Chapter 66

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Chapter 66: The Pavilion Master’s Obligation

Even the normally calm and detached Gui Qinghe became visibly excited upon hearing Ye Xu’s words.

Ao Lie and Elder Huang were even more thrilled—having a senior figure repay a favor was an immense windfall.

Ye Xu looked at Gui Qinghe thoughtfully.

The moment Gui Qinghe stepped into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Ye Xu had already fully grasped the centuries-old grudge between the True Martial God Sect and Central Prefecture’s Dao Gate.

Thus, Ye Xu’s repayment of the favor was connected to this matter.

"System, how many heavenly secrets points are required to query the True Martial God Sect?"

[A precise query for the True Martial God Sect requires one million six hundred ninety thousand points. A vague query requires one hundred eighty thousand points.]

"Vague query."

Though Ye Xu possessed considerable wealth, he couldn’t afford reckless extravagance now.

Such a minor sect wasn’t worth squandering two-thirds of his resources.

[True Martial God Sect: A powerhouse within the Yuan Realm.]

[Great Emperor: None.]

[Quasi-emperors: Two. (Note: One is the current leader; one has remained in deep slumber for eight millennia.)]

[Great sages: Five.]

[Saint Kings: Eighteen. (Note: One Saint King is on the verge of ascending to great sage status. Conduct a detailed query?)]

[Saints: Ninety-six.]

[Sect Guardian Formation: Great Emperor-grade formation—Nine Directions Ten Places True Martial Demonic Dispersal Array.]

…

"Truly vague indeed," Ye Xu cursed inwardly.

Spending one hundred eighty thousand heavenly secrets points had yielded only information widely known across the Yuan Realm. The sole valuable tidbit was that one Saint King of the True Martial God Sect was nearing a breakthrough to great sage.

"Query that Saint King’s detailed information."

This query cost no additional points.

Ding!

[Name: Qin Zhongdao.]

[Affiliation: True Martial God Sect.]

[Cultivation: Saint King perfection, ascending to great sage within half a month.]

[Techniques: True Martial Seven Cuts Sutra.]

[Divine Abilities: True Martial Seven Cuts Sword Art, Selfless Sword Seal, True Freedom Golden Sword Qi…]

Qin Zhongdao’s details surfaced in Ye Xu’s mind moments later.

Fully informed, Ye Xu turned to Gui Qinghe. "The feud between the True Martial God Sect and the Dao Gate has spanned hundreds of millennia—they can rightly be called ancestral enemies."

"It so happens the True Martial God Sect has shown me disrespect. The intelligence I offer now concerns them."

Gui Qinghe’s gaze sharpened slightly.

He understood Ye Xu’s meaning; this was about using the Taoist sect to vent his own resentment.

"I am simple-minded. Please enlighten me, Senior." Gui Qinghe bowed respectfully.

Ye Xu said indifferently, "The True Martial God Sect currently has five great sages guarding it. Adding another one should impose considerable pressure on them, shouldn’t it?"

A chill ran through Gui Qinghe’s heart. "Does Master mean the True Martial God Sect is soon to have a Saint King advancing to great sage?"

"Is it Qin Zhongdao?"

Ye Xu appeared slightly surprised. "Daoist friend is truly astute. Within half a month, Qin Zhongdao will advance to great sage."

"I know your Taoist sect and the True Martial God Sect are sworn enemies. That’s why I’m telling you this early, Daoist friend Qinghe. You must understand what should be done?"

"With Master’s help, our Taoist sect naturally won’t let Qin Zhongdao advance to great sage." A hint of coldness flashed in Gui Qinghe’s eyes as he inquired, "May I ask where Qin Zhongdao is now?"

"He is at Xuan Gui Island in the Sea of All Realms."

"The Sea of All Realms…"

Gui Qinghe sneered coldly. If Qin Zhongdao were within the True Martial God Sect itself, it might be impossible to stop him. But deep in the Sea of All Realms? The Taoist sect would certainly strike.

"Here is the detailed information on Qin Zhongdao, including the flaws in his divine abilities. I’ve recorded them all on this jade slip. Study it well." Ye Xu handed Gui Qinghe a jade slip.

Gui Qinghe reached out and took it.

The information within the jade slip about Qin Zhongdao was ten times more detailed than what he previously knew.

"Qin Zhongdao is undoubtedly doomed."

Seeing all this, Gui Qinghe concluded instantly.

"The spatial coordinates for Xuan Gui Island are also on the jade slip. If the Taoist sect plans to act, dispatch someone immediately. Any delay, and you might encounter forces from the True Martial God Sect." Ye Xu advised.

"My deepest gratitude to you, Master."

Gui Qinghe was profoundly thankful.

He left Heaven’s Secret Pavilion immediately.

The woman in black watched all this unfold, her mind reeling with shock.

Even having witnessed Ye Xu’s methods before, seeing this made her heart tremble anew.

To effortlessly deduce Qin Zhongdao’s whereabouts across countless void spaces, then hand his complete profile to his mortal enemy and orchestrate an assassination… it was terrifying.

With such meticulous planning, Qin Zhongdao stood no chance of survival.

"The True Martial God Sect faces disaster," the woman in black thought inwardly.

Though she didn’t know why Ye Xu didn’t strike the sect directly, one thing was clear: offending Ye Xu meant True Martial God Sect’s destruction was near.

"Senior’s strategy is truly brilliant."

Ao Lie flattered, "Achieving your aim without shedding a drop of blood, forcing the Taoist sect’s hand to eliminate a key general of the True Martial God Sect. I am truly in awe of your methods, Senior."

"Spare the flattery."

"Heh heh." Ao Lie chuckled awkwardly.

"Master, I have a question I wish to ask." The woman in black stepped forward. Seeing Ao Lie’s puzzled look, she clarified, "It concerns the Dragon King’s worries."

Ao Lie slightly furrowed his brow without intervening.

"Dare I ask whether the Master knows of a method to become an emperor?" inquired the black-clad woman.

"Are you asking on behalf of the Eastern Sea Dragon King?"

The black-clad woman gave a light nod of her head. Since learning of the profound mysteries of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, she had indeed contacted the Eastern Sea Dragon King.

The Eastern Sea Dragon King had instructed her that, once the matter was verified, she should seek Ye Xu’s counsel.

"You wish to use this question in exchange for me repaying a favor?" Ye Xu remarked lightly.

"Yes."

Seemingly sensing the shift in Ye Xu’s tone, the black-clad woman’s expression altered slightly. Yet bound by the Dragon King’s command, she had no choice but to press on, steeling herself to respond.

"Daoist friend, your expectations exceed all reason." Ye Xu’s voice turned icy. "The favor I owed you all was not because Ao Lie and his companions took action, but because they chose to stand forth."

"Moreover, they never actually intervened."

"Do you comprehend just how invaluable a method to become an emperor truly is?"

Ye Xu’s gaze chilled further. "If the Eastern Sea Dragon King desires to become an emperor, then bid him come to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion in person. Should he bring sufficient payment, I shall naturally conduct business with him."

"This single favor is inadequate compensation for a method to attain emperorship."

"This humble one’s presumption was reckless. I implore you, Master, to forgive my offense." The black-clad woman offered a bitter smile as she slowly withdrew.

Ao Lie interceded respectfully. "Esteemed Senior, my royal father has cultivated for ten thousand years. His yearning to become an emperor is fervent, hence his discourtesy. I plead with you, Senior, to extend leniency towards my father and Long Yu, seeing it as a favor granted to me."

"That favor owed by Senior, this junior no longer presumes to claim. Let it stand instead as the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace’s offering of contrition."

"I beseech you, Senior, to grant clemency to Lord Long Yu."

Old Huang knelt upon the floor, pleading earnestly for Long Yu.

A weighty atmosphere settled upon the three visitors from the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace.

"Ao Lie," Ye Xu’s voice carried a cold edge, "do I truly seem in your eyes a man devoid of gratitude?"

"Of course not!" Ao Lie hastened to deny.

"The Master is profoundly loyal and righteous, his lofty moral character like the sun and moon, shining upon ten thousand landscapes. This junior’s reverence for you, Esteemed Senior, flows as incessantly as a surging river, boundless and unending, much like…"

"Stop! Halt!"

Ye Xu threw up a silencing hand, a helpless expression mixing amusement and exasperation on his face. "Why are you so overwrought?"

Ao Lie managed an awkward chuckle. "This junior experiences no distress. I am merely expressing pure and simple admiration for your esteemed virtue."

Ye Xu dismissed the empty words.

"The method to become an emperor is exceedingly precious. A single favor cannot suffice as compensation for disclosing it."

"However, the debt of favor will be repaid."

"Ah, that most welcome!"

Ao Lie grinned with relief. "The manner of its repayment rests entirely upon you, Esteemed Senior."

"This voyage you’ve undertaken, was it not driven by your quest to recover the fragments of the Unsurpassed Divine Seal?" Ye Xu observed dispassionately. "I can impart a measure of intelligence concerning their whereabouts."

To divine the time of emergence and the location of Mount Unsurpassed would demand two-hundred thousand heavenly secrets points. Ye Xu was no sucker, unwilling to foot that price.

However, to inquire about the fragments of the Unsurpassed Divine Seal required only thirty thousand heavenly secrets points.

For Master Ye, the Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, thirty thousand heavenly secrets points were merely a hair on the skin of nine oxen.

"The Unsurpassed Divine Seal?"

Long Yu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Even during the Primordial Era when Great Emperors were as numerous as clouds, this Unsurpassed Divine Seal could be considered a treasure. Yet it had shattered. Many forces had been searching for the whereabouts of its fragments to uncover the legendary Unsurpassed Divine Mountain.

Legend said the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was left behind by a true immortal.

"Alright then," Ao Lie replied, feeling somewhat disappointed. What he wanted most wasn’t the Unsurpassed Divine Seal fragment, but a solution to get closer to Ji Xinyu.

He didn’t know whether Ye Xu didn’t have such a solution or just wouldn’t give it to him.

Aware of Ao Lie’s thoughts, Ye Xu gave a light smile.

"System, inquire about the information on the Unsurpassed Divine Seal fragment."

Ding!

[The Unsurpassed Divine Seal shattered into eighteen fragments. Querying all fragments costs 540,000 heavenly secrets points. Proceed immediately?]

Ye Xu’s eyes flickered thoughtfully.

The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was the very place revealed during his first system inquiry, earning his special notice.

Recall that simply querying its time and location emerged already cost two hundred thousand heavenly secrets points.

Now, inquiring about the Unsurpassed Divine Seal fragments required five hundred forty thousand points.

Everything proved the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain’s extraordinary nature.

"Query one unclaimed fragment."

[The West Region, Snow Maiden City. Permafrost Plains. Snow God Mountain.]

The fragment’s details appeared.

"The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain fragments total eighteen," Ye Xu said, looking at Ao Lie. "For now, I’ll give you the location of one fragment. One lies within the Snow God Mountain, high atop the Permafrost Plains beyond Snow Maiden City in the West Region."

"Snow God Mountain?" Ao Lie raised an eyebrow.

"Honored Senior, how about showing immense kindness? Tell me the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain’s location. Once I fetch it with my men, we’ll strip the mountain bare. How about splitting the treasures twenty-eight?"

Ye Xu smiled ambiguously.

"Twenty percent for me? Eighty for you?"

Ao Lie shook his head frantically. "Naturally, eighty for you, honored Senior! A mere twenty for your humble junior suffices."

"Get lost!" Ye Xu laughed while cursing.

"But Senior, this is excellent business—" Ao Lie clamored on.

Ye Xu manipulated the power of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, silencing Ao Lie before kicking him clean out of the pavilion.

Tumbling head over heels dozens of times, Ao Lie finally skidded to a halt—bloodied nose, swollen face, head wedged firmly beneath his backside.

Elder Huang watched with both pity and amusement.

"Hurry, help me up!" Ao Lie’s voice, muffled like a beach ball pressed into the ground, emerged strained.

Elder Huang rushed over and helped restore Ao Lie to human shape.

"The Senior really showed no mercy," Ao Lie grumbled, kneading his aching face while anxiously inspecting a mirror. Spotting his handsome features intact, he exhaled in relief. "At least it didn’t ruin my looks."

"To Snow God Mountain!"

He shot his arm upward decisively and headed straight for Snow God Mountain.