Chapter 725: Yao Yueye

“The Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map!”

Even though it was just a fleeting glimpse, and the fragment within the Jade Scroll was merely a corner of the full map.

But Jiang Chen knew with absolute certainty.

This was the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map.

Although the scroll of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map he had obtained with the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable’s inheritance from the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle couldn’t be opened until he reached the Demigod Realm, its profound and mystical aura was impossible to fake. Judging solely from the details of this small fragment, Jiang Chen could confirm that this was undoubtedly the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map!

This was the treasure that had led to the downfall of the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable!

Those peerless masters had besieged the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable for the sake of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map!

“Little Black, take a quick look. Is this the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map?” Ever cautious, Jiang Chen stored the Jade Scroll in the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle and handed it to the Black Emperor.

A moment later.

The Black Emperor’s excited voice came from within the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle, “That’s right, this is definitely the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map. Boss, where did you find this?”

“I’ll explain later!”

Jiang Chen responded before turning to Zuo Yu. “Where is he?”

Zuo Yu paused for a moment. “In VIP Room Heaven-36!”

Jiang Chen nodded, stood up, and excused himself to Duann Tianya and Hai Zheng, saying, “You two brothers, go on and drink first. I’ll be right back!”

“Alright!”

“Go on!”

Neither of them pried for details.

Everyone had their own opportunities and secrets. Prying too deeply could easily cross a line and damage their friendship.

Not long after…

Jiang Chen arrived in front of Yao Yueye’s VIP room.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

He knocked lightly, and the door opened immediately to reveal an old, wizened face. The man’s expression was full of anxiety as he glanced at Jiang Chen, then at Zuo Yu beside him, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

He had never met Jiang Chen, so of course, he didn’t recognize him.

Zuo Yu smiled. “This is the vice president of our Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion, Lord Jiang Chen!”

“Vice President Jiang?”

Yao Yueye was stunned, clearly not expecting the Jiang Chen who had slain Demon Yunhai and fought Yebo to a standstill to be so young. Still, he was old and cunning, and recovered quickly. “This old one is Yao Yueye. I greet Vice President Jiang!”

Jiang Chen nodded and looked at Zuo Yu. “Brother Zuo, you may go back first. Once I’ve handled things here, I will go find Brother Duann and the others!”

“Yes, Lord Vice President!” Zuo Yu immediately excused himself.

Jiang Chen shook his head with a helpless sigh. No matter how he tried to correct him, Zuo Yu always insisted on calling him Vice President.

There was really nothing to be done about it.

He decided to just let him be.

Jiang Chen and Yao Yueye met each other’s gaze. “Let’s talk inside,” Jiang Chen said.

“Mm.”

Yao Yueye closed the door.

He carefully set up several Arrays around the room, checked them over meticulously, and only then did he approach Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen smiled. “You certainly are cautious.”

“Heh heh…”

Yao Yueye gave a bitter laugh, the wrinkles on his old face, like the bark of an ancient tree, trembling slightly. “Since Vice President Jiang has come, it proves this old one’s gamble was correct. Vice President Jiang must also know the secret of that fragmented map!”

Jiang Chen gave a noncommittal reply. “I was merely curious, so I came to investigate.”

Of course, he wasn’t about to tell Yao Yueye that he already possessed a scroll of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map.

‘This is a test.’

Yao Yueye’s eyes darted, and as if not noticing Jiang Chen’s probing, he lowered his voice. “Vice President Jiang, do you know why the strongest experts on our Qiankun Continent are only called Demigods, and not True Gods?”

Jiang Chen shook his head.

Yao Yueye took a deep breath, a look of longing on his face as he slowly explained, “Our Qiankun Continent once had a True God—in fact, there was only ever one True God, and he was Hong God. However, due to certain unforeseen events, Hong God fell, causing our Qiankun Continent’s Ancestral Vein to be damaged. Since then, no True God has ever been born again. No matter how one cultivates, Demigod is the limit!”

“Hong God’s fall meant there were no more True Gods on the Qiankun Continent. However, he left behind a glimmer of hope for future generations to break the shackles of the Demigod realm—the Hong God’s Secret Treasure.”

“Legend has it that the Hong God’s Secret Treasure is the burial place of Hong God himself. It not only contains countless treasures, but also the secret to breaking through the shackles of the Demigod realm. However, to enter the Hong God’s Secret Treasure, one must collect all four pieces of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map. For millions of years, countless predecessors on the Qiankun Continent have searched for the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, but no one has ever managed to assemble all four pieces of the Secret Treasure Map.”

Yao Yueye’s face was flushed as he spoke with excitement, “This old one learned these top secrets of the Qiankun Continent by chance eighty thousand years ago, during that era’s Holy War. During the Holy War, I stumbled into a Secret Realm. Inside that Secret Realm, I was fortunate enough to see a corner of a scroll of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map. This old one originally intended to seize the Secret Treasure Map, but something unexpected happened. My Martial Dao foundation was severed, and to this day I am still stuck in the Early Stage of the Emperor Realm, unable to break through. Now, my lifespan is nearing its end. This old one knows he has no destiny with the Secret Treasure Map. As long as Vice President Jiang is willing to give me one Emperor Yuan Pill, I will tell you the location of that Secret Treasure Map!”

His eyes were filled with eagerness and anticipation.

Faced with death.

Yao Yueye had told Jiang Chen a secret he had guarded for tens of thousands of years.

He was doing it just to survive!

Whether mortals or high-and-mighty Martial Dao masters, all were equally fragile in the face of death.

Jiang Chen’s expression remained impassive.

Inwardly, however, he was communicating with the Black Emperor. ‘That’s the situation. How credible do you think it is? Is it worth making a deal with him?’

“Back then, when the Venerable Emperor obtained the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, he was tracked down and hunted by his enemies before he even had a chance to study it in detail. So, this Emperor doesn’t know much about it either. But a few things he said are correct. The Venerable Emperor did mention that there are four pieces of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map in total, and they are related to breaking the shackles of the Demigod realm.”

The Black Emperor paused, then said, “Boss, the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map is of monumental importance. If this information is true, then it’s as good as us having two pieces of the Secret Treasure Map in our hands.”

‘Alright, I know what to do!’

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, then looked up at the expectant Yao Yueye and said in a deep voice, “A deal with you is not out of the question. However, I have a few conditions!”

“Please, name them!” Yao Yueye said excitedly.

‘He had already revealed the secret of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map just to survive. What else was there to hold back?’

Jiang Chen stared at him with a burning gaze as a Soul Seed materialized in his hand. “This is a Soul Seed. Once you refine it, it will take root in your soul. From now on, your life and death will be at my whim. Of course, I don’t intend to bind you for life. Once I obtain the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map, I will naturally grant you your freedom. Moreover, I can promise you that as long as your information is accurate, I can get you not just an Emperor Yuan Pill for the Middle Stage of the Emperor Realm, but even one for the Late Stage, Peak, or even Perfection Level. Think it over.”

Jiang Chen placed the Soul Seed on the table.

He closed his eyes slightly, quietly waiting for Yao Yueye to make his choice.

Yao Yueye’s eyes flickered. After a moment of hesitation, he said in a low voice, “I am willing!”

BUZZ!

Yao Yueye was decisive. He immediately refined the Soul Seed and stood respectfully before Jiang Chen. “Master!”

“Very good. As long as I obtain the Secret Treasure Map and prove you haven’t lied, I will naturally return your freedom.”

Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction, then said, “I will get you the Emperor Yuan Pill as soon as possible. For now, tell me the location of the Hong God’s Secret Treasure Map.”

“Yes, Master!”

Yao Yueye nodded respectfully and began to speak slowly, “The Secret Treasure Map is located…”