The grand palace towered, the characters "Palace of the Medicine King" inscribed on the plaque blazing with dazzling golden light.

Before the main hall stretched a vast plaza, hundreds of meters wide and long in both dimensions. Seated along the steps on either side were the Spirit Masters who had flocked to witness the ceremony. Directly opposite the Palace of the Medicine King was the fan-shaped exit of the green corridor, from which one could still occasionally see Spirits Masters trickling out in small groups.

Everything within this precinct was overwhelmingly novel to those newly arrived at the Spirit Manor.

Looking past the steps to the sides, one could see undulating mountains rising in the distance, peak upon peak standing sentinel. Pavilions flickered in and out of view among the slopes, and the hazy mist clinging to the mountains seemed to conceal infinite mysteries. It was a pity, though, that the onlookers could only feast their eyes; roaming freely within the Spirit Manor was strictly forbidden.

At the highest point of the steps on either flank stood dozens of stunningly beautiful female guards, their bearing proud and imposing. Their Deep Spirit cultivation level alone was enough to extinguish any lingering thoughts of unauthorized wandering.

Thankfully, the main reason everyone had entered the Spirit Manor was to see the "Heaven and Earth Arena" and catch a glimpse of those supreme experts whose names were legendary but whose faces remained unseen.

"..."

"I heard that representatives from all Five Great Spirit Clans will be attending this time—is that true?"

"The Serpent Sovereign of the Serpent Spirit Clan will certainly be here. Lord Nie Kong killed so many of their strong cultivators, and now he sets up the 'Heaven and Earth Arena.' How could the Serpent Sovereign pass up such an opportunity?"

"And what about the Spirit God Hall? They say the Hall Master of Spirit God Hall is the number one master on the Celestial Spirit Continent."

"Lord Nie Kong has the Flower Spirit as his guardian. Even if Kou Xi himself appeared, he might not be able to handle him. Didn't he get thoroughly humiliated here in the Spirit Manor last time?"

"..."

Similar murmurs rose and fell in waves, the collective sound washing over the plaza. The gazes of the crowd frequently flicked toward the center of the square, where a massive dais stood, tens of meters across and long.

That was the "Heaven and Earth Arena"! If two Celestial Spirit powerhouses fought upon it, it would likely collapse into dust in an instant. However, the dais itself was merely a symbol of the "Heaven and Earth Arena." Its appearance signified that the new sect was prepared to accept challenges from anyone in the heavens and earth.

While it was proclaimed that anyone could challenge it, for a sect like the Palace of the Medicine King, which boasted Celestial Spirit experts, only other Celestial Spirit powerhouses would dare ascend. If it were a minor sect, even if they established the "Heaven and Earth Arena," the true experts would not bother to pay it any mind, let alone attend the inauguration ceremony.

"The Dragon King of the Dragon Spirit Clan has arrived—"

Suddenly, a booming shout erupted from within the green corridor, rolling like thunder, deafening in its volume.

The Dragon King?

That legendary Dragon King, Long Tiangong, who had lived for hundreds of years?

The crowd had expected the Dragon Spirit Clan to send only a few Celestial Spirit experts as observers, never imagining the Dragon King would come in person. In an instant, the formerly clamorous plaza fell into absolute silence. Tens of thousands of eyes snapped reflexively toward the corridor's exit, holding their breath.

Nearly a minute later...

A striking figure finally materialized within the verdant corridor. Seen from afar, he resembled a golden sun, radiating countless rays of light, almost too brilliant to look upon directly. Everyone instinctively narrowed their eyes to finally take in Long Tiangong's features.

"Is that the Dragon King? He looks younger than I do!"

"I heard His Majesty the Dragon King never appears lightly. Yet, first, he guarded the ninth-grade spirit medicine, the 'Ruyi Fire Lotus,' for Nie Kong, and now he comes personally to offer congratulations... Moreover, the brothels run by the Dragon Spirit Clan, the release of the Compendium of Materia Medica is entirely managed by them. What exactly is the relationship between Nie Kong and the Dragon Spirit Clan?"

"Look, the woman right behind His Majesty the Dragon King appears to be pregnant."

"..."

A tapestry of voices intertwined.

After Long Tiangong and his entourage exited the corridor, they were guided to seats on the left side of the plaza by a young woman who had been waiting there. Accompanying Long Tiangong to the Spirit Manor this time were five others: three elders, including Long Zhaojun, and the remaining two were the sisters Long Meixian and Long Xuechan.

"I didn't expect us to be the earliest arrivals."

After being seated, Long Xuechan's bright eyes swept around, quickly noticing that Long Meixian’s eyes were also darting about, seemingly searching for something. A mischievous smile touched the corner of Long Xuechan’s lips as she spoke casually, "Meixian, Nie Kong hasn't arrived yet, it seems."

Long Meixian gently stroked her burgeoning belly and nodded subconsciously, a trace of undisguised disappointment in her eyes: "Indeed." As soon as the words left her lips, Long Meixian realized her slip and instantly felt her cheeks heat up. Coughing a few times to cover her guilt, she asked defensively, "Xuechan, what did you say?"

"..."

Hearing the quiet exchange behind them, Long Tiangong and Long Zhaojun couldn't help but exchange faint smiles.

Just then, the resonant, metallic clang sounded again from the corridor: "Dream Feiyang, City Lord of Spirit Imperial City, and Kan Tian, Vice City Lord, have arrived—"

"City Lord Dream Feiyang of Spirit Imperial City?"

"Why is he here? I heard he contracted that strange illness and has been confined to the inner city of Spirit Imperial City, not leaving his domain for decades."

"Is that true?"

"How could it be false? My son is a disciple in the inner city of Spirit Imperial City. He says no one has seen City Lord Dream Feiyang appear these past years."

"..."

The name Dream Feiyang sparked waves of speculation, and the crowd looked toward the exit of the corridor with uneasy suspicion. However, before they could catch sight of the City Lord and Vice City Lord of Spirit Imperial City, the powerful shout pierced their ears once more: "Flower Spirit Clan Leader, Flower Empress Hua Caidie, has arrived—"

Hua Caidie?

Nearly half the Spirit Masters involuntarily rose from the steps, craning their necks to look.

Among the Five Great Spirit Clans, the Flower Spirit Clan was the most enigmatic, especially its Empress, who had virtually never shown herself on the Celestial Spirit Continent. Not only did the Spirit Masters present know little of her, but few across the entire continent had ever seen the true face of the Flower Empress; many didn't even know her name.

"Hua Caidie. I never knew the Flower Empress was called that name."

"Lord Nie Kong is truly incredible; even the Empress of the Flower Spirit Clan has come!"

"It's said all the Flower Spirits are as beautiful as flowers, possessing devastating charm. Her Majesty the Flower Empress must be exquisitely fragrant. We must watch closely in a moment."

"..."

The crowd seemed injected with powerful energy, their spirits soaring, their eyes fixed keenly on the corridor exit. Before long, several figures emerged.

Dream Feiyang, Kan Tian, Houtu, Yang Tian...

Familiar names were called out by the crowd; they recognized nearly all the Celestial Spirit experts from Spirit Imperial City. What astonished the observers was that City Lord Dream Feiyang, rumored to be afflicted by a strange illness, appeared robust and energetic, showing no sign of sickness whatsoever.

Yet, the crowd's attention was quickly drawn to the five women following closely behind.

The four behind were indeed graceful and possessed striking beauty.

Moreover, they all appeared exceptionally young. Especially the woman in the red dress, whose figure was exquisitely curvaceous, exuding a soul-stealing charm with every movement. Only the one leading them was enveloped in a faint, multicolored aura, her features obscured as if viewing a flower through fog.

Everyone was certain that the foremost figure must be the Flower Empress, Hua Caidie, but the fact that she concealed her face, rendering her unclear, caused widespread regret. Amidst murmurs of lamentation, the attendees settled back into their places. Moments later, loud pronouncements echoed again: "Great Sect Master You Li of the Immortal Hunter Sect has arrived—"

"Sect Master Luo Lan of the Heaven and Earth Sect, Grand Elder Hua Zhan have arrived—"

"Sect Master Jun Yue of the Ink Snow Sect, Grand Elder Yuan Xunyu have arrived—"

"Mountain Lord Mo Tian of the Great Devil Holy Mountain has arrived—"

"..."

...

...