As soon as that clear voice rang out from the stone pavilion, everyone immediately fell silent.
Zhou Fuling nodded and said, "Your Highness, the person has arrived."
The sound of chess pieces falling onto the board inside the stone pavilion also disappeared. The next moment, it sounded as if someone was getting up, and a gentle surge of Primordial Qi slowly pulled open the beaded chain of the stone pavilion.
As the beaded chain was untied, the scene within was revealed to Lu Ming.
Lu Ming first saw a bright red figure, dressed in a red dress that accentuated her snow-white skin, making her quite eye-catching. But when he slightly raised his head and his gaze fell on the prince's face, he was instantly stunned.
That exquisitely beautiful face was none other than the red-clad girl riding a white tiger that they had encountered yesterday on their way Qingyuan Market!
Lu Ming was dumbfounded.
She's actually His Highness?!
As Lu Ming stared blankly, His Highness's clear, bright eyes were also looking at him. He then stepped forward and asked, "What's your name?"
Lu Ming was extremely embarrassed, wishing he could dig his toes into the ground, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.
Zhou Fuling gave him a strange look, then answered for him, "His name is Lu Ming."
His Highness smiled faintly and said, "Isn't his name Zhou Xuan?"
Zhou Xuan, standing to the side, looked on in confusion, a big question mark appearing above his head.
"Your Highness has seen him?" Zhou Fuling, who knew His Highness's temperament well, immediately asked in surprise.
His Highness nodded slightly and said, "I happened to meet him on my way to Qingyuan Market yesterday. I even asked them for some food and drink. When I asked him his name, he said it was Zhou Xuan."
Zhou Xuan's eyes widened, and he pointed a finger at Lu Ming. This brat dared to use his name to swindle people outside, and he even managed to fool His Highness?
Zhou Fuling chuckled, feeling a slight pain in her stomach from laughing. She couldn't help but punch Lu Ming's arm, saying, "You brat, are you trying to get yourself killed? How dare you use Fourth Uncle's name to deceive His Highness!"
Lu Ming quickly apologized, saying awkwardly, "Your Highness is not at fault. I was just cautious at the time because I did not know your way here. I dared not reveal my real name. The head of the workshop is Master Baili of Qingyuan Market, whose name is extremely imposing. Therefore, I wanted to borrow his name for the purpose of intimidation."
Zhou Xuan rolled his eyes and cursed, "Now you're thinking about sucking up? Just how many swindling and deceitful things have you done behind my back?"
The prince glanced at Zhou Fuling's subtle actions with a hint of surprise. He and Zhou Fuling had known each other since childhood and had a very close relationship, so he knew her personality very well. He had never seen Zhou Fuling do such subtle actions with any other man of the same age in the Imperial Domain.
Noticing His Highness's gaze, Zhou Fuling's pretty face flushed slightly, and she quickly suppressed her smile. Lu Ming was such a naughty boy; whenever she saw him, she always wanted to punch him, making her lose her demeanor as a noble lady of the Imperial Domain.
"What an interesting little fellow! But he deceived Your Highness and stole the Zhou Lineage name—a heinous crime deserving of death." A soft laugh suddenly came from behind His Highness.
Lu Ming felt a chill run down his spine. Was he really going to be executed?
He looked in the direction from which the sound came and discovered that there was another figure in the stone pavilion. It was a beautiful woman dressed as a Daoist nun. She held a whisk and walked slowly towards the pavilion, standing side by side with the prince.
Lu Ming noticed that as the beautiful Daoist nun stepped forward, the white-robed elder and the black-robed old woman on both sides of the stone pavilion bowed slightly to her, their faces even showing a hint of awe.
This discovery gave Lu Ming a sudden shock.
What kind of background does this beautiful Daoist nun have that can command such awe from two Nether Spirit?!
The next moment, a thought arose in Lu Ming's mind, instantly causing a storm to surge within him.
She, she is...
Divine Ability Grandmaster!!
This was the first time in Lu Ming's life that he had ever seen a true Divine Ability Grandmaster!
In that instant, the words "shall be executed" uttered by the beautiful Daoist nun earlier seemed to carry immense pressure, sweeping down like an overwhelming force, filling people with boundless fear.
However, just as Lu Ming was drenched in cold sweat, Zhou Fuling's clear voice, tinged with dissatisfaction, came from the side.
"Auntie, he's timid, don't scare him."
"Aunt?"
Upon hearing Zhou Fuling address him in that way, Lu Ming was momentarily stunned, and then he gasped inwardly.
Is this beautiful Daoist nun Zhou Fuling's aunt?
Moreover, judging from the intimacy in Zhou Fuling's words, could this really be her aunt?
However, this is not surprising. After all, the Zhou Lineage is clearly a top-tier family of supernatural powers in the Imperial Domain, and there must be a master of Divine Ability Grandmaster among them. Since His Highness is on good terms with the Zhou Lineage, it is only reasonable that Divine Ability Grandmaster from the Zhou Lineage would accompany him.
The fact that he was a Divine Ability Grandmaster was so shocking that Lu Ming was unable to recover for a long time.
As Zhou Fuling called out "Aunt," the beautiful Daoist nun smiled slightly and said, "You certainly know how to protect him."
Zhou Fuling said without changing her expression, " Lu Ming is someone I have high hopes for. I have helped him a lot and personally witnessed him go from opening his bones to condensing ten Divine Ability Dharma Mark in about half a year. I believe that he will definitely achieve extraordinary things in the future. Moreover, my grandfather often taught us that when we encounter young geniuses from humble backgrounds, we can lend a helping hand, which may bring unexpected rewards and gains in the future."
"Aunt, have you forgotten Grandfather's teachings? If you have, I'll have to tell Grandfather when I get back."
The beautiful Daoist nun smiled and said, "I only asked one question, but you have a whole set of grand principles to spout, and you even brought up my grandfather to intimidate me."
At this moment, His Highness spoke up, "To be able to go from bone opening to ten Divine Ability Dharma Mark in a place like Qingyuan Market within half a year is indeed a testament to exceptional talent."
"Fine, you didn't recognize me back then, so I won't pursue your crime of deception."
Lu Ming quickly expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness."
The cold sweat on his back finally subsided. Facing these important figures was truly terrifying. In the end, he was too weak and had no right to make these beings take him seriously.
His Highness's clear voice rang out slowly. "Now that the people you selected, Fuling, have arrived, let's first confirm the position of the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner. The other three banners have already been decided, only the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner is missing."
Upon hearing His Highness's words, Ye Yuan and Zhu Chi both stepped forward.
Zhou Fuling winked at Lu Ming and whispered, "Good luck."
Lu Ming nodded and followed suit, stepping forward to the stone pavilion steps.
"First, condense your respective Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner. Only those who reach the Major Accomplishment Realm are qualified to compete." His Highness's crimson eyes gazed upon the three figures before him, each with a distinct aura.
Zhu Chi grinned, and in the next moment, a powerful Primordial Qi swept out from his body. Golden light condensed in his palm, and a golden banner burning with golden flames materialized.
The golden banner was about half a zhang long, and it was engraved with obscure golden flame patterns. These patterns seemed to possess some kind of amazing spirituality, forming a vortex in the center of the banner and flowing continuously.
And that vortex of golden flames faintly showed signs of transforming into a golden sun.
However, Zhu Chi's golden sun is still somewhat ethereal and incomplete, indicating that it is not yet Perfection.
"The golden patterns are transforming into the sun. This is no longer an ordinary Major Accomplishment Realm, but a sign of near Perfection. Zhu Chi has certainly put in a lot of effort in cultivating the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner." Everyone present was amazed by this scene.
Zhou Fuling gazed at the golden banner, a hint of worry appearing in her eyes. She remembered that when they went to Fengyang Prefecture, Lu Ming's Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner seemed to be just one step away from the Major Accomplishment Completion stage. Now, nearly two months have passed, and even if he has made some progress, he should only be at the Major Accomplishment Realm, right? Compared to Zhu Chi's golden banner, which faintly showed signs of golden patterns transforming into the sun, it was clearly lagging behind.
Zhou Fuling sighed inwardly. She knew the effort Lu Ming had put into the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner. If he failed to win the banner position this time, his goal of using His Highness's influence to protect the Thunderfire Hall would probably be difficult to achieve.
After all, His Highness wouldn't risk offending the Great Golden Crow Hall for him if he hadn't demonstrated sufficient value.
This is not because His Highness is afraid of the Great Golden Crow Hall, but purely a judgment based on its value.
Zhou Fuling bit her red lips. If Lu Ming couldn't achieve his goal through the " Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner," then she would have no choice but to plead with His Highness in private. But what reason could she give in that case?