Chapter 24
No matter how the different parties speculated about the emperor’s intentions, the Prodigy Convention still began on time. Moreover, Holy Emperor Rong Feng and Crown Prince Rong Mo ascended to the foremost front of the Vermilion Bird Platform under everyone’s expectant gazes. Behind them, all the high-ranking officials and nobles also took their seats along that row best for observing the matches.
“Prodigy Convention!”
“Prodigy Convention!…”
When the Minister of Confucian Rites—Luo Xingping—finished reading out the rules of the convention, the crowd immediately erupted into loud cheers. Even though there had been some baffling situation earlier—where a fool had messed with the stage, this did not hinder people’s expectations for the assembly. Instead, it could be said that it heightened people’s anticipation.
Due to Su Lianhua’s imminent appearance, many people had already heard from various sources that Miss Su Lianhua of the Su Residence was the Jade Rabbit talent cultivator. She had awakened a third-level innate talent.
“Next, we invite the challenger of this year’s Arena Lord, Su Lianhua, to ascend the stage. She will first display her strength before accepting the challenges from the heroes of the world.” As the Minister of Rites, Luo Xingping was also the host of the Prodigy Convention.
However, just as he finished his announcement, the crowd below the stage could not help but ask loudly, “Aren’t you going to open the main stage?”
“That’s right, that’s right! Aren’t you going to open the Vermilion Bird Platform? Isn’t Miss Su a talent cultivator?”
“That’s right, talent cultivators should display their talent on the Vermilion Bird Main Platform, right? This has been the rule of the previous Prodigy Convention gatherings!…” Because they hadn’t opened the Vermilion Bird Main Platform for two consecutive times, many people expressed their desire to see it.
Those who had seen the graceful bearing of the Vermilion Bird Main Platform wanted to experience it again; those who had never seen it before naturally wanted to experience it even more. They had all heard that the Vermilion Bird Main Platform was very spectacular, like a heavenly stage.
Unfortunately…
His Highness, the Crown Prince, disagreed.
Luo Xingping could only give a dignified cough and pretend that he did not hear anything. “Su Lianhua, please come on stage.”
“How can this be? Hua’er, if they don’t open the Vermilion Bird Main Platform, you won’t go up,” Su Qin said as she pulled onto Su Lianhua with a very ugly expression.
“Sister-in-law, I don’t think this is a good idea, right?” After they were seated, Su Qin and Su Lianhua had sat together with the ladies of the Su family. Hence, Cheng Meihua could speak from the side.
“What’s wrong about it? Let your brother-in-law object to it! No one can bully our Hua’er. Hua’er is a talent cultivator so what right do they have to not allow her to ascend the main stage?” Su Qin said protectively.
Hearing that, Cheng Meihua didn’t say anything else. Anyway, she didn’t need to be in the limelight and someone would automatically stand up for her daughter. What would she be unhappy about?
“Aunt, I think I’d better go up. Otherwise, it won’t be good for Uncle either. After all, there is Elder Sister’s matter on top of this,” Su Lianhua claimed considerately nevertheless.
“This evil creature! Don’t bother about her. If I had known that she would cause so much trouble, I should have strangled her to death when she was born. How infuriating.”
As soon as Su Qin thought of Ye Qianli’s foolish behavior just now, she was so angry that her entire body hurt. How did she give birth to such a vile creature? Even if she had to give birth to a piece of barbecued pork back then, it would have been better than giving birth to this evil creature.
“Su Lianhua, please come on stage,” At this point, Luo Xingping was already furrowing his brows as he spoke again, even raising his voice.
When she saw this, Su Lianhua inwardly knew that she could not delay any longer. Even if she delayed any longer, she would not be able to get to the Vermilion Bird Main Platform. She could only stand up decisively and appear before Luo Xingping—like a streak of white light rising from the audience—under everyone’s astonished gazes.
Whoosh—
“Did she display Jade Rabbit’s talent just now? Her speed was so fast that I didn’t even see her exact movements clearly?” As a result, the present crowd erupted into an uproar.
“Lord Luo.” After Su Lianhua went on stage, she bowed to Luo Xingping apologetically. The latter nodded then and followed up with, “Since Miss Su has already come on stage, please exhibit your strength. You know all the rules, right?”
Knowing that Su Lianhua was a talent cultivator, Luo Xingping still expressed his goodwill. That was because everyone hoped to form a good relationship with talent cultivators. After all, they held a lot of potential.
“Yes, Lord Luo.” Su Lianhua nodded. Luo Xingping left the stage, and the entire Vermilion Bird Platform became Su Lianhua’s territory.
This feeling of being the center of attention made Su Lianhua—who was standing alone on the stage, no longer a supporting character, and had no one to steal her limelight—feel excited, delighted, and proud of herself.
She subconsciously looked below the Vermilion Bird Platform at Ye Qianli—who could not even go up to the spectator seats and could only squeeze among the dirty citizens—and could not help but reveal an even more satisfied smile.
Ye Qianli, Ye Qianli, it seems like you truly are hopelessly stupid. You still have to be used by me up till today. Sending yourself to me so that I can step on you.
Su Lianhua thought happily in her heart as she bowed towards the noble guests at the spectator seats.
Shortly after…
Buzz!
Without wasting any more words, Su Lianhua’s entire body glowed with white light, and a snow-white and fluffy jade rabbit appeared out of thin air above her head.
The jade rabbit was not big; it was only the size of a house cat, but it was very agile. It was also emitting a mysterious, heavenly aura from head to toe.
“Up.”
Su Lianhua formed a secret seal with one hand, and the white glow emitting from her body became increasingly dense. It was as if white fog had gathered around her, making her look even more beautiful and moving.
At the same time, the jade rabbit that was originally floating above her head slowly became rather illusory, and the white mist that lingered around Su Lianhua slowly condensed into the shape of a rabbit, enveloping her within.
At the next moment…!
Buzz!
Before many people could clearly see what was going on, Su Lianhua had already soared into the sky. She looked like a fairy as she stepped on white clouds and flew into the sky amidst the heavenly mist curled around her.
“Standing straight in the air without foundation! This is the Imperial Sky Realm that only a Mystic King can reach!” When this scene was revealed, there was an uproar among the people present. Then, more and more excited exclamations began to spread out.
That’s right! Once a talent cultivator awakened their talent, they would already possess the power of a Mystic King, and a Mystic King’s power was something that a mystic cultivator might not be able to achieve… even if they painstakingly cultivated their whole life.
For someone like Ye Fengtian who had a solid foundation and abundant cultivation resources, even he had only just stepped into the Mystic King Realm when he was in his 40s—close to half a century. This was already considered the fastest advancement among the practitioners of mystic energy.
“She is a talent cultivator indeed!”
At this moment, even the high-ranking officials and nobles in the audience were looking into the sky with excited expressions, at the gentle and beautiful Su Lianhua—who resembled a fairy patrolling the skies.
Although she had yet to display any other skills, just with this ability to fly, she had already thrown the heroes of the world hundreds of streets away. After all, which young genius could strike Su Lianhua who was flying in the air? No one.
Therefore, with just this ability alone, she was already fully deserving of the title of this tournament’s Arena Lord in the audience’s eyes. There was no need to show anything else, but…
“Is it over just like that?” Ye Qianli looked at Su Lianhua, who was still flying in the sky, and asked in a speechless manner. If that was the case, then she would be going up next.
Wasn’t this display of talent too retarded? Was she here to show off her talent, or was she here for the beauty pageant? Ye Qianli wanted to hold her forehead. She regretted not going on stage first.