Chapter 1288: Rotation King

Why does this feel like good news?

After listening to Dong Tai, Chen Mobai instinctively felt a surge of joy.

In the Heavenly River Realm, excluding the mysterious Turtle Treasure, his two most significant connections were with the Heavenly Venerate and True Monarch Yiyuan.

True Monarch Yiyuan was easy to deal with. After all, Chen Mobai had done nothing wrong to the Yiyuan Dao Palace he left behind. Even now, as a branch of the Five Elements Sect, it maintained its original system and independence. The treasury and other assets remained untouched; only the Primal Chaos Bell was taken.

However, the Primal Chaos Bell had requested this voluntarily. To advance to the sixth-tier upper-grade, it willingly affiliated itself with Chen Mobai, who reluctantly accepted it out of deference.

Furthermore, if Chen Mobai, this great figure, had not descended to set things right, the Yiyuan Dao Palace would have long since fallen from its status as a sacred land, perhaps even annihilated by powerful enemies like Bright Venerate Wuxuan Jushi, its mountains shattered and sect destroyed.

From this perspective, True Monarch Yiyuan would even have to thank Chen Mobai after ascending.

Even if the Primal Chaos Bell wished to return to True Monarch Yiyuan in the future, Chen Mobai would not obstruct it.

Therefore, the only connection he needed to worry about was with the Heavenly Venerate.

The Grand Dao Tree was indispensable for Chen Mobai's current achievements.

More precisely, it was the Heavenly Venerate's branch within the Grand Dao Tree.

The reason his cultivation progressed so rapidly, earning him titles like 'potential for God Transformation' and 'potential for Immortality,' was due to empowerment. This meant he didn't need to spend time cultivating protective Dao arts beyond his fundamental cultivation method.

Furthermore, in the Divine Tree Secret Realm, he acquired all five great Immortal Scriptures and twenty-four grand arts of the Longevity Sect. He was, in essence, an unofficial inheritor of the Heavenly Venerate.

Under these circumstances, he genuinely feared future disputes arising from these karmic ties should he encounter the Heavenly Venerate.

After all, the Longevity Sect vanished overnight, and there were suspicions that True Monarch Yiyuan might have also been body-snatched. Internally, Chen Mobai had always kept a respectful distance from the Heavenly Venerate.

This was one of his personal dilemmas, and one that couldn't be resolved quickly.

So, upon hearing about the Heavenly Venerate's current state, he ironically felt that Heaven itself was helping him.

Without needing to be wary of the Heavenly Venerate, Chen Mobai could calmly cultivate to Void Refinement and even Dao Harmonization. He could address this matter later, once his cultivation was complete.

If the Heavenly Venerate had committed no evil, Chen Mobai would assist. But if the Longevity Sect truly had been devoured by the Heavenly Venerate, Chen Mobai would undoubtedly intervene to repay the Longevity Sect's karmic debt.

“This truly gives me cause for concern…”

Of course, on the surface, Chen Mobai feigned worry, expressing concern about the Heavenly Venerate's current predicament.

“With your cultivation, Fellow Daoist, there is currently an excellent opportunity to help the Heavenly Venerate escape this state. By purchasing the scrolls from our Impermanence Pavilion, you can learn everything…”

Seeing Chen Mobai's expression, Dong Tai thought his revelation had moved him. Striking while the iron was hot, he added another piece of information, hoping to secure the transaction.

“Ah, there’s actually an opportunity!”

Chen Mobai’s expression changed to surprise upon hearing this, and he quickly recalled what Ye Qing had mentioned about the reconstruction of the Cycle of Life and Death.

Should I disrupt it?

But this thought flashed for only an instant in his mind before being extinguished. As one who cultivated sacred virtue, Chen Mobai would never commit such a self-serving act that harmed others.

“Fellow Daoist, you must have already guessed. If the Heavenly Venerate returns, he will be one of the top Dao Monarchs in the Spirit Void Immortal Realm. As his inheritor, you would undoubtedly be assigned the most suitable Grand Dao by him, and achieving True Immortal status would be effortless in the future…”

Dong Tai continued speaking, but Chen Mobai forced a smile and sighed, indicating he truly lacked any seventh-tier knowledge for exchange and was willing but unable.

“That’s truly a pity. However, I’ve heard that the Asura Disk and Evil Ghost Disk, parts of the Six Paths Sub-Disks, are in your possession. If you truly have no seventh-tier knowledge, we are willing to accept these two disks as exchange.”

At this moment, Dong Tai finally revealed his true objective.

“It seems your sect indeed has a close relationship with the Demonic Dao.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai’s eyes narrowed, and his expression turned serious.

The Asura Disk belonged to the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao, and the news of it falling into his hands was known only to the two of them and the Spirit Venerate.

Chen Mobai and the Spirit Venerate certainly hadn't revealed it, so it could only have been the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao.

“Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. Our Impermanence Pavilion is merely a business. We never actively delve into our clients' identities. This information was sold to us by a hidden client, and for it, we paid with all the scrolls pertaining to you, Fellow Daoist, and the Longevity Sect, as well as partial intelligence on the Heavenly Venerate.”

Dong Tai defended his organization, stating that not inquiring into clients' backgrounds and identities was the foundation upon which the Impermanence Pavilion had stood across the Five Continents and Four Seas for so many years.

This way, everyone would be willing to conduct transactions.

“Such information can be exchanged for so much intelligence at your establishment?”

Chen Mobai was greatly surprised after hearing this.

“These are not just peak sixth-tier magical artifacts; they are also parts of the Six Paths Sub-Disks. Information regarding their whereabouts is considered sixth-tier knowledge,” Dong Tai explained.

After hearing this, Chen Mobai thought the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao was truly a genius. Even after having the Asura Disk stolen from him, he could still leverage the value of that information to exchange for intelligence at the Impermanence Pavilion.

“I know the whereabouts of the other sub-disks. Can that be exchanged for intelligence on the Heavenly Venerate?” Chen Mobai immediately asked.

“Fellow Daoist, to be frank, information on both the Cycle of Life and Death and the Six Paths Sub-Disks has already been sold to our Impermanence Pavilion by that client. If you were to sell it now, it would be a bit late.”

Dong Tai’s words made Chen Mobai regretfully slap his thigh.

It was no wonder the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao could exchange so much intelligence from the Impermanence Pavilion; it turned out he had directly sold all information related to the Cycle of Life and Death.

He sold off his ancestral inheritance without a pang of conscience.

However, Chen Mobai then realized that Tu Ming probably hadn't told the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao about the Hell Disk falling into his hands. Otherwise, Dong Tai wouldn't have mentioned only the Evil Ghost Disk and the Asura Disk.

However, this information likely wouldn't remain secret for long. As fellow Lords of the Five Directions of Demonic Dao, Tu Ming and the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao would surely collude. When attacking the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect, battle strength allocations would certainly lead to its disclosure.

“I guess that client must have informed your esteemed sect that the Hell Disk is in the hands of Bright Venerate of the Underworld Demonic Sect, right?”

Chen Mobai probed with the question, and as expected, Dong Tai's face showed surprise. After a moment of silence, he nodded.

“Indeed. Could this intelligence be incorrect?”

“As an intelligence organization, doesn’t your esteemed sect verify the truthfulness of your clients’ information?” Chen Mobai asked, somewhat puzzled.

“When clients sell information, if they lack convincing evidence, they must make a Dao-heart vow to confirm their information is true.” Dong Tai did not conceal this, explaining the Impermanence Pavilion’s information verification process.

That is quite rigorous.

Chen Mobai nodded after hearing this, but considering the situation with the Hell Disk, he quickly spotted a loophole.

That was, in the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao’s perception, the Hell Disk was indeed in Tu Ming’s hands, so to him, the information was true.

However, in reality, the Hell Disk had already fallen into Chen Mobai’s grasp.

“Fellow Daoist, if I were to say that the information that person sold you was false, how would you handle it?” Chen Mobai asked after this thought occurred to him.

“Oh, if Fellow Daoist has evidence, we would grant you a corresponding sixth-tier piece of intelligence. As for the client who sold us false information, they would be blacklisted by our Impermanence Pavilion from then on, and perhaps even His Highness, the King of Samsara, would personally seek them out to settle the score.”

Dong Tai’s words made Chen Mobai’s eyes light up.

This was essentially getting a sixth-tier piece of intelligence for free, and it could also cause trouble for the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao.

The King of Samsara of the Impermanence Pavilion was one of the Six Oddities of the World, mysterious and unfathomable, yet undeniably powerful.

“Can this sixth-tier intelligence be exchanged for some of the Heavenly Venerate’s scrolls…” Chen Mobai asked again. For him, this was currently his utmost concern.

“That depends on whether what you say is truly valuable,” Dong Tai replied, not committing to a definite answer. After all, sometimes a very ordinary piece of information could be extremely important to the Impermanence Pavilion.

Moreover, the Heavenly Venerate’s scrolls were lengthy, and he believed that exchanging one or two sections of them for sixth-tier intelligence of equivalent value was feasible.

“The Hell Disk is not in Tu Ming’s hands. That information is false.”

“Oh, Fellow Daoist, do you have any evidence, or are you also willing to make a Dao-heart vow?” Dong Tai’s expression immediately turned solemn, and he pressed for an answer.

For someone like Chen Mobai, who was about to reach Void Refinement, a Dao-heart vow was extremely important. If he were willing to make one, the credibility would essentially be absolute.

But Chen Mobai didn't need to use that as proof. He directly took out the eighteen-angled, jet-black jade disk from his storage pouch.

“The evidence is that the Hell Disk is in my possession.”

Seeing the Hell Disk placed on the table before them, Dong Tai and the Black and White Impermanence beside him were all three equally shocked.

“May I ask, Fellow Daoist, where did you obtain this Hell Disk?” After a long moment, Dong Tai exhaled, seemingly confirming the authenticity of the Hell Disk, then asked.

“That’s another piece of intelligence. What is its value?” Chen Mobai said with an amused smile. He was starting to understand the Impermanence Pavilion’s method of intelligence exchange. No wonder Dong Tai said that 'knowledge' was a broad term; anything relevant counted.

“It counts.” Dong Tai nodded calmly. He needed to confirm where the Lord of the Central Demonic Dao’s intelligence had gone wrong.

“I snatched it from Tu Ming. If he hadn’t been quick to escape, he probably would have died by my sword again right now.”

Chen Mobai’s words sparked Dong Tai’s curiosity again: “Has Bright Venerate died once by your hand, Fellow Daoist? Your answer can be valued as a fifth-tier piece of intelligence.”

“When I participated in the Big Dipper Grand Assembly back then, Bright Venerate believed that I would become a major threat to the Demonic Dao in the future. He ambushed me on the way with the strongest ghost embryo cultivated from a Primal Chaos Body, but I cleaved it with a single sword stroke.”

Chen Mobai’s understated reply caused Dong Tai and the Black and White Impermanence to be greatly shaken.

For other cultivators, a ghost embryo nurtured by a Primal Chaos Body might just be a powerful name. But for ghost cultivators like them, its true value was perfectly clear.

The last ghost embryo of such profound origin to emerge was their very own King of Samsara of the Impermanence Pavilion.

Yet, even such a ghost embryo was cleaved by a single sword strike from this East Desolate Azure Emperor, while both were at the same cultivation realm.

How terrifying was this person’s foundation?

“Then it’s not false intelligence, but merely outdated intelligence.” Dong Tai recovered and, from Chen Mobai's several answers, understood why there were errors in the Hell Disk's intelligence.

“How many of the Heavenly Venerate’s scrolls can those pieces of information exchange for?” After providing the intelligence, Chen Mobai began planning his expenditure.

“There are seven scrolls of the Heavenly Venerate in total. Originally, Fellow Daoist’s information would at most be worth half a scroll. However, upholding the principle of sincerity, this humble establishment can decide to let you view one complete scroll, hoping that our two organizations can have more business dealings in the future.”

Dong Tai was very generous. To cultivate Chen Mobai as a new client, he waved his hand, and suddenly, mist billowed over the table before him, forming illusory scrolls resembling bamboo slips.

Engraved on the scrolls were the words: 'East Pole Azure Splendor Longevity Heavenly Venerate.'

They were differentiated by numbers one to seven.

Seeing this, Chen Mobai’s heart involuntarily stirred.

He was certain that Dong Tai could not be his opponent, especially within the Grand Heaven Veil Earth Net Array.

If he were to act, could he just seize all seven scrolls?

But soon, the Morning Bell chimed in Chen Mobai’s Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, cleansing his mind and dispelling that thought.

Ever since he began cultivating the Primal Demon Talisman and gained an initial understanding of the Grand Dao of Doomsday, Chen Mobai had noticed demonic thoughts occasionally surfacing in his mind.

Fortunately, with the Morning Bell, his vital magic artifact, he could maintain clarity at all times.

Chen Mobai intended to eradicate this hidden danger but found that even if he dissipated all the power of the Grand Dao of Doomsday, as long as a single Primal Demon Talisman he had spread remained, the power of this Grand Dao would continuously surge from the World-Destroying Mill.

It was already deeply entrenched!

Indeed, once one succumbs to the demonic path, there’s no turning back. Demonic cultivation harms both others and oneself.

From his own experience, Chen Mobai profoundly understood why the Heavenly River Realm held such deep hatred for the Demonic Dao.

He could only keep the Morning Bell permanently active, immediately purifying any inner demons that arose, while simultaneously seeking ways to enhance his Grand Dao of Sacred Virtue.

After achieving Dao Harmonization, this problem would no longer be a concern.

“I choose seven.”

Chen Mobai wanted to know the Heavenly Venerate’s latest situation, so he directly chose the last scroll.

“Very well.”

Dong Tai nodded, then, under Chen Mobai’s surprised gaze, picked up the ceremonial tablet resting on the table, stood up, and bowed three times towards the direction of the great earth. A surge of black mist emerged from deep within the earth, flowing through his tablet and into the scroll numbered seven.

After this process, the slightly illusory scroll materialized.

“Fellow Daoist, please!”

Dong Tai picked it up and handed it to Chen Mobai.