Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Cooperation

"Unsurpassed Divine Mountain is located in the Poisonous Forest of the Western Region."

"Poisonous Forest?"

Qi Ruyu’s brows furrowed slightly.

"If I recall correctly, the Poisonous Forest is an extremely dangerous place in the Western Region. It lies outside the jurisdiction of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, a lawless land."

Not only that, legend said within the Poisonous Forest lived a Poison Emperor.

The Poison Emperor had an extraordinarily long lifespan, an ancient venomous entity surviving since ancient times. His strength was absolutely not inferior to a quasi-emperor; he might even be a Great Emperor.

"However…"

Ye Xu paused for a moment before saying, "Unsurpassed Divine Mountain is hidden within the boundless void. Even if you reach the Poisonous Forest, you still cannot enter it."

"To enter Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, you need a medium."

"The Unsurpassed Divine Seal?" Lin Qianmo chuckled softly.

The legend of the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain had circulated over a hundred thousand years; she knew a little about it.

"You don’t need the complete Unsurpassed Divine Seal."

Ye Xu explained, "The Unsurpassed Divine Seal was Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s Life Treasure, and also the key to controlling Unsurpassed Divine Mountain. But to enter it, you only need to acquire one fragment. Through sensing it, you can draw the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain down to the Yuan Realm."

"I happen to know the location of one fragment. It’s in the possession of the Ninth Prince of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace."

"Master, this isn’t quite fair of you." Qi Ruyu frowned. "Do you mean that after spending our money, we still have to team up with people from the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace just to access Unsurpassed Divine Mountain?"

Ye Xu didn’t argue; it was indeed a valid point.

"If you are unwilling to collaborate with outsiders, I can freely provide you with the location of another Unsurpassed Divine Seal fragment." Ye Xu said with a faint smile.

A fragment cost only thirty thousand heavenly secrets points; he could certainly afford it.

"It’s fine."

Lin Qianmo gave a light laugh, making the decision. "Unsurpassed Divine Mountain is mysterious and unpredictable, filled with unknown dangers. More strength is a good thing."

"When will the pavilion master arrange our cooperation?"

"Given Ao Lie and his companions’ strength, they should be on their way back now. I can contact him." Ye Xu said.

"Then we’ll trouble the pavilion master."

Ye Xu took out a communication talisman.

Ao Lie had left it behind.

"Master, we are back."

Right at that moment, a familiar voice sounded outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. A group of people stepped in, and upon seeing Lin Qianmo and her companions, they froze for a second.

The two groups stared at each other.

Ye Xu wore a smile. Speak of the devil and he appears.

"Ao Lie, was your journey successful?" Ye Xu asked with a smile.

"Of course."

Ao Lie chuckled with a smirk, his gaze withdrawing from Lin Qianmo and the others’ faces, adopting a flattering expression. "With the senior offering plans and strategies, this trip to the Western Regions will certainly succeed."

A wisp of divine light shimmered into existence. A fragment resembling purple crystal now hovered upon Ao Lie’s fingertip.

This fragment originated from the Unsurpassed Divine Seal.

Though hundreds of thousands of years had passed, the fragment still radiated an Imperial Presence and pulsed with a palpable Dao rhythm. Through its hazy clarity, one could faintly perceive an Emperor Venerable who seemed to stand at the summit of all heavens.

"Would this be the Ninth Prince of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace?" Lin Qianmo’s eyes flickered slightly as she regarded Ao Lie.

Long Yu’s delicate brows drew together slightly.

The auras emanating from Lin Qianmo Lan Youruo were utterly inscrutable to her; she couldn’t fathom their origins.

Liu Ningmei also wore a look of confusion.

"That would be me," Ao Lie replied, neither humble nor haughty. "Is there something this lady seeks from me?"

"Allow me to make the introductions."

Ye Xu stood up. "This is the founding ancestor of the Red Dust Demon Sect, a quasi-emperor named Lin Qianmo."

He then turned to Nangong Zhandao. "This is the number one figure on the Hidden Dragon List, Nangong Zhandao."

A ripple of shock passed through the expressions of Long Yu, Liu Ningmei, Ao Lie, and Ji Xinyu.

The founding ancestor of the Red Dust Demon Sect was actually a quasi-emperor?

The top ranker of the Hidden Dragon List was standing right before them?

It all felt like a dreamlike illusion.

"Nangong Zhandao, Ao Lie is also on the Hidden Dragon List, ranked eighty-ninth. As for Ji Xinyu here, she holds the ninetieth rank," Ye Xu introduced further with a smile.

Nangong Zhandao offered a gentle smile and a clasped fist salute.

Ao Lie and Ji Xinyu returned the courtesy.

"This lady here, Lan Youruo, is also a quasi-emperor."

"As for these two," he gestured, "they are familiar faces, so there’s no need for introductions to you."

"Senior, is there perhaps something specific afoot?" Ao Lie, sharp as a tack, immediately discerned a deeper intent behind Ye Xu’s actions.

Ye Xu nodded.

"Just now, Daoist Friend Lin and Daoist Friend Lan requested a divination from me. I have already located the position of the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, but the time for its full emergence into the world is still a year away."

Ye Xu continued, "However, if one possesses a fragment of the Unsurpassed Divine Seal and travels near its vicinity, a mutual resonance can occur. This resonance can then draw the Unsurpassed Divine Seal down to the Yuan Realm."

"Senior’s implication," Ao Lie grasped the meaning instantly, "is that you wish for us to collaborate?"

"You catch on quickly."

Ye Xu looked at him with approval.

Dealing with intelligent people was indeed straightforward.

"Senior, just where is the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain?" Long Yu asked, feeling somewhat dazzled.

"You haven’t yet agreed to collaborate, so I cannot tell you that," Ye Xu replied.

Long Yu came to his senses and hurriedly apologized to Ye Xu.

"Ao Lie thought for a moment and said, ‘Senior, this matter is of great importance. I need to contact my father before making a decision.’ He then added, ‘Based on what I know of my father, he definitely won’t oppose it.’"

The Eastern Sea Dragon King was single-mindedly pursuing to achieve Emperor status. Although Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was not a true immortal relic, it was the legacy of an Emperor Venerable, so methods to attain Emperor status were naturally abundant.

Therefore, the Eastern Sea Dragon King would not miss this opportunity.

"Aunt Liu, Pureland is also a top-tier force. Perhaps we can cooperate,’ Ao Lie said with a laugh."

Ye Xu appeared startled.

In just a few days, Ao Lie had already become so familiar with Liu Ningmei and others, suggesting he had a high chance of winning over Ji Xinyu.

"Ao Lie then inquired, ‘I wonder what you two seniors think?’ He was asking Lin Qianmo and Lan Youruo for their views."

"’Of course, we can,’ Lin Qianmo gently nodded her head."

Once Unsurpassed Divine Mountain descended upon the Yuan Realm, it would inevitably stir up a huge commotion and alarm all the powerful experts across the Yuan Realm.

Having more high-level experts join them was naturally better.

"’Thank you, two seniors,’ Liu Ningmei exclaimed joyfully, looking at Ao Lie gratefully."

In this matter, Pureland hadn’t offered anything yet still secured a spot, all thanks to Ao Lie’s effort.

Liu Ningmei found that the more she looked at Ao Lie, the happier she felt.

"’This concern is too serious—I must go back to Eastern Sea Dragon Palace personally to discuss it with my father,’ Ao Lie solemnly declared. ‘How about we agree to meet up in seven days at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion? What do you two seniors think?’"

"’Fine,’ Lin Qianmo agreed without objection."

"’Old Huang, Sister Yu, let’s go,’ Ao Lei bade farewell to the crowd, then turned to Ji Xinyu and said, ‘Aunt Liu, Xinyu, we’ll see each other again in seven days.’"

Ji Xinyu blinked her eyes and nodded softly.

The two factions departed one after the other.

"’Master, isn’t this giving it to them too cheaply?’ Qi Ruyu frowned and remarked."

They had sacrificed two Quasi-Emperor divine weapons.

But Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and Pureland got advantage without paying—it seemed unfair.

"’An Emperor Venerable’s legacy—just me and my sister alone couldn’t possibly handle it,’ Lin Qianmo shared wisely. ‘Given that, what harm is there in having two more quasi-emperor allies?’"

"’Your perspective is still too narrow,’ Qi Ruyu muttered dejectedly."

"’Since seven days remain, I’ll go back to Da Qian,’ Nangong Zhandao stated."

He had promised Nangong Qing and others to return to Yujing City, visit his mother, and restore harmony with the Da Qian royal family.

Seven days was more than enough time.

"’I’ll go along with you,’ Lan Youruo voiced her worry."

Nangong Zhandao showed a gentle smile.

He reached out for Lan Youruo’s small hand, and together they walked out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, vanishing from view.