Yuelai Inn, the Violet Firmament Sect's temporary residence.
Ye Xuan carefully carried Chu Wan'er into the room and placed her on the bed.
"Wan'er, how are you feeling now?"
Su Ziyun hurried over, grasped Chu Wan'er's hand, and said with heartache, "This is all because your master was useless. I never should have let you challenge Purgatory Difficulty!"
"How could I blame Master? Besides, I'm not seriously hurt anymore!" Chu Wan'er forced a smile and comforted her.
But Ye Xuan's expression was somewhat solemn.
He had just carefully examined Chu Wan'er's injuries. The meridians and foundation that had been healed by the Peach Talisman had all returned to their original state.
Without the nourishment of Emperor Blood, relying on the Peach Talisman alone was still too slow.
"Silly girl, you nearly threw your life away!"
"You really do have the same hard luck as your master!"
Su Ziyun wiped away her tears and chatted with Chu Wan'er for a long while before frowning. "Oh, right. What about Purgatory Mode?"
"I reached the ninth floor, but Brother Ye Xuan cleared it." Chu Wan'er smiled.
"What!?"
Su Ziyun was instantly shocked.
Ye Xuan had only been inside the Hundred Refinements Tower for about an hour, and he had already cleared Purgatory Mode!?
Just how monstrous was that!?
"Hehe, how amusing. The Azure Mist Sect thought Xiao Chengfeng had broken the record, but who would have thought that our Violet Firmament Sect would have the last laugh!" Su Ziyun sneered.
"This is only the beginning!"
"Tomorrow is when the real show begins!" Ye Xuan said with a cold smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
He would make everything return to dust, and all earth return to earth.
"Good. Now I'm really curious!"
"Oh, right. The Marquis Manor is holding a banquet tonight. Wan'er should rest while Ye Xuan and I attend the banquet."
"I won't disturb you two lovebirds."
Su Ziyun patted Chu Wan'er's hand before leaving.
Inside the room, only Ye Xuan and Chu Wan'er remained.
Ye Xuan kept holding one of Chu Wan'er's hands, using his spiritual energy to clear and nourish her damaged meridians.
"Brother Ye Xuan, Ji Xueyao set up Purgatory Mode. Now that the Emperor Formation has been broken, she must know you've arrived."
Chu Wan'er frowned and suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"So what if she knows? Is that what you're worried about?"
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly..."
Chu Wan'er pursed her lips and gave a self-mocking smile. "The Ji Family is a flourishing imperial clan. My Chu Clan can't compare."
"Brother Ye Xuan's marriage was decided long ago. If she comes, let her marry you first."
She was insecure, but she also knew her place.
In truth, as long as she could remain by Ye Xuan's side, she did not care about status or anything else.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Ye Xuan hurriedly pressed a finger to Wan'er's lips and said solemnly, "No matter who it is, you are my legitimate wife."
"There is only one Imperial Consort, and that is you, Wan'er."
Ji Xueyao had set up those Purgatory Flames and the Emperor Formation while waiting for him, causing Wan'er to suffer. He still had to settle that account.
How could he let her become his legitimate wife?
"But I..."
Chu Wan'er frowned. If she became the legitimate wife, the other six imperial clans would surely harbor grievances.
She did not want to make things difficult for Ye Xuan.
"No buts. Rest and recover in peace. I'll handle everything!"
Ye Xuan pinched her nose and smiled.
"Then, all right. I'll listen to you, Brother Ye Xuan..."
Chu Wan'er's heart leaped with joy. She immediately pulled the quilt up over herself, revealing only a pair of eyes, and whispered, "After you attend the banquet, come sleep in Wan'er's room..."
"All right..."
Ye Xuan rubbed his nose and nodded.
His cultivation had already reached the peak of the Spirit Sea Realm. There was no reason for him to refuse anymore.
Besides, Wan'er needed that drop of Emperor Blood to heal.
Ye Xuan looked after Wan'er until nightfall before leaving the room and heading to the Marquis Manor with Su Ziyun for the banquet.
When the two arrived at the Marquis Manor, most of the sects had already gathered in the main hall.
Not only were all the first-rate sects present, but the city lords of the four regions had also arrived.
In the Northern Region's seats, Ye Xuan even saw Nangong Fei.
At this moment, however, Nangong Fei had her head lowered, looking rather dispirited.
During the Ancient Sword Manor expedition, a city lord's son and many sect prodigies had died. After she returned, she had not escaped punishment from her lineage either.
But Ye Xuan's identity had yet to be exposed, so he had no way to speak with her.
"Ziyun, you're here!"
The Lord of the Northern Region rose hurriedly. His expression was unexpectedly fawning and uneasy, making Nangong Fei frown slightly.
Ye Xuan could not help raising his brows. Could this Northern Region city lord have some sort of past with the Sect Master?
"Madam Cui didn't come with you? How strange!" Su Ziyun sneered.
The Lord of the Northern Region's expression changed dramatically. He immediately sat down and did not dare look at Su Ziyun again.
At this point, Ye Xuan also looked toward the hall. The sect masters and prodigies of the four major sects had nearly all arrived, but among the disciples of the Lin Tian Sword Sect, there was only one beautiful Saintess with an extraordinary bearing.
"Hahaha, everyone's here!?"
Just as Su Ziyun and Ye Xuan were preparing to take their seats, a burst of wild laughter suddenly rang out from beyond the hall behind them.
Everyone inside the hall rose one after another, and Ye Xuan also turned around.
He saw Qi Chuan striding over, his blood and qi surging like a pump, his pressure towering like a mountain, resembling a fierce tiger.
However, Qi Chuan had not come alone. He was pulling Xiao Chengfeng along by the arm, with Liu Yunxi and the Azure Mist Sect Master following behind him.
How had the Azure Mist Sect managed to curry favor with Qi Chuan!?
Su Ziyun glanced at Ye Xuan, equally surprised.
As Xiao Chengfeng and the others passed by Ye Xuan, they glanced over, the contempt in their eyes completely undisguised.
Liu Yunxi looked even more smug.
Now that they had gained Marquis Qi's favor, the Violet Firmament Sect could forget about making a comeback in the Northern Region!
"Hahaha, there's no need for everyone to keep standing. Sit!" Qi Chuan said with a laugh after reaching the main seat in the hall.
Yet just as Su Ziyun and Ye Xuan were preparing to sit down beside the Northern Region city lord, the Azure Mist Sect Master's voice suddenly rang out.
"Marquis Qi, I'm afraid there's someone in this hall who has no right to take a seat!"
Her sharp voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Who!?"
Marquis Qi was also taken aback.
"Him!"
"Ye Xuan of the Violet Firmament Sect!"
The Azure Mist Sect Master pointed at Ye Xuan and sneered coldly. "Among the younger generation gathered in this hall, all are outstanding talents of the Barren Continent. Only this man is a Mortal Body with lowly cultivation. How can he sit among them!?"
"This is an insult to the prodigies!"
At her words, everyone's gaze swept toward Ye Xuan at the entrance. Every one of them frowned.
What the Azure Mist Sect Master said seemed to make some sense.
Marquis Qi frowned, his gaze fixed on Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan felt a powerful Divine Sense lock onto him, as though it wanted to see straight through him.
But how could he possibly see through the Nine Lightning Tribulation Heavenly Body? Even someone at the Nirvana Realm could not do so!
Thus, Qi Chuan withdrew his gaze with some puzzlement, yet confusion lingered in his heart.
When Ye Xuan faced his scrutiny, he had not shown the slightest fear. With such bearing, could he really possess only a Mortal Body!?
He always felt that he could not see through this man.
"Master is right. He has no place here!" Liu Yunxi sneered at this moment.
She did not want to share a hall with Ye Xuan now. If Marquis Qi overheard any idle gossip, she would have trouble explaining herself.
"This..."
For a moment, Qi Chuan hesitated.
Xiao Chengfeng was someone Master Ji had specifically instructed him to look after well. He could not afford to offend him.
"What kind of logic is that!?"
Before Ye Xuan could speak, Nangong Fei suddenly glared and said, "The prodigy banquet was originally for the Holy Sons and Saintesses of first-rate sects. Who said anything about judging talent or cultivation!?"
"Ye Xuan is a Holy Son. What business is it of yours?"
"Besides, if we're talking about who doesn't deserve a seat, wouldn't it be even more awkward for the Holy Sons and Saintesses of second-rate sects to be here?"
For a moment, everyone in the hall was stunned.
"Fei'er, shut up!"
The Lord of Nangong City glared at Nangong Fei.
"You, you!"
Liu Yunxi trembled with anger. Perhaps because of Nangong Fei's identity, she did not dare speak too harshly for a moment.
"Enough, enough. It's only a banquet. Take your seats, take your seats!"
Qi Chuan was also getting a headache. He did not want to dwell on the matter and repeatedly pressed his hands down, calming everyone.
However, Xiao Chengfeng and the other two sat below Qi Chuan. Their seats were even higher than those of the Lin Tian Sword Sect.
The care and regard shown toward Xiao Chengfeng were simply far too obvious.
"Hmm!? Why hasn't Ji Fengliu arrived!?"
After taking his seat, Qi Chuan looked toward the Lin Tian Sword Sect and suddenly asked with a frown.
"Oh, reporting to Marquis, Fengliu has gone to meet an honored guest, so he'll be arriving a little later. We hope you won't take offense!" The Lin Tian Sword Sect Master hurriedly rose and cupped his fists.
"An honored guest, huh? Hehe..."
Qi Chuan's expression shifted. He immediately let out a cold laugh and did not ask further.
The banquet began. The wine and dishes were served, and Qi Chuan exchanged some polite opening remarks before everyone drained their cups.
"Marquis Qi, with such a banquet of prodigies, it would be rather dull if all we did was drink!"
Xiao Chengfeng, brimming with pride, set down his wine cup and spoke with a flushed face.
"Oh!? Brother Chengfeng, what would you like to play?" Qi Chuan raised an eyebrow.
"Hehe, since we're all Holy Sons, why don't he and I have a match right here in the hall?"
Xiao Chengfeng rose and pointed at Ye Xuan at the far end of the hall.
He had endured it for far too long.
He could not wait until tomorrow.
Today, he would cripple Ye Xuan in front of everyone!
Before you continue