FRGNM -Chapter 197 Your Highness and the Evil King

Could it be… they actually want her to marry someone?!

Heavens!

“Luo Mingyu, come with me.” Nangong Mo raised an eyebrow, pressing a hand on Luo Mingyu’s shoulder, and headed toward another Qingluan.

Ling Ruoxi stared at the two, puzzled. In no time at all, the mysteriously secretive pair had flown off atop the other Qingluan.

“What are they doing?” Ling Ruoxi frowned as she leaned on Qingluan’s back, watching the two vanish ahead.

Ye Ningfeng, standing beside her, smiled softly. “Your Highness and the Evil King have gone ahead to the Duanyun Kingdom’s imperial city… to prepare a grand gift for you.”

Duanyun Kingdom was one of the great powers of the continent, far wealthier and more prosperous than any small state. Even the imperial city itself was top-tier.

Protective barriers surrounded the city, and five golden dragons flew over the moat, connecting it to the outside world. The grandeur was overwhelming yet natural.

The buildings were arranged in orderly harmony. Even the patrolling guards rode white horses, clad in armor, spears in hand. Any fighting or brawling would result in immediate imprisonment.

“Fighting is banned within Duanyun Kingdom. Only the southernmost region allows dueling, where life and death are decided. The eastern, northern, and western sectors each have their own garrison, making things very peaceful,” Ye Ningfeng explained softly.

Ling Ruoxi could have flown directly into the city, but she refused to ride Qingluan. She landed outside the gates, changed out of the red wedding clothes, and wore her usual attire to enter.

The reason was simple: she wasn’t stupid. She wouldn’t flaunt herself and announce her arrival to the entire kingdom. Especially since she was betrothed to Nangong Mo, entering like that would signal to everyone that she belonged to him.

“What about the south? Is it unguarded?” She glanced around, noticing the exquisite craftsmanship of the surrounding items, many of which weren’t terribly expensive.

Passersby avoided riding horses here. Duanyun Kingdom’s laws forbade light skills or fighting inside the imperial city; violators could be executed on the spot. A law no one dared break for hundreds of years.

“The south is guarded by General Liyun of Duanyun Kingdom. No one dares invade. Today, Liyun has reached Purple Rank, commanding twelve elite Blue Rank warriors. With additional protective formations, ordinary people cannot easily cause trouble,” Ye Ningfeng explained.

The figure walking ahead paused, glanced back, and frowned. The previous presence behind them had vanished!

Ye Ningfeng sighed in disbelief. Nangong Mo, keeping things low-profile for Ling Ruoxi, had entered the palace with his guards from the west gate. Luo Mingyu had followed them in, leaving Ye Ningfeng alone. But now, when he turned around, the little master had disappeared.

Of course, Ye Ningfeng wasn’t worried—he trusted Ling Ruoxi. Wherever she went, chaos seemed to follow.

“What’s this?” Pushing through the crowd, Ling Ruoxi’s gaze landed on an announcement board. She rested her chin on her hand, raising her brows.

“Anyone who can surpass the gods will have the chance to meet the emperor, gain the title of ‘Warrior,’ be admitted to the palace, and receive a top-grade spiritual medicine, the Xuanming Pill.”

“Gods? What are they?” Ling Ruoxi wondered.

She wasn’t interested in the warrior title, but as an herbalist, nothing fascinated her more than medicine. The Xuanming Pill wasn’t personally useful, but it was a top-tier healing item.

Silver Wolf Xiaobai followed at her side. As her companion, how could she not sense his injuries? He simply hadn’t spoken of them. He couldn’t even transform into human form because of the injuries. The Xuanming Pill, made from over a hundred medicinal ingredients, would greatly help.

Someone nearby heard Ling Ruoxi’s words and burst out laughing. “What did you say? You don’t even know the gods? Huh? Kid, are you planning to join?”

“What? Don’t know the gods? Where did this country bumpkin come from? Or did you come from elsewhere?”

“Little brother, if you want to know what the gods are, head south. There’s a line; when you go, someone will tell you.”

The crowd jeered. Ling Ruoxi frowned, intending to ask Ye Ningfeng, but shivered—he had vanished too!

“Great, did he leave me or did I lose him? Either way, I’m lost.” Ling Ruoxi muttered, quickly forcing her way through the crowd. Then an idea struck her.

The notice said those who surpassed the gods could enter the palace. Since she was going to the imperial city anyway, why not try this new way?

Her eyes glinted, and she snapped her fingers, dashing south.

The people around her trembled. “No… she’s really going to the gods? Crazy…”

Oddly enough, the southern area was chaotic, meant for duels, but to Ling Ruoxi, it looked no different from elsewhere. What should have been a long line had only a few scattered people, and a sign simply read “Gods.” Even those sitting there looked sleepy.

“Hey!” Ling Ruoxi leaned down and tapped the table in front of the seated person.

Startled awake, he yawned, stretched, and handed her a card labeled “Ten.” “Go straight, push the door forward—this is the Gods.”

“Oh?” She thought someone would explain things. Shrugging, she walked forward.

The yawned man continued lazily: “Ten slots are filled; we may begin. Gods’ challenge: fight to the death… Huh? Who’s this stranger? Hey, kid, come back!”

Realizing something, he jumped up, a golden light flashing. His legs weakened, almost collapsing, but he patted his chest and whispered, “It’s fine—even if dead, it won’t be distinguishable.”

What a massive gate! Running toward it, Ling Ruoxi swallowed nervously. The wall was at least a hundred meters high, blocking the path. The old plaque read “Gods,” but part of the character had fallen away.

The stone gate was closed. Carved above were instructions: each participant must push open the gate themselves, place their card in the slot, and the Gods’ challenge officially begins.

“Hmm, like this…” Ling Ruoxi placed her “Ten” card into the small hole, pressed her hands against the stone gate, and focused. Purple Dou Qi surged in her palms as she pushed forward.

Golden energy enveloped the area. Ling Ruoxi standing before the gate vanished.

Her body felt light, and she stumbled, trying to steady herself with one hand—but her right hand landed on something unknown. With a “plop,” she fell forward.

“What an ugly fall… can a kid like this compete with us?” A cold voice rang from above, the golden sunlight blinding her to the speaker’s face.

Ling Ruoxi clutched her wrist, looking ahead. Her heart skipped a beat. Beyond the stone gate was… a pristine forest!

Untouched by human hands, trees towered skyward, with only a sliver of sunlight filtering through. Shaking her head, she scanned the surroundings.

Before her stood nine men, each with different expressions, all bare-chested, with strange totems drawn on their arms. One large man even stripped his shirt, showing glistening muscles under the sunlight.

“Where… am I?” Ling Ruoxi was stunned. She quickly got up, noticing each of the nine had a frog at their feet—and the one she touched earlier belonged to her!

Dizzy, what was happening? Weren’t they at the Gods’ challenge? How did she end up outside the city?

In the opposite corner, a temporary platform had been set up, surrounded by drowsy people. Seeing the tenth participant enter, the yawning figure licked his lips. “Then, the Gods…”

“Wait! What’s going on? Where is this?” Ling Ruoxi raised her hand—she couldn’t just arrive blindly and start doing things blindly.

The man on the platform raised his eyebrows. Not very handsome, but exuded authority. Holding a scroll, he said softly:

“This is the entry point for the Gods’ challenge, the Southern Wastelands, south of the capital. It’s divided from the mountains. Tenth participant—you don’t even know the rules, do you?”

“Well… you’re right. Sorry, I heard the Gods’ challenge has Xuanming Pills, so I came. What do the Gods do?” Ling Ruoxi smiled innocently.