Chapter 96: The Divine Dynasty Banquet Awaits: All Factions Rush Forth as the Heavenly Talents of Wanhuang Lingshan Emerge

After finalizing his next plan, Jun Xiaoyao departed from Mount Junjia alone, riding a palanquin drawn by a nine-headed lion, bound for the Panwu Divine Dynasty.

He did not bring along Jun Zhangjian or anyone else, not even Jun Linglong.

Because this time, Jun Xiaoyao intended to act alone, and it would be inconvenient to take them with him.

Immediately after Jun Xiaoyao left Mount Junjia,

the entire Immortal Realm began to stir with ripples.

For the Panwu Divine Dynasty had spread word that, in half a month, a grand banquet would be held within the Purple Forbidden City of its imperial capital.

The Panwu Divine Dynasty would extend invitations to all factions of the Huangtian Immortal Realm.

At that time, the Panwu Divine Dynasty would select Wu Mingyue’s imperial son-in-law from among the young elites of these factions.

Upon this news spreading, the Four Directions erupted in motion; countless factions set out, their tower-ships, palanquins, and flying ancient beasts frequently streaking across the sky toward the Panwu Divine Dynasty.

As a powerful, immortal divine dynasty, allying with it through marriage to its eldest princess would essentially amount to forming an alliance.

The top-tier Daoist lineages wished to ally with the Panwu Divine Dynasty and ascend further.

The immortal factions sought to turn the Panwu Divine Dynasty into their ally.

After all, one hand cannot clap; even mighty immortal factions risk being besieged by other immortal Daoist lineages without friendly allies.

Thus, many factions were stirred, preparing to send their disciples to test their luck.

Not to mention that the divine dynasty’s eldest princess possessed peerless beauty, a stunning beauty whose renown had spread far and wide across the Huangtian Immortal Realm.

With these two factors combined, the Panwu Divine Dynasty’s banquet would be of immense scale.

Yet even as this news spread,

the Champion Marquis’s mansion issued another statement from Champion Marquis Yang Pan.

He declared that if the Jun family’s divine child dared not face him in battle, he would personally ascend Mount Junjia to challenge him.

This explosive announcement triggered a massive uproar.

Many believed the Champion Marquis was excessively arrogant.

How dare he block the gates of Mount Junjia?

The last one who challenged Mount Junjia, Long Haotian, had grass five zhang tall on his grave.

Many female cultivators who idolized Jun Xiaoyao were enraged.

“That ugly Champion Marquis is just jealous of my Xiaoyao’s divine beauty!”

“Exactly! So what if he’s strong? Doesn’t he know this is an era where looks matter?”

“Besides, my Xiaoyao is peerless among his generation—what is the Champion Marquis compared to him?”

…

In the ancestral lands of the ancient Jiang family,

“Damn it, damn it, so infuriating, I’m furious!”

A petite, graceful figure stomped her jade-colored feet, her two pigtails quivering with anger behind her small head.

Her delicate, lively face bore a fierce, adorable expression.

“Luo Li, if you don’t cultivate properly, you’ll be confined to the ancestral lands forever.”

Nearby, Jiang Shengyi, clad in snow-white robes and moving with celestial grace, approached, her head aching at the sight of Jiang Luoli’s fierce, cute scowl.

“Hmph, I can’t swallow this insult! That Champion Marquis spread such rumors to slander Xiaoyao Brother!” Jiang Luoli pouted, visibly indignant.

“He’s just a petty schemer. The Champion Marquis’s character is notoriously vile—no need to care. Xiaoyao doesn’t care either,” Jiang Shengyi said.

The Champion Marquis’s challenge to Jun Xiaoyao had stirred the entire Immortal Realm.

Though Jiang Luoli was in seclusion within her clan’s lands, she still received news through her maidservants.

“No, I’m leaving seclusion—I’m going to the Panwu Divine Dynasty!” Jiang Luoli declared.

“What for? Are you going to compete for imperial son-in-law?” Jiang Shengyi teased.

“I’m going to crush the Champion Marquis, stomp on his face, and see if he dares provoke Xiaoyao Brother again!” Jiang Luoli declared solemnly.

“Oh? Is that all?” Jiang Shengyi smiled faintly, as if seeing through Jiang Luoli.

Hearing this, Jiang Luoli’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly, twisting her jade fingers together.

“Of course—I know Xiaoyao Brother would never compete for imperial son-in-law, but what if…?” Jiang Luoli’s voice trailed off hesitantly.

Clearly, Jiang Luoli feared Jun Xiaoyao might attend the banquet and vie for the position of imperial son-in-law, forming an alliance with Wu Mingyue.

After all, Wu Mingyue was also a famed beauty; few men could behold her without being moved.

“That’s your real motive, isn’t it?” Jiang Shengyi chuckled.

She hadn’t even married him yet, and Jiang Luoli had already become a protective hen guarding her single egg.

Jiang Luoli was deeply embarrassed, her translucent earlobes glowing crimson.

“Fine, I’ll take you,” Jiang Shengyi sighed with a smile, ruffling Jiang Luoli’s small head.

“Yay! Saint Yi is the best!” Jiang Luoli beamed, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Jiang Shengyi smiled faintly, though deep in her eyes lay a barely perceptible shadow of sorrow.

“This girl truly adores Xiaoyao so much…”

…

Meanwhile, in the ancestral lands of the ancient Ye family,

atop a towering mountain peak sat a blue-robed youth with a refined face and sword-like brows beneath starry eyes, seated in meditation.

Above his head, the heavens resembled a night sky.

A brilliant river of stars flowed through the darkness, beautiful beyond words yet radiating an extreme sense of danger.

The youth was none other than Ye Xingyun.

Long ago, at Jun Xiaoyao’s tenth birthday banquet, Ye Xingyun had been thoroughly humiliated by Jun Xiaoyao.

Yet Ye Xingyun, through misfortune, awakened a certain memory.

Since then, his personality had subtly changed, becoming increasingly calm and reserved.

No longer as arrogant or sharp-edged as before.

“The Panwu Divine Dynasty, the Champion Marquis’s challenge—given Jun Xiaoyao’s nature, he won’t miss this,” Ye Xingyun murmured, eyes narrowing in thought.

Though his temperament had shifted, his hatred had not.

Jun Xiaoyao—he would repay him.

Jiang Luoli—he would take her for himself.

“Very well. I’ll go to the Panwu Divine Dynasty this time—it’s also a chance to gauge Jun Xiaoyao’s true strength.”

With resolve settled, Ye Xingyun ordered Fu Bo to prepare the carriage.

…

In Chi Province, a vast, ancient spiritual mountain range.

The entire mountain range spanned an immense area, wreathed in mist and bathed in divine auroras.

Crimson cliffs and bizarre rocks, sheer peaks and precipices; colorful phoenixes danced, and phoenix birds circled.

One could not see the end of the mountains.

This place was the ancestral land of Wanhuang Lingshan, one of the ancient imperial clans.

Wanhuang Lingshan was a top-tier ancient imperial clan, rivaled only by the Ancestral Dragon’s Nest, with profound depth and formidable strength.

At this moment, an aged voice echoed from within one of the mountain ranges.

“Huang Xuan Yi, Feng Qing Ling—you two will go to the Panwu Divine Dynasty. Remember, do not tarnish Wanhuang Lingshan’s reputation.”

“Yes, we humbly obey the Grand Elder’s command!”

Within the mountains, two figures—one male, one female—were enveloped in blazing divine light and rose into the sky.

Above them, two golden phoenixes pulled two palanquins.

The two figures instantly stepped into them.

“I wonder if we’ll get to see that legendary Jun family divine child?” Feng Qing Ling said inside the palanquin.

“Hmph, I too wish to see this Jun Xiaoyao—the one who has repeatedly shamed the Ancestral Dragon’s Nest—just what kind of person is he?” Huang Xuan Yi replied.

“But we are not Long Haotian or Long Bichi,” Feng Qing Ling chuckled softly.

“If Jun Xiaoyao underestimates us, he’ll suffer dearly…” Huang Xuan Yi’s tone was equally relaxed, brimming with calm confidence.