The Perfect Vase Seal Overwhelms the Capital's Pride

Yan Qingcheng stood like a cold moon, her graceful figure impossible to ignore. Several noble scions fixed their gazes on her. "This must be Miss Yan Qingcheng, one of the Twin Pearls of the Southern Wastes. Truly a peerless beauty, worthy of the ages."

At the front, Yin Feng, hearing his friends' admiration, set aside his killing intent and addressed Yuwen Feng: "For the sake of these two beauties, I will spare you today."

Then the noble scions called out to everyone on the ninth floor: "Clear the venue. We wish to invite these two ladies for a brief chat. We kindly ask you all to make way."

Though they did not directly and arrogantly drive people out, their casual laughter carried a distinct pride. Clearly, anyone who refused would face a battle.

"You are too overbearing!" A thin man stepped forward, crimson light flickering around him—real flames, not protective energy.

"Where is the overbearance? Are we not discussing this with you all? Haha, rest assured, we will never rely on family power—that would be crass. You may treat us as ordinary cultivators. If you can defeat us, we will hold no grudge; instead, we will offer treasures and beautiful women, and you will become our honored guest."

The noble scions spoke with brutal frankness.

"Very well, I will fight you." The thin young man stepped out. He appeared gentle, not very tall, but handsome with an air of refinement. He pointed at Yin Feng. "I wish to duel you. You cultivate Nether Fire; I cultivate Divine Fire. Let us see who is superior."

"Divine Fire?"

The noble scions exchanged puzzled glances. Yin Feng's expression turned grave. "Are you from the Fire Cloud Hall of the Western Borderlands?"

"Correct."

"What is your name?"

"You may call me Fire Bird." The thin, refined young man walked to the side and put some distance between them.

"Great Sun Black Lotus!" Yin Feng unleashed a supreme technique immediately, showing how seriously he regarded Fire Bird. A black sun transformed into a lotus, its heart-stopping petals blooming one by one, converging toward Fire Bird.

"Red Lotus Illumines the World!" Fire Bird cried out softly. Crimson flames surged from his body, gathering above his head as red lotuses. With a gesture, the petals scattered, rushing toward the Nether Fire. When they collided with the black flames, a series of poofing sounds erupted.

Everyone's faces turned solemn. Such a clash was extremely dangerous. A single spark flying out could burn down the entire floor. The power of Divine Fire and Nether Fire was unimaginable—they surpassed the Samadhi Flames. Contact meant death; they were terrifying divine abilities.

Poof, poof—the sounds continued. Everyone had to retreat. The black Nether Fire turned Yin Feng's area into a pitch-dark hell, while the bright Divine Fire illuminated Fire Bird's region brilliantly.

Flames surged between them until finally they flew out through the window and fought in the sky, for the fire had grown beyond their control. If they remained in the Moon-Viewing Tower, the grand building would be reduced to ash.

Torrential flames dyed half the sky red while the other half turned black as ink. It was a battle between equals.

"Who is the frog at the bottom of the well, believing all the world's masters live in the Yin Capital? Heh!" Now it was the non-central plains experts who spoke with cold mockery. At last, someone had matched the noble scions' top fighters.

"Do not watch. This is a battle without suspense. Please descend."

The remaining noble scions paid no heed to the aerial fight, casually addressing the crowd. As they stepped forward, an invisible domain radiated outward, forcing those ahead to retreat involuntarily.

Yuwen Feng's face turned ugly beyond words. Had Ah Shui and Ah Bing not held him back, he would have charged forward.

On the other side, Qilao and Yan Qingcheng's expressions were equally unpleasant. In Heavenly Emperor City of the Southern Wastes, they had never been so belittled. Everywhere they went, they were the focus of attention. But in the capital of Great Shang, everything had changed.

At that moment, the great conflagration in the sky suddenly extinguished. Fire Bird staggered back, his face somewhat pale. Yin Feng flew back calmly. The battle between the two spiritists had ended, and clearly Fire Bird had lost.

"You are very strong. Why not come with me? I will treat you with courtesy." Yin Feng spoke to Fire Bird.

"Hmph." Fire Bird only gave a cold snort before disappearing into the crowd.

"A defeated opponent, still so discourteous?" One of the noble scions struck ruthlessly with words. "The Southern Wastes and the Western Borderlands amount to nothing."

Yin Feng stopped them. "Fire Bird's cultivation is formidable. I only surpassed him by a hair's breadth."

The noble scions changed color slightly but soon recovered. They called out to everyone, "Please descend, everyone. Haha... Miss Ah Bing, Miss Qingcheng, please stay. We sincerely invite you two to remain."

Licentious and unrestrained laughter echoed through the ninth floor.

Ah Shui was enraged. How dare they harass his sister! He strode forward. Yuwen Feng also stepped out of the crowd again. Yan Qingcheng gritted her teeth and drew her longsword. Seeing this, Qilao too moved out from the crowd.

Ah Shui, Ah Bing, Yuwen Feng, Yan Qingcheng, and Qilao spread out in a line, facing the five noble scions before them.

"Haha... A beauty with character—I like that!"

"Heh heh... A peerless beauty is peerless precisely because she has spirit. If she were a vase without any soul, I wouldn't even glance at her."

...

They commented openly, their speech extremely frivolous, without any restraint.

Ah Bing and Yan Qingcheng were the most furious. They struck first.

Invisible domains radiated. The two domains merged, and the ten experts vanished within, engaging in fierce combat.

If not for the domain, the Moon-Viewing Tower would have been blasted to dust. Experts at the Spirit-Treasury realm were not ordinary; the power they released could easily destroy such a lofty building.

The surging power within the domain was violent in the extreme. Although it was shrouded in black light, blurring the movements of figures, everyone knew the battle was intense.

As the crowd watched and speculated with tension, the domain suddenly shattered. Yuwen Feng flew backward, spitting large mouthfuls of blood. Then Ah Shui and Ah Bing were also flung out, their faces deathly pale without a trace of blood.

Finally, the blue-haired handsome man Qilao tumbled out as well. Half of his azure hair had been severed, and a faint line of blood on his neck showed he had nearly been beheaded.

The domain vanished. Yan Qingcheng's figure appeared. Her delicate body was soaked with sweat. She knelt on one knee, propped up by her longsword, her face white, her eyes blazing with angry flames. She struggled to stand.

The experts of the Western Borderlands and the Southern Wastes had suffered a crushing defeat!

No one had expected that a few noble scions of the Yin Capital could be so powerful—they had won outright against their opponents!

The five laughed among themselves, and one said, "Apologies for causing the two ladies minor injuries. But on the battlefield, there is no mercy, only victory. We will apologize to both ladies later."

Arrogant as they seemed, they indeed had the capital for arrogance. Yuwen Feng and the others burned with rage but could not refute.

The crowd behind also felt frustrated. These few were terrifyingly strong. Some speculated that they might be the top young experts of the Yin Capital.

Qilao opened his mouth but said nothing. He was not afraid of the opponents, but in a chaotic melee, even if his individual power was immense, if his teammates were not strong enough, he could not perform brilliantly.

"Everyone, please!" The five pressed forward.

"These two ladies are our honored guests and may stay. Everyone else, please descend."

Cultivators had pride; no one moved.

"You are nothing but second-generation aristocrats. If not for your powerful families, would you dare be so arrogant?"

"Brother, you are mistaken. We have never relied on our families, never bullied the weak. As you saw, we were not the ones to strike first; it was always just self-defense. If you are unconvinced, you may come and kill us. We will not use our family's power. If you can defeat us, we will surely treat you as our honored guest."

The five spoke nonchalantly, their pride evident.

A powerful domain pressed forward, forcing the crowd to retreat.

"Since you are unwilling to leave, I will personally escort you." With these words, Yin Feng swept out Nether Fire, startling the cultivators above, who hastily dodged.

Xiao Chen remained calm, with no intention of intervening. What did the Southern Wastes and the Western Borderlands have to do with him? If they lost, they lost. He had no plan to fight for them. Since emerging from the Pure Land, he only wished to travel the world, to temper his heart in the mundane realm, and to avoid further trouble.

But his opponent's spiritual senses were evidently exceptionally sharp. They seemed to have detected his extraordinary cultivation. A jet of Nether Fire shot straight toward him, intending to force a reaction.

Swoosh.

Leaving an afterimage, Xiao Chen retreated into the crowd, intending to descend the stairs and leave.

However, Yin Feng firmly locked onto him. The Nether Fire followed like a shadow, then leaped ahead to cut off his escape. The surrounding cultivators flinched and dodged, terrified of being touched by even a wisp of the fire.

Xiao Chen decided not to leave. He turned and faced Yin Feng calmly. He was not afraid of trouble—if he were, the night of bloodshed in Heavenly Emperor City would never have happened. Since the other sought to test his measure, Xiao Chen walked back without fear.

Boom!

The black Nether Fire surged like a flood, rushing madly toward Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen's hands moved swiftly, his body following his heart, his seals born from his mind. The Forest Clan's ultimate art—the Perfect Vase Seal—took shape between his hands. A brilliant crystal vase appeared in his palms.

All the Nether Fire, as if drawn by an irresistible force, streamed into the translucent crystal vase. Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, the crystal vase absorbed every wisp of the Nether Fire.

The nearly transparent vase shone brightly. Within it, the Nether Fire churned visibly before being compressed into a black sphere.

Everyone gasped!

The Nether Fire, which had been unstoppable and victorious moments before, had been so simply collected. This was terrifying. The might of the Nether Fire technique was plain for all to see—it had consecutively defeated Yuwen Feng, Fire Bird, and the others. The noble scions had even revealed that Yin Feng could contend with experts at the Sixth Heaven of Spirit-Treasury.

And now...

All eyes turned to Xiao Chen. They stared at his ordinary, unremarkable figure, never imagining he could be such a formidable master.

Yuwen Feng and Qilao frowned. A vague sense of familiarity stirred within them, but they could not locate this figure in their memories. Soon they cast off the feeling. The opponent's Perfect Vase Seal was so overwhelmingly powerful, and they had never witnessed such a technique before—he could not be an acquaintance.

Yan Qingcheng felt a strange sensation stir in her heart. Though there was no trace of this figure in her memories, she somehow felt she had seen him before.

Now Xiao Chen had perfected his treasure body, making changing his appearance effortless. His current form was plain and ordinary, altogether different from before. Moreover, the technique he employed was so profound that even his former acquaintances would not connect it to him.

"I misjudged you." Yin Feng still wore a faint smile. "So you truly are a master. Let us try again."

Great Sun Black Lotus blossomed in the wind. The inky black flames instantly transformed the floor into a Nether dark domain, rolling like a tide, surging to engulf Xiao Chen.

His hands rose, holding the vase. Xiao Chen naturally and calmly aimed the mouth of the vase forward. The Nether Fire contained within erupted outward.

Boom!

A violent collision—Nether Fire against Nether Fire. Everyone was stunned. This would surely reduce the Moon-Viewing Tower to ash!

But contrary to expectations, Xiao Chen controlled the vase precisely. It merely shattered the Great Sun Black Lotus without a single spark flying out.

Yin Feng's face turned pale as he staggered back seven steps. He stared incredulously at the tall, slender youth before him, never expecting to be overpowered so thoroughly.

"Strong! But do not be overconfident. I am about to kill you. You had best unleash your ultimate technique. If you do not, it will be too late to regret." Yin Feng's voice turned cold, his expression deadly serious.

Black lotuses bloomed around him. Terrifying black flames blazed brightly. A scythe like that of Death itself appeared in his hand, fully condensed from the essence of Nether Fire, radiating heart-stopping fluctuations.

Not only did everyone behind Xiao Chen change color, but even the noble scions behind Yin Feng showed looks of shock. They were all extremely powerful but rarely fought to the death. Seeing Yin Feng prepare so solemnly to unleash his ultimate technique, they knew they faced a formidable foe. They too readied for battle—if Yin Feng could not prevail, they would surely intervene.

The Death Scythe gradually took form. It was the essence of Nether Fire, its power and terror beyond words. Everyone could sense it, and those of lower cultivation already trembled.

Yet Xiao Chen remained calm. His hands moved, his heart guiding his seal, his body forming the seal. The Perfect Vase Seal executed in full. A great vase materialized above his head. The crystal-clear walls emitted no energy fluctuations, but no one dared underestimate it.

Radiant light illuminated the entire Moon-Viewing Tower. The majestic vase floated above Xiao Chen, suffusing him with a hint of divine brilliance.

At that moment, Yin Feng fully condensed the Nether Fire essence. He raised the great black scythe and swung it toward Xiao Chen. The enormous black blade looked hideous and fearsome, pulsating with terrible Nether Fire fluctuations.

Everyone knew that even a single spark of this essence would bore a bloody hole through flesh, dissolving bone and muscle.

Boom!

The great vase above Xiao Chen's head was already fully materialized. In that instant, it poured forth a dazzling, blinding radiance that surged forward.

The entire Moon-Viewing Tower shook!

The colossal black scythe shattered in an instant. All the Nether Fire, as if doused by holy water, was extinguished at once.

Yin Feng, as if struck by lightning, flew backward. A noble scion behind him quickly reached out to catch him. But the force of impact was unimaginable; even that scion was sent flying along with Yin Feng.

Boom!

The window exploded into dust. Both were blasted out by the Vase Seal, tumbling far through the sky.

The other three noble scions were also affected. One collapsed directly on the floor, while the other two staggered, barely stabilizing themselves by exerting divine power.

Everyone was astounded. This was unthinkable. The Vase Seal possessed such overwhelming might that it had sent Yin Feng—who had been utterly dominant moments before—flying in a single blow. It was almost unbelievable.

Moreover, it had implicated the other noble scions as well.

With one Vase Seal strike, it had effectively defeated all five.

Yin Feng spat blood. Together with the other noble scion, whose expression was grim, he flew back through the window.

The four noble scions who had not yet fought all fixed their eyes on Xiao Chen, each eager to duel him.

Yin Feng shook his head. "Do not attempt it. We are no match for him. The Vase Seal... now I remember—the Perfect Vase Seal... One cannot contend with it."

Then he turned to Xiao Chen. "As I said, he who defeats us becomes our honored guest. Rest assured, Yin Feng is no cheap, faithless scoundrel."

The other four seemed to snap back to reality. One rushed to speak, "With such skill, you would rank among the very top of the younger generation in the Great Shang Empire. We hold martial valor in the highest esteem. If you do not object, may we be friends?"

"Would you consider serving our kingdom?"

...

The crowd behind Xiao Chen stood dumbfounded. What were these noble scions plotting?

Yuwen Feng, Qilao, Ah Bing, Ah Shui, and Fire Bird all stared at Xiao Chen. The shock of the Vase Seal moments before was too great—its power was unimaginable.

And Yan Qingcheng grew even more perplexed. She felt certain that this supreme young master seemed familiar.

Xiao Chen said nothing. He shook his head calmly and turned to leave.

The crowd involuntarily parted to make way for him. Such a young master, even in silence, exerted immense psychological pressure. Some cultivators did not even realize that at this moment, they were looking up at him.

Yin Feng called after him, "We truly meant no harm. We only wished to befriend you."

Seeing Xiao Chen descend the stairs without looking back, Yin Feng added, "In three days, the Third Princess of Great Shang will host a Book and Sword Tea Gathering at the Sea-Moon Garden. Brother must attend!"

Then he turned to the crowd on the floor. "If any of you feel you have talent, you may also go in three days."

Long after Xiao Chen's figure had vanished, it seemed the crowd on the ninth floor had not yet come to themselves.

"He's gone..." Ah Shui tugged at Ah Bing's sleeve.

Only then did the cultivators begin to descend the building.

Yan Qingcheng, Qilao, and Yuwen Feng—the three Southern Wastes masters—wore grim expressions.

Yin Feng and the other four noble scions had complicated looks. They lingered on the floor for a long time before descending together.

"I think he will go. The Third Princess of Great Shang is renowned as the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. If her Book and Sword Tea Gathering is open to the public, it will surely attract all the talented scholars and beauties of the capital. And he... is still a young man. He should not miss such a grand occasion."