Chapter 530

Chapter 530: Shift on the Dao Lord Ranking

"Dao Sovereign Qingyuan, from this moment forward, you shall follow Yi Tianxing’s directives," Ye Xu instructed.

"Your subordinate obeys!" Dao Sovereign Qingyuan altered her form of address, signifying her formal integration into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion as a true member.

This was the very event she had long dreamed of.

"Master, this old man has a matter that warrants your counsel," Yi Tianxing hesitated briefly before speaking. "Lu Chengfeng harbors an implacable grudge against all the great families of the Canglan Merchant Alliance. How should they be dealt with?"

"Revenge is his personal affair. Handle it as you deem fit," Ye Xu replied. "Old Yi, there is no need to report every matter to me. I trust your capability in handling affairs."

"Yes," Yi Tianxing responded.

He turned to face Dao Sovereign Qingyuan. "Daoist brother, let us begin with the Canglan Merchant Alliance."

"As for forces like the Myriad Phases True Demon Palace and Hundred Blossoms Sacred Land, suppression shall be our primary approach. To establish the Tianxia Divine Empire within the Canglan Immortal Domain, their strength is necessary."

Dao Sovereign Qingyuan nodded in agreement.

Presently, the greatest shortage Heaven’s Secret Pavilion faced was personnel.

Managing a Divine Empire, from top to bottom, required a vast number of capable individuals.

"The current Canglan Merchant Alliance is a vassal of the Second Young Master. Simply locate Xuan Du Ancient Immortal. Subdue him, and all else will fall into place," Dao Sovereign Qingyuan stated.

The two transformed into streaks of light, flying towards the headquarters of the Canglan Merchant Alliance.

Boom!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Dao Sovereign Qingyuan unleashed all fifty-six layers of her Great Dao World. It shroud the Canglan Merchant Alliance, an overwhelming pressure descending to suffocate countless cultivators.

"Daoist brother Qingyuan, what is the meaning of this?" Xuan Du Ancient Immortal flew out from the hall, expressing both shock and anger.

"By order of the Master, we are here to absorb the Canglan Merchant Alliance," Yi Tianxing stated lightly.

"Hu… human ancestor?" Xuan Du Ancient Immortal’s pupils contracted sharply.

Yi Tianxing did not deny the title.

"So the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion finally reveals his true designs!" Xuan Du Ancient Immortal felt indignation boiling within him, yet dared not show even a hint of displeasure. He covered his face momentarily with his sleeve. Upon lowering his hand, an obsequious, ingratiating smile instantly appeared.

"My young master has long decreed that any command from the Master shall be obeyed without question."

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal adopted a pragmatic stance: when faced with overwhelming force, capitulation was the wise course. "Given the Master’s matchless, invincible strength, he should have acted long ago to unify the Canglan Immortal Domain and bring blessings to all living beings."

Dao Sovereign Qingyuan revealed a look of surprise.

Was the matter resolved so smoothly?

The Second Young Master had dispatched Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, who expended considerable effort to secure control over the Canglan Immortal Domain. Yet now, merely by invoking the Master’s name, he was prepared to yield everything?

"Fellow Daoists need not rush. This old man will immediately summon the heads of the five great families to convene and discuss this matter," Xuan Du Ancient Immortal declared, channeling his power to call upon the five family heads.

"Please, enter the hall for discussions," he invited them in.

Before long, representing the five great families—Qin, Luo, Shangguan, Hong, and the Hall Master’s Elder of the Lu family—gathered at the headquarters of the Canglan Merchant Alliance.

As soon as they walked into the hall, the first thing they saw was Dao Sovereign Qingyuan and Yi Tianxing.

For no apparent reason, a bad premonition arose in the hearts of these few people.

"Pay respect to Lord Xuan Du."

"Greetings to Senior Qingyuan."

The heads of the families said with a bow.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal smiled and said, "Lords, from today onwards, the Canglan Merchant Alliance will belong under Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Who agrees and who opposes?"

"I…"

Hall Master’s Elder was just about to speak.

Suddenly.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal’s divine power erupted instantly as he killed his way over, with one hand gripping Hall Master’s Elder’s throat. With a crack sound, he twisted and broke his neck.

Everyone fell silent.

Hall Master’s Elder’s primordial spirit was imprisoned and unable to speak.

"It seems everyone has no objections." Xuan Du Ancient Immortal laughed out loud, still holding Hall Master’s Elder’s neck with one hand, and said, "Then from now on, you will obey Daoist friend Yi."

"Greetings to Lord Yi."

The four heads of the families opportunistically knelt on the floor immediately, kowtowing to Yi Tianxing.

"Rise up."

Yi Tianxing said, "Do not worry, all of you. I am not a bloodthirsty person. As long as you truly submit wholeheartedly, I will not touch the four great families."

"Yes."

The four heads of the families exchanged glances.

They were still completely puzzled.

No one could have expected Xuan Du Ancient Immortal to betray his own allies so cleanly and quickly.

"Lu Chengfeng is a trusted aide of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. If you bow to him, you too will face a reckoning sooner or later."

At that moment, Hall Master’s Elder broke free from Xuan Du Ancient Immortal’s restraint and bellowed hoarsely, "You must not forget that you all bear responsibility for the death of Lu Xuanyin and the crippling of Lu Chengfeng’s parents."

"How dare you!"

Head of the Shangguan Family struck and shattered Hall Master’s Elder’s primordial spirit with one palm, sneering coldly, "Head of the Lu Family, we have long desired to belong to the Master. Do not even think about driving us apart."

"Slaughter him!"

Head of the Luo Family said.

"Kill!"

The four heads of the families reached a unanimous decision.

Bang!

The four joined forces instantly, obliterating Hall Master’s Elder’s primordial spirit.

Yi Tianxing watched the scene indifferently.

The four heads of the family could not be killed just yet.

This was Lu Chengfeng’s personal grievance against them.

For now, Yi Tianxing needed the strength of the Canglan Merchant Alliance to help establish a stable order.

Yi Tianxing solemnly said, "The grudge between you four heads of the family and Lu Chengfeng does not concern Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Heaven’s Secret Pavilion will not help Lu Chengfeng attack you."

"However, should Lu Chengfeng grow stronger in the future and seek revenge against you four, your survival will depend solely on your own strength."

"But I assure you, innocent members of your four great clans will not be implicated."

"I understand!"

The four clan heads fawned with sycophantic smiles.

The terms offered by Yi Tianxing were already exceedingly generous.

Refusal meant immediate death.

Acceptance granted a sliver of hope.

At the very least, their clans would survive to carry on.

"Xuan Du Daoist, I thank you for your aid today." Yi Tianxing turned to Xuan Du Ancient Immortal. "Please relay my gratitude to the Second Young Master."

"…"

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal’s mouth twitched.

If not for fearing Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s tyranny, why would he have surrendered without a fight?

Pure helplessness—he was no match.

"This old man will certainly convey Daoist friend Yi’s words to my master," Xuan Du Ancient Immortal said, cupping his hands. "With the matter of the Canglan Merchant Alliance settled, may I now depart?"

Yi Tianxing nodded.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal fled Canglan City like a prisoner granted pardon, transforming into a streak of rainbow light.

"From this day forth, if I set foot in Canglan City again, I am a dog!"

His hatred for Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and Ye Xu burned fiercely.

"I must report this to master immediately and spread word of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion master’s intentions," Xuan Du Ancient Immortal thought. "The celestial venerables will never permit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s influence to expand."

Over eight great epochs, the spoils of the Hongmeng Dao Realm had been fully divided.

Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s rise meant others’ portions would shrink.

Who would willingly surrender their slice?

Canglan Divine City

After absorbing the Canglan Merchant Alliance, Yi Tianxing didn’t immediately move against the Blossom Sacred Grounds, Myriad Phases True Demon Palace, or Skyfeather Heavenly Sect. He simply ordered rumors to spread.

He trusted that if the leaders of these three powers weren’t fools, they wouldn’t oppose Heaven’s Secret Pavilion head-on.

"Bring me the merchant alliance’s ledgers from every past year!"

Yi Tianxing commanded from the central seat, imposing as a warlord.

"I shall fetch them at once!"

The Head of the Shangguan Family dashed away.

Hum!

At that very moment.

An unusual sound echoed over Canglan Divine City, causing countless cultivators to lift their eyes to the heavens. They saw golden light radiating in countless beams from the Dao Lord ranking as a voice reverberated through heaven and earth.

"Starting today, the Dao Lord ranking will be updated. It will reorder the top 200 Dao Lords across the Hongmeng Dao Realm at no additional cost."

Lu Chengfeng’s voice spread throughout Canglan Divine City.

The crowd murmured amongst themselves.

"Why would the Dao Lord ranking be reordered?" one cultivator asked in confusion.

"Heaven’s Secret Pavilion said once you advance to Dao Sovereign, you disappear from the Dao Lord ranking. For them to reorder it now… likely means a great change has occurred."

"Let’s just go see for ourselves."

Streams of powerful auras flew toward the Dao Lord ranking.

The Dao Lord ranking floated in mid-air.

The one ranked first was no longer the Second Young Master.

Not only that.

All the Young Masters had vanished from the Dao Lord ranking.

"The names of all eight Young Masters are gone! Have they all advanced to Dao Sovereign Realm?" A Nine Tribulations Dao Lord was utterly stunned.

"What’s the fuss about?"

"The Nine Young Masters are the finest geniuses of our era. Them advancing to Dao Sovereign—isn’t that perfectly normal?" Someone sneered in reply.

"Then why have I never heard the name of this number one?"

Another voice questioned, "Dear friends, have any of you ever heard of this one?"

All eyes turned to the Dao Lord ranking.

First place: Dugu Ming.

The one who once held ninth place.

"Then… who’s this second one?"

A Dao Lord remarked in surprise, "In the original version of the ranking, among the top two hundred… I don’t recall ever seeing him."

At these words,

The gazes of every cultivator gathered upon the second spot.

Compared to the now-known first-place Dugu Ming,

The holder of second place clearly piqued their curiosity far more.

It was an unfamiliar name.

Li Ruoyu.