Chapter 67
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Chapter 67: I Am Your Ancestor!
"Jade Sky of Xuanfu Palace requests an audience with the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."
Jungle Sky Saint had hidden himself in the void, watching Gui Qinghe, Fu Tianxing, and the group from the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace depart. Only then did he seize the chance to appear.
He arrived with arrogant pride, but upon witnessing Saint Ziyang’s death, every wicked thought vanished. He dared entertain no further schemes.
The Saint understood just one truth:
The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was unfathomable.
"Enter."
With permission granted, Jade Sky Saint straightened his robes and stepped into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Ye Xu lounged leisurely, eyes holding a trace of scrutiny as they fixed on Jade Sky Saint.
"Do you also intend to drag me back to Xuanfu Palace?"
The words struck like lightning. Jade Sky Saint shuddered, then knelt with a heavy thud. "Senior," he pleaded, voice trembling, "this junior experienced a moment of delusion. I beg for mercy!"
Fear had already seized his soul.
He’d barely set foot inside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, spoken not a word, yet the master saw through his intent. What secrets could he possibly hide from such a being?
It was terrifying.
The urge to flee surged within him.
"That was merely a jest; do not be so tense," Ye Xu said, a faint smile touching his lips. "After all, Saint Ziyang’s fate was a warning. You’re intelligent. Surely you wish to avoid following in his footsteps."
"Of course! Absolutely!"
Jade Sky Saint bobbed his head repeatedly.
"Rise and speak," Ye Xu instructed, setting down his teacup.
Jade Sky Saint staggered to his feet, legs still quaking. Clearly, dread still held him firmly.
Ye Xu’s gaze turned profound.
From Fu Tianxing’s thoughts, he’d already discerned the scheme devised by Myriad Phenomena Saint and others. In a few days, ten Saints would storm Xuanfu Palace to subdue Lu Fengming.
By then, Xuanfu Palace would surely be annihilated.
"Daoist friend Jade Sky," Ye Xu prodded lightly, "you are a revered figure of the Southern Wilderness. Why stoop low with such tricks?"
"Senior flatters me far too much," Jade Sky Saint scrambled to flatter back. "Before you, junior is merely a youth. How dare I claim any reverence?"
"The true reason for my visit… junior actually has a question for Senior."
"It was I who orchestrated the changes throughout the Southern Wilderness and the stirrings of Godfall Ridge," Ye Xu declared bluntly.
Jade Sky Saint’s pupils contracted sharply.
Could anyone truly wield such terrifying power within the Southern Wilderness?
"That accursed Yang Xuanzhan!" Jade Sky Saint seethed inwardly, recalling Yang Xuanzhan’s report. "He actually claimed the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was merely at the saint level!"
How could anyone barely at the saint level turn the entire Southern Wilderness upside down within a single month?
"Daoist Friend Jade Sky, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is a place of business. Feel free to state your request," Ye Xu remarked lightly. "For example, restoring Xuanfu Palace’s former greatness? Becoming the dominant power across the Southern Wilderness?"
The Jade Sky Saint’s expression grew passionate.
This had indeed been his long-cherished dream.
For over a hundred thousand years, Xuanfu Palace had consistently ranked among the top sects in the Southern Wilderness. Yet, the sudden appearance of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, which propelled Ye Hongchen into Sainthood, instantly elevated the Red Dust Demon Sect above Xuanfu Palace.
Should this trend continue, Xuanfu Palace’s decline was inevitable.
A significant reason behind the Jade Sky Saint’s visit today was precisely this matter.
"Esteemed Senior, please guide me!"
Overwhelmed by excitement, Jade Sky Saint knelt back down on the ground.
A faint smile touched Ye Xu’s lips. Xuanfu Palace was on the brink of destruction, yet its saint came seeking guidance, practically delivering profits to him right up until the end. It truly could be called the most worthy conscience of the Southern Wilderness!
"Esteemed Senior, I understand the rules. Please state your price," the Jade Sky Saint said.
"A single piece of counsel," Ye Xu replied, "in exchange for everything you carry upon you."
The Jade Sky Saint hesitated.
"Senior means… everything I possess?" The Jade Sky Saint asked uncertainly.
Ye Xu nodded.
The corner of the Jade Sky Saint’s eye twitched faintly. He knew the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion charged exorbitantly, but after today’s meeting, he realized the prices were outrageously steep!
However, to restore Xuanfu Palace to its former glory and make it the foremost sect in the Southern Wilderness, the Jade Sky Saint was willing to part with everything – even his life.
With a focused thought, he summoned everything: the sacred artifact bound to his Purple Palace core, along with all the magical treasures, pills, and sacred herbs stored within his Dao Palace. Everything poured forth.
All he wore now was his magical robe.
"Esteemed Senior, this is the entirety of this junior’s possessions." The Jade Sky Saint presented them with a bow.
Ye Xu swept his hand over the hoard. The treasures vanished instantly. A faint ding echoed as over seventy thousand heavenly secrets points appeared in his account.
"A single piece of counsel."
Ye Xu remarked lightly, "The hope for Xuanfu Palace’s restored greatness… simply does not exist."
"This…"
Jade Sky Saint stared at Ye Xu, stunned, a surge of anger arising in his heart, "Esteemed Senior… are you playing tricks on me?"
Ye Xu continued, "The hope lies rather with you. If you can survive, you preserve the spark. That is your hope for resurgence."
"I advise you to leave Xuanfu Palace immediately."
"Esteemed Senior, what do you mean?" The Jade Sky Saint locked his gaze onto Ye Xu, demanding, "Why would I leave Xuanfu Palace? Who plans to strike against it?"
"Are you questioning me?" Ye Xu’s expression showed a flicker of displeasure.
"This junior wouldn’t dare!"
The Jade Sky Saint immediately backed down, saying, "This junior merely wishes to understand the specifics of the situation."
"In recognition of your sincerity, I have pointed you toward a path of survival. To live," Ye Xu stated, "abandon everything. Leave Xuanfu Palace. Leave the Southern Wilderness."
"Remember: tell no one."
"Senior, what on earth happened? Is there a great change in the Southern Wilderness?" The Jade Sky Saint pleaded frantically as he kowtowed repeatedly, his head broken and bleeding. "Please tell me, Senior."
Whoosh!
A beam of divine light flashed, and the Jade Sky Saint appeared on the street.
Despite the bustling crowds coming and going, his heart felt utterly cold and desolate.
Ye Xu’s words signified that the Xuanfu Palace would fall.
Could it be true?
After pondering for a moment, the Jade Sky Saint murmured, "The Xuanfu Palace raised and nurtured me. Even if I must leave, I should take all its disciples away from the Southern Wilderness."
"I cannot abandon them."
Though the Jade Sky Saint was arrogant and timid, he had done his utmost for the Xuanfu Palace.
He flew back to the Xuanfu Palace and immediately went to see Yang Xuanzhan.
"Junior Nephew Yang, where is your master?" asked the Jade Sky Saint.
"My master is still in seclusion, preparing to overcome his seventh Nirvana Tribulation." Yang Xuanzhan looked at the visibly anxious Jade Sky Saint, puzzled. "Master Uncle, has something happened?"
"Junior Nephew, tell me truthfully—was the emergence of Purple Mist Cave Abode the work of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?" The Jade Sky Saint’s eyes were reddened.
"Yes."
Yang Xuanzhan nodded.
Thump!
Having confirmed it, the Jade Sky Saint slumped to the ground like a pile of mud, all his spirit completely drained from him.
In truth, his inclination was also to believe Ye Xu.
But an inner stubbornness made the Jade Sky Saint unwilling to accept it.
He didn’t want to move away from the Southern Wilderness, the land where he and generations before him had lived.
"I must see Junior Brother Gu."
The Jade Sky Saint arrived at Lu Fengming’s secluded cultivation grounds. With a bang, he barged straight in. At a glance, he saw Lu Fengming sitting peacefully on the floor, his eyebrows and hair cascading to the ground like a silken cocoon.
"Junior Brother Gu, the Xuanfu Palace is about to face a great change. The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion instructed me to leave the Southern Wilderness immediately." The Jade Sky Saint spoke urgently, "We should gather our disciples at once and flee the Southern Wilderness."
Lu Fengming slowly opened his murky eyes, his expression blank as he looked at the Jade Sky Saint.
"So, this is the only answer you got after going to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?" Lu Fengming’s voice was icy.
The Jade Sky Saint’s heart trembled.
How did this "Gu Lingxiao" seem like a completely different person?
He didn’t dwell on it, still pleading, "Junior Brother, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion possesses unfathomable abilities. Even Saint Ziyang of the True Martial God Sect died in Linglong City."
"His words are an ironclad law, never wrong."
"Let’s hurry and leave."
"A single sentence frightened you out of your wits, Wan Xiaolou. You’ve lived several thousand years in vain." Lu Fengming roared in a fury.
Boom!
Lu Fengming stood up, and the imposing aura of great sage level perfection erupted from him, as if a primordial giant beast was gradually awakening, its might enveloping the heavens and the earth, spanning both past and present.
"You… you… how could you have the cultivation of great sage level perfection?" Jade Sky Saint stared at Lu Fengming in terror. For some reason, he only felt fear, not an ounce of joy.
"The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion knows the past and present. Does he know my true cultivation? My true identity?" Lu Fengming’s eyes held a hint of disdain.
"Your true identity?"
Jade Sky Saint looked at Lu Fengming with disbelief, full of caution. "Junior Brother Gu… no… who exactly are you?"
The person before him was definitely not Gu Lingxiao.
"Wan Xiaolou, I am your Ancestor," Lu Fengming’s voice was like a booming bell. "I am Lu Fengming."
Boom!
This sentence was like a clap of thunder striking Jade Sky Saint’s mind.
The second-generation Ancestor, Lu Fengming, had actually lived until now?
With a thought, Lu Fengming’s appearance changed from a moribund old man into a handsome, clean-shaven, and stern-looking middle-aged man.
At this moment, Jade Sky Saint no longer had any doubts.
This person was almost identical to the Lu Fengming in the portrait.
"Disciple… disciple Wan Xiaolou pays respects to Ancestor Lu." Jade Sky Saint prostrated himself.
"With me here, Xuanfu Palace will be safe."
Lu Fengming said lightly. In every gesture, he exuded incomparably strong confidence.
He had lived for 170,000 years and seen too many things. Unperturbed, a single sentence from Ye Xu couldn’t frighten him.
"Disciple is willing to follow the Ancestor and let Xuanfu Palace stand atop the Southern Wilderness once again." Jade Sky Saint’s fear had been cast aside, replaced by excitement.
An Ancestor at the great sage level perfection was sufficient to sweep through the Southern Wilderness.
Plop!
At that moment, a strange sound came.
Yang Xuanzhan also barged into the back hall. When he saw the scene before him, he immediately knelt on the ground, though it was unclear if it was out of fear or the shock was too great.
"What… what’s going on here?"
"Master… master, how could he not be here?"
Almost instantly, Yang Xuanzhan came to his senses and immediately put on an expression of shock.
"I am your master."
Lu Fengming looked at Yang Xuanzhan with a smile in his eyes and a rare affection. He helped Yang Xuanzhan up, saying: "From now on, Gu Lingxiao is Lu Fengming."
"The second-generation Ancestor?"
"Master, you are the second-generation Ancestor?"
Yang Xuanzhan pretended to be alarmed, behaving as if he was a skilled actor.
"It is me."
Lu Fengming said with a smile.
"As of today, there is no need to hide anymore."
Lu Fengming’s gaze turned sharp. "Nowadays, many sects have people becoming sages. If we don’t suppress them, I’m afraid no one will take Xuanfu Palace seriously anymore."
"After we handle matters in the Southern Wilderness, your master will personally help you become a sage."
Hearing Lu Fengming’s words, Yang Xuanzhan felt not a bit of gratitude. His heart sank like into an icy cavern.
Lu Fengming had revealed his true form — was this to show his fangs to him?
