Chapter 105: The Banquet Begins: The Imperial Weapon Panhuang Sword, Jun Xiaoyao

The time finally arrived, half a month later—the day the banquet would begin.

On this day, the entire imperial capital seemed to boil over.

Forces from all major sects rushed together toward the Purple Forbidden City at the heart of the capital.

Many who were not qualified to attend the banquet still followed, hoping just to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.

Many were deeply curious: which of these outstanding young talents would ultimately claim Wu Mingyue, the shining jewel of the divine dynasty?

The imperial palace of the Panwu Divine Dynasty: the Purple Forbidden City.

The magnificent Purple Forbidden City resembled an ancient heavenly court, radiating an aura of solemn authority.

Golden halls and cloud palaces, glazed tile roofs, divine mists swirling, auspicious rays stretching a thousandfold.

From afar, it looked like the Lingxiao Palace of the heavens.

Legend says the Purple Forbidden City was crafted by countless artisans under the orders of Emperor Panwu when he founded the divine dynasty.

It was also one of the great symbols of the Panwu Divine Dynasty.

As for the Panwu Mausoleum, it lay deep behind the Purple Forbidden City.

That place was the absolute forbidden zone of the Panwu Divine Dynasty—anyone who approached without permission was executed on the spot.

At this moment, within the Purple Forbidden City, grand banquets were laid out.

Countless rare delicacies were carried in by palace maids.

Leaders from the top-tier sects and immortal lineages gathered together in one hall.

In one of the halls of the Purple Forbidden City, Wu Mingyue, clad in a crimson robe, sat before a dressing table.

Several palace maids were arranging her hair into an elaborate coiffure.

Dressed in the red robe, Wu Mingyue exuded even more allure and charm.

Her eyes were like clear water, her brows painted like ink, her skin as smooth as congealed fat, lightly powdered, lips stained with vermilion, breathtakingly beautiful.

Yet a faint, unyielding melancholy gathered between her brows.

A palace maid who had served her since childhood noticed and said, “Your Highness, today is the day you choose your imperial son-in-law—you should be happier.”

Wu Mingyue shook her head slightly and replied, “Xi’er, how can I be happy when I cannot choose my own partner?”

Wu Mingyue wondered whether Xiao Chen would come.

In truth, she did not hope he would come.

Because even if Xiao Chen came, nothing would change.

Her father, the Lord of the Panwu Divine Dynasty, would never allow her to marry a man with no background.

Unless Xiao Chen’s talent was as monstrous as Jun Xiaoyao’s, he would never be taken seriously.

But was that possible?

In the entire Huangtian Immortal Realm, how many could match Jun Xiaoyao’s talent?

Xiao Chen worked hard, indeed—but if hard work were enough, what need would there be for prodigies?

“Your Highness need not be so disheartened; among these young elites, perhaps one might be worthy of you,” Xi’er comforted.

“Hah, who? The Champion Marquis?” Wu Mingyue sneered.

She knew the Lord of Panwu had long wished for her to marry the Champion Marquis.

Not for any other reason than that the Champion Marquis had been recognized by the Panhuang Shengling Sword, making him a possible reincarnation of Emperor Panwu.

Of course, even if he weren’t, it didn’t matter.

Because what the Lord of Panwu truly wanted was for the Champion Marquis to find the Three Panhuang Swords.

The Panhuang Shengling Sword was merely one of the Three Panhuang Swords.

The other two were the Panhuang Suishui Sword and the Panhuang Xukong Sword.

Legend said that if the Three Panhuang Swords were reunited, they could reform into the Panwu Emperor’s Dao-attaining imperial weapon: the Panhuang Sword.

An imperial weapon, also called an ancient emperor weapon, a great emperor’s artifact, an ultimate imperial weapon.

It was the Dao-attaining instrument of ancient emperors, possessing immense power.

When an imperial weapon moved, it could shatter the nine heavens, obliterate eight-directional star realms, strike across the cosmic expanse, and drown billions of lives in blood!

To put it bluntly, the deterrent power of an imperial weapon was like that of a nuclear weapon.

Generally, immortal lineages whose ancestors had produced supreme emperors possessed imperial weapon legacies.

The Panwu Divine Dynasty once had one.

But later, the Panhuang Sword split into three.

The Panwu Divine Dynasty endured much turmoil, eventually leading to the loss of the Three Panhuang Swords.

Only when Yang Pan obtained the Panhuang Shengling Sword did the Panwu Divine Dynasty regain hope.

That was precisely why the Lord of Panwu valued Yang Pan so highly, immediately granting him the title of Champion Marquis.

This caused Yang Pan’s arrogance to swell further—he became lawless throughout the Panwu Divine Dynasty, like a local emperor.

When Xi’er heard the words “Champion Marquis,” a flicker of revulsion passed through her eyes.

The Champion Marquis’s reputation was truly abysmal.

“Your Highness need not fret—perhaps someone exists who can subdue the Champion Marquis,” Xi’er said, her face suddenly glowing with longing.

“You mean…” Wu Mingyue said.

“Yes, of course—the Jun Clan’s divine heir. Rumor says he is as beautiful as a celestial immortal, with a gentle disposition and unmatched strength, and peerless lineage.”

“He is, in my heart, the most perfect person ever…,” Xi’er sighed, her eyes sparkling with adoration.

Gentle disposition?

A celestial immortal?

Wu Mingyue’s face tightened.

Another naive girl misled by rumors.

Jun Xiaoyao was no celestial immortal—he was a devil who devoured people without spitting out bones!

He showed her no mercy, used despicable coercion to make her his slave.

Even now, Wu Mingyue guarded this secret fiercely.

“Don’t mention him again,” Wu Mingyue said coldly.

“Oh…” Seeing Wu Mingyue’s expression, Xi’er wisely fell silent.

She assumed Wu Mingyue was upset because of the Champion Marquis.

“I hope he doesn’t come,” Wu Mingyue prayed inwardly.

Otherwise, she truly wouldn’t know how to face Jun Xiaoyao.

…

At the same moment.

In a quiet, picturesque courtyard within the imperial capital.

Immortal mist drifted, radiant light swirled.

A sacred aura permeated the air.

In the courtyard, Jun Xiaoyao sat cross-legged on the ground.

The flowers and grass around him seemed nourished, flourishing brilliantly.

And Jun Xiaoyao himself radiated an otherworldly aura.

His right arm bore markings like celestial runes, as if it were the arm of a celestial immortal.

At a distance, Qin Xuan stared in shock at Jun Xiaoyao’s cultivation, her heart trembling.

Such a spectacle was utterly astonishing.

Nearby, the Nine-Headed Lion, transformed into a nine-headed Shiba Inu, lay lazily on the ground, munching on spirit beast meat.

“The Master’s aura is too terrifying,” Qin Xuan exclaimed.

“My master is a prodigy—this kind of scene is nothing unusual,” the Nine-Headed Lion replied lazily.

At that moment, Jun Xiaoyao’s body trembled slightly, ending his cultivation.

Before him lay a pile of spirit sources drained of their essence.

“Not bad—I refined fourteen Great Luo Immortal Bones, plus six before, exactly twenty.” Jun Xiaoyao murmured.

His right arm—wrist bones, palm bones, finger bones—all twenty bones had been refined into Great Luo Immortal Bones.

His power had surely increased tremendously.

“Still an endless abyss,” Jun Xiaoyao muttered. “If only I could find a plump, juicy leek.”

But after thinking, he had yet to find a suitable candidate.

As for Ye Xingyun, Jun Xiaoyao had never paid him any attention.

He was unaware of the transformation Ye Xingyun had later undergone.

“The banquet should be starting soon,” Jun Xiaoyao rose and walked over to Qin Xuan and the Nine-Headed Lion.

“Let’s go,” Jun Xiaoyao said.

“Where are we going, Master?” Qin Xuan asked.

“The imperial palace—to keep my appointment at the Purple Forbidden City!” Jun Xiaoyao’s gaze was deep and piercing.

“Appointment?” Qin Xuan frowned.

At that moment, the Nine-Headed Lion rolled over, leapt into the air.

Golden light surged, shaking the heavens; all cultivators within a ten-mile radius were stunned.

Amidst divine radiance, a mighty, majestic Nine-Headed Lion appeared, roaring to the heavens!

Jun Xiaoyao stepped through empty space and stood directly atop the nine-headed lion’s back.

“What, aren’t you coming too? I told you—you might want to look forward to this,” Jun Xiaoyao said, lowering his gaze to Qin Xuan.

On the ground, Qin Xuan stood frozen like a clay statue.

As if she had lost her soul.

“Young Master is… the Jun Clan’s Divine Heir?!”

Qin Xuan pressed her jade hand over her pink lips, unable to stifle a cry; blood rushed to her head, her lovely face flushing crimson.

Her mind spun, and she nearly fainted from overwhelming joy, excitement, and exhilaration!