As the evening wore on, bellies warmed with wine mellowed the conversation into a pleasant murmur.
The orchestra’s music died down, and Yu Hongxi walked up to the stage.
Anticipation rose as all eyes turned to the woman in red.
“Thank you, all of you, for coming to my daughter’s birthday celebration.
“Let me get straight to it. As you all know, I’ve put up several Golden Dragon Secret Keys as the highlight of the celebrations today…
“They are limited to those at the Resonant Master Stage, and all who are eligible are welcome. I dare not call our Golden Dragon Dao Fields peerless… but I think they are quite good,” she said with dry wit. She then produced a golden key shaped like a dragon, its scales glittering with a mystical power.
Many eyes were on that golden key between her fingers, and even some Dukes showed interest.
The Golden Dragon Dao Fields were vast, their own world with many different levels. These secret keys might only allow access to the outer level, but the Dukes were interested in the depths.
It was a pity that the Golden Dragon Dao Fields was a closely guarded property, the fruit of countless hours and fortunes poured into the project. Only the Golden Dragon Bank’s people could cultivate inside, while others had to be invited. Not even Dukes were allowed entry freely.
“That’s the Golden Dragon Secret Key?”
Li Luo squinted curiously. He didn’t know much about the Golden Dragon Dao Fields, but it was probably pretty incredible to open a new space out of nowhere.
“Golden Dragon Dao Fields… Creating something so incredible just speaks of the Golden Dragon Bank’s power,” the First Princess said with some awe.
Jiang Qing’e looked at her. The First Princess had always been attracted to power. She herself was one of the most influential people in the royal court, which was the foremost power in the Xia Kingdom. And yet an anomaly like the Golden Dragon Bank was enough to make even her feel powerless.
Still, it was a comment that did not require a comment.
“It seems we have strong competition,” Jiang Qing’e remarked to Li Luo.
He nodded glumly. Yu Hongxi had said that any Resonant Master could participate, which made the odds suck for a first-tier like himself. No matter how strong he was, the odds of him beating third-tiers like Zhu Xuan or Ye Qiuding were very low.
An unfair competition!
“Take heart. I doubt the keys will be decided in a straight-up brawl,” Jiang Qing’e said.
“Mm. Today is Lu Qing’er’s birthday after all. It would be quite unsightly to fight here. The method of the contest must be something else.” The First Princess agreed.
Li Luo nodded. He would see how it went. If there was a chance, he could give it a shot. Otherwise, no point in forcing it.
“This contest for the Golden Dragon Secret Keys will not be a fight of steel and fist,” Yu Hongxi continued. “We will use another method.”
She raised a hand, and her resonant power flowed through the crowd, parting it gently until a wide area was cleared.
Around the area, her resonant power formed a screen of light.
“The Golden Dragon Dao Fields are not without their perils. Inside, one may occasionally encounter the Green Alioth, a savage manifestation of wind-based energy. The Golden Dragon Secret Key will shield you, but it is still a great threat.
“The test will be a simulation of the Green Alioth. All who wish to compete only need to step within the area in front. The one who lasts the longest against the Green Alioth I summon shall win the Golden Dragon Secret Key,” Yu Hongxi said, pointing at the area she had demarcated with resonant power.
There was a loud muttering of surprise at this.
After some deliberation, Zhu Xuan was the first to confidently stride in.
Following which, Ye Qiuding, Mo Ling, Wang Hejiu, Duze Beixuan, and a few others followed.
Soon enough, there were a dozen people in the middle, all the elite seeds of the Astral Sage College.
“So that’s how it is…”
Li Luo smiled to himself. In a straight fight, he would have slim odds of beating third-tier Resonant Masters like Zhu Xuan and the others. But in endurance…
He had created his Unyielding Form after being beaten up by Jiang Qing’e in the last few days! He could use it!
“No need to thank me,” Jiang Qing’e said with a kind smile.
Li Luo scowled at her. This plump swan was getting ahead of herself. After all the pecking of the last few days, she expected thanks?
Black-hearted!
He ignored her, walking up into the space.
Lu Qing’er clenched her fists tightly when she saw him move forward. Her face was emotionless, but inside, she rooted for him.
Yu Hongxi’s eyes did not miss Lu Qing’er’s excitement. She knew her daughter too well.
Her daughter was excited and nervous.
But skilled as Li Luo was, he was only a first-tier. It would be an uphill climb to best out the third-tier competitors.
Li Luo noticed a reticent Qin Zhulu right beside him. “You’re interested in such celebrations too? Interested in the secret key?”
Qin Zhulu looked at him. “My dad made me come,” he grunted. “He said it was this, or accompany him to the brothel.”
Li Luo swallowed. “Damn, your father’s a real madman. Are you sure you’re really his son?”
He threw Qin Zhulu a look of sympathy, but he was not sure of what else to say.
The competitors assembled, Yu Hongxi took out a jade bottle that was carved with intricate runes of light. The sound of howling began.
“Prepare yourselves.”
With a smile, she flicked a bead of resonant power at the jade bottle’s opening, then a powerful, green gale blasted towards Li Luo and the others.