The Prodigies War

Six hundred high-grade aeth essences, thirty high-grade Spirit Accumulation Jades, and sixty-six mid-grade Spirit Accumulation Jades.

This was the fortune Lin Xun left Snow Precious House with after liquidating all of the aeth ore veins he had obtained in the wilderness.

He was very satisfied with the amount.

Although the Chaofeng Eye’s wondrous ability was to read the aura of the land, to Lin Xun, it was no more than obtaining a money-making method at the moment.

He soon took out a map that recorded the locations of the West Infinity World’s provinces and the routes that connected them.

It was an item he had also purchased from Snow Precious House.

"There are still more than ten provinces to cross from here to Perched Phoenix Province, which is about a million miles away. The fastest I can reach is ten days..."

Lin Xun silently pondered.

Since he was now wanted by the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan, he had no choice but to travel through the remote and uninhabited wilderness.

As a result, it would take much longer to reach Perched Phoenix Province.

The lively and busy streets were lined with shophouses. Lin Xun walked along the street, passing many shops as he followed the cobbled path and eventually arrived at a restaurant.

Drunken Flower.

The inn had quite an elegant name. The building was a hundred feet tall and was constructed from green jade bricks. A faint mist swirled around it as it seemed to hide between the snow maple trees, making it appear rather interesting.

"This is the place."

Lin Xun glanced at the name of the restaurant before he strolled inside.

Drunken Flower was the oldest restaurant in Snow Maple City. Its customers were mostly people of high status in the city with no lack of top experts among them. It wasn’t just a place for dining but also for business discussions and functions.

Lin Xun went straight to the highest floor, chose a window seat, and asked for a pot of the restaurant's unique alcohol, Snow Maple Brew, and three pounds of spirit deer meat.

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

"There are only three months left until the Dao Lantern Festival. From what I know, the Clear Sky Province’s Azure Sea Sect’s young generation leader, Li Qinghuan, the Huaiyin Province’s Dark Sun Sect’s number one true disciple, Wu Duanya, the Fumu Province’s Golden Eagle Clan’s Third Crown Prince...have all set off for Cangwu Mountain."

"It will indeed be an unprecedented lantern festival. The monsters and heaven prides of the younger generation will gather like stars and display their brilliance during the festival!"

"That’s right. I heard that our Yunmeng Province’s Feather Sword Sect’s younger-generation heaven prides will be led by one of their five true disciples, Zhuo Kuanglan, and they are sure to show their abilities at the Dao Lantern Festival!"

"That said, the most talked about individual of the Dao Lantern Festival is undoubtedly the Unsolved Mystery Sword Alms’ saintess, Ji Xingyao. Moreover, I heard that the supreme heaven pride from South Wonder World’s Longevity Land, Yu Lingkong, will also be participating!"

"It’s regrettable that such a grand event belongs only to the top-class heaven prides of this era. Ordinary people like us don’t even have the qualifications to attend."

On the top floor, a group of cultivators was discussing the Dao Lantern Festival and would occasionally let out loud sighs.

It was somewhat surprising to Lin Xun. He had not expected the Dao Lantern Festival to receive so much attention even before it began.

In the Fire Spirit Province, he had been invited by the Thousand Illusions Sect younger-generation heaven pride, Yue Jianming, who had hoped to go to the Dao Lantern Festival together with him.

Subsequently, the Eight Extremes Blade Temple’s Fang Linhan had also made it pretty clear that he wanted to participate in the Dao Lantern Festival.

Now, he was even hearing discussions about the Dao Lantern Festival at a border city of the Yunmeng Province. How could Lin Xun not be surprised?

"Looks like the Dao Lantern Festival will probably draw the attention of the entire West Infinity World when it begins......"

Lin Xun continued enjoying his meal and drink.

The Snow Maple Brew was dry with a mellow aftertaste and had a unique fragrance, while the spirit deer meat was marinated with some kind of secret mix of spices that gave it a strong and spicy unique flavor.

From time to time, Lin Xun would glance at a particular private room.

A group of figures with intimidating auras were seated inside, each displaying a haughty and cold expression. There was no need to do any research to know that they were from the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan!

According to the news he had previously received from the News Tree, any cultivator who could provide a clue about his whereabouts would be rewarded with a thousand high-grade aeth essences from the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan experts.

Lin Xun's purpose for coming to the Drunken Flower Restaurant was simple: he wanted to see if he could receive the reward if he revealed himself!

After eating his fill, Lin Xun was about to make his move when he suddenly saw a group of young men and women walking up to the top floor. All of them were good-looking individuals who gave off extraordinary presences.

At the head was one of the Feather Sword Sect’s five true disciples, Zhuo Kuanglan, who was followed by Little Sword Lord Xie Yutang and the others.

All the conversations in the restaurant stopped the moment they appeared as respectful gaze after gaze was drawn toward them.

The other customers were shocked when they recognized Zhuo Kuanglan and the others, surprised that the Feather Sword Sect successors would appear in such a place.

As soon as Zhuo Kuanglan and the others arrived, they heard a laugh from one of the private rooms as a young man stepped out.

"Brother Zhuo, you guys are finally here. Please come in."

The young man was dressed in fire-red robes. He had sword-shaped eyebrows, eyes that shone like stars, and looked very elegant and suave. Moreover, his presence was not the slightest bit inferior to Zhou Kuanglan’s.

However, the most prominent part about him was the fire rune between his brows. It shone brightly in a mystical manner and was impossible to look at directly.

The other customers in the room were unable to remain calm at the sight of the young man and their faces rapidly filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Someone could not help but exclaim, "The Fifth Prince of the Fire Crow Clan, Lu Jiuge!"

A series of gasps rang out.

The Fire Crow Clan was a top-five clan in the West Infinity World and its saint, Lu Jiuge, was a legendary heaven pride.

When he was born, a fiery haze descended from the sky and coalesced into a fire rune that was branded onto his chest. This was known as the Fire Spirit Body and possessed incredible talent and potential.

Among the current younger generation of the West Infinity World, Lu Jiuge was an undisputed supreme heaven pride who was famous throughout the West Infinity World.

How could anyone not be astonished that such a legendary heaven pride had appeared here today?

One of the five true disciples of the Feather Sword Sect, Zhuo Kuanglan, and the Fifth Crown Prince of the Fire Crow Clan, Lu Jiuge, were here. For what purpose were these two supreme heaven prides meeting?

Everyone's curiosity was aroused in an instant.

So that’s the Fire Crow Clan's supreme heaven pride? His aura is very strong, and he possesses Cyclic Derivation cultivation. He’s not the least bit inferior to Zhou Kuanglan.

Lin Xun thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Xie Yutang also noticed Lin Xun's presence, causing him to be slightly stunned before quickly withdrawing his gaze.

This was tantamount to ignoring Lin Xun and showed that he had no intention of exchanging greetings.

Instead, when Lin Xun looked over, Xie Yutang's lips curled in a proud arc, feeling a slight sense of superiority.

Lin Xun inwardly chuckled. Did this guy really think that standing with Zhuo Kuanglan and Lu Jiuge would impress him and make him envious?

The Feather Sword Sect group soon entered the private room with the Fire Crow Clan’s Fifth Crown Prince, Lu Jiuge.

Lin Xun finished the last of his alcohol at this moment. He rose to his feet and walked toward another private room.

It was the room where the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan experts were seated.

"What's he doing?"

The other customers frowned. None of them felt any goodwill toward the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan.

Hence, they could not help but feel repulsed to see a human cultivator pay a visit to the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan experts.

"Covered in a cloak, and even his face is concealed by his hat. Someone who looks as sneaky as him can’t possibly be a good person and is probably about to commit some evil deed!"

Someone icily snorted. He did not dare to speak out too directly in fear of angering the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan experts, but did not hold back at all against Lin Xun.

"I heard that a bounty appeared on the News Tree earlier. It seems that the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan placed a bounty on a demon-god-like youngster. Could he be here to give information for the reward?"

"That does sound possible!"

"How shameless."

The customers conversed as they looked at Lin Xun in suspicion and disdain.

If not for the presence of the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan experts, their words would probably be even more offending and unpleasant.

Lin Xun felt a sense of helplessness. He knew that he was being misunderstood, but couldn’t be bothered to explain.

He arrived in front of the room, looked at the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan experts, and said, "I heard that anyone who can provide clues to the whereabouts of the bounty target will be heavily rewarded?"

The other customers could no longer sit still at these words as their expressions darkened. He’s scum after all! 

In order to get the reward, he even went so far as to snitch to the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan. It was simply shameless!

"People only care about money nowadays. Doesn’t anyone care about dignity and self-respect anymore?"

Since the customers didn’t dare to openly criticize him, they could only use sarcasm to mock Lin Xun.

"Do you guys want to die? If not, shut up!"

An icy bellow suddenly thundered from the room. It was a black-robed youngster with a long, narrow face and bewitching blood-red eyes who gave off a savage and intimidating aura.

Everyone immediately fell silent. Their expressions fluctuated indeterminately, not daring to speak.

Although they were resentful, they didn’t dare to openly clash with the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan, afraid it would bring them trouble.

Meanwhile, the black-robed youngster’s bewitching blood-colored pupils looked at Lin Xun and indifferently said, "You're right. As long as you provide a clue about that kid’s whereabouts, the one thousand high-grade aeth essences in this storage bag will be yours!"

Clang!

The black-robed youngster tossed a bag on the table and said, "You can tell us now."