Chapter 308

Chapter 308: Revered One of the Witch Path

"It was the direction of Linglong City!"

In the new world of Yuan Realm, many true immortal’s caves of ancient divine clans manifested. Countless eyes gazed upon the Southern Wilderness, sensing the Great Dao aura radiating from Linglong City.

"Could that commotion be caused by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

A young man of the Da Meng Clan glanced toward Linglong City and remarked lightly.

"In the vast Mortal Realm, only Heaven’s Secret Pavilion could stir such magnitude," Meng Changan chuckled, his eyes fixed on the young man. "Brother Huangliang, you’ve endured much these past ten million years."

The young man was none other than Meng Huangliang.

One of the two remaining members of the Da Meng Clan in the Immortal Realm, he had now cultivated to the Immortal King realm.

"At least I remain free."

Meng Huangliang’s expression twisted with sorrow. "Our Ancestor is trapped in the immortal prison, suffering daily. Hateful that my strength is minuscule—I can only preserve myself but fail to rescue him."

Meng Changan felt much the same.

The immortal prison—a cage forged by the Ancient Heavenly Court. Even innate gods languished within its walls, tormented day and night in unbearable agony.

"After some time passes, I will personally visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Meng Huangliang declared solemnly.

While traversing the scars of the heavens, he had been hunted down by pursuers from the Purple Star Heavenly Court. Though wounded gravely, rest would suffice to heal him.

"When that day comes, I’ll send Xian’er to accompany you," Meng Changan assured him.

…

The shifts within the Secret Realm Ranking persisted for a full stick of incense time, illuminating the entire Yuan Realm. Nearly all major cultivators within sensed the anomaly.

Meanwhile, Su Mu returned to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion with Lian Jiuyou.

"Daoist brother, the arrangements are fully complete,” he reported, visibly wearied—an astonishing sight indeed for a cultivator of the Emperor Venerable Realm to thin down from worldly toil.

Yet the strain of recent tasks had been substantial.

Thankfully, the involvement of the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital and others had eased his burden considerably.

Su Mu stationed them across eight vital branches of Heaven’s Machine Bank, sparing himself immense effort.

"Well done."

Ye Xu glanced at Su Mu. Instantly, all his information unfolded clearly within Ye Xu’s mind.

Su Mu: Emperor Venerable Realm, titled Duobao Daoist.

Techniques: Book of All Mysteries, derived from Gate of All Mysteries.

Divine Abilities: Words Manifesting as Law, Dividing the qi into three purity, Great Dao Imprint Gate of All Mysteries.

…

Every detail lay transparent before Ye Xu.

"Ah, this fellow…" Ye Xu finished surveying the information, torn between laughter and tears. Over countless years, Su Mu had excavated nearly ninety thousand tombs—likely more!—accumulating staggering wealth.

Indeed, he still hoarded billions in Star Yuan alone.

A subtle twitch tugged at Ye Xu’s lips. Su Mu truly played the fox. He’d always presumed him destitute—but of course, how could one long immersed in excavation work possibly lack riches?

"Daoist brother, why have you been staring at me?" Su Mu’s heart tightened.

Boom!

Ye Xu couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. With a mere thought, the Dao’s Collection Pavilion flew out from his Purple Palace—clearly originating from the Divine Court ruins.

"This Dao’s Collection Pavilion contains many techniques and supernatural powers. Now that too many serve my Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, you oversee it all. Rewards and punishments rest entirely at your will."

"So, I entrust the Dao’s Collection Pavilion to you."

Su Mu’s eyes lit up.

"Daoist brother, did you organize this?"

"More or less."

Ye Xu nodded, then looked at Lian Jiuyou and said, "Lian Jiuyou, the Eternal Catastrophe Sutra you cultivate is too rudimentary. The Dao’s Collection Pavilion houses numerous demon clan secrets—you should examine them."

"Thank you, Senior."

Lian Jiuyou bowed in gratitude.

"Daoist brother, the Star Yuan currency system in the Yuan Realm is fully established. Shouldn’t we expand outward next?" Su Mu inquired.

"The multitudes of immortals have descended to the lower realm; now isn’t the time," Ye Xu stated solemnly.

With the multitudes of immortals descending, the lower realm would inevitably descend into chaos.

He had too few elite fighters under his command; rashly extending the Star Yuan currency would likely invite trouble. Once the truth was exposed—that he wasn’t invincible outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion—the loss would far outweigh any gain.

Therefore, Ye Xu’s current strategy was to manage his own territory first, instilling the belief among the lower realm’s immortals that Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was omniscient, selling information, and simultaneously recruiting talents.

As his strength grew, Ye Xu’s mindset began to shift.

Hiding in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion waiting passively for business was ineffective.

Relying solely on selling secrets to earn heavenly secrets points for transcendence would take an unforeseeably long time.

Thus, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s sphere of influence had to expand.

The Star Yuan system was a vital tool for him to amass resources, but it required genuine power. Without military might, how could he levy coinage tax across all realms?

"Some among the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital are nearing breakthroughs to true immortal—they’ll prove useful then," Ye Xu mused, his eyes flickering. "If Gu Daojin breaks through to Immortal King, he’ll be even more invaluable."

But one without merit deserved no reward.

If Gu Daojin achieved nothing, Ye Xu couldn’t possibly aid him.

To steer a faction effectively, rewards and punishments had to be unequivocal.

"Daoist brother, I wish to see Lingxi." As he spoke of Shen Yueyi (Yue Lingxi), a rare shyness surfaced on Su Mu’s face, rendering Ye Xu speechless.

An old fossil who’d lived tens of millions of years still retained such innocence—how preposterous.

Pah!

With a flick of his sleeve, Ye Xu sent Su Mu into Shen Yueyi’s spacetime.

"Senior, I’ve made my choice."

Lian Jiuyou emerged from the Dao’s Collection Pavilion. He’d selected a sword art called the Green Lotus Sword Chant—a pure path of destruction, an Immortal King level technique.

"This technique suits you perfectly," Ye Xu remarked, nodding.

"You work for Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and I will not treat you poorly. Focus on your cultivation."

"Yes, sir."

Lian Jiuyou nodded woodenly.

"Might I ask if the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is present?"

A voice rang out as two figures, one man and one woman, slowly entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. The man looked utterly ordinary, devoid of any trace of immortal aura, appearing like a common mortal.

The woman, however, was a stunning beauty whose looks could shame the moon and flowers, possessing an exquisite figure and eyes brimming with allure. She was an exceptional stunner at first glance. Her cultivation was equally formidable—an expert at the late-stage Immortal King cultivation realm, matching Ye Xu’s own cultivation level.

Ye Xu looked towards the man, his eyes shifting subtly.

Information about the man was scarce, only fragments available.

Name: Qi Yuanchu.

Cultivation Base: Witch Venerable.

"A Witch Path cultivator…"

An idea occurred to Ye Xu. When the Heavenly Talisman Old Man was selecting the Secret Realm for attaining immortality, traces of the Witch Path had appeared—something called the Witch God Realm.

In the Yuan Realm of old, there had also been a Witch God Hall, but Ye Xu had never seen it.

This was Ye Xu’s first encounter with a cultivator of the Witch Path.

The Witch Path emerged in the Era of Primordial Beings. Unlike the cultivation path pioneered by the human ancestor, Witch Path cultivation involved visualizing Innate Divine Beings, the natural world, and Primordial beings, making it an arduous practice.

Over time, the Witch Path became largely obsolete, vanishing from prominence, supplanted by the dominant immortal cultivation systems.

Nevertheless, practitioners of the Witch Path still existed in the world, though they were exceedingly rare.

"The Witch Venerable realm is equivalent to the Immortal Venerable realm. No wonder I couldn’t fully perceive this man," Ye Xu muttered to himself. He then turned his gaze to the woman.

Information about this woman immediately surfaced fully.

Her name was Xin Hongxiu. She cultivated both the Witch Path and the immortal path. Her strength surpassed that of an ordinary late-stage Immortal King. She was a successor of the Heavenly Witch lineage.

Xin Hongxiu and Qi Yuanchu were companions.

Both had come from the Immortal Realm.

"Lian Jiuyou, serve tea to Daoist Qi and Daoist Xin," Ye Xu said with a light chuckle. "Please, both of you, be seated."

These two possessed considerable strength and came from significant backgrounds. He was sure he could gain substantial benefits from them.

"Senior Daoists, please enjoy the tea."

Lian Jiuyou presented the spiritual tea.

"It’s said that the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is omniscient. Young lady here didn’t quite believe the legend, but now, it seems it might not be false after all," Xin Hongxiu said softly, smiling, unsurprised that Ye Xu knew their surnames. She slowly took a seat.

Qi Yuanchu wore a slight smile. Dismissing any superfluous greetings, he went straight to the point: "My companion and I have come seeking your help with a certain matter, Master."

Ye Xu lightly blew on the tea with the lid, chuckling as he said, "Heaven’s Secret Pavilion has been open for some time, and I have received many Daoist friends. But this is the first time I have entertained guests from the Witch Path."

Qi Yuanchu’s expression stiffened slightly.

This master recognised my roots instantly? Just who exactly is the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

Qi Yuanchu was widely traveled and knowledgeable. Even an Immortal renowned for unparalleled divination skills like the Xuan Du Ancient Immortal wouldn’t have been able to discern his origins merely upon seeing him.

Ye Xu chuckled inwardly.

Although Qi Yuanchu’s high cultivation concealed much information, Ye Xu could still perceive the most basic details.

"Please, both of you, enjoy your tea."

Ye Xu raised his teacup, inviting them to drink together, not rushing to make a deal.

This very attitude made both Qi Yuanchu and Xin Hongxiu even more wary. They felt the master before them was unfathomable, utterly opaque to their scrutiny.

They found themselves entirely on the defensive.