Chapter 372

Chapter 372: Actually Not Difficult

"Dammit!"

In the Void Tomb, an Immortal Emperor of the Primordial Daoist Sect showed a great change in expression. He looked at Daoist Qing Xuan and said, "Sect Master, that lunatic is ransacking the treasury and has broken into the Primordial Dao Realm!"

A flicker of killing intent surfaced in Daoist Qing Xuan’s eyes. He commanded two Immortal Emperors, "Return to the sect and guard the Primordial Dao Realm. No need to subdue him—just drive him out and spread the news."

"This man is a bandit with inherent greed. Someone else will deal with him."

"Yes."

The two Immortal Emperors immediately returned through the alien universe passage.

Having endured the heavenly punishment, this passage was now rock-solid. Without unforeseen events, it could sustain for at least a hundred years.

Boom!

The Chaotic Demon God stirred his consciousness. The shattered chaotic forbidden zone surged forth like a torrent, descending upon the Yuan Realm.

It resembled a black dragon streaking across the heavens.

Yuan Realm cultivators gazed upward at the wonder, their expressions filled with shock.

Moments later, the black dragon crashed into the Western Domain’s demon nation, merging seamlessly with the Burial Soil. An eerie, vast power emanated, causing the Burial Soil to expand rapidly before their very eyes.

"Honoring the return of our sovereign!"

Countless Burial Soil puppets manifested, kneeling to welcome the Chaotic Demon God.

The Chaotic Demon God paid them no heed. He spoke seriously to Daoist Qing Xuan, "Daoist brother, my revival was obstructed by the human ancestor. My foundation was severed, and I am far from my peak. I require time to heal my wounds."

Daoist Qing Xuan’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

The moment he saw the Chaotic Demon God, he knew the revival scheme had failed. With the Primordial Dao Fire cut off, the Chaotic Demon God could never regain his full strength. Returning to his peak state seemed nearly impossible.

"Daoist friend, once you recover your wounds, let us open Pangu’s Daoist Temple." Daoist Qing Xuan spoke with a false smile. "This was our long-agreed arrangement."

The Chaotic Demon God gave a small nod.

As a fellow Chaotic Demon God, he shared an innate bond of creation and conflict with his kin, enabling him to detect the temple’s whereabouts. Yet now, weakened as he was, he felt deeply reluctant to proceed.

The decision, however, was no longer his alone.

"Rest and heal in peace. I shall tour the Yuan Realm." Daoist Qing Xuan said lightly before departing alongside the two Immortal Emperors.

"My lord, your wounds remain unhealed," worried the Green Lotus Demon Emperor with a furrowed brow. "Opening Pangu’s Daoist Temple now would merely pave the way for them. Blame that damned human ancestor!"

"Circumstances compel obedience," the Chaotic Demon God sighed heavily.

"It is said this Yuan Realm evolved from Pangu, holding quite some profound mysteries." Releasing his Divine Sense, Daoist Qing Xuan enveloped the entire Yuan Realm without restraint. Suddenly, a look of surprise crossed his face.

"Could there truly be places even I cannot discern?"

His gaze turned southward, spanning countless miles. Yet in his mind’s eye appeared a plain and ancient pavilion.

Though outwardly unremarkable, his Divine Sense failed to penetrate it.

"How intriguing," Daoist Qing Xuan remarked, the corners of his lips quirking slightly.

"After all, this universe birthed transcendents," remarked an Immortal Emperor with a light laugh. "Harboring such marvels is only to be expected."

“Come with me to take a look.”

Daoist Qing Xuan took one step forward with his two companions. They spanned millions of miles in an instant, appearing before the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

“Heaven’s Secret Pavilion…” Daoist Qing Xuan gazed at the three characters on the plaque. Slowly, his eyes drifted downward to the couplet flanking the doorway.

Left couplet: Master tomorrow, know the past.

Right couplet: Analyze Yin Yang, sever the Five Elements.

Horizontal plaque: Heaven’s secrets can be measured.

“Such grand claims for a Heaven’s Secret Pavilion,” mocked one Immortal Emperor. “The cosmos we inhabit has endured for trillions of years, yet never has anyone dared such arrogance.”

“Indeed.”

Another Immortal Emperor sneered coldly, “Throughout all time, only the Divine Calculator could boast profound knowledge of past and present, calculating all things under heaven. Yet even he wasn’t this audacious.”

“To encounter such braggarts in a cosmos barely hundreds of millions of years old is truly enlightening.”

“The deeds of this master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion are indeed remarkable.”

Daoist Qing Xuan’s Divine Sense expanded, enveloping the Yuan Realm, piercing through layers of information.

Among it all, the most renowned entity was the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion stood as the sole, unrivaled celebrity across all realms.

To attain such a pinnacle, naturally, he possessed extraordinary capabilities.

“Since you’ve arrived, why not enter for a talk?”

A voice echoed from within the pavilion. Just then, Ye Xu materialized upon the grand ornate chair, his gaze fixed on the trio from the Primordial Daoist Sect.

The emergence of the Void Tomb, the resurrection of the Chaotic Demon God, the cataclysmic battle between Mad Daoist, Li Ruoyu, Demon God Zun, and the human ancestor that shook heaven and earth – how could he possibly remain unaware?

“Ha ha ha…”

Daoist Qing Xuan chuckled lightly, “Since you extend such a sincere invitation, I will politely accept.”

The three stepped into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

“Intriguing.”

Upon entering, Daoist Qing Xuan released his Divine Sense, attempting to probe the pavilion’s mysteries. Yet the moment his Divine Sense left his body, a terrifying force crushed down upon it. He couldn’t help but retract it back into his Purple Palace.

The two Immortal Emperors, who moments earlier had mocked the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion for his arrogant boasts, trembled with fear.

The suppression inside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was worlds apart from the feeling outside.

Before Ye Xu, they sensed an immense pressure bearing down upon them.

“You’ve journeyed from an alien universe, coming a long way,” Ye Xu waved a hand. Three stools materialized behind the trio. “Please be seated, Daoist friends.”

He surveyed each of them.

Just as expected.

Not a single one was he capable of seeing through.

They were, after all, powerful beings who had attained the Three Yuan Proof. His own cultivation was still lacking; to pierce their true depths, he would need to forcibly suppress them using the power of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

But it wasn’t necessary.

"Since you’ve stepped into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, you should be aware of its rules," Ye Xu said lightly.

"Of course."

Daoist Qing Xuan nodded.

That the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion valued wealth above all else and was a complete profiteer was common knowledge among cultivators of the Yuan Realm.

Yet there was another consensus they shared.

The master knew everything.

To Daoist Qing Xuan, this claim seemed utterly absurd.

However, upon learning that three pinnacle experts—Human Ancestor, Mad Daoist, and Li Ruoyu—had all visited the pavilion, he became certain this couldn’t be mere rumor.

"Among those who have entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Ye Xu stated, "the strongest was Heavenly Emperor, followed by Human Ancestor, and then you. Every such cultivator possessing the Three Yuan Proof sought but one thing: transcendence."

"Still, Daoist friend, since you’ve only just arrived here, I suspect you have little faith in our pavilion’s capabilities."

"Ahem…"

Daoist Qing Xuan appeared visibly awkward.

Of course he doubted.

The Primordial Daoist Sect had nurtured transcendents throughout its history—more than one.

Thus, transcendental methods existed within the sect, preserved securely within the Primordial Dao Realm.

If not for guarding that realm, he wouldn’t have dispatched two Immortal Emperors back to the sect.

Yet possessing transcendental methods alone was far from sufficient.

To achieve transcendence—to break free from the constraints of the Heavenly Dao and attain eternal freedom—was to defy heaven itself.

The difficulty was unimaginable.

"To be frank, I do harbor doubts," Daoist Qing Xuan declared sternly. "I have cultivated for nearly an entire Yuanhui—one hundred twenty-nine million six hundred thousand years—and have remained at the peak of the Three Yuan Proof for several millions of those years."

"Throughout this time, I’ve never managed to take that final step."

"I’ve consulted with other pinnacle cultivators across realms, explored immortal grottoes left by transcendents, studied their scrolls and insights… yet my goal remains out of reach."

"So," Ye Xu inquired with a half-smile, "you conceived of opening an alien universe passage? Invading another cosmos?"

"Indeed."

Daoist Qing Xuan remained unflinching. "It’s an approach I’ve yet to attempt."

Ye Xu remained indifferent.

"Then by all means, proceed," he said idly. "Should you fail… you may return to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"The path to transcendence, for those like you, is as arduous as ascending the peak to the green heavens."

"But—"

Ye Xu paused briefly.

"In my eyes… that was actually not difficult."

Hearing this, the lips of all three twitched involuntarily.

Transcendence… not difficult?

That was impossible!

If it were simple, how could they remain trapped at the peak of the Three Yuan Proof for so long?

A singular question sprouted in their minds:

Could this master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion truly be… that exceptional?

Effortlessly capable of guiding others to transcendence?

Ye Xu flicked his sleeve softly. An unseen force lifted the three men and gently expelled them from the pavilion. His voice echoed directly within their Purple Palaces:

"I will be waiting in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"Sect Master," one Immortal Emperor stated solemnly, "Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s master… likely possesses truly remarkable substance." Every aspect of the pavilion and its master confirmed his words.

Daoist Qing Xuan looked grave.

"If the path to transcendence doesn’t lie within Pangu’s Daoist Temple… then we shall return to the pavilion."