“It seemed that Duan Yangfeng noticed the change in Ye Yu’s gaze and quickly said, ‘Don’t misunderstand, I have no intention of snatching it away. Besides, in my current state, even if I wanted to, I don’t have the strength for it!’”
This show of weakness came at just the right moment.
It caused the murderous intent that had just risen in Ye Yu to begin fading away.
Indeed, Duan Yangfeng was not merely mocking himself.
His injuries were truly severe now,
to a point where they could no longer be concealed.
He posed absolutely no threat.
No — to be precise, even at his peak, Duan Yangfeng was only a Foundation Immortal Realm cultivator.
He was no match for Ye Yu and there was no need to worry.
Duan Yangfeng lifted his head and looked at the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe, his eyes revealing a look of reminiscence.
He then began to recount the origin of this immortal robe.
At first, the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe was forged by Duan Jirui, Sect Master of Taichu Pavilion, who endured a thousand years of hardship.
Using supreme secret methods, he captured faint images of the Four Divine Beasts to forge this supreme immortal robe.
It was intended as the treasured heirloom of Taichu Pavilion, passed down through generations.
But unfortunately, Duan Jirui had an unworthy son.
He dared to covet an immortal maiden from Taiyan Dao,
even stooping to vile means such as drugging her,
ruining the maiden’s purity.
When the higher-ups of Taiyan Dao learned of this,
they were furious beyond measure.
They immediately dispatched seventeen Immortal Lords and two Immortal Kings to Taichu Pavilion to demand justice.
They wanted Duan Jirui to hand over his son, Duan Shizhu, to face death.
If refused, the two great sects would go to war that very day, a fight to the death.
Though his son was unworthy,
as a father, Duan Jirui was unwilling to see his only son perish.
So he pleaded with Taiyan Dao’s elders.
Millions of years ago, the two great sects were once one,
but later split due to differences.
Still, they were not enemies.
Now, after a million years,
please consider past ties and grant some leniency.
As Duan Shizhu’s father,
I am willing to offer sufficient compensation to appease your wrath.
If that’s not enough, then so be it!
Even if Taichu Pavilion is destroyed, I will have no regrets.
Taiyan Dao’s leaders pondered this carefully.
As a first-rate sect in the Celestial Realm,
if Taichu [N O V E L I G H T] Pavilion fought desperately,
Taiyan Dao would suffer severe damage as well.
So overall, it was not a wise choice.
At that moment, an immortal versed in divination stepped forward.
He predicted that Taichu Pavilion had forged a supreme immortal robe,
which could be given as compensation.
The four words “supreme immortal robe” were extremely tempting to the immortals.
After discussion,
Taiyan Dao set the final terms:
one supreme immortal robe plus ten thousand top-grade immortal stones,
and Duan Shizhu had to publicly apologize.
Only then would the matter be settled.
Upon hearing this demand, Duan Shizhu was displeased.
“What? Does that maiden weigh as much as immortal stones? Just for one encounter, so much compensation? Why not just rob it then?”
This remark caused all the immortals present to turn pale.
Duan Jirui was so furious his face went deathly white.
He slapped Duan Shizhu hard, sending him flying.
Then, he agreed to all Taiyan Dao’s demands.
He handed over the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe and ten thousand immortal stones.
He even forced Duan Shizhu’s head down, making him apologize.
After this matter became known,
Duan Jirui fell into despair and soon resigned as Sect Master of Taixuan Pavilion.
He began seclusion to cultivate.
That was the official reason outwardly, but in truth, he was too ashamed to face the immortals of the sect.
The Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe had been forged by the entire sect’s collective effort.
Now, because of Duan Shizhu’s actions,
Taichu Pavilion had to pay such a heavy price.
Duan Jirui’s face had nowhere to save face.
After his seclusion, Duan Shizhu’s days also grew difficult.
He was looked down upon and ostracized by the sect’s immortals.
In frustration, he left the sect to venture out alone.
Duan Yangfeng was Duan Shizhu’s son.
Back then, he was only twelve years old.
Faced with such an unreliable father, there was nothing he could do.
The heirship of Taichu Pavilion was thus lost.
So after Duan Jirui left,
Duan Yangfeng also left Taichu Pavilion.
After the Celestial Realm catastrophe, he founded the Tianle Sect.
Duan Yangfeng was not extreme; he knew the original fault lay with his father.
Therefore, when attending the Ten-Thousand Immortals Assembly held by Taiyan Dao, his intent was to regain the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe through his own ability, not to steal it.
Of course, part of the reason was that his talent was really lacking.
He had no strength to accomplish this.
Now, everything seemed too coincidental.
Taiyan Dao immortals could not break the robe’s seals, so they treated it as a lucky charm.
Ye Yu had won the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe through strength, and by chance came to find him.
Perhaps this was fate.
Because of this,
Duan Yangfeng was so straightforward in telling the story about the robe.
Because if he didn’t, this supreme robe might be lost forever.
Obviously, he also knew Taichu Pavilion had become a sect ruin.
After hearing Duan Yangfeng’s story,
Ye Yu’s expression grew heavy.
He patted Duan Yangfeng’s shoulder.
The latter forced a smile and softly said,
“It’s nothing. No need to comfort me.
I have long since let go of my father’s mistakes.”
“I’m not trying to comfort you. It’s just after telling me all that, you still haven’t said how to open the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe!
You’re deliberately dragging out the emotions, aren’t you?”
Ye Yu’s words embarrassed Duan Yangfeng immensely.
His pale face reddened.
He was ashamed.
“Ah? Didn’t I say? Sorry.
The seal on the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe requires the Taichu Profound Skill to open.
This was deliberately done by my grandfather, Duan Jirui.
He wanted this item to be passed down only within Taichu Pavilion.
If...”
Before Duan Yangfeng finished,
Ye Yu’s hand emitted a gentle white light.
He lightly pressed it onto the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe.
The faint images of the Four Divine Beasts dispersed, and the seals vanished.
The next second, the Four Symbols Ink Bamboo Robe automatically adhered to Ye Yu’s body, adjusting itself to the proper length, looking as if it was tailor-made.
Seeing this, Duan Yangfeng nearly collapsed on the spot.
“This... this is the Taichu Profound Skill? Who exactly are you? Who are you?”
The Taichu Profound Skill was a secret of Taichu Pavilion.
Only the sect master and the future successor could learn it.
Even elder guests had no access.
How on earth did Ye Yu know it?
It was utterly unexpected.
Duan Yangfeng’s gaze toward Ye Yu suddenly changed in many ways.
Could it be... he was my long-lost older or younger brother?
Or perhaps, grandfather was still vigorous, tired of his main disciple and started anew with a backup?
As Duan Yangfeng pondered, a figure suddenly smashed through the great hall’s main door, falling heavily onto the stone floor.
