Celestial Bloodline

Just as Nine had anticipated, it took a full day before he and the group of lizard race individuals with him, standing in the queue, reached one of the illusionary figures handing out the nameplates to the participants.

The supreme-rank old lizard stood quietly by everyone's side as the people under him each took a nameplate. Nine quickly rubbed his hands and grasped the small square nameplate that the illusionary figure handed him when it was his turn.

He let out a sigh, finally, after so much struggle, he got a nameplate.

After everyone in his group got a nameplate, he swiftly entered the massive gate with them. It took them some time due to the crowd to find empty chairs among the many lined up within the towering walls surrounding the stages where the battles would take place. Nine's eyes reflected a hint of surprise when he saw the massive platform in the middle of the towering walls. The ancient statues and the projections floating in the sky, displaying various titles and names of the people who had written their designations on the nameplates given to them.

They all settled as a group, and the supreme rank lizard sat in the middle of them to share some tips on how to handle powerful opponents. Nine listened attentively to this crucial advice, but his lips twitched when the supreme-rank lizard suggested, with a serious expression, that they should admit defeat if they realize they can't overcome their opponent.

The old supreme-rank lizard stressed that with numerous battles ahead, wasting time and energy on unwinnable fights was not smart. Instead, they could use that time to challenge a different opponent. Given the many battles in the Gladiator Arena, losing a few matches wasn't a big concern as long as they secured the necessary victories needed for the next round.

The noise in the air got louder with each passing second as numerous people entered the Gladiator Arena. Nine stared at the sky with furrowed brows because of the noise. However, his sharp ears picked up a conversation amidst the cacophony of sounds in the distance among a group of people from the dwarf race. The group sat together talking about how they could secure victory since all of them had reached the transcendent rank.

He tilted his head and started listening. Initially, it was just a dull conversation, and he was simply listening because he had nothing better to do. Suddenly, one of the dwarves spat out in anger and cursed loudly. Nine blinked, a bit surprised, but his eyes widened when the dwarf who cursed mentioned that he would have advanced to the next stage of transcendent rank if the powerful treasure he found last month wasn't stolen by a crimson phoenix.

"A phoenix?"

Nine turned back and chimed in with sparkling eyes, startling the people around him. The dwarf who had just spoken was also taken aback when he saw the pair of golden eyes peering at him.

"You...? Were you eavesdropping?"

He was a bit angry that his embarrassing past was known by someone else, but his anger faded when Nine shook his head with an innocent expression.

"I just heard one word, phoenix. So, were you the one who talked about a phoenix? I really like phoenixes, so I would love to learn more if you are willing to share."

He smiled, a bit excited to know more because what were the chances that the phoenix the dwarf mentioned was not Bia? Only five percent! After all, phoenixes were rare, especially those of such a powerful rank to steal under the nose of a transcendent rank. But his smile faltered when the dwarf sneered at him.

"I don't want to. Just mind your own business, human."

Nine sneered back at the dwarf and jerked his head forward with a serious expression. He rubbed his forehead and contemplated taking a nap. However, the man from the lizard race sitting beside him shook his shoulder. Nine opened his eyes and looked at the familiar man dressed in white.

"What happened, Quazi?"

"I just wanted to say, don't forget to write your name on the nameplate. Otherwise, you won't be able to join the Arena."

Nine muttered a thank you and quickly grabbed the nameplate he had tossed in his mind space. Quazi suggested he should just use his divine energy to engrave his name on the plate. Nine nodded, but before he could engrave his name, he paused for a moment and looked at the man next to him with a mischievous glint.

"You know... I heard we can write anything on the nameplate. A name or a title that represents us. Doesn't that mean I can write whatever name I want?"

The lizard man with scales all over his skin seemed a bit puzzled but nodded his head in response, and Nine let out a chuckle.

"Good, very good."

He thought for a few moments and then began engraving his title on the nameplate. Quazi stole a glance at his plate, not just him, but many others from the lizard race who knew Nine, also peeked at the nameplate to find out what he was writing because he was taking a lot of time just to write down his simple name consisting of only four words.

Even the supreme rank old lizard cast a glance at his nameplate from afar, his old face revealing a hint of surprise when he read what Nine was inscribing. All the people around Nine gazed at him with scrunched-up expressions as the plate in his hand dispersed into particles and melded into the back of his hand.

In the next second, an empty circle appeared on the back of his hand. The moment the circle appeared on his hand, another title lit up in one of the many projections floating in the sky.

[The Lone Overlord of the Sea.]

Nine glanced at the people around him, and shrugged his shoulders with a smirk.

"What are you all looking at? It's totally up to me what I want to write. Gotta admit, this title suits me best. Hahaha..."

Thanks to him, everyone around who hadn't written their titles on the nameplate yet got inspired. Instead of their names, they also began jotting down various powerful titles for themselves. After all, Nine was right that they could put whatever they wanted on their nameplates.

The moment Nine's title lit up in the projection, the old man in a cream-colored robe with a large gray sword intricately engraved on the chest of his garments, sitting high above the crowd by the mermaid statue was surprised. The old man read the title, and his blue eyes narrowed with a faint light that vanished, leaving nothing behind.

The people in similar robes beside him were also a bit surprised when they read the title. Then they all broke into subtle smiles. Indeed, there were always individuals who knew how to make themselves known.

The moment Nine's title lit up in the projection, the old man in a cream-colored robe with a large gray sword intricately engraved on the chest of his garments, sitting high above the crowd by the mermaid statue was surprised. The old man read the title, and his blue eyes narrowed with a faint light that vanished, leaving nothing behind.

The people in similar robes beside him were also a bit surprised when they read the title. Then they all broke into subtle smiles. Indeed, there were always individuals who knew how to make themselves known.

That's how so many powerful people found Nine and decided to keep an eye on the young man to see if he could truly live up to the title he had written for himself.