Chapter 96

Chapter 96: The Golden Age Approaches

Ao Bing had cultivated diligently for hundreds of thousands of years, step by step reaching this point. His greatest wish in life was to break through his shackles, attaining the Dao and becoming an emperor.

He urgently wanted to know the outcome.

"The Master understands all past and present, capable of divining past and future. Surely he can perceive my destiny." Ao Bing paused, then said, "I wonder how much this transaction will cost?"

"Cough cough…" Ye Xu coughed lightly.

Ao Lie beamed, shamelessly pressing, "Senior, we are old clients after all. We hope Senior might give us a discount."

"System, how many Heavenly Secrets Points are needed to inquire about this information?" Ye Xu asked.

[480,000 Heavenly Secrets Points.]

A flicker crossed Ye Xu’s mind. From the system’s response, he discerned some hidden secrets.

Ao Bing was a powerhouse at the peak of quasi-emperor level. Four hundred eighty thousand Heavenly Secrets Points was less than the price of a single Quasi-Emperor divine weapon.

If he were capable of becoming an emperor, the price would surely be much higher.

Therefore, Ao Bing most likely would not become an emperor.

"Considering Ao Lie’s face, I’ll give you a discount price." Ye Xu thought for a moment, adopting a troubled expression. "One Quasi-Emperor divine weapon, or treasure of equivalent value."

Ao Bing’s face twitched. The rumors hold true, Heavenly Secret Pavilion’s information truly is outrageously expensive.

"I’ll buy it."

Ao Bing gritted his teeth, producing a piece of three-colored divine gold. Divine patterns were imprinted on the gold, emanating a fearsome aura.

"Tripolar Divine Pattern Gold?"

Yue Ruyi’s expression shifted slightly. This item was extremely precious, worth no less than a Quasi-Emperor divine weapon. It was one of the main materials for forging an imperial weapon, absolutely worthy of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s asking price.

The Tripolar Divine Pattern Gold secured, Ye Xu instantly exchanged it for Heavenly Secrets Points.

Sixty-four thousand.

Ye Xu grinned with delight.

Everyone was stunned; the Master’s demeanor changed far too drastically before and after receiving the treasure.

"System, query whether Ao Bing can become an emperor within the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain."

Ding!

[Ao Bing: Peak quasi-emperor level. Journey to Unsurpassed Divine Mountain: Unable to attain emperorship.]

Ye Xu’s expression subtly shifted, a trace of gravity appearing in his eyes. He looked at Ao Bing with pity and said, "Regrettably, Daoist friend, you will not become an emperor on this journey."

Shua!

Ao Bing’s face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale. He paid a huge price, only to receive such news?

He stumbled, his Dao heart suffering a violent impact, barely able to withstand it.

"Imperial Father!"

Ao Lie immediately rushed forward to support Ao Bing, his face etched with concern.

"Your Majesty!" Long Tuo was equally anxious and worried, fearing this blow would cause Ao Bing’s Dao heart to sprout inner demons.

"I’m fine."

Ao Bing took a deep breath and let out a pale smile.

"Since we can’t become an emperor here, should we still go to the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain?" Long Tuo asked.

"Of course we should."

Having cultivated for several hundred thousand years, Ao Bing’s Dao heart was as firm as a boulder. Though he had suffered a blow, he couldn’t be defeated completely.

The three-colored divine pattern gold was gone, and his hope of becoming an emperor had vanished. All Ao Bing could hope for now was to retrieve a few treasures from the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain to make up for his losses.

"Daoist friend, failing to become an emperor at the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain doesn’t mean you’ll fail for the rest of your life," Ye Xu soothed. Ao Bing truly seemed pitiful—spending a fortune only to buy heartbreaking news.

Since Heaven’s Secret Pavilion began doing business, Ao Bing was undoubtedly the first to suffer such a blow.

"Thank you for your comfort, Master."

Ao Bing forced a bitter laugh; his state of mind was somewhat rattled.

The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was an Emperor Venerable’s legacy. If he couldn’t become an emperor here, his future hopes would be even bleaker.

Reading Ao Bing’s thoughts, Ye Xu smiled lightly and said, "The days ahead are filled with variables. At your level of cultivation, you’ll certainly attain the Dao and become an emperor someday."

Ao Bing’s eyes lit up. "Is that true, Master?"

"I merely said it offhand; don’t take it too much to heart," Ye Xu replied ambiguously.

But Ao Bing paid no mind. The reputation of the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion preceded him; he treated Ye Xu’s words as sacred commandments. This conversation swept away Ao Bing’s gloom.

Yue Ruyi narrowed her sharp eyes—Ye Xu wouldn’t speak empty words. Since he’d said so, he must have his reasons.

Especially the term "variables" etched itself firmly in her mind.

"Master, I too have something to ask," Yue Ruyi spoke up.

"Speak freely."

"I’d like to know if anyone in the Yuan Realm will succeed in attaining the Dao and becoming an emperor within four months."

Ye Xu looked startled.

Yue Ruyi’s question struck straight at the heart—the day of the transformation.

After all, Godfall Ridge’s seal would lift, and the great change in the Yuan Realm would occur in exactly four months.

Evidently, through the art of calculations, Yue Ruyi had deduced a hint of what was to come from the shifting state of the Yuan Realm.

Sadly, her skill in such arts fell short—she grasped mere traces, unable to pinpoint the exact time of the day of the transformation, nor its root cause.

"System, how many heavenly secrets points are needed to query this?"

[Two million.]

This was truly a big deal.

Ye Xu stood up, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Daoist friend, that information comes at a steep price. You may not be able to afford it," he said lightly.

"Please name your price, Master."

"One imperial weapon."

Ye Xu said.

Whoa!

Hearing the price, Liu Ningmei looked aghast. Ji Xinyu was also shocked. Ao Lie and Old Huang even got goosebumps.

Both the Eastern Sea Dragon King and Long Tuo frowned deeply.

Why did Yue Ruyi ask this question?

Could it be that she had perceived some heavenly secrets from the celestial phenomena in Yuan Realm?

Yue Ruyi knit her beautiful brows tightly. As an imperial inheritance, Pure Land’s guardian treasure was one imperial weapon. Yet the entire Pure Land possessed only that single one.

As soon as Ye Xu spoke, he demanded Pure Land’s foundation. Yue Ruyi could not possibly produce it.

"I was too ignorant." Yue Ruyi smiled self-mockingly.

These days, using her karmic supernatural power and the art of calculations to divine heavenly secrets, she had detected a hint of unpredictable variable within the celestial phenomena. But no matter how she deduced, she could never trace it to the source.

The future was utterly misty.

She vaguely felt that after this variable manifested, Yuan Realm would undergo an earthshaking transformation. But whether for good or ill, Yue Ruyi couldn’t discern.

"You need not be self-mocking."

Ye Xu smiled lightly, "Being able to detect that subtle variable is already quite remarkable."

"Esteemed senior, may I know what that subtle variable truly is?" Yue Ruyi asked, her eyes burning intensely as she stared at Ye Xu.

Being scrutinized so intently by a beauty made Ye Xu feel rather flustered.

"One imperial weapon."

The moment Ye Xu spoke, Yue Ruyi’s heart instantly sank into despair.

"Just a jest."

Ye Xu smiled faintly, "Since you all wish to know, telling you won’t do any harm."

For him, as long as Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s protection didn’t suddenly fail, bringing divine retribution, he cared little.

Even secrets concerning the Ancient Heavenly Court merely piqued his curiosity.

A mere Godfall Ridge certainly wasn’t worth much of his attention.

"The root lies in Godfall Ridge."

Ye Xu stated lightly, "The origin of all future variables will stem from Godfall Ridge."

"Indeed."

Yue Ruyi’s eyes immediately lit up in understanding.

She had also suspected Godfall Ridge before, but lacking concrete evidence, she couldn’t be certain.

"What kind of place is Godfall Ridge?"

Ao Bing’s gaze turned deep and measured.

"Your Majesty, the Second Master vanished in Godfall Ridge."

Long Tuo suddenly spoke up, "Since you, esteemed senior, are omniscient, might we request you divine the whereabouts of the Second Master?"

"Unnecessary."

Ao Bing’s expression soured, "After cultivating all these years, he only reached the peak Saint King level. With such weak cultivation, daring to trespass into Godfall Ridge… he alone brought this fate upon himself."

Four hundred years ago, Ao Lie’s second uncle entered Godfall Ridge and disappeared without a trace.

Ao Bing had even dispatched Long Tuo to search Godfall Ridge, yet not a single clue was found.

By now, he long ceased to care about that man.

Long Tuo sighed inwardly. The two had always been at odds; Ao Bing’s reaction was expected.

Old Huang and Ao Lie glanced at each other, both remaining silent.

This was precisely why Ao Lie had never requested Ye Xu’s help in finding his second uncle before.

"The secrets of Godfall Ridge… those of your level had best not delve too deeply."

Ye Xu remarked lightly, "All you need know is that after the day of the transformation, the lands of Yuan Realm shall be overturned."

Yue Ruyi and Ao Bing shuddered.

This was explosive news indeed.

"Conduct yourselves wisely henceforth." Ye Xu said meaningfully.

Once the seal lifted, the ancient divine clans emerged, and the entire landscape of Yuan Realm would transform in an instant. The now dominant great sects would be but ants before the ancient divine clans.

"We thank you for your guidance, esteemed senior."

Yue Ruyi and Ao Bing bowed deeply.

After this interaction, their forms of address had completely shifted.

Ye Xu was quite pleased with their attitude. He nodded slightly before uttering another world-shattering statement.

"If I predict correctly, after the day of the transformation, Yuan Realm will usher in a golden age."

His gaze swept over the group. "You all shall be beneficiaries."