Chapter 286 Reward Ceremony 4

A gentle smile rested on Maria’s face as she walked forward. Countless people momentarily forgot what they had been doing or even where they were, completely captivated by her appearance.

Such was the charm of High Priestess Maria Everhart.

Yet, not everyone looked at her with admiration for her beauty alone. Many gazed upon her with reverence and devotion, their eyes filled with worship and respect.

After all, she wasn’t merely a woman of extraordinary beauty. She was the chosen one of the Goddess of Light herself. Nova noticed Maria looking in his direction. Their eyes met, and she gave him a knowing smile.

Nova couldn’t help but feel amazed by how much of a big shot she had become.

Of course, she had always been someone important as the granddaughter of Human Emperor Caelan Everhart. However, she had concealed that identity so well that Nova hadn’t expected her to hold such a prestigious position.

Looking at her now, she seemed almost like a different person, yet she still gave him the same familiar feeling as before.

Inside the System Space, Nyxara couldn’t help commenting.

[Look at her! How can she wear such a bold outfit while calling herself a priestess?]

{Look who’s talking...} Liya remarked, unable to believe that a demoness who regularly wore rather revealing outfits was now calling someone else shameless.

"Hmph! This is my style, and at least I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not!" Nyxara retorted with a snort.

"Princess, please stop getting irritated by every beautiful woman you see," Velena said with a sigh. Nyxara didn’t bother replying. Instead, she picked up some popcorn and began eating.

Velena shook her head helplessly before turning her attention back to the scene outside.

Meanwhile, Maria walked toward the center of the Throne Hall, where Nova and the other winners were standing. She soon passed them and stopped before the elevated throne.

Bowing respectfully toward the Human Emperor, she greeted him.

"I greet my grandfather."

"Hahaha! There’s no need to bow, Maria. You’re a High Priestess now, after all!" Caelan laughed heartily. "Come on, start the reward ceremony. Our young champions are waiting for you."

"Yes, Grandfather," Maria replied with a smile.

Although she was expected to address Caelan as the Human Emperor during such a formal occasion, she had every right to call him her grandfather. Caelan himself didn’t mind in the slightest.

With that, the official reward ceremony began.

Several maids soon arrived, carrying the rewards prepared for the five winners. These included a magnificent trophy for the champion, ten million platinum coins, an Evolution Stone, and, most importantly, five passes to enter the Secret Realm.

Starting with Celine and continuing up to Liam, each of the five winners received a pass to the Secret Realm. It was the greatest opportunity any young cultivator could hope to obtain in their lifetime.

Within the Secret Realm, they might discover priceless treasures, encounter extraordinary opportunities, or obtain powerful inheritances left behind by ancient experts.

Any one of these discoveries could dramatically change their futures and help them reach heights they might otherwise never achieve.

For the five winners, receiving these passes was undoubtedly the most valuable part of their rewards.

Moreover, their achievements had already established them as five of the strongest young talents on the entire Human Continent. That recognition alone was an extraordinary honour.

As each winner received their rewards, cheers erupted throughout the Throne Hall. Across the Human Continent, countless people watching the broadcast celebrated their favourite champions, calling out their names with excitement.

The ceremony had not been held outdoors because the threat posed by the Eclipse Order remained a serious concern.

After the recent attack, the Imperial Family wasn’t willing to risk another incident that might endanger the winners or other important figures.

There was also the matter of time. If another attack occurred and any of the winners were injured or killed, selecting replacements for the Secret Realm expedition would become a difficult task, especially with the entrance opening in just ten days.

The entire city was protected by a powerful mana formation, and everyone entering it underwent identity checks. Nevertheless, no one wanted to take unnecessary risks, especially when so many important figures had gathered in one place.

The Imperial Castle itself was even more heavily protected, with multiple layers of powerful mana formations and numerous formidable powerhouses guarding its grounds.

And, most importantly, Caelan Everhart himself was present.

With the Human Emperor personally overseeing the ceremony, the Imperial Family had every reason to believe that the winners would remain safe within the castle.

Finally, it was Nova’s turn to receive his rewards.

As he stepped forward and stood before Maria, she greeted him with a warm smile.

"It’s good to finally meet you again, Lord Nova... You’re looking even more handsome today."

Nova smiled back at her and replied courteously, "It’s an honour to receive my rewards from someone as beautiful as yourself, and of course, from the High Priestess of the Light Goddess Order."

Their exchange immediately stirred murmurs throughout the Throne Hall, and the reactions spread just as quickly among those watching the broadcast across the continent.

Most people had no idea that Nova and Maria were already acquainted. Hearing the High Priestess compliment someone so openly was unusual enough, but the familiarity between the two made their interaction even more intriguing.

Moreover, Maria’s smile made it clear that her compliment had been genuine rather than mere courtesy.

Nova, too, had handled the exchange perfectly. Although he spoke to her with familiarity, he maintained enough formality to show respect for her position.

His response struck just the right balance, earning him even more admiration from those watching. Even Caelan was surprised to discover that his granddaughter already knew Nova.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind. When he had spoken with her earlier, Maria hadn’t mentioned that she was already acquainted with the tournament champion.

However, Caelan didn’t dwell on it for long. He had more important matters to attend to and could always ask her about it later.

After all, very few people knew that Maria had been present in Coldrock when Nova awakened. Returning to the ceremony, Maria began presenting Nova with his rewards.

First came the magnificent trophy, followed by ten million platinum coins. Next was the precious Evolution Stone, an item that many people would consider priceless treasure.

For Nova, however, the Evolution Stone wasn’t particularly valuable, as he already possessed several of them.

Finally, Maria handed him the pass to enter the Secret Realm. With that, Nova had officially received all his rewards.

Thunderous cheers erupted throughout the Throne Hall, spreading across the entire continent as people celebrated their young champion.

Among the countless spectators watching the broadcast, women were particularly enthusiastic, many of them practically going crazy over Nova’s handsome appearance and impressive achievements.

For countless young women across the Human Continent, the Empire’s Grand Youth Tournament had given them a new idol to admire.

**

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