“Fellow Daoist Beichen, what do you think of that warning?” Yuan Xia asked.
“To be honest, I am not sure whether I should believe it or not. But you, Fellow Daoist Yuan Xia, you are a member of the Dao Alliance after all. How do you view such a warning?” Lin Yun countered.
Yuan Xia spoke earnestly. “That warning has been echoing in my mind ever since. I do not know the intention of the person who left it. I have tried to look up any information about this ‘Golden Monarch of Destruction’, yet I found absolutely nothing.”
Hearing this, Lin Yun immediately understood. Yuan Xia had clearly been affected by those words.
Or rather, that sentence had, to some extent, shaken his convictions.
“Could it be that an enemy of the Dao Alliance deliberately did this?” Lin Yun suggested.
Yuan Xia nodded. “I have considered that possibility. It is not impossible.”
He then looked up at Lin Yun. “Fellow Daoist Beichen should know that the Dao Alliance enjoys an excellent reputation among the human race. It is supported by countless common folk in the ancestral land because it has protected so many people. Yet after staying in the Dao Alliance for so long, there are certain practices of theirs that I find hard to understand.”
Yuan Xia continued. “In the past, I did not think much about it, but after seeing the warning in the golden pagoda, I have begun to waver and harbour doubts.”
“Oh? What practices?” Lin Yun asked curiously.
“You are not part of the Dao Alliance after all. There are some things I cannot tell you.” Yuan Xia looked at Lin Yun.
Hearing this, Lin Yun did not press further.
Still, Lin Yun knew that, as a member of the Dao Alliance, Yuan Xia definitely knew far more than he did.
“By the way, Fellow Daoist Yuan Xia, would you mind showing me around the Dual Venerates Pavilion?” Lin Yun took the initiative to suggest.
He wanted to use this chance to locate the exact position of the Heart of Origin.
“Of course. However, I can only take you to ordinary areas. Since you are not a member of the Dual Venerates Pavilion, certain important locations are off-limits to you,” Yuan Xia replied.
“That goes without saying.” Lin Yun smiled and nodded.
“Let us go, then.”
Yuan Xia stood up and removed the space seal at the same time.
Under Yuan Xia’s guidance, Lin Yun left the courtyard and began strolling through the Dual Venerates Pavilion.
After leaving the mountain, Yuan Xia brought Lin Yun to the great plaza of the pavilion.
The plaza bustled with activity. Many disciples were practising martial arts or sparring.
Wherever the two passed, disciples would greet Yuan Xia with salutes.
Lin Yun quietly tried to sense the Heart of Origin.
“Fellow Daoist Beichen, if I may be so bold, what exactly is your background? Which Supreme stands behind you? It must be a reclusive Supreme who has not founded any force, correct?” Yuan Xia asked as they walked.
Last time, Lin Yun had displayed astonishing prowess while only at the Triple Tongtian Realm, and his various methods had convinced Yuan Xia that, since Lin Yun did not belong to any major power, there absolutely had to be a Supreme backing him.
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Xia, I will be completely honest. There is truly no Supreme behind me,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Oh? But the techniques you have shown…” Yuan Xia looked at him in shock.
“I have simply been rather lucky,” Lin Yun replied, still smiling.
“If you genuinely have not joined any force, then you could consider joining our Dual Venerates Pavilion. With your Transformation Dao Realm cultivation, you would qualify to become an elder here. Having that status would make travelling the jianghu much more convenient,” Yuan Xia offered directly.
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Xia, I am afraid I cannot,” Lin Yun said, shaking his head with a smile.
“Alternatively, you could become a guest elder of our pavilion. That would impose far fewer restrictions on you. We would only summon you when the pavilion truly needs you, and you would still enjoy certain resources and benefits,” Yuan Xia suggested.
“I will think about it,” was all Lin Yun could say for now.
After all, as the Young Lord of the Immeasurable Heavenly Palace, he could not casually join another power. Doing so would bind him to that force to some degree.
What if the Dual Venerates Pavilion and the Immeasurable Heavenly Palace ever came into conflict over interests?
“Fine. Take your time to consider. For now, let me show you around a bit more,” Yuan Xia said.
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Xia, what is that place over there?” Lin Yun pointed towards the left side beyond the plaza.
He had already confirmed that the area the Origin Tree was sensing lay in that direction, not far from the plaza.
