It must be said that this news was incredibly shocking. Ye Chen hadn't even fully settled into his seat before hearing such a stunning piece of information.
What kind of existence was a True Dragon? They were among the mightiest creatures between heaven and earth, and the Primordial Dragon was an invincible existence comparable to Emperors and Sovereigns.
Although not every True Dragon could be as supreme as the Primordial Dragon, how could a True Dragon from the Mythical Era be weak? At the very least, it would be a True Dragon of Great Power level.
Moreover, dragons loved treasure, delighting in collecting endless hoards. It was likely to possess a vast number of priceless treasures from the Mythical Era.
This point alone was enough to make countless people's hearts stir.
In the entire intelligence hall, who knew how many cultivators instantly became excited and fervent.
If one obtained the True Dragon's treasure hoard, there was even a chance to acquire dragon blood. If refined and used for baptism, it would have endless wondrous effects on the human body.
Even Ye Chen couldn't help but feel his eyes grow hot. The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, looking like a little bug on his ear, instantly widened its eyes, its gaze brightening as it urgently said, "Little Yue, let's go, let's go, we must go."
Ye Chen rolled his eyes. "No need to be in such a hurry just yet. This is just a rumor, not necessarily true. Let's listen clearly first."
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor then calmed down, because the True Dragon's secret treasure was far too important, especially for a variant True Dragon like itself.
Although it was also a type of True Dragon, there were ultimately some differences. It all hoped to become a flawless True Dragon. Moreover, the True Dragon's secret treasure might even possess a method to evolve into a Primordial Dragon, which was of utmost importance to it.
The person who had spoken earlier was an old man, seated at the central banquet table in the intelligence hall. His gaze was peaceful as he looked at the numerous powerful figures in the hall, smiling amiably, appearing very simple and ordinary.
However, a glint of shrewdness flashed deep within this old man's eyes, clearly marking him as a cunning individual.
Ye Chen naturally took in the other's expression entirely, a strange look appearing in his own eyes. He did not act rashly but patiently continued listening.
"May I ask, venerable elder, where is the True Dragon's secret treasure located?" a cultivator was the first to inquire.
The others in the intelligence hall all looked at the old man with feverish eyes, filled with anticipation and desire.
The secret treasure of a Mythical Era True Dragon would likely make even those ancient Great Sages' hearts stir, enough to drive anyone to madness.
"It's at—" The old man spoke halfway, raising everyone's anticipation high, then suddenly his expression changed, appearing sorrowful as he shed tears. "Better not to say. Because of this True Dragon treasure, my precious grandsons of many years... they... they..."
Although he didn't finish, everyone who heard sighed slightly upon hearing this. They were probably already deceased.
One cultivator even proactively stepped forward, grasping the old man's withered hand, and sighed softly. "Venerable elder, please tell us. Rest assured, we won't make things difficult for you, and we will give you sufficient compensation, treating it as the price paid for the sacrifice of your two grandsons."
With that, he directly took out a small mountain-like pile of spirit stones and presented them to the old man. "Here are thirty thousand jin of spirit stones, consider it as payment. Fellow Daoists, this venerable elder obtained the True Dragon treasure with great difficulty, having already sacrificed a pair of grandsons. Let's also contribute some wealth, treating it as a transaction, so as not to let the elder give it away for nothing."
Others were also moved by this and stepped forward one after another, taking out piles of spirit stones shimmering with treasure light and stacking them down. In the blink of an eye, there was already a pile of spirit stones more than half the size of a small mountain, stacked high, amounting to as much as five or six million jin. Spiritual energy overflowed and surged, filling the entire intelligence hall.
Among them was even a considerable portion of Heaven and Earth Treasures and sacrificial weapon materials, their treasure light shimmering and shining brilliantly, enough to drive countless people mad, all placed before the old man.
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor was directly dumbfounded. "Holy crap, are these people pigs? How can they be so ridiculously stupid? Anyone can tell this old guy is definitely no good bird, yet they give him so many good things. They're just a bunch of idiots, so easy to fool."
Ye Chen blocked the half-zhang of void around him, preventing the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor's voice from spreading out. He merely focused his gaze on this old man, lost in thought.
That old man was tearfully grateful, tears and snot flowing as he collected all the spirit stones and treasures while grasping the cultivators' hands, filled with gratitude. "Thank you, truly thank you all. Today, I will hand over the treasure map my precious grandsons obtained, selflessly and without reservation."
With that, a tattered ancient scroll truly appeared in his hand. It looked very ancient, carrying a wisp of ancient aura, clearly a scroll that had been lost to the world for who knew how many years.
Upon seeing this ancient scroll, everyone in the intelligence hall became excited again, their gazes burning hotly as they looked at it. However, they were too embarrassed to snatch it from an old man who had even sacrificed his precious grandsons, merely looking at him eagerly, hoping he would hand it over quickly.
After wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes, the old man slowly let out a sigh of relief. "Everyone, since this old man said it today, I won't break my promise. I'll place it here for you all to view together. However, the ancient scroll is extraordinary, especially since it concerns the True Dragon's secret treasure. It's not suitable to open it here, otherwise it might attract the envy of countless people. Please open it only after leaving the city. Moreover, this old man advises you all to go together. The True Dragon's secret treasure is of great significance, not something any single person can swallow alone. Greater numbers mean greater strength."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded, feeling these words made great sense.
Only the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor couldn't help but sneer. "A bunch of idiots, sold out without even knowing it, still helping this old guy count his money. Truly stupid enough."
In the end, the hundred or so cultivators in the intelligence hall, holding the True Dragon secret treasure ancient scroll gifted by the old man, left the entire intelligence hall like the wind, leaving behind only the personnel of the Heavenly God Palace and Ye Chen, one man and one dragon.
That old man couldn't help but reveal a sly smile, but upon seeing Ye Chen still there, he hurriedly stopped, putting on an act of crying with tears and snot, still shedding tears sorrowfully. "My precious grandsons ah—"
After saying this, he even secretly glanced at Ye Chen. Seeing that he seemed completely indifferent, he hurriedly left the intelligence hall.
Ye Chen naturally followed from behind.
However, the moment the old man blended into the crowd, as if sensing Ye Chen's tracking, his entire person seemed to vanish, disappearing without a trace.
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor was dumbfounded. "Where did that old guy go?"
"Over there."
Ye Chen looked towards a kind-faced, honest-looking fat cultivator who was walking at a leisurely, unhurried pace, without any of the previous old man's withered appearance or sorrow.
Although the disguise and makeup were excellent, perhaps even a Saint Lord would be deceived, but they couldn't deceive Ye Chen.
Ye Chen followed silently without a trace.