Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1638 Center of Attention!

Some sought to overpower their mirror images with sheer might, yet found only equal opposition. Others attempted to outwit their reflections, only to have their every move foreseen and negated without fail.

More participants were summoned, their names echoing across the vast square.

Then, abruptly, a name rang out with a distinctness that drowned out all other sounds.

"Max Morgan."

In that split second, the entire plaza descended into utter stillness.

Every eye simultaneously turned towards him.

A mix of curiosity and doubt flickered in some gazes, while a few faces openly displayed animosity. Yet, beneath these varied emotions, a single, undeniable truth persisted: Max had already imprinted his presence onto the minds of everyone present through his prior trial performance.

Max advanced with unhurried grace, his expression unwavering despite the crushing weight of attention. His steps were measured, his breathing calm, as if the scrutiny of countless eyes held no sway over him.

High above the square, Elder Cael remained in quiet contemplation, his sight locked upon the colossal screen displaying Max's image. Though his outward demeanor was composed, a subtle flicker in his eyes betrayed a significantly heightened focus.

"This is the individual they spoke of," a nearby elder from the Violet Star Palace remarked softly, a hint of disbelief coloring his tone. "The one who allegedly claimed the Sword Sovereign's blade."

Another elder furrowed his brow slightly as he scrutinized Max's projection on the screen. "He doesn't appear particularly remarkable. His aura is stable, but he's quite weak, only at the 9th level of the Law Awakening Realm. I can't comprehend why the Black Dragon Clan even sent him to the Smelting Trial."

Elder Cael paused for a beat before responding with measured deliberation. "I cannot speak to the specifics, but being chosen by the Sword Sovereign's sword was already the highest honor one could receive in the Divine Realm. Such a weapon does not bestow its favor lightly. Whether he appears weak is inconsequential. His acknowledgment itself is sufficient proof of his extraordinary nature."

The first elder narrowed his eyes slightly. "And what of the first trial? A hidden result surpassing the system's visible metrics… I have never encountered such a phenomenon."

"That precisely is what makes this so intriguing," Elder Cael replied placidly. "The trial system does not bestow advantages without cause."

Within a distant pavilion, the elders of the Celestial Forge Pavilion also commenced hushed discussions, their collective attention fixed intently on Max.

"So it is him," one elder stated, a slight raise of his brows. "The one who acquired the Sword Sovereign's blade."

Another elder offered a faint scoff, though his scrutiny remained sharp. "Acquired it? Or was it mere happenstance? There are numerous ways to obtain a weapon, but proving oneself worthy of it is an entirely separate matter."

A third elder leaned forward, his gaze sharpening as he observed Max's composed posture. "Luck alone cannot account for the hidden result in the first trial. That system has stood for countless ages. Never once has it failed to quantify an outcome."

"That is what puzzles me," the second elder responded, his voice gaining a more serious inflection. "A score exceeding the system's defined range implies one of two possibilities. Either he shattered the trial's inherent limitations… or the system proved incapable of accurately assessing him."

The first elder slowly shook his head. "A system malfunction is highly improbable. That formation was meticulously crafted by ancient masters. It has evaluated innumerable geniuses without a single error."

"Then only one conclusion remains," the third elder stated quietly.

A brief, collective silence descended upon them.

"His results surpassed the system's established upper limit."

Back in the square, elders from various third-rate factions were also exchanging glances as Max's image appeared on the screen.

"Is that the youth everyone's been discussing?" one elder inquired, his tone laced with skepticism. "He looks no different from anyone else. Are we truly meant to believe he obtained the Sword Sovereign's weapon? Furthermore, he is exceedingly weak. A mere fledgling at the 9th level of the Law Awakening Realm has no business being here."

Another elder crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "There were witnesses. Far too many to disregard. The critical question isn't *if* he obtained it, but *how*. "

A third elder exhaled softly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And how he achieved that concealed result. I have witnessed countless trials in my tenure, yet never have I heard of a result so anomalous it could not even be recorded."

"Perhaps it was some form of subterfuge," the first elder proposed, though his conviction seemed to falter.

"Do you genuinely entertain that notion?" the second elder asked, casting a sideways glance at him.

The first elder hesitated, then slowly shook his head. "No. Not with so many elders from the Celestial Forge Pavilion watching. If it were some kind of ploy, it would have been uncovered by now."

Another elder chimed in, his tone more contemplative. "If both those assertions hold true, then we're dealing with an individual who either has an exceptional legacy... or a capability beyond our current comprehension."

A hush fell over the group as their gazes drifted back to the screen.

High above them all, Elder Cael maintained his unbroken observation. His eyes stayed locked onto Max, the subtle curiosity that had been present now imbued with a much deeper significance.

"Whether he is truly deserving of that blade... whether he genuinely overcame the trial's system..." Elder Cael whispered almost inaudibly, his voice nearly carried away by the breeze. "This fight will reveal the truth."

Max entered the portal without a second thought, his form disappearing from the plaza as if consumed by a radiant light.

In the blink of an eye, his image materialized on one of the massive screens suspended high in the heavens, and the entire plaza's attention pivoted towards him as if drawn by an unseen magnetism. Discussions halted, and even those who had harbored doubts moments before now found themselves watching in quiet anticipation.

Within the confines of the battlefield, Max remained still, his stance firm and his gaze directed forward.

Confronting him was his own reflection.

This Smelting Trial arc is expected to be brief, perhaps concluding around chapter 1650 or sooner, given its three-stage structure. Following this, the Cosmic Ascension Conference will commence!

The Cosmic Ascension Conference is poised to be a monumental event. Numerous crucial characters will be introduced during this arc, individuals who will remain significant throughout the novel's concluding sagas. The true excitement of the Divine Realm will unfold starting with the Cosmic Ascension Conference.