Chapter 627

Chapter 627: Wasn’t He Supposed to be Fine?

“No formalities are necessary, Daoist friend. A guest’s approach warrants welcome—please enter.”

Ye Xu laughed, instructing Xixi to prepare tea.

The Celestial Lord of Creation stepped into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

He lowered his head, not daring to meet Ye Xu’s eyes directly.

The Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion truly defies all measurement. Awe crashed over the Celestial Lord; in a lifetime of discerning souls, none had ever evoked this towering sensation of reverence.

Even Zhuge Qinmo fell immeasurably short.

“You’ve journeyed across realms to reach this place, Daoist friend. Rest yourself first,” Ye Xu said.

Hearing this, the Celestial Lord jolted bodily.

“Worldly whispers claim the Master knows all. This junior once dismissed them as flattery… but today’s meeting unveils you as truly embodying Heaven and Man.”

That Ye Xu could pierce even his private thoughts—only the term Heaven and Man did justice to such a being.

Ye Xu said lightly, “Without such capability, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion would long have ceased its existence.”

“Esteemed Sir,” Xixi asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes, “this Celestial Lord of Creation—is he the inheritor of the Heavenly Emperor’s legacy? For I faintly recall such a matter.”

“It is him.”

Ye Xu nodded slightly.

He almost choked back a laugh.

With the aggrieved party at his door, concealment was impossible.

“Master,” the Celestial Lord of Creation inquired, not immediately addressing the transaction, “does that set of jade steps contain… the Great Dao of creation within it?”

“The Great Dao of creation is within it,” Ye Xu replied placidly, “yet it is not defined solely as the Great Dao of creation.”

“……”

The Celestial Lord stared blankly. Is this how elevated beings conversed—always profound, perpetually enigmatic?

“An affinity binds you to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Hence, you grasped glimmers of truth from its jade steps,” Ye Xu chuckled. “Of all who’ve walked here, you alone hold this distinction.”

“It stems entirely from the Master’s grace.”

The Celestial Lord promptly bowed in reverence.

“Rise.”

Ye Xu stated: “You are a guest of this Pavilion, not my junior disciple. Standing at my waist serves no purpose.”

“Yes.”

That stated, the Celestial Lord remained stiffly formal.

“Your intent in coming, I already perceive.”

Ye Xu faintly smiled. “Present me with two hundred million divine stones, and I shall disclose the whereabouts of the one who plundered your Caofa Lodge.”

“That poses no issue.” The Celestial Lord gnashed his teeth. Without hesitation, he extended two hundred million divine stones.

“Master, grant me this thief’s location.”

"Xixi, what would you do if you found out where he is? Xixi asked curiously.

Celestial Lord of Creation gnashed his teeth, "Eat his flesh raw."

…

Ye Xu and Xixi exchanged a glance, their expressions remarkably vivid.

With Li Ruoyu’s strength, he was far from being a match for Celestial Lord of Creation.

Daoist friend, to tell you the truth, the person who robbed Caofa Lodge was named Li Ruoyu. Ye Xu coughed once and said, He is currently at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

???

Celestial Lord of Creation had a head full of question marks, Master, what does this mean?

Is he perhaps from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

He only half counts.

Ye Xu laughed.

Li Ruoyu had not pledged allegiance to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, and in the Tianxia Divine Empire, he held no official position. Strictly speaking, he was just a casual cultivator.

He was able to stay at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion only because Ye Xu considered Yi Tianxing’s face.

Master, could you call this person out? Celestial Lord of Creation frowned and said solemnly, I promise I will spare his life.

But the things he stole must be handed over to me.

Xixi covered her mouth and snickered.

Ye Xu’s expression was extremely awkward.

Almost seventy to eighty percent of the treasures Li Ruoyu possessed had fallen into Ye Xu’s pocket and had long been converted into Hongmeng points for cultivation.

I can let you see him.

The two of you should have a good talk.

With a thought from Ye Xu, Li Ruoyu appeared at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

He was sitting in lotus position, with a prayer mat beneath him, clearly in cultivation.

Celestial Lord of Creation’s face was as cold as frost.

That prayer mat was exactly the treasure he had specially crafted.

The temperature in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion gradually became icy.

Li Ruoyu shuddered all over; he felt as if a fierce tiger was staring at him. He abruptly opened his eyes, and what met his gaze was Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Master, wasn’t I in seclusion? How did you bring me to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion? Li Ruoyu asked puzzledly.

Someone is looking for you.

Ye Xu said.

Who? Li Ruoyu was perplexed.

Me.

Celestial Lord of Creation said coldly, The master of Caofa Lodge, the Great Celestial Lord of Creation!

Bang!

Li Ruoyu froze as if struck by lightning.

Great Celestial Lord of Creation, wasn’t he in the yin realm?

"Oh no…" Li Ruoyu silently cursed. With the yin and yang realms just beginning to merge, Great Celestial Lord of Creation must have seized the chance to return to the world above.

"This junior Li Ruoyu pays his respects to Senior."

Li Ruoyu took a deep breath and smiled. "Now that I think of it, Junior shares a connection with Senior."

"One year ago, after ascending to the upper realm, I entered the Great Cauldron Lodge and gained profound insights."

"Only because of this could I cultivate myself to the Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign realm within a year."

"Senior, please accept this bow!"

Li Ruoyu bowed deeply to the ground, showing utmost reverence.

"Youth, you certainly know how to play your cards right." Celestial Lord of Creation refrained from acting, especially since they were in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and Li Ruoyu had ties to Ye Xu. He wouldn’t dare show disrespect.

"For the Master of the Pavilion’s sake, if you return what you pilfered, I’ll let this go," rumbled Celestial Lord of Creation solemnly.

"Uh…"

Li Ruoyu glanced towards Ye Xu. "Master…"

Everything he owned had been practically scraped clean by Ye Xu.

Ye Xu stayed completely still, eyes lowered.

"You said nothing would happen!" Li Ruoyu transmitted his thoughts urgently.

"……"

Ye Xu flushed with embarrassment.

When he’d made that promise, he hadn’t foreseen Celestial Lord of Creation returning to the yang realm and revisiting the Great Cauldron Lodge.

"You’ve got to help me, Master," Li Ruoyu continued his mental plea. "All his treasures… they’re all in your hands now."

"Are you threatening me?"

Ye Xu transmitted back, displeased.

"Without me, you’d be in pieces already, chewed up and swallowed whole."

"……"

Li Ruoyu couldn’t argue.

Celestial Lord of Creation frowned deeply.

He sensed hidden secrets passing between them.

"Senior, you know cultivation requires resources," Li Ruoyu sighed. "Climbing from the World Master Realm to Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign in a year… surely you understand?"

"You used it all?"

Celestial Lord of Creation felt like his heart was bleeding.

"Yes."

Li Ruoyu nodded.

Ye Xu threw him a surprised look. Li Ruoyu hadn’t implicated him.

"You little runt, that was my life’s savings…" Celestial Lord of Creation could barely contain his fury.

"Ahem…"

Ye Xu coughed lightly, mediating. "Daoist friend Creation, those resources… they’re already gone beyond recall."

"However, I do have an alternative proposal."

"Master, please enlighten me."

Celestial Lord of Creation answered respectfully.

"You cultivate the Great Dao of creation," Ye Xu stated indifferently. "The jade steps before Heaven’s Secret Pavilion hold their own profound mysteries. Stay for three days. Comprehend them. Regardless of your gains, erase all grudges between you and Li Ruoyu."

Celestial Lord of Creation’s eyes flickered intensely.

Ye Xu lightly tapped the armrest.

His offer held an unspoken reminder: you, too, have reaped benefits from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Don’t overreach.

Having lived through two lifetimes, Celestial Lord of Creation deeply grasped this implication.

"Moreover," Ye Xu added lightly, "trying to confront him now would only lead to your death."

Celestial Lord of Creation shuddered violently, genuine terror flashing in his eyes as he stared at Ye Xu.

"I’ve no taste for killing," Ye Xu stated indifferently. "Li Ruoyu’s master now rules Tianxia. Wielding the Nine Cauldrons, he anchors a nation’s destiny. Crushing you would be done in the blink of an eye."

Ye Xu wielded carrot and stick with practiced ease.

"Take your time and consider it well."