An hour later, Ye Xuan and Dao Ling arrived at a branch of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion in the Zhou Tian Universe.
For Cosmic Veins, the Immortal Treasure Pavilion was the only option!
As soon as they arrived, the masked old man appeared before them.
Ye Xuan was slightly stunned, then said, “Senior?”
The masked old man asked, “Young Master Ye, here for Cosmic Veins?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
The old man hesitated, then said, “Young Master Ye, all the Cosmic Veins are with the Pavilion Master. We don’t have any here. If you want them, you can go to her directly!”
He didn’t want to deal with Ye Xuan anymore!
Too slippery!
Ye Xuan smiled, “Senior, you misunderstand! I’m here to sell my blood!”
The old man froze, as did Dao Ling beside him.
Ye Xuan opened his palm, and a drop of essence blood floated out. He said seriously, “Senior, how many Cosmic Veins can my bloodline fetch?”
The old man was silent for a moment, then said, “Young Master Ye, your bloodline is terrifying! But… are you really selling your blood?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Yes!”
Dao Ling suddenly asked, “Brother Ye, your plan was to sell your blood?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “What else? Think I can conjure them? Or rob someone? Even if I tried, I might not win!”
He’d realized that those with Cosmic Veins were mostly Time Realm experts, who usually had few. Robbing Qin Guan would make him rich instantly, but he couldn’t beat her!
The old man asked again, “Young Master Ye, you’re really selling your blood?”
Ye Xuan was exasperated, “Senior, do I look like I’m joking?”
The old man hesitated, then said, “As far as I know, you have backers. Why not ask your family for some?”
Ye Xuan’s heart sank.
Damn it!
Ask his family?
His father?
Forget it! Better to ask his sister, Qing’er, but for something this minor, he didn’t want to bother her.
Qing’er might not have any, but if he asked, she’d get them—likely at the cost of lives!
Better handle it himself!
The old man nodded slightly, “Your bloodline is special. One drop could fetch at least ten Cosmic Veins!”
Ye Xuan exploded, “Ten? Are you sure? *Ten*?”
The old man hesitated, “Maybe less!”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened, “Senior, you’re not joking with me, are you?”
The old man gave a bitter smile, “Why would I joke about this? Your bloodline is special, but Cosmic Veins are extremely rare. To be frank, our pavilion’s stock is less than 10,000. Most freelance Time Realm experts carry no more than ten!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “That few?”
The old man nodded, “Yes, Cosmic Veins are truly scarce!”
Ye Xuan and Dao Ling exchanged glances. The Zhou Clan’s Zhou You had given them 20,000 veins before—beyond generous! And they’d thought it was too little!
They felt a pang of shame.
The old man asked, “Young Master Ye, selling?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “Not anymore!”
He couldn’t degrade his father’s Mad Demon Bloodline. Unless the price was astronomical, he wouldn’t cheapen it!
The old man nodded, saying no more.
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “Senior, doesn’t your pavilion offer loans? Can I borrow some?”
The old man shook his head instantly, “No!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Why not?”
The old man smiled bitterly, “Young Master Ye, if you want Cosmic Veins, ask the Pavilion Master. She has plenty. Our small branch really doesn’t have much. Please don’t target us!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Moments later, Ye Xuan and Dao Ling left.
The old man sighed, “Poor Young Master Ye, reduced to selling blood… but why don’t I feel sympathy? I just want to laugh! Haha…”
“…”
Leaving the pavilion, Ye Xuan and Dao Ling trudged through the starry sky, dejected.
Ye Xuan never imagined he’d be this broke!
Him, lacking money!
They’d tried absorbing Time energy from the River of Time, but it required immense spiritual energy. Their cultivation now demanded terrifying amounts of it.
They understood why some Time Realm experts struggled to progress.
Advancing required money!
Without it, you could only grind slowly—until death!
Dao Ling asked, “Brother Ye, what now?”
Ye Xuan thought, then opened his palm, revealing a mysterious ring—left by his mother!
He hadn’t discovered its purpose yet.
The small tower suddenly said, “Little Tower, try activating the ring.”
Ye Xuan frowned, then channeled his mysterious energy. The ring began to tremble faintly!
Ye Xuan’s eyes lit up, “Damn, it actually works!”
But soon, the ring calmed, and nothing happened.
Ye Xuan was puzzled. What was going on?
Suddenly, the space before him trembled!
Ye Xuan and Dao Ling’s expressions changed. The space split, and an old man stepped out.
He was hunched, clad in a loose black robe, holding a cane.
Seeing him, Ye Xuan and Dao Ling were shocked—they couldn’t sense his aura!
The old man approached Ye Xuan, bowing slightly, “Gu Chuan, at the service of the Young Master!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, “You’re my mother’s man?”
Gu Chuan nodded, “Yes!”
Ye Xuan asked eagerly, “Where’s my mother?”
Gu Chuan replied, “Very far away!”
Far away!
Ye Xuan frowned.
Gu Chuan added, “My master sent me with a message for the Young Master.”
Ye Xuan asked, “What message?”
Gu Chuan said gravely, “The master said this is a contest for the Destiny of the Great Dao. She can’t interfere, nor can your father. Even the Destiny Lady in the Milky Way, suppressing that entity, can only suppress, not act further.”
Ye Xuan was puzzled, “Why?”
Gu Chuan hesitated, “The master didn’t elaborate, only said it concerns you!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Gu Chuan continued, “The master said this contest is crucial for you—a prime chance to prove yourself!”
Before Ye Xuan could speak, the nearby space split, and a sea appeared. On its shore stood a woman!
Qing’er!
Her sudden appearance stunned Ye Xuan.
Gu Chuan’s eyes flashed with fear, his body half-bowed as he stepped aside.
Qing’er turned to Ye Xuan, “This Destiny of the Great Dao contest—do you have confidence?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, “If I don’t, what happens?”
Qing’er said calmly, “Nothing. I’ll kill all your rivals for you!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Dao Ling broke into a cold sweat.
Damn it!
What’s the point of fighting?
Ye Xuan gave a wry smile, “That… doesn’t feel right, does it?”
Qing’er looked at him, “Nothing wrong with it. Don’t listen to that Yang guy’s nonsense. He had a tough life last time, so he wants you to suffer too! You are you. Live your way, do what makes you happy. I’ll always have your back!”
Ye Xuan shook his head, smiling, “Qing’er, you’ll make me lazy!”
Qing’er said, “No problem, I’ll support you!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Dao Ling’s expression froze.
Qing’er added, “If you want to compete, give it a try!”
Ye Xuan said firmly, “I want to try!”
Qing’er looked at him, “Seriously?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Seriously! This time, I don’t want your help. No matter how strong the enemy, I’ll face them myself!”
Qing’er hesitated.
Ye Xuan asked, “Qing’er, what do you want to say?”
Qing’er thought, then said, “Brother, you’re sure you want to compete?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “They call me the Backer King. This time, I want to prove myself!”
Qing’er nodded slightly, “Good!”
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “I heard you’re suppressing the Great Dao Pen?”
Qing’er nodded.
Ye Xuan blinked, “Is it targeting me?”
Qing’er nodded slightly, “Sort of.”
Ye Xuan was confused, “Why target me?”
Qing’er said calmly, “All things have their destinies. The Great Dao Pen merely executes these paths, not controls them…”
She shook her head, then added, “A person’s fate has highs and lows. It wants to enact your bad fate!”
Ye Xuan was puzzled, “What does that mean?”
Qing’er fell silent.
Brother, how do I explain?
After a long pause, she said, “A flower blooms but also wilts. Both are its fate!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “So, it’s out to get me?”
Qing’er nodded.
Ye Xuan exploded, “What the hell? I’ve got no grudge with it! Why’s it after me?”
Great Dao Pen: “…”
Qing’er hesitated, then said, “Flowers wilt, people die—it’s the way of the Great Dao. Your fate has good and bad times. I’m suppressing it to stop it from enacting your bad fate…”
Ye Xuan froze, then said, “So, we’re breaking the rules?”
Qing’er nodded, “Yes.”
Ye Xuan’s expression stiffened.
In the Milky Way, in a small hut, a furious voice erupted, “Damn it! The world thinks I’m the villain, but I’m the victim! No one to hear my grievances! It’s those siblings breaking the rules, disrupting the Great Dao’s order! Argh!”
…
