The fighting spirit on the Terrace of Heaven was already intense. Just as Jiu Liansheng tossed aside his wine gourd and joined the fray, a sudden earth-shattering light forced several figures to retreat toward the four corners.

Jia Ye Tianqian raised his hand, and a sword gleam shot across the plaza, embedding the Sword of Heavenly Chasm deep into the ground. This display shook the heavens and earth, utterly unparalleled. "Now is not the time for four individuals to duel. I request you all to gather at the Pavilion of the Heavenly Ladder."

"Yes, Great Sect Master!" Bai Cheng yielded willingly, though his gaze towards Ye Xiu was immediately fraught with ill intent. "Kid, your swordsmanship is quick. Just what was that strike of yours?"

Ye Xiu couldn't be bothered with Bai Cheng. His attention was entirely fixed on the long saber held by the youth in blue. That fellow’s sabermanship was overwhelmingly dominant, and his demeanor was frigid; Ye Xiu couldn't ascertain his true background.

"The Great Sect Master invites us; I truly wonder if fine wine awaits us in the [pavilion/tower]," Jiu Liansheng acted eccentrically, lifting his head to drink before swaggering toward the Pavilion of the Heavenly Ladder.

The youth in blue remained cold. Upon seeing Jia Ye's sword strike, however, his eyes flashed with unusual ferocity. He walked on coldly, yet the name "Jia Ye" escaped his lips.

Ye Xiu looked back toward the Battlefield of Heavenly Punishment and the Unbowed Bow. Qi'er, relying on the power of the Heavenly Needles, could indeed weave freely among the Sun-Blinded tribesmen. However, those people possessed the power of flight, making it impossible for Qi'er to track their movements. Finally, after several waves of feather attacks, she was defeated.

"Hmph! Do these fellows think they can act as they please just because they’ve grown a pair of wings?" Qi'er was unwilling to yield and tried to rush forward again, even though her limbs were already lacerated by the various feathered sharp blades.

The people from the Fox Palace labored hard to restrain her. Finally, Ye Xiu flew over and stood before her. "Qi'er, why bother fighting these people?"

Qi'er puffed out her cheeks, stubbornly defiant. "If I had wings like theirs, I could definitely beat them. Damn wings."

Ah Bi soothed Qi'er while looking at Ye Xiu with a hint of wistfulness. "Hall Master Ye being able to enter the contention for the Terrace of Heaven means the Demon Queen did not misjudge, but those few individuals are too powerful; I fear..."

"Since we've come this far, we must continue," Ye Xiu smiled confidently. His greatest ambition now was to see the true face of the Third Sect Master, Jialouluo—a man who controlled the Heavenly Bone Testament and was far from as simple as he appeared.

"The contention for each venue has concluded! The twelve victors, please proceed to the Pavilion of the Heavenly Ladder!" an official shouted loudly. To gain entry to the imperial domain, a place symbolizing supreme honor, was no small feat.

It turned out that the Land of Heavenly Punishment and the Unbowed Bow did indeed have four individuals possessing wings; the blindfolded ones were naturally the Sun-Blinded tribesmen. The victors from the Land of Beast Flame Heavenly Key were also several Daoists whose cultivation appeared average. Still, the Beast Flame Heavenly Key was of little use to most people.

"Ah Bi, you settle in with Qi'er first. I will return to find you when everything is over," Ye Xiu instructed, then followed the crowd toward the base of the Pavilion of the Heavenly Ladder.

Ah Bi, entrusted by the Demon Queen, had to remain in Barren Bone City to investigate the results of the Weapon Appraisal Platform. She nodded, though a trace of reluctance showed in her eyes. "I understand everything. You take care."

"You be careful, don't die in there," Qi'er made a face before leaving with Ah Bi. This was her first time in Barren Bone City, and she intended to enjoy herself thoroughly here.

The Pavilion of the Heavenly Ladder was the tallest structure in all of Barren Bone City, built by relying on the giant sword plunged upside-down into the earth. Unfortunately, the Boundless Realm lacked advanced transport facilities. Worse still were the guards waiting in the stairwells, tasked with using sheer manpower to move the colossal lift. The isolation of the Barren Bone City royalty depended entirely on this lift.

Ye Xiu followed a group of people radiating intense killing intent. He looked up and felt as if the mountains themselves were collapsing. It seemed likely that, apart from a few peak cultivators, ordinary people could never cross such a dizzying height to interact with the royalty.

"Please rest here, esteemed heroes. The Three Sect Masters and the County Mistress will arrive shortly." The guards were relatively polite, even remembering to bow deeply as they departed. There was likely a reason for this deference; perhaps one of these twelve would become a future royal, so the guards sought to protect themselves by offending no one.

"Are you that fellow from the Terrace of Heaven?" A youth in a Daoist robe with his hair tied in a ponytail aggressively yelled at Ye Xiu. "The one who competed in the Terrace of Heaven just now was nothing special. If I knew trash like that could qualify, I should have entered the Terrace of Heaven battlefield myself."

"Young man, do not be so presumptuous," Bai Cheng chimed in, sipping his tea with a smile. "Why does someone from Myriad Dao Mountain need a sword? Don't you know the Limitless Dao Master lost strength fighting Sha Jun Tianxia? You still have the mood to make trouble here!"

"Hmph! The Limitless Dao Master did that for the sake of the entire Boundless Realm. Once I obtain the Beast Flame Heavenly Key and unlock its secrets, what is an opponent like Sha Jun Tianxia to me!" The Daoist was young but filled with immense arrogance.

Jiu Liansheng staggered to the center of the room. "Young man, never provoke my wine gourd, or you'll suffer the consequences."

"Hmph!" The Daoist refused to speak further and retreated to a corner.

Ye Xiu paid them no mind. Jiu Liansheng had become an entirely different person since entering this place; Ye Xiu suspected this was Jialouluo's arrangement. He continuously observed the youth in blue, who was sitting blankly by the window, as if everything happening here concerned him not at all.

"What is your name?" Ye Xiu quietly approached him. The mysterious youth immediately turned his gaze, glaring hatefully at Ye Xiu. "Since we are all rivals, could you tell me your name?"

The youth turned his head away, completely disregarding Ye Xiu. A breeze blew in from the window, whipping his blue robes wildly and unrestrainedly.

"Esteemed heroes, please surrender your weapons here. The Three Sect Masters and the County Mistress await in the inner hall. Everyone, please proceed," a group of maidservants emerged to usher everyone in, making sure to specifically address Bai Cheng beside them. "Guard Commander Bai, you too, please enter."

"Yes," Bai Cheng calmly unbuckled the bone sword at his waist and walked to the front of the procession toward the inner hall.

Ye Xiu followed the youth in blue, noticing how light his steps were—they could almost be described as drifting.

"Excuse me, hero, your wine gourd cannot come in either," the maidservant blocked Jiu Liansheng. Hearing his gourd was forbidden, the fellow became so anxious he couldn't speak. "There is fine wine and cuisine in the hall; the hero may help himself."

Jiu Liansheng grunted in agreement and quickly moved ahead of Ye Xiu. With a flick of his hand, the wine gourd instantly appeared in Ye Xiu's trouser pocket. "See? I didn't bring a wine gourd. Can I go in now?"

The maidservant could do nothing about him and could only close her eyes and let them pass.

In the resplendently gilded inner hall, the Great Sect Master Jia Ye, the Second Sect Master Jia Nan, the Third Sect Master Jialouluo, and the County Mistress Jia Yunxin were already seated formally.

"Seat them," A scholar in blue robes stood in the center of the hall, directing the maidservants to assign seats. Once everyone was settled, he turned back to Jia Ye and bowed. "Reporting to the Great Sect Master, the twelve victorious heroes have arrived. Please instruct us."

"Zuo Wencheng, you may take a seat as well." Jia Ye sat firmly in the central seat; his voice was like a great bell—steady and powerful. He scanned everyone present but focused intently only on Ye Xiu. He finally recalled the fellow's identity: the Death God from the Seven Stars Trapped Dragon [Sha] Land.

So, he's the Prime Minister. I thought he might be a eunuch, Ye Xiu couldn't help but want to laugh. But when he looked into Jia Ye's eyes, his whole body was instantly shaken. He admitted he had never seen a true sovereign. Apart from the oppressive might of Sha Jun Tianxia's martial force, a true king should possess a commanding aura that enveloped him regardless of his location, just like Jia Ye now. Dressed in a magnificent golden dragon robe, his silver hair made him look exceptionally vigorous. Every gesture, every word, reflected a grand strategy brewing.

Jia Ye suddenly spread his arms wide and proclaimed loudly, "For the Barren Bone City to enjoy perpetual peace and smooth weather is a blessing for the Boundless Realm, and for me, Jia Ye, to meet all you heroes today is my fortune. I have specially arranged this banquet to entertain you all, hoping that in the upcoming trials, everyone will show their true skill and strive with all their might to obtain what they desire!"

"We thank the Great Sect Master for his kindness." Everyone rose and bowed in unison, creating the momentum of ten thousand subjects greeting their emperor.

"Everyone, no need for formalities. Please be seated." Jia Ye turned sideways to whisper something to Jia Nan before standing up himself. "Forgive Jia Ye for my presumption; I cannot drink and revel with you all and must depart first. I have entrusted my Second Brother, Jia Nan, and my Third Brother, Jialouluo, to entertain everyone properly. During the Heavenly Bone Weapon Appraisal Platform period, I ask all heroes to temporarily reside in the Star Gazing Pavilion of the Heavenly Ladder. Please forgive any lack of adequate care."

"Thank you, Great Sect Master. We see you off," everyone stood up again to bid farewell to Jia Ye, save for the youth in blue, who kept his eyes locked onto Jia Ye without relaxing his gaze.

Ye Xiu closely monitored the actions of the youth in blue. Seeing the focus of his gaze directed at Jia Ye also filled Ye Xiu with suspicion. Could this fellow have some connection with Jia Ye?

"Esteemed heroes, Jia Nan toasts you all." Jia Nan, under orders, could only drink a cup of wine in place of his elder brother. However, at this moment, he cared less about building camaraderie with martial folk; what he truly sought was to understand the background of these individuals, believing it would aid Bai Cheng. "I have heard that the Heavenly Bone Weapon Appraisal Platform this time is filled with experts—top talents from both the Daoist sects and the Sun-Blinded tribe. However, these three individuals..."

Ye Xiu, seeing the ill intent in Jia Nan's eyes, knew the Second Sect Master was probing. He turned his attention to Jialouluo; the Third Sect Master was currently drinking and enjoying himself. "My name is Ye Xiu, merely an insignificant cultivator from the countryside."

Jia Nan, realizing Ye Xiu was guarded, immediately shifted the conversation to Jiu Liansheng, who at that moment was so drunk he was already sprawled unconscious on the floor.

"Uninteresting!" The youth in blue sat down sullenly after downing a few cups himself. No matter how Jia Nan tried to pry, he refused to answer. After a long while, he finally announced his name: Yan Shangcheng.

"Since Elder Brother has commanded it, Jialouluo and little sister Yunxin also dare to toast all the heroes. However, I am not much of a drinker, so please forgive me if I fall short," Jialouluo slowly stood up. The way he held his wine cup clearly carried a certain martial air; to be precise, he seemed more like someone from the Jianghu (martial world). "Cheers!"

"Thank you, Third Sect Master, County Mistress." When drinking with Jialouluo, everyone present felt somewhat lacking in spirit. From any angle or concerning any aura, Jialouluo was far inferior to his two elder brothers.

"May I take the liberty of offering a toast to County Mistress Yunxin alone?" At this moment, Ye Xiu stood up, holding his wine cup. He smiled faintly at Jia Yunxin and bowed. "I am Ye Xiu, a mere foot soldier of the Boundless Realm. This is my first time seeing County Mistress Yunxin's beauty that rivals the moon hidden by clouds and can overturn nations. I dare to offer this cup."

"Hero truly has refined taste in liquor!" Jialouluo, unsure what Ye Xiu was plotting, could only smile and drink with him.

"Young Master Ye is truly promising. Yunxin offers her respects," to Ye Xiu's surprise, despite her status as County Mistress, Jia Yunxin showed no arrogance. Of course, apart from the maidservants attending her, no one else in the entire palace dared to directly comment on her beauty.