Within the Phoenix Palace, Jasmine lounged back on the couch, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Those two have clashed already? How quick. What an impatient bunch."

Her breath was fragrant as orchids. In her plan, the duel between the Blood-Clothed Sword God and Wujun had always been a necessary step. She simply hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

The ancient mirror reflected a man in a dark teal robe, his back to her. "Who do you think will win?"

Her slender fingers swept her hair back. "Is that even a question? Great Venerable Wujun, of course."

Wujun stood at the peak of the Fourth Step to Heaven, while the Blood-Clothed Sword God could at most wield early Fourth Step power. He was no match for Wujun.

"I disagree," said the figure in a low voice.

"Oh? You think the Blood-Clothed Sword God could win?" Jasmine chuckled. "If he truly wins, I might actually go crazy for him. Spending a day as doomed lovers with him, what could go wrong?"

The figure paid no heed to her flirtatious words. "He is the one who challenged Wujun. I always believe whoever initiates the challenge is the victor."

In his view, if the Blood-Clothed Sword God lacked confidence in victory, why challenge Wujun at all? At that level, no one acted without certainty. The same logic applied to Jasmine, who had held the Mythic Secret Treasury for many years. That was why none of the many powerhouses dared seize it by force.

"If I hadn't met the Blood-Clothed Sword God, I might have believed you." Jasmine recalled their meeting. "Common sense doesn’t apply to that man."

When Great Venerables met, their conversations were typically polite and refined, akin to lofty mountains and flowing waters. She had never come across anyone like him before. He was blurting out things like, "Since you love me so much, why not just give me the Mythic Secret Treasury?" With those words, he had basically sealed all his exits.

"Then let us wait and see," concluded the figure before falling silent once more.

Jasmine rose to her feet. Multicolored silks draped over her perfectly proportioned figure. Gauzy stockings, thin as cicada wings, covered her slender calves. Faintly visible beneath them were kiss marks like delicate tattoos.

"Why don’t I go to the Seeking Dao Palace to enjoy the show?" she mused.

Other Yin Spirits near the Seeking Dao Palace also made their way toward it. Though regretful they could not witness the divine duel itself, they still wished to learn the outcome firsthand.

A clash between Great Venerables—such battles were rarely seen even in ten thousand years. A brief moment of carelessness could mean life or death. Before long, waves of terrifying auras descended upon the Seeking Dao Palace.

Six Yin Spirits arrived in total, led by Jasmine and Seven-Scar Elder. The Violet Palace cultivators of the Seeking Dao Palace trembled. They had never seen so many Yin Spirits gathered in one place.

Seven-Scar Elder showed a genial smile. "A pity this divine duel occurred too hastily and we have no chance to witness it."

As a Great Venerable from the Demon Domain, his true form was a demonic beast, though none knew what kind. Now, he resided in the Phoenix Heaven.

Li Ruoxian and her granddaughter stood to one side, dazed. The events of the day were far too surreal. They felt as if trapped in a dream.

Jasmine's gaze was alluring. "I wonder whether I'll still have the chance to see that interesting man again."

Of course, by that, she meant the Blood-Clothed Sword God. When Great Venerables clashed, it was entirely possible for a Yin Spirit to fall.

Upon hearing her words, Li Ruoxian and her granddaughter turned pale. If the Blood-Clothed Sword God were to fall...

***

A vast Divine Domain, as immense as a star, filled the emptiness. Pure and immaculate metallic qi permeated everything.

Qi Yuan calmly gazed at Wujun. "Do you understand how small your Divine Domain is?"

Wujun swallowed with difficulty. The moment that terrifying figure deployed his Divine Domain, his own nearly collapsed. Though both embodied the metal attribute, he and that horrifying presence were not even in the same league. How could such a Divine Domain exist in this world?

Wujun was no longer composed. "What is this?"

His former pride and battle intent had shattered the instant the Star Lord of Metal appeared.

"Are your eyes bad?" Qi Yuan rolled his eyes, saying matter-of-factly, with a trace of pride. "You can't recognize something so huge? This is my Nascent Soul."

Wujun was speechless.

At first, the Blood-Clothed Sword God had indeed summoned a Nascent Soul. However, after uttering "I obey," it transformed into a towering Mythic powerhouse. Of course, Wujun didn’t fail to notice that the Mythic’s state was somewhat unusual.

Wujun lowered his head. "Senior Blood-Clothed Sword God... you must be joking."

His heart churned with mixed emotions. A legendary Mythic powerhouse, who stood at the pinnacle of Canglan World, had challenged him. Bullying a newly advanced Fourth Step Great Venerable like him, where was the justice in that?! 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Finally, he surrendered. "I concede this battle!"

It was the only option. How could this fight continue? The disparity in realms was too great! His emotions were complicated. He almost wanted to say, "If you're a Mythic, just say so! Why insist on challenging me?!"

"Concede?" Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "Then hand over the cultivation techniques."

They had made a wager, after all. If Qi Yuan won, he would obtain all of Wujun's cultivation methods. If he lost, he would stay away from Jasmine and never touch the Mythic Secret Treasury.

Without hesitation, Wujun handed over a jade slip. "These are all the techniques I cultivate."

Everything felt unreal, dreamlike.

Qi Yuan said seriously, unwilling to waste more words, "Good. Let's return, I'm in a hurry. I have other important matters to attend to."

Wujun replied at once, "Understood."

They soon vanished from the void world.

About ten seconds later, a rusty mechanical bird appeared in the void world. Though it seemed forged from refined iron, time had corroded it with rust. Even one of its eyes had shattered.

A mechanical voice sounded. "Target: Blood-Clothed Sword God. Trump card: unidentified Mythic powerhouse. Said Mythic entity's state is peculiar, suspected to wield power on par with the peak of the Sixth Step to Heaven."

The mechanical bird analyzed the information before relaying it to the Four Generals of the Lei Clan.