Beiluo City.

  News of Young Master Lu sealing the library pavilion spread like wildfire, soon blanketing the entire city.

  Beiluo now teemed with cultivators. As a holy land of cultivation, it drew practitioners from everywhere.

  The pavilion and trial tower—treasures aiding progress—lured countless more.

  Lu Manor.

  Lu Changkong and Mo Beike steeped tea. Emerald leaves with crimson flecks swirled in the purple clay pot, circled, then sank.

  "Giant Master, try this brew."

  Lu Changkong smiled warmly.

  He was skilled; after three rinses, warm liquid rippled in the cups.

  Mo Beike's heavy bags twitched.

  Sipped—refreshing vigor coursed from mouth to body.

  "What... tea is this?"

  Mo Beike marveled; never tasted such.

  Lu Changkong smiled mysteriously. "Since heaven and earth birthed spiritual qi, the world transformed, birthing cultivators aplenty. But qi doesn't just forge practitioners—it spawns wondrous spirit plants."

  "Plants with myriad effects: some for pills, medicine, even delicacies..."

  "This is a mutated tea. In my Herbal Records, I named it Crimson Tear Tea."

  Mo Beike's eyes lit.

  Bags quivered.

  He rose, bowing to Lu Changkong. He should have returned to Great Xuan long ago.

  But for Herbal Records, he lingered.

  He wanted a copy—for Great Xuan Academy's agrarian branch.

  No hiding; he voiced it.

  Lu Changkong had a volume fetched.

  "My overnight transcription. Incomplete, sadly—but sufficient for teaching."

  "Soon, I'll wander the world, perfecting it."

  Lu Changkong said.

  Mo Beike grew solemn.

  Shennong tasted herbs—not mere words, but sacrificial spirit.

  As they sipped and chatted...

  Luo Yue rushed in.

  "City Lord."

  Lu Changkong eyed him puzzled.

  "Young Master bids Tianji Pavilion announce: three days hence, White Jade Capital auction in Beiluo."

  Luo Yue said gravely.

  Hm?

  Both men froze.

  "Fan'er... short on funds?"

  Lu Changkong asked.

  Luo Yue unsure how to reply. Young Master Lu, need money?

  World's top cultivator—coin beneath him?

  Mo Beike pondered.

  Lu's actions: inscrutable. This auction? Extraordinary.

  "Did Fan'er say what'll be auctioned?"

  Lu Changkong pressed.

  Luo Yue nodded: "Spirit pills, artifacts, and some unclear treasures from the Young Master."

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  Words fell.

  Mo Beike and Lu Changkong's eyes sharpened.

  ...

  White Jade Capital's auction news swept the world.

  Tianji pigeons sped it.

  All factions heard.

  Not just cultivators—clans too.

  White Jade Capital's sale? No ordinary goods—world-shaking.

  Forces mobilized.

  Imperial Capital.

  Windmist Pavilion.

  Now the capital's premier pleasure house—bustling with beauties posing in corridors.

  Surface: brothel. Under: Black Dragon Cult lair.

  Behind a hidden door: separate courtyard.

  Liu Yuanhao sat cross-legged, pale flames coiling. Sparks danced in his eyes.

  Neck cracked; mouth opened—pale fire floated, shifting shapes under control.

  "Done!"

  Joy bloomed.

  Bond with flame tighter; tempered third storage.

  Via it, he rivaled Body Storage peak.

  Suddenly...

  Footsteps outside.

  A figure entered—black scale on forehead, Qi Core peak, half-step Body Storage.

  "What's up?"

  Liu Yuanhao's eyes gleamed.

  Black Dragon Guards rarely disturbed.

  "Three days: White Jade Capital auction... precious pills, artifacts."

  "Many speculate more—Young Master Lu of Beiluo may offer greater treasures. We can't guess."

  The guard said.

  Liu Yuanhao rose, flames dispersing.

  Paced slowly.

  "White Jade Capital... sudden auction?"

  "Their status needs no such."

  "But for the world: boon. Pills, artifacts... huge for Black Dragon growth."

  Poured tea; cold water boiled in cup.

  "Auction in three days?"

  Guard nodded.

  "Not good news."

  Liu Yuanhao set cup down.

  Guard blinked, confused.

  Fingers tapped table.

  Smiled: "Overlord trains in Beiluo... but anxious, stalled in bottleneck."

  "Xiliang rests on him..."

  "His stagnation: our chance. Auction—he'll push for White Jade pills to break through."

  Liu Yuanhao analyzed.

  Guard frowned: "Indeed bad for us."

  "Plus, Young Master Lu sealed pavilion—Overlord leaving soon."

  "We can't wait."

  Liu Yuanhao squinted.

  "Prepare. Post-auction: strike!"

  Guard inhaled, nodded gravely.

  Exited swiftly.

  Liu Yuanhao sat; flame spun in palm.

  "Xiliang Overlord..."

  ...

  "Miss Ni, Young Master summons."

  Ning Zhao eyed the Empress, tone even.

  Born with soul sense, she felt the Empress's might—unfathomable, breath-stealing.

  Besides Young Master, such power?

  The Empress smiled.

  Golden Core maid...

  Poise fitting Lu's station.

  Nodded; red skirts swirled, long legs flashed—appeared before pavilions.

  Ning Zhao felt pressure.

  Led upstairs to second floor.

  There...

  Lu leaned in wheelchair, setting chess.

  The Empress lounged opposite.

  No surprise.

  World fusion: not simple.

  Contact sparks trouble.

  "Chess?"

  Lu asked.

  Eyes brightened.

  "Yes."

  Lu waved; box flew to her.

  Fair fingers placed piece.

  Buzz...

  Soul senses surged.

  Lu calm, placed.

  Senses clashed.

  More than chess: soul duel.

  Ning Zhao aside: terrifying waves stormed the floor.

  First time someone lasted so under Young Master's pressure.

  Empress placed; face flushed, sweat beaded.

  Lu chin-propped, unfazed.

  Soul mutated, plus Soul-Devouring Intent—his sense monstrous.

  Game ended.

  Empress slumped weary.

  "No more."

  Lu's sense exceeded expectations; stronger than before.

  No wonder whale subdued easily.

  Lu didn't push; took warm bronze wine from Ning Zhao.

  Sipped.

  "As you see, Five Phoenixes isn't as strong as imagined... few true powerhouses..."

  Lu said.

  Empress straightened—main topic.

  Sat proper, eyes on him.

  "My goal: strengthen Five Phoenixes... focus here."

  "Original Tianyuan: now Tianyuan Domain."

  Lu stated fact-like, sipped tea.

  "Tianyuan Domain..."

  Empress squinted. Demoting continent to domain—ambition clear.

  "Young Master Lu plans more fusions?"

  Lu smiled: "Yes."

  No hiding.

  Standard growth: Five Phoenixes to high-martial—time unknown.

  Fusion: risky shortcut, rewarding.

  "But Tianyuan fusion was coincidence!"

  Various factors forced it.

  "Other worlds may not comply."

  Lu played with fire.

  Lu chuckled: "Dreams needed. Fitting worlds rare—so maybe not. Just idea."

  "Notify Du City Lord etc.: join auction..."

  Empress stunned.

  Heard of it—thought local.

  But them too?

  Pills, artifacts?

  No—Tianyuan had plenty.

  Thus: rarer items?

  What?

  Curiosity piqued.

  "Henceforth, Tianyuan Domain experts in Five Phoenixes: call 'Ancient Tianyuan Clan'."

  Lu pondered, said.

  "Peaceful coexistence. Tianyuan fused—same world now."

  "Pure goal: world growth, break mid-martial shackles to high-martial."

  "Infant Transformation: not limit. Breaking mid-martial needs more."

  Lu eyed her.

  Words fell.

  Mouth opened—white stream.

  Burst.

  Odd aura enveloped; vision blurred.

  Next: Lu in her soul.

  Terror birthed.

  Felt devoured.

  Buzz...

  Vanished.

  Eyes wide, sweat-drenched, panicked.

  "What was that?"

  Glared resentfully.

  No pity—left her wrecked.

  "Dao Intent..."

  Fingers tapped armrest.

  "Heaven's ways sequenced..."

  "Knife, sword intents: sequences. Even Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao: threshold only, no comprehension."

  "Infant Transformation strong, but growth possible."

  "Comprehend sequences next."

  Lu said.

  Empress pondered—new door opened.

  Sequence Dao Intent...

  "In high-martial: fundamental."

  Lu serious.

  Never been—bluff for now.

  "Your level: breaking Infant Transformation hard."

  "Start with sequences."

  Empress eyed Lu: "Auction... related?"

  Mysterious smile, noncommittal.

  She smiled knowingly.

  Heart warmed.

  In Tianyuan, Infant Transformation stalled.

  Post-ascension scam reveal: directionless with Du etc.

  Lu gave path—tempting.

  Drew jade token.

  Sense infused.

  Linked to Du's—alerted soon.

  Forged for "Immortal Slaughter Plan"—instant contact.

  Lu ignored.

  Under resentful gaze, Ning Zhao escorted her down.

  Empress gone.

  Pavilion quieted.

  Lu on Thousand Blades, balcony.

  Surveyed island, fingers tapping.

  Ning Zhao warmed wine, offered.

  Waved off.

  Flipped hand—three-legged furnace floated.

  Small, yet mountain-heavy.

  Ning Zhao blinked: "Young Master?"

  Light laugh, flicked furnace— soared.

  "Just... facelift for White Jade Capital."

  Words fell.

  Sky furnace, under soul control...

  Inverted.

  Rumble!

  Origin water cascaded like waterfall from spout!