Chapter 203: A Gathering of Talents

Today's Eldest Princess wore a gorgeous palace gown, her long hair pinned up with a golden dangling hairpin slanted through it, swaying gently and flashing with specks of golden light.

The Eldest Princess's figure was somewhat tall and slender, with an excellent waist-to-body ratio; her fair, elegant neck led down to a breathtaking curve of majestic peaks, and below those waves came a slim waist and long, straight legs.

Her face, a vision of national beauty and heavenly fragrance, radiated an aura of nobility.

One had to admit that even Li Luo had to acknowledge that within the Sacred Profound Star Academy, the Eldest Princess was likely one of the few who could match Jiang Qing'e in looks and bearing.

At this moment, the Eldest Princess's beautiful face bore a gentle smile as she gazed at Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e.

"Greetings to the Eldest Princess."

Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e stepped forward as well and offered their greetings.

The Eldest Princess exchanged a few words with Jiang Qing'e in a gentle tone, then turned her gaze toward Li Luo and said with a smile, "Li Luo should already know about that matter, yes?"

Li Luo understood that what she referred to was surely the matter of treating the young Emperor, so he nodded at once and said, "I will do my best to give it a try, but the Eldest Princess shouldn't hold too great an expectation."

The Eldest Princess said softly, "You need not have any qualms; over these years, I have long grown accustomed to it."

In truth, how could she harbor any expectation? Inviting Li Luo to treat the young Emperor was merely to draw closer to Jiang Qing'e, and she understood that both sides were well aware of this without needing to say it aloud.

Li Luo nodded. Although he understood this point as well, he still had to set expectations in advance.

"Let's go, head inside first." The Eldest Princess gave the two of them a Si Si Yingying smile, then turned and led them into the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, lamps blazed bright as broad daylight.

Upon entering, a wave of bustling, clamorous noise rushed toward them, lifting their spirits slightly.

The spacious hall held no few figures, clustered in groups of two or three, chatting and laughing about this and that, and everyone able to be here was no ordinary status, each backed by a force of no small strength.

"Jiang Qing'e, House Luolan House has had quite a few worries lately, hasn't it? I didn't expect you two would still be in the mood to attend a banquet?" The moment the three of them stepped into the hall, a flat, indifferent voice drifted over from the side.

Li Luo looked over—those fiery red lips belonged to Duze Duze Honglian, and beside her, Duze Duze Beixuan was also staring at him with a faint, cold smirk.

"I also didn't expect that someone I bloodwashed once at the ranking battle would actually be in the mood to attend a banquet like this," Jiang Qing'e said flatly.

Duze Duze Honglian's willow brows shot upward.

"Duze Honglian, given today's atmosphere, don't let people make a laughingstock of us." The Eldest Princess beside them spoke up with a smile.

Clearly, Duze Duze Honglian was somewhat wary of the Eldest Princess, so she immediately reined in her anger, raised the wine cup in her hand, and offered it toward the Eldest Princess: "The Eldest Princess speaks rightly."

Then her eyes swept indifferently over Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo once before she turned and left with Duze Duze Beixuan.

"This Duze Duze Honglian has been suppressed by you for so many years, it seems her grudge is really no small thing," the Eldest Princess said, somewhat helplessly.

"A defeated foe can only bluster with her tongue. It seems next time we meet, I'll have to strike harder, or she won't learn her lesson," Jiang Qing'e said calmly.

The Eldest Princess was rendered speechless—so Jiang Qing'e actually held grudges quite well too.

Then she shifted the topic, looked toward Li Luo, and said with a beaming smile, "Today quite a few young talents have come for the Golden Dragon Secret Key. Li Luo, you happen to meet the conditions, so you can go give it a try when the time comes."

Li Luo smiled and said, "The competition is no small matter. I can only say I'll try my best and see if I have that luck."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the brightly lit banquet hall, and then he spotted a familiar figure.

That figure was burly as a fierce beast, silently standing by a pillar, not conversing with anyone, radiating an aura that warned strangers to stay away.

Qin Qin Zhulu.

This fellow had actually been invited too? But then again, it wasn't strange—Qin Qin Zhulu's father was the Grand General of the Great Xia Wang Ting, so his status and position were extremely high, and naturally he would be invited.

Apart from Qin Qin Zhulu, Li Luo noticed quite a few familiar figures; students from the same academy grade, such as Wang Wang Hejiu, were all present, and at this moment, he was walking over to greet Duze Duze Beixuan.

Moreover, not only were there students from the same academy grade, but there were even students from the Two-Star Academy.

For instance, that Ye Ye Qiuding whom he and Jiang Qing'e had encountered before was there, and beside him stood another familiar figure whose gaze was looking at him with some annoyance.

Li Luo's gaze met his briefly, and he recognized him—seemed to be that fellow who had helped Song Song Qiuyu in Tianshu Prefecture before, called Mo Ling, right? From the Ink House.

Li Luo paid him no particular attention, and then he saw a figure walking toward their side, attracting quite a few gazes along the way.

That figure was tall and straight, his bearing no ordinary—none other than Gong Gong Shenjun.

He came straight toward where they were, then raised his cup in greeting and smiled, "Junior Jiang and Junior Li Luo have come too?"

Hearing this, both of them nodded to him.

Gong Gong Shenjun smiled at the Eldest Princess and said, "Recently Luan Yu and Junior Jiang's relationship seems to be getting better and better."

The Eldest Princess's smile bloomed like flowers: "The relationship between us women, you needn't be envious, right?"

Gong Gong Shenjun smiled, then said in a low voice, "There was movement among the guards at the royal palace today—did you bring the King out?"

The Eldest Princess said, "Your Imperial Brother's information is really well-informed."

"After all, such a big matter..."

Gong Gong Shenjun looked at Li Luo and said, "Is it because you wanted Junior Li Luo to give it a try? Actually, you could have just invited Junior Li Luo to the royal palace later."

"But since the person is already out, there's no point saying all this now. Just be a little more careful next time—after all, the King's safety is of paramount importance."

Gong Gong Shenjun reminded her.

The Eldest Princess smiled and nodded: "Imperial Brother speaks rightly; I shall be more careful in the future."

Gong Gong Shenjun then smiled at Li Luo and said, "As for the King's matter, I'll have to trouble Junior Li Luo. Don't feel any pressure—just consider it one attempt."

Having said this, he gave Jiang Qing'e a gentle smile, then turned and left.

Jiang Qing'e gazed at his retreating back, her eyes glimmering slightly as she said, "Senior Gong Gong Shenjun is indeed a dragon among men. The Wang Ting truly produces outstanding talents—what a blessing."

The Eldest Princess said nothing, her face of national beauty and heavenly fragrance carrying a Si Si Yingying smile as she raised her wine cup and clinked it gently against Jiang Qing'e's.

Li Luo kept a smile at the side as well. Sometimes, when there are too many outstanding talents, it may not necessarily be a blessing.

While they were talking here, a lively commotion drifted in from outside the banquet hall, and then everyone saw Yu Yu Hongxi and Lv Qing'er entering amid a crowd.

Yu Yu Hongxi walked at the very front, and beside her was a red-haired middle-aged man whose bearing surged forth as he walked, like an enraged lion.

"That is the Master of Extreme Flame Manor, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo."

Jiang Qing'e said a word to Li Luo, and Li Luo's gaze was fixed on the area behind Yu Yu Hongxi and Zhu Zhu Qinghuo—where Lv Qing'er was, and beside her stood a youth with a tall, straight build.

The youth likewise had a head of red hair, a handsome face, and a hint of domineering air in his glances.

"That is Senior Zhu Zhu Xuan, son of Zhu Zhu Qinghuo, currently a student of the Two-Star Academy. The 'Fire Immortal Squad' he leads has claimed first place in the Two-Star Academy this time."

Hearing the voice transmitted from Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Luo's gaze sharpened slightly. So this person was the captain of the Fire Immortal Squad?