"I wonder if anyone will make it to the top this year," sighed an older man watching from the side, staring at the steps ahead.
His wife rolled her eyes at him, holding their child, and said, "It's been so many years, have you ever seen anyone reach the top? There were even Titled Douluo tried to climb up before, and they all came down!"
The little girl in her parents' arms didn't understand what they were saying. She just held the candied hawthorn in her hand, put it in her little mouth, and nibbled on it with one or two of her newly grown milk teeth.
Saliva kept drooling, and her two little eyes squinted into crescent moons with laughter; she looked extremely happy.
"Tsk tsk tsk, my little darling, let Daddy wipe your drool for you."
The man's rough hands vigorously rubbed against the girl's delicate skin, leaving slight red marks on her pretty face.
"Can't you be a little gentler?! Oh, oh, oh... Baby, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt, let's ignore it."
The woman slapped the man's hand away, looking at him with a hint of reproach in her eyes, while tenderly comforting her little one.
The man pulled the woman into his arms. She struggled a few times, but then let him hold her, a slight smile on her face. The man laughed heartily, his face beaming with happiness.
The surrounding crowd continued to discuss it.
"Hey, who do you think will get to the top today?"
Who knows?
"Oh, look at that outfit, is the prince joining in the fun too?"
Isn't this normal?
"I wonder if anyone will be able to break the record of eighty floors today?"
Huo Yuhao finally managed to put away all the food in his hands, and Xiao Xiao led him towards the center of the crowd, looking extremely excited.
The two quickly squeezed to the entrance of the steps.
At the entrance to the arena, a dozen or so soldiers with Soul Power at least at the Soul Ancestor level were maintaining order.
With their help, all the Soul Master Soul Master who wanted to participate formed a very long queue, and one by one they were making their way up the steps in an orderly fashion.
This is because the Dou Ling Empire has set challenge restrictions; any Soul Master below the second ring is not allowed to participate.
Aside from Titled Douluo and the royal family of the Dou Ling Empire who can enter at any time, everyone else can only challenge once.
It can be said that this staircase provides ordinary people with the opportunity to become nobles, and it is also the annual training ground for the Dou Ling Imperial Family.
" Yuhao, let's hurry over there. If we're any later, we might not be able to get there until noon," Xiao Xiao said earnestly.
As she spoke, Xiao Xiao took Huo Yuhao's hand and walked towards the back of the group.
"Hey, Junior Brother Huo, Junior Sister Xiao, are you here for the Dou Ling Festival too?"
Suddenly, a flippant and arrogant voice came from behind them.
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao turned around and saw that the person behind them was Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi's hair was parted in a 3/7 ratio, standing up neatly and gleaming. He wore a fine, soft garment sewn with gold thread and adorned with a few gemstones. With a slight exertion of his hand, he swished open a folding fan and gently waved it, a smile playing on his lips, looking extremely flamboyant.
Xiao Xiao looked him over curiously and said, "Senior Xu! What are you doing here?"
Huo Yuhao nodded at Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi waved his hand and said proudly, "After all, I am a prince of the Dou Ling Empire, so naturally I must come to participate in the Dou Ling Festival."
"By the way, Junior Sister Xiao Xiao, I remember you're also from the Dou Ling Empire, right?"
Xiao Xiao nodded and replied politely, "Yes, Senior Xu, I didn't expect you to be a prince! I'll have to rely on you for guidance in the future!"
Xu Sanshi, fanning himself with a folding fan, the breeze ruffling his hair, nodded and said, "Of course, of course."
"Junior Brother Huo, you must be here with Junior Sister Xiao Xiao. Little Brother Huo 're so lucky to have such a beautiful girlfriend like Xiao Xiao," Xu Sanshi praised.
Xiao Xiao blushed slightly and covered her cheeks, saying, "No, no, Senior Xu, what are you saying..."
Huo Yuhao did not refute, but stood aside and smiled, which can be regarded as an acceptance of Xu Sanshi's statement.
To explain how the three of them met, it all started with Huo Yuhao's incredibly tempting grilled fish.
Once, when everyone was having a meal together, Xu Sanshi happened to pass by. Since he knew Tang Ya and the Xu Sanshi, he came over to say hello.
As a result, Xu Sanshi was so captivated by the aroma that he couldn't move. He shamelessly sat down and ate several grilled fish before finally leaving satisfied.
That's how the three of them became acquainted.
" Xu Sanshi! Who do you think is prettier? Hmm?"
Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind Xu Sanshi, grabbed his ear, and twisted it hard.
"Hey, hey, hey! Wife, wife, I..."
Xu Sanshi winced in pain and quickly begged the woman behind him for mercy, whispering, "Wife, my junior classmates are all here, please give me some face!"
Xu Sanshi even covered his mouth, afraid that the two of them would hear what he was saying.
Following the arm, a woman was standing behind Xu Sanshi.
The woman had long, flowing golden hair that cascaded down her back; her face was exquisite and her demeanor refined.
She stared at Xu Sanshi in front of her with a furrowed brow, her loose long dress contrasting sharply with her fierce movements.
When the woman looked up, she noticed Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao standing in front of her.
The woman quickly released her grip, her eyes showing a hint of panic. She didn't know where to put her two fair arms for a moment. After thinking for a moment, she put her hands together, and with a smile and a nod, she revealed her unique noble temperament.
The two drastically different transformations are truly astonishing.
Seeing that the two did not respond, the woman looked at Xu Sanshi with a reproachful gaze, as if to say, 'Look at me, if it weren't for you, would I have made such a fool of myself?'
Xu Sanshi, sensing the awkwardness, tried to smooth things over, saying, "Haha, let me introduce myself..."
After some introduction.
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao also learned the woman's name.
Her name is Xue Qingling, and she is Xu Sanshi's fiancée. By all accounts, she is a member of the Dou Ling Imperial Family, specifically a branch of the royal family.
Xue Qingling's cheeks flushed slightly. She gently pushed Xu Sanshi's back and said, "Alright, alright, you take your juniors to the Dou Ling Festival. I'll wait for you outside."
Xu Sanshi took her hands in his, gently brought them close to her face, and said tenderly, "Wife, be a good girl and wait for me outside, okay? I'll be back soon..."
"Okay... Oh dear, hurry up and go!"
Xue Qingling blushed with embarrassment at his sudden action, and angrily pushed Xu Sanshi away, hurriedly fleeing the scene.
"Sigh, we've been married for so long, and she's still so shy."
" Little Brother Huo, Junior Sister Xiao, please come with me, I'll take you inside."
As he spoke, Xu Sanshi took out the token from his waist and led Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao to the entrance, where the guards immediately made way for them.
"Your Highnesses, please proceed!"
The guard checked the token Xu Sanshi handed over, and after confirming his identity, he said respectfully.
Xu Sanshi nodded in satisfaction and waved to the two people behind him.
Xiao Xiao then pulled Huo Yuhao along and followed.
At this moment, the ancient and mysterious steps were fully revealed to the three of them.
Xiao Xiao looked at the steps in front of her, her eyes sparkling with excitement. It was her first time participating in the Dou Ling Festival, and she was filled with anticipation.
If she manages to reach the summit, she estimates she'll be so excited she won't be able to sleep for days and nights.
Huo Yuhao's eyes gleamed with a faint purple light as he scanned the ancient steps so close to him. He sensed a familiar feeling, but couldn't quite place it, and fell into deep thought.