Chapter 507

Chapter 507: Yan Ruyi, Yan Changkong

"Greetings, Master."

After spotting Ye Xu, the purple-haired woman gave only a light nod, her gaze calm as still water, showing none of the reverence seen in Dao Sovereign Penglai or Meng Qingluo.

Disciples of the Time Palace naturally carried themselves with unyielding pride.

Ye Xu studied the purple-haired woman, her details gradually surfacing in his mind.

Name: Yan ???

Identity: Disciple of the Time Palace.

Cultivation: Four Tribulations Dao Sovereign.

That was all the information available.

"Master, here are two billion divine stones. Kindly verify them." With a flick of her finger, Yan Ruyi sent a jade ring flying toward Ye Xu.

Though inwardly thrilled, Ye Xu remained outwardly composed as he caught the ring, thinking, "System, exchange them immediately."

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired two billion Hongmeng points.]

In that instant, Ye Xu felt profound relief.

Being debt-free truly lightened the spirit.

Moreover, he now had a surplus of one billion Hongmeng points—quite the windfall.

"Miss Yan, the All Laws Sect Ruins are indeed a remarkable place. Yet, with your current power, uncovering the secrets of the Celestial Tome might still be beyond your reach," Ye Xu remarked lightly.

Yan Ruyi’s expression remained unruffled. "To be candid, my visit to you today is on orders from my master, who seeks to ascertain the true depths of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s origins.

Though Dao Sovereigns are abundant in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, only seventy-two Celestial Lords stand at its apex.

My master is one such existence."

"Seventy-two Celestial Lords?" Lu Chengfeng, Formless Demon Lord, and the others exchanged stunned glances. Celestial Lord-level powerhouses were typically elusive figures, spoken of only in legends.

And this woman’s master was actually among them?

Ye Xu smiled faintly. "Since the day I arrived here, those curious about my origins have been countless as fish in the Yangtze River. But tell me, young lady, have you heard of anyone learning the truth?

That said, the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is a place of business. If you truly wish to probe my roots, I’ll gladly divulge everything… for a modest fee."

Yan Ruyi’s eyes flickered. "Are you also a Celestial Lord?"

All seventy-two known Celestial Lords of the Hongmeng Dao Realm were recorded, yet Ye Xu matched none of them—which was precisely why the Celestial Lord of Time had sent her to Canglan City.

Without directly replying, Ye Xu looked steadily at Yan Ruyi and asked, "Is your master capable of invincibility?"

"No," Yan Ruyi shook her head. "Though my master stands as a Celestial Lord, even he would not claim true invincibility. Vast as this world is, hidden dragons and crouching tigers abound—who dares declare themselves unmatched?"

"I am invincible," Ye Xu declared, his smile unwavering. "Does that answer satisfy you, young lady?"

"……"

Lu Chengfeng, the Formless Demon Lord, Su Mu, and the others exchanged strange expressions. For the moment, none could tell whether Ye Xu was speaking the truth or not. After all, Yan Ruyi’s master was a true Heavenly Venerate—the master of Time Palace, an old monster who had lived untold ages, one of the most formidable figures in the entire Hongmeng Dao Realm.

Was the Pavilion Master truly invincible?

Naturally, Yan Ruyi didn’t believe Ye Xu’s words either. If such a powerful being truly existed, it surely couldn’t have escaped the notice of the other Heavenly Venerates across the Hongmeng Dao Realm. It was well known that almost all of the seventy-two Heavenly Venerates had survived from the most archaic times to the present day.

Unless Ye Xu was not a native being of the Hongmeng Dao Realm.

Ye Xu said lightly, "I’ve already told you, miss—if you truly wish to know my background, you must pay for it."

"Our Heaven’s Secret Pavilion conducts business with unwavering integrity and words as weighty as the Nine Cauldrons."

"As long as you can offer a price that satisfies me, I will reveal everything you wish to know—be it the Nine Great Heavenly Books, or even my own origins!"

"That…" Yan Ruyi was visibly moved. For a powerhouse at the Heavenly Venerate level, the most useless thing was wealth and resources.

"Might I ask, Master, how many divine stones would it take to know your origins?"

"Not expensive," Ye Xu replied with a smile. "Show me a trifling few tens of billions, and I shall tell you my history."

A few tens of billions of divine stones were but a drop in the ocean to Time Palace, an ancient, top-tier force that had endured since time immemorial.

Su Mu clicked his tongue. "The Master sure dares to speak, without any fear of terrifying her."

Lu Chengfeng and Yi Tianxing also shook their heads with mixed feelings.

"I shall convey the Master’s words to my master upon my return to the palace," Yan Ruyi said with a light laugh.

Ye Xu nodded. Yan Ruyi’s reaction was within his expectations.

"Esteemed Senior," Lu Chengfeng suddenly spoke, his mind sparking with an idea as he addressed Yan Ruyi, "The Master knows all things under heaven. If you harbor any doubts within your heart, you could likewise seek counsel from him."

"I do indeed have one matter," Yan Ruyi chuckled softly. Even without Lu Chengfeng’s reminder, she had intended to question Ye Xu.

"Might the Master be able to locate the whereabouts of a certain person?"

"Speak."

"Yan Changkong!"

Mentioning this name, a hint of gloom flickered in Yan Ruyi’s eyes—a sign of deep connection to this individual. She gazed at Ye Xu, a trace of hope buried deep within her gaze.

"System," Ye Xu pondered silently, "how many Hongmeng points are required to search for Yan Changkong’s whereabouts?"

[A whereabouts query requires 120,000,000 Hongmeng points.]

[A query for specific information requires 1.2 billion Hongmeng points.]

"This person has such a significant background?"

Ye Xu’s heart gave a lurch.

Just locating him required one hundred and twenty million divine stones, while detailed information demanded an even more staggering one billion two hundred million. That already surpassed the value of the All Laws Sect Ruins.

"Madam, if you can produce one hundred and fifty million divine stones, I will immediately reveal Yan Changkong’s whereabouts to you," Ye Xu said with a smile.

Hearing this, Yan Ruyi felt both astonishment and delight.

She had searched for Yan Changkong for years, but despite her connections and cultivation level, she had found no trace. Now, Ye Xu could actually offer such a guarantee, truly giving her both a shock and immense pleasure.

"My thanks, Master."

Yan Ruyi immediately took out an artifact of a Dao Sovereign.

"This is the treasure of a One Tribulation Dao Sovereign, containing the Yin Source Dao Realm. I believe it should be worth one hundred and fifty million divine stones."

It was a moonwheel.

"System, exchange."

[Congratulations, Host. Acquired one hundred and fifty-eight million Hongmeng points.]

"Query Yan Changkong’s whereabouts immediately."

The moment the words fell.

A stream of information flooded Ye Xu’s mind.

[Yan Changkong: Located within the Tian Cang Immortal Domain, at the Divine Capital of the Immortal Court.]

"Hmm?"

Ye Xu’s gaze sharpened slightly.

The Divine Capital of the Immortal Court was the Third Young Master’s territory. What connection did this person have with the Third Young Master?

"Master, have you deduced his whereabouts?" Yan Ruyi asked nervously.

Ye Xu nodded.

"Yan Changkong is currently in the Tian Cang Immortal Domain, within the Divine Capital of the Immortal Court."

"He’s in the Divine Capital?"

Yan Ruyi’s complexion changed slightly.

The immortal court was the Third Young Master’s domain, and behind the Third Young Master stood the Celestial Lord of Fortune.

"Why would he be in the Divine Capital?" One question after another flashed through Yan Ruyi’s mind.

Ye Xu smiled. "If you wish to know his purpose, I can deduce that for you as well."

"I appreciate the Master’s kindness."

Yan Ruyi declined politely.

She already knew Yan Changkong’s location and could simply go to the Divine Capital.

Ye Xu revealed a look of regret.

"My thanks to the Master for deducing Yan Changkong’s whereabouts. I shall take my leave now."

Having obtained the news, Yan Ruyi saw no reason to stay.

She bid farewell and departed straight away.

"Who exactly is this Yan Changkong?" A trace of doubt also surfaced in Ye Xu’s mind.

The cost to deduce this person’s identity was so exorbitant; he was very likely a Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign.

Judging from Yan Ruyi’s reaction, Yan Changkong’s presence in the Divine Capital seemed illogical.

"Very interesting,"

Ye Xu murmured, his gaze distant and inscrutable.

The appearance of the Time Palace’s people meant the eyes of a Celestial Lord had begun to focus on the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

However, Ye Xu felt no fear.

Within the domain of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he possessed absolute invincibility.

Even if a Celestial Lord personally descended, they would still have to obediently follow the rules.