Chapter 2757: Duan Ling Tian’s Turn
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom was a tall and well-built middle-aged man with a square face. He was dressed in a golden dragon robe, and his long jet-black hair draped on his back. Although his face was expressionless, he emitted a dignified air. A middle-aged man followed closely behind him when he entered. Apart from that, another six old men stood at his sides, protecting him in all directions.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
The crowd in Xu Rong Pavilion immediately bowed and paid their respect in unison when the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom arrived.
The only people who did not react were Duan Ling Tian, Huan’er, and a young woman who stood with Long Xiang Yun. The young woman was none other than Zhou Shu Qiu, the fourth miss of the Zhou clan
Since everyone was bowing, the three people who did not bow, naturally, stood out.
However, when Long Dong Ping, the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, saw Zhou Shu Qiu, he greeted her kindly with a smile on his face. “Shu Qiu is here as well?”
“Your Majesty.” Faced with the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, Zhou Shu Qiu merely nodded faintly in response.
However, not only was Long Dong Ping not angered, but he even walked up to Zhou Shu Qiu and said with a smile, “Shu Qiu, how many times must I say it, I’m your uncle… No matter where we are, you can just address me as your uncle. There’s no need to be so courteous.”
“Your Majesty, we’re in public after all. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to address you as such,” Zhou Shu Qiu said with a shake of her head.
“You’re too stubborn. No one can change your mind once you have set your mind to it. You have been like this since young.” Long Dong Ping shook his head. As soon as he finished his sentence, he turned to Long Xiang Yun who was standing beside Zhou Shu Qiu and solemnly said, “You better bring Shu Qiu around and treat her well… Don’t blame me for punis.h.i.+ng you if Shu Qiu is unhappy!”
“Don’t worry, father, Shu Qiu is my cousin. I’ll take care of her and treat her well,” Long Xiang Yun hurriedly answered. In the meantime, he was wondering to himself why his cousin was interested in today’s selection. She even brought his younger cousin, Zhou Shu Dong, as well.
“Shu Qiu, I still have to preside over the selection… If there’s anything you need, just speak to Xiang Yun. If he makes you unhappy, tell me, and I’ll punish him!” Long Dong Ping said affectionately. His words made it seem like Zhou Shu Qiu was his child rather than Long Xiang Yun.
“En.” Zhou Shu Qiu nodded and remained silent.
As Long Dong Ping was leaving, the middle-aged man behind him and the six old men surrounding him also greeted Zhou Shu Qiu in unison. “Miss Shu Qiu!”
Their voices were filled with admiration when they greeted her, they did not dare to show her any disrespect. If another woman were to receive such treatment, everyone would have been shocked. Long Dong Ping aside, the seven men around him were all the pillars of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. Most of them were heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials, only two of them were earth-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials. However, earth-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials who were tasked to protect the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom were, naturally, extraordinary earth-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials. They were stronger than most of the earth-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials in the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom and almost as strong as heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials.
Although Long Dong Ping was the emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom and the men around him were all high-ranking officials, Zhou Shu Qiu’s ident.i.ty was rather special. She was the direct disciple of the former Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Sect, one of the Three Major Celestial Sects of the Wasteland. She was also the junior sister of the current Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect. How could Long Dong Ping or his men compare to someone like her?
Long Dong Ping made his way to the stone platform in the middle of this majestic hall when he saw Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er from the corners of his eyes.
‘Who are these two people? Even Shu Qiu didn’t do anything against them..’ This might be Long Dong Ping’s first time meeting Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er, but as the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, he had long heard about the duo. He had even tried to investigate the duo’s background. However, he had yet to discover anything useful in this short span of time. ‘The Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom’s intelligence network is not comparable to the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect’s intelligence network… Since Shu Qiu did not act even after learning her sister has suffered at their hands, they must have an extraordinary background.’ Therefore, he did not make a fuss even when he saw Duan Ling Tian and Huan’Er did not bow when he arrived. If it was anyone else, he would have been furious by this show of disrespect and would have ordered for them to be punished
‘Hm? Didn’t they say the white-clad woman is younger than 100 years old? It seems to be just a rumor.’ After extending his Divine Consciousness, Long Dong Ping discovered that Huan’er was not younger than 100 years old. He had thought rumors could not be trusted at all, upon discovering this. However, he did not plan to do anything. After all, even Zhou Shu Qiu avoided offending them.
“Brother Ling Tian… The emperor just probed me with his Divine Consciousness.” Huan’er was an earth-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial. Therefore, she had easily detected the Long Dong Ping’s Divine Consciousness. His cultivation base was just a stage higher than hers.
“I think he’s trying to detect your age… He’s still not strong enough to detect your cultivation base though,” Duan Ling Tian said.
Although Huan’Er did not have the defective metal piece to protect her soul and conceal her cultivation base, as a Thousand Phantom Ice Fox, her soul was protected by a special force exclusive to her kind. Many would find it difficult to sense her cultivation base and aura.
“Welcome, everyone.” Shortly after, Long Dong Ping stepped up on the stone platform in the center of Xu Rong Pavilion’s main hall. Then, he looked around and said, “I believe everyone is aware of the rules today so I’ll go straight to the point.” He did not waste any time and declared the start of the selection.
Just as Long Dong Ping had a.s.sumed, everyone was aware of the rules of the selection. The powerhouses younger than 100 years old recruited by the Mansions and the princes would fight. The top 50 partic.i.p.ants would represent the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom to compete in the Wasteland Grand Contest.
The 50 partic.i.p.ants who were selected were not allowed to switch who they represented and were not allowed to represent more than one person or Mansion. For instance, the Violet Sun Golden Celestial, Feng Wu Ji Guang, from Grand Prestige Palace had chosen to represent the seventh prince. If he were selected, he would not be allowed to switch to represent Grand Prestige Mansion or represent both the seventh prince and the Mansion. He would have to continue representing the seventh prince in the Wasteland Grand Contest. This was to avoid the same person helping a prince and a Mansion to win.
After a short moment, the selection finally began.
Due to Feng Wu Ji Guang’s presence, the Indigo Sun Golden Celestials younger than 100 years old who were recruited by the Mansions no longer seemed extraordinary.
“Feng Wu Ji Guang has yet to fight… However, there’s no doubt he’ll win a place among the 50 spots. In fact, it’s not surprising if he places first in the selection! Due to his help, there’s a good chance the seventh prince would be rewarded.”
Many people in Xu Rong Pavilion shared the opinion that Feng Wu Ji Guang had a high chance of ranking first in the selection.
As time pa.s.sed, Feng Wu Ji Guang remained undefeated. The top 50 partic.i.p.ants were slowly made clear.
At this moment, the seventh prince, Long Qing Yun, who was standing in the distance began to mock Long Fei Yun, the thirteenth prince, again. He sent a Voice Transmission to Long Fei Yun. “Thirteenth brother, are you men still not here? It seems like you know your chance of winning the reward is zero so you’ve given up… I have to say, you really shouldn’t give up even if you don’t stand a chance to win. Father might still praise you if your men manage to place in the top 50 places. By failing to recruit even one powerhouse will only show father how useless you are. Father will only despise you even more…” He laughed inwardly the more he thought about it.
Upon hearing Long Qing Yun’s words, Long Fei Yun sneered. “The powerhouse I recruited is already here, I am afraid you’d need to go for an eye examination.”
Long Qing Yun was about to retort to Long Fei Yun for implying that he was blind when…
Whoos.h.!.+
Duan Ling Tian moved toward Feng Wu Ji Guang like a missile honed in on its target.