Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Big Deal

However, it was not me who decided this matter, but all of you.

If all of you have no objections, then following the Hidden Dragon List, we shall define it as the Hidden Dragon Gathering.

Ye Xu smiled warmly and handed over the authority to decide to Nangong Zhandao, Meng Feixian, and others.

After all, they were the geniuses on the Hidden Dragon List.

Battling cultivators from various worlds was also their role as the vanguards.

"I have no objections."

Nangong Zhandao was the first to agree. Lately, he had been endlessly bothered by young cultivators, and if not for Lan Youruo advising against it, he might have drawn his blade long ago to slay his way to peace.

"It all depends on you, senior."

Meng Feixian and the prodigies from the ancient divine clans spoke up.

"Senior, since you are in charge, is there any benefit?" Qi Wuhen showed a mischievous grin and couldn’t help rubbing his hands together.

…

Ye Xu grumbled inwardly, "Is he trying to fleece me?"

Lin Qianmo’s eyes also revealed a trace of strange light.

If the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion valued money like life itself, why would he seek profits from his hands?

"Naturally."

Ye Xu nodded.

At this, Ye Xian’er, Lin Qianmo, and others looked at him in surprise—could the senior have changed his character?

"However…"

Ye Xu shifted his tone and said, "Whoever takes part in the Hidden Dragon Gathering, whether spectators or participants, must pay one sacred artifact to be admitted."

"As expected…"

Lin Qianmo and Lan Youruo exchanged a glance—the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was still the same, unwilling to part with a single coin.

…

Everyone was speechless.

Charging one sacred artifact per attendee was simply too heartless.

Ye Xu did not mind.

Those able to join the Hidden Dragon Gathering were always either rich or noble; one sacred artifact was like a drop in the ocean, utterly insignificant to them.

"Want to fleece me? Too naive," Ye Xu pondered for an instant, then added, "Ten days from now, the Hidden Dragon Gathering will commence in Linglong City. Anyone wishing to attend must pay the admission fee before it starts."

"I will distribute entry tickets, which can be used for admission then."

Ye Xu clearly laid out the rules.

The Hidden Dragon Gathering was not just a standard to define geniuses of the Yuan Realm, but also aimed to establish a ranking.

It would include twenty individuals.

Upon making the list, one could receive lavish rewards.

The higher the ranking, the more generous the rewards.

"Esteemed Senior, could you reveal what the rewards are in advance?" Qi Wuhen’s eyes were full of anticipation.

"I will announce the list of treasures on the day the Hidden Dragon Gathering begins," Ye Xu replied with a smile.

At present, apart from his emperor realm cultivation, he possessed nothing but twenty thousand heavenly secrets points—utterly penniless.

If he didn’t seize an opportunity to gather resources before the Gathering began, he wouldn’t be able to present any rewards once it concluded.

This was a completely empty-handed scheme.

"It seems I truly have the makings of a cunning merchant," Ye Xu thought to himself.

"Fine then! We shall settle the score in ten days."

The tall man sneered coldly, then vanished into the void with the disciples of the Holy Sect of Transformation.

"Until we meet again."

The prodigy from the Empress Nuwa Clan also departed.

Bu Linglong, her face etched with reluctance, cast a deep glance at Qi Wuhen and Lin Qianmo, bid farewell to Ye Xu, and disappeared alongside the young man in linen and the beautiful woman.

"Why are the rest of you still here?"

Qi Ruyu frowned, looking at Meng Feixian and the others.

"We journeyed from our seclusion this time not only to challenge Nangong Zhandao and verify the veracity of the rankings but also to seek something from the Master," Meng Feixian explained.

Ye Xu’s eyes lit up. Business had come knocking.

"Esteemed Senior…"

Meng Feixian began, turning towards Ye Xu.

"Come back to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion with me," Ye Xu said.

His abilities could only be exercised within the Pavilion. To be questioned here risked exposure.

"Very well."

The group harbored no suspicions and departed the Red Dust Demon Sect with Ye Xu.

"I never expected the ancient divine clans from Godfall Ridge would also emerge. The sealing power grows weaker by the day." Lin Qianmo’s gaze was profound, her thoughts inscrutable.

"Merely a few hours ago, someone successfully overcame the heavenly tribulation right here in the Yuan Realm."

Lin Qianmo dropped another topic.

Lan Youruo, already privy to this, managed to maintain her composure.

Qi Ruyu, Ye Hongchen, and Nangong Zhandao all registered surprise.

"The Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion must have known about this. Why else make a special trip?" Lin Qianmo didn’t believe Ye Xu’s explanation for a moment, guessing that the Great Emperor’s heavenly tribulation had startled him into leaving.

"The Yuan Realm grows less peaceful by the day."

"Nangong, you must prepare diligently during this time," Lan Youruo urged, her voice laden with worry. "Once news of the Hidden Dragon Gathering spreads, forces from the Star Realm, the Mysterious Realm, even the Shadow Realm are likely to dispatch representatives."

Two hours prior, her own Moon God Clan had already sent word; they would arrive in the Yuan Realm in a few days.

The upheaval in the Yuan Realm presented opportunities coveted by powerful figures and factions from various realms.

At this moment, the Yuan Realm resembled a succulent target to devour, with everyone eager to claim their share.

…

Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Master."

As soon as Ye Xu and the others returned, Yang Xuanzhan immediately stepped forward to greet them. His gaze lingered briefly upon Meng Feixian and her companions before shifting away, clearly unfazed by their presence.

Observing Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, the group appeared visibly tense.

"You may ask your questions freely," Ye Xu said, reclining comfortably on the grand master’s chair, his expression one of leisure. "However," he added with a light smile, "my services require payment."

Hearing that, Qi Wuhen gulped audibly, swallowing the words that had sprung to his lips.

Ye Xu surveyed them with a faint smile.

A collective tightening of their hearts followed; it felt as if their deepest secrets lay bare before his eyes.

"I understand each of you is hesitant," Ye Xu remarked. "Very well, we shall proceed one at a time."

With a simple thought, Ye Xu caused Qi Wuhen and the five prodigies of the ancient divine clans from Godfall Ridge to vanish instantly from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Only Meng Feixian remained.

Meng Feixian’s eyes widened in surprise.

All traces of their auras were gone—they’d been shifted into separate spaces, entirely cut off from her current reality.

Turning his gaze to the stunning beauty disguised in male attire, Ye Xu offered, "Ask your question."

Information about Meng Feixian already surfaced in his mind:

She belonged to the Da Meng Clan.

Sealed within Godfall Ridge were numerous ancient divine clans, powerful races that had once dominated the Yuan Realm during the Primordial Era. Among them, the Da Meng Clan stood as one of the mightiest.

Their innate gift bordered on the surreal, granting them mastery over the domain of dreams, even the power to take lives unnoticed within such realms.

Meng Feixian represented the greatest talent of her generation, revered as the Da Meng Clan’s immortal seed.

"Our clan has been sealed within the Godfall Ridge for tens of millions of years," Meng Feixian began, her voice steady and grave. "Such vast time has wrought Change of the World; all things have transformed while we remained confined. We know nothing of whether our brethren who ascended to the higher realms still endure." She paused briefly before continuing, "Thus, our clan leader entrusted me to seek your counsel, Esteemed Senior. What is the current state of our kin in the higher realms? I beseech you, Esteemed Senior, to resolve our doubts."

System, how many heavenly secrets points are required to retrieve information on the Da Meng Clan in the upper realm? Ye Xu inquired silently within his mind.

[Two million heavenly secrets points.]

A surge of exhilaration swept through Ye Xu. This was the most lucrative transaction he could recall.

With two million heavenly secrets points, he could acquire something like the Xuan Du Forgetting Emotions Heaven Book—an invaluable scripture outlining the very path to attaining immortality.

"Young lady," Ye Xu addressed her, "the Da Meng Clan possesses immense profundity and a deeply rooted foundation in the upper realms. If you seek knowledge about those ascended kin, I am able to provide it."

"Of course, the price will be rather steep."

"Senior, state your price."

Meng Feixian had been prepared.

"Three immortal artifacts."

Ye Xu extended three fingers.

One immortal artifact was roughly equivalent to eight hundred thousand heavenly secrets points. If this deal went through, he could profit by four hundred thousand heavenly secrets points, fattening his depleted wallet once more.

Boom!

Beside him, Yang Xuanzhan and Ye Xian’er went completely mind-blank hearing this number.

Immortal artifacts?

Those were treasures belonging to immortals from the upper realms, artifacts virtually extinct across all realms.

Just the opening bid by Ye Xu was three immortal artifacts.

Meng Feixian frowned slightly.

The price quoted by Ye Xu seemed exorbitant.

Ye Xu, however, leisurely sipped his tea.

Knowing Meng Feixian’s information as he did, how could he not be aware of her background?

She had come here bearing "sincerity".

Ye Xu wasn’t worried she would refuse.

"Senior, that’s too expensive. Could there be any leniency?" Meng Feixian, after careful consideration, began to haggle. "My clan has been trapped in Godfall Ridge for millions of years, and much of our reserves have long been depleted…"

"No."

Ye Xu shook his head, his tone resolute and steadfast.

"If the lady isn’t interested in purchasing, then I bid you farewell."

He was definitely not joking. Yielding would mean taking a loss.

Doing business at a loss was something Ye Xu never engaged in.

"Fine."

Seeing no hope of bargaining, Meng Feixian clenched her silver teeth. "This junior has sufficient items within her Purple Palace that should meet your requirements, Senior."

"However, these treasures were sealed with great magic by the clan leader. This junior cannot access them; Senior will need to extract them yourself."

Meng Feixian circulated her mystical arts, her Purple Palace opening wide.

Her Purple Palace lay in hazy obscurity. Within it, a Heavenly Court drifted, indistinct and ethereal, and her primordial spirit shifted like mist. The entire structure resembled a magnificent dreamscape.

Ye Xu’s gaze sharpened slightly.

The dreamscape Heavenly Court.

Meng Feixian was also a super talent who had constructed her Heavenly Court, just like Nangong Zhandao.

Though he had long known this, witnessing the manifestation of Meng Feixian’s Heavenly Court still sent a tremor through Ye Xu’s mind.

The Heavenly Court represented the pinnacle of the Dao Palace stage, signifying stage clarity, absolute perfection.

Throughout the entire Southern Wilderness, among the people Ye Xu knew, only Lin Qianmo, Nangong Zhandao, and Meng Feixian had cultivated such flawlessly perfect Heavenly Courts.

Meng Feixian looked toward Ye Xu, her voice soft and delicate.

"Senior, proceed."