Chapter 676: It Had to Be You

“Junior Brother Xu!”

Her voice had lost its usual lazy charm, now tinged with a hint of gravity.

Xu Yunfan’s expression was calm as usual. Feigning ignorance, he cupped his hands and said, “Senior Sister Dongming.”

“Those three natives from the Aitira Realm… they’re simply… simply shameless beyond belief!”

Xu Yunfan feigned a slight surprise. “Senior Sister, you’ve already been to Aitira? What did you find?”

The moment Xu Yunfan asked what she had found, she recalled her encounter in Aitira, and her chest heaved with rage.

“The Main God of Light turtles in his Divine Country, bolstered by the Wish Power of hundreds of millions of believers. His defense is like a tortoise shell.

The Main God of Darkness hides in the shadows, resorting to every dirty trick and sneak attack imaginable. But the most hateful one is the Main God of Nature. He creates thousands of incarnations, merging with the mountains, rivers, and plants. You can’t kill him, and you can’t shake him off. He’s incredibly tricky, and he has the home-field advantage.

I used every trick up my sleeve, destroyed three of his Natural Divine Countries, and severely wounded the Origin of the Main God of Darkness, but I fell into a trap. My Dao Foundation was corrupted by Natural Divine Power, and worse, the three of them worked together to trigger a backlash from the realm’s Origin, forcing me to retreat.”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Her slender, jade-like hands gripped the armrests of her throne, knuckles turning white.

“If my Nine Nether Profound Evil Dao Fruit wasn’t skilled in perception and evasion, allowing me to escape in time, I fear I would have perished in that barbaric land!”

Xu Yunfan heard this, but his expression remained perfectly calm. ‘Although the Aitira Great Realm isn’t as high-ranked as the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, it was still capable of producing three Dao Fruits. If an Early-Stage Golden Core Realm True Monarch like her goes over and gets noticed by the realm’s Celestial Dao, she’ll learn what it means to be a hero far from home with no freedom to act.’

She raised her eyes, her gaze burning as she stared at Xu Yunfan.

“Junior Brother Xu, you are now a Core Sect disciple of our Primordial Sect and have received the Daoist Lord’s favor. We’re all family here. And since we’re family, let’s not speak like outsiders. You have personal experience with this realm, so you must know its secrets. Can you help me? I need you to help me break this stalemate!”

Xu Yunfan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression placid. His Purple Gold Daoist Robe flowed with a faint light in the gloomy hall, a stark contrast to the surrounding Yin Evil.

He didn’t respond, merely watching True Monarch Dong Ming quietly, his face showing a hint of reluctance.

“Senior Sister, please understand. I have only just entered the Golden Core Realm. Although I’m a True Monarch now, my foundation isn’t very stable yet. Besides, I still need to figure out my future path and practice my own new methods. I really can’t get away!”

Seeing him so resistant, True Monarch Dong Ming cursed inwardly. ‘As expected of a Primordial Sect disciple. They’re all cut from the same cloth.’

‘You can’t even dream of getting them to do anything unless you lay out some real benefits.’

She took a deep breath, suppressing the roiling qi and blood within her. Her voice softened, carrying an unprecedented mix of sincerity and temptation.

“Senior Sister understands what you’re thinking. A Primordial Sect disciple never acts without profit. Name your terms!”

A look of difficulty remained on Xu Yunfan’s face.

“Senior Sister, I’m not the kind of person to take advantage of someone’s misfortune. You’ve misjudged me.”

Hearing this made True Monarch Dong Ming even angrier. She paused, then gritted her teeth and said, “I can give you a complete copy of all my cultivation insights and experiences regarding the bottlenecks from the Golden Core Early Stage to the Middle Stage.

With no reservations! This is the very foundation of the Dao path. You should know how valuable it is!”

Seeing Xu Yunfan still beating around the bush, she parted her red lips.

“If you agree, Senior Sister can perform the Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Method with you. My Nine Nether Profound Evil is of the Supreme Yin and Cold, while your Divine Sky Thunderbolt is of the ultimate hardness and Supreme Yang. The union of Yin and Yang is a supreme Great Dao.

It will be of immense benefit to both of us in stabilizing our Golden Cores and comprehending the cycle of Yin and Yang!

This is my Tao Body Primordial Yin, the very essence of my ten thousand years of Cultivation!”

A strange blush crept onto her cheeks, unclear if it was from shame, anger, or a flare-up of her injuries.

Xu Yunfan’s eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly.

“Didn’t we already perform Dual Cultivation last time, Senior Sister? How do you still have your Primordial Yin?”

True Monarch Dong Ming chuckled. “Dual Cultivation is one thing, but I didn’t release my Primordial Yin.”

‘So there’s a distinction like that.’ Xu Yunfan was instantly tempted. ‘The Primordial Yin of a veteran Golden Core True Monarch… if I could obtain that, my Daoist Cultivation would definitely soar.’

Seeing Xu Yunfan waver, True Monarch Dong Ming decided to strike while the iron was hot.

“And that’s not all. The Three Great Main Gods of the Aitira Realm all possess Dao Fruits. The Eternal Night Descent Dao Fruit of the Main God of Darkness, in particular, is perfectly compatible with the Nine Nether Profound Evil Great Dao that I cultivate.

If I can seize and refine it, I’ll have a thirty percent chance of breaking through to the Mid-Stage Golden Core.

And the Great Brightness Infinite Dao Fruit of the Main God of Light and the All Things Breathing Dao Fruit of the Main God of Nature would be excellent nourishment for the Yin-Yang Harmony of your Divine Sky Dao Fruit and the evolution of your Grotto Heaven!

When the time comes, we’ll join forces, and we can each take one. How about it?”

She stared intently at Xu Yunfan.

“Junior Brother Xu, I’ve shown my utmost sincerity. The Aitira Realm is an ownerless Great Realm with a profound Origin. This is an opportunity that comes once in a thousand years.

If we miss this chance, and wait for the Three Great Main Gods to recover their Primordial Qi, or for other True Monarchs to take notice, plotting against them again will be as difficult as ascending to heaven.”

Xu Yunfan was genuinely moved. But the act had to continue. A look of temptation mixed with hesitation appeared on his face.

The great hall fell silent, the only sound being True Monarch Dong Ming’s slightly ragged breathing.

The Nine Nether Evil Mist churned restlessly around her, betraying her inner anxiety.

Xu Yunfan was silent for a moment. Then, on his face that was as still as an old well, a brilliant and utterly sincere smile slowly blossomed.

It was like a frozen river thawing, like spring returning to the earth.

“Senior Sister Dongming,”

His voice was clear and bright, carrying just the right amount of eagerness.

“You should have just said so! We are fellow disciples; it’s our duty to watch over and help each other. Senior Sister, you’ve been so generous—offering to pass on your teachings, and also… ahem, provide your vigorous assistance. You’re even willing to share the opportunity of the Dao Fruits. If I were to refuse again, wouldn’t I be ungracious?”

He took a step forward and cupped his hands.

“Regarding the Aitira Realm, I do indeed know a thing or two. The origins of the Three Great Main Gods, the weaknesses of their Divine Countries, and even the flaws in their joint attacks—I know them all. What’s more, I have an inside contact in Aitira, so we should be able to set some traps. When does Senior Sister wish to depart? This Junior Brother is willing to offer his humble service!”

True Monarch Dong Ming looked at the utterly sincere smile on his face, her eye twitched violently, and she cursed inwardly.

‘You little sly fox! You won’t lift a finger without seeing a reward!’

But on the surface, she looked relieved and forced a smile. “Good! Good! Junior Brother Xu is indeed straightforward! There’s no time to waste. Let me regulate my breathing for a bit. In three days, we will enter Aitira again!”

Seeing Xu Yunfan remain silent, with a look that said ‘I’m waiting’, True Monarch Dong Ming didn’t dally.

She raised her hand and tossed out a jet-black Jade Scroll, within which a dark light swirled.

“This contains my Golden Core cultivation insights, the true path of cultivation. Junior Brother Xu, you may take a look first. As for the matter of Dual Cultivation…”

Her gaze shifted, carrying an indescribable meaning.

“After I’ve recovered in three days, it won’t be too late to discuss the details.”

Xu Yunfan accepted the Jade Scroll. He swept it with his Divine Thought and confirmed that its contents were vast and profound—unmistakably the insights of a True Monarch. His smile widened.

“Senior Sister is absolutely right! I shall return to my mountain to prepare. In three days, I will await your esteemed arrival!”

With a flash of Purple Gold Thunder Light, Xu Yunfan’s figure vanished from the great hall.

True Monarch Dong Ming watched the spot where he had disappeared. The forced smile on her face instantly vanished, replaced by deep weariness and a flicker of pained regret.

“This brat has a huge appetite!”

She muttered to herself, stroking a wound on her chest so deep the bone was visible. The faint image of a green vine was wrapped around it, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.