appeared:

One hundred thousand gold coins!

There's an unwritten rule in this betting market: the payout for a single bet cannot exceed ten million gold coins. In other words, no matter how much you bet, the house can only pay out a maximum of ten million gold coins.

The last option has odds of 1 to 100, so the maximum amount for a single bet is 100,000 gold coins.

Just as everyone was wondering who would throw money on the ground, another buzzing magical vibration came.

Another 100,000 gold coins have been bet on the last option!

Behind several windows handling small bets, the sounds of administrators collapsing or dropping their scrolls in shock could be heard.

Countless gamblers who were placing bets were also terrified.

hum...

The sound of magic trembling rang in my ears again, still 100,000 gold coins!

The betting site, which was just moments ago bustling with noise, is now deathly silent!
Let's rewind to thirty minutes earlier:

Those qualified to set up official betting odds at the All Nations Nobles Martial Arts Festival, a pinnacle event involving supreme glory, are certainly not some nobody or nobody engaging in small-time activities.

It's not even possible for any single force or organization to take such a large slice of the pie by itself.

In fact, the mastermind behind it is a vast network woven by the highest-ranking power holders of the central empire—

The Imperial House of Nobles holds an absolute dominant share due to its supreme political status and the backing of its rules;
Some factions within the military also injected a huge sum of military supplies through complex channels; the agents of the governors' offices in various administrative districts also brought in substantial investments; in addition, there were the private treasuries of several top princes and nobles.

These people together form the boss behind "Golden Eye"!

The deafening roar of the casino was filtered through the thick stone walls and soundproof barriers, turning into a dull hum that pounded on Devon Klein's taut nerves.

The room was filled with magical contracts that shimmered with an eerie light, and the air was filled with the peculiar scent of magical ink mixed with gold coins.

Devon Klein was chosen as the agent of the "Golden Eye". As can be seen from his surname, he is a distant descendant of the Klein royal family and has a subtle relationship with Prince Heinz.

He is usually responsible for handling betting and coordinating communication among various major forces.

At this moment, Devon's gaze was fixed on the middle-aged man in front of him, who was dressed in an elegant velvet suit and had a calm demeanor.

Baron Zeen, the president of the Central Continent region of the "Pale Wings," a business magnate and financial figure known to all in the Central Empire.

Devon's Adam's apple bobbed as he forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart. His voice was dry and incredulous, almost as if it were being squeezed out of his throat:
"you sure?

"Would you bet a million on whether King Effie can obtain the 'Strongest Gold'?"

He even unconsciously repeated the absurd option and amount, trying to catch a hint of a joke in the other person's eyes.

A slight chuckle rose in Baron Zehn's heart.

If it weren't for the fact that the young lady was concerned about the potential trouble caused by the behemoths behind the betting odds losing everything and triggering an earthquake in the empire's upper echelons, she would have been prepared to place even more bets.

His gaze calmly met Devon's almost frantic eyes:

"What, Manager Devon won't accept our bets?"

Refuse? Are you kidding me!
Given its reputation and background, how could "Golden Eye" tolerate a public rejection of an order?

He almost immediately recalled the layers of protection set up by his bosses, and tried his best to make his voice sound professional and calm:
"Ahem, Baron, you've misunderstood."

It wasn't a refusal to accept the goods, but... according to the risk management clauses in the agreement.

Devon slowed his speech, as if he were painstakingly retrieving information from the depths of his memory:
"The payout for each single bet is capped at ten million gold coins."

He took a deep breath and continued:
"The odds for King Effie to win the 'Strongest Gold' are 1:100, which means that if you insist on betting on this option, the maximum stake is 100,000 gold coins."

Zahn smiled meaningfully and said:
"I see.

"Then let's bet 100,000 gold coins."

With a flick of his wrist, a magic crystal card shimmering with the emblem of pale wings gently landed on the table, emitting a crisp chime.

After Baron Zeen left, Devon stared at the crystal card worth 100,000 gold coins as if it were a hot potato.

He shook his head vigorously, trying to convince himself—

The Golden Wing family is probably doing this just to promote their son-in-law. It would be too embarrassing if word got out that such a huge bet, with 95% of the funds betting on Cohen's first-round elimination, was going to be very bad.

Unfortunately, the psychological defenses he had built up for himself didn't even last a minute before being broken down by the arrival of another customer!

A young woman dressed in an ice-blue maid's uniform, with impeccable manners and eyes as sharp as a hawk—Lillian.

The personal maid of Princess Grace Tang of the Eastern Empire! (End of Chapter)