A strange silence spread through the crowd, as if an invisible force had pressed down on everyone at once.

Because at the very top of the list, above every other name, there was only one.

Max Morgan.

For a brief moment, no one reacted.

Then the shock erupted.

"What is this?"

"How can that be him?"

"I heard out of all the participants present in the Smelting Trial, his cultivation is the weakest at the 9th level of Law Awakening Realm."

"That name... he was standing here the entire time."

Lucia’s eyes widened as she stared at the screen, her breath catching slightly.

"...Max," she murmured, disbelief clear in her voice.

Beside her, Isabella froze for a fraction of a second before her gaze snapped toward him, sharp and piercing.

But there was something even more unsettling than his position.

There was no score.

Every single name on the list had a number displayed beside it, representing their performance within the trial.

Except his.

Next to Max Morgan, there was nothing.

No number.

No record.

Only his name, standing alone at the very top.

The crowd erupted once more, this time filled with confusion, suspicion, and disbelief.

"That is impossible. How can there be no score?"

"The system would never fail to record a result."

"Then how is his name at the top?"

Voices began to turn harsher.

"He has the Sword Sovereign’s weapon. That must be the reason."

"That weapon must have interfered with the trial system."

"No, this is more than interference. This looks like manipulation."

"He cheated."

The accusations spread quickly, fueled by jealousy and confusion, as more and more participants tried to rationalize what they were seeing.

Lucia remained silent, her gaze still fixed on the screen, her thoughts racing.

Isabella’s expression hardened, though beneath that cold exterior, there was a flicker of something else. She really felt the more she spent time with Max, the more she realized how extraordinary this guy seemed to be.

Max showed no reaction at all. He stood quietly where he was, his gaze resting on the glowing screen, his eyes calm and steady, as if the uproar surrounding him had nothing to do with him.

The waves of shock, doubt, and accusation that spread through the crowd did not reach him in the slightest, and his expression remained as composed as ever.

Yet beneath that calm exterior, he understood everything clearly.

The trial system had not made a mistake, nor had it failed to record his result. It had simply chosen not to display it.

His final score had reached one hundred and twenty, a value that had already surpassed the maximum limit of the system itself. If such a number had appeared beside his name for all to see, Max was certain that the chaos would have grown far worse than it already was.

At that point, no one would have believed in his ability. They would have only concluded that the trial system had malfunctioned and produced an impossible result.

Before the murmurs could spiral completely out of control, a powerful voice echoed across the entire square.

"Everyone, calm down."

Elder Cael’s voice carried an unquestionable authority that immediately suppressed the rising noise. The crowd fell silent almost instantly, though the tension in the air remained thick.

"There is no cheating," Elder Cael continued, his tone firm and unyielding. "The trial system is fair and operates without error. Max Morgan stands at the top because he has received a hidden reward from the system. There is no other reason."

His words settled over the crowd, easing some of the doubt, though not completely erasing the shock that lingered in the hearts of many.

Elder Cael then shifted his gaze slightly before speaking once more.

"The rewards for the Weapon Master Trial will be distributed shortly. The second trial will begin in six hours. Use this time to rest and prepare yourselves."

With that, he waved his hand lightly, signaling the end of the gathering.

The pressure of his presence faded, and the crowd began to disperse slowly. Groups of disciples gathered among themselves, whispering in low voices, their gazes occasionally drifting toward Max with complicated expressions that ranged from awe to hostility.

Lucia observed the reactions around them, her brows knitting slightly as she sensed the growing tension directed at Max. Without wasting time, she turned toward him and Isabella.

"Let’s head back," she said, her tone decisive.

She had already noticed the unfriendly looks being cast in their direction, and she knew that remaining here any longer would only invite unnecessary trouble.

Isabella gave a slight nod, clearly understanding the situation as well, and Max followed without objection.

The three of them began making their way back toward their residence, the noise of the dispersing crowd fading behind them.

They had only covered half the distance when Max suddenly spoke.

"You two go ahead," he said calmly. "I want to take a look at the Combat Tower here in the Violet Star Palace."

Lucia stopped immediately, her expression tightening as she turned toward him.

"No," she said without hesitation.

Her refusal came quickly and firmly, leaving no room for ambiguity.

"You have already drawn too much attention," she continued, her voice carrying a trace of concern. "Many disciples from other third rate forces are not pleased with what just happened. If you wander off alone now, there is a real chance someone will try to provoke you."

Max listened quietly before giving a small shrug, his demeanor still relaxed.

"It does not matter," he replied. "This is the Violet Star Palace. I doubt anyone would dare to cause trouble here openly. I will be fine. You should both head back. I will join you later."

Lucia’s expression darkened slightly, clearly unconvinced by his reasoning.

Before she could respond, Max had already made his move.

His figure shot forward, disappearing into the distance in a blur of speed.

"Max!" Lucia called out sharply, her voice filled with frustration.

But he was already gone.

Isabella watched the direction he had vanished in before letting out a quiet sigh.

"Forget it, Lucia," she said, her tone calmer. "He will be fine. That man is far too monstrous to be bullied by anyone here."

Lucia remained silent for a moment, her brows still furrowed, the concern in her eyes refusing to fade.

"I would not be this worried," she said slowly, "if there were not geniuses from all the third rate forces gathered here, many of them already in the Law Manifestation Realm."

She let out a soft breath, trying to ease her own thoughts.

"Still... you are right as well," she admitted after a pause. "Let’s return first. We should inform Aunt Virelia before he ends up causing trouble somewhere."

With that, the two of them turned and continued toward their residence, while far ahead, Max moved alone toward the next place that had already caught his interest.