Lu Yin sneered. With his current abilities and status, there was no need for him to be courteous to anyone here. Since he had dared to challenge the Daynight clan in the past, the Dark Phoenix clan was nothing to him. “I’ve fought against people from the Phoenix family before, and their Undying Bird was golden. It was much nicer than this black one.”
Everyone stared in disbelief, as those words were derogatory to the extreme.
Sall Phoenix’s eyes blazed with anger, as the members of the Dark Phoenix family would not stand someone claiming that they were inferior to the Phoenix family. Immediately, a storm descended as the star energy of an Enlighter rushed towards Lu Yin.
Lu Yin merely waved his hand, The void churned, and the attack was quickly dispersed. Lu Yin had merely shaken a hand, but his eyes had turned cold. He had already completed two cycles after becoming an Explorer, and the amount of star energy that he currently possessed had already far exceeded what many peak Hunters had. A burst of star energy from an Enlighter wasn’t enough to suppress Lu Yin.
Each cycle that Lu Yin completed required two hundred times the amount of star energy that an ordinary Explorer needed. Each cycle, even with his hundredfold star energy absorption rate, would take Lu Yin more than twenty years to finish normally. That was ridiculous, and it was also nearly impossible to accomplish, but it was also the reason why not even powerful Enlighters could suppress Lu Yin through pure star energy; he had too much of his own.
Everyone was stunned. Who was this guy who even dared to challenge a powerful Enlighter? This couldn’t be! However, once they considered his title, it no longer felt completely unbelievable.
A glint of murderous intent flashed through Sall Phoenix’s eyes as he prepared to strike again. However, right before he acted, Yuehua Mavis spoke up. “One of the older generation has to defend his junior’s defeat; how shameful.”
Before Xiu could retort, Taylor charged out of the lake with staggered breathing. His clothes had been badly torn, and he was a sorry sight for all to see. Bloody claw marks could still be seen on his chest.
He threw a sinister glare at Lu Yin. Just like Xiu, he was in a state of disbelief. Taylor could not believe that he had been defeated by a single move from Lu Yin.
A smirk tugged at the corners of Lu Yin’s mouth as he looked at Taylor. “Are you going to cry?”
Taylor gave him an evil look, his eyes burning with hatred. If word leaked out that he had been crushed to such a state, his reputation would be obliterated.
With a loud whoosh, the black Undying Bird appeared once again, and the three tall feathers transformed into a black current that gushed into Taylor’s body.
Everyone grew excited at what they were seeing. These two were about to duke it out.
After the three tail feathers vanished, the black flames covering Taylor’s body rose even higher, and the void around him boiled like water. “I will make you regret your existence.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he charged at Lu Yin at top speed. He pushed both of his hands down, and the black Undying Bird charged to the sky. Accompanied by inexhaustible black flames, it shot straight at Lu Yin.
Lu Yin raised his hand again as it turned into claws once more. He used the Skybeast Claw a second time, but this claw was reinforced with seven lined battle force. Following the howl of the ancient beast, the Skybeast Claw ripped through the black Undying Bird for the second time, once again suppressing Taylor.
Taylor became desperate—why was his situation still the same? It was just one attack, but this one attack was overwhelming him to the point where he couldn’t even counterattack.
“Stop!” Sall Phoenix cried out angrily. Following his roar, black flames started to spread through the void. These black flames blocked the Skybeast Claw, and they prevented Taylor from being hit.
Taylor had a sinister look in his eyes, and he pulled out a black plume from his cosmic ring that then lit itself on fire. “Go to hell.”
This new tail feather suddenly burst into flames that surged into the ones already surrounding him. The black Undying Bird behind Taylor shrieked with renewed power as it spread its wings, bursting forth with unlimited energy that neared the power level of a peak Hunter.
Lu Yin immediately flew into a rage. “Despicable!”
With that one word, the battle force shrouding his hand condensed into eight lined battle force, and his Skybeast Claw pressed down upon Sall Phoenix’s raging black flames even as they continued to shield Taylor’s body. Meanwhile, Taylor’s black Undying Bird charged through Sall Phoenix’s flames, headed straight at Lu Yin.
At this moment, the expressions of everyone present changed, as this was truly a despicable move.
Yuehua Mavis’s glare turned icy as her fingers twitched slightly. With that minute movement, an indescribable force swept towards Sall Phoenix’s black flames. At the same time, Yuan Zhuangzhu and the Blaze Engineer acted in unison. Their combined effort snuffed out all of the flames that Sall Phoenix and Taylor Phoenix had unleashed. Naturally, Lu Yin’s Skybeast Claw was also dispersed.
The expressions of everyone present had already soured. This was supposed to be a spar between equals, but a supposedly grand Enlighter had actually done something so shameless. Without even mentioning the interference, Taylor’s use of a power vessel was already an absolutely despicable move.
Lu Yin’s eyes turned frigid as his glare darted past Taylor and towards Sall Phoenix. “Ah, is this how the Dark Phoenix family conducts themselves in battle? Thank you for showing me your character.”
Sall Phoenix snorted coldly. “Junior, you will pay for your arrogance.”
Taylor stared at Lu Yin in a menacing manner. “Count yourself lucky today.”
Lu Yin smirked as he stared at Taylor. “Remember what I said: I’ll make you cry.”
Taylor sneered, but he otherwise completely ignored Lu Yin.
Qiong Shanhai stood up to mediate and pacify the tense situation.
Everyone present had been riled by the Dark Phoenix family’s tactics, though no one would actually go against the Dark Phoenix family over something like this. After all, no one in this place had any sort of relationship with Lu Yin.
Yuehua Mavis was the only one who had called them despicable, but just that was enough to make Sall Phoenix very angry, and he once again cast a cold look towards Lu Yin.
As Lu Yin returned to his seat, the Ghost Monkey incessantly murmured, “Seventh Bro, just kill them all! You’ll have to kill them all sooner or later.”
Zhu San looked at Lu Yin with admiration. “Well done, brother. You only used three moves—ah, I mean three claws—to render that bird unable to fight back. You have my respect.”
Lu Yin gave him a slight smile, as what had just happened was practically a farce. It was a good thing that he had not been hurt, though he would remember what the Dark Phoenix family had done to him on this day.
Wei Rong had merely observed the situation from start to finish. He looked at Lu Yin with a high degree of interest before slowly turning his sparkling eyes to Taylor. A strange smile then spread across his face.
Even though the earlier battle had been interrupted, everyone had fully witnessed Lu Yin’s might. It had only lasted for an instant, but everyone was now looking at him in a different light. This was especially so for the younger women, who had started fawning over him.
Angie exclaimed, “This Lu Yin really is an expert! In the younger generation, perhaps only the top ten of the Top 100 Rankings can actually fight against him, and perhaps only the top three are able to compare to him!”
Wei Rong let out a slight smile. “Some people cannot stand to see others succeed. People will therefore naturally gain more enemies as they become more powerful. This is a rule of reality that will never change.”
Angie nodded her head. She was not attracted to men like Lu Yin, who acted rashly, and she preferred men like Wei Rong, who meticulously planned his strategies.
Qiong Xi’er walked over to Lu Yin and offered him a drink as she repeatedly told Lu Yin to call her Brother Qiong. Interacting with this girl tired Lu Yin out even more than fighting. He really did not know how to deal with such a woman, as no one had ever taught him how!
He was willing to get close to Qiong Xi’er for one reason and one reason only: this woman was extremely rich.
“Brother Qiong, are you interested in joining the Great Eastern Alliance? You can simply invest, and I’ll definitely offer you a sweet deal,” Lu Yin said warmly.
Qiong Xi’er clinked glasses with Lu Yin. “I have never invested in businesses—I only invest in people.”
Lu Yin was confused; what was that supposed to mean?
Qiong Xi’er moved in towards Lu Yin’s ear and softly whispered, “I will invest in you! Tell me how much you want.”
Qiong Xi’er’s red lips were currently mere centimeters from Lu Yin’s face. A heavy scent of alcohol wafted towards him along with the unique scent of a woman. He suddenly became repulsed by this girl’s actions, as he felt like he was being seduced by another man.
Zhu San could not take it anymore, and he moved in between the two as he stared fiercely at Lu Yin. “Brother, you shouldn’t make moves on your friend’s wife.”
Qiong Xi’er rolled her eyes and walked away.
Lu Yin was baffled. “Are we friends?”
Zhu San threw a cosmic ring at Lu Yin that landed with a heavy thud.
Lu Yin checked its contents, and found that there were twenty thousand star essence inside. This was a very generous gesture, and his eyes were glowing when he looked back at Zhu San as he seriously said, “Friends.”
“If we are friends, then don’t hold any intentions towards Xi’er. She’s mine,” Zhu San said with a soft growl.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be yours forever,” Lu Yin immediately promised.
Zhu San was satisfied with Lu Yin’s answer, and he returned to his seat.
“Hey friend, do you want to invest? The Great Eastern Alliance will welcome you.” Lu Yin had already thought it through before saying anything to Zhu San.
Zhu San pursed his lips. “Let’s discuss this after I get my allowance next month.”
Lu Yin gasped. Apparently, he was dealing with extraordinarily wealthy people; had Zhu San just been spending his allowance earlier? Lu Yin started to question everything he thought he previously knew, and he quickly realized that he had been living among poor people his entire life.
At this moment, Qiong Shanhai finally spoke up. “Thank you, all, for demonstrating your kindness to the Qiong family. The Qiong family has stood at the top of Millions City for countless years, and we enjoy making friends. For the auction that just took place, our Qiong family will return every star essence that you may have spent. For those who did not manage to successfully win any of the bids, my family will also give you a humble token of appreciation.”
Once he was done, he waved an arm, and everyone who had not won any of the auctioned goods were given gifts.
Lu Yin was amazed, as these people were clearly wealthy beyond his comprehension. The eight items that had been auctioned off earlier on had sold for roughly 210,000 star essence in total. But despite that astronomical sum, the Qiong family had just written it off. And just to be friends?
Lu Yin realized that he was indeed a poor man.
However, Lu Yin immediately snapped out of his ecstatic daze. He had just spent eighty thousand star essence that would all be returned to him. In short, just from attending this Qiong’s Banquet, he had gained 80,000 star essence. Additionally, there was also the 20,000 star essence that Zhu San had given him.
This was what Millions City was all about. This was the richest city in the Outerverse, and it was known for making whoever visited wealthy.
Lu Yin could now truly understand how local tyrants felt.
“Oh yes, there is one more thing.” Qiong Shanhai looked around the banquet, and his eyes lingered on the many young people who were attending as he smiled. “Xi’er has been of age for many years, and it is time for her to be wed. All of you know that she is my only daughter and that she is also the only heir to Millions City. Therefore, she will not be betrothed to another family, but instead, her husband will join our family. If anyone here is worthy of her hand, I would be most grateful.”
Everyone glanced around at each other, and all the youths saw determination in each other’s eyes. Becoming the Qiong family’s son-in-law would not be easy. Qiong Xi’er was the only heir to the family, which meant that whoever married her would undergo an earth-shattering change in status.
Lu Yin directed his attention towards Wei Rong, who was looking at Lu Yin in turn. They each gave the other a smile.
Neither of them were afraid that the other would become a part of the Qiong family. Even though they had only met a few times, they had an excellent understanding of each other. Neither was the sort of man who would marry into another family. Thus, they were instead more afraid that the future Qiong son-in-law would utilize his newfound power to greatly influence the universe.
Neo-Vestige Sect, Millions City, and the Dark Phoenix family were the three Outerverse powers that could not be provoked. As far as Lu Yin and Wei Rong were concerned, the influence that Millions City wielded far surpassed that of the Dark Phoenix family or Neo-Vestige Sect for one reason alone: this city was the wealthiest of the three powers.
Wars were fought over money, and the victor was often the side that had the most resources. Thus, the likelihood of any particular power’s victory would greatly increase if they managed to gain the backing of Millions City.
Wei Rong said that he had come here to look for Deng Pu, but since stepping foot in Millions City, he had not made any efforts to find the Lockbreaker. As far as Wei Rong was concerned, a priceless treasure like True Insight paled in comparison to Millions City itself.
Lu Yin shared the same belief, as Millions City was just too important.
Qiong Xi’er’s choice of a husband would not just affect Millions City. With the Outerverse isolated from the Innerverse, the situation had changed drastically. Millions City had now become an extremely important power.
“Me, Uncle Qiong! I am willing to vie for her hand!” Zhu San shouted excitedly as he jumped up. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
