Chapter 321: Peerless Beauty

Ye Fan had heard of the Heavenly Demon Palace and the Golden Family before. Even before arriving in Holy City, he had seen members of the Golden Family from the Northern Plains riding their horses majestically through the sky, as if trampling over common folk.

"They are all super forces, on par with the Holy Lands," Li Heishui whispered, chuckling. "Tonight, we just need to wait for a good show to unfold."

"Over there, a dragon boat much larger than ours appears to belong to a Prince of Great Xia," Ye Fan said, looking in that direction.

"That's right, that pure and ethereal little nun in white is also here. It's quite interesting for siblings to visit a place like this together," Li Heishui chuckled.

In the distance, the Prince of Great Xia, with his flowing black hair, exuded a vibrant aura. His divine iron battle armor shimmered brightly, and nine streams of dragon energy swirled around him, making him appear as majestic as a Heavenly Emperor descending to the mortal realm.

Beside him, the innocent little nun, with her large, dark eyes, looked around with wide-eyed curiosity, observing everything with unfeigned wonder.

"He's here too..." Ye Fan was taken aback.

On the shore, a golden divine lion roared, its body ablaze with brilliant divine light. A white-robed man sat upon it, radiating a sacred and refined aura, his elegance tinged with heroism.

Some individuals, even amidst a vast crowd, stand out immediately. They appear to be heaven's favorites, unable to avoid drawing attention.

"Jiang Yifei..."

This was Jiang Yifei, a disciple of the Jiang family. On the first day in the Southern Domain, he had taken the young girl and Old Man Jiang back to their clan. Ye Fan was deeply impressed by him and had even suspected that he might be the Jiang family's Divine Physique.

"How are little Tingting and Old Man Jiang doing?" Ye Fan murmured to himself. Time had flown; four years had passed in an instant, and he wondered how the grandfather and granddaughter were faring.

Ye Fan hadn't spent much time with them, but it was the first time in this world he had felt a sense of home. The time they spent together was very comforting.

The golden divine wolf, its entire body glowing, walked across the lake surface, its four hooves seeming to tread on the moonlight. Jiang Yifei, in his snow-white robes, and the roaring beast were exceptionally striking, appearing like deities descended to the mortal realm.

"Such a person is clearly extraordinary," even Li Heishui remarked in admiration.

"Do you know who the Jiang family's Divine Physique is?"

"It's a great mystery; no one knows," Li Heishui replied, shaking his head.

"Maybe it's him."

"No way!" Li Heishui exclaimed in surprise.

Before long, they reached the deepest part of the vast lake, where a faint chill intertwined with a sacred aura. The crystal-clear lake water shimmered, giving the impression they had arrived at the mythical Qionghai Sea.

"Quite a few powerful figures have arrived," Li Heishui commented, looking in another direction.

There, a large ship shimmered with dark light, and upon it stood a stern man in black, appearing unapproachable.

"This is Xu Heng, the eldest grandson of the Third Great Bandit, Xu Tianxiong," he explained. "Xu Heng is considered the paramount master among the bandit's descendants, invincible wherever he goes, and a peerless expert among the younger generation of the Eastern Wasteland."

"That's Xu Heng?" Ye Fan studied him closely.

Xu Heng's skin was exceptionally fair and translucent, like frost or cold snow, yet it carried no hint of femininity. His sharpness was contained, like a divine sword concealed within its sheath.

"You and Tu Fei were truly bold to have suppressed his younger brother. Be very careful not to let him know about it."

All the boats stopped in the deepest part of the vast lake, as the Phoenix Boat, adorned with fresh flowers, was directly ahead.

In mid-air, the Heavenly Palace, adorned with elegant designs, stood majestically, creating an ethereal sensation. Immortal music wafted from it, as if descending from the nine heavens.

Nine women danced gracefully under the night moon, like celestial maidens descending to the mortal realm. Their enchanting movements captivated the heart and mind.

Even Ye Fan had to admit that the beautiful female cultivators, who ventured into the mortal world, truly possessed endless charm.

Even the most beautiful mortal women could not dance in the air with such ethereal grace. For many, these were fairies straight out of a dream.

Someone arrived, riding a holy sword that radiated divine light, illuminating the Lake of Myriad Desires in an instant. It was a man in yellow, dashing and with a noble bearing.

"The Saint Son of the Great Evolution Holy Land... Xiang Yifei." Ye Fan was surprised that these individuals arrived without any attempt to conceal their identities.

"That's not right," Li Heishui said, sensing something amiss. "The Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, the successor of the Golden Family, the Prince of Great Xia, the exceptional talent of the Jiang family, and Xiang Yifei of the Great Evolution Holy Land – given the power of their respective forces, which stand at the pinnacle, they shouldn't be so overt. They ought to be concealing their identities."

Ye Fan nodded. "You're right. After all, the Myriad Desires Convent doesn't have a good reputation. Why would these individuals be so high-profile? There must be a reason we're unaware of."

Both agreed that something unusual must be happening. Otherwise, even if these prominent figures came for leisure, they would still guard their reputations and not reveal their true selves.

Suddenly, the music in the sky ceased, and silence descended. Ahead, An Miaoyi, clad in white, stood gracefully, her robes fluttering in the wind. She seemed otherworldly, as if she wished to ascend beyond the mortal realm.

"I once fretted that too much worldly delight would harm my cultivation; yet, to retreat into the mountains, I feared chilling my master's heart. How can one achieve a perfect balance in this world: to neither forsake the nameless Dao nor disappoint you, my cherished one?"

A celestial voice drifted across the night sky. An Miaoyi's dark hair danced, her presence ethereal and otherworldly. She possessed innate grace, with jade bones and unparalleled immortal beauty.

Everyone was momentarily stunned. "Miaoyi" (妙) clearly referred to the Myriad Desires (妙欲) and worldly temptations, "nameless" (无名) to the Great Dao, and "Qing" (卿) was a respectful address. The meaning of her words was strikingly clear.

"Can one truly achieve both in this world?" An Miaoyi's voice resonated, and her beautiful eyes swept over everyone present.

Everyone was surprised she would utter such words. Did she intend to leave the Myriad Desires Convent and retreat into the mountains to become a recluse, perhaps wishing to escape the convent's notorious reputation?

There were many jade boats on the lake, and everyone was stirred, realizing that this most beautiful woman of the Eastern Wasteland was indeed extraordinary.

"Fairy An, I understand your plight. I am willing to go into seclusion with you in the mountains!" Someone immediately called out.

"Plop!"

Unfortunately, this outspoken individual was quickly disliked by others and pushed into the lake.

"Fairy An, you are elegant and ethereal, like a divine moon in the heavens. You should break free from the Myriad Desires Convent, leave this quagmire. I am willing to journey with you."

Although this person didn't explicitly suggest "seclusion in the wilderness together," his meaning was very similar and quite blunt. Consequently, he was also pushed into the water.

"You are a beauty of this generation; you should certainly distance yourself from worldly desires. I am willing to journey to Central Plains with Fairy An."

"Plop!"

Yet another outspoken individual was pushed into the lake, drenched. Others dared not speak, fearing they would become public enemies.

"Difficult, difficult, difficult... Let us simply discuss the Dao tonight." An Miaoyi's voice was incredibly melodious, seemingly drifting down from the nine heavens.

"What exactly does she mean? Does she genuinely wish to become a holy fairy, unwilling to be tainted by worldly desires?" Even Li Heishui showed a look of surprise.

An Miaoyi wished to select a few individuals for an all-night discussion on the Dao, but not wanting to disappoint others, she decided to play a zither melody and perform a graceful dance under the moonlight.

Her snow-white gown billowed as she ascended into the air. Behind her, a gigantic bright moon appeared, perfectly framing her figure within its glow.

The brilliant divine moon, approximately three meters in diameter, enhanced her ethereal holiness, truly making her resemble the legendary Chang'e. She danced with heavenly grace, captivating all.

Not far away, a shimmering jade zither floated in the air. An Miaoyi, with her flawless skin and exquisite form, danced within the divine moon, exquisitely graceful, like the Heavenly Goddess Xuannü descending to the mortal realm.

With her delicate hands, she gently plucked, sending out specks of divine light that struck the distant zither strings, producing celestial music. As she danced, immortal radiance flowed from her, settling upon the jade zither.

An Miaoyi's dance was unparalleled, making onlookers believe a goddess had descended, while her zither music was nothing short of celestial, stirring uncontrollable emotions in all who heard it.

Her ability to dance within the divine moon while simultaneously playing such celestial music from afar astonished everyone, leaving them utterly entranced.

Suddenly, birds flew into the night sky, each carrying shimmering petals in their beaks, and began to dance around her. Everyone below was utterly stunned.

A shower of petals drifted down from the sky, releasing a fragrant scent. Hundreds of birds danced in unison with her, an utterly unbelievable sight that astonished and captivated the onlookers even further.

An Miaoyi's voice soared, her beautiful song echoing in all directions. Even the fish in the lake leaped from the water, dancing to her rhythm.

Her mastery of song, dance, and zither was astounding. Even Ye Fan was awestruck. This unparalleled beauty, renowned as the most exquisite woman in the Eastern Wasteland, was truly remarkable. Her performance, approaching the realm of the Dao, displayed a beauty truly without equal.

Within the divine moon, crystalline petals rained down. She danced gracefully as harmonious sounds filled the air, with hundreds of birds joining in and fish leaping from the water – all creating a marvelous spectacle.

The zither fell silent, the dance ceased, and the song ended, leaving the world in profound quiet. It was a long time before many people awoke as if from a dream; everyone had been completely mesmerized.

"Miaoyi wishes to discuss the Dao with all of you."

An Miaoyi, like an ethereal spirit under the night moon, gracefully ascended into the ornate palaces and jade halls. Amidst the sprawling complexes, she disappeared into a jade pavilion.

Many people, just awakening from their trance, scrambled to rush into the sky, all eager for a closer encounter with her.

"It's over," Li Heishui declared. "This woman has captivated my heart. She truly possesses a unique and special charm."

"Brother Hei, you haven't fallen so quickly, have you?" Ye Fan chuckled.

"Listen, little Ye Zi," Li Heishui countered, "at your young age, don't act like you've seen through all worldly affairs and are the only one clear-headed. A young man encountering such a woman should be captivated; otherwise, it's simply not normal."

A faint smile played on Ye Fan's lips. "Alright then, let's discuss it. Whether she genuinely intends to leave the Myriad Desires Convent to become the holiest fairy in the Eastern Wasteland, or if she's simply manipulating hearts with this display, let's find a way to take her away. What do you say?"

Li Heishui shot him a sideways glance, then clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on," he said, "Brother Hei is going to win over that beauty."

In the night sky, the ornate palaces and jade halls glowed with radiant light, resembling celestial structures, making observers wonder if they were dreaming.

An Miaoyi had already entered. Outside the vast structure, people stood gathered, all blocked by a barrier of immortal light. Only a handful were able to follow her in.

"This is the Dao Comprehension Immortal Gate. Unless one has gained a certain insight into the Great Dao, they simply cannot enter. Aside from a select few, cultivators below the Four Extremities realm will certainly be blocked," Li Heishui explained with surprise.

The Prince of Great Xia, striding majestically, radiated dragon energy skyward. His divine iron battle armor gleamed like that of a Heavenly Emperor descending. The Dao Comprehension Immortal Gate could not impede him; it automatically parted, and he strode in, bringing the little nun in white with him.

Whoosh!

With a flash of light, the Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, his purple robes fluttering and his eyes profound, calmly stepped inside.

Next, Xiang Yifei, the Saint Son of the Great Evolution Holy Land, appeared on his holy sword and flashed inside, leaving only a trail of sacred light.

From the distant sky, a golden divine lion stepped on the moonlight, carrying a man in snow-white robes. He leaped into the air, his demeanor refined and ethereal. Jiang Yifei also entered the immortal gate.

Ye Fan's heart skipped a beat. This person was indeed not simple. He suspected even more strongly that he was the Jiang family's Divine Physique.

"Why are these individuals revealing their true identities?" He pondered this question once more.

"Brother Hei, it's all on you. I can't use my divine power. I suspect that person just now might truly be the Jiang family's Divine Physique, and they would sense my presence."

"Alright, I'm on it!" Li Heishui stepped forward. A segment of a Dao imprint surged out, causing the Dao Comprehension Immortal Gate to open automatically. He and Ye Fan calmly walked inside.

A total of over a dozen individuals were able to enter. Without a doubt, all of them were peak experts of their generation, having reached the Four Extremities Realm.

Ye Fan looked around and recognized about half of the individuals, all of whom hailed from prominent backgrounds.

The Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, the Golden Family's successor, Xu Heng, Xiang Yifei of Great Evolution, the Saint Son of Myriad Beginnings, Jiang Yifei, the Prince of Great Xia, and the little nun in white were among them.

Those who had arrived earlier had already begun their discussions. Ye Fan and Li Heishui found a spot and sat down.

"Miaoyi has heard that the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body possesses unparalleled combat strength among those of the same cultivation level. Do any of you know the truth behind this?" An Miaoyi asked softly, her bright eyes clear and kind, completely lacking the seductive charm often associated with the Myriad Desires Convent.