Just then.
A crisp jingling of jade ornaments came from the private seating area on the second floor of the restaurant.
A faint, secluded fragrance instantly overwhelmed the smell of wine filling the hall. It was the scent of blooming peonies—noble and intoxicating.
The previously noisy restaurant hall actually fell into an eerie silence as the fragrance spread.
All eyes involuntarily gathered at the stairway on the second floor.
A jade foot, fairer than frost and snow, lightly stepped onto the dark red wooden stairs.
The arch of her foot traced a beautiful curve, her ankle slender and rounded, carrying a breathtakingly creamy whiteness.
Next came an incomparably luxurious Nishang Yuyi, exquisitely beautiful.
The newcomer was Yang Guifei.
She lazily held the stair railing. With every step, her voluptuous and graceful figure swayed gently, like a peony blooming in the wind.
The slit of her skirt rose extremely high, and as she walked, her long, straight legs appeared and disappeared from view.
She was richly endowed with flesh, yet not the slightest bit bloated. It was a mature charm taken to the extreme.
Dai Mubai's movements froze completely.
His evil eyes stared fixedly at the woman descending the stairs, and his Adam's apple rolled violently of its own accord.
Exquisite.
She was simply an unparalleled beauty.
He had seen countless women in the Star Luo Imperial Family and frequented the pleasure houses of Suotuo City, yet he had never encountered such a stunning woman.
Her face was ravishingly beautiful, and the shifting glance of her eyes seemed capable of stealing a person's soul. Yet she also carried the noble air of Motherly Dignity Under Heaven.
That intense contrast instantly sent the evil fire within Dai Mubai soaring.
Just as Dai Mubai was staring so intently he was nearly drooling.
Rumble!
Above the sky vault, the Golden List's image, which had just fallen silent, began to churn once more.
The original Black Fire Cloud was forcibly torn apart by an intensely cold Freezing Qi.
Snow filled the sky, and the entire heavens instantly transformed into a crystalline ice blue world.
[Martial Soul Ranking, Seventeenth Place!] [Name: Shui Bing'er!] [Affiliated power: Haiyue Empire.] [Martial Soul: Ice Phoenix.]
Within the image, a young girl in a sky-blue dress stood proudly atop an icy mountain.
Her features were cold and refined, her temperament like profound ice that had not melted for ten thousand years. She bore some resemblance to Shui Yue'er, but was even prouder and more imposing.
Behind her, a massive ice blue Phoenix Phantom spread its wings and gave a long cry. Wherever it passed, even space froze into fine cracks.
[Reward Issued: Martial Soul Evolution!] [Evolution Direction: Extreme Ice Phoenix!] [Received two God-Bestowed Soul Rings. Soul Power increased by three levels!]
Another person from the Haiyue Empire.
And another top-tier Phoenix-type Martial Soul.
The two sisters had both entered the Top Twenty.
At the Spirit Hall Empire's front lines, within the Commander's Tent.
Bibi Dong leaned lazily against a throne covered in animal hide, a scepter symbolizing authority in her hand.
Her pale purple eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the Extreme Ice Phoenix soaring across the Heavenly Curtain.
"Haiyue Empire..."
"It seems the foundation of the power ranked second is indeed formidable."
Bibi Dong's voice was calm, betraying little emotion.
To her, whether it was Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix or Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix, they were decent, but not enough to make her feel threatened.
As long as they were not in the top ten, there was nothing to fear.
The only thing she truly cared about was the top spot on the list.
That was something she had to obtain.
Outside Heaven Dou City, at the Spirit Hall Empire's encampment.
Qian Renxue, dressed in a resplendent golden court gown, stood atop a high platform. The wind stirred her long golden hair, making it gleam beneath the sunlight.
A hint of holiness rested on her peerlessly beautiful face. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her figure was tall and voluptuous.
Golden Armor perfectly outlined her slender waist, while her long legs, wrapped in golden boots, appeared especially strong and shapely.
By now, she was no longer the Xue Qinghe who had once infiltrated the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
She was the inheritor of the Angel God and the young mistress of the Spirit Hall Empire.
Watching Phoenix Martial Souls appear one after another on the Heavenly Curtain, a trace of disdain flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes.
"Are Scruffy Birds like these worthy of being called top-tier Martial Souls?"
"Before the radiance of the Six-Winged Angel, everything else must pale into insignificance."
She had absolute confidence in herself.
Her Martial Soul was a God-Bestowed Martial Soul, and she possessed Innate Level 20 Full Soul Power. She would certainly claim one of the top three spots on this list.
Chang'an City, Taibai Restaurant.
Although the image on the Heavenly Curtain was shocking, to the diners inside Taibai Restaurant at this moment, the peerless beauty before them was clearly far more captivating.
Yang Guifei had already reached the raised platform long prepared in the center of the first-floor hall.
She paid no mind to the burning gazes around her. Holding a pipa in her arms, she sat down with elegant poise.
Her delicate hand lifted lightly.
Zheng—
A clear, resonant pipa note rang out, instantly piercing everyone's ears.
The crowd, which had still been noisy moments ago, fell completely silent at that instant.
Yang Guifei's fingers danced across the strings, swift as lightning yet flowing as naturally as clouds and water.
At times, the music sounded like large and small pearls dropping onto a jade platter, crisp and pleasant; at others, like thousands of soldiers and horses crossing a wasteland, brimming with killing intent.
As the music rose and fell, her voluptuous figure swayed gently along with it.
The snowy whiteness at her collar rose and fell faintly with her breathing, rippling into wave after wave of alluring curves.
Her jade legs crossed beneath her skirt, gleaming like ivory under the lamplight.
This was not merely a feast for the ears, but the ultimate delight for the eyes.
Every man present was dumbstruck, utterly entranced, as though their souls had been lured away by the sound of the pipa.
Dai Mubai's eyes turned bloodshot, and his breathing grew as heavy as a bull's.
The effects of the alcohol, the resentment festering in his heart, and the stimulation of the peerless beauty before him.
At this moment.
Reason deserted him completely.
In his eyes, Yang Guifei was nothing more than a singer who flaunted her charms before the public.
And if she was a singer, then she was there to be played with.
As long as one had money, there was no woman one could not have.
The song came to an end.
Its lingering notes echoed through the hall, refusing to fade.
Just as everyone remained immersed in the exquisite music, unable to pull themselves free.
"Good! What a wonderful pipa piece!"
A harsh, utterly discordant roar shattered the tranquility.
Dai Mubai abruptly stood up, kicked away the chair behind him, and staggered toward the platform.
His evil eyes stared straight at Yang Guifei's ample bosom, his face wearing a smile he thought dashing but was in truth unbearably greasy.
"Beauty, you played that piece well. This young master is greatly pleased."
Dai Mubai walked beneath the platform, directly pulled a heavy bag of Gold Soul Coins from his robes, and smashed it onto the edge of the platform.
With a clatter.
The mouth of the bag came undone, and glittering Soul Coins rolled across the floor.
"There are one thousand Gold Soul Coins here."
Dai Mubai raised his head, his gaze sweeping wantonly over Yang Guifei's thighs.
"Tonight, you belong to me."
"Go wash yourself clean and wait for This Young Master in the room. Send up your finest food and wine as well."
Before you continue