Chapter 493: Coming-of-Age Banquet, the Sin-Heavy Man, the Great Conflict Unfolds

Huangzhou, the homeland of the Jun family.

At this moment, the place was packed with people, and carriages and mounts from all directions had converged here.

Some bore ancient beast wings that blotted out the sky, others had dragon horses neighing, and golden palanquins hovered across the heavens.

Since the Emperor's Path opened and countless prodigies embarked on their journeys,

the entire Wilderness Heaven Immortal Realm had rarely seen such a bustling scene.

"The Dao Extreme Heavenly Sect arrives!" cried a Jun family master of ceremonies.

An elderly man with vigorous spirit led a group forward—it was the old Daoist of the Dao Extreme Heavenly Sect.

The old Daoist's vitality and spirit were far superior to before; clearly, the revival of spiritual energy in the Immortal Realm had benefited him.

Yet now, his gaze carried a trace of complexity, and he murmured inwardly: "Back then, the Jun family's Divine Son was so full of vigor—upon his emergence, he crushed the Supreme Demon Corpse, rising like a blazing sun, his name echoing across the four corners. Now, however…"

The old Daoist sighed inwardly.

Yet he did not believe Jun Jun Xiaoyao had perished so easily; perhaps he was still undergoing some trial.

"The Princess of the Great Shang Dynasty arrives!"

As the words fell, the Princess of the Great Shang arrived.

She had attended Jun Jun Xiaoyao's tenth-birthday banquet; now, returning again, she remained as radiant and captivating as ever, yet her face bore traces of pallor and exhaustion.

Many around her whispered among themselves.

"The Princess of the Great Shang fell for the Divine Son and ruined her whole life—she's turned down countless young elites' marriage proposals ever since."

"Indeed, after hearing the Jun family's Divine Son perished in the Bronze Immortal Palace, she locked herself away for seven days, pining for him until she grew gaunt and weak."

"Alas, the most infuriating part is, the Jun family's Divine Son doesn't even know the Princess's name—such a beauty, and she's merely a stranger to him…"

"The Jun family's Divine Son is a man of profound sin, betraying so many fair maidens…"

Many male cultivators around sighed in lament.

Jun Jun Xiaoyao's single death in the Bronze Immortal Palace had left countless young women in the Immortal Realm heartbroken, pale, and listless—truly a man burdened with grave sin.

Yet the Princess of the Great Shang paid no heed to the idle gossip; she merely whispered within her heart:

"Divine Son, I attended your tenth-birthday banquet. Now, on your eighteenth birthday, you have not returned."

The Princess of the Great Shang was not the only one grieving for Jun Jun Xiaoyao.

From another direction, a group arrived. Leading them was a woman clad in a red feathered robe, her figure slender, her legs long, her skin as white as snow.

Her long red hair blazed like flame, a killing mark glowed on her forehead, her beautiful face radiant as peach and plum blossoms.

She was the Imperial Princess of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Nation, Bai Bai Yuer.

Yet now, the Vermilion Bird Ancient Nation had merged with the other three Ancient Nations to form the Four Symbols Ancient Nation.

And Bai Bai Yuer was now the ruling Empress of the Four Symbols Ancient Nation.

She had not ventured onto the Emperor's Path.

Bai Bai Yuer's talent was indeed impressive, but in a place teeming with monsters like the Emperor's Path, her strength was insufficient.

So she abandoned the idea entirely, devoting herself wholly to managing the Four Symbols Ancient Nation for Jun Jun Xiaoyao.

"Master, Bai Yuer believes you absolutely will not perish," Bai Bai Yuer murmured softly.

She was a fervent admirer of Jun Jun Xiaoyao and could never believe he had perished so easily.

Also, Jun Jun Linglong, Jun Ying'er, and Nanlan Nalan Ruoxi had not gone to the Emperor's Path either.

Their foundations were still too shallow; going to such a place would only mean death. Better to remain safely within the Jun family and cultivate.

Afterwards, emissaries arrived from the Sacred Spirit Academy, the Demon Immortal Cult, the Ji family, the Ye family, and other immortal sects.

Yet none of the top prodigies came—they had already departed to wage war on the Emperor's Path. Only Elders arrived.

Seeing that most guests had arrived, Jun Jun Zhantian and the others finally appeared.

Neither Jun Jun Zhantian nor Jiang Rou showed any sign of sorrow on their faces.

They had never believed Jun Jun Xiaoyao had perished; later, they learned from the Ancestor that Jun Jun Xiaoyao had not died.

Thus Jun Jun Zhantian was remarkably at ease—he even looked forward to Jun Jun Xiaoyao's return.

It would surely bring the Jun family great surprise.

"Pity, my grandson cannot be here for his eighteenth-birthday rite," Jun Jun Zhantian sighed faintly. That was the only thing he regretted.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending my grandson's coming-of-age ceremony. Though he is absent, I believe he will return soon," Jun Jun Zhantian proclaimed loudly.

Hearing this, many in the crowd showed expressions of shock and doubt.

"Could the Jun family's Divine Son truly not be dead?"

"Who knows? Maybe the Jun family is deluding themselves out of grief…"

Some factions murmured skepticism, but none dared voice it aloud.

"Of course, the Jun family's Divine Son has the bearing of an Emperor—how could he perish so easily?"

"Exactly! The Bronze Immortal Palace could never have claimed the Divine Son…"

Many factions began flattering the Jun family.

Jun Jun Zhantian and the others gladly accepted it.

Yet just then—

Three figures emerged from the distant horizon.

Simultaneously, a voice exploded through the void:

"Jun family, stop deluding yourselves."

At these words, every guest from every faction froze, as if struck by thunder.

"Who dares speak like this? Are they mad?"

"This is the Jun family! Who dares be so audacious?"

Many turned their gazes toward the source.

The three figures were three Sages.

"Though Sages are strong, before the ancient Jun family, they are but ants."

"They appear to be from the Ancient Royal Clans…"

These three Sages were from the Ox Demon Mountain, the Spider Thread Cave, and the Snake Emperor Valley—three Ancient Royal Clan factions.

Coincidentally, all three Ancient Royal Clans were vassals of the Ancestral Dragon Nest.

Instantly, the leaders and elder masters of many factions flickered their eyes.

Was the scene they had suspected about to unfold?

"Our guest list does not include you," Jun Jun Zhantian said coolly.

He seemed to have anticipated this moment; his aged face remained calm, showing no anger.

Why anger those destined to die?

"Heh, though you didn't invite us, we've come bearing gifts today," said the Golden Horn Sage of Ox Demon Mountain with a cold laugh.

The Sage of the Spider Thread Cave was a seductive woman named Black Widow Lady; she smiled with a sultry grace and flicked her jade hand.

Immediately, a clang rang out.

A bell landed on the ground.

"Today, for the Jun family's Divine Son, we come to send him to his end!" said the Heavenly Snake Sage of Snake Emperor Valley, his voice icy.

Their respective prodigies had been slain by Jun Jun Xiaoyao within the Ancient Immortal World, and thus bore deep grudges.

Yet seeing this, every guest present drew a sharp breath.

Insane!

These three Sages were utterly suicidal—this was no way to die!

Jun Jun Zhantian, seeing this, coldly smiled: "Originally, today's ceremony for Jun Xiaoyao's coming-of-age was not meant to see blood. But since you seek your own deaths, I have no choice."

Jun Jun Zhantian reached out, boundless Dao patterns weaving through the void, ready to crush the three Sages.

Yet at that moment, a vast aura surged from afar—a ten-thousand-zhang dragon claw descended from the sky, colliding with Jun Jun Zhantian's technique.

Its aura had reached the level of a Pretender to the Supreme!

"Is the scene from the Divine Son's tenth-birthday banquet about to replay?" All cultivators widened their eyes.

They sensed a great conflict was about to erupt!