Heaven-Subduing Ancient City, Spirit Sword Mountain Manor.
Inside an elegant pavilion, a youth in Daoist robes sat alone by the window, a wine gourd in hand. He drank in silence as he watched the sunset clouds outside.
Gradually, the wine ran low. He shook the gourd in his hand and smiled helplessly.
Then he said drunkenly, "Elder Jian, I'm out of wine!"
"Young master, the wine is here."
A gray-robed elder appeared out of thin air and filled Jian Xiaoyao's cup.
The elder's presence was profound, and the presence of a Great Saint faintly emanated from him.
That a Great Saint would willingly serve as his attendant was proof enough of Jian Xiaoyao's talent and status.
"Young master, with the Three Lives Secret Realm opening this time, you must be careful of that divine son of the Li Lineage. He's strong, very strong!"
Elder Jian wore an unusually grave expression. Although he believed in his young master's talent and combat strength, he couldn't help but offer a warning.
That Li Lineage divine son's combat strength was far too monstrous, far too strange.
"To shrink back before a battle isn't my style. If we meet someday, I'll fight him with everything I have!"
Jian Xiaoyao tipped his head back and took a swig of wine. Boundless sword intent surfaced in his eyes, dazzling as a starry sky, as though it could shatter the heavens beyond the ninth layer!
He had awakened the sword heart Dao physique, opened ten Life Palaces, and mastered Spirit Sword Mountain's imperial Dao divine ability. He also possessed a steadfast, invincible Dao heart!
He would fear no enemy in the world and carve out a path of his own!
Heaven-Subduing Ancient City, Demon Phoenix Palace.
In a room draped with gauzy green curtains.
"Princess Huang Wu, per the dynasty's instructions, don't come into conflict with the Li Lineage for now, especially that divine son of theirs."
"Once you've obtained that phoenix bone from the Emperor Tomb, we'll decide what to do next!"
A beautiful woman with a graceful figure and lingering charm looked at the green gauze screen in the room as she offered her advice.
"Aunt Bing, I understand!"
Huang Wu's alluring, melodious voice came from behind the green gauze screen, like a seductive tune that made one's body burn with uncontrollable desire.
Behind the screen, Huang Wu reclined on a soft bed, her jade hand propping up her fragrant cheek. Nothing but a thin layer of red gauze covered her body.
Her graceful form, white as mutton-fat jade, appeared and disappeared beneath the red gauze. Her snow-white legs were long and supple, and immensely alluring.
"The Li Lineage's divine son... I'd like to see whether you can escape the palm of my hand."
Huang Wu extended a slender jade hand and gently traced it over her shapely body. Then she raised her eyes toward the Star-Picking Pavilion and smiled, a hundred charms blooming with it.
Heaven-Subduing Ancient City, Black Tortoise Tower.
Beside a lake, a gentle breeze blew and willows swayed as an elder and a youth sat upright together.
The youth wore black, and his bearing was as fine as jade. He carried himself with a hint of aloof pride, while numerous mysterious phenomena manifested around him, lending him an exceptionally extraordinary bearing.
As his eyes opened and closed, ancient Dao resonance spread around him, making him seem like an ancient deity.
The black-clad youth was named Xuan Xiao. He was one of the successors of Xuanming Divine Mountain, possessed the Black Tortoise Divine Physique, and had opened nine Life Palaces.
"The Li Lineage's divine son is a bit troublesome!"
Xuan Xiao frowned deeply, his gaze flickering.
What had happened in Heaven-Subduing Ancient City had taken him somewhat by surprise.
He had already heard the news that Li Xunyuan had forcefully slain Ao Xing.
Although Xuan Xiao had certain trump cards and was confident he could defeat Ao Xing, he still felt an inexplicable sense of alarm.
It seemed he needed to improve his combat strength as much as possible before entering the Three Lives Emperor Tomb.
If he could fuse with his clan's Black Tortoise Divine Bone, that would be better still.
"Young Master Xuan Xiao, the Holy Lord has spoken. Once the Futian Auction is over, he will help you fuse with the Black Tortoise Divine Bone!"
"Once you enter the Three Lives Emperor Tomb, you can join forces with the Great Void Dragon Court and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Dynasty. Together, you'll surely suppress the Li Lineage with ease."
"No matter how heaven-defying the Li Lineage is, it will be hard for them to withstand the combined might of three great primordial imperial clans. Even if they sprout wings, they won't escape!"
At that moment, the black-robed elder beside him spoke respectfully. He too was a Great Saint, and Xuan Xiao's Dao protector on this trip to the ancient city.
"Good! Once I fuse with the Black Tortoise Divine Bone, I can break into the Emperor Forbidden Domain. By joining forces with the other two great imperial clans, I can easily suppress the younger generation of the Li Lineage!"
"Across countless epochs, that Li Lineage divine son is the only one to have entered the Immortal Forbidden Domain? What a baseless joke!"
In the blink of an eye, a day had passed.
A magnificent and splendid tower stood in the center of Heaven-Subduing Ancient City.
This tower was called the Heaven-Subduing Pavilion, and it was also the venue for this auction.
For the auction, the Heaven-Subduing Pavilion had been specially expanded to accommodate a hundred thousand people.
Without sufficient foundation and backing, one might not even make it through the Heaven-Subduing Pavilion's doors. A hundred thousand places were enough.
By now, the Heaven-Subduing Pavilion was packed, with not a single seat empty.
"Spirit Sword Mountain's successor is here! What a powerful presence. As expected of someone with the sword heart Dao physique!"
"Third Princess Huang Wu has arrived too. She's as breathtaking as ever. I love her so much!"
"That black-clad youth seems to be Xuan Xiao, Xuanming Divine Mountain's successor. I didn't expect him to come too!"
"Transcendent powers, primordial imperial clans... Everyone who came this time is a major figure!"
Many cultivators in the auction venue expressed their surprise.
They had seen all the major figures they rarely had a chance to see on ordinary days.
"The Li Lineage's divine son is here!"
No one knew who had cried out, but the words instantly caused a great stir.
At that moment, every gaze in the venue turned in one direction like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, finally settling on a figure in red.
He was a youth like an immortal banished from heaven, shrouded in chaotic immortal radiance. His body was flawless and translucent as ancient precious jade, engraved with supreme Dao laws.
Immortal charm flowed from his every movement, giving people the dreamlike impression that he was not of this world, as though he were an immortal forever beyond reach!
Ever since breaking through the physical extreme of the Life Palace Realm, the immortal charm about Li Xunyuan had grown even more ethereal.
At that moment, many women in the auction venue gazed at him with eyes full of affection, their feelings lingering as their cheeks flushed red...
Such a gentle, refined youth truly was a young master like jade, without equal in the world!