Chapter 45

Lan Hong stood up and said, "Long live the Emperor, this is all due to the heavens favoring our Tianshui Kingdom, thus producing so many talents. I congratulate Commander Luo and Princess Ruxue."

Luo Yunshang hurriedly returned the courtesy, "Minister, you are too kind."

Lan Hong smiled slightly, and immediately two servants came forward with a jade box, walking to Luo Yunshang and Qin Ruxue. Lan Hong smiled, "These two Donghai Mingyue Pearls are what I obtained with great effort, specially for Commander Luo and Princess Ruxue."

The two servants opened the jade box, and instantly a brilliant light spilled out, illuminating the entire main banquet hall as bright as daylight.

Women love jewels, and both of them were overjoyed, unable to put them down.

"Haha, Minister, you are truly wealthy. These two pearls must be worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins, right?" Xiao Qingwang laughed loudly, "I don't have the financial means of the old minister, so I specially prepared two martial techniques. One is a Yang martial technique—Hengfu Yang, and the other is a Water Elemental Heart Method—Qingxin Jue, for the two of you."

A hint of surprise flashed across Luo Yunshang's face, "The Hengfu Yang left by a Wu Zong master from Tianshui Kingdom hundreds of years ago? Thank you, Commander!" Her mystic weapon was a battle axe, and she followed the path of utmost Yang and strength, making it perfect for her.

Qin Ruxue also accepted the Qingxin Jue, smiling, "Thank you, Grandpa Xiao."

The value of the two martial techniques far exceeded Lan Hong's Donghai Mingyue Pearls, but the two beauties did not show the same excitement as before.

"Ah, women, they just love those flashy and impractical things!" Everyone shook their heads in sighs.

Liang Wenyu also stood up and presented two pills, smiling, "These are second-grade Youth Preservation Pills I refined, which can maintain youth for twenty years."

"Ah!~"

Luo Yunshang and Qin Ruxue both exclaimed in surprise, as if they had found a treasure. They examined the pills from all angles before putting them away. Qin Ruxue even took out the box where she had stored the Donghai Mingyue Pearls, removed the pearls, and placed the pills inside.

This action clearly showed the status of the two treasures in her heart.

Lan Hong also smiled and shook his head.

At this moment, Li Yi also stood up and came forward to congratulate, "Commander Luo, your grace is outstanding, like a celestial being. I specially had a hairpin made from Qingxin Jade, hoping that Commander Luo will remain youthful and beautiful forever."

"Qingxin Jade?" Liang Wenyu was surprised, "Li Yi, you really put a lot of thought into it. Wearing Qingxin Jade can calm the mind and spirit, and after cultivation, it can resist external demons. It is a rare treasure. I once spent a lot of money trying to get a piece, but I couldn't."

Li Yi, hearing the praise, immediately felt a great liking for Liang Wenyu, smiling, "Indeed, I wouldn't even use it myself. This treasure is only worthy of Commander Luo."

A white jade hairpin, inlaid with gold and silver, emitting a faint, radiant light, was presented to Luo Yunshang. Li Yi smiled lightly, "I had it crafted by the first-rate sculptor Shi Wen of Tianshui Kingdom."

Luo Yunshang was slightly surprised. She had heard of Qingxin Jade before, and now Liang Wenyu confirmed it, making it even more precious. She thanked Li Yi with a serious expression.

Li Yi felt extremely satisfied and walked to Qin Ruxue, smiling, "Princess Ruxue, with your heavenly beauty and intelligence, I have always admired and envied you. I can't think of anything in this world that would be worthy of you."

His declaration left everyone stunned, and Qin Ruxue's face turned slightly red, a flash of anger in her eyes, but she was quickly amazed by Li Yi's gift.

"So I specially sent someone to the Fire Crow Empire to buy a demon beast egg for Princess Ruxue, hoping she will like it."

Demon beast egg!

Everyone was shocked, and even Xiao Qingwang was taken aback, then shook his head with a bitter smile, secretly sighing that the young people today really go all out when courting.

Demon beasts are extremely powerful beings on the Tianwu Continent. Even martial artists would retreat when encountering them. Many have tried to tame demon beasts to become their powerful allies, but most attempts have ended in failure.

This is because demon beasts have too much demonic aura, and their nature is violent and cruel, making them hard to be tamed by humans.

Later, someone came up with a brilliant method: to start bonding with the demon beast while it is still in the egg, and after it hatches, to raise it with great care. This way, the demon beast will grow up to be loyal and devoted.

After this method was introduced, the price of demon beast eggs skyrocketed by a thousand times or more!

Everyone quietly watched the egg on the tray, which was slightly transparent and red, as if a demon beast was inside, ready to hatch at any moment.

Even Qin Ruxue, who had no good feelings for Li Yi, was slightly moved, saying softly, "Li Yi, thank you. I really like this gift."

Li Yi was overjoyed, feeling extremely proud, when suddenly an extremely discordant voice came in.

"Hmph, the demon beast egg is real, but what use is a dead demon beast egg? To roast and eat? Please, it's already rotten inside, it can't be eaten."

"Who is talking nonsense!"

Li Yi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into anger.

He turned to look outside, and the owner of the voice was indeed Li Yunxiao, whom he hated so much that he wished to cut him to pieces.

"Li Yunxiao, you don't know what you're talking about!"

He couldn't care less about his image and directly shouted, "Do you know how much this costs? Damn it, it could buy a hundred, a thousand of you!"

Li Yunxiao calmly sneered, "No matter how much it costs, it's still a dead egg!"

"You!"

Li Yi was furious and bowed to Qin Zheng, "Your Majesty, this person is deliberately disrupting the banquet. Please have him expelled!"

Qin Zheng frowned and asked, "Li Yunxiao, how do you know it's a dead egg?"

Li Yunxiao replied, "No matter what I say, he will deny it. Just cut the egg open, and everything will be clear."

"Hmph, cut it open? If such a valuable thing is damaged, can you afford to compensate?" Li Yi sneered.

Qin Ruxue also looked suspicious and very reluctant.

Li Yunxiao sneered, "Ruxue, when you spend months hatching it and find no movement, you'll know I was right."

"You're still talking nonsense!" Li Yi was angry, "Your Majesty, please have this person beaten out with sticks!"

Qin Zheng pressured, "Li Yunxiao, speak carefully. Without evidence, don't speak recklessly. Considering your contribution to saving the princess, I will let this go, but you must not speak recklessly again."

Li Yunxiao shook his head speechlessly. The egg, in terms of color and spiritual perception, was undoubtedly a dead egg. But this thing was too precious, and few people had seen it, so no one knew.

After a brief silence, the first prince, Qin Yang, smiled and clapped his hands. His subordinates immediately brought forward two trays and walked to Luo Yunshang and Qin Ruxue.

When they opened the trays, everyone's eyes lit up, and they were all shocked.

Qin Yang wore a smug look and laughed loudly, "These ten supreme-grade essence stones wish Commander Luo a quick breakthrough to Wu Jun, becoming the third Wu Wang of the kingdom. These ten dragon eye pearls wish Ruxue to become more beautiful and find a good husband soon!"

Dragon eye pearls, though not as expensive as Donghai Mingyue Pearls, still cost tens of thousands of gold coins each. Presenting ten of them at once showed great wealth. But what shocked everyone even more were the ten supreme-grade essence stones!

It's important to know that as martial artists advance, their dependence on essence stones increases. The market exchange rate is one supreme-grade essence stone for a hundred high-grade essence stones, one high-grade essence stone for a hundred medium-grade essence stones, and one medium-grade essence stone for a hundred low-grade essence stones.

Not to mention that ordinary martial artists use low-grade essence stones, even if you offered a million low-grade essence stones, no one would exchange them for ten supreme-grade essence stones. This is because the supply of supreme-grade essence stones is extremely limited, and their uses are widespread.

The value of these ten supreme-grade essence stones far exceeded that of the demon beast egg.

This not only surprised Luo Yunshang but even Xiao Qingwang showed a hint of interest.

Ten dragon eye pearls, though precious, were like mud compared to the ten supreme-grade essence stones. This also reflected the mindset of the first prince, Qin Yang. Although Ruxue was precious, she was useless to him. A few pearls were enough to send her away. But Luo Yunshang was different!

She was not only one of the five commanders of the National Divine Guards but had also reached the Wu Jun level at such a young age, with limitless potential. Now, she had even advanced to become an alchemist, making her the first person in Tianshui Kingdom in a thousand years, except for Yang Di.

Qin Yang, as the first prince, had to think like a king. Courting Luo Yunshang would greatly help him ascend to the throne and stabilize the country in the future. This was why he went all out to get the ten supreme-grade essence stones!

Moreover, Luo Yunshang was a rare beauty, with a proud and fragrant aura. Qin Yang had long been captivated by her. He had sent people multiple times to express his feelings, but all received cold responses.

Luo Yunshang naturally knew his intentions and politely declined, "The first prince's gift is too heavy, I dare not accept it."

Qin Yang walked out from the banquet, straightened his clothes, and strode to Luo Yunshang, presenting the gift with both hands, "Yunshang, don't you understand my feelings? Today, in front of all the officials, I, Qin Yang, propose to you! Marry me, Yunshang!"

He suddenly knelt on one knee, his eyes shining!

"Wow!~"

Everyone was stunned. The first prince had proposed in public and even knelt on one knee. Qin Yang, in terms of appearance and strength, was among the best, though he didn't match Luo Yunshang, there were few men in the entire Tianshui Kingdom who could surpass him. And as a prince, he had lowered himself so much.

His kneeling proposal instantly broke the hearts of many young maidens...

Luo Yunshang was suddenly stunned. Her face suddenly changed, and a faint essence force stirred in her hand, instantly lifting Qin Yang with an invisible force. She said coldly, "First Prince, if you continue to be so presumptuous, don't blame me for turning against you!"

Qin Yang's face changed drastically, finding it hard to believe that after all he had done, he would still be rejected. He lost his composure and said angrily, "Yunshang, I know I don't deserve you! But in Tianshui Kingdom, no one else deserves you more than I do."