This young girl — lovely and charming in her golden feathered robes — was extraordinarily arrogant and held Ye Fan in absolute contempt.

This left Ye Fan at something of a loss. He had suffered a pure and undeserved calamity. He had not provoked her in the slightest — yet simply by walking alongside Qin Yao, he had been met with such hostility.

“A disabled vessel like you is completely unworthy of Sister Qin Yao. You’d best leave while you can — stop chasing after impossible dreams.”

This young girl’s name was Jin Yan. Her golden feathered robes gleamed brilliantly, their radiance tracing the lovely curves of her graceful figure, making her quite a sight to behold. Yet her words were utterly without mercy.

Ye Fan shook his head indifferently. “Little girl, I can’t be bothered to stoop to your level.”

“There is not a single quality in you that can compare to geniuses like Golden Feather, Bitter Bamboo, and White Phoenix. Don’t embarrass yourself here,” the girl in the golden robes said coldly.

“Little girl, you’re being completely unreasonable. You haven’t even tried to understand the situation — I can’t be bothered to say much more to you.” Ye Fan began to ignore her.

The group proceeded along the streets of the demon city, pausing from time to time. Many old shops selling precious materials were places where they stopped to browse.

Jin Yan — the young girl in the golden feathered robes — occasionally transmitted privately to mock Ye Fan: “If you truly wish well for Sister Qin Yao, disappear right now. Never come back. The world of true geniuses is something you will never understand — you and we inhabit entirely different worlds.”

Being treated with such hostility and subjected to constant mockery, Ye Fan grew somewhat irritated and could not help saying: “Little girl, what did you eat today? A dragon? Ten elephants? Are you overfed and idle with nothing better to do?”

“You…” The young female demon Jin Yan shot him a fierce glare, and at last fell quiet — though her hostility only deepened.

“This old shop has an air of grandeur and ancient elegance — it feels like it’s been here for a good while,” Tu Fei remarked.

By the roadside stood an old shop called the Phoenix Soaring Studio — a sizeable establishment with a certain commanding presence, with quite a few people going in and out.

The female demon walking alongside Tu Fei smiled. “This is the Phoenix Soaring Studio, established eight hundred years ago by the Phoenix Soaring Old Ancestor. It’s quite well-known within the demon city.”

Jin Yan also nodded, her chin held high with an air of pride. “The Phoenix Soaring Old Ancestor was a veteran subordinate of the Green Serpent King — one of the first generation to enter this small world. The demon city itself was built by those forebears.”

Tu Fei clicked his tongue in amazement. “A figure from eight hundred years ago — if still alive today, their power would be terrifyingly formidable, wouldn’t it?”

The female demon beside him nodded. “That goes without saying. They may not be comparable to great powers, but they are unfathomably deep.”

Qin Yao nodded as well. “Those forebears who followed the Green Serpent King — very few remain now. Their lives have reached their end, with little life span left.”

Ye Fan immediately thought of the old demons he had seen outside the Green Serpent King’s treasury — each one had been like an oil lamp nearing its end, the flame of their life on the verge of being extinguished. The Phoenix Soaring Old Ancestor must have been one of them.

“Let’s go in and have a look — White Phoenix might be inside,” Jin Yan said with a smile, taking Qin Yao by the hand and walking in at the front.

The Phoenix Soaring Studio was permeated with an ancient atmosphere. Various spirit medicines were sealed in semi-transparent jade boxes, faint medicinal fragrances wafting out, with several demon race cultivators gathered nearby to browse.

The demon race placed great importance on the cultivation of the physical body, and so many of the spirit medicines here were related to bone-tempering and marrow-cleansing — all rare and precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures, refined and processed, and priced accordingly.

On the other side were various weapons — treasured arms of the demon race, each with their own distinct character: fans made from refined feathers of powerful demons, with five-colored divine light flowing across them; protective garments forged from scales shed during the transformation of old demons.

Within the Phoenix Soaring Studio stood a white-robed young man with an air of elegant refinement — his long black hair cascading like a waterfall, his gaze clear and bright. He appeared to be the proprietor of this establishment.

Jin Yan, the young female demon in golden feathered robes, called out with sweet delight: “White Phoenix — you really are here!”

The white-robed young man immediately rose to greet them. “I only returned from outside today, so I came to the demon city to have a look.”

“Sister Qin Yao is here to see you,” Jin Yan said, taking Qin Yao by the arm and stepping forward.

Qin Yao’s figure was as graceful as a willow in the breeze, her long skirt trailing the ground, her curves captivating, light rippling in her eyes. She tapped Jin Yan on the forehead with a jade finger. “Little girl, stop saying whatever comes into your head.”

Jin Yan smiled sweetly and said nothing more — but in secret, she transmitted to Ye Fan: “Do you see? That is White Phoenix — a genius of the Dao Palace Fifth Level who can enter the Four Extremes Secret Realm at any time. Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself?”

Ye Fan was at something of a loss. This girl named Jin Yan had truly set her sights on antagonizing him — even ignoring her was doing no good.

Ignoring her, Ye Fan turned to the Great Black Dog. “Black Emperor — see if there are any good materials worth collecting.”

He and the Black Emperor moved to one side and began browsing. After all, this was an eight-hundred-year-old establishment — there were indeed quite a few precious materials to be found.

After wandering around, Ye Fan came to the section displaying unusual stones. The Phoenix Soaring Studio also sold origin stones, much like a gemstone gambling house.

On the weathered purple sandalwood shelves, stones of various sizes were displayed — around thirty or so pieces in total, ranging from walnut-sized to washbasin-sized, with none that were excessively heavy.

A thought stirred in Ye Fan’s heart. He felt these stones were somewhat extraordinary, as they carried a faint trace of the primordial aura.

At that moment, Tu Fei, Qin Yao, and the others were examining a five-colored feathered fan — its colors extraordinarily vivid, with five-colored divine light flowing across its surface.

“This treasured fan was made from feathers shed by the Phoenix Soaring Old Ancestor, then refined by him personally into a Phoenix Feathered Fan. It is an exceptionally rare and precious weapon,” White Phoenix explained.

“I’ve long heard of this precious weapon — they say it can reduce a great mountain to ash with a single sweep,” Jin Yan exclaimed in wonder.

“I’ve also heard of the Phoenix Feathered Fan,” Tu Fei’s companion said, unable to put it down. “It is a rare and extraordinary treasure — a weapon once used by the Phoenix Soaring Old Ancestor himself. How many origin stones does this weapon cost?”

White Phoenix smiled and shook his head. “It’s not for sale — it serves as the shop’s centerpiece treasure.”

“It’s actually a gift White Phoenix intends to give Sister Qin Yao — so don’t get your hopes up,” Jin Yan teased.

“Is that so…” the young female demon said with regret.

“Little girl, you’re asking for a scolding — why do you always talk nonsense?” Qin Yao shot her a glance.

“White Phoenix, you’d better hurry up and give it. There’s a certain toad from the Southern Region who’s been eyeing Sister Qin Yao,” Jin Yan said, casting a glance toward Ye Fan not far away.

“Stop your nonsense!” Qin Yao swept her a look.

“He is…” White Phoenix frowned.

“His name is Ye Fan — he’s been quite well known lately,” Jin Yan said.

The fact that Ye Fan possessed the primordial aura root of all things was already known to quite a few among the demon race in this small world. Upon hearing the name, a flash of cold light passed through White Phoenix’s eyes — and then, with a smile on his face, he stepped forward.

“Young brother Ye — are you interested in these stones?” White Phoenix came to stand beside him and asked.

“I am indeed thinking of selecting a few,” Ye Fan said with a nod.

“These stones are all fine specimens, obtained by the Phoenix Soaring Old Ancestor in his earlier years. Over so many years, what remains is not much,” White Phoenix said with a smile of introduction.

Ye Fan understood — the Phoenix Soaring Old Ancestor had been a subordinate of the Green Serpent King and had certainly plundered the mineral fields of the Holy Lands. These stones must have come from such a source. He selected a few pieces, though he did not intend to have them cut open here.

“It seems young brother Ye is quite well-versed in this area. The origin stones you’ve chosen should all yield some origin upon cutting,” White Phoenix said with a nod of approval.

Suddenly, the Great Black Dog grew very agitated and transmitted to Ye Fan: “That broken pot over there is strange — ask him where he got it from!”

Hearing this, Ye Fan turned to look in the direction indicated. There was a collection of damaged weapons, and among them was a bronze pot — missing its spout, dull and lacking any luster.

He walked over and held it in his hands for a close examination. The bronze pot was quite heavy, yet there was nothing particularly special about it. The only notable feature was a pattern engraved on the lid — of an unusual shape, somewhat resembling a ghostly face.

“This bronze pot is damaged and yet it hasn’t been discarded — does it have some particular origin?” Ye Fan asked.

“Does young brother Ye see something in it?” White Phoenix asked.

“I’m just asking offhandedly — does it truly have some sort of origin?”

White Phoenix took it in hand and said, “This is something I and some friends brought back from outside. If I’m not mistaken, it should be an artifact from before the ancient era.”

“What?! That can’t be!” Those standing nearby — Tu Fei, Qin Yao, and the others — were all astonished.

White Phoenix shook his head. “This is no great treasure in itself. The only thing of value about it is the mysterious Dao patterns inscribed on its interior, which have preserved it from decay all this time.”

“Don’t tell me you discovered a great treasure vault?” Jin Yan’s eyes lit up.

“It was only a small relic site — but certain unusual things were indeed found there.”

The Black Emperor immediately could no longer sit still, apparently very agitated, and transmitted urgently to Ye Fan: “Get more out of him — you must find out exactly where it was discovered!”

“Does this broken pot have some sort of origin?” Ye Fan asked in surprise, transmitting secretly to the Great Black Dog.

“The broken pot itself is not that remarkable — what matters is the significance of the place where it was buried!” the Great Black Dog said, so excited it was nearly trembling.

“Be more specific so I can make a better judgment and draw more out of him,” Ye Fan transmitted.

“Do you remember the Cloud-Severing Mountain Range? I once said that it was the cultivation site of a formidable figure,” the Great Black Dog said, gritting its teeth. “It now appears that may not have been the only site. There may be somewhere more important — where the true sacred object might be buried.”

“Just what kind of formidable figure is this? Is his background significant?” Ye Fan pressed further.

“Of course. If word got out, the entire Northern Region would go mad,” the Great Black Dog said gravely. “You must find out exactly where they obtained this broken pot.”

Ye Fan held the bronze pot in his hand and thought for a moment. “The ghostly face pattern on here — it looks somewhat familiar. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before, though I can’t recall where right now.”

“Oh? Is that so?” White Phoenix was startled.

Jin Yan, the young female demon, sneered: “Putting on a show of deep insight. How long have you been in the Northern Region? What could you possibly know of its history?”

Ye Fan was indeed bluffing — it was all to draw out more information.

“How improper of you!” White Phoenix reprimanded her, then turned back to Ye Fan with a smile. “This evening, the exceptional young figures of our demon race are holding a gathering — would young brother Ye care to join us for a few drinks?”

“That might not be appropriate — I don’t know any of them,” Ye Fan replied tactfully.

“What does that matter? You and brother Tu Fei will both come as honored guests,” White Phoenix said with a smile.

“Why are you inviting him?” Jin Yan, the young female demon, was deeply displeased.

Qin Yao shot her a glance, then turned to Ye Fan with an enchanting smile. “You may as well go and have a look — perhaps these are the very people who will one day hold dominion over the demon race of the Northern Region.”

“In that case, I offer my thanks in advance — I’ll be sure to attend,” Ye Fan said with a smile and a nod.

That evening, a dazzling palace hall was filled with many of the demon race’s young powerhouses. Even Yan Ruyu and the one dressed in cyan had arrived.

A group of beautiful demon maidens danced gracefully through the great hall — their feathered gauze half-translucent, their figures captivating, their movements enchanting.

Throughout the palace hall, jade tables had been arranged, attended by young demon race powerhouses of elevated status, feasting on fine delicacies. Fragrant wine drifted through the air, melodious music floated on the breeze.

Many young outstanding talents had gathered together — it was a lively affair, and cups were raised in a round of toasts.