Chapter 529

Chapter 529: Eternal Tianxia

In the evening, as the setting sun dyed the sky red, Lu Chengfeng, Yi Tianxing, and others returned from the Innate Thunder Marsh Dao Domain.

"Reporting to the Master, the martial arts competition has ended," they said.

"I know," Ye Xu replied.

Ye Xu nodded his head.

"Master, the casualties in this martial arts competition were quite heavy," Lu Chengfeng said with a grave expression, "About seven or eight out of ten participants died."

"However, Lei Zhengyang, whom you value, fought his way through all the challenges and successfully seized the Dao fruit of the domain," he continued, "In a few days, he should be able to advance to the Dao Sovereign realm."

"It was an expected outcome," Ye Xu said lightly.

Ye Xu chuckled softly.

"You’ve worked hard. Go rest first," Ye Xu said, "In a few days, I will reward each of you based on your merits."

"Thank you, Master," Formless Demon Lord said, rubbing his hands together with a smile.

Ye Xu walked out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and gazed at the Dao Lord ranking, murmuring, "Soon, the Dao Sovereign ranking will undergo a great change…"

At that time, Second Young Master, Third Young Master, Sixth Young Master, Ninth Young Master Luo Qianchen, and others were all striving with all their might to break through to the Dao Sovereign realm. With their strength, it shouldn’t be difficult to break through.

Once they broke through, the Dao Lord ranking would change drastically.

"These nine people are quite strange; they clearly have the power to break through, yet they’ve delayed it for hundreds of millions of years…" Ye Xu thought to himself.

"Master, Daoist friend Li and Miss Mu went to the Taihuang Abyss. I wonder if they have returned?" Yi Tianxing asked, looking at Ye Xu with a complex expression.

"They have returned," Ye Xu replied.

"Li Ruoyu’s true body has encountered great fortune. You need not worry for him," he added.

"Old Yi, the techniques you cultivate require the aid of Virtue and Fortune, where Heaven and Man connect, to achieve great success. Staying holed up in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion all the time slows your progress," he said, clasping his hands behind his back and speaking with deep meaning.

Yi Tianxing’s expression stirred slightly. "Master, do you mean for this old man to enter the world?" he asked.

"Enter the world? It’s not that simple," Ye Xu shook his head.

"Saving lives and helping others—how much Virtue can that gather?" he argued.

His Second Primordial Spirit Avatar had experienced this matter, going round and round, with minimal effects. To pursue the path of Virtue and Fortune, the most effective method was to follow Third Young Master’s example by building a divine kingdom for worship.

It must be noted that Third Young Master relied on the Celestial Lord of Fortune and, with his own strength alone, built an immortal court that covered multiple domains, proclaiming himself the Divine Emperor.

He was truly invincible in the world.

Ye Xu had considered this idea for a long time.

He wanted to enter the world.

Ultimately, he had to enter the world.

If cultivation wasn’t about revealing one’s divine power before others, it would be utterly meaningless.

"The Master’s teachings are correct," Yi Tianxing acknowledged.

Yi Tianxing felt this deeply.

When descending to the lower realm, had he not been pushed to the brink of death, he could never have gathered the merits of heaven and earth to transcend and ascend.

To amass great merit and mighty fortune, one must possess extraordinary talents and achievements that benefit all for eternity!

"Old Yi, your heart is set on the common people, and you are kind-hearted. Having you as the lord of the divine kingdom puts me completely at ease," Ye Xu coaxed persuasively, not skimping on praises.

"You flatter me too much, Master."

Yi Tianxing’s aged face flushed slightly. Ye Xu’s words made it sound like he was an outright honest man.

Soul-searching, he indeed was an honest man.

"If you ever possess the courage worthy of the Human Emperor, I would dispatch Dao Sovereign Qingyuan to assist you—to expand outward in all directions, with Canglan Divine City as the core."

Ye Xu’s expression turned solemn.

He was not joking.

Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had developed to this stage; Ye Xu’s invincible domain now spanned over twenty million li. He urgently needed a spokesperson.

After all, the Celestial Lords and Great Celestial Lords were all cunning old foxes, holed up in their lairs. Making money off them proved far from easy.

Thus, establishing a divine kingdom to levy a unified coinage tax represented one of Ye Xu’s money-making schemes.

Crucially, Ye Xu also harbored a desire to step into the mortal world.

"Master, you wish to… intervene in the secular realm?" Yi Tianxing’s eyes widened in shock.

Ruling over one Canglan Immortal Domain was something Yi Tianxing could barely grasp, but Ye Xu’s revealed ambitions reached far beyond that.

Ye Xu nodded.

"Prosperity invites shared benefit; hardship calls for solitude. As the invincible one under heaven, I too ought to play my part—shine and radiate heat for the world." Ye Xu declared righteously, an unusual solemnity in his tone.

For a moment, even Yi Tianxing couldn’t discern if Ye Xu was joking or not.

Sensing Yi Tianxing’s doubt, Ye Xu felt a headache coming on.

His unscrupulous merchant image had sunken too deep.

No matter how he insisted, Yi Tianxing still held reservations.

"Old Yi."

He turned around, placing both hands firmly on Yi Tianxing’s shoulders.

Yi Tianxing froze, surprised.

Gazing into Yi Tianxing’s eyes, Ye Xu stated, "I have no experience governing the world, nor the inclination to rack my brains over it."

"You were once the human ancestor, and you aided Li Ruoyu in establishing the Ancient Heavenly Court. Your experience in statecraft is rich indeed. Are you willing… to step forward once more for the people of the world?"

"You and I, working hand in hand, can forge a Golden Age together for the Hongmeng Dao Realm!"

Yi Tianxing felt his blood boiling, stirred deeply with intense fervor.

"I would not refuse!"

A broad smile spread across his face. Ever since meeting Ye Xu, he had long wished for him to step into the world.

For this day, he had waited far too long.

"It is the fortune of all living beings that the Master is willing to consider their welfare." Yi Tianxing bowed as he spoke.

"Do not misunderstand." Finding himself flattered, Ye Xu gave an embarrassed smile before immediately correcting, "My original intention was to make money."

Yi Tianxing shook his head and chuckled softly.

Even the Master had moments of being tsundere.

"…"

Ye Xu felt utterly wronged.

His original intention truly was profit; benefiting all under heaven was merely a secondary outcome.

In Ye Xu’s view, if one day he truly devoted himself entirely to the people’s welfare, it would only be because he had become truly invincible in the world and no longer required treasures or resources.

Ye Xu stirred his thoughts, and the branches of the Canglan Divine Tree swayed. A slender willow twig descended before the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Dao Lord Qingyuan’s skirt fluttered as he approached Ye Xu with graceful lotus steps, offering a respectful bow.

"Daoist friend Qingyuan, from this day forth, you shall assist Yi Tianxing, emulating the Third Young Master in building a divine kingdom." Ye Xu spoke lightly. "With all factions in the Canglan Immortal Domain: negotiate where possible; strike down where not."

"I have but one requirement."

Ye Xu raised the index finger of his right hand. "Every power within the Canglan Immortal Domain must pledge allegiance to the divine kingdom."

"Is the Master intervening in worldly affairs?"

Shock flashed in Dao Sovereign Qingyuan’s beautiful eyes.

"Indeed."

Ye Xu nodded.

Making money was far too difficult.

Though the Hongmeng Dao Realm was vast and boundless, it was entirely dominated by the Great Celestial Lords. These old foxes remained in hiding, secretly observing the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion from the shadows, too wary to venture forth rashly.

Ye Xu had no choice but to devise an alternative method.

In the past.

He abstained from worldly involvement for three reasons: his invincibility confined him to the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, his sole focus was on monetizing his foresight, and he himself had set the rule against meddling in mortal affairs.

However.

As profit became ever harder to seize, while his invincible domain continuously expanded, Ye Xu found it difficult to suppress other ambitions.

After all.

If the entire Hongmeng Dao Realm fell under his control, wouldn’t the world’s wealth be simply there to be taken at will?

"You all forced my hand."

Ye Xu uttered a long sigh.

"Then what of the Canglan Merchant Alliance?"

Dao Sovereign Qingyuan asked.

Backing the Canglan Merchant Alliance stood the Second Young Master and the Destiny Sect, an entity that had withstood the erosion of eternity.

"I will not repeat myself."

Ye Xu stated lightly.

"As you command."

Dao Sovereign Qingyuan bowed deeply in acceptance.

"However…"

Hesitation colored his features as he slowly continued, "This humble one stands alone. The task the Master assigns may prove… beyond my solitary strength to fulfill."

Ye Xu laughed. "Act as you see fit. I stand behind you."

Having just sealed a pact with Mu Fanyin, the Taotie Celestial Lord presented an immediately available enforcer.

The might of a single Celestial Lord, even if not at its peak, sufficed to sweep across the Canglan Immortal Domain, vanquishing all Dao Sovereigns.

"I shall obey!"

Brilliance ignited in Dao Sovereign Qingyuan’s gaze.

In attaching himself to the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, his ambitions were his own.

Unifying the Canglan Immortal Domain would be merely his inaugural stride!

Ye Xu let a faint smile curl the corner of his mouth.

The moment the Dao Lord ranking took form, this scheme had already germinated within him.

Otherwise, he would never have voiced his intent to support Lu Chengfeng, positioning him against the nine young masters.

Yet the true catalyst, propelling his concept into execution, was Mu Fanyin.

Possessing two supreme champions, plus his own command holding the rear lines – truly, who under heaven could stand against them?

"Master, with the divine kingdom’s founding, you must establish its title and inaugurate its first era name." Yi Tianxing offered his counsel after careful deliberation.

"Let the founding name be Tianxia!"

"And the era name be Eternal!"

Ye Xu decreed solemnly.

The divine kingdom shaped by his hand required not ten thousand generations. One era alone would suffice.

And this solitary era, this would be Eternal!

Yi Tianxing’s vision cleared instantly.

Ye Xu, articulating both state name and era name without hesitation, revealed deep prior contemplation. This was no fleeting impulse. The thought bolstered Yi Tianxing’s conviction immensely.

He half-knelt upon the ground, his voice resonant with ironclad resolve.

"This aged minister absolutely will not disappoint the Master’s profound expectations!"