Chapter 241

Chapter 241: Making an Example

Whoosh!

Qiu Qianli streaked towards Heaven’s Secret Pavilion with lightning speed, fleeing for his life. He couldn’t spare even the slightest bit of magic power to heal his own grievous wounds. Divine blood sprayed along his path, droplets splattering the ground and onto the void itself. This bad blood instantly corroded the earth and the void wherever it fell.

He resembled a leaky bellows, air whistling from countless rents.

He didn’t know how long he’d fled. Finally, Linglong City came into view.

In the past, traversing the Yuan Realm would only take an Emperor Venerable-level expert one or two hours. But since the seal on Godfall Ridge was lifted, the Yuan Realm had expanded massively. To cross it now would take at least one or two full days.

Bang!

Qiu Qianli flew towards Heaven’s Secret Pavilion but could hold on no longer. He plummeted to the ground, crashing into a massive crater.

"Who is that? How utterly wretched he looks!"

Qiu Qianli’s pitiful state drew crowds of onlookers.

"I remember him," a Saint realm cultivator gasped in shock. "When the He Huan Sect was causing trouble, he was the one who denounced them angrily." He looked aghast. "That’s an Emperor Venerable! How could he be injured this badly?"

"Don’t meddle!"

The crowd hastily averted their gazes, not daring to look further. Involved in something concerning Emperor Venerable-level experts? They wanted no part of it.

Qiu Qianli, drenched in his own blood, mustered his last shred of strength and stumbled into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Sensing the disturbance, Ye Xu immediately turned his gaze towards him.

Recognizing the visitor, Ye Xu’s brow furrowed deeply.

It was his client, of course he knew him.

"Senior!" Ye Xian’er gasped in shock. "Weren’t you just leaving the pavilion? Just one short day… how are you so grievously injured?"

"Please, Master," Qiu Qianli collapsed onto the floor, prostrating himself fully on his face. "Help me! Help my companions!" He wailed uncontrollably.

Ye Xu activated the Creation Heart Sutra. The power of creation surged into Qiu Qianli’s body. Before their eyes, Qiu Qianli’s horrific wounds rapidly healed. His head, completely crushed earlier, regrew. His right arm and right leg, mangled beyond recognition, were entirely rebuilt.

In mere moments, Qiu Qianli was fully healed and restored to his peak condition.

Stunned, Qiu Qianli examined his own body. Tears of gratitude flowed as he bowed deeply. "This humble one offers immense gratitude for the Master’s life-rebuilding kindness!"

Ye Xian’er, confused, asked, "Senior, weren’t you all headed to the Ancient City of a Thousand Stars? Why were you injured? And… why are you the only one here?"

"We were ambushed… ambushed by the Bi Fang divine clan on the way…" Qiu Qianli choked back sobs, old tears streaming down his face. "They seized the jade slip… My six Daoist friends… they sacrificed themselves… blew up their own cores just to hold off the array… just so I could escape…" He broke down, weeping uncontrollably.

Coldness glinted in Ye Xu’s eyes, a murderous aura flickering around him.

"Please, Master, see justice done!" Qiu Qianli prostrated himself fully once more. "This old man is willing to be your ox or horse! To die ten thousand deaths for you!"

"This matter is now clear to me," Ye Xu stated solemnly. "I will ensure justice is served. Rise."

"Thank you, Master!"

Qiu Qianli let out a long breath of relief. His deepest fear had been that Heaven’s Secret Pavilion would remain aloof and indifferent. But Ye Xu clearly had no intention of sparing the Bi Fang divine clan.

Ye Xu’s gaze turned icy. Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s business had never encountered such an incident before. It seemed the Pavilion’s influence was still not deeply rooted enough in people’s hearts.

"These ancient divine clans," Ye Xu thought coldly, "they’re all unbearably arrogant. Barely released, and already causing trouble for me. Perfect timing. This Bi Fang divine clan… they will serve as the example."

He also intended to employ the tactic of killing chicks to warn the monkeys, setting an example for others.

"Xian’er," Ye Xu called.

"Xian’er is here." Ye Xian’er stepped forward.

"Do you have the courage to go alone to the Bi Fang divine clan?" Ye Xu laughed.

To exterminate a Bi Fang divine clan naturally didn’t require his true body to descend—a single divine decree would suffice.

However, now that Yang Xuanzhan was managing Heaven’s Machine Auction House, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had only Ye Xian’er left. She had remained in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion for too long without practical experience, so he wondered if she possessed the nerve.

"Of course!" Ye Xian’er’s eyes concealed a flicker of excitement.

"In that case, carry my decree and annihilate that Bi Fang divine clan." As Ye Xu spoke, a golden decree drifted toward Ye Xian’er, radiating immense immortal aura with sharp, sword-like killing intent.

"As you command."

Ye Xian’er stored the decree in her Purple Palace, transformed into a streak of rainbow light, and burst out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, heading straight for the new world.

"Daoist friend, you may now fulfill your commitment," Ye Xu said lightly.

Qiu Qianli paused, baffled. "This old man is slow-witted. I beg the Master to speak plainly."

"I destroyed the Bi Fang divine clan for Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, and also to avenge you. Thus, our karma ends here today," Ye Xu stated lightly. "As for healing your injuries—that’s an entirely separate matter."

"At Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, business is business. Different matters don’t mix. You must offer me compensation."

Qiu Qianli’s lip twitched.

Having long heard rumors of Heaven’s Master’s cunning and greed—how he valued money like life—it proved utterly true.

Yet Qiu Qianli knew with perfect clarity: without Ye Xu’s intervention, surviving his severe wounds remained uncertain.

"Name your price, Master." Qiu Qianli’s heart twisted sharply.

For the Ancient City of a Thousand Stars, his pockets were already empty. Today, to walk out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he’d likely have to scrape every last coin from his coffers.

Reading Qiu Qianli’s thoughts, Ye Xu’s expression stiffened awkwardly.

Was his reputation really that terrible?

"Starting today, remain at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion serving me for three years. What do you think?" Ye Xu smiled as he observed Qiu Qianli.

Remain at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

Qiu Qianli’s heart leaped—he nearly laughed aloud. This was a huge cushy job.

Who in today’s world hadn’t heard of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

Moreover, the Master possessed profound power. If he could remain here, he might even achieve attaining immortality.

"This servant is willing," Qiu Qianli replied respectfully.

"You’re no servant; you’re part of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Ye Xu stated solemnly. Being a model youth of the new era immersed in civilized society, he rejected outdated feudal customs.

"I’ve informed Yang Xuanzhan. Depart now for Heaven’s Machine Auction House to aid him in planning its development strategy," Ye Xu commanded.

Yang Xuanzhan’s strength was too weak; helming Heaven’s Machine Auction House proved insufficient.

With Qiu Qianli there, it would be more than ample.

…

Bi Fang divine clan.

After the day of the transformation, the Bi Fang divine clan occupied a vast expanse in the southern part of the Yuan Realm, transforming an area of millions of miles into a lava fire domain with great magic. This caused temperatures in the south to skyrocket, plunging the people into misery.

The true immortal’s cave hung high in the sky, suppressing a domain of territory.

Ten suns were suspended under the cave’s dome, radiating golden light in countless beams, where ten sleeping Bi Fang could vaguely be seen.

These ten suns represented the strongest cultivators from all generations of the Bi Fang divine clan, beings near to immortality who slumbered almost year-round, serving as the clan’s foundation.

This was a common method among nearly all ancient divine clans.

That was why, after the seal was lifted, they dared to recklessly carve up the Yuan Realm without restraint, even attacking outward to expand their territory and open new frontiers.

"Slap!"

Inside the Bi Fang divine hall came a crisp sound of a slap. An ancient, elderly woman with a wrinkled face, leaning on a staff, slapped the red-haired youth across his cheek.

The red-haired youth was sent flying by the palm strike, tumbling head over heels, his face swollen like a pig’s head on one side.

"Grandmother, calm your anger."

An Emperor Venerable hurriedly tried to dissuade her, saying, "The Hall Master’s Elder acted for our clan’s sake. Moreover, on this trip, the Hall Master’s Elder seized information about the Ancient City of a Thousand Stars, so his merits outweigh his faults."

Seeing the red-haired youth being punished, that woman’s eyes flickered with a cold glint, and a trace of mockery showed at the corner of her lips, barely noticeable.

"Merits outweigh faults?"

The elderly woman’s voice was sharp and high-pitched, her deep brown eyes staring directly at the Emperor Venerable who had spoken, as she said coldly, "Do you youngsters even know how powerful Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is?"

"Back when the Epoch Golden Book was being contested, the dreamy old ghost of the Da Meng Clan and Ji Xuan Yi of the Ji clan dared not intervene before Dao King. Yet the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion could inflict heavy injuries on Dao King with a single blow, nearly killing him."

"After that, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion could easily have taken the Epoch Golden Book, but he chose not to. Do you realize what that move implies?"

"This great expert simply disregarded the Epoch Golden Book."

If Ye Xu had known the elderly woman’s deduction, he probably would have been greatly speechless.

He subdued Dao King out of selfish motives and to uncover the secrets of the Epoch Golden Book.

As for the golden book itself, Ye Xu did not care.

Since he had already obtained the secrets he wanted to know, why would he bother to take the Epoch Golden Book?

The elderly woman’s words were like an enlightenment pouring over them, instantly waking up the red-haired youth and the five Emperor Venerables.

Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s awe-inspiring fame never came from others giving face.

Face had to be earned oneself.

Without strength, who would grant you face?

"Grandmother, those individuals are just a bunch of rogue cultivators. Heaven’s Secret Pavilion wouldn’t go to the trouble of opposing our Bi Fang divine clan over a group like them," the red-haired youth insisted stubbornly, his mouth as hard as ever.

After hearing this, the elderly woman’s eyes showed deep disappointment.

"After a million years of sealing, it not only failed to hone your edge, but made you complacent and arrogant instead. If the Bi Fang divine clan is wiped out, it will surely happen in your generation!"

"Everyone go back and wait for news."

The elderly woman turned around, her back filled with a sense of helplessness. "After today passes, if everything remains calm, it means Heaven’s Secret Pavilion won’t pursue this matter."

"If not, prepare to offer your lives in apology to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

The figure of the old woman gradually faded away.

Bang!

The red-haired youth pounded his fist onto the ground, shaking the divine hall, his eyes filled with unwillingness and anger—had the Bi Fang divine clan, sealed for tens of millions of years and finally freed from the cage, still bowed to the whims of a worldly power?

"The Bi Fang divine clan will never be destroyed by our hands."

"Grandmother is too old; she has lost her spirit."

The red-haired youth swept his gaze over the crowd; all five lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Report!"

At that moment, a quasi-emperor rushed into the Bi Fang Divine Hall, looking anxious, and said, "Report to the Hall Master’s Elder, outside came a sixteen or seventeen-year-old human girl claiming to be from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"She… she said she was carrying out the decree of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to come and exterminate the Bi Fang divine clan."

Bang!

The red-haired youth burst out with energy, his terrifying momentum blasting the quasi-emperor away; his red hair stood on end, his expression fierce. "Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, you are going too far!"

He never imagined the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion would send a little girl to demand retribution.

This proved the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion completely disregarded the Bi Fang divine clan.

This act deeply trampled on the self-esteem of the red-haired youth.

"Follow me to meet her."

The red-haired youth led the crowd as they flew out of the true immortal’s cave; there stood Ye Xian’er with her hair in a neat ponytail, bright and lovely, her legs slender and well-proportioned, standing tall and graceful.

"You are the one from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

The red-haired youth snorted coldly, releasing the full aura of the Emperor Venerable Realm, like an ancient ferocious beast awakening, its dreadful momentum rolling out overwhelming.

Hum!

Ye Xian’er remained motionless as a jade-like immortal light suddenly shone upon her body, enveloping her.

The momentum of the red-haired youth could not shake the protective immortal light at all.

"Seems like the real deal,"

the red-haired youth said coldly.

"Heavenly justice cycles; it is completely fair."

"The Bi Fang divine clan ambushed Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s clients; six died and one was disabled."

"I carry out the decree of the master to exterminate the Bi Fang divine clan today."

Ye Xian’er’s expression was calm; she spoke clearly, her slightly childish voice reaching the ears of the six Emperor Venerables.