Chapter 561

Chapter 561: Gathering of the Young Lords

"Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall, Feng Suiyuan, congratulated the Dao Clan."

The source of the voice was from the southeast.

Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall, Feng Suiyuan, wore a cloud-patterned robe, standing aloof and distinguished. His entire being radiated a free-spirited and unrestrained aura. He had a tall and slender figure, eyes brimming with divine light, and an extraordinary demeanor.

He was the only Great Celestial Lord among the nine Great Celestial Lords’ lineage to personally attend.

Luo Qinchuan’s expression was grave.

"Disciple pays respects to master," Luo Qianchen returned to awareness and bowed respectfully.

"Rise."

Feng Suiyuan faintly smiled and walked towards Luo Qianchen.

Whoosh!

A ray of light descended, transforming into Luo Qingcheng, landing beside Luo Qianchen, her gaze full of vigilance.

Feng Suiyuan smiled, stopped his steps, and a treasure flew from his sleeve—it was a Six Paths Heavenly Wheel, nearly identical to Luo Qianchen’s Life Treasure but imbued with more profound principles of the Reincarnation Dao.

"This is the gift I prepared for you."

With a gentle flick, the Six Paths Heavenly Wheel flew towards Luo Qianchen.

"Disciple thanks master."

Luo Qianchen accepted the treasure.

Her expression was complex as she transmitted a voice message to Luo Qingcheng, "Grandmother, the eldest young lord has appeared and attained the Celestial Lord Realm. Does that mean master has no improper designs toward me?"

"Although I know not the role of the Heavenly Book, the Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall’s nurturing of you is certainly not simple."

"All nine of you are their pawns."

Luo Qingcheng fixed her gaze on Luo Qianchen and said, "You are the person with the purest bloodline in our clan for nine generations, capable of restoring our clan to its peak. Your fate is determined by our clan."

Luo Qianchen’s expression became bitter.

"All parties have presented congratulatory gifts, yet Heaven’s Secret Pavilion remains unmoved. Could it be they are too impoverished to offer anything?" A suddenly sounded voice was filled with sarcasm.

Palace Master of Yuqing stood on the Starship, gazing from afar at the divine ship.

His face was covered in mockery, entirely unconcealed.

"Daoist friend Yuqing speaks rightly. Heaven’s Secret Pavilion boasts itself as one extreme of heaven and earth, yet on this joyous occasion for the Dao Clan, it cannot even spare a congratulatory gift—such miserliness!"

"Hahaha…"

"There’s no helping it."

"Rumor has it the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is stingy and harsh; how would he bestow a gift?"

"Perhaps the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion simply scorns the Dao Clan."

Beside Palace Master of Yuqing, Celestial Lords from Fangcun Mountain and Yin-Yang Dao Palace commented in turn, sneering coldly at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"That view is mistaken."

Ye Li unhurriedly said, "Heaven’s Secret Pavilion has just seized thirteen immortal domains under Yuqing Palace. They are not poor at all."

"Stingy, you say?"

He chuckled lightly. "Our Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion knew full well the Dao Clan’s purpose for visiting long before their arrival, thus he graciously granted them a thirty percent discount to deduce the location of the Dao Clan’s ancestral land."

"Without the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, your congratulatory gifts wouldn’t even find a home to go to!"

Luo Qinchuan and Luo Qingcheng exchanged glances, visibly shaken.

"The Pavilion Master truly is a generous man," Luo Qinchuan said, visibly moved. "Had it not been for our young friend here, we would never have known of the Master’s goodwill."

The Palace Master of Yuqing gritted his teeth in fury.

Yuqing Palace, a labor of his life’s devotion, had been obliterated by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion overnight. Ye Li’s words struck directly at his sorest spot.

The assembled rulers displayed a myriad of complex expressions.

The Dao Clan had searched for their ancestral land for years, only to have its location deduced by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. The implications of this were deeply troubling.

"Hahaha…"

"Our young friend speaks wisely!"

Luo Qinchuan laughed heartily. "The Master’s very decision to send emissaries honors our clan profoundly. That alone is a blessing far beyond our deserving. How dare we presume to covet any gift from him?"

"…"

The faces of the assembled Dao Sovereigns collectively soured, as if stricken by constipation.

So… were they all just big fools?

Mu Fanyin and Ye Li nodded in satisfaction.

Ancient clans, they thought, they really know how things are done. Always so… appropriate.

"The third day hence marks an auspicious hour," announced Luo Qinchuan.

"Our clan has carved out a pocket dimension within the Qilin Mountain Range. We invite our dear friends to reside there for the next three days. Once the time is ripe, we shall open the ancestral lands for your entry."

"Qingcheng."

"At your command."

"Escort our dear friends to their resting place."

"Follow me, dear friends," said Luo Qingcheng, swaying her sleeves. Before them, the void parted like curtains, unveiling a celestial realm – tiered upon tiered palaces adrift amidst radiant, fragrant clouds.

The various Dao Sovereigns guided their starships and divine vessels into the Dao Clan’s temporal pocket.

Led by Luo Qingcheng, the procession approached the expansive palace complex. They trod upon pathways woven from cloud mist, soft as cotton beneath their feet.

"The banquet shall grace us in one hour," Luo Qingcheng called out as rows of attendants materialized. "There, our clan shall show you the full measure of our hospitality. Please retire to your chambers and rest for now."

"Very well."

No objections were raised.

Guided by the servants, each guest was ushered to their assigned palace chambers.

"Had I not moved swiftly earlier, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion would have lost face entirely!" Ye Li said indignantly. "Once we’re inside the Dao Clan’s ancestral land, I’m reclaiming our losses – principal and interest combined!"

"Brother Li," said Li Ruoyu softly, "there are only three of us. And they are many… mostly Five Tribulations Dao Sovereigns, young prodigies all."

“Three?”

Ye Li cast a sidelong glance at Li Ruoyu. "There’s clearly only me."

“…”

Li Ruoyu turned away, utterly devastated.

…

In the Mystic Moon Palace.

Luo Qianchen sent out her invitations, and within the span of one moment, eight young masters—including the eldest—gathered in her palace at her request.

"Ninth Sister, it’s been too long." The eldest young master offered a warm smile.

"Eldest Brother."

Luo Qianchen’s gaze lingered on the Second and Eighth Young Masters. This time, unlike when she had first ascended to the upper realm, the murderous intent within her had largely faded.

"Back in the Tianlan Immortal Domain, it was under my orders that Second and Eighth targeted you."

The atmosphere grew heavy. The Eldest Young Master broke the silence first.

The Third, Fifth, and Sixth Young Masters all shifted slightly.

The Fourth Young Master, however, remained expressionless.

As the saintess of the Bodhi Temple and the only other woman besides Luo Qianchen among the nine, she was Luo Qianchen’s stark opposite. Clad in monk’s robes with loose, flowing hair, she couldn’t hide her breathtaking beauty.

"I guessed as much."

Luo Qianchen said dejectedly.

Beyond Canglan City, after she and the Third and Sixth Young Masters slew the Eighth, the Eighth’s unusual behavior made her suspicious. Upon learning the Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall had used her as a pawn, coveting the heavenly book, the pieces gradually fell into place.

But the Eighth had always disdained fame and fortune; he was content to drift with the currents. That he allied with the Second could only mean one thing: he acted under orders.

That person could only be the Eldest Young Master.

Among the nine, the Eldest Young Master commanded the highest respect, possessed the greatest strength, and was the most innately gifted.

"Eldest Brother, when you ascended to the Celestial Lord Realm… nothing unusual happened?" the Second Young Master asked sternly. Ever since he’d discovered the Celestial Lord of Fortune watched his every moment, he had been consumed by despair.

But seeing the Eldest Brother today reignited a sliver of hope. Perhaps.

The nine Celestial Lords hadn’t raised them solely to devour them.

Still, doubt nagged at him. The Eldest Young Master might already be someone else entirely.

"Feel free to cultivate without such fears." The Eldest Young Master replied with a faint smile. "Achieving the Celestial Lord Realm is a necessary step to sensing the heavenly book. Of course… Uncle Master and the rest could devour us."

"But have any of you considered…"

His expression darkened. "…If devouring us grants the heavenly book’s spiritual might, then why wait until we cultivate to the Celestial Lord Realm?"

"Remember, the weakest among them are already Great Celestial Lords themselves."

Boom!

His words sparked a collective epiphany.

The Eldest Young Master’s explanation shed light on why he had safely cultivated to the Celestial Lord Realm.

"That makes sense."

The Third Young Master nodded slowly. "We are part of the heavenly book. Devouring us when we were Dao Sovereigns or devouring us as Celestial Lords—there’s no fundamental difference."

"Why then haven’t they devoured us already? Eliminated us for good?"

The Fourth Young Master posed the crucial question.

Though they were pawns, they still posed a risk of breaking free. Devouring them was the surest solution.

"Our Uncle Masters and master seek to use the heavenly book to ascend to the Dao Ancestor Realm," said the Seventh Young Master, her eyes gleaming with insight, "yet they dare not take the simplest, most direct path. There’s only one explanation: they fear the heavenly book itself."

"They dare not devour us because they’re afraid of being assimilated… of becoming part of the heavenly book."

"That reasoning also holds weight."

The Second Young Master frowned deeply.

The others’ expressions tightened as well.

A feeling persisted that the nine Celestial Lords, having schemed for hundreds of millions of years, wouldn’t make their plan so straightforward.

"Truthfully, uncovering the real reason is simple," Luo Qianchen stated solemnly. "We need only visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, and spend some money to ask its master for the answer."

Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was their only hope of solving this riddle.

"It’s far too expensive."

The Second Young Master sighed wearily.

He had visited Heaven’s Secret Pavilion once before. But he couldn’t afford the price, even if he sold himself completely.

"When this matter concludes," the Eldest Young Master announced, his voice firm, "I will visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"Regardless of the hope it offers… we must still try."