Chapter 293

Chapter 293: Human Ancestor Visits

"Young friend Ye, we only managed to escape with our lives thanks to you just now."

Heavenly Talisman Old Man, still shaken, spoke with a trembling voice.

"I never imagined Young friend Ye’s attainments in arrays are this profound. I am truly in awe," Nine Palaces Emperor Venerable revealed a look of admiration, clearly impressed by Ye Xu’s abilities.

"You flatter me," Ye Xu laughed. "The truly formidable one is the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Without the information he provided, I could not have comprehended the Human Emperor’s sword path."

"Those words ring true."

The group nodded in agreement.

The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was truly divine.

"Enough talk. Hurry to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

Gu Daojin concealed their auras, stuffed everyone into his Purple Palace, rushed out of the Divine Court, and immediately fled into the Sea of All Realms. He hadn’t forgotten the three Immortal Kings pursuing them.

Half a cup of tea later, Bai Muyue and Li Ruoshui appeared.

Li Ruoshui, her injuries not yet healed, had been suppressed by the thirty-three sword domains, sustaining additional injuries. A trace of pallor showed on her face.

"Wuyou, let’s return to the sect first," Li Ruoshui said bitterly, her voice filled with resentment. "I have not forgotten this debt."

Dao King naturally had no objections.

"This subordinate greets the Palace Master."

Seeing Bai Muyue and others emerge, the numerous Emperor Venerables and sect masters from the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths flew over, their expressions respectful. They had remained guarding the Canglan Mountain Range, never leaving their posts.

"Did you witness anyone emerging from the Divine Ruins just now?" Palace Master of Tianyuan Palace inquired.

The various Emperor Venerables shook their heads.

"Useless fools," Palace Master of Tianyuan Palace snorted coldly.

"There is no need to blame them," Bai Muyue said lightly. "With that person’s cultivation at the peak of True Immortal Realm, intent on concealing his traces, how could they possibly detect him?"

"Return to the Mysterious Realm first. This Palace Master must visit the Yuan Realm."

"Does the Palace Master intend to go to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?" Palace Master of Tianyuan Palace asked.

Bai Muyue nodded her head gently.

For this trip, she intended not only to visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion but also to meet a reincarnated Immortal King and recruit him into the Temple of Ten Thousand Paths.

…

On the Sea of All Realms.

An old man and a young woman stood upon a solitary leaf-like boat, drifting towards the Yuan Realm. Chaotic energy surged, and the currents ran swift, yet the skiff remained incredibly stable, without even the slightest sway.

While drifting upon the Sea of All Realms, not a single ancient ferocious beast dared approach the two of them.

"Senior, where are we going?" Qi Qingsi asked indifferently. During this period, her cultivation had surprisingly reached the great sage level, her demeanor frosty.

She stood like an iceberg, deterring others from drawing near.

"To Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," the human ancestor replied with a light smile. "Rumors say its master knows all things under heaven. This old man also harbors a doubt within his heart. I wish to ask the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to unravel it for me."

Qi Qingsi’s eyes moved subtly. She still vividly remembered that youth from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion who could see through people’s hearts and knew everything.

However, Qi Qingsi’s heart remained utterly unmoved.

She journeyed farther down the path of Supreme Indifference, destined to follow it to the end. Indeed, the human ancestor trained her precisely to embody Supreme Indifference.

Half a day later, the human ancestor descended into the Yuan Realm.

"After countless epochs, the ancestral home has changed so greatly," the human ancestor murmured. Closing his eyes, his Divine Sense enveloped the entire Yuan Realm, sensing its eons of transformation.

Qi Qingsi felt a flicker of unreality herself.

Ever since she subdued Li Yuanzhu and fled the Tianxin Sect, she had stumbled into Godfall Ridge. Enduring countless hardships, she was eventually rescued by the human ancestor and had followed him ever since.

The two traversed mountain ranges, crossed rivers, and walked numerous plains. At dusk, they finally arrived at Linglong City.

"Give me four sweet potatoes," the human ancestor said, spotting a street vendor.

"Four Star Yuan."

"So expensive?" The human ancestor frowned.

Star Yuan’s purchasing power was meaningful to cultivators; yet these simple, ordinary sweet potatoes actually cost one Star Yuan each. It was absurdly expensive.

"Respected Elder, please understand," the vendor pleaded with a bitter smile. "My stall fees are just too high; I had no choice but to raise prices."

"Let’s go," the human ancestor shook his head. He was frugal by nature, a constant trait throughout the ages.

"Buy two."

Qi Qingsi flipped her palm, producing two Star Yuan, and handed them to the vendor.

"Right away!" Beaming, the vendor quickly wrapped two roasted sweet potatoes and passed them to Qi Qingsi.

"Senior, for you." Qi Qingsi stated indifferently.

"Thank you."

Slightly taken aback, the human ancestor accepted the sweet potatoes and began eating them slowly. As he observed the state of Linglong City, he remarked with a smile, "The monetary system instituted by the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion appears to have taken initial root. I wonder how long its stability will endure?"

A trace of unease was hidden deep within his eyes.

Finishing the roasted sweet potatoes, they approached the entrance of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Truly remarkable," the human ancestor said, his gaze sweeping over the structure, surprise evident in his eyes. From the moment he stepped into the Yuan Realm, he had spread his Divine Sense. Aside from two secret locations, only Heaven’s Secret Pavilion proved utterly impenetrable.

They entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Inside, Ye Xu was playing Gomoku with Shen Yueyi, while the phantom of Li Ruoshui sat idly by, watching, visibly bored.

With Ye Xian’er away on training, only Shen Yueyi remained to keep Ye Xu company.

"Won again," Ye Xu sighed. "A rather tedious game."

"Senior, I’m only just beginning to learn," Shen Yueyi protested, unwilling to concede defeat.

"The second time I played Gomoku in my life, I found few peers within my rank," Ye Xu arrogantly retorted. "Fundamentally, you’re just… rather inadequate."

He recalled his glory days within the kindergarten Gomoku circuit, a true pillar of that establishment.

"Senior…"

Qi Qingsi called out softly, a ripple of emotion stirring in her eyes. After more than half a year, Ye Xu remained the same youth, unchanged in the slightest, while she had endured hardships and suffering.

Ye Xu turned his head and smiled. "So it’s Miss Qi. It’s been a long time."

"I heard you went to Godfall Ridge. Yet now, not only are you unharmed, it seems you’ve also gained quite an opportunity. Congratulations."

As his words faded, Ye Xu’s gaze landed on the human ancestor.

"Daoist friend."

Ye Xu clasped his hands together in greeting.

Ye Xu held the human ancestor in the highest esteem.

This pioneering ancestor, enduring the hardships of blazing a trail, had opened a path of cultivation for humans, for postnatal beings, to grasp the power of heaven and earth and contend against the Innate deities and demons. Though he hadn’t established radiant achievements like the Heavenly Emperor, without the human ancestor, there would have been no subsequent Heavenly Emperor, and certainly not the all realms of today.

Ye Xu had conversed with the human ancestor in the Origin Palace and knew something of him.

"Master."

The human ancestor returned the salute with a smile. "The reputation of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion reached me long ago, but I was constantly traveling between realms. It was only the other day that I finished my affairs."

He did not recognize Ye Xu.

After all, he was in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion; the human ancestor couldn’t discern Ye Xu’s origins.

Swoosh!

With a thought from Ye Xu, Li Ruoshui’s avatar was tossed into a separate space-time, while Shen Yueyi was settled by him in a quiet chamber.

He knew full well the human ancestor’s visit must involve matters he wished to inquire about.

Divine patterns interwove in Ye Xu’s eyes as he gazed at the human ancestor.

"The Three Yuan Proof!"

In that fleeting instant, Ye Xu saw three figures, seemingly standing across past, present, and future – three distinct space-times, their auras immeasurably mighty, eternally existing.

The human ancestor’s cultivation had likewise reached the Three Yuan Proof, marking him as a supremely powerful being at the Immortal Emperor realm.

"After all, he is the ancestor who pioneered his cultivation systems, perfectly understandable that through eons, he attained the realm of the Three Yuan Proof," Ye Xu thought inwardly.

"Just days ago, your disciple also visited," Ye Xu said with a smile.

A kindly expression crossed the human ancestor’s face, without surprise. "Coming to see the Master, he undoubtedly sought the method of transcendence. His disposition… I understand it all too well."

Ye Xu nodded.

"My visit this time, however, is not for that purpose," the human ancestor stated solemnly.

Ye Xu was momentarily taken aback.

If not seeking transcendence, why would the human ancestor come to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

Those who attain the Immortal Emperor realm are, barring specific entangling karmas, largely untouched by worldly concerns; few spells could affect them. Only by employing forceful methods could Ye Xu glimpse the thoughts within the human ancestor’s mind.

Yet employing such methods would certainly not escape the human ancestor’s notice.

"If not for self, then it must be for the multitudes," Ye Xususpected.

Given the human ancestor’s nature, the purpose of this visit was likely inextricably linked to the fate of all beings under heaven.

"Have a seat first."

Ye Xu personally brewed and poured a cup of tea for the human ancestor.

"Thank you, Master."

Expressing his thanks, the human ancestor sat opposite Ye Xu, while Qi Qingsi stood silently to the side.

"Fellow Daoist, your cultivation has already reached the pinnacle of the Immortal Emperor realm. If your purpose is not personal transcendence, then I surmise it must concern all beings under heaven. Am I correct?"

Ye Xu smiled faintly, slowly raising his teacup.

The human ancestor nodded, unsurprised Ye Xu had discerned his thoughts.

His disciple’s capabilities were clear to him. The man who could guide Li Ruoyu to seek him out, who could counsel and enlighten Li Ruoyu—that man likely surpassed his own realm.

Though the human ancestor didn’t know why Ye Xu had appeared in the Yuan Realm, contemplating the motives of such a being was beyond him.

"This old one seeks to ask about the future."

The human ancestor drained his tea in one gulp, his keen eyes boring into Ye Xu’s. "The Immortal Realm is collapsing. What will become of the future? What will become of all beings? And what will become of this old one? Master—please tell me."

"Master—please tell me."