Chapter 163: Chapter 163 : Preparing For The Competition

Zhang Fengxi and his little bird were transported away from Qingyuan Palace using a gigantic water bubble. It burst open with a popping sound as soon as they broke through the water’s surface.

"Arghhh."

Zhang Fengxi’s boots were drenched by seawater.

"Squeee!"

"So what should I name you, hm?" Zhang Fengxi asked the little bird as he waddled to the seaside.

"Squeeee! Squeeee!"

"Squealbird?"

"SQUEEEEE!!!"

"Ouch!"

The enraged little bird smacked Zhang Fengxi’s face with its feathered wing. Zhang Fengxi was stunned.

"No kidding, the way you slapped me was too similar to Xie Jianyu’s! Maybe I should call you ’Jianyu’."

Zhang Fengxi broke into giggles. If he really named the bird after Xie Jianyu, the Crown Prince might throw him into Golden Dragon Palace’s prison for slander.

"Alright, enough with the jokes. Let’s go home, shall we?"

"Squeeee!!!"

Zhang Fengxi whistled, and Xiao Huang came trotting over. The spiritual tiger was wet all over. Apparently, he had his fun playing catch with fishes near the seaside while waiting for Zhang Fengxi to return.

Zhang Fengxi tucked the tiny bird into his chest and then climbed onto Xiao Huang’s back.

The wind whipped around his face, cooling his skin as they soared into the sky and flew back to Longjing Palace.

Soon afterward, a light drizzle accompanied by wind washed over them. Zhang Fengxi held a hand above his eyes to prevent water from hitting his face.

"Oh, look at that..."

"Squeee?"

Zhang Fengxi nodded toward a mesmerizing spread of color that arched across the sky. The gentle colors blended into each other and formed a natural feast for the eyes.

"Caihong*," he suddenly said. "Isn’t that a good name for you?"

"Squeee!!!"

Zhang Fengxi grinned.

"Okay then, we agree on Caihong!"

In Longjing Palace, Zhang Zhiyuan was mulling over an announcement from the Golden Dragon Palace. Deep in thought, he walked in circles while holding the piece of paper in his hand.

"Palace Master, Prince Fengxi has returned," a servant announced.

"Call him into the study this instant," Zhang Zhiyuan said in reply.

Zhang Fengxi’s hunch about the entire affair turning into a martial arts competition was spot on.

There was only one minor detail to add...

"Huh? The winner will sit on the Dragon Throne?"

Zhang Zhiyuan handed the notice from Golden Dragon Palace to Zhang Fengxi, who quickly read it from top to bottom.

"Any gender is allowed to join? A reset of the system?"

Zhang Fengxi stared at Zhang Zhiyuan with his mouth slightly open.

Omegas, betas, males, females, all of them were allowed to join.

"This is going to be a massive competition," Zhang Zhiyuan remarked. "Previously, it was a competition among male alphas. Now, it is a competition among the entire Heavenly Realm inhabitants."

"And what about Xie Jianyu?" Zhang Fengxi furrowed his brows.

"He most likely will also join. This is a good chance for the Xie family to secure the Dragon Throne for themselves."

Zhang Zhiyuan nodded in approval.

"An alpha’s character remains even after his body was altered. The Crown Prince is truly remarkable."

"Yes," Zhang Fengxi agreed. Xie Jianyu was truly remarkable.

Had he chosen an alpha to be his husband, he would effectively reduce the dragon clan’s status into dust and propel another clan to the highest, most prominent seat of the realm.

It did not matter whether Xie Jianyu gave birth to the heir or not.

The child’s forehead would never bear the roaring dragon sigil.

In order to protect not only his family’s but also his own clan’s interests and avoid political upset among the other clans, he decided to claim the throne with his own hands and feet. The process should be fair and square and allow no room for future conflicts.

The Heavenly Emperor’s decision was accepted by all nine palaces without questions. The competition was going to be held in three months’ time. Those who wanted to participate were urged to prepare themselves diligently, because time waited for no one.

Zhang Fengxi was not interested in taking the Dragon Throne for himself, but he was the strongest representative from the Longjing Palace. It was time for the tiger clan to show the entire realm that their teeth and claws were as sharp as ever.

Not that the competition would be a walk in the breeze, of course. Now that the gender restrictions had been lifted, a lot of unknown faces might just make their appearances.

Even without considering the new faces, there were some really strong contenders to pay attention to, for example, Xie Jianyu the Crown Prince, Jiang Muchen from Shuiran Palace, and Wu Shenxia from Juhua Palace.

In light of the upcoming competition, Commandant Jiang was particularly energetic. During the years he spent in Longjing Palace as Zhang Fengxi’s teacher, he had come to believe in Zhang Fengxi’s excellent virtues.

The prince of the Longjing Palace was not only talented. He was also wise, strong, and resilient. Those were the good characteristics that a future emperor must possess.

In order to support Zhang Fengxi fully, Commandant Jiang showed up the next day at Longjing Palace.

Proudly, he unrolled and flattened an old leather scroll in front of his disciple.

"This, Prince Zhang Fengxi, is exactly a three-month training regime that the God of War and Destruction, Li Guang, went through religiously in his younger years."

Zhang Fengxi could not help but raise an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Li Guang, really?"

"Yes, really!" Commandant Jiang insisted. "I found it after rummaging through my ancestors’ old treasure box. Can you believe it, Prince Fengxi? My ancestors once taught Li Guang!"

Zhang Fengxi grinned.

Commandant Jiang naturally was very proud. Li Guang only learned from the best spear masters.

Enthusiastically, they began right away with the training regime.

The problem started on day one.

All of a sudden, Zhang Fengxi encountered an unexpected roadblock. Although his golden core was brimming with enough spiritual power, all of it drained away as soon as he tried to use it on any skill.

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Author’s note :

*Caihong means rainbow.

Nature helped Zhang Fengxi pick a name, otherwise, our little bird might end up with some ridiculous, tasteless name.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay