Chapter 272

Chapter 272: Heavenly Emperor

"Daoist brother," Su Mu introduced reciprocally, "these two Daoist friends are currently Heaven’s Machine Bank’s top clients, holding Level Two Supreme Lord Cards. They wish to meet you."

While Ye Xu gazed at Li Ruoyu, Li Ruoyu was appraising Ye Xu in turn.

Yet Ye Xu was like Heaven’s Secret Pavilion itself—utterly enigmatic. Aside from possessing handsome looks beyond measure, he seemed entirely ordinary, indistinguishable from a common man.

"I’ve long heard of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Li Ruoyu said lightly. "Seeing you now indeed surpasses mere reputation."

"Daoist friend Li’s fame is also known to me," Ye Xu replied. His penetrating eyes felt as though they pierced through Li Ruoyu’s core. "Meeting you today, however, leaves me somewhat disappointed."

Pang Taiyue’s pupils contracted sharply. His body trembled with shock.

For a Revered One, surnames were rarely disclosed. That this man uttered "Li" so casually indicated he knew far more than met the eye.

"This man is truly extraordinary," thought Pang Taiyue, his wariness toward Ye Xu deepening immensely.

Li Ruoyu’s composure flickered faintly too.

Ye Xu’s words carried an unmistakable subtle warning.

Confusion stirred within Su Mu. Judging by both men’s tones, they seemed to know of each other?

"Insolence!"

Suddenly, Pang Taiyue exploded into action. "A mere master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion dares to utter such presumptuous words before my master? Where lies your intent?"

Boom!

Pang Taiyue mobilized his powers. Immortal light in the form of Yuan Magnetism surrounded his body like an indestructible mountain shield—and astonishingly, he prepared to strike within Heaven’s Secret Pavilion itself!

Li Ruoyu stood with his arms behind his back, watching the scene unfold with indifference.

Pang Taiyue moved with his silent approval—without it, he’d never dare defy precedence over the Heavenly Emperor and act alone against Ye Xu.

"You scheme from a mere corner of existence, yet dream of unifying currency within the Yuan Realm and spreading it to all realms," Pang Taiyue roared, eyes ablaze. "Have you any inkling of the staggering blasphemy this represents?"

He swept his sleeve. Yuan Magnetism’s indestructible immortal light ground the surrounding chaos to dust, fracturing time and space within Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. As Symbols flowed and shimmered, the formidable force surged toward Ye Xu.

At that very moment, Su Mu realized Pang Taiyue’s true identity, and terror washed over him.

"This man… this man is actually the Black-robed Immortal King!" Su Mu was thunderstruck. Even at his own peak strength, Pang Taiyue would have proven an even match—and such a supreme Immortal King was merely the attendant of this youthful figure.

What monumental origin did this youth possess?

Su Mu felt no concern for Ye Xu’s safety—after all, this was the Master who’d dared swindle the White Emperor and vowed to eternally subdue the Dark Emperor. His real focus lay on Li Ruoyu’s origins.

Expression unchanged, Ye Xu spoke mildly as Pang Taiyue’s devastating Yuan Magnetism wave bore down: "I issue Star Yuan currency to foster the prosperity of the Yuan Realm. Why should this be unacceptable?"

He stared pointedly at Li Ruoyu, a knowing smile hinting at his lips. "Daoist friend… was your founding principle not the same?"

Boom!

While Ye Xu spoke, Pang Taiyue’s unstoppable immortal light engulfed him. Chaos disintegrated. Dimensions splintered. Yet Ye Xu remained completely unmoved, utterly unscathed.

Seeing this, Pang Taiyue looked horrified. He had received Li Ruoyu’s secret instruction and exerted full force, yet he couldn’t budge Ye Xu in the slightest. That could only mean Ye Xu’s strength wasn’t on the same level as his.

Li Ruoyu wasn’t surprised at all. Those he valued were always the most elite beings throughout all ages.

Clang!

With just a thought, without any visible movement from him, Pang Taiyue was suddenly flung backward. Endless Symbols appeared inside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. They contained profound mysteries, like an immortal iron cage, trapping Pang Taiyue.

Su Mu was completely dumbfounded.

What on earth was going on?

Li Ruoyu and his companion had clearly come to visit Ye Xu, so why did they start a fight immediately after meeting?

“Ha ha ha ha…”

Suddenly, Li Ruoyu burst out laughing. His laughter held the fluctuations of the Dao. His whole body became rules and order itself. It seemed like he was creating his own universe, transcending Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

The laughter echoed in waves. The sound waves shattered the immortal iron cage, and Pang Taiyue escaped.

Su Mu’s pupils contracted, and his breath froze.

It was the first time he had seen anyone confront Ye Xu head-on and shatter his power.

Maybe Ye Xu hadn’t used his full strength, but it was still shocking.

Li Ruoshui on the side trembled with fear and didn’t dare look at Li Ruoyu and Ye Xu.

“Ha ha ha ha ha…”

The laughter spread like ripples, constantly battering Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. The entire pavilion shook slightly, space-time collapsed, and it returned to chaos.

Ye Xu’s expression darkened slightly.

“Daoist friend, are you here to make trouble?” Ye Xu said coldly.

Li Ruoyu smiled faintly.

“I only wish to exchange words with the Master.”

Boom!

Ye Xu’s eyes gleamed as he stood up from the grand armchair. He stirred his mana and instantly merged with Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. A vast and mighty force erupted.

“Suppress!”

Ye Xu let out a sharp cry.

In an instant, space-time froze. Li Ruoyu, Pang Taiyue, Su Mu, and Li Ruoshui’s forms were all immobilized. Those sound waves were fixed in mid-air, losing all their mana.

Within Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he was invincible.

Based on Ye Xu’s current understanding, that invincibility meant at least the transcendent realm above the Three Yuan Proof. He had transcended the universal heavenly way, attaining true freedom, true freedom, and great eternity.

Therefore, suppressing one Heavenly Emperor was more than enough.

It did require him to tap into part of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s power.

“You… you…”

Li Ruoyu was pinned down, but his power was immense. Unlike Pang Taiyue, his thoughts and primordial spirit weren’t fully frozen. Standing as a figure at the peak of this universe, Li Ruoyu’s strength was unbelievably high.

Yet now he had been suppressed.

The strength of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion surpassed his own.

Over tens of millions of years, since he had become the Heavenly Emperor, this was the first time he had experienced the feeling of despair.

The corners of Ye Xu’s mouth lifted slightly as he slowly sat down.

The might of the Heavenly Emperor needed no elaboration; at least in this universe, no one should have been able to surpass him. But the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was not a product of this universe.

As he moved, the power that had frozen space-time and the Great Dao gradually vanished. Li Ruoyu was the first to regain vitality, followed by Pang Taiyue, Su Mu, and the others.

"Daoist friend Li," Ye Xu looked at Li Ruoyu, a faint smile appearing on his face, "do you still wish to act now?"

He understood Li Ruoyu’s thoughts perfectly well: the man simply wanted to test his abilities, to prove the conjecture in his heart. There was no killing intent. Otherwise, Li Ruoyu and Pang Taiyue would already be corpses.

"It was this humble one’s momentary impulsiveness," Pang Taiyue reacted swiftly, immediately bowing and kneeling, begging Ye Xu for forgiveness. "It has nothing to do with my master. Please punish me as you see fit, Master. Kill or dismember me – this humble one will bear it all."

"You are indeed fiercely loyal," Ye Xu chuckled. "Outside the Heaven’s Machine Bank, you already wanted to act against my Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Upon entering, you couldn’t resist attacking me personally. Had it not been for the fact that you are the Heaven’s Machine Bank’s top customer, you would already be dead."

Pausing briefly, Ye Xu added, "I could take your life right in front of your master."

Pang Taiyue felt icy cold all over, as if falling into an ice cellar. He did not doubt the truth of Ye Xu’s words in the slightest.

"This lowly one deserves death!" Pang Taiyue kowtowed.

"Rise," Li Ruoyu said. "The Master has no intention of killing you. If he did, you would already be dead."

"Yes." At Li Ruoyu’s word, Pang Taiyue immediately stood up.

"It seems my intuition served me well when I acquired that Level Two Supreme Lord Card," Li Ruoyu said with a self-mocking smile, the shock deep within his eyes still lingering. "Otherwise, with today’s recklessness, we probably wouldn’t have walked out of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion alive."

However he imagined it, he could never have conceived that within the ancestral home resided such a supreme master who had reached the transcendent realm.

Yet, intense doubt burned within Li Ruoyu. He had never seen Ye Xu before, nor heard of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. When had this figure emerged? In ancient times, there were the King Pan and Empress Nuwa. Today, there was the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Were their paths to transcendence the same? Countless questions flooded Li Ruoyu’s mind.

"A petty gain like that wouldn’t catch my eye," Ye Xu said. "For the monumental achievements of your early life, inscribed forever in the annals of history, I couldn’t condemn you to death for a mere lapse of recklessness."

"Furthermore, there is no deep-seated grudge between us. Why would I kill you?"

"It seems hiding my identity is impossible before you, Daoist friend," Li Ruoyu smiled, though he didn’t seem overly concerned. He had lived honorably all his life, walking the straight path, never hiding who he was. Since Ye Xu had recognized him, he had no intention of denying or concealing it.

"Daoist friend, I believe you’ve forgotten," Ye Xu replied with a mysterious smile. "I am omniscient and omnipotent. The little secrets of a Daoist friend cannot be hidden from my eyes."

Su Mu’s eyes flickered. He grew increasingly curious about Li Ruoyu’s identity. Monumental achievements, immortalized in history – those who had attained such were exceedingly rare.