Chapter 22
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Chapter 22: Our Palace Master Requests Your Presence
“You… just who are you? Stop this at once!”
“Ah!”
The city lord’s guard was still speaking, but his physical body was already encased in ice. Han Dongliu sneered, and the cultivator’s body instantly exploded into fragments, his body shattered and soul scattered.
“Hurry… hurry and report to the City Lord!”
The remaining guards, utterly terrified and their courage broken, hastily sent word to the City Lord of Linglong.
The citizens of Linglong City watched Han Dongliu in the sky with terror, hopelessness visible in their eyes.
That was a Heavenly God.
Even with the protective formation active, it was still difficult to block such a being.
Claaaaang!
A sword cry shook the vast heavens. The Great Five Elements Sword Formation began to operate, its sword energy stirring the void, shattering every inch of ice. Five divine swords stood tall between heaven and earth, their presence resplendent and imposing.
"Fellow Daoist, to immediately attack my Linglong City over a simple disagreement… isn’t that a bit too tyrannical?"
The City Lord of Linglong appeared alongside Zhao Cheng. He looked up at Han Dongliu in the sky, his expression subtly shifting.
Why would someone from the Xuanfu Palace come to Linglong City?
Adorning Han Dongliu’s chest was a golden Talisman. The City Lord of Linglong knew this was the symbol of the Xuanfu Palace.
The Xuanfu Palace… they were the foremost power in the Southern Wilderness.
"So it’s a Fellow Daoist from the Xuanfu Palace. This humble one is the City Lord of Linglong, greetings, Fellow Daoist." The City Lord of Linglong clasped his hands in salute.
“Fellow Daoist?”
Han Dongliu scorned the phrase, “Do you really think you are fit to address this Seat as ‘Fellow Daoist’?"
The City Lord’s arrival did nothing to make Han Dongliu withdraw his magical power. Suspended mid-air, his vast mana permeated the formation; the chilling cold formed a thick white mist.
“Milord.”
Though resentment burned within him, the City Lord of Linglong swallowed his humiliation and addressed Han Dongliu respectfully.
"Hmph!"
Han Dongliu let out an indifferent snort of contempt but finally pulled back his mana. The pervasive cold in the world vanished abruptly. However, the Great Five Elements Sword Formation continued to operate, its sword light brilliantly clear and its murderous aura intense.
The City Lord of Linglong dared not deactivate the formation, fearing Han Dongliu would immediately launch into indiscriminate slaughter.
"I ask you," Han Dongliu said coldly, "You, a mere insignificant city lord, dare to establish rules? Could it be… you do not place my Xuanfu Palace in your eyes?”
“This humble servant wouldn’t dare.” The City Lord of Linglong replied with abject terror, immediately sinking to one knee. “How would this servant’s rules dare to target a lord from the Xuanfu Palace?”
“That rule of yours is not impermissible,” Han Dongliu stated lightly, “but we at the Xuanfu Palace must be excluded.”
“Yes.”
Without the slightest hesitation, the City Lord of Linglong immediately agreed.
Zhao Cheng watched the scene, smoldering with fury.
“We’re still too weak,” thought the City Lord of Linglong bitterly. Even with the protection of the Great Five Elements Sword Formation, if they encountered a behemoth like the Xuanfu Palace, they remained utterly powerless.
Facing a Divine God from Xuanfu Palace at the early stage like Han Dongliu, there was simply no standing firm.
“If the esteemed senior had agreed to serve as an adviser for our Linglong City, why would we need to fear this man? Why fear Xuanfu Palace?” The City Lord of Linglong uttered in frustration.
Some time had passed since Han Dongliu’s arrival, yet Heaven’s Secret Pavilion showed no signs of action.
The City Lord of Linglong felt utterly desperate. Just as Ye Xu had stated, their bond remained solely transactional.
“Well? Still not shutting down this formation?” Han Dongliu swept his gaze across, letting killing intent seep through.
“My oversight, Great One!”
Immediately, the City Lord of Linglong activated his command token. Five divine swords dissolved into spiritual energy, and one by one, the divine patterns concealed themselves within the void. Linglong City returned to its ordinary state.
“Know your place,” Han Dongliu remarked coldly. “Take me to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.”
A tremor passed through the City Lord of Linglong’s heart—so even the Xuanfu Palace is seeking the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.
In recent days, the reputation of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had soared. Three generations from Tianxin Sect—elder, middle-aged, and youth—had visited, followed by the Saint Son of the Celestial Demon Hall. Thus, while the arrival of a Divine God from Xuanfu Palace startled him, it no longer seemed so unexpected.
“Please, Great One, follow me.”
The City Lord of Linglong led the way, guiding Han Dongliu toward Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.
Shortly after, a modest pavilion came into view.
“Is this Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?” Han Dongliu frowned. How utterly crude it appeared; even the humblest structure within Xuanfu Palace far surpassed it.
And it seemed… entirely unremarkable.
All except the defiant pair of couplets framing its entrance: a brazen proclamation too arrogant to ignore.
“‘Fathom the Heavenly Secrets’? What sheer arrogance.” Han Dongliu muttered under his breath. Not even the Sages of Xuanfu Palace dared make such presumptuous claims about celestial principles. That a small city harbored such impudence truly opened his eyes.
“You two, get lost.”
Han Dongliu dismissed the City Lord of Linglong and Zhao Cheng with a wave of disdain.
“The arrogance of Xuanfu Palace is beyond bearing! If only the senior would teach them a lesson!” Zhao Cheng spat through gritted teeth.
“Do you still not understand?”
The City Lord of Linglong shook his head with a quiet sigh. “This senior deals in transactions alone. He will not interfere in the grudges of this world.”
“Ah…”
Zhao Cheng heaved a heavy sigh. His lord had made a compelling point: had Ye Xu truly cared for Linglong City, he would have acted the moment Han Dongliu struck… and innocent blood would not have been spilled.
“Han Dongliu of Xuanfu Palace has come specifically to pay his respects to the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion!”
Han Dongliu declared loudly before the pavilion.
“Daoist friend, enter.”
Ye Xu’s voice drifted out from within.
Han Dongliu’s brow twitched—the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion possessed quite the lofty airs, not even sending an attendant to greet him properly!
Swallowing his resentment, he stepped inside.
Ye Xu turned his gaze upon the newcomer.
Name: Han Dongliu.
Cultivation level: early stage of the Divine God realm.
Divine powers: Fist of the Great Sun Subduing the Demon God, Three Swords for Slaying Demons of Heavenly Stars…
……
In an instant, all of Han Dongliu’s information flashed through Ye Xu’s mind.
"So arrogant?" Ye Xu’s gaze briefly creased.
He had learned about Han Dongliu trespassing into the Great Five Elements Sword Formation and forcing the City Lord of Linglong, which sparked a trace of displeasure in his heart.
"This is rather interesting…" Ye Xu stroked his chin, his expression calm.
He already knew Han Dongliu’s purpose for coming.
After the establishment of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, those who dared harbor ill intentions, such as Du Jue, were personally subdued by him; Qin Haishan was also essentially tricked by Ye Xu and perished in a heavenly tribulation.
Han Dongliu was the third.
To be precise, Xuanfu Palace was the third.
"Xian’er, pour the tea."
Ye Xu was not in a hurry; after all, upon entering Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Han Dongliu’s life was in his grasp—whether to live or die depended solely on his whim.
Han Dongliu took his seat, and Ye Xian’er poured tea for him.
"The Master truly knows how to enjoy himself, to have such a beautiful woman serving him; I envy you," said Han Dongliu with a loud laugh, downing the tea in one gulp.
Ye Xian’er frowned with her black eyebrows.
"Daoist friend, you misunderstand; this is a disciple of the Tianxin Sect, cultivating under my guidance," said Ye Xu.
Han Dongliu’s eyes flickered faintly—a disciple of Tianxin Sect actually cultivating in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?
"Now, throughout the entire Southern Wilderness, it’s rumored that the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is unfathomably mysterious, capable of predicting the heavens and knowing past and present. Presumably, my purpose for coming, Master, is already known to you?"
Han Dongliu again downed the tea in one gulp, watching Ye Xu with a smile.
Ye Xu nodded.
"Daoist friend’s purpose for coming, I know it completely clearly."
"Hahaha, since it’s like this, then it’s easy to handle."
With a long laugh, Han Dongliu took out a written command from his bosom from Master of Xuanfu Palace, cupped his hands, bowed respectfully, and said with a respectful attitude, "By the order of my Palace Master, I cordially invite the Master to Xuanfu Palace for a discussion."
He remained unmoving, as if he would not rise unless Ye Xu agreed.
Ye Xu was also silent, sipping his tea by himself.
"Xian’er, today’s tea brew has poor timing," Ye Xu said with dissatisfaction.
"Oh."
Ye Xian’er pouted, "Perhaps Senior is in a bad mood."
She had been in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion for some time and could discern a bit of Ye Xu’s mood changes.
At this moment, Ye Xu’s mood was certainly bad.
If one were to ask the reason, it was most likely brought about by Han Dongliu.
Ye Xian’er really wanted to give Han Dongliu a piece of advice.
Senior was unmoved even by Tianxin Sect’s invitation, so how could he go to Xuanfu Palace?
Hearing their conversation, Han Dongliu felt he was being left aside and felt unpleasant inside.
He raised his head, looked at Ye Xu, and said, "I don’t know what the Master means by this?"
Han Dongliu had lost the respectfulness from moments before, a look of impatience appearing on his face.
In the Southern Wilderness, besides a few sect masters and secluded old monsters, there were few who dared neglect him.
Anger welled up in Han Dongliu from his heart.
"If I don’t agree, will you resort to force?"
Ye Xu put down his teacup, looking at Han Dongliu with a faintly amused expression.
