"Lu brother, I knew you would be the first one in besides us three!" Lin Guoping stepped forward to greet him.
"It was merely luck!"
Lu Fan smiled faintly, appearing quite humble, not overly arrogant.
Zhao Tianyun chuckled, "Who is this? Why have I never seen him within the Imperial City?"
"Indeed, he looks quite unfamiliar."
Li Guang nodded slightly, looking rather surprised.
"I am not from the Imperial City."
Lu Fan waved his hand, his expression growing more indifferent. He paid no mind to these young masters before him.
"Not from the Imperial City?" Zhao Tianyun glanced at him but didn't take it seriously at all.
Those with high status were mostly from the Imperial City. Those who were not, held no value in their eyes.
"Brother Lin, you are from one of the three great families, why are you paying so much attention to him?" Li Guang spoke.
"You two shouldn't underestimate Brother Lu. He is extraordinary. If you were to actually fight, you might not be his match," Lin Guoping stated directly.
"What a joke! I am the young master of one of the three great families, what is he?" Zhao Tianyun said with disdain, not taking Lu Fan seriously at all.
After all, in his mind, only Lin Guoping and Li Guang could be his equals. As for the other young generation of the White Dragon Dynasty, he paid them no mind.
"Brother Lin, I think what he said is right," Li Guang smiled faintly.
Facing these words, Lu Fan was unconcerned. His purpose in coming to the Imperial Palace this time was to become the驸马 (fùmǎ - consort to a princess), so he could obtain the imperial treasure, the Spirit Gathering Bottle. He cared nothing for other things.
As they were conversing, Princess Linglong also arrived at the martial arts arena, dressed in a jade-green dress, looking more spirited.
"Greetings, Princess!"
The three bowed respectfully, not daring to show any negligence. In the entire White Dragon Dynasty, the imperial family was the supreme existence. The three great families had to bow their heads before the imperial family.
"You are quite fast, already arriving at the training grounds," Princess Linglong chuckled.
"To win the Princess's favor, we are all very proactive."
Zhao Tianyun stated directly, "Princess, rest assured, I will do my utmost and will not let anyone else snatch the position of驸马."
"I think you should forget it!" Princess Linglong rolled her eyes. "We grew up together, and I have no interest in any of you."
"This is an order personally given by the Emperor. I'm afraid even the Princess cannot disobey it," Li Guang interjected.
"While I cannot disobey it, I will never tolerate my marriage being decided by others."
Princess Linglong spoke directly, glancing at Lu Fan beside her. Lu Fan remained unfazed, showing no concern.
Li Guang stood to the side, feeling somewhat helpless. He hadn't expected Princess Linglong to be like this.
Within the imperial family, Princess Linglong was the most favored. If Princess Linglong truly caused a scene, it would be difficult to say.
However, this marriage selection competition was arranged by the families themselves, so Li Guang naturally could not be negligent.
Before long, the entire martial arts arena was filled with people. These were individuals who had entered through the arena matches, mostly the cream of the crop.
"Brother Lu, you entered so quickly, I can't keep up with your pace!"
Lin Jianyi looked somewhat disheveled and helpless. However, when he noticed the people standing beside Lu Fan, he immediately fell silent.
Both Lin Guoping and Li Guang were of noble status. Although he was known as one of the ten young prodigies of the White Dragon Dynasty, he was insignificant before these top-tier combatants.
"There can only be one驸马 this time. I won't hold back then!" Lu Fan said with a light smile.
"Don't worry, I don't need you to hold back. After all, I'm just participating!" Lin Jianyi chuckled. "With heavenly prodigies like you here, I have no chance."
"Do you all want to marry me so badly?"
Princess Linglong stood to the side, a faint smile on her face.
Everyone present was instantly captivated. Princess Linglong's appearance was quite heroic, stirring the hearts of many.
"The Princess's peerless beauty is something we can only admire!"
Many men spoke, their hearts filled with apprehension.
"If you want to become my驸马, you must defeat me. If you cannot even deal with me, you are not qualified to be my驸马."
Princess Linglong smiled faintly and then left her spot. The second round of competition was about to begin, and it was not appropriate for her to remain here.
Just then, on the VIP platform of the martial arts arena, Bai Hu sat proudly, eating fruit. Tian Lao and others were by his side.
"Young Master, why have you come to the Imperial City for this Princess Linglong's marriage selection competition?" Tian Lao asked.
"Being able to get to know the future驸马 is of great benefit to me," Bai Hu chuckled. "When the驸马 is chosen, I will approach him to build a connection. It will be of great benefit to me in the future!"
"So, the Young Master already has plans," Tian Lao nodded slightly, greatly approving of Bai Hu's intentions.
Not long after, a general from the Golden Guard arrived within the martial arts arena. "All participants in the competition will soon enter an illusion. Within this illusion, there is an imperial treasure. Whoever obtains this imperial treasure will become the驸马!"
Upon hearing the general's words, everyone became serious, as this concerned their future.
"However, anyone who enters this illusion will experience their truest self. If they die within the illusion, they will die forever," the general stated directly. "Therefore, you can choose to retreat or to advance!"
Everyone present was slightly stunned, their hearts filled with shock. After all, to obtain the imperial treasure, they would have to fight fiercely within the illusion. At that time, only one person who entered the illusion would be able to come out.
Thinking of this, everyone's scalp tingled, and their hearts were deeply moved, as this matter was no trivial affair and even concerned their lives.
"Enter the illusion to obtain the treasure?"
Li Guang frowned. "In that case, aren't our lives in peril?"
"We are all Spirit Emperor realm experts. As for the others, they are doomed," Zhao Tianyun smiled faintly, his eyes filled with coldness.
Lu Fan stood to the side, completely unconcerned, not taking it seriously at all. Even if he entered the illusion, he would not care.
"Enter the illusion!"
Lin Jianyi frowned. He knew very well that this matter was not trivial. If he truly entered the illusion, it would not be so easy to come out.