All twelve petals of the golden lotus opened, releasing a strange fragrance.
Only after quite some time did the golden lotus slowly close.
Everyone gazed at Chu Kuangren and Lan Yu, unable to keep the wonder from their eyes. Both were among the most exceptional prodigies of their age.
At that thought, everyone could not help sighing.
Heaven was far too unfair. It had given them looks that dazzled all living beings, and then bestowed unparalleled talent for cultivation upon them as well.
Comparing yourself to others could drive you to your grave.
As everyone looked at the fine wine and delicacies before them, it all seemed tasteless.
Clearly, they had all taken quite a blow.
"I almost forgot. Our White Jade Tower recently brewed a new batch of fine wine. I'll have some brought over for everyone to try."
Li Xingchen suddenly spoke with a smile.
He had noticed something was wrong and was trying to ease the atmosphere.
Soon, through his efforts, everyone regained their spirits. After rounds of toasts and clinking cups, the banquet came to a satisfactory end.
The next morning.
Chu Kuangren awoke from his cultivation.
As usual, he summoned the Fantasy Roulette and began the draw.
It was a black iron reward: one hundred high-grade spirit stones.
That was roughly the entire fortune of an ordinary cultivator.
Without even glancing at them, Chu Kuangren casually tossed them into the mountain of spirit stones in his Heaven and Earth Ring, then began another dull day.
He left his room and joined Li Xingchen for breakfast at his invitation.
During the meal, he saw a crowd gathered in the hall.
They seemed to be looking at something.
When he approached, he found that they were all looking at a piece of calligraphy on the wall.
"In heaven stands the White Jade Capital, with twelve towers and five cities. Immortals stroke my crown; my hair is bound, and I receive eternal life... What a wonderful poem!"
"Doesn't this White Jade Capital refer to the White Jade Tower? With its beauty, the White Jade Tower certainly deserves to be called an earthly paradise."
"Wait, look at the signature below. Chu Kuangren. This poem was written by Chu Kuangren? The Chu Kuangren who challenged the whole world?"
"He actually possesses such literary talent..."
Everyone discussed it animatedly.
In their minds, Chu Kuangren was an arrogant fellow who had entered the world and challenged everyone under heaven, most likely an egomaniac without a drop of ink in his chest.
Yet this poem was majestic and grand, capturing all the beauty of the White Jade Tower with brilliant literary flair. It was hard to associate it with Chu Kuangren.
For a time, everyone was both surprised and filled with emotion.
"They really framed it?"
Chu Kuangren glanced at the calligraphy on the wall, then walked away.
Afterward, with Li Xingchen leading the way, Chu Kuangren and Lan Yu enjoyed a thorough tour of White Cloud City.
When they returned to the White Jade Tower, an old steward approached with an invitation and handed it to Chu Kuangren. "Young Master Chu, this is an invitation from the City Lord's Manor. They would like to invite you to a banquet tomorrow."
"Oh, the people of White Cloud City are quite hospitable."
Chu Kuangren accepted the invitation with a smile.
He had only just attended a banquet last night, and someone else had come to invite him today.
That was fine too.
He could pay a visit while he was there. However, White Cloud Sword Venerable had been in seclusion for a long time, so his chances of meeting him were probably slim.
People came and went within the City Lord's Manor.
Outside the gates, an old man was looking around.
When he saw a man and a woman approaching, a gleam flashed through his eyes, and he went forward with a genial smile.
"Young Master Chu, Miss Lan, come, please come in."
"Sir, have you been waiting here especially for us?"
"Yes."
An unusual look flashed through Chu Kuangren's eyes.
His Eye of Insight could reveal information about a person, and in his eyes, this old man was someone in the Battle King Realm.
Having a Battle King greet him outside—was the City Lord's Manor truly so wealthy and generous? Did they value him that highly, or did they have some other scheme?
Chu Kuangren vaguely felt that something fishy was going on.
Yet he could not think of what the City Lord's Manor stood to gain by harming him.
Once they entered the City Lord's Manor, the banquet was already prepared.
In the main hall, three men were studying Chu Kuangren and Lan Yu. They were Ye Baifeng and his two brothers.
"I've long heard that the chief disciple of the Mystic Heaven Sect is an exceptional prodigy rarely seen in this world, with the makings of a Young Emperor. Meeting you today, I see you truly are extraordinary."
Ye Baifeng laughed as he spoke.
"You're too kind, Senior." Chu Kuangren smiled faintly.
"By the way, Supreme Yuanling's treasure vault appeared a couple of days ago. Young friend Chu, did you go inside to explore? Did you gain anything?"
At that moment, Ye Baifeng shifted the conversation and asked.
But Chu Kuangren neither blushed nor felt his heart race. A regretful expression appeared on his face. "I did go inside, but I gained nothing at all."
Hearing this, a vein throbbed on Ye Baifeng's forehead.
Gained nothing?
You emptied the entire treasure vault.
And you still claim you gained nothing? Have you no shame?
"Surely not. With your astonishing talent, young friend, did you truly gain nothing whatsoever?" Ye Baifeng said with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"Truly nothing."
Chu Kuangren shook his head and smiled helplessly.
By now, Ye Baifeng's expression had darkened somewhat, and his voice carried a chill. "Young friend, I'll ask you one more time. Did you gain anything or not?"
Chu Kuangren fell silent.
He had already guessed that this was a feast concealing deadly intent.
He simply did not know how Ye Baifeng had learned that he was the one who had taken the contents of the Yuanling Treasure Vault.
"You already have an answer in your heart. Why ask again?"
Chu Kuangren spoke calmly.
"Young friend, since that's the case, I'll open the skylight and speak plainly. Our Ye Family wants the Hongmeng Purple Qi and is willing to exchange one million high-grade spirit stones for it. As long as you agree, you will be an honored guest of the Ye Family."
"What do you think?"
Having finished speaking, Ye Baifeng stared intently at Chu Kuangren.
"I think your brain's waterlogged."
Chu Kuangren let out a derisive laugh.
A million spirit stones for a strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi?
Never mind that the spirit stones in his Heaven and Earth Ring were already piled into mountains-could a million spirit stones even buy a strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi?
For a supreme treasure like this, people would scramble to pay even ten million spirit stones.
"Such insolence!"
"You dare insult the eldest master? You're courting death!"
Faced with everyone's angry questions and curses, Chu Kuangren remained composed.
The Second Master of the Ye Family spoke as well. "Young friend Chu, you are in the Ye Family's residence. If you refuse, don't blame us for using force."
The corners of Chu Kuangren's mouth curved slightly. "You're welcome to try."
"Hmph, enough talk. Attack!"
"Kill him here! Get the purple qi first, and worry about the rest later!"
The temptation of the Hongmeng Purple Qi was simply too great.
So great that desire blinded some people's Dao hearts. Disregarding even the Mystic Heaven Sect behind Chu Kuangren, they abruptly charged forward.
Several distinct surges of spiritual power and Daoist resonance erupted, locking onto Chu Kuangren!
Even the weakest was in the Void Insight realm.
A vicious gleam erupted in the eyes of the old man who had welcomed Chu Kuangren and Lan Yu inside. He too raised his hand and clawed at Chu Kuangren's head!
"Hmph."
A soft snort rang out as the overwhelming might of a Supreme Being erupted!
The cultivators charging toward Chu Kuangren were blasted into clouds of bloody mist on the spot. From the void, the Seventh Ancestor slowly emerged.
The terrifying might of a Supreme Being spread without restraint!
"A Supreme Being!"
"The Dao Protector at his side is actually a Supreme Being!"
The entire City Lord's Manor was shrouded in that supreme might. Countless cultivators trembled, staring at the Seventh Ancestor in utter terror.
This was also Chu Kuangren's first time seeing the Seventh Ancestor's true appearance.
Though elderly and somewhat stooped, the terrifying supreme might surrounding him was still enough to cow the world and chill people to the bone.
Chu Kuangren instinctively used the Eye of Insight to examine the Seventh Ancestor's information. What he saw caused his expression to change slightly.
The Five Decays of the Celestial Person-little lifespan remained!
Before you continue