Chapter 25
“How impudent!” Many people in the spectator stands who were enjoying this scene rebuked in anger. They only felt that this shameless piece of trash from the Ye Clan was so stupid to the extent of being disagreeable.
“I’m sorry. Hua’er didn’t control her time well. Elder Sister, don’t worry. I won’t hold you up.” On the other hand, Su Lianhua acknowledged and fell back onto the stage.
This time, she really had to thank Ye Qianli again. In truth, she had just cultivated the Jade Rabbit Divine Ability. Her control was not too good, and so she could not fly high in the air for a long time.
“Next, Hua’er will display the power of my talent for everyone,” Su Lianhua said with a faint smile. Her warm and gentle demeanor easily made people have a good impression of her.
This was especially since the talent cultivators were usually all high and mighty so someone who acted this sensitive to the commoner’s needs like Su Lianhua was naturally very popular.
“Go, Miss Su!”
“Miss Su is so beautiful!”
“Wishing Miss Su good health and longevity!…”
In an instant, many groups of people began to cheer, and amidst the waves of cheering that grew louder and louder, 18 enormous drums slowly rose behind the Vermilion Bird’s secondary stage.
Everyone present was familiar with these 18 enormous drum platforms. They all knew that the drum surfaces of any one of them required 500 kilograms of force to make a sound.
The strongest practitioner of mystic energy in the previous Prodigy Conventions could at most use his mystic energy to sound two drums at the same time. Moreover, that was a first-rate mystic cultivator who was not even twenty-five years old.
It was said that an ordinary Mystic King could sound 12 drums. Reportedly, only a supreme powerhouse above the level of a Mystic King could sound 18 drums at the same time.
Therefore, in the previous years, no talent cultivator could sound 18 drums simultaneously. The highest record was said to be 14, which was already extraordinary.
After all, there was a strict rule in the Prodigy Convention—that the participants must be under the age of 25. Of course, the premise in which these records could be maintained was that the Crown Prince Rong Mo had never participated in the Prodigy Convention.
“Miss Su! Miss Su!” Seeing that the 18 drums had been raised to their respective positions, the crowd became even more excited! Numerous orderly chants rose and fell rhythmically.
At this moment, Su Lianhua had already walked over. She stood at the very center of the stage with 18 drums, and white light curled up around her once again.
“Jade Rabbit First Art, Illusory of Life! Quick attack.” Su Lianhua formed seals with her hands and chanted in a gentle voice. Streaks of white light gathered from her body once again and shot out.
Swish! Swish! Swish…
The 18 vivid and lifelike jade rabbits were lined up in front of Su Lianhua just like that jade rabbit that had appeared at the beginning. They followed the direction of her palm and smashed towards the surfaces on the 18 drums.
“Wow, Miss Su wants to challenge pounding the 18 drums at the same time! That’s awesome!”
“I’m so looking forward to it!” The crowd exploded upon seeing this. Even the spectators couldn’t sit still. Even the Holy Emperor, Rong Feng, was a little excited at this moment.
Unfortunately…
Boom—
A series of colliding sounds rang out. However… Not a single drum had been sounded? Uh… this… This was freaking awkward.
“!”
Su Lianhua’s face turned red from embarrassment, especially when it was so quiet behind her right now, and yet she could feel everyone’s eyes focused on her. However, she did not even manage to ring a single drum?!
“Ahem… Miss Su, you can try hitting 14 drums instead.” The host, Luo Xingping, had no choice but to rip open the awkward atmosphere and make an extremely embarrassing suggestion.
“That’s right, that’s right. Miss Su, don’t be anxious.” The onlookers were also very understanding.
However, Su Lianhua could not get past this hurdle in her own heart. Hence, after taking a deep breath, she conjured 16 jade rabbits again. Clearly, she wanted to take a step back and challenge 16 drums as the second-best option.
“Miss Su is amazing!”
“Miss Su, you can do it!” The crowd was also very supportive and cheered for Su Lianhua with all their might. However… After an awkward burst of banging sounds rang out, once again, the conclusion awkwardly announced that Su Lianhua had failed her challenge.
Uh…
This was no longer an ordinary kind of awkwardness.
“…” Luo Xingping did not know how to smooth things over anymore. He had just said that it would be fine to challenge 14 drums. In the previous years, everyone had started challenging from the minority to the majority. It looked like this lady from the Su Residence seemed to be a little too ambitious.
“Hua’er, hit 12 drums. After all, you were injured before.” Ye Fengtian’s voice sounded at this moment though, resolving this awkward situation for Su Lianhua perfectly.
Hearing this, Su Lianhua was touched. This time, she was really touched. Because of Ye Fengtian’s explanation, the crowd suddenly realized and said understandingly, “That’s right, how could we have almost forgotten about this? No wonder.”
After that, Su Lianhua did not try to show off anymore. She directly rang 12 drums and won the applause from the entire stage.
After all, everyone was thinking that she was still injured, and yet she could still sound 12 drums. In that case, if she was not injured, the 14 drums would definitely not be a problem, and even the 16 drums could be successfully challenged.
“Lord Luo, the Vermilion Bird Stage should be opened next. Hua’er needs to go up to the main stage to display her talent and see if she can receive the Vermilion Bird God’s commendation,” Ye Fengtian stated clearly after the loud applause.
“That’s right, it’s time to open the main platform,” said the Western Wilderness King at this moment, too.
“Not opening.” However, Rong Mo—who had been silent since the start of the match and had not said a single word at all—slowly enunciated two words.
“…” Everyone fell silent instantly.
“…” Ye Fengtian and the Western Wilderness King, whose requests had been rejected straight away, only felt extremely embarrassed. Originally, they had thought that, at this point, the Vermilion Bird Main Stage should be opened.
After all, Su Lianhua had already displayed her talent, and her results were considered pretty good. Although she was not the best compared to the previous batches, she was still rather passable. However, why did he refuse to open the main platform?
“May I ask why, Your Highness?” Su Lianhua was even more indignant. Actually, she also knew that the most important function of the Vermilion Bird Main Platform was to reward talent cultivators.
Although this kind of reward wasn’t necessarily guaranteed—once the Vermilion Bird God’s favor was obtained, the power that the Vermilion Bird Platform would send back would bestow upon the talent cultivator unexpected benefits.
Furthermore, even if there were no benefits, as long as the Vermilion Bird God looked upon her with favor, it would definitely be a great honor. This was also the honor that all the talent cultivators in the dynasty yearned for, even in their dreams.
“Next.” However, Rong Mo’s answer immediately severed Su Lianhua’s last hope. However, she simply could not understand why. Why?!
Could it be that just because that moron Ye Qianli offended His Highness, the Crown Prince, before that she, Su Lianhua, would have to meet with misfortune?! Did she have to be implicated? She was indignant and wanted to protest again.
“Let’s invite Ye Qianli onto the stage.” Except that Luo Xingping had already spoken.
When Ye Qianli—who had been waiting below the stage for a long time—heard this, she stood on her tiptoes and lightly soared onto the stage. Her speed was not considered fast, but it gave people a feeling of lightness and grace, like a feather floating in the air.
“Hmm? Why isn’t there any mystic energy, or the aura of any other power?” At the same time, Lord Bai—the white-haired and silver-browed Grand Secretary—keenly caught the fact that this series of actions from Ye Qianli didn’t actually rely on any power?
Could it be…?