173: Chapter 173 We knew this all too well.

Two hours later, they arrived at the Great Xia Imperial Capital.

This was a city majestic to the extreme.

The city walls were a hundred meters high, built entirely of black basalt, with countless defensive Formations inscribed on the surface.

Inside the city, pavilions stood in great numbers, the streets were wide, and the flow of people was like a weave.

The air was filled with rich Spiritual Qi, more than ten times stronger than in Cloud City.

This was the political, economic, and cultural center of the Great Xia Dynasty.

It was also the Holy Land that countless those who Cultivate dreamed of.

"Finally here."

Xia Youchu looked at the familiar city before her, a trace of complexity flashing in her eyes.

In her past life, she had lived here for a hundred years.

She Cultivated here, fought here, and ascended to the imperial throne here.

Now that she had returned to the Imperial Capital again, her emotions were inevitably stirred.

"Let's go, let's enter the city."

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing said.

The three of them landed on the ground and walked into the city.

The Imperial Capital had an anti-air Formation; unless one had special permission, flying was not allowed.

After entering the city, Xia Youchu led Ling Tian and Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing straight to the most prosperous district of the Imperial Capital.

"Let's find a place to stay first, then go and ask for some information," she said.

"There might be some changes in the Imperial Capital recently, so we need to find out in advance."

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing nodded.

The three of them came to an Advanced restaurant called the Drunken Immortal Tower.

This place not only provided accommodation but also served delicious food; it was a famous place for recreation in the Imperial Capital.

"Three guests, please come in!"

The waiter greeted them enthusiastically.

But when he saw Ling Tian's massive body that was 350 meters tall, the smile on his face froze.

"This Lord, our restaurant... might not be able to accommodate you..." the waiter said stammeringly.

Ling Tian's current size was indeed too large.

Although the Drunken Immortal Tower was not small, if he wanted to let Ling Tian in, he would probably have to tear down the building.

"It's fine, I'll wait for you outside," Ling Tian said with his consciousness.

He didn't have any interest in ordinary food anyway.

Inside this Drunken Immortal Tower, the only thing he was interested in was the Drunken Immortal Tower itself.

"Alright then." Xia Youchu nodded.

She and Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing walked into the restaurant, while Ling Tian lay down on the plaza outside the restaurant, closing his eyes to rest.

However, not long after they went in, a commotion came from inside.

"Move! Move!"

"Young Master Zhou has booked the place! Everyone else, get out!"

Several arrogant voices rang out.

Immediately after, a group of gorgeously dressed Young Masters walked in swaggeringly, surrounding a young man in brocade robes with an arrogant expression.

The young man in brocade robes at the head looked to be in his twenties, with a cultivation at the Peak of the Yuan King stage, and a sense of arrogance of a superior between his brows.

He was followed by two lackeys, and it was they who had just shouted.

The diners in the restaurant saw this group of people, and their expressions changed; they all lowered their heads, not daring to say anything more.

Obviously, this group had a significant background.

"Innkeeper!" A lackey walked to the counter and shouted, slapping the table.

"The Drunken Immortal Tower is booked by our Young Master Zhou today!"

"All guests, clear out immediately!"

"The costs will be compensated double by Young Master Zhou!"

The innkeeper was a chubby middle-aged man, and upon hearing this, he quickly apologized with a smile.

"Young Master Zhou's arrival makes this small shop shine."

"However... there are still a few guests in the shop today, could you please..."

"No!" The lackey interrupted him directly.

"Young Master Zhou is holding a birthday banquet for that Lord here today, no one is allowed to disturb!"

"Clear the place immediately! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"

The innkeeper's face turned bitter.

He looked at the few tables of guests still dining in the hall, which included Xia Youchu and Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing.

"Dear guests, I am truly sorry..."

The innkeeper walked to the table of Xia Youchu and Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and bowed to apologize.

"The shop has been booked by someone today, could I ask you two to... move elsewhere?"

"Your consumption today will be waived by the shop, and I will send a small gift as an apology."

The innkeeper's attitude was very sincere.

But Xia Youchu and Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing did not move.

Xia Youchu was too lazy to move.

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing was... finding it interesting.

He had lived for thousands of years, and this was the first time he had encountered someone daring to chase him away.

"And if we don't leave?"

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing drank his tea slowly and asked indifferently.

The innkeeper's expression changed.

Before he could speak, the lackey had already walked over.

"Not leaving?"

He looked up and down at Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and Xia Youchu, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"Old man, little girl, looking at your faces, you must be from out of town, right?"

"Do you know who our Young Master Zhou is?"

"The Zhou Family, one of the four great Families of the Imperial Capital! Young Master Zhou is the third direct descendant of the Zhou Family!"

"The person he is entertaining today is that big shot who returned from the 'Star Realm'!"

"If you are sensible, get out now! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"

The lackey's tone was arrogant, as if he had already determined the fate of the two.

The surrounding diners also began to whisper.

"Zhou Family's third Young Master, Zhou Hao? Why is he here?"

"I heard he has recently been currying favor with a big shot who returned from the Star Realm, and he is trying every way to please them."

"A big shot from the Star Realm? No wonder he's so arrogant."

"That old man and the little girl are going to be unlucky; Zhou Hao is not a kind person."

"Yeah, let's go quickly, don't cause trouble."

Listening to the surrounding discussion, Xia Youchu frowned slightly.

The Zhou Family? She had heard of them in her past life.

One of the four great Families in the Imperial Capital, their power was not small, but that was about it.

As for the big shot returned from the Star Realm...

A trace of thought flashed in her eyes.

The Star Realm was other worlds outside of Blue Star.

People who could return from that place would not be weak.

At the very least, they were a Yuan Emperor, or perhaps even a Quasi-Emperor.

No wonder Zhou Hao was so arrogant.

"And if we still don't leave?"

Xia Youchu put down her teacup and asked calmly.

The lackey was stunned and immediately became angry.

"Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

"Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame us for being impolite!"

He raised his hand and was about to grab Xia Youchu.

However, his hand stopped halfway.

It wasn't that he wanted to stop; he was imprisoned by an invisible force.

"Huh?"

The lackey's expression changed. He wanted to struggle, only to find that he couldn't even move a finger.

He looked at Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing in horror.

He saw that Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing was still slowly drinking tea, not even looking at him.

But the force that imprisoned him indeed came from this old man!

"You... who are you?!"

The lackey's voice trembled.

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing finally raised his head and looked at him.

His eyes were calm, yet they made the lackey feel like he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Who I am is not important," Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing said indifferently.

"What's important is that your master is not qualified to make me give up my seat."

"Go, call him over."

"I want to see how much ability this third Young Master of the Zhou Family has."

The lackey felt the imprisonment on his body loosen and quickly retreated a few steps, his face pale.

He knew that he had kicked an iron plate today.

This old man was definitely not simple!

"You... you just wait!"

The lackey left a harsh word and quickly ran back to Zhou Hao's side, whispering a few words.

Zhou Hao frowned upon hearing this and looked at Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and Xia Youchu.

His gaze lingered on Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing for a moment, and a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes.

This old man... he couldn't see through him.

But as the third Young Master of the Zhou Family, he could not back down at this time.

Otherwise, if it got out, how could he continue to mix in the Imperial Capital?

"Two guests."

Zhou Hao walked over, squeezing a smile onto his face.

"Zhou is entertaining an important guest here today, could I ask you two to do me a favor?"

"Afterwards, Zhou will definitely reward you heavily."

His attitude was much better than the lackey's, but the arrogance in his bones could still not be hidden.

"Reward heavily?"

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing smiled, but not quite.

"What kind of heavy reward can you give me?"

Zhou Hao frowned. This old man was really not appreciating the kindness.

"Senior, my Zhou Family has some influence in the Imperial Capital."

"If Senior is willing to make friends, the Zhou Family can look after you a little in the future in the Imperial Capital."

"If Senior insists on refusing..."

Zhou Hao changed the subject, his tone turning cold.

"Then Zhou can only offend you."

He had already made up his mind.

If this old man still didn't know what was good for him, he would just do it.

Although he couldn't see through this old man's cultivation, he had two guards at the Early Stage of the Yuan Emperor realm with him, plus his own strength at the Peak of the Yuan King stage, so dealing with an old man and a little girl shouldn't be a problem.

Moreover, the big shot he was going to entertain today was arriving soon.

With that person there, even if this old man had some ability, he wouldn't be able to make any waves.

"Offend?"

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing laughed.

"Alright, I'd like to see how you offend me."

Zhou Hao's face sank.

He stopped talking nonsense and raised his hand directly.

"Take them!"

As the voice fell, the two guards at the Early Stage of the Yuan Emperor realm behind him attacked at the same time!

Two majestic Yuan forces turned into two giant hands and grabbed at Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and Xia Youchu!

However, just as the giant hands were about to touch the two, Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing just lifted his eyelids slightly.

Hum—!

An invisible pressure erupted violently!

Those two Yuan force giant hands shattered instantly like bubbles!

The two guards at the Early Stage of the Yuan Emperor realm were hit as if by a heavy hammer, spitting out a mouthful of blood at the same time and flying backward!

They crashed into several tables and chairs before barely stopping.

The whole place was dead silent.

Everyone widened their eyes, looking at Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing in disbelief.

A single glance, and he heavily injured two Yuan Emperors?!

This old man... what exactly is his cultivation?!

Zhou Hao was also dumbfounded.

He had thought that this old man was at most at the Middle Stage or Late Stage of the Yuan Emperor realm.

But now it seems...

Quasi-Emperor?!

Only a Quasi-Emperor could heavily injure a Yuan Emperor with a single glance!

"Se... Senior..."

Zhou Hao's voice trembled, and his legs were softening.

He had really kicked an iron plate this time!

A Quasi-Emperor!

In the entire Great Xia, there were no more than twenty existences at the Quasi-Emperor level!

Each one was a big shot that his Zhou Family could not afford to offend!

"Now you know to call me Senior?"

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing smiled, but not quite.

"Weren't you quite arrogant just now?"

Zhou Hao's face was pale, and he quickly bowed to apologize.

"Senior, please forgive me! It was this Junior who was blind and offended you!"

"This Junior is willing to compensate! Willing to apologize! I only ask Senior to raise your hand and spare me!"

He was completely discouraged.

In the face of a Quasi-Emperor, his Zhou Family was nothing!

Even if the head of the Zhou Family came, he would have to be respectful!

"Compensate? Apologize?"

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing shook his head.

"I don't need those."

"I just need you to answer one question for me."

"Senior, please ask!"

Zhou Hao said quickly.

"You just said you wanted to entertain a big shot who returned from the Star Realm here."

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing looked at him, his eyes deep.

"That big shot... who is it?"

Zhou Hao was stunned, then hesitated.

The identity of that Lord was a secret.

He dared not reveal it casually.

But facing Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing's gaze, he finally gritted his teeth and said.

"It is... it is Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion."

Heavenly Secret Pavilion?

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and Xia Youchu looked at each other, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion was an extremely mysterious organization.

They were good at deducing Heavenly Secrets, predicting the future, and selling information.

Their power spread across the heavens, but they acted low-key and rarely participated in fights.

Unexpectedly, the Vice Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had actually come to the Great Xia Imperial Capital.

And Zhou Hao was going to entertain him?

"What is he doing here?"

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing continued to ask.

"This..."

Zhou Hao hesitated a bit.

This matter concerned a major plan of the Zhou Family and must not be leaked.

But facing the pressure of Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing, he finally snorted and said it.

"Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming came this time to help our Zhou Family mine a newly discovered mineral vein!"

Mineral vein?

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing's heart moved.

"What kind of mineral vein?"

"It is a yao jing mineral vein."

Zhou Hao curled his lips, with a bit of pride, and said:

"Our Zhou Family discovered a yao jing mineral vein five hundred miles outside the city a few months ago."

"But the terrain there is dangerous, and the mining difficulty is extremely high."

"So, we invited Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming to use the secret techniques of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to help us find the best mining plan."

"Hehe, that yao jing mineral vein might be the largest one since ancient times. If we can mine it, our Zhou Family will probably go down in history!"

After saying that, Zhou Hao stood up with a cold smile on his lips.

"If you two knew the gold content of this yao jing mineral vein, you should have sensibly left, instead of refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

yao jing mineral vein?

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and Xia Youchu looked at each other again.

Isn't that the one Ling Tian just ate?

They knew the gold content of this all too well!