Bright Clothes and Steeds, Leading the Charge!

"It seems there really isn't..."

Qing Luan thought for a moment and shook her head, inwardly astonished.

At first, she hadn't taken Xiao Yang seriously at all, viewing him as merely the most incompetent Prince pushed out by King Zhenbei's Mansion to appease His Majesty's arranged marriage.

However, Xiao Yang first slapped the Eldest Prince and Fourth Prince in the face, then became famous overnight at the Lanting Poetry Gathering, and recently crippled the Third Prince, Xiao Li...

Once or twice could be explained as luck, but winning against stronger opponents every time was a sign of true strength.

"General, are you saying Xiao Yang was hiding his strength all along and could actually win this competition?" Qing Luan couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know how much he's hidden either! How about this... Qing Luan, you ride the Night Shining Jade Lion and represent me in the competition!" Ning Hongye commanded.

"Yes, your subordinate will not fail this mission!"

Qing Luan was confident in her own abilities.

She had grown up on horseback, constantly fighting on battlefields, and even facing a Prince, she was confident she could win the championship.

If she took first place, at least the Tiger Tally Gold Seal in Xiao Yang's hands wouldn't be lost.

"First round of the competition, begin!"

A moment later, King Zhenbei's voice echoed throughout the venue.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Instantly, the various Princes, along with their subordinates, spurred their horses and galloped out.

But one figure stood out, riding far ahead and leaving everyone else behind.

It was Xiao Junlin!

"Huh? The horse the Eldest Prince is riding looks like the Prince's Yellow Claw Flying Lightning!"

"That's a divine steed gifted to the Prince by the royal family back then. I didn't expect the Prince to give it to the Eldest Prince!"

"Then he's sure to win this competition, isn't he?"

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

While everyone else had already ridden into West Mountain, Xiao Yang slowly walked towards the Big Black Horse.

"Ninth Brother, do you know you've already lost and are planning to forfeit?" the Second Prince, Xiao Ziwen, sneered.

He followed the scholarly path and therefore did not participate in this competition.

"Second Brother, what's the rush? Starting early doesn't mean anything; only those who laugh last are the winners!" Xiao Yang retorted.

"Hmph, Eldest Brother is already miles ahead, and you haven't even started. I'd like to see how you plan to turn this around!" the Second Prince, Xiao Ziwen, said dismissively.

At this moment, Xiao Yang finally approached the Big Black Horse and lowered his voice.

"Brother Hei, I've treated you well. Give me some face today!"

"If you put in some effort, I'll find you more mares later, I promise you'll have a great time every day!"

Hearing this, the Big Black Horse finally perked up, its spirit instantly revitalized.

"Giddy up!"

Xiao Yang seized the opportunity, mounted the horse, and urged the Big Black Horse towards West Mountain.

However, those present still didn't think highly of him.

After all, the Big Black Horse he was riding didn't look like any famous steed; apart from liking to nudge things, it showed no extraordinary qualities.

Yet, after rounding a bend and entering the dense forest.

"Roar roar roar..."

The Big Black Horse suddenly let out a roar, and then a world-shattering transformation occurred.

Its body was suddenly covered in ink-jade scales, its entire form expanded, its muscles smooth and full of power.

Its eyes turned a pale gold, exuding immense nobility.

Where its hooves struck, purple lightning crackled, and clouds rolled.

"Rumble!"

It galloped, sweeping up a gale, leaving an afterimage in the air. Its speed was so extreme that its movements were completely imperceptible to the naked eye.

This was the true form of the Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt!

"Damn, is this a Transformer?"

"Brother Big Black, I underestimated you before!"

"Charge, charge, charge! Leave the ones ahead in the dust!"

Xiao Yang, sitting on the back of the Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt, felt his heart surge with excitement, covering a hundred miles in an instant.

Meanwhile.

The Princes who had set off earlier were chasing each other.

However, at the very front were the Eldest Prince, Xiao Junlin, and Qing Luan.

The two of them went all out, neither able to gain the upper hand.

"Damn it!"

"That Xiao Yang fellow bragged so much, why isn't he even showing his face?"

"I must get first place, or the Vermilion Bird Army's Tiger Tally Gold Seal will fall into Xiao Junlin's hands!"

Qing Luan made a firm decision, urging his Night Shining Jade Lion forward.

Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from behind, carrying a soul-piercing pressure.

In an instant, birds fell from the sky and trees toppled.

"Not good! A terrifying ferocious beast has appeared!"

"Everyone stay together, don't get separated!"

"We'll talk about the competition later, life is more important..."

The Princes and their subordinates behind them became vigilant.

However, the next moment!

"Thump! Thump! Thump..."

The horses ridden by everyone knelt on the ground, trembling and unable to move.

Even Xiao Junlin's Yellow Claw Flying Lightning and Qing Luan's Night Shining Jade Lion were no exception.

Behind them, it was as if a supreme king had descended!

And these horses were bowing to their "king."

"What on earth is going on?"

Xiao Junlin was greatly alarmed, not expecting the Western Mountain Autumn Hunt to cause such a commotion today.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a strange beast, like black lightning splitting the heavens and earth, arrived at lightning speed, kicking up a sky full of fire in its wake.

Its extreme speed surpassed everyone's imagination.

So fast!

Xiao Junlin instinctively looked up, only to see the black beast had already flown a thousand meters. But it seemed someone was riding on its back...

It looked a bit like Ninth Brother!

"Impossible! I must be seeing things!"

Xiao Junlin shook his head, casting the wild thought from his mind.

Not long after, Xiao Yang rode his Big Black Horse to the peak of Western Mountain.

"Whoosh!"

A large banner with the character "Xiao" fluttered in the wind, rustling loudly.

This must be the token banner mentioned by King Zhenbei. Taking it back meant being the champion!

Xiao Yang immediately took the banner and urged his Big Black Horse down the mountain.

At the foot of Western Mountain.

"He's back!"

Everyone saw a large banner from afar, swaying in the air, very conspicuous.

"It must be Eldest Brother! He actually improved the autumn hunt record by the time it takes one incense stick to burn. It seems Eldest Brother's cultivation has improved again!"

Second Prince Xiao Ziwen exclaimed.

"Eldest Prince is the Xiao Family True Dragon. He even triggered nine kinds of Heaven and Earth Phenomena when he broke through recently!"

"If it's a race, no one can beat him!"

"How laughable that Xiao Yang, overestimating himself and having wild ambitions, lost a Tiger Tally Gold Seal for nothing!"

Others also started discussing.

However, the next moment, when the person riding the horse and carrying the banner appeared, everyone's eyes widened.

Because the one who won was not Eldest Prince, but Xiao Yang!

He had a jade-like complexion and a tall, slender build, like a young general.

"Father King, I'm back!"

Xiao Yang dismounted with a flourish, planting the Xiao banner into the ground with clean, fluid movements.

"Ninth Brother, how could it be you?!"

Xiao Ziwen looked as if he had seen a ghost.