Chapter 265

Chapter 265: The Schemer, Master of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion

A streak of light descended upon Dawn City.

"Halt! State your business!"

Su Mu descended, not hiding his aura. He immediately alerted the two Daoist guardian disciples of Dawn City, who flashed forward, divine weapons in hand, blocking his path.

"Stand down."

Yuan Daokong’s voice rang out. Appearing mid-air in his Daoist robe, he had clearly sensed Su Mu’s aura.

"Who are you, Daoist friend?" Yuan Daokong’s eyes held confusion.

He had never seen Su Mu before, and the former Su Mu was a completely different person from the one today.

"I am Duobao Daoist," Su Mu said with a smile.

"Daoist brother!"

Yuan Daokong was even more puzzled. The handsome youth before him was a world apart from the unkempt, bald monk image he remembered.

"Who is in charge in Dawn City now?" Su Mu got straight to the point. "By order of the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, I come bearing an invitation for the City Lord of Dawn City."

Upon hearing "Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Yuan Daokong’s expression hardened.

"I will take you to see Senior Sister Lin," Yuan Daokong said, leading the way.

After Lin Qianmo led the Red Dust Demon Sect into Dawn City, Yuan Daokong, the Eastern Sea Dragon King, Yue Ruyi, and others had tacitly agreed to appoint Lin Qianmo as the ruler of Dawn City.

After all, whether in prestige or strength, she was the undeniable choice.

At the Hall of Dawn.

"Yuan Daokong requests an audience with the City Lord," Yuan Daokong announced loudly.

"Enter."

Lin Qianmo stood within the hall, seemingly waiting. Her gaze rested on Su Mu. "Truly unexpected," she said with a smile. "This is the true form of the Daoist friend."

Su Mu had changed his appearance, but his aura remained the same, so Lin Qianmo could still recognize him.

Su Mu offered an awkward smile, not bothering to explain.

"I come today bearing an invitation from the Master," he said, producing the invitation. "The Heaven’s Machine Bank is soon to be established. The Master invites you all to witness the ceremony in Linglong City."

Lin Qianmo had a peculiar expression but accepted the invitation smoothly. "Daoist brother now serves the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

Su Mu nodded.

"My congratulations, Daoist brother," Lin Qianmo offered before adding, "I have received the invitation. I will attend in Linglong City on time to cooperate with the Master’s plan."

These words signaled Dawn City’s stance.

"Then I shall take my leave," said Su Mu without further ceremony, turning to depart.

"Senior Sister," Yuan Daokong solemnly inquired, "Is Dawn City truly going to adopt the Star Yuan currency?"

Lin Qianmo gave a slight nod. "The Master promotes this, unifying the currency for the welfare of all beings in the Yuan Realm. Dawn City will naturally cooperate."

"After all, with the prestige of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, no force in the Yuan Realm dares to oppose. The currency’s stability has ample guarantee."

This was the reason she agreed.

As long as the invincible myth of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion remained unbroken, no one dared undermine the monetary system it had established. The Star Yuan currency would circulate without hindrance.

This greatly simplified matters, whether for cultivation or daily life.

"Junior Brother Yuan, tomorrow you should accompany me to Linglong City," Lin Qianmo said.

"Yes."

…

After the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, Su Mu’s Buddhist form arrived at the territory of the Da Meng Clan.

"This monk Su Mu, obeying the command of the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, comes specifically to deliver an invitation." Su Mu pressed his palms together reverently, chanting a Buddhist phrase. His refined and elegant features made it clear he was a handsome monk indeed.

"Esteemed one, please enter."

Meng Feixian personally came out to greet him, leading Su Mu into the true immortal’s cave.

The cave sanctuary was tranquil and secluded, resembling a world beyond worldly realms.

Unlike ordinary ancient divine clans, the Da Meng Clan possessed a legacy stretching back through ages, yet its members were few. They consistently remained aloof from mundane affairs, avoiding conflicts.

However, due to Meng Changan’s presence, the Da Meng Clan held immense influence among the many ancient divine clans.

"Daoist friend," Meng Changan greeted him with cupped fists. He had already received word about the Star Yuan currency. Su Mu’s arrival was merely as expected.

"May the Daoist friend attend the ceremony punctually the day after tomorrow."

Su Mu set down the invitation and took his leave.

"This is truly a troublesome burden to hold."

Meng Changan rubbed the invitation between his fingers, his face etched with a bitter smile.

Accepting the invitation likely meant adopting Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s monetary system. Refusing it, however, would be a direct affront to the Pavilion Master—a move with severe consequences.

Ye Xu’s maneuver was essentially forcing major powers to make a choice.

"The Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion destroyed the Bi Fang divine clan, followed by the annihilation of the four divine clans. Now every major divine clan lives in fear, and immediately afterward, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion pushes the Star Yuan currency. It’s impossible not to speculate he orchestrated the downfall of those four clans!"

Worry consumed Meng Changan.

"What ambitions does the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion Master truly harbor?"

Issuing currency had always been the prerogative of a supreme, unified power.

Yet Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s domain, from the very beginning, remained solely within Linglong City. It hadn’t actively expanded outward by a single step, showing no sign of seeking domination over the world.

And yet, precisely at this moment, he launched the currency. His true intentions remained utterly elusive.

"So, do we attend?" Meng Feixian asked.

"Do we even dare refuse?"

Meng Changan’s bitter smile deepened. "Not only must this old man attend, we must actively promote Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s currency. Their Master… holds grudges."

The scene of the Bi Fang divine clan’s destruction remained vividly etched in his memory.

Meng Changan had no desire for the Da Meng Clan to be next.

…

Meanwhile, the Ji clan also received the Invitation.

The patriarch and elders of the Ji clan gathered together to discuss this matter.

After a few breaths, Ji Xuan Yi entered the scene.

"Ancestor, I have inquired the Da Meng Clan; a quarter of an hour ago, the Da Meng Clan also received the Invitation from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion." said the patriarch of the Ji clan solemnly.

"Expected." Ji Xuan Yi said lightly.

"Then what should we do?"

All the elders and the patriarch looked at Ji Xuan Yi simultaneously.

"Heaven’s Secret Pavilion has been dormant for a long time; everyone thought the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was indifferent to fame and fortune, yet today it finally showed its fangs." Ji Xuan Yi said solemnly.

"Now it’s issuing currency; the next step likely will be to gradually annex all major powers and unify the Yuan Realm."

"The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion truly has wicked ambitions!"

Their hearts skipped a beat – could it be that the Ancestor intended to oppose the Star Yuan currency and become enemies with Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

After a long time, Ji Xuan Yi sighed deeply.

"We still must go."

Hearing this, a heavy burden lifted from their hearts.

If Ji Xuan Yi insisted on opposing Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, they could only comply, but in everyone’s heart, this path was absolutely a dead end.

But Ji Xuan Yi was clearly someone who knew the times.

…

On that day, all the prominent powers in the Yuan Realm received Invitations from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion; those outside cultivators stationed in Linglong City were not missed either, under Ye Xu’s care.

The people of the Yuan Realm were in panic.

Countless people felt that the Star Yuan currency was just a pair of fangs revealed by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion; its true purpose wasn’t merely some coinage tax.

Especially those ancient divine clans.

Having experienced the annihilation of the Bi Fang divine clan and the four divine clans, they were anxious all day, fearing to follow the footsteps of the five divine clans; as soon as they received the Invitation from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, the leading figure of the clan rushed to Linglong City at full speed.

Meanwhile, in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Yang Xuanzhan, the City Lord of Linglong, and Su Mu were together meeting Ye Xu.

"I report to you, sir, currently, the City Lord and I have recruited nine thousand eight hundred coin-making artisans; we have quickly produced two hundred million one-Star Yuan coins, seventy-two million ten-Star Yuan coins, and twenty-two million eight hundred thousand hundred-Star Yuan coins."

"Bronze Cards, Silver Cards, and Gold Cards also number in the tens of thousands; all branded with the mark of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, so there’s absolutely no counterfeiting."

"Well done." Ye Xu praised.

"It still can’t compare to assembly line production." Ye Xu sighed in his heart, but he didn’t demand too much; this was just the beginning, and by the day after tomorrow, the number of Star Yuan currency could reach tens of billions.

The quantity of resources consumed that day was also astonishing.

Ye Xu’s more than seven hundred million heavenly secrets points had already consumed nearly a hundred million.

Therefore, it must be implemented as soon as possible.

"Daoist brother, I have already delivered all the Invitations; representatives of the ancient divine clans are already arriving at Linglong City one after another; the issuance of Star Yuan currency should face no resistance." Su Mu said with a smile.

"That’s perfect." Ye Xu laughed heartily; once the Star Yuan currency began circulating, his great money-making scheme would open a whole new chapter.

"Daoist friend, the promise I made to you, I will fulfill it now, hahaha."

Ye Xu had a thought, and he and Su Mu disappeared together inside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

The next second.

The two men appeared under a vast starry sky; spiritual energy was like mist; a petite figure was sitting cross-legged amidst the stars, operating profound techniques, absorbing stellar energy and spiritual energy, steadily cultivating.

Su Mu was filled with anticipation.