Chapter 1819: Empty-Handed
Immediately, someone brought a chair to Chen Xiaobei.
Once he was seated, Chen Xiaobei said, “Hurry! Bring Princess Puti out! I can guarantee that she will be moved by my betrothal gift!”
Helian Tulong hissed, “Your skin is so thick! You want to move Princess Puti’s heart? Haha! You’re building castles in the skies!”
Feng Chongwu and Yun Changxiao sniggered. “We’ve spent a lot of our factions’ resources, and have brought extremely valuable betrothal gifts! You won’t be able to compete with us!”
Chen Xiaobei shrugged. “The three of you better talk a little lesser. The more you talk, the more painful your face will be when Princess Puti comes!”
“Pretentious idiot!” Helian Tulonng gave Chen Xiaobei the stink eye. “Let’s have Princess Puti come out now! It’s time to shake you off of your daydream!”
Helian Tulong was so self-assured because he was the default fuma-to-be.
No matter how valuable Chen Xiaobei’s gifts were, Luo Puti was still going to choose the preordained candidate – Helian Tulong.
Feng Chongwu and Yun Changxiao were unaware of this fact. “Yeah! Let’s get the princess out! Let her make the final decision!”
“Guards! Bring the princess!” Luo Qiongcang instructed. Then he turned to the four candidates. “Please take out your gifts. The officials and I will assess them!”
“Me first!” Feng Chongwu stepped forward with a green longsword in his hand. “This sword is called ‘Green Bamboo’. It’s my sifu’s one and only One-star Earth-God Instrument. My sifu nearly lost his life to get his hands on this instrument. It is a very significant piece!”
The crowd began to discuss amongst themselves in excitement.
“My God! That… That is indeed the legendary Green Bamboo Sword! I’ve heard of it before but today, I finally have the opportunity to see it in the flesh!”
“Good sword! Very good! Its Spirituality is very strong! It’s one of the highest grades of One-star Earth-God Instruments!”
“Childe Chongwu has really put in a lot of effort to marry the princess!”
…
“That’s nothing!” Yun Changxiao stood up, holding an ancient gold mirror. “This mirror is called the Sunlit Mirror! It’s also a One-star Earth-God Instrument! My sifu spent all the wealth he’d accumulated over the years just to get this mirror!”
All the attentions were steered towards the mirror in Yun Changxiao’s hand.
“My god! Sunlit Mirror! That’s the Sunlit Mirror handed down from the Earth-God Realm! Who knew it would show up here today!”
“The Sunlit Mirror is also one of the highest grade One-star Earth-God Instrument! What a generous gift!”
“Yeah! Here in Saint Duke, we only have seven One-star Earth-God Instruments! These two gentlemen brought one each! This just shows how sincere they are!”
The officials and the royal family members exclaimed in their excitement.
Earth-God instruments were rare and valuable no matter where one was!
The kingdom of Saint Duke only possessed seven One-star Earth-God Instruments. If they did receive another one, it would be like adding wings to a tiger!”
The people of Saint Duke found it hard to tear their gaze away from both Earth-God Instruments.
Helian Tulong stood up and announced, “These two childes are very earnest but pale in comparison to me!”
This drew everyone’s attention to him.
He was the prodigy of the Helian family of Apocalypse Starfield! The core disciple of Heaven Dominating Faction! The champion of the Nine-Zones Earth Leaderboard!
Helian Tulong had every right to act so overweeningly, and he was definitely capable of taking out a trump card that would shock everyone.
He took out a longsword and a crystal. “This sword is called ‘Flying Rainbow’. It is a pinnacle-phase One-star Earth-God Instrument! This crystal is a Two-star Earth-God material! I don’t need to tell you how much these two items are worth!”
That created a ripple effect among the observers.
“Heavens! A pinnacle-phase One-star Earth-God Instrument – the Flying Rainbow sword! That’s really close to becoming a Two-star Earth God Instrument!”
“Yeah! The Flying Rainbow sword is unmatched by other weapons of the same rank! The two Earth-God Instruments the other two childes presented are no match for it – not even when they are combined!”
“Most importantly, Childe Tulong also brought a Two-star Earth-God material! That is such a lavish gift!”
“I know, right! Two-star Earth-God materials are as rare as hens’ teeth!”
“Needless to say, among all the contesters, Childe Tulong’s gift is the most valuable!”
“Yeah! He has the highest chance of winning Princess Puti’s heart! I’m on his side!”
“Me too!”
“I support Childe Tulong too!”
Nine out of ten members of the royal family and officials of Saint Duke greatly expressed their support of Helian Tulong.
Even Luo Qiongcang nodded surreptitiously. He was clearly very pleased with the gifts the childe had brought.
“Hey, kid!” Helian Tulong jutted his chin and challenged. “Where is your betrothal gift? Aren’t you going to show us? All of us can’t wait to see it!”
The relatives of the emperor whispered amongst themselves. “We all know what that kid’s gift is going to be! It’s going to be an Earth Crystal Essence! How could he even compete with Childe Tulong?”
The officials agreed. “Helian Tulong’s gifts are a Two-star Earth-God material and a pinnacle-phase One-star Earth-God Instrument! The best Chen Zhufeng could present is an Earth Crystal Essence! There’s no way he could have a One-star Earth-God Instrument!”
Luo Qiongcang squinted. “Everyone, please don’t speak as if it’s set in stone. If Childe Chen brings enough Earth Crystal Essence, he stands a chance at winning!”
Helian Tulong snickered. “A Two-star Earth-God material is not something you can just buy from the market! I think that that idiot had already used up all his Earth Crystal Essence during the first elimination round! There’s no way he has more of it!”
“Hold your horses, Childe Chen!” Luo Qiongcang said. “Today is the last day of the betrothal contest! No one is going to come empty-handed! Childe Zhufeng, please bring out your betrothal gift!”
Everyone turned to look at Chen Xiaobei.
Instead of presenting a gift, Chen Xiaobei shrugged and said, “I’m sorry. I came here empty-handed today!”