Chapter 533

Chapter 533: A Golden Dream of a Lifetime

Ultimately, at the red-eyed youth’s insistence, Dugu Ming could only give up.

"Brother, would you contest against me?" He looked towards the golden-armored man.

Swoosh!

The golden-armored man darted away hurriedly, fleeing as if death pursued him.

"Daoist friend Dugu, if you delay further, they will truly perish," Li Ruoyu solemnly intoned.

The wounds of the trio worsened relentlessly.

"Farewell, dear friends!"

Dugu Ming clasped his hands in salute towards the three. His gaze dimmed faintly. How could he not know his own constitution? His Celestial Calamity Star fate made him solitary throughout life, without kin or companion.

Back in the yin realm, joining a hundred sects was not by desire. Every sect he ever joined inevitably declined—struck by bizarre misfortunes—until they collapsed utterly.

Under vast heavens, no refuge remained for Dugu Ming.

Thus,

he dared alone, slipping through a hairline fissure torn in the Taihuang Abyss to traverse from the yin realm into the Hongmeng Dao Realm, seeking only a place to shelter.

"Falling to this plight was never my wish," Dugu Ming uttered forlornly.

Once Dugu Ming departed, Li Ruoyu emerged immediately. Surging spiritual power, he aided Long You in suppressing the twin rampaging bloodlines within him. He retrieved an immortal pill, feeding it to the red-eyed youth to treat his injuries.

After settling the two, he approached Ji Wushuang, circulating the Heavenly Emperor Scripture to suppress Jin Wushuang’s worsening condition.

Though inheriting the legacy of the Great Celestial Lord of Creation, Li Ruoyu never practiced the Great Celestial’s techniques.

He instead merged the Great Celestial Lord’s techniques with the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, selecting each method’s strengths to forge a path uniquely suited to himself.

However, paving such a new path demanded immense endurance, fraught with hardship.

Li Ruoyu had only just begun.

"My thanks, Daoist brother."

Stabilized by Li Ruoyu’s aid, Long You’s power regained equilibrium. He stared at Li Ruoyu, lingering dread apparent. "Daoist brother, did you know the origin of that man?"

Li Ruoyu’s evasiveness since the battle began implied deeper knowledge.

Li Ruoyu gave a slight nod. “Daoist friend Long, Dugu Ming bears the Celestial Calamity Star constitution. He is a celestial calamity star. To even linger near him invites bad fortune."

"You three, though peak Dao Lords, dared strike him. The outcome—fate’s consequence—holds no mystery.”

“……”

Long You’s mouth twitched violently.

“So that’s the perverse truth,” Long You spat bitterly, yet helplessly.

The source of disaster was exceedingly rare. Cultivators who could harness it to tread the great path were scarcer than phoenix feathers, and Dugu Ming stood distinctively outstanding among them.

Moreover, he had learned control over this source of disaster, preventing the leaking essence of calamity from triggering catastrophes.

Yet his very existence remained that of a portentous star.

“Our profound gratitude this time, Daoist friend Li.” Having ingested the immortal pill, the red-eyed youth felt his grave wounds gradually mend, finally free from the shadow of death.

Ji Wushuang also bowed to Li Ruoyu, his face showing gratitude.

"As fellow list members, we should naturally support each other," Li Ruoyu said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the three looked thoroughly abashed.

Such words revealed Li Ruoyu’s exceptional mindset.

"The Daoist brother speaks wisely. We were indeed narrow-minded," the three admitted shamefully.

"Daoist brother, if you ever set foot in the Eastern Extreme Celestial Domain, just mention my name Long You. I shall personally host you as a representative of the Eastern Extreme Dragon Palace," Long You declared. His palm turned upward, revealing a bronze token engraved with a dragon’s head.

"This is my waist token. Holding it grants unimpeded passage throughout the Eastern Extreme Celestial Domain."

Li Ruoyu’s eyes flickered, and he accepted without refusal.

"Daoist brother, I am a disciple of Yuqing Palace. Should you ever enter Yuqing Palace territory, you must notify me," the red-eyed youth said, handing Li Ruoyu a command token.

Ji Wushuang also produced a piece of jade.

After brief pleasantries, the three departed separately.

Li Ruoyu rubbed the dragon-head bronze token, a wry smile touching his lips.

These three held impressive backgrounds, representing mighty forces backed by Heavenly Venerables. Befriending them would make navigating the Hongmeng Dao Realm much simpler in the future.

This had been precisely his intention all along.

He gazed towards Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, wearing a thoughtful expression.

An agreement with Ye Xu still stood.

"Master Ye, I will personally pay a visit to your pavilion within a few days," Li Ruoyu muttered with a faint smile. Yet instead of immediately heading to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he turned towards the Canglan Merchant Alliance.

His journey had already informed him of Yi Tianxing’s imminent establishment of a divine kingdom.

…

"Young Master, might this subordinate perhaps… avoid going to the Canglan Immortal Domain?"

In the Qingyun Immortal Domain,

within Destiny Sect,

the Second Young Master stood clad in simple white robes, a weathered sword box strapped to his back. Beside him waited Xuan Du Ancient Immortal and a youth of simple, honest appearance. They seemed poised to depart for the Canglan Immortal Domain.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal’s expression was deeply reluctant.

He’d sworn an oath: step into the Canglan Immortal Domain again, and I will be a dog.

"Are you afraid?" the Second Young Master asked lightly.

"I exhausted my efforts annexing the Canglan Immortal Domain, only to see it fall into the hands of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion in mere months. If I don’t demand justice from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, how shall the world perceive me? How shall it regard Destiny Sect?"

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal looked worse than if he’d been crying.

Afraid? Of course he was.

His skill at maneuvering among powerful figures relied entirely on his diplomatic cunning. While he valued self-preservation, it didn’t mean he wished to become a dog.

After all, words spoken cannot be unsaid. Water spilled cannot be gathered back.

"I… I dare not, Young Master."

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal put on a dignified air. "I shall follow the young master’s command in everything."

"So be it, a dog I shall be…" Xuan Du Ancient Immortal murmured in his heart.

After all, he had always been a dog raised by the Second Young Master. The most important thing was that only he knew this secret—his face wouldn’t be lost.

"Senior Brother, let us depart."

The Second Young Master turned his gaze toward the silent, honest-looking young man beside him. An aura as profound as an abyss emanated from him—this was a Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign, the eldest disciple of the Destiny Sect Master and also the Second Young Master’s protector.

"Alright."

The honest-faced young man grinned widely. With a flourish of his sleeve, he produced a flying ship adorned with carved dragons and phoenixes. A surge of magical power infused the vessel, and the carvings seemed to writhe to life as the ship expanded in size.

The three men leaped aboard. The flying ship soared into the sky, heading toward the Canglan Immortal Domain.

One day later.

The flying ship arrived at Canglan City.

"Young Master, that is Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," said Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, pointing toward it.

"Truly imposing," remarked the Second Young Master, his eyes cold. "I just wonder how much skill its master possesses that he dares take the prey from the tiger’s jaws?"

"Junior Brother, do not act rashly," Xiao Ling cautioned, his expression grave. "This Heaven’s Secret Pavilion holds extraordinary mystery. Even the finest Celestial Lord artifact falls far short of it."

"The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion must be at least a Celestial Lord, and very likely, a Great Celestial Lord."

"I know," the Second Young Master nodded.

The flying ship descended onto a plaza before a flight of jade steps. Xiao Ling flicked his sleeve, shrinking the vessel back into his garment. The trio ascended the steps toward Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"These divine patterns on the jade steps… they actually contain the mysteries of the Three Thousand Great Dao," murmured Xiao Ling, studying the carvings intently, a trace of delight flickering in his eyes. "It’s a transformation of something mundane into the miraculous."

The foundation for advancing to the Celestial Lord stage was the cultivation of one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds.

Xiao Ling was precisely such a prodigy.

However,

the profundity contained within this single flight of jade steps surpassed the scope of one hundred and eight Great Dao Principles. It encompassed the myriad laws of the world, shifting and transforming constantly, embodying an unfathomable mystery.

This fact alone allowed Xiao Ling to judge that the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was a top-tier powerhouse on par with—if not surpassing—his own master.

A strange light flickered briefly in the Second Young Master’s eyes.

Reaching the top of the jade steps, the trio saw a young man lying some distance away on a rocking chair. His legs swayed idly. A book covered his face.

He seemed to be fast asleep.

Even as the three entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Ye Xu remained absolutely still.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, meek as a lamb, dared not show even a hint of frustration. Obediently, he called out, "Master, my Second Young Master has come especially to pay his respects."

The Second Young Master and Xiao Ling silently observed Ye Xu.

Rubbing his drowsy eyes, Ye Xu removed the ancient book from his face. He fixed his gaze sternly on Xuan Du Ancient Immortal. "Daoist friend, I was deeply engrossed in a dream. Your sudden speech shattered it. You owe me a replacement dream."

"…" Xuan Du Ancient Immortal stared wide-eyed.

Such a move existed?

"My apologies, Master, for disturbing you," Xuan Du Ancient Immortal said with an awkward, placating smile. "If it pleases you, Senior, I can employ a sacred art to put you back to sleep."

"No," Ye Xu objected with displeasure. "You are far too weak. Your methods cannot lull me."

"What kind of dream was the Senior having?" Xuan Du Ancient Immortal ventured cautiously.

"A dream of becoming rich," Ye Xu replied with a knowing smile.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal grasped the meaning instantly.

Ye Xu was subtly delivering a warning shot.

"Might fifty million divine stones compensate the Senior for his lost dream?" asked Xuan Du Ancient Immortal.

Ye Xu offered no answer.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal was two-faced. He had secretly criticized Ye Xu plenty before.

Furthermore,

this delegation from Destiny Sect had come seeking confrontation.

Ye Xu felt no obligation to give them any favorable treatment.

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal was correct—this was indeed a warning shot.

"A dream worth a thousand pieces of gold? Merely fifty million stones are far from sufficient!" the Second Young Master declared with a careless grin. He pulled out a Qian Kun Ring. "Let these one hundred million divine stones serve as an apology from this junior for interrupting the Senior."

Whoosh!

He flicked his finger, sending the Qian Kun Ring flying toward Ye Xu.