Chapter 352

Chapter 352: The Heaven-defying Bandit

“System, to break through to the Great Perfection of Immortal Venerable, proof of the First Primordial Spirit—how many heavenly secrets points are required?”

Ye Xu scanned the line of information. He already possessed over a hundred and twenty billion heavenly secrets points.

In the past, this would have been considered an enormous fortune.

But today, even breaking through a single minor realm would likely prove extremely difficult.

[Four hundred billion.]

“So expensive.”

Ye Xu gave a bitter smile. Four hundred billion heavenly secrets points were beyond his reach.

This also hinted that the points needed for proofs of the Second Primordial Spirit (semi-Immortal Emperor) and the Three Yuan Proof (Immortal Emperor) would undoubtedly multiply exponentially.

“Better break through to the mid-stage Immortal Venerable first instead,” Ye Xu silently resolved.

The moment the thought surfaced, a hundred and twenty billion heavenly secrets points vanished. A vast power surged into Ye Xu’s body. His aura skyrocketed, and within moments, he broke through to the mid-stage Immortal Venerable.

However, Ye Xu didn’t sense much change.

Reaching the end of the Great Dao required continuous accumulation of power and strength enhancement, striving to achieve the pinnacle of the present—hence known as being invincible in the present moment, the proof of the First Primordial Spirit.

Of course, even then, confronting an expert of the Second Primordial Spirit could lead to being pursued into the past and eradicated instantly.

Su Mu and Yue Lingxi remained engrossed in their affectionate exchange. Ye Xu steeped a cup of tea and played a game of chess against himself.

Ever since Ye Xian’er left, he could only pass the time playing solo chess.

“Master, Bai Muyue of the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths seeks an audience.”

A woman’s voice echoed outside the pavilion.

Bai Muyue stood alone, her aura unstable, a trace of blood at the corner of her lips as though wounded. Her steps were hesitant, indicating her injuries were serious.

Ye Xu’s gaze flickered. Upon discerning Bai Muyue’s inner turmoil, shock struck him.

Bai Muyue had been robbed.

Ten days prior, when the Talented Individuals and Rare Treasures List was unveiled, Bai Muyue visited Heaven’s Secret Pavilion seeking medicine for the White Emperor. Upon receiving the information, she had ventured alone to the hiding place of the innate spiritual herb.

After acquiring the innate spiritual herb and returning to the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths, however, she was robbed by a youth in white. Not only was the innate spiritual herb snatched away, but the entire Temple of Ten Thousand Paths was ransacked.

Every treasure she had painstakingly accumulated over countless ages was plundered, swept entirely clean.

Thankfully, the white-clad youth took no lives.

After perceiving the truth, Ye Xu relaxed.

The one who plundered the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths was the Mad Daoist. Crucially, he hadn’t struck when Bai Muyue picked the herb but after her return to the temple.

Thus, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion bore no responsibility. Ye Xu needn’t worry over this matter.

That old geezer, a grandmaster of his time, has sunk to the most despicable banditry. Not even bothering to disguise his appearance or conceal his aura—utterly brazen, Ye Xu mused, torn between laughter and exasperation.

“Palace Master Bai, I sympathize deeply with your ordeal,” Ye Xu sighed softly. “But that person’s origins lie far beyond what you might imagine.”

A frosty expression settled on Bai Muyue’s beautiful face. “Master, I implore you to reveal that person’s identity and information.”

No matter how powerful this white-clad youth might be, could he truly surpass the White Emperor?

Without avenging this grudge, Bai Muyue couldn’t settle her thoughts.

"One billion Star Yuan," Ye Xu said lightly.

"Getting information about him costs one billion Star Yuan?" Bai Muyue was startled, her expression turning rather sour.

Ye Xu nodded.

"The rules of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion need not be repeated by me. If Palace Master Bai wants to know his information, then pay one billion Star Yuan," Ye Xu said with a laugh.

Bai Muyue’s smile was bitter.

"Alright."

After thinking for a few moments, Bai Muyue gritted her teeth and took out an Immortal King treasure. It was a jade hairpin, a treasure passed down to her by her mother, crafted from the Divine Tree of Light.

Ye Xu reached out and passed his hand over it, taking the jade hairpin.

"Congratulations host, you have obtained twelve billion heavenly secrets points."

"The person who plundered the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths had a very famous name in all realms," Ye Xu said lightly. "Everyone called him Mad Daoist."

"He also had an even more famous name."

"Witch Ancestor!"

Swish!

In that instant, Bai Muyue’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Is it really him?"

Mad Daoist was elusive, was often crazy, and Bai Muyue had never seen him, but she wasn’t unfamiliar with the legends about him.

This was one of the existences standing at the peak of all realms.

The words "Witch Ancestor" were an even greater monument, shining forever in the cosmic history of tens of millions of years.

"No wonder such a powerful Mad Daoist suddenly appeared in the world—it turns out he’s the reincarnation of Witch Ancestor." Bai Muyue murmured, her eyes still full of deep shock.

"With such strong power, why did he plunder my Temple of Ten Thousand Paths?" Bai Muyue couldn’t understand. "The Temple of Ten Thousand Paths is in the lower realm; it has a bit of reputation, but absolutely no treasures that someone like him would desire."

"Master, what’s the reason?"

Ye Xu smiled.

"Because of me."

"Huh?"

Bai Muyue’s brows knitted tightly. "Master, does that mean Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was also involved in the plundering of the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths?"

"In your eyes, is my Heaven’s Secret Pavilion that kind of lowly thing?" Ye Xu laughed coldly. Robbing and looting took effort and risked life, nowhere near as good as doing business to earn money.

"This junior has been foolish."

Bai Muyue looked flustered and hurriedly said, "Please forgive me, senior."

"Do not let it happen again."

Ye Xui waved his sleeves.

"Then… senior, why did Mad Daoist plunder the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths?" Bai Muyue couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked aloud, "Why was it because of you?"

Ye Xu also didn’t conceal it from her.

After all, this information also belonged to Bai Muyue’s purchase.

Moreover, Ye Xu sought to use Bai Muyue to spread the news that Heaven’s Secret Pavilion possessed transcendental methods to the Immortal Realm’s Innate Divine Beings.

He smiled and said, "Because he seeks transcendence."

"And within my grasp lies the method capable of granting him transcendence."

Boom!

The words struck Bai Muyue like thunder, her beautiful face instantly overcome with shock.

As the daughter of the Innate Divine Being White Emperor, Bai Muyue naturally knew of the transcendent realm’s existence.

Yet, even her divine dragon, his cultivation reaching only the peak of the Immortal Venerable Realm—the proof of the First Primordial Spirit—stood separated from the transcendent realm by an uncrossable chasm.

The Mad Daoist stood as a figure at the peak of the cosmos; his pursuit of the transcendent realm seemed natural.

But what truly shocked Bai Muyue was that Heaven’s Secret Pavilion possessed a method of transcendence.

Moreover, it was held by the young man before her.

Inconceivable.

Throughout history, amongst all brilliant prodigies and great masters, only Nuwa had reached transcendence. No method had been left behind for posterity to emulate; all seekers faced a long, uncertain path.

"The price demanded for transcendence is astronomical. As for the Mad Daoist? The Heavenly Emperor? The human ancestor?" Ye Xu gave a light chuckle. "They’ve all come. Yet none could meet the price."

This revelation further stunned Bai Muyue, her mind reeling.

The world’s supreme figures had journeyed to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, all seeking the path to transcendence.

Her thoughts began to stir.

"If Heaven’s Secret Pavilion truly holds the method of transcendence," Bai Muyue pondered inwardly, "it must be capable of advancing my divine dragon further. Once my divine dragon descends to the lower realm, we must bring him here."

As for Su Mu’s promise…

At this moment, Bai Muyue no longer cared in the slightest.

The innate god White Emperor certainly wouldn’t antagonize an otherworldly sage holding transcendental methods over someone like Su Mu.

Ye Xu discerned Bai Muyue’s thoughts, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth.

The effect he desired had been achieved.

When the Immortal Realm collapsed and the innate gods descended, his Heaven’s Secret Pavilion would welcome a new era of prominence.

"A single Temple of Ten Thousand Paths could never amass the resources the Mad Daoist requires," Ye Xu remarked casually. "Soon, traces of the Mad Daoist will surface among all great powers scattered across all realms."

"You can count yourself fortunate to have escaped merely wounded, rather than slain by him."

"The Master speaks wisely."

Bai Muyue wholeheartedly agreed.

A figure of that caliber could snuff out her life with a mere breath.

"If there is nothing else, you may leave." Ye Xu reclined lazily in the grand armchair, thoroughly relaxed.

"This junior bids farewell."

Bai Muyue hesitated, words caught on her lips, but ultimately remained unspoken.

Now, after the Mad Daoist’s robbery, she was utterly penniless. Though she still needed Ye Xu’s aid, she couldn’t muster even a sliver of sufficient treasure.

Bai Muyue sighed softly inside.

"I can only wait until my divine dragon descends before visiting Heaven’s Secret Pavilion again."

Bai Muyue withdrew from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.