Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Quasi-Emperors Gather at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion

"Long Tuo."

The Eastern Sea Dragon King looked at the hunchbacked elder in the Dragon Palace great hall. "You shall accompany me to the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The hunchbacked elder responded solemnly. "I would face any hardship at Your Majesty’s command."

The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace possessed two quasi-emperor experts. The Eastern Sea Dragon King stood at the peak of quasi-emperor level, while Long Tuo, standing before him, was a mid-level quasi-emperor expert.

Clearly, the Eastern Sea Dragon King was committing all his power for the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain.

Three days later.

Ao Lie arrived at the Dragon Palace with Old Huang to meet the Dragon King.

"You intend to take him?" The Eastern Sea Dragon King glanced at Old Huang, a slight frown forming.

Ao Lie nodded. "Father, Old Huang is utterly loyal to me. There may be opportunities during this journey, and I hope for him to advance further."

"Very well."

The Eastern Sea Dragon King smiled faintly. "We depart."

An energy enveloped Ao Lie and Old Huang. Instantly, the four of them reappeared high above the boundless Eastern Sea, waves churning endlessly.

The four headed toward Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Hm?"

After traveling a hundred thousand miles, the Eastern Sea Dragon King suddenly sensed an exceptionally powerful aura. He halted and looked toward the northwest, letting out a clear laugh.

"Daoist friend Yue, a century has passed since we last met. I trust all is well?"

"Thank you for your concern, Dragon King."

A cool, detached voice responded from the void as figures materialized—Liu Ningmei, Ji Xinyu, and a woman shrouded in pristine white silk robes.

This woman possessed peerlessly beautiful features. Her snowy robes seemed to outshine the snow itself, and her eyes, deep like a pool of autumn water, were utterly captivating.

This was the leader of Pure Land, Yue Ruyi.

As the head of Pure Land, Yue Ruyi’s cultivation was on par with the Eastern Sea Dragon King.

"It seems you travel with confidence, Daoist friend."

The Eastern Sea Dragon King chuckled lightly. Once inside Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, the strength of Liu Ningmei and Ji Xinyu would be practically negligible.

He had to admit, Yue Ruyi was remarkably bold—or perhaps uncommonly skilled—to dare enter the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain so lightly attended.

"This journey involves four other Daoist friends. With the power of five of us, few across the entire Yuan Realm could best us." Yue Ruyi replied with a serene smile.

"Hahaha, well reasoned!"

The Eastern Sea Dragon King laughed heartily. "Daoist friend, both forces reside within the Eastern Region. Within the mountain, mutual support shall be essential."

Yue Ruyi gave a slight nod. "That’s only natural."

Long Tuo cast a side glance at Yue Ruyi, his gaze profound and inscrutable.

In the entire Eastern Region, the sole person who inspired caution within the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace was Yue Ruyi.

Yue Ruyi not only possessed exceptional cultivation but was also profoundly skilled in the art of calculations and deduction, wielding a causality power that was truly fearsome.

"This woman cannot be left unguarded against," Long Tuo thought to himself.

The group set off towards Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Along the way, Ao Lie and Ji Xinyu conversed animatedly. He himself cared little for Yue Ruyi and the Eastern Sea Dragon King, but Ji Xinyu appeared exceedingly reserved.

Ao Lie’s little scheming was hardly something that could escape the notice of Yue Ruyi and the Eastern Sea Dragon King.

The Eastern Sea Dragon King smiled genially, saying, "Both these juniors are on the Hidden Dragon List. If the Daoist friend is amenable, my Eastern Sea Dragon Palace would willingly form a marriage alliance with your Pure Land, to jointly rule the Eastern Region."

Yue Ruyi replied lightly, "The great matter of marriage, she can decide for herself."

The Eastern Sea Dragon King frowned slightly but did not say anything more.

One day later.

The group arrived at Linglong City.

"Such a small city, yet concealing over ten Saints and two Saint Kings. It truly hides dragons and crouches tigers." A single thought of the Eastern Sea Dragon King instantly encompassed the entire Linglong City within the grasp of his Divine Sense.

In an instant, all the hidden Saint realm experts within Linglong City were revealed within the Eastern Sea Dragon King’s perception.

It was hard to imagine that in just a little over two months, Linglong City had progressed from having no sightings of deities to a state where Saints roamed everywhere.

"Based on this level of influence alone, if the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion wished to dominate the Yuan Realm, it should present no great difficulty," Yue Ruyi remarked.

Ao Lie shook his head, refuting, "The predecessor is unfathomably deep. Were he harboring ambitions for domination, he could not have remained confined to such a remote corner. In my opinion, the predecessor is simply weary of worldly conflicts and thus has chosen to live in seclusion here."

"Daoist friend Yue, you excel in the art of calculations. Can you discern the origins, the very root, of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?" inquired the Eastern Sea Dragon King.

Yue Ruyi shook her head.

"This Heaven’s Secret Pavilion seems to form its own separate world, cut off from the rules governing the Yuan Realm. Perhaps there is another possibility…"

The gazes of everyone gathered upon Yue Ruyi.

"It is possible Heaven’s Secret Pavilion does not exist in the present world."

Yue Ruyi spoke words startling enough to silence gods. Her statement caused the Eastern Sea Dragon King and Long Tuo to change color immediately.

"That… surely cannot be…" Long Tuo ventured, though without true conviction.

Yue Ruyi offered no further explanation.

She had attempted to divine the origins of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Yet each time she barely began, an overwhelming sense of dread filled her, forcing Yue Ruyi to abandon the attempt.

Though she commanded the art of calculations, capable of deducing profound mysteries and navigating fortune and misfortune, even able to glimpse threads within the mysteries of Godfall Ridge, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion alone remained utterly opaque to her perception.

"Imperial Father, we still have two days. Should we enter Heaven’s Secret Pavilion directly, or stay for now within Linglong City?" Ao Lie respectfully sought his father’s opinion.

"First, let us meet the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

The Eastern Sea Dragon King looked towards Yue Ruyi. "Daoist friend, what say you?"

"I too am deeply curious," Yue Ruyi said evenly. "How great is the capability of the master of this Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

"At the very least, he won’t disappoint you," Ao Lie thought privately to himself.

He had witnessed too many people harbor doubts about Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, but upon meeting its master, every single one, including himself, had been deeply convinced by his power.

The group proceeded through the entrance of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"You all were indeed punctual, arriving two days early."

Ye Xu was reading when he sensed the aura of several people. He put down his book and instructed Yang Xuanzhan, "Serve tea to the esteemed guests."

"Yes."

Yang Xuanzhan immediately busied himself.

He took out a portion of spirit tea. The tea resembled dragon’s teeth, dark green in color, with an intense aroma that filled the entire hall.

Now that Ye Xu was a person of status and reputation, this Dragon Tooth Dark Green tea had been exchanged by spending ten thousand heavenly secrets points. It could replenish magical power and refine one’s body.

"Truly good tea."

Ao Lie swallowed it in one gulp and still wanted more.

He chuckled lightly, "Senior, another cup, please."

Yang Xuanzhan immediately poured tea for him.

"Huh, why isn’t that little girl here today?" Ao Lie suddenly realized that Ye Xian’er, who was always beside Ye Xu on usual days, was nowhere to be seen today.

"She suffered a blow and is diligently practicing cultivation," Ye Xu said with a smile.

The matter of Qi Qingsi had dealt Ye Xian’er an enormous blow. For Qi Qingsi, she and Qi Hongchou had severed ties with the Tianxin Sect and become homeless people.

Therefore, Ye Xian’er had been diligently cultivating these days and had already entered the Dharma Image stage.

"Ao Bing of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace pays respects to the Master."

The Eastern Sea Dragon King bowed respectfully.

Ye Xu wore a strange smile, thinking that Ao Bing wasn’t a good name.

He then looked at Yue Ruyi with a half-smile and said, "Daoist friend, if you want to know my origins, you can just come to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to ask me directly. Why waste your mental effort on divination?"

Yue Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.

Although she had heard from Liu Ningmei that the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had the ability to see through people’s minds, having Ye Xu expose it on the spot made her spine tingle with cold.

Smoothly stepping in, Ao Lie quickly smoothed things over and said, "Senior, asking you a question is like cutting a piece of flesh from oneself. Elder Yue probably wants to save some expenses."

"Am I as money-grubbing as you think?"

Ye Xu sighed lightly, "I just need to get by."

"…"

Everyone was speechless in their hearts. The extortionate demands of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion were already famous throughout the Yuan Realm. Who in the entire Yuan Realm didn’t know that the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was notoriously greedy for wealth?

Thinking this, they could only force smiles on their faces.

"You all arrived at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion two days early; it doesn’t seem like you came to chat with me. If there’s something important, just speak directly," Ye Xu said lightly.

Ao Lie glanced at the Eastern Sea Dragon King and then at Yue Ruyi.

The Eastern Sea Dragon King said solemnly, "I truly have a matter for which I wish to consult the Master."

"Ask."

Ye Xu felt bored.

Without the need to look or think, he knew Ao Bing’s thoughts.

Ao Bing wore a serious expression.

"For my journey to the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, what are the chances that I will attain the Dao and become an emperor?"