Chapter 521

Chapter 521: Dangerously Poor

"Truly unexpected that Master Ye would rapidly build up such a great reputation in the Hongmeng Dao Realm in the blink of an eye…"

A million miles outside Canglan Divine City, a man appeared rather complicated in expression.

He was Li Ruoyu.

Naturally, this wasn’t Li Ruoyu’s true body, but an incarnation he had forged with the Innate Dao Seed and Ziwei Spirit Root.

Beside Li Ruoyu stood a woman in a yellow dress, her features exquisitely beautiful, with a straight nose, vermilion lips, and skin like congealed frost, yet holding a trace of light sorrow between her willow-like eyebrows.

"Given Master Ye’s abilities, even if he became invincible in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, it wouldn’t be surprising," Mu Fanyin said with a laugh.

She, along with Li Ruoyu and Immortal Emperor Taisu, had successfully ascended to the Hongmeng Dao Realm twenty days earlier through a fateful opportunity in the Taihuang Ancient Realm.

However, after ascending, they weren’t in Canglan Immortal Domain.

Moreover, as soon as the three ascended, a mysterious man descended. His strength was unfathomably deep, yet he didn’t attack them; instead, he took Immortal Emperor Taisu away.

From start to finish, the mysterious man revealed not a single piece of information, and the two dared not ask.

Of the trio from the lower realm, only she and Li Ruoyu remained.

"Daoist friend, have you still heard no news of the true body?" Mu Fanyin looked at Li Ruoyu.

Li Ruoyu shook his head with a bitter smile.

The Heavenly Emperor’s true body, after undergoing transcendence through the severing of the three bodies, had entered the Hongmeng Dao Realm one step earlier. The two bodies shared identical memories and could sense each other.

But after he ascended, he didn’t sense the presence of the true body.

Mu Fanyin’s mood sank lightly.

The Heavenly Emperor’s true body was missing, and in the exceedingly dangerous Hongmeng Dao Realm, it was likely doomed.

"We’ve arrived."

After a while, the two finally entered Canglan Divine City, and the first thing they saw was the Dao Lord ranking, a golden list hanging in mid-air, clearly the handiwork of Ye Xu.

"Master Ye is really putting on a grand show," Li Ruoyu gazed up at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Multiple palace towers unfolded, with countless hidden spaces and times faintly appearing, surrounded by immortal light of the Great Dao, and the sound of the Dao reached their ears, making people involuntarily entranced.

"Could it be he intends to enter the world of mortals?"

Li Ruoyu murmured.

The two walked toward Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Two Sovereigns of the World dare come to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?" A Dao Lord witnessed this scene and sneered with a laugh.

"I’ve long heard that the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is black-hearted and ruthless, cheating people relentlessly—utterly exploitative… Ouch…"

Before the words faded.

A bolt of lightning struck that man on the head, turning his whole body to charcoal and giving off the savory scent of roasted meat.

"Serves you right!"

Bystanders watching said gloatingly.

"The Master is both handsome and formidable, all-knowing—how dare you slander him?" one person mocked with a laugh.

That man scampered away, disappearing in a flash.

Mu Fanyin couldn’t help being amused and walked up the steps together with Li Ruoyu. Li Ruoyu lowered his head, gazing at the divine patterns on the jade steps, carefully pondering them as many insights arose in his heart.

"The Master has become extravagant," Li Ruoyu sighed.

This set of jade steps was extremely costly; their carved divine patterns contained the profound truths of the Great Dao, greatly benefiting Li Ruoyu.

After many days apart, it felt like a lifetime.

Li Ruoyu hadn’t expected that the once stingy Ye Xu would willingly spend a huge sum to decorate the entrance.

"A friend has come from afar; welcome, welcome…"

Ye Xu’s laughter echoed from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. His eyes fell on Mu Fanyin and Li Ruoyu, instantly discerning their thoughts and learning that the Immortal Emperor Taisu had been taken away.

"Interesting."

Ye Xu rubbed his chin.

The Immortal Emperor Taisu was one of the Five Innate Elements, and even in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, he was exceptional.

More importantly, the Immortal Emperor Taisu carried the Five Innate Elements Divine Mountains.

He looked towards Mu Fanyin.

A strange scene unfolded.

He could still only see Mu Fanyin’s basic information.

He had no clue about the "culprit" from the Heaven’s Machine lineage.

Ye Xu’s expression turned slightly stern.

He was already a Two Tribulations Dao Sovereign, yet he couldn’t penetrate Mu Fanyin’s other personality—this meant that personality’s strength was definitely beyond his own.

"No wonder you could exterminate the Mu Family of Heaven’s Machine," Ye Xu thought to himself.

"Greetings, Master."

Mu Fanyin performed an elegant bow.

"Master."

Li Ruoyu said with clasped fists, "As soon as I ascended, I heard news of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and thought to come see for myself. Sure enough, it was you."

He had changed his previous way of speaking, no longer referring to himself as "we."

After all, he was merely a small Sovereign of the World, not invincible in this realm as he had been in the lower one, except against Ye Xu.

Though naturally proud, he still understood the current circumstances.

"Daoist friends, I haven’t seen you for many days, and I do miss you a bit," Ye Xu sighed, inviting them. "Sit down first, and let’s talk properly."

"Please," Yi Tianxing laughed.

"Master."

Seeing his former master again, Li Ruoyu’s heart swirled with mixed emotions. To transcend the lower realm, he had used any means necessary, even betraying his master.

At that moment, Li Ruoyu felt both happiness and shame.

He was happy to see Yi Tianxing safe and sound in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, under Ye Xu’s protection.

It was shameful to meet Yi Tianxing again.

"Daoist friend Li, have some tea," Yi Tianxing said calmly with a smile. "Since dying that day, I am no longer the former human ancestor, nor your master."

"Now, we are merely old acquaintances."

Yi Tianxing understood life thoroughly. He bore no resentment toward Li Ruoyu for past betrayals and schemes, never blaming him from beginning to end.

Those who tread different paths cannot conspire together.

Hearing this, Li Ruoyu also felt a burden lift.

"Thank you, Daoist friend Yi."

Li Ruoyu accepted the teacup and broke into a smile.

"The slaughter in the Taihuang Ancient Realm was so fierce. That both of you ascended successfully is great fortune. With tea instead of wine, I celebrate our reunion."

Ye Xu smiled and raised his cup.

"Thank you, Master."

Mu Fanyin and Li Ruoyu exchanged glances and returned the gesture to Ye Xu.

The journey through the Taihuang Ancient Realm had indeed been brutal.

They had witnessed the Amitabha Emperor stripped of his destiny—body perishes, Dao vanishes.

From the Qing Xuan plane, only the top Immortal Emperors—Daoist Qing Xuan and Taishang Immortal Emperor—succeeded in ascension, though they landed in different places of ascension and never met.

After casual conversation, they finally turned to serious matters.

"Daoist friend Heavenly Emperor and I came not just to pay respects to Master, but also to seek guidance," stated Mu Fanyin. "Master, please illuminate our confusion."

"Ask away."

Ye Xu set down his teacup, speaking unhurriedly.

"What is Daoist friend Taisu’s whereabouts?" questioned Mu Fanyin.

She had once employed a deduction technique to divine the Immortal Emperor Taisu’s location, but celestial mysteries lay shrouded in mist, yielding nothing.

The Immortal Emperor Taisu’s aura had been entirely obscured.

"System, trace the Immortal Emperor Taisu’s whereabouts. Cost in Hongmeng points?" Ye Xu silently queried.

[30 million Hongmeng points.]

"Hmm?"

Ye Xu’s expression shifted faintly. The Immortal Emperor Taisu was merely a Sovereign of the World—even among deities birthed from Taishi Divine Mountain, locating one shouldn’t cost so exorbitantly.

After all, thirty million Hongmeng points could buy over a hundred million Taishi Divine Mountains.

"Thirty million divine stones."

At this price, Mu Fanyin and Li Ruoyu gasped.

"Master, surely you jest?" Shadows resurfaced in Li Ruoyu’s eyes.

Having been tricked before, he deeply suspected Ye Xu was deceiving him again.

"Was I that kind of person?"

Ye Xu said irritably, "After all, I am now the renowned master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, and that bit of small change, I wouldn’t even deign to look at now."

Li Ruoyu’s expression became awkward.

After careful thought, what Ye Xu said had merit.

In the lower realm, he was the invincible Heavenly Emperor, but upon entering the Hongmeng Dao Realm, he was merely an ordinary Sovereign of the World, and such figures could easily be found in great numbers everywhere.

"Then let’s change the approach."

Li Ruoyu’s eyes shifted as he had an idea, "Dare I ask, Master, is Daoist friend Taisu alive or dead?"

"System, how much?"

Ye Xu inquired again.

[Five Hongmeng points.]

"…"

Ye Xu was speechless for a moment.

He looked at the two of them with a weary gaze and said, "If not for past affections, I wouldn’t even bother answering such a question."

"Five divine stones."

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to earn, but it truly was unnecessary.

After all, the two had just ascended and were almost desperately poor.

"Fine."

Li Ruoyu reluctantly produced five divine stones; these divine stones were actually from defeating a Sovereign of the World who had attempted to harass Mu Fanyin on the way, as seized property.

"Look it up."

Ye Xu said weakly.

Ding!

[Alive.]

The system’s reply was excessively terse.

"This is still alive."

"Then we can rest easy."

The heavy stone in the hearts of Mu Fanyin and Li Ruoyu finally landed.

"Daoist friend Mu, go ahead."

Li Ruoyu signaled.

Mu Fanyin nodded her head slightly.

Ye Xu gradually grew serious as well.

He knew what matter Mu Fanyin wanted to inquire about.

"In the past, in the lower realm, I once had an agreement with you, Master."

Mu Fanyin brushed the hair at her temple, and as her gaze shifted, a charming allure was unexpectedly revealed, "Meeting again today, I hope the Master can resolve this young lady’s doubts."