Chapter 414 When Will We Compete Again
A moment later, Knox came in with people from the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance.
The group from the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance consisted of about seven or eight people, all dressed completely differently from modern style. Two of them were even carrying swords.
"Ms. Powell, this is Lavern Almanza, one of the three presidents of the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance," Knox said, pointing to the person at the front as he introduced him to Gwyneth.
Lavern looked about forty years old. He looked at Gwyneth, smiled, and said, "Ms. Powell."
Gwyneth's gaze fell on Lavern. "What brings Lavern here?"
"I heard today is the banquet to publicly announce Ms. Gwyneth Powell's daughter's identity. First, I'm here to congratulate Ms. Gwyneth Powell on her daughter's identity being revealed to the world."
He paused, then continued, "Second, there's actually something I'd like to discuss with Ms. Powell."
"What is it?"
"For hundreds of years, our Ancient Martial Arts Alliance has been dedicated to studying and practicing ancient martial arts, with little contact with the outside world. Recently, after consulting with the other two elders of the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance, we've decided to hold an ancient martial arts competition open to all young people under twenty-two in Novaria. All young people from noble families and various independent organizations can participate."
"This way, our Ancient Martial Arts Alliance will be opening up to external communication. Everyone can compete with each other, learn from one another, and improve their own abilities."
Gwyneth narrowed her eyes slightly. "That does sound good."
However, the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance, which had always focused solely on training, was now taking the initiative to hold a public ancient martial arts competition. Gwyneth felt something was a bit off.
She neither agreed nor disagreed, simply saying, "I understand what you mean, Lavern, but I need to discuss this with the other nobles before making a decision."
"Fine, we can discuss it in detail later then."
Lavern smiled and left with his group.
After watching Lavern and his group leave, Gwyneth looked at Manuel. "What do you think?"
Manuel thought for a moment and said, "If we can use this opportunity to let ancient martial arts professionals openly compete and communicate, that wouldn't be bad."
Gwyneth asked him, "So you think we should hold this ancient martial arts competition?"
"That's right," Manuel said. "This doesn't seem like a bad thing."
Many other nobles present had also heard what Lavern said earlier.
"Ms. Gwyneth Powell, holding this competition can promote the spirit of ancient martial arts, and also serve as a platform for exchange. Gathering all the skilled ancient martial arts professionals in Novaria to compete with each other—why not?"
The others also expressed their agreement.
"These years, while we nobles have been communicating among ourselves, just like the Martial Practices Alliance, we also lack communication with the outside world. I've heard that some folk expert organizations are also powerful. If we can get them to participate in this competition and get to know them, that would be a good thing too!"
"..."
Almost everyone was in favor of the ancient martial arts competition.
Gwyneth wasn't someone who made decisions alone. She glanced at everyone and said, "Since no one objects, let's go with the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance's plan and hold this competition."
Everyone present immediately showed delight.
Isabella was also curious about the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance and wanted to see what this so-called ancient martial arts competition would be like.
Just then, Winford Bautista from the Bautista Family spoke up, "Will every family need to participate in the ancient martial arts competition?"
"Of course," Rocco Fife, the head of the Fife family, said enthusiastically. "All seven major families will send out their own teams."
However, for this kind of competition, family heads and elders naturally wouldn't need to participate—they would send representatives from their younger generation.
"Well, that sounds quite interesting," Rocco said with a sly smile, looking at Gwyneth. "Ms. Powell is so excellent, the Powell family must have many young experts, too, right? The Fife family hopes the Powell family will go easy on us and not make us lose too badly."
Rocco's words seemed to praise the Powell family, but were actually putting pressure on them.
As Novaria's most prominent family, if the Powell family couldn't get first place in this kind of competition, they wouldn't deserve their top position.
Gwyneth naturally knew what Rocco was thinking. Her eyes darkened slightly. "Don't worry, I'll make sure the Powell family's team has the strength to match the Powell family's status."
Rocco sneered coldly. "Ms. Powell is quite confident. Does this mean you've fully recovered from the heavy blow The Whispering Sect dealt to the Powell family four years ago?"
In that incident, seventy-six people from the Powell family died, many of them young children with high talent. So the Powell family's current reserve of young people was extremely lacking, and the other major families naturally knew about this.
Rocco's words made the other nobles present freeze slightly, silently noting Rocco's boldness.
Even Gwyneth's expression turned ugly.
But Rocco didn't care at all. Although the Fife family wasn't one of the top three of the seven major families, they were the strongest among the bottom four.
Rocco had considerable strength and was quite arrogant. Two years ago, in the advanced arena, he had almost beaten Gwyneth. Over these two years, he had repeatedly proposed competing with Gwyneth, but she had refused each time, saying she was too busy with official business.
Rocco grew increasingly dissatisfied.
He felt that after two years of training, in terms of ancient martial arts alone, his strength had long surpassed Gwyneth's.
Gwyneth kept refusing to compete with him—she must be afraid of losing face, so she simply chose to avoid it!
Taking advantage of this moment, Rocco brought it up again. "Ms. Powell, two years ago, I lost to you in the arena. When can we compete again so I can experience Ms. Powell's current strength?"
Gwyneth didn't even bother to look at him. "I've been really busy lately, and I still need to prepare for the upcoming ancient martial arts competition. If you're interested, you can spar with others. I'll pass."
Gwyneth's direct refusal made Rocco's expression darken even more.
He gritted his teeth, then said arrogantly, "As everyone knows, in the advanced arena, besides Ms. Powell, no one is my match. Whether it's the head of the Jordan family or the head of the Banks family, they both lost to me in the end! I really have nothing to compete with them about! I'd much rather spar with Ms. Powell!"
Rocco was determined to fight Gwyneth!
He wanted everyone to know that he was the strongest family head among the seven major families.
And what he just said wasn't wrong either. Among the top three families, besides Gwyneth from the Powell family, the other two family heads—Manuel from the Jordan family and Daron from the Banks family—had indeed both lost to Rocco in the arena.
As the strongest of the bottom four families among the seven major families, Rocco did have some real skills.