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

“This trip to the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm is going to be truly eventful,” someone murmured in the hall.

Many people exchanged glances, instantly understanding each other’s thoughts.

The secret realm had yet to open, and already the two leading prodigies from Profound Sun Sect and Beast Taming Sect were clashing. Who knew how far their conflict would escalate once inside?

It wasn’t hard to imagine that one of these two sects might face immediate elimination within the first day of entering the secret realm.

Such an outcome would be catastrophic for either sect. Whoever was eliminated first would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of all the other sects.

Understanding this, the crowd couldn’t help but look forward to what was to come.

After all, both Li Xun and Ning Cheng were undeniably powerful. One wielded the strength of formidable beasts, while the other possessed unparalleled talent. Facing either of them, the rest of the people present—except for the two figures at the head—had slim chances of victory.

If the two truly clashed, regardless of who emerged victorious, the victor would undoubtedly be gravely injured.

When that happened, it would be an opportunity for everyone else.

“Excellent!” Ning Cheng spat the word coldly as he slowly rose from his seat.

“You’ve angered me!”

The moment he said this, buzz! The void trembled.

Golden-dark runes appeared in the air, swirling around him, exuding a primal and savage aura. It was as if a peerless beast from ancient times was about to awaken and devour everything in its path.

Many people felt the pressure of this aura and instinctively took several steps back, their faces pale.

Because within this aura, they sensed the presence of an ancient Qiongqi!

The Qiongqi was a ferocious beast from antiquity. At its peak, even a human Immortal Emperor might not have been able to subdue it. Though the beast Ning Cheng had contracted only carried a trace of the Qiongqi’s bloodline, it was still far beyond the strength of ordinary people.

“So?” Li Xun’s calm voice broke the oppressive atmosphere.

He exuded no hint of power or intimidation. Yet, those single word landed like a mountain upon the hearts of everyone present, making it hard for them to breathe.

“Daoist Li’s strength seems to surpass all of our expectations…”

Yao Feng, standing to the side, took a deep look at Li Xun.

Unlike the others, Li Xun wasn’t shaken by the Qiongqi’s aura. Instead, he remained calm, as if Ning Cheng was no more than a trivial obstacle, easily defeated with a flick of the wrist.

Facing such a formidable foe, only two types of people could remain so composed: fools or those with absolute confidence in their strength.

And Li Xun was clearly the latter.

“Outside the city—” Ning Cheng began, clearly intending to propose a duel outside.

But before he could finish, the person beside him gently tugged his sleeve and gave a subtle shake of their head.

Ning Cheng paused, his expression shifting slightly.

With his friend’s discreet reminder, Ning Cheng’s icy gaze swept over the rest of the crowd, growing even colder.

In the hall, almost everyone wore an expression that screamed they were ready for a good show.

Ning Cheng knew that if he were to fight Li Xun today, whether or not he could gain the upper hand, at least one or two of his trump cards would inevitably be revealed.

Thinking of this, he let out a cold snort, his expression dark as he glared at Li Xun. In a chilling tone, he said, “I’ll remember this. During tomorrow’s matches, don’t blame the Beast Taming Sect for showing no mercy!”

The Phoenix Origin Secret Realm would not open for a few more days, but the selection matches for the entry spots were scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Although leaders like Ning Cheng and Li Xun wouldn’t participate, the other disciples from both sects would certainly compete fiercely.

Ning Cheng’s words were clear: should Beast Taming Sect disciples face Profound Sun Sect disciples in tomorrow’s matches, they would not hold back.

In such cases, while fatalities were unlikely, severe injuries would be inevitable. And if someone went a bit too far and crippled their opponent’s cultivation, it would still be considered “within reason.”

After throwing out this harsh threat, Ning Cheng didn’t wait for Li Xun to respond. He bowed slightly to the two figures seated above and stormed off.

With Ning Cheng gone, the other guests quickly lost interest. One after another, they began to excuse themselves and leave the hall.

“Daoist Li, I look forward to seeing your performance in the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm.”

At that moment, a towering figure clad in golden robes suddenly approached Li Xun. His entire body seemed to glow—every inch of flesh and even his hair shimmered with light, like a radiant sun.

Standing before him, anyone else would pale in comparison.

“Your Highness, it seems you have great confidence in me,” Li Xun said, glancing at the figure.

“I’ve always been good at judging people, and I trust you won’t disappoint me,” the Crown Prince replied.

As he spoke, a jade token appeared in his hand, which he placed in front of Li Xun. Without waiting for a response, he turned and left.

“Uh…” Li Xun touched his nose awkwardly as he watched the Crown Prince’s retreating figure. Amused, he thought to himself, So, I’ve been recruited, have I?

Truthfully, had it not been for Ning Cheng and Zheng Chuan’s provocations, he had planned to enjoy a grand feast today and leave quietly.

Now, not only was his meal disrupted, but he had also gotten himself entangled in unnecessary troubles.

Still, these “troubles” weren’t much to Li Xun. If Ning Cheng truly wished to make him an enemy, he would just go and kill him inside the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm.

What did concern him, however, was the jade token the Crown Prince had left behind.

Li Xun had already decided to side with the Third Princess, but now accepting the Crown Prince’s token would surely send the wrong message.

Little did Li Xun know, what he regarded as a trivial jade token had left the remaining prodigies who lingered in the hall utterly envious.

That pendant wasn’t just a symbol of the Crown Prince’s favor—it was practically a free pass to walk unchallenged through Zhen Tian City.

Moreover, the Crown Prince had chosen to gift it to Li Xun but had offered nothing to Ning Cheng. This subtle favoritism spoke volumes, leaving many to believe that the Crown Prince had no faith in Ning Cheng at all.

Realizing this, the remaining prodigies couldn’t help but reassess Li Xun, silently marking him as the greatest threat in the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm.

After this unexpected twist, the prodigies departed, each carrying their own thoughts. Soon, only two figures remained in the grand hall.

At the high seat, the Third Princess sat gracefully, her cascading hair shimmering with a crystalline glow. Her deep, fathomless eyes made it impossible to discern her thoughts.

“Everyone else has left, yet Daoist Li still doesn’t plan to depart?”

At last, she broke the silence, her gaze fixed on Li Xun, who casually poured himself another cup of wine.

To be honest, the Third Princess had long seen Li Xun’s potential. Other prodigies might not have noticed, but both she and the Crown Prince had discerned that Li Xun was far superior to his peers.

Originally, she had intended to recruit him herself. However, she had been subtly suppressed by the Crown Prince earlier and could only watch helplessly as he handed Li Xun the jade token.

This left her with little hope.

In Zhen Tian City, everyone knew that the Crown Prince overshadowed her in every way.

With the Crown Prince’s backing, who would choose to side with her instead?