Chapter 555

Chapter 555: Primordial Qi, Haotian Divine Offspring

Ye Xu hesitated slightly, then asked, "System, how many Hongmeng points are required to trace the whereabouts of the Haotian lineage?"

He added, "The Simplified Version."

The complete version would cost a staggering eighty trillion Hongmeng points—utterly unaffordable.

"[Sixty trillion.]"

Upon learning the answer, Ye Xu turned to the ancestral dragon and spoke unhurriedly, "Daoist friend, same deal as before: a thirty percent discount."

"However, with eighty trillion divine stones, I can only reveal the Haotian lineage’s location."

"Eighty trillion?"

The ancestral dragon’s expression turned peculiar. Since he’d just bid eighty trillion divine stones, Ye Xu’s identical quote made it hard not to suspect deliberate mimicking.

Ye Xu nodded.

"Master, please inform me."

The ancestral dragon meticulously counted his treasures and immortal plants, gathering exactly eighty trillion divine stones before handing them over.

"Exchange."

"[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired eighty trillion Hongmeng points.]"

Not a point more, not a point less.

"Execute the inquiry at once."

Ding!

The information returned was exceptionally sparse.

"[Beneath the firmament, the Primordial Qi; within the Pure Land, the Haotian Divine Offspring.]"

Sixteen inscrutable words.

Utterly bewildered himself, Ye Xu had no choice but to feign profundity. He recited them to the ancestral dragon verbatim: "Beneath the firmament, the Primordial Qi; within the Pure Land, the Haotian Divine Offspring."

"???"

The ancestral dragon leaned in intently. But after Ye Xu fell silent, he gaped in confusion. "Master, is that… all?"

It felt like something was said, yet nothing meaningful was conveyed.

Eighty trillion divine stones—bought a futile endeavor.

"That’s all."

Ye Xu replied lightly. "What you requested was solely the whereabouts of the Haotian lineage. I’ve told you it resides beneath the firmament. As for its mysteries, celestial secrets cannot be unveiled; you must comprehend them yourself."

The ancestral dragon yearned to curse aloud.

If celestial secrets can’t be unveiled, then why are you peddling them?!

Ye Xu also could do nothing about it.

The system provided the information. If anyone had a grievance, they should challenge the system to a fight.

"Ahem…" The ancestral dragon inhaled sharply, suppressing his fury. "Master, could you… offer even a slight hint?"

"The system’s really unreliable…"

Ye Xu muttered, then said gravely, "‘Beneath the firmament’ means the hiding place of the Haotian Divine Offspring lies under the will of Heaven."

"‘Primordial Qi’ represents a source of vitality among the nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine immortal domains. If this place can be found, then Pure Land can be discovered."

"The Haotian Divine Offspring reside within Pure Land."

"…"

The ancestral dragon’s forehead throbbed with veins. He hadn’t asked Ye Xu to translate – he wanted guidance.

"How can we find this Primordial Qi?" the ancestral dragon pressed.

"System, how many Hongmeng points needed to query the location of Primordial Qi?"

Sixty trillion.

"Eighty trillion divine stones," Ye Xu said with a smile.

"#%@&!!" The ancestral dragon spat divine curses in the language of innate gods, his words vulgar.

"Daoist friend, you’re insulting me," Ye Xu scowled.

"Master, you’ve misunderstood again," the ancestral dragon replied. "This old dragon was offering blessings—how dare we curse you?"

"If you buy the information, I’ll believe you," Ye Xu retorted.

"…"

Gritting his teeth, the ancestral dragon declared, "We’ll buy it!"

He had to give the Chaotic Ancient God a resolution today.

Otherwise, wouldn’t those eighty trillion divine stones be wasted?

Ye Xu’s expression instantly turned from gloomy to sunny.

The ancestral dragon produced another eighty trillion divine stones, preparing to hand them over, only to yank them back sharply just before Ye Xu could take them. "Master," he demanded coldly, "this time you won’t brush off this old dragon, will you?"

Ye Xu grumbled, "Daoist friend, with this face of mine, do I look like a deceiver?"

You absolutely do! the ancestral dragon thought inwardly.

"We implore the Master’s answer."

With a sigh of resignation, he presented the eighty trillion divine stones.

"Convert."

At the sound of a ding,

sixty trillion Hongmeng points vanished as the system’s voice echoed in Ye Xu’s mind:

In Water Moon Mountain, Great Luo Time and Space; Primordial Qi lies in the Dao Clan’s ancestral land.

Still sixteen characters.

"Master, you’ve tricked me again!"

Hearing the answer, the ancestral dragon nearly coughed up blood in fury.

"The Pure Land… it’s actually within the Dao Clan’s ancestral land!"

The ancestral dragon felt both shock and outrage.

Even mighty beings like the Chaotic Ancient God, ruler of the Innate Divine Beings lineage, dared not rashly enter the ancestral land, despite knowing its existence—it belonged to one of the Three Ancient Clans, whose heritage rivaled that of the Innate Divine Beings.

"Daoist friend, mind your baseless accusations," Ye Xu snorted. "You asked for the location of the Primordial Qi, and I told you it’s in the Dao Clan’s ancestral land."

"This information is absolutely truthful."

"Surely you wouldn’t want to tarnish my Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s reputation?"

"This old dragon wouldn’t dare."

The ancestral dragon wilted.

How would he explain this to the Chaotic Ancient God?

Would he have to pay out of his own pocket?

A hundred and sixty trillion divine stones might be a drop in the bucket for the Chaotic Ancient God, but for the entire dragon clan, it was a massive fortune.

"At least it remains a secret," the ancestral dragon thought to himself. "Without paying the hundred and sixty trillion, no one would know its connection to the Haotian lineage and the Dao Clan’s ancestral land."

"Daoist friend, of the Three Ancient Clans and the Haotian lineage, you already know two."

Ye Xu coaxed patiently. "Why not consider the other two ancient clans?"

"I can offer you a package deal—not a hundred sixty trillion, just a hundred forty trillion. Guaranteed worth far more than its price."

"Apologies, I must bid farewell."

Without another word, the ancestral dragon took his leave from Ye Xu and prepared to depart Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Staying any longer, he feared his scales would all be stripped off.

"Eh—"

Before Ye Xu could finish speaking, the ancestral dragon had already stepped outside.

"Huh—"

The moment he exited, he encountered Mu Fanyin and Taotie returning.

"Esteemed Lady," the ancestral dragon inwardly trembled. While he respected Ye Xu, his fear towards Mu Fanyin was absolute.

"Divine dragon!"

Taotie grinned. "Honored Father, why not linger a while longer?"

"Ingrate!"

The ancestral dragon snapped coldly. "Of all the spawn I fathered, you are the ugliest and most rebellious! Now, you rely on the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and dare think you could devour me?"

"Your powers, your very flesh and blood—it all came from me!"

Taotie beamed. "Then if I were to devour the divine dragon, our flesh and blood would merge, and in the end… only I would remain."

"…"

"That makes sense."

For a moment, the ancestral dragon couldn’t refute her.

"Old lascivious dragon, how much?" Mu Fanyin asked.

The ancestral dragon immediately lowered his voice, speaking softly, "One hundred and sixty trillion."

"That little?"

Mu Fanyin’s brows furrowed slightly. "Doesn’t the Chaotic Ancient God cover your expenses?"

The ancestral dragon wore a bitter expression. "Esteemed Senior, the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion casually charges hundreds of trillions. This old dragon is penniless; how could I afford it?"

"The sums involved are too huge. This old dragon wouldn’t dare presume to make decisions on my own."

"Once I return this time, I will surely persuade my Daoist brother to come personally to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and discuss a Big Deal with the Master."

Mu Fanyin nodded.

"You show promise to be taught."

The ancestral dragon silently cursed inside.

Pitiful! At his venerable age, he still had to endure a lecture!

"Be gone," Mu Fanyin said, flicking her sleeve.

"This old dragon takes his leave."

The ancestral dragon felt like a heavy sentence had been lifted. Transforming into a hundred-zhang divine dragon, he flew out of Canglan City and vanished into the clouds.

"That ancestral dragon lives a truly pitiful life," Su Mu remarked, dumbfounded.

After all, he was the first innate gods dragon born in the world, yet he acted like a grandson in front of Mu Fanyin.

"The longer he lives, the more he regresses," Taotie sneered coldly. "A coward who fears death and clings to life!"

Feng Wuji glanced at Taotie, his gaze meaningful.

"I’m open-minded and broad-minded!" Taotie declared, gazing at Mu Fanyin. "Being able to follow a powerful, beautiful, and capable master is the most correct choice Taotie has made in this lifetime, and my greatest honor."

Su Mu and Feng Wuji exchanged a speechless look.

Truly like father, like son.

The group entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Ye Xu was immersed in his joy.

The ancestral dragon’s visit had earned him forty trillion Hongmeng points. Added to his account balance, he was nearing fifty trillion, enough to ascend to Great Celestial Lord.

"Master," Taotie said solemnly, "Yuqing Palace has been annihilated. However, its Palace Master was saved by Luoshen, and the Hall Master of Hongmeng intervened to plead for mercy, allowing him to escape with his life."

"Never mind."

Ye Xu did not mind.

He had already anticipated it.

The person behind the Palace Master of Yuqing would step in at a crucial moment to save people.

However, what he had not expected was that person being the Hall Master of Hongmeng.

The master of the first young master!

Someone tied to the Hongmeng Heavenly Scripture.

Moreover, from Taotie’s memories, he had come to know that the Hall Master of Hongmeng had already reached the Dao Ancestor Realm; thus, it seemed the Hongmeng Heavenly Scripture was probably already in his hands.

"If he advanced to the Dao Ancestor Realm using the Hongmeng Heavenly Scripture, then the first young master must have already met with misfortune?" Ye Xu muttered to himself.

As he knew, from the news he currently had, the nine young masters were merely pigs raised by the nine Celestial Lords.

Once the pigs grew fat, it was time to put them on the table.

"It has nothing to do with me."

Ye Xu felt too lazy to think further.

He was invincible within Heaven’s Secret Pavilion; no matter how high the waves surged, he could stand firm.

He gazed at Mu Fanyin, smiled, and said, "Fanyin, you all did an excellent job this time. Out of that twenty trillion, you can keep five trillion for yourselves and handle it as you wish."

Feng Wuji and Su Mu were overjoyed.

Five trillion divine stones alone could make them laugh in their dreams.

"No need."

Mu Fanyin shook her head.

"???"

Su Mu and his companion were stunned.

"Big sis, if you don’t want it, you can give it to us!" they screamed in their hearts.

"Master intends to establish the Tianxia Divine Kingdom, so let us transfer this sum into the Tianxia treasury to implement reforms in governance and assist Tianxia in establishing its dynasty sooner."

"After that, we can expand externally and carve out territories."

Mu Fanyin’s thinking was very clear.

Ye Xu had instructed Yi Tianxing to build Tianxia with the natural purpose of engaging with the world, and to do that, territorial expansion was inevitable.

War always burns through money.

Loss of magical treasures, soldiers’ compensation funds…

"Fanyin’s words deeply resonate with me!"

Ye Xu’s eyes sparkled.

"Su Mu, starting from today, you, together with Formless Demon Lord, Yue Lingxi, Ye Xian’er, Ning Wudao, and including Feng Wuji, will all serve in Tianxia."

"Yi Tianxing will arrange the specific positions for you."

"Master, can Lingxi and I manage logistics?" Su Mu rolled his eyes. "I’ll command the rear, overseeing the transportation of magical treasures and pills."

"In my opinion, Formless Demon Lord has a flexible mind and would definitely be a great hand on the battlefield; he should go to the front lines."

Ye Xu sneered.

Su Mu immediately went silent.

"You all may leave now."

Ye Xu paused his tone, then reminded Mu Fanyin, saying, "Keep an eye on Tianxia matters."

With a mere thought, Formless Demon Lord and the others appeared.

"This subordinate understands."

Mu Fanyin handed the fifteen trillion Hongmeng points to Ye Xu, then left with Feng Wuji and the others, leaving only Xixi in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Senior, why didn’t you let me go too?" Xixi asked, puzzled.

"Let Old Yi save some peace of mind."

Ye Xu sighed.

During this period, Dugu Ming had been wandering around Canglan Immortal Domain; for a short time, he did not want Xixi to meet him.

When stars of misfortune meet, a huge commotion is bound to arise.

"Oh."

The little girl felt very wronged.

"Now, I have already accumulated sixty-four trillion Hongmeng points, enough for me to advance to the Great Celestial Lord Realm."

Ye Xu grinned lightly, feeling pleased.

"System, level up!"

"Make me stronger!"