Chapter 469

Chapter 469: Born with a Futile Physique, Hidden Truth

"Master, the Canglan Merchant Alliance actually demands we pay taxes!"

The Formless Demon Lord raged, cursing the Canglan Merchant Alliance incessantly. He exclaimed, "When I think back to the lower realms, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was a prestigious hallmark—who would dare belittle it?"

Su Mu was equally burdened with grievances.

Having spent the whole day distributing leaflets had utterly exhausted him.

"A hundred source crystals…"

Ye Xu took a deep breath.

Source crystals served as the fundamental currency of the Hongmeng Dao Realm.

A hundred units could roughly exchange for ten Hongmeng points—indeed exorbitant.

"Master, in my opinion, we ought to teach the Canglan Merchant Alliance a lesson!" the Formless Demon Lord said fiercely. "Let the Canglan Immortal Domain know the might of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion!"

"Daoist friend, we have just parted ways, yet you speak ill of the Canglan Merchant Alliance behind its back—this is hardly honorable."

Lu Chengfeng’s voice sounded. Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped inside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Lu Qing’s expression, however, turned deeply grave.

He could sense the enigma and power of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, yet he had no choice but to steel himself and follow Lu Chengfeng.

"Young Master, you misunderstand."

Upon turning, the Formless Demon Lord’s fierce look vanished, replaced by shock. He hadn’t anticipated Lu Chengfeng would actively visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, contrary to his earlier disinterest.

"I was actually praising the Canglan Merchant Alliance for its exemplary governance."

Su Mu stared at Lu Chengfeng, his brow faintly creased.

This person’s aura seemed entirely ordinary, almost like a mortal’s.

But knowing his own cultivation was weak, Su Mu dared not be certain.

"I am Lu Chengfeng, the Young Master of the Lu Family. Might I inquire if you esteemed senior is the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?" Lu Chengfeng fixed a respectful, unwavering gaze on Ye Xu, his tone deferential without a trace of arrogance.

A question flashed through the Formless Demon Lord’s mind.

Lu Chengfeng’s initial reaction to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had been indifferent—why this sudden respect?

Ye Xu’s eyes flickered; knowledge about Lu Chengfeng surfaced in his thoughts.

Name: Lu Chengfeng.

Identity: Young Master of the Lu Family.

Cultivation: None.

Greatest Desire: Eternal life.

Ye Xu smiled faintly. "The Lu Family is a paramount clan of the Canglan Immortal Domain and a leading force within the Canglan Merchant Alliance. Young Sir, you need not be so formal."

Subtly, his gaze shifted to Lu Qing, but Lu Qing’s cultivation surpassed his own. Despite Ye Xu being a late-stage Sovereign of the World, he could not penetrate Lu Qing’s specific details.

"Likely a World Master," Ye Xu thought to himself.

"Young Master, this man’s cultivation is unfathomable," Lu Qing transmitted silently.

Lu Chengfeng wore a smile as he said, "Uncle Qing, hand it over to me."

Lu Qing’s expression flickered slightly, but he obediently passed the item to Lu Chengfeng.

"Esteemed Senior, this unannounced visit certainly lacks politeness, so my Lu Family has prepared a humble gift. Please accept it." Lu Chengfeng presented a jade box with both hands.

"This is an ancient chaotic lotus. After incubating for a Yuanhui, it contains the Origin Dao of Chaos. I hope Esteemed Senior finds it acceptable," Lu Chengfeng added.

The Origin Dao of Chaos?

Light flashed in Ye Xu’s eyes.

He sat upright, calmly accepting the jade box. "No need for gifts when visiting, Young Friend. Your household is too courteous."

"System, exchange."

He silently commanded, and the jade box vanished from his hand.

[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired one hundred twenty Hongmeng points!]

At that moment, joy blossomed in Ye Xu’s heart.

The Lu Family truly lived up to being the pillar of the Canglan Merchant Alliance!

Seeing this, Li Chengfeng smiled and inquired, "Your junior has resided in Canglan Divine City for several centuries, yet never heard of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion before today. Were it not for encountering this Daoist friend distributing pamphlets, I wouldn’t have known an expert dwelled within our city."

"Expert is too grand a word. I’m just someone ordinary," Ye Xu chuckled.

Lu Qing frowned slightly.

Not one syllable of that explanation did he believe.

"Young Master Lu," the Formless Demon Lord grinned, his voice low. "Our Master possesses vast divine abilities… knows all things under heaven."

Lu Chengfeng’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"However," the Formless Demon Lord continued, "You must present sufficient treasures to obtain the knowledge you seek. Yet for a power as vast as the Canglan Merchant Alliance, resources hold no scarcity.

"Young Master Lu, simply speak your query. Our Master will hold nothing back."

Ye Xu gave a satisfied nod.

"Do you perhaps surpass even the Mu Family’s Heaven’s Machine lineage?" Lu Qing probed cautiously. "Our Head shares some acquaintance with their Patriarch. Yet not even his knowledge is boundless."

Heaven’s Machine lineage?

Likely Mu Fanyin’s main family.

"Daoist friend," Ye Xu responded lightly, "I’m merely an ordinary man wishing to earn modest coin. Pay the price, and I provide your answers. As for the current Patriarch of the Mu Family?"

Ye Xu snorted dismissively. "That man? He is no true heir to the Heaven’s Machine lineage!"

The rightful heir of the Mu Family’s Heaven’s Machine lineage was Mu Fanyin.

Though the details remained unclear, the system’s answer could never be wrong.

Lu Qing’s eyes were filled with terror.

He didn’t dare ask more about matters involving the upper level, nor did he want to know.

The less one knew, the longer one lived.

"You don’t need to overthink things. I appeared here solely to do business and earn money," Ye Xu said. "So, there’s no need to probe me."

"Go back and convey to Lu Xuanyin and Dao Lord Qingyuan that I only focus on business and don’t meddle in worldly affairs."

Bang!

Lu Chengfeng and Lu Qing were deeply shaken.

Their intentions had been entirely within Ye Xu’s calculations.

Needless to say, they had come in secrecy without a trace of rumor, yet Ye Xu could figure it out; even if he wasn’t all-knowing, he must be a supremely skilled expert.

"Senior, can you truly resolve all my doubts?" Young Master Lu solemnly asked.

Ye Xu nodded.

"As the honorable Young Master of the Lu Family estate, one of the top heirs in the Canglan Immortal Domain, but born with a feeble constitution and unable to cultivate, forced to watch himself age and die—it’s truly torment."

Su Mu and Formless Demon Lord’s expressions jolted.

They finally understood why Lu Chengfeng appeared like an ordinary person.

Because he was, in fact, a mortal.

A clan’s Young Master owned vast wealth yet couldn’t practice cultivation—undeniably ironic and sorrowful.

"Hahaha…"

At these words, Lu Chengfeng was utterly stunned but burst out laughing.

His laughter brimmed with helpless bitterness yet held a note of wild freedom and unrestraint; in his eyes, a blaze of hope ignited ferociously.

Lu Qing grew even more panicked, fearing Lu Chengfeng might snap under the shock, and hurriedly channeled magical energy to calm him down and prevent a breakdown.

"Uncle Qing, I’m fine."

Young Master Lu’s smile faded; he had long accepted the reality of his innate condition, so Ye Xu’s statement caused no anger in him.

But he refused to submit to fate.

Even with the slimmest sliver of hope, he would seize it and fight.

"Senior, what you said is right."

Lu Chengfeng spoke: "I was born with a feeble constitution and cannot cultivate."

"I wonder if you have a way to solve this problem for me?"

"To cure an ailment, you must target the root cause."

Ye Xu said calmly.

"System, how many Hongmeng points are needed to inquire about Lu Chengfeng’s constitution?"

"[Fifty points.]"

Ye Xu slowly narrowed his eyes.

As a mere mortal, Lu Chengfeng needed fifty Hongmeng points for a full inquiry, clearly indicating hidden secrets.

"Young Master Lu, in my view, your so-called innate condition has a hidden truth," Ye Xu remarked unhurriedly. "If you wish to learn the secret, you can exchange a thousand source crystals for the information."

"Hidden secrets?"

Lu Qing’s heart pounded fiercely.

Could Ye Xu’s meaning be that someone had tampered with Li Chengfeng?

If that were the case, the secret behind it was profoundly puzzling.

Lu Chengfeng, being highly intelligent, had already considered this possibility; his gaze sharpened gradually, and without any debate, he produced a thousand source crystals.

"Exchange."

"[Congratulations host, you obtained a hundred Hongmeng points.]"

"Query it now."

Ding!

The very next instant, details of Lu Chengfeng’s constitution flooded Ye Xu’s mind.

Ye Xu’s expression steadily grew grave.

Lu Chengfeng’s physique indeed wasn’t a natural weakness, but had concealed causes.

"Young Master Lu, this jade slip holds the information you seek to know," Ye Xu said. With a flick of his finger, the golden book and jade slip flew into Lu Chengfeng’s hands.

"After reading it, you’ll understand everything."