Eight sandalwood chairs were arranged in the visitor’s hall of the royal palace.

　　Helian Tulong claimed the center seat like the last time but Luo Shanhe made no complaints. Instead, he plopped down contentedly to the left of Helian Tulong.

　　Feng Chongwu and Yun Changxiao seated themselves on the chairs to the right, followed by Yuwen Yuanqin and Ximen Shuoxue.

　　There were only two seats left but there were three of them – Chen Xiaobei, Ao Liangcheng, and Ling Qingfeng.

　　Luo Shanhe smiled, “Childe Liancheng! Childe Qingdeng! Please take a seat!”

　　Three persons, two seats. Luo Shanhe did not plan to add another chair for Chen Xiaobei. He ignored Chen Xiaobei as if he was invisible to deliberately humiliate him.

　　Ao Liancheng could not tolerate this. “Eighth Wangye*, Childe Chen does not have a seat! Please add another chair for him!”

　　Ling Qingfeng also remained standing.

　　“Childe Chen? Childe who?” Luo Shanhe sneered. “There’s no place for any random Tom, Dick or Harry in today’s gathering!”

　　“Hey, low-class person! What level are we, and what level are you at? Don’t you know your place?” Yuwen Yuanqin hissed. “If it was not for our respect of Ao Liancheng’s face, you won’t even be standing here!”

　　Ao Liancheng was fuming. “Yuwen Yuanqin! You better show some respect! I’ll make you pay for being disrespectful to Childe Chen!”

　　“Oh? What is the meaning of this?” Yuwen Yuanqin smirked. “The high and mighty fourth place on the Nine-Zones Leaderboard, Ao Liancheng is locking horns with me for a nobody? Is that pretty boy your gay partner? Why else would you be so worked up?”

　　“Yuwen Yuanqin! It seems to me that you really are looking to end your own life!” Ao Liancheng’s eyes were burning with rage and wrath!

　　“What a joke!” Yuwen Yuanqin spat. “This is Saint Duke Starfield! I am the young master of Saint Duke’s number one faction! Eighth Wangye is my shishu*! Childe Shuoxue is a good friend of mine! If you so much as lift a finger against me, I will make sure that you do not walk out of Saint Duke alive!”

　　“You…” Ao Liancheng’s brows furrowed.

　　If they were in Neptune, he would have already killed Yuwen Yuanqin. Unfortunately, they were in Saint Duke which was Yuwen Yuanqin’s home ground! He could not kill Yuwen Yuanqin in his own backyard.

　　“Childe Liancheng!” Luo Shanhe got up from his seat. “You forfeited from the competition. I gave you a seat on the grounds that you are a friend! But if you don’t treat me as one, then we are enemies!”

　　“I…” Ao Liancheng’s heart squeezed inside his chest.

　　Making Luo Shanhe his enemy in Saint Duke meant making the entire Saint Duke imperial family his enemy as well.

　　“Childe Chen! Please just sit down! Don’t destroy your friendship for me!” Chen Xiaobei quickly said, forcing Ao Liancheng down on the chair. “Childe Qingfeng, you too. I’ll just stand here for the moment. Who knows, someone might give me their seat later!”

　　“Give you their seat? Why would they?” Ling Qingfeng stared quizzically at Chen Xiaobei but Chen Xiaobei pushed her down to her seat.

　　Yuwen Yuanqin was very pleased to see this. “Hey kid, you are very aware of your position as a nobody, huh? Why don’t you give us a bark? I’ll upgrade your status from insect to pug!”

　　“Yuanqing! Enough!” Luo Shanhe said. “Xianzhi Helian… Oh, I mean, Childe Tulong’s time is very precious! Let’s take care of important matters first!”

　　Yuwen Yuanqin quickly nodded, “Yes! Yes! Yes! Take care of proper matters first! Let’s not waste Childe Tulong’s time!”

　　Clearly, Helian Tulong was the most prestigious person in the room. Everyone and everything seemed to revolve around him.

　　“You have been informed of the rules seven days ago!” Luo Shanhe dove right in. “Please take out the Earth-God materials that you’ve prepared. After they are inspected, I will announce the task for the second elimination round!”

　　Except for Ao Liancheng and Chen Xiaobei, the other six people took out large boxes from their storage bracelets.

　　Luo Shanhe stood up. “I will begin the inspection with Childe Qingfeng!”

　　Ling Qingfeng opened her box and said, “I have prepared a One-star Earth-God material, a Nine Yang Dragon Blood Stone.

　　“Good heavens! This is the legendary Yang Dragon Blood Stone! What a powerful Spiritual Attribute! Excellent quality! Top-class! Definitely top-grade!” Luo Shanhe was thrilled to see the blood-red stone in the box.

　　The others looked at the box with interest and rapacity except for Helian Tulong and Ximen Shuoxue. The expression on their faces was of disinterest as if it were just a normal piece of rock.

　　Ximen Shuoxue was characteristically austere, inherently reticent without expressing any emotions. Even if he was shocked on the inside, it would never show on his face.

　　Helian Tulong, on the other hand, was used to seeing all sorts of rare and exotic treasures. A mere Yang Dragon Blood Stone was not enough to excite him.

　　“Exactly 100 jin! Childe Qinfeng, pass! Please wait for a moment!” Luo Shanhe walked towards the other direction. “Next, I will examine Childe Yuanqing’s materials…”

　　Subsequently, Luo Shanhe inspected Yuwen Yuanqin, Ximen Shuoxue, Feng Chong/Zhongwu and Yun Changxiao.

　　The items they brought, like Ling Qingfeng’s, were One-star Earth-God grade, in the required amount. They all passed successfully.

　　“Lastly, I will check Childe Tulong!” Luo Heshan said obsequiously. “Please don’t mind it, Childe Tulong. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I have to do my job!”

　　“Mm.” Helian Tulong curled a finger and opened the box using his Ethereal Force.

　　“This… This this this…” Luo Shanhe swallowed. “If I’m right, this is an almost Two-star Earth-God material, a Zephyr Black Gold!”

　　The others cried in astonishment, “My god! A Zephyr Black Gold! Childe Tulong really is generous!”

　　Ximen Shuoxue remained impassive, revealing only the slightest hint of surprise in his eyes.

　　“Don’t… We don’t have to weigh it!” Luo Shanhe swallowed. “This is an extremely valuable item! Pass!”

　　Helian Tulong’s lips curled into a smile. “Alright, go ahead and announce the second task!”

　　“Wait!” Chen Xiaobei suddenly spoke. “My Earth-God material has not been inspected yet!”

　　Everyone in the room was startled.

　　Footnote:

　　shishu*: a term used to address father’s friends; usually younger than the father

　　Wind Sha*: in fengshui, negative energy caused by wind. Winds that are too strong will blow away all the Qi, and good fortune.

　　Wangye*: brothers of the emperor or title given to people who have made extraordinary contributions to the country.