118: Black Bird

No sooner had Yan Yu's voice faded than the tightly shut door opened, and a long-haired young man in a black robe with gold patterns walked out.

The newcomer's appearance was incredibly beautiful. Just looking at his face would make one involuntarily ignore all other people or objects in their field of vision, concentrating all their attention on him. It could be said that this man before him was the most beautiful being Xu Yan had ever seen, without equal.

However, the dignified and steady aura around him made one feel as if they were seeing a king from an ancient dynasty, inspiring a sense of awe from the heart. Even with such a face, no one could harbor any wicked thoughts towards him.

Even though Xu Yan was not his clansman or subject, the moment he saw him, a faint sense of respect and allegiance subtly arose within him, as if it were ingrained in his very bloodline.

At the same time, Xu Yan's left wrist began to feel faintly warm. The golden threads representing Heavens Mandate Guidance wrapped around his wrist also became extremely active, emitting dazzling light. Even with the wrist guard concealing them, and despite Xu Yan's best efforts to control it, the light still leaked out through the gaps.

Yan Yu, standing nearby, saw the light from Xu Yan's wrist and felt the familiar aura mixed within it. A very human-like expression of shock appeared on its bird face.

Then, it looked at its Clan Ancestor, then at Xu Yan, its gaze sweeping back and forth between the two, its eyes gradually becoming somewhat peculiar.

In just a few breaths, it seemed to have imagined many things in its mind. Its gaze towards the young man shifted from its previous fanaticism to a hint of disapproval, and its gaze towards Xu Yan changed from the respect it showed a guest to a strange expression mixed with pity and other emotions.

The young man was unaware of Yan Yu's thoughts. He looked at Xu Yan before him and revealed a smile mixed with kindness and gentleness, like an elder looking at an excellent junior with great satisfaction.

At the same time, the kingly aura around him vanished with that smile. In Xu Yan's eyes, the young man now appeared like an ordinary person without any power.

However, what neither of them noticed was that Yan Yu, upon seeing this scene, seemed to have a flash of understanding in its eyes, as if confirming something.

While Yan Yu was lost in thought, the young man's gentle voice reached Xu Yan and Yan Yu's ears.

"Yan Yu, I have something I wish to discuss with little friend Xu Yan. You may go about your own business for now. This is your reward."

With that, a streak of light flew from his sleeve and landed before Yan Yu.

Looking at the reward before it, Yan Yu, though a little regretful that it couldn't stay and watch, decisively swallowed the ball of light. After thanking the young man, it flapped its wings and soared into the sky, leaving only Xu Yan and the young man behind.

Watching Yan Yu depart, the young man smiled and said to Xu Yan, "Little friend Xu Yan, I am Xuan Niao. I'm very glad you could accept my invitation. Let's sit and chat."

After speaking, he led Xu Yan to a nearby stone table and sat down. He produced a tea set from who knows where, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Xu Yan.

"A friend sent me a batch of new tea a while ago. Come, taste it and see how it is."

Taking the cup the young man offered and taking a small sip, as soon as the slightly hot tea entered his throat, Xu Yan felt a refreshing sensation rush straight to his head. His spiritual power, which had been somewhat unstable due to the excessively fast growth of his three spirit beasts, began to solidify with this refreshing sensation.

However, because Xu Yan only took a small sip, this feeling quickly disappeared. Even so, it helped Xu Yan solidify about one-fifth of his somewhat unstable spiritual power.

Seeing this, Xu Yan naturally knew that the tea he just drank was a good thing. Without much concealment, he thanked the young man and then drained the cup of tea.

As the tea entered his stomach, the reappearing refreshing sensation made Xu Yan comfortably narrow his eyes.

His previously somewhat unstable spiritual power was rapidly solidified by this refreshing sensation. After it was completely solidified, this power began to elevate his spiritual power.

This elevation wasn't fast, but it was very solid, without any of the instability caused by using external means for improvement. At the same time, Xu Yan also had a feeling that his speed and efficiency in spiritual power cultivation and automatic growth seemed to have greatly improved.

The young man sitting opposite him, watching Xu Yan's narrowed eyes, made no other moves. He simply looked at Xu Yan with a smile, quietly waiting for Xu Yan to finish everything.

As the last trace of refreshing sensation disappeared, Xu Yan slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with joy.

In that short moment, with the help of that power, Xu Yan not only consolidated his somewhat unstable spiritual power but also elevated it to Commander Rank 9, surpassing all his spirit beasts for the first time.

At the same time, with the consolidation and elevation of his spiritual power, his control over the surrounding Power of Heaven and Earth also became more effortless. Xu Yan had a feeling that he could now even attempt to create Monarch Rank spirit food.

Of course, limited to spirit food of the wind, fire, light, and dark attributes.

However, this joy quickly turned into a somewhat awkward expression when he saw the young man opposite him, holding a teacup and smiling at him.

He spoke with a hint of embarrassment, "I apologize, Senior, I was a bit rude."

The young man shook his head at Xu Yan's apology and said, "This is Soul Cleansing Spirit Tea. It can purify impurities in the soul and spiritual power. People who drink it for the first time tend to have a stronger reaction. Similarly, this tea is most effective when drinking the first cup.

However, even without that effect, the taste of this tea is quite good."

Saying that, he got up and refilled Xu Yan's teacup.

Looking at the cup in his hand, Xu Yan took another small sip. Indeed, just as the other party said, although a faint refreshing sensation appeared this time, it was no longer as intense as before.

What left a stronger impression on Xu Yan was the extremely mellow taste, which made him involuntarily exclaim, "Good tea."

Listening to Xu Yan's praise, the young man smiled, and then, without saying anything else, he went straight to the point, telling Xu Yan the reason for inviting him to the Parasol Tree Realm this time.

"Little friend Xu Yan, do you know why I invited you this time?"