“Ladies and gentlemen of various races, it is an honor to have you all here.”

In the center of the open-air fountain square, a bishop of beauty with fiery red hair, a tall stature, a handsome and sunny face, and clad in a red robe, served as the host of the competition, addressing the surrounding audience and participants with a loud voice.

“Beauty never lacks an audience, and beautiful things always delight our hearts.”

“We all live in the glow of the Goddess of Beauty.”

“To allow more creatures to appreciate and recognize the existence of beauty, the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty has organized this competition.”

The voice paused for a moment, and the bishop of beauty continued with a smile: “Perhaps, some of you here may think that a beauty contest is superficial and boring, but this is a misunderstanding of beauty.”

“Beauty is not only reflected in an outstanding appearance.”

“Temperament, cultivation, knowledge, wisdom, health. Beauty is diverse, and each has its own merits.”

“The overall champion of this competition will be officially recognized by the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty as the ‘Flower of the World,’ protected by all temples of the Goddess of Beauty, and receive—the blessing of the Goddess of Beauty!”

Upon hearing this, including Saga, many participants were slightly taken aback, then showed serious expressions.

“The Flower of the World. Who came up with this title?”

“In the future, when declaring one’s identity, to say ‘I am the King of the Near Seas, the Emperor Dragon of Armageddon, and… the Flower of the World!’ would just collapse the whole thing.”

Saga inwardly scoffed, criticizing the title given by the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty.

However, the subsequent protection from the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty and the blessing of the Goddess of Beauty are tangible and excellent rewards.

Especially the blessing of the Goddess of Beauty.

Because of his high looks, it is easy to get protection around the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty, so there is not much difference in that.

But the blessing of the Goddess of Beauty is different.

A blessing from a deity is not just empty words, but a miracle with real benefits.

The blessing of a deity is also a divine gift, which consumes a lot of the deity’s transcendent divine power, and those who receive such blessings are few and far between.

“Only the Goddess of Beauty would bestow such a blessing, even if the target is not her own follower, as long as they are good-looking enough.”

“Normal deities would bless their own devout followers.”

Saga thought silently.

Meanwhile.

Turning his head, looking at the contestants from different races but each with their own charm, waiting in the contestant seats, the bishop of beauty loudly said:

“Contestants with unique transcendent beauty, please be mentally prepared.”

The voice paused, and after taking a deep breath, the bishop of beauty shouted: “Get ready to dance on this stage where you can fully showcase your beauty!”

After the passionate opening remarks.

Next, the bishop of beauty announced the competition rules.

Unlike the large-scale young dragon competition in Deep Sea Dragon City, which required round after round of battles to compete for the championship, the beauty contest was relatively simple, with a voting rule that could be completed in just a few days.

The Temple of the Goddess of Beauty would have three bishops and seven priests as the main judges, each bishop and priest having ten votes.

At the same time, the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty randomly selected five hundred audience members to participate as ordinary judges, who could also vote, each with one vote.

A total of six hundred votes, with the number of votes received by the contestants determining the winner, simple and brutal.

In addition to the overall champion of the Flower of the World, the competition also set up other titles, through multiple rounds of voting, such as the Dazzling Charm Award, the Most Affable Award, the Graceful Posture Award, the Extraordinary Temperament Award, the Supreme Appearance Award, and so on.

In fact, the overall champion was the contestant who won the most sub-awards.

Now, the selection for the Dazzling Charm Award as the first event began.

Including Saga, a total of more than thirty contestants from different species, each with their own characteristics, gathered in the center of the stage, which was transformed into a dazzling and colorful square, under the spotlight.

Thirty-something contestants didn’t seem like many.

However, this was actually what remained after the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty’s preliminary selection.

Saga and Charlotte registered directly and qualified for the competition because of their outstanding looks, but besides them, many came to the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty to sign up but were rejected for not meeting the qualifications.

In the audience area.

There were some creatures with strong jealousy, who considered themselves beautiful but were screened out in the preliminary selection, now casting envious and resentful glances at the many beautiful creatures in the square, feeling aggrieved.

“Charm is an important display of beauty.”

“Anything extremely beautiful must possess transcendent charm.”

“Let’s begin, send love to our favorite contestants, vote for the most charming existence!”

Voting was done through a magical method, with a bright red heart floating above each contestant’s head. Whenever an audience member voted for them, the heart would throb, and the number inside would increase by one.

It’s worth mentioning that the Goddess of Beauty is also the Goddess of Love, possessing the power of love, and the heart is also one of Her symbols. The bishop of beauty is also known as the bishop of the heart, and the same goes for the other guardians and priests, which is why the symbol of the heart is used here.

At the same time.

As the bishop of beauty’s words fell, the Dazzling Charm Award officially began.

Suddenly, the contestants became active, displaying their charm in various ways.

A handsome young elf in a green robe summoned a huge harp, sat floating in the air, gently strummed the strings, slightly tilted his head back, revealing a fair and exquisite profile, looking up at the sky at a precise 45-degree angle, his eyes filled with a mesmerizing sense of brokenness.

Thump, thump, thump!

The heart throbbed, and the number of votes quickly surpassed ten, gaining fierce momentum.

Elves give the impression of beauty and handsomeness to most creatures, indeed fitting the aesthetic of many species.

At the same time, a Phoenix bathed in flames spread its wings proudly, as if its fiery feathers danced without wind, its elegant and beautiful posture, and its vast and passionate life force formed a captivating charm.

Thump, thump, thump… The number in the heart also instantly broke ten and was rapidly rising.

The Phoenix’s splendor and beauty won people’s hearts.

A human female Caster with white hair and red eyes, petite and exquisite, rode on a majestic white tiger, her expression cold as if rejecting others from a thousand miles away, combined with the fierce beast beneath her, forming a picture of beauty and the beast, equally dazzling.

Unfortunately, compared to the elf and the Phoenix, this human female Caster was less impressive, especially since she was right between the two.

In comparison, the heart above her head throbbed weakly a few times, and the number inside slowly increased.

Besides, there were also the agile and proud magic wolves, the small and adorable fairies, the muscular and wild minotaurs, etc., but their heart values were not much different, lower than the melancholic elf and the splendid Phoenix.

Saga looked towards the heart-stealing demon Augustus.

This psychic demon, still polite under the spotlight, gently stroked his facial tentacles with one hand and held the other behind his back. His tall and slender figure stood straight, his slimy skin glistening with moisture, and his eyes shone with profound wisdom, exuding a strange yet sufficiently attractive charm.

However, perhaps due to prejudice or because the image of the heart-stealing demon was indeed not favored.

He only received a dozen hearts, ranking at the bottom among the many contestants.

At this moment, Saga withdrew his gaze and let out a breath.

“Since I’m here, I might as well take it seriously.”

Although it felt a bit like showing off, influenced by the surrounding atmosphere and the idea of having come all this way, Saga also chose to actively participate.

If not competing, then aim for the championship.

After pondering for a few seconds and having a little thought, the previously inconspicuous handsome dragonkin youth stepped forward.

Hum!

Accompanied by a deep dragon chant, a dazzling golden light shone, instantly attracting the attention of the entire venue, becoming the focal point.

As the light faded.

A large Golden Dragon, surpassing the size of other contestants, made its appearance.

Twisting towards the sky, its towering horns like a crown, each dragon scale shining brightly like diamonds and as noble as gold, intricately inlaid with each other, forming a splendid scale armor, and the robust body and wings that covered the sky, all exuded a captivating special charm.

The Golden Dragon entered the vision of many spectators, becoming the most noticeable, immediately causing waves of admiration.

“Wow, what a handsome dragon.”

“What kind of dragon is this, seeing it for the first time, a Golden Dragon? Or a Gemstone Dragon?”

“The King of the Near Seas? Oh, isn’t this the dragon lord of the Near Seas? I didn’t expect the renowned King of the Near Seas to participate in a beauty contest, it’s surprising to see such a hobby.”

Some well-informed Casters recognized Saga’s identity as the King of the Near Seas.

It was foreseeable that the King of the Near Seas’ participation in the beauty contest would also spread, adding an interesting experience to his reputation.

In the future, there might even be comparisons like “Who is more beautiful, me or the King of the Near Seas?”

Bang, bang, bang!

Unable to stop the throbbing hearts, Saga’s love value soared, quickly surpassing the previously most loved melancholic elf and splendid Phoenix, standing out as the highest in the venue.

To this, Saga remained calm, reacting nonchalantly, with only a trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth, feeling as if he was about to float away.

This feeling was completely different from standing out in a combat competition, each with its own characteristics.

At the same time, Tixil the Amethyst Dragon also followed Saga’s conspicuous method, revealing her true form amidst a burst of purple brilliance.

The visual impact of this second transformation was very direct.

Her gem-like purple scales were stunning, standing tall from head to tail, and her psychic spines, which moved with her emotions, were strange and unique. Tixil the Amethyst Dragon sat gracefully, her demeanor elegant and serene, like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley, possessing an intellectual charm.

Thump, thump, thump!

The heart throbbed vigorously, the number rising sharply, although not as much as Saga’s, it reached a value similar to the melancholic elf and the splendid Phoenix.

“Hmph, you two have been showing off, now it’s the most beautiful dragon’s turn.”

Charlotte lifted her head proudly.

In an instant, a five-colored brilliance shone, and due to the dazzling array of colors, it even overshadowed Saga’s golden glow and Tixil’s purple brilliance.

In a flash, the Gemstone Dragon stood tall in her true form.

Snow white, fiery red, deep purple, light blue, and jet black, the five-colored luster based on golden scales were arranged in an orderly and regular pattern on the Gemstone Dragon’s body, stunning and dazzling, as if one more glance would melt the onlooker, instantly becoming the most eye-catching dragon in the venue.

“Is there another master?”

“What kind of dragon is this, so beautiful.”

“Lucky, it’s rare to see dragons on ordinary days, and now I’ve seen three at once, and they’re all very special.”

The audience discussed enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, under the spotlight, Charlotte felt pleased, her natural transcendent charm sweeping across the venue, the heart throbbing non-stop, quickly reaching a level on par with Saga’s.

After confirming that Charlotte’s transcendent charm was not due to magic or other means, but natural charm.

The bishops of the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty were amazed.

In the lively atmosphere, time kept passing, hearts throbbed non-stop, rising and then gradually stabilizing at a steady value.

In the end.

Before the bishops and priests had voted, with a total of five hundred votes.

Among all contestants, Charlotte and Saga, two dragons, one with 159 votes and the other with 143 votes, together cut down three hundred votes, leading by a landslide.

At that moment, Charlotte winked at Saga, her eyes unmasked with pride, as if to say, “See, I told you I’m the most beautiful.”

With her natural transcendent charm, Charlotte surpassed Saga in charm.

Saga was not discouraged by this result.

After all, he was well aware of his partner’s high level of charm. Although Charlotte was very self-absorbed, she had the capital to be so, her natural charm even surpassing the effect of ordinary magical enchantments.

Then came the time for the bishops and priests of the Temple of the Goddess of Beauty to vote.

“The Gemstone Dragon with transcendent charm, the captivating Golden Dragon, the Amethyst Dragon with the temperament of a secluded orchid, the melancholic charming elf, the splendid Phoenix bathed in fire—who will take the Dazzling Charm Award? Let’s wait and see, and start the final round of voting!”

The bishop of beauty, serving as the host, said aloud.

At the same time, other bishops and priests began to vote.

Bang, bang, bang… The hearts trembled non-stop.

Saga and Charlotte’s heart values rose again, increasing by thirty and forty respectively, receiving votes from seven temple judges, and then Tixil the Amethyst Dragon, the melancholic elf, and the Phoenix each received one vote from a temple judge.

In the end, Charlotte won the Dazzling Charm Award with a heart value of one hundred ninety-nine, leading the field.

“I told you, the overall championship is mine.”

“Ah, a competition without any twists and turns feels a bit boring,” Charlotte sighed with feigned regret, her eyebrows raised with joy as she spoke.

If she were a balloon, Charlotte would have inflated to the skies by now.

“Congratulations to Dragon Lady Charlotte for winning the Dazzling Charm Award.”

“And besides charm, appearance is an important aspect of beauty. Ladies and gentlemen, don’t go away, the competition for the Supreme Appearance Award is about to begin.”

The bishop of beauty looked at Charlotte and asked:

“Miss Charlotte, your charm is indisputable, do you have confidence in winning the upcoming Supreme Appearance Award?”

Charlotte was very confident.

“Who else but me?”

“All awards will belong to me, and I will become the overall champion of the Flower of the World.”

She said proudly with conviction.

“Miss Charlotte is very confident, ladies and gentlemen, let’s wait and see if she can continue her winning streak and take the Supreme Appearance Award.”

The beauty contest was swift and efficient.

After the Dazzling Charm Award, the competition continued in a lively atmosphere, beginning the battle for the Supreme Appearance Award.

Then, after a period of voting.

Charlotte incredulously looked up at her heart value, then at Saga’s heart value above his head.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, Charlotte smiled in understanding.

“Sure enough, the Goddess of Beauty is jealous of me, meddling with some behind-the-scenes manipulation.”

Only because Saga won with two hundred and three votes, surpassing the other contestants.

In fact, there was no jealousy from the Goddess of Beauty; Saga rightfully won the Supreme Appearance Award.

“The Gemstone Dragon is very beautiful, but a bit too bright and eye-catching, too much of a good thing can be bad, and it’s a bit visually tiring.”

“The Golden Dragon is just right, radiantly extraordinary, but not too dazzling, the gold and diamond-like dragon scales have won my heart.”

“The other contestants also have their own merits, but they are clearly a notch below these two dragons.”

The audience discussed among themselves.

After the selection for the Dazzling Charm Award and the Supreme Appearance Award ended, the competition took a brief pause.

“Are you happy, Saga? Your appearance has been so widely recognized.”

Tixil the Amethyst Dragon swayed her tail and said.

Across from her, the Golden Dragon shook his head and said indifferently, “It’s alright.”

“Just alright?”

Tixil timely took over the conversation, asking with a smile.

“I was certain I would win this award before the competition even started.”

The Golden Dragon raised his head, showing a melancholic and wistful expression like the elf before, and said softly:

“After all, my appearance is too outstanding. Wherever I go, I’m like the bright moon in the darkness, drawing endless attention.”

Damn it, he’s showing off.

Watching Saga’s smug look, Charlotte, who didn’t win the Supreme Appearance Award, felt an itch to bite him a few times.

“Hmph, there must be some foul play.”

Charlotte consoled herself.

Then, Saga and Tixil returned to the inn together, waiting for the next day’s competition.

During this time.

Some contestants who were dissatisfied with their defeat, as well as those who didn’t even pass the preliminary selection and were still unhappy after watching the competition.

Walking on the bustling streets, they suddenly heard a tempting whisper in their ears.

“Do you want to become beautiful? Do you want to become enchanting and dazzlingly charming?”

“Join the Sect of Pleasure, indulge in joy, desire, and love, and you will gradually become as beautiful as a flower, irresistible to anyone.”