Ascension of The Unholy Immortal-Chapter 319: Pavilion’s Trouble

Dong Tian Shu nodded, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. Who could resist the allure of rare delicacies? Having traversed the domain and savored countless exquisite dishes, he was eager to see what the prestigious All Heaven Pavilion could offer.

"Is this it? Are you trying to bribe us with food?" Dong Tian Zi scoffed, his skepticism evident.

Xia shot him a bemused glance. "Don’t worry, Mister Tian Zi. The food is just one part of the experience—I assure you there’s more that will pique your interest."

Dong Tian Zi’s expression softened a fraction, curiosity creeping in.

"If our esteemed guests have no further inquiries, I will take my leave," Xia said, turning gracefully before striding away alongside Liang.

"What do you think of that?" Dong Tian Zi inquired, tilting his head in the direction Xia had departed.

Dong Tian Shu shrugged nonchalantly. "It doesn’t matter much. I just hope the dishes live up to their reputation. Otherwise…" A cold glimmer sparked in his eyes.

***

"It seems your Pavilion is in quite a predicament," Liang remarked, sipping thoughtfully from his teacup.

"How did you know?" Xia’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Forget the baseless rumors that brought you here. You must be experiencing setbacks if you’re hosting a banquet under such circumstances..." Liang’s lips curled into a chilling smile. "I’m sure trouble is brewing."

Xia’s smile turned bitter. "You’re not wrong. Things are looking pretty bleak."

"A few weeks ago, we discovered a serious issue," Xia began, taking a deep breath. "The vault where we keep our treasures... we can’t access it."

"You can’t access it?" Liang raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Correct. It’s sealed with a peculiar formation that none of our experts can decipher. They suspect it’s above the eighth order!" Xia’s voice trembled with despair.

"Above the eighth order?" Liang’s heart raced at the implication. "This formation just appeared out of nowhere?"

Xia nodded, frustration etched across her face. "Someone must have set it up in secret, but we haven’t uncovered any traces of their involvement."

"So, you want me to track down this person?" Liang asked, curiosity piqued.

At this, Xia couldn’t help but laugh. "Surely not, Brother Liang. We need you to break the formation."

Liang nearly spat out his tea, eyes wide as he locked onto Xia’s earnest expression. "Miss Xia, you can’t be serious!"

Xia nodded solemnly, her expression grave. "Our experts have concluded that this is an ancient void sealing formation. Unfortunately, we lack even an eighth-order formation master, let alone one with expertise in void-related matters."

"I don’t know either," Liang replied, chuckling lightly.

"What if Brother Liang takes a look? Perhaps you might find a way to help?" Xia suggested, gesturing with her hand.

In an instant, a massive formation diagram materialized in the air.

Liang studied the diagram intently, his eyes flickering with an unusual pattern as he absorbed the complex intricacies before him. Time stretched on, and he remained fixated on the diagram, lost in thought.

Forty-eight hours later, he finally closed his eyes and sank deeper into contemplation.

Xia, unwavering, watched him with hopeful anticipation, her eyes fixed on his serene yet focused demeanor.

Hours passed before Liang opened his eyes once more.

"What’s your take, Brother Liang?" Xia inquired, her voice infused with eagerness.

Liang’s gaze was shadowed with concern. "It’s far too complex."

Xia’s brow furrowed slightly. "But it’s not impossible?"

After a moment of silent reflection, Liang replied, "While solving it is one option, you could technically destroy it through brute force."

Xia shook her head vigorously. "The storage’s locking mechanism is highly sensitive. If it senses even the slightest force, it will detonate."

Liang nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "The one who set this sealing formation was no ordinary individual; they were likely from one of the top five factions or a force of equal standing."

Xia’s lips twitched at his words. "Indeed, I cannot dispute that."

Liang considered the implications, a cautious look crossing his face. "If, by some stroke of luck, I were to crack this sealing formation, wouldn’t I make an enemy of a powerful faction?"

Xia rubbed her temples, deep in thought. "So, we’re caught between a rock and a hard place."

Liang cupped his hands, preparing to depart. "If that’s all, I hope your pavilion can weather this storm."

"What is your price, Brother Liang?" Xia’s expression turned serious, her indifference fading.

Liang’s gaze flickered briefly. "This undertaking is perilous, and I hope Miss Xia will reconsider her insistence."

Xia’s lips curled into a forced smile, both irritated and determined. "Please, Mister Liang, state your price. I have the Pavilion Head’s authority to negotiate."

More like it, Liang thought, settling back down. "Five treasures."

"What?" Xia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

"I wish to select five treasures from your storage," Liang reiterated calmly.

"I understand your request, Mister Liang, but five is excessive. The most I can offer is one," Xia replied, her tone laced with bitterness.

"Then I won’t settle for less than four treasures," Liang said, his displeasure evident.

"Two—you’re already pushing it," Xia retorted, her frustration growing.

Liang shook his head. "Accepting that would mean significant loss for me. If that’s the case, I’ll have to walk away."

Noticing Xia’s silent contemplation, he stood to leave.

"Mister Liang, are you aware that you’re not the only Void Formation Master?" Xia said coldly.

Liang halted, his voice steady but distant. "Then go ahead and connect them."

Xia’s expression darkened. That wasn’t an option. Whoever designed the formation would undoubtedly be aware of every void expert who excelled in formations—most likely, they were the very threat they faced. They were on the verge of being robbed without even realizing it, akin to inviting a tiger into their den.

Only Liang remained relatively unknown, a fact that might work to his advantage. The opposing faction likely had no information on him; thus far, no major factions held accurate records about him. Only the All Things Pavilion possessed some details, and they had kept that intelligence under tight wraps.

Xia finally exhaled, her frustration evident. "Three. Any more and we might as well abandon the plan entirely."

Liang fell silent for a moment, contemplating her offer. Finally, he turned to her, curiosity in his eyes. "Are there any specific treasures involved?"

Xia’s brow furrowed slightly. "You can choose any three items, besides one particular item, which is non-negotiable."