Chapter 428

Chapter 428: The Murderer Is Indeed Myself

Immortal Emperor Taisu had obtained the Primordial Divine Mountain. Although he was dissatisfied in his heart, he was extremely happy.

Though the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had a black heart, he was absolutely trustworthy.

"I hope there won’t be a next time," Immortal Emperor Taisu thought to himself, but he said aloud, "Master, your abilities are as vast as the heavens. If I have questions I don’t understand, Taisu will definitely visit your Heaven’s Secret Pavilion again."

"Farewell."

Immortal Emperor Taisu bid farewell and departed.

In Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, only Ye Xu and Mu Fanyin remained.

Mu Fanyin’s identity was extremely mysterious.

She was from the Hongmeng Dao Realm, born into the Heaven’s Machine lineage, and had mastered a portion of the Great Dao of cause and effect. Yet, for unknown reasons, she had fallen to a lower plane, clearly with hidden circumstances.

"Master, do you know about the Hongmeng Dao Realm?" Mu Fanyin said.

Ye Xu nodded.

"Such a simple question, and you still ask me?" Ye Xu was speechless, and said, "Choose a more difficult one instead."

"To be honest, this young lady was originally from the Hongmeng Dao Realm."

Mu Fanyin’s dark eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she rarely revealed a grave expression.

"I know."

Ye Xu was calm and unruffled.

After he had advanced to the Three Yuan Proof, Mu Fanyin’s origins could no longer be hidden from him.

"The rumors say you know everything, Master. It seems they’re truly correct."

Her roots revealed by Ye Xu, Mu Fanyin felt not a trace of fear, but was instead quite excited.

That Ye Xu could see through her past made it highly likely he could resolve her doubts.

"Master, I want to know the truth about the Hongmeng Dao Realm, about why my Mu Family was destroyed," Mu Fanyin said after a long hesitation, her eyes radiating icy killing intent, and the deep-seated hatred within her surging forth.

"I lost part of my memory. I barely remember anything before descending to that lower plane."

Mu Fanyin smiled self-mockingly, "Therefore, I don’t even know who the enemy is."

"Please solve this puzzle for me."

The Heaven’s Machine lineage was destroyed?

Ye Xu felt a stir in his heart.

To stand firm in the Hongmeng Dao Realm and form their own lineage of tradition, the Heaven’s Machine lineage must have been formidable. How could such a strong tradition be annihilated?

"It seems that even after transcending and ascending to the Hongmeng Dao Realm, one can’t escape the tangles of old scores," Ye Xu gained insight in his heart. "Transcending doesn’t mean being invincible."

Thinking of this, Ye Xu grew even more drawn to the Hongmeng Dao Realm.

If he could stir the winds and clouds in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, it would surely be fascinating.

"System, to inquire about the truth of the Heaven’s Machine lineage’s destruction, how many heavenly secrets points are required?" Ye Xu asked.

【The system has not been upgraded yet; permissions are insufficient.】

"Can’t investigate?" Ye Xu frowned.

Involving the Hongmeng Dao Realm was far too mysterious, which fell within Ye Xu’s expectations.

After all, the matter of the Ninth Young Master had proven that this version of the system was still a piece of junk.

"A vague inquiry requires seven hundred billion heavenly secrets points."

Ye Xu immediately grasped the situation.

"Miss Mu, if you wish to know the whole story behind the extermination of the Heaven’s Machine lineage, the cost will be enormous. In my opinion, you won’t be able to afford it," Ye Xu said with a smile.

"Please speak, Master," Mu Fanyin said.

Ye Xu frowned in thought.

A vague inquiry cost seven hundred billion Star Yuan; the complete truth would likely cost ten times that, perhaps even twenty.

"Don’t forget, I know everything about you. Over a trillion Star Yuan… you can’t produce that," Ye Xu shook his head.

Mu Fanyin’s expression darkened.

Over a trillion Star Yuan was indeed an astronomical sum.

Ye Xu smiled imperceptibly.

"However, given your sincerity, I can perform a divination for you," Ye Xu gave a light cough. "You only need to pay one trillion five hundred billion Star Yuan."

"Agreed."

Mu Fanyin immediately consented.

As the strongest Immortal Emperor of the Qing Xuan plane, she naturally wasn’t short of one trillion five hundred billion Star Yuan.

Moreover, during the battle at the Purple Star Heavenly Court, after slaying Yuanzu and the Ancient God of Origin, and destroying the Heavenly Court, she had acquired numerous treasures.

"Please look, Master."

Mu Fanyin moved a cave world into view. Immortal light radiantly illuminated the interior of the cave, where treasures hovered – clocks, cauldrons, qin, swords…

Each artifact was at the level of an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Rich and imposing, in a single word!

"System, exchange."

[Congratulations, Host. Obtained one trillion five hundred and forty billion heavenly secrets points.]

"Immediately inquire about the vague truth behind the Heaven’s Machine lineage’s extermination," Ye Xu commanded.

[Only the mastermind behind it can be queried.]

The system responded.

"No other information?"

[None.]

Ye Xu was stunned; the system certainly stood by its word.

[Query immediately?]

"Query."

Ding!

A soft chime sounded as a stream of concise information flooded Ye Xu’s mind.

"This…" Ye Xu was utterly shocked.

The truth was staggering.

"Master?" Mu Fanyin’s thoughts were chaotic, her mind unsettled; she desperately needed to know the answer.

Ye Xu gazed at her intently.

"The answer lies within this jade slip."

With a flick of his finger, Ye Xu sent the jade slip soaring toward Mu Fanyin.

She caught it, and her Divine Sense surged forth.

"Impossible!"

In the next moment, Mu Fanyin’s pupils constricted violently, disbelief etched on her face. "How could it possibly be me?"

The information recorded on the jade slip clearly showed that the perpetrator behind the extermination of the Heaven’s Machine lineage was Mu Fanyin herself.

The murderer was actually herself?

Mu Fanyin found it unbearable.

"Miss Mu, the information provided by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is never false," Ye Xu stated.

He too couldn’t comprehend it: why would Mu Fanyin be the one who destroyed her own lineage?

It was utterly bizarre.

After all, if she had done it, why would she come to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, spending exorbitant resources to uncover the truth of the massacre?

But the system’s answer could never be wrong.

The destroyer of her lineage was indeed her.

"Could this all be connected to the missing part of Mu Fanyin’s memories?" Ye Xu murmured.

Mu Fanyin had once mentioned that she had completely forgotten matters of the Hongmeng Dao Realm; a fragment of her memory was lost.

"This can’t be…"

Mu Fanyin slumped to the ground, seeming to have no strength left in her body.

Her memory was gone; she felt utterly helpless.

Yet, in her recollection, the Mu Family of Heaven’s Machine was her birthplace, her home.

How could she be the very one who destroyed it?

Tears welled in Mu Fanyin’s eyes.

"Master, can you… can you help me find out what truly happened?" Mu Fanyin’s Dao heart was on the verge of shattering; this revelation had struck her too deep a blow.

"Miss Mu, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion conducts business with a clear principle of fair exchange: payment for service," Ye Xu replied. "If you can produce sufficient resources, I will naturally assist you."

"Otherwise, I will not intervene."

"Ai…"

Ye Xu sighed softly. "Divining fate and heavenly secrets for your kind exacts a celestial punishment upon me."

Mu Fanyin’s eyes were vacant.

"Your utmost priority now should be Ascension," Ye Xu advised. "Once you Ascend to the Hongmeng Dao Realm, you can continue your pursuit of the truth."

"Perhaps, on some future day, we shall meet again in the Hongmeng Dao Realm."

Upon hearing this, a spark reignited in Mu Fanyin’s spirit.

Ye Xu’s words had enlightened her.

Remaining in the lower realm, millions of years might not suffice to gather sufficient resources. But the Hongmeng Dao Realm was shrouded in profound mystery, containing boundless wonders. Once she achieved Ascension, acquiring resources would become far easier.

If she could gather the necessary resources, wouldn’t uncovering the truth be assured?

Moreover, after ascending to the higher realm, she could investigate the truth herself.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Regathering her composure, Mu Fanyin wiped away her tears, slowly lifted her veil, and bowed deeply to Ye Xu with utmost solemnity.

Twin trails of tears still marked her cheeks.

She looked heartbreakingly sorrowful.

"Miss Mu, should you encounter difficulties on your path to Ascension, you may always return to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Ye Xu offered with a smile.

Mu Fanyin returned his smile. In that instant, the brilliance of the celestial stars themselves seemed to pale.

Her smile radiated unparalleled confidence.

"The journey of Ascension poses no great challenge for me."

"Master, do you realize? My entire cultivation spans merely sixty thousand years."

"Just sixty thousand years to reach this stage? You truly are a genius rarely seen in a million years, Miss Mu," Ye Xu responded, smiling himself.

His thoughts drifted inward. What would her reaction be, I wonder, if Mu Fanyin knew I attained perfection in the Three Yuan Proof, rendering me invincible across the lower realms… all in just two years?