The Peony Festival of the Divine Capital

The ten great-iron-sword wielders stood motionless, silently watching Xiao Chen and Keke.

"Keke, split the pills with them," Xiao Chen said.

The little beast reluctantly opened Paradise Lost. The medicine chamber was filled with clutter—bottles and jars scattered everywhere, even on the ground.

"We’re ruined. The good stuff was surely taken by that emaciated old cultivator who just fled," Xiao Chen said, his heart sinking. He picked up the jade bottles to examine them. Most were labeled with words like "Foundation Building," "Guard the Elixir," "Protect the Infant." He finally found a few bottles marked "Prolong Life" and "Longevity," but they were empty. They had raided the alchemy chamber, but it was a hollow prize.

Keke was both annoyed and puzzled. It babbled to Xiao Chen that it hadn’t sensed any spiritual essence on that old man.

Xiao Chen patted its head. "Don’t worry. We’ve already gained a lot. That old man must have a spatial ring or bracelet—he could hide as many treasures as he wanted."

At that moment, a rich fragrance wafted through the courtyard, opening every pore in one’s body and bringing immense comfort.

The four alchemy cauldrons were giving off a clean scent, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder. Lightning bolts flickered and danced around the cauldrons, striking at their surfaces.

The cauldrons rumbled violently, as if living things were struggling inside them.

Keke had noticed the four cauldrons when it first entered the courtyard, but had not paid them much attention. Now its mood soared, and it squinted its large eyes happily, waiting for the cauldrons to calm.

At that moment, Xiao Chen keenly sensed spatial energy fluctuations. At the same time, the ten iron swords of the Dugu clan simultaneously slashed at the air. It was the emaciated old cultivator returning.

"Chi, chi, chi…"

Though he dodged the full force of the ten iron swords, he was grazed and spat out several mouthfuls of blood. He cast a reluctant glance at the cauldrons in the courtyard, then vanished again.

"These must be extraordinary treasures!" Xiao Chen was certain the pills within the cauldrons were exceptional.

The reason the old cultivator had waited until the Dugu clan arrived to leave was likely because he was waiting for the pills in the cauldrons to finish refining. It was said that refining top-grade immortal pills was extremely difficult, with harsh conditions. Beyond the strict requirements for ingredients and materials, one had to consider environmental factors; the cauldron could not be moved even a fraction.

When the lightning disappeared and the cauldrons fell silent, Keke was the first to act. It swept out a beam of seven-colored divine light, sending the lids flying. The four half-human-high cauldrons blazed with resplendent light, and a mist of primal energy rippled outward, bathing several courtyards in a riot of color. A fragrance that pierced the heart spread, enveloping a large area.

Inside each cauldron was a dragon-eye-sized pill, faintly green, crystal clear as emerald, trembling as if alive.

A single pill per furnace—even someone ignorant of alchemy knew this was a supreme divine pill.

Keke jumped into a cauldron and grabbed a glowing pill, its own body tinted green.

"Ya-ya!" The little beast cried out in surprise. The pill struggled free of its tiny paw, trying to escape into the air.

The little creature quickly swept out a seven-colored light, fixing the pill in midair, and carefully captured it again.

"Truly a divine pill!" Even the normally taciturn Dugu clan experts were moved. Though their lineage did not rely on external aids like spiritual elixirs, they were drawn to these pills. Two of them stepped forward, swept out beams of light to immobilize two pills, and took them for study.

The remaining pill turned into a beam of light, trying to break through the air, but Xiao Chen caught it and held it firmly in his palm.

"Supreme pills have spirit. They are undoubtedly peerless treasures."

By now, the battle within the divine palace was largely over. The sect had been nearly annihilated.

Xiao Chen took Keke and soared into the sky. The enormous crystal divine palace was a half-ancestor treasure, but he knew his limits. That was the Dugu clan’s war prize. He was fortunate to have obtained so many spiritual essences.

That day, the news shook the world.

The Dugu clan’s iron swords had cleaved the divine palace, and their battle power made cultivators from both worlds change color. A major sect of the cultivation world had its mortal-world foundation eradicated, showing just how monstrous the Dugu clan was.

Spring winds greened the willows and made the hundred flowers blaze.

Luoyang, situated at the center of the Nine Provinces, had survived countless wars and been designated the capital by several dynasties. It was the only giant city in history to be called the Divine Capital. In this season of blooming spring, the Luoyang Peony Festival drew crowds like a sea.

This was no longer merely a mortal-world festival. Countless experts from the cultivation world and the World of Immortality had come to the Divine Capital Luoyang, sparking the first great collision between the two realms.

The Divine Capital Luoyang was shrouded in profound mystery above the Nine Provinces, said to be the cultural source of the mortal world.

"Ever yearning for the River and Luo, the grand inheritance of our ancestors…"

In ancient times, Fuxi, Nuwa, the Yellow Emperor, Emperor Ku, Yao, and Shun had left countless myths and legends, most originating from this region.

A gathering of winds and clouds from all directions, experts from both realms converging here—was it merely for competition? Clearly not!

Legends said that in ancient times, before Luoyi was a town or village, the site was already a mysterious ancient land contended by the world in the primordial era. More than one Ancestral God had achieved their position here. Almost all Ancestral Gods had left their footprints in this place.

Whether coincidence or not, those Ancestral Gods had only entered the Ancestral God realm after leaving this place.

The Luoyang Festival moved all cultivators under heaven.

By now, tales of the ancient village and the Yellow Clay Altar had spread widely. It was rumored that the Divine Capital Luoyang was the origin land of the Nine Provinces and held the power to counter the primordial ancient village.

Legend had it that every spring, when the hundred flowers bloomed, mysterious power rippled from the origin land of the Nine Provinces.

Thus, it was no surprise that the Peony Festival had drawn clouds and winds from all directions. At such a crossroads of events, many famous figures under heaven were sure to appear. Experts of the Tiger clan, the Sun Religion, the Chan Sect, and the Jie Sect naturally gathered, and outstanding cultivators from the various sects of the cultivation world would not miss such a gathering.

Deep in the Taihang Mountains, several hundred li from the Divine Capital Luoyang, Xiao Chen was cultivating in a valley. He had already refined the divine pill and divinely transformed seven major acupoints.

After splitting the spoils with Keke, he used the spiritual essences from the herbal garden to catalyze the transformation of four more major acupoints. His life essence became even more vigorous. Seventy-two acupoints now blazed with light, and the dense divine meridians grew increasingly complete.

Xiao Chen felt an inexhaustible potential, as if it could erupt at any moment. He had been quietly cultivating for over ten days, waiting for the low point of the Nirvana realm to arrive…

But to his confusion, he had fallen into an extremely balanced state. As soon as his cultivation slightly declined, it was replenished.

He clearly sensed that the low point had come, yet his cultivation level would not drop. It was as if an inexhaustible treasure was filling the emptiness of the low point.

After silent reflection, Xiao Chen concluded that it all stemmed from the seventy-two divinely transformed acupoints. They ensured the balance of his martial body, replenishing whatever energy he lost and constantly irrigating the martial body that had entered its low point.

With such a source of power, it was truly a blessing for Xiao Chen. For him, the Nirvana realm effectively had no low point.

If anyone tried to exploit this against him, they would certainly be in for a “surprise.”

The snow-white beast Keke was sound asleep. After taking the divine pill, a strange change had occurred: spots of faint gold rippled through its snow-white fur.

Xiao Chen shook it awake. "Let’s go see Luoyang. You little thing is overnourished—even your fur is no longer pure white, with these motley colors."

Keke sat up with a start, looked suspiciously at its own body, then happily rolled back and forth in the grass.

"You’re happy about that?"

"Ya-ya!" The snow-white beast laughed, its large eyes squinting into two crescent moons. It puffed out its chest proudly, telling Xiao Chen that it was slowly growing up.

According to the little beast, when it was first born, it was pitch black; only later did it turn snow-white. Now turning golden was perfectly normal—it could feel its power growing.

Keke chattered happily, then pulled the Seven-Colored Sacred Tree out of Paradise Lost. It pointed one by one at the ink-jade leaf, white-jade leaf, golden-jade leaf, and emerald-jade leaf on the tree.

Xiao Chen was astonished. The sacred tree had seven colors—didn’t that mean the little one would undergo seven transformations? After just two transformations, it could already drive off a demigod. Seven transformations was almost unimaginable.

The little beast rolled among the flowers and grass, then suddenly began moving with lightning speed, easily traversing space as if strolling through a garden. It was no slower than Xiao Chen, whose Eight Aspect Worlds had also been elevated after entering the Nirvana realm.

But no matter how you looked at it, its size had not increased. Yet the heaven-defying little beast was unusual—even a slight change would greatly increase its strength.

"It seems we need to visit those great cultivation sects more often," Xiao Chen said, standing up. "They always want to destroy me. We should be polite and drop by frequently."

Keke wholeheartedly agreed, nodding vigorously.

The Divine Capital Luoyang was majestic and grand, its walls thick and towering. Seen from a distance, it resembled an endless Great Wall, breathing out an imposing spirit.

Inside the city, the streets were a constant stream of traffic, with shops lining both sides, fully displaying its bustling prosperity.

As Xiao Chen entered the city with Keke, he immediately felt the Yellow Clay Altar tremble slightly. Could the rumors be true? Did this place hold the power to counter the primordial ancient village? If so, he would have to investigate further.

At that moment, in various parts of the Divine Capital, many cultivators were holding their own gatherings.

In a garden, Hai Yunxue was hosting a feast for Ye Tian, Fang Tianqi, and others. Seated in a lakeside pavilion, they exchanged various rumors about Luoyang, all hoping to gain something in this ancient capital.

"With that Yellow Clay Altar, Xiao Chen essentially has an undying body," Fang Tianqi sighed.

"I hope we can find something here," Ye Tian said, a fierce light flashing in his eyes.

Hai Yunxue stood in the pavilion, gazing at the lake. "I wonder if he will come. Even if the Yellow Clay Altar protects him at critical moments, he is not invulnerable. Even if we can’t kill him, we should scheme against him."

"How? Challenge him at this interrealm exchange conference? And then let him trample on the corpses of the younger generation’s kings to ascend further?"

"Don’t be so pessimistic."

Xiao Chen took Keke to several flower districts and admired the king of peonies, blooming in riotous splendor. Just then, a soft laugh sounded behind him.

A barefoot girl danced over like a spirit—beautiful and ethereal. Her black dress swayed in the wind, her slender waist moved gently, her crystalline toes shimmered with an alluring luster, and her peerless face was full of smiles.

"Yao Yao," Xiao Chen recognized her at once as the enchantress of the Demon Heaven Palace. It seemed many of his old acquaintances had come to the mortal world.

Yao Yao floated close like a spring breeze, exuding lively agility. A hint of seductive smile curved her lips. She was utterly enchanting. "You have quite the nerve to come to the Divine Capital Luoyang," she said lightly. "Aren’t you afraid the heroes of the world will drown you in spit?"

Xiao Chen smiled but did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Shoeless woman, I once beheaded the Great Demon Heaven. Don’t you want revenge for your ancestor?"

"My ancestor is safe and sound. Why would I seek revenge?" the Demon Heaven Palace enchantress said with a charming laugh, her large eyes limpid and bewitching.

"Then do you have something to discuss with me?"

"You wooden block, so unromantic. I can’t talk to you unless it’s business?" Yao Yao rolled her eyes at him.

Standing less than half a foot away, he could clearly smell her alluring fragrance and feel the luster of her skin, like finest mutton-fat jade, flowing with radiance. She was truly a bewitching enchantress.

Keke blinked its large eyes, curiously examining this beautiful and seductive woman. This made Yao Yao smile softly. She naturally knew how heaven-defying this little beast was, but she was not afraid at all. She cheerfully extended her delicate jade hand toward Keke. "Let big sister pinch, rub, and hug you."

"Pinch, rub, and hug" was far too terrifying for the little beast. Since they were not yet enemies and it could not actually fight her, it whisked away to the side, its eyes wide open, warily watching Yao Yao.

"Xiao… Xiao Chen." The perverse, stuttering Jin Sanyi appeared mysteriously, encountering him here again.

"You… you still dare to join the fun?" Though the fellow was speaking to Xiao Chen, his eyes were fixed on Yao Yao, completely ignoring Xiao Chen.

Yao Yao glanced at Jin Sanyi. "Stutterer, are you talking to big sister?"

"I-I-I’m talking to Xiao Chen."

"Then turn your head sixty degrees."

"Oh." The perverse fellow turned his head, but his eyes, like hooks, still slanted toward Yao Yao.

Jin Sanyi was heading to a peony garden ahead, where some young cultivators from the World of Immortality were said to be gathered.

"Let’s go. I’ll come with you," Xiao Chen said, giving a light slap to Jin Sanyi, whose eyes were hooked, snapping him awake.

"I was actually going there too," Yao Yao said, following along.

The peony garden was vast, filled with rare and precious peonies. Some of the peonies were exceptionally rare, with blossoms as large as washbasins, layered petals, and a fragrance that could be smelled from far away—truly a rare breed.

In the garden, Xiao Chen saw Liu Mu and walked over quickly.

"How did you leave the ancient village?"

"It’s fine. I have ways to protect myself."

Besides Liu Mu and Jin Sanyi, Xiao Chen also saw several old acquaintances there: Jue Dao, Huo Niao, Samo, and others.

Xiao Chen’s name had shaken the world recently. The cultivators of the World of Immortality were quite surprised to see him.

Arriving at the peony garden just before or after Xiao Chen and his group were several others. At the front was a woman as pure and ethereal as a flower tree covered in snow, drifting in lightly. Her transcendent beauty made even the surrounding peonies pale.

"Little Xuanxuan, you’ve grown even prettier—truly a sight to pity," Yao Yao teased the sword pavilion fairy. "Come sit over here. I’ll introduce you to a fine man." She glanced at Xiao Chen.

The sword pavilion fairy Xuanxuan did not take offense. She walked over calmly and sat gracefully not far away.

Xiao Chen fixed his gaze on someone behind Xuanxuan. It was a golden-haired man, looking like a charlatan. Xiao Chen felt a flicker of recognition. He suddenly remembered this was the fellow named Totti, whom he had once seen in Yin Capital—the one Jin Sanyi had captured and given to those two little Lolitas, Linglong and Tutu.

But Xiao Chen was truly concerned about something else. He had heard that the Sun Holy God had reincarnated as an illegitimate son.

Hadn’t this fellow been hidden away by the Sun Religion? Was he not afraid of being beaten and damaging the dignity of the Sun Holy God?

Should he clean up this cheap father of the Sun Holy God and settle the blood debt with the Sun Religion?

Before Xiao Chen could speak, Jin Sanyi waved at Totti. "To-To-Totti, come here. Big brother has something to say to you."