Ninety-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Star Combat Power

Chen Chang'an wasn't entirely sure about the prices of the dishes at Tianjiao Pavilion, but today's meal was undoubtedly exorbitantly expensive.

No charge?

Chu Xiao was merely a waiter—did he have the authority to make such a decision?

If he did, then his true identity was likely far more than just a simple waiter. If not, then who exactly had made this call?

"I'd like to know—how much does this meal cost in Immortal Spirit Stones?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Not much. Just 100,000 top-grade Immortal Spirit Stones."

100,000 top-grade Immortal Spirit Stones?

And that's considered "not much"?

Though Chen Chang'an could afford it, this amount was staggering even in the Xuantian Domain. Even the Huan Hua Immortal Sect, one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, would likely hesitate to splurge on such a meal.

100,000 top-grade Immortal Spirit Stones—enough for the Huan Hua Immortal Sect to accumulate over ten thousand years.

After all, these were top-grade stones, not mid-grade or low-grade.

"Are your prices always this steep?" Chen Chang'an asked, surprised.

"We have cheaper options—meals costing tens of thousands of low-grade or mid-grade stones," Chu Xiao replied with a smile. "But this particular meal was on the pricier side for you, sir."

No wonder this single meal had allowed Chen Chang'an's cultivation to break through—it was clearly no ordinary feast.

"Was it your Tianjiao Pavilion's owner who ordered it to be free?" Chen Chang'an pressed.

"My apologies, I’m not privy to that. I was merely following orders."

Chen Chang'an nodded and didn’t press further. Chu Xiao likely wouldn’t divulge anything even if he asked.

"They’ll probably need some time to cultivate. I’ll take them back first."

Back?

Moving someone while they’re deep in cultivation isn’t advisable, is it?

"Sir, the private room—"

Before Chu Xiao could finish, he froze in shock—Chen Chang'an and the others had vanished without a trace, even the big yellow dog was gone.

"This…"

Chu Xiao’s heart raced. He hadn’t expected Chen Chang'an to possess such unfathomable means.

After leaving the private room, Chu Xiao headed to the top floor of Tianjiao Pavilion.

"Enter."

"Yes."

Chu Xiao pushed the door open and stood respectfully to the side.

"Well?"

"Extraordinary. Though his cultivation is only at the first level of the True Immortal Realm, I can’t see through him."

Silence followed Chu Xiao’s words.

"Good. You may leave."

"Continue charging Chen Chang'an for all services at Tianjiao Pavilion as usual. Don’t let him feel he’s receiving special treatment."

Huh?

Wouldn’t he already suspect it? A meal like that—someone as sharp as Chen Chang'an must have noticed something was off.

Though he thought it, Chu Xiao didn’t dare say it aloud. He bowed respectfully and withdrew.

"Has he finally arrived?"

"Chen Chang'an… I’ve been waiting for you."

A month later—

The effects of that meal had kept Shen Yunfei and the others in deep cultivation for an entire month. Even Da Huang and Xiao Yao, as members of the demon race, had woken up three days earlier than Shen Yunfei’s group.

"What? It’s been a whole month?"

"Damn, how much did that cost in Immortal Spirit Stones?"

Upon learning how much time had passed, Shen Yunfei’s first concern was the expense.

After all, their lodgings cost 20,000 low-grade Immortal Spirit Stones per day—60,000 for a month.

"It’s nothing. That meal alone cost 100,000 top-grade stones. The lodging fee is pocket change," Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile.

"How much?!"

"100,000?!"

"Top-grade stones?!"

"Brother Chen, did they scam you?!"

"That’s insane! Should we… run for it?" Shen Yunfei whispered nervously.

"What happened to that bold attitude of yours? Why so timid now?"

"Big bro, this is the Ancient Immortal Domain, not the Tai Xuan Realm! I don’t have the right to be bold here."

Admittedly, since arriving in the Ancient Immortal Domain, Shen Yunfei had been tempered by reality—more polished, but also more cautious.

"Aren’t you going to check your cultivation first?"

"My cultivation?"

"I’ve reached… Golden Immortal Realm, third level?!"

"I actually broke through two levels?!"

Shen Yunfei was stunned to find his cultivation had advanced to the third level of the Golden Immortal Realm. The same went for the others—Da Huang and Xiao Yao had both reached the ninth level of the True Immortal Realm, while Qingluan had broken through to the first level of the Golden Immortal Realm.

"Alright, we’ve already wasted a month," Chen Chang'an said. "Time to see what this Heavenly Pride Ranking is all about."

"Right, right—almost forgot about that."

"By the way, did you find out more about the ranking?"

When Chen Chang'an had inquired earlier, Shen Yunfei and the others were already deep in cultivation and hadn’t heard his conversation with Chu Xiao.

"I’ll explain on the way."

"Got it."

As they walked, Chen Chang'an shared what he’d learned, and soon they arrived at the testing hall for the Heavenly Pride Ranking in Tianjiao City.

"So this is the testing hall?"

"There are so many people here?!"

Shen Yunfei was taken aback—the hall was packed with at least several hundred cultivators.

"Big bro, see that testing monument?"

"It’s identical to the one from the Earth Ranking back in the Tai Xuan Realm."

Da Huang noticed the monument in the hall looked exactly like the one they’d seen before.

"Seems that monument must have originated from the Ancient Immortal Domain."

"Da Huang, Xiao Yao, you two aren’t eligible, so don’t participate."

"But you two—Shen Yunfei, Qingluan—you should test first."

Chen Chang'an glanced at them. Both met the criteria and stood a good chance of qualifying.

"Alright, then we’ll—"

"Whoa!"

"Look at this guy’s results!"

"Damn, haven’t seen numbers like this in ages!"

"Yun Zhilan? From the Yun Clan?"

"Looks like someone in the top ten of the Heavenly Pride Ranking is about to get bumped."

"The last time results like this appeared was over five thousand years ago, wasn’t it?"

Just as Shen Yunfei and Qingluan were about to step forward, a wave of exclamations drew Chen Chang'an’s attention.

Yun Zhilan?

From the Yun Clan of the Xuantian Domain?

Chen Chang'an and the others moved closer to examine Yun Zhilan’s results—and immediately frowned.

"Name: Yun Zhilan | Age: 23,578 years | Cultivation: Golden Immortal Realm, ninth level | Combat Power: 99,999 stars | Qualification: Approved."

Yun Zhilan’s age and cultivation level didn’t surprise Chen Chang'an, but the combat power rating left him stunned.

99,999 stars?

What exactly did "stars" signify in combat power? Chen Chang'an realized he might have misunderstood the system entirely.