I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

As my fingertips lightly touched the smooth, transparent surface, an indescribable surge of electricity suddenly coursed through my body. Immediately afterwards, the entire room fell silent, as if time had stopped...

"Who will be the lucky winner?" Speculations echoed through the crowd. Everyone eagerly awaited the final outcome, curious about how the story would unfold. Amidst this breathtakingly tense atmosphere, Lin Fan and Shen Shiyan exchanged a glance, as if silently exchanging some crucial information. They simultaneously took firm steps toward the crystal ball, maintaining their composure despite the air thick with unease. Meanwhile, the axe-wielding burly followed after a moment's hesitation. The woman who had just entered the palace, with a leisurely smile, joined the seemingly endless competition.

“Oh my God, I’ve never seen anything like this before…” one young audience member exclaimed, his voice trembling. “This is like a dream, it’s so unreal!”

The other, slightly older man was much calmer. He clenched his fists and whispered, "May luck be on our side, especially for those two brave young men... I hope they won't get hurt."

As more people joined the struggle for control of the energy crystals, the surrounding environment seemed to undergo subtle changes. The ancient runes inlaid on the walls shone with a dazzling light; the ground trembled gently, as if breathing with life; even the dust that had been floating in the air was drawn by an invisible force, slowly condensing into flowing silver ribbons...

As several key figures touched the magical gem, almost everyone present could clearly feel a strong yet gentle aura emanating from it, quickly enveloping the entire chamber. "Wow! This is... a wonderful feeling I've never experienced before!" the young man's companion couldn't help but exclaim in praise.

Suddenly, a powerful burst of light erupted! It was so blinding that everyone was forced to close their eyes to avoid injury. But within a few seconds, everything returned to normal. When everyone reopened their gaze, they discovered that the crystal, previously floating in mid-air, had landed securely in the hands of a figure—the woman who had previously seemed inconspicuous but had unexpectedly suggested fair play.

"How is it possible... she succeeded first..." A wave of surprise echoed from the crowd. Many people watched the scene unfold in disbelief, their expressions a complex mix of disappointment, confusion, and even a hint of jealousy.

The woman turned her gaze to the others and said, "It seems that goddess of luck has chosen me." Her tone was calm and elegant, without revealing too much joy or arrogance.

"Wait! I don't accept this result," Lin Fan stood up, a glint of determination in his eyes. "Although the rules say so, I believe there is another, more fair way to determine who is most suitable to become the controller."

"Oh? Then why not tell me what you think?" The woman raised her eyebrows curiously and asked in a friendly but non-aggressive manner.

"That means we each have to prove our resolve and ability to protect and properly utilize this power! One match alone is far from enough to determine the final outcome." The young man proposed confidently.

Hearing this, the other contestants and the crowd of onlookers expressed their support: "Hmm, that's a good idea." "Yeah, I also want to know who the real winner is."

Even the axe-wielding man, who had just shown great resistance, nodded involuntarily. "Excellent, then let's do as you say! Let's begin again. This time, we won't rely on luck to win, but on our own true strength to win our own future!"

In this way, a brand new competition mechanism was born, and everyone waited with bated breath for the next round of fierce and exciting competition to begin...

In another corner, Yun Ge remained absorbed in operating the complex equipment, occasionally glancing up at the small circle in the distance engaged in a heated discussion. "Looks like we're about to reach another major turning point," she muttered to herself, a mixture of anticipation and apprehension in her eyes.

The Shadow stood quietly by, watching everything unfold before him. Suddenly, he turned to the Guardian of Knowledge beside him and asked, "What will happen next? Do you think they will find the true answer?"

The Guardian of Knowledge smiled faintly and replied softly, "I don't know the exact details, but every choice made on this land will lead them down a different path. And each path is unique and full of unknowns..." As the new competition rules were announced, the atmosphere in the chamber heated up again. Everyone was eagerly anticipating the upcoming match and excited to be a part of this historic moment.

Lin Fan and Shen Shiyan exchanged a confident glance before heading towards the woman and the axe-wielding man, respectively. They intended to demonstrate their resolve and courage by confronting these two strongest rivals, thereby proving their resolve to protect the power.

"Hello, I'm Lin Fan. Although we didn't gain an advantage in the match just now, this doesn't mean our faith isn't strong. On the contrary, I believe a true test should include a more comprehensive consideration of factors." The young man greeted the elegant woman. The latter returned a gentle smile and nodded in agreement.

"So how do you plan to show your determination?" the woman asked curiously.

Before Lin Fan could reply, another voice suddenly rang out from the side. "Let me go first!" The axe-wielding man volunteered. "Since we want a fair fight, let's use force! If I can defeat this brother, it means I'm more qualified to be the owner of this crystal."

Many people present gasped at this statement. After all, everyone knew that this burly man was not someone to be trifled with. The heavy weapon in his hand was enough to intimidate anyone once he wielded it.

Seeing this, Lin Fan had no intention of backing down, but accepted the challenge with a smile: "Okay, in that case, let's do it your way. But before that, please allow me and my partners to discuss and formulate a strategy for a moment." After that, he pulled Shen Shiyan aside to discuss countermeasures.

Just as everyone was nervously watching the two preparing to duel, a few casual chats came from somewhere in the crowd: