The Royal Palace was like an arena and looked just like an ancient Roman colosseum. It was round and surrounded by concentric tiered seats. At the center was a square ring about fifty meters wide and long and built of marble, and the gaps between each stone seemed seamless. Even a sip of paper wouldnât fit between each stone, and it was as smooth as a mirror.
At this moment, Xiao Luo, Ghost, and Duck Emperor were at the center of the ring. The seating area was brimming with over five thousand citizens of Baiyue Nation, and there were no vacant seats available. Funing and Grand Master were in the grandstand above the masses with a birdâs-eye view. It was as if they were overlooking every single living being.
There was a frying pan in front of Xiao Luo with a blazing fire just beneath it. The oil in the frying pan was already simmering, white fumes rising from its surface dauntingly.
âWhatâs the first test? Hurry, spill it out. Donât waste our time. Weâre in a hurry!â Ghost was eager to find out what the test was and couldnât wait to get through it.
Duck Emperor shook its head and sighed. âLittle girl, Iâm seriously worried about your IQ. Even if you use your butt to think, youâd be able to tell it has something to do with this frying pan in front of us.â
âInto the frying panâ¦â Xiao Luo thought to himself. âIndeed, even if you used your butt to think, you couldnât miss it.â
Duck Emperor then explained to Ghost and spoke confidently, âCan you see this frying pan here? They have already heated the oil inside. The first test has to be about deep-frying. Throw some wild animals or ingredients into the frying pan and fry them, and then finish the food as fast as you can. Iâd say the aim is to see who can eat the fastest and the most.â
After hearing that, Xiao Luo was at such a loss for words that he almost fainted.
âOh, if itâs an eating competition, then this girl here will never lose! Iâm the best at anything related to eating,â Ghost replied, holding on to her small red umbrella with her apricot eyes glimmering.
THWACK!
Xiao Luo did not hesitate to smack Duck Emperor on his head. He rolled his eyes and said, âDid you say you were worried about Ghostâs IQ? Your IQ isnât any much higher either. Keep your mouth shut if you know nothing and stop trying to fool Ghost.â
âScrew your ducking grandfather! Go***mn brat, why did you smack my head? Youâve messed up my hair. Donât tell me Iâm wrong. Are we not competing to see who can eat faster?â Duck Emperor stared at him with a pair of round and angry eyes.
Competing to see who can eat faster?
Xiao Luo was angry but found it funny at the same time. He then gave Duck Emperor another smack on the head. âYou sure have a big heart.â
âA scholar would rather die than be humiliated. Go**mn brat, you better not smack my head again. If you donât believe me, how about we make a bet?â Duck Emperor was, at heart, a duck with a temper. Since he was constantly being bullied by Xiao Luo, he felt now was the time to make an epic comeback.
âBet your *ss!â Xiao Luo said gruffly.
Then he added, âIf we arenât competing to see who can eat the fastest, then Iâll pull out all of your feathers, throw them into the frying pan and fry it. What do you mean a scholar would rather die than be humiliated? I havenât given you a good beating in a couple of days, and youâre already behaving like a spoiled kid.â
Duck Emperor no longer had the guts to argue with Xiao Luo. It slowly flew into Ghostâs pocket. A feeble voice was heard coming from inside the pocket, âFine, youâre the big brother.â
Looking at the cowardly Duck Emperor, Ghost couldnât suppress a giggle.
In the grandstand above, Grand Master stared icily and sneered, âStanding at the precipice of death, yet still unaware of their predicament! Truly they are fools!â
âDonât keep us guessing anymore. Whatâs the first test about? Make it clear,â Xiao Luo bellowed, lifting his head upward.
Grand Masterâs eyes glowered with indignation. It was unacceptable that his man dared to speak with her in such a disrespectful tone. She gnashed her teeth with hatred, then quickly calmed herself, and said, âAs you can see, there is a frying pan with heated oil in front of you. The first test is for one of you to jump in. If any of you can stay in there longer than one burning joss stick without dying, then you will have passed the test.â
âHuh?â
After hearing that, all the Baiyue Nation citizens gasped. They were sure that Grand Master intended to take this manâs life. Jumping into a frying pan of hot oil would turn them into human jerky, and this method of death was extremely cruel.
âInto the frying pan? Screw her ducking grandmother! Does she have to go to this extent?â Duck Emperor was so scared that he gulped.
âGrand Master Motherâ¦â
âFuning, Iâve already agreed to give in. This is the best I can do.â
Funing wanted to say more, but Grand Master stopped her by raising her hands. She stood firm on her intentions.
Grand Master shouted down to Xiao Luo and Ghost, âWhile youâre in the frying pan, youâre not allowed to use true inner force. Once I detect any true inner force being used, then you will fail this test.â
âThat wonât do. Whatâs the difference between jumping in and just killing them outright?â Funing shouted.
She couldnât just sit still. Sure, they could not use true inner force, but even if they could, staying inside a frying pan with boiling oil for the duration of one burning joss stick was more than enough time to kill anyone. Probably not even a Martial Emperor could survive that.
âThereâs a difference. At least they have a chance to live if they go inside the frying pan. If left to me to finish them, then thereâs no chance they would survive,â Grand Master retorted.
She was an experienced person. Funing was nothing compared to her, so she couldnât argue with her. After Xiao Luoâs death, the venom of love within Funing would be gone along with the man. Not only were they abiding by the law, but also sheâd be able to protect Funing. It was like killing two birds with one stone.
âIsnât your request a little too much?â
Xiao Luo furrowed his eyebrows and glared back at the grandmaster. All he wanted was for both sides to be safe and to leave this place without incident. Everyone would be happy. But it didnât seem like Grand Master had the same sentiments.
âToo much?â
Grand Master laughed coldly. âYou people will have to pass the three tests if you want to live. This is the law of our land. You donât have a choice.â
âGo***mn brat, ignore this demonic witch. If you listen to her, youâre going to be so f****ng dead!â
Duck Emperor was angry as well. Not being able to use true elementary force was bul***t. Not even a Martial Saint could survive it with nothing but their bare skin.
âThis girl here can give it a try,â Ghost said with pouted lips.
Upon hearing that, Duck Emperor was shocked. He flew out and touched her on the forehead. âDo you have a fever, little girl? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?â
âIâm not spouting nonsense. She said that weâre not allowed to use true inner force, but the people from the Sucking Blood Clan have a different body build. Itâs based on âspirit,â and my âspiritâ is yin. Not even the magma from the erupting volcano in the Dark Forest can harm me. This frying pan is nothing at all,â Ghost said.
Ehâ¦
Duck Emperor was stunned.
Xiao Luo was a little worried. âCan you do it?â
âDonât worry, Senior Luoluo. Though I might be unreliable, I assure you I can do this,â Ghost replied with a nod of her head. âBut I have a request.â
âWhat request?â Xiao Luo furrowed his eyebrows.
Ghost put on an adorable smile on her pretty face. She walked toward him and whispered in his ears, âWhen Iâm back from the frying pan, donât call me by my name anymore.â
âThen what should I call you?â
âBaby Ling!â
âBaby Ling?â
âThatâs right! That will show we have an intimate relationship,â Ghost said and giggled.