Upon seeing the newcomer, Xu Chuan knew it was the Guild Master.
He then smiled faintly and said,
"I only came to your territory to acquire some items. I didn't expect your merchant guild to make such a grand display."
Ning Haoxuan, upon hearing this, chuckled and replied,
"It is an honor for Saint Son Xu to grace our Wanbao Tower with his presence."
"All your expenses at our Wanbao Tower today will be covered by me!"
With that, Ning Haoxuan took a storage ring and a jade slip from a maidservant and handed them to Xu Chuan.
The storage ring contained all the yuan stones Xu Chuan had spent on this trip, which were now returned to him untouched.
The jade slip was the one Xu Chuan had vied for with Chen Feng earlier.
Seeing this, Xu Chuan did not refuse and casually accepted both items.
Why refuse free yuan stones?
Moreover, this was clearly a gesture of goodwill from the other party. If he refused, it would be disrespectful.
A large merchant guild like Wanbao Tower would not do something so foolish as to openly offend someone.
"Guild Master Ning has indeed spent a lot."
Xu Chuan said.
"It's nothing, just a small sum. Our Wanbao Tower merchant guild doesn't really care about such trivial amounts."
Ning Haoxuan waved his hand, not taking these tens of millions of low-grade yuan stones to heart.
The monthly turnover of Wanbao Tower merchant guild reached a terrifying level, and the tenth-floor market every three months made Wanbao Tower even more profitable.
A mere tens of millions of low-grade yuan stones were well worth the investment to build goodwill.
"I do have a question for Saint Son Xu."
Ning Haoxuan asked Xu Chuan.
"Please, ask whatever you wish. I will answer if I can."
Xu Chuan was a bit puzzled.
"In the tenth-floor market, I saw you confronting another warrior who was concealing his identity. May I ask why?"
Ning Haoxuan voiced his doubts.
He had been observing Xu Chuan since the moment he entered the tenth-floor market.
He witnessed the clash between Xu Chuan and Chen Feng.
Logically, Xu Chuan was visiting the capital of Great Wei for the first time and should have no enemies.
Yet, it seemed Xu Chuan had been suppressing Chen Feng the entire time.
This was why he was so confused.
He was also curious as to what had offended Xu Chuan so much.
To warrant Xu Chuan's intervention.
"A minor conflict."
Xu Chuan smiled, not elaborating further.
He couldn't possibly reveal that Chen Feng was the protagonist.
Besides, no one would believe such a story even if he told it.
However, in truth, Xu Chuan's statement was not entirely inaccurate.
If things were to unfold as they would in the future, this protagonist with the villain's script would grow to become a menace to society.
Consequently, he would inevitably clash with the warriors of the Eastern Domain and even the entire Xuántiān Continent.
Therefore, Xu Chuan's statement was not unfounded.
Furthermore, for Xu Chuan to reach the pinnacle, he would inevitably stand against these individuals who possessed protagonist templates.
Their scripts were precisely what Xu Chuan needed.
Thus, a conflict between them was inherent.
The best way to resolve such conflicts was to nip them in the bud!
However, that Chen Feng was indeed a destined protagonist with profound luck.
To be safe, Xu Chuan did not intend to act rashly.
He was already very satisfied with obtaining all of Chen Feng's opportunities today.
Once he fully understood Chen Feng's background, he would surely eliminate him!
Hearing Xu Chuan's perfunctory reply,
Ning Haoxuan nodded slightly, sensing that the topic should be dropped and did not press the matter further.
He then continued, "I asked Saint Son Xu to stay for a reason. There are matters I wish to discuss with you."
"What matters?"
Xu Chuan asked.
"The Emperor Ning of our Great Wei has learned of Saint Son Xu's arrival in our capital. He has specially instructed me to invite you to the palace."
"The Emperor Ning has prepared a banquet to host Saint Son Xu."
"Will Saint Son Xu grace us with his presence?"
Speaking of the Emperor Ning, Ning Haoxuan adopted a very humble demeanor.
Even though he was an elder to the Emperor, he was still extremely respectful.
"Oh? An invitation for me?"
This had taken Xu Chuan by surprise.
Frankly, he was merely the ninth quasi-saint son of the Taiyi Holy Land. Although his status was noble, it was only relative to ordinary warriors.
Someone like Ning Cangtian, who was both the ruler of an empire and a peak Heavenly King realm expert, had no reason to curry favor with him.
This was why Xu Chuan was so surprised.
"Very well, I shall go."
Xu Chuan nodded and accepted the invitation.
"Saint Son Xu, please!"
Ning Haoxuan made an inviting gesture, allowing Xu Chuan to lead the way.
They exited Wanbao Tower.
Outside Wanbao Tower, a luxurious carriage was waiting. Flanking the carriage were two squads of armored soldiers.
These soldiers exuded a powerful aura.
Each one was a Divine Ability realm warrior.
"Are these soldiers the renowned Imperial Guards of the Great Wei Dynasty?"
Xu Chuan mused.
The Great Wei Imperial Guards were famous throughout the Eastern Domain.
Every soldier in the army was a warrior of the Divine Ability realm or higher.
These soldiers could form battle formations, capable of fighting opponents one realm higher than themselves.
"Guild Master Ning, Saint Son Xu, please."
The leading soldier, upon seeing Xu Chuan and Ning Haoxuan emerge, dismounted from the carriage and respectfully ushered them inside.
When facing Xu Chuan, this soldier's face displayed an expression of awe.
Xu Chuan's deeds had already spread: single-handedly defeating numerous Reincarnation realm prodigies with his second-level Nirvana realm cultivation. The soldier was deeply impressed.
"Guild Master Ning, are they the Great Wei Imperial Guards?"
Sitting inside the carriage, Xu Chuan asked Ning Haoxuan.
"Indeed, they are the Great Wei Imperial Guards, one of the strongest armies of Great Wei!"
Ning Haoxuan nodded slightly and then chuckled, "I am truly fortunate today thanks to you. Normally, even when I need to enter the palace, I have to walk. Let alone ride in a carriage."
"Moreover, this carriage was personally prepared for you by Emperor Ning!"
Soon, Xu Chuan and his entourage arrived at the Great Wei Imperial Palace.
The palace was magnificent and grand, with palaces erected one after another, appearing majestic and extraordinary.
In the sky, a defensive formation enveloped the palace. If anyone dared to force their way in, they would surely be suppressed.
Xu Chuan and Ning Haoxuan alighted from the carriage and, under the escort of the Imperial Guards, entered the palace.
"Hm?"
Upon entering the palace hall, Xu Chuan noticed that three individuals were already present.
On the Golden Dragon Throne sat a middle-aged man in black dragon robes.
He emanated an infinite aura and the majesty of a supreme ruler.
This must be the current Emperor of Great Wei, Ning Cangtian.
Below Ning Cangtian stood a middle-aged man radiating fierce killing intent.
Facing this person, Xu Chuan felt a sense of vigilance.
Because, the moment he entered this hall, he had sensed a faint, elusive killing intent directed at him.
Although that wisp of killing intent vanished in an instant,
Xu Chuan had still keenly detected it.
A thought flashed through Xu Chuan's mind, and he quickly guessed the other person's identity.
The only person who could stand below Ning Cangtian and harbor killing intent towards him, besides the Zhenyuan King whose son he had killed, was unlikely to be anyone else.
After all, this was Xu Chuan's first time in the capital of Great Wei.