Chapter 528

Chapter 528: Serving by His Side?

"After bitterness comes sweetness?"

Li Ruoyu was excited and immediately asked, "Please, Master, explain in detail."

Ye Xu’s expression turned serious, and he said, "Your original self is now in the Caofa Lodge."

"The Caofa Lodge?"

Li Ruoyu’s eyes were filled with confusion, "I haven’t heard of it."

"Master, may I ask, is it the Caofa Lodge of the Immortal Domain?" Taotie’s eyes flashed, and he spoke in a deep, muffled voice.

"You have some knowledge."

Ye Xu praised.

…

Taotie was both angry and afraid; if he hadn’t been unable to discern Ye Xu’s depths, he would have surely tested Ye Xu’s abilities.

After all, Taotie was a Celestial Lord.

Even in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, he was a top-tier powerhouse who could dominate one region.

"Senior, you know as well?" Li Ruoyu was astonished.

Taotie nodded, and a strange light appeared in his gaze as he looked at Li Ruoyu, saying, "The Caofa Lodge is the legendary place where the Great Celestial Lord of Creation passed away."

"A Great Celestial Lord?"

Li Ruoyu was extremely excited.

"However, the Great Celestial Lord of Creation had long since perished in the previous era, and no one could find the Caofa Lodge. For your original self to enter the Caofa Lodge is truly a great fortune."

Taotie sighed with emotion.

He had also searched for the traces of the Caofa Lodge.

However, the Great Celestial Lord of Creation’s powers were immensely strong, not inferior to his divine dragon, and the cause of death remained a mystery to this day.

"Hahaha…"

Li Ruoyu laughed wildly at the heavens, his eyes filled with boundless sorrow; as the dignified Heavenly Emperor, an invincible entity in the lower realms, he had only been timid and compliant upon arriving in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, but now he finally glimpsed a ray of hope.

Although he and his original self did not share the same strength, their state of mind was alike.

"This jade slip records the location of the Caofa Lodge," Ye Xu said as he took out a golden book and jade slip, flicked it lightly, and it landed in Li Ruoyu’s hand.

Taotie’s eyes glowed with greed.

Li Ruoyu’s expression stiffened.

He glanced subtly at Taotie and Mu Fanyin, growing guarded in his heart, and activated the Heavenly Emperor Scripture to imprint a restriction on the jade slip.

As soon as he willed it, he could destroy the jade slip.

The information about the Caofa Lodge’s location would never be known.

"You’ve really got an inflated sense of caution, little guy," Taotie jeered with a laugh, "My master could never deign to covet the legacy of the Great Celestial Lord of Creation?"

Li Ruoyu appeared calm; he already held the inheritance of a Great Celestial Lord in his grasp.

The most crucial aspect was that his true self resided within Caofa Lodge.

He could die, but the true self absolutely must not perish.

"Daoist friend Li, you may proceed first," Mu Fanyin said lightly. "I have matters yet to settle."

"Until we meet again."

Li Ruoyu raised his hands in farewell to the others, transforming into a stream of light that shot out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, hurtling straight toward Immortal Domain.

"Master, I too have a question, hoping to learn the answer." Taotie chuckled, shifting unexpectedly into human form—a burly middle-aged man with eyes as deep as abysses and an eerie, unsettling aura, clearly revealing his unsavory nature.

"Ask."

Ye Xu smiled.

"I wish to uncover the whereabouts of the Nine Great Heavenly Books!" Taotie stated solemnly.

Ye Xu’s heart surged with joy.

A Big Deal had finally arrived!

Yet Ye Xu showed no haste. He gazed at Taotie and gave a faint smile. "Daoist friend, extracting the location of the Nine Great Heavenly Books from me demands significant wealth."

Taotie chuckled awkwardly. "Frankly, all I possess now is an incomplete magical artifact. My entire accumulation of wealth has been obliterated by my master’s divine power."

"…"

Displeasure surfaced in Ye Xu’s expression.

Without money, how dare you approach me for business?

"Ahem…"

Taotie cleared his throat. "Master, could you hint at the price? After a few rounds of wandering outside, I should manage to gather enough."

Wander a few rounds?

Suspicion flashed across Ye Xu’s face. Did he intend to imitate the Old madman?

"Taotie, withdraw."

Mu Fanyin’s voice suddenly cut in.

"As you command."

Reluctance churned within Taotie, but defiance against Mu Fanyin was unthinkable.

"The Nine Great Heavenly Books of the Hongmeng Dao Realm are extraordinary treasures. I tell you this—not only you, but even those behind the Ninth Young Master could never produce the price our Master demands."

Mu Fanyin appeared profoundly conversant with the value of the Nine Great Heavenly Books.

Ye Xu’s puzzlement only deepened.

Just what origin did Mu Fanyin hold?

"That Dugu Ming is a being from the yin realm, yet he could slip into our world using her flesh as a physical anchor. So the alternative personality within Mu Fanyin’s body… or Mu Fanyin herself… might she originally hail from the yin realm?"

Ye Xu felt a flicker of dizziness in his thoughts.

"If she truly is from the yin realm, it would explain everything."

It must be understood: shattering the barrier separating both realms required terrifying power.

"Master, I have a matter to discuss with you."

Mu Fanyin smiled charmingly, as if she had returned to her former self. She looked at Ye Xu and laughed, "I wonder if I can stay at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to serve Master?"

Swish!

As soon as the words fell.

Ye Xu’s heart surged violently.

Taotie was even more incredulous. He had no doubt that Mu Fanyin, after regaining her body, possessed combat power absolutely comparable to a Great Celestial Lord. As his master, he held not a trace of defiance.

But.

How could such a figure actively offer to serve the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

"Is it because I am too weak?" Taotie was deeply shaken. He suspected that he was too weak to see through Ye Xu’s depths, while Mu Fanyin knew Ye Xu’s abilities, thus willingly submitting?

"Very likely."

Taotie murmured to himself.

Ye Xu also recovered from his shock. A powerhouse suspected to be a Great Celestial Lord actively wanted to be his subordinate; it truly bewildered Ye Xu.

"Is it because I am too handsome?" Ye Xu couldn’t help feeling a little smug.

"Miss Mu, how could I possibly be worthy enough for you to serve me?"

Ye Xu said with a serious expression, "With your strength, why bother staying at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

Though he lacked manpower, Ye Xu still didn’t quite believe in such a stroke of luck falling from the sky.

He always believed in one saying.

"The bustling crowds all rush for profit."

"System…"

Ye Xu instinctively wanted to ask the System, but on second thought, with a powerhouse whose strength could rival a Great Celestial Lord, even if he could check the origin and purpose, he couldn’t afford the price.

"Master, are you refusing me?"

Mu Fanyin said in a pitiful tone.

Ye Xu smiled calmly, "Miss Mu, if you truly wish to stay at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, it’s not impossible. But from now on, you must obey my commands."

"Naturally."

Mu Fanyin, changing from her seductive demeanor, said cheerfully, "Since it’s so, let’s confirm it. After this young lady finishes handling the matters of the Heaven’s Machine lineage, I will return to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to fulfill today’s promise."

"Good."

Ye Xu nodded.

"Taotie, let’s go."

Facing Taotie, Mu Fanyin resumed her cold expression.

Seeing Mu Fanyin off, Ye Xu’s heart was completely shrouded in mist.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out Mu Fanyin’s purpose.

"It doesn’t matter."

Since he couldn’t figure it out, Ye Xu gave up thinking.

After all, within his invincible domain, he reigned supreme and unmatched under heaven. If Mu Fanyin dared harbor any schemes, he could subdue her with a mere flick of his hand then.

"Getting a Great Celestial Lord expert and a Taotie of Celestial Lord level to pledge allegiance for free—now that’s a fine stroke of fortune. I ought to celebrate with a couple of drinks."

Ye Xu felt invigorated.

If Mu Fanyin truly pledged loyalty to him, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion would have not just him, but also another top-tier and a high-level fighting force.

…

"Master, I don’t understand," Taotie pondered with deep confusion. "With your status and power, why would you submit to the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion? Is the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion truly that formidable?"

Mu Fanyin glanced lightly at him and remained silent.

Taotie felt a chill sink into his bones from that single look.

"Master, where do we go next?" Taotie asked. "The Mu Family of Heaven’s Machine lineage?"

"The Mu Family?"

Mu Fanyin’s expression remained calm. After returning from Taihuang Abyss, the two personalities within her had begun gradually merging, and her memories were steadily returning.

"Annihilating the Mu Family would take but a snap of the fingers."

Mu Fanyin declared coldly, "However, where would a mere Mu Family find the courage to move against me?"

Taotie’s heart sank.

"Master, you mean… someone behind the scenes ordered the Mu Family to strike at you?"

Taotie’s eyes flickered dark and light.

If there truly was a hidden mastermind, they must be at the Great Celestial Lord level.

Perhaps even…

Not just one.

"There’s no need to rush."

Mu Fanyin spoke dismissively, her tone laced with sardonic amusement. "Since they want to play… I shall play with them properly."

Taotie shuddered.

From her voice, he sensed a bone-chilling murderous intent.