Chapter 612

Chapter 612: Redeeming the Captive

"When Xixi was still a mortal, she nearly overcame even cultivators of the Great Emperor level unto death. Now that she’s advanced to Sovereign of the World, given the power of divine punishment, even an Heavenly Venerate would have a hard time facing her."

Ye Xu’s eyes flickered; the source of disaster within Xixi was a power that grew with its wielder.

Dugu Ming was the same.

"How peculiar," Ye Xu murmured. "If it’s a growing power, unless they themselves are manifestations of the source of disaster, there’d be no way to separate it from them."

"Boom!"

The Divine Thunder of punishment descended, transforming Eternal Emperor City into a sea of tribulation.

Whoosh!

Ye Xu waved his hand, flipping the void like a page of a book. Instantly, the Divine Thunder of punishment and the clouds of tribulation spanning millions of miles vanished without a trace.

He channeled his magic power, resealing the source of disaster within Xixi.

"Elder, have you finished your experiment?" Dugu Ming stepped closer anxiously. "Can we two still be saved?"

"You won’t die."

Ye Xu rolled his eyes.

"Kid, have you ever heard this saying?"

Dugu Ming looked at him curiously.

"The virtuous die young, while disaster lives for a millennium."

"…"

A shadow of sorrow crossed Dugu Ming’s heart.

"So the source of disaster hidden in my body is also that powerful!" Xixi’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Ye Xu frowned.

Whenever Dugu Ming or Xixi released their source of disaster, it summoned the power of divine punishment—proof that the forces within them acted like targets.

"The worlds of the past…" Ye Xu mumbled.

"The past has passed… incapable of existing in the present?"

An idea formed in his mind.

Take, for instance, the eight great epochs, hidden within the world of the Pure Land, unable to manifest in the current era.

Could it be that the power of Dugu Ming and Xixi originated from that past timeline, unrecognized by the current Heavenly Dao?

Thus, when either of them unleashed their aura, it drew heavenly retribution.

This line of reasoning held some plausibility.

Yet one question lingered: how could Xixi and Dugu Ming—or their powers derived from the source of disaster—have arrived in the present era?

"Return."

Ye Xu massaged his temples, weary of further contemplation. With just a thought, the invincible domain descended once more, enveloping the seventy-two immortal domains.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. His gaze lifted toward the breathtaking woman suspended in the sky.

“Someone from the Haotian lineage…” Ye Xu remained expressionless.

Not only did this woman come from the Haotian lineage, but she was also a Dao Ancestor, with strength on par with Mu Fanyin at her peak, placing her at the very top level.

Ye Xu smiled faintly, didn’t pay any attention, and turned back to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

“Master, I have an unasked favor,” Dugu Ming said with a sincere smile. “I wonder if the initiative to seal the source of disaster could be placed in my hands?”

Ye Xu’s expression turned strange. “After going full circle, you’ve finally gotten clever,” he said.

“However, we met by chance. Why should I help you?”

“Dugu Ming is willing to serve at Master’s command,” Dugu Ming knelt to the ground and said.

“The young person can be taught,” Ye Xu said with a laugh. “From now on, you two will be the twin stars of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, the key figures among the future young generation.”

He gathered his magic power, and two talismans flew into the hands of Dugu Ming and Xixi.

“Hold these talismans, you will have three opportunities to unravel the seal,” Ye Xu reminded. “Once the chances are used up, with your strength, it will be hard to control it again.”

“Yes,” Dugu Ming was overjoyed.

“Junior Sister Xixi, I’m going out to gain experience. You should stay at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion,” Dugu Ming said to Ye Xu, then ran away in a flash and disappeared.

Xixi froze in place.

“You can train by my side,” Ye Xu said. “Killing and fighting are so meaningless.”

“Oh~” Xixi mumbled.

“Heavenly Maiden of Haotian lineage, Shenjie, pays her respects to the Master,” at that moment, a voice came from outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Ye Xu ignored it completely.

“Xixi, brew some tea,” he said.

“Young lady Shenjie pays her respects to the Master!” the voice once again rang out.

Ye Xu still paid no attention.

Outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Shenjie’s eyebrows furrowed darkly, yet there wasn’t a trace of anger. She could see Ye Xu lying on the armchair with a leisurely posture and demeanor.

Clearly, he was deliberately leaving her hanging.

“Junior Shenjie pays her respects to Master Senior,” Shenjie bowed politely and said.

“Come in,” Ye Xu put down his teacup and said lightly.

“Thank you, Master.”

Shenjie entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and bowed again, her expression somewhat nervous.

Ye Xu was flipping through the Ancient Scrolls; Shenjie didn’t speak, and he didn’t speak either.

Between the Haotian lineage and Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, the grudges were neither too great nor too minor, and Ye Xu had no interest in lowering his status to associate with members of the Haotian lineage.

If there was business, state it; otherwise, depart.

"Master, on this visit, I have one matter to discuss," Shenjie said solemnly.

"Discuss with me?"

Ye Xu smiled ambiguously and said, "Little girl, have you come to the wrong place?"

"A mere Dao Ancestor like you is worthy to discuss matters with me?"

"If it weren’t for your sincere attitude, those four would have been your fate as well."

As he spoke, the void rippled like a mirror, reflecting the figures of the young man in the golden robe, the black-robed Heavenly Venerate, and Shen You and Shen Le—the three members of the Haotian lineage.

Their cultivation had been stripped away, and they were pinned in the void, exposed to wind and sun; their original appearances were no longer recognizable.

Shenjie felt a chill in her heart.

She understood that Ye Xu had always remembered the incident of the national founding ceremony of Tianxia.

"I spoke rashly; please forgive me, Master," Shenjie said respectfully.

Ye Xu looked at her; as expected, her primordial spirit was shrouded by heavenly power, and without employing supernatural abilities, he couldn’t glimpse Shenjie’s memories.

This was a characteristic of disciples from the Haotian lineage.

"Master, I have come today concerning these four," Shenjie got straight to the point and said. "Please, Honorable Master, state a price for me."

Xixi looked surprised.

She had actually come to redeem people.

"Xixi, do you think we should agree to her or not?" Ye Xu laughed and asked.

"From a sentimental standpoint, we shouldn’t agree."

The little girl rolled her eyes and said, "Members of the Haotian lineage disrupted the national founding ceremony of Tianxia; if you hadn’t been unparalleled in the world, not only would Tianxia have ceased to exist, but Heaven’s Secret Pavilion as well."

"However…"

Her tone shifted, and her eyes gleamed mischievously as she added, "To err is human; everyone can make mistakes, right?"

"This elder sister is genuinely sincere, and for that reason alone, Honorable Master could consider it leniently."

Ye Xu was very satisfied with Xixi’s way of speaking.

It not only highlighted his dilemma but also conveyed his compassion and benevolence.

Of course.

Whether it was truly a dilemma or truly benevolent didn’t matter.

What mattered was the chance to leverage this to raise the price!

Shenjie’s heart tightened.

"Master, could five hundred trillion divine stones redeem these four?" Shenjie asked.

Ye Xu smiled.

"It seems you still haven’t understood the girl’s words, little miss."

He sighed softly.

"This deal, I’m afraid we cannot make it."

"This junior is dull-witted, please enlighten me, Master." Shenjie bowed.

"Figure it out yourself."

Ye Xu was not bothered.

Shenjie trembled slightly. Deep in her eyes, a flicker of humiliation passed through. With her level of cultivation and status, she could almost stride unhindered throughout the world.

Except here in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"If the Master agrees to release those four, the Haotian lineage is willing to pay six hundred eighty trillion divine stones. Additionally, this junior will have those four represent the Haotian lineage, proclaiming to the world to offer apologies to the Master."

Shenjie pondered for a few breaths, then spoke deliberately.

"Deal."

Ye Xu smiled.

Boom!

Shenjie activated her power. One epochal treasure and several Celestial Lord artifacts flew toward Ye Xu, collectively equaling six hundred eighty trillion Hongmeng points.

Not a single point more, not a single point less.

Ye Xu pocketed them.

The next moment, he instructed Xixi: "Little one, fish them out of the mirror."

"How do I fish them out?"

Xixi asked blankly.

"Will a spoon work?"

Ye Xu nodded.

The little girl walked over to the void mirror surface, took out a spoon artifact, and plunged it into the void. The spoon suddenly transformed, vast enough to blot out the sky. Like glutinous rice balls, the four were scooped out by Xixi into Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Thud!

They slammed onto the ground, unmoving like dead dogs.

"My Lord…"

The young man in the golden robe managed to speak weakly. Upon seeing Shenjie, he shrank back in shame, burying his head against himself, though a spark of hope flickered in his eyes.

Shenjie’s expression turned grim.

"No need for self-reproach."

She said solemnly, "It’s simply that the Haotian lineage’s skill fell short, provoking someone they shouldn’t have."

"Take these four Haotian Primordial Dan first to restore your vitality."

Swish!

Shenjie flicked her finger. Four large pills flew into their mouths.