In the evening, a banquet was held in the palace. Most of the participants were youths. This was a gathering of the most outstanding youths of the three kingdoms.
In this gathering, the most eye-catching person was not Prince Lars of the Scarlet Kingdom, nor was it Prince Francis of the Purple Moon Kingdom. Instead, it was the group of ladies.
Sophia wore a long dress adorned with purple gems. Her face was beautiful, and her figure was slender and graceful. Her perfect figure was perfect.
Her purple hair was dazzling and eye-catching under the light, making it hard for people to look at her directly. It was like a purple flower in a halo.
The Gem Queen wore a long dress adorned with blue gems. Her black hair was like black silk, and it shone brightly with the red diamond-shaped gem between her eyebrows.
A pair of snow-white and slender legs were exposed from her knees, showing off her slender figure.
Jessia had a high nose bridge and rosy lips. Because she had been groomed to be the heir of a noble title, she had a valiant aura that was different from ordinary women. Not only did this not make people dislike her, it made her even more attractive.
She was wearing a tight-fitting white dress that perfectly revealed her curvaceous body.
The Scarlet Kingdom's Princess, Hu Kaili Scarlet, had long red hair like fire. Her facial features were exquisite, and her snow-white neck was as white as jade. Every frown and smile of hers had an indescribable charm.
…
The young women all had different postures, but all of them were extremely attractive. At this banquet, they became the undisputed focus of attention.
Gray was dressed in a black suit that matched his elegant black hair. He held a crystal goblet half filled with red wine and stood calmly in the middle of the banquet.
He once again felt the inexplicable hostility from the Scarlet Kingdom's Prince, Lars Scarlet. This time, it was not just Lars Scarlet. Even the other youths of the Scarlet Kingdom showed obvious hostility towards him.
Obviously, the incident at the stone gambling den this afternoon had spread, and the other youths of the Scarlet Kingdom were also full of hostility towards him.
He was a little baffled. He really did not understand why Lars Scarlet was hostile towards him.
"You feel a little baffled?"
Francis walked over and clinked glasses with Gray before asking with a smile.
"Indeed, a little."
Gray smiled bitterly.
He had many enemies, not only in the Purple Moon Kingdom, but also in the entire Flame Kingdom.
He no longer cared about having another enemy. No matter how strong the enemy was, could they be stronger than the Flame Kingdom?
However, he was a little baffled. This was clearly the first time they had met, so why was the other party so hostile towards him?
"If you knew what happened at the Three Kingdoms Exchange Conference five years ago, you wouldn't find it strange."
Francis smiled.
"What happened at the Three Kingdoms Exchange Conference five years ago?"
Gray looked at Francis in confusion. The latter didn't deliberately keep Gray in suspense.
"Five years ago, at the Three Kingdoms Exchange Conference, Lars seemed to have fallen in love with Sophia at first sight. Not long after the conference, the Scarlet Kingdom proposed a marriage alliance to the Purple Moon Kingdom's royal family. However, it was rejected by Father because she was too young."
"However, Lars Scarlet didn't seem to have given up. He would make a trip to the Purple Moon Kingdom almost every year. As you are Sophia's best friend, there would naturally be rumors that would reach his ears."
At this point, Francis glanced at Gray, patted Gray's shoulder, and left with a faint smile on his face, leaving Gray alone with a frown.
Francis had made it so clear that it was impossible for him not to understand. Obviously, the reason why Lars Scarlet was hostile towards him was because he was too close to Sophia.
He couldn't help but seriously reflect on his relationship with Sophia.
His relationship with Sophia was hard to say. They were definitely not lovers, but it would be inaccurate to say that they were just ordinary friends.
They had known each other for several years. They had gone from strangers to familiar with each other, especially on the battlefield. They had interacted for half a year, and their relationship had become very special.
They were more than friends, but not yet lovers. They had gotten used to each other's existence, and this habit had created a tacit understanding between them.
And this tacit understanding was most directly reflected in the final battle with the Flame Kingdom, when he and Sophia had joined hands to fight against the Desolate Blood Warriors.
Although they didn't say a word, they could understand each other's intentions and thoughts, and their tacit understanding was seamless.
"What are you thinking about?"
A clear and melodious voice sounded beside his ear. Gray raised his head and looked over, only to see Sophia appear not too far away from him. A pair of beautiful eyes were looking at him.
"I'm thinking if I invite you to dance. Will you agree?"
Gray smiled. After sorting out all these, he had a clear understanding of his own heart.
Sophia rolled her eyes and extended her slender, jade-like hand. Gray stepped forward gracefully, gently grasping her slender hand, and led her to the stage in the center of the banquet hall.
Accompanied by the music, they danced lightly. The woman was absolutely beautiful, and the man's hair was as black as ink, his features distinct. Many people looked over in surprise, and they became the focus of the banquet hall.
In a corner of the banquet hall, seeing the two dancing lightly on the stage, Jacia's eyes dimmed.
In another corner of the banquet hall, Zaro looked at this scene and thought of his sister in the Purple Moon Kingdom. He couldn't help but sigh.
Not far from the stage, Francis, who had been paying attention, smiled.
On the other side of the stage, Lars Scarlet had a smile on his face, but the wine in his hand spilled slightly, revealing his extremely bad mood.
Just now, he had invited Sophia to dance, but she had rejected him because she wasn't feeling well. Now, she was dancing on the stage with a noble from the Purple Moon Kingdom called Gray Fergus. It went without saying what this meant.
"Are you really that infatuated with her?"
Looking at her elder brother who had lost his composure, Hu Kaili Scarlet was slightly dissatisfied.
She knew that her elder brother would make a trip to the Purple Moon Kingdom every year for her.
But even so, he hadn't won her favor. Now, it seemed that she wasn't interested in her elder brother. Instead, she was interested in that noble from the Purple Moon Kingdom called Gray Fergus.
She could not help but feel a little dissatisfied with this elder brother of hers. With his talent and his status as the successor of the Crimson Kingdom, he could have any woman he wanted. Why did he have to keep staring at someone who obviously did not like him?
"You don't understand. This is Father's decision."
Taking a deep breath, Lars Scarlet forced himself to calm down and said in a deep voice.
Indeed, he was captivated by her beauty, but for him to be so "infatuated" with her for five years, there must be a deeper reason.
"Father's decision?"
Hu Kaili Scarlet's face showed surprise as she asked in shock.
"Father asked you to pursue her?
Why? "
"It's not time for you to know."
Lars Scarlet shook his head and looked at Gray on the stage, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Sophia had a secret that could move the Scarlet Kingdom's royal family. Anyone who stood in her way was an enemy of the Scarlet Kingdom.
The next day, the most outstanding members of the younger generation of the three kingdoms gathered. However, the Three Kingdoms Exchange didn't start immediately. Instead, under the arrangement of the Jewel Kingdom, everyone boarded a carriage and left the palace. They left the capital of the Jewel Kingdom and came to a valley a hundred miles away from the capital.
The valley was filled with lush greenery and was full of vitality. There were springs, streams, and all kinds of animals. It was a harmonious scene.
In the center of the valley, a huge castle stood. It was a castle built with green stone. The walls were green, and so were the palaces and minarets inside.
When they saw it, it was as if they had seen the legendary residence of the elves.
The carriage drove straight into the castle. The younger generation of the three kingdoms, along with the people from the three kingdoms, walked down from the carriage and curiously looked at the environment in front of them.
What entered their eyes was a sea of green. Gray and the others, who were used to seeing white, black, and yellow buildings, felt refreshed.
As for the children of the noble families from the Gem Kingdom, they were all looking at the scenery in front of them with excitement.
"Is this where the royal family's Jadeite Hot Spring is located?"
"It must be. The surrounding buildings are all green. It matches the rumored location of the Jadeite Hot Spring."
Seeing that most of the members of the noble families from the Jewel Kingdom were excited, the members of the noble families from the Scarlet Kingdom and the Purple Moon Kingdom were puzzled.
"Jadeite Hot Spring? What kind of spring is this?
Have you heard of it? "
"No, never heard of it."
"I think I've heard of it, but the elders in my family mentioned it occasionally. I can't remember it clearly."
Gray raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn't heard of this spring either. Although he had read a lot of books, most of them were about the Purple Moon Kingdom. After all, it was difficult for books to be circulated between the two kingdoms in this world. Therefore, he had never heard of the Jadeite Hot Spring.
"This is a hot spring with a mysterious power that the royal family of the Jewel Kingdom possesses. No one knows how this spring water is produced. However, this spring water has an extremely strong healing power. If one soaks in it, it will speed up the recovery of their injuries and increase their strength."
Sophia explained with a smile. There was an unusual gentleness in her smile.
"Welcome, everyone. I'm one of the organizers of this Tri-Kingdom Exchange. I'm Brady Randolph."
A man appeared with several men in combat attire following him.
His skin was slightly pale, and he had a few strands of beard on his chin. He had a gentle smile on his face.
"I'm sure some of you already know where this place is. However, most of the people from the Purple Moon Kingdom and the Scarlet Kingdom don't know. Let me explain."
"This is the Jadeite Valley. It's a secret place of the royal family of the Jewel Kingdom. There's a type of Jadeite Hot Spring in the valley. Soaking in it will speed up the recovery of your injuries and increase your strength."
"Considering that there will definitely be injuries in the battle, the royal family of the Jewel Kingdom has decided to hold the Tri-Kingdom Exchange here to speed up the recovery of your injuries and increase your strength."
Hearing Brady Randolph's words, some of them were enlightened while some of them were surprised. Even Gray couldn't help but look delighted.
With the Reverse Nurturing ability, he naturally didn't care about the Jadeite Hot Spring's ability to speed up the recovery of his injuries. On the contrary, the fact that it could increase his strength was very attractive to him.
At this moment, an old man from the Scarlet Kingdom who came to protect the Scarlet Kingdom's disciples asked with a frown.
"The Jadeite Hot Spring that can speed up the recovery of injuries and increase one's strength is indeed great. However, this place is hundreds of miles away from the Imperial City, and the most outstanding disciples from the three kingdoms are gathered here. What if the Flame Kingdom suddenly attacks us?"
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