CHAPTER 628: CHAPTER 85: THE LAST TWO DRAGON PILLARS

As the Dragon Pulling Test continued, the Quasi-Dragon Knights, having been forewarned by everyone earlier, proceeded with caution. Soon, the dragon pillars in the training field were being awakened one after another.

In the imperial compartment reserved for the Dragon Battle Royal Family, sounds of discussion emanated from behind the curtain adorned with nao stone bead chains.

"Father, this year’s Quasi-Dragon Knights are particularly outstanding. Look, out of thirty dragon pillars, twenty-eight have already been chosen," from among the thirty-six Quasi-Dragon Knights, twenty-eight had already gained the favor of the Sub-Asian Dragons and successfully made contracts.

"The remaining few lads are not so lucky," Long Xiangtian, in his sixties, looked even older than Long Ao, the National Guardian General who was a hundred years old.

The years mercilessly carved countless grooves into this love-stricken Emperor’s face, leaving only his old eyes which faintly revealed his youthful visage.

"Indeed, among them is the Young Duke from the Blood Cherry Duke Mansion," Princess Long Xue lifted her gaze towards the training field.

There are only thirty Sub-Asian Dragons, and as the dragon pillars decrease, it’s bound to bring joy to some and sorrow to others.

"The Young Duke from the Blood Cherry Duke Mansion?" Long Xiangtian had watched the Dragon Pulling Test all day, and was somewhat wearied. For an old man whose body was fragile like a candle in the wind, he did not fancy the malice of the Sub-Asian Dragons.

As the Grand Duke Yue Nian of the previous Blood Cherry Duke Mansion disappeared, the Duke Mansion had completely lost its chance to compete on the grand stage of the Dragon War Empire, and the Young Duke ranked thirty-sixth had a high chance of being left out in this Dragon Pulling Test.

"If I remember correctly, there have already been consecutive impeachments against the Duke Mansion in the court. Even though it is a hereditary title, the Duke Mansion has been taking salaries without rendering services for many years. If no one capable of turning the tide emerges from the mansion, after this Dragon Pulling Test, the Duke’s title should be revoked," the various calls from the old ministers in the court were too mixed, and if every issue were dismissed, it would only invite criticism of him being a senile and stubborn old Emperor.

Granting approval to one or two matters occasionally could shut some people up. This time, let’s make the fallen Blood Cherry Duke Mansion the scapegoat.

Long Xiangtian, the Emperor, desired only to maintain a cadre of useful officials.

For him, the now hollow shell of the Blood Cherry Duke Mansion was just an ornament.

"What Father says is very true, clear rewards and punishments are what gain people’s allegiance. However, if the Young Duke from Blood Cherry happens to successfully contract, let us give him a chance. After all, there was a time when the Duke Mansion was on par with the National Guardian General Residence as the two great pillars of the Empire," Princess Long Xue’s dark, luminous eyes fell on the remaining Quasi-Dragon Knights in the training field.

"Xue’er..." Long Xiangtian seemed somewhat resigned to his daughter’s spontaneous decision. He rubbed his brow, "So be it. Long Ao and I are both nearing our twilight years; it’s time to leave some leeway for you young ones. But remember, Xue’er, whatever the time, you must heed my words: use those you trust and trust those you use."

Having said this, Long Xiangtian, assisted by attendants, left the inner court first.

For him, the emergence of twenty-eight dragon knights was already sufficient.

"Farewell, Father," Princess Long Xue mused briefly and then looked again at the training field.

Gazing at Yue Minzhi, who remained as calm as ever in the training field, she whispered, "Yue Clan siblings, do not let the palace down. It’s a pity, for the real highlight of today’s Dragon Pulling Test has only just begun."

To avoid disturbing the Quasi-Dragon Knights participating in the Dragon Pulling Test, those who had successfully contracted were taken into the weapons storehouse of the training field, waiting for the final outcome.

With each wave of new dragon knights, bearing the Dragon Pattern, entering, Long Rui, who was still immersed in the joy of a successful contract, could stand no longer.

Every time a Dragon Knight entered, she would inquire about the situation outside.

When the twenty-eighth Dragon Knight entered, he brought a piece of bad news.

Thirty-two Dragon Knights, twenty-eight succeeded, awakening twenty-eight Dragon Pillars.

"Only two Dragon Pillars left, yet still four people remaining," Long Rui, who had already forged a contract with the Lake King Blue Dragon, was extremely anxious. She had never expected this year’s Dragon Pulling Test to proceed so smoothly.

Yue Minzhi’s Dragon Pulling number was too far back. If he were unlucky... she didn’t dare to think further.

"Hehe, that guy Yue Minzhi, he dared to boast in front of this young master earlier, saying he wanted to contract a Flying Dragon, and now this young master has succeeded in contracting, while he might very well end up with none. Truly, it makes this young master want to laugh his teeth off," sneered Ji Yun, who had earlier contracted a Bat Dragon.

He huddled together with his few cronies, behind them were their respective Sub-Asian Dragons, red, blue, green, black, looking like a big dye vat.

"Ji Yun, shut your foul mouth," Long Rui swung her fist at him, but Ji Yun moved closer with a face eager to please, "Miss Long Rui, your Blue Dragon matches you perfectly, as beautiful and charming as you."

Ji Yun’s words were not just to flatter Long Rui; the Lake King Dragon is a rare type of aesthetically outstanding Sub-Asian Dragon. In contrast, Ji Yun’s Bat Dragon, with its characteristic long fur like a big bat and a pair of wild boar-like tusks, made Ji Yun feel uneasy upon seeing it.

"Hmph," Long Rui again anxiously waited for a moment.

About two hours later, the sky above the field had already darkened.

Dozens of Merfolk Pearls lit up the field. On the field, only Yue Minzhi and the last Quasi-Dragon Knight remained, and there were still two unawakened Dragon Pillars.

"Huahua, do you think your elder brother can awaken one of them," Lie Rou watched intently, her hands nervously clutching Yue Jinghua’s hand, already full of sweat.

Before this Dragon Pulling Test, most of the families and officials in the Imperial City already knew that Yunhu Commerce had brought a colorful Jiao.

Although not a Sub-Asian Dragon, as a branch of the Dragon Clan, the strength of a Jiao is unquestionable, especially since the Colorful Jiao has been extinct for many years.

Having tried, several Quasi-Dragon Knights attempted to awaken the last two Dragon Pillars, but without exception, all failed.

As attempts increased and the number of Dragon Pillars decreased, the subsequent five or six Quasi-Dragon Knights simply bypassed those two Pillars.

"The Five-Colored Jiao Dragon Ji Xuechen must be sealed in one of these pillars," Yue Jinghua knew in her heart. At this moment, the Dragon Pulling Test for Yue Minzhi also began.

Without any hesitation, Yue Minzhi strode towards the Dragon Pillar.

Just then, a crisp shout was heard from the stands: "Wait a moment."

Yue Minzhi felt the voice was familiar, it seemed like his sister Yue Jinghua’s voice. Turning to look, he saw a charming figure leaping down from the stands, "Big brother, you forgot something."