Star Martial Soaring Cloud

The small bronze wind chime hanging from the maid's waist is the symbol of Fengyuxuan.

To avoid trouble, Wang Xiao arrived just before the trial registration deadline and even disguised himself a little, but it seems that these preparations did not play a significant role.

"Kid, your chance has come. Remember what I said about 'conquering'?"

"Aren't you going?"

Kung Pao Chicken shook his head like a rattle-drum: "No way! That Su Qinhe is obviously clueless about romance, I'm not going. You go by yourself, I'm going to a brothel!"

Wang Xiao shook his head helplessly and nodded to the maid: "Please lead the way."

Walking along the winding bluestone alleys, avoiding the noisy crowds, we headed towards the west side of Lishan City.

The deeper you go, the quieter the streets become, and the buildings on both sides change from noisy inns and taverns to elegant courtyards and pavilions, with a faint fragrance of bamboo and wine gradually spreading in the air.

Before long, an elegant villa came into view. Surrounded by lush bamboo and with a babbling brook, the villa's blue bricks and gray tiles were hidden among the greenery, exuding a tranquil seclusion.

The maid led him to the courtyard gate, bowed, and withdrew, saying softly, "The Holy Maiden is already waiting inside the courtyard."

Wang Xiao pushed open the door and entered, then stared in astonishment.

Beside the stone table in the courtyard, a figure in moonlight stood quietly, her black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall, her face, unadorned, pure and ethereal.

The veil that had concealed her face had been removed, revealing a pair of eyes as clear as moonlight, sparkling with starlight. Her nose was delicate and straight, and her lips were like cherry blossoms.

She seemed to be surrounded by a faint halo, her figure was light and graceful, and her steps were unhurried, like a celestial being descending to earth, untouched by the dust of the world.

"Young Master Wang, please have a seat." Su Qinhe spoke, her voice still clear and cool, but with a touch more genuine gentleness than before. She raised her hand to indicate, "A small meal has been prepared, please accept it as a token of my respect."

Wang Xiao withdrew his gaze, calmly sat down, and glanced at the stone table—two sets of bowls and chopsticks, a pot of fine wine, and several plates of exquisite side dishes.

"The saintess summoned me alone just to fulfill her promise and let me see her beautiful face?"

Su Qinhe personally filled his wine glass. The wine was clear and had a delicate aroma. Upon hearing Wang Xiao's playful words, she paused noticeably while pouring the wine.

She pushed the wine glass towards Wang Xiao before slowly sitting down, looking at him sincerely: "This invitation is firstly to fulfill a promise, and secondly to express my gratitude to Young Hero Wang."

"Thank you?" Wang Xiao drank the wine in one gulp. The wine was mellow and warm, which dispelled most of the fatigue from the journey.

"It was you who helped me win a resounding victory in the duel against the Flower Shadow Sect." Su Qinhe's tone was filled with relief and gratitude. "Within the Wind and Rain Pavilion, there have always been two factions. The Tianxuan Sect, which I lead, is responsible for connecting with the upper-class sects, noble families, kings, and generals; while the other faction is the Flower Shadow Sect, led by Yan Zixi, the number one Flower Shadow in the Nine Provinces, which specializes in connecting with the lower-class merchants and wandering rogues, making a living through singing, dancing, and other arts."

She paused, then continued, "For a long time, the two factions have been engaged in open and covert struggles, each displaying their abilities to vie for the highest authority in Fengyuxuan. Business battles are also commonplace. In the past, we were mostly evenly matched, and even when we won or lost, the difference was minimal. However, this time in Zhongyun City, the gambling turnover far exceeded expectations, several times that of the Huaying faction during the same period."

At this point, a sharp glint flashed in Su Qinhe's eyes: "This battle has further solidified my position in Fengyuxuan and made the Elders' Council pay more attention to Tianxuan Sect. Ultimately, this achievement stems from Young Hero Wang's courage and strategy."

"Yan Zixi is also one of your Fengyuxuan people?" Upon hearing this, Wang Xiao understood and was even more shocked.

He had heard of Hua Ying's name. Yan Zixi was known as the "Number One Beauty in Kyushu". She was a master of both singing and dancing. Her song "Rainbow Skirt" could attract hundreds of birds to pay homage to the phoenix, and her song "Surprising Beauty" could make the Milky Way lose its color. Her performances were so popular that they were unparalleled in Kyushu.

Wherever she goes, the streets are packed with people. No matter the size of the city, as soon as news of her performance spreads, the streets will be filled with followers from all directions within half a day. Even the eaves and treetops are crowded with people, all just to catch a glimpse of her.

Tickets to her performances are incredibly rare and expensive.

Tickets sold out instantly every time they went on sale, and some high-ranking officials and nobles were even willing to spend tens of thousands of taels of gold to get a front-row ticket.

Her fans are spread across all social classes in Kyushu, from royalty and generals to wealthy merchants and wandering heroes. Even elders of many reclusive sects have disguised themselves to watch her performances, willingly captivated by her.

However, after hearing Su Qinhe's words, Wang Xiao understood—such a person must have an extraordinary background.

"Zixi has always been competitive and we've never gotten along. From childhood to adulthood, anything I've ever wanted, she'll stop at nothing to snatch it, from a small piece of jewelry to a major business deal, without exception," Su Qinhe continued, a hint of apology in her voice. "The Zhongyun City incident was a crushing defeat for her, and she certainly won't let it go. The only reason she hasn't made a move yet is because she's busy with her tour in Dongbin and hasn't been able to get away yet. Once her tour is over, she'll definitely come to find you as soon as possible."

No wonder Su Qinhe came forward personally and expressed her gratitude so solemnly; she had inadvertently become embroiled in a conflict between two vast oceans.

"You're too kind, Holy Maiden. My relationship with Feng Yuxuan is mutually beneficial, so there's no question of one thanking the other. As for being actively pursued by the most beautiful woman in the Nine Provinces, upon closer examination, it's not such a bad thing after all."

"That may be true, but I will remember this kindness." Su Qinhe said, slowly taking out a spirit stone from her sleeve.

The spirit stone was as smooth and lustrous as solidified fat, and when touched, it seemed as if warm jade flowed around it. As soon as it appeared, a faint spiritual energy of heaven and earth lingered around it.

She gently placed the spirit stone on the table. It was about the size of a palm, and inside the stone seemed to be a miniature starry sky.

Eight halos of light—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, indigo, purple, and white—intertwine and flow, not simply superimposed, but intertwined and permeated each other like living things, sometimes condensing into filaments and wandering, sometimes diffusing into a misty haze.

Each ray of light exuded an extremely pure elemental aura, spreading out in wisps and strands, causing subtle energy ripples in the surrounding air. Even the green bamboo beside the stone table seemed to be nourished, its leaves becoming even more lush and vibrant.

"This is an Eight Elements Stone, pure in texture, containing an extremely rich concentration of the eight elements of heaven and earth, enough for Young Hero Wang to open his sea of ​​primordial energy and comprehend the eight elements of heaven and earth." Su Qinhe pushed the Eight Elements Stone toward Wang Xiao, "It's a small token of my appreciation, I hope Young Hero Wang will accept it."

Wang Xiao's gaze fell on the Eight Elements Stone, and he could clearly feel the pure energy contained within it. Even in Lishan, the Eight Elements Stone of such quality was extremely rare.

"So, Fairy Su really came all this way to see me." Seeing the other party's sincerity, Wang Xiao no longer addressed her as "Holy Maiden," but he was not in a hurry to accept the gift. He looked up at Su Qinhe and said, "Such a generous gift, I suppose Fairy Su has something else in mind."

"Young Master Wang is indeed wise. I have already opened up the Sea of ​​Yuan Qi, so naturally I will not participate in the Lishan Trial." Su Qinhe did not hide anything and said frankly, "I have come here today to ask for another request—I hope that we can form an alliance during the trip to Demon Island a year from now. I suppose your participation in the Lishan Trial is also in preparation for the trip to Demon Island?"

Seeing that Wang Xiao did not answer, she added, "The trip to Demon Island is extremely dangerous, and the Immortal Epiphyllum is the target of everyone's attacks. It is difficult to win by fighting alone. If you and I form an alliance, Fengyuxuan can provide you with detailed information about Demon Island, including the growth location of the Immortal Epiphyllum over the years, the dangerous places on the island, the habits of various monsters, and even the rare and precious materials you need."

"Of course, I also have my own selfish motives," Su Qinhe said sincerely. "I hope you can support my faction in the internal strife within Fengyuxuan."

She looked at Wang Xiao with sincere eyes: "I know it's a bit much to ask of you to rashly get involved in the internal strife of Fengyuxuan. If you're unwilling, I won't force you. I just hope you can remain neutral and not side with either side. After all, with your talent and strength, you will surely become a pivotal figure in Kyushu in the future. It's always better to have one more friend than one more enemy."

A brief silence fell over the courtyard, broken only by the babbling of the stream and the soft rustling of the bamboo leaves in the breeze.

Wang Xiao's fingertips caressed the wine glass, his gaze fixed on the eight-sided stone, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

The Fengyuxuan faction is powerful, and Su Qinhe's invitation is indeed very tempting, especially the intelligence and support from the Demon Island, which is crucial for his preparations for the Demon Island campaign.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Xiao slowly spoke, "I have felt Fairy Su's sincerity. I will accept the Eight Elemental Stones, and I can agree to the alliance for the trip to Demon Island. However, the internal strife within the Wind and Rain Pavilion is your family matter and has nothing to do with me."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Su Qinhe's eyes, then she nodded with relief: "Thank you! Neutrality is sufficient. With your words, I am relieved. With your cultivation level, the Lishan Trial is naturally no problem for you, Brother Wang. However, you should keep an eye on the Hua family; it seems they have participated in the entire family." She stood up and bowed slightly to Wang Xiao. "Now that we have reached a consensus, I will not disturb you any longer. Information regarding the trip to Demon Island will be sent to you on time when we arrive at Demon Island."

Wang Xiao also stood up and nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, Fairy Su."

Su Qinhe said no more, turned and left, her figure as light as a butterfly, and soon disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest.