Chapter 311

Chapter 311: The Search for the Husband

"Was this stone tablet the thing causing the celestial phenomenon a few days ago?"

That day, two women entered Linglong City. They stopped before a golden stone tablet to look up at it.

"Place of Origin?"

A woman in purple stared at the name of the Secret Realm atop the tablet, expressing surprise. "Is this Secret Realm possibly the Ancient God of Origin’s sacred ground?"

"It couldn’t be," smiled the other woman in white robes. "The Ancient God of Origin’s sacred ground is in the Immortal Realm."

Both women possessed breathtaking beauty. Every smile or frown radiated charm enough to bewilder all who saw them. Yet, their temperaments differed—the purple-robed one seemed spirited and quick-witted, while the white-robed woman carried an air of serene elegance.

"Don’t you ladies know? This is the Secret Realm Ranking erected by the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. It catalogues Secret Realms across all realms," remarked an Emperor Venerable Realm cultivator who approached them. His eyes darted greedily across the two women, gleaming with interest.

"Hmm."

The white-robed woman nodded her head slightly. "Sister, let’s go."

They made as if to leave.

"Pray tell me your gracious names…" The Emperor Venerable man looked flustered and hurried after them.

"I’m your ancestor!"

The purple-clad woman giggled, sticking her tongue out at him in a teasing grimace.

"You dare…!" The Emperor Venerable’s expression twisted with fury.

"Hmm?"

The white-robed woman merely glanced his way. Instantly, overwhelming pressure descended, pinning him like a mountain on his back. He struggled to take even a stride, terror flooding his senses. These were not people he could challenge.

"Sister, why scare him?" The purple-clad woman laughed playfully. "If he dared raise a hand, I’d seal his cultivation and throw him to a pleasure house. A grand time he’d have then!"

"……"

The woman in white looked utterly exasperated.

"Sister, we are here for serious business," she spoke solemnly. "Throughout our journey, everyone we met holds extreme reverence for Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. That alone proves the Pavilion Master possesses true abilities."

"Once we enter Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, you must restrain your temper."

Hearing that, the purple-robed woman bristled with anger. "That rascal flitted from one flower to the next, leaving sentiments everywhere! Now he hides himself away! Even if it costs all we own, I’ll haul him out this time!"

A flash of cold fury also passed through the white-robed woman’s eyes.

As they spoke, they arrived before Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Know Tomorrow, Read History… Reveal Yin Yang, Sever Five Elements… Heaven’s Secrets May Be Measured…" The couplet caught their eye before they entered. More than a year later, the inscription remained unchanged.

In this day and age, none dared to mock that couplet any longer.

"A minor recluse hides in the wilds; a great recluse hides in the city. The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion likely chose this place for just such a purpose," the woman in white remarked with a light laugh.

The pair entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, where Su Mu was tenderly bidding Shen Yueyi farewell, their affection palpable.

Ye Xu sat bored, playing Five in a Row against himself.

"Which one of you is the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?" The woman in purple planted her hands on her hips and spoke brashly.

"Daoist brother, customers await," Su Mu chuckled, glancing toward Ye Xu.

The women’s gazes followed Su Mu’s intently.

"Huh…"

The purple-clad woman’s eyes lit up as she laughed—a crisp, oddly eerie sound. "I’d imagined the pavilion master as some decrepit old man. Who knew he’d be such a dashing young master?"

Ye Xu smiled.

Many had stepped into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, but this woman was the first audacious enough to tease him to his face.

With a subtle flicker of thought, her details surfaced:

Name: Yu Ziyi.

Status: Tenth True Disciple of the Moon Goddess Sect.

Cultivation: Early-stage Immortal King.

Purpose: To find her lover.

"Ms. Yu possesses excellent taste," Ye Xu remarked blandly.

"Your skin is quite thick," Yu Ziyi retorted slyly.

"Sister, mind your manners!"

The woman in white frowned in reproach.

Ye Xu shifted his gaze to her.

Name: Han Ziyu.

Status: Saintess of the Primal Chaos Heavenly Sect.

Cultivation: Late-stage Immortal King.

Purpose: To find her lover.

Ye Xu’s expression turned peculiar, his eyes narrowing strangely. Both women sought their lovers. Could it be the very same man?

"Daoist brother, I’ll take my leave now," Su Mu announced his departure.

"Go," Ye Xu replied dismissively, focused now on business.

"Huh? How did you know my surname is Yu?" Yu Ziyi belatedly registered his words, astonished.

"Have you forgotten our couplet?" Ye Xu smiled enigmatically.

"Could he truly be that formidable?" Yu Ziyi mused silently.

"He really was that extraordinary."

Ye Xu, discerning the thoughts running through their minds, smiled.

At this moment, Yu Ziyi was completely convinced of Ye Xu’s abilities.

"Sister, this trip will surely yield results," Yu Ziyi said fiercely. "If we catch that damned scoundrel, I’ll make sure to teach him a severe lesson."

"Lass, serve tea to these two young ladies," Ye Xu instructed Shen Yueyi.

"Oh, yes."

Shen Yueyi snapped out of her thoughts and immediately busied herself.

"Ladies, please take a seat first."

"We heard the Pavilion Master possesses the ability to divine celestial secrets," Han Ziyu said softly. "My sister and I have come to request your assistance in tracking down a person’s whereabouts."

"I know the purpose of your visit."

Ye Xu smiled.

Han Ziyu’s face flushed, and a similar rose hue spread up her neck.

Yu Ziyi, carefree by nature and not one for such trifles, remained unfazed.

Ye Xu smiled but said nothing.

It was genuinely surprising to him that these two women, who were romantic rivals, could address each other as sisters and coexist peacefully.

"A fellow named Mu Daoting, he must be truly capable to make two peerless beauties fall for him alone," Ye Xu thought to himself. Everyone who had cultivated to the Immortal King realm possessed pride and arrogance. To have captivated the hearts of two such peerless Immortal Kings was no ordinary feat.

He had gathered their information. Both had been searching for Mu Daoting’s whereabouts for over ten thousand years, but Mu Daoting had vanished without a trace.

Coinciding with the descent of multitudes of immortals to the lower realm, they too arrived to search. By chance, they heard of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and decided on the spur of the moment to travel to Linglong City, clinging to a sliver of hope.

"System, how many heavenly secrets points to inquire about Mu Daoting’s whereabouts?" Ye Xu queried internally.

[Five hundred million heavenly secrets points.]

"Five hundred million heavenly secrets points, that’s not much."

"How many heavenly secrets points to inquire about Mu Daoting’s complete information?"

[Two point six billion heavenly secrets points.]

Ye Xu’s eyes lit up. Twenty-six billion heavenly secrets points meant there was potential.

"Ladies, I have two options," Ye Xu stated.

Han Ziyu spoke softly, "Pavilion Master, please elaborate."

"The first option provides only Mu Daoting’s whereabouts and costs one point two billion Star Yuan."

"The second option provides everything about Mu Daoting – his life experiences, all information. But that costs three point five billion Star Yuan."

"The second one."

Han Ziyu and Yu Ziyu spoke in unison.

They exchanged a look, each fully aware of the other’s thoughts.

Mu Daoting had quite the reputation as a ladies’ man. They both wanted to know, besides themselves, exactly how many women he truly had.

"Deal."

Ye Xu smiled. "The rule of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion: payment first, then the goods."

"No problem."

Han Ziyu and Yu Ziyu each presented an Immortal King treasure of average quality.

"System, exchange."

[Congratulations, Host. Obtained three point six billion heavenly secrets points.]

"Inquire about Mu Daoting’s complete information immediately."

Ye Xu commanded.

The next moment, a torrent of intricate information flooded Ye Xu’s mind. He meticulously organized it, transferring it piece by piece onto jade slips.

Mu Daoting was merely an Immortal Venerable who had reached the end of the Great Dao, having cultivated for just over two million years. His information certainly couldn’t compare to that of the Witch Ancestor.

Thus, it didn’t take long before Ye Xu had completely sorted all the information and compiled it onto two jade slips.

"Here is what you asked for."

Handing the jade slips to them, Ye Xu warned, "I hope you are both mentally prepared. Some of the answers you find within might not be what you wish to see."

Hearing Ye Xu’s words, both women’s hearts skipped a beat, instantly shrouded in a shadow of dread.