Meeting the Scholar Tiger Again, Winning Over Tianming

Within the chaotic lands. Whether Xingyue had reached the Human Sovereign was something Su Yu could not say for sure, but he knew she was unharmed. The Great Dao of Life and Death was anchored to her, placing her survival firmly within his awareness. At this moment, Su Yu began pressing deeper into the chaos. Chaos had no time, no boundaries, and no rules. Here, there was only darkness and nothingness... Perhaps there were perils, continents, and divine mountains drifting in the chaos, but such wonders were exceedingly rare. A territory like Chaos Mountain had merely formed in later ages after the creation of heaven and earth, when the chaos had overflowed and stretched outward. That place was not true chaos. True chaos was precisely what lay before Su Yu's eyes now: black, dead, and desolate, where a traveler might drift for years without encountering a single living soul. …… Deep in the chaos, he scouted a route to reach the Upper Realm. The Southern King and her vanguard were already blazing the trail ahead, clearing away most of whatever dangers arose. Su Yu maintained a brisk pace. Since beasts like the Chaos Dragon could rush down and return to the Upper Realm, the path had to be open; all that mattered was avoiding hazards along the way. The distance likely was not too vast. Su Yu remembered that during his recent world-opening, it had not taken long for that giant bird from the Upper Realm to arrive. If so, traversing the distance directly would not take long. Pushing forward, Su Yu crossed paths with an ancient beast. It was not particularly strong, and he killed it with a single strike of his palm. Along the way, he also spotted traces of battle and lingering fluctuations of energy in the void, recognizing them as the handiwork of the Southern King and the others. He followed the trail, and after roughly half a day, he caught up with them. …… Deep in the chaos, a broken mountain drifted suspended in the void. The Southern King and her companions had gathered upon it: the Southern King, Lan Tian, Tianhuo, Fat Ball, and Marquis Lanshan were all present. However, they had halted their advance. When Su Yu's faint aura rippled nearby, the Southern King detected it at once and turned her head. Seeing Su Yu drifting up behind them, he found himself somewhat perplexed. Why had they stopped? He traced their gazes forward. Ahead, a sliver of light seemed to shine. Seeing Su Yu arrive, the Southern King sent an urgent voice transmission: "There appears to be land ahead. We aren't certain whether it's Chaos Mountain or what the situation is, but several ancient beasts just flew past. We were worried that charging in blindly might expose us." "Were there many?" "Quite a few. Five or six flew past in succession!" That was indeed a lot. In the depths of the chaos, encountering even one ancient beast was difficult. Spotting five or six at once suggested this really might be Chaos Mountain. Su Yu looked toward the light, then down at the ruined mountain they were standing on. It was remarkably sturdy—in the past, such a peak would have been considered a treasure, though nowadays it barely caught his eye. "No matter," Su Yu chuckled. "Wait here. I'll go take a look myself." The moment his words fell, Su Yu transformed into a colossal tiger, thick chaotic aura rolling off him. Letting out a roar toward the sky, he darted forward. It was merely a disguise. Having unraveled the power of myriad Daos and continuously analyzed chaos, mimicking chaotic energy was child's play for him. Chaos was nothing more than the tangled power of myriad Daos; sorting it out was difficult, but tossing it into an unruly mix was easy. Behind him, Lan Tian shifted shape in the blink of an eye into a goshawk, spreading his wings to chase after Su Yu with chaotic energy swirling around his feathers as well. The rest could only watch in silence. Transforming their energy into chaos was a feat very few could pull off. …… "Why did you follow me?" Su Yu asked. Lan Tian transmitted back with a laugh, "To stay by Your Majesty's side and make sure you don't run into trouble!" Su Yu smiled. Who was looking down on whom? Well, since he was here, let him come. "How is your comprehension of the myriad Dao divine characters going?" "Average," Lan Tian replied cheerfully. "No need to worry, Your Majesty. Celestial Venerable combat strength isn't that difficult. Give me a little more time to ponder it, and I'll be there soon enough." Not a big deal at all. Just a small matter! *Show-off.* Su Yu did not bother answering. Among his subordinates, only a handful needed his guidance; the rest could figure things out on their own. The two flew toward the glow, and before long, their eyes brightened. A massive continent unfolded before them. Chaos Mountain! It was definitely Chaos Mountain. Just as they reached the continent's edge, they overheard voices—spoken in genuine human tongue. "Another one!" "More ancient beasts have been flying in from the depths of chaos lately. Are the Broken-Tailed Dragon and the Eight-Winged Tiger really planning to gather the beasts and crown themselves kings here?" "It's bizarre. Why are those two clinging to Chaos Mountain? With their strength, they wouldn't be considered weak even in the depths of chaos... Ancient beasts prefer drifting through the void, so why stay put on Chaos Mountain?" "Who knows! These two newcomers aren't weak either, both possessing Dao Integration combat strength. Log it down..." Su Yu and Lan Tian cast sidelong glances into the distance and saw two men. Neither was weak: one had roughly third-tier Dao Integration strength, and the other was second-tier. Even though Su Yu had many powerful experts beneath him, second-tier Dao Integration had once been the level of Tiangu and the Old Turtle. Such experts were lords of their own domains anywhere they went, and even now, the number of Heavenly Kings in the world remained finite. Yet these two were boldly standing atop a small hill, looking right at them. Seeing Su Yu and Lan Tian look over, one of the men suddenly unleashed a wave of potent chaotic power, his will rolling outward: "My territory!" Chaotic power! Su Yu realized immediately that these people were disguising themselves as ancient beasts. Though human in form, ancient beasts cared nothing for appearances; as long as the chaos did not reject them and they radiated chaotic energy, ancient beasts saw them as kindred members of the ancient chaos race. When a beast of great power claimed territory, no one dared trespass, for strength was the only law they respected. "Members of the Prison King lineage?" Su Yu asked. Lan Tian transmitted, "Who else could they be?" No one else! One hundred percent Prison King lineage. That lineage truly had nerve, putting down roots deep within Chaos Mountain. Judging by their demeanor, they were well acquainted with ancient beasts and the chaos itself. The real question was: had they never scouted deep into the chaos? Otherwise, they would know it connected to both the Lower Realm and the Dead Spirit Realm. Or perhaps they knew, but could not be bothered to go? No, that was not it. Were they afraid to go? Or had terrifying behemoths like the Chaos Dragon and Eight-Winged Tiger blocked the way, keeping them from venturing deeper? That guess felt far closer to the truth. The Eight-Winged Tiger had to be dwelling not far from the chaos near the Dead Spirit Realm, which was why he had arrived so quickly when Su Yu opened his world. With such a terrifying, Celestial Venerable-level powerhouse blocking the path, it was only natural that the Prison King lineage had not dared to explore blindly. Keeping his thoughts to himself, Su Yu ignored the two men. Now was not the time to touch them. He needed to find the Eight-Winged Tiger first! From the sound of things, most of the ancient beasts emerging from the chaos had come to seek refuge under the Eight-Winged Tiger and the Broken-Tailed Dragon. Had those two established their own factions? Did they truly intend to occupy Chaos Mountain? What were they thinking? Setting aside the Broken-Tailed Dragon, the Eight-Winged Tiger was certainly no fool. That self-proclaimed "scholar tiger" possessed sharp wits. He could not possibly be ignorant of the danger here, yet he had come anyway, which left Su Yu thoroughly puzzled. San Yue knew where the Eight-Winged Tiger resided, and Su Yu had asked about it earlier. Now, he headed straight in that direction. Behind them, the two men from the Prison King lineage continued their chatter: "Are those reinforcements summoned by the Eight-Winged Tiger? There have been more and more beasts these past few days." "Tell me about it. If this continues, Chaos Mountain will become perilous. What on earth did they come for?" "The Hell Gate, what else?" …… Their voices were soft, but eavesdropping was trivial for Su Yu. Hearing that, his heart skipped a beat. The Hell Gate! Had the Eight-Winged Tiger and the Broken-Tailed Dragon come for the Hell Gate? Did they intend to enter it, or what? Lan Tian had clearly heard it as well and transmitted, "Your Majesty, what benefit could the Hell Gate offer them? Those two were living in the chaos before and already knew about the gate, so why didn't they come then? Why show up right now, knowing full well the myriad races and the Prison King lineage are at each other's throats? It's exceedingly strange!" It was indeed strange. Even if they wanted to fish in troubled waters, the smartest choice would be to lurk in the chaos. Why reveal themselves openly? Were they copying Su Yu? More importantly, did those two beasts have covert pawns of their own? The more Su Yu thought about it, the less sense it made. Well, if he could not understand it, there was no point dwelling on it. He would meet the Eight-Winged Tiger first. Even if they could not strike a deal, it did not matter; he would probe the beast's intentions first. …… At the end of the Chaos River on Chaos Mountain. This was the mountain's outer fringe, where an enormous peak loomed. At present, this great mountain was occupied by the Eight-Winged Tiger. Countless ancient beasts roamed its slopes, their auras crisscrossing the air. Though the Eight-Winged Tiger had not arrived long ago, he had swiftly subdued the local beasts with overwhelming might. He and the Chaos Dragon occupied opposite ends, ruling the south and north respectively. Beneath his command were thirty to forty Dao Integration ancient beasts, making him a formidable overlord in his own right. At present, four major factions held the four cardinal directions. Beyond Chaos Mountain, to the east, stood the myriad races. To the west, at the deepest end, lay the Prison King lineage. In the south was the Eight-Winged Tiger, and in the north was the Chaos Dragon. The Eight-Winged Tiger and the Chaos Dragon had not joined forces. Dragons and tigers never saw eye to eye; the Broken-Tailed Dragon could not subdue the Eight-Winged Tiger, and the Eight-Winged Tiger had no desire to cooperate with him, so they kept their factions separate. Precisely because of their presence, the myriad races and the Prison King lineage had quieted down lately, pausing their hostilities. The two beasts had acted like a pair of meddlers stirring up the mud, ending up stalling the war altogether. Furthermore, both beast factions had been summoning ancient beasts from the chaos of late. With beasts constantly arriving to join them, it looked as though they truly intended to stay for good. …… At this moment, high upon the mountain peak. A grand stone hall stood overlooking the slopes. Inside, two figures sat facing each other. Drinking tea! Yes, drinking tea. One possessed the head of a tiger and a naive, honest appearance, with the character for "King" faintly etched across his brow—the Eight-Winged Tiger! The other was Marquis Tianming, carrying an aura of ethereal, transcendent grace. As for drinking tea... while Marquis Tianming wore a serene expression on the surface, he was cursing violently in his heart! Drinking tea, my foot! He had no idea where this tiger had gotten his paws on soy sauce... or at least, that was what it seemed to be. Marquis Tianming had not seen the stuff in eons, though he had tasted it once long ago. Right now, the Eight-Winged Tiger was savoring this soy sauce with pure relish. In human form, the Eight-Winged Tiger wore an ill-fitting white scholar's robe. To Marquis Tianming, the sight was jarring in the extreme. He burned with the urge to sneer, yet had to force a polite smile onto his face. On the stone table lay an ancient tome. The Eight-Winged Tiger was actually reading, swaying his head from side to side as he did so! Marquis Tianming was utterly speechless. Dressed in a white scholar's robe, sipping soy sauce, and nodding along to some obscure piece of trash titled *Eighteen Postures of Dismemberment*—anyone walking in unawares would think they had stepped into an asylum. This was the Eight-Winged Tiger's lair. And this stone hall even bore a resounding name: Dao Palace! Two characters written like chicken scratch hung outside the entrance, completely shameless in their crudeness. Marquis Tianming had been keeping this tiger company for three whole days, watching him read and downing dozens of cups of soy sauce. Each time, the Eight-Winged Tiger would courteously fill his cup to the brim. Seeing that Marquis Tianming's cup was nearly empty again, the Eight-Winged Tiger beamed, rising to pour him another. His manner was exceedingly generous, as if saying: *Look, I'm sharing all my finest treasures with you! Don't hold back, drink your fill! When this is gone, there's plenty more!* Such hospitality left Marquis Tianming thoroughly drained. He spoke again: "Tiger Venerable, regarding the matter I proposed, what are your thoughts?" The Eight-Winged Tiger smiled, swaying his head and spouting bookish lines: "As the text says, 'Is it not delightful to have friends visit from distant quarters?' I must sweep the couch to welcome you and converse by candlelight through the night. I see that Your Venerability is also a man of letters. Reading requires a tranquil spirit; I still wish to exchange insights on the arts of the Great Dao with you..." "……" Marquis Tianming was drowning in sorrow. *Go find a real scholar to talk to, damn it, I can't take this anymore! If I had known, I would have gone to the Broken-Tailed Dragon instead!* "Tiger Venerable, the myriad races and the Prison King lineage are currently like water and fire. For you and the Chaos Dragon to meddle between them might not be wise. Formidable as you are, being caught in the middle is dangerous! Once a great battle erupts, the two of you will be the first to suffer!" The Eight-Winged Tiger shook his head, swaying back and forth once more. "It is written: 'A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall!' Truly, words of wisdom! If it is dangerous, why would I put myself in harm's way? Our division of the two sides naturally holds deep meaning!" "……" Marquis Tianming grew increasingly weary. "Tiger Venerable, then..." "One moment!" The Eight-Winged Tiger carefully brought out a pinch of powder and chuckled. "This is sugar. Let me add a touch of sweetness. Recently, I invented a brew called Sweet and Sour Soy Sauce Tea. Would Your Venerability care for a taste? It's quite flavorful!" "……" *Aaargh!* Marquis Tianming was on the verge of madness. He considered himself a patient man, but this tiger was driving him out of his mind! He could not help but ask, "Tiger Venerable, these... these treasures of yours, where did they come from?" *Whoever gave him this crap, I'm going to string them up and beat them! And these books, what is going on here? Was this tiger someone's pet? Otherwise, this makes no sense at all! Whose pet was he?* Marquis Tianming did not dare think too deeply. The appearance of these two ancient beast powerhouses had disrupted many people's plans. He had wasted several days here already and did not want to speak another word to this lunatic tiger. "As a scholar tiger... having a few treasures is only natural, is it not?" The Eight-Winged Tiger put on literary airs, feeling that Marquis Tianming's question was rather improper. Why couldn't he have created these treasures himself? He felt slightly slighted. Of course, he had noticed the other's impatience, but why the hurry? As the saying went, a hasty eater burns his mouth on hot tofu! Thinking of that, the Eight-Winged Tiger asked, "Does Your Venerability know what tofu tastes like?" "……" *I am going to lose my mind! Tofu, your ass! Have you become addicted to this nonsense? A normal person like me is about to be driven insane by you!* Marquis Tianming felt thoroughly exhausted and quickly suggested, "How about you come as a guest to my Human Mountain, Tiger Venerable? We have everything there." "Is that so? Then I must find time to visit, though not right now... Would Your Venerability care for another cup? By the way, what does wine taste like? They say that among bosom friends, a thousand cups are too few. You don't seem particularly fond of soy sauce, so why don't we drink wine instead? A thousand cups wouldn't be enough!" "I..." "Does Your Venerability dislike wine as well? I read somewhere that wine is poison that cuts through the gut, wine leads to blunders, wine lends courage to cowards, and in wine lies truth. Could it be Your Venerability fears speaking the truth after drinking?" "……" When confronted with an ancient chaos beast like this, the only thing one wanted was to drop dead. Marquis Tianming was a refined gentleman! A refined man did not like making a scene. He swallowed his fury, desperately reining in his temper. *Endure it!* Right at that moment, the Eight-Winged Tiger's expression changed abruptly—and this time, it was no theatrical exaggeration. A peculiar energy rippled through the hall, accompanied by laughter: "Well now, look who's here! It seems Brother Tiger noticed me. Brother Tianming is here as well?" Marquis Tianming's heart skipped a beat! The Eight-Winged Tiger's face tightened slightly before he forced a smile. "Venerable Su, long time no see. As the saying goes..." "Shut your trap. Don't go spouting poetry in front of me!" Amidst light laughter, the void rippled, and two figures materialized. Two chairs manifested out of thin air in an instant. Su Yu and Lan Tian took their seats. Without looking at the two hosts, Su Yu glanced at the cup of soy sauce tea and chuckled. "What is this trash? Is that how you drink soy sauce? Let's have some real tea!" With a flick of his wrist, jade teacups, tea leaves, and Origin Heavenly Water appeared. Brewing tea! "Brother Tianming, are you in a rush to leave?" With a solemn face, Marquis Tianming sat back down, chuckling softly. "Of course not!" Inside, shock battered his mind. Su Yu! How did he know the Eight-Winged Tiger? And what was his strength now? Why did he feel utterly unfathomable? The Eight-Winged Tiger also felt a flutter of unease. Suppressing his apprehension, he smiled. "Venerable Su..." "Don't call me 'Venerable.' That title is for lower-ranking folks. I prefer being called Emperor. Call me Emperor Su or Emperor Yu; I'll be much happier that way!" The moment Su Yu arrived, he took control of the room. The Eight-Winged Tiger chuckled. "Then... Emperor Su it is. So 'Venerable' carries a derogatory meaning? No wonder Venerable Tianming has been calling me Tiger Venerable all this time..." Su Yu chuckled. "It isn't really derogatory. Anyone beneath a Rule Master can be called that. Still... isn't my status a touch higher than yours, Brother Eight-Wing? What do you say?" The Eight-Winged Tiger thought it over and nodded. Yes, he conceded that. This was a world-opener! Having a higher status was only natural. Marquis Tianming, however, felt a chill run down his spine. Su Yu turned his gaze toward Tianming and smiled. "I was just wondering when I'd pay Brother Tianming a visit. You should know the situation by now—Wuming has submitted to me! You took Changhe away, so you should understand what's going on." Marquis Tianming frowned slightly, his voice deep. "I know a thing or two, but on Emperor Yu's side..." Su Yu laughed. "You think I lack the strength? Lack the forces? If this were before, I wouldn't have bothered meeting you or talking to you; I don't care much for people who try to look smarter than me! But that was before... Not long ago, I suffered a massive defeat in the Upper Realm and retreated below. Yet Wuming shamelessly insisted on pledging himself to me. Even when I told him to get lost, he refused to leave... That's what made me take an interest in Marquis Tianming. Should the Destiny race remain divided, or become whole?" Tianming was startled. "Emperor Yu means... Wuming swore to follow you unto death?" Su Yu smiled. "You could say that! Wuming has broken through to Heavenly King as well, so his strength isn't half bad." Turning to the Eight-Winged Tiger, he asked, "You've met him, haven't you? Did you see him last time?" "Wuming?" The Eight-Winged Tiger hesitated, glanced at Marquis Tianming, and pondered for a moment. "Now that Emperor Su mentions it, I do recall someone with an aura very similar to his. Quite powerful, with the ability to see through flaws. Could that be the Wuming you speak of?" Su Yu nodded with a grin. "The very same!" "I see. No wonder he felt familiar." The Eight-Winged Tiger nodded. Tianming's heart pounded. The Eight-Winged Tiger had seen Wuming? Where? Had Wuming truly thrown his lot in with Su Yu completely? And after Su Yu had suffered a major defeat? Su Yu finished steeping the tea. Four cups sat before them; three flew toward the other three. Lan Tian, the Eight-Winged Tiger, and Tianming each caught theirs. The Eight-Winged Tiger was the first to try it, gulping it down in one go. He frowned slightly. "Not as good as my sweet and sour soy sauce tea!" "……" Marquis Tianming took a slow sip, savoring the lingering fragrance. Sweet and sour soy sauce tea, my foot—this was actual, exquisite tea! He had nearly thrown up earlier! Su Yu laughed. "To each their own, I suppose! A few years back, I enjoyed fruit juice, though I drink it less often now." "What is fruit juice?" the Eight-Winged Tiger asked with genuine curiosity. "The juice squeezed from fruit!" Su Yu replied. "Oh!" The Eight-Winged Tiger learned something new again. Taking another begrudging sip of tea, he asked, "Isn't Emperor Su in the Dead Spirit Realm? What brings you to my humble abode?" Su Yu smiled. "Didn't I come to see you, Brother Tiger?" He paused, then chuckled. "We can set our business aside for a moment." He turned back to Tianming. "Brother Tianming, what are your thoughts?" Tianming said solemnly, "Wuming chose Emperor Yu. Reason dictates... I shouldn't hesitate. Wuming is the grandson and direct heir of our Destiny race's late emperor. Strictly speaking, I am his uncle, though not by blood. He is the sole rightful ruler of our race!" He took a breath, adding, "Yet it's difficult for me to decide right now. I must ask: does Emperor Yu have the confidence to deal with the myriad races and the Prison King lineage? If not, taking a side right now would be too great a gamble for me!" Su Yu pondered for a moment, then laughed. "Ask Brother Tiger. Brother Tiger, if my side adds three or four Celestial Venerables, can we fight the myriad races?" The Eight-Winged Tiger thought it over and nodded. "Add a few Celestial Venerables, and it is certainly feasible!" Tianming was stunned. "Tiger Venerable, the myriad races possess no small number of Celestial Venerables!" "I know. Didn't you say as much the moment you arrived?" The Eight-Winged Tiger looked at him strangely. "Emperor Su has countless experts under his banner. Adding a few Celestial Venerables makes it entirely contestable. What's wrong with that?" At this moment, Tianming was utterly dumbfounded. *Are you two putting on an act for me? But... why would the Eight-Winged Tiger bother acting with him?* Su Yu narrowed his eyes and smiled. "San Yue and Giant Axe have both submitted to me! Aside from those two, Fat Ball has taken another step forward. Compared to last time, the Southern King has stepped into the Celestial Venerable realm. If Marquis Tianming is willing to join, we will have quite a collection of Celestial Venerables!" He added, "Lan Tian isn't far off either." Only then did Marquis Tianming realize something. He snapped his head toward Lan Tian, his heart jolting. Lan Tian... was not dead! He had nearly overlooked it in the shock of their arrival! Looking closely now, Lan Tian's strength seemed even greater than during the battle against the Prison King lineage. If Lan Tian had not died, what about the others? He blurted out, "Then last time... who actually died?" "No one died," Su Yu said, sipping his tea with a grin. "The human race is far more mysterious than you imagine. Not a single person died. Not just on my side—even Shadow and the others are alive and well!" "Nobody died last time. In fact, everyone came out a bit stronger." "……" Marquis Tianming stared blankly, overwhelmed by disbelief. Not a single death? How was that possible! You killed one of their Celestial Venerables, slaughtered several Heavenly Kings, and felled dozens of Dao Integration experts, and now you tell me you didn't lose a single person?! Su Yu chuckled. "Hard to believe? Since you captured Changhe, you should know I'm no fool. If my people were going to die, why would I bother running off to attack Yue Hao and the others? I merely did it to flush out the Prison King lineage's true strength, and draw attention away from myself while I was at it!" Marquis Tianming marveled, "What brilliant methods, Emperor Yu!" "Hardly," Su Yu said, shaking his head. "It was only because our strength was lacking. Otherwise, why bother with petty schemes? They would have been meaningless!" Tianming took a deep breath. "Then if I may ask, what was Emperor Yu's purpose in coming here today?" "To see the Eight-Winged Tiger!" Su Yu smiled. "I'll be ascending to the Upper Realm soon. I needed to have a word with Brother Tiger first, lest he ruin my plans!" The Eight-Winged Tiger gave a dry laugh. "How could I?" Su Yu asked curiously, "What did you come here for? I find it strange—you're no idiot! Don't tell me you came just to watch the excitement. I heard you came for the Hell Gate. Do you actually want to go inside? But if you wanted to enter, wouldn't it be better to sneak in after the myriad races and the Prison King lineage tear each other apart? Right now, you seem to be deliberately preventing them from fighting. Why?" Indeed, they seemed to be holding both sides back. The Eight-Winged Tiger chuckled. "No, not at all..." Su Yu said coolly, "Forget it. If you don't want to say, then don't. However, I have my own plans. Anyone who gets in my way, no matter how strong, might end up dead!" "……" The Eight-Winged Tiger was left speechless. Was that a threat? Probably! After a moment of silence, he spoke: "I harbor no intention of making an enemy of Emperor Su! The Chaos Dragon and I came here strictly because of the Hell Gate. The commotion Emperor Su caused earlier disturbed the Hell Gate, and a will reached out from within it!" He thought for a moment before explaining, "Furthermore, someone behind the Hell Gate appears to be attempting to break the taboo and force their way out recently! Though the Hell Gate has not yet opened, its seal has loosened—much like other places—allowing certain weaker entities to emerge ahead of time." Su Yu nodded. The Eight-Winged Tiger continued, "This time, because Emperor Su disturbed the entities behind the gate, they intend to pool their strength to send out an expert at the Rule Master level first! "Chaos remains sealed, so the likelihood of an ancient chaos beast emerging is low. The far greater probability is someone from the Prison King lineage. That lineage might welcome a Rule Master!" Su Yu's eyes flickered, and he glanced at Tianming. Was it the woman who had spoken last time? The one who had intimidated Celestial Venerable Ridian? She was coming out? Su Yu asked, "What does that have to do with you?" The Eight-Winged Tiger explained, "It has everything to do with us! The Chaos Dragon and I are both ancient chaos beasts. That woman will emerge carrying the will of the ancient chaos race. Once she appears, both the Chaos Dragon and I will fall under her influence, or even her command!" Su Yu stared at him. The Eight-Winged Tiger hesitated, then added, "So, the Chaos Dragon and I share a single intent... to devour her chaotic will!" "……" Su Yu was stunned. "You... want to kill her?" "Yes!" The Eight-Winged Tiger made no attempt to hide it, knowing Su Yu had a grudge against that faction. Tianming could not help but ask, "Then why prevent the myriad races from fighting them?" The Eight-Winged Tiger looked at him as if he were an idiot. "We can't let them fight now! Summoning that expert requires massive effort from the Prison King lineage. Since it's their person coming through, they will certainly pay an immense price to guide her out! If a war breaks out now, she will never make it across! How could they open the path amidst a full-scale assault?" He explained, "That is why the Chaos Dragon and I are gathering ancient beasts from all sides—so we can surround and slay her the moment she steps out!" Tianming said gravely, "Then why not cooperate? Why not ally with the myriad races?" The Eight-Winged Tiger scoffed. "You really are thick! If we didn't intend to cooperate, do you think I would have entertained you here for days? It was merely to display our value! There was no rush anyway, so dragging it out suited us... The Chaos Dragon and I agreed to stall until she emerges before joining hands with you! That way, you wouldn't attack prematurely!" Su Yu said in a low voice, "Once she emerges, there will be an extra Rule Master!" The Eight-Winged Tiger nodded. "If she weren't a Rule Master, we wouldn't be interested! Both the Chaos Dragon and I are on the verge of that realm. Before the Chaos Dragon was injured by Emperor Su, he was even half a step ahead of me..." "What?" Tianming was shocked. The Broken-Tailed Dragon had been injured by Su Yu? Su Yu frowned slightly, while Tianming felt completely dazed. That was unbelievable! Word was that even in his current state, the dragon was no weaker than Ridian! Yet he had been wounded by Su Yu? It defied belief! The Eight-Winged Tiger ignored Tianming's shock. Had Su Yu not come, he would never have revealed the truth. He explained, "Our plan is to join hands with the myriad races only after she appears. The terms are simple: we handle the Rule Master, and the myriad races fight the Prison King lineage! The myriad races will definitely agree, because a Rule Master is the hardest to deal with! And we need the myriad races to tie down the rest of the Prison King's forces. "The timing cannot be too early, nor too late; it must be just right!" The Eight-Winged Tiger smiled. "Too early—like right now—and the myriad races might launch a premature assault, causing the summoning to fail! Too late, and she will consolidate her footing and expand her power! Therefore, we must strike at the exact right moment!" Tianming felt like crying. *Good heavens! Even ancient chaos beasts know how to plot now!* As it turned out, the tiger had been stalling him on purpose, waiting for their ideal moment! The Eight-Winged Tiger added, "So right now, the Chaos Dragon and I are of one mind: prevent both sides from clashing! If we succeed, both of us have a shot at becoming true Rule Masters!" He looked at Su Yu. "Had Emperor Su not arrived with such terrifying strength, raising the risk of ruining our plans, I wouldn't have shared this with you either." Su Yu laughed. "So that's how it is! Are you certain that devouring her will allow you to advance?" "Certain!" The Eight-Winged Tiger nodded. "She carries the wills of ancient entities from behind the Hell Gate. By devouring her, our breakthrough is guaranteed! More importantly, once we break through now, those entities behind the gate won't be able to do a thing to us!" He chuckled. "Otherwise, if we wait until they all emerge, we won't stand a chance!" Su Yu rubbed his chin. "In other words, you, we, and the myriad races share a common goal: wipe out the Prison King lineage! You want to eliminate that Rule Master, and so do we. The foundation for cooperation already exists!" Su Yu smiled. "In that case, working together has solid ground. A fine thing!" Tianming opened his mouth, then hesitated. He was deeply worried that this was plotting with a tiger for its hide—literally! If these two beasts advanced to become true Rule Masters, the trouble would be immense; both ancient beasts were monstrously powerful! As if reading his mind, Su Yu laughed. "What are you afraid of? Brother Tianming, what does it matter if two more Rule Masters emerge? There are already quite a few Rule Masters around: the Martial Emperor, the Dead Spirit Emperor Sovereign... Baizhan likely possesses that strength as well, and that woman from the Prison King lineage will too once she emerges. As for the myriad races, it's hard to say. On my side, in a few days, I'll be one as well. What's there to fear? Two more will only make things livelier!" Tianming was shaken to his core. "Emperor Yu... what do you mean?" "Nothing much..." Su Yu moved without warning, pressing a hand downward! Tianming was startled and vanished in an instant, only to find all four directions sealed in a heartbeat. In the next breath, a torrential aura bearing the power of myriad Daos crashed down upon him! Su Yu pulled back his hand just as quickly, smiling. "What does Brother Tianming think?" Tianming's face was drained of color. "So strong!" Not only was he strong, but when Su Yu struck, Tianming had barely detected any ripples from the myriad Daos. How could that be? The Eight-Winged Tiger showed no surprise, only sighing with emotion: "After opening your world, Emperor Su has grown formidable indeed!" Su Yu chuckled. "Just so-so. I'm the lousiest world-opener there is. I probably can't defeat a true Rule Master yet, though dealing with the Chaos Dragon or the current ancestor of the Prison King lineage is manageable. I'm not afraid of the likes of Ridian, but against the Martial Emperor, the Dead Spirit Emperor Sovereign, the entity behind the Hell Gate, and Baizhan—against those four, I would likely still fall short." Su Yu smiled and continued, "If we were to categorize the powerhouses of the myriad realms today, those four would be the first tier! The Chaos Dragon, the Prison King lineage's ancestor, and I would make up the second tier. Brother Tiger, Ridian, Fat Ball, and the Southern King could be counted in the third tier!" Three tiers down, and Tianming had not even been mentioned! Tianming's heart hammered against his ribs. Were there truly so many supreme experts in the realms? Ridian, currently considered the absolute pinnacle of the myriad races, only ranked in the third tier? And the Southern King and Fat Ball... could those two stand shoulder to shoulder with Ridian? For a moment, Tianming was uncertain. Among the eleven experts Su Yu had named, his own faction already occupied three spots! Of course, the myriad races might possess other experts on Ridian's level—perhaps one from the Immortal race and one from the Demon race—bringing the total to thirteen supreme powerhouses! The Eight-Winged Tiger thought it over and said, "Earlier, that Sun-Devouring Divine Hound was not as strong as me. Does Emperor Su mean it has improved recently?" Su Yu nodded. "Of course. Thanks to your reminder, I learned its true origin, which allowed it to advance. Now, paired with the boots, it wouldn't fall behind if it fought you—it might even hold a slight upper hand!" The Eight-Winged Tiger said with envy, "Those boots are indeed exquisite. In that case, Emperor Su's side has grown even stronger!" He exchanged a few polite words, not daring to provoke Su Yu's camp lightly. That side was ruthless! Meanwhile, countless thoughts raced through Marquis Tianming's mind, leaving him hesitant. After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Emperor Yu, if I were to join your side, where would I rank?" Su Yu smiled. "Let me think..." Himself, the Southern King, and Fat Ball were all slightly stronger than Tianming. As for Giant Axe, San Yue, and pseudo-Celestial Venerables like Tianhuo and Lanshan... After some thought, Su Yu said, "Brother Tianming is by no means weak. It depends on the location. Anywhere else, Brother Tianming is comparable to Senior San Yue, just beneath our top few. But in certain other places... it's hard to say. Tianhuo might have the edge!" Tianhuo? *Damn it all, where did this Tianhuo come from now?!* Su Yu was not lying. When Tianhuo merged his origin, he had become a Celestial Venerable. Afterward, he had integrated into the Dao of Fire within Su Yu's world, taking command of that Dao. Though not yet a Rule Master, fighting inside Su Yu's world would make him a difficult match even for Tianming! Tianming felt thoroughly dejected. *So as a Celestial Venerable, I'd struggle to even make the top five in your camp? I'd have to compete with San Yue just for that? Good grief! When did Su Yu's side become this terrifying?!* At his side, Lan Tian laughed softly. "Your Majesty, that's only for now. I'm on the verge of breaking through, and Tiansheng is close as well! And King Dazhou—quiet as he keeps, I suspect he's almost there too... Once we reach the Celestial Venerable rank, we won't necessarily fall behind the old-timers. The veterans have mostly reached their limits, whereas we still have room to grow!" He added, "You also forgot someone: the one walking the Dao of Life and Death!" Su Yu smiled. "She isn't here, so don't bring her up! If she were here, even I would be inferior to her, so why mention it?" "……" Tianming had nothing left to say. He felt so exhausted. *Are you all bragging? I don't know! If they aren't bragging, Su Yu's strength is beyond terrifying! Even right now, it's horrifying enough! San Yue, Giant Axe, Su Yu, and Fat Ball—if I join as well, that makes five Celestial Venerable combatants, not even counting those who haven't shown their faces!* After a moment, Tianming said solemnly, "The Destiny race... still follows Wuming. If Wuming has pledged himself to Your Majesty... and if Your Majesty has a way, I would like to see Wuming. Once I do, I will naturally make my decision!" Meeting Wuming would immediately tell him whether all this was true or false! Su Yu laughed. "Done. Within three days! Find an opportunity to slip deep into the chaos, avoid prying eyes, and you will see Wuming!" Very well! At that moment, Tianming realized he had just stumbled upon another staggering secret! Deep in the chaos! One could meet Wuming! That was a chilling revelation: Su Yu had carved out another passage between the Lower and Upper Realms—a passage completely unknown to the rest of the world!