Chapter 2681: Chapter 2681: Ares Cooper, Direct Line of King Cooper’s Mansion?
The ’Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition’ held by King Cooper’s residence this time, the most favored participant is undoubtedly Wyatt Barnes from Nine Nether County.
Nearly a year ago, Wyatt’s actions in Mullins Family in County City of Nine Nether County spread throughout the entire Nine Nether County and then extended to surrounding regions, eventually almost spreading throughout the entire region governed by King Cooper’s residence.
Even King Cooper from King Cooper’s residence has heard of Wyatt Barnes.
For this reason, Wyatt has become the biggest ’hotspot’ and ’highlight’ of this Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition, with many eager to witness his elegance.
However, up until now, Wyatt Barnes has yet to make an appearance.
"That trump card ’Wyatt Barnes’ from Nine Nether County... seems like he hasn’t shown up yet."
"Wondering what kind of plan the County Supervisor ’Tian Jiuyu’ of Nine Nether County has... Could he be waiting for other participants to temporarily claim the ’first’ of the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition, then have Wyatt Barnes appear to effortlessly defeat them and take the ’first’ title?"
"Hmph! That Wyatt Barnes not showing up might not necessarily be because the County Supervisor of Nine Nether County is keeping him hidden... It’s also possible he met misfortune after leaving Nine Nether County and died somewhere else."
"That’s possible."
...
Apart from people from Nine Nether County and Peace Mountain County, people from the other fourteen counties couldn’t help but whisper to each other.
Through their conversations, either they believe Wyatt Barnes hasn’t appeared because he’s hidden by the County Supervisor;
Or they think Wyatt hasn’t shown up because he died outside, preventing him from participating in the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition.
However, no matter what these people say, it’s all just their speculation.
Moments later, with the strong figure sent by King Cooper’s residence to preside over the ’Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition’ speaking loudly, the top ten contenders of the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition began to compete for the ’top three’ positions with thirteen counties’ trump cards yet to appear.
As time passed, one figure after another was knocked off the fighting stage.
"Ares Cooper!"
Very soon, it was Ares Cooper from Nine Nether County’s turn to enter the stage.
"Hmm?"
When Ares Cooper walked to the center, in an area behind the VIP audience seats on one side of the broad fighting stage, a middle-aged man in luxurious robes suddenly stood up from his luxurious seat, staring intently at Ares Cooper.
"Third Prince... You... What’s this?"
Almost instantly as the robed middle-aged man stood, the two elderly men accompanying him were startled, glancing at the robed middle-aged man, puzzled by his loss of composure.
In King Cooper’s residence, King Cooper is revered.
Beneath King Cooper, there are three brothers, respected by King Cooper’s residence as ’Second Prince’, ’Third Prince’, and ’Fifth Prince’.
The Third Prince is King Cooper’s third brother, dispatched by King Cooper to oversee this Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition.
He hadn’t attended in previous days, only coming today, the final day of the competition, to join in the hustle and bustle.
Currently, presiding over the competition is one of his trusted subordinates.
"Similar... too similar... And... He... seems to be called... Ares Cooper?"
The Third Prince ignored the two elderly men beside him, his gaze fixed firmly on the young man within the fighting stage, mumbling while his eyes grew increasingly bright, like two dazzling stars in the night sky.
Swish! Swish!
Upon hearing the Third Prince’s muttering, the two elderly men beside him also turned their gaze toward the young man in the fighting stage.
With just one glance, their pupils couldn’t help but constrict sharply.
"He... He... Why does he look so much like the Fourth Prince?"
"His nose, his lips, and his forehead... are almost identical to the Fourth Prince! Who... Who exactly is he?"
The two elderly men regained their composure, exchanged glances, seeing astonishment and incredulity in each other’s eyes.
The Fourth Prince is King Cooper’s fourth brother at King Cooper’s residence.
Even King Cooper’s Fourth Prince had already possessed strength surpassing King Cooper before leaving King Cooper’s residence!
However, King Cooper’s Fourth Prince went into seclusion due to a breakdown decades ago, leaving King Cooper severely injured, and disappeared without a trace from King Cooper’s residence.
Although King Cooper’s residence continued sending people out to search later, they always returned empty-handed.
And now, decades later, at the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition held by King Cooper’s residence, they unexpectedly spotted someone who bore a six to seven-part resemblance to the Fourth Prince back then.
Moreover, this person’s surname is also ’Cooper’...
This inevitably led their minds to wander.
"This Ares Cooper, could he be..."
Soon, the two elderly men exchanged glances once more, seeing the same thought reflected in each other’s eyes.
"Elder Qi, go investigate this Ares Cooper."
The Third Prince ordered in a heavy tone, his eyes showing a hint of excitement.
It was as if the young man standing in the fighting stage now was an old friend he hadn’t seen in years.
"Yes."
One of the two elderly men responded promptly and left.
Meanwhile, the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition continued.
Ares Cooper was fiercely engaged with another young man who appeared similar in age.
At first, it was evenly matched, but after about a few dozen breaths, Ares Cooper suddenly erupted with a strong force, and the sky was filled with blood-red palm prints.
Boom!!
Almost as Ares Cooper’s palm prints became infused with that blood-red hue, the power within them surged, crushing and overwhelming his opponent’s momentum, sending his opponent flying directly away.
Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!
...
Immediately, the sound of sharp gasps around the fighting stage echoed in unison.
"This Ares Cooper from Nine Nether County, was he hiding his true power all along?"
"What technique did he just use in the end? It feels... like a Divine Ability! Moreover, it’s an auxiliary type Divine Ability, much stronger than the one he used earlier!"
"This auxiliary Divine Ability... feels at least like a Profound Rank Divine Ability!"
"And it might not be just any ordinary Profound Rank Divine Ability... I’ve seen a few, none as strong as the one he just used!"
...
Around the fighting stage, as the commotion grew, the attention of those under King Cooper’s domain shifted to the auxiliary Divine Ability Ares had just displayed.
"I didn’t expect Ares Cooper to be hiding their strength."
"With Ares Cooper’s power, claiming the top three in the County Martial Arts Contest before the thirteen trump cards of each county make their move... shouldn’t be too difficult."
"Who would have thought that Ares Cooper’s cultivation could progress so rapidly... Given a few years, a decade maybe, he might become another Wyatt Barnes."
...
The elders and sacrificial officers from Nine Nether County who accompanied him on this trip couldn’t help but sigh.
Even the two inner court elders, Nathanael Knight and Christian Clark, when they looked at Ares again, their eyes carried a hint of approval.
"That auxiliary Divine Ability... seems like it’s..."
As for the Nine Nether County Magistrate ’Braden Morgan’, while staring intensely at Ares, as if recalling something, his pupils suddenly shrunk.
The previously calm expression on his face suddenly transformed, showing astonishment and disbelief, as if he’d seen a ghost.
"Blood Seal Dance Heaven!"
"That’s Blood Seal Dance Heaven!"
...
While Braden Morgan stared at Ares as if he’d seen a ghost, the other magistrates from the fifteen counties also had expressions of shock and disbelief, with several unable to resist exclaiming.
"Blood Seal Dance Heaven... isn’t it a Profound Rank auxiliary Divine Ability that only King Cooper’s direct lineage can train in?"
"How can this kid from Nine Nether County possibly possess a Profound Rank auxiliary Divine Ability exclusive to King Cooper’s bloodline? Where did he learn it from?"
"Stealing a Profound Rank auxiliary Divine Ability exclusive to King Cooper’s bloodline... That’s a capital offense!"
...
As the county magistrates spoke, the large audience around the fighting stage broke into murmurs.
From their words, it seemed they were convinced that the auxiliary Divine Ability Ares displayed was stolen from King Cooper’s lineage.
"Blood Seal Dance Heaven!"
Behind the VIP audience seating, within the curtains, the Third Prince who had just sat down stood up again, the excitement in his eyes flaring up once more, "He... He must be Fourth Brother’s child... Fourth Brother... finally has an heir!"
"Wyatt Barnes, bring Ares Cooper to me."
The Third Prince’s gaze, like a sword, pierced through the curtains, directly ordering the host standing high above the fighting stage, who was looking at Ares with an astonished expression.
"Yes, Third Prince."
After responding, the host of the County Martial Arts Contest immediately looked at Ares standing on the fighting stage and said, "Ares Cooper, the Third Prince wants to see you... Come with me!"
As soon as the host spoke, Ares had yet to react, but the crowd was already in an uproar.
"The Third Prince?!"
Instantly, countless gazes from the audience fixed on the area behind the VIP seats covered by curtains.
However, while everything outside could be easily seen from within the curtains, nothing inside could be seen from outside.
"This kid from Nine Nether County is probably in trouble... The Third Prince intends to hold him accountable!"
"Even though we don’t know where he learned King Cooper’s exclusive auxiliary Divine Ability ’Blood Seal Dance Heaven’... Stealing King Cooper’s exclusive Divine Ability means a death sentence!"
...
Many thought Ares was doomed.
"I suspect the Third Prince isn’t exactly looking to punish... Maybe it’s for recognition?"
"Exactly! And don’t forget... His surname is ’Cooper’, named ’Ares Cooper’."
...
Though most believed Ares was in trouble, a few recalled his name and reckoned he might be a misplaced direct descendant of King Cooper’s lineage.
"I’ve always thought Ares Cooper looked familiar... Now thinking about it, he resembles the ’Fourth Prince’ from back then..."
Nine Nether County Magistrate ’Braden Morgan’ abruptly narrowed his pupils.
