186: Chapter 186 The Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the Secrets of Chaos

Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Master Tianjizi.

These two names meant mystery, detachment, and unfathomable depth in the Immortal Realm.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion did not belong to any faction, yet it had intricate ties with all major factions. They sold information, performed divinations, and understood secrets, yet they never easily interfered in conflicts.

As the current Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master, Master Tianjizi was an even more elusive figure. Rumor had it that his cultivation had reached the Peak of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and his divination techniques were unrivaled in the Immortal Realm. Even those Profound Immortal Old Ancestors had to give him a bit of face.

Such a figure had actually personally stepped forward to block Lin Wan's path, his words gentle but carrying an undeniable weight.

Countless thoughts flashed through Lin Wan's mind in an instant. He had never had any dealings with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and he had never met Master Tianjizi before. Why would the other party seek him out? Was it at someone else's behest? Could it be because of the Chaos Dao Seed? Impossible. The Chaos Dao Seed had just sprouted; even he himself could barely detect it, so outsiders could not possibly know. Then what could it be? The matter of the Five Elements Small World? Or was it because he killed the Elders of the Xuan Yin Sect and Tian Sha Sect, attracting the attention of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?

"So it is the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master in person. Junior Lin Wan pays his respects." Lin Wan cupped his hands, neither servile nor overbearing, while secretly gathering his Chaos Immortal Energy, ready to deal with any sudden situation. Facing an existence at the Late Stage or even the Peak of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he dared not be the slightest bit careless. Although the other party said they had no malice, human hearts were unpredictable, especially in this Immortal Realm where the strong preyed on the weak.

"Hehe, Little Friend Lin need not be nervous." Master Tianjizi seemed to see through Lin Wan's guard, his smile remaining gentle. His gaze was deep, as if it could see through the human heart. "I have come here indeed without malice, nor was I entrusted by the Xuan Yin or Tian Sha Sects. I merely wish to invite you to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for a chat, to answer some doubts in your heart, and at the same time, I have something to discuss."

"Doubts?" Lin Wan's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm. "Junior is not acquainted with the Pavilion Master. I wonder what doubts require the Pavilion Master to answer? And what matter is worth the Pavilion Master personally inviting me?"

"About your background, about the Legacy you obtained, and about the… Dao Seed within your body." Master Tianjizi spoke calmly, his words shocking. He looked at Lin Wan steadily.

Lin Wan's heart shook violently, his pupils suddenly contracting! Background? Legacy? Dao Seed?! Master Tianjizi actually knew about the Chaos Dao Seed?! How could this be? He forcibly suppressed the stormy waves in his heart, trying his best to maintain calm on his face: "Junior is dull and does not understand what the Pavilion Master means. Junior comes from humble Origins and was lucky to have some Opportunities. As for the Dao Seed… Junior's Aptitude is mediocre; it is already difficult enough to condense an Earth Immortal Dao Seed, let alone anything else."

"Hehe, Little Friend, there is no need to deny it, nor is there a need to probe." Master Tianjizi smiled slightly, his finger pointing lightly, and a ray of spiritual light flew towards Lin Wan. "Can you recognize this object, Little Friend?"

Lin Wan swept it with his Divine Sense, and his heart shook again! Wrapped within that spiritual light was half a broken jade pendant! The jade pendant was Chaos-colored, neither gold nor jade, with a unique texture. Some blurred patterns were carved on it, faintly emitting an aura that was of the same Origin as the Chaos Dao Seed in his Dantian, yet extremely weak! He was too familiar with this jade pendant! It was the only item he had with him when he Transmigrated, and the only clue he had to solve the mystery of this body's background! He had thought it was long lost in the turbulence of the space during his Transmigration; he never expected it to be in Master Tianjizi's hands!

"This jade pendant… how can it be in your hands?" Lin Wan's voice was dry, his heart churning. This jade pendant was related to his greatest secret, and perhaps even to the mystery of his Transmigration! Could this Master Tianjizi truly be able to divine the Heavenly secrets and calculate his Origins?

"This item was accidentally obtained by a Senior of my Heavenly Secret Pavilion many years ago at the edge of a forbidden place called the 'Chaos Ruins'. The jade pendant contains a trace of extremely weak, yet fundamentally high-level Chaos aura. It is somewhat similar to the legendary 'Chaos Dao Seed', but it is only a similarity; it is too weak to be certain." Master Tianjizi put away the spiritual light and said slowly, "Until not long ago, I sensed a trace of imperceptible fluctuation in the Chaos dao rhyme within the Immortal Realm. This fluctuation resonated with the aura in the jade pendant. And the source of the fluctuation pointed to the Five Elements Small World, pointed to you, Little Friend."

"So, the Pavilion Master deduced that I might be related to the 'Chaos Dao Seed' based on this jade pendant and the fluctuation of the Chaos dao rhyme?" Lin Wan's heart settled slightly. So the other party hadn't directly seen through his Chaos Dao Seed, but had deduced it through the jade pendant and the dao rhyme fluctuation. But this was shocking enough; the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's divination techniques were truly well-deserved.

"Correct." Master Tianjizi nodded. "The Chaos Dao Seed is the supreme Dao Foundation that points directly to the Chaos Great Dao in legends. Since the ancient Chaos shattered and the Great Dao diverged, those who can condense the Chaos Dao Seed are as rare as Phoenix feathers and Qilin horns. Each one is a figure who stirs up the winds and clouds, and can even influence an era. Being able to obtain this Opportunity is a great fortune for you, Little Friend, but it is also accompanied by great danger. Once exposed, it will surely attract countless covetous eyes, making the whole world your enemy."

Lin Wan was silent. Master Tianjizi was right; an innocent man is guilty of his own crimes. The Chaos Dao Seed involved too much. Once leaked, let alone the Xuan Yin Sect and Tian Sha Sect, I am afraid that even those reclusive Profound Immortals, and perhaps even stronger existences, would be tempted. This was countless times more tempting than the five elements origin bead or the God Fire Sect Legacy.

"The Pavilion Master told me this secret; aren't you afraid I will leak it out, or, does the Pavilion Master also want to…" Lin Wan's gaze narrowed as he looked at Master Tianjizi.

"Little Friend is overthinking." Master Tianjizi shook his head, his expression frank. "My Heavenly Secret Pavilion has a long Legacy and its own orthodoxy. What we pursue is the way of Heavenly Secret evolution and insight into fate. Although the Chaos Great Dao is good, it is not what my Pavilion seeks. To forcefully seek another Dao will only lead to disaster; this principle, I still understand. As for why I told you… firstly, since this jade pendant is fated with you, it should be returned. Secondly, I want to build a good relationship with you, Little Friend, or rather, make a deal."

"A deal?" Lin Wan raised an eyebrow.

"Correct. Little Friend possesses the Chaos Dao Seed, and your future prospects are limitless, but you are also destined to face many calamities. My Heavenly Secret Pavilion can provide you with a certain amount of protection. Before you grow up, we can cover up the Heavenly secrets for you, making it difficult for those powerful beings who specialize in divination to calculate your roots. At the same time, our intelligence network, which spreads throughout the Immortal Realm, can also be used by you to provide the information you need." Master Tianjizi said slowly, his conditions extremely tempting.

"Then, what do I need to pay?" Lin Wan was not dazzled by the temptation. There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world. For the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to show such favor, their goal must be significant.

"Very simple." Master Tianjizi's gaze became deep. "One day, if Little Friend reaches the absolute Peak and takes charge of Chaos, I hope you can consider the good relationship formed with my Heavenly Secret Pavilion today and perform one 'Ultimate Heavenly Secret' divination for us."

"'Ultimate Heavenly Secret'?" Lin Wan was confused.

"Correct. The core of my Heavenly Secret Pavilion's Legacy is to divine Heavenly secrets and peek into the river of fate. However, the river of fate is vast and endless, hiding countless possibilities and secrets. Among them, there are some ultimate secrets concerning the survival and prosperity of the entire Immortal Realm, and even the myriad worlds of the heavens, which are called 'Ultimate Heavenly Secrets'. Past Pavilion Masters have exhausted their life's efforts and could hardly peek at even a fraction of it. It is rumored that only a supreme existence who holds the Chaos and controls the Origin of the Great Dao can truly touch the truth of the 'Ultimate Heavenly Secret'." Master Tianjizi's eyes flashed with a hint of longing and awe. "This is my Heavenly Secret Pavilion's investment in you, and also a gamble. A gamble that you will be able to reach that supreme Realm in the future."

Lin Wan was shocked. 'Ultimate Heavenly Secret'? Secrets concerning the survival and prosperity of the Immortal Realm and even the myriad worlds of the heavens? This Heavenly Secret Pavilion had grand ambitions. However, this deal did not seem to have any downsides for him. The protection and intelligence of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion were exactly what he urgently needed right now. As for that ethereal "Ultimate Heavenly Secret", not to mention whether he could truly reach that Realm in the future, even if he did, performing one divination did not seem unacceptable. After all, what the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was showing now was goodwill.

"Is the Pavilion Master so sure that I can grow to that step? Are you not afraid that the investment will fail and you will lose everything?" Lin Wan asked.

"Investment is inherently a gamble." Master Tianjizi smiled indifferently. "My Heavenly Secret Pavilion divines Heavenly secrets, but we also believe that man can conquer the heavens. The owner of the Chaos Dao Seed is worthy of a gamble by my Pavilion. Moreover, even if the bet is lost, for my Heavenly Secret Pavilion, it is merely the loss of some information and protection, which is no big deal. But if we win the bet, the return will be immeasurable."

Lin Wan pondered for a moment and said: "I can agree to the Pavilion Master's conditions. However, I also have a few requests."

"Little Friend, please speak."

"First, I need all the information regarding my background and the Origin of this jade pendant." Lin Wan took out that half of the Chaos-colored jade pendant; this was the key to unraveling the mystery of his Transmigration.

"Certainly. Regarding this jade pendant, my Heavenly Secret Pavilion's knowledge is limited, but we will inform you of all information without reservation." Master Tianjizi nodded.

"Second, the protection of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion should only be activated when I truly encounter an irresistible crisis. I do not want to over-rely on external objects, nor do I want to drag the Heavenly Secret Pavilion into unnecessary conflicts. As for information, I will pay the corresponding price according to the value of the information; I will not let your esteemed Pavilion suffer a loss." Lin Wan did not want to owe too much of a favor, nor did he want to become a vassal of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

"Reasonable. My Heavenly Secret Pavilion can provide intelligence support, but we will not directly intervene in your disputes with other factions, unless it involves the interference of higher-level forces. As for the remuneration, it can be exchanged with immortal Spirit Stones, treasures, or promises you can fulfill in the future." Master Tianjizi expressed his agreement.

"Third, regarding the matter of the Chaos Dao Seed, including the meeting between me and the Pavilion Master today, I hope that only the Pavilion Master knows about it and it will never be spread." This was the point Lin Wan cared about most.

"This is natural. This matter concerns my Heavenly Secret Pavilion's future investment and also Little Friend's safety. I will handle it personally; no third person will know." Master Tianjizi promised solemnly.

"Good, in that case, I agree to this deal." Lin Wan finally nodded. Having the Heavenly Secret Pavilion as an ally had more pros than cons for him at the moment. At the very least, in terms of intelligence and covering up Heavenly secrets, it could resolve many of his future worries.

"Good." Master Tianjizi's smile grew wider. He took out a token that was neither gold nor jade, engraved with intricate star patterns, and handed it to Lin Wan. "This is the 'Heavenly Secret Token' of my Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Holding this token, you can receive the highest level of hospitality and intelligence support at all branches of my Heavenly Secret Pavilion. In times of crisis, you can also trigger the Restriction within it, and I will be able to sense it. Of course, the number of uses is limited; do not use it unless it is a matter of life and death."

Lin Wan took the Heavenly Secret Token. It felt warm and smooth to the touch. When he probed it with his Divine Sense, he could feel a mysterious and vast power contained within, faintly connected to Master Tianjizi's aura.

"Additionally, this contains all the intelligence regarding that jade pendant, as well as everything my Heavenly Secret Pavilion currently possesses that might be related to the Chaos Dao Seed and the Chaos Ruins." Master Tianjizi handed over a Jade Slip.

Lin Wan took the Jade Slip, and as his Divine Sense sank into it, a vast amount of information flooded into his mind.

First was the information about the jade pendant. According to that Senior from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, this pendant was discovered on the periphery of a forbidden area called the "Chaos Ruins."

The Chaos Ruins are located in the far north of the Immortal Realm, near the "Return to Ruins." Legend has it that it was formed from a small fragment of Chaos that remained when the ancient Chaos shattered. The interior is filled with chaotic, violent Chaos Qi and turbulent time-space currents. It is extremely dangerous; even a Profound Immortal would not dare to venture deep inside easily.

That Senior had only explored the edge and nearly perished, managing only to pick up this half of a broken jade pendant.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion had also studied the material of the jade pendant. It was not any known material, was extremely tough, and could automatically absorb and store a trace of Chaos Qi, but that was all; it had no other miraculous properties.

The patterns on it were ancient and blurred, suspected to be some kind of map or Legacy, but they were incomplete and could not be deciphered.

Secondly, about the Chaos Dao Seed. According to the records of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the Chaos Dao Seed is the supreme Dao Foundation nurtured by the Origin of the Great Dao before the world was created, when Chaos had not yet separated.

Those who possess a Chaos Dao Seed are naturally close to the Chaos Dao. Cultivating any attribute of Cultivation Technique or Divine Ability yields twice the result with half the effort, and their immortal essence naturally possesses Chaos attributes, allowing it to contain all things and also restrain all things.

In theory, the Chaos Dao Seed possesses infinite potential, and if it can grow, it is enough to reach the supreme Peak.

However, throughout history, those with clearly recorded Chaos Dao Seeds are few and far between, and most died young or, for various reasons, had their Dao Seed shatter, failing to truly grow up.

Because the Chaos Dao Seed is too Heaven-Defying, it is not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao and faces countless tribulations. Furthermore, the resources required for its growth are massive, especially the need to absorb high-level energy such as Chaos Qi, Innate Five Elements Qi, and Yin and Yang Qi for nourishment. Otherwise, the Dao Seed cannot grow and may even gradually wither.

Finally, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion speculated that Lin Wan's Chaos Dao Seed might not be Innate but rather condensed by chance later on, otherwise it would not be so weak and resonate with that half of the jade pendant.

Lastly, there were some rumors about the Chaos Ruins. Although the Chaos Ruins are dangerous, they also contain great Opportunities. In addition to the possible existence of Chaos Qi, it is also possible to find some treasures and Legacies left over from the ancient Chaos period.

However, entering the Chaos Ruins is a life-or-death gamble, and the internal environment changes constantly with no fixed location. Even the Heavenly Secret Pavilion has extremely limited knowledge of it.

"Chaos Ruins... Chaos Qi..." Lin Wan put away the Jade Slip, having already made his plans.

It seems that the Chaos Ruins is a place he must visit. Not only to search for clues about the jade pendant but also to seek Chaos Qi to nourish the Chaos Dao Seed.

"Thank you for informing me, Pavilion Master." Lin Wan cupped his hands in gratitude. This information was very important to him, especially the secrets regarding the Chaos Dao Seed and the clues about the Chaos Ruins, which were invaluable.

"You are too polite, young friend. Since we are allies, we should treat each other with sincerity." Master Tianjizi stroked his beard and smiled. "What are your plans for the near future? Are you looking for a place to go into seclusion to digest what you gained in the Five Elements Small World?"

"Exactly. This Junior intends to head to the Chaotic Star Sea to go into seclusion and attempt to break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm." Lin Wan did not hide his intentions.

"The Chaotic Star Sea? Hmm, the space there is chaotic, which is indeed suitable for seclusion and makes it difficult to be tracked." Master Tianjizi nodded, then reminded him, "However, you must still be careful. The Xuan Yin Sect and Tian Sha Sect will not give up easily. They may not be able to deduce your exact location, but it is hard to guarantee they won't plant spies at various dangerous areas and Secret Realm exits. Furthermore, besides these two sects, the news that you obtained the five elements origin bead and ascended to the fifth level of the Five Elements Dao Derivation Platform has likely attracted the attention of other big figures. An innocent man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime; you must keep a low profile."

"Thank you for the reminder, Pavilion Master, this Junior understands." Lin Wan felt a jolt in his heart. Indeed, he had been a bit too conspicuous this time and had likely entered the sight of some truly big figures. He would need to be more cautious in his future actions.

"By the way," Master Tianjizi seemed to recall something and added, "If you are looking for Chaos Qi, besides the Chaos Ruins, there might be one other place you can try."

"Oh? Where?" Lin Wan's spirit lifted.

"The Return to Ruins." Master Tianjizi slowly spat out the two words.

"The Return to Ruins?" Lin Wan raised an eyebrow. He had heard of the Return to Ruins. Legend has it that it is the place where all energy and matter in the Immortal Realm end, and also the place where everything originates. It is mysterious and unpredictable, even more dangerous than the Chaos Ruins. It is said that even a Profound Immortal entering it faces the danger of perishing.

"Correct. The Return to Ruins is where all things end, and also where they begin. There, all energy and matter, including space and time, will eventually return to Chaos. Therefore, deep within the Return to Ruins, there might exist true, relatively stable Chaos Qi. However, the Return to Ruins is too dangerous, and its location is elusive and extremely difficult to find. My Heavenly Secret Pavilion only has some sporadic records and cannot determine its specific location. If you are interested, you can pay more attention to relevant clues," Master Tianjizi said.

"The Return to Ruins..." Lin Wan kept this name in his heart. The Chaos Ruins, the Return to Ruins—it seemed both were places he would have to explore in the future.

"Alright, I have said everything that needs to be said. Young friend, the road ahead is difficult; take care of yourself. I look forward to the day you reach the pinnacle." Master Tianjizi smiled slightly, his figure gradually fading as if merging into the Void Realm, and finally disappeared, leaving only one sentence echoing in the void: "If you have important matters, you can contact me through the Heavenly Secret Token. Remember, the matter of the Chaos Dao Seed must never be leaked."

"Farewell, Pavilion Master." Lin Wan cupped his hands toward the void. Only after confirming that Master Tianjizi had truly left did he breathe a sigh of relief. Facing an old monster like Master Tianjizi was truly too stressful, no matter how kind the other party appeared.

"Heavenly Secret Pavilion... Chaos Dao Seed... the mystery of my Origins... and the Chaos Ruins, the Return to Ruins..." Lin Wan stood in place, digesting the massive amount of information he had just received, his heart surging. He had thought that after coming out of the Five Elements Small World, he could safely go into seclusion to break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, but he did not expect so many more things to be involved. He was being hunted by the Xuan Yin and Tian Sha Sects, might be targeted by more big figures, and now he had this mysterious ally, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, as well as the secrets of his Origins and the Chaos Dao Seed.

"Strength! Everything is because my strength is insufficient!" Lin Wan clenched his fists, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. Only by possessing sufficient strength could he deal with all crises, explore all secrets, and control his own destiny!

"Go to the Chaotic Star Sea first, go into seclusion and break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm! The Heavenly Immortal Realm is the true starting point for establishing a foothold in the Immortal Realm!" Lin Wan no longer hesitated. His figure transformed into a streak of light, flying at full speed toward the direction of the Chaotic Star Sea.

Several days later, Lin Wan traversed barren Star Domains one after another and finally arrived at the edge of the Chaotic Star Sea.

Before him was a spectacle that could not be described in words. Infinite broken stars, varying in size, as if crushed by an invisible giant hand, floated in the pitch-black Void Realm. Between the star fragments were violent spatial turbulence, chaotic energy storms, distorted Law fragments, and countless indescribable, eerie phenomena. Light here became distorted and broken. When Divine Sense probed in, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, quickly losing its way. This place was a forbidden zone for life, a paradise of Chaos.

"Indeed, an excellent place for seclusion." Looking at the chaotic scene before him, Lin Wan was not afraid but instead showed a hint of satisfaction. The environment here was harsh and the space chaotic, which was perfect for isolating himself from external detection and deduction. Moreover, the chaotic energy storms, which were a disaster for others, were different for him; his Chaos Immortal Energy could contain all things, and perhaps he could extract some special energy from them to accelerate the growth of the Chaos Dao Seed.

He circulated the "Turtle Breath Shadow Concealment Technique," restricting his own aura to the extreme, like a lifeless meteorite, and slowly drifted into the Chaotic Star Sea. He did not venture deep into the core area; it was too dangerous, and even he, in his current state, dared not tread there easily. He searched for a long time in the periphery area and finally found a relatively stable, broken star with a diameter of about a hundred miles. Inside this star, there seemed to be a naturally formed hollow that could isolate most of the energy storms and spatial turbulence.

Lin Wan dived into the interior of the star and indeed found a huge hollow. The interior of the hollow was surprisingly calm, with only faint star power permeating it. He sat cross-legged in the center of the hollow, waved his hand to set up several layers of concealment, defense, and spirit-gathering Formation, sealing the entrance.

"Right here, I will break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm!" Lin Wan took out the massive amount of Cultivation resources he had obtained in the Five Elements Small World, including the remaining energy of the five elements origin bead that he hadn't finished using, the essence of the Five Elements Flood Dragon inner core, and some high-quality immortal Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills obtained from the storage rings of Elder Gui Li and others.

He closed his eyes and sank his mind into his Dantian. Inside the Dantian, five brilliant Five Elements Law Seeds were slowly rotating around a tiny, nascent Chaos Dao Seed that emitted a hazy halo. The Chaos Immortal Energy was like a galaxy, surging and flowing within the Dantian, vast and pure.

"The Five Elements are perfect, and the Foundation has been established. Although the Chaos Dao Seed is only a sprout, it has already set a supreme Dao Foundation. Today, I will use the Five Elements to transform into Yin and Yang, use Yin and Yang to glimpse the Chaos, trigger the Heavenly Tribulation, forge the Heavenly Immortal body, and condense the Heavenly Immortal Law!"

Lin Wan recited silently in his heart and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, putting all his effort into breaking through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm! He would pass the Heavenly Tribulation in this chaotic Chaotic Star Sea and achieve the Heavenly Immortal Realm!

As the Cultivation Technique circulated, the massive energy accumulated within his body erupted like a bursting flood! The entire star hollow was filled with misty immortal light and the aura of profound Laws! Outside, in the chaotic Chaotic Star Sea, it seemed to sense something, and the energy storms became even more violent, with lightning faintly brewing within them...