Chapter 434

Chapter 434: Killing the Heart After the Person

"Congratulations, Daoist friend."

Ye Xu said with a smile, congratulating.

"Master is too polite," Mad Daoist smiled brilliantly. "Without you, I don’t know when I would have taken this step."

Whoosh!

Swaying his sleeve, the Primordial Ancient Mirror and Heavenly Emperor Sword flew out, floating in mid-air.

Coming along, Li Ruoyu and the Immortal Emperors of the Qing Xuan plane coincidentally saw this scene.

Li Ruoyu’s face darkened.

His imperial sword was actually treated as a gift by Mad Daoist.

Even more so, the Immortal Emperors of the Qing Xuan plane cursed in their hearts. Mad Daoist had plundered the five great sects to exchange for the secrets at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Now, they still had to act humbly in front of Mad Daoist, which left them with a sour feeling.

"Exchange."

[Congratulations to the host, you have obtained 1.1 trillion heavenly secrets points.]

Hearing the system’s voice, Ye Xu felt entirely comfortable.

From this deal, he earned thirty trillion Star Yuan in total from Mad Daoist.

A full thirty trillion!

For example, even in the battle against the Heavens, when the alliance of multitudes of immortals purchased the heavenly formation, he only earned forty trillion Star Yuan.

"Calculating this, selling the method of transcendence is really profitable."

"Just four or five more times, and I could successfully transcend, ascending to the Hongmeng Dao Realm."

Ye Xu was overjoyed.

"You are truly polite," Ye Xu said perfunctorily.

Mad Daoist laughed and said, "Unfortunately, I can only remain in this lower realm for three days. Once the three-day period arrives, I must ascend to the Hongmeng Dao Realm. Otherwise, I truly wish to have a heart-to-heart talk with Master."

Three days?

Li Ruoyu and Ye Xu’s expressions shifted slightly.

Yi Tianxing transcended and could linger for seven days; why was Mad Daoist’s time shortened by more than double?

"Is it because his strength is inferior to Yi Tianxing?" Ye Xu pondered in his heart. "Or is it that Mad Daoist’s strength is too great, so the time he can stay in the lower realm is shorter?"

"System, answer this."

[One hundred billion heavenly secrets points.]

"Damn it!" Ye Xu cursed in his heart. "Such a simple question costs a hundred billion?"

Ye Xu immediately dropped that thought.

But in Ye Xu’s heart, he still leaned towards the latter option.

Mad Daoist’s strength should surpass Yi Tianxing’s.

"Master, I have another piece of good news."

Mad Daoist had a sly smile and said, "This time when I returned from that desolate universe, I shattered the cosmic barriers of six alien universes and deliberately left my aura along the way."

"If there are no accidents, in the future, alien universe experts will cross over and come."

Ye Xu was overjoyed in his heart.

Mad Daoist was truly an extraordinary talent.

This favor was even more valuable than the Primordial Ancient Mirror and the Heavenly Emperor Sword.

Once alien universe experts descended, they would inevitably not bypass Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Ye Xu couldn’t hide his smile and said cheerfully, "This favor, I remember. Daoist friend, when we meet again another day, for our next business deal, I’ll give you a fifty percent discount."

"Thank you, Master," Mad Daoist said, looking very satisfied.

The crowd remained silent.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Mad Daoist was paving the way for his own future.

The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was all-powerful.

From that moment on, no one doubted that this statement was just an exaggeration.

Mad Daoist gave an arrogant command and said, "You little brats, every one of you at the peak of Three Yuan Proof cultivation—I have already blazed the trail for you on the path to transcendence. How you walk it is entirely up to yourself."

Once they transcended, the entire world would become mere ants to them.

"What the Senior says is absolutely correct. We, as juniors, have learned a great lesson," they said.

The crowd complied submissively, not daring to voice the slightest complaint.

Ye Xu couldn’t help but laugh.

"Master, this junior will take his leave first," said Daoist Qing Xuan.

Daoist Qing Xuan did not wish to stay in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and endure any more humiliation, so he departed full of resentment.

Finally.

The crowd left one after another, with only Amitabha Emperor, Li Ruoyu, and Mad Daoist remaining at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, please go first," said Amitabha Emperor.

"Master, does what you said in the past still hold true?" Li Ruoyu asked.

After he emerged into prominence, the first time he had come to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he had inquired about the method of transcendence.

Nine trillion Star Yuan!

At that moment, Li Ruoyu had been half-believing and half-doubting.

But today, he had no such doubts anymore.

Ye Xu’s gaze deepened.

His cultivation had advanced far beyond what it was before; he could now see into Li Ruoyu’s heart.

Within Li Ruoyu’s heart, the method to sever the three bodies and the creation of the Tianyuan were the two fixed paths, while Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was only his third choice.

Since the creation of the Tianyuan had not yet commenced, he could seize this time to plunder the world and gather resources.

In the future, if he found no path to transcendence, he would return to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Three methods.

Li Ruoyu’s planning could not be called anything less than meticulous.

"Daoist friend," Ye Xu smiled. "Times have changed. Your current cultivation has far surpassed the Mad Daoist of old, making transcendence even more difficult."

"I ask the Master for clear guidance," Li Ruoyu said.

"System, check it."

[Twelve trillion heavenly secrets points.]

Ye Xu’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Indeed, the Heavenly Emperor’s strength had advanced again.

The first inquiry cost nine trillion.

After barely over a year, it had risen to twelve trillion.

"Fifteen trillion Star Yuan," Ye Xu stated.

For a transcendent, it amounted to a small goal of three trillion Star Yuan.

Fifteen trillion?

Li Ruoyu’s pupils contracted minutely.

This was an astronomical sum.

He looked at Ye Xu, his eyes flickering with shifting thoughts.

Ye Xu remained unfazed.

Li Ruoyu grinned, baring his teeth. "I hope there will come a day when I cooperate with the Master."

"Farewell."

Having obtained his answer from Ye Xu, Li Ruoyu saw no further need to linger.

"Those universes are in for trouble…" The Mad Daoist gloated, relishing the prospect of chaos.

Li Ruoyu’s power exceeded his own. If Li Ruoyu truly cast aside decorum and invaded alien universes, few could withstand him.

Fifteen trillion Star Yuan—something achievable with a little effort.

"Amitabha…"

The Amitabha Emperor pressed his palms together and bowed deeply.

"I possess one method of transcendence."

The Amitabha Emperor confessed.

Ye Xu smiled.

The Amitabha Emperor’s words clearly hinted at bargaining.

Lingshan was an immensely ancient power within the Qing Xuan plane, enduring for billions of years. During that time, it had produced one transcendent, who left behind transcendental methods for later generations to comprehend and cultivate.

However, for achieving transcendence, only four methods are currently known:

The Origin Dao, Transcendence through Merit, the method to sever the three bodies, and overwhelming the Heavenly Dao (devouring the universe).

Most transcendents in this world achieved ascension through the first two methods.

However,

the Origin Dao was elusive, and Transcendence through Merit proved exceedingly arduous.

The method to sever the three bodies was immensely treacherous.

Pushing horizontally through the Heavenly Dao, devouring the cosmos—the foremost requirement was to shatter the Heavenly Dao. This equated to attaining enlightenment through sheer force, breaking free from the Heavenly Dao’s constraints, refining the universe, evolving a Great Dao World, and ascending to the Hongmeng Dao Realm.

Each path grew more formidable than the last.

"Knowing only the methods but not the gate—how can one transcend?" scoffed the Mad Daoist coldly.

Having transcended, he had fully grasped the mysteries within the Path of Oblivion.

He understood perfectly—even with transcendental methods, without a compatible Origin Dao, none could evolve a Great Dao World to become Sovereign of the World.

"The elder’s teaching is profound," replied the Amitabha Emperor sheepishly.

"When trading with me, bargaining serves no purpose," Ye Xu remarked lightly. "I may choose not to conduct business with you, yet you inevitably require my aid to achieve your goal."

These words were barefaced and unadorned.

The Amitabha Emperor heaved a soft sigh.

Beneath another’s roof, one must bow their head.

"Master, name your price," the Amitabha Emperor requested.

"System, inquire how many heavenly secrets points are required to obtain the transcendental means for Amitabha Emperor?"

[Eight trillion four hundred billion.]

Ye Xu’s eyes flickered subtly.

His estimation proved correct—Amitabha Emperor’s strength fell short of the Mad Daoist and the Heavenly Emperor. At eight trillion four hundred billion heavenly secrets points, it paled entirely against Li Ruoyu’s requirement.

"Eleven trillion Star Yuan!" Ye Xu declared his price.

That tuft of white above the Amitabha Emperor’s brow trembled; his gaze betrayed sheer shock.

"Old bald monk, it’s only eleven trillion for you—even my junior apprentice-nephew required fifteen!" the Mad Daoist mocked with a grin. "The Master grants you a discount, seeing you aged and feeble. Count yourself fortunate."

"I understand," the Amitabha Emperor conceded.

"The day this humble monk ascends to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion anew, I shall bring treasures sufficient in value."

The Emperor bowed and prepared his departure.

"Heh heh heh……"

The Mad Daoist watched his retreating figure, chuckling slyly: "Master… how’s that for an advertising effect?"

"Splendid," Ye Xu nodded.

The Mad Daoist’s transcendence was an undeniable testament.

"Tomorrow, when I ascend… I’ll give them yet another taste of burning envy."

The Mad Daoist released a strange, triumphant laugh.

"……"

Killing the heart after the murder itself.

The Mad Daoist had truly mastered the art of torment.