Black Emperor Sect's Leader, Mo Tianxing
Fan Lao's face turned ashen. He glanced over at Han Feng, the Alchemy Emperor, his last hope, his eyes pleading. But Han Feng merely turned his back, unwilling to get involved. The Black-Corner Region was a ruthless place where killing was commonplace. Han Feng had no reason to risk offending the Heaven Ascending Pavilion over the life of a mere Blood Sect leader.
Besides, Fan Ling had brought this upon himself by speaking out of turn. The blame rested solely on the Blood Sect.
Fan Lao, realizing that even his old allies had abandoned him, grew pale and despondent. The reality of his situation finally hit him—there was no way he would make it out of the Black-Corner Region alive today.
Li Xiao stood quietly, contemplating his next move. After a moment, he lowered his hand. Despite Fan Lao's sins, the man had shown no personal malice toward Li Xiao, and his desperation to protect his sect—even at the cost of his own son—was evident. Ruthless though he was, Fan Lao could be useful in the future.
"Fan Lao, I won't kill you today. But remember this: your life belongs to the Heaven Ascending Pavilion now. I can take it whenever I please," Li Xiao said calmly.
Hearing these words, Fan Lao could barely contain his emotions. He fell to his knees and began furiously kowtowing, his forehead striking the ground repeatedly. "Thank you, Pavilion Master! Thank you, Pavilion Master Li! Thank you for sparing me!"
Han Feng, seeing that the situation had calmed, stepped forward with a small smile and cupped his hands respectfully. "Pavilion Master Li, your sense of justice is truly admirable."
The other Dou Emperor powerhouses quickly followed suit, showering Li Xiao with praise. For them, the fate of the Blood Sect was inconsequential compared to maintaining favorable relations with the Heaven Ascending Pavilion.
Su Mei, the alluring leader of the Rakshasa Sect, swayed seductively as she approached Li Xiao. She gently took hold of his arm, a playful smile on her lips as she whispered, "Pavilion Master Li Xiao, I am Su Mei, the leader of the Rakshasa Sect. The night is beautiful, and time is short. How about we spend it together, and I show you the wonders of the night sky?"
Li Xiao's response was cold and direct. "I'm sorry, Sect Master Su, but I have no interest in a woman of loose morals."
Su Mei, slightly taken aback, let out a small sigh and released his arm. She had hoped her beauty would be enough to win over Li Xiao, maybe even giving her the chance to bear him a child and secure a connection with the Heaven Ascending Pavilion. But it was clear her plan had fallen flat.
Tie Wu, the leader of the Wild Lion Gang, let out a hearty laugh. "Su Mei, your charms might work on plebs, but targeting Pavilion Master Li? A toad wants to eat swan meat!"
Even though none of them had ever attended an auction at the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, rumors had spread about the beauty of the pavilion's guardians, each one as graceful and captivating as a celestial being. Compared to them, Su Mei's beauty was, at best, a common beauty.
Su Mei, frustrated and embarrassed, stomped her foot but had no retort. She silently stepped back, retreating to the sidelines.
Han Feng shrugged with a smile and cupped his hands again. "Pavilion Master Li, I had no idea you were visiting the Black-Corner Region. Please, allow me to host you in Summit City, where I can offer you a proper welcome."
Summit City, named after Han Feng, was one of the wealthiest and most prosperous cities in the entire Black-Corner Region. Its abundant resources and strategic importance made it the envy of many, and even Dou Ancestor experts would think twice before causing trouble there. However, thanks to Han Feng's status as a renowned six-tier alchemist, few dared to interfere with the city's operations.
Li Xiao thought for a moment, then nodded. It had been days since he and Zi Yan had eaten a proper meal, and Han Feng's offer seemed like the perfect opportunity to relax. Besides, declining the invitation might be seen as an insult.
"Very well," Li Xiao replied. "I'll accept your offer, Alchemy Emperor Han."
Han Feng's smile brightened. "Then it is my honor to host you, Pavilion Master. I will ensure everything is prepared for your arrival."
With that, the tension in the air began to dissipate. The group of powerful Dou Emperor powerhouses looked relieved as they realized that Li Xiao's visit would not end in bloodshed. Fan Lao, though still on his knees, remained silent, too shaken to speak.
The party made preparations to depart, leaving behind the bloodied remains of Fan Ling as they headed for the comfort of Summit City, where Han Feng would extend the best of Black-Corner Region's hospitality to the Pavilion Master of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion.
Seeing the unfolding situation, Han Feng let out a hearty laugh and immediately began organizing a grand feast. At the same time, he sent word to the various forces in the Black-Corner Region, informing them of the event. His goal: first, to highlight the newfound connection between Summit City and the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, hoping to deter any hostile factions from plotting against him. Second, it was the perfect opportunity to recruit more powerful allies. With the influence of Pavilion Master Li Xiao, even Dou Huang-level experts would be enticed by the chance to form a relationship with him.
When the news spread across the Black-Corner Region, the major factions were astounded. No one expected the famous Pavilion Master of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, known for auctioning all treasures under the heavens, to make an appearance in their region—let alone visit Summit City.
Many Dou Emperors, some even frustrated with themselves for not acting sooner, saw this as a missed opportunity. If they had secured a relationship with Li Xiao earlier, it would have been like adding wings to a tiger.
That very night, Han Feng hosted an extravagant banquet in Summit City, pulling out all the stops. It was as if he were celebrating his own eightieth birthday, with over a hundred tables of lavish food and wine. The weakest cultivator present was at the Dou Spirit level, showing just how many strong individuals were drawn by the presence of Pavilion Master Li Xiao.
"Mo Tianxing, Sect Master of the Black Emperor Sect, seeks an audience with Pavilion Master Li Xiao!" a voice echoed through the banquet hall.
Mo Tianxing, the sect master of the Black Emperor Sect and a four-star Dou Ancestor, entered with an air of confidence. As one of the Black-Corner Region's most powerful figures, his presence immediately garnered attention. He was here for one reason: to meet Li Xiao. Rumor had it that the Heaven Ascending Pavilion boasted several Dou Zun-level experts, and as a mere Dou Ancestor, Mo Tianxing knew it would be a grave mistake not to pay his respects.
He walked into the banquet hall with his head held high, ignoring the greetings of other strong cultivators along the way. In his eyes, none of them were worthy of his attention.
As he made his way through the crowd, he quickly spotted Li Xiao and Han Feng, who was eagerly attending to him. Without wasting any time, Mo Tianxing approached them with a wide grin.
Sensing that Li Xiao emitted no visible Dou Qi, Mo Tianxing became even more certain that Li Xiao's strength far exceeded his own.
"Greetings, Pavilion Master Li Xiao! I am Mo Tianxing, Sect Master of the Black Emperor Sect," he said, bowing slightly in respect.
Li Xiao slowly placed his wine cup on the table and turned to face Mo Tianxing. "So, you're the Black Emperor Sect's sect master. I've heard of you."
Mo Tianxing's heart swelled with joy. The fact that Pavilion Master Li Xiao had heard of him made him feel important. With a beaming smile, he brazenly pushed aside Bian Lao, another powerful figure who had been standing nearby, to position himself closer to Li Xiao. "To be remembered by Pavilion Master Li is an honor beyond words. I've long heard of your extraordinary presence, and today, seeing you in person, I can say the rumors do you no justice."
"Allow me to offer you a toast," Mo Tianxing said, raising his cup enthusiastically.
Han Feng's eyes narrowed slightly at the display. This old fox, he thought. Mo Tianxing was clearly trying to steal the spotlight in front of everyone, hijacking the conversation with Li Xiao. However, Han Feng kept his cool. He didn't want to appear petty in front of so many influential figures.
With a practiced smile, Han Feng interjected, "Sect Master Mo, it seems you haven't had the chance to learn what Pavilion Master Li Xiao prefers. This is, after all, your first meeting with him."
Standing up from his seat, Han Feng presented a bottle of his prized peach blossom wine, a rare vintage he had been hoarding for decades. Even the Medicine Emperor of old had hesitated to drink it. But now, to win favor with Li Xiao, Han Feng was more than willing to part with it.
He personally poured a cup for Li Xiao, the delicate fragrance of peach blossoms filling the air.
"Pavilion Master Li Xiao, this is my treasured peach blossom wine, aged for over fifty years. I hope it is to your liking," Han Feng said, his tone laced with humility.
The surrounding experts watched with eager eyes. They could tell that Han Feng was going all out to impress the Pavilion Master. Even Mo Tianxing, who had been so eager to make his own impression, couldn't help but feel a bit envious of Han Feng's gesture. This peach blossom wine was no ordinary drink—it was something that even Dou Ancestor experts would kill for.
Li Xiao, seeing Han Feng's efforts, picked up the cup and took a sip. The rich flavor of the wine lingered on his tongue, and though he wasn't particularly fond of such displays, he appreciated the gesture. Nodding slightly, he said, "The wine is excellent."
Han Feng's face lit up with satisfaction, while Mo Tianxing quickly raised his own cup to toast alongside him. "Pavilion Master Li Xiao, your reputation is truly well-deserved. We are honored by your presence in the Black-Corner Region. If there is anything we can offer or assist you with, please don't hesitate to ask."
The atmosphere around the table was tense yet filled with anticipation, as every powerful figure in the hall was waiting for their chance to curry favor with the Pavilion Master of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion.