Chapter 436

Chapter 436: Place of Origin

Pangu Universe.

"How could there be another alien universe passage?"

The party of the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal had just returned to the Yuan Realm when Xuanxin’s Divine Sense instantly locked onto a chaotic wormhole. This wormhole was identical to the alien universe passage of the Qing Xuan Plane—undoubtedly a different one.

Faint traces of Divine Senses could be felt at the passage’s other end, secretly peering into the Pangu Universe.

"Have you forgotten the Mad Daoist?" The Xuan Du Ancient Immortal sneered coldly. "That lunatic must be behind this."

"Otherwise, why would the Dao of heaven’s divine punishment strike him?"

"Are Transcendents truly that powerful?" The Reincarnation Ancient God frowned in doubt. "Capable of shattering cosmic barriers so easily?"

After all, each universe was also created by a Transcendent.

"The creation of the Tianyuan was about to begin, and the cosmic barriers gradually weakened," Lin Qianmo murmured, her delicate brows knitting. "With his power, shattering barriers isn’t surprising. But at his level, he wouldn’t need to cause such a commotion."

"This is trivial."

The Xuan Du Ancient Immortal declared, "Let us proceed to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion first."

The matter concerning the Ninth Young Master took absolute priority.

The blue ox flapped its tail, holding a peony in its mouth as it descended from the clouds.

They arrived at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Master."

Lin Qianmo bowed with folded hands. "Long time no see. I trust you have been well?"

Ye Xu smiled. "Not long ago, I asked the heavenly punishment to loosen my limbs. I feel thoroughly refreshed."

Xuanxin looked deeply troubled.

Couldn’t this conversation stay rational?

"Aside from the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal who remains impenetrable to me, I can discern every thought of the rest," Ye Xu noted inwardly. "It appears my power has indeed reached the peak of this lower plane universe."

He could read the mind of the Reincarnation Ancient God, Xuanxin, and Lin Qianmo as clearly as daylight.

Only today had he learned of Lin Qianmo’s origins.

The Red Dust Immortal Clan.

A lineage within the myriad races of the Hongmeng Dao Realm.

Her cultivation in her first life reached the completion of Sovereign of the World realm—the first Transcendent realm.

This aligned with his expectations.

Yet, Ye Xu couldn’t penetrate the depths of the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal’s mind.

Though this elder’s cultivation stood at proof of the Second Primordial Spirit, his being maintained an independent integrity—a self-contained universe, impervious and seamless.

"The Mad Daoist’s transcendence and ascension was your doing, Master?" Lin Qianmo inquired with a light laugh.

"Merely a small effort."

Ye Xu’s kind smile radiated approachable warmth.

Even though it had been long anticipated, upon hearing Ye Xu personally admit it, everyone was still incredibly shocked.

"Xixi, serve tea to the guests," Ye Xu said.

"Oh."

The little girl was playing Dou Di Zhu alone and was utterly absorbed; when Ye Xu’s voice came, Xixi immediately put down the cards and served tea to everyone.

Ye Xu remained calm and composed.

He was waiting for Xuan Du Ancient Immortal and the others to speak up first.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Reincarnation Ancient God was the first to lose patience and said, "Master, we have come this time to ask for your help in investigating something."

"The way of Ninth Young Master?"

Ye Xu curled his lips slightly.

He already knew the origins of Ninth Young Master from Lin Qianmo’s mind.

This Ninth Young Master was a significant figure in the Hongmeng Dao Realm with immense power, but it was suspected that he had already perished.

After all, the news had come to Lin Qianmo from Xuan Du Ancient Immortal’s mouth, and she herself had always been doubtful.

But Xuan Du Ancient Immortal was utterly convinced that the creator of the Pangu universe was Ninth Young Master, and his legacy naturally lay within the Pangu universe.

Moreover, they were even certain that Ninth Young Master’s legacy was most likely deposited in the ultimate void.

This visit was precisely to request him to divine the place of legacy.

"Master truly possesses remarkable wisdom."

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal forced a smile, his heart heavy.

The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion indeed knew of Ninth Young Master.

He grew even more wary of Ye Xu.

"Since Master knows our purpose, then name your price," Reincarnation Ancient God said.

"Don’t rush."

Ye Xu looked at Xuan Du Ancient Immortal; among this group, Xuan Du Ancient Immortal was the cornerstone.

This person had an immense background.

From Lin Qianmo’s memories, he could learn that Xuan Du Ancient Immortal had descended into the Pangu universe over ten million years ago, taken Lin Qianmo’s second life as a disciple, and begun laying plans.

Throughout such a long time, he had surprisingly never found the place of legacy of Ninth Young Master.

It seemed somewhat suspicious.

"What does Master mean by that?" Reincarnation Ancient God frowned as he spoke.

"Daoist friend, you cannot make the decision," Ye Xu shook his head, "Let someone who can decide speak with me."

Reincarnation Ancient God furrowed his brows tightly.

"Teacher, you should take charge," Lin Qianmo said.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal nodded.

"Master, to calculate the whereabouts of Ninth Young Master’s place of legacy, how much Star Yuan is required? Name your price," Xuan Du Ancient Immortal said outright without wasting any words.

"System, check the whereabouts of Ninth Young Master’s legacy. How many heavenly secrets points are required?"

"The place of legacy is the Place of Origin."

"Blurry information requires eight hundred billion heavenly secrets points."

"Complete information requires twenty trillion heavenly secrets points."

"Note: Complete information only covers the Place of Origin and basic information about Ninth Young Master. For more detailed specifics, the system currently lacks enough permissions and needs an upgrade."

"Host, come on little duck…"

"…"

Ye Xu shuddered. The dog system was actually being cute and playful?

It felt like he was just another sucker being raised by the dog system?

Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up in Ye Xu’s heart.

"Everyone, do you all know that Ninth Young Master’s place of legacy? Actually, you’ve all known about it for a long time." Ye Xu gathered himself and said with a laugh.

"The Secret Realm Ranking?"

Lin Qianmo was extremely quick-witted. As soon as Ye Xu spoke, she instantly guessed the truth.

"Could it be that the top spot that’s always been empty on the Secret Realm Ranking is Ninth Young Master’s place of legacy?"

"Of course not."

Ye Xu chuckled.

"Place of Origin!"

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal was enlightened in an instant, becoming clear-headed at once.

"The Master truly has clever methods. He actually listed Ninth Young Master’s place of legacy on the ranking long ago." Xuan Du Ancient Immortal was utterly astonished.

At that moment, he grew even more confused.

Ye Xu making Ninth Young Master’s place of legacy public proved he had no interest in Ninth Young Master’s tradition.

What was he still doing in the Pangu universe?

Could it really be, as he’d said, that he only wanted to run a small business?

"Yes."

Ye Xu nodded.

"If everyone wants to inquire about information on the Place of Origin, you need to fork over forty trillion Star Yuan."

He skipped right past the price for blurry inquiry.

This group was a herd of fat lambs, especially Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, from the Hongmeng Dao Realm—richer than even Heavenly Emperor and Mu Fanyin. If he didn’t fleece them properly, how could he uphold his title as master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

His breakthrough plan couldn’t happen without their contributions.

"Forty trillion?!"

Xuanxin clicked his tongue in amazement.

Even selling the Everlasting City of Desolation couldn’t get him forty trillion.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal frowned and asked, "Master, what information can forty trillion Star Yuan buy?"

Ye Xu smiled. "Naturally, all information regarding the Place of Origin."

"It does not include any personal details about Ninth Young Master—not even a shred of information implicating him."

"Of course, should any of you wish to investigate such matters… you could spare extra hundreds of billions of Star Yuan?"

"A… tiny bit?" Xuanxin’s eyes gleamed.

Lin Qianmo gave a bitter smile of hers.

"’It seems,’ she sighed inwardly, ‘these tens of millions of years spent within the Everlasting City of Desolation, severed from worldly experiences, he has remained just as naive.’"

Ye Xu nodded.

"Well… just over a dozen trillion Star Yuan then?"

"…"

"Master dearly loves his jokes," Xuanxin chuckled awkwardly.

Now he understood why Xuan Du Ancient Immortal and the others stayed silent—they knew Ye Xu’s real game.

"As long as the Master can provide this old man with a complete account of the Place of Origin, I am willing to tender forty trillion Star Yuan alongside our dear friends," said Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, smiling.

"Naturally," Ye Xu replied with a smile.

"Dear friends, time for payment." Xuan Du Ancient Immortal channeled his mystic power. A strip of human skin flew from his sleeve, imprinted with mountains, rivers, the sun, the moon, plants, insects, fish, birds, and beasts—each pattern writhed gradually, vividly lifelike.

"The skin of a Sovereign of the World?" Lin Qianmo’s expression shifted. This piece of skin contained a realm of the Great Dao World, evidently shed by a Sovereign of the World.

"It is but a flawed remnant," Xuan Du Ancient Immortal stated.

The Great Dao World within it was somewhat incomplete. Otherwise, a fully intact Great Dao World and an unbroken Origin Dao could birth a Sovereign of the World.

"Pray tell, what is the worth of this item in Star Yuan?"

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal waved his hand, sending the skin flying towards Ye Xu.

"System, exchange."

[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired 34 trillion Star Yuan.]

"So much?"

Ye Xu’s heart gave a mighty thump. His gaze towards Xuan Du Ancient Immortal grew distinctly warmer.

"This old man’s origins truly are no small matter."

Even he felt a flicker of greed stir within him, the impulse to… raid his belongings.

After all,

if Xuan Du Ancient Immortal could casually produce the skin of a Sovereign of the World, surely he possessed treasures far more precious.

But that surge of greed was quickly suppressed by Ye Xu.

The gold-lettered reputation of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion must not be tarnished.

This was the baseline.

Though he hankered after small gains, he wasn’t someone beyond redemption.

"Daoist Friend Lin, you’ll have to pool together the remaining portion yourselves," the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal said.

"Very well."

Lin Qianmo and the Reincarnation Ancient God each retrieved several innate supreme treasures.

Three innate supreme treasures in total.

[Congratulations, Host. Acquired seven hundred billion heavenly secrets points.]

Forty-one trillion heavenly secrets points were secured.

"System, immediately inquire about the secret of the Place of Origin."

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host. Spent twenty trillion heavenly secrets points. Inquiry successful.]

Swoosh!

Information flooded Ye Xu’s mind like a torrent.

Within a few breaths, Ye Xu had organized the information and condensed it into a jade slip.

"Master, what is the result?" the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal inquired.

Ye Xu’s eyes deepened with intensity.

"The Place of Origin is indeed anchored beyond the ultimate void. I’ve compiled all its information here, within this jade slip."

Joy lit up the faces of the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, Lin Qianmo, the Reincarnation Ancient God, and Xuanxin.

Although they had gained nothing during this period and ultimately had to trade at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, they had finally obtained what they sought.

Forty trillion Star Yuan was a worthwhile expenditure.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his finger, Ye Xu sent the jade slip flying towards the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal.

"Haha… down to the finest detail…"

The Xuan Du Ancient Immortal laughed heartily, "Master’s deduction technique is truly unprecedented and sublime."

"Teacher, I wish to see it too," Lin Qianmo said.

"Take it."

The Xuan Du Ancient Immortal tossed the jade slip to Lin Qianmo.

This slip not only detailed information about the Place of Origin but also contained a route map to guide them through the ultimate void and into the Place of Origin itself.

After absorbing all the information about the Place of Origin, Lin Qianmo’s elegant brows furrowed.

The intelligence Ye Xu provided differed significantly from both the legacy site described by the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal and her own imagined version.

This Place of Origin was, in fact, a Great Dao World nurtured by the Origin Dao of Reincarnation.

But wasn’t the Ninth Young Master’s Great Dao World the Pangu universe?

That remained the biggest point of doubt.

"It’s just a pity the information on the Ninth Young Master is prohibitively expensive," the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal sighed deeply. "Otherwise, we could unravel all the Place of Origin’s mysteries."

Lin Qianmo seemed not to hear.

She gazed at the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, murmuring, "Teacher, is this truly the Ninth Young Master’s place of legacy?"