Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Borrowing a Knife to Kill

Dao King left.

Only Ye Xu, Nangong Zhandao, and their group were still absorbing the Immortal spirit liquid and tempering their foundation.

"He was going to break through."

Lin Qianmo had fully consolidated her cultivation and stopped her training.

If she continued training, she would surely break through to the Emperor Venerable Realm in one go.

But doing so would inevitably make her foundation unstable and plant a hidden danger for the future.

She stared at Great Emperor Ziwei with a strange light in her eyes.

Great Emperor Ziwei’s cultivation had already reached the peak of the emperor realm.

Absorbing sufficient Immortal spirit liquid, breaking through to the Emperor Venerable Realm was a natural outcome.

Ye Xu’s expression shifted slightly.

Once Great Emperor Ziwei broke through, there would probably be no place for him on the upcoming Great Emperor List.

Perhaps a spot on the Emperor Venerable list might still be possible.

"No."

Great Emperor Ziwei adhered firmly to his original intention and was not blinded by the signs of breakthrough.

"Dao King cultivated essence, energy, and spirit together to become invincible under heaven."

"If I want to be like him, I must also reach the peak in essence, energy, and spirit."

"Once I choose to break through, it will leave a flaw."

Great Emperor Ziwei’s thoughts gradually became clear.

He activated the Ziwei Rising Dragon Path.

He channeled the power of the Immortal spirit liquid into his body to refine his mana.

He continuously suppressed his cultivation to avoid a breakthrough.

"His ambition is great, unwilling to break through to the Emperor Venerable Realm like this," Duobao Daoist said while looking at Great Emperor Ziwei with a light smile.

"He is a fine seedling."

"Being able to train in a classic of the immortal path, he is naturally not an ordinary man," Lin Qianmo said.

She also recognized the origin of Great Emperor Ziwei’s techniques.

Half an incense stick later, Great Emperor Ziwei leaped out of the Transformation Immortal Pool.

His essence, energy, and spirit had all reached their peak state.

However, his body had become saturated.

The power of the Immortal spirit liquid no longer had much effect on him.

"Thank you, young friend," Great Emperor Ziwei cupped his fists toward Nangong Zhandao in thanks.

Nangong Zhandao returned the courtesy.

The reason he allowed Great Emperor Ziwei into the Transformation Immortal Pool for training was purely out of consideration for Ye Xu’s favor.

For some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity toward Ye Xu.

Of course, Nangong Zhandao found it difficult to guess Ye Xu’s true identity.

"This Transformation Immortal Pool is truly an extraordinary treasure, but it’s a pity I can’t take it away," Great Emperor Ziwei sighed.

"Idiot," Ye Xu laughed mockingly.

"Since you can’t take the Transformation Immortal Pool, then scoop a few ladles of Immortal spirit liquid and carry it away."

"Outside, it could surely fetch a good price."

"That’s right!" Great Emperor Ziwei suddenly understood.

Lin Qianmo, Duobao Daoist, and Nangong Zhandao all looked strange.

They all felt that Ye Xu’s style of behavior was very similar to a certain person.

He was unwilling to suffer the slightest loss and always seized any advantage to gain profit.

Ye Xu’s heart skipped a beat.

Have they found out about my true identity?

“It seems I should keep a lower profile going forward. If my identity gets exposed, that would spell social death.” Ye Xu muttered inwardly as he took out another calabash and began filling it with Immortal spirit liquid.

This calabash was an Emperor Venerable’s magical treasure, a spatial artifact capable of holding entire continents inside.

By the time Ye Xu put away the calabash feeling satisfied, the water level of the entire Transformation Immortal Pool had noticeably dipped.

Frowning, Ye Xu noted how unusual the Immortal spirit liquid was. It must have been condensed from immortal spirit energy, and even a Space Calabash couldn’t contain a single Transformation Immortal Pool. This gave him some idea of the pool’s staggering true capacity.

“Fellow Daoist friends, why are you all staring at me?” Ye Xu inquired with surprise.

“So, you share our surname Ye?” Lin Qianmo asked.

“Of course.” Great Emperor Ziwei chuckled. “This brother of mine is named Ye Qing Xuan. Just by that name alone, you can tell he’s out of the ordinary.”

Ye Xu’s lips twitched.

“Those named Ye are indeed family,” Lin Qianmo remarked.

“…”

Under the group’s meaningful gazes, Ye Xu felt his heart race. Had his true identity actually been uncovered?

“I know of a Senior Ye whose demeanor bears quite a resemblance to yours, Fellow Daoist,” Lin Qianmo said with a light laugh.

“Senior Ye?”

Ye Xu shook his head. “Anyone worthy of being called senior by you must be a true master. I wonder if I might have the honor of knowing their name?”

“That senior is the Master of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion,” Nangong Zhandao interjected. “If there’s anything you wish to know, you can go to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.”

“Once this affair is settled, I do plan on visiting the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion,” Ye Xu declared with a hearty laugh. “You can all accompany me then. Lead the way.”

“Who knows? Maybe they’ll even give me a ten percent discount.”

Lin Qianmo forced a smile.

“Daoist friend, you likely wouldn’t… appreciate getting discounted.”

Ye Xu deliberately put on an expression of feigned incomprehension.

“Let’s not waste any more time.”

Duobao Daoist solemnly interjected. “Beyond the Transformation Immortal Pool lies the Origin Palace.”

“That should be the most significant place within the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest. We can’t afford to miss it.”

“You certainly are well-informed, Daoist friend,”

Ye Xu stared at Duobao Daoist, asking pointedly, “Care to enlighten us then? Just which great power left behind this inheritance known as the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest?”

“Once you reach the Origin Palace, everything will become clear to you,” Duobao Daoist replied cryptically.

Ye Xu grasped immediately that the Origin Palace likely held all the secrets concerning the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest.

“Then let’s make haste,” Great Emperor Ziwei urged impatiently. “If we delay any longer, all the treasures will be snatched up by those old fogies.”

"They couldn’t take it away."

Duobao Daoist seemed to know everything and understood the things in the Origin Palace completely.

Lin Qianmo and Nangong Zhandao glanced at each other and frowned slightly.

At the Return to the Ruins, they had once encountered Duobao Daoist briefly before.

Back then, Duobao Daoist had been unreliable and disorderly—nothing as serious as this?

Everyone realized the gravity of the situation.

The secrets concealed in the Origin Palace were probably earth-shattering.

They set off forward.

After absorbing the Immortal spirit liquid, the suppression from the Jianmu divine tree appeared to weaken. Though their cultivation and power couldn’t be summoned freely, they moved swiftly as the wind and lightly as a swallow.

After half an hour, they had surprisingly already caught up to Dao King and the others.

"How did they get here so fast?" Emperor Venerable Yama’s face changed suddenly.

They had taken three hours to walk this far; Ye Xu and the others shouldn’t have been faster than them without good reason.

"It’s the effect of the Transformation Immortal Pool," Dao King guessed the cause immediately and said lightly, "The Immortal spirit liquid refined one’s body, improving constitution, so it sped them up."

"Damn it!" Emperor Venerable Miao Fa clenched his fists tightly, "If it weren’t for Nangong Zhandao, we might have reached the end by now."

"Right now, I’m scared of that spiritual embryo," Emperor Venerable Zi Zai said with lingering fear.

"Nonsense," the Supreme Ancestor of the Holy Ancestor Dynasty rolled his eyes and answered.

If the Creation spiritual embryo hadn’t been on guard, how could Nangong Zhandao have acted so arrogantly?

"Senior Grandmaster, how have you been?" Just as Duobao Daoist and the others passed by Dao King, Dao King suddenly spoke, his gaze fixed on Duobao Daoist.

Nangong Zhandao, Lin Qianmo, and Great Emperor Ziwei looked taken aback.

Ye Xu’s expression remained calm.

Duobao Daoist halted in his steps.

"Actually, I should have guessed it was you earlier," Dao King said lightly, "Under all heaven, only you, a visitor from the Immortal Realm, could evade the senses of us few and sneak into the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest."

"Moreover, you must understand the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest far better than we do."

"Otherwise, you wouldn’t have stayed far ahead of us and come through completely unharmed."

Dao King looked straight into Duobao Daoist’s eyes.

"Good granddisciple, you’re truly clever," said Duobao Daoist, full of admiration, wondering how his disciple had managed to teach such a cunning Dao King.

"Is he an Immortal Realm visitor?" Emperor Venerable Yama, Emperor Venerable Mi Luo, and Su Miao Zhen all changed their expressions.

Not to mention the Various Emperor Venerables.

"My master was also taught by him." Dao King looked indifferent. "Even if one’s spirit and body were shattered and scattered, it could be healed. Only a great figure descended from the Immortal Realm could achieve such a feat."

The Hall Master’s Elder of Taihao Heavenly Sect looked deeply shaken.

Withered Wood’s master?

But, wasn’t Withered Wood junior brother’s master the already deceased former leader, Master Qin?

This person couldn’t be Master Qin.

There was only one reason: Withered Wood junior brother had two masters.

"Senior, was it you who saved Withered Wood junior brother when he first perished?" The Hall Master’s Elder seemed to want to confirm this, and he asked aloud.

Duobao Daoist nodded.

"Thank you, Senior, for clearing the doubts." The Hall Master’s Elder felt relieved.

In his heart, boundless anger welled up.

"Di Wuyou, killing him once wasn’t enough; you still want to kill him a second time. Where did Withered Wood junior brother wrong you?" roared the Hall Master’s Elder inwardly.

However, he did not make a sound.

He remained silent.

Dao King had already controlled everything like a hand covering the sky. Even knowing the whole truth, he dared not confront Dao King openly and tear apart their facade.

He had already decided to seclude himself in the Immortal Realm and disregard all worldly affairs.

Dao King did not mind bearing the charge of slain his master to seize power. He spoke eloquently. "If you wish to enter the Immortal Realm, you should communicate with my master’s master."

"I believe you can gain more information from his words."

"Emperor Venerable Yama, this is also an opportunity."

Emperor Venerable Yama was tempted.

To enter the Immortal Realm, having some understanding would certainly be best.

After all, their impression of the Immortal Realm was almost entirely blank, and Duobao Daoist could fill this gap for them.

Ye Xu furrowed his brows tightly.

Dao King’s trick of using others to kill was executed too artfully.

Without lifting a hand himself, he could force the present group of Emperor Venerables to act, suppressing Duobao Daoist and compelling him to reveal the secrets of the Immortal Realm.

Emperor Venerable Yama and the others had no choice.

"Fellow Daoist Mi Luo, you too wish to enter the Immortal Realm; you mustn’t miss this opportunity."

Dao King slightly curled the corner of his mouth.

From the moment Duobao Daoist appeared, Dao King had already devised a complete plan.

Now it was the beginning.

"Junior brother, what do you think?"

Lin Qianmo looked toward Nangong Zhandao.

As for Duobao Daoist’s background, although she felt some surprise, it was not unexpected.

Understanding the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest itself proved that Duobao Daoist was no ordinary person.

Back in Return to the Ruins, he could even recognize the Ziwei Spirit Root.

All these things revealed the mystery of Duobao Daoist.

However, Lin Qianmo originally came from the Immortal Realm, so the so-called secrets of the Immortal Realm held little allure for her.

"Wait and see," Nangong Zhandao said calmly.

"Obedient apprentice’s disciple, you are thoroughly corrupted," Duobao Daoist expressed his appreciation without reservation.

From his appearance until now.

In merely half a day, Dao King had devised such a plan; indeed, his intrigue and scheming were extremely remarkable.

"Thank you for the praise, master’s master."

Dao King bowed deeply, comporting himself with courtesy.

"Duobao Daoist, I too have met you briefly before," an Emperor Venerable spoke up. "I hope you will tell us about the situation in the Immortal Realm, so we can make some preparations."

"Hmph!"

The Palace Master of the Holy Mother Palace had ice-cold eyes. "Disclose the secrets of the Immortal Realm, and the Holy Mother Palace will let bygones be bygones regarding the feud with you."

It must be noted that Duobao Daoist had stolen the corpse of the Holy Mother Palace’s previous Palace Master.

This deed was quite famous throughout all realms.

At the Transformation Immortal Pool, daunted by the might of the Creation spiritual embryo, the Palace Master of the Holy Mother Palace dared not take that extra step. But here, everyone stood on the same side; the Palace Master was not afraid that Duobao Daoist could escape.

"I’m afraid that won’t do."

Emperor Venerable Yama shook his head.

"Master of Yama Court, what do you mean by that?" Emperor Venerable Miao Fa frowned, his gaze sharpening. "Don’t you wish to know about the Immortal Realm?"

"Of course not."

Dao King smiled faintly. "Emperor Venerable Yama wants to perform soul searching."

"Words spoken aloud, how could they compare to soul searching for truth and accuracy?"

"Goddamn Dao King, that is thoroughly vicious."

Even Emperor Venerable Zi Zai felt chills run down his spine hearing it.

"You know me well, Dao King." Emperor Venerable Yama stirred his magical power; a blood-red spear appeared in his hand as he advanced step by step towards Duobao Daoist.

"My cultivation was suppressed, but dealing with an early-stage Emperor Venerable Realm cultivator like you is still no problem. Moreover, I am not alone."

Duobao Daoist stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Daoist brother, as a visitor from the Immortal Realm, you can be considered my senior," Emperor Venerable Yama said, his expression ferocious. "If you submit quietly, this lord guarantees not a single hair on your head will be harmed."

"If you resist, this lord cannot guarantee if you’ll survive."