Coo! Coo!
A flock of white doves landed on the steps.
The refined old man tore off some bread crumbs and tossed them over.
“Hello. Why am I a reserve?”
Lu Jiuling’s expression was calm. He had just seen the centaur archer on the stone bridge and the golden gate, and had guessed that he must have come out of the Sagittarius Palace.
【Every Speaker must participate in one Divine Game each month. If they are absent, then even if they do not die, a Speaker selection will still be held on the last day of the month!】
【However, those who qualify are only reserve Speakers!】
【In the following month, the two Speakers will participate in a Divine Game at the same time. The final survivor will inherit the Speaker’s crown!】
“Heh heh, a newcomer like you going up against an experienced Speaker—you’re dead for sure!”
The refined young man spoke in a strange, mocking tone. “So once you get back, eat what you want, drink what you want, and spend all your savings. After all, you’ve only got one month left to live!”
“May I know that Speaker’s basic information?”
Lu Jiuling asked.
【Apologies. No comment!】
“Then what can you tell me?”
Lu Jiuling did not fly into a rage.
“Tch!”
The refined young man did not see panic or fear on Lu Jiuling’s face, which made him very displeased.
Because of Lu Jiuling’s composure, the refined old man and the white-clad mature beauty also looked at him again, a hint of appreciation in their eyes.
“Why isn’t he afraid?”
Xue Lingren found it strange.
Speaker?
That should mean people like the white-clad mature beauty and the refined old man, the sort who were obviously powerful at a glance, right?
The other party must already have gone through several Divine Games. Even thinking with her toes, she could imagine that they had accumulated an enormous advantage.
How was this boy supposed to win?
【I am a servant of the gods, responsible for presiding over every Divine Game and ensuring fairness and justice!】
【If you have any questions, you may spend Paradise Coins to consult me!】
【Paradise Coins are rewards you obtain based on your performance after clearing a Divine Game!】
The divine servant paused for one minute, allowing the two newcomers to digest those words, then continued.
【If the two Speakers have no other questions, reward settlement will now begin.】
“Here it comes, here it comes!”
The refined young man sat up straight. This was what he had come here for.
He wanted to see the strength of the two newcomers, and by the way, see if there was any chance to make a profit.
The refined old man put down his newspaper and picked up his coffee for a sip. The white-clad mature beauty closed Hamlet and placed it on her crossed legs.
She was wearing a pair of blue-green straight-leg trousers with a pair of black pointed-toe side-cutout heels. Her exposed insteps were wrapped in black stockings, mature and sexy!
“No.”
Reward settlement—just those four words sounded full of harvest, enough to make one happy. As for questions, Lu Jiuling had plenty, but since it cost Paradise Coins, he would respectfully decline.
Leaving aside how difficult this currency was to obtain, even if it were easy, he would still need to spend it sparingly.
“Classmate, after the reward settlement ends, we can discuss which questions must be clarified as soon as possible. How about splitting the Paradise Coin cost then?”
Lu Jiuling looked at the melon-seed-faced high school girl. The corners of his mouth curved into a fitting arc as he tried to make his smile look sunny and friendly, offsetting the wariness in the girl’s heart.
“That’s what I was thinking too!”
Xue Lingren hurriedly nodded.
She wanted to return him a smile, but the oppressive situation at home and school had made every day feel as if she were living with a mountain on her back. She could not be happy at all, and had long forgotten how to smile, so the corners of her mouth only twitched twice.
“Damn it, this kid adapts fast!”
The refined young man cursed in displeasure.
The first time he had come here, he had behaved like a stupid fledgling that had just left its mother’s embrace, and had suffered quite a few losses. The favors he owed back then had still not been fully repaid even now.
【Would the two Speakers please take your seats!】
“Sagittarius, Pisces.”
The refined old man raised his hand and pointed at two chairs in succession. “I imagine you’ve noticed as well. The Golden Twelve Palaces here correspond to the twelve zodiac signs in astronomy!”
The white-clad mature beauty raised an eyebrow. The refined old man had first pointed out the seat for the boy wearing the bronze Buddha mask. It seemed that in his heart, just like her, he valued this newcomer more.
Lu Jiuling and Xue Lingren took their seats.
The chair was extremely luxurious, like a king’s throne, except that it was somewhat cold, making one want to place a cushion on it.
【First is the Speaker of Pisces Palace!】
When the white-clad mature beauty and the other two heard this, they all looked at Lu Jiuling at the same time, because during reward settlement, it always began with the lowest score. The one who obtained MVP would be left for last.
【Divine Game: A Dream of Painted Mirrors and Blossoms!】
【Mission Difficulty: Five Stars!】
【Mission Completion: Perfect!】
【Speaker Performance: SSS Rating!】
【A seventeen-year-old girl spends every day amid the busy life of studying, doing housework, and working part-time. Sleeping at twelve and waking at five-thirty—even the ultimate beast of burden is no more than this.】
【You long ago forgot what it feels like to sleep in, and what happiness tastes like. Now, the Divine Council has given you a chance to change!】
【The first time, you seized it!】
【I wish you luck in coming back alive next month!】
Xue Lingren lowered her head, both hands clenched tightly together. Having her impoverished life exposed by this divine servant, and being called an ultimate beast of burden, made her very embarrassed.
【Mission Reward: One Forbidden Fruit.】
【You may choose one complete set of potions required for advancement into any extraordinary profession in Divine Sequence 9.】
【40 Paradise Coins.】
【Paradise Coins can be accumulated, but cannot be traded. They can only be used by the owner, and after a Divine Game ends, they may be used to bid for that round’s rewards as well as purchase permanent supplies.】
As the divine servant carried out the settlement, a large screen popped up above the center of the round table, like a movie theater screen, displaying various data.
At the same time, a small screen also popped up in front of Xue Lingren, displaying even more detailed information about her.
“Forty?”
The refined young man was dumbfounded. “How is it so many?”
The first time, he had only gotten fifteen. This girl had a full twenty-five more than him.
“Divine servant, you can’t be giving her preferential treatment just because she’s pretty, right?”
The refined young man complained.
【Speaker of Capricorn, please mind your words. Every reward settlement is absolutely fair and just.】
【If you have objections, I can teleport you into A Dream of Painted Mirrors and Blossoms to play the game.】
“Haha, I was just livening up the atmosphere. Please continue!”
The refined young man was the Speaker of Capricorn Palace. Hearing the divine servant say this, he immediately backed down.
What a joke.
If a Speaker entered a game someone else had already cleared, even if they achieved a perfect rating, they would receive no rewards whatsoever. It was all danger, no gain—a purely brain-dead move.
The refined young man was not going to do that!
Lu Jiuling’s attention was on that “Forbidden Fruit” and “Divine Sequence.” What were those?
【Next is the Speaker of Sagittarius Palace!】
【Divine Game: Headless Zen Monastery!】
【Mission Difficulty: Five Stars】
【Mission Completion: Utter Perfection!】
【Speaker Performance: SSS+ Rating!】
“Holy shit!”
The refined young man cried out in shock, looking at Lu Jiuling with a stunned expression.
No way, right?
Utter Perfection? SSS+ performance?
In the fifteen months since he had entered this place, he had only seen it once, when the Aquarius Palace mature beauty beside him had obtained it. As for himself, just getting an S rating was enough to make his tail point to the heavens.
The refined old man and the white-clad mature beauty also sized Lu Jiuling up with surprise on their faces.
They knew this boy’s rating should not be low, because forget being injured—even the corners of his clothes were not dirty.
Clearly, in his first battle, he had handled everything with ease.
【A genius newcomer like you truly delights me!】
【Unfortunately, you are only a reserve Speaker. There is a high probability you will die in the next game!】
【A moment of silence for you!】
When the refined young man heard this comment, he froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
So what if he was a genius newcomer?
With no luck, if he could not develop, he would die all the same!
【Mission Reward: One Forbidden Fruit.】
【You may choose one complete set of potions required for advancement into any extraordinary profession in Divine Sequence 9.】
【50 Paradise Coins.】
“Fuck, isn’t that way too much?”
The refined young man was so envious he was practically withering.
This start was simply too perfect!
But very soon, the refined young man stopped being jealous, because in this kid’s next game, he would be in the same game as the Speaker of Sagittarius Palace. He was dead for sure!
【Reward settlement complete. The two Speakers may move freely, or return to your residences in reality through the golden palace gates!】
【Good night!】
“Wait!”
Xue Lingren spoke. “I have a question!”
【I will charge a certain number of Paradise Coins based on your question. Are you certain you wish to consult me?】
“Classmate, you can actually ask me!”
The refined young man released goodwill. “For free!”
Such an outstanding newcomer was a potential competitor, which made one dislike them. But if it was a pretty girl, that was a different story.
As the saying went, one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers—unless one is male and the other female.
“Thank you!”
Xue Lingren was very polite, but she had no intention of taking this kind of advantage.
One had to know that what was free was often the most expensive. Besides, the question she wanted to ask was something this young Speaker of Capricorn Palace could not answer either.
“I’m certain!”
Xue Lingren took a deep breath and looked at Lu Jiuling. “I want to know: in what areas was his rating higher than mine?”
“Ha, I couldn’t tell you had such a competitive streak?”
The refined young man teased her, then advised, “Don’t waste your Paradise Coins. Getting an SSS rating is already extremely outstanding.”
“And you don’t need to worry about him being stronger than you, because in the next Divine Game, he’s dead for sure. Absolutely, thoroughly done for!”
“Why compare yourself to someone destined to die?”
Xue Lingren was not trying to compete. Instead, she wanted to use the divine servant’s answer to judge that boy’s strength, temperament...
To see whether it might be possible to form a temporary alliance with him!
They were both newcomers. Compared to the other Speakers, they were obviously weak at a glance, so naturally they needed to band together to survive.
“Save your Paradise Coins!”
The white-clad mature beauty looked Lu Jiuling over with great interest. “I also want to know why he obtained such a high rating!”
“So I’ll pay this fee!”