Chapter 1067 - Fearless?
Wang Que.
He was Su Yi’s fifth disciple with a natural talent for the sword. He was forthright and unrestrained.
Compared to his sectmates, Wang Que had a unique status. He was a main-line descendant of one of the most ancient clans of the Wilds, the Middle Province’s Wang Family.
At just thirteen years of age, Wang Que arrived outside the mountain gate of the Grotto of Abstruse Force and underwent the most brutal, stringent of trials: Refining the Heart and Testing the Sword!
He was trapped within its nine stages for a full seven days and seven nights. Finally, a week later, he staggered into the Grotto of Abstruse covered in blood.
Su Yi still vividly recalled asking the boy what he was after. The young Wang Que responded, “Senior, I want to study the sword. I want to learn the greatest swordsmanship beneath the heavens!”
When he said this, he was just thirteen years of age, and his eyes sparkled like stars.
Wang Que then became Su Yi’s fifth legacy disciple.
But not long after Su Yi’s reincarnation, word spread that Wang Que had lost his life in the wilderness of Ten Directions Yao Mountain. Even the soul lamp he’d left with his clan had gone out.
When Su Yi first learned this news back in the Netherworld, he sank into a lengthy silence.
However, he didn’t believe the soul lamp going out proved that Wang Que was dead. Thus, he ordered Ye Luo to investigate further.
And indeed, there were new developments!
Ye Luo explained, “The Middle Province Wang Family has never given up on Wang Que. They’ve continuously investigated the truth of his inexplicable disappearance. Not long ago, one of their old-timers returned from the wilderness of Ten Directions Yao Mountain and said he suspected that Senior Apprentice Brother Wang Que had been taken captive by the Blue Ox Yao Emperor!”
The Blue Ox Yao Emperor?
Su Yi’s brow furrowed; that title seemed a bit familiar. He couldn’t help but ask, “Is that perhaps the blue ox yao that’s occupied Firecloud Cave?”
“I think it is the old bull, yes.” Ye Luo nodded.
“Strange. I’ve visited Ten Directions Yao Mountain before. At the time, the bull called himself one of the mountain’s nine great Yao Emperors, but he was only in the mid-stage Profound Serenity Realm, and he wasn’t all that strong.”
Su Yi found it difficult to understand. “With Wang Que’s cultivation, he ought to have been able to suppress him with ease. How could the bull possibly have captured him?”
Ye Luo said, “The old-timers of the Middle Province’s Wang Family found it strange too. Recently, they sent their experts to Ten Directions Yao Mountain to investigate.”
Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. “I only just returned to the Wilds, and now, word of Wang Que’s survival has left the wilderness of Ten Directions Yao Mountain. Isn’t that a bit overly coincidental?”
Ye Luo’s gaze focused. “Master, do you suspect someone has set a trap?”
“When did word about Wang Que spread?” asked Su Yi.
Ye Luo stopped to think for a moment. “About half a month ago.”
The depths of Su Yi’s inscrutable gaze shone with cold light. “At the time, my traitorous disciple had only just proclaimed me the public enemy of the Abstruse Alliance. Word of Wang Que arrived immediately after. That really is quite the coincidence.”
Ye Luo was flabbergasted. “This is Pi Mo’s trap!?”
“Quite possibly,” Su Yi said calmly. “Given how meticulous he is, I’m sure he anticipated that I’d look into his apprentice brothers and sisters as soon as I returned. I suspect that he’s using word of Wang Que’s whereabouts as bait to draw my attention.”
Ye Luo’s expression was a bit unsightly. “He’s using Senior Apprentice Brother Wang Que’s life to set a trap!? Pi Mo’s gone too far!”
Su Yi immediately made his decision. “Let’s visit the Levitating Sword Hall first, then head directly to Ten Directions Yao Mountain.”
Ye Luo couldn’t help but interject, “Master, if you already know it’s a trap, why must you risk yourself?”
“No matter what, I have to save your fifth apprentice brother,” said Su Yi. With that, he strode through the air.
Ye Luo froze, and his heart shook. Master hasn’t changed. He’s willing to go to any lengths for his apprentices!
Then, without any further thought, Ye Luo flew after him.
Heavenly Shepherd Spirit Mountain.
This was the home base of the Levitating Sword Hall.
Night descended like a curtain flecked with stars and illuminated in faint moonlight.
Within a grand hall, the leader of the Levitating Sword Hall, Hong Shanfeng, paced back and forth.
He wore red Daoist robes, and he was tall and thin with a majestic bearing.
However, a gloomy expression lingered on his face.
Frigid night gales blew into the hall, as if wailing and complaining.
“The wind is truly irritating tonight!” Hong Shanfeng furrowed his brow.
“It’s not the wind that’s irritating. You’re just agitated.” The thin old man seated nearby couldn’t help but shake his head. “Sect Leader, you’re overthinking things.”
Hong Shanfeng stopped in his tracks and said gravely, “How am I overthinking things? That Su Yi person most likely really is the reincarnation of the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force!”
The thin old man’s eyes narrowed, but in the end, he laughed. “Pi Mo was the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s first and eldest disciple. If he says Su Yi is an impersonator, he’s surely right.”
Hong Shanfeng’s eyes flashed, and he snorted coldly, “Were Su Yi the real thing, would Pi Mo dare admit it? The Abstruse Force Alliance was founded in the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s name. If he dares to admit that Su Yi is his master, what would he do next? And what would become of his alliance?”
He paused, then said fearfully, “Besides, Su Yi killed Huo Yao and even subdued Ye Luo. If he isn’t the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force, why insist on becoming enemies with the Abstruse Force Alliance?”
The thin elder said dismissively, “Sect Leader, you really are overthinking this. Not long ago, Pi Mo sent a secret message telling us to remain uninvolved and watch from the sidelines. He said he could deal with that impersonator himself. That means that even if the heavens fall, Pi Mo will lift them back up. There’s no need for us to trouble ourselves.”
A moment later, he laughed coldly, “Besides, even if Su Yi really is the reincarnation of the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force, so what? If he had the peak cultivation base of his past life, he’d likely have already fought his way into the Wilds and reclaimed the Grotto of Abstruse Force! In that case, Pi Mo would fear him!”
“But as you can see, Pi Mo has instead declared war against him! This unquestionably implies that he’s already made ample preparations, and that he’s assured of his victory!”
The thin old man raised a teacup and leisurely took a sip. “Given the circumstance, what need does the Levitating Sword Hall have to worry? We can simply watch and see how this plays out.”
Hong Shanfeng was briefly dazed. Then, he let out a breath of turbid air and mocked himself. “You might well be right, martial uncle. Back in the day, we followed Pi Mo and helped invade the Grotto of Abstruse Force. Everyone beneath the heavens knows that, but every time I think about it, I feel ill at ease. It’s truly just that… the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force is far too terrifying….”
He was the glorious leader of his sect, yet now, he was exposing his own shortcomings!
But the thin old man didn’t make fun of him.
Back in the day, the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force really was strong enough to make one give in to despair. Alone, sword in hand, he suppressed the heavens and fought until no one else dared proclaim themselves sovereign.
Even the world’s peak orthodoxies could only avert their gazes before Su Xuanjun. None of them dared act up!
Who wouldn’t have been afraid of a terrifying existence like him?
After a moment’s silence, the thin old man said calmly but emphatically, “The Su Xuanjun we knew has long since passed away, and he cannot possibly reappear in this world. Even if he does reincarnate, he is no longer the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force, and we have no need to fear him!”
He was saying this for Hong Shanfeng’s benefit, but also for his own sake.
But then, the wailing winds outside came to an abrupt halt.
A moment later, a cool voice emanated from beyond the hall. “Is that so? Then I’m actually quite eager to see if you’re truly… as fearless as you say.”
It was just one light, airy sentence, but both Hong Shanfeng and the old man whipped around and gazed outside the hall.
Their expressions were utterly grim.
This was the Levitating Sword Hall’s territory, and both the mountain and its surroundings were covered in countless ancient formations. They were enough to trap and kill even Profound Serenity Emperors! Yet now, people had silently appeared outside their grand hall. How could Hong Shanfeng and his martial uncle not be surprised?
However, both of them had seen their share of the wind and rain, and they didn’t panic. Instead, they were instantly on guard.
The night was like stagnant water, silent on all sides.
Beneath Hong Shanfeng and the old man’s attentive gazes, two figures walked into the hall, one following the other.
The leader was a tall, lean young man in blue robes. He walked with his hands behind his back, his gait leisurely, as if he were on a stroll through his own backyard.
A thin young man with gray hair walked behind him.
When Hong Shangfeng and the old man saw him, their pupils constricted.
“Fellow Daoist Ye Luo!?” Hong Shanfeng’s face filled with disbelief.
The thin old man’s expression shifted. “Rumor has it that Su Yi has already bewitched your mind and made you his subordinate. Does that mean… don’t tell me he’s Su Yi!?”
As he spoke, he looked at Su Yi with alarm and bewilderment.
Hong Shanfeng gasped too, and he couldn’t help but re-evaluate Su Yi. His hair stood on end. Don’t tell me… that he really is the reincarnation of the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force?
Ye Luo snorted coldly, “If you see my respect for my master as having been ‘bewitched,’ then yes, it’s true!”
His master?
When Hong Shanfeng heard that title leave Ye Luo’s mouth, his heart sank, and he felt a chill in his hands and feet. Has the worst truly come to pass?
“Hah? You’ve accepted a teenage impersonator as your master. Ye Luo, you’re truly blind. How ridiculous! How pathetic!”
However, in stark contrast with the sect leader, the thin old man actually calmed down. “I’ll give you a chance. Leave, right now, and we can pretend nothing happened. The Levitating Sword Hall has no desire to get mixed up in these turbid waters, but if you don’t know what’s good for you, don’t blame us for our poor manners!”
Ye Luo’s brow furrowed, and he was just about to say something when Su Yi waved dismissively. “We’re here to get even, not to waste words. You can just stand aside and watch. Leave the rest to me.”
Ye Luo’s heart was instantly solemn as he realized that tonight, his master intended to vent his pent up murderousness!
“Got it!” He instantly nodded his assent, then stood to the side of the hall.
Meanwhile, Su Yi’s behavior both alarmed and enraged Sect Leader Hong Shanfeng.
“You needn’t be angry, Sect Leader,” the thin old man said calmly. “The boy is only in the Profound Illumination Realm, and this is our territory. If he dares attack, he’ll be no different from an egg flinging itself against a rock.”
Su Yi glanced at him. “Then I’ll start with you.”
Before this light, airy declaration had even finished echoing through the air, Su Yi attacked!
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