Heavenly Continent.
Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
Qi Wuyan cradled the bronze Fate Cauldron, sinking her consciousness into it to divine heaven's secrets.
Her slender, willow-leaf brows were tightly knitted, her small face pale. Even draped in a squirrel-gray crane cloak, she looked as thin as paper, as though a gust of wind could blow her away.
"My lady, a visitor has arrived!"
Just then, a personal guard entered the main hall and spoke.
"Name?"
"Elder Xuan of the Azure Dragon Clan, Xuan Tugu!"
"Show her in."
Qi Wuyan spoke lightly.
The master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was her father, Heavenly Master Qi, but as its undisputed pillar, she wielded greater actual authority!
Only...
Why had someone from the Azure Dragon Clan suddenly come?
The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was renowned for gathering intelligence. What sort of information did the Azure Dragon Clan want?
While Qi Wuyan pondered, a brazen pressure swept toward her, and a stooped yet domineering figure appeared outside the door.
Icy white hair, gloomy eyes, and a huge hooked nose that hung down and swayed all the while further highlighted its owner's sharpness and piercing edge.
"An honored guest. Please sit."
Holding the Fate Cauldron, Qi Wuyan rose gracefully. Her voice was soft, yet carried a host's generosity of bearing.
Gray gauze covered her eyes, and her face was expressionless. Precisely because her eyes were concealed, others could not read her thoughts.
As the strongest heavenly diviner, she could respond calmly, neither servile nor overbearing, even before a mighty expert of an ancient clan who stood supreme beneath heaven.
Gripping her scepter, Xuan Tugu narrowed her eyes at Qi Wuyan. She could discern no emotion on that ashen-pale face.
She entered the room but did not hurry to sit. Slowing her speech, she let a trace of intimidation seep into her voice. "This old woman wishes to make a deal."
Qi Wuyan smiled.
That was quite a novel term.
I provide information, and you pay money. That makes it a deal.
That doesn't seem wrong.
Her finger stroked a small bronze handle on the Fate Cauldron as she spoke steadily. "Please go ahead."
"Tell this old woman where Xie Feng is. You are the foremost heavenly diviner under heaven, and the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is the foremost intelligence organization. Gathering this information shouldn't be difficult." Xuan Tugu eyed her sidelong, her voice unsettlingly slow.
"Heaven's secrets are difficult to divine," Qi Wuyan said.
"Is it difficult, or are you unable to divine them?" Xuan Tugu asked.
"Difficult," Qi Wuyan said.
"Isn't this within the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's line of business? What's your price? The Azure Dragon Clan can afford it!"
"I dare not divine everything, for fear of the Heavenly Dao's inconstancy..."
"Why won't you do it? Do you know Xie Feng?!"
"No."
"Then why won't you perform a divination for this old woman?!"
Rage surged within Xuan Tugu's chest. She glared viciously at Qi Wuyan, her gaze like a dripping venomous snake, piercing enough to make one's hair stand on end!
Qi Wuyan slowly raised her chin. Although gray gauze covered her eyes, it was still apparent that she was "looking" at Xuan Tugu.
"The Great Dao is inconstant."
That single statement-or that single "look"-enraged Xuan Tugu. She viciously drove her staff into the floor, making the entire room quake.
"Hmph, playing at gods and ghosts. If you won't divine it, surely the master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion can?
"Then this old woman will have to invite Heavenly Master Qi!"
The deeper meaning behind those words...
Was much the same as holding the emperor hostage to command his vassals!
What a vicious person!
Qi Wuyan's expression darkened slightly, but she remained frighteningly calm. "Is that a threat?"
Xuan Tugu snorted. "It's knowing how to adapt!"
"It's shamelessness!"
"You must understand that the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion cannot contend with the Azure Dragon Clan!"
Xuan Tugu delivered those final words coldly.
Now that was a threat!
Qi Wuyan's fingers slowly tightened around the Fate Cauldron, her face growing ever paler.
Should I submit?
If she performed the divination, her mental strength was already at a perilous low and could not sustain it.
Besides...
She loathed arrogant, overbearing people like this most of all!
If she refused, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion would be in danger!
This was how a supreme ancient clan bullied others!
Qi Wuyan fell silent.
The tension in the room stretched unbearably taut!
Just then!
"If the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion cannot, what about the Azure Cloud Holy Land?"
A dazzling figure burst into their sight. Dressed in pale yellow robes, he stood tall and elegant, his face handsome and refined. His most unusual feature was his eyes, deep as the boundless Nine Netherworlds, uncanny as the mysteries of the aurora.
Those were the Supreme Double Pupils!
It was Ye Yuan!
He wore a broad smile. The moment he entered, his presence matched Xuan Tugu's, and he was even more relaxed and at ease.
"Ye Yuan?!"
At this sudden turn, Xuan Tugu's face turned sinister!
As an ancient imperial clan, the Azure Cloud Holy Land had always kept clearly apart from the Azure Dragon Clan, their well water never mixing with the other's river water.
Why had he appeared here?
"None other."
Smiling easily, Ye Yuan came up to Qi Wuyan and tapped the tabletop with a finger. "I'm here to divine my romantic luck today. Oh, Elder Xuan, what do you count for?"
He turned back to ask.
His smile revealed white teeth, with faintly pointed canines.
"You!"
Xuan Tugu's face went black.
He had absolutely done that on purpose!
Her gaze grew venomous as she said with pointed sarcasm, "I never expected Holy Venerable Ye to be so close to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. However, I hear the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion has replaced Endless Heaven as the foremost intelligence organization under heaven. I wonder how you feel about that, Holy Venerable?"
Endless Heaven was a force under Ye Yuan's command. As a powerful expert, especially the lord of a holy land, he surely possessed a pride that could not tolerate anyone standing above him.
Thus, she posed the question to provoke his anger.
Yet...
Ye Yuan merely nodded and gave an "Mm."
Why wasn't he angry?
Xuan Tugu could not comprehend this way of thinking!
Ye Yuan folded his arms. "Are you finished, Elder Xuan? Time is short, and many people want their fortunes told. If you're finished, please step aside. It's my turn to discuss business."
"Ye Yuan!"
Xuan Tugu's expression darkened.
She could tell now. Ye Yuan and Qi Wuyan were on the same side!
Her withered hand slowly tightened around her scepter, and a terrifying azure dragon's domineering presence began to spread.
Going to attack?
Ye Yuan's Double Pupils narrowed slightly.
Suddenly!
Another tall figure walked in through the door.
He wore a black fox cloak, his face stern, the depths of his eyes like frost that would not melt through the ages.
Meng Wuqu!
The instant he arrived, the space froze!
Boundless sword intent soared into the heavens, and heaven and earth began to twist!
So powerful!
Xuan Tugu's expression changed drastically!
Cold as frost, Meng Wuqu walked in, looking straight ahead. He raised his large hand, and a longsword emerged, slamming diagonally into the table with a bang!
The blade was purple-gold. A spoon-shaped pattern marked its hilt, so faint that only near the spoon's handle was a silver star engraved.
The sword left its sheath, and killing intent engulfed the room like surging waves. Sword intent wove a net, and everyone was caught within it!
This was...
An immortal sword?!
Xuan Tugu's heart churned violently!
Meng Wuqu said, "I have come to divine how many more heads this sword can sever!"
That domineering presence...
That killing intent...
He was clearly talking about her!
Cold sweat trickled down Xuan Tugu's forehead!
Who was this man?
Such a powerful expert actually existed beneath heaven?
An existence that could make even her feel such dread...
An immortal?
No...
Even stronger than an immortal!
That pressure sent a jolt through even her mind!
Xuan Tugu lost her nerve!
She glared at Qi Wuyan and the others, rage surging in her chest with no way to vent it!
She left in a huff!
After she left, Ye Yuan let out a soft breath. "To get you out of trouble, little lady, I worked hard to overcome my social anxiety and even offended an ancient clan. Thinking about it now...
"I don't really regret it!"
"Thank you.
"If the Azure Dragon Clan causes trouble afterward, and you need me, I will certainly give it my all."
Qi Wuyan's body relaxed slightly, and she forced a smile.
Her body was growing weaker by the moment...
She was too exhausted.
Ye Yuan glanced at Meng Wuqu, who was putting away the Fishing Fire Sword, and flashed a toothy smile. "So far, no one has really dared to make trouble for me."