“It's the future success that truly counts."

Was that really an Oracle Stone? The mere sight of it left everyone in shock.

Mr. Barnes, however, smiled confidently.

"In the martial arts world, one's talents shape the future. Why not have these two compete based on their inherent abilities? The one with a brighter future in martial arts should be deemed worthy of Maria."

Confusion spread among the crowd. Anthony was from the Wilson family.

The Wilson family of Sheffield was practically unknown in martial arts circles.

Roy, equally perplexed, had been raised as the family's black sheep, constantly reminded that his inheritance would provide a life of luxury without the need for ancient martial arts training.

Consequently, Roy was unaware of his own martial prowess. Roy had merely observed his two older brothers and younger sister devote themselves to rigorous practice. Their dedication had paid off, transforming them into skilled young pill alchemists and healers.

They had even gained membership in esteemed associations.

"Grandma, Mr. Barnes will undoubtedly win this," Barbara whispered to Mrs. Jenkins.

“Oh?" Mrs. Jenkins raised an eyebrow, prompting Barbara to elaborate in hushed tones.

“Even if Anthony possesses some martial arts talent, he stands no chance against Roy. Mr. Barnes possesses unique acupuncture therapies that can momentarily unlock a person's latent potential. When used during the Oracle Stone evaluation, these techniques significantly enhance talent, almost amplifying it by one and a half times!

The Barnes' stature in society is largely due to their exceptional lineage and natural abilities. Even if Roy's inherent talent is average, say a level four, the acupuncture treatment will elevate him to a level six during the test.

However, the Wilsons are not known for their martial arts prowess.

It's highly unlikely Anthony possesses any significant talent. And even if by some stroke of luck he does, reaching a level four or five would be miraculous."

As Barbara concluded her analysis, Mr. Barnes reassured Mrs. Jenkins in a soft tone, "You can trust me, Mrs. Jenkins. I always come prepared. Though Roy hasn't trained in ancient martial arts, I secretly assessed his talent as a child. As Barbara mentioned, Roy is a level four healer. With my acupuncture therapy, he'll easily reach level six..."

Mr. Barnes had his strategy set. If Anthony accepted the challenge for a talent showdown, victory was within Roy's grasp with the help of his tricks. The only hitch would be if Anthony declined.

“Alright, let's try it then."

Surprisingly, Anthony agreed readily, catching Mr. Barnes and Mrs. Jenkins off guard.

They wondered if Anthony had assessed his ancient martial talent and found it exceptional. It was a plausible scenario.

While Mr. Barnes and Mrs. Jenkins pondered this, they remained inwardly scornful. With the aid of Mr. Barnes' unique acupuncture therapies, Roy's ancient martial abilities were extraordinary. Anthony might have believed he had a reason to be proud, yet little did he know he was bound to face disappointment.

"Damn it! Anthony had fallen for their trap!" Canaan cursed internally, realizing he had been outmaneuvered. But with Anthony's public acceptance, it was too late for him to intervene.

Reuben followed instructions, bringing in an Oracle Stone about waist-high and placing it in the center of the gathering.

"Who will go first?" Mrs. Jenkins asked, a sly smile on her face.