Infiltration

The elaborate setup had cost Su Yu very little effort, yet the harvest was immense. Riyue had bought the deception completely. At this point, even if Riyue still kept secrets, they would only concern the Gate. He still harbored hope for it, believing it could reawaken one day. As for Fa—a dead man in his eyes—there was no need to care about him anymore. In the past, Riyue would never have believed a lord of a forbidden land could fall. Such beings were supposedly immortal and indestructible; across countless years, only the Lord of Dead Spirits had ever slain one. But now, when even the Lord of Dead Spirits could die, it seemed only natural that Fa had been slain in a counterattack. *** Infiltration under disguise was extraordinarily difficult. Fooling the lord of a forbidden land was no simple feat. Su Yu did not seal Riyue away again. Instead, he spent day and night in his company, exactly as he had once done with Cui Lang. Su Yu mirrored Riyue’s every gesture, every habit, his aura, his cultivation arts, and his bearing. Fa might have met Riyue before. In fact, he almost certainly had. Fa would never trust a complete stranger. Riyue, for his part, found these past two days bizarre. Su Yu shadowed him constantly, never leaving his side. Whatever Riyue did, Su Yu followed, leaving him thoroughly distressed. He had no idea what Su Yu wanted. Could he want to ask about the Gate? Yet Su Yu never brought it up, so Riyue could only play dumb and keep his mouth shut. During these few days, Su Yu focused on familiarizing himself with three Daos: Physical Body, Breath Concealment, and Confinement. These were precisely the three Daos Riyue cultivated. Still, Su Yu faced a difficult obstacle. The connection of Great Dao power to the River of Time! Those who had not opened worlds had their Daos rooted in the River of Time, unless they integrated them directly into their bodies. Su Yu had opened a world, so his Daos were no longer linked to the River. Of course, without opening the Heavenly Gate, others generally could not tell. But what if the enemy possessed other methods? Riyue specialized in breath concealment, but even that art relied on a Dao. To a supreme powerhouse, it might not be impossible to see through, making this the greatest flaw in Su Yu’s disguise. Su Yu pondered whether a world-opener could still connect to the River. Outside the Gate, it had certainly been possible. Su Yu had tested it before! Back then, he had buried book pages within the Physical Dao to disguise his mastery over it—he just hadn't used it much afterward. He was simply too brilliant; wherever he went, his brilliance radiated out. There was no helping it. "Once I solve this Dao connection issue, I can set out for Mount Yongsheng." Only seventeen days remained until the Forbidden Land Conference! Su Yu had spent a full five days on Riyue. Three days had gone into helping him break through, and two days into studying him. Su Yu felt that Riyue ought to be proud even if he died, for a supreme expert like Su Yu had wasted five days on his account. As the fifth day drew to a close, Su Yu looked at Riyue with a smile. "After interacting with you these past two days, I see you still have potential to advance further. But your mind is too restless, always thinking about going outside... That won't do. You must enter secluded cultivation and strive to reach twenty-six Daos before coming out!" "Unless you break through, you are not permitted to leave!" With those words, confinement seals materialized around them. Riyue stared speechlessly, offering a bitter smile. "Tribulation Master, I only just stepped into twenty-five Daos..." Was this a joke? Su Yu replied calmly, "I am doing this for your own good. Cultivate in peace. A century has passed, and the outside world is filled with powerhouses. Without strength, whatever you desire is an illusion. Now, stay here, cultivate, and break through!" Riyue felt utter helplessness. Yet secluded cultivation seemed like a blessing in disguise, and Su Yu was showing genuine concern for him. Riyue could only clasp his hands. "Thank you for your regard, Tribulation Master. Riyue is endlessly grateful!" "Think nothing of it!" Su Yu smiled faintly. "You are already my subordinate; naturally, I wish for you to grow stronger. Also, I hope some of your information proves useful in contacting the Time Master. Her strength is considerable, and I must make a trip outside to find her and negotiate an alliance!" Riyue nodded. "I hope it proves helpful to the Tribulation Master!" Over the past few days, he had told Su Yu a great deal. Whether any of it remained relevant after a century was anyone's guess, but he hoped it would be. "It might be useful," Su Yu said, nodding as he took a step forward. "Cultivate with an easy mind. There is no need to worry!" "May the Tribulation Master have a smooth journey!" Watching Su Yu depart, Riyue felt a surge of emotion. In truth, Su Yu was quite a decent person. Being captured and sealed back then had merely been a matter of serving different masters. Now that heaven and earth had shifted and the situation had transformed, Su Yu really wasn't bad at all. He had helped him break through, urged him to cultivate, and even placed a confinement seal on him to keep him from wandering off and getting distracted, ensuring he could train in peace. Even when short on hands, Su Yu hadn't sent him out on errands. He truly looked out for his subordinates. Riyue shook his head. What a pity it was no longer a century ago. The things he had shared were relics of the past, likely of little use now. "Yesterday was like a dream... gone never to return!" With an emotional sigh, Riyue sat cross-legged and began to cultivate. Twenty-six Daos... He hoped he could break through, though he had no idea how long it would take. *** Outside the world. The Lord of Dead Spirits quietly watched Su Yu, then glanced toward Riyue before speaking after a long silence. "I thought you would seal him again." Su Yu bared his teeth. "Not at all. I'm not the type to burn bridges. Besides, if I run into something I don't understand along the way, I might need to return and contact him. If I sealed him, wouldn't he realize what was going on?" "..." Good grief, you're already planning that far ahead! The Lord of Dead Spirits shook his head, looking at him sternly. "Think this through carefully. If you infiltrate rashly and become trapped over there, I will not come to your rescue!" "No need!" Su Yu laughed. "It's only for ten-odd days." Very well, then. The Lord of Dead Spirits said no more. After a moment of thought, Su Yu added, "However, if I want to take Fa down ahead of time, it might cause quite a stir. Actually, my plan is that even after taking Fa down, I'll continue hosting the Forbidden Land Conference to lure those fellows in. It would be best if we can keep it hidden!" The Lord of Dead Spirits was rendered entirely speechless. Damn it all! You really dare dream! Has Su Yu become addicted to this? Impersonating Riyue wasn't enough; after taking down Fa, he wanted to impersonate Fa and host the Forbidden Land Conference! What could one even say to that? He actually wanted to become the leader of the forbidden lands? To command those lords? If he pulled this off, the Heavenly Gate would become the laughingstock of the ages! "Taking on a lord of a forbidden land creates enormous commotion. You dealt with the Valley Lord of Luohun before; you know how it goes..." Su Yu nodded. "True, but if the Time Master can smoothly suppress him or even swallow his world, the commotion might not be so great. At their level, with their Daos integrated into their bodies, as long as their Great Daos don't detonate, there isn't much disturbance under normal circumstances. There won't even be much noise if they die..." The Lord of Dead Spirits pondered for a moment. "Then what do you need me to do?" Su Yu smiled. "A fierce battle at Mount Yongsheng is completely normal. King Wen has been attacking it all along, so a slightly larger disturbance won't matter much. My main concern is that other forbidden land lords might arrive early or relocate their lands near Mount Yongsheng. What Senior needs to do is keep everyone from shifting their positions ahead of time!" The Lord of Dead Spirits considered it, then nodded. "That isn't difficult. I only need to make a few aggressive movements toward them, and they won't dare scatter recklessly." "Then I shall trouble Senior!" Su Yu offered polite thanks. The Lord of Dead Spirits studied him for a long time before replying, "Don't mention it. Seeing you... makes me feel the Myriad Realms might be stronger than I imagined, not so easily extinguished." He drew a light breath. "I have always considered myself second under heaven—not merely in raw power, but in talent, flair, and strategic intellect..." *Right, sure,* Su Yu thought. What strategic intellect did you ever have? Of course, with his immense strength, he had never really needed any. Su Yu waited until the other had finished praising himself, then smiled. "If Senior helps me accomplish this task, then upon my return, I will share a secret with you..." "A secret?" The Lord of Dead Spirits glanced at him, then said slowly, "You mean turning that residual strand of my willpower against me?" "..." Su Yu froze for a second. The Lord of Dead Spirits remained impassive. "As a powerhouse commanding two worlds, did you truly believe I knew nothing? Tell me, if a spirit within your world developed divided loyalties, would you not notice?" Su Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled without replying. The Lord of Dead Spirits seemed unbothered. "He is me, and I am him. I knew all along, but I chose not to interfere. Allowing him to comprehend the Dao of the Undead serves as a supplement to my own strength. Would you worry about powerhouses within your world comprehending other Great Daos?" Certainly not! Su Yu would welcome it with open arms. At this point, Su Yu vaguely understood his mindset and chuckled. "Senior truly is overbearing and magnificent!" The Lord of Dead Spirits wore a look of utter pride. He had become a world-opener near the end of the Primordial Era, swiftly surpassing countless predecessors to establish the Dead Spirit Realm. He had every right to be overbearing and proud! Su Yu smiled and said softly, "Unlike me—already twenty-three years old, yet stuck at thirty-two Daos and having opened only two worlds. I fall far short of Senior!" "..." The Lord of Dead Spirits' eyebrows twitched violently, and he shot Su Yu a murderous glare. With that single sentence, all his overbearing majesty and pride evaporated. Twenty-three years old. Thirty-two Daos... The Lord of Dead Spirits gave a tight, humorless smile. "At such a tender age, you can only play the grandson. A little brat like you could never be a grandfather!" Su Yu grinned, flashing his teeth. "I can beat people until they call me grandfather!" The Lord of Dead Spirits couldn't be bothered to engage further. In a flash, he vanished from the spot. He had grown thoroughly sick of talking to Su Yu. The man was infuriating, and keeping him company was sheer torment. Su Yu chuckled mischievously. The next instant, the power of three Great Daos manifested around him, faintly reaching out toward the River of Time. His three apertures flickered with light. He didn't need a complete connection to the River of Time—he only needed it to look as though his Daos originated from it. *** A short while later, Su Yu departed. As soon as he was gone, the Lord of Dead Spirits reappeared. Moments later, Ming Tu emerged, looked at his master, and said in a low voice, "Lord!" The Lord of Dead Spirits mused for a bit before speaking. "You don't need to return. Have the other three come back. Su Yu's world contains only a single Dead Spirit Dao, so having the others stay there renders them useless. You remain there; the rest of the Dead Spirit Daos should return!" Ming Tu hesitated. "Should we ask the Tribulation Master first?" "..." The Lord of Dead Spirits turned his head to glare at him. Ming Tu looked intensely embarrassed. "No, I only meant... if we leave abruptly, might it cause instability in his world?" The Lord of Dead Spirits sighed, then gave a faint smile. "What do you think of him?" "Lord, is he your grandson?" "What do you think?" "He isn't!" Ming Tu shook his head. "Though I wish he were, it doesn't feel like it. The way you treat him doesn't look like family either... You haven't laughed like this in many years. It feels more like you have met a peer, a fellow traveler on the same Dao..." The Lord of Dead Spirits smiled again, reminiscing about his own past. "He is just like me in my youth—full of drive, fearing neither heaven nor earth. Back then, I also believed I would surpass the Lord of Time sooner or later. But reality proved that the older one gets, the more one fears. The ignorant know no fear! Yet he knows, and still he does not fear... He is quite a figure!" *Quite a figure!* That was his evaluation of Su Yu. Ming Tu asked curiously, "Then compared to King Wen, how do you see him, Lord?" "King Wen?" The Lord of Dead Spirits considered it and chuckled. "King Wen is also quite a figure, but his fate was unfortunate. He entered this chessboard far too early. Once he entered the Heavenly Gate, he was constrained. Not only that, but too many eyes watched him, leaving him unable to act freely. Add to that his sister being captured... all sorts of burdens, all sorts of shackles. King Wen could not break through those chains, which is a great pity." He shook his head, lamenting King Wen's plight, then continued, "Moreover, compared to Su Yu, King Wen lacks one thing." "What?" "Despair!" "Huh?" Ming Tu was thoroughly baffled. The Lord of Dead Spirits said softly, "King Wen is not as desperate as he is... Su Yu's despair stems from his very marrow; it has reached the absolute extreme. When something reaches the extreme, it inverts. A man like Su Yu fears nothing. There is nothing he doesn't dare to do!" Ming Tu fell into thoughtful silence and asked no more. Right at that moment, a figure tore through the void from the distance. The Lord of Dead Spirits raised an eyebrow. An instant later, King Wu landed, looked at the Lord of Dead Spirits, and said in a heavy voice, "Senior, I have a request!" "Speak!" "I want to break through the shackles of the world!" The Lord of Dead Spirits frowned slightly. "Didn't Su Yu tell you? To break those shackles, either he must become stronger, or you must encounter extraordinary circumstances. He will find it difficult to make rapid progress in the short term..." King Wu nodded solemnly. "I know! But... I still want to break through!" "What do you plan to do?" The Lord of Dead Spirits watched him closely. King Wu said gravely, "I know Senior wishes to undergo total extinction and rebirth, the cycle of life and death! I have no other ambition, but when Senior enters that cycle, could you take me along into extinction? I cannot achieve this on my own... but I hope that on that day, you can bring me with you. I will devour my Dao, enter extinction, and re-emerge. Might that allow me to shatter the confinement?" The Lord of Dead Spirits genuinely didn't know. After thinking for a moment, he said slowly, "You mean to have your Dao reborn... freeing it from the restrictions of the world?" "Yes!" "An intriguing thought... How did you come up with that?" Devouring one's Dao, entering extinction, and being reborn anew—could that truly bypass the constraints of a world? The Lord of Dead Spirits honestly had no answer. Yet the possibility existed. Still, the Lord of Dead Spirits soon shook his head. "The hope is too slim. Even I have no absolute certainty, nor does Su Yu. Every descent into extinction carries the risk of total annihilation, never to revive! What's more, you do not command the Dao of Life and Death. You are placing your entire hope on me guiding you through extinction so you can achieve rebirth... The difficulty is far greater..." "I understand!" King Wu nodded. "However, Senior also knows that if I fail to appear for too long, anomalies will be noticed. Even if Su Yu succeeds in his plans, if people don't see me, they will wonder where King Wu went! At that point, everything might be exposed. Therefore, before that happens, I hope to attain sufficient strength and return to that side!" The Lord of Dead Spirits raised an eyebrow. "There is still time..." King Wu kept his head lowered. "I know. But if... if Senior is willing to lend me a hand and treat me as a test subject... why not let me undergo extinction first? Find an expert of around thirty Daos, kill them, strip their life force, extinguish me with the power of death, and revive me with the power of life... Perhaps I can return early!" This time, the Lord of Dead Spirits couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. *Has he gone mad?* If King Wu entered extinction alongside him, there was still a sliver of hope. But asking him to test it on King Wu beforehand... To be honest, the Lord of Dead Spirits knew the theory and the steps, but executing it in practice might lead not to extinction and revival, but straight to death! Frowning, he asked, "Why go this far?" King Wu remained silent for a long moment before saying, "Because... I am King Wu! The King of War!" *Because I saw Su Yu's despair.* *The era outside has gone mad; it has fallen into despair.* *And I was the War King of that era!* *Am I supposed to just wait here? Wait for Su Yu to grow strong enough to restore my power?* *I don't know how long that will take. It might be soon, but when that day comes, will my strength even be needed anymore?* "Years ago, when we unified the heavens, the Eldest and Second Brothers were both immensely powerful, and Third Brother's talent surpassed mine... Yet I never fell behind!" King Wu's voice was deep and resonant. "Because I dared to fight! I was capable of fighting! For every day they cultivated, I cultivated for ten, slaughtered for ten, waged war for ten... I believe hard work yields rewards in the end! The Eldest and Second Brothers left countless people in the dust, but they never left me behind!" The Lord of Dead Spirits studied him, frowning slightly. "Are you certain?" "Certain!" King Wu said resolutely, "Taishan is no child. I am the King of War! In this lifetime, I have slaughtered without count and campaigned across endless battlefields. A promise in the army is a military order—how could I jest about such a thing?" The Lord of Dead Spirits fell into deep contemplation. "You must understand that I have never attempted this. I witnessed it once and heard of it once, but when it comes to extinction, the slightest misstep means death!" King Wu said firmly, "War offers no guarantees of victory! As long as it is war, there are winners and losers! It is either your death or mine!" The Lord of Dead Spirits understood. He nodded and, after a pause, said, "Since you possess such resolve... if you can undergo extinction and return within seventeen days, it would indeed be a good thing!" Returning within seventeen days, recovered or even having broken through... that would indeed be ideal. Thirty Daos of power... Currently, King Wu possessed only twenty-eight Daos. An expert of thirty Daos would indeed provide enough life force for his revival. However, a thirty-Dao powerhouse was neither easy to kill nor easy to find. That meant he would have to hunt down a thirty-Dao expert on King Wu's behalf! A practitioner at that level either commanded their own forbidden land or stood as a top-tier figure within a powerful one. The Lord of Dead Spirits turned to Ming Tu. "Are there any thirty-Dao cultivators acting alone recently?" Ming Tu quickly searched his memory before replying, "There is one... but, Lord, he is not someone to provoke lightly!" "Who?" "A subordinate of Kong!" Ming Tu lowered his voice. "On Kong's side, neither he nor his domain has appeared yet, but his foremost powerhouse, the Bright Holy Tiger, has shown up. Recently, he has been active near Severance Gorge..." "The Bright Holy Tiger!" The Lord of Dead Spirits thought it over and smiled. "Splendid. Immense life force, and he possesses purifying abilities!" "Lord!" Ming Tu voiced his worry. "Kong... Lord, we really shouldn't provoke him..." They were already surrounded by enemies on all sides! Offending Kong, one of the three supreme beings within the Gate, was hardly wise. Yet the Lord of Dead Spirits merely sneered. "Would I fear him? What 'three supreme beings'? If I merge my two worlds, even if all three join forces, this venerable one will not back down!" With that, he said coldly, "He's the one! Keep an eye on him and see when he moves away from the forbidden land. An entity like him believes no one dares offend Kong, so he won't be overly cautious!" Turning back to King Wu, he smiled faintly. "Once I slay him, I will let you attempt extinction! But be prepared... prepared for total annihilation!" "Thank you, Senior!" King Wu said no more. Bowing in gratitude, he vanished from the spot. The Lord of Dead Spirits watched him leave, his eyebrows lifting slightly. *Good grief, is everyone going mad?* Ever since Su Yu arrived in this stagnant pool within the Heavenly Gate, no one was willing to stay quiet anymore. *Fine! I haven't stretched my limbs in years, and the last fight wasn't nearly satisfying enough... If Kong really shows up this time, this venerable one won't fear him either!* "Lord!" Ming Tu looked anxious, but the Lord of Dead Spirits sneered. "What are you doing? Mourning? What do you know! The more arrogant and rampant I appear, the more wary everyone will be. When they see me daring to provoke even Kong, they won't be able to fathom what I'm truly after, or why I dare offend everyone! They will wonder if I can truly resurrect!" The Lord of Dead Spirits murmured, "Soon, everyone will realize that only by battling to the point of sublimation, reaching the absolute peak, and falling at that zenith can one hope to revive... If that's the case, no one will dare fight me to the death, because they will believe pushing me to the peak of sublimation will only bring about my rebirth. At most, they will only dare wound me heavily!" Ming Tu didn't know what to say and offered no further counsel. Yet he understood that his master, silent for so many years, had been provoked by recent events and would remain quiet no longer. "Once you locate him and confirm his position, inform me!" "Understood!" Ming Tu bowed, and the Lord of Dead Spirits quickly vanished. The vast Dead Spirit Hell returned to silence as before, yet a subtle vitality now thrummed within its depths. *** At the same time. Su Yu, disguised as Riyue, mirrored his every mannerism and gesture to perfection. His three Great Daos were currently extremely faint, barely perceptible, which suited Riyue's discreet nature. To an ordinary person, Su Yu appeared to wield only ten-odd Daos of power. Even experts would struggle to see anything at a glance. Only a supreme powerhouse could discern that the person before them wielded twenty-four Daos. Mount Yongsheng! Su Yu held immense anticipation for this place. He looked forward to seeing Fa, and even more to seeing the Time Master... The Time Master, the very person who had altered the trajectory of his life and changed his destiny. The only time he had ever heard her voice, she had been weeping. Crying that her brother was on the verge of death... Bullshit! King Wen was alive and well! What a great liar! By this realm's time, the Time Record had been cast out only about five years ago—not long at all. Five years ago, was King Wen really about to die? As if! Harboring myriad thoughts, Su Yu proceeded with utmost caution, steering clear of wandering cultivators as he approached Mount Yongsheng. Only when he drew extremely close did anxiety creep in... He worried that King Wen might come out and attack him! Then he would have nowhere to cry for justice! He prayed he wouldn't run into King Wen. If he did, revealing his identity might alert Fa; but if he kept his cover, King Wen might beat him to death in an ambush, and Su Yu would truly weep. King Wen was currently the first hurdle in Su Yu's path! Su Yu silently prayed: *Don't run into King Wen... please don't run into him!* Yet he also knew that King Wen had spent all these years keeping watch nearby, so an encounter was entirely possible. That would be troublesome! Just as the thought crossed his mind, Su Yu sighed inwardly. *I told you not to come, yet here you are!* Su Yu carefully accelerated, moving toward Mount Yongsheng. *** At that moment, King Wen emerged from the darkness. His eyebrows twitched slightly. A cultivator of twenty-four Daos! Was this person attempting to enter Mount Yongsheng? *** Simultaneously. Fa had his eyes closed in meditation when suddenly he opened them, his gaze flickering. There was a minor disturbance outside the forbidden land. Who had arrived? Earlier, the Sword Sovereign had visited once, but King Wen had paid him no heed. King Wen was no fool; he recognized the Sword Sovereign. Slaying the Sword Sovereign would likely draw trouble from the Lord of Mount Tianqiong, and King Wen had no wish to invite unnecessary complications. Yet right now, this was an unfamiliar face... twenty-four Daos... Slaying such a person wouldn't matter at all! *Could it be an envoy?* At this juncture, well before the start of the Forbidden Land Conference, ordinary people wouldn't arrive early, as everyone knew King Wen prowled the vicinity. Could an envoy have arrived? The conference was drawing near; if an envoy didn't show up soon, Fa had planned to inquire about the situation himself. His gaze shifted, and he called out, "Men!" In an instant, several powerhouses materialized. Fa said calmly, "King Wen seems to be making a move. Go out together and investigate!" "Understood!" The lineage masters raised no objections. Going alone would be terrifying, but together they had little to fear. Besides, Fa was right here within the forbidden land. The group quickly vanished. *** Meanwhile, Su Yu cursed inwardly. *Rotten luck!* *You really had to show up. Ah well, your presence actually makes for a better performance.* *If you hadn't appeared, it would seem unrealistic instead.* Flying forward, Su Yu called out, "Is Lord King Wen nearby? This humble one is merely passing through to scout some information on behalf of several rogue cultivators. I bear no ill will..." Behind him, King Wen's figure solidified. Without a word, he charged forward to kill! Su Yu fled in panic, crying out shrilly, "Don't kill me! I truly am just passing by..." He bolted at full speed, but how could he match King Wen's pace? In the blink of an eye, King Wen appeared before him, reaching out a hand to conjure a cage of void. Su Yu screamed in terror, "Mercy! This humble one will scram immediately... Lord, have mercy!" King Wen ignored him. Having encountered him, killing him was the simplest course! Why waste words? Just then, Su Yu threw himself into a roll. As the cage descended, he threw a punch that caused the cage to tremble slightly. Su Yu then backhanded a confinement seal toward King Wen. King Wen slapped it into dust with a palm. Yet taking advantage of the moment, Su Yu rolled away and fled. King Wen frowned slightly. *Not bad! Stronger than an average twenty-four-Dao cultivator!* Right then, Su Yu spotted several figures flying out from the forbidden land and yelled frantically, "This humble one has urgent news to report! Lords, save me!" The next instant, four powerhouses appeared, all possessing at least twenty-five Daos. Seeing King Wen, the four wasted no words. In a flash, winds howled, rains poured, and thunder and lightning flashed. The lineage masters of Mount Yongsheng! Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning. Gales swept past, raindrops needle-sharp, as thunder rumbled and lightning struck. *Boom!* A deafening explosion rang out. Su Yu scrambled desperately through the void, fleeing toward the newcomers. The Thunder Lineage Master barked coldly, "Roll aside!" Who knew who this newcomer was? He wouldn't allow the stranger to approach. King Wen was full of tricks and had pulled stunts like this before—disguising himself alongside King Wu, one chasing and the other fleeing, only to lure out several powerhouses and slaughter them! Over the years, lineage masters of Mount Yongsheng had fallen to such ploys. Su Yu didn't argue, veering away toward the distance. King Wen frowned slightly. *They arrived fast.* In the past, even if Fa decided to intervene, he had never reacted so swiftly. This time, almost the moment King Wen moved, the other side had sensed it and dispatched reinforcements. King Wen fixed his gaze on Su Yu, his brow furrowing. *Is this person important?* Otherwise, why would Fa immediately dispatch four lineage masters to rescue an unfamiliar twenty-four-Dao practitioner? *** By now, Fa had stepped out as well. Hovering in midair, he gazed at Su Yu from afar, his eyes flickering. This person... looked somewhat familiar. *Could it be... he truly arrived?* *Has he brought different news or outcomes this time?* Just then, Fa's expression shifted slightly. At that very moment, King Wen seemed to sense that this person might be significant. He abruptly vanished and reappeared beside Su Yu, a gigantic brush materializing in his hand as he jabbed it toward Su Yu! Fa cursed inwardly. *Against a twenty-four-Dao cultivator, is that really necessary?* Fa charged forward, shouting, "Impudent!" Just as the brush was about to strike, a tiny gateway suddenly materialized behind Su Yu. With a furious roar, Su Yu's aura surged instantly to twenty-five Daos! In a flash, the miniature gateway unleashed a burst of immense power. With a loud crash, it blocked the giant brush. Su Yu was knocked backward, coughing blood, yet he used the momentum to flee toward Fa. Su Yu's voice echoed in Fa's ears, laden with fury and panic: "Why didn't you act sooner? Did you... did you want to watch me die?" Fa's expression shifted, but he said nothing. He had merely been uncertain before, but now he was sure. The power of the Gate! King Wen's face darkened as he came to an immediate halt. Gazing at Su Yu with doubt and suspicion, and then looking at the approaching Fa, he said coldly after a pause, "The Gate?" Fa raised an eyebrow. "Do you wish to die?" King Wen retreated step by step, glancing between Su Yu and Mount Yongsheng, his face grim. "You want to kill my sister... Just you wait... You will never succeed!" With that, he vanished into thin air! Yet doubt lingered in King Wen's mind. That aura carried the power of the Gate—the Heavenly Gate? Was it power bestowed by the Heavenly Gate, or the power of having truly opened the Heavenly Gate? Strange! *Su Yu?* The thought popped into his head, though it seemed hard to believe. Or... was it simply an envoy dispatched by the Gate? *** At that moment, Fa turned to look at Su Yu. Su Yu's eyes were dark and cold, though he quickly masked it, lowering his head and gritting his teeth. "Thank you, Lord Fa, for saving my life! This humble one is endlessly grateful!" His tone carried a lingering resentment. Fa understood his grievance and chose not to address it, transmitting via voice, "You arrived too late!" "An unexpected event occurred on the way. The City of Light became Mount Myriad Tribulations, and I was forced to take a detour!" Fa said no more, turning to depart as his voice drifted back: "Bring him back to Mount Yongsheng!" At that moment, Su Yu sent a voice transmission: "Uncle-Master Fa, I have important matters to report..." *Uncle-Master!* Fa did not reply, nor did he say anything further. There was no rush, and he still needed to verify his claims. The next instant, the four lineage masters gathered around, all looking at Su Yu. Su Yu offered a humble smile. "Thank you, my lords, for your assistance. This humble one is eternally grateful!" The four exchanged puzzled glances. Why had Lord Fa stepped in personally to save him? Though curious, they didn't pry. The Rain Lineage Master said coldly, "Enough. Follow us back to the mountain!" "Thank you, my lords..." Su Yu meekly followed them as they flew into the mountain. Fa, meanwhile, continued to observe from afar. It wasn't that he strongly suspected anything; caution was simply wise. That side had not contacted him in a very long time, and each time an envoy came, it was a different person. He had seen this man before, but that was ages ago. Moreover, he needed to assess whether the arrival of a twenty-four-Dao cultivator held any real value. *** Following the lineage masters, Su Yu soon entered Mount Yongsheng. The instant he crossed the threshold, Su Yu sensed it—this was a world, not merely a forbidden land, not a treasure, but a full-fledged world! *** At the same time. Deep within the canyon. A figure faintly materialized within a cluster of restriction seals. Only a pair of bright, luminous eyes remained clearly visible, currently filled with doubt and confusion. Thoroughly confused! Utterly baffled! *** At that very moment, something that had lain dormant for a long time within Su Yu's sea of will twitched faintly. It was a tear! A tear of the Time Master! Su Yu glanced vaguely toward the depths of the great mountain. The Time Master... was right there! He swiftly suppressed the tear! Lest the Time Master be foolish enough to sense something and start screaming, which would ruin everything. In an instant, he sealed the tear away completely! *** The moment he sealed it, the bright eyes in the depths of the canyon flickered with doubt and grew dim as the phantom faded away. *Did I sense wrong?* *Why... why did I feel something, only for it to disappear so quickly?*