"Welcome, everyone, to my entry-into-the-world banquet. I, Li, raise a cup to you all!"
Li Xunyuan took the seat of honor and raised his cup to the guests. His unworldly bearing, ethereal as an immortal's, stole the souls of many young women present.
"Haha, Divine Son Li, you are too polite. It is our honor to attend your entry-into-the-world banquet."
Many rulers of ancient kingdoms and heads of prominent families dared not stand on ceremony. They rose and raised their cups in return, then tipped their heads back and drained them in one gulp.
They left not a drop; they weren't here to keep fish in their cups.
The Li Lineage's divine son was personally toasting them, and everyone present couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive, yet for some reason, it also felt rather good.
In an instant, the leaders of the various factions grew much fonder of Li Xunyuan, their impression of him rapidly improving.
He was immensely powerful and held an exalted status, yet he was not overbearing.
Instead, he was gentle and humble, respectful of his elders and the worthy. How could that not win people over?
"Cangtian and Tianji greet the divine son."
At that moment, Li Cangtian and Li Tianji rose together, their robes fluttering lightly. Then, before everyone present, they knelt on one knee and saluted Li Xunyuan.
At such a grand gathering of heroes as the entry-into-the-world banquet, their actions undoubtedly made their stance clear.
They were also bolstering Li Xunyuan's standing without saying a word!
At the sight, the eyes of many prodigies narrowed slightly. Boundless storms surged in their hearts, and they could no longer remain calm.
Many of them had never met Li Xunyuan and had only heard about what happened in Heaven-Subduing Ancient City.
Now that they had seen the Heavenly Hegemon Body submit to him with their own eyes, the sight was undeniably striking and unforgettable.
He had opened ten Life Palaces, entered the Emperor Forbidden Domain, and awakened the Heavenly Hegemon Body. He had few rivals among his peers, and once he reached full mastery, he could challenge a human Great Emperor!
Yet such a peerless prodigy, unmatched under heaven, was now kneeling on one knee and bowing in submission.
The prodigies present all wore solemn expressions as they studied Li Xunyuan anew, trying to see through him.
But all they could see was chaos and emptiness, as though he were an immortal reincarnated!
They simply couldn't see through him!
"There's no need for formalities."
Li Xunyuan lifted a hand and helped Li Cangtian and Li Tianji to their feet. Naturally, he knew what the two intended.
There was plainly little need to bolster his standing. If anyone refused to submit, he could simply beat them into submission.
Beside him, Li Qingshu's heart trembled slightly when she saw Li Xunyuan's handsome face, shrouded in immortal radiance.
Perhaps because her Immaculate Divine Body was as pure as an immortal's, her physique unexpectedly resonated, a rare occurrence that even made her heart palpitate.
This fellow... actually made the Immaculate Divine Body resonate!
Li Qingshu's beautiful eyes grew solemn, and she regarded Li Xunyuan as a formidable opponent.
This fellow... seems a little strong, but that's what makes it interesting. He's worth fighting!
From the moment Li Xunyuan appeared, Li Zhixing's gaze had remained fixed on him, studying him closely.
In the youth's eyes, where yin and yang alternated, an utterly frenzied fighting spirit surged. His excitement even manifested physically, and his body began to tremble slightly.
Li Xunyuan's presence was no weaker than that of the first holy son, Li Xukong. The stronger Li Xunyuan was, the more excited Li Zhixing became. He longed to fight a powerful opponent!
"I... am only worthy of being Divine Son Li's concubine..."
A young woman in green, with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and picturesque features, gazed at Li Xunyuan in a daze. Then she suddenly lowered her eyes and head, murmuring with a dejected expression.
Her words drew the attention of many prodigies nearby. When they saw her face, their eyes filled with astonishment.
"That fairy in green seems to be the holy maiden of the Jade Pool Heavenly Realm. She actually says she isn't worthy of the Li Lineage's divine son and can only be his concubine!"
"I hate this! Why couldn't I have been a little more handsome?!"
The prodigies around her beat their chests and stamped their feet, nearly coughing up blood with envy and jealousy.
That was the Jade Pool Heavenly Realm, an ancient holy land just a hair's breadth from being a transcendent power.
Yet the holy maiden of the Jade Pool Heavenly Realm had claimed she could only be the Li Lineage's divine son's concubine. How were they supposed to go on living?
Amid the heated atmosphere, a soft, seductive voice that melted one to the bone suddenly rang out.
"My name is Huang Wu. I'm delighted to meet you, Divine Son Li."
A graceful figure in a red dress, with an exceptional bearing, glided to Li Xunyuan's side.
She raised her cup to him, her red lips exhaling a breath as fragrant as orchids. Her alluring face was exceedingly seductive.
"Huang Wu? The third princess of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Dynasty, one of the Primordial Imperial Clans?"
Li Xunyuan looked at the young woman in red, his brows furrowing slightly.
"I didn't expect Lord Divine Son to know who I am. I'm blessed across three lifetimes!"
The young woman smiled sweetly and drained her cup in one gulp.
Then she gently leaned toward Li Xunyuan until their cheeks were almost touching.
"In the Three Lives Emperor Tomb, the Great Void Dragon Court and Xuanming Divine Mountain will form an alliance with the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Dynasty. At the crucial moment, I'll help you in secret and stab them in the back."
Huang Wu reached out with slender, jade-like fingers, pale as scallion roots, and lightly traced them across Li Xunyuan's chest. After leaving him with that puzzling voice transmission, she turned gracefully and returned to her original place at the banquet.
The sight drew a chorus of wails from countless male prodigies.
Huang Wu was the goddess of their dreams, yet now she was openly showing affection for the Li Lineage's divine son.
It hurt worse than killing them!
Yun Yao's limpid, crystalline eyes rested on Huang Wu for a long moment.
For some reason, jealousy rose in her heart.
Li Xunyuan, too, found Huang Wu's behavior rather baffling.
Although the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Dynasty and the Li Lineage had not fought to the death, minor clashes between them were inevitable.
The Demon Race had always been as irreconcilable with the human race as fire and water. Not a single Demon Race faction was among the powers that had come to the entry-into-the-world banquet.
It was strange enough that she had come to his banquet, and what the young woman had just said left Li Xunyuan even more baffled.
Whether or not the three factions-the Great Void Dragon Court and the other two-formed an alliance, Li Xunyuan paid them no mind.
Anyone hostile to the Li Lineage would be struck down without exception!
Seemingly sensing Yun Yao's gaze, Huang Wu lifted her phoenix eyes and looked back, a clear note of challenge in her stare.
The two women's gazes met across the distance. Sparks seemed to fly through the air, and the tension was ready to erupt.
Sensing that something was amiss, the prodigies' gazes sharpened.
Taking Yun Yao's current state together with Huang Wu's earlier behavior, it wasn't hard for them to guess what was going on. The realization shattered their hearts, leaving the pieces scattered across the ground.
The Yun Family's divine maiden had most likely fallen for him too. They no longer stood a chance.
"Ahem!"
At that moment, Li Qianqiu rose, cleared his throat, and said with a smile, "Thank you all for coming to my grandson's entry-into-the-world banquet. The Li Lineage should offer a fitting token of sincerity."
"Merely drinking and chatting at today's banquet would be too dull, so the Li Lineage has specially prepared a Dao discussion for all the prodigies present!"
"The ultimate victor may enter the Li Lineage's Immortal Pavilion to study for one day and may also choose an immortal art to take away, though only its first move!"
"Even those who do not win will receive a mysterious gift package for participating!"
They could enter the Li Lineage's Immortal Pavilion to study and take away the first move of an immortal art!
When the announcement was made, everyone present froze, and the entire gathering fell silent. They all thought they had misheard!
But the scene soon spiraled out of control and erupted into an uproar, like a comet striking an ocean and raising towering waves!