"Human Emperor Jiang at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion"

"Then where is this Profound Mystery Realm?"

There were countless secret realms throughout the world, each with its own bizarre rules. Jiang Li could not possibly know every single one.

But it did not matter. If he did not know, there were always professionals who did.

Every Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Member cultivated a technique that led directly to ascension: "Mastering Heavenly Secrets." Once cultivated to great mastery, it allowed one to faintly foresee one's own fortunes and misfortunes, turn danger into safety, and avoid peril. Unfortunately, this technique was not among the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's wares. Otherwise, countless cultivators would have wanted to cultivate it.

Within the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the pavilion masters had cultivated it to the highest level. Next came the heads of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilions established across the various Imperial Dynasties. Though these people fell short of the pavilion masters, they had still reached the level of sensing fortune and misfortune.

Zhou Youfu, the head of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in Great Zhou, lay atop the building, soaking in a pool formed from condensed spiritual energy and enjoying a moment of peace.

If one had to ask which Imperial Dynasty the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion liked best, it was undoubtedly Great Zhou. The people here followed rules and kept discipline, acting according to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's regulations. They would not take the risk of kidnapping Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Members to demand cultivation techniques, nor were they foolish enough to come steal from the pavilion. And they certainly would not buy cut-down intelligence just to save a little money, then turn around and claim the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's information was inaccurate.

Come on, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion gave you exactly what you paid for. They had clearly told you it was a cut-down version when they sold you the intelligence. If you thought your cultivation was high enough that there would be no problem, what did that have to do with them?

Customers like that gave the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion the worst headaches.

There was another kind as well—customers with no money who insisted on haggling, saying they already knew some of this intelligence, blah blah blah, so it was not worth so many Spirit Stones.

The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion never discounted its intelligence, much less gave it away for free! The once-in-ten-years assessment had just ended, and Great Zhou's Heavenly Secrets Pavilion ranked first in performance and first in customer satisfaction, making the other branch pavilion masters green with envy.

"Great Zhou, wonderful!"

Zhou Youfu felt that he truly lived up to his surname Zhou; he and Great Zhou were fated to be together.

Happily, he submerged his fat body in the spiritual water, great bubbles gurgling up around him.

But how strange. Before, he had always been able to sense that good fortune followed him one after another. Why were fortune and misfortune now impossible to determine, with the future a blur of chaos? A servant nearby received a message from someone below and hurried to the pool in a panic, crying in alarm, "Pavilion Master, this is bad! Human Emperor Jiang has come!"

Zhou Youfu was so frightened that he forgot to breathe and swallowed a huge mouthful of bathwater.

"Our Heavenly Secrets Pavilion doesn't break the law, doesn't cultivate the Demonic Path, and prices things conscientiously. Why has he come?!"

Most people who came to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion covered their faces and concealed their identities. Those without money would casually wrap a piece of black cloth around their faces; those with money used black cloth that concealed spiritual energy fluctuations. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion did not care. They merely sold intelligence, and as for whom they sold it to, that was none of their concern.

Nor did they care about those who bought intelligence with their faces uncovered. That was the customer's freedom.

But today, they had no choice but to care. Even the branch pavilion master had to come out and receive the visitor.

Because Human Emperor Jiang had come.

"Welcome, Human Emperor Jiang, to inspect our work."

Zhou Youfu led the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's upper ranks to greet Jiang Li. Around them, a crowd of masked people's pupils contracted as fervor filled their eyes. They no longer cared about concealing their identities and all turned to stare at Jiang Li.

This was a living, moving Human Emperor Jiang—something they might not see even once in a lifetime! Fortunately, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion disciples maintained order and did not let the crowd surround Jiang Li.

Seeing Zhou Youfu acting like this, Jiang Li thought, I'm just here to buy intelligence on the Profound Mystery Realm. Why are they treating this like the Chief Pavilion Master is touring the branches to inspect their work? Jiang Li did not know that, to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, he really was here to inspect their work.

Two hundred years ago, Jiang Li had presided over the drawing of the Nine Provinces Map. After analyzing the matter, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had concluded that Jiang Li was dissatisfied with their conduct and was taking the opportunity to give them a warning.

If the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had still harbored dissatisfaction toward Jiang Li two hundred years ago, then after these two centuries—after witnessing Jiang Li effortlessly kill countless Extraterrestrial Demons so powerful they inspired despair—they truly did not dare hold even the slightest resentment toward him.

Therefore, if Jiang Li ever came to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion again, they absolutely had to serve him well and leave him unable to find a single fault with the pavilion.

"Ah, no—"

"The customer is an immortal: that is our principle of hospitality. Human Emperor Jiang, please look. This is the reception hall of our Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. We arrange for every customer to enter a private room and receive dedicated service, ensuring confidentiality and customer satisfaction." Zhou Youfu smoothly introduced the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's reformed mode of operation to Jiang Li.

"Each attendant carries a Crystal Ball connected to headquarters. Through the Crystal Ball, they can access all the information the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion possesses."

"Our pricing is also based on a strict set of standards. We will never artificially inflate prices." Zhou Youfu took out a thick volume, presumably the pricing standards he had mentioned.

"If the intelligence concerns information not yet in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's possession, we will gather it from all regions according to the customer's needs, ensuring that we have everything one could need. Of course, some information involves privacy, and we absolutely will not sell it!" Zhou Youfu spoke with utter certainty, righteousness written across his face. As for whether what he said was true, that was impossible to know.

But Jiang Li noticed that he had said, "absolutely will not sell it," rather than "absolutely will not gather it."

"Mhm, absolutely will not gather it. Well done." Jiang Li nodded solemnly and patted Zhou Youfu on the shoulder.

How could Zhou Youfu fail to understand Jiang Li's hidden meaning? He was warning them.

"Yes, we absolutely will not gather it!" he hurriedly declared. As for whether they would actually do so, he would let the pavilion master decide that afterward.

"May I ask whether the Human Emperor is satisfied with our work?"

"There are no other issues. I came this time only because I wanted information on the Profound Mystery Realm."

Zhou Youfu assumed Jiang Li had raised a question at random to test the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's ability to process intelligence. He hurriedly took out a Crystal Ball and operated it personally.

Very quickly, all information concerning the Profound Mystery Realm was compiled and stored in a jade slip, which he respectfully presented to Jiang Li for inspection.

Jiang Li gave it a rough look. Good heavens—even the birth date and eight characters of the person who had created the Profound Mystery Realm were written here. And they still claimed not to sell private intelligence? But he could not interfere with the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. The Human Emperor's authority did not extend that far. His earlier remark counted as advice; if he brought it up again now, that would be overstepping his authority.

"How many Spirit Stones?"

"Human Emperor, you jest. This information is not worth many Spirit Stones. Let it be a gift from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion to the Human Emperor Palace."

After some back-and-forth refusal, Jiang Li ultimately stuffed the Spirit Stones into Zhou Youfu's arms at a fair price.

Holding the Spirit Stones was like holding a scalding hot potato for Zhou Youfu. He could neither accept them nor return them.

Having achieved his purpose, Jiang Li transformed into a streak of light and departed.

Zhou Youfu called over a Heavenly Secrets Pavilion disciple. "I recall that you are skilled in the Dao of painting?"

"Yes, Pavilion Master."

"Then paint the scene of Human Emperor Jiang and me standing together just now. Have it mounted and hang it on the wall. Remember, use the finest materials! Once it's done, I'll promote you to a core disciple."

"Yes!" The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion disciple clenched his fists, overwhelmed with excitement.

A few days later, a painting titled Human Emperor Jiang at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion hung in the pavilion's main hall, drawing countless people who stopped to admire it.

In the painting, Jiang Li patted Zhou Youfu on the shoulder as though entrusting him with a great responsibility. Zhou Youfu wore a face of righteous resolve, looking every bit capable of shouldering such a heavy duty.