"Ruo Ya thanks the Great Elder for the promotion." Ruo Ya immediately expressed her delighted gratitude.
The position of the Third Floor's overseeing elder for the Wanbao Pavilion was vastly different from that of the Third Floor's Medicine Hall overseeing elder.
Because the Medicine Hall was contained within the Third Floor, overseeing the entire Third Floor—especially the Third Floor of the Wanbao Pavilion located in the Ascension Ancient Capital—undoubtedly carried immense authority.
Immediately after, she also thanked the Old Divine King, Ye Chen, and the others one by one.
She was very clear in her heart that without Ye Chen and the others, reaching this step would have been extremely difficult for her.
"No need for thanks. Just do well in the future. With administrators like you, the Wanbao Pavilion will only grow better," the Old Divine King chuckled.
"My lord, the Pavilion Master has missed you for a long time. I have already sent word to him. Please proceed to the Main Hall," Great Elder Gu Tian said respectfully.
"Good. It's a perfect chance to see how much Xia Tenglong has progressed over these years," the Old Divine King chuckled.
The group entered the Wanbao Pavilion's Main Hall, which was far more luxurious, dazzling with flowing light and brilliant colors that overwhelmed the senses.
Naturally, Great Elder Gu Tian arranged the best seat of honor for the Old Divine King. When it came to arranging seats for Ye Chen and the others, the Old Divine King said, "Gu Tian, they are honored guests. Do not slight them."
"Yes!"
Great Elder Gu Tian cast a surprised and doubtful glance at Ye Chen and the others, seemingly puzzled about how they had come to know the Old Divine King. However, he dared not show any disrespect and immediately gave orders, arranging several seats of honor for them to sit in.
Not long after, a powerful figure suddenly appeared in the Main Hall, radiating the formidable pressure of a Divine King. It was a majestic middle-aged Divine King, his imposing stature shaking the world, crowned with a royal diadem, his blood energy vigorous and immensely powerful. Dressed in magnificent robes, he carried an awe-inspiring aura.
"Pavilion Master!"
Great Elder Gu Tian and the other Wanbao Pavilion experts hurriedly bowed in greeting.
This person was none other than the current Pavilion Master of the Wanbao Pavilion—Xia Tenglong!
However, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master did not look at them. Instead, his eyes fixed intently on the elderly, seemingly decrepit figure seated in the place of honor. This man, usually stern and unyielding in his majesty, now revealed an emotion difficult to conceal—excitement. "Are you... Brother Tongtian?"
The Old Divine King's cloudy old eyes seemed to glisten with tears. He then chuckled, "Tenglong, after all these years apart, your cultivation has grown far stronger than in the past."
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master strode forward, arriving before the Old Divine King with great joy and excitement. "Brother Tongtian, you flatter me. Back then, it was you who guided me, your younger brother, allowing me to barely break into the Divine King realm. All these years without you by my side, my cultivation has made little progress."
The Old Divine King patted his shoulder. "Sit, everyone sit."
"Good!"
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master sat down as instructed, taking the main seat but shifting it slightly lower, placing it level with—or even slightly beneath—the Old Divine King's throne, showing his respect for the elder.
"Brother Tongtian, after you left all those years ago, where have you been? I've been searching for traces of you, but there was no news. I was very worried."
The Old Divine King shook his head slightly. "Back then, I wished to ascend to the heavens, to step into the Monarch realm. Unfortunately, I failed and went into seclusion. Now, with my lifespan nearly exhausted, I plan to emerge and witness the spectacle of the Imperial Sons and Daughters, the scions of the Immortal Dao, vying for supremacy."
His words carried an undeniable sense of desolation.
Once, the Heaven-Piercing Divine King of that generation was filled with lofty aspirations, possessing a Divine King will that towered over all heavens, seeking to pierce the heavens, become an Emperor, a Sovereign, unparalleled throughout the ages.
Alas, he failed and then lived in seclusion for many years.
Later, due to the emergence of the Reverse Slaughter Emperor Realm and the descent of the Emperor Dao inheritance, he abandoned everything to emerge and strive once more, hoping to obtain the Emperor Dao inheritance and break through his shackles. But in the end, he still failed, even being enslaved by Will and forced to swear a Heavenly Dao oath.
Fortunately, Will did not truly enslave him; the Old Divine King still retained his own freedom.
The current Heaven-Piercing Divine King was no longer the domineering will he once was.
Listening on the side, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master sighed inwardly. A generation's Heaven-Piercing Divine King seemed, to some extent, destined to fade into history.
At this moment, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master finally truly noticed Ye Chen and the others beside him. Seeing they were a group of young geniuses—handsome men and stunningly beautiful women, all possessing extraordinary temperaments—he suddenly laughed heartily. "Brother Tongtian, I never expected that you've finally come around and are willing to take disciples, and have even taken so many. I remember back in the day, becoming your disciple was the dream of countless Heaven's Pride geniuses across the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain—enough to line up from the Wanbao Pavilion all the way to the gates of the Ascension Ancient Capital. Among them were countless individuals of peerless talent, yet you, old sir, stubbornly refused to accept a single one."
He could tell that Ye Chen and the others were each brimming with vitality, possessing powerful innate talent. Even without careful perception, one could sense their formidable cultivation; perhaps some had even reached the Great Power realm.
"Disciples?" The Old Divine King was slightly taken aback, then shook his head. "You're mistaken. They are not my disciples. This old man does not have that qualification."
Hearing this, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master, Great Elder Gu Tian, Elder Ruo Ya, and the other high-ranking Wanbao Pavilion figures were all greatly astonished.
What kind of origins did these young geniuses have that even a supreme old Divine King like the Heaven-Piercing Divine King lacked the qualification to take them as disciples?
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master looked at these young geniuses with surprise and doubt, his gaze especially lingering on Ye Chen, Abenue, and the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor.
Upon careful sensing, he could perceive the cultivation of the other Heaven's Pride talents, and he was secretly shocked. At the very least, they were at the peak of the third level of the Great Power realm, with two even at the Super Great Power level.
However, these three gave him a somewhat obscure feeling, especially the leader, Ye Chen, who felt unprecedentedly elusive, as if his true cultivation level was difficult to ascertain.
This made him particularly suspicious.
"Then who are they?"
"They are a group of honored guests this old man has encountered," the Old Divine King chuckled, his answer somewhat ambiguous.
Although he trusted the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master, he did not reveal Ye Chen's true identity. It was better for fewer people to know about this matter, and he did not wish to bring trouble upon the Wanbao Pavilion.
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master nodded, not probing into Ye Chen and the others' identities. He naturally trusted this old brother, the Old Divine King, understanding that if the elder did not speak, he had his reasons.
"We greet the Pavilion Master!"
Ye Chen and the others also spoke up politely.
"This is Young Friend Ye. She is—" The Old Divine King introduced them one by one with great seriousness, forcing the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master to regard them with heightened respect.
To receive such earnest introductions from the Heaven-Piercing Divine King indicated their origins were far from ordinary.
The two Divine Kings, one old and one middle-aged, reunited as old friends, naturally had much to discuss.
Moreover, the Old Divine King informed the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master not to spread news of his return. For the time being, he would stay in the Heavenly Palace divine temples within the Wanbao Pavilion.
The Wanbao Pavilion held considerable renown within the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain; even Imperial Clans were unwilling to provoke this faction casually.
Naturally, due to the Old Divine King's connection, Ye Chen and the others were assigned a treasure hall within the Heavenly Palace divine temples.
Within the Wanbao Pavilion, they would be relatively much safer.
Ye Chen and his group no longer needed to hide and dodge under the alien race's search. Although they feared nothing, they did not wish for any trouble to arise before the Imperial Son Feast.
Late at night, when all was quiet, the Old Divine King stood up and said with a smile to the still-reluctant-to-part Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master, "Tenglong, it's late. We'll talk more tomorrow."
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master nodded, then hesitated for a moment before finally unable to resist asking, "Brother Tongtian, those young people today, they are—"
The Old Divine King's cloudy eyes narrowed slightly, making him look like an old relic about to step into his coffin and pass away. After a long silence, he said gravely, "Tenglong, their identities are somewhat mysterious. Knowing too much might not be good for you. But one thing is certain: if one day you learn of their identities, even if you have reservations, never kick them when they're down. If possible, help them discreetly if you can. The charcoal sent in today's snow might become tomorrow's immense fortune."
With these words, the Old Divine King heavily patted the other's shoulder several times. His aged figure then vanished, leaving behind a deeply shaken Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master...