Chapter 399 - 183: Sumeru Cave, ’Great Celestial Immortal’ Purple Mansion Fruit, a 3-Limit Secret Scroll, and the Path to Grandmaster

Chapter 399: Chapter 183: Sumeru Cave, ’Great Celestial Immortal’ Purple Mansion Fruit, a 3-Limit Secret Scroll, and the Path to Grandmaster

Jiangyin Prefecture, Xie Residence.

This ancient, quiet residence was originally abandoned, with no one living inside.

But a while ago, a group of nobles suddenly took up residence. They wore Profound Armor and rode in carriages drawn by fire-breathing Alien Species, their carriage curtains adorned with extravagant jade.

From then on, a plaque bearing the character for ’Xie’ was hung.

During this time, countless Grand Lineages and great clans from all over Jiangyin Prefecture heard the news and came, hoping to pay a visit.

Some presented calling cards and were even willing to wait from noon until sunset just for a single audience. Passersby who witnessed this but didn’t know the origin of the ’Xie’ name were utterly shocked.

「On this day.」

After leaving the Black Market, Ji Xiu let out a light breath. Following the directions on the calling card he had received at the Beicang Marquis’s Mansion, he arrived before the residence.

What greeted his eyes were Armored Guards standing on either side, their faces hidden by visors and their armor engraved with the character ’Xie’.

In terms of sheer intimidating presence, they surpassed even the Centurion Generals of the Jiangyin Prefecture Garrison Camp.

But these Armored Warriors were merely private soldiers that the Jade Universe Xie Clan had recruited from Beicang, a Vassal Town in one of the states, and had only lightly trained.

They were a far cry from the household guards of a Giant House, which were established in formation with extravagant expense and could contend with the Divine Armor of the Divine Dao or the Daoist Soldiers of the Immortals.

Even so, they were an unattainable sight for ordinary Noble Clans, who only possessed a fief and the right to raise their own private soldiers.

However, when one of these unswerving Armored Warriors from Cangdu saw Ji Xiu arrive at the gate, the abyssal gaze from beneath his visor suddenly changed upon seeing Ji Xiu’s face clearly.

Before Ji Xiu could even present his calling card, the Armored Warrior standing on the left immediately stepped forward. He seemed to recognize him, his tone carrying a note of reverence.

"Are you Ji Xiu from the Beicang Marquis’s Mansion? Young Master Ji?"

"My name is Tian Chuan. I am a private soldier under the command of the Jade Universe Xie Clan’s Beicang Separate Mansion. I have come to Jiangyin with Lady Xie and Miss Zhinan. I once held the reins for Miss Zhinan’s horse and saw you at the Beicang Marquis’s Mansion."

"Lady Xie has given orders. If you came, sir, you were to enter directly."

"Please, follow me!"

After the private soldier from the Jade Universe Xie Clan named Tian Chuan finished speaking, he whispered something to his colleague beside him.

The other man had been stone-faced, but his expression changed instantly after hearing the words. He glanced at Ji Xiu, his eyes filled with reverence and a hint of imperceptible envy.

Then, Tian Chuan led Ji Xiu into the Xie Residence.

As soon as he stepped inside, an opulent, jewel-encrusted carriage was parked in front of a garden paved with fine cobblestones.

Beside it, several divine steeds of an Alien Species, their coats smooth and radiating a fiery glow, were resting lazily, snorting and filling the air with waves of scorching heat. They were quite extraordinary.

Seeing Ji Xiu’s gaze linger on them, Tian Chuan immediately puffed out his chest and began to explain with eloquence:

"These are ’Red Sun Steeds,’ an Alien Species bred by the Jade Universe Xie Clan using a Secret Skill. Once they reach adulthood, each one’s intelligence and strength are comparable to that of a top-tier Spirit Monster."

"Some of the luckier ones can even transform into ’Spiritual Objects.’ They are the standard mounts for the descendants of the Xie Family when they travel."

Ji Xiu had seen these Red Sun Steeds before.

His own Jade-Horned Spirit Deer, which he had brought from Anning County and was now raising in the Beicang Marquis’s Mansion, had only just reached this level after experiencing so many fortunate encounters.

’Although, thanks to the gift of Bai Shuo’s Essence Blood, that silly deer’s future potential will surely surpass the level of a Spiritual Object comparable to a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster.’

’If it keeps following me, it might even have a chance to advance to the level of an Auspicious Omen one day.’

’But Xie Zhinan, who had clashed with Xiao Mingli before, is just an ordinary girl of the Xie Clan, yet she has this kind of setup. With her family background, you could say she was born with a winning hand.’

’No wonder that at such a young age, in her twenties, her strength alone could overwhelm more than half of the Beicang Marquis’s Mansion.’

’She was born into the right family. It’s not something you can be envious of.’

"Miss Zhinan."

As Ji Xiu was listening to Tian Chuan’s introduction, he turned his head to find that the Armored Warrior from the Xie Mansion had abruptly stopped talking. He then bowed his head respectfully and suddenly spoke.

Turning around, he saw Xie Zhinan. Her black hair was half-pinned up, she was dressed in a Shuiyun Palace Skirt, and her features were as perfect as a painting. She was walking slowly out of the Inner Residence with a complicated look on her face.

The moment she saw Ji Xiu, a hint of frustration appeared on her made-up face, but it vanished in an instant.

"It’s your own skill that earned you Aunt Xie’s approval. I have nothing to say about that."

"Regarding the matter of the Feathered Immortal Robe, I was too impulsive. I apologize."

Ji Xiu didn’t think much of these few short sentences.

But at his side, the private soldier, Tian Chuan, stared with wide eyes, his gaze fixed.

’A Miss Xie, from the Jade Universe Xie Clan...’

’...personally apologizing to a young prodigy from a mere prefecture.’

’What did that even mean?’

’Tian Chuan usually served in the Xie’s Separate Mansion in Cangdu, within Beicang. The descendants of the Xie Clan he typically saw there were a notch below someone like Xie Zhinan, a direct blood heir from the ancestral lands.’

’But those young masters and misses... every one of them was incredibly arrogant. The person who could make them bow their heads hadn’t been born yet!’

’And none of them had a status as high as this Miss Xie Zhinan!’

’That Lady Xie Fuyao, the Female Monarch whose name is recorded in the annals and who bears the title of ’Jade Universe Xie’...’

’...just how highly must she regard this Young Master Ji, to make a junior of her own clan personally bow and apologize after causing offense?’

The waves had just begun to stir in his heart when a vast and boundless voice suddenly sounded, reaching the ears of Xie Zhinan and Ji Xiu: