Chapter 319

Chapter 319: Master at Filling in the Gaps

"Master."

As dusk approached and the sun set, Lin Qianmo entered the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion with furrowed brows and noticeably heavy steps, clearly troubled by something.

"Daoist Friend Lin." Su Mu bowed. "It’s been days. Little did I expect you’ve already set foot on the immortal path, joining the ranks of immortals. I feel quite inferior."

"Daoist Friend Su." Lin Qianmo returned the greeting.

In the past, they had ranked second and third on the Great Emperor Golden List. In the blink of an eye, one had joined the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion for cultivation, while the other had succeeded in attaining immortality.

Neither knew that the former number one on that very list was now watching them.

"Should you seek to unravel your confusion, you may enter the Everlasting City of Desolation," Ye Xu remarked with a faint smile. "A ticket costs a mere fifty million Star Yuan."

"Can Master not resolve my doubts?" Lin Qianmo inquired.

"Of course I can."

Ye Xu chuckled. "But the price is steep, more than you can afford."

Understanding Lin Qianmo’s origins required twelve billion Heavenly Secrets Points. Since the Everlasting City of Desolation touched upon her secrets, achieving it would cost tens of billions—an impossibility given her current poverty.

A trace of bitterness touched Lin Qianmo’s reluctant smile.

"Daoist Friend Lin, fifty million Star Yuan is a negligible sum," Su Mu interjected meaningfully. "That’s a small price for the potential gains within the Everlasting City of Desolation."

"I came prepared for just this." Lin Qianmo produced a Black Gold Card. "This card holds fifty million Star Yuan. I want one ticket."

"Deal."

Su Mu’s smile beamed as he transferred the fifty million Star Yuan. He then presented a Heaven’s Secret Pavilion command token—crafted by Ye Xu using nine-layered celestial gold. Each token’s value exceeded a million Heavenly Secrets Points.

After all, the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion stood at unapproachable heights. Items offered here must match its prestige.

Doing business truly brings enjoyment, Su Mu thought internally. No wonder Daoist Brother Ye Xu remains so zealous about accumulating wealth. Su Mu found his interest in commerce growing rapidly during his time here.

Profit mattered, naturally. Anything less than a profitable venture simply wouldn’t do.

"I shall dispatch an envoy to open the Everlasting City of Desolation within ten days once five hundred gather," Ye Xu stated. "Failing that, your fifty million Star Yuan will be fully refunded."

"I await welcome news, Master," Lin Qianmo declared before departing.

No sooner had she stepped out than Yu Ziyi and Han Ziyu arrived.

"Master," Yu Ziyi began, any prior melancholy forgotten as she grinned with anticipation. "We sisters specially came to support your endeavor! Might you reveal a little concerning the origins of the Everlasting City of Desolation?"

Ye Xu shook his head. "For fifty million Star Yuan, anyone may enter. All will receive identical information."

"The city’s secrets require exploring firsthand within its walls."

Yu Ziyi’s grin faded, replaced by evident disappointment.

"Little sister, the Master treats all fairly," Han Ziyu gently reminded her.

Having personally witnessed Ye Xu subdue the Formless Demon Lord, Han Ziyu now regarded him with the reverence reserved for a founding patriarch among the era’s paramount masters.

"Daoist friend, please arrange our admission," Han Ziyu requested, turning to Su Mu.

A few moments later, the two men left Heaven’s Secret Pavilion with the command token cast from ninefold celestial gold.

"How efficient," Su Mu exclaimed with admiration.

In just half an hour, three people had arrived upon hearing the news.

Ten days would be more than enough to gather five hundred people.

"This is only the beginning," Ye Xu declared.

Merely among Yuan Realm’s ancient divine clans, there were numerous true immortals.

Once the news spread, Immortal Path experts from every corner of the new era would flock here.

"Master."

A voice sounded at that moment.

Li Ruoyu and Pang Taiyue entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion one after another.

Su Mu’s gaze sharpened.

Heavenly Emperor!

Throughout eternity, he remained the strongest cultivator.

Though he had fallen from his throne and been replaced by the Son of Heaven, countless still saw Heavenly Emperor as the invincible legend.

This impression had been etched into minds across countless epochs.

"Taiyue, attend to duties first," Li Ruoyu instructed.

Pang Taiyue nodded and approached Su Mu to handle procedures.

"Daoist friend," Ye Xu offered a thin smile.

His last transaction with Li Ruoyu remained fresh in memory.

Li Ruoyu’s heart skipped a beat.

Ye Xu’s smile gave him an uneasy feeling.

"When did Master discover the Everlasting City of Desolation?" Li Ruoyu inquired.

"How much Star Yuan would it cost to purchase that information?"

"What do you mean by this?" Ye Xu frowned.

"I have proclaimed to the world that anyone who pays fifty million Star Yuan receives Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s command token to enter the Everlasting City of Desolation."

"Do you suggest I betray the trust of all humanity?"

"Certainly not," Li Ruoyu replied with an awkward chuckle.

In all the realms, only the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion dared reprimand him directly.

"However…" Ye Xu’s tone shifted.

Your request… isn’t entirely impossible."

Li Ruoyu’s expression stirred.

Having reigned invincible for too long, his pursuit of the cosmos’s secrets surpassed that of many cultivators.

Whether another universe existed beyond their own had long haunted Li Ruoyu, the human ancestor, and others.

If such another universe truly existed, the Everlasting City of Desolation was its most probable link.

"State your price," Li Ruoyu said.

"Two hundred sixty billion Star Yuan," Ye Xu stated lightly.

Li Ruoyu had feigned poverty before him last time.

Ye Xu wouldn’t let this opportunity slip.

Li Ruoyu furrowed his brow.

"Master, you are fleecing me," Li Ruoyu complained.

Ye Xu was unperturbed, smiling faintly. "If the secret of the Everlasting City of Desolation isn’t worth that price, why would you, Daoist friend, personally come to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

"It’s too expensive." Li Ruoyu shook his head.

He could afford 260 billion Star Yuan.

But it wasn’t worth it.

In Li Ruoyu’s mind, his mental price was 80 billion Star Yuan.

For someone like him, few in all realms—whether people or objects—could truly harm him.

His willingness to pay a hefty sum for information on the Everlasting City of Desolation was solely for absolute certainty.

Beside him, Su Mu inwardly clicked his tongue.

Ye Xu was asking the moon—fleece an emperor when given the chance.

"Tai Yue, let’s go."

Seeing no agreement was possible, Li Ruoyu didn’t waste more words.

The two turned and left.

"Daoist brother, weren’t you charging too steeply?" Su Mu asked.

"Not at all."

Ye Xu gave a slight smile. "Think—any secret that would compel a Heavenly Emperor’s full attention… doesn’t that justify the price?"

"That… does seem right."

After a moment’s thought, Su Mu nodded seriously.

"Su Mu, you’ve much to learn." Ye Xu chuckled. "Some things might not inherently be worth the price, yet it all depends on who seeks them."

"To a figure of the Heavenly Emperor’s stature, offering too low a price might feel like an insult."

"…"

The corners of Su Mu’s mouth twitched slightly.

Since when were Heavenly Emperors that petty?

"Qi Yuanchu pays respects to the Master!"

Outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion stood Qi Yuanchu, hand-in-hand with Xin Hongxiu, both wearing reverent expressions.

"You two are overly courteous, Daoist friends. Please, come in."

The couple entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Having cultivated to the Immortal Venerable realm, Ye Xu could instantly discern Qi Yuanchu’s thoughts and origin with a single glance.

"How fascinating," Ye Xu thought to himself. "The Witch Ancestor—founder of the Witch Path—actually abandoned the path he established with his own hands. Truly, a madman."

The name Mad Daoist was fitting indeed.

"Master, my purpose in coming is to seek your guidance concerning certain difficulties in my Witch Path cultivation," Qi Yuanchu declared, gaze fixed on Ye Xu. "I hope the Master can resolve my confusion."

"Cultivation of the Great Dao diverges but returns to the same source."

Ye Xu spoke impassively. "Ultimately, it’s all an interpretation of the Dao. To systematically categorize it would take three days and three nights without end."

"And," he added, "the price would be immense—one you could likely never afford."

To acquire the pinnacle mysteries of an entire path’s tradition would surely require trillions of heavenly secrets points.

What capability had this meager Witch Venerable Qi Yuanchu?

"Recently, I’ve uncovered the Everlasting City of Desolation," Ye Xu offered with a smile. "Should you two, Daoist friends, have interest, you might seek your answers there."

Xin Hongxiu turned to Qi Yuanchu, awaiting his opinion.

They’d already heard rumor of the Everlasting City of Desolation on their journey, a legendary ancient ruin both knew of.

Hearing Ye Xu’s words, Qi Yuanchu’s spirits soared.

"This… could it be the Master subtly guiding me?" The thought surfaced unbidden in his mind.

"…"

Ye Xu’s expression turned peculiar. Was this youth’s imagination that potent?

He himself didn’t even know the City’s secrets; his remark had merely promoted the City’s existence—no deeper implication intended.

Yet, Ye Xu refrained from clarification.

The deeper the interpretation, the more profound and unfathomable his image became in this young man’s eyes.

"Master," Qi Yuanchu decided firmly, cutting the moment short. "We request two spots."

"Young masters, please handle the formalities over here," Su Mu beckoned.

In half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they’d paid 100 million Star Yuan each, took the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion exclusive command tokens, and departed.

"The Witch Ancestor might’ve forsaken the Witch Path," Qi Yuanchu clenched his token, determination blazing in his eyes, "but I never shall."

"With the Master’s guidance, I will surely find a path within the Everlasting City of Desolation… and bring the Witch Path to glorious prominence!"