Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1618 Training!

The aged man halted before a grand mansion, turning to face the assembled group.

"You shall find lodging here for the night."

His tranquil voice resonated softly throughout the courtyard.

"The Smelting Trial commences officially tomorrow at dawn. Take this time to recuperate and make your preparations. As the sun rises, representatives from all invited factions will convene."

He surveyed the disciples with an impassive expression.

"Do not stray carelessly. Certain sectors within the Violet Star Palace are strictly off-limits. Remain within the designated guest quarters unless specifically summoned."

With a gentle flourish of his sleeve, the old man caused the mansion gates to swing open, revealing a sprawling courtyard, practice grounds, and opulent chambers within.

"Rest yourselves."

Uttering these final words, the old man retreated, melting into the distance like dissipating mist.

A profound silence settled for a spell.

Then, a collective sharp intake of breath swept through the disciples as they gazed upon their temporary abode with eyes alight.

"This is where we'll be staying for a single night?"

"A night spent here is far superior to a year in the common dorms."

"The Violet Star Palace truly lives up to its esteemed reputation."

Even Lucia's typically composed gaze held a flicker of astonishment, while Isabella quietly absorbed the courtyard's picturesque charm.

Upon entering the mansion, the disciples of the Black Dragon Clan were immediately immersed in the sheer grandeur of the Violet Star Palace's hospitality.

The interior was magnificent and refined, its halls graced by polished crystal walls that cast soft, violet luminescence. Each chamber pulsed with a dense concentration of spiritual energy, making the very air invigorating to inhale. Well-appointed guest rooms awaited, each furnished with cultivation mats, burners for aromatic medicinal incense, and gleaming furniture fashioned from rare spirit wood.

The younger disciples soon dispersed to their assigned duties.

Some sought out quiet rooms to meditate and solidify their cultivation in anticipation of the following day. Others meticulously polished their weapons with focused determination. A few congregated in small clusters, exchanging whispers about the Smelting Trial and the prodigies expected to participate from rival factions. An air of both trepidation and eagerness permeated the atmosphere.

None desired to bring shame upon the Black Dragon Clan on the morrow.

Max had barely set foot within the courtyard when a familiar voice called out from behind him.

"Max. Lucia. Isabella. Follow me."

Lady Virelia stood waiting, arms crossed, her flowing hair catching the breeze as she regarded the trio with keen eyes. There was no hint of relaxation in her demeanor.

The three exchanged a knowing glance before promptly complying.

She guided them further into the mansion's expanse, leading them to a secluded training field situated at the rear of the residence. High formation walls encircled the area, and the ground itself was constructed from dark star metal, engineered to withstand immense force. Faint, ancient runes shimmered beneath its surface.

Lady Virelia turned, her voice steady as she spoke.

"The three of you will engage in some training before retiring."

Lucia offered a subtle smile, already grasping the intended purpose.

Isabella blinked, then directed an intrigued gaze toward Max.

Lady Virelia gestured to the center of the field.

"A three-way engagement. Lucia and Isabella will face Max."

Max momentarily questioned if he had misheard.

"Against both of them?"

A slight curve graced Lady Virelia's lips.

"You heard correctly. If my assessment is accurate, you will likely be a primary target tomorrow, so it is best to prepare. However, refrain from using any special techniques in this spar. Rely solely on your fundamental offensive maneuvers."

Max released a slow breath before stepping onto the field.

He was acutely aware that, among the three, he currently held the least potent cultivation in direct combat. Lucia possessed formidable, stable strength coupled with terrifying battle acumen, while Isabella's Imperial Bloodline bestowed upon her an inherent advantage that even the Elders held in high regard.

Yet, Max's gaze remained resolute.

The instant Lady Virelia raised her hand, the duel commenced.

Lucia initiated the engagement.

Her form became a blur, moving like a phantom as she closed the distance instantaneously, her palm crackling with compressed black flames, imbued with a force capable of shattering mountains. Concurrently, Isabella raised a hand, unleashing torrents of black dragon flames that snaked through the air like living vipers, effectively blocking Max's escape routes.

An ordinary disciple would have been overwhelmed within the first few moments.

But Max moved forward, not backward.

Lightning erupted beneath his feet as he maneuvered through the narrow aperture between the flames, subsequently angling his body precisely to evade Lucia's palm strike by the barest margin. The residual force of her attack obliterated the ground in his wake.

Without hesitation, Max retaliated with a focused punch aimed at Lucia's ribs.

Lucia parried the blow, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise at the concealed power within the strike.

Before either fighter could press their advantage, Isabella descended from the heavens, her leg wreathed in dark flames. Max raised both arms, intercepting the devastating blow head-on. The force of the impact sent him skidding back several meters, his boots gouging deep furrows into the star-metal flooring.

Lady Virelia observed the unfolding clash with impassive silence.

The intensity of the battle only escalated from there.

Lucia pressed her assault with unyielding close-quarters precision, while Isabella commanded the wider arena with overwhelming destructive pressure. Though not orchestrated, their distinct attack styles naturally converged, effectively boxing Max in from two separate directions.

Despite the pincer, Max refused to yield.

He weaved and dodged continuously, his Dimensional Sovereign Body allowing him to anticipate their every move. Employing sheer speed to disrupt their attack angles, exploiting precise timing to carve out openings, and unleashing brutal counters whenever either opponent exhibited the slightest underestimation, he fought back. He was knocked back repeatedly, yet each time, he sprang to his feet instantly and charged back into the fray.

At one critical juncture, Lucia's palm connected squarely with his chest while Isabella's fiery spear rained down from behind.

Even Lady Virelia couldn't help but narrow her eyes at the scene.

But in a sudden, fluid motion, Max spun low, using the momentum of Lucia's attack to propel himself sideways. Her hand missed its mark by mere inches, and Isabella's spear sliced through the empty space Max had occupied moments before. Seizing the opening, Max drove an elbow into Lucia's shoulder and forcefully kicked Isabella back before vaulting away to safety.

Lucia let out a soft chuckle.

"Fighting you is quite the challenge."

Isabella's normally serene eyes flared with intensity.

"He is troublesome indeed."

Minutes bled into an hour.

The three combatants were slick with sweat, and the training ground bore the scars of their ferocious exchange, with visible cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. Continual shockwaves battered against the protective barrier walls.

Yet, one undeniable fact persisted.

Even though Max was outmatched in terms of cultivation realm and raw power, he had not been defeated.

He remained standing, breathing heavily, his body bruised and battered, but still resolutely upright. The fire in his eyes burned with an intensity greater than before.

Finally, Lady Virelia raised a hand, signaling the end of the match.

A heavy silence descended upon the training field.

She gazed at Max for a prolonged moment before uttering a single word.

"Good."

That solitary word from her held more genuine praise than a hundred effusive compliments.

She then turned her attention to all three disciples.

"That is sufficient for today. You may all go and rest."

Max wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, a faint smile gracing his lips as he turned to head back to his quarters for recuperation.

Only Lady Virelia remained standing alone on the vast training ground.