The Basder Spear and the Banquet

Since meeting Xiao Chen, Yan Qingcheng had been plagued by misfortune. First captured as a slave, humiliated beyond measure, then forced to cultivate the Shattering Demon, Planting God technique. In name, Xiao Chen was her crucible, but in truth, she was bound to him and could no longer raise a hand against him. Every time she recalled these events, though she did not wish him dead, she ground her teeth in frustration. Once, she had harbored lofty aspirations, but now her sole urgent wish was to master the Shattering Demon, Planting God technique and sever the awkward bond between them.

Seeing her former archrival grow increasingly powerful, Yan Qingcheng felt a wave of helplessness. She had heard of Xiao Chen's wild actions the previous night—how he had challenged young experts from all sides in his bid to break through the Ninth Heaven, engaging in several life-or-death battles in a single night and cutting down powerful foes. Though she had no confirmed news, she sensed that this infuriating man might very well succeed. If he did, escaping his grasp would become even harder, for the first requirement of the Shattering Demon, Planting God technique was to surpass one's crucible in power.

"Thanks!" Xiao Chen took the invitation and smiled at Yan Qingcheng. "I'll treat you to a meal another day."

She snorted, her autumn-water eyes flicking over him before she turned her graceful figure away. Her voice was cold, edged with mockery. "You wouldn't be thinking of taking me to the Palace of Drunken Beauty for a meal, would you?"

"Heh..." Xiao Chen remained unruffled, his expression sincere. "We're practically family. Anywhere is fine."

Yan Qingcheng's exquisite form froze. She turned back, furious. "Who is family with you?!"

Xiao Chen replied flatly, "Your own elder publicly declared that you had been betrothed to me. Because of that, someone attacked me with the Battle Clan's ancient spear, Basder, a god-slaying weapon. I nearly shattered under that blow! And now the Undying Sect wants to deny it? Or have you changed your mind?"

"You...!" Yan Qingcheng was livid. "I never heard of such a thing. Stop spouting nonsense, or don't blame the Undying Sect for being impolite."

"Fine. Let's go to the Undying Sect right now and ask your elder face to face. If they didn't intend to marry you to me, why scheme against me like this?" Xiao Chen showed no embarrassment, speaking with perfect righteousness.

If she had the power, Yan Qingcheng would have struck him twice. In the end, she gave a furious snort, unfurled the Undying Heavenly Wings, and fled without looking back.

"Go after her!" Fatty Zhuge Ming wiped his drool.

"What's the rush? In a few days, when I have free time, I'll go straight to the Undying Sect to collect my wife," Xiao Chen answered nonchalantly, his voice carrying clearly to the sky. Hearing this, Yan Qingcheng's body swayed, nearly falling from the air.

"Xiao Chen, go to hell! Dream on!"

"Whether it's a dream, you'll know when I visit your sect in a few days."

Watching her flawless figure flee, Fatty Zhuge sighed with envy. "To marry a beauty on par with Hai Yunxue would be worth dying for."

"Bang!" Hai Yuntian kicked the fatty flying again. "You wretched fatso! You've been fantasizing about my sister for years..."

"Vulgar! It's called secret admiration. Understand?" The fatty lay in the dust, still arguing with perfect brazenness.

That afternoon, the auction of the Battle Clan's ancient spear, Basder, at the Zhengtong Auction House finally concluded. The selling price was eighty thousand gold coins. The moment he heard the news, Fatty Zhuge jumped up. "Rigged! Absolutely rigged!" He slapped his thigh. "At the noon trend, it should have broken past a million, maybe even one hundred fifty thousand. How could it close at eighty thousand? There must be a major conspiracy!"

Hai Yuntian was also angry. He had been at the scene and knew that price was far below the spear's true value. But when the scouts returned with inside information, both fell silent. The Zhuge and Rigen families were implicated in the fraud. Several major families of Heavenly Emperor City had colluded, using their collective might to force other high bidders to give up. The old patriarchs of those families had jointly purchased the spear to study it, for its price was dizzying even for them.

Both Fatty Zhuge and Hai Yuntian were embarrassed, as their own families were involved. Xiao Chen was not overly angry; in this world, many things could not be taken too seriously or one would end up dead. However, the old patriarchs had been considerate enough to send word that Xiao Chen need not worry about the enmity he had incurred—they would handle the original owner of the Basder spear. Since he had not yet reached that level, Xiao Chen could not fathom how the seniors resolved matters.

Still, the outcome was acceptable. Eighty thousand gold coins was a staggering fortune anywhere. But Xiao Chen knew the gold would soon flow out like water, for he intended to purchase rare spiritual herbs. He entrusted the matter entirely to Fatty Zhuge, demanding that he buy only extraordinary treasures.

When Fatty heard how Xiao Chen planned to spend the money, even though it wasn't his, he winced. "What a spendthrift! Even the wealthiest families in the Southern Wastes don't throw gold at heavenly materials like this!"

In the fatty's eyes, Xiao Chen was a true prodigal. In Hai Yuntian's eyes, he was a mad cultivator beyond redemption. "Are you sure such legendary treasures really exist?" Xiao Chen asked, wary of wasting the vast sum.

"If you're willing to spend, the goods are real. Heavenly Emperor City has at least five or six rare spiritual items. This is the Southern Wastes—ten thousand li of pure land for spiritual essence! Of course there are peerless treasures. Those I mentioned are the crown jewels of the shops, each priced at twenty to thirty thousand gold. Even the great families find them painful to buy, so they've sat unsold. Only a spendthrift like you would treat money as nothing."

Initial estimates suggested that eighty thousand gold could let Xiao Chen deify three acupoints, but he would need to spend carefully and buy exactly the right treasures. "Leave it to you. Don't fear the cost, but make sure they are genuine rarities."

Ordinary spiritual herbs had little effect on Xiao Chen; he needed something like the dragon ginseng, but that was a matter of luck. "Fine. I'll start negotiating the price of that Nine-Grade Lotus Platform tomorrow," Fatty said, still exhilarated by controlling such a fortune, even if it wasn't his.

That evening, chaos erupted in Heavenly Emperor City. The Basder ancient war spear was stolen! The buyer's representative was shattered into a bloody paste on the spot. Almost no one had time to react before a streak of black light seized the spear and vanished. The city buzzed with noise; many experts gave chase, but none caught the black light. By night, rumors claimed the original owner of the spear had struck, taking it back and fleeing far from the city.

That night was as tumultuous as the previous one, but the protagonist was no longer Xiao Chen—it was the super-expert from the small Western tribe. Rumor had it that an old patriarch from one of the great families was severely wounded by the spear's original owner, coughing blood. Many experts pursued, but the Basder spear was not recovered. That night, many could not sleep.

Xiao Chen, however, slept soundly. The vast sum was in hand; even the auction house commission was paid by the great families. The loss of the Battle Clan weapon had nothing to do with him. The original owner taking it back and redirecting the enmity was the best news possible.

The next day, the whole city knew. The great families had lost face but could do nothing. Pursuing the thief into the Western wastes was impossible; the small tribe was said to be descended from the Battle Clan, though their blood was diluted, they were not to be trifled with.

"How amusing!" "What a grand irony!" Many gloated, while others lamented that a god-slaying weapon had not remained in the Southern Wastes.

On the second evening, the important banquet Fatty had mentioned began. It was held at the Mande family compound. With the Beast-Fighting Tournament approaching, the three families that owned the beast-fighting arenas—the Mande family (Beast King Arena), the Zhuge family (Xuanhuang Arena), and the Hai family (Primordial Arena)—were hosting the event. Before the tournament, they held a banquet for many notables and important participants.

Night fell, and the Mande family's ancient castle loomed like a mountain, oppressive under the starlight. At the gate, a somber steward checked each guest's invitation meticulously. When Xiao Chen arrived with Fatty and Hai Yuntian, they saw Hofman and Li Dongbo entering. Hofman glared at Xiao Chen with red-rimmed eyes before turning away.

A stream of guests flowed into the castle—aristocrats, powerful cultivators, and ladies of fashion. The vast hall blazed with golden light, accommodating hundreds without crowding. Crystal chandeliers cast a brilliant glow over the scene. Clusters of nobles and cultivators chatted warmly, glasses clinking.

At the front stood an exceptionally handsome youth with flowing sky-blue hair that seemed to shimmer. Even among the crowd, he stood out with an indefinable aura. Clearly popular, he was surrounded by admirers, mostly women—voluptuous matrons and beautiful girls. Though their gestures were elegant, the fire in their eyes betrayed their status.

"See that? He's the prodigy of the Mande family, Kanasi's elder brother," Hai Yuntian said to Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen had heard many call Kanasi's brother a 'monster' in cultivation. Despite his handsome appearance, the epithet spoke to his terrifying power. He had seen the blue-haired youth at the city gate before, when several Ninth Heaven experts attacked him—but that one had not joined, leaving Xiao Chen unsure of his strength.

"You... you dare come to my house?!" A blue-haired girl with sparkling eyes and beautiful hair strode up to Xiao Chen, fuming.

"Why not? I was invited," Xiao Chen replied. Seeing Kanasi, he involuntarily recalled glimpsing her figure in the hot spring that time, and a smile crept onto his face. Her large, liquid eyes instantly blazed with anger, guessing what he was thinking.

"You filthy beast!" She turned and called to the blue-haired youth. "Big brother, come here! This guy bullied me!"

The blue-haired youth smiled apologetically at the girls around him and walked over. Not far away, Hofman and Li Dongbo exchanged gleeful smirks. Elsewhere, Hai Yunxue and other Southern Wastes beauties turned to watch.