Chapter 233: Chapter 183: Venerable’s Disciple (4)

’I can’t believe I’m actually meeting a Venerable Divinity Transformation!’

Qin Xuan suppressed his excitement and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Elder San Shi."

After giving his instructions, Zhu Sanshi’s figure vanished.

It was as if he had never been there.

However, from Zhu Sanshi, Qin Xuan felt the same terrifying presence as the Golden Core Blood Demon, Ji Boyan.

This was a true Golden Core True Monarch who possessed an orthodox Golden Core Dao Fire. He was leagues above rabble like Zhu Chong or the True Monarch of Red Flame Dock!

「...」

After a few short days of celebration and rest.

True Monarch Zhu Chong gathered Qin Xuan and the others once again, his expression serious.

"Little Brother Liu, the first round of the Vermilion Bird Grand Competition is over. The second round is about to begin immediately. I was wondering..."

"Please give us our orders, True Monarch," Qin Xuan said, stepping forward.

"Excellent!" Zhu Chong laughed heartily.

"By the resolution of this division, you will lead a team of ten of our Purple Mansion Realm elites to Star City to participate in the second round of the Vermilion Bird Grand Competition—the Holy Fire Altar tournament!"

True Monarch Zhu Chong’s gaze swept over the crowd as he called out nine names.

"Zhang Jun, Li Yan, Wang Qianru... you few, step forward!"

Nine figures stepped out in response.

Three men and six women, all with impressive auras. The weakest among them was at the fourth layer of the Purple Mansion Realm.

Zhu Chong introduced them one by one. "Star Envoy Liu, you are already old friends with Wang Qianru and Gan Tang, so I won’t introduce them. As for the rest, they are the top talents of our Liaoyuan Sub-Branch. I hope you’ll look after them, Star Envoy Liu..."

「...」

「Vermilion Bird Star City」

The colossal city gate was forged from crimson Divine Gold, soaring a thousand zhang high and inscribed with a Flame Divine Bird Totem.

On both sides of the gate stood two rows of formidable Golden Core Guards!

These Golden Core Guards all had human torsos and snake tails, their bodies covered in vibrant, crimson scales. They held burning spears, and their eyes were cold and arrogant.

Seeing Qin Xuan’s group of ten approach, an early-stage Golden Core Demon Snake from the Wing Fire Division snorted coldly. With a flick of his snake tail, he blocked their path.

"Halt! Where are you from...? Don’t you know the rules of Star City?"

His tone was haughty as he pointed his long halberd at a jade tablet nearby.

Written on the jade tablet were the words:

[To enter the core area of Star City, each person must pay one hundred low-grade spirit stones.]

A large, bright red circle had been drawn specifically around the word "person." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

One hundred low-grade spirit stones!

For an ordinary Purple Mansion Cultivator, that was almost half of everything they owned!

The expressions on Zhang Jun, Li Yan, and the others immediately turned sour.

’Since when did Star City have a rule like this?’

It was clearly a new, discriminatory clause deliberately targeting humans from minor, outlying divisions like theirs.

Qin Xuan’s expression remained unchanged. He said calmly, "We are the representatives of the Liaoyuan Division, here to participate in the second round of the Vermilion Bird Grand Competition."

"The Liaoyuan Division?"

The Guard Captain sneered, looking them up and down. His contempt deepened, especially when he saw Li Yan and the others dressed in Beast Skirts.

"I’ve never heard of any Liaoyuan Division... A minor human division wants to participate in the Grand Competition? What a joke! If you want to enter Star City, pay the Spirit Stones. One hundred per person. If you’re even one short, get lost!"

Another guard from the Zhuyin Division added sinisterly, "Alternatively, you could crawl in through the ’slave path’ over there. It’s free, hahaha!"

He pointed to a low, filthy, stinking side entrance in the distance.

The members of the Liaoyuan Division flushed red with anger. Wang Hao gripped his long spear tightly, and Zhao Lu’s face was crimson with uncontrollable rage.

Qin Xuan’s eyes turned cold, but he didn’t lash out. "Fine. Ten people, how many Spirit Stones?"

"One thousand!" the Demon Snake guard declared haughtily.

Qin Xuan counted out exactly one thousand low-grade spirit stones, brimming with Spiritual Qi, and piled them into a small mound.

The Guard Captain hadn’t expected Qin Xuan to be so compliant. He paused for a moment, then his eyes greedily swept over the pile of Spirit Stones.

"I’ll give you credit for having some sense. Now scram!"

He flicked his snake tail, clearing the path, but not without muttering a final taunt, "Worthless humans, only fit to come here and die."

But just then, one of the Golden Core Snake Demons suddenly spotted a fiery red Phoenix Feather, which seemed to flow like molten lava, in the small mound of Spirit Stones.

His pupils contracted violently, and a chill ran down his spine, as if he’d been plunged into an ice cellar.