Chapter 351

Chapter 351: All Shall Be Well

"Master, I have returned."

Emerging from the Haotian Realm, Formless Demon Lord made his way back to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, his mind still clouded with disquiet.

"Master, this journey was thoroughly exhilarating."

Formless Demon Lord trembled with a mix of fright and lingering fear.

"I am aware of all of it."

Ye Xu remarked lightly.

Formless Demon Lord shared a mental link with Ye Xu, rendering every single movement transparent to Ye Xu. Whatever he witnessed, it naturally escaped Ye Xu’s perception as well.

"What a lively turnout." A faint smile curved the corner of Ye Xu’s eyes and lifted the corners of his lips.

The manifestation of the Haotian Realm ultimately unmasked the Heavenly Emperor’s true intentions, pushing him to sever all ties with the human ancestor decisively. Consequently, the collapse of the Immortal Realm would inevitably plunge all realms into even greater chaos and upheaval.

"What a pity about that Xuantian Merit Dao Embryo. If I could have acquired it, this avatar of mine could have forged a flawless foundation," Ye Xu lamented silently.

His Second Primordial Spirit Avatar cultivated the Ways of Virtue and Fortune as well.

The importance of the Xuantian Merit Dao Embryo went without saying.

"Master possesses remarkable wisdom; I, being foolish, struggle to grasp one particular thing," Formless Demon Lord gazed at Ye Xu, eyes brimming with genuine curiosity. "What exactly does ‘Transcendence through Merit’ truly mean?"

"With the Heavenly Emperor’s monumental accomplishments, does he still fail to transcend?"

Ye Xu glanced sideways at him. "None of your concern."

"…" Formless Demon Lord was silenced, stammering wordlessly.

"Well, this journey certainly wasn’t lacking in treasures for you either," Ye Xu remarked, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "That Great Dao Golden Lotus certainly qualifies as a rare treasure."

"Master possesses vast divine abilities—how could such trifling items ever catch your favor?" Formless Demon Lord forced an awkward chuckle.

Ye Xu remained silent, his gaze fixed calmly on Formless Demon Lord.

"Without Master’s guidance, with my own cultivation level and standing, I could never have entered the Haotian Realm and broadened my horizons to such an extent." Feeling increasingly unnerved under the stare, Formless Demon Lord hastily produced the twelve-petaled Great Dao Golden Lotus and presented it with both hands.

"It is indeed a remarkable treasure."

"System, exchange."

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired forty billion heavenly secrets points.]

A delighted smile spread across Ye Xu’s face. "These past days, your ventures in the Everlasting City of Desolation and the Haotian Realm have yielded significant gains. For the foreseeable future, no further tasks await you. Dedicate yourself wholly to cultivation."

"As you command." Formless Demon Lord complied, feeling the pang of loss sharply.

Nevertheless, his exploits within both the Everlasting City of Desolation and the Haotian Realm had, in truth, proven immensely fruitful.

Recalling the previous expedition to the Everlasting City of Desolation, though Ye Xu had disciplined him, he hadn’t compelled him to relinquish any spoils. Therefore, Formless Demon Lord’s anguish stemmed purely from the sting of surrendering the treasure this time.

After all, without Ye Xu, could he ever have gained access to the Haotian Realm?

Shortly after Formless Demon Lord departed, Ye Xu, too, vanished from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

He arrived within a separate Time and Space. Su Mu was there, deep in cultivation. He had now stepped into the True Immortal Realm and was consolidating his realm, preparing to weather the Nine Celestial Tribulations.

"Daoist brother." Sensing Ye Xu’s arrival, Su Mu opened his eyes and smiled. "Cultivating in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is truly extraordinary. If it weren’t for the Heaven’s Machine Bank that required my management, I’d wish to stay in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion forever."

The flow of time in this place was quite wondrous. Though the consumption of lifespan remained the same, the cultivation speed was incredibly fast.

"Face your tribulation."

Ye Xu smiled. "Once you’ve faced the heavenly tribulation, go see Shen Yueyi."

Su Mu’s heart stirred slightly, faintly discerning Ye Xu’s intention.

With a single thought from Ye Xu, the two appeared in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Ye Xu reclined on a grand chair and said, "Go some distance away for the tribulation; don’t harm the flowers and plants of Linglong City."

Hearing this, Su Mu slipped and nearly tripped over the threshold.

Boom!

A quarter of an hour later, dark clouds gathered over Godfall Ridge. The vast sky across a million miles seemed to shatter. Thunder rained down like drumbeats, endlessly pounding the ears.

"Someone is facing a tribulation to attain immortality!"

Across the Yuan Realm, countless cultivators were startled, gazing with awe at the white-robed figure beneath the heavenly tribulation.

"Brother Su Mu, congratulations to you."

Gu Daojin stood in the void, tens of thousands of miles away, congratulating Su Mu from afar.

Rumble!

After a stick of incense, Su Mu shattered the Nine Celestial Tribulations, bathed in the Guiding Immortal Light, and fully solidified his True Immortal Realm.

"In this lifetime, I am more powerful than when I broke through to the True Immortal Realm in my past life." Su Mu felt his own strength and beamed with a smile.

His foundation was sturdier, meaning he could advance further.

"Joining Heaven’s Secret Pavilion back then was truly a wise move." Su Mu sighed emotionally.

Without it, how could he have cultivated to the True Immortal Realm so swiftly?

As the heavenly tribulation dispersed, Su Mu transformed into a rainbow and flew back to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Congratulations, Daoist friend." Ye Xu laughed.

"Why mock me, Daoist brother?" Su Mu, knowing his limits, humbly said, "My meager strength doesn’t compare to even a ten-thousandth of yours."

"Indeed."

Ye Xu nodded.

"…"

Su Mu’s lips twitched. He had merely spoken casually—couldn’t the other have shown some modesty?

"Go see Shen Yueyi." Ye Xu smiled. "Today, I will completely dispel the Eternal Catastrophe Soul Curse for her, help her regain her memories, and reunite you two."

"Thank you, Daoist brother."

Though Su Mu had anticipated this, Ye Xu’s words still made him unbearably excited.

The two arrived at a cultivation time-space.

Shen Yueyi was sitting in lotus position, hands forming a seal on her knees, wholly absorbed in cultivation and unaware of their arrival.

In the place she occupied, the flow of time was three times faster.

After this period of cultivation, her cultivation base had reached the Dao Palace Two Stars realm. In the outside world, such progress would be terrifying.

But this was Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, so it wasn’t extraordinary.

"Stop cultivating."

Ye Xu spoke to awaken Shen Yueyi, chuckling lightly, "Today, I will completely remove the Eternal Catastrophe Soul Curse from you and restore your memories."

"Alright."

Shen Yueyi had already regained some memories and understood Ye Xu’s meaning.

She looked at Su Mu, her eyes brimming with anticipation.

"Don’t worry. With Daoist brother here, nothing will go wrong." Su Mu grasped Shen Yueyi’s hand, instantly transforming into an affectionate man as he softly reassured her.

Ye Xu remained expressionless, took a deep breath, and coughed twice.

Su Mu let out an awkward laugh.

Boom!

Ye Xu mobilized the rules power of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. A mighty surge of power flooded into Shen Yueyi’s mind. The Dark Great Dao erupted from her Purple Palace, its countless Dark Divine Patterns coiling around her soul like relentless vines.

"Not this damned place again!"

"It’s you again!"

The squirming Dark Divine Patterns coalesced into a faceless man clothed in a black robe. The Dark Emperor stared coldly at Ye Xu and said icily, "What do you want now?"

"Shut up!"

Ye Xu couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge the Dark Emperor.

Back before Ye Xu cultivated to the Immortal Venerable realm, the Dark Emperor had been a significant figure. But now that Ye Xu had reached the Immortal Venerable realm, the Dark Emperor was nothing noteworthy.

"Break!"

Ye Xu shouted. His large hand pressed down. Countless Dark Divine Patterns shattered like decaying wood under his suppression. The furious roar of the Dark Emperor immediately followed.

Yet, after only three breaths, the Dark Emperor vanished completely.

Shen Yueyi’s soul finally regained wholeness.

A flood of memories surged from her soul’s depths into her mind. Instantly, Shen Yueyi’s head felt painfully swollen, as if her soul was being torn apart.

"She has accumulated too many memories erupting all at once. The impact is too severe. She can’t readjust on her own. The rest is up to you." Ye Xu said lightly.

He had no desire to stick around acting like an unwanted third wheel any longer.

Su Mu held Shen Yueyi, sat down on the floor, and immediately activated his divine ability to help her sort through the memories.

The shockwave of memories was too violent. Shen Yueyi fainted from the agony.

After an immeasurable time.

Shen Yueyi slowly opened her eyes. Gone was the youthful liveliness and innocence, replaced by a touch of tenderness and profound weariness. As she looked at Su Mu, her gaze held an unwavering, deep-seated love.

"Lingxi."

Su Mu cried with joy, clutching Yue Lingxi tightly. His chin rested against her beautiful hair. "You’re back! You’re finally back! I finally… I finally waited for your return!"

Yue Lingxi wrapped her arms around Su Mu in return.

They embraced each other in silence.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Inside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Ye Xu quietly witnessed the scene and couldn’t help feeling a twinge of envy.

"These two… well, they truly deserve each other in the end…"