The auction for the Lotus Codex had ground to an abrupt halt, not because Ye Tai and the Young Palace Master of Wanluo Palace had engaged in a fierce bidding war, but due to a sudden, decisive offer from the cultivator in Luxury Box Number One.
It wasn't just the Young Palace Master who dared not contend further; Ye Qin wisely ceased his own bidding, choosing not to push the matter. At only the fifth level of the Golden Core stage, and having only thirty years to accumulate wealth, it was clear he couldn't compete, either in cultivation level or financial might, against a Nascent Soul cultivator who had dominated the Eastern Sea cultivation world for centuries.
Ye Qin felt a touch of disappointment, coupled with a lingering puzzle. "Why didn't the Nascent Soul Ancestor in Luxury Box Number One act sooner, or later? Why wait until I was already competing with other Golden Core cultivators before swooping in to steal the prize?" He wasn't truly defeated by being outbid by a Nascent Soul master; it was just a regret that the Lotus Codex hadn't fallen into his hands.
"That Ancestor in Box Number One arrived very early," explained Manager Jiang, shaking his head. "The Pavilion Master himself came out to receive the mysterious guest with great reverence. I, myself, do not know which Immortal Palace the Ancestor belongs to."
Manager Jiang continued from within the box, "Elder Ye need not be discouraged. Afterwards, I will check if the Merchant Pavilion has any other top-tier cultivation manuals. While they might not equal the Lotus Codex, they won't be far off."
Just then, a middle-aged cultivator at the early Golden Core stage stepped out from Luxury Box Number One, looking down upon the crowd from mid-air. This man was broad in stature and physique, with a commanding, heroic appearance—the very bearing of a powerful warlord. "This Lotus Codex belongs to my Palace Master! Everyone, cease your contention!"
After speaking, the middle-aged cultivator deliberately turned toward Luxury Box Number Nine in the distance, gave a slight bow, and boomed, "Elder Brother Ye, long time no see! I trust you are well! My Palace Master invites you to step over for a brief gathering!"
"Shi Hanyang!" In Box Number Nine, Ye Qin shot up abruptly, his expression drastically changing. He knew this middle-aged cultivator better than anyone. Who else could it be?
Ye Qin glanced at Shi Hanyang, who was greeting him with a wide smile, and then back at the Luxury Box Number One behind him. His face cycled through countless expressions as thoughts flashed through his mind. "Thirty years. Shi Hanyang returned to the Central Continent carrying an eleventh-grade Ziyou Lotus to help the Sacred Emperor break free. Calculating the time, he should have returned to the Eastern Sea by now." "Shi Hanyang dares to return to the Eastern Sea and appear publicly today; he must have powerful backing."
"The young man with Nascent Soul cultivation in Box Number One sounds somewhat immature. He is likely not the Sacred Emperor in person. It could be one of the Sacred Emperor's Lotus Incarnations, or perhaps another Nascent Soul cultivator." "I wonder where the Sacred Emperor's true body is now? Still in the underground palace, or has he also arrived in the Eastern Sea?" "Running into an agent of the Sacred Emperor at this auction is truly unfortunate. This great figure of the Eastern Sea cultivation world—"
Ye Qin felt bitterness well up as he heard Shi Hanyang’s invitation to meet. He knew he couldn't flee, but since the other party hadn't taken any aggressive action, it seemed they didn't intend him harm. "Husband, which Ancestor is that?"
Huangfu Bing'er looked puzzled. She and Ye Qin had never socialized with that mysterious Nascent Soul cultivator. Grandmaster Sun, Manager Jiang, Shen Bao, and the others were all utterly bewildered, unable to fathom what connection Ye Qin had with the VIP in Box Number One. "That is a senior I happened to meet in the Central Continent long ago. It's been so long, I've almost forgotten. Bing'er, you all wait here for a moment. I will go pay my respects to that Ancestor."
Ye Qin forced a wry smile, though his face remained composed. After speaking, he left Luxury Box Number Nine, flashed forward, traversing tens of meters of space, and appeared at the entrance of Luxury Box Number One. "Elder Brother Ye, please come in!"
Shi Hanyang, ever mature and steady, was genuinely pleased to see his old friend Ye Qin. However, his current cultivation was two full Golden Core tiers below Ye Qin’s, necessitating that he address Ye Qin as 'Elder Brother.' "Elder Brother Shi, please!" Ye Qin smiled wryly; today’s fortune or disaster was impossible to predict. He entered Luxury Box Number One alongside Shi Hanyang. The light barrier surrounding the luxury box instantly reformed, completely isolating them from the outside world.
Inside the spacious Luxury Box Number One, there were more than ten Golden Core cultivators, some standing, some sitting. As soon as these Golden Core cultivators saw Ye Qin enter, they all paid their respects. "Daoist Friend Ye!" "Elder Ye, we pay our respects!" Ye Qin did not recognize them, yet they knew his name.
Ye Qin’s heart tightened; these must be the cultivators the Sacred Emperor had recently recruited. The force the Sacred Emperor had gathered through employment was already quite substantial.
On the main seat in the box sat a young cultivator, sitting upright. He was heroic and flawless in appearance, yet his eyes held a depth suggesting centuries of life, as he sipped fragrant tea. Every movement exuded an innate aura of royalty.
Furthermore, there was a distinct, sacred scent unique to spirit lotuses emanating from him. This aura appearing on a 'person' was incredibly strange.
Upon seeing the young cultivator's appearance, Ye Qin noted a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to the Sacred Emperor, vaguely resembling a younger version of the ruler. Moreover, a five-colored lotus pattern shimmered faintly on his brow, emitting a soft, five-hued light. Ye Qin instantly understood—it was indeed one of the Sacred Emperor’s Lotus Incarnations. A powerful spiritual pressure, invisible yet palpable, immediately made Ye Qin tense; it should possess the strength of the mid-Nascent Soul stage. He immediately bowed respectfully. "Junior Ye Qin pays his respects to Senior Sacred Emperor!"
The young cultivator’s eyes flickered, and he gave a playful, cold sneer. "Kid, we meet again! You stole my ninth-grade Silver-Armored Guard. Is it still on you?"
Although he was merely an incarnation, as a part of the Sacred Emperor, he possessed crystal-clear memories of past events. He clearly recalled the 'debt' from when Ye Qin had taken the Silver-Armored Guard long ago. "It is! I shall return it to Senior at once!"
Ye Qin smiled bitterly. Today was truly bad luck; one ninth-grade Silver-Armored Guard was about to be lost. He was reluctant to part with it, but he found no excuses to refuse. He promptly retrieved the storage pouch containing the Silver-Armored Guard from his waist. Back when the Sacred Emperor was trapped in the earth palace, Ye Qin had dared to take such a great advantage. But now that the Sacred Emperor’s incarnation had arrived in the Eastern Sea, crushing him would be as easy as crushing an ant; he had no desire to provoke further trouble.
"No need. That Silver-Armored Guard was merely a Golden Core puppet I used to guard my palace; it’s of no use now. You keep it. Han Yang mentioned that you offered considerable help when I was acquiring the lotus, allowing me to appear in this world. That counts as settling the score. Gifting you a Silver-Armored Guard balances any past favors. All previous grievances are now wiped clean." The young cultivator waved his hand, showing off his immense wealth by appearing completely unconcerned about the ninth-grade Silver-Armored Guard.
The 'I' he spoke of now referred to this Lotus Incarnation, not the Sacred Emperor's true body. Both Shi Hanyang and Ye Qin held immense kindness toward him.
The Golden Core cultivators in the box watched Ye Qin’s storage pouch with extreme envy. A ninth-grade Silver-Armored Guard was significantly more powerful than they were. "Many thanks, Senior!"
Ye Qin was unexpectedly delighted. He too had been reluctant to hand over the ninth-grade Silver-Armored Guard; it represented a considerable combat boost for his current strength. Since the Sacred Emperor wished to gift it to him, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
While they were chatting, the Lotus Codex that the young cultivator had just purchased was delivered to Luxury Box Number One by the serving maiden.
The young cultivator picked up the wooden lotus-seat figurine with his right hand and sighed slightly. "Speaking of which, this ancient cultivation manual, the Lotus Codex, used to be one of my favorite collectibles. Later, when the Sacred Emperor's Palace was destroyed, this manual vanished, taken by someone unknown. I never imagined that after a thousand years, it would eventually return to my hands."
"The most valuable part of this item is the technique stored within the crystal lotus seed, which I have long since fully comprehended. Keeping it would be a waste. Since you wanted to bid on the Lotus Codex earlier, I shall grant it to you!"
The young cultivator casually tossed it over to Ye Qin.
Ye Qin caught it, but froze, stunned. Had the Sacred Emperor bought the Lotus Codex intending to give it to him? "This Lotus Codex is worth twenty million low-grade spirit stones. Junior is undeserving of such a grand gift!"
After a moment of thought, Ye Qin pushed the lotus-seat figurine back.
"What, are you afraid, or are you unwilling?" Upon seeing Ye Qin refuse the gift, the young cultivator frowned, his expression darkening. He was accustomed to having his gifts accepted; no one dared to refuse what he offered.
"It is not that I am unwilling, but that I cannot. If the Sacred Emperor is willing to sell this item to Junior at the price of twenty million, then I would gladly accept it."
Ye Qin endured the pressure, remaining neither subservient nor defiant. His feud with the Sacred Emperor was settled; he did not wish to incur further obligation.
The young cultivator stared at Ye Qin for a long moment, then his brow suddenly relaxed. "Very well. You are still as fiercely independent as you were back then. Back then, I asked you to pledge fealty, you refused, and even tricked me. I shall sell this Lotus Codex to you, then."
Only then did Ye Qin happily accept the lotus-seat figurine, shaking his head slightly.
"Do you know why I have returned to the Eastern Sea this time?"
"I do not."
"I did not return to the Eastern Sea for revenge this time," the young cultivator said lightly. "My former mortal enemies are either dead or have vanished from the Eastern Sea without a trace. If I seek vengeance, it is not a matter of urgency."
"Then what is the purpose of Senior Sacred Emperor's visit?" Ye Qin asked, puzzled.
"I plan to rebuild the Sacred Emperor's Palace. Coming to White Float City in the Northern Isles, naturally, is to recruit more young cultivators to serve the Sacred Emperor's Palace."
The young cultivator pointed to the dozen or so young Golden Core cultivators in the box. "Everyone present is a Golden Core cultivator with great potential and has already pledged allegiance to my Sacred Emperor's Palace. Your strength and reputation surpass theirs. If you are willing to join me, I can consider offering you extremely generous terms."
Ye Qin’s mind cleared instantly. The reason the Sacred Emperor wanted to see him was to recruit him into the Sacred Emperor's Palace.
However, this thrust Ye Qin into deep contemplation.
If this had happened before he became an Elder of the Purple Sword Palace, he might have considered whether joining the Sacred Emperor's Palace was necessary. But now that he held the title of Elder of the Purple Sword Palace, there was no longer any need for consideration. Even if the Sacred Emperor showed him special favor, the highest position he could likely attain would be that of a Palace Elder—he couldn't expect anything higher. Of course, he didn't greatly value the status of a Purple Sword Palace Elder either.
He held the Elder title mainly because it made many affairs more convenient. Moreover, he had earned the status of Purple Sword Palace Elder by trading the great divine artifact, the Kui Niu Seal; he owed the Purple Sword Palace nothing. If he wished to leave the Purple Sword Palace in the future, he could depart at any time. Why abandon his position as a Purple Sword Palace Elder to needlessly switch allegiance to the Sacred Emperor's Palace?