Chapter 783 - 784: Not Qualified

Besides, Huangfu Xiuming was only a Tier Eight Triple Peak Martial Emperor. Would he really go to Infinite Mountain’s headquarters to steal something? The Infinite Mountain headquarters is filled with powerful experts and crawling with Martial Emperors. Even an idiot wouldn’t try to steal from there. It would be no different from committing suicide.

Ye Xuan immediately understood. ’This must be a conspiracy by Infinite Mountain.’ He also recalled that Infinite Mountain had long coveted the restricted area of Gale Light Academy, which only strengthened his conviction.

He said coldly, "Why would the Divine Capital expel Huangfu Xiuming? A Seventh Grade Soul Refiner might not be much, but he’s still a core member of the Divine Capital. To expel him, you would need approval from the three executive elders of the Divine Capital’s Law Enforcement Division. How could an announcement be issued the very next day? That’s not even enough time for an investigation, is it?"

"This information is outside the scope of your previous inquiry. It will cost one thousand Upper-Grade Profound Stones," the chilling voice spoke again.

Ye Xuan’s expression was indifferent. Without hesitation, he took out two more Profound Qi Pills.

"The expulsion order wasn’t issued by the Divine Capital’s Law Enforcement Division, but by the Divine Capital’s Emperor Elder Hall."

"’What? The Emperor Elder Hall?’ Ye Xuan was shocked. The Divine Capital’s Emperor Elder Hall represented the supreme will of the Divine Capital. Every single Emperor Elder within was a Ninth-Grade Emperor Level Soul Refiner. A single word from any one of them could decide the fate of most Soul Refiners on the continent.

Now, Ye Xuan was inclined to believe the order had indeed come from the Divine Capital. Only an Emperor Elder from the Emperor Elder Hall could directly expel a Peak of Seventh Grade Soul Refiner without any review.

’But how did Huangfu Xiuming offend the Emperor Elder Hall?’

’The Emperor Elders of the Divine Capital’s Emperor Elder Hall are all illustrious figures, detached from worldly affairs. Why would they pay any attention to a Peak of Seventh Grade Soul Refiner like Huangfu Xiuming?’

’There must be something strange about this.’

"Which Emperor Elder from the Emperor Elder Hall was the one who ordered Huangfu Xiuming’s expulsion?" Ye Xuan asked coldly.

"Apologies, but Heaven Listening Pavilion cannot answer that. The orders of the Divine Capital’s Emperor Elder Hall are top secret. We at Heaven Listening Pavilion only have our suspicions; we cannot definitively determine who issued the order."

Ye Xuan sat quietly on his chair, silent.

He was certain that Heaven Listening Pavilion had some idea, but given their methods, they would never release unconfirmed information.

Information about the Emperor Elders he knew from his past life flashed through Ye Xuan’s mind, his gaze turning icy cold.

’No matter who issued the order, for them to dare do so, they almost certainly have some connection to Infinite Mountain.’

"If you have no further questions, you may leave," the chilling voice said faintly.

"Not so fast." After a long silence, Ye Xuan suddenly looked up, his eyes glinting. "I still have a few more questions."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Xuan picked up the question jade slip in front of him and entered some information.

With a flicker of spatial fluctuation, the jade slip vanished.

Ye Xuan sat there quietly, vaguely sensing a ripple from the person who had received the jade slip. They were clearly shocked by the questions he had asked.

An immediate silence followed, as still as stagnant water.

Ye Xuan’s voice grew heavy. "What’s wrong? Does your esteemed pavilion not know the answers to these questions either?"

Silence again. After a long while, the chilling voice finally spoke, a trace of gravity in its tone. "You are not qualified to know the answers to these questions."

Ye Xuan looked up, his gaze devoid of emotion, and sneered, "How do you know I’m not qualified? Would you like your Heaven Listening Pavilion to test me?"

The chilling voice fell silent for a moment before saying, "There’s no need. No matter who you are, you are not qualified to know the answers to these questions. They concern matters that even we at Heaven Listening Pavilion treat with extreme caution. The price we would have to pay to uncover these answers is too great. We cannot accept this transaction, nor are we able to."

Ye Xuan’s gaze turned cold. He said frostily, "Just because you say you can’t accept, that’s it? These questions are enough to reveal my deepest thoughts and secrets to Heaven Listening Pavilion. Do you realize what kind of situation your refusal puts me in? If you don’t give me an explanation today, I will one day set foot in your Heaven Listening Pavilion headquarters and demand justice."

"Hmph." The chilling voice snorted. "Are you threatening Heaven Listening Pavilion? Besides, the answers to these questions are priceless. Can you even afford them?"

Ye Xuan sneered, "Whether I can afford it is my problem. Whether you name a price is yours. I’ve heard that Heaven Listening Pavilion has always valued its reputation and operates with strict principles. Is this how you conduct yourselves?"

The voice fell silent. After a long time, it said, "Heaven Listening Pavilion truly cannot answer these questions. However, I can give you some information for free as compensation."

Ye Xuan just sat there quietly, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

The chilling voice said, "First, the Yao Yue Martial Emperor you asked about is indeed in the Endless Sea. A hundred years ago, she left the Moon God Palace alone and headed for the Black Dragon Palace in the Endless Sea. But since then, all contact was lost, and she has never been seen again. As for her specific whereabouts, even Heaven Listening Pavilion does not know."

"Second, the Holy City Law Enforcement Hall was involved in the annihilation of the reclusive Dongling branch of the Xia family. This case is shrouded in secrecy and extremely complex. Heaven Listening Pavilion is still investigating the full truth."

"Alright, that is all we at Heaven Listening Pavilion can say."

A cold glint flashed in Ye Xuan’s eyes. He nodded and said, "Fine. Then I’ll take my leave. I hope Heaven Listening Pavilion can keep its mouth shut. Don’t disappoint me."

His gaze was cold as he pushed open the door and left directly.

In a room on the top floor of Heaven Listening Pavilion, a cloaked figure, whose body seemed almost illusory, stood quietly. Behind him stood a portly, middle-aged man with a reverent expression.

"I never expected that on this trip to Purple Beauty City to investigate the opening of the Ancient Demon Land, I would encounter such an interesting person. Every question he asked was of great importance, related to some of the continent’s most hidden secrets. Who in the world is he?" the illusory figure murmured. The voice was ethereal, seemingly both male and female, as if not originating from this space.

The portly middle-aged man said respectfully, "Lord Patrol Envoy, should I have someone follow him and investigate his background?"

The illusory figure shook its head. "No need. This person is extremely shrewd and his methods are astonishing. His appearance, the technique he used to input Profound Sense into the jade slip—it’s all highly unusual, making it very difficult to discern his origins. His disguise technique, in particular... even I couldn’t see through it. A skill like that is probably on par with those old geezers on the continent."

The portly middle-aged man’s expression changed in shock. He said, horrified, "Lord Patrol Envoy, are you suggesting that this person is some reclusive old monster in disguise?"

The illusory figure’s voice deepened. "That’s a possibility. Yet, I distinctly sensed an extremely youthful aura from him. It’s truly bizarre."

"This..." The portly middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, then said respectfully, "To be able to resist Your Excellency’s detection, I believe this person must be some reclusive expert. As for the youthful aura Your Excellency sensed, perhaps it’s some kind of rare treasure on his person that influenced your judgment. Otherwise, how could a mere young man prevent Your Excellency from seeing through him?"

"Perhaps," the illusory figure said, shaking its head. "The Ancient Demon Land has suddenly connected with Celestial Yin Valley, and the ancient seal within is loosening. It’s unknown when it will break. Purple Beauty City is the closest city to Celestial Yin Valley. As the Pavilion Master of the Heaven Listening Pavilion branch here, you must gather good intelligence. There can be absolutely no oversights."

"Yes, sir." The portly middle-aged man bowed his head respectfully.

"’Even the Ancient Demon Land has appeared... Is the continent about to fall into chaos?’" the illusory figure murmured, its tone heavy.

Ye Xuan walked out of Heaven Listening Pavilion, his mind still replaying the intelligence he had just obtained.

"The Holy City Law Enforcement Hall?"

Ye Xuan muttered, his brow furrowed. He had originally thought Infinite Mountain was the one who acted against the Dongling branch of the Xia family, but he never expected the Holy City Law Enforcement Hall to be involved.

The Holy City Law Enforcement Hall represents the supreme will of the Profound Domain. Every action it takes can be said to represent the stance of the Profound Domain. Just what did the Dongling Xia family do to make the Profound Domain Sacred City move against them?

And Huangfu Xiuming’s trespassing into Infinite Mountain at night actually provoked the Divine Capital’s Emperor Elder Hall into expelling him. What was the connection between these two events?

Ye Xuan keenly sensed that there was definitely an inside story he was not privy to.

However, Ye Xuan knew that with his current cultivation level, he couldn’t get involved in these matters for the time being.

Fortunately, he had finally gotten news about Huangfu Xiuming.

Although Huangfu Xiuming’s current situation was not good, as long as he was still alive, there was hope.

’Just... Yao Yue, where are you?’

Ye Xuan sighed inwardly. He couldn’t help but think of Yao Yue Martial Emperor, a worried expression appearing on his face.

With no news of her whereabouts for a hundred years, how could Ye Xuan not worry about her?

Thankfully, Yao Yue Martial Emperor’s cultivation was heaven-defying. Ye Xuan was sure she must still be alive.

Having lived two lives and walked a difficult path, Ye Xuan was getting closer and closer to his previous life’s cultivation level. Yet, he was also learning, one by one, that his closest friends from the past were in danger. It was hard not to feel a sense of oppression.

"Have you guys heard? Infinite Mountain is looking for a young man named Xuan Ye. They’re offering a huge reward for anyone who catches him."

"I heard about that. They say he appeared in Celestial Yin Valley not long ago. If he came out, he must still be in the Profound Realm Third Heaven. If we can catch him, we’ll be rich!"

"You can say that again! Besides him, there’s also an Infinite Mountain disciple named Qi Cheng. If you catch both of them, Infinite Mountain has promised to let the captor join them as an elder, no questions asked. Tsk tsk, even though an elder is only mid-level in Infinite Mountain, in the Profound Realm Third Heaven, that’s a major figure."

Just as Ye Xuan was leaving Heaven Listening Pavilion, the conversation of a few people nearby immediately caught his attention.

’Infinite Mountain is after me and Zhan Shang?’ Ye Xuan’s heart went cold. He immediately walked over to the group of people who were talking.

"Excuse me..."

"Hm?" The people talking sensed a stranger approaching and immediately stopped their conversation, looking at Ye Xuan warily.

Although Purple Beauty City was a city where large-scale fighting was forbidden, occasional conflicts still occurred. With countless experts gathered in Purple Beauty City now, the sudden approach of a stranger naturally made them vigilant.