……

At the same time.

As if sensing the True Immortal Realm aura unleashed by Yun Tiange, a shocking presence erupted from the New Luo Immortal Emperor's Palace not far away.

The aura was sharp and intimidating, filled with overwhelming majesty, spreading rapidly like a tide.

In the blink of an eye, that presence had already reached the sky above the Divine Treasure Hall branch.

Simultaneously, a figure appeared in the sky.

It was an elder dressed in imperial robes.

He looked about sixty years old by mortal standards, with a slightly aged appearance, yet his spirit remained vigorous, and his presence was as awe-inspiring as a towering mountain.

As he appeared, his voice, full of immortal authority, echoed within the Divine Treasure Hall branch: "Which Immortal friend has come to my New Luo? Why cause trouble in my Immortal Capital!"

His tone carried a hint of displeasure, as if questioning Yun Tiange for not following the rules.

"It's His Majesty, Immortal Emperor Wenrui! His Majesty has personally come to hold the other True Immortal accountable!"

Inside the private box, the Void Realm kings of various clans, who were being suppressed to the point of breathlessness, all showed expressions of relief, as if a savior had arrived.

No wonder Immortal Emperor Wenrui was displeased. According to the rules, a True Immortal entering the Immortal Dynasty should at least notify the dynasty, and certainly not use force recklessly within its borders.

This unfamiliar True Immortal had entered the Immortal Capital without a word and acted right under his nose, showing a blatant disregard for Immortal Emperor Wenrui.

Moreover, Immortal Emperor Wenrui had every reason to question.

After all, this was his territory and main battlefield. The formations, trump cards, armies, and even a large number of Void Realm cultivators within the Immortal Capital were enough to give any disruptive True Immortal a hard time.

"What arrogance."

Inside the Divine Treasure Hall branch, Yun Tiange sensed the aura above her and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

She casually took a step, and her figure disappeared into the distorted, undulating space, directly crossing the void to appear before Immortal Emperor Wenrui.

With a graceful hand, the Cold Moon Immortal Sword suddenly appeared in her palm.

At that moment, a terrifying aura erupted without reservation, pressing down on Immortal Emperor Wenrui.

In that instant, the sky darkened.

A bright moon slowly rose behind her, cold and serene, as if it had existed since time immemorial, exuding a suffocating, terrifying pressure.

Under this pressure, even the heavens and earth seemed to freeze.

The profound energy around her surged, and though she still wore the simple attire of a maid, her aura was like that of a sovereign ruling the world, commanding awe and reverence.

She was far stronger than Immortal Emperor Wenrui.

Compared to her current self, the aura she had released earlier in the Divine Treasure Hall branch was child's play.

"Mid-stage True Immortal Realm?!"

Immortal Emperor Wenrui was shocked, hurriedly activating the Purple Xuan Immortal Scripture. Golden and purple light burst forth from him, greatly enhancing his aura.

Behind him, a massive golden-horned beast appeared.

The beast's aura was sharp and cold, its body covered in tough scales, its appearance fierce, its eyes vicious, exuding a wild aura. As soon as it appeared, it unleashed an overwhelming presence.

Clearly, this was his Dharma Aspect.

As the beast roared, the bloodline power within Immortal Emperor Wenrui surged like a torrent, barely resisting Yun Tiange's aura pressure, yet cold sweat still dripped from his forehead.

The sudden turn of events left the Void Realm cultivators, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, once again shocked and terrified.

This mysterious True Immortal woman was so formidable that even His Majesty Wenrui was suppressed. Who exactly was this mysterious True Immortal woman?

The cultivators below the Divine Realm, lacking sufficient strength, were too overwhelmed to even feel surprised. They only felt an endless pressure looming overhead, a sense of impending doom filling their hearts.

The auction hall immediately descended into chaos.

"Tiange!!"

Sensing the chaos within the Divine Treasure Hall branch, Wang Shouzhe's face darkened, and he shouted displeasedly.

At the same time, he waved his wide sleeve, and the profound energy within him surged forth, forming a cyan-green barrier that enveloped the entire Divine Treasure Hall branch.

The disguised wood-type profound energy was thick and surging. Under the sweeping power of the wood element, cyan-green radiance filled the entire building, casting everything in a shimmering, dreamlike light.

A golden, mysterious pattern flashed briefly between Wang Shouzhe's brows.

That was the [Great Dao Imprint].

This represented a cultivator's mastery of a portion of the power of a fundamental Great Dao. Generally speaking, only Void Realm experts possessed a Great Dao Imprint.

Compared to the simplicity of a Divine Imprint, the pattern of this Great Dao Imprint was clearly more complex and profound, exuding a stronger wave of laws.

Those with lower cultivation couldn't even gaze directly at the Great Dao Imprint.

Moreover, the Great Dao Imprint between Wang Shouzhe's brows was more complex and profound than that of an ordinary Void Realm expert.

Clearly, this was no ordinary Great Dao Imprint, and its power was far beyond that of a regular Great Dao Imprint.

With the formation of this cyan-green barrier, the oppressive, terrifying pressure from above vanished instantly.

The pressure waves from the confrontation between the two True Immortals were thus isolated outside by this cyan-green shield.

Simultaneously, a refreshing, mysterious aura enveloped everyone, making them feel the pressure dissipate and their hearts calm.

In the sky.

Hearing Wang Shouzhe's reprimand, Yun Tiange's "delicate body trembled," a trace of fear flashing across her previously strong expression. She hurriedly retracted her True Immortal aura, crossing the void back to Wang Shouzhe's side, bowing with a fearful expression: "Young Master, this servant knows her mistake."

"Hmph!" Wang Shouzhe waved his sleeve, speaking coldly, "Reckless behavior. We'll settle this account when we return."

Such a scene naturally left everyone stunned.

Especially Immortal Emperor Wenrui, who had been suppressed by Yun Tiange to the point of breathlessness. He instantly teleported into the Divine Treasure Hall branch, looking at Wang Shouzhe with eyes full of suspicion and shock.

Awakening one's bloodline to the ninth level was the qualification to master a Great Dao Imprint, which was the level of an ordinary Void Realm. But this young master clearly possessed an extraordinary Great Dao Imprint, indicating his bloodline level was beyond the ninth.

This, this was the [Sage Body], the tenth level of bloodline awakening!

Immortal Emperor Wenrui was naturally familiar with the Sage Body. His bloodline had reached the tenth level Sage Body in the Void Realm, and upon reaching the True Immortal Realm, it further advanced to the eleventh level [Immaculate Immortal Body].

But the problem was, this young master, no matter how he looked, was only at the Divine Realm.

A mere Divine Realm cultivation, yet he had already awakened the Sage Body?

Such a state, while not unheard of, was something Immortal Emperor Wenrui had never witnessed in his lifetime.

It's said that Little Immortal Lord Lici, after inheriting the Immortal Scripture at the Divine Realm, awakened the Sage Body, earning the deep favor and affection of the Yunhai Holy Sovereign. This made Immortal Emperor Wenrui regret not having met Little Immortal Lord Lici earlier.

Such a figure was superior to the Holy Sons of the various Holy Clans' Cave Heavens, even having a slight chance to compete for a higher position as a Dao Child...

And it wasn't just that.

This young master could reprimand a mid-stage True Immortal... and the other party even referred to herself as a servant... This was simply challenging Immortal Emperor Wenrui's understanding.

What kind of family could produce a young master with such an astonishing identity?

An incredible speculation suddenly emerged in Immortal Emperor Wenrui's mind, almost ready to burst forth.

Besides Immortal Emperor Wenrui, the masked Void Realm woman hosting the auction also had a drastic change in expression, clearly realizing something.

She was the branch master dispatched from the Tianrui Holy Clan's Divine Treasure Hall, and having always risen within the Divine Treasure Hall system, she was naturally far more knowledgeable than the average Void Realm in remote Immortal Dynasties.

But precisely because she understood, she felt terrified.

Originally, she had thought of currying favor with that young master, but now, the only things left in her mind were reverence and fear.

With the identity of this mysterious young master, a mere glance or hint could make someone of her status disappear completely.

A Divine Realm with a Sage Body, this was too terrifying~

It's said that in ancient times, the first human to walk the path of True Immortality was a super genius with a Sage Body at the Divine Realm.

When that super genius, following the path of predecessors, cultivated to the Void Realm, he awakened the eleventh level Immaculate Immortal Body. He then continuously advanced the scriptures, and only when his four-thousand-year lifespan was nearing its end did he complete the path of True Immortality.

Because he was the first human to complete the path of True Immortality, with no complete path from predecessors to emulate or study, his journey on the path of True Immortality was particularly arduous.

For this reason, he was honored as the "Human Immortal Ancestor."

Unfortunately, after ascending to immortality, the Immortal Ancestor felt even more lost about the future, as if the path for humanity had ended. Until his early death at over eight thousand years old, his cultivation barely reached the second level of the True Immortal Realm.

If placed in the present, the Immortal Ancestor would undoubtedly be a Holy Son, easily reaching the level of a Holy Sovereign, with even the possibility of further advancement.

Fortunately, since the Human Immortal Ancestor achieved True Immortality, he lit a guiding light for future generations of humanity. Subsequent super geniuses studied the "True Immortal Path" left by the Immortal Ancestor, gradually leading more people to achieve True Immortality.

The True Immortal Realm gradually became a perfected system, and one Immortal Scripture after another was born, allowing future generations to walk the path of True Immortality more easily.

As more people achieved True Immortality, the path of the Da Luo Holy Sovereign was also gradually explored over the long history, becoming a relatively perfected system.

The pioneers' arduous journey was indeed challenging, and every [Scripture], [Immortal Scripture], and even [Holy Diagram] was forged by countless brilliant predecessors who paved the way.

The more the masked Void Realm woman thought about it, the more her heart surged, and her reverence for that mysterious young master grew.

However, she also understood that this mysterious young master had likely inherited an Immortal Scripture, thus reaching the tenth level Sage Body, still a step behind the [Human Immortal Ancestor]. Yet even so, he was likely among the top tier of the current era.

"This young master, Immortal friend." Immortal Emperor Wenrui also came to his senses, his tone unknowingly becoming more polite, "This is not a suitable place for hospitality. How about we step aside for a chat?"

"Our branch has a tea room. How about we go there to talk?" The masked Void Realm woman suggested, "It would also allow us to make amends for our Divine Treasure Hall's lack of respect."

Wang Shouzhe pondered for a moment with a touch of reserve before nodding gracefully, "In this matter, we were indeed at fault for not notifying His Majesty the Immortal Emperor."

"Not at all."

Immortal Emperor Wenrui's face lit up with joy, and he quickly invited Wang Shouzhe and Yun Tiange to the private tea room of the Divine Treasure Hall branch.

This tea room was clearly used to entertain distinguished guests, with elegant and tasteful decor. At first glance, it didn't appear luxurious, but upon closer inspection, every detail was exquisite and meticulously crafted, embodying the utmost refinement.

The Void Realm woman personally demonstrated her tea-making skills, pouring each of the three a cup of tea: "I am Yao Yumei, from the Yao Clan of the Tianrui Immortal Clan. I joined the Divine Treasure Hall from a young age and currently serve as one of the rotating branch masters of the New Luo branch."

As she spoke, she deliberately removed her veil, revealing a face that was both coldly elegant and alluring.

Her aura was exceptionally unique, and it was hard to imagine how cold elegance and allure could coexist on the same face. Yet on her, these two qualities blended harmoniously, leaving a lasting impression with just a glance.

This beauty and aura surpassed many Void Realm women, but compared to Yun Tiange, she was still a step behind.

"So it's Branch Master Yao. I apologize for my rudeness." Wang Shouzhe slightly cupped his hands in apology, his demeanor composed and graceful, embodying the image of a noble young master from a prestigious family, "I am Wang Shouzhe. Earlier, our Tiange lost control of her emotions for a moment. I hope Branch Master Yao can be understanding."

"So it's Young Master Shouzhe. Such a minor matter is not worth mentioning. Your and Tiange Immortal Lord's presence at our branch is already an honor for us." Yao Yumei returned the courtesy respectfully, quickly running through her mind but finding no mention of this name.

She understood that this was likely an alias, so she cautiously probed, "I noticed from your accent, Young Master, that you seem to be a distinguished guest from the central region of our Dongxia Divine Continent?"

Regarding the accent, Sima Wuyou had also mentioned it before. Later, Wang Shouzhe realized that the language and accent of the current Shenwu World hadn't changed much since the Shenwu Royal Dynasty, as it was a direct inheritance.

And this accent likely originated from the Holy Emperor.

As for whether the Holy Emperor was originally from the central region of Dongxia Divine Continent and ventured to the Shenwu World to establish a foundation, or if he was originally from the Shenwu World and developed this accent through years of training in the central region of Dongxia Divine Continent, it remains unknown.

But in any case, this was quite beneficial to Wang Shouzhe's plans.

Wang Shouzhe took a sip of tea and smiled, "This tea is quite good, a half-step Immortal tea. It must have cost Branch Master Yao a lot."

Though he praised the tea, he only took a single sip before setting the cup down, not drinking more. It was clear to any discerning person that he was likely being polite.

Seeing Wang Shouzhe deflect the topic, Immortal Emperor Wenrui laughed and said, "When I was young, I also went to the central region to train and study. It was truly a prosperous era, leaving one reluctant to leave. For a distinguished young master like Shouzhe to visit our remote and harsh land is a blessing for our New Luo. I must ensure a proper welcome."

"How about this, our royal family has an empty Immortal residence. The scenery is beautiful, and it once had the honor of hosting a Holy Sovereign. Why not use it as Young Master Shouzhe's temporary palace in our New Luo?"

In just a few words, Immortal Emperor Wenrui's intent to make connections and win favor was clear.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty." Wang Shouzhe's attitude remained courteous, but his words carried a sense of detachment, "My journey is for training and broadening my horizons. Staying in an Immortal residence might go against my original intent."

"Yes, yes, Young Master Shouzhe is right. I was being presumptuous." Immortal Emperor Wenrui expressed "admiration," "Young Master, staying true to your intentions is truly exemplary. If you have any needs during your travels, feel free to ask."

Though he said this, he was inwardly skeptical.

Such a noble young master claiming to "train" was likely just an excuse for leisure. If he truly intended to engage with the world, would he have a mid-stage True Immortal beauty accompanying him?

But he also understood that while these noble young masters were polite and graceful, seemingly courteous to everyone, they were actually very guarded and not easily won over with a few words or minor favors.

Immortal Emperor Wenrui thus shifted the conversation to casual topics, creating an atmosphere of "mutual enjoyment."

After a short while, Wang Shouzhe excused himself, claiming he needed rest, and left with Yun Tiange.

Immortal Emperor Wenrui also took his leave and returned to the Immortal Emperor's Palace.

Upon returning to the Immortal Emperor's Palace, he immediately summoned his subordinates to investigate Wang Shouzhe's activities since arriving in New Luo. Soon, he learned that the invitation for Young Master Shouzhe was given by Situ Xuejia.

Almost immediately, Crown Prince Yuan Zheng, Situ Xuejia, and even the manager who initially hosted Shouzhe at the dining palace were summoned to Immortal Emperor Wenrui's [Diligence Study].

Seeing Immortal Emperor Wenrui, Situ Xuejia, being experienced, wasn't overly frightened, but the manager was terrified.

Immortal Emperor Wenrui, however, was very amiable, soothingly saying, "Don't be afraid. I just want to understand some things. As long as you explain everything clearly, there will be generous rewards."

Hearing this, the manager calmed slightly and quickly recounted the process of hosting Young Master Shouzhe.

After listening, Immortal Emperor Wenrui carefully inquired about some details, and only after a full stick of incense did he reward the manager and let him leave.

Then, he asked Situ Xuejia about the details of his interaction with Young Master Shouzhe. After confirming the situation, he also rewarded him and let him go.

Reflecting on the information he had just gathered, Immortal Emperor Wenrui pondered, "Neither arrogant nor humble, maintaining the same attitude towards a mortal manager and me requires immense confidence."

"Ancestor." Crown Prince Yuan Zheng spoke with a hint of excitement, "Could this Young Master Shouzhe truly be a noble scion from the central region?"

"It's hard to say." Immortal Emperor Wenrui replied solemnly, "But regardless, this young man's background is undoubtedly extraordinary."

"Ancestor, this is an opportunity for our New Luo Immortal Dynasty." Crown Prince Yuan Zheng said excitedly, "In recent centuries, the Xianwu Immortal Dynasty, with a princess married into the Holy Dynasty's direct lineage and having given birth to a Holy Seed, has been favored by the Holy Emperor. Not only do they suppress us in trade, but they also frequently clash with us over the territory of the Xianlai Archipelago."

"If we can win over this noble young master, our dynasty's predicament will be resolved."

No wonder Crown Prince Yuan Zheng was excited.

Most of the Xianwu Immortal Dynasty's terrain is flat and fertile, with abundant spiritual soil and high yields of spiritual rice and grains. In contrast, the New Luo Immortal Dynasty has a complex, mountainous terrain with insufficient spiritual rice production but abundant mineral veins.

For years, the two dynasties have relied on mutual trade to compensate for their deficiencies, coexisting peacefully. Moreover, in terms of military and economic strength, the New Luo Immortal Dynasty surpasses the Xianwu Immortal Dynasty.

However, in recent centuries, the balance between the two dynasties has shifted. The Xianwu Immortal Dynasty, emboldened by the Holy Emperor's favor, has raised the export prices of spiritual grains and rice while suppressing the prices of New Luo's minerals.

They've even blocked the sea routes to the Tianrui Holy Dynasty, further straining New Luo's mineral export economy.

The territorial dispute over the Xianlai Archipelago has only intensified the conflict between the two dynasties, making reconciliation increasingly difficult.

Yet, the New Luo Immortal Dynasty cannot retreat, for doing so would only embolden the Xianwu Immortal Dynasty, leading to future humiliation. If the Xianwu princess's Holy Seed inherits the Holy Emperor's position, New Luo's hardships will only worsen.

Immortal Emperor Wenrui pondered, "Yuan Zheng, this matter isn't so simple. Such a person wouldn't easily meddle in the internal affairs of the Holy Dynasty. We have no prior relationship with him, so why would he be swayed by a few words?"

Crown Prince Yuan Zheng's face stiffened, feeling a bit frustrated, "Actually, it's my fault. I was building a good relationship with Little Immortal Lord Lici, but who knew she'd be exposed by Young Master Wuyou and expelled from the clan? Fearing offense to the Sima Clan, I had to distance myself from Little Immortal Lord Lici, but... sigh~ I missed a golden opportunity."

"Let's not dwell on the past. Besides, Little Immortal Lord Lici is from the Cloud Sea Cave Heaven. Even if she wanted to help us, she couldn't directly intervene in the Holy Dynasty's internal affairs." Immortal Emperor Wenrui pondered, "Let's focus on how to connect with Young Master Shouzhe."

"How about we gift him an Immortal Artifact?" Crown Prince Yuan Zheng suggested, "They even bought the Divine Spirit Artifact at the auction, so they might be lacking."

"Lacking what?" Immortal Emperor Wenrui glared at Crown Prince Yuan Zheng, "They bought those items on a whim, likely to reward juniors or retainers. They have plenty of Immortal Spirit Stones and can buy Immortal Artifacts themselves. How could they owe us a favor for one?"

"Then what should we give? Rare treasures? Beauties?" Crown Prince Yuan Zheng was equally at a loss, "They probably don't lack rare treasures, and as for beauties... even if we sent a princess to be his maid, he might not be interested. After all, he has a mid-stage True Immortal beauty by his side..."

For a moment, both Immortal Emperor Wenrui and Crown Prince Yuan Zheng were at a loss.

Winning over someone like Young Master Shouzhe was indeed a challenging task.

"I've got it!" Crown Prince Yuan Zheng suddenly clapped his hands, "We've been secretly accumulating [Red Sun Sacred Iron] for thousands of years, and we have about ten pounds now..."

"Red Sun Sacred Iron?"

Immortal Emperor Wenrui's face twitched, as if feeling a pang of pain.

This is the main material for crafting Sacred Artifacts. New Luo Immortal Dynasty's output over thousands of years is only twenty to thirty pounds, most of which has been tributed to the Tianrui Holy Dynasty. These ten pounds were painstakingly accumulated in secret.

Immortal Emperor Wenrui had dreams of New Luo Immortal Dynasty acquiring another Sacred Artifact someday.

"Ancestor, while Red Sun Sacred Iron is precious, ten pounds is far from enough to craft a Sacred Artifact. Besides, crafting a Sacred Artifact is extremely difficult, even for a Holy Sovereign. What use do we have for it?" Crown Prince Yuan Zheng said, "If we don't take risks, we won't gain rewards. Only a treasure like Red Sun Sacred Iron can catch Young Master Shouzhe's eye."

"Yuan Zheng is right." Immortal Emperor Wenrui pondered for a long time before finally making a decision, "If we're going to make an impression, let's make it big. I'll also share the [Silver Xuan Gold] formula I've spent my life developing with Young Master Shouzhe."

Immortal Emperor Wenrui cultivated the [Purple Xuan Immortal Art], a metal-type Immortal Scripture. Besides having decent combat power, it excelled in prospecting, with a deep understanding of various metals. Combined with New Luo's abundant mines, the dynasty had made significant achievements in metal materials.

[Silver Xuan Gold] was Immortal Emperor Wenrui's greatest creation, a special alloy.

Unfortunately, this alloy required a fire-type True Immortal-level trial equipment maker for mass production, making its production capacity a significant issue.

Moreover, Immortal Emperor Wenrui was unwilling to collaborate with the Holy Dynasty's trial equipment makers, fearing the formula would be leaked.

"Silver Xuan Gold?" Crown Prince Yuan Zheng was delighted upon hearing the name, "That's a great idea. Silver Xuan Gold is a high-end alchemical material with excellent cost-effectiveness. It can be used to craft Dao Artifacts and some core components of shuttle ships. It will surely be useful to Young Master Shouzhe."

Having decided on the gifts, Immortal Emperor Wenrui and Crown Prince Yuan Zheng carefully discussed how to speak and interact with Young Master Shouzhe, aiming to consider every detail.

This discussion and rehearsal lasted several days.

……

On this day.

In a decent restaurant in the New Luo Immortal Capital.

Wang Shouzhe had already set up his portable cave mansion in one of the restaurant's rooms. At this moment, the portable cave mansion was open, and he and Yun Tiange were sitting in the courtyard inside, drinking tea and chatting.

On the stone table carved from bluestone, a small red clay tea stove was bubbling with spirit-rich spring water.

Wang Shouzhe gathered his wide sleeves at his wrists, gracefully brewing tea with fluid, cloud-like movements.

As he moved, the faint fragrance of tea wafted through the portable cave mansion, serene and distant, refreshing the mind.

"That Crown Prince Yuan Zheng has come to see you several times, yet you keep avoiding him. Aren't you being a bit too aloof?" Yun Tiange sat across from Wang Shouzhe, resting her chin on her hand, smiling.

"Not at all." Wang Shouzhe smiled calmly, "If I'm too easy to meet, wouldn't that make me seem cheap? The more aloof we appear, the more they'll come to us, and they won't doubt our identity."

Hearing this, Yun Tiange couldn't help but blink, her eyes sparkling with thought, "Why does this strategy feel familiar?"

Suddenly, she had an epiphany, clapping her hands, "Wait, isn't this Wang Ningxi's tea strategy?"

"Ah, I see now~ I understand who Ningxi takes after. The source of it all is you... Shouzhe, you're the ancestor of the tea strategy!"

"Wait? Why does this feel even more off... Wang Shouzhe, you didn't use this cat-and-mouse strategy on me, did you? No wonder, no wonder, I can't seem to resist you!"

"......"

Wang Shouzhe remained silent.

Your Majesty, I never realized you had such an imagination before...

……