Chapter 494

Chapter 494: The Proficient Performer

The next day.

Lu Yunzhao arrived alongside his father-in-law.

"Greetings, Master."

Lu Yunzhao bowed deeply and introduced to Ye Xu, "This is my father-in-law, also the head of the Yuan Family."

"A pleasure to meet you, Master."

Yuan Qingfeng also saluted with cupped fists, observing Ye Xu with curiosity. The Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had settled in Canglan City for about a month, yet this was his first glimpse of Ye Xu.

Dao Sovereign Qingyuan’s ascension to the Dao Sovereign Realm had stirred Yuan Qingfeng’s already restless heart into sheer agitation. After seeking the Yuan Family Ancestor’s approval, he urged Lu Yunzhao to swiftly visit the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"No need for such courtesies, please, take a seat."

Ye Xu said, "Xixi, tea, please."

By dusk yesterday, Xixi had ceased her cultivation. Within the Time and Space domain, she had blossomed into a slender and graceful young woman, her oval face as pleasingly fair as ever, still radiating youthful innocence.

"Honored guests, here is your tea."

"Thank you, young lady."

Both expressed their appreciation.

"And Lu Chengfeng’s cultivation, it progresses smoothly?" Ye Xu inquired casually.

"Thanks to your blessings, Master, Chengfeng has already attained the Dao Palace stage. Right now he’s focused on mastering the casting of the Heavenly Court to reach perfection," Lu Yunzhao replied immediately.

Blessed with the Lu Family’s abundant resources and inheriting a natural Dao body, Lu Chengfeng reached the Dao Palace stage in just half a month. What’s more, this pace resulted from him deliberately tempering his foundation and subduing his cultivation speed.

Ye Xu nodded slightly.

During this period, the Lu Family had also spread word of Lu Chengfeng’s imminent cultivation through merits, leveraging the family’s influence to build momentum for him.

In fact, across numerous cities within the Canglan Immortal Domain, acts of public charity were performed in Lu Chengfeng’s name, even establishing living shrines dedicated to him.

"Master, my father-in-law’s reason for accompanying me today involves a personal request," Lu Yunzhao remarked with a smile. "He has remained at the Six Tribulations Dao Lord level for over a million cycles without attaining further breakthrough, and he seeks your valued advice on advancing."

"As for the price, please, state your terms."

Yuan Qingfeng’s gaze burned fiercely as he implored, "Master, is there a way for this old man to transcend into the realm of the Seven Tribulations Dao Lord?"

"System, what’s the Hongmeng points cost checking for a method allowing Yuan Qingfeng to step into the Seven Tribulations Dao Lord realm?"

[Nineteen million, six hundred thousand.]

Ye Xu clicked his tongue softly.

Achieving the Seven Tribulations Dao Lord rank demanded an expenditure north of twenty million Hongmeng points. Yet here, the quote stood at a mere nineteen-point-six million. Reflecting on it, that truly seemed to be the system offering a considerable discount.

"Thirty million divine stones."

"Thirty million?"

Lu Yunzhao’s eyes narrowed a fraction; the sum certainly weighed heavily.

"Agreed!"

Gnashing his teeth, Yuan Qingfeng produced thirty million divine stones. "Master, please verify the sum."

Ye Xu couldn’t be bothered to look closely. With a sweep of his hand, he converted three million divine stones into Hongmeng points, ordering the system to query the details.

[Nine Yang Immortal Domain, Nine Yang Red Earth, Golden Crow Celestial Fire Seeds.]

A stream of information flooded Ye Xu’s mind.

Ye Xu instantly understood.

Yuan Qingfeng cultivated the pure Yang Great Dao, somewhat similar to Ziyang Immortal Palace. To break through, he needed the assistance of a pure Yang divine artifact.

Within Nine Yang Red Earth in Nine Yang Immortal Domain, territory of Dao Sovereign Lingxu, potent pure Yang energy nurtured nine Golden Crow Celestial Fire Seeds. Acquiring just one could allow cultivation to reach the Seven Tribulations Dao Lord realm.

"In Nine Yang Immortal Domain, there lies an opportunity to help you advance to Seven Tribulations Dao Lord," Ye Xu stated with a smile.

"Please enlighten me, Master."

Yuan Qingfeng replied humbly.

"Nine Yang Red Earth."

Hearing this, Yuan Qingfeng’s heart skipped a beat. Uneasily, he ventured, "Master, unless I misremember, that’s Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s domain."

Dao Sovereign Lingxu emerged from a primordial Golden Crow. Temperamental and immensely powerful, sneaking into Nine Yang Red Earth to steal a Golden Crow Celestial Fire Seed seemed as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"If I direct you to Nine Yang Red Earth, I naturally have a way."

Ye Xu declared, "In dealings with my Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, I guarantee you at least seventy percent chance of success.

"Of course, timing and fate matter. If your luck is utterly abysmal, even I can’t reverse destiny."

Lu Yunzhao deeply agreed.

On the path of cultivation, fortune was an extraordinarily critical element.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such concepts as a child of fortune.

Ye Xu approached the front of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, pointing at Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s incarnation. "See that?"

Both men nodded.

Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s incarnation imprisoned in Canglan City—this news had long spread across every immortal domain. In the eyes of fellow Dao Sovereigns, he was now a laughingstock.

"Carry his incarnation to Nine Yang Red Earth.

"I offer you two options."

Ye Xu explained, "First: Trade his incarnation to him for a Golden Crow Celestial Fire Seed.

"Second: Should theft fail, then surrender the incarnation to save your life.

"Dao Sovereign Lingxu prizes his reputation. With his incarnation as a bargaining chip, even if discovered, you will preserve your life."

Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s incarnation had been pinned in Canglan City for over half a month. Its purpose—killing the chicken to scare the monkeys—had served its purpose quite thoroughly. Whether it stayed or went held little significance for Ye Xu.

Better to present it to Yuan Qingfeng as a convenient favor.

"Sounds perfectly reasonable."

Lu Yunzhao praised.

"Father-in-law, those three million divine stones were well spent."

Yuan Qingfeng muttered internally, shooting Lu Yunzhao a rather peculiar glance. He couldn’t help but feel there was something a little off about Lu Yunzhao’s brain.

"This old man thanks the Master."

Yuan Qingfeng pondered for a moment and immediately agreed.

"This time, if this old man succeeds, he will surely have the Ancestor visit the Master." Before leaving, Yuan Qingfeng left these words and strode off with Lu Yunzhao.

"A mosquito, though small, is still a piece of meat."

Ye Xu murmured.

The Ancestors of the Yuan Family and the Lu Family were not weak in strength; if they came knocking, they could easily earn tens of millions of Hongmeng points.

"Yunzhao."

Yuan Qingfeng spoke earnestly, "The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion helped Dao Lord Qingyuan become Dao Sovereign Qingyuan, so you should consider discussing with Elder Lu to rely on the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and advance further."

He looked at Lu Yunzhao and said, "If our two families can produce two Dao Sovereigns, not only can we unify the Canglan Merchant Alliance, but even the Canglan Immortal Domain would be within our grasp."

"Yunzhao understands."

Lu Yunzhao’s expression turned grave.

"Father-in-law, should I accompany you to the Nine Yang Immortal Domain?"

"You still don’t trust me?"

Yuan Qingfeng snorted, "When this old man was roaming the world, you weren’t even sprouting hairs back then."

"…"

Lu Yunzhao was at a loss for words.

"I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice, so just stay home well and accompany Ying’er and Chengfeng properly." Yuan Qingfeng said casually.

"Yes."

"Father-in-law, when are we saving the emanation of Dao Sovereign Lingxu?" Lu Yunzhao asked.

"Of course, we’ll wait until nightfall."

Yuan Qingfeng said, "Although the Master told us to take Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s emanation to the Nine Yang Immortal Domain, we shouldn’t do it too brazenly."

"Otherwise, Dao Sovereign Lingxu might think I’m aligned with Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"Father-in-law is shrewd."

Lu Yunzhao spoke with admiration; truly a seasoned veteran, he considered matters far more thoroughly than himself.

"You head back first; this old man can handle it alone."

Yuan Qingfeng said with an impatient look.

Night fell.

Canglan City was silent and still.

A shadowy figure furtively rushed into the air, unleashing divine powers that enveloped the surroundings and isolated the void.

"Esteemed senior, I’ve come to rescue you."

Yuan Qingfeng, masked and hooded, approached the emanation of Dao Sovereign Lingxu with a soft voice, moving stealthily.

"Who are you?"

Dao Sovereign Lingxu said with difficulty.

His cultivation had been suppressed by Ye Xu, and he could not see through Yuan Qingfeng’s true appearance.

"Just a junior nobody. I simply couldn’t stand the insolence of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion insulting you, senior, so I want to lend a hand," Yuan Qingfeng exclaimed with righteous indignation.

"True righteous man!" Dao Sovereign Lingxu cried out ecstatically. "Please save me quickly!"

"Once I break free, generous gifts await you."

"A misunderstanding, senior. I’m stepping in only because I see injustice, not seeking treasures," Yuan Qingfeng declared solemnly, immediately channeling his magic per the information given by Ye Xu to dismantle the spell pinning Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s avatar.

"Though he’s a Six Tribulations Dao Lord, his skill mastery is rather profound. I couldn’t break the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s spell—yet he could," Dao Sovereign Lingxu pondered silently. "It seems I shouldn’t underestimate those Dao Lords."

Before long, Yuan Qingfeng unraveled the power confining Dao Sovereign Lingxu.

But Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s cultivation remained suppressed by Ye Xu’s force, unable to be restored.

"Senior, this junior’s strength is meager. I only freed you, not restored your cultivation." Yuan Qingfeng made a gesture to depart. "We shall meet again someday."

"Wait!"

Seeing this, Dao Sovereign Lingxu felt even surer Yuan Qingfeng was genuinely helping without seeking rewards, and he solemnly said, "With my cultivation wholly gone, I can’t return to the Nine Yang Immortal Domain. I ask you escort me back."

"Do this and you’ll find me generous."

Yuan Qingfeng sighed deeply.

"I know you’re loyal and righteous. Accept my gifts as a token, nothing more," Dao Sovereign Lingxu added hurriedly, his tone anxious.

He felt strangely moved.

In all his life, he’d never met such a chivalrous knight.

"Rest assured, senior. I’ll see you safely to the Nine Yang Immortal Domain," Yuan Qingfeng vowed. Drawing on his magic, he enveloped Dao Sovereign Lingxu’s avatar as an auspicious cloud rose, bearing them onward.

"That old fox’s acting is spot-on—a proper method actor," Ye Xu observed silently, utterly speechless.

After benefiting from Ye Xu’s favor, Yuan Qingfeng had to lightly step on him too.

A tumult of emotions washed over Ye Xu.

Who told Ye Xu he had to make money off Yuan Qingfeng?