Chapter 275

Chapter 275: The Emperor Venerable Seeks Answers

"You still have doubts in your heart, Daoist friend. I can continue to resolve them for you."

Ye Xu’s mind grew active. In his eyes, this Heavenly Emperor was a plump sheep ripe for shearing.

Whether fleeced once or a hundred times, it mattered little.

Li Ruoyu said, "I already have an answer regarding Empress Nuwa’s whereabouts. But now there’s one more question, one the Master probably isn’t willing to tell me."

"Where does the Master come from?"

"If the Master can enlighten me, I am willing to offer 50 billion Star Yuan."

Ye Xu suppressed the excitement in his heart and smiled without speaking.

His origin, of course, could not be revealed to Li Ruoyu.

As for lying?

The thought had barely surfaced in Ye Xu’s mind before he instantly quashed it.

Heaven’s Secret Pavilion stood in the world on the principle of integrity; a person without trustworthiness is nothing.

Fifty billion Star Yuan, though a colossal sum, wasn’t worth Ye Xu sacrificing his integrity.

"I am merely one among the multitude of living beings," Ye Xu replied quietly, a faint smile on his lips.

"Master, that hardly counts as an answer."

Li Ruoyu met Ye Xu’s gaze and laughed. He declared loudly, "Heaven’s Secret Pavilion shall be the foremost under heaven!"

"I will return."

Without further pleasantries, he walked out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Pang Taiyue was waiting patiently outside.

"Master."

Pang Taiyue stepped forward to greet him.

"Let’s go," Li Ruoyu said, his expression as calm as the Ancient Well, without the slightest ripple. It gave no clue to his thoughts.

Even Pang Taiyue dared not presume to guess them.

"Master, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion… is he truly an exalted figure at the legendary transcendent realm?" Pang Taiyue’s mind raced through countless thoughts. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he finally voiced the question to Li Ruoyu.

Li Ruoyu nodded.

"Throughout the annals of time, in my estimation, only King Pan and Empress Nuwa reached the transcendent realm. Now, there is another—the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion—and he lives."

"The Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion unravels the secrets of the heavens. Then he must know the method of transcendence, Master…" Pang Taiyue felt both anxious and exhilarated.

But before he could finish, Li Ruoyu cut him off.

"What he asks for, I cannot provide," Li Ruoyu admitted with a self-mocking smile. "Seeking transcendence… how could it be so easy?"

"However, my path is the right one."

"Even without the Master’s method of transcendence, I can forge my own way."

Li Ruoyu’s eyes burned like fire, blazing with ambition.

One behind the other, the two figures vanished at the end of the street.

Su Mu watched the two depart before returning to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Daoist brother." Su Mu clasped his hands respectfully.

"I know you’re curious about their identities." Ye Xu chuckled lightly.

Su Mu’s eyes flickered. Pang Taiyue and Li Ruoyu, each more formidable than the last, their origins utterly unfathomable—a faint suspicion stirred within him.

Yet the matter held such significance that Su Mu dared not confirm it.

Ye Xu fixed his gaze upon Su Mu. "You guessed right. He is the Heavenly Emperor."

Boom!

Shock slammed into Su Mu, making his head spin and the world tilt. Stuttering in disbelief, he gasped, "He… this… he’s the Heavenly Emperor… this… how is this possible?"

The Ancient Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Court reigned as the universally acknowledged supreme force across all realms since the Era of Primordial Beings.

He had appeared here in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion!

Moreover, Su Mu had sensed the subtle clash of wills between the Heavenly Emperor and Ye Xu. Su Mu looked toward Ye Xu, his mind reeling like storm-tossed waves.

To stand firm against the Heavenly Emperor, matching him stride for stride—just how immense was Ye Xu’s power?

Reading Su Mu’s thoughts, Ye Xu smiled lightly.

If Su Mu knew that he’d subdued the Heavenly Emperor the moment he made a move, his expression would surely be priceless.

"Daoist brother," Su Mu questioned in confusion, "why did the Heavenly Emperor visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion so abruptly?"

"To purchase information, naturally."

Ye Xu casually laughed it off, adding with regret, "Pity he was too poor; couldn’t afford what I desired."

"…"

The corner of Su Mu’s mouth twitched. The Heavenly Emperor — poor?

What a joke!

Having unified all realms for tens of millions of years, the Heavenly Emperor was wealth beyond measure. Even diminished now, his resources dwarfed any other.

"Daoist friend," Ye Xu instructed, "attend to your duties. Establish Heaven’s Machine Bank branches across the lands within days. Ensure Star Yuan circulates smoothly."

"Recruit personnel as you see fit."

"Yes."

Su Mu bowed and withdrew.

Though still reeling in shock, he knew urgent matters demanded attention.

"With the Heavenly Emperor freed, the Purple Star Heavenly Court will never let this rest. Chaos will engulf all realms." Profound worry darkened Su Mu’s eyes.

"System, exchange for celestial wine."

Once Su Mu departed, Ye Xu willed it, immediately converting the celestial wine Li Ruoyu had brought.

Two hundred and sixty million heavenly secrets points!

"That old Heavenly Emperor lives extravagantly, gulping down tens of millions per sip! Pitiful for someone as destitute as me—I dare not even overspend."

Ye Xu sighed deeply.

"Senior."

At that moment, Ye Xian’er’s voice sounded as she walked into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, her large black eyes sparkling with light.

"You want to go out to train yourself?"

Before Ye Xian’er could speak, Ye Xu saw Ye Xian’er’s intention.

"Senior truly has remarkable wisdom; Xian’er’s thoughts could never hide from you, hehe…" Ye Xian’er paused briefly, but showed no great surprise, and said frankly.

"Alright."

Ye Xu thought to himself; Ye Xian’er had already reached the Complete Divine God realm and earned a place on the Yuan Realm Talents List.

Now, the Yuan Realm had faced a great change, with many Secret Realms emerging, creating numerous young experts.

Hiding in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, while safe, offered no training opportunities.

How could a cultivator not undergo training?

"My Heaven’s Secret Pavilion still has some influence in the Yuan Realm. If you encounter trouble, you can seek help from major forces, as they should show me some respect out of politeness." Ye Xu cautioned, "Be careful in all matters."

"Senior’s teachings, Xian’er will remember them deeply in my heart." Ye Xian’er nodded firmly.

"Go ahead." Ye Xu said, flicking his sleeve.

Ye Xian’er had grown up and couldn’t stay in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion forever; more training would benefit her cultivation.

"Senior, Xian’er takes her leave."

Ye Xian’er knelt on the ground and performed three bows and nine kowtows to Ye Xu.

During this time, her relationship with Ye Xu was like both teacher and friend. Now, as she prepared to leave, Ye Xian’er felt reluctant in her heart.

After the bowing, Ye Xian’er turned and departed.

Watching Ye Xian’er’s receding figure, Ye Xu’s heart suddenly felt hollow.

After all, the two had lived together every day for over half a year. Ye Xian’er was essentially his first acquaintance in the Yuan Realm. Now that she was setting off on a distant journey for training, how could Ye Xu not feel a trace of loneliness?

"Look on the bright side." Ye Xu comforted himself, murmuring, "For so many years, I’ve always been a single dog; now it’s just returning to square one."

"Breaking through cultivation and boosting strength are what really matter."

Ye Xu’s gaze fell on the account.

10,860,000,000 heavenly secrets points.

"Over ten billion heavenly secrets points should be enough for me to break through to the Immortal King realm," Ye Xu thought to himself.

"Emperor Venerable Four Extremes, leading his disciple Qi Wuhen, has come to pay respects to the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

Just then, a voice came from outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Emperor Venerable Four Extremes and Qi Wuhen came walking side by side.

Qi Wuhen cowered and kept a low profile, clearly still carrying the shadows of his past experience of being thrown into the Ten Thousand Demons Cave.

Ye Xu’s brow furrowed slightly.

"Come in."

He had planned to consume the heavenly secrets points all at once to cultivate and reach the Immortal King realm, but the arrival of Emperor Venerable Four Extremes forced him to temporarily abandon the breakthrough plan.

Thinking about how every little bit helps, Ye Xu spoke.

The two walked into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Emperor Venerable Four Extremes looked at Ye Xu.

The first impression was handsome!

The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion before him was dashing and elegant, with a transcendent, carefree aura. He didn’t seem like a master dedicated to predicting the heavens, but more like a noble gentleman in a troubled world.

"Pay respects to Senior."

Emperor Venerable Four Extremes immediately prostrated himself and bowed.

Ye Xu shifted his thoughts, and the innermost minds of Emperor Venerable Four Extremes and Qi Wuhen lay completely exposed beneath his gaze.

"Huh?"

After clearly seeing what was in their hearts, Ye Xu was also momentarily stunned.

This master-disciple pair hadn’t come to buy information or conduct business; they were at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to volunteer themselves and apply for positions.