At that moment, all of Divine Desolation was thrown into an uproar by a single decision from Ye Xingchen!
Meanwhile, our protagonist, Ye Xingchen, was sitting comfortably atop a gigantic Chromatic Phoenix, watching the clouds race backward with wonder written across his face.
Seeing her husband's amazement, Luo Qingshan's lips curved slightly as she explained softly:
"Husband, this is a Chromatic Phoenix. She possesses the bloodline of the ancient phoenix, is highly intelligent and extremely fast, and serves as Shan'er's mount!"
"She usually cultivates in the mountains behind the Demon Race and is only summoned when Shan'er travels! She has an exceptionally gentle temperament! She is also extremely powerful, equivalent to the Human Race's Immortal King Realm!"
As though she understood Luo Qingshan's words, the Chromatic Phoenix gave a soft cry, delight actually showing in her eyes.
Hearing Luo Qingshan's words and seeing the delight in the Chromatic Phoenix's eyes, Ye Xingchen could not help marveling inwardly. All things possessed spirit; it seemed that saying was true indeed.
"Husband, at the Chromatic Phoenix's speed, we will reach the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion in another incense stick's time. After resting there briefly, Shan'er will accompany you on a tour of the Human Race's territory!"
Hearing Luo Qingshan's words and seeing the tenderness in her eyes, Ye Xingchen smiled slightly and said:
"All right, I'll listen to my wife. Once we're finished with our business, we'll have a proper look around the Human Race's territory!"
The scene shifted to Heavenly Secrets City.
Dozens of white-haired elders gazed toward the dome inside the Heavenly Secrets Hall. Countless stars swept across it, stars glittered throughout the sky, and the sun and moon revolved ceaselessly. This was Heavenly Secrets City's clan-guarding divine artifact-the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart.
At that moment, dozens of white-haired elders in the Immortal Emperor Realm were arguing heatedly, each chiming in over the others. They showed none of the demeanor expected of powerful cultivators, their faces red and necks bulging.
Yet a middle-aged man seated above them in the Heavenly Secrets Hall watched the scene below calmly, as though he had long since grown accustomed to it.
Suddenly, the middle-aged man looked up at the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart, and his expression changed drastically. He flashed to the center of the floor below and raised a hand slightly. The dozens of white-haired elders arguing themselves red in the face instantly fell silent.
With a solemn expression, the middle-aged man said:
"The Emperor Star manifests, a great age approaches, the hidden shall emerge, and Divine Desolation shall undergo great change!"
Hearing his words, the dozens of white-haired elders likewise underwent a drastic change in expression and looked up at the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart.
One of the white-haired elders who had been arguing most fiercely let out a soft exclamation of puzzlement:
"The Emperor Star has actually manifested. But why has it appeared in the center? Shouldn't the Emperor Star preside over the east of the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart?!"
Hearing the elder's words, everyone realized in shock that the Emperor Star, which should have presided over the east, had actually appeared in the center of the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart.
Everyone, including the middle-aged man, lowered their heads and calculated on their fingers. A moment later, they all looked up in surprise.
The middle-aged man's face was filled with even greater disbelief.
"I actually cannot divine what caused the Emperor Star, which should preside over the east of the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart, to appear in the center. Could some Great Emperor have veiled the heavenly secrets?!"
"That cannot be, either! Even if a Great Emperor had veiled the heavenly secrets, I couldn't possibly fail to divine anything at all!! Could it... be... the Heavenly Dao!!!"
Staring at the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart, the middle-aged man muttered to himself, his face filled with shock.
"Since the Heavenly Dao has veiled the heavenly secrets, I shall see where the Emperor Star has appeared."
With that, the middle-aged man waved his hand and struck out with his palm. A terrifying surge of immortal spiritual power poured into the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart, and the entire chart instantly changed.
As though heaven and earth were descending, it expanded instantly, and the entire Divine Desolation Continent appeared before the man.
Looking at the brilliant star radiating purple imperial Qi, the middle-aged man actually muttered to himself:
"To think it would be here, at the boundary between the Demon Race and the Human Race! The Emperor Star has actually appeared there. Could it be because of the Demon Race's auction?!"
The middle-aged man was none other than Immortal Emperor Wei Tianji, lord of Heavenly Secrets City, one of the Divine Desolation Continent's top powers.
Heavenly Secrets City was renowned throughout Divine Desolation for divining heavenly secrets, fortune, and calamity. The power behind it was said to be even stronger: Divine Secrets Mountain, a hidden titan of a sacred land.
When hunting for treasures, exploring, or searching for someone, many powers would seek out Heavenly Secrets City to divine the fortune and calamity awaiting their journey!
Of course, the price was not cheap, but every divination made by Heavenly Secrets City was highly accurate, earning the deep trust of powers throughout the Divine Desolation Continent.
Suddenly, rays of divine light shone from the entire Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart before instantly dimming. As though struck by some mysterious force, it lost its original brilliance.
What astonished everyone in Heavenly Secrets City even more was that the Emperor Star's location could no longer be probed. Not even a trace of its presence remained, as though it had never manifested at all.
The sight sent a tremendous shock through Wei Tianji's heart, and he said:
"As expected of the Emperor Star. It cannot be divined or probed. Even its location appeared for only an instant before vanishing without a trace."
"But the Emperor Star has emerged. I could not be mistaken about that. It seems a great age approaches, and Divine Desolation will undergo great changes!"
"Make the arrangements. In three days, I shall personally visit the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion to see the life-extending divine treasure the Demon Race is auctioning. I will also see whether I can sense the Emperor Star's whereabouts, so our Heavenly Secrets City can make plans in advance!"
Hearing Wei Tianji's words, the dozens of white-haired elders below immediately bowed in acknowledgment, then turned and vanished.
At that moment, Wei Tianji looked up at the Heavenly Secrets Firmament Chart, crystalline divine light shining in his eyes. He pointed a finger, and a beam of golden light shot into the chart and disappeared.
Meanwhile, as Ye Xingchen sat atop the Chromatic Phoenix, the system's voice suddenly rang out:
"Ding! Someone has been detected divining the heavenly secrets to calculate the host's location. Would the host like to activate the heavenly secrets concealment function, preventing anyone from probing you?"
The system's voice suddenly sounding beside his ear left Ye Xingchen momentarily startled. Someone was actually divining the heavenly secrets to calculate his location. Interesting!
But the thought of someone watching him wherever he went made Ye Xingchen uncomfortable, and he immediately said to the system inwardly:
"System, activate the heavenly secrets concealment function immediately!"
No sooner had Ye Xingchen spoken than the system's voice rang out:
"Ding! The heavenly secrets concealment function has been activated. No one can divine the host. Anyone who attempts to divine the host will suffer backlash!"
Hearing the system's words, Ye Xingchen smiled slightly and said excitedly inwardly:
"System, I absolutely love you! You even have a function like this!!"
"Ding! Please remain calm, host. This system is unique throughout the myriad worlds and possesses every function. There is no need for the host to make a fuss!"
Hearing the system's voice, Ye Xingchen was left utterly speechless and thought:
"This system still has the same temper. But... this young master likes it! Haha!"
System: ...
The next moment, Ye Xingchen felt the Chromatic Phoenix descending rapidly. Looking up, he found they had already reached the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion.
The Chromatic Phoenix landed steadily, and the two flew down from her back. Luo Qingshan extended her right hand, and the Chromatic Phoenix immediately understood, lowering her head and affectionately nuzzling Luo Qingshan's hand, delight filling her eyes.
"All right, return to the Demon Race on your own! My husband and I will return ourselves after some time!"
As though understanding Luo Qingshan's words, the Chromatic Phoenix raised her head and cried. Spreading her enormous multicolored wings, she transformed into a streak of nine-colored light, shot straight into the nine heavens, and vanished!
Meanwhile, the grand elder, who had arrived at the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion ahead of them, appeared at its entrance with all the members of the Demon Race and bowed to Luo Qingshan and Ye Xingchen.
Every member of the Demon Race looked at Ye Xingchen with incomparable admiration. Ye Xingchen smiled and greeted the grand elder and the others, filling all their hearts with excitement.
Looking at the three-story pavilion before him, then turning to look at the towering buildings in the Human Race's territory in the distance, Ye Xingchen frowned slightly.
As though discerning why Ye Xingchen was frowning, the grand elder said quietly:
"Your Exalted Majesty, our Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion was built in too much of a hurry, so..."
Hearing the grand elder's words, Ye Xingchen smiled slightly and said:
"Mm, I understand. However, our Demon Race is no worse than the Human Race in any respect, and we cannot fall behind in this either. Besides, all the major powers will attend the auction in seven days. This Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion truly does the Demon Race's standing a disservice!"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, Luo Qingshan and the grand elder both frowned. Ye Xingchen was right. Compared with the Human Race's towering buildings in the distance, the buildings on the Demon Race's side truly looked rather shabby.
Seeing Luo Qingshan's slight frown, Ye Xingchen swept his divine sense out and discovered a huge open space between the Human Race and the Demon Race, bustling with people coming and going!
He could not help asking:
"Grand elder, why are there only a few of us here at our Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion, while that place just ahead is bustling with people coming and going, with so many members of both the Human Race and the Demon Race?!"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, Luo Qingshan smiled slightly, took his hand, and began explaining.
Only after hearing Luo Qingshan's words did Ye Xingchen understand the reason.
Looking at the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion before him, only three stories tall, Ye Xingchen bluntly said something that shocked everyone.