Rean and Roan obviously did not enter, just like most of the participants from Lukimira Sect. Th only exception was Iulia, who had already told them that she would participate in the Talisman Master competition. Soon, the spatial door disappeared, and what replaced it was a huge screen showing what was happening inside due to an illusory formation in the main room.
Only then did Rean ask, "By the way, what level is Iulia?"
Casil shrugged his shoulders as he replied, "Bronze High-level. She's quite close to entering the Peak-level actually. Sadly, it's still far from enough."
Kar agreed with Casil as he pointed to the images displayed ahead. "Can you see the participants at the very front in the room?" Rean nodded. He could see that there several rows of tables. However, the tables at the very forefront were only occupied by six people. There were many more, but no one took them.
Kar continued, "Those tables are separated by ability. Since those six people are using the ones at the very front, that means they're already Golden-level Talisman Masters."
"I see..." Rean had to admit it made sense. Right behind those Golden-level disciples, there were a huge number of Talisman Masters. However, none of them dared to step into the row of tables for Golden-level Talisman Masters. "Those behind are all Silver-level and below."
That surprised Rean more than anything else. After all, they reached the Golden Level while still in the Saint Realm. Rean thought that he would be a very rare Golden-level Formation Master and Blacksmith while he was still in the Saint Realm. After all, there was the cultivation barrier to overcome first before entering the Golden-level. However, the reality showed that he wasn't the only one capable of such a thing. 'It seems like I underestimated the Realm of Gods. I must pay a visit to the Blacksmith and Formation Master Guilds later. There's no way those six cultivators are above the Saint Realm. If anything, they should be at the Initial Stage or Middle Stage of the Saint Realm if one truly forced it.'
The competition played as the Lukimira Sect members imagined. Iulia simply had no chance whatsoever against the Silver-level Talisman Masters, let alone those six Golden-level ones. In the end, the final showdown happened between those six, with the Talisman Guild's candidate taking first place as the Divine Vein was rewarded to his guild.
In the area prepared for the elders of the participants, everyone also watched the Talisman Master competition.
"Hahaha! As expected of Tutu. Only 47 years old and already at the Middle Stage of the Saint Realm. But above all, he is the gem of our Talisman Master Guild. He might be in the Golden Initial-level as a Talisman Master, but that's only because he lacks the cultivation to go higher. If he was in the Elemental Transformation Realm, he would enter the Middle-level straight away. I'm sorry, everyone, but you had never had a chance to start with." The one who talked was the head of the Talisman Master Guild, Suo Lian.
In fact, three of the six Talisman Masters at Golden-level were part of the Talisman Master Guild. Only the other three belonged to other powers.
The other leaders of top organizations from Cosec narrowed their eyes after hearing that. The Talisman Master Guild had taken most of the Divine Veins of the Talisman Master competition at every assembly, so it was expected to happen anyway. "Hmph! It's easy for you to talk when it comes to your guild's specialty. Just wait for the Blacksmith competition. Let's see if you or anyone else can beat the Blacksmiths of our Blacksmith Guild."
"Ha! I can say the same thing for our Alchemist Guild."
This kind of trash talk then continued between the side occupation guild leaders. Only an occasional big guild or some other organization would join it as they groomed some talented side occupation disciples as well. Nonetheless, most of the other elders from different powers kept quiet. Some simply didn't think they had a chance at getting a Divine Vein. Others had some hidden disciples that they didn't want others to know about before it was time.
Between those elders, Kayla and the Lukimira Sect elders were part of those who were keeping a low profile. The only sect they told something to was Qianbel Sect, but that was because Qianbel had an 'agreement' with the Lukimira Sect where they couldn't get in the others' way. Besides, would the big powers believe in the words of a small sect like Qianbel? Not a chance. They were too proud to do such a thing.
"Iulia did way better than I thought. She ended up in the top ranks between the Bronze Peak-level Talisman Masters." Cynthia seemed quite satisfied with Iulia's performance.
However, Kayla didn't look very happy.
It was then that she heard the Ranmgues voice from a table not too far from her sect's table."Hey, Kayla! Your Talisman Master seems to be quite behind. This is one point for our Qianbel Sect in the decision of who will take the Divine Stone Mine this time. Hahaha! It seems like we will hold it for another 100 years."
Kayla didn't seem too worried, though. "Hmph! Keep talking. Our Lukimira didn't have much hope for the Talisman Master competition to start with. Just wait for the other competitions. We can't win them, but we can definitely get a higher position than yours there. Let's see who will be laughing in th end."
Ranmgues snorted in response but didn't say anything else. That's how their internal struggle for the Divine Stone Mine worked. As long as they had disciples inside the same category, the disciple to finish in a higher position would be considered the victor between them. In the end, the sect with more points would control the mine for the next 100 years.
The Talisman Masters then came out of the Spatial Room and joined the participants who didn't take part in it. After all, many of them would take part in other categories as well. Iulia, obviously, went back to the Lukimira Sect's group. "Sorry, guys. The disciple of Qianbel Sect was quite a step ahead of me when it came to talismans."
Wamil shook his head. "It's fine. We still have a long way to go."
Not long after, another spatial door appeared, as Fabio announced. "The next competition is for Blacksmiths. The Blacksmiths present can enter already."
