C124 The Dragon Riding on the Horse!!

After escorting him to Ying Zhi, Lan Wenhao remarked to Qi Yun, "That Third Prince is quite the character, isn't he?"

Qi Yun responded coolly, "Anyone simple wouldn't last long in these treacherous power struggles—they'd be dead already."

While they conversed, a dragon-drawn carriage appeared on the horizon, pulled by a majestic yellow dragon.

Flanked by hundreds of guards, each at least at the Combination Stage of cultivation, the commanding officer bellowed:

"Emperor Ying Qian of the Ming Dynasty has arrived!"

The announcement sent a wave of excitement through the crowd below.

"I never expected His Majesty to make an appearance."

"Wow, this battle just became worth the trip."

"It's my first time seeing His Majesty in person—I'm thrilled!"

Lan Wenhao and Qi Yun exchanged bewildered glances.

"Come on!"

Snapping to attention at the crucial moment, Lan Wenhao swiftly regained his composure and, with Qi Yun in tow, ascended to greet the emperor with a respectful bow. "Your Majesty, welcome."

A voice of authority emanated from the dragon carriage, "Please, there's no need for such formalities."

With that, the carriage resumed its journey, heading directly for Area No. 1.

Hee Yan, who had already taken his place, murmured to himself, "What could have brought His Majesty here?"

Lan Wenhao turned to Qi Yun, seeking his thoughts, "What's your take on this?"

Qi Yun was straightforward, "I have no idea."

They touched down and proceeded to greet the arriving students and teachers.

Before long, everyone had made their entrance.

Traveling from the entrance of Area No. 1 to the battle arena, the crowd marveled at the architecture, as if they were exploring a grand garden, their eyes barely keeping up.

Upon entering the arena, their amazement reached new heights.

Faced with rows of opulent cabins, the onlookers were at a loss.

In previous battles, spectators would simply find any available seat.

Even those of higher status would only be distinguished by the number of attendants at their side.

Such grandeur was unheard of for the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Then, Lan Linglong's voice filled the arena.

"Please make your way to the luxurious cabins."

Hearing this, all the teachers and students filed into the plush accommodations.

Once inside, the cabin doors sealed shut automatically.

Meanwhile, Emperor Ying Qian, alongside Principal Hee Yan, Wang Chenghai, and the Third Prince Ying Zhi, had already been ushered into an even more extravagant private suite courtesy of the Lan family.

Inside the private room, there were no virtual helmets to be found. Instead, a more sophisticated virtual reality technology had been set up. With sensors and an array of high-tech projections, everyone could immerse themselves in an experience akin to wearing a virtual helmet, without actually needing one.

Once everyone was comfortably seated, Lan Linglong spoke up again. "Please pick up the helmet in front of you and put it on to watch the upcoming battle."

Curiosity piqued, all the faculty and students from the College of Ming Dynasty reached for their helmets and placed them on their heads. Instantly, a series of images sprang to life before their eyes. These images, meticulously crafted by the Lan family, served to showcase the functions of every facility within Area One. Milk tea shops, cinemas, bars, and more were all featured in promotional advertisements. The hypnotic, catchy audio paired with the fresh visuals looped continuously, captivating the audience. Without realizing it, everyone began to commit the details of the various advertised products to memory.

"To participate in the commentary during the battle that will soon begin, simply touch the bottom left corner of the interface you're viewing," Lan Linglong instructed, encouraging everyone to engage actively.

In the room, Ying Qian and his companions watched the unfolding scenes with a sense of wonder. Hee Yan couldn't help but express his awe. "I've lived many years, but only today have I truly seen something that has opened my eyes to new possibilities."

"These fascinating gadgets... I'm curious where Mentor Qin found them," he mused.

Ying Qian acknowledged the significance of the moment. "These items hold remarkable value, none of which have ever been recorded in the annals of the Ming Dynasty's history." He then turned to Ying Zhi and inquired, "Zhi, have you ever encountered such things?"

Ying Zhi responded with due reverence, "Your Highness, although I have not seen them myself, my subordinates report that these items are collectively referred to as 'technological products.'"

Ying Qian's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Technological products, indeed. After this battle, I have no doubt they will quickly become the rage throughout the entire Royal Capital of the Ming Dynasty, if not the entire empire."

"Zhi, come sit beside me," Ying Qian invited warmly. "Let us, father and son, witness this extraordinary battle together."

Hearing his father's words, Ying Zhi felt a surge of surprise and joy. It had been a long time since Ying Qian had spoken to him with such affection.

Ever since Ying Qian had tipped the scales in his favor, it had been a long time since Ying Zhi had heard that tone directed at him. Hearing it again now, he instantly grasped its many implications and knew that Ying Qian's treatment was influenced by someone. It didn't take much to figure out that it was because of Qin Buyi.

Hee Yan and Wang Chenghai were seated alongside Ying Qian and Ying Zhi. As the four awaited the battle's commencement, they struck up a casual conversation.

Before long, it was time for the first battle to begin.

Lan Linglong emerged, captivating the onlookers with her flawless figure and stunning beauty, prompting many men to audibly gulp.

"Now, please welcome our judge, Dean Hee Yan," Lan Linglong announced.

In the room, Hee Yan smacked his forehead, chuckling, "I got so caught up in the excitement that I forgot my duties."

"Your Majesty, please excuse me while I go to oversee the battle," he said.

Ying Qian rose to see him off, adding, "Dean Hee Yan, please proceed."

There was a brief hush after Lan Linglong's announcement, lasting a few seconds before Hee Yan appeared onscreen.

Hee Yan wasted no time in apologizing and simultaneously lauding Qin Buyi, "Instructor Qin has created such an extraordinary scene that I, an old man, was completely absorbed and forgot I was the judge."

Laughter erupted in the plush cabin at his words.

Then, a message flashed across the bullet screen for all to see: "Dean Hee Yan is just too adorable, hahaha, the foremost figure of the Ming Dynasty."

It went without saying that no one but Ying Qian would dare to claim the title of the Ming Dynasty's number one person.

With Emperor Ying Qian leading by example, others quickly joined in on the bullet screen commentary:

"Haha, Dean He, no need for self-reproach."

"Through the virtual reality helmet, it's as if Dean He is right here with us."

"Absolutely, the experience is incredibly immersive."

Standing next to Hee Yan, Lan Linglong continued, "Next, let's welcome the contenders for the first battle: Instructor Qin, ranked first, and Instructor Ye Hui, ranked sixth."

As the scene unfolded, Ye Hui appeared, clad in black, with a long sword in hand, ready to face off in the arena.

In the scene before everyone's eyes, Ye Hui made an entrance clad in black, gripping a long sword, standing at one side of the battle arena.

"Aooo~!" A resounding dragon's roar echoed in the ears of the onlookers.

Then, an imposing Azure Dragon, thousands of feet in length, descended majestically from the heavens, landing within the arena.

Upon the dragon's head, the crowd spotted Qin Buyi, and the live comments exploded with excitement:

"Riding in on a dragon—that's so awesome!"

"I want to have Mentor Qin's baby!"

"What are those values? You've got to have at least two!"

"Is that a real dragon? Aren't members of the Dragon Clan known for their pride? How could they let someone ride atop their head?"

"You just don't get it. This is a true show of power!"