NABC Chapter 63 The Banquet at the Southern Heavenly Gate Yao Xi Yunxi
Chapter 63 The Banquet at the Southern Heavenly Gate Yao Xi Yunxi
Li Xian arrived at the Heavenly Demon Palace.
Yao Yuekong was already waiting outside.
Upon seeing the person approaching, the young master of the Heavenly Demon Palace's pupils contracted slightly.
Li Xian's aura was restrained, but the subtle, radiant glow emanating from his body gave him a sense of oppression, as if he were facing an ancient savage beast cub.
"Brother Li, it seems you've had quite a fortunate trip to the Dragon Transformation Pool."
Yao Yuekong laughed loudly, stepped forward and patted Li Xian on the shoulder: "Come on, to Zui Xian Que, I'll treat you to a celebration."
Li Xian nodded.
He casually crushed a sound transmission talisman.
A moment later, Prince Xia Yiming of the Great Xia Dynasty replied, readily agreeing.
……
Southwest of the holy city, in mid-air.
A massive complex of buildings floats three hundred feet above the ground.
Jade palaces and towering peaks.
A jade platform hangs in the sky.
Between the eaves and brackets, ten thousand glazed palace lanterns hang.
Even during the day, it shines brightly, casting a golden glow over the entire floating building.
Drunken Immortal Palace.
The property of the Beiyuan Golden Family was built in imitation of the layout of the ancient Heavenly Court. It was divided into four gardens: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, each with private banquet rooms, casinos, and auction halls, and was known as the number one den of extravagance in the Holy City.
On the plaque above the main entrance.
The three large characters are written in a vigorous, flowing style.
It exudes an aura that can suppress heaven and earth:
South Heaven Gate.
Li Xian looked up at the three words and scoffed inwardly.
The karmic consequences in Heaven are immense.
Even quasi-emperors dared not touch it in the ancient times.
The Golden Family's limited resources, yet they dare to conduct business under the "South Heavenly Gate" banner, will inevitably face a backlash from fate.
Look away.
Li Xian remained expressionless.
It's not surprising, in this era, the truth about the destruction of the ancient Heavenly Court has long been buried by time, and people only regard it as a legend.
Clouds rise beneath one's feet.
Climb up the stairs.
The group entered the Spring Garden.
Cherry blossoms are falling here.
The spiritual energy was so dense it formed a mist.
Even the stone tables and chairs are made of the finest spirit crystals.
Xia Yiming arrived earlier than them and was already sitting in the private room.
This prince of the Great Xia Dynasty wore a white and gold python robe, with a beautiful jade pendant at his waist, and his whole demeanor was elegant and refined.
Li Xian came in.
He stood up, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and smiled.
"Congratulations, Brother Li, the news of the 750,000 jin of Yuan has spread throughout the Holy City."
"luck."
Li Xian took his seat.
The three of them had just clinked glasses.
Footsteps could be heard outside the private room.
A waiter led the way, and two figures entered one after the other.
The person in front.
Dressed in white, as white as snow.
Her hair was tied up with a golden crown, her face was as beautiful as jade, and there was a hint of a smile in her eyes.
His demeanor was composed and gentle, like a young master from a distinguished family going to meet a friend.
However, Li Xian's purple-gold eyes detected an extremely restrained fluctuation of demonic energy within him, which vanished in a flash.
The Holy Son of Yaoguang.
The person behind—
The air temperature in the private room seemed to have changed slightly.
The newcomer wore a moon-white saintess battle robe, with the collar drawn up to her collarbone. Silver threads and dark patterns extended from the cuffs to her fingertips, and a jade tassel belt was tied around her waist, outlining her slender figure.
The skirt hem reaches the ankles.
As she walks, her movements are like flowing clouds trailing on the ground.
Her black hair was styled into a simple, drooping cloud bun, with only a single green jade hairpin inserted.
Face--
Oval face shape.
Her skin was as white as snow, and her eyebrows resembled distant mountains.
Her eyes are slightly upturned at the corners, giving her a natural charm.
Her lips were thin and rosy, strikingly beautiful even without makeup.
But her sharp jawline and cool gaze created a strange tension with her alluring charm.
Purity and allure.
They exist simultaneously on one face.
The Holy Maiden of Yao Guang.
Yao Xi.
She was tall and slender, and her curves were still faintly visible even though the Saintess's battle armor was tightly concealing her figure. Her demeanor exuded a noble air of a magnificent holy land.
Xia Yiming's eyes lit up for a moment, then he straightened his expression, like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.
Yao Yuekong rose to greet them and introduced the two parties.
The Holy Son of Yaoguang cupped his hands and said gently:
"I heard that Brother Li made a name for himself at Daoyi Stone Archway, so I came to offer my congratulations. I hope you will forgive my intrusion in sharing this table with me."
"please."
Li Xian gestured.
The group took their seats.
The food and drinks were served, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Yao Yuekong was the most talkative, chatting about everything from gambling on rough stones to the market for raw ore, and then rambling on about the recent soaring prices in the Holy City—
"It's all your fault, that ancient insect god king, that raised the price of longevity herbs by 20%."
Li Xian continued the conversation.
The Holy Son of Yaoguang occasionally chimed in, his words always well-chosen and his sense of propriety impeccable.
Yao Xi remained silent.
She held her wine glass, her gaze occasionally sweeping over Li Xian, as if she were sizing him up.
After downing her third glass of wine, she put it down.
"Li Xian".
The private room fell silent for a moment.
There's something I'd like to ask you in person.
Yao Xi's voice was not loud, but her pronunciation was clear.
"explain."
"Golden Lotus Body Technique." Yao Xi looked directly into his eyes. "In Mineral Rock City, someone saw a cultivator who looked extremely similar to you, using the Golden Lotus Body Technique of my Yao Guang Saintess lineage. Stepping on golden lotuses, his figure was like a phantom—this is a Saint Lord-level technique, which can never be mastered by anyone other than a successor of this lineage."
She paused.
His tone turned colder:
"Is it you?"
The three people beside them all looked at them.
Li Xian held the teacup and took a sip.
"Yes."
One word.
Clean and efficient.
Yao Xi was clearly not expected that he would admit it so readily. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, which was then replaced by anger.
"Where did you learn your Golden Lotus Body Technique?"
"By sheer chance," Li Xian said, putting down his teacup. "I stumbled upon a fragment of a text in an ancient site and deciphered it on my own."
"A fragment?" Yao Xi sneered. "A fragment of a Saint Lord-level technique? You, a rogue cultivator at the Dao Palace Realm, managed to comprehend a Saint Lord-level movement technique on your own?"
"right."
Yao Xi was speechless, stumped by his completely indifferent attitude.
"You must stop using it." She softened her tone, but there was no room for negotiation. "The Golden Lotus Body Technique is the foundational art of the Yao Guang Saintess lineage. For outsiders to use it without permission would bring shame upon the Holy Land. Otherwise—"
She slightly raised her chin:
"I will ask Elder Yaoguang to intervene and demand an explanation from you."
The atmosphere in the private room suddenly turned cold.
Yao Yue coughed lightly, trying to smooth things over:
"Hey, Saintess Yao, today is a victory celebration banquet. Let's talk about this later, let's drink first—"
The Holy Son of Yaoguang timely took over the conversation, smiling as he said:
"Junior Sister, Brother Li's ability to comprehend the Golden Lotus Body Technique from a fragment of the manual precisely demonstrates his extraordinary talent. This is a good thing; if the Holy Land knew that someone could cultivate a fragment to such a level, they would surely be interested. There's no need to rush."
That's well said.
But Li Xian could see it clearly.
When the Holy Son of Yaoguang said these words, his pupils showed no fluctuation—
There was no goodwill involved.
There was no hostility involved.
It was as calm as a stagnant pool.
Yao Xi was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end.
She wasn't angry at Li Xian, but rather at the Holy Son of Yaoguang for giving her a way out in public—
This is tantamount to making a decision for her in front of outsiders, and taking away her right to speak as a saint.
Inside the Yao Guang.
The Holy Son and Holy Daughter were always outwardly united but inwardly estranged.
Yao Guang Sheng Zi's words, seemingly to defuse the situation, were actually a blow to her pride.
"What you say is true, senior brother."
Yao Xi gritted her teeth and sat down, no longer looking at Li Xian.
The topic quickly changed.
Xia Yiming brought up the hottest topic in the Northern Region recently.
"The Primordial Ancient Mine is experiencing frequent anomalies, and all the major Holy Lords are getting restless," Xia Yiming sighed.
A hint of longing flashed in the eyes of the Holy Son of Yaoguang:
"The Primordial Ancient Mine has existed since ancient times. The Great Emperor is nowhere to be seen, but if I had the chance, I would truly like to explore it deeply. I do not seek divine treasures, but only to pay homage to the traces of the ancient emperor's past battles and to appreciate the emperor's magnificence."
A few words.
He spoke with such righteous indignation.
Li Xian sneered inwardly.
Others may not know, but he does.
This Holy Son of Yaoguang cultivates the Undying Heavenly Art.
Where is the purpose of going to pay homage to the Great Emperor?
They were clearly going to the edge of the ancient mine to search for the remains of ancient creatures, devouring their essence to strengthen themselves.
"The ancient mine is too far away."
Li Xian leaned back in his chair and suddenly spoke:
"If you want to see ancient traditions, why go to the Primordial Ancient Mine?"
Everyone was taken aback.
He turned his gaze to Yao Xi, looking her up and down.
"The Holy Maiden possesses an extremely ancient aura," Li Xian said slowly. "She is aloof, solitary, and imbued with the Daoist charm of moonlight. If I am not mistaken, this aura seems to be related to the ancient Heavenly Court of the mythical era."
These words shocked everyone present.
Ancient Heaven!
It was a colossal being that existed in the age of mythology, ruling the universe, and even emperors had to bow down to it.
Yao Yuekong, Xia Yiming, and even the Holy Son of Yaoguang all turned to stare at Yao Xi.
The private room suddenly became extremely quiet.
Yao Xi's expression changed.
She was deep within her consciousness.
Indeed, it nurtures a moon palace.
It was a priceless treasure that she had obtained by chance.
It is specifically used to temper one's divine sense, and its origin is mysterious; even the elders of the holy land do not know about it.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" She spoke faster. "How could I possibly possess the aura of the ancient Heavenly Court? The Yao Guang Holy Land has absolutely no connection to the Heavenly Court—"
"Perhaps it is some kind of object."
Li Xian put down his teacup, unhurriedly:
"Or perhaps in some space... within your sea of consciousness, it's like there's a building hidden there."
Yao Xi stood up.
The chair leg scraped against the floor tiles with a screeching sound.
"Li Xian!" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You've been peering into my consciousness?"
"I didn't spy on you." Li Xian looked up at her, his tone flat, lying through his teeth. "It's just that the Origin Heaven Divine Eye can see the subtle clues at the Origin Qi level. The ancient Heavenly Court aura on you is too unique to be concealed."
Yao Yuekong finally put the wine glass back on the table, leaned closer and whispered:
"A relic from the Heavenly Court... This thing is extraordinary. Does Saintess Yao truly possess it?"
"No!"
Yao Xi answered decisively.
But the faster she denied it, the more curious the crowd became.
Xia Yiming observed them calmly.
The Holy Son of Yaoguang's smile deepened slightly.
What lay beneath that smile, only he himself knew.
Yao Xi clenched her fists.
The knuckles were slightly white.
His gaze almost burned two holes in Li Xian's face.
She knew she had been outmaneuvered this time.
She came to question Li Xian about the Golden Lotus Body Technique, and Li Xian casually admitted it, then immediately exposed her secret to everyone.
That little thief—
Terrible!
"That's absolutely not true."
Yao Xi coldly uttered four words, sat down again, and said no more.
Li Xian picked up his teacup.
Just about to drink—
Outside the private room.
The waiter knocked on the door.
"Distinguished guests, a maid from the Jade Pool outside requests an audience, specifically asking for 'Immortal Li', Young Master Li."
The group exchanged glances.
The door opened.
A young female cultivator dressed in a light blue silk dress stepped in, bowed, and spoke in a clear, melodious voice:
"Upon hearing that Young Master Li intended to revive the incomplete elixir of immortality, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi specially ordered her maid to deliver a small gift."
She presented a white jade gourd to Li Xian with both hands.
"A hundred catties of the Divine Spring of Origin. The Holy Maiden said that medicinal herbs need to be nourished with the water of their origin, and this substance may be helpful. In addition, the Holy Maiden invites Young Master Li to come to the Jade Pool Stone Archway when he has time, as there are important matters to discuss in person."
Li Xian accepted the white jade gourd.
Gently pry open the bottle opening with your thumb.
In an instant.
A cloud of colorful mist overflowed from the bottle opening.
The aroma wafted gently through the elegant room.
As the mist passed, the precious wines on the table rippled slightly, as if resonating with some kind of natural Daoist rhythm.
Yao Yuekong suddenly stood up.
"The Primal Divine Spring?!" His voice cracked. "A hundred jin?!"
He leaned closer, staring wide-eyed at the colorful mist, his lips trembling:
"This stuff... Yaochi usually uses it all to nourish the ancient peach trees. The amount that leaks out is no more than ten catties a year, and it's priceless. A hundred catties... even three to five hundred thousand catties of pure source might not be enough to buy it."
He turned to look at Li Xian, his breathing a little heavy: "She gave it to me for free?"
"Um."
Yao Yuekong's lips twitched twice, finally turning into a long sigh.
"...The rich woman from Yaochi."
He sat back down.
He took a swig of wine and murmured:
"Indeed, making friends with rich people is the right way."
Xia Yiming's gaze deepened.
The look in his eyes as he looked at Li Xian became more scrutinizing—was she a rival in love?
The Holy Son of Yaoguang smiled as usual.
But the rhythm of his fingers as he played with the wine glass changed.
Yao Xi didn't speak, her clenched hand loosening and tightening again.
The Holy Maiden of Yaochi personally delivered gifts and specifically invited me—
What does this mean?
Everyone present knew the truth.
This immediately made him even more convinced that Li Xian had obtained the true inheritance of the Yuan Tianshi lineage, otherwise Yaochi would not have acted this way.
Li Xian capped the bottle.
The white jade gourd was taken into the sea of suffering.
"Please thank the Holy Maiden for me," he said to the maid. "I will visit the Jade Pool Stone Archway tomorrow afternoon."
The maid bowed and withdrew.
After the door closed, there was a three-breath silence in the private room.
Yao Yuekong broke the silence first, shaking his head with a smile:
"Brother Li, just how many trump cards are you still holding back?"
Li Xian did not answer.
He picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip.
My gaze swept past the rim of the glass, across the faces of everyone present.
The gentle grace of the Holy Son of Yaoguang.
Yao Xi's anger.
Xia Yiming's composure.
Yao Yuekong's shrewdness.
'The Sacred Land of Yaoguang, the Stone Archway of Yaochi, the surveillance by the Five Elements Palace…'
The chessboard is getting bigger.
He put down his teacup and stood up.
"That's all for today. I have things to do tomorrow."
As we left the Drunken Immortal Palace, twilight descended.
Behind them, Yao Yuekong's voice came from afar: "Brother Li—that black gourd—"
Li Xian did not turn around.
The middle-aged man selling candied hawthorns is still there on the street corner.
I got a different candied hawthorn.