Chapter 1382: Battle Prize

As these words fell, the soul-stirring music of the *xiao* flute and *qin* zither gracefully arose, and countless vibrant flower petals drifted down from the air like a celestial being scattering blossoms. The scene was refreshing and breathtaking, leaving everyone captivated and mesmerized.

Amidst the falling petals, nine fairies elegantly descended onto the Nu Xian Tai stage, spreading out like blooming lotuses. Within the radiant clouds, a woman in white robes, as beautiful as a celestial being, appeared like a secluded orchid in a valley. Bathed in the flower rain and immortal light, she seemed to exist in a dream.

Veiled in light gauze, her dance was light and graceful, ethereal as an immortal. The wide sleeves of her robe opened and closed, accentuating her exquisite and captivating beauty. Everyone watched her mesmerizing movements in a daze, almost forgetting to breathe. Her enchanting eyes glanced around, making each viewer’s heart race, as if she were looking only at them, melting their souls away.

Ye Chen smiled, but not because of her dance—it was due to that face. His expression grew hazy, as if recalling the Great Chu era two hundred years ago, where Xuan Huang’s daughter, Nan Ming Yu Shu, had lived up to her ancestors’ legacy, striking fear into the demons and meeting her end in glory.

“I say, is she really your relative?” Qi Wang licked his lips and nudged Ye Chen.

“How so? Doesn’t she seem like it?” Ye Chen replied casually, lifting his wine cup for a sip.

“How about we make a deal?” Qi Wang rubbed his hands and winked at Ye Chen with a lecherous grin. “You talk to her for me. Let me have one night with her—just one night.”

“Eat up, eat more. Once we’re out of Di Wang Cheng, I’ll kick you to death.” Ye Chen swatted him with a palm, leaving the donkey-like Qi Wang stunned on the spot and cutting off any further words.

“Good.” While the two bantered, cheers erupted throughout the Qing Lou, wave after wave. The male cultivators were all wildly excited, shouting themselves hoarse, with more than a few swallowing hard and itching to rush the stage to hold her and remove that veil.

“Reward.” Amid the cheers, many male cultivators raised their hands, offering Yuan Shi as tips.

“Reward.” The first one sparked a chain reaction, with cries of “reward” echoing everywhere, shouted with bold dominance. They only hoped the dancing Nan Ming Yu Shu would notice them, even if just a glance—that would be an honor. Men are all like that, after all.

“This money is earned so easily.” Ye Chen watched in amazement, clicking his tongue. The dance wasn’t even finished, and the tips in Yuan Shi had already exceeded ten million. That fortune could sustain an entire faction, but Nan Ming Yu Shu’s dance was indeed enchanting, which explained the massive crowd of cultivators.

“If Xuan Huang knew his daughter could make this much, he’d be quite pleased.” Ye Chen stroked his chin and couldn’t help glancing at Ji Ning Shuang beside him. “If you went up and danced, you’d earn a lot too. As the top beauty of Dong Huang, the cultivators here would go crazy.”

“I don’t dance.” Ji Ning Shuang flipped through her book and replied casually.

“Nonsense, you danced beautifully in your past life.”

“What past life?” Ji Ning Shuang looked up for the first time, her expression full of surprise as she stared at Ye Chen.

“That’s a long story.” Ye Chen took a deep breath, put on a serious face, and sipped his wine leisurely. And then, he said no more.

It was frustrating—Ji Ning Shuang was waiting for the story, but he just stopped. Feeling bored, she buried herself in her book again, seeking enlightenment in this lively setting.

On the Nu Xian Tai stage, Nan Ming Yu Shu continued her light and elegant dance, her figure delicate and alluring, her face more radiant than flowers, her fingers like slender scallions, her lips like red cinnabar. Every frown and smile stirred the heart.

In an instant, blue waves seemed to rise on the stage. She leaped into the air onto the silk ribbons, her feet lightly touching down, her robes fluttering like an immortal gliding over waves, instantly drawing cheers from all sides.

“Reward, thirty thousand Yuan Shi.” From a private room on the third floor, laughter rang out, followed by a storage bag floating into the air, containing thirty thousand Yuan Shi.

“The Tian Fa Shen Zi is truly bold.” The crowd below buzzed with excitement, everyone marveling.

“The Tian Fa Holy Land has deep reserves—thirty thousand is nothing, just a drop in the bucket.” An elder cultivator stroked his beard, knowing the terror of such holy lands better than the younger ones.

“I enjoy being looked up to.” In the private room, the Tian Fa Shen Zi laughed mockingly.

“Reward, fifty thousand Yuan Shi.” No sooner had he spoken than a faint laugh came from the opposite room, and another storage bag flew out, hovering in the air.

“The Cang Ling Shen Zi is even more extravagant.” The crowd erupted again—this was a huge sum.

“Cang Ling, you’re throwing money around like that?” The Tian Fa Shen Zi’s face darkened instantly.

“This divine son enjoys rewarding—got a problem?” Cang Ling Shen Zi smirked, lounging lazily in his chair and eyeing the opposite room playfully, as if he could see right through it.

“Good, very good.” The Tian Fa Shen Zi chuckled coldly and waved another storage bag into the air. “The Tian Fa Holy Land rewards one hundred thousand Yuan Shi.”

“The Cang Ling Palace also rewards two hundred thousand Yuan Shi.” Cang Ling Shen Zi’s tone was casual.

“I bid three hundred thousand.”

“Five hundred thousand.”

“Seven hundred thousand—go ahead and top that!”

“Eight hundred thousand.”

“Have those two lost their minds?” Listening to their escalating bids, the people below were stunned—casually tossing out hundreds of thousands of Yuan Shi wasn’t something just anyone could do.

“I feel like I’m at an auction.” Many wore strange expressions.

“Rich and reckless.” Too many just stood with arms crossed, smirking as they watched the show. The divine sons of two great holy lands were vying for the courtesan’s attention, battling fiercely.

“If the Yu Hua Shen Zi joined in, that would really liven things up.” Most glanced toward the Yu Hua Divine Dynasty’s private room—three-way competition would be spectacular.

“One million.” Amid the discussions, the Tian Fa Shen Zi roared angrily, making the pavilion tremble.

“We’re all here for fun, Tian Fa friend—don’t get yourself worked up.” Cang Ling Shen Zi smiled mockingly, refusing to bid further, but his words nearly made the Tian Fa Shen Zi choke with rage.

“Kill, kill, kill.” The Tian Fa Shen Zi was furious, grinding his teeth with murder in his eyes, while his three Great Saints behind him looked grim. All this Yuan Shi wasted just for rivalry—their divine son was wasteful and ill-tempered.

The reward contest subsided, and everyone turned back to enjoy the dance with lingering excitement.

Though the Tian Fa Shen Zi and Cang Ling Shen Zi had battled fiercely, the dancing Nan Ming Yu Shu never glanced their way. Her clear, watery eyes remained indifferent, as if nothing mattered.

Hmm?

In mid-dance, she caught a vaguely familiar gaze out of the corner of her eye.

When she scanned the room, she spotted him in the corner—it was Ye Chen.

Her mind flickered with distraction. Those eyes, that face—they seemed so familiar, yet strange, evoking a strong sense of déjà vu that left her eyes clouded with confusion.

“Immortal, could we talk after the dance?” Ye Chen smiled, using divine sense transmission.

Nan Ming Yu Shu didn’t respond. She gently extended her sleeves, her body spinning faster and faster, her long skirt flaring out. Every gesture was like wind brushing willows, graceful and stunning.

Ye Chen didn’t interrupt further, but he pondered inwardly. Nan Ming Yu Shu’s dance was worth this much—if he wanted to take her away peacefully, it was impossible.

As a money-maker, the Qing Lou wouldn’t let her go, especially in Di Wang Cheng—force wasn’t an option. The only way was through the Heavenly Dao, but that was risky.

The Heavenly Dao was mysterious, yet dangerous—a misstep could leave him half-paralyzed.

The cheers continued, but fewer people tipped now. After the Tian Fa Holy Land’s one million, no one dared pull out their mere thousands or tens of thousands.

Sometime later, the *xiao* and *qin* faded slowly, and the elegant dance came to an end. Nan Ming Yu Shu curtsied slightly and turned to leave gracefully. Notably, before departing, she cast a subtle glance toward Ye Chen in the corner.

The dance finished, but everyone was still captivated, most male cultivators lost in a trance. It was too beautiful—they’d have to wait another ten years to see it again, and the anticipation would be torturous.

Ye Chen stood up and, guided by a female cultivator, headed to the Qing Lou’s rear estate.

This estate was its own secluded world, peaceful and serene, filled with spiritual flowers and exotic plants, with babbling springs and swirling mists. It was Nan Ming Yu Shu’s private boudoir.

He came here to see her, and it had cost him quite a bit. But to his dismay, he wasn’t the only one—a whole crowd had gathered, a dense mass of people. The divine sons of the three great holy lands were there, along with many Quasi-Saints, Saints, and even Great Saints.

“This is a bit awkward.” Ye Chen cleared his throat, scanning the crowd. If they were lining up, he’d be waiting until the Year of the Monkey to see her.