1555 Pavilion of Knowledge(2)

"Young Master, on behalf of the Xuan Family, thank you for helping the Xi Family." Xuan Kun respectfully lowered his head at Yuan.

"Don't even mention it. I only did what was natural." Yuan smiled.

"Anyway, you're here for information on the Immortal Monarch, correct?" Xuan Kun then asked.

"Yes, that's correct."

"I see… Unfortunately, as Xuan Wei had already said, any information on the Immortal Monarch is incredibly sacred to us, so even if you are with the Xi Family, I cannot give you any information without payment. This is also a rule of the Pavilion of Knowledge I cannot break as its Master."

"No, I completely understand. I never thought it was going to be free, anyway. If you provide me with new information on the Immortal Monarch, I will be willing to share information on the Immortal Monarch that you may not be aware of. That sounds fair, correct?" Yuan said.

Xuan Kun looked at Yuan with a doubtful gaze. Information on the Immortal Monarch was incredibly rare and not something that could be found within the Fourth Heaven in this day and age, after all.

However, he only remained doubtful and didn't outright dismiss Yuan as a fraud.

"By the way, how does the Pavilion of Knowledge verify the information they're given?" Xi Meili suddenly asked.

"We have a treasure called the Heavenly Scroll of Validity. It can tell whether someone is being genuine or not," explained Xuan Kun.

'Sounds like my Grail of Truth.' Yuan thought inwardly.

While the Heavenly Scroll of Validity and the Grail of Truth had similar functions, they were actually very different. The Grail of Truth only had the capability to tell whether someone was lying or not, so it wouldn't be able to detect anything deeper than that.

As for the Heavenly Scroll of Validity, it directly reads one's soul to tell if they are being genuine or not.

"If you truly wish to purchase information on the Immortal Monarch, we will need to verify your information before the Heavenly Scroll of Validity." Xuan Kun continued.

"I'll do it." Yuan nodded.

"Let's do it after we drink some tea. I'd like to chat more with the Young Lady here, as well."

"I don't mind."

Xuan Wei returned sometime later with three cups of tea.

He placed the tea on the table, immediately turned around, and walked back out to the door without uttering a single word, clearly still upset that he was treated like a servant.

"Wait." Xuan Kun suddenly stopped him.

"The Young Lady here hasn't received an apology from you yet."

"Why do I have to apologize to her?! I did nothing wrong!" Xuan Wei roared.

"Do I really have to repeat myself?" Xuan Kun frowned, his domineering aura growing more noticeable.

Xuan Wei's entire body trembled in anger, but he didn't dare to talk back.

He turned to Xi Meili and reluctantly lowered his head before stiffly speaking, "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted." Xi Meili could've remained silent, but she thought it would annoy him more if she responded, and she was right.

Xuan Wei stormed out of the room the next moment, his face flushed red.

"Now then… Young Lady, can you tell me about your life in the Ancient Dragon City? And how is the Xi Family fairing nowadays?" Xuan Kun asked.

Xi Meili casually nodded and began recalling her life in the Ancient Dragon City.

Although Xuan Kun's request seemed innocent and out of curiosity at a glance, he was actually trying to acquire information on the Ancient Dragon City.

Due to Ancient Dragon City's seclusive and secretive nature, any information on them would be precious to the Pavilion of Knowledge, especially information on the Xi Family, a dragon clan with royal blood that hasn't been seen in the outside world for millions of years.

Yuan silently enjoyed the tea as he listened to their chat.

In the blink of an eye, several hours have passed since Yuan arrived at the Pavilion of Knowledge.

"I see… I'm glad that His Majesty is doing well these days. It's unfortunate that he can no longer progress his cultivation due to the lack of spiritual energy there, but he knew this before going inside the Ancient Dragon City. Now let me tell you about the history of the Xuan Family with the Xi Family." Xuan Kun said.

"Our Xuan Family has served the Xi Family for generations— even before the Divine Heavens split into Nine Heavens. It all started when your ancestors saved our ancestor's life. After our ancestors swore loyalty to the Xi Family, we started working as their servants until we were promoted to being their record keeper, where we record significant moments or their achievements."

"Everything was great…until the humans started hunting down dragons like madmen. The Xi Family didn't want to deal with humans and decided to move into the Ancient Dragon City, a world of its own, created by none other than the Dragon Ancestor. However, the Xi Family didn't force their retainers to follow them and gave us a choice—to follow them or remain in the Nine Heavens."

"Our Xuan Family wanted to follow the Xi Family, but alas, we found a new objective in life when a certain someone showed up—the Immortal Monarch. This individual was so awe-

inspiring and special that we wanted to remain outside to witness and record his greatness, which was the start of the Pavilion of Knowledge."

"This is why we regard information on the Immortal Monarch sacred. It's the foundation of the Pavilion of Knowledge."

"Anyway, we can start verifying your information now."

Yuan nodded and stood up, "Let's go."

Xuan Kun proceeded to bring them to a large and spacious room on the upper floor. This room only had four things inside—a table, two chairs, and a golden scroll that was floating above the table.

This scroll emitted a profound, almost otherworldly aura that permeated the room.

"Please, have a seat." Xuan Kun gestured toward one of the chairs before sitting down on the other one.

Once Yuan sat across from him, Xuan Kun activated the Heavenly Scroll of Validity.

"From this point forth, the Heavenly Scroll of Validity will enter your soul to determine whether your information is genuine or not."

"Let's start with something simple. What is your name?"

"Yuan."

The very next moment, the Heavenly Scroll of Validity emitted a golden glow that made the room appear divine.

"Good. Now, lie to me. Do you know Xi Meili?"

"No."

The Heavenly Scroll of Validity did not glow and released an imposing pressure that filled the room, as though a judge had just sentenced someone to death.

"Last test. I won't ask you anything. Just tell me something. It doesn't have to be real, either."

Hearing such words, Yuan showed a mysterious smile on his face as he spoke, "The Immortal Monarch is still alive."

"?!?!" Xuan Kun's eyes widened with surprise after hearing Yuan's information.

As someone with millenniums of experience verifying information, he could usually tell when someone was farting or not, even without the Heavenly Scroll of Validity's help. Yet, he somehow found Yuan's information to be real even though it shouldn't be possible.

Xuan Kun immediately turned to look at the Heavenly Scroll of Validity for its response. He wanted it to permeate the room with its golden glow so badly, but he knew that it wasn't going to happen, as that would have severe and significant implications.

A moment later, the room brightened as the Heavenly Scroll of Validity glowed gold.

"WHAT?!"

Xuan Kun stood from his chair and slammed the table, looking like he'd just witnessed his ancestors crawling out of their graves.

After standing there for a long minute with a bewildered look on his face, Xuan Kun looked at Yuan and asked in a trembling voice, "W-where did you get this information?!"

However, Yuan merely shrugged and said, "Who knows, but the information I just gave you should be pretty valuable, right? I wonder if it's valuable enough for you to give me what I want."

Xuan Kun's jaw dropped after hearing his words. He was rendered completely speechless, and his mind was already in a mess from the earlier information.

Eventually, he took a deep breath and sighed, "Very well… I shall give you all the information we have on the Immortal Monarch. But honestly, the information you gave us is already more valuable than everything we've gathered since our foundation."

"That's fine."

"Follow me…"

Xuan Kun tried to walk to the door, but he stumbled and fell on the floor like an old man who suddenly had his cane taken away.

"Sorry, but can you give me a moment?" he asked with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Take your time." Yuan nodded with a smile.

Xuan Kun remained seated on the floor for several minutes, contemplating the information that the Immortal Monarch was still alive out there somewhere.

'The Immortal Monarch is alive…? The Immortal Monarch is alive?! Why hasn't he made an appearance for so long?! What about the Nine Divine Supremes?! Just who is this young human?!' Xuan Kun knew Yuan was an extraordinary existence when he managed to visit the Ancient Dragon City and receive the Xi Family's approval, but this was truly far beyond his expectations.

'This young man… could he be related to the Immortal Monarch? Perhaps his descendant? No… he wouldn't need to look for information on the Immortal Monarch if he were the Immortal Monarch's descendant…'

Sometime later, once Xuan Kun could finally walk properly, he led Yuan to the room on the highest floor of the Pavilion of Knowledge.