Chapter 487

Chapter 487: Born of the Same Root

Dao Lord Qingyuan?

Ye Xu’s brows twitched faintly. If he recalled correctly, Dao Lord Qingyuan was the old willow tree that had stood watch over Canglan Divine City for countless Yuanhui. On the day he descended upon Canglan City, he sensed two Divine Senses probing him—one of which belonged to Dao Lord Qingyuan.

But that voice had unmistakably been an old, messy man. How had it transformed into a stunning, flower-like woman now?

"Could this be another Poison Emperor?"

Ye Xu cleared his throat. "Daoist friend, please enter."

Dao Lord Qingyuan walked with lotus steps into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and lifted her gaze toward Ye Xu. Her eyes, like pools of autumn water, shimmered with boundless tenderness, yet carried an aura as distant and cold as if rejecting the world beyond a thousand miles.

"I greet the Master."

Dao Lord Qingyuan offered a graceful bow.

"We encountered each other the very day I arrived. No need for courtesies." Ye Xu smiled.

He was a Four Tribulations Dao Lord, while Dao Lord Qingyuan was at the peak of the Nine Tribulations Dao Lord, wielding immense strength. Likely even more powerful than the incarnation of Dao Sovereign Lingxu currently impaled.

She stood but half a step away from the threshold of the Dao Sovereign Realm.

Hence, Ye Xu deduced her visit likely sought opportunity tied to advancing to Dao Sovereign.

"That couplet inscribed outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion… truly fascinates me."

Dao Lord Qingyuan seated herself, yet her gaze held a trace of skepticism. "But I wonder whether the Master truly knows everything. Might you resolve my doubts?"

Ye Xu chuckled.

"I open my doors for business, guided by the principle of destined connection."

"Why seek my counsel if doubt still clouds your heart?"

The prestige of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion could not be compromised, no matter the circumstance.

Ye Xu would never plead for patronage.

"I do retain faith in your capabilities." Dao Lord Qingyuan’s smile brightened. Six Dao Sovereigns had been forced into the open, other Dao Lords terrified beyond measure—Ye Xu’s strength placed him among the upper echelons of Dao Sovereigns.

As for that earth-shattering couplet adorning his pavilion…

"Only those with true ability dare inscribe such words."

Ye Xu continued lightly, "Allow me to illustrate with an example…"

"Say… enabling you to advance to Dao Sovereign…"

Dao Lord Qingyuan’s reaction, however, caught Ye Xu entirely unprepared.

"Attaining Dao Sovereign status is, indeed, my ultimate aspiration."

Dao Lord Qingyuan pivoted sharply. "But today, I come not for that purpose. I carry a far weightier matter."

A faint tremor stirred in Ye Xu’s heart.

"I beseech the Master’s aid," Dao Lord Qingyuan declared, her eyes suddenly turning icy, her aura chillingly lethal. "To sever my twin soul."

In this fleeting moment, all the knowledge Ye Xu had absorbed surged forward, proving its purpose at last.

"One body… harboring two souls?"

He suddenly realized why, upon his first arrival at Canglan Divine City, Dao Lord Qingyuan appeared as an old man through Divine Sense, yet today he witnessed a woman.

The old willow tree nurtured two primordial spirits.

Each primordial spirit possessed its own consciousness, and the current female Dao Lord Qingyuan was one of them.

"Born from the same root, why torment each other so fiercely…" sighed Ye Xu.

A strange glint flickered in Dao Lord Qingyuan’s beautiful eyes. Since Ye Xu already knew, she saw no need for concealment. "Indeed, he and I share the same root and origin."

"But if I don’t kill him, he will kill me."

"To advance into the Dao Sovereign Realm, only one can succeed. The physical body is but one vessel—who would willingly give it up?"

Her words rang out, sharp and decisive, brimming with murderous intent.

It made sense.

The physical form of the old willow tree, tempered over countless Yuanhui, had grown immensely powerful—one of the most crucial foundations for its ascension to Dao Sovereign.

Whichever primordial spirit abandoned the body would become like duckweed, rootless.

Most crucially, both primordial spirits had developed their own consciousness.

If a man discards self-interest, Heaven’s wrath will destroy him.

"He and I have fought for dozens of Yuanhui, yet neither could triumph over the other." Dao Lord Qingyuan’s gaze hardened. "But a few days ago, he made contact with someone."

Whoosh!

Dao Lord Qingyuan traced a finger through the empty air, sketching an image.

"Xuan Du Ancient Immortal?"

Ye Xu felt a surge of surprise, though upon reflection, it wasn’t impossible. Xuan Du Ancient Immortal was a loyal hound of the Second Young Master, constantly roaming abroad to recruit forces for him. Dao Lord Qingyuan, a peak Dao Lord with the potential to become a Dao Sovereign—if aided by the Second Young Master, eliminating the other primordial spirit and achieving Dao Sovereign status would be almost guaranteed.

Ye Xu understood.

This woman intended to strike first.

"I can help you."

Ye Xu smiled. "But the rules of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, you surely know them. Besides, I’ll add one more condition."

"Speak."

"Once I help you destroy the other primordial spirit, and after you attain the Dao Sovereign body, the news of your ascension will inevitably spread."

Ye Xu said, "Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s foundations are unsteady, its credibility lacking. If, through my help, you become a Dao Sovereign, it will demonstrate my abilities to the world."

"Are you willing?"

"I am."

Dao Lord Qingyuan agreed immediately.

"Three million divine stones!" Ye Xu stated.

"Deal."

Dao Lord Qingyuan took out a profound and mysterious seal imbued with flourishing fortune, with wisps of incense curling around it. It was clearly an instrument of Virtue and Fortune.

"This Mountain River Imprint of Merit has condensed the power of merit accumulated over nine Yuanhui. It has been forged by the collective consciousness of living beings within hundreds of billions of miles around Canglan City. It is my most treasured possession."

"Presumably, such an object is worth thirty million divine stones."

He held the Mountain River Imprint of Merit and presented it to Ye Xu.

"System, exchange."

[Congratulations, host. Thirty million Hongmeng points acquired.]

"Query the flaw and weakness of Dao Lord Qingyuan’s other primordial spirit." Ye Xu contemplated briefly, then commanded.

He possessed the strength to eradicate the other primordial spirit of the old willow tree.

He wouldn’t involve himself directly in worldly conflicts.

That was the law he upheld.

It must be understood, should he ever personally take a life, the very nature of the situation would irreversibly change.

[Complete information requires twenty-two million Hongmeng points.]

"Query."

Ding!

Swiftly, information regarding the old willow tree’s other primordial spirit flooded Ye Xu’s consciousness. He channeled his mana, imprinting this knowledge onto the golden book and jade slip, which he then handed to Dao Lord Qingyuan.

"Contained herein is all its information, including its fatal weakness. With this jade slip, slaying him should require little to no effort."

Dao Lord Qingyuan was taken aback.

He had expected Ye Xu to intervene personally, to aid him in vanquishing the other primordial spirit.

"The rule of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is non-interference in worldly matters." Ye Xu stated lightly. "Besides, a mere Nine Tribulations Dao Lord’s primordial spirit doesn’t warrant my direct involvement."

"Do not delay. Proceed."

"My gratitude, Master."

Dao Lord Qingyuan cupped his hands in salute, stepped out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, and vanished in a flash of cyan light. He reappeared beneath the old willow tree.

This ancient willow was no ordinary tree. Its origins were lost to time. Over countless Yuanhui, nourished by Offerings of Incense and Fire and absorbing fortune, it had awakened an intellect.

But by sheer circumstance, it had fostered two primordial spirits with independent consciousnesses.

Two tigers cannot share one mountain. Conflict was inevitable.

As the two spirits grew increasingly powerful, the path to the next level demanded one either annihilate or consume the other, only then could they attain the Dao Sovereign Realm.

Dao Lord Qingyuan looked up. Thousands of branches hung like silk tassels from the heavens, each willow frond resembling lustrous green jade, shimmering brilliantly.

Approaching the tree, one could hear the profound sound of the Dao resonating.

Above, divine birds nested within its boughs.

Below, cultivators sat in lotus position, contemplating the willow’s mysteries.

Countless people flowed past.

"It’s time to end this."

Dao Lord Qingyuan took a single step, merging into the willow tree. Its interior unfolded into hidden realms. Layer upon layer of diverse Great Dao Worlds formed fifty-six levels, each showcasing distinct spectacles.

He advanced steadily, ascending level by level.

A moment later.

He arrived at the first layer. A blue-robed elder sat cross-legged. Wrinkles etched his face, yet his aura remained steady and deep. He slowly opened his eyes upon sensing Dao Lord Qingyuan’s arrival.

"Brother, I have visited Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Dao Lord Qingyuan announced.

The blue-robed elder’s lips curved slightly.

"You wish to borrow the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s hand to kill me?"

"Since the day we came into being, we have been locked in strife. This endless struggle… I am weary of it." Dao Lord Qingyuan’s gaze grew fathomless. "Today, all can finally conclude."

"Hahaha…"

The blue-robed elder maintained his composure. "Second Young Master has already pledged his aid to me. Momentarily, Daoist Xuan Du shall arrive. When that happens, your doom will be absolute."

"Younger sister, abandon your physical form now. Refrain from challenging me. You can yet keep your life."

"I vow to you—once I cultivate to become a Dao Sovereign—I shall help you reclaim your peak strength."

"We emerged from the same source. I have no intent to harm you."

A frigid smile touched Dao Lord Qingyuan’s lips.

Born of identical roots, each deeply knew the other.

How could he believe the blue-robed elder’s words?

It must be understood.

Only by consuming the other could a primordial spirit achieve perfection. Only thus could one, utilizing the ancient willow’s potent physical form, ascend to the Dao Sovereign Realm.

"Brother, the dagger was drawn. Cease your pretensions."

Dao Lord Qingyuan’s voice was devoid of warmth. "In my sight, you are already dead."

"Let me send you on your way!"