[For Boundary Guardian Great Saint Luo Shu, the thing he most wanted to know was naturally news about Tongtian Pavilion.]
[Ye Yu was also somewhat interested.]
[Of course, there was a probing element to it.]
[He wanted to test whether Poison Madam’s intelligence network was broad enough — and accurate enough.]
[That mattered a great deal!]
[If Poison Madam was truly as formidable as Luo Shu claimed, Ye Yu would certainly keep in frequent contact with her.]
[After all, in any era, information can decide life and death!]
[As for payment, Ye Yu had never been worried.]
[Poison Madam Tao Hua decisively pushed the technique back.]
[“News about Tongtian Pavilion is expensive. That one technique isn’t enough.”]
[Ye Yu rubbed the storage ring on his finger and asked softly, “Then name it — how much is news about Tongtian Pavilion worth?”]
[Tao Hua smiled. “What now, planning to keep handing over more techniques to trade?”]
[Ye «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Yu said nothing; he simply looked at her.]
[Luo Shu was burning with impatience at his side, yet he didn’t urge them on.]
[He knew perfectly well that in a deal, the more anxious party is the one who gets fleeced!]
[Tao Hua pointed at the two demonic body-forging techniques in her hand.]
[“If your stake is still techniques, I’m not interested. Rarity sets value. Yes, adapting demonic methods so yokai can cultivate them is remarkable.”]
[“But once there are too many, they won’t fetch a high price. Do you understand?”]
[Hearing that, Ye Yu grew more solemn.]
[What she said made sense, but what was more worrying was that this sounded like the prelude to raising the price.]
[Luo Shu realized it as well and spoke at once. “Poison Madam, be forthright. Draw a line and stop tugging around the edges.”]
[Tao Hua glanced at Luo Shu and laughed softly. “Fine. Since the Great Saint says so, I won’t talk in circles. I can tell you the news about Tongtian Pavilion — on the condition that you answer just one question.”]
[“And besides that, I’ll throw in some information about Liu Yuennong as a friendly bonus for you, Ye Yu. How about it?”]
[Ye Yu arched a brow and agreed at once.]
[Tao Hua came straight to the point. “Were the adaptations and insights in these two techniques done by you?”]
[Luo Shu instantly pressed a dog paw onto the toe of Ye Yu’s shoe!]
[He didn’t say a word, but his meaning couldn’t have been clearer.]
[Do not tell Tao Hua!]
[The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled.]
[In Luo Shu’s long life, he had seen far too many prodigies.]
[Very few truly grew to their potential.]
[So before one has absolute strength, it is necessary to keep a low profile!]
[Yet after a brief silence, Ye Yu admitted it cleanly.]
[“Yes. The adaptations and notes are mine.”]
[Luo Shu sent a hurried heart-voice: “How can you admit it? Where did your earlier caution go?”]
[Tao Hua flicked a glance at Luo Shu — another exceedingly faint ripple of divine power.]
[“Still whispering?”]
[But she didn’t expose it. Instead, she looked at Ye Yu with keen interest.]
[“Just as I expected — you are indeed a great talent. But why not deny it? Do you think I wouldn’t lay a hand on you?”]
[“Even if I denied it, would you believe me? At that point you’d use soul-search anyway, wouldn’t you? Sellers of information are the most curious.”]
[Ye Yu’s tone was very calm.]
[He had already considered every consequence.]
[Whether he admitted it or not, before absolute strength it was a dead end.]
[Rather than be stubborn for a moment, better to be frank and state the truth — there might be a sliver of hope.]
[Tao Hua giggled. “Exactly. Even if you denied it, I wouldn’t believe you. You really are a very clever bear.”]
[“But rest easy. As I said, this isn’t a black shop. I deal in steady, long-term business and never gouge customers. As my client, you don’t need to worry about safety.”]
[“I’ll keep this secret to myself. At most, when I run into a suitable technique in the future, I’ll ask you to adapt it and pay you a technical fee.”]
[“To tell you the truth, you weigh heavily in my estimation. I believe you’ll inevitably rise — and when that day comes, your value will be greatest. Killing the hen for its eggs is something only fools do.”]
[Ye Yu’s expression eased noticeably.]
[Sincere or not, her words were pleasing to hear.]
[Luo Shu couldn’t help letting out a sigh of relief as well.]
[They had finally found a Lord of the Divine Alliance; if he died now, Tongtian Pavilion would truly be finished.]
[Without further ado, Tao Hua stated the information about Tongtian Pavilion and Liu Yuennong.]
[“With a Great Saint here, there’s no need to repeat the basics of Tongtian Pavilion. Let’s talk about what just happened.”]
[“A few hours ago, this Divine Alliance that had fallen from the altar into the mud suddenly erupted with an extremely terrifying surge of divine power.”]
[“Though it sits in the far north and rarely draws attention, I’m very sensitive as an information dealer. I immediately had someone go see it with their own eyes — and record it with a Recording Stone.”]
[At this point, Tao Hua took a Recording Stone from her storage ring and infused it with divine power.]
[Soon, a high-resolution image flared to life!]
[It showed the full view of Tongtian Pavilion, filmed from roughly a kilometer away.]
[In the image, Tongtian Pavilion was completely wrapped in violet demonic flames.]
[With a thunderous boom—]
[Tongtian Pavilion split wide open from the center, as if something were about to be born!]
[But before anyone could see what it was, a black array activated in full.]
[Like a colossal black dragon in the night, it instantly cocooned the entire pavilion.]
[For the dozens of breaths that followed, there was no movement within.]
[Just when Ye Yu and Luo Shu thought that might be the end of it,]
[a wisp of violet demon flame shot out again!]
[Immediately after, it was as if a muffled voice resounded between heaven and earth.]
[Obscure and difficult Dao script was chanted!]
[The space here began to twist.]
[And the distortion only grew.]
[When the twisting reached its limit, there was a flash — and everything returned to calm.]
[Tongtian Pavilion was gone.]
[The Recording Stone’s image ended there.]
[Luo Shu said in disbelief, “Did that place... turn into a secret realm?”]
