“Uncle, everything is quite well, and the construction of the Sky City is proceeding smoothly,” Ajiana replied obediently, feeling grateful toward the Radiant King. “Ajiana also thanks Uncle for taking her in.”

“What kind of talk is that?” The Radiant King frowned slightly, displeased. “You are my own niece. To speak like that is to create unnecessary distance. You are forbidden from uttering such disingenuous words again.”

“Yes, Uncle.” Although Ajiana was herself a peak expert, she held the Radiant King in profound reverence, nodding in assent.

“That’s more like it. The Radiant Continent is vast, and I have no real use for so much territory. From now on, you shouldn’t be running around anymore. The land beyond the Holy Alajia Mountain Range, including the seven or eight human kingdoms upon it, I’m giving to you,” the Radiant King said with a hearty laugh. “You must not refuse. You know, you are my only niece.”

“Uncle, we shall discuss this matter later.” Ajiana finally began introducing her companion. “Uncle, this is Ajiana’s closest confidante, Tantai Bingyun, who hails from the Great Wasteland Continent of the Nine Provinces.”

Tantai Bingyun politely removed her veil, revealing a peerless, breathtaking beauty. She rose and executed a graceful curtsy. “This junior, Tantai Bingyun, pays respects to the Radiant King Senior.”

“No need for ceremony, no need,” the Radiant King smiled kindly, gently raising her hand. “Since you are Ajiana’s dearest friend, you are also a niece of the Radiant Lineage. There is no need for such formality. To tell you the truth, my Ajiana has never brought a female companion home before.”

“I am truly overwhelmed and deeply honored to be received by the Senior,” Tantai Bingyun said, bowing once more before slowly rising.

“Uncle, you may not know, but when I traveled through the Nine Provinces, I ultimately suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Yaksha King,” Ajiana stated calmly. “After I used the Grand Teleportation Edict to move my elite subordinates, my injuries flared up, and I fled in disarray. First, it was because the Yaksha King Zana did not press the advantage to exterminate me. Second, and just as importantly, I was fortunate enough to encounter Bingyun; she saved my life once.”

The Radiant King was greatly startled and immediately turned to Tantai Bingyun. “Bingyun, I had no idea you had bestowed such a life-saving grace upon Ajiana. In the future, for any request you may have, I, the Radiant King, will never refuse a single word.”

“It was merely an incidental encounter with Sister Ajiana, a small gesture. Bingyun dares not claim merit,” Tantai Bingyun replied, her delicate head shaking slightly. “However, the purpose of this visit is indeed to trouble the Radiant King Senior with one matter.”

“Heh heh, Bingyun, speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I shall certainly not decline,” the Radiant King said with a forthright and magnanimous smile. “For saving Ajiana’s life, even if you asked for a vial of Divine Water of Life, I would grant it.”

Ajiana, however, interjected, “Bingyun, what is the actual reason for your visit to Uncle? Why wouldn't you tell me on the road?”

“This matter is of great importance and can only be made clear in the presence of the Radiant King Senior,” Tantai Bingyun stated solemnly, her eyes hardening with resolve. “I have not come for anything else, only for one thing: the Underworld King Banner.”

The smile on the Radiant King’s face instantly froze. After a long pause, he spoke, “Bingyun, have you perhaps misunderstood something? How could the legendary Underworld King Banner possibly be in my possession? I heard that treasure was lost tens of thousands of years ago.”

“It is true that it has been lost for tens of thousands of years,” Tantai Bingyun said lightly. “The last appearance of the Underworld King Banner was in the hands of a man named the Hidden King. No one knows which clan the Hidden King originated from. He rose like a meteor and just as swiftly fell. According to what this junior knows, he ultimately perished at the hands of the Winged God Clan. However, that is not the basis of my confidence. In truth, I share a profound connection with the Underworld King Banner and can sense its whereabouts. If my calculations are correct, the legendary Underworld King Banner is only a few miles from where I stand.”

The Radiant King’s expression grew increasingly grim, betraying a hint of anger. “Bingyun, are you implying that I am lying?”

“This junior has no such intention. It is merely that the one who slew the Hidden King was a senior of the Winged God Clan. Perhaps that predecessor claimed the Underworld King Banner as a spoil of war and collected it. And perhaps the Radiant Senior happened to collect that very artifact, unaware that it was the Underworld King Banner,” Tantai Bingyun stated coolly, seemingly unimpressed by the Radiant King, whose power placed him at the pinnacle of the world.

The Radiant King was exasperated by her demeanor, laughing in sheer fury. “Very well, very well. Even if the Underworld King Banner is gathering dust in my treasury, so what? You arrive and are immediately so aggressive; do you hold me in contempt?”

Ajiana grew increasingly alarmed the more she listened, fearing a clash between the two. She quickly intervened. “Uncle, please calm yourself. Let me speak with Bingyun.” She paused, then turned to Tantai Bingyun, her own expression strained with annoyance. “Bingyun, even if you intend to demand the Underworld King Banner from Uncle, must you be so direct?”

Tantai Bingyun sighed. “It is not that Bingyun wishes to claim this item, but rather that I am acting under orders.”

“Under orders?” Ajiana looked confused. “Whose orders? It seems your sect has no Divine Transformation experts. Who could command a peak Nascent Soul expert such as yourself to undertake such a task?”

Tantai Bingyun remained silent. Instead, she produced a golden token. The token was ancient and heavy in appearance, lacking excessive carvings. Yet, anyone who laid eyes upon it would feel a wave of immense authority wash over them. It was merely a token, but it radiated an aura so powerful and terrifying that it bordered on the extreme. Furthermore, any connoisseur would recognize that this token was forged from Chaos Gold.

Ajiana’s reaction to the token was subdued; she only vaguely sensed that it possessed the lingering aura of some mighty existence and was exceptionally unusual.

The Radiant King, however, started in shock and involuntarily stood up, exclaiming, “What? The Supreme Token of the Immortal Clan?” His face immediately took on a peculiar expression, a mixture of fear, disbelief, and even resistance, losing his usual composure.

“Ah?” Ajiana cried out, utterly incredulous. “This is the Supreme Token of the Immortal Clan? Uncle, how is that possible? Are you certain you aren't mistaken?”

The Supreme Token of the Immortal Clan was bestowed by the Immortal Sovereign, and legend held that only twelve existed. Each token represented the sole authority of the Immortal Sovereign. Whoever presented this token was equivalent to the Immortal Sovereign arriving in person. To defy the order carried by the token was tantamount to defying the Immortal Sovereign himself.

Such an overwhelmingly powerful artifact naturally stunned an entity like the Radiant King. Even if Tantai Bingyun had shown this token to anyone other than the Radiant King—any King—they would have been startled into fits.

The Immortal Realm’s influence, while somewhat difficult for the Immortal Clan to extend into the lower realms, was not entirely impossible.

As long as a sufficiently high price was paid, the Immortal Realm possessed the means to eliminate any current powerhouse.

The Winged God Clan was originally a vassal race of the Immortal Clan, having participated in the Immortal Clan’s eastern and western campaigns. Although they now resided in the Holy Light Domain and seemingly acted independently of the Immortal Clan, despite countless generations of Kings in the Holy Light Domain, not a single one dared to declare the Winged God Clan independent of their vassal status.

Thus, the Winged God Clan maintained a facade of utmost reverence toward the Immortal Clan, even though inwardly they might be desperately yearning for independence. No one dared to be the first to break the seal.

The Radiant King was no exception. He immediately recognized the Supreme Token of the Immortal Clan, which designated the Immortal Sovereign’s emissary. Tantai Bingyun producing this token so suddenly caught him completely off guard. In that instant, the Radiant King’s heart surged with countless conflicting thoughts. Could the token be fake? Impossible; it retained a trace of the Immortal Sovereign’s aura, making forgery impossible. Was it stolen? Even more impossible; the Supreme Token of the Immortal Clan represented the will of the Immortal Sovereign, so how could there be no fail-safes against loss, theft, or robbery? In fact, unless the artifact spirit within the token truly recognized the bearer, anyone who dared display it would immediately face a backlash from the artifact spirit.

After careful consideration, the Radiant King could only conclude that the token was genuine. And Tantai Bingyun was most likely an envoy sent by the Immortal Clan to the lower realms. Immediately, the Radiant King respectfully guided Ajiana to kneel. “Vassal race, Winged God Clan, Radiant, Ajiana, we pay respects to the Supreme Envoy.”

“Radiant Senior, Sister Ajiana, please rise,” Tantai Bingyun, now “representing” the Immortal Sovereign, accepted the bow fully on behalf of the Immortal Sovereign. It was a joke to refuse such a bow; the status of the Immortal Sovereign’s Envoy was too noble. Refusal would constitute the greatest disrespect to the Immortal Sovereign.

After they stood, Tantai Bingyun sighed. “Radiant Senior, do you now believe that this junior is acting under duress? Instructions were received from above ordering me to retrieve the Underworld King Banner. It is not that I deliberately wish to make things difficult for the Radiant Senior.”

The Underworld King Banner was, in truth, utterly useless to Winged God individuals like the Radiant King who cultivated the Grand Art of Brightness. It was kept in the treasury merely as a collection piece, a trophy, or perhaps something to trade for Chaos treasures more suitable to his needs.

Even though he didn't use it, handing it over so easily caused the Radiant King considerable heartache and embarrassment. At this juncture, he had no choice but to steel himself. “Bingyun, it is not that Uncle distrusts you. It is simply that the Supreme Token of the Immortal Clan has not appeared in a long time. I, too, have never seen one. Might I be permitted to examine it?”

Tantai Bingyun had anticipated this move and gracefully offered the Supreme Token of the Immortal Clan. “Radiant Senior, you are aware of the Supreme Token’s properties, so please handle it with care.”

The Radiant King, still reluctant, touched the Supreme Token with his fingertip. The moment his fingertip made contact, a wisp of white flame instantly ignited on his skin.