On the golden plaque, the three bold characters for "Yunxuan Pavilion" were written with sweeping, dragon-like vigor and a magnificent presence, making the nine-story pavilion look extraordinarily grand.
The interior decoration of Yunxuan Pavilion was even more resplendent with gold and jade, rivaling the palaces of emperors.
Every welcoming attendant was as pretty as a flower. Yunxuan Pavilion maintained extremely strict standards for its attendants, requiring them not only to be young and beautiful, but also to possess exceptional poise.
The compensation offered by Yunxuan Pavilion was so generous that it made every woman envious. Whenever Yunxuan Pavilion recruited attendants, a large crowd of young and beautiful women would gather around, a breathtaking spectacle that was famous throughout Desolate City.
The attendants' attitude and service were impeccably attentive.
Every cultivator who entered Desolate City, as long as they had the financial means to patronize Yunxuan Pavilion, would come here to sample its offerings, even emptying their purses just to experience that Supreme-level luxury.
Jiang Ruoxi was a princess of the Jiang Kingdom and the apple of the Jiang Emperor's eye. Possessing a noble status, she naturally chose to stay at the finest establishment in Desolate City, Yunxuan Pavilion, upon her arrival.
However, Jiang Ruoxi was willing to follow Chu Yu and stay anywhere at all, which amply demonstrated the depth of her affection.
Chu Yu took Jiang Ruoxi's small hand and walked into Yunxuan Pavilion.
"Oh, if it isn't Princess Jiang Ruoxi of the Jiang Kingdom? What, are you looking to enter Wèncāng Pavilion as well?"
A young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six walked over. He wore luxurious robes, held a painted fan, and exuded a faint imperial aura.
He was Jin Ye, the Fifth Prince of the Jin Kingdom. His aura was powerful, and his Dao fluctuations were formidable, marking him as an expert in the Dao Pattern Realm.
As early as two years ago, the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom had intended to arrange a political marriage with the Jiang Kingdom, having Jin Ye marry Princess Jiang Ruoxi of the Jiang Kingdom, but Jiang Ruoxi had decisively refused.
Yet Jin Ye refused to give up, lusting fiercely after Jiang Ruoxi's beauty. Hearing that the Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom, Chu Yu—who was originally supposed to marry Jiang Ruoxi next year—had been placed under house arrest in the Prince Wu Manor and completely reduced to a cripple, he could not help but feel a burst of joy and renewed hope.
When he noticed a tattered-looking youth holding Jiang Ruoxi's hand, his expression instantly darkened, and a flash of jealousy surged into his eyes.
"Who are you? How dare you hold Princess Ruoxi's hand?"
"He is my fiancé, Chu Yu, the Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom," Jiang Ruoxi said, her pretty face turning slightly cold.
Jin Ye was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief. Looking closely, although the youth before him wore ragged clothes, his demeanor between the brows was haughty and overbearing, undoubtedly the Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom, Chu Yu.
"Chu Yu, Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom, weren't your imperial bones stripped, your Dao Wheel destroyed, and shouldn't you be confined within the Prince Wu Manor of the Chu Kingdom? Why are you appearing here?"
"I don't seem to owe you any explanation," Chu Yu said coldly.
Jin Ye's expression turned ugly, and then he said mockingly, "Even if you managed to leave the Prince Wu Manor, so what? You've already lost the struggle for the Chu throne. Besides, there are only five rooms left in this entire Yunxuan Pavilion, and I've booked every single one of them. I'm afraid you won't be able to get a room here today."
Chu Yu frowned slightly. Yunxuan Pavilion having no vacant rooms was indeed a troublesome matter.
It didn't matter much to him where he stayed, but since Yunxuan Pavilion was undisputedly the finest restaurant in all of Desolate City, he really didn't want to wrong Jiang Ruoxi by making her stay somewhere else with him.
"Princess of the Jiang Kingdom, I am willing to cede one room for you to stay in free of charge. As for this Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom, just beg me; if this prince happens to be in a good mood, I might show some mercy and give you a room so you don't end up sleeping on the streets."
Seeing Chu Yu's slight frown, the look of triumph on Jin Ye's face grew even more intense.
"Big Brother Chu Yu, don't worry. I booked three rooms ahead of time. Elder Yang, Elder Shi, and Elder Jiang can share one room, and the two of us can each have our own," Jiang Ruoxi said with a smile.
Jin Ye was stunned at first, and then his face turned ashen with rage.
He had wanted to use this opportunity to thoroughly humiliate Chu Yu, trample the latter's dignity, and incidentally show Jiang Ruoxi that Chu Yu was now nothing more than a useless wastrel.
He never expected that Jiang Ruoxi had already booked rooms for Chu Yu in advance. This felt like a heavy slap across his face, leaving his dignity in ruins.
Turns out I was the clown all along?
At that very moment, Jin Ye wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
The next remark from Jiang Ruoxi made Jin Ye feel as miserable as death.
"Big Brother Chu Yu, our rooms are right next to each other, which will make it very convenient for me to wait on you."
Immediately afterwards, under Jin Ye's murderous glare, Chu Yu took Jiang Ruoxi's small hand and walked upstairs.
The rooms Jiang Ruoxi had booked were on the eighth floor of Yunxuan Pavilion, the best location where one could take in the entire view of Desolate City."Go take a bath first. I had this outfit specially made for you; see if it fits in a bit."
With that, Jiang Ruoxi walked out of the room.
Looking at the lively and cheerful Jiang Ruoxi, Chu Yu's mood lifted significantly, instantly sweeping away the gloom of the past days.
Just as Chu Yu finished his bath, Jiang Ruoxi's voice came from outside the door.
"Brother Chu Yu, are you done washing?"
"Yeah, just finished, I'm..."
Before Chu Yu could finish, Jiang Ruoxi impatiently pushed the door open, catching sight of Chu Yu completely naked.
"Ah, Brother Chu Yu, why aren't you wearing any clothes!"
Her pretty face flushing red, Jiang Ruoxi hurriedly covered her eyes. Yet she didn't cover them tightly, and, unable to curb her curiosity, she peeked through the gaps between her fingers at Chu Yu's body.
The young man before her was extraordinarily handsome with an exceptional appearance. His eyes were like cold stars, and his brows carried an imposing air of natural dominance.
With bronze-toned skin, a broad chest, and a robust, muscular physique, he looked like a fierce pixiu seated in judgment, or a mighty true dragon descending from the clouds.
Compared to his previous appearance in tattered clothes, Chu Yu was now a completely different person.
Seeing this, Jiang Ruoxi couldn't help feeling her heart flutter and her face flush.
"You're the one who barged in without waiting for me to finish, yet you're blaming me," Chu Yu said with a faint smile as he finished putting on his clothes.He clearly saw Jiang Ruoxi's lively eyes peering at his completely naked body through the gaps between her fingers, yet she said nothing to expose him.
When a woman truly likes someone, her lustfulness can surpass even a man's.
"I missed you so much, didn't I? That's why I couldn't wait to come right in and see you."
As she spoke, Jiang Ruoxi walked over to Chu Yu, helping him dress and comb his hair. Her delicate fingers grazed across his sturdy chest from time to time—seemingly accidental, but actually provocative.
"What a little enchantress!"
Chu Yu took a deep breath and muttered to himself.
A short while later, Chu Yu and Jiang Ruoxi left the room and headed out to get something to eat.
"Ninth sister, when did you arrive in Desolate City? Why didn't you let your older brother know?"
A man in luxurious garments walked over. In his early twenties, he was tall with a narrow face, radiating an insufferable arrogance.
Jiang Xiangbei, the Fourth Prince of the Jiang Kingdom. Chu Yu recognized him, though they were not close. However, Chu Lingfeng maintained a quite close relationship with Jiang Xiangbei.Jiang Xiangbei glanced at Chu Yu, seemingly unsurprised. The news of Chu Yu leaving the Prince Wu's Estate was no secret to him.
"You two, what a coincidence running into you here. As an elder brother, it shouldn't be too much to ask to join you for a casual meal, right?"
Inside Yunxuan Pavilion, administering a beating to Ruoxi's imperial brother.
Chu Yu had no fondness for Jiang Xiangbei and had no desire for anyone to intrude on the private time he shared with Jiang Ruoxi. However, since Jiang Xiangbei was Jiang Ruoxi's imperial brother after all, it would not be fitting for him to refuse outright.
Yet, a vague premonition told Chu Yu that Jiang Xiangbei's intentions were less than honorable.
Inside a superior private dining room at Yunxuan Pavilion, the space was exceptionally vast, adorned with luxurious and tasteful decor.
The calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls were all works of renowned masters, complementing the refined ambiance of the room.
The tables and chairs here were crafted from exceedingly precious timber, featuring intricate and complex carvings that looked remarkably lifelike—clearly the meticulous handiwork of master artisans.
Most people who entered Yunxuan Pavilion did not get to use the private rooms; simply enjoying the pavilion's fine food and service was already quite satisfying for them.
This was because the consumption fees for Yunxuan Pavilion's private rooms were exorbitantly high, far beyond what ordinary people could afford, and the superior rooms were even costlier.
A stunningly beautiful waitress with an exceptional demeanor handed the menu over to Chu Yu, Jiang Ruoxi, and Jiang Xiangbei.
How could such a peerless beauty fail to stir one's heart? No one knew how many guests came to Yunxuan Pavilion purely for a glimpse of the beauties.
Yet, lustful as some patrons might be, none dared to make a move inside Yunxuan Pavilion. It was said that once, a cultivator at the Void Dao Realm, overcome by evil desires, had his legs broken and was thrown out of Yunxuan Pavilion.
Chu Yu glanced over the menu roughly; every single dish carried a hefty price tag. Even the vegetarian ingredients reached the level of spiritual herbs, while the meats all came from powerful ferocious beasts.
From this, one could tell that the forces backing Yunxuan Pavilion were extraordinary.
"Bring us a snow lotus bear paw, a braised white goose, a steamed white spirit fish, and a green-mystic soft-shelled turtle and wolfberry soup..."
Jiang Xiangbei reeled off more than a dozen dishes in one breath. Every single one was exceptionally expensive, worth no less than a tier-three spiritual herb, and two of the dishes even reached the level of holy herbs.
Even the meals in the imperial palace of the Chu Kingdom were probably no more extravagant than this.Jiang Ruoxi kept making eyes at Jiang Xiangbei. She knew that Chu Yu had just escaped from the Prince Wu's Estate and probably didn't have much money on him. While she wouldn't mind paying the bill herself, she was afraid it would hurt Chu Yu's pride.
Chu Yu, on the other hand, didn't care at all. A meal meant nothing to him financially, and even if Jiang Xiangbei hadn't ordered so much, he wouldn't have skimped on treating Jiang Ruoxi.
"That'll do for now, and bring a jar of dew nectar wine as well," Jiang Xiangbei said, tossing the menu to the waitstaff of Yunxuán Pavilion.
A single jar of dew nectar wine cost the equivalent of a grade-five saint medicine!
"Ruoxi, is there anything else you'd like to eat?" Chu Yu asked.
Jiang Ruoxi gave a sweet smile and replied, "Whatever Brother Chu Yu likes to eat, I love to eat."
"Then bring a portion of snow-jade lotus seed soup, and some camel milk and spirit mushroom soup..."
Chu Yu reeled off a dozen more items in one breath. Jiang Ruoxi's expression grew increasingly worried, while Jiang Xiangbei wore a mocking look.
"With the confidence to order so much, it seems the Ninth Prince hasn't had such a bad time after all since escaping Prince Wu's Estate?" Jiang Xiangbei said sarcastically.
"Generally speaking, it's not bad at all," Chu Yu replied indifferently.
Jiang Xiangbei let out a cold snort, his eyes turning slightly chilly. With so many dishes ordered, the total price would be nearly one hundred thousand profound spirit stones!
One had to know that a hundred profound spirit stones was enough to cover the living expenses of an ordinary family for an entire year.
Since Chu Yu had escaped from Prince Wu's Estate penniless, he wanted to see how this fellow planned to clean up the mess when the bill came due!
Jiang Ruoxi quietly slipped a spatial ring to Chu Yu, wanting him to use the money inside to pay the bill.
Chu Yu didn't take it. Instead, he gave Jiang Ruoxi's small hand a gentle squeeze, signaling her to eat her fill without worry.
After waiting for about half an hour, all the dishes and fine wines were finally served. They were rich in color, aroma, and flavor, instantly whetting one's appetite.
"This is wonderful. Even the chefs in the imperial kitchens of the Chu Kingdom couldn't cook anything better than this." Chu Yu said as he picked up food for Jiang Ruoxi.
The two of them chatted and laughed, leaving Jiang Xiangbei completely out in the cold. The public display of affection was laid on thick, and Jiang Xiangbei's expression grew uglier by the minute.
The better the relationship between Chu Yu and Jiang Ruoxi, and the more affectionate they were, the more agonizing it was for Jiang Xiangbei!
In Jiang Xiangbei's eyes, a prince who had been banished from the imperial city of the Chu Kingdom had no right whatsoever to be with Jiang Ruoxi.
Chu Lingfeng wielded the Jiuzhou Heavenly Emperor Sword, had condensed the True Dragon Dao Wheel, and had acquired the Emperor Bone; he was destined to become the Supreme and was the only one worthy of Jiang Ruoxi.
If Jiang Ruoxi married Chu Lingfeng, he would gain Chu Lingfeng's support, giving him hope of becoming the next Emperor of the Jiang Kingdom!
"Brother Xiangbei, if you're full, you can leave first. There's no need to stay here and keep us company," Chu Yu said calmly. He and Ruoxi hadn't seen each other in a long time, so naturally they had endless things to say. This meal wouldn't finish in an hour or two.
Ever since he had tasted Jiang Ruoxi's soft and delicate lips last time, Chu Yu had been yearning for them ever since. Having been apart for so long, he was itching for a taste of Ruoxi's little mouth again.
Jiang Xiangbei lingering here and refusing to leave was simply a massive nuisance.
"Hmph, trying to chase me off so my sister can pay your bill? In your dreams! Today, this prince is going to make sure you're thoroughly humiliated!" Jiang Xiangbei thought to himself. Aloud, he claimed he wasn't in a hurry and wasn't afraid of being stuffed with their romance, stubbornly refusing to budge from the private room.
An hour later, the meal finally came to an end. Chu Yu could clearly feel that his cultivation had improved by a small margin.
He had to admit that Yunxuán Pavilion's exorbitant prices certainly had their justification.
"My lord, your total comes to one hundred and thirty thousand profound spirit stones," the waitstaff of Yunxuán Pavilion said.
One hundred and thirty thousand profound spirit stones—even more expensive than Chu Yu had imagined.
Jiang Xiangbei's expression turned mocking. After enduring nearly two hours of public affection, he had finally waited for this moment.
"Heh, Chu Yu, I suppose you can't cough up one hundred and thirty thousand profound spirit stones, can you? But I can understand—a prince banished from the imperial city, who managed to escape Prince Wu's Estate by sheer luck, being completely broke is only natural," Jiang Xiangbei said with disdain, casting a look of utter contempt at Chu Yu.
"Chu Yu, if you beg this prince, I might just pay the bill for you. However, from now on, I expect you to stay far away from Jiang Ruoxi. Given your current circumstances, how could you ever be worthy of a princess of the Jiang Kingdom! When Ruoxi marries Chu Lingfeng, she will undoubtedly secure the position of Empress of the Chu Kingdom in the future. Please stop insulting the reputation of the Jiang Kingdom's princess."
"Jiang Xiangbei! Shut your mouth!"
A flash of anger instantly rose on Jiang Ruoxi's pretty face. Though she and Jiang Xiangbei were born into the imperial family, they were not born of the same mother, and there was no deep bond of brotherhood and sisterhood to speak of.
She would never allow anyone to make irresponsible remarks about the relationship between her and Chu Yu.
Far from shutting up, Jiang Xiangbei became even more unbridled, lecturing her in a stern tone: "Ninth Sister, I'm only doing this for your own good!"
Jiang Ruoxi was just about to flare up when Chu Yu stood up.
"The things in here should be more than enough to cover this meal. Consider the rest as a tip."
As Chu Yu spoke, he tossed a storage artifact to the waitstaff of Yunxuán Pavilion.
The waitstaff was also a cultivator. When her spiritual power seeped into the storage artifact, she immediately realized that the various treasures inside were worth no less than fifteen thousand profound spirit stones.
"Thank you, my lord!" the waitstaff said in pleasant surprise. A tip of over twenty thousand profound spirit stones was not something every customer was generous enough to give.
"Chu Yu, where did you get this money?!"
Jiang Xiangbei's expression instantly turned as ugly as if he had swallowed a fly.
"That's none of your concern, Brother Xiangbei. Pardon us for not accompanying you further. Next time, if you want to suck up to Chu Lingfeng, go kneel in front of him and stop showing off in front of me," Chu Yu said calmly. Taking Jiang Ruoxi's small hand, he walked out of the private room.
Jiang Xiangbei's mouth twitched with rage and frustration. Pointing a finger at Jiang Ruoxi, he let out a loud roar: "Jiang Ruoxi, you cheap woman! Refusing to marry Chu Lingfeng who has a boundless future, and instead taking a fancy to this trash Chu Yu, making eyes at him—you have no shame, you're bringing disgrace to our—"
Chu Yu's eyes turned cold. Before Jiang Xiangbei could finish, he flashed and appeared right in front of him, bringing his palm down hard across Jiang Xiangbei's face.
*Crack!*
A crisp sound echoed out. The slap sent Jiang Xiangbei's mouth bleeding, leaving a clear palm print on his face.
"Chu Yu, how dare you lay a hand on me!" Jiang Xiangbei said, somewhat dazed from the blow and finding it hard to believe.
"I hit you because you deserve it!" Chu Yu shouted, following up with a punch straight to Jiang Xiangbei's face.
In a fury, Jiang Xiangbei tried to retaliate, but Chu Yu grabbed him tightly by the throat.
A terrifying devouring force invaded Jiang Xiangbei's body, devouring his spiritual power and Dao power to the core, to the point where even his Dao Wheel felt as though it was about to be sucked away.
"What kind of power is this?!" Jiang Xiangbei's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with horror.
What kind of terrifying power was this that could even devour a person's Dao Wheel?
"Considering that you are Ruoxi's imperial brother, I'll spare your life this time! From now on, I will beat you every single time I see you! If I ever hear you utter another word insulting Ruoxi from that mouth of yours, don't blame me for taking your life!"
With that, Chu Yu released his grip and left with Jiang Ruoxi.
Jiang Xiangbei collapsed onto the floor, a large patch of his pants soaked through. Shaken to the core, his eyes were filled with sheer terror!
Chu Yu, who had been stripped of his Emperor Bone and whose Dao Wheel had been crippled, had somehow become even more terrifying.
After leaving Yunxuán Pavilion, Chu Yu planned to take Jiang Ruoxi for a stroll around Wasteland City.
Even though it was already evening and the sky was growing dark, the streets of Wasteland City were still bustling with a continuous stream of traffic and pedestrians, and all kinds of stalls offered endless goods.
"Brother Chu Yu, I want this!"
"This little bell is so pretty. Will you buy it for me, Brother Chu Yu?"
"That hairpin is so lovely, I want that too!"
In less than the time it took to burn two incense sticks, Jiang Ruoxi's hands were already full of various items—snacks and toys alike. Holding Chu Yu's hand, she chattered happily like a little parrot.
"Brother Chu Yu, look, there are sugar figurines over there! They look so delicious, will you buy one for me?"
"I really don't know what to do with you."
Chu Yu smiled and said. In front of others, this young woman was a lofty, frost-cold princess, but in front of him, she somehow turned into a complete child.
"What a coincidence! We meet again!"
An extremely ill-timed voice rang out, and immediately Jin Ye's figure walked over.
Chu Yu frowned slightly. He had already run into Jin Ye when they first arrived at Yunxuán Pavilion; this guy really was like a ghost that wouldn't quit.
"Brother Chu Yu, you're a prince of a kingdom after all. Isn't it a bit too humiliating to bring the princess of the Jiang Kingdom to shop at street stalls?" Jin Ye said sarcastically, pulling out a wooden box. When opened, it revealed a glowing, translucent bead.
A majestic wave of heaven and earth spiritual energy and Dao aura emanated from the bead.
Moreover, one could clearly sense that the surrounding spiritual energy and Dao aura of heaven and earth were converging toward this bead.
The gazes of many people nearby were drawn toward Jin Ye.
"That is... the Saint Profound Bead?!" someone cried out in shock.
This was an extremely rare treasure, nothing short of a divine object, capable of gathering the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy and Dao aura.
Carrying a Saint Profound Bead around had the effect of doubling one's cultivation progress with half the effort.
Even powerhouses above the Void Dao Realm would turn green with envy at the sight of it.