Chapter 2908 - The Hidden Zhi Wuzhong
It’s about time we ended this, huh? The Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence took this in calmly.
Was this the end of them? Perhaps.
But even if their clones died here today, their ancient enmity couldn’t possibly end so easily.
“Go right ahead, Fellow Daoist,” said the Monarch of Endless Tribulations. “In a clash of the Grand Dao, the winner is a king and the loser is a bandit. We were weaker than you, and we’re naturally willing to lose with grace.”
The Buddha of Non-Existence clasped his palms together. “Even those who’ve shattered the fetters of destiny struggle to truly escape its whims. Seeing your majesty today was a delight and an honor. I feel no regret even in defeat.”
The heart devil said calmly, “Even if I destroy your clones here today, you won’t stop pursuing the Book of Destiny, will you?”
“We won’t!” said the Monarch of Endless Tribulations.
“This is a clash of the Grand Dao,” the Buddha of Non-Existence said with a nod. “There’s no room for retreat.”
The Book of Destiny wasn’t just of the utmost importance to their ancient standoff. It was crucial to their respective Daos, too. Neither of them would just back down.
The heart devil said, “Actually, I think I have a way to resolve this. You might as well hear me out first.”
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence froze, stunned, then nodded.
“I’m going to suppress your clones, refine your destiny souls, and seal them in the Book of Destiny,” said the heart devil. “If you’re willing to cooperate, I can make you a promise on Su Yi’s behalf. Before Su Yi becomes a Heavenly Sovereign, he’ll bring the Book of Destiny to the Abyss of Endless Tribulations.
“When the time comes, no matter what Su Yi resolves, he’ll naturally give you a chance to end your enmity once and for all! Of course, when the time comes, you’re both welcome to try to kill him and seize the Book of Destiny for yourselves. Whether Su Yi survives or not will ultimately be up to him.
“I can guarantee that when that day comes, I won’t intervene!”
Both the Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence were a bit stunned. After their earlier clash with him, both understood his terrifyingness full well. Suppressing them, refining their souls, and imprisoning them in the Book of Destiny wouldn’t be the least bit difficult for him.
There was no need for him to negotiate with them, either. Yet now, here he was, doing just that. It really was outside of their expectations.
“Before he becomes a Heavenly Sovereign?” repeated the Monarch of Endless Tribulations. “Fellow Daoist, surely you don’t think a sword cultivator yet to become a Heavenly Sovereign can hold his own against us just because he carries the Book of Destiny?”
“It’s all uncertain,” the heart devil said calmly. “We can’t possibly know unless we try it.”
The Buddha of Non-Existence said thoughtfully, “Fellow Daoist Su has mastered reincarnation, and he carries the Book of Destiny. In the future, his grasp of the laws of Destiny will surely transcend the imagination. I have no objections to him coming to the Abyss of Endless Tribulations to settle this enmity once and for all.”
The Book of Destiny and reincarnation!
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations couldn’t help but sigh just hearing it. Su Yi’s secrets are truly unbelievable. Combined with that mysterious, unfathomable past life of his, and I’m even less willing to underestimate him.
After a brief pause, the Monarch of Endless Tribulations said, “I have a small request. If you’re willing to grant it, I’ll agree to this, too.”
The heart devil furrowed his brow slightly, then thought it over and decided to lower himself just this once. After all, he was doing this to help that kid Su Yi. If he was going to help, he naturally ought to be thorough about it.
Otherwise, given his usual temperament, he’d have kicked over the table and ended negotiations had someone tried to set conditions like this.
He said listlessly, “Let’s hear it.”
“I just hope that Fellow Daoist Su can grant Lu Shu release from his tribulation and a chance to live on,” said the Monarch of Endless Tribulations.
The heart devil was stunned. Su Yi, meanwhile, was a bit confused. “Me?”
“That’s right,” said the Monarch of Endless Tribulations. “This place was manifested from Lu Shu’s heart and bodily remains, and it’s located in the River of Destiny’s Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain. Thus, Lu Shu remains stuck here. I hope you can give him a chance at release.”
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations paused, then said, “Only you can give him this opportunity. No one else is capable of it.”
Only then did Su Yi understand.
Moreover, although he and the former River Ancestor Lu Shu had fought with their lives on the line, there was no real grudge between them. Lu Shu had even helped him defeat Lu Shi.
More than anything else, the former River Ancestor Lu Shu and River Empress Peacock were old friends. Thus, Su Yi wasn’t actually at all opposed to helping Lu Shu find release.
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations sighed. “Lu Shu used the Great Ceremonial Destiny Stele to sacrifice his own destiny soul, all to enter the Abyss of Endless Tribulations. Although he survived, he was beset by endless tribulations. I’ve done everything I could to help him, but I could at most ensure his Destiny Soul’s survival. In doing so, I transformed him into a Harbinger of Tribulations, a creature neither alive nor dead.
“Others see him as the incarnation of calamity, but to him, his situation is endless torment.
“It’s not that I never considered helping him, but that I simply am not capable of it. Fortunately, this time, I ran into you.” The Monarch of Endless Tribulations looked at Su Yi. “You carry the Book of Destiny. With it, you can neutralize the power of Destiny’s Tribulations and free Lu Shu’s soul from its shackles of calamity.”
Su Yi finally understood why the Harbinger of Tribulations had been so dead-set on acquiring the Book of Destiny.
It was partly because the Book of Destiny was the key to resolving the enmity between the Buddha of Non-Existence and the Monarch of Endless Tribulations, and in part because it could free Lu Shu from the power of Destiny’s Tribulations!
Su Yi immediately agreed. The Monarch of Endless Tribulations visibly relaxed. “My thanks, Fellow Daoist.”
Lu Shu might have seemed like his subordinate, but in truth, their relationship ran deep. They were like old friends in their pursuit of the Grand Dao.
Helping Lu Shu was like unraveling a longstanding mental knot.
“As an expression of my gratitude, if you run into any insurmountable difficulties in your cultivation, you’re welcome to come talk to me at any time,” the Monarch of Endless Tribulations promised solemnly.
The heart devil said approvingly, “Trading one good turn for another, huh? Good.”
The Buddha of Non-Existence said suddenly, “The Key to Endless Tribulations has invaded the little peacock’s true name. Although it's fixable, doing so will damage her foundations in the Grand Dao. If you’re willing to help, this humble monk will do as the Monarch of Endless Tribulations did and...”
But before he could finish, Su Yi said, “No need to set conditions. I’ll, of course, help Fellow Daoist Peacock.”
The Buddha of Non-Existence paused, stunned, then clasped his palms and inclined his head. “Excellent!”
Excellent, huh? Su Yi smiled, but although he didn’t say anything, he couldn’t help but wonder how the monk would react if he knew of his plans to attack the Spirit Mountain Buddhist Court and slaughter the white-robed monk, the fusion of the Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future.
After all, the Buddha of Non-Existence was the one who’d guided their cultivation!
The Buddha of Non-Existence and the Monarch of Endless Tribulations then called forth River Ancestor Lu Shu and River Empress Peacock and transmitted instructions to them. Both experts were obviously explaining the arrangements and decisions they’d made.
The heart devil just watched, neither interfering nor objecting.
Today’s crisis hadn’t really been resolved. It had, at most, been temporarily suppressed. But that was enough for now.
Su Yi would have to visit the Abyss of Endless Tribulations and end this once and for all before he became a Heavenly Sovereign, but the heart devil was fully confident in his ability to do so.
As for helping River Empress Peacock and River Ancestor Lu Shu? To the heart devil, that was a trivial matter entirely unworthy of his attention.
Suddenly, he recalled something, then stretched out his hand and grabbed.
Wang Zhiwu was standing on Heart-Devouring Ridge when, much to his astonishment, he discovered that the Book of Legends had suddenly been wrenched from his grip. It was flying into the air, into the sky covered in boundless sword intent. Soon, it had vanished completely.
“Sonnofabitch! Who the fuck stole my treasure?” Wang Zhiwu launched into a stream of curses. He was inwardly frantic.
The Book of Legends was his greatest killer weapon, especially the last page. That was his life-saving trump card! Now, his treasure had broken free of his grip and flown away. Of course, he was frantic!
When the heart devil heard Wang Zhiwu’s curses, he raised his hand to shut the foul-mouthed junior up. But when he glanced over at Su Yi, he resisted the impulse.
“What are you doing?” Su Yi noticed that the Book of Legends had appeared in the heart devil’s grip.
He suddenly recalled that earlier, Wang Zhiwu had been on the verge of tearing out the book’s last page when the heart devil stopped him.
Even then, Su Yi found it strange.
“When I was still alive, a guy called Zhi Wuzhong repeatedly challenged me. We fought over and over again, and he lost each and every time.
“Still, there’s no denying that that glutton was extraordinary, and quite the interesting opponent at that. He wound up making rapid progress with his cultivation, and he even established an orthodoxy without me realizing it. They call themselves the Sect of Endlessness, making Zhi Wuzhong a true sect leader of the Far Shore of Destiny. His strength and cultivation are both extraordinary.”
The heart devil smiled and opened the Book of Legends. “One of Zhi Wuzhong’s clones appeared when Lu Hongpao was surrounded outside the Literati Continent.”
When Su Yi heard that, his eyelids twitched. He suddenly seemed to realize something.
The heart devil, meanwhile, was stunned to discover that the last page of the Book of Legends was blank. There was nothing there at all!
“Fuck! That bastard Zhi Wuzhong has hidden himself. Is it that he knows I’d kill him if I saw him?” The heart devil grumbled, then rubbed the page as if trying to squeeze Zhi Wuzhong out of the paper.
But in the end, he failed. He was just about to tear the page out instead when he realized something and sank into thought.
This strange behavior confused Su Yi. What’s gotten into him this time? He’s acting ridiculous. Is something wrong with his brain?
After a while, the heart devil sighed, closed the book, and casually tossed it back to the still-cursing Wang Zhiwu.
“Forget it. You didn’t really get involved, so I naturally won’t get mixed up in a squabble between juniors, either,” mumbled the heart devil. “I’ll be interested to see just what tricks you manage to pull, you old glutton. I just hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Su Yi finally couldn’t hold back anymore. “You’re not saying that the last page of the Book of Legends contains Zhi Wuzhong’s Book Soul, are you?”
