"Wait, the Astronomical Society?"

The moment Huai Shi revealed his identity, countless spectators stared at each other, their faces masks of astonishment.

The whole venue erupted.

"He... He..."

In the VIP seating, an elderly court official, IV drips still attached, widened his eyes. He shakily pointed at the young man on the screen, so overcome by either anger or shock that he almost passed out.

I told you he wasn't one of ours! I told you, but you wouldn't believe me!

Aggrieved and annoyed, he glared at the Seven Star Group's representative, only to find the representative glaring back even more furiously.

"The Yingzhou People are too shameless!" the Seven Star representative hissed, withdrawing his gaze, and whispered to the person next to him, "Even at a time like this, they still want to blame the Astronomical Society!"

"Yes, yes." Older Cousin sighed and nodded, patting the Seven Star representative's shoulder. "They've always been like this. You'll get used to it."

The elderly court official's body suddenly spasmed. With a strangled gasp, he spurted a mouthful of old blood and screamed something hoarsely before being rushed back to the medical room for emergency treatment at Older Cousin's gesture.

"When you're old and not in good health, you shouldn't force yourself to attend events."

Older Cousin sighed and instructed his assistant, "Let the old man recover well. He shouldn't come out and get angry with others. If he gets sick from anger, it's one thing for them to try and blame us, but now they're even trying to blame the Astronomical Society. It's truly unbearable to watch, right, Minister Liu?"

"Hmm? Yes..."

Beside him, the middle-aged man, a deputy minister representing the Jinling Branch of the Astronomical Society, nodded vigorously, a somewhat guilty smile on his face.

That little brat... why does he seem more familiar the more I look at him? It feels like I've seen him somewhere before.

.

"What a refreshingly intense gaze."

On the stage, under the blazing spotlights, the Prince gazed at the young man's face, a pleased smile appearing.

"Good, come on, young man!"

He gently tugged the reins and gripped his Sword Blade. "Let's fight honorably and determine a winner!"

The iron hooves thundered.

Amidst the neighing of the White Horse, a hurricane blasted them, and the beautiful White Horse thundered forth like a train, the Sword Blade on its back slashing down.

It missed.

Yu Step!

At the critical moment, he stepped and turned, dodging the horse's charging head by moving to the left. The knife and Axe in Huai Shi's hands drew two fierce arcs through the air, slashing towards the horse's head.

CLANG!

The Sword Blade lunged; he blocked, and sparks flew.

Then, the White Horse reared up, trying to trample Huai Shi's face. Huai Shi dodged. However, as its iron hooves struck down, a hurricane accompanied by a thunderous roar erupted from beneath its stomp, sending a suffocating shockwave outwards.

Huai Shi was sent flying backward.

The White Horse halted, then surged forward as the Prince tugged the reins. Swift as lightning, its Treasure Sword snaked towards Huai Shi's throat, thrusting forth.

The distance closed in an instant.

But then, the charge abruptly stopped.

Where they had just been, a Lock Chain had appeared out of nowhere. One end was connected to the stage carpet, the other wound around the warhorse's neck.

It was tethered!

Though it looked like an ordinary carpet, it was now as indestructible as steel on the stage; neither the horse's hooves nor its pulling could break it.

The Prince raised his Sword Blade and slashed, snapping the Lock Chain.

Huai Shi's vision darkened as he felt the Source Substance tremble. The chain returned to his hand, coiling around his arm, the break mending itself.

That sword is definitely a divine-weapon-grade armament. No, when I think about it, the Prince's Treasure Sword must also be an extraordinary item, right? Just like the Prince's White Horse.

All evildoers would fall before the Prince's mighty sword, just as all obstacles and difficulties were elegantly overcome by his White Horse.

This was the White Horse Prince, as if stepping directly out of legend.

A Hero who once bore Sky's Command, destined to slay the Evil Dragon and rescue the Teenage Girl from peril.

Even if it only exists here.

Even if it exists only for this night...

"Thrilling!"

Huai Shi steadied himself, tightening his grip on his Axe, an involuntary laugh escaping him.

Pleasure, excitement, anticipation, and an innate sense of honor.

Such an opponent, such an enemy, such a Hero… such a battle was beautiful, like a dream. Just knowing the enemy stood before him filled him with indescribable anticipation.

In the quiet Orchard Gym, on the TV screen watched by dozens of muscular men, the young man's current smile was displayed.

It was as if flames ignited in his eyes.

It bore an intense glow, almost too bright to look at directly.

"Getting excited, Huai Shi?"

The elder holding protein powder chuckled softly to himself. "That feeling, as if even the Soul is blazing... That's what a battle is: exhilarating. That's what an adversary is: lovable. It's precisely because of this—no, only because of this—that victory is worth pursuing."

And so, on the screen, Huai Shi stepped forward, toward his opponent.

"Again!"

The young man murmured. His Axe disappeared as a dazzling glow condensed in his hands. The outline of the Cross Spear grew forth, its blade oozing endless Dragon Blood, like tears.

That was the posture of an all-out assault.

Just bending his body produced a low, taut sound, like a tightened bowstring. Just taking a step unleashed a Roaring Outburst, as if he were breaking through the air.

The Green Crown Dragon transformed into a misty rain, sprinkling down from the spear's blade. Where it passed, the colors of iris flowers sprouted from the crimson carpet, as if embroidered. They surfaced on the fabric, branches swaying and blossoms opening.

A refreshing fragrance spread through the air.

A point of light, like a falling star, had already shot across tens of meters, whooshing towards its target. The White Horse retreated, but the spear blade pressed onward, forcing the White Horse to retreat again.

The Sword Blade slashed, but the spear's tip swept it aside. Hooves trampled, but the spear shaft smashed through them.

Like a majestic meteor descending from the heavens.

In the blink of an eye, it cleaved the White Horse's noble face, leaving a crimson scar on its handsome features.

The White Horse cried out in pain, a hint of weariness appearing in its spirited, martial demeanor.

The spear blade, following its momentum, stabbed into the ground.

But Huai Shi was still moving forward.

Then, suddenly, the spear shaft bent like a bow and sprang back, launching the young man into the air. The Axe Blade materialized in his hand, aimed at the Prince, who was now within striking distance.

CHOP!

The screech of clashing metal burst out.

The White Horse backed away. Atop it, the Prince lifted his Longsword in astonishment, noticing a new notch on its blade.

A strand of golden hair fell from his temple, fluttering in the air before landing conspicuously in the White Horse's fresh blood on the ground.

"Is this all you have, Lord Prince?"

Huai Shi landed, casually swinging his weapon, a pleased smile on his face. "Shouldn't the warm-up be over by now?"

"Is this fight still not enough to satisfy you, Huai Shi."

Atop the White Horse, the Prince gazed down at him, surprise flashing in his eyes. He nodded slowly. "Very well, then let us take it a step further—"

His Sword Blade swung down, issuing a silent command.

Hooves stomped on the stage, sounding like a great iron drum being struck, followed by a Roaring Outburst.

Then, countless figures emerged from backstage, rushing about hurriedly, like blood flowing through veins. In an instant, the lighting crew was in place, the props crew was in place, the stage management crew was in place, the machinery crew was in place, and finally, the director's team was in place.

As if endowed with a soul, at this very moment, this ancient theater was once again shining with its former glory.

This stage had come to life.

"Don't let your guard down, Huai Shi."

The Prince smiled, looking around at his kingdom. "The performance has just begun!"

Behind him, from behind numerous billowing curtains, light suddenly emerged. It projected onto the cyclorama above, forming a revolving countdown.

3, 2, 1!

—Action!

The old clapperboard was raised slowly, then clapped shut abruptly, producing a crisp sound.

In an instant, the entire stage trembled violently.

Rainbow-colored lights changed rapidly, and numerous machines operated with intense energy. As gears turned, countless mechanisms engaged, lifting platforms rose and fell, and innumerable props appeared and disappeared on the slowly rotating stage.

Through the pure interplay of colors, the presence or absence of props, and changes in the backdrops on the fabric curtains, the climate of the Four Seasons was interwoven, and landscapes of countless mountains and rivers evolved.

The world itself had been condensed onto this small stage.

And the princes' performance had truly begun!

"Be careful."

The Prince shouted.

The White Horse neighed, rallying once more.

Its hooves trampled the grey carpet. As the lifting platform rose, the horse leaped among numerous rock-like props. It was as if it were galloping across towering mountain ranges, stepping on outcrops on cliff faces, and swooping down toward Huai Shi.

No, at this moment, what's appearing before me must be actual mountains!

Even if it was just painted backdrops and abstract props, the effect created at that moment was indistinguishable from that of a real mountain.

Huai Shi found himself midway up the mountainside.

When he looked up, he could feel the immense pressure of the vast mountain range. From the summit, the Prince descended with the momentum of a Rolling Stone, displaying an agility and swiftness that allowed him to navigate the steep mountains as if on flat ground.

A gale howled down from the mountain's peak.

The sky grew dark; lightning flashed and thunder rolled.

The immense pressure of this entire world bore down on him, making each step a struggle.

In that brief moment of shock, the White Horse, swift as light, was already upon him. From its back, the Prince's sword slashed down. Huai Shi instinctively dodged and tried to block, but he couldn't withstand the enormous power and was sent flying.

In midair, he looked around and saw the White Horse leaping up, seemingly treading on air as it charged towards him.

Ramming someone with your mount is going too far, isn't it?

Huai Shi flung out his hand. His Lock Chain shot out, pulling him towards the ground. He twisted in midair, dodging the White Horse's trampling hooves, and landed unsteadily.

But as soon as he landed, he saw... the carpet's color had turned deep blue.

The backdrop now showed a profound blue. Projections on the overhead screen revealed the vague shapes of schools of fish. The floorboards flipped, suddenly displaying patterns of coral reefs. From tracks in the ceiling, panels painted with wave designs hung down, undulating with the movement of the tracks.

This was... the Sea!

Instantly, gravity became erratic, and Huai Shi felt himself begin to choke.

But the White Horse, falling from the sky, plunged into the Sea. It nimbly twisted its body, swimming and weaving through the water, carrying the Prince towards Huai Shi.

Are you some kind of legendary steed from the stories?!

Huai Shi's eyes widened. He slowly turned over in the waterless Sea, watching the approaching White Horse. Then, suddenly... he smiled.

In his hands, the Axe reappeared.

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