Lu Hong had initially thought he would fight his way through the top 25, but to everyone's confusion, he skipped two rounds. He bypassed the competition for the top 13 and went straight into the top four matches.
Lu Hong was curious about why, knowing his identity, the Four Great Dukes still let him advance.
The Four Great Dukes had no choice but to maintain the alliance's dignity; besides themselves, not many people knew Lu Hong's identity. Therefore, the dukes didn't dare risk Lu Hong defeating their candidates during the top 13 again. As the end of the tournament approached, it became crucial for the families of the four dukes to not lose face, more important than anything else. Setting Lu Hong and the First Female Champion of the Holy Academy aside, having a representative from each of the Four Great Families in the top seven was a tremendous boon.
