To avoid being trampled underfoot, there are two ways:

1. Become stronger.
2. Become… poop.

---

Long Ziwu’s normally gentle expression gradually tightened. No! This person was definitely not his brother!!

No matter how much someone changes, they can’t hide the subtle differences—their eyes, their demeanor, even their every move—all screamed that this was a completely different person! His hand gripped the armrest so tightly it deformed under his fingers. Bitter disappointment brewed in his eyes, the pain flooding up from deep within and clouding his reason.

Ever since he forcefully seized the position of Crown Prince, he had dispatched countless people over the last five years to search every lower plane. But all had been in vain.

He couldn’t forget. Some memories had seeped into his very bones, impossible to forget, and he didn’t want to. Even if the person in question had almost forgotten, those memories were still precious to him.

Those tiny moments of warmth, each lonely night, had corroded his sanity.

His brother’s warm hand, the way he used to glance back at him with eyes full of affection, and the embrace when Long Ziwu was still weak. Sometimes he believed that this was what family should be—constant companionship and unconditional trust.

He had invested all his feelings and hopes in that person. But when he returned from his travels, all he found was the news that his brother had stolen the clan’s most prized treasure and disappeared. He had given all his trust and love to his brother, yet his brother had vanished.

It was as if Long Ziwu had been forgotten, discarded. Brother, when you left, did you ever think of me? Even just a little?

Not even the strongest features could withstand the disregard of the person closest to them.

Long Ziwu covered his eyes with one hand, his lips trembling slightly as he tried to hide his moment of weakness from those around him.

Long Guard No. 1 stood silently by, watching his prince. Crown Prince, you’re just… lonely.

Ever since that bloody coup five years ago, which had been silenced under strict orders, Long Ziwu had completely changed.

No one had seen the Crown Prince’s genuine smile since then.

“…Crown Prince…” Long Jing suddenly called out in a panicked and fearful voice, breaking the silence.

Long Ziwu’s momentary lapse was gone in an instant. His usual demeanor returned, though there was still a slight quiver in his voice. “What is it?”

“That person… Long Ming… he’s not just a Heavenly Mage. He’s even beyond the Holy Domain. I suspect… he might have already reached…!” Long Jing’s voice was filled with certainty. “I once encountered one of the Eight Great Beasts, the Celestial Behemoth, in the Magic Beast Forest. Long Ming’s aura, even though he only leaked a tiny bit of it, felt very similar!”

Celestial Behemoth, one of the most terrifying Divine Domain Beasts!

The people of Divine Dragon Valley exchanged glances, their expressions toward Long Ming completely changed.

What a terrifying power!

Meanwhile, Feng Yangyan, who had just barely survived, felt his heart seize as Long Ming’s bottomless black eyes bore into him. He could feel his chest tighten with each passing second. But his pride wouldn’t let him back down. Just as he was about to meet Long Ming’s gaze, Long Ming had already turned away, drifting back down to the stage.

The four champions’ rest areas were clearly divided. Amid the cheers and curses, Long Ming returned to his own section, where the Light Mage Sha Yu had assigned to that area immediately approached.

Long Ming waved him off, refusing any treatment, and maintained his aloof demeanor as he made his way toward the exit.

There were only two matches today. The second one would be Feng Yangyan versus Long Jing. Based on Long Ming’s previous behavior, it was obvious he wouldn’t stick around just to be stared at by the crowd.

He needed to save what little invisibility potion he had left to observe the second match and gather data!

Even now, Long Ming looked as unfathomable and peerless as ever.

But beneath that flawless exterior lay a broken heart.

He replayed the earlier match in his mind, considering whether his performance had been as dazzling as he thought. Was his aura suitably noble? Were his eyes sharp enough?

After several replays, he confirmed that he was still as unattainable as ever—a lofty flower on a high mountain—and nodded in satisfaction.

Hmm… proceed.

Mentally, he listed the items he had just used up: invisibility potion, holy light effects, hypnotic drug, simulated flames, real Holy Domain-level defense, and of course, illusion magic (which he’d used to create the charred remains) and perfect aura simulation. Damn, this was a total loss!

It might’ve looked easy, but every attack King Lewis launched had been met with precise calculations on Long Ming’s part. And each calculation had to be completed in less than a second, all while preventing anyone from seeing through his facade. If he hadn’t been through countless battles in his previous life, he would have blown his cover for sure!

In terms of raw combat power, King Lewis, with his King’s Power, was at the peak of the Holy Domain—significantly higher than Long Ming’s pseudo-Holy Domain strength.

If not for the colorless, odorless hypnotic drug he had cleverly sprinkled at the start of the fight using invisibility, timing it perfectly for King Lewis’s eventual collapse, it would’ve been Long Ming hitting the floor instead!

The most important part was that King Lewis couldn’t realize what had happened. Deception had to fool not only the audience but the opponent as well.

Deception Law 14: The perfect trick fools everyone but yourself.

It wasn’t until King Lewis passed out that Long Ming finally relaxed.

Every successful con gave him a deep sense of satisfaction. Just one more fight, and if he won, the position of Warden would be his!

He couldn’t help but glance toward Sha Yu, the acting Warden.

That’s when he noticed a figure that had suddenly appeared. The person seemed to be using some sort of magic. Despite wearing a striking black cloak, not many people had noticed him.

Perhaps sensing Long Ming’s gaze, the mysterious figure looked back at him.

For a brief moment, Long Ming was stunned. Then he felt something strange—the person’s gaze didn’t seem to carry any presence at all, as if he hadn’t been noticed at all.

Strong. In a plaza filled with powerful individuals, anyone who could hide their presence like that was worthy of attention.

Long Ming quickly looked away. He had no intention of getting involved with this mysterious figure unless it directly affected his interests.

However, it seemed that the other party wasn’t so willing to let him go.

Damn… is he smiling?

Even though most of the figure’s face was hidden by the cloak, Long Ming could still make out a pair of lips. The shape was quite striking, with a subtle curve that carried an inexplicable allure.

The mysterious figure whispered something to Sha Yu. Long Ming saw Sha Yu’s previously stern expression soften slightly, and he even glanced toward Long Ming with a curious, probing look, nodding as he did so.

What the hell is going on!?

Something was happening, and Long Ming didn’t know what.

Just as he was about to slip away and maintain his mysterious, aloof image, Sha Yu quietly blocked his path.

“Would Long Ming have a moment?” Sha Yu asked with a smile, looking as if he was being perfectly polite.

Long Ming wanted to say no, but considering his goal of becoming Warden, it didn’t make sense to offend his potential future superior now.

So, he calmly nodded.

Get on with it! I want to go invisible and watch the second match! Do you have any idea how badly I need to gather information on my opponents? Do you understand how mentally and physically drained I am after that last battle?

Of course, Sha Yu couldn’t possibly understand the inner turmoil of someone who would die if they didn’t maintain their facade.

↓↓

After a long and detailed explanation, Long Ming finally understood. In summary, it was all a mess, and now it made sense why Sha Yu had looked so miserable ever since the competition started. Being Warden wasn’t an easy job!

In Sha Yu’s own words:

“You know how we have a lot of escapees from the Dimensional Prison right now, right? And these escapees are incredibly powerful, right?

Exactly. Now, they’ve escaped, but quite a few of their comrades are still locked up…”

Apparently, some of the escaped prisoners had regrouped after shaking off their pursuers and were now plotting how to break the rest of them out.

This was shaping up to be the greatest disaster in the history of the Dimensional Prison.

↓↓

Seeing that Long Ming remained completely unmoved, Sha Yu had no choice but to emphasize the dire consequences. Essentially:

No one would trust the Dimensional Prison anymore!

If all the prisoners escaped, it would plunge everyone into chaos!

The security of all nine major planes would be in jeopardy, and the prison would be blamed for it!

As acting Warden, Sha Yu was deeply troubled by this.

But despite Sha Yu’s dramatic speech, Long Ming’s expression remained unchanged. His face showed no signs of concern or sympathy, leaving Sha Yu feeling as if all his words had fallen on deaf ears.

Aren’t you supposed to be the most righteous and noble Light Mage? Why do you have no sense of justice at all?

Yes, I’m a Light Mage, but who ever said I had any sense of justice? ╮(╯▽╰)╭

What did an impending prison break have to do with him? Not a thing.

No matter what Sha Yu said, Long Ming’s face remained as expressionless as ever. Sha Yu felt a deep sense of helplessness wash over him.

After listening to the mysterious figure’s suggestion, Sha Yu had thought of Long Ming as the perfect candidate.

The Dimensional Prison needed to maintain appearances while continuing the selection process. With their forces stretched thin, they needed outside help.

But finding external support wasn’t easy.

First, no major faction would be suitable since the Dimensional Prison had always maintained neutrality. Accepting help from one would upset the balance and destroy the prison’s thousand-year reputation!

Even if a faction was willing to help, who knew if they’d turn on them later? And if word got out about the prison break to the families in Nine-Prong Plaza, no one would want to compete for the Warden position anymore. They’d all ditch the hot potato, and some might even try to exploit the situation.

It was a mess.

But as acting Warden, Sha Yu desperately wanted someone to take over the Warden position so he could finally wash his hands of this disaster and live a peaceful life.

But hopes and dreams rarely align with reality.

Thanks to the mysterious figure’s reminder, Sha Yu had realized that Long Ming was actually a great candidate.

First, Long Ming didn’t belong to any faction. Secondly, based on the aura he had unleashed during the match—and the fact that he had held his own against an SSS-class demon—he was clearly a formidable warrior!

Not to mention, Long Ming was a top contender for the Warden position and had even earned the loyalty of the wolf warriors through a blood pact. He was the perfect solution to their external aid problem!!

But…

↓↓

Long Ming was completely unmoved! Sha Yu had explained everything so logically and emotionally, but nothing had worked!

He really wanted to shake Long Ming and shout, How can you be so cruel, so heartless!

What now?!

As expected, Long Ming might look easy to manipulate, but in reality, he was a tough nut to crack!

Sha Yu decided it was time to pull out his trump card.