Chapter 112

Chapter 112: The Black-hearted Merchant

The moment these words were spoken, the expressions of Ao Bing, Long Tuo, and Lan Youruo, among others, darkened.

The fact that they had used Ye Xu to deal with the Nine-headed Great Emperor and Yue Ji was essentially an unspoken understanding. By bringing this up, Ye Xu clearly didn’t want to do them a favor for nothing.

Ye Xu valued wealth above all else, making everyone uneasy; they feared it would cost them heavily again.

"Senior, let’s discuss this reasonably," Ao Lie said anxiously, forcing a smile.

It had been his idea, so of course, he had to mediate.

"Hmph!" Ye Xu snorted coldly, sending a shiver through everyone.

"Dear friends, my Heaven’s Secret Pavilion is a place that does business. You, for no reason at all, brought two Great Emperors here, used me to do your killing. If you don’t give an explanation, that’s simply unacceptable."

"Senior, you’re a reclusive mighty one, noble and virtuous. Why trouble yourself with us?" Ao Bing reasoned.

Ye Xu said nothing, only smiling as he looked at him.

Ao Bing immediately shut his mouth.

"Senior, name your price," Yue Ruyi knew full well that trying to get a freebie from the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was impossible. Even a goose passing by could leave a feather behind. Getting something for free at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion? That was for those who valued their lives less than a freebie.

"Ahem," Ye Xu cleared his throat. "I am fair and won’t put undue pressure on you."

"…"

Everyone exchanged glances, silently cursing inside.

I don’t believe a word of that!

"Xiang Liu was a Great Emperor-level qi cultivator. His life is worth two imperial weapons," Ye Xu said thoughtfully. "Moreover, since I killed Xiang Liu, the Taihao Heavenly Sect won’t let it rest."

"So everyone must consider the aftereffects."

"T-two imperial weapons?" Ao Bing’s eyes went wide. That was far too expensive.

The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace had a million years of accumulated wealth, but even for him, pulling out two imperial weapons would be utterly devastating.

"Old Dragon King, you didn’t quite grasp it. Senior means that just for Xiang Liu’s death, we must pay the price of two imperial weapons," Lan Youruo clarified.

"And since Xiang Liu died at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, the Taihao Heavenly Sect will surely seek revenge. That… that aftereffect will be another separate charge."

Even Lin Qianmo was rendered speechless.

If one truly calculated it, the things on them likely wouldn’t be enough to pay for Ye Xu even lifting a finger once.

This time, they were truly in the wrong.

"Senior, how do we account for those aftereffects?" Yue Ruyi pressed again.

Since they were settling accounts, they wanted it crystal clear and utterly distinct.

Ye Xu’s gaze shifted slightly. From Xiang Liu’s memories, he had learned the strength of the Taihao Heavenly Sect: five Emperor Venerables and around twenty Great Emperor-level experts. It was a colossal entity.

Even in the lower realms, the Taihao Heavenly Sect could be considered an absolute giant.

Of course, Ye Xu, currently within the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, had no regard for some mere Taihao Heavenly Sect.

Today’s hefty demand was simply because he intended to teach Lin Qianmo and the others a lesson.

He wasn’t running a charity.

They couldn’t just come bothering him every single time they faced trouble.

If he allowed a precedent to be set, it would inevitably attract an endless stream of future troubles.

“Alright, I won’t make this difficult for you,” Ye Xu said lightly. “If the Taihao Heavenly Sect seeks revenge, then each of you owes me one imperial weapon. If they don’t come for retaliation, then the debt is nullified.”

"Let there be no next time."

"Many thanks, Senior!" Ao Bing immediately kowtowed in gratitude.

Yue Ruyi smiled wryly. Ye Xu was actually showing some mercy. If he demanded they each produce an imperial weapon right now, they would absolutely be unable to hand it over.

“What do you two think?” Yue Ruyi looked at Lin Qianmo and Lan Youruo, knowing their opinions held particular importance.

“No objections.” Lin Qianmo shook her head.

Clang!

A sharp cry of metal rang out as a flicker of cold light shot from Lin Qianmo’s Purple Palace. The Path of Oblivion Blade fell into view.

The blade seemed forged from the bone of some creature, smooth as a mirror. Divine patterns shimmered faintly along its surface. The hilt resembled a serpent’s head, and the entire blade radiated an aura belonging to the Path of Oblivion.

“Master, you can have this Path of Oblivion Blade. Consider it one of the imperial weapons,” said Lin Qianmo, unconcerned about losing it. The techniques she cultivated couldn’t harness the Path of Oblivion, so this blade was of little use to her.

“Naturally, no problem,” replied Ye Xu, instantly discerning the blade’s origins.

“Esteemed seniors and peers, this Path of Oblivion Blade was obtained jointly by us all,” Lin Qianmo declared. “As for the other imperial weapon, let us all pool our resources.”

“Agreed,” Ao Bing consented immediately, though a look of intense reluctance twisted his face as he produced a jade box and offered it to Ye Xu. “Senior, this is the creation jade marrow, born in the depths of the East Sea’s abyss after millions of years.”

“It contains a trace of Dao. Its worth absolutely rivals that of a top-grade Quasi-Emperor divine weapon.”

The lid opened. Ye Xu’s gaze swept over the contents. Within the box lay the creation jade marrow, resembling a segment of spinal column, only about six inches long. Yet, it brimmed with Dao power, profoundly mysterious.

Ye Xu collected the creation jade marrow without ceremony.

Then, Yue Ruyi, Lan Youruo, and Lin Qianmo—the three peak quasi-emperors—once again produced their hoarded treasures. They offered Quasi-Emperor divine weapons, heaven-defying divine pills, and materials fit for forging imperial weapons.

Ye Xu profited immensely.

"System, besides the creation jade marrow, exchange all for me," Ye Xu thought inwardly.

Ding!

[Congratulations, host. You have acquired one million seven hundred and twenty thousand heavenly secrets points.]

Ye Xu was overjoyed.

Now, he already had four million nine hundred thousand heavenly secrets points.

He only lacked a hundred thousand to surpass five hundred thousand.

"Dear friends, if there are any follow-up matters, I’ll notify you," Ye Xu said.

"We understand, Senior," Ao Bing and the others said repeatedly, nodding their heads.

"Senior, if there are no other matters, I shall take my leave now," Ao Bing said. Just being in Heaven’s Secret Pavilion made his heart feel like it was being cut.

After speaking, Ao Bing grabbed Ao Lie and flew out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

The others all bade farewell one by one.

"Senior, I shall also take my leave," Qin Changsheng said, having witnessed everything and been utterly shocked.

In his mind, a thought even occurred to him.

If the Taihao Heavenly Sect and Heaven’s Secret Pavilion truly fought, who would be stronger?

But he only dared to think it; since Lin Qianmo and the others had tried to use Ye Xu to eliminate their enemy, Ye Xu had stripped a layer off them—and that was with them having past ties to Ye Xu.

If it were Qin Changsheng, his minor status couldn’t handle such a thing.

Qin Changsheng hurriedly departed.

He still needed to discuss the clan territory matters with Qi Ruyu.

"Senior, weren’t you too harsh in exploiting them?" Ye Xian’er murmured.

"Harsh?"

Ye Xu smiled lightly and said, "If Heaven’s Secret Pavilion didn’t have strength, it would be wiped out today. They wanted to divert the trouble to us; if not for our past relationship, I would have taken them down too."

Ye Xian’er shuddered in fear.

This was the first time she had seen Ye Xu bare his fangs.

"This creation jade marrow can refine one’s body and improve talent," Ye Xu said as he handed the creation jade marrow to Ye Xian’er. "Strive to forge the Dao Palace within this period."

"Thank you, Senior…"

Ye Xian’er instantly dismissed all her distracting thoughts and happily took the creation jade marrow to cultivate.

Yang Xuanzhan eyed it envy.

That was a treasure long hoarded by the Eastern Sea Dragon King, but Ye Xu casually gave it to a little girl!

Ye Xu thought nothing of it.

He had kept the creation jade marrow precisely to aid Ye Xian’er’s cultivation.

Besides Ning Wudao, Ye Xian’er was someone he focused on training.

He had high hopes for that girl.

"This trip has also brought you significant gains," Ye Xu said to Yang Xuanzhan. "That Heaven’s Ultimate Four Symbols Scripture, though only half, has any single section that qualifies as an Emperor-tier technique."

"If you wish to switch to cultivating this, it’s possible."

"Milord, you misunderstood me."

Yang Xuazhan knelt on the ground and said, "My entire life is in your hands; if you want me to cultivate the Nine-turn Dao Scripture, I will cultivate the Nine-turn Dao Scripture."

"I was right about you."

Ye Xu smiled and said, "The Nine-turn Dao Scripture you cultivate is only Holy-tier, but once your realm advances, I will give you the succeeding methods."

"If it were the complete Heaven’s Ultimate Four Symbols Scripture, it might compare to the Nine-turn Dao Scripture."

"But a broken technique can’t match the Nine-turn Dao Scripture."

The Nine-turn Dao Scripture cultivated the self, capable of enhancing one’s physique and bloodline—it was truly defying fate.

Ye Xu valued the Nine-turn Dao Scripture more.

Yang Xuazhan’s eyes widened.

He had doubted the future of the Nine-turn Dao Scripture and agonized over choosing between the two techniques, but after hearing Ye Xu’s words, Yang Xuazhan became resolute.

Milord couldn’t be wrong.

"Go to the Celestial Demon Hall and bring Ning Wudao over," Ye Xu ordered.

"Yes."

Yang Xuazhan’s eyes flickered with understanding.

He realized now that Ning Wudao was one of Ye Xu’s pawns.

However, Yang Xuazhan still didn’t grasp why he was cultivating a member of the demon clan at the Complete Divine God realm.

Wasn’t Nangong Zhandao, the chosen son of the realm, already sufficient?