Hundreds of warhorses rushed out in an instant, their hooves shaking the sky, and the few warhorses at the very front were as fast as arrows released from a bow.
In the blink of an eye, they had covered at least 60 meters.
It had to be said that even though Ping Yang's abilities were average, with the Snow Jade's speed and skillful horsemanship, she managed to take third place out of the hundreds of warhorses.
The Ninth Prince, Lin Yun, was ranked seventh.
Compared to these people, Fang Zhengzhi was nothing.
The Dirt Dragon Horse arched its neck and glared at Fang Zhengzhi as it galloped forward. However, it was useless. Its bloodline was too weak. All it could do was leave a few clumps of dirt behind it.
In no time at all, Fang Zhengzhi was almost 100 meters away from the second place.
Of course...
This second place referred to the second from the bottom.
"Hahaha... Fang Zhengzhi is just here to make up for it!"
"Even if he is riding the king of the Dirt Dragon Horses, there is nothing he can do!"
All of the candidates who surrounded the competition grounds were obviously there to get acquainted with Fang Zhengzhi. All of them laughed mockingly when they saw Fang Zhengzhi's pathetic state.
At this moment, their hearts were filled with confidence.
Although they did not even have the courage to sign up, they still felt that if they really went up, they would definitely be able to leave Fang Zhengzhi far behind.
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the chatter around him. He pulled the reins of his horse.
The Mud Racing Horse raised its front hooves and let out a hoarse roar. Then, it turned around and left the track, charging into the dense forest.
"Oh? Why is Fang Zhengzhi leaving the track? "
"Is he trying to take a shortcut?"
"Is he stupid? According to the rules of the competition, all of the competitors have to carve their names on the recording tablets in all four directions. Even if he takes a shortcut to the finish line, so what? "
"Is it possible that he wants to hunt first?"
"There have been people who have tried this before. However, after some calculations, they realized that it would be even slower. After all, the four types of prey are located around the four recording tablets. "
All of the candidates had no idea what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to do. However, they were certain that no matter what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to do, he was just a bystander.
Emperor Lin Mubai quickly noticed Fang Zhengzhi, who had left the track. A trace of doubt flashed across his eyes, but he eventually shook his head lightly.
Horse racing and hunting competitions had always been held in the Great Xia Dynasty. It could be said that the rules were quite mature, and there were no tricks involved.
It was Fang Zhengzhi's first time participating in a horse racing hunt. It was normal for him to think of using tricks.
However, the possibility was almost zero.
The rules of the Horse Racing Hunt were based on the recording tablets in the four directions of the North, South, East, and West. Using the beast's blood as a seal, he carved his name on the Recording Stone.
The distribution of the four types of Direbeasts happened to be around the North, South, East and West recording tablets.
Therefore …
In terms of route, running in a circle around the four recording tablets was the fastest and best way to get there.
Of course, there were people who tried to run in the opposite direction.
However, the results were obvious.
First, even though running in the opposite direction prevented everyone from crowding together, it increased the difficulty of the hunt. It was simple. Which was easier, one person facing a group of Direbeasts or a group of people facing a group of Direbeasts?
There was no need to think too much.
Second. Even if you ran in the opposite direction to the fourth location, you would still have to go to the third location. There was no difference in the route between the first and second locations.
When you returned to the finish line, you would still have to go in a circle.
Fang Zhengzhi did not know what everyone was thinking. Because … He had already disappeared into the dense forest. He was alone on his horse, leisurely galloping, and from time to time, he would splash a pebble.
…
Time passed quickly, and the results of the Horse Racing and Hunting Competition soon came out.
For example, there were already 20 people who had successfully hunted down the first type of beast and carved their names on the first recording tablet.
As for Fang Zhengzhi, it was almost as if he had disappeared into thin air.
The Eastern Suburbs Hunting Ground was the royal hunting ground. There had always been a hierarchy.
Today, the outermost hunting ground was open to the public. Even though there were many Direbeasts inside, they were all mediocre. Most of them were herbivores or omnivores.
If he didn't provoke them first, he wouldn't be too vicious.
As such, even though Fang Zhengzhi had left in a cloud of dust, he was smart enough to avoid any mishaps.
As the competition grew more and more intense, everyone's attention was focused on the participants. No one cared about what Fang Zhengzhi was doing.
"I didn't expect Ping Yang to be so good. She hasn't fallen out of the top three yet."
"Of course. After all, she is riding the Snow Jade. It is the king of horses. Furthermore, who would dare to get too close to her?"
"The Ninth Prince's performance today was not bad as well. The title of Yan Capital's Little Black Dragon is not just for show. He is now in fifth place. With the Purple Lightning Stallion's explosive power, he has a high chance of making it into the top three."
"The participants in today's Horse Competition and Hunt are all very powerful. The top ten on the Rising Dragon Roll live up to their reputations. It's a pity that only Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming are here today. I heard that Wu Feng has also registered for the court examinations and is in the capital. I wonder why he isn't here today."
"Yes, Wu Feng is fourth on the Rising Dragon Roll. If he were to participate in today's competition, Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming would not be in the top two."
One by one, the spectating scholars looked at the names displayed on the stone tablet and started to discuss amongst themselves.
On the road from the first point to the second...
At this moment, dust was flying everywhere.
Ping Yang, who was wearing the Red Flame Flower Armor, had the head of a beast hanging from the back of her horse. She held the Blazing Qilin Spear in her hand as she stabbed at a candidate behind her.
"Princess, please go easy on him!" Zhang Feiyu, who was fourth on the Rising Dragon Roll and ranked 12th on the Rising Dragon Roll, was the most depressed one in this competition.
In front of him was the Emperor's favorite Princess Ping Yang.
Behind him was the Little Black Dragon, the Little Black Dragon, Lin Yun.
He was under a lot of pressure.
Overtake her?
He had thought about it. But... It was almost impossible to overtake Ping Yang on the Snow Jade. However, if he did not overtake her quickly...
Ping Yang's Blazing Qilin Spear was not weak at all.
If not for the fact that he was in a higher cultivation state than Ping Yang, he would have been knocked off his horse. Most likely, he would have been sent flying off the horse with a single spear strike. How could he have persisted until now?
"Be a good fourth. If you dare to overtake me, I will teach you a lesson!" Ping Yang raised her head arrogantly as she stabbed the Blazing Qilin Spear towards Zhang Feiyu.
Zhang Feiyu's body lit up with a deep blue ripple. Amidst the ripple were jade-green branches that looked like lotus leaves.
When the flames came crashing down, the jade-green branches protected Zhang Feiyu like a net, while the deep blue ripples constantly melted the flames.
Even so...
His speed was still somewhat affected.
He was already close to Ping Yang, but in the blink of an eye, he was ten meters away.
The Blazing Qilin Spear was one of the ten greatest treasures of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Furthermore, it was the most powerful treasure. Even though he was in the pinnacle of the Heavenly Reflection State, Zhang Feiyu was still affected.
"Your Highness, this is against the rules!" Zhang Feiyu looked at Ping Yang who had run further away, his face flushed red. Even though he dared to speak, he did not dare to be angry.
"Breaking the rules? In the Flame Capital City, I am the rule. If you have the guts, report me to my father! "Ping Yang replied bluntly.
The Ninth Prince, Lin Yun, who was following behind Zhang Feiyu, shook his head in exasperation.
The reason he was still in fifth place was because Ping Yang was still in third place.
The main reason was that Ping Yang was still third.
As such, it was not easy to be fourth. At least, it was not easy to be fourth for now.
However, Zhang Feiyu's identity was not ordinary either. He was a direct descendant of the 13 Constabularies. His sister was the Imperial Concubine Hua Fei. In terms of status, he could be considered Ping Yang's uncle.
If not for this, Zhang Feiyu would not dare to think of surpassing Ping Yang.
When two tigers fought, one would definitely be injured.
The Ninth Prince decided to watch the fight from the sidelines.
Zhang Feiyu whipped Ping Yang again. He chased after Ping Yang.
"Your Highness, why don't we work together to bring Tang Zhongming down? When that happens, you will be second and I will be third. Wouldn't that be great?" Even though Zhang Feiyu was the Emperor's uncle, he did not dare to do anything to Ping Yang.
After all, Ping Yang's identity was not as simple as a princess.
"Do you think I don't want to?" Ping Yang looked at Tang Zhongming, who was running for almost two hundred meters away, and sighed.
"Why don't Your Highness give way to me first? I'll stall Tang Zhongming, then you can come over and we can work together. How about that?" Zhang Feiyu immediately revealed the plan he had thought of long ago.
"Do you think I am stupid? Be fourth!" Ping Yang looked at Zhang Feiyu in disdain. She did not fall for it.
"..." Zhang Feiyu was speechless. He subconsciously looked at the Ninth Prince, who was following closely behind, and shook his head.
He wanted to team up with the Ninth Prince. However, given the relationship between the Ninth Prince and Ping Yang, it would be a miracle if the Ninth Prince did not team up against him.
...
The horse race and hunt were still going on intensely.
Very quickly, the tablet at the finish line showed that Xiang Tianying had successfully carved his name on the second tablet. Following that was Tang Zhongming.
It didn't take long for Ping Yang, Zhang Feiyu, and Lin Yun's names to appear.
This meant that half of the competition had passed. However, Fang Zhengzhi's name had yet to appear on any of the recording tablets.
"Is Fang Zhengzhi really going to lose this match?" An armor-clad young man asked in disbelief as he stood in front of the tablet used to display the situation of the four recording tablets.
This young man was none other than Wen Dabao, the son of the Minister of Justice, who had been dragged into The Vast World by Ping Yang.
As a young man in the Mountain Breaking Army, he had dreams, but unfortunately, he did not have the ability.
He definitely wouldn't sign up for such an intense horse race and hunt. However, with his status as an assistant minister, he still had a chance to sneak in and show his face.
There were many people like Wen Dabao in the crowd.
Such people often had their own circles, and their biggest hobbies were singing and dancing, drinking and reciting poems. Of course, there was definitely no lack of pleasure.
There was a saying that went, "Brothers who have never had a good time together are not true brothers."
Wen Dabao had a romantic life, and he often had a romantic life.
Naturally, there would be many young masters of aristocratic families like him gathering around him, talking about their ideals, expressing their emotions, and at the same time wearing down their willpower.
As such...
When Wen Dabao let out such a sigh, it soon caused a series of mocking 'echoes'.
"Don't tell me you think Fang Zhengzhi can still win?"
"That's right, isn't it a joke to think that he can win the Horse Race and Hunt with just a racing horse?"
"Young Master Wen, have you been whipped silly by your father?"
Voices rang out one after another. Then, someone jumped out and touched Wen Dabao's forehead to see if his head was scalded.
"What do you know! I saw with my own eyes that Fang Zhengzhi was … "Wen Dabao shut his mouth at this point.
After returning to the capital from Cang Ling Mountain, Xing Yuanguo had ordered that nothing that happened on Cang Ling Mountain was to be leaked to the public. Anyone who did so would be executed.
"What was he doing?" A confused voice asked.
"Of course he was beating Nangong Mu in the preliminary court examinations!" Wen Dabao replied.
"Of course, who didn't see that? Nangong Mu was just giving way. If not for the fact that Nangong Mu gave up, Fang Zhengzhi would not have won so easily. "
"Exactly. Furthermore, in the battle between Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi, it was obvious that Yan Xiu had the upper hand. Fang Zhengzhi was only in the pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State."
Very quickly, a few more voices started to mock and ridicule him.
"What's wrong? You're already in the pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State at 16?" Wen Dabao was indignant.
"Oh? What's wrong with Young Master Wen today? Fang Zhengzhi is a commoner. So what if he is talented? In the end, he won't be able to enter the Imperial Court. Look, after he was given the title of Sword Envoy, it's still an empty title. "Another voice immediately rang out.
"Cut the crap. Do you dare to bet with me? I bet that Fang Zhengzhi will win!" Wen Dabao was exasperated.
"Oh, Young Master Wen is here to give us money. How much do you want to bet? If you win, I will pay double! "
"Come on, let's all bet!"
"If we lose, we will pay you double!"
As soon as Wen Dabao's voice fell, the eyes of the aristocratic young masters surrounding him all lit up. Each of them was like a cat that had seen a fish.
"You said it. I will bet... five silvers!" Wen Dabao gritted his teeth and stomped his foot.
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