Chapter 125: Invited as a guest, first meeting Jiuxiao

Ye Li and Qin Yixuan's fame spread across Zhongzhou, bringing far more than just their rising prestige and the secret plotting of Youge. On the seventh day of their retreat at the Xuanyun Sect's headquarters, digesting their secret realm discoveries and consolidating their Divine Ability Realm cultivation, an unexpected guest quietly arrived.

The newcomer wasn't announced through normal channels, but rather appeared without warning in the residence's living room, blending into the light and shadows. At the time, only Mu Yun, Ye Li, and Qin Yixuan were present to discuss the next steps.

She was a middle-aged woman dressed in a moon-white robe with cloud patterns. She looked no more than thirty, yet her demeanor was elegant and regal, with the detached serenity of someone who had long held a high position. She emanated no powerful spiritual energy, seeming to blend seamlessly with her surroundings. Yet, when her gaze swept over her, even Ye Li, already at the Divine Ability Realm, felt an invisible pressure, emanating from her very being.

This woman's cultivation is unfathomable!

"I apologize for my intrusive visit, Fellow Daoist Muyun and the two young friends." The middle-aged woman smiled slightly, her voice gentle yet filled with an undeniable authority. Her gaze lingered on Ye Li for a moment, a subtle flash of surprise passing through her, before she focused more on Qin Yixuan. Her gaze held scrutiny, inquiry, and an indescribable... anticipation.

Mr. Mu Yun felt awe in his heart and stood up and bowed: "May I know who you are?" He could feel that this woman was no ordinary cultivator. Her aura was ethereal and lofty, far surpassing many Nascent Soul cultivators he had seen.

"I am Yun Ying, the guide of the 'Jiuxiao Tiangong'." The middle-aged woman spoke calmly and reported her origins.

Jiuxiao Heavenly Palace!

These four words exploded in the living room like thunder!

Lay Buddhist Muyun's pupils suddenly constricted, and an expression of shock spread across his face. Ye Li's heart was also shaken, and his eyes became extremely solemn. Only Qin Yixuan seemed unfamiliar with the name, but seeing the reactions of his master and Ye Li, he knew that the identity of the newcomer must be extremely extraordinary.

Jiuxiao Palace! This place is legendary even among the top powers in the spiritual world! It's not a traditional sect or family, but more like a detached supervisory and arbitration organization, rarely interfering in worldly affairs. Yet, its heritage and strength are unfathomable. Rumor has it that it has inextricable ties to the ancient mythological era, and may even harbor ancient beings beyond the realm of supernatural powers! Even the ancient imperial clans and sacred places of Zhongzhou hold Jiuxiao Palace in high esteem.

Why would a guide from such a powerful force suddenly descend upon the Xuanyun Sect's temporary base? Their targets were clearly Ye Li and Qin Yixuan!

"So it's Envoy Yunying. My apologies!" Monk Muyun quickly suppressed his shock and spoke more politely, "I wonder what brings you here, Envoy?"

Envoy Yunying's gaze fell upon Qin Yixuan once again, this time, no longer concealing his admiration and solemnity. "I have come here for the champion of this Thousand Territory Pride Conference, and especially for you... young friend Qin Yixuan, who possesses the essence of the 'Nine Profound Goddesses'."

Nine Profound Goddess!

This address caused Qin Yixuan's delicate body to tremble slightly, and a trace of confusion and throbbing flashed in her beautiful eyes. The moment she heard this address, the divine essence within her body rippled uncontrollably, as if encountering an aura of the same origin.

Ye Li's heart was in turmoil! Nine Profound Heavenly Maiden! This was her biggest guess about her identity based on her past life memories and the various strange behaviors with Qin Yixuan! Now, this messenger from the Nine Heavens Palace had revealed it! The other party was obviously very familiar with this power!

Emissary Yunying observed Qin Yixuan's reaction and nodded slightly, her tone tinged with reminiscence and emotion. "Indeed, it's true. 'Nine Mysterious Goddesses' is one of the ancient supreme deities who controls the water element of heaven and earth, creates life, and patrols the heavens. Her origin and inheritance can only be inherited by those with great luck and great karma. It is a great opportunity for my friend to receive this inheritance, and it is also a blessing for our spiritual world."

She paused, then turned her gaze to Ye Li, also with a hint of amazement: "As for friend Ye Li, you're not even 10 yet, but you've already entered the realm of supernatural powers. Your strong foundation, extraordinary understanding, and unique understanding of the laws and artistic conception are rare throughout the ages. Even more rare is that you and friend Yi Xuan have a harmonious aura and complementary paths. It's truly a destiny."

The words of the Yunying messenger seemed to contain some kind of strange power, which directly revealed the most core secrets of the two people, making Ye Li and Qin Yixiuan feel as if they were completely seen through, and their vigilance became even greater.

"Your Excellency is too kind." Ye Li calmly protected Qin Yixuan behind him and said calmly, "I wonder what advice the Heavenly Palace has for us two?"

Envoy Yunying didn't take Ye Li's caution seriously; instead, her eyes lit up with admiration. She pulled out a token, neither gold nor jade, entirely white, engraved with a nine-tiered palace pattern. The token exuded a gentle yet majestic aura.

"I am here on the orders of the Celestial Palace Elders Council to formally invite you two to visit the Nine Heavens Palace." Envoy Yunying handed the token to the two. "Within the palace, there are secret realms and inheritances more suitable for young Yixuan to awaken and master the essence of the celestial maiden. There are also endless collections of books and the experience of predecessors that will help young Yeli strengthen his foundation and explore the great way. This is a rare opportunity for you two."

Heading to the Jiuxiao Palace? !

Mu Yun Jushi's breath caught. Jiuxiao Heavenly Palace, that was a sacred place coveted by countless cultivators in the spiritual world. It was said that the concentration of spiritual energy within it far exceeded that of the outside world, and it contained countless lost ancient books and secret techniques, and even lectured by great masters of unparalleled cultivation. To receive such an invitation was undoubtedly a great fortune!

However, Ye Li didn't immediately agree. She stared at the Jiuxiao Order, her mind racing. The Jiuxiao Palace, aloof from the world, suddenly extended an olive branch to them. Was it really simply because they valued their talents and Qin Yixuan's divine essence? Or was there a deeper motive? Was this connected to the "Dark Pupil," the past-life enemy, or the "Eclipse World" plan?

She doesn't believe in free lunch.

"I am deeply honored by the kindness of the Heavenly Palace." Ye Li carefully considered his words, "However, this matter is of great importance. We need to discuss it with the elders of the sect, and we also need time to prepare ourselves. I hope the envoy will give us some time."

Envoy Yunying seemed to have anticipated Ye Li's hesitation and was not surprised. She smiled and said, "Of course. The Jiuxiao Order is here. You two can use it at any time to pass through any inter-domain teleportation array in Zhongzhou and reach the Jieying Hall outside the Heavenly Palace. The gates of the Heavenly Palace are always open to you."

She gently placed the Nine Heavens Order on the table, her gaze sweeping over the two of them again, lingering for a moment on Qin Yixuan in particular. She spoke meaningfully, "My dear Yixuan, your origin has begun to awaken, but the road ahead is long and filled with danger. The Heavenly Palace may be your best choice right now. It can help you more quickly master your power and understand your mission."

After she finished speaking, she nodded slightly to Mr. Muyun, and her figure faded and disappeared silently, just like when she came, as if she had never appeared.

There was a brief silence in the living room.

Mr. Muyun looked at the Jiuxiao Order on the table with a complicated expression, a mixture of excitement and worry. He looked at Ye Li and Qin Yixuan: "Li'er, Yixuan, what do you think?"

Qin Yixuan gently picked up the warm token, feeling the majestic and pure energy contained in it, as well as the faint sense of joy and closeness coming from the origin of her body. She looked at Ye Li with questioning eyes.

Ye Li walked over to her, took her hand, and felt the aura of the token, her brow furrowed slightly. The aura of the token was peaceful, with a sense of vast brightness, completely different from the cold and dead silence of the "Dark Eyes" she had encountered before. But this did not completely dispel her doubts.

"Jiuxiao Palace is aloof from the world, and its invitation is indeed a chance." Ye Li said slowly, "But precisely because of its aloofness, its motives are even more unpredictable. Especially since they know so much about Yixuan's divine origin..."

She looked at Qin Yixuan: "Yixuan, how do you feel?"

Qin Yixuan pondered for a moment and said, "The aura of this token makes my essence feel very comfortable, even a little eager. That Yunying envoy also gives me an indescribable feeling of intimacy, as if we share the same blood. But," she changed the subject, her eyes clear, "as Ye Li said, we know very little about their purpose, so we must be on guard."

Mr. Muyun nodded. "It's always better to be cautious. Jiuxiao Palace has a good reputation and doesn't seem to be a treacherous organization, but the outside world knows very little about its internal factions and past history. This matter really requires careful consideration."

At this moment, Ye Li's expression changed, sensing the urgent message that Lin Feng had sent through Youge's special channel. She separated a ray of her spiritual consciousness to read it.

The content of the message made her eyes suddenly turn cold.

"Master, Yixuan," Ye Li raised his head, his tone solemn, "I just received news that in the past few days since we returned to the base, more than one wave of unidentified spies have been spotted around the base, among whom... there's the presence of 'Dark Eyes'. Also, it seems that the Bishui Pavilion has encountered some 'unexpected' troubles."

Mr. Muyun and Mr. Shuijing (who learned about it through Qin Yixuan) both changed their expressions at the same time.

"'Dark Eyes'... is so rampant!" said Mr. Muyun angrily.

"It seems that even if we want to keep a low profile, there are still people who won't." Ye Li sneered, his eyes once again falling on the Jiuxiao Order. "The invitation from Jiuxiao Palace may be... a place where we can temporarily avoid the spotlight and buy time. At least, there, 'Dark Eyes' shouldn't be able to reach in."

Qin Yixuan held Ye Li's hand tightly, her eyes firm: "Wherever you go, I will go."

Master Muyun looked at the two, knowing full well that they were no longer fledglings in need of complete protection, but rather eagles capable of facing the elements on their own. He sighed, then sighed with relief, "Since you've made your decision, I support you. While the Jiuxiao Palace may be a dangerous place, it also offers a shortcut to the heavens. With your temperament and strength, you should be able to handle it. I'll be there to take care of the sect, so there's no need to worry."

"Thank you, Master (Senior)!"

Having made their decision, the two felt more at ease. Over the next few days, they continued to consolidate their cultivation and familiarize themselves with the power of the Divine Ability Realm. They also used Youge and Lin Feng to more covertly transfer and deploy their forces in preparation for their journey to the Nine Heavens Palace. Ye Li even secretly gave Lin Feng some of the resources she had obtained from the Secret Realm and the Tianjiao Association, as well as some treasures that were unsuitable for transport, to use for Youge's development in Zhongzhou.

Ten days later, Ye Li and Qin Yixuan bid farewell to Mr. Mu Yun and Mr. Shui Jing, and without disturbing too many people, quietly came to the largest cross-domain teleportation array in Zhongzhou - the "Ancient Starry Sky Array" located in the center of Tiandi City.

After presenting the Nine Heavens Order, the monks guarding the teleportation array immediately became extremely respectful, even a little awed. They activated the formation leading to the specific coordinates.

Accompanied by the brilliant starlight and the majestic power of space, the two figures disappeared in the teleportation array.

This time, the teleportation was far longer and more stable than any before. It was like traveling through a stable channel constructed of starlight, surrounded by the flowing galaxy and chaotic scenery, magnificent and magnificent.

After an unknown amount of time, a little light appeared in front of us and expanded rapidly.

When the light faded and they felt grounded, they found themselves on a vast white jade platform suspended above an endless sea of ​​clouds. At the end of the platform stood a towering palace gate, piercing the heavens and exuding an aura of timelessness and majesty. Above the lintel, four large characters were engraved in ancient divine script:

Jiuxiao Heavenly Palace!

Several figures were already waiting before the palace gates. Leading them was none other than the previously encountered Guide Yun Ying. Beside her stood several men and women of extraordinary bearing and equally unfathomable cultivation. Judging by their attire, they were likely other deacons or elders of the Heavenly Palace.

Seeing Ye Li and Qin Yixuan appear, Envoy Yun Ying showed a gentle smile on his face.

"Welcome to the Jiuxiao Palace."