With Qin Xuan's introduction, Jun Xiaoyao gained a basic understanding of the imperial city.
"By the way, are there any places in the imperial city where one can obtain source stones?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.
"Source stones?" Qin Xuan glanced at Jun Xiaoyao.
Her look clearly meant: How could someone who can casually produce supreme-grade divine source stones be lacking in regular source stones?
"I meant celestial source stones," Jun Xiaoyao clarified.
"Celestial source stones?" Qin Xuan was slightly shocked.
For someone of her level, supreme-grade divine source stones were already extremely rare opportunities. As for celestial source stones, she hadn't even dared to think about them.
"Oh right, I remember now. In a few days, at the Celestial Jade Tower, the pride of the Immortal Dance Zither Sect, the Heavenly Zither Lady, will hold a zither competition."
"If anyone can defeat the Heavenly Zither Lady in zither skills, they will receive a reward of three hundred celestial source stones," Qin Xuan suddenly said.
Jun Xiaoyao was somewhat surprised at hearing this.
He knew of the Immortal Dance Zither Sect, a top-tier prestigious sect that practiced the Dao through zither music.
In the past, the sect master of the Immortal Dance Zither Sect had once subdued four Saint King level experts with just zither music, causing the sect's reputation to soar.
The Heavenly Zither Lady was also a renowned beauty whose fame had spread far and wide, and was the sect's top genius.
"Though the Immortal Dance Zither Sect is a top-tier force, can they really produce three hundred celestial source stones?" Jun Xiaoyao questioned doubtfully.
"My lord may not know, but those celestial source stones were gathered by the Heavenly Zither Lady's followers, such as the young master of the Myriad Treasures Trading Company and the Third Prince of the Panwu Divine Dynasty."
"Wait, did you say the Third Prince of Panwu Divine Dynasty is one of the Heavenly Zither Lady's followers?" Jun Xiaoyao's eyes flickered.
"That's right. However, the Heavenly Zither Lady is an ice beauty with a proud personality. Even the Third Prince has pursued her unsuccessfully despite his best efforts," Qin Xuan said.
This wasn't really a secret; many people knew about it.
Jun Xiaoyao pondered as a plan gradually formed in his mind.
"My zither skills are ordinary, but dealing with this competition should be simple enough."
"If everything goes according to my plan, then Pan Wuling is done for," Jun Xiaoyao's lips curved into a confident smile.
Scheming against an immortal force was no simple matter.
But for Jun Xiaoyao, it wasn't an impossible task.
"Wu Mingyue was the first piece, and now this Third Prince of Panwu Divine Dynasty will be the second piece," Jun Xiaoyao mused to himself.
As time passed.
The imperial capital of the Divine Dynasty grew increasingly lively.
Every day, numerous top young talents from various prestigious sects arrived.
Before Wu Mingyue's selection of her consort and the Champion Marquis's challenge,
There was one event that caused a smaller sensation.
That was the zither competition to be held by the Heavenly Zither Lady of the Immortal Dance Zither Sect at the Celestial Jade Tower.
This Heavenly Zither Lady was another famous beauty of the Desolate Heaven Divine Realm.
However, she was an ice beauty who showed no interest in any young genius's pursuit.
Only the art of zither could spark the Heavenly Zither Lady's interest.
But the zither path was very niche - how many young geniuses in the entire Desolate Heaven Divine Realm truly mastered it?
This was why no man had yet caught the Heavenly Zither Lady's eye.
There was even a saying that went around:
If any man could conquer the Heavenly Zither Lady,
That man must surely be the God of Zither.
Of course, even with such a personality, those pursuing her were still as numerous as fish crossing a river.
The three hundred celestial source stones for this competition were sponsored by her various admirers.
...
The Celestial Jade Tower was one of the most luxurious and magnificent buildings in the imperial capital.
Just the entrance fee was ten low-grade divine source stones.
It could be said this was the most extravagant venue, only accessible to disciples of top sects, noble families of the Divine Dynasty, and geniuses of immortal forces.
Today, at the top floor of the Celestial Jade Tower, flower petals fell like rain and auspicious light filled the air.
Many young geniuses had gathered.
Apart from the upcoming Princess's consort selection banquet, this zither competition was considered the most grand event.
Among the scattered geniuses, many possessed shocking auras, all top talents from various forces.
In one VIP seat sat a young man wearing a magnificent crimson gold robe.
His face was handsome, his bearing composed, carrying the air of one in high position - he was the Third Prince of the Panwu Divine Dynasty.
Currently, his gaze was fixed with infatuation and yearning on the high platform.
On the platform, wreathed in mist,
Sat a woman wearing a red floral dress, her appearance cold yet elegant.
Her skin was extremely fair, her features extremely beautiful, with fingers like jade shoots and lips like vermillion.
A plain zither lay before her, and as she lightly stroked its strings, she appeared like an exquisite scene from a painting when viewed from afar.
This woman was the pride of the Immortal Dance Zither Sect, the Heavenly Zither Lady.
A woman who practiced the Dao through zither, pure as jade.
Now, her snow-white delicate hands, like mutton-fat jade, lightly plucked the zither strings, producing flowing notes that attracted spirit birds to circle the Celestial Jade Tower.
"Such music belongs only in heaven, rarely heard in the mortal realm..." the Third Prince listened entranced, praising endlessly.
The Heavenly Zither Lady's allure wasn't just her appearance, but also the aura emanating from her very being.
"Hearing the immortal lady's tune washes away all worldly dust..." On another side, a handsome young man with a noble air also sighed in appreciation.
He was the young master of the Myriad Treasures Trading Company.
The Myriad Treasures Trading Company was a rather famous merchant organization in the Desolate Heaven Divine Realm, with substantial power and trade relations with many immortal sects.
A large portion of the three hundred celestial source stones for this competition came from the young master of Myriad Treasures Trading Company.
Of course, while providing these celestial source stones pained them, it was all to win a smile from the beauty.
However, making the Heavenly Zither Lady smile was difficult.
Getting her to look at someone differently was even harder than ascending to heaven.
Just then, from the distant horizon came a golden phoenix bird pulling a carriage toward the Celestial Jade Tower.
Upon seeing the phoenix bird, many geniuses at the top floor of the Celestial Jade Tower were surprised.
"That's... a phoenix bird from Phoenix Spirit Mountain. Could it be that a successor of Phoenix Spirit Mountain has emerged?"
As people were wondering in shock,
The phoenix bird stopped in mid-air, and a graceful figure wreathed in red divine light stepped out of the carriage.
She had a pair of phoenix wings on her back, and her beautiful face was surrounded by divine light, making it hard to see clearly.
It was Feng Qingling.
After arriving at the imperial capital with Huang Xuanyi, she heard about the zither competition.
Since Feng Qingling was also skilled in zither music and felt competitive, she came alone to attend.
The Heavenly Zither Lady glanced at Feng Qingling but said nothing.
In terms of raw power, she might not match this successor of an ancient imperial clan.
But in terms of zither skill, she believed she was second to none among geniuses of immortal sects.
As time passed, various talented individuals had all arrived, and the competition was about to begin.
At this moment, a figure in white clothes, transcendent in bearing, stepped into the Celestial Jade Tower...