Chapter 802: Perusing

“It’s me. May I ask why this junior brother has stopped me, Dongbo Xueying?” Dongbo Xueying inquired.

The purple-robed man smiled. “My name is Ming Yu. I just heard that a new golden-robed senior brother had arrived, so I came specifically to greet you. Since you are a golden-robed disciple, why not display your golden robes? In the Taixu Temple, golden-robed disciples, purple-robed disciples, and even the inner hall elders all reveal the color of their robes.”

“Oh, right. I just arrived and didn’t pay attention,” Dongbo Xueying replied casually. The white robes on his body immediately shifted in color, revealing the true golden robes beneath.

He had been keeping a low profile before, unwilling to draw too much attention by flaunting his status as a golden-robed disciple. But since he had been asked directly, there was no harm in revealing it now.

The purple-robed disciple looked at Dongbo Xueying’s golden robes with envy. “Junior brother here has attempted the True God disciple challenge multiple times but has always fallen short of the top ten. I heard that Senior Brother Dongbo Xueying, along with the Punishment Hall Master and the Sword Master, all hail from the same universe. As a golden-robed disciple, your strength must be extraordinary. Would you be willing to spar with me?”

“A spar?” Dongbo Xueying smiled faintly. “A small matter. Right now?”

This junior brother seemed polite enough, and a friendly match wouldn’t hurt. It would also give him a chance to gauge the level of the True God disciples in the Taixu Temple.

The purple-robed disciple added, “In our Taixu Temple, battles on the arena usually involve wagers. I’m willing to bet ten Source World Stones.”

“Ten Source World Stones?” Dongbo Xueying sensed a hint of malice. Even ordinary Void Gods rarely possessed such treasures. Though this junior brother was a True God Overlord, his bet was larger than most Void Gods could afford. Dongbo Xueying replied calmly, “Junior brother, that’s quite a bold wager. Unfortunately, I don’t have that many Source World Stones.”

“Haha, as a golden-robed disciple, surely you have enough treasures,” Ming Yu said with a smile. “You must possess at least one Void God weapon, which would more than suffice.”

“You want me to wager my Void God weapon?” Dongbo Xueying’s voice remained steady. “This weapon of mine is worth far more than ten Source World Stones.”

Ming Yu chuckled. “I know. The Void God weapons given to golden-robed disciples are worth around twenty to thirty Source World Stones. Though my wager is smaller, in the Taixu Temple, when a stronger disciple spars with a weaker one, the stronger usually bets more. After all, the odds of me losing are higher.”

“What’s wrong, senior brother? You, the Demon Ancestor, and the Sword Master all come from the same universe. Even I, a mere junior brother, have the courage to wager. Don’t tell me you lack the nerve?” Ming Yu pressed.

Dongbo Xueying studied the disciple before him.

As a golden-robed disciple from his home universe, aside from his protective treasure, the Black Gourd, his most valuable tradable possession was his Void God weapon—a top-grade spear worth nearly thirty Source World Stones.

On the surface, it was his most prized treasure. And now, barely arrived, he was already being targeted.

“Junior Brother Ming Yu,” Dongbo Xueying said coolly, “from what I know, you ranked twenty-sixth in the last True God disciple challenge.”

Ming Yu paused, then nodded. “Yes, still far from the top ten.”

“I only became a golden-robed disciple by luck in my home universe. If we spar, I might very well lose to you,” Dongbo Xueying sighed, shaking his head. “Let’s forget about this match.”

“Senior brother, as a golden-robed disciple from the same universe as the Demon Ancestor and the Sword Master, you must be extraordinary. Don’t you have any confidence?” Ming Yu pressed. “If not, I’d truly look down on you—and so would the other disciples.”

Dongbo Xueying’s expression turned icy.

“Look down on me?” His eyes chilled. “You think ten Source World Stones are enough to wager against my top-grade Void God weapon? You’re dreaming! If you want to bet, bring twenty-five Source World Stones. During the True God disciple ranking battles, we’ll settle it then. Winner takes all.”

“If you’re too poor to afford twenty-five, then stay out of my way.” With a cold laugh, Dongbo Xueying transformed into a streak of light and flew off without another glance at Ming Yu. The handsome purple-robed disciple watched him leave, his face unreadable.

“Hahaha, Brother Ming Yu, seems this Dongbo Xueying isn’t so easily fooled,” other purple-robed disciples called out as they approached.

“I thought he’d be overconfident and agree to my challenge,” Ming Yu murmured, shaking his head. “Turns out he’s quite cautious.”

“Didn’t Senior Brother Dongbo Xueying say he’d accept if you brought twenty-five Source World Stones? What’s wrong, Ming Yu? No confidence in beating him?”

“Can’t afford twenty-five? How much do you need? I can lend you some—with collateral, of course.”

The disciples laughed among themselves.

“Oh, I’m sure he’d accept any of your challenges too,” Ming Yu said dismissively. “Feel free to gather twenty-five stones and challenge him during the ranking battles. As for me, I’ll pass.”

With that, he flew away.

The other disciples sneered.

“Tried to scam the golden-robed disciple from another universe. Failed.”

“That Ming Yu, always so sly.”

They chatted idly.

“Anyone else brave enough to challenge him?”

“He shares a universe with the Demon Ancestor and the Sword Master. If we fought now, I might stand a chance. But delaying until the ranking battles? The Sword Master and Demon Ancestor both improved drastically after studying in the Myriad Forms Pavilion. The Sword Master even reached the ultimate realm after seclusion. Dongbo Xueying might lack knowledge now, but once he studies the pavilion’s texts, he’ll improve rapidly. By the ranking battles, he might even break into the top twenty! I wouldn’t dare face him then.”

“True. He’ll likely make huge strides.”

These purple-robed disciples came from diverse backgrounds—some from Ancestor Island, others from the Radiant Holy Land, and some from the Sacred World itself. Competition in the Taixu Temple was fierce, as the temple valued quality over quantity.

After all, even a single hall master—or just their avatar—could slaughter countless Void Gods.

Thus, every purple-robed disciple here was exceptional and cunning.

Though their origins made them look down on outsiders like Dongbo Xueying, they didn’t dare underestimate his potential.

Many would challenge him now.

But by the ranking battles? Few had the confidence.

—

*Whoosh.*

Dongbo Xueying flew straight to the central floating continent, heading for the Myriad Forms Pavilion.

His gaze was drawn to a towering pagoda behind the pavilion—its majesty rivaling even the Taixu Hall.

“The Star Tower,” he murmured.

According to the Taixu Temple’s briefings—and the more detailed information from his master, Voidwalker Gu Qi—there were six Star Towers in total.

One each in the Taixu Temple, Ancestor Island, Radiant Holy Land, Void God Palace, Saber Emperor’s Saber Emperor City, and City Lord Luo’s Star City.

These six towers, forged by City Lord Luo himself, symbolized the unity between the Seven Seas Sacred World and the East Lin Sacred World.

“To the Myriad Forms Pavilion,” Dongbo Xueying decided, flying toward it.

The wooden pavilion was vast but modest in height—only about a fifth as tall as the Star Tower or Taixu Hall.

At its entrance, a black cat lay napping.

“A black cat? According to the records, that’s a Chaos Realm puppet beast—no weaker than the black hound back home,” Dongbo Xueying mused. Crafting such a puppet required unfathomable skill, making it more valuable than even the Black Gourd or an entire universe.

No wonder Ancestor Tianyu could leave the black hound to guard their home universe. Even Bone Qianluo had been stunned.

“Meow~” The cat lifted its head, its voice gentle. “Kid, don’t go to the fourth floor. The first three are fine.”

“Understood, senior,” Dongbo Xueying replied with a smile.

The cat yawned and went back to sleep as Dongbo Xueying stepped inside.

The Myriad Forms Pavilion was vast, its shelves overflowing with precious texts—far more than in the Demon Mountain Universe. As the core of a sacred land, it housed the Taixu Temple’s accumulated wisdom.

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes gleamed with hunger. Here, the greatest teacher was the pavilion itself. Many texts were priceless, some even unique—like those left behind by fallen progenitors of certain laws.

Calming his mind, he soon found a tome on the Void Path and began to read, immersing himself completely.