Chapter 89

As the survivors of the expedition to the Imperial Pole Star Domain secret realm returned one after another to their respective forces, news of the various astonishing events that occurred there, and the name of the one who rose like a comet and ultimately seized the greatest Great Creation—Ye Wuque—spread like wings, quickly circulating throughout the Central Region and even the entire Boundless Heaven.

"Have you heard? Something big happened over at the Imperial Pole Star Domain! The three major hegemonic forces joined forces in their scheming, only to have a young man named Ye Wuque from the vast, desolate Lower Three Heavens snatch the peach!"

"Not just snatching the peach! I heard he single-handedly fought against the masses, and even Ye Family's forty-ninth ranked Ye Xingchen was ruthlessly suppressed and killed by him!"

"Real or fake? Ye Xingchen is a renowned Heavenly Pride! It's said he bears his natal heart thunder, enjoying considerable prestige within the Ye Clan, and can fight above his rank!"

"Absolutely certain! At that time, the prospective Daoist son of the Dao Heaven Immortal Pavilion and the nineteenth prince of the Immortal Dynasty of the Suppressed Heaven were both present, yet they dared not contend with him!"

"Hiss... That's too ferocious! What happened next?"

"Afterwards it got even more outrageous! I heard a terrifying old monster, a Bane Creature, pop out in the secret realm; it seemed to know Ye Wuque, saying it had almost been beaten to death by the aftermath of Ye Wuque's battle... and then Ye Wuque vanished into thin air right under the noses of that Bane Creature and the Ye Family elders!"

"This... how is this possible? Could Ye Wuque be the reincarnation of some old monster?"

"Who knows! Anyway, the news is spreading like crazy now! They say he not only has that clump of heaven-defying Chaotic Origin obtained from the secret realm, but also a supreme treasure that allowed him to escape with his life from the hands of the Bane Sovereign!"

"Chaotic Origin... that's said to be the legendary treasure for comprehending the Dao! It's rumored to allow one to glimpse the mysteries beyond Immortality!"

In taverns and teahouses, in the folk secret realms, countless cultivators are hotly discussing this matter.

Ye Wuque's name, for the first time, spread so resoundingly throughout the Boundless Heaven—not merely because of Shenzun's protection, but more due to his own unfathomable strength and legendary experiences.

Greed, like wildfire, began to sprout in the hearts of many.

Heaven-defying Chaotic Origin!

Mysterious life-preserving treasure!

And possibly other opportunities that may exist!

All of this is concentrated on a young man from the Lower Three Heavens who appears to have no powerful background, merely fortunate enough to have gained Shenzun's favor!

This is practically like a three-year-old child carrying gold through the market—how could it not arouse covetousness?

Although Shenzun's deterrent power remains formidable, the lure of profit is enough to drive many to take risks.

Especially some powerful lone cultivators, or certain sect forces that rely on their own foundations and act covertly, have already begun secretly inquiring about Ye Wuque's whereabouts, eager to make a move.

The waters of the Boundless Heaven, because of Ye Wuque, have quietly turned turbid, with undercurrents surging.

……

The Immortal Dynasty of the Suppressed Heaven, deep within the central celestial palace.

The external turmoil seemingly could not directly affect the core of this immortal dynasty.

Inside a grand and luxurious hall flowing with immortal golden radiance, the atmosphere was equally solemn and oppressive.

The Immortal Dynasty's sovereign, Duan Qiongcang, sat enthroned upon the Nine-Dragon Imperial Throne; his visage blurred within the thick imperial dragon aura, only a pair of deep eyes opening and closing revealed an awe-inspiring majesty and a faint, hardly perceptible gloom.

Below, the imperial uncle, Duan Tianxiao, stood with hands at his sides, presently reporting in detail everything that had occurred in the secret realm, leaving no matter great or small unmentioned.

Starting from the initial secret realm, to the gruesome emergence of the Heaven‑Swallowing Evil Emperor Dragon, then to the realm restrictions after the stone gate, and finally focusing on how Ye Wuque suppressed Ye Xingchen, monopolized the Chaotic Origin, and lastly the eerie attitude of that terrifying Bane Sovereign and Ye Wuque's mysterious escape.

"...... In the end, that clump of primordial Chaotic Origin can almost be said to have definitely fallen entirely into Ye Wuque's hands. This youth's methods are uncanny, the speed of his strength advancement is shocking to hear, and he possesses an unimaginable escape secret treasure."

Duan Tianxiao finally concluded, his tone tinged with unwillingness and a trace of lingering fear.

Inside the Great Hall, a profound silence reigned—so quiet that the fall of a pin could be heard.

Standing to the side, the nineteenth prince, Duan Xingming, felt his face flush alternately green and pale; sensing his father's substantive gaze sweep over him, he abruptly knelt to the ground, his voice laden with shame and trembling:

"Yes... yes, it is my child's inadequacy! Unable to retrieve the treasure for my father emperor, instead I have brought disgrace upon our immortal dynasty! Please, father emperor, mete out punishment!"

"Worthless trash!"

The sovereign Duan Qiongcang's voice rang out like the cold clash of metal and stone, suddenly erupting with undisguised fury!

"Having gathered the strength of the three major hegemonic forces and laid plans for so long, we ended up doing the work for another! Finally, we even have to rely on Me personally stepping in to clean up the mess! What use are you to Me?!"

The terrifying imperial might pressed down on Duan Xingming like a mountain, making his very bones groan, almost forcing him to prostrate himself.

"Get lost! Confined for fifty years of reflection! Not a single step may you leave the sleeping palace! If you commit another act of incompetence, don't blame Me for setting aside father‑son affection!"

"Yes... yes! Thank you, father emperor, for your mercy! Your child obeys the decree!"

Duan Xingming felt as if granted a great pardon, yet his face turned ashen; fifty years of confinement meant he would completely miss the immortal dynasty's forthcoming crucial resource allocation and cultivation, almost as if he were being half‑abandoned.

He with difficulty kowtowed, then fled the hall in disgrace.

In a corner of the hall, a beautiful and richly clad consort, seeing her son's plight, instantly lost color in her face, her delicate frame trembling slightly, almost collapsing, her eyes filled with terror and despair.

Duan Xingming was her son; this time he represented the immortal dynasty in entering the secret realm, and it was also the result she had striven for—she had originally hoped to add capital to her son, but never imagined it would end like this!

She knew that as Xingming lost favor, her own standing in the rear palace would also become precarious.

But she clenched her lips tight, daring not to make a sound, fearing to provoke the sovereign who was now in a towering rage.

A high‑ranking official in court robes, seeing this, stepped forward cautiously and ventured a proposal:

"Your Majesty, that treasure is of utmost importance; it must absolutely not fall into outsiders' hands, especially since although Ye Wuque has the backing of Shenzun, he ultimately comes from the Lower Three Heavens—perhaps... we could dispatch powerful agents to covertly seize him and retrieve the treasure?"