Chapter 1339: Shocking Gamble

At these words, all eyes turned to Yu Yanluo.

"We met by chance among humans some time ago; I suppose you could call him a friend," Yu Yanluo replied with dignity.

Shang Liuyu pursed her lips into a smile. "The Medusa Queen is truly loyal," she said. "To dare to admit he's a friend in this situation is truly a role model for our generation." Fearing others would seize the opportunity to attack, she quickly spoke up on Yu Yanluo's behalf. She also felt a touch of admiration, thinking that Zu An had certainly not misjudged this person.

Hu Yong also laughed heartily. "Indeed," he said, "our demon race values loyalty above all else. I truly admire the Medusa Queen's courage."

The Little Golden Peng King also nodded. "The most important thing in the army is not to betray one's comrades," he stated. "Although the Medusa Queen is a woman, she possesses the heroic spirit of a soldier."

Shi Min and others had originally intended to use this as an opportunity to make trouble, but seeing these individuals all speak up for Yu Yanluo, they found it difficult to incur the public's displeasure.

The Second Prince's gaze swept across the entire hall, his expression unreadable, a faint smile playing on his lips. *This Medusa Queen certainly has good connections*, he thought. However, he wasn't truly planning to avenge his elder brother, so he didn't press the matter further. "Since that human won against the Crown Prince in a fair duel," he said, "our demon race won't seek revenge for this afterward. However, there was an assassin incident in the palace earlier, and according to the Crown Prince's side, the one named Zu An is highly suspect. So if the Medusa Queen has any clues, she should still report them, otherwise she might be implicated."

"Thank you for the reminder, Second Prince," Yu Yanluo said, curtsying slightly and politely expressing her gratitude.

At this moment, Hu Yong spoke up. "I heard that the assassin approached the Crown Prince silently, almost instantly severely injuring him," he said. "Then he floated away unharmed under a Grandmaster's attack, even evading the Demon Emperor's divine sense scan and the carpet search by the entire palace's Golden Crow Guards. Is that Zu An really that formidable?"

The expressions of the others also subtly changed, as they realized that if they were in the same situation, they probably couldn't accomplish even one of those feats.

The Second Prince nodded. "That assassin is indeed somewhat mysterious," he said. "But the reason he severely injured the Crown Prince—I imagine the Crown Prince must have been ambushed at the time." Although he was speaking on behalf of the Crown Prince, a faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips.

Everyone present was a master, and they naturally understood that being ambushed was no excuse; instead, it proved one's carelessness. After all, enemies wouldn't abide by the martial code of the arena.

At this moment, the Little Golden Peng King looked at Yu Yanluo. "Would the Medusa Queen please tell us about your friend named Zu An?" he asked. "We'd like to understand why he is so formidable."

Yu Yanluo's expression was strange because she knew Zu An was right there beside her.

Zu An also felt peculiar; it was the first time he had ever encountered a group of people discussing him right in front of him.

"When I first met him, he wasn't very formidable," Yu Yanluo replied. "He seemed to have just begun cultivating back then and was even being chased by some ordinary bandits." A faint smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of her lips as she recalled the time she was in danger outside Mingyue City and how this fellow, seemingly "overestimating himself," had come to her rescue.

The others were astonished. Elder Lion sneered, "So the Medusa Queen has known him for so long? That probably doesn't count as an ordinary friendship, does it?"

"Not long, just two or three years ago," Yu Yanluo replied.

Everyone was even more astonished; even the Second Prince unconsciously straightened up. "Do you mean he only started cultivating two or three years ago?" he asked.

"Yes," Yu Yanluo affirmed. "In the early days, everyone said his talent was poor, so he only began cultivating later by chance." Although she spoke casually, a trace of pride involuntarily appeared on her face.

Yun Jianyue secretly scoffed when she saw this. *This woman has also learned to be cunning*, she thought. *She clearly wants to praise her lover, but deliberately pretends to belittle him.*

Yan Xuehen's expression was also strange; Chu Yan had actually mentioned this matter to her before, and at that time, Chu Yan's expression was exactly the same as Yu Yanluo's. *Oh, what a karmic entanglement*, she mused.

"To cultivate to this level in two or three years—what kind of heaven-defying talent is that?" Everyone present turned pale. Even the Second Prince and the Little Golden Peng King, who prided themselves on being geniuses, seemed like mere trash compared to this speed.

Shi Rong couldn't help but say, "You must be boasting. How can anyone cultivate from a common person to such a realm in just two or three years?" At this point, no one suspected he was questioning it merely because he was hostile to the Snake race, as it was indeed too incredible to believe.

Yu Yanluo said indifferently, "Princess Shang also knows him; you can ask her for confirmation."

Everyone looked at Shang Liuyu. She smiled faintly. "The Medusa Queen is correct," she said. "Zu An was indeed just an ordinary person two or three years ago. Compared to ordinary people, his biggest difference was his great courage." *That fellow back then, who knows where he got the nerve to ask her for wine*, she mused.

Hearing Shang Liuyu's confirmation, everyone no longer had any doubts, and many even began to feel disheartened. "Is humanity destined for great prosperity then," they wondered, "if any ordinary person can cultivate to such a degree in just two or three years?"

Princess Sorena's beautiful eyes shone with brilliance as she recalled Zu An's power in the Marquis Sui's tomb. She hadn't expected he had only cultivated for two or three years; such talent was probably unprecedented and unequaled.

At this moment, the Second Prince snorted. "I don't think so," he said. "Perhaps some old demon possessed his body, or some senior master poured their lifelong cultivation into him. Otherwise, no matter how talented, it wouldn't be possible. Such people might advance quickly in cultivation for a short time, but their future potential is capped, destined not to achieve great things."

"The Second Prince is right, that's most likely the case," others said, nodding in agreement. This was indeed the most plausible explanation.

Yu Yanluo scoffed inwardly. *Didn't she know whether Zu An was an old demon? Moreover, two Grandmasters, Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen, and even the Earth Immortal Emperor had met him. If there were really any issues, they would have been discovered long ago.* Of course, she had no interest in refuting these people, lest she attract too much attention to Zu An.

"Let's not talk about others anymore," the Second Prince said with a smile. "Aren't you here for the stone gambling? It'll be a good opportunity for us to widen our horizons. I've been eyeing many of the raw stones on this floor, but I've never been able to make up my mind. Today, I'll benefit from your presence and see what treasures are inside."

The Little Golden Peng King also laughed. "This idea is excellent," he said. "I've been reluctant to cut many of the raw stones on this floor, so today is a good day to observe."

Hu Yong looked at Shi Min. "You're calculating against the Snake race," he warned, "but don't end up digging your own grave."

Shi Min snorted. "Stop talking nonsense," he said. "Stone gambling inherently cannot be faked, so how can there be any calculation?"

The Second Prince nodded. "Indeed," he said, "no matter how high one's cultivation, one cannot detect what is inside the raw stones. It completely relies on everyone's experience and discerning eye. But since it's called gambling, it's more fun with stakes."

Shi Min thought, *Exactly what I wanted*, and said with a smile, "I wonder what stakes the Second Prince thinks are appropriate?"

The Second Prince pondered for a moment. "In my opinion, let's do this," he said. "Both sides will be judged by the value of what is cut out, with the more valuable item determining the winner. The losing side will hand over what they cut out to the other, and also forfeit ten thousand Heavenly-tier primeval stones. How about that?"

Hu Yong, standing beside them, had a grave expression. *Why did he feel that the Second Prince was leaning towards Shi Min? Had the Lion race and the Second Prince already established a relationship that he wasn't aware of?*

Sorena's expression also changed slightly; she also sensed the Second Prince's bias. *Had the Snake race offended the Second Prince?* she wondered. But the discord between the Second Prince and the Crown Prince was something all high-ranking officials of various races knew. How could he genuinely stand up for the Crown Prince?

Only Shang Liuyu's expression remained calm, seemingly not worried at all.

Shi Min was overjoyed. He hadn't known how to bring it up, but now that the Second Prince had spoken, it saved him a lot of trouble. "We naturally have no problem on our side," he said. "I just wonder if the Medusa Queen dares to gamble."

Yu Yanluo's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Zu An, standing beside her, then spoke. "This crude taunt is useless," he said. "The reason our clan leader hesitated was because she found the stakes too childish. How about this: one hundred thousand Heavenly-tier primeval stones. If you dare, then let's do it."

Yu Yanluo was inwardly startled, but she chose to trust Zu An and calmly nodded. "Indeed," she said, "it depends on what the Lion race intends."

At these words, everyone in the room's expression changed.