Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Jiang Chen held the Celestial Venerable Level VIP Token, idly turning it over in his hand.

The VIP Token seemed to be forged from a special metal. It was cool to the touch, and remarkably thick and heavy.

It bore the unique symbol and brand of the Celestial Secret Pavilion!

It would be incredibly difficult for anyone to counterfeit!

’It’s already the twenty-seventh day of the second month, so the third day of the third month is just a few days away. I should probably set out in the next day or two,’ Jiang Chen thought, his gaze sharp. ’I hear the Luotian Dynasty’s Imperial Capital has the largest Celestial Secret Pavilion. Perhaps I can find some refining materials there to further upgrade the Spirit-Slaying Sword. I also need to buy some Spirit Medicine to concoct a few Sixth-grade Pills for the auction. I have to earn some resources for the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect!’

The strength of a Sect was inseparable from abundant resources!

The Cloud Domain.

On the entire Eastern Continent, it was nothing more than a small, remote backwater.

Its resources were utterly scarce.

To cultivate more powerful experts, they had to find a way to bring back a large amount of resources from the outside world.

But the Eastern Continent was in turmoil, and one Upper Grade Dynasty after another was warring and conquering. For the still-weak Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect, launching their own conquests wasn’t realistic.

The only option was to earn those resources himself!

’First, I’ll get things in order at the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect, then I’ll head to Celestial Secret Mountain!’ Jiang Chen thought, having already made his decision.

Immediately, he summoned Lui Yifa and the others to arrange matters for while he was away.

In the current Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect, Jiang Chen’s word was law.

His prestige was second to none!

He didn’t have to worry about chaos breaking out in the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect even if he left. The only headache for Jiang Chen was that Black Emperor, Little White, and Xiaoyou were all clamoring to go to Celestial Secret Mountain with him.

Xiaoyou had long since become fast friends with Black Emperor and Little White.

Xiaoyou, looking like a porcelain doll, sat on Little White’s back while Black Emperor lazed atop Little White’s head.

And then there was Little White, with its aggrieved expression.

All of them were staring at him with pitiful eyes.

”Boss, just take us with you! I promise I won’t cause any trouble!” Little White said, patting its furry chest with a paw.

Black Emperor nodded. ”Jiang Chen, you have to trust in my beastly integrity!”

Jiang Chen felt his brow darken. ”Beastly integrity? Why don’t you just say defective product...”

He shook his head, speechless.

Seeing that Jiang Chen was unmoved, Black Emperor quickly nudged Xiaoyou, winking and nodding at her.

Xiaoyou paused for a moment, then a sly look appeared on her chubby, pink face. She hopped off Little White’s back, grabbed the corner of Jiang Chen’s clothes with her two small hands, and swayed back and forth. In a clear, sweet voice, she pleaded, ”Brother, please take Xiaoyou with you! Please? Xiaoyou has never seen what Celestial Secret Mountain looks like!”

Seeing Xiaoyou’s sad expression, Jiang Chen rubbed his forehead and said with a wry smile, ”Alright, fine. I’ll take all of you with me!”

”Yay! Brother is the best!”

Xiaoyou giggled.

Jiang Chen shook his head helplessly. Seeing Xiaoyou happily laughing and playing with Black Emperor and Little White warmed his heart.

...

「Celestial Secret Mountain.」

It was located just outside the Imperial Capital City of the Eastern Continent’s number one dynasty, the Luotian Dynasty.

The entire Celestial Secret Mountain was a state within a state, not subject to the Luotian Dynasty’s jurisdiction, occupying a hundred-mile radius around the mountain.

This was the headquarters for all the Celestial Secret Pavilions on the Eastern Continent!

At the same time... this was also the lair of the Celestial Secret Elder!

For the past few days, experts from all over the Eastern Continent had been continuously gathering at Celestial Secret Mountain.

With the third day of the third month still two days away, most people weren’t in a rush to go to Celestial Secret Mountain. Instead, they gathered in the Luotian Dynasty’s Imperial Capital, ’Celestial Capital City’.

As the foremost dynasty of the Eastern Continent, the Luotian Dynasty’s national power was self-evident. The Celestial Secret Pavilion had also established its largest branch on the continent within Celestial Capital City.

The Celestial Secret Pavilion had everything one could ask for.

From high-end goods like Profound Weapons and Spirit Medicine down to daily necessities like food, clothing, and lodging, it encompassed almost every imaginable commodity!

At this moment, inside the Celestial Secret Pavilion in Celestial Capital City.

Jiang Chen, dressed in sharp black attire, strolled leisurely. Beside him followed Little White, who resembled a large white dog, with Black Emperor perched lazily on its head.

Xiaoyou sat astride Little White’s back, her big, dark eyes wide with curiosity as she gazed at her surroundings.

’Hm? The Celestial Secret Pavilion even has a place that sells children’s clothes?’

Just as they were passing a tailor shop, Jiang Chen spotted some children’s clothes inside. He glanced at Xiaoyou, who was wearing the disciple uniform of the Heaven-Soaring Saint Sect, and smiled slightly. ”Xiaoyou, how about I take you to buy some pretty clothes?”

”Buy clothes? Okay, okay!” Xiaoyou said excitedly.

Black Emperor’s eyes widened. He asked tentatively, ”Jiang Chen, can this Emperor and Little White go for a stroll outside?”

”No!”

Jiang Chen shot it a harsh glare. ”Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You’re going to stay right here and keep Xiaoyou company while she shops for clothes!”

”Sigh...”

Black Emperor heaved a heavy sigh.

’I just passed several brothels, full of chirping orioles and flitting swallows,’ it thought. ’The girls there looked so lovely and fresh... but alas, Jiang Chen won’t let me go!’

It flopped lazily onto Little White’s head, wearing an expression that said life was no longer worth living.

”Well now, a valued customer has arrived! Forgive me for not greeting you sooner. What can I help you with today?” a shop assistant at the tailor shop asked enthusiastically.

Jiang Chen pointed to Xiaoyou and smiled. ”I’d like to buy a few new outfits for my little sister!”

”Right away! This way, please!”

the assistant said with a cheerful smile.

He led Jiang Chen and Xiaoyou to the girls’ clothing section, pointed at the dazzling array of exceptionally beautiful clothes, and said, ”Valued customer, what do you think of these?”

Jiang Chen smiled. ”Let Xiaoyou choose for herself!”

Xiaoyou jumped down from Jiang Chen’s arms and began picking out clothes under the assistant’s guidance.

Jiang Chen watched quietly.

But after looking around for a bit, he noticed that the initial excitement and happiness had vanished from Xiaoyou’s face. She walked over to him dejectedly, tugged on his sleeve, and said in a small, clear voice, ”Brother, let’s go!”

”Hm?”

Jiang Chen was taken aback. ”What’s wrong, Xiaoyou? Don’t you like these clothes?” he asked.

”No, it’s just... I don’t want to buy them anymore!” Xiaoyou said, shaking her head.

Jiang Chen frowned and turned a questioning gaze to the shop assistant.

The assistant gave a wry smile. ”I had just picked out a few outfits for her, and she seemed to like them at first. But as soon as she heard the prices, she went quiet!”

”...”

Jiang Chen finally understood.

’So she thought they were too expensive and was afraid of being a burden to me!’

Jiang Chen let out a laugh, playfully tapping Xiaoyou on her delicate nose. ”You silly girl, what are you thinking about? Don’t worry, your brother has money. Just pick whatever you want! As long as you like it, I’ll buy it for you!”

”But... Brother, the clothes here are so expensive! Just one outfit would be enough to feed me and Grandma for several years!” Xiaoyou said, her expression dimming.

A pang of heartache struck Jiang Chen. He gently ruffled Xiaoyou’s hair. ”Be good, Xiaoyou. From now on, you’re with me. I won’t let you suffer anymore!”

Black Emperor, who was standing to the side, also chimed in, ”Yeah, Xiaoyou! Jiang Chen is loaded. Just spend as much as you want!”

”Buy whatever you like! The boss has plenty of money!” Little White added.

The group’s conversation wasn’t loud, but they weren’t deliberately trying to be quiet either.

As a result, some people nearby overheard them.

Suddenly, a very unwelcome voice cut in. ”Tch, look at these country bumpkins pretending to be rich. ’Plenty of money’? There are too many hicks these days who’ve never seen the world. They think having a hundred or so silver taels makes them wealthy. Do you have any idea how expensive the clothes here are? A single outfit costs over a thousand silver. Can you afford that?”