Chapter 1617

He could only suppress his anger and said, "What exactly do you want?"

Ximen Wudi said, "I need spirit stones."

"What? You think the spirit stones I gave you are too few?" Zhao Chen exclaimed in shock.

"Hehe, the spirit stones you gave me are too many. Look at this outfit I'm wearing—it took me a lot of time and effort to craft."

Ximen Wudi pointed to his black robe and said, "Look at it—woven from Seven Stars silkworm silk, comfortable and breathable; this sword is also excellent, forged from century-old cold iron, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud."

The best materials in 1364

Hearing Ximen Wudi's words, Zhao Chen nearly spat blood and said, "These are the finest materials in our Wang Gong! If you don't want them, then don't take them."

Ximen Wudi smiled and said, "Why refuse free stuff? This outfit of mine is worth several top-grade crystal stones. The price you offered isn't low, so I should charge a bit for labor—otherwise you'd think I'm that easy to fool."

"You…"

Zhao Chen was so furious he couldn't speak.

The surrounding cultivators were stunned, silently cursing Ximen Wudi for being ungrateful and making such an outrageous demand.

"Hah! Brother Xiao, you're as clever as ever! From the start I guessed you weren't ordinary—and it turns out I was right." Zhao Chen clapped Ximen Wudi on the shoulder and praised loudly.

"I'll go get something. Wait here for me a moment." With that, Ximen Wudi vanished.

"Damn it, is Brother Xiao some mysterious powerhouse? He didn't use any dash technique or teleportation just now—how did he just disappear like that?" Zhao Chen muttered in bewilderment.

"He's certainly no ordinary person, but his exact realm—our top experts here probably can't tell. His speed is just too fast," said the black-robed man beside him.

"What level is he really?" Zhao Chen asked.

"His cultivation is at least at the Ninth Tribulation," said the black-robed man.

"Hss…"

Zhao Chen sucked in a sharp breath, stunned beyond words, and developed a strong interest in Ximen Wudi.

Yet when Zhao Chen's gaze shifted to the distance, a faint smile curled at his lips.

There was a spacious hall ahead, filled with tables, chairs, and benches, already occupied by many people engaged in lively discussion.

At the head of the hall sat a middle-aged, refined man in brocade robes, with a goatee.

To his left sat a handsome young man in blue robes; to his right, a heroic young man in golden armor.

"Father, I'm back," Zhao Chen bowed and saluted.

"Mm, hard work. Sit down."

The handsome young man nodded, then gestured for Zhao Chen to sit beside him.

After sitting, Zhao Chen looked at the handsome young man and bowed respectfully: "Father, is this Lord Qin Jin?"

The handsome young man nodded.

"Lord Qin Jin is truly an extraordinary figure—I deeply admire you."

Zhao Chen quickly stood and bowed courteously: "I am Zhao Chen, Grand Steward of the Wang Gong. By command of Your Majesty, I've been sent to escort Lord Qin Jin to the palace for lodging and a banquet, as a gesture of welcome."

"Oh? Your Majesty is thoughtful," the handsome young man replied with a nod.

The handsome young man bore the surname Qin and was a direct imperial heir of the Wang Zu. He was exactly twenty years old; rumors claimed his cultivation was unfathomable, though no one knew the truth.

"I take my leave. Please prepare briefly—we depart tonight for Hei Mo City, the nearest city to Fei Yu City, roughly thirty thousand li from the imperial capital," said Zhao Chen.

"Thank you for your trouble," the handsome young man replied politely with a bow.

After bowing again to Ximen Wudi, Zhao Chen led his contingent of black-armored guards away in haste.

After Zhao Chen left, Qin Jin asked, "You're Ximen Wudi, correct? Your strength is impressive. May I ask who your Master is? Could you introduce me?"

Ximen Wudi shook his head. "I have no Master, and I refuse to be bound."

No Master?

No Master?

"No Master? Your cultivation is so refined—you must be no ordinary person. Is your Master a Divine Sovereign?" Qin Jin frowned.

"I don't know how powerful a Divine Sovereign is, but my Master is indeed a peak Divine Emperor," Ximen Wudi replied calmly.

Qin Jin's eyebrows shot up sharply. He studied Ximen Wudi again, then slowly nodded. "So you're a Divine Emperor. No wonder you're so arrogant!"

Ximen Wudi smirked. "I'm only at the early stage of Divine Emperor, but don't you feel my power rivals that of late-stage or even peak Divine Emperor cultivators?"

Qin Jin sneered. "That's just luck. Do you really think you're gifted?"

Ximen Wudi shrugged. "I never thought that. But your luck is indeed better than mine—you have a Divine Emperor for a father, while I only have an ancestral elder."

"Hah—"

Qin Jin burst into laughter. "You're surprisingly humble."

"I don't like humility. I never boast," Ximen Wudi said frankly.

"Then let's see," Qin Jin narrowed his eyes. "I'll make you lose with total conviction. But about our wager—"

"That's trivial," Ximen Wudi replied noncommittally.

"Hmph! Do you really think I'd cheat?" Qin Jin snorted.

"Hehe, I've long understood your nature. If not for your father stopping you, you wouldn't even bother speaking to me," Ximen Wudi said with a grin.

"Don't think you know me so well!"

Qin Jin glared at Ximen Wudi. "I'm certain to win this time—I know you can't break the array flags. Not only can't you break them, you'll get hurt by the array, so you have no chance of claiming those Immortal Treasures."

Ximen Wudi ignored Qin Jin. He lifted his teacup, sipped, then turned to the fat, black-robed elder and asked, "Elder, what is your name?"

The black-robed elder bowed respectfully. "I am Zhao Yunxiao, chief steward and captain of the guard for the Zhao Family Wang Fu, responsible for Your Majesty's safety."

"So you're in charge of the guards here?" Ximen Wudi asked.

Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "Yes, but I only oversee outer patrols."

Ximen Wudi chatted casually for a few more moments, then closed his eyes and resumed cultivation.

Seeing this, Zhao Yunxiao dared not disturb him—he knew this young man was his lord's savior, the only one who could help his lord through danger—and he quietly withdrew from the room.

After Zhao Chen brought Ximen Wudi to a courtyard, he ordered servants to bring lavish wine and dishes, and arranged several beautiful maids to attend him.

However, Ximen Wudi seemed to have no interest in pleasure, sitting cross-legged on the bed in quiet cultivation the whole time.

Zhao Chen did not disturb him either, and went alone to find the City Lord of Black Demon City, with whom he had a long talk.

In the middle of the night, a gust of extremely cold wind swept in, and the entire Wang Gong was shrouded in icy, chilling mist; even a God-King realm powerhouse probably could not last long in such an environment.

"Cultivating in this kind of environment is simply torture."

Ximen Wudi opened his eyes, murmured something, then restrained his entire aura and leaped out of the room.

Outside, frost covered everything, the temperature was bizarrely low, and a snowflake drifting onto his cheek felt like a blade's edge.

Ximen Wudi was not afraid of the bitter cold; he flew on his sword, speeding along the street, and soon left the Wang Gong, entering the southern part of the Wang Gong.

The southern part of the Wang Gong was crossed by a giant river, its current swift and its chill biting.

Near the Wang Gong, aside from one tower after another, there was a stretch of flat ground; the river water looked clear and clean, and occasionally one could see fish playing along the bank.

Ximen Wudi did not pause, flying straight south; the further south he flew, the swifter the river became, and it even kicked up waves several zhang high, like a vast army of cavalry thundering past.

Here, Ximen Wudi could clearly sense an even purer, more majestic Chaos Mysterious Yellow Qi.

However, as he continued flying deeper into the south, he gradually noticed that the Chaos Mysterious Yellow Qi grew much thinner, and wisps of Bai Qi were seeping out.

Ximen Wudi guessed that the Chaos Mysterious Yellow Qi should be spreading from north to south, and that this area should belong to the northern part of the Wang Gong.

In the south of the Wang Gong, there was a vast lake, but it was now covered by thick snow; viewed from afar it looked like a world carved from ice crystals, breathtakingly beautiful.

Flying without stop, Ximen Wudi finally reached the spot where the Chaos Mysterious Yellow Qi was thickest — a floating ice island in the air, with Chaos Mysterious Yellow Qi swirling all around it.

The ice crystals formed by this Chaos Mysterious Yellow Qi were tens of thousands of zhang tall, and condensed into a barrier that wrapped around Ximen Wudi, blocking his approach.

On that ice island stood nine towering ancient trees, hung with beads that flickered with seven-colored radiance; those beads were emitting dazzling rosy light, driving back the erosion of the Chaos Mysterious Yellow Qi.

Those nine ancient trees had luxuriant branches and leaves, with many boughs; at the tip of every bough hung a bead.

Each of the nine ancient trees' branches held a bead; the nine beads all released blinding rosy light and attracted one another, forming a magnificent, dazzling sight.

"Nine Yang Heaven Pearls, Nine Stars in a Row!"

Ximen Wudi was astonished, and swiftly flew over.

Those beads were condensed from the essence of nine suns; their existence filled the entire ice island with an incomparably scorching aura.

The moment Ximen Wudi drew near, streaks of flame shot toward his body.