Gates of the Myriad Realms Chapter 415

Chapter 398: Duo Cooperation!

The alchemy furnace burned with fire.

Shen Ye manipulated the flames by forming hand seals, and according to the steps, he threw in various alchemy ingredients.

Tantai Mingyue sat to the side, looking at the burning flames, her face still filled with disbelief.

She thought for a moment and then tried to persuade him again:

“Every member who joins the Tai Shang Dao Palace cannot leave, whether human or monster—”

“Everyone is controlled by the Saintly Venerable, unless they die.”

“Are you really not coming with me?”

“Since you said no one can leave, why do you think you can take me out?” Shen Ye asked.

“You’ve seen Tieren, so I don’t need to hide it from you—I’m also a Gate Ability user,” Tantai Mingyue said.

Seeing Shen Ye remain silent, Tantai Mingyue thought she had convinced him and excitedly said:

“Come with me. After some evaluations, you can also join the Human Resistance Alliance.”

“What’s that?” Shen Ye asked.

“It’s our human organization—experts from multiple universes gather together to specifically fight against cosmic monsters,” Tantai Mingyue explained.

Suddenly, her expression tightened.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Ye observed her features.

“In outer space, my death summons have been eliminated.”

“The Saintly Venerable will definitely search the entire airship thoroughly. There’s no way to leave now,” Tantai Mingyue’s face turned pale.

Shen Ye glanced at her, deep in thought: “Is your Gate Ability convenient to talk about?”

—The panda had already introduced its Gate Ability as connecting other worlds.

Although it had changed, Tantai Mingyue now knew of her and the panda’s Gate Abilities.

But she didn’t know her own Gate Ability.

—If she was willing to speak, it would mean she still had some sincerity.

“I can open a gate to any Netherworld, summon those who wish to be revived, sign a contract with them, and bring them to life to work for me.”

Tantai Mingyue introduced it without hesitation.

“What was the death summon you used to attract the Saintly Venerable?”

“The Saintly Venerable’s Heart Devil—I originally thought it could stall for a while longer, but who knew it would die so quickly, completely unable to hold on.”

“Of course it couldn’t hold on. The Heart Devil was just something the Saintly Venerable casually created for fun,” Shen Ye said.

“Then it’s over. I had prepared personnel who were building a super long-distance teleportation array. What do we do now?”

Tantai Mingyue grew anxious.

Shen Ye’s hand seals moved, and he lightly patted the alchemy furnace.

Clang!

The flames extinguished, and the alchemy furnace opened.

Grain after grain of plump, round Soul Calming Pills flew out and into the gourd Shen Ye had prepared.

Once all the pills were loaded, he handed the gourd to Tantai Mingyue.

“Destroy all evidence of activity. From now on, stay by my side. Perhaps we can survive.”

Shen Ye transmitted his voice.

Tantai Mingyue’s heart tightened suddenly.

—There was no escape now!

So, should she follow his suggestion?

She gritted her teeth, placed a hand in the void, and whispered:

“Disperse—all summoned contracts.”

In her room, the Netherworld gate instantly disappeared.

All the cultivators who were constructing the super long-distance teleportation array turned into phantoms.

Their flesh and blood bodies gradually faded away.

Each soul, having lost its body, immediately left the mortal world and also disappeared.

“All evidence has been erased.”

Tantai Mingyue said.

“Very good. Now stay here with me. If the Saintly Venerable comes to inquire, just say you’ve been refining alchemy with me.” Shen Ye closed his eyes after speaking.

At the same time.

The vertical eye on the back of his hand slowly opened.

Connected to the Swarm Heart!

Shen Ye’s consciousness entered the Dharma Realm, and he directly went to the Swarm Heart, beginning to send messages:

“Families, I heard that once you join the 99th floor of the Tai Shang Dao Palace, you can’t leave. Is that true or false? Is it the same for us Emperor Species?”

The Level 19 Crimson Lord quickly replied:

“Generally, yes.”

“—Because they can’t uncover any secrets, they default that all beings entering the Dao Palace are potential thieves of Heavenly Arts.”

“This is to show that they are taking things seriously.”

“But everyone knows that this only shows they are very incompetent.”

“After all, thousands of years have passed—”

“They have made no progress on the Immortal Kingdom’s Three Arts.”

This was exactly what Tantai Mingyue had said.

Therefore, her plan to lure the Saintly Venerable away with the Heart Devil and then escape with him was actually unfeasible.

Thousands of years, and no one had ever escaped!

“Alright,” Shen Ye sent another message, feeling slightly wronged, “Then I’ll stay here and continue working, since I can’t leave anyway.”

The Swarm Heart was quiet for a breath.

A majestic voice suddenly rang out:

“They’ve gone too far. They’ve made no progress for so many years, and now they want to trouble our insect.”

“What did you learn?” the Crimson Lord asked.

The majestic voice sneered: “The Lord of Secrets, who is specifically responsible for the Immortal Kingdom’s Three Arts, offered me a price, hoping I would no longer interfere with Baxter’s affairs. It wants to enslave Baxter.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the insect swarm collectively erupted in savage roars.

“No one can enslave us!”

The Crimson Lord roared with killing intent.

“But—” the majestic voice rang out again: “The cosmic contract is solemn. No one can resist the Lord of Secrets, because every Lord of Secrets is a core force chosen by all cosmic races to preside over great undertakings!”

“So, should we let him enslave Baxter?” the Crimson Lord asked reluctantly.

“Of course not, after all, I am also a Lord of Secrets,” the majestic voice said.

“Can you let Baxter leave the Dao Palace?” the Crimson Lord asked.

“It’s not convenient for me to directly intervene, unless Baxter participates in an extremely great undertaking and makes contributions. Then I can elevate his status—”

The majestic voice continued:

“If he contributes significantly to a great undertaking, then I can legitimately transfer him.”

“What should I do?” Shen Ye interjected at the appropriate moment.

“Baxter, my team has encountered an extremely troublesome monster, which has forced the exploration of a certain cosmic secret to be suspended.”

“I remember you once mentioned two abilities. I’ve already seen that mythical-grade fate-type ability, but what I need now is combat capability.”

“—What grade is your combat-type ability, approximately?”

“It’s also mythical grade,” Shen Ye said.

The insects all let out “s嘶” sounds of gasps.

The majestic voice, however, laughed and asked:

“Can it really make enemies make mistakes?”

Shen Ye explained: “There will be continuous unexpected events, killing them will hit their weak points, and valuable items will definitely drop.”

“How long does it last?” the majestic voice continued to ask.

“It lasts for 10 seconds. After a 5-minute cooldown, if the target is still alive, it triggers again, and so on,” Shen Ye said.

The entire Swarm Heart fell silent.

The insects seemed to be digesting the shock brought by this mythical ability.

After a few breaths.

The majestic voice spoke again:

“I suddenly have some confidence—”

“Crimson Lord, Hundred-Armed Demon, Venomous Evil King, take my emblem and go gather the army. We will fight again.”

“Yes!” Three murderous insect roars rang out.

“Baxter, go back and wait first—if the Saintly Venerable of the Tai Shang Dao Palace comes for you, try to stall for a while. I will quickly process your temporary combat zone transfer procedures,” the majestic voice said.

“Thank you, boss,” Shen Ye said.

His consciousness returned to his body, he opened his eyes, slapped the alchemy furnace, ignited the flames again, and put in the alchemy ingredients.

—He began to refine the second batch of Soul Calming Pills!

“Check how many high-grade pills are in that gourd from earlier, and how many are medium-grade, low-grade, and waste pills.”

Shen Ye said.

Tantai Mingyue opened the gourd and quietly observed the quality of each pill, taking statistics.

At the same time.

On the deck of the flying boat.

The Saintly Venerable stood alone, holding a head in his hand.

The head of a Heart Devil!

—He had just killed his own Heart Devil again, which had already raised his anger to the extreme!

Who was it?

Who could summon his Heart Devil!

Using my Heart Devil to kill me—

In his infinitely long life, he could not remember the last time he had been so humiliated.

He must find that person and tear him into a thousand pieces!

The Saintly Venerable checked every suspicious spot on the flying boat but still couldn’t find the hidden enemy.

He suddenly sneered.

“Presumptuous…”

“If everyone on the entire flying boat dies, where do you think you can hide?”

The void shimmered.

The Saintly Venerable rushed out of the flying boat, suspended in the boundless darkness of the cosmos, and formed a hand seal.

A glowing orb, as radiant as a star, appeared in his hand.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve attacked with full power—if you still don’t show yourself this time, there will only be one outcome—”

“Death!”

The Saintly Venerable raised his hand high, and the orb floated with it.

Suddenly.

A figure appeared in his mind.

—That young Emperor Species.

Should he kill it too?

Although no one could say anything if he did, the Swarm Heart would naturally investigate the whole matter.

To lose a potential capable subordinate for a mere mole, and to offend the powerful force behind it—

The Saintly Venerable forcibly suppressed the surging killing intent throughout his body.

Even the blazing star-like spell was canceled on the spot.

…Let’s go take a look.

If he was willing to surrender, of course, that would be for the best.

If he dared to put on airs in front of him—

Then don’t blame him for being ruthless!

The Saintly Venerable’s figure flashed, returning to the flying boat, passing through the void, and directly appearing in Shen Ye’s room.

At this moment.

Shen Ye was concentrating on refining pills.

Tantai Mingyue was by his side, holding the gourd, her spiritual sense entering it, carefully distinguishing the pills from the previous batch.

When the Saintly Venerable appeared, neither of them noticed.

However, the Saintly Venerable also hadn’t expected this scene, and he couldn’t help but stand behind them, curiously observing what they were doing.

Just as Tantai Mingyue spoke:

“Fifty-three Soul Calming Pills in total, of which 7 are废丹 (waste pills), 12 are low-grade, 33 are medium-grade, and one pill has surpassed the quality of a medium-grade pill. With just a little more luster and medicinal aura, it could be called a high-grade pill.”

“Congratulations, you’re almost there.”

Shen Ye’s alchemy hand seals changed continuously, and he said without looking back: “I haven’t even refined one high-grade pill, what’s there to congratulate?”

Tantai Mingyue patiently explained:

“That’s not how it works. If your alchemy skill hadn’t broken through, you wouldn’t be able to make the pill quality surpass medium-grade at all.”

“The most difficult part is the breakthrough from zero to one.”

“You’ve already made a breakthrough. With diligent practice in the future, there’s great hope.”

The Saintly Venerable nodded slightly.

—Indeed, that was the case.

At this moment, a whooshing sound of wind and fire suddenly came from the alchemy furnace.

The second batch of pills was almost ready!

Tantai Mingyue immediately closed her mouth, her eyes fixed on the alchemy furnace without blinking.

This was the most critical moment.

Shen Ye slowly guided the alchemy seals with both hands, concentrating fully on controlling the alchemy flames, gathering the medicinal liquid, and kneading it into shape.

A moment later.

The alchemy furnace emitted waves of medicinal fragrance, filling the entire room.

This was a sign that the pills were about to be completed.

In a few minutes at most, or a few dozen breaths at least—

The pills would definitely emerge from the furnace!

Shen Ye and Tantai Mingyue both became tense.

The Saintly Venerable stood behind the two of them, originally about to speak, but seeing this scene, he stopped for a moment.

Although he was a Lord of Secrets, a legendary high-level cosmic being—

But as the host of secret missions, he had cultivated in the Dao Palace for countless years, and he was incredibly proficient in cultivation knowledge.

He knew very well how difficult it was to refine high-grade Soul Calming Pills.

—No one in the sect could refine high-grade Soul Calming Pills!

That’s why they had to send people to procure them.

If this Nangong Wantu had actually refined high-grade Soul Calming Pills, it would be an astonishing feat.

What humans couldn’t do, an Emperor Species did!

How absurd! How astonishing!

At this moment.

The Saintly Venerable, as a “knowledgeable” sect master of a cultivation school, also felt a tiny bit of curiosity about this.

It was a great pity to interrupt a cultivator whose alchemy skill was about to break through.

Moreover, he also wanted to see the quality of this batch of pills.

…Wait.

After all, it was only a matter of a few minutes.

The Saintly Venerable restrained the killing intent on his body, disappeared into the void, stood with his hands behind his back, and carefully observed the alchemy furnace.

He was indeed an expert.

After just squinting his eyes and watching for a while, he made a judgment.

“The heat and hand seals are almost flawless, and the medicinal fragrance is very strong.”

“There are auspicious phenomena on the alchemy furnace.”

“—Could it be that high-grade Soul Calming Pills will really come out?”

Time passed second by second.

Shen Ye suddenly spoke: “If I successfully refine a high-grade Soul Calming Pill, you have to sign a contract and advance and retreat with me at all times.”

“No problem,” Tantai Mingyue said.

“Good, it’s a deal.” Shen Ye changed his hand seal and patted the alchemy furnace from a distance.

Buzz—

The alchemy furnace let out a long humming sound, the flames extinguished, and hot pills poured out.

This time, Shen Ye didn’t use the gourd to catch them, but directly used a control technique.

All the pills immediately floated in mid-air.

Three spiritual senses swept over dozens of pills, then all retracted and coiled around a faintly glowing pill.

“It’s high-grade,” Tantai Mingyue croaked.

Although she was incredibly nervous at the moment, the other party had actually refined a high-grade Soul Calming Pill!

Even within the Human Resistance Alliance, this kind of pill, which healed both body and soul, was very popular.

—He actually succeeded!

Shen Ye laughed a few times, then flipped his hand and took out a contract:

“Sign it—as long as I summon you, you must accept my summons at any time.”

Tantai Mingyue released her spiritual sense and scanned the contract.

The terms of this contract were too unfair.

Once signed, he could truly summon her at any time.

It was practically “come when called, go when dismissed.”

How could it be like this?

Just as she was about to negotiate terms, Shen Ye’s telepathic voice suddenly echoed in her ear:

“Sign quickly, this is your only chance to live.”

Tantai Mingyue’s heart stirred.

Should she believe him?

Or continue to negotiate terms?

Or outright refuse and not sign this contract at all?

Back then…

Her mission was to investigate the secrets of the Immortal Kingdom’s Three Arts.

Only the panda had stood up to warn her not to seek death.

She had awakened her Gate Ability, but she was feared and marginalized by everyone.

Now, the panda was missing, but it left behind a light and shadow recording, in which it once again advised her not to seek death.

It also said—

This man in front of her was the only one she could contact.

“Find him, and you’ll find me.”

Those were the panda’s original words.

…Sign it.

Anyway, she was already trapped in the Dao Palace, with no possibility of leaving.

And what if she did leave—

What good would it do?

Tantai Mingyue gritted her teeth, pressed her hand on the contract, and lowly said:

“By the imprint of my soul, I seal this pact!”

The contract was formed!

The next second.

A round of applause rang out from behind them.

The two turned around simultaneously to see the Saintly Venerable standing there, a smile on his face.

“Congratulations, Nangong Wantu.”

The Saintly Venerable continued with a benevolent expression:

“You can already refine high-grade Soul Calming Pills, and you’ve also gained the favor of a beauty, I presume—”

“As a human, you’ve done quite well.”

Shen Ye broke into a grin.

—As a human?

To say such an innuendo in front of a woman.

Are you threatening me?

Are you always ready to reveal my identity?

—After all, on the surface, I entered the sect to find a Dao companion.

So you think these words can be used to control me?

“What do you think of my previous suggestion?”

The Saintly Venerable revealed his true intentions.

Shen Ye took a deep breath and, together with Tantai Mingyue, bowed their hands:

“Greetings, Saintly Venerable.”

—Why hasn’t the Swarm Heart sent a message yet?

Under the Saintly Venerable’s gaze, he continued:

“I thought my attitude was already very clear. Someone of your stature should have already seen my choice.”

“—Why don’t you know? Did you make a special trip? Just for this small matter?”

The Saintly Venerable remained unmoved, staring at him, and asked expressionlessly:

“When did you state your attitude?”

Shen Ye pointed casually.

All the pills floating in mid-air flew towards the Saintly Venerable, landing in front of him.

“This is the first time I’ve refined a high-grade Soul Calming Pill.”

“I’m so excited, so nervous, so proud, because I always thought my talent was limited and I couldn’t refine such a magnificent item.”

Seeing a hint of impatience flash in the Saintly Venerable’s eyes, Shen Ye immediately said:

“Now I offer them to the Saintly Venerable.”

“—Isn’t the meaning clear enough?”

The Saintly Venerable nodded slightly.

He understood.

This act of offering pills meant he was willing to become his subordinate, right?

This should be correct.

If he were to ask further—

Would he think that he didn’t even understand this meaning?

…The thought processes of insects are different from his. After all, he would never seek a partner among humans.

So, if he continued to act completely bewildered, would this new subordinate look down on him?

The Saintly Venerable waved his hand, and all the pills in mid-air disappeared.

“You agree with my proposal.”

He said with a firm tone.

If the other party dared to say “no,” it would mean he was toying with him. Even if it meant offending the Swarm, he would kill him!

“Look,” Shen Ye walked a circle around the room, “I’ve been here all along, I haven’t left at all, what else could I mean!”

The Saintly Venerable was silent for a breath, then slowly nodded.

—He could roughly understand.

If he disliked it, he should have left by now.

Although he couldn’t leave at all.

This insect probably didn’t know that.

So—

Only by being willing to work for him would he stay.

He was preparing to become his subordinate.

That’s right.

That’s how it was.

Then let’s go complete the master-servant contract.

—It needed to be witnessed by all demons before the strictest master-servant contract could be signed, then he would be unable to escape.

The Saintly Venerable was about to speak, but he saw Shen Ye winking at him.

…You insect, are you not done yet?

So many hints?

Can’t you just say what you mean?

Fine, for the sake of him becoming my subordinate, I’ll guess one more time!

The Saintly Venerable’s eyes followed Shen Ye’s gaze.

He saw him glance sideways at Tantai Mingyue, then shift his eyes to the other side, quickly moving them up and down.

…This one is easy to understand.

He’s flirting, telling me to leave first.

Hmm.

A private moment for two. It would be rude to intrude.

Should I leave then?

The Saintly Venerable nodded understandingly, then turned to leave.

He suddenly stopped again.

What the hell!

Why should I leave!

The master-servant contract hasn’t been signed yet!

“Farewell, Saintly Venerable. I’ll come report to you a little later!”

Shen Ye shouted loudly, bowing with cupped hands.

He took a step forward, pressing close to Tantai Mingyue, looking eagerly at the Saintly Venerable, as if as soon as the Saintly Venerable left, he would—

The Saintly Venerable almost laughed in anger.

An insect, transformed into a human, frantically searching for a Dao companion, causing much trouble in the sect.

Now, a Dao companion had been found.

And he looked so impatient.

—No, first come with me to sign the master-servant contract, then we can talk about these trivial matters.

The Saintly Venerable was about to speak when Shen Ye’s telepathic voice suddenly echoed in his ear:

“Saintly Venerable, are you also interested in human reproduction? Planning to stay and watch?”

I’m interested in your sister!

“I’ll wait for you outside. Hurry up,” the Saintly Venerable said coldly.

“Men can’t be too fast, Saintly Venerable,” Shen Ye said awkwardly.

“…Anyway, be efficient.”

The Saintly Venerable’s figure flashed and disappeared.

The next second.

The vertical eye on the back of Shen Ye’s hand suddenly opened.

A majestic voice radiated through the vertical eye, coming from the Dharma Realm:

“Temporary deployment order effective.”

“Baxter, you are about to enter the Starry Sky Graveyard to participate in the large-scale exploration war of the 170th-level Chaos Tomb.”

“Teleportation is about to begin.”

Finally, I waited for you, good thing I didn’t give up!

Shen Ye almost burst into song.

“If the Saintly Venerable appears, play along, but don’t confront him directly.”

He quickly said to Tantai Mingyue.

Tantai Mingyue immediately nodded.

Although she didn’t know what method the other party had, she certainly had none.

And a contract had already been signed.

She could only gamble that her choice was correct!

“Once I summon you, don’t resist, just come.”

“Understood.”

In an instant.

Shen Ye disappeared.

Immediately after he left, before the ripples of spatial fluctuation had even dissipated, the Saintly Venerable reappeared in the room.

“Where is Nangong Wantu?”

The Saintly Venerable asked in a stern voice.

“He…” Tantai Mingyue’s mind was filled with the phrase “play along,” and she blurted out:

“He said he needed to study first and asked me to rest here.”

Study?

The Saintly Venerable raised an eyebrow.

This too needed studying?

How infuriating!

Humans take pleasure in observing the intimate lives of their own kind.

You, an insect, imitate humans in such a way?

Your imitation is too realistic!

The Saintly Venerable’s face twitched, feeling a curse stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered.

He indeed stalled for a bit of time!

Tantai Mingyue was afraid that the Saintly Venerable would suddenly attack. She simply closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and continued to speak:

“He also said you shouldn’t peek.”

“Why? I’m not peeking, I just sensed a spatial fluctuation,” the Saintly Venerable said.

“It is peeking!” Tantai Mingyue said indignantly, “Saintly Venerable, I am a chaste female cultivator. Your actions make me very uncomfortable. I’m not used to being watched.”

The Saintly Venerable opened his mouth, unsure what to say for a moment.

If it were anything else, if this woman dared to contradict him, he would kill her with a single palm strike.

But—

This kind of thing she was talking about—

The Saintly Venerable was about to say a few polite words when Tantai Mingyue “whooshed” and disappeared from his sight.