Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

In Sky Night Royal City, there were many incredible locations for one to visit. However, there was always a single location that had the highest degree of prominence and raved reviews from all those who spoke its name. This location was called the Tian. It was a simple name, but it resounded gloriously throughout the city for having exclusive clientele, the greatest wine within all of Presba, and food that could make one a glutton.

This was the general consensus to all those who've had the luxury and privilege to dine at this restaurant.

The building was rectangular in design, with three floors total, each ascending floor taller in height than the other. The walls were constructed from dreamwood, a material commonly used in the creation of beds or chairs to emit an overly comfortable and pleasing sensation towards one's mind. The floor was paved with silver-gold wood that many didn't know the name of. It had the odd effect of naturally gathering essence energy from the air and releasing a stimulating air that could promote one's cultivation.

Simply staying in this restaurant for an hour could amount to a day of cultivation outside. There was a myriad of pillars placed intricately and meticulously around, each had unique inscriptions on them that gathered essence from the air and released it even thicker into the atmosphere. This coupled with the floors created a unique cycle that caused the air within the restaurant to become incredibly rich and comfortable for cultivators.

If a Qi Revolving cultivator could practice in this area for a week, they would immediately progress to the Essence Formation Realm with zero issues to their foundation.

On the second floor reserved for those with prominent status, but not ones that rival half-step True Essence Cultivators, were five youths - three females and two males. They were exchanging conversation regarding various things, including cultivation, and other juicy details of the city. Each and every one of these youths had prominent statuses given to them by their masters, clans or sects.

"Sun Huan is late...again." A beautiful young woman with long, fiery crimson hair and blazing red eyes frustratedly remarked. Her body was exquisitely elegant, and her lips had a fiery red that made it look exceptionally plump filled with juicy flavor. She was Li Ruogang, the daughter of the half-step True Essence Grand Elder within the Li Clan. Her status was exceptionally profound, capable of rivaling any of the three ladies within Grux.

"Why do we even care about him?" A handsome youth dressed in an elegant blue-robe questioned, his tone obviously filled with displeasure that others cared about Sun Huan. Despite this, his expression was calm and aloof. Ke Zedong was a member of the Ke Clan, his father and mother were both highly prominent members of their generations. His father was a warrior with a cultivation at the peak-Origin Core Realm while his mother held a recently attained title of a low-rank grand-tier alchemist.

Unlike the Xiāo City's Lord who was an official mid-rank grand-tier alchemist who produced many grand-tier elixirs and pills over the course of centuries. Despite this, she was still highly regarded amongst her peers.

"..." A stoic male looked about with calm indifference that was far more real than Ke Zedong, he was dressed in black with a spear leaning softly on his thighs. However, deep within those eyes, one could feel a faint battle intent that seemed to want to fight the heavens. He was the Dark Mist Palace's Core Disciple, Hei. Similar to Tao, he had no clan name or family line.

"He's coming." A bespectacled, scholar-like young woman with short black hair voiced. She corrected her glasses position with a slight push of her index finger, keeping her eyes honed to an open book in her hand. Despite her actions, no one voiced any objection to her actions. She belonged to the Earthly Fortune Palace with a high status, and similar to Hei, her name consisted of only hers: Mei.

The last individual had long brunette hair, soft brown eyes that seemed to contain clear water, and a beauty that could rival any woman in this room. She was Ya Qinqan! They were all gathered in conversation, a gathering of those with high talents and potential that may dominate Presba in the future. None of these characters here could be slighted.

As for Sun Huan, he didn't have a family-line, but he was a Core Disciple of the Solitary Sword Sect. Typically, those without a family-line were born as orphans and adopted by sects or clans. They would simply be given the name of the Clan or a clan within the sect and their own names.

Yan Zaizen looked at this three-storied but oddly proportioned building with an inquisitive eye. From Sun Huan's mouth, it seemed this location was incredibly prominent within the city and home to many talents and people of high talents. However, despite his words, he didn't seem to truly care much about this place.

"We're here." Sun Huan had a bored expression, losing any excited demeanor he once had. Witnessing this, Yan Zaizen felt a little awkward. He was here for free food, not really caring about Sun Huan's problems. After eating, he'd take his leave. As for the geniuses gathered in the Star Night Royal City? He had little interest in it.

"Gathered here to discuss the Heavenly Fortune Auction, yet having very little capital to get anything truly worthwhile." Sun Huan muttered, obviously feeling this gathering of talents that he was forced to attend by his superiors was irrelevant. However, the Heavenly Fortune Auction prickled Yan Zaizen's ears.

"Heavenly Fortune Auction?"

With the most unenthusiastic tone one could make, he replied, "Yes. It's something held once every century. Even True Essence Cultivators will be there, they'll be bidding for all sorts of miraculous treasures! Unfortunately…"

I see.

They were too poor to get anything worth shit.

Yan Zaizen couldn't help but inwardly chuckle at this. However, the Heavenly Fortune Auction made his eyes shine with excitement. What if he sold the pills and elixirs in this auction? Wouldn't a storm be created and the wealth he could claim be massive? Although Tao and Bai Lufeng would definitely dislike this, he could purchase a lot more useful things to him at the moment.

Like a grand skyship!

They walked into the restaurant. A young girl with a soft-like beauty greeted them, but seeing Sun Huan, she nodded and informed them that they were allowed to proceed to the second floor.

The place truly felt extraordinary to Yan Zaizen, his eyes flickering with various lights of interest. The floor, walls, and pillars were extraordinary. Even the smell was heavenly! He licked his lips in excitement, he would truly break this young man's wallet if given the chance.

If someone offers free food, you take them for the ride of their lifetime! One filled with regret!!

Well, he did make that girl angry, he deserves it. Mhm, definitely deserves it!

His eyes flickering with a malicious light, chuckling evilly inside, but his stomach was rumbling with anticipation. Sun Huan felt a chill run down his spine as he felt sudden danger, but after scanning the area, he couldn't feel any.

"Perhaps...I'm imagining thing…" He couldn't help but silently mutter to himself in comfort.

"Finally, you're here!" Ke Zedong said with hints of impatience. They entered the room under the urging of a waiter, arriving in the VIP closed off area filled with elegant paintings and exquisite design patterns etched everywhere. There were many different formations etched in this room, one that isolated sound, prevented qi or soul sense from penetrating, and defensive formations making it incredibly resilient.

As Yan Zaizen walked in, the five had their gazes pulled towards him. Each one of them had differing expressions, ranging from indifference, curiosity, surprise, anger, and disbelief. Hei was indifferent, Mei had curiosity in her gaze as she studied Yan Zaizen's masculine features and sculpted-like physique, Li Ruogang was surprised, Ke Zedong held anger within his eyes, and Ya Qinqan was in disbelief at the appearance of a new individual.

"Who the hell is this?!" Ke Zedong exploded, questioning with fury at Sun Huan's obvious disrespect for not only being late but inviting someone new without notice. Not to mention, this person was exceptionally handsome, and that would lessen his chances of taking any of these girls as his own.

"He's my sworn brother. You have a problem with that?" Sun Huan eyes turned sharp, his body exuded an aura filled with a domineering sharpness that was even greater than Bai Lufeng's at its essence. Despite this, he was only at the peak-Essence Formation Realm.

All of them were.

They were developing their foundational realms — Dantian Refinement & Pathway Expansion — so their realms were rather low in comparison to those who've skipped those realms. However, how could that mean they're weak? Each one of these individuals had high status with an extraordinary foundation; their battle prowess would rival normal Qi Unification experts, perhaps even those at the mid-stage!

Ke Zedong flinched slightly at this, his momentum obviously lessening greatly at those words. He snorted coldly and looked unconcerned. He was obviously afraid of this Sun Huan.

Yan Zaizen's eyes widened with shock so intense that his mind seemed to have been shaken. His reaction was noticed by all those in the room, curious as to why he was eyeing Ya Qinqan in such a way.

"You…" His words trailed off.