Chapter 498 - 310: The Arrival of Two Golden Pillars! The Whole Qin Capital Pays Their Respects!

"Did the young master say to wait?"

"Yes."

"The young master wants me to participate in next year’s Golden Competition Grand Competition?"

"..."

...

Imperial City, Eastern Palace.

"Has someone topped the Golden List again?"

"Hoong Ying? A Red Flame Race Person?"

"..."

...

Imperial City, Western Palace.

"Master, another Golden Pillar has fallen in the recent Artifact Refining Golden Competition!" The Second Prince looked anxious.

"Who was it?"

"Hoong Ying, it seems to be a Red Flame Race person."

"Red Flame Race..."

...

Qin Capital, Three Elements Mountain, Heavenly Inquiry Tower.

"Tower Master, another Golden List topper appeared in Qin Imperial City." Steward Wan reported hastily.

"Hmm?" The old woman stiffened, then her once-murky eyes suddenly shined brightly.

"You may leave."

"Yes."

After Steward Wan left, the old woman took out a round bead, communicating with her heart spirit within, a majestic middle-aged man’s silhouette appeared on the bead.

"Elder, two toppers appeared in this year’s Qin Dynasty Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition!"

"Two..." The middle-aged man’s silhouette pondered and said, "It seems the great calamity has arrived."

"..."

...

Outside Qin Capital, in a certain estate.

"Supervisor, another Golden Pillar appeared in Qin Capital!" The Shadow Tower assassin Chang Baiba hurried to report.

"Do you know who it is?"

"Still investigating."

"Investigate quickly!"

"Yes."

...

North Snow County, North Snow City.

Chang Qin Wenshuo, the Master of North Snow, sat on the throne.

"King, there’s news from Qin Capital that a Red Flame Race person has topped the Golden List." Yien Yang bowed and reported.

"Red Flame Race..." The King of North Snow looked toward the heavy snow outside the palace, his face showing little emotion.

A moment of silence.

"Empress Dowager Duaan’s grand birthday is approaching, let everyone prepare."

"Yes."

"Also, we’ll enter the capital tomorrow."

"Yes."

"..."

...

Blood Evil Sect.

"Is it finally starting?" Blood Evil retracted the communication round bead, his blood-red eyes emitting a fiery red glow.

"Evil Moon."

"Subordinate is here."

"Pass the order to the Wolf Race and Blood Demon Army, prepare for deployment."

"Yes."

"..."

The news of another Golden List topper from the Artifact Refining Golden Competition spread quickly.

Hoong Ying and Chu Ming, two names, spread throughout the entire Qin Dynasty and beyond.

The next day, early morning.

On the road that should have been covered with heavy snow, it was inexplicably cleaned clean, and carriages were parked everywhere, with many people in luxurious robes waiting at the entrance.

These were the dignitaries of Qin Capital, who came to visit Chu Ming.

The two Golden List toppers, Hoong Ying was in the Imperial City, in the middle of a Golden Light Enlightenment, difficult to contact in the short term.

Chu Ming was different, his enlightenment was disrupted, not in the Imperial City, but in the inner city, making it easier to connect.

The dignitaries waiting outside the mansion were well-informed; they all discovered that the young man in the mansion had a high probability of topping the Golden List again next year.

Thus, they scrambled to visit and send gifts, hoping to make a good impression before Chu Ming topped the list.

Inside the mansion.

"Lord Gu, how many people are outside?" The maid Su Xin asked.

"At least over a hundred, each looking remarkable, either wealthy or noble." Guard Gu Jin peered through the crack of the door.

"Oh, that’s... Minister Qi of the Ministry of Rites!"

At the door, a carriage slowly approached, and onlookers made way.

Two people descended from the carriage, Minister Qi Nankai of the Ministry of Rites, and beside him was a young man, his son Qi Chen.

"Minister Qi." Everyone greeted him.

"Hmm," Qi Nankai nodded slightly, leading Qi Chen to the door of Chu Mansion, "Please announce that Qi Nankai is visiting with his son to meet with Duke Xirong."

Inside the mansion.

"Should I report it?" Gu Jin looked troubled.

Su Xin’s eyes flickered, shaking her head, and said, "The lord has said, no matter who it is, do not meet, nor report."

"But that’s the Minister of the Ministry of Rites." Gu Jin argued.

"The lord is the esteemed Duke Xirong, so what of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites."

"..."

After a moment, there was no response.

Outside the mansion.

"Father, maybe we should leave..." Qi Chen’s face was partly covered.

"No rush, let’s wait a bit longer, maybe we came too early, and Duke Xirong hasn’t woken up yet."

"Father..."

"..."

Inside the mansion.

"Young master, many dignitaries have come outside, are we not meeting them?"

"We will, but not now."

Suddenly.

"My lord, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Seventh Prince are visiting."

"Open the door."

He would not turn the Seventh Prince away at the door.

"..."

"Duke Xirong."

All the dignitaries saluted, and even the Crown Prince and the princes bowed.

Chu Ming slightly returned the greeting, then ordered the arrangement of a banquet.

"Gentlemen, please this way."

All the dignitaries presented congratulatory gifts and followed Su Xin and Gu Jin to the banquet hall.

The Crown Prince and the princes stayed behind.

"Duke Xirong," The Second Prince spoke first, presenting a black robe.

"This robe is a Black Patterned Robe, a rare treasure. Wearing it not only calms the mind but also prolongs life."

"The key feature is its remarkably special material, possessing incredible defensive power. Ordinary weapons are destroyed upon contact, and even military artifacts leave no trace."

"Oh?" Chu Ming feigned a glint in his eyes, taking the Black Patterned Robe for inspection, feeling a slight ripple in his heart.

This robe, indeed as the Second Prince described, was no simple item.

Things like prolonging life, impressive defense, were just on the surface. What truly intrigued Chu Ming was that this robe was refined using Primordial Artifact Material into a Primordial Artifact.

Primordial Artifact, Black Patterned Robe.

Upon sensing, it was undoubtedly made with Fourth Tier materials, similar to the level of his Shield Shuttle’s materials.

There were rumors that the Second Prince was apprenticed to a Divine Envoy of the Divine Mystery Bureau, and now it seemed to be true.

The Primordial Artifact refined by the Divine Mystery Bureau...

Chu Ming examined it carefully, discovering many special Primordial Patterns.

He put it away to study thoroughly later.

"Duke Xirong." Seeing Chu Ming focused on the robe, the Crown Prince also took out a gift, a bottle of elixirs, "The bottle contains Five Yang True Pills."

"These elixirs are refined from five Great Yang treasures, capable of granting enlightenment, purifying and cleansing the marrow."

Five Yang True Pills?

It was rumored that it could transform an ordinary person, enabling them to comprehend a Cultivation Technique and condense Qi Blood, a Treasure Pill.