I, Thanks To My Unlimited Investment, Am Admired By All Races

“Hm?”

The sudden appearance of the figure cloaked in purple caused the entire hall to fall silent.

At the head of the hall sat a man clad in a light gold robe, his stature towering and majestic. Divine radiance seemed to flow from him, exuding an aura of dominance that commanded respect without words. His sharp gaze shot toward Li Xun, his eyes glinting with divine light as he studied the newcomer.

Beside him was a woman in a white palace gown, stunningly beautiful, her figure slender and graceful. Her translucent skin seemed almost crystalline, glowing faintly under a veil of rainbow-like radiance. Her smooth, flowing hair shimmered, giving her an ethereal presence akin to that of a goddess.

At this moment, the corners of her lips curved in an almost imperceptible smile as her eyes scanned Li Xun up and down.

Li Xun, in turn, cast his gaze upon her.

From the moment he stepped into the hall, he had sized up everyone present. Only this woman was shrouded in a dense purple glow.

“It seems this Purple-Level investment target holds a significant status!”

Li Xun mused inwardly.

There were two individuals seated at the highest position in the hall: the golden-robed man and this woman in white. Unsurprisingly, they must be the Crown Prince and the Third Princess.

“Li Xun!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out sharply.

The young man from the Xuan Yin Sect had a face as cold as frost. A frigid glint shone in his eyes as he asked with a low, icy tone, “What did you mean by what you just said?”

This banquet was hosted by the Crown Prince and the Third Princess. Every guest present represented not only themselves but also their respective sects.

If Li Xun’s earlier words spread, how could he hold his head high afterward?

“Exactly as I said.”

Li Xun glanced at him indifferently, his tone light and casual.

Earlier, he had overheard the conversation between Ning Cheng of the Beast Taming Sect and the young man from the Xuan Yin Sect. Since they had already insulted him behind his back, he saw no need to save face for them now.

“You—!”

The young man from the Xuan Yin Sect stood abruptly. A surge of fierce energy erupted from him, like a primordial beast awakening, ready to devour its prey.

Just as he was about to make a move, a calm voice echoed from above.

“Enough.”

The woman in the palace gown parted her red lips, speaking softly yet firmly. She continued, “Do you intend to fight here?”

“Zheng Chuan wouldn’t dare.”

The young man from the Xuan Yin Sect quickly cupped his hands and bowed in deference.

Many present couldn’t hide their disappointment at this. Apart from the two seated at the highest positions, everyone in the hall was a rival.

Even if there was no confrontation today, they were sure to face each other in the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm. A clash between the representatives of the Profound Sun Sect and the Xuan Yin Sect would have provided a valuable preview of their strengths.

But just as tensions were about to explode, the Third Princess had intervened to halt the fight.

“Li Xun of Profound Sun Sect greets His Highness, the Crown Prince, Her Highness, the Third Princess, and all fellow Daoists present.”

Li Xun cupped his hands slightly, his voice clear and composed.

Seeing Li Xun take his seat, everyone in the hall responded with polite gestures of respect. Regardless of private thoughts, maintaining decorum was paramount in this setting. Even Zheng Chuan from the Xuan Yin Sect, though clearly displeased, forced himself to return the courtesy with a stiff expression.

“The Profound Sun Sect truly lives up to its reputation. Meeting its star disciple today confirms the rumors. Please, have a seat,” the golden-robed man at the head of the table said slowly. His voice was deep and carried the weight of someone accustomed to authority.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Li Xun nodded and selected a random seat at the table.

As he sat, a man dressed in green robes on his left raised his wine cup in a gesture of goodwill, offering a warm smile.

With the opening of the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, disciples from over a dozen sects had gathered here. Naturally, not all of them were on friendly terms. While some, like the Xuan Yin Sect, were rivals to the Profound Sun Sect, others were on more amicable footing.

The green-robed man appeared to belong to one such allied sect. His robe bore three sword-shaped emblems at the cuffs, which immediately identified him as a disciple of the Spirit Sword Valley.

Acknowledging the gesture, Li Xun returned the smile and raised his own cup.

“Brother Li, Zheng Chuan of the Xuan Yin Sect is a petty man who always seeks revenge for the smallest slights. After today’s clash, you must be cautious when entering the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm,” the green-robed man advised via spiritual transmission after taking a sip of his spirit wine.

Pausing briefly, he added, “Furthermore, Ning Cheng of the Beast Taming Sect seems to hold some prejudice against you. You would do well to be wary of him too.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Li Xun replied with a nod.

The banquet resumed its lively atmosphere after the earlier tension dissipated. Li Xun found himself engaged in a pleasant conversation with the green-robed man, learning that his name was Yao Feng.

As cups clinked and toasts were exchanged, an hour passed swiftly. The banquet was nearing its conclusion when the Crown Prince, seated at the head, raised a jade token from his palm. His deep, inscrutable gaze landed on Li Xun, who was still conversing with Yao Feng.

Just as he was about to speak, a commotion erupted outside the hall.

Two figures rushed in at high speed, disrupting the tranquility.

The Crown Prince frowned, his eyes flicking briefly toward the intruding figures before glancing at Li Xun and Ning Cheng seated at the banquet. His lips curled slightly in a faintly amused expression as he casually closed his hand, concealing the jade token once more.

Moments later, the two figures entered the hall. One was a disciple clad in the robes of the Beast Taming Sect. Upon seeing Ning Cheng, he let out a loud wail, exclaiming, “Senior Brother, you must stand up for us!”

His words immediately drew the attention of everyone in the hall, including Li Xun, who turned to look at Ning Cheng.

However, his gaze quickly shifted to the second person who had entered—a disciple of the Profound Sun Sect. A peculiar expression flickered across Li Xun’s face as he seemed to piece something together.

The Profound Sun Sect disciple scanned the banquet, and upon spotting Li Xun, his eyes lit up with relief. He approached swiftly, bowing respectfully before transmitting a message to Li Xun via spiritual sense.

“So that’s how it is. I understand. You may leave now; I’ll handle everything here,” Li Xun said calmly after hearing the explanation.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Li Xun!”

The disciple’s shoulders relaxed as he bowed again and quickly departed, leaving the hall.

“What happened?” Ning Cheng asked with a hint of irritation, setting down his wine cup as he watched the Profound Sun Sect disciple leave.

“Senior Brother,” the Beast Taming Sect disciple began, his expression filled with anger and grievance. “Just a short while ago, several of our junior brothers were injured by a Profound Sun Sect disciple named Ye Han!”