Mount Yongsheng.
A sacred sanctuary.
Rich in origin qi and dense with the power of rules, it had seemed modest from afar, but once Su Yu stepped inside, he discovered a paradise in its own right, reminiscent of an immortal realm.
The entirety of Mount Yongsheng was composed of nine towering, massive peaks.
Eight slightly shorter mountains circled the largest peak in the center. That central peak was the true Mount Yongsheng, the dao arena of Fa. The surrounding eight mountains belonged to the eight lineage masters, though two of those masters were now gone.
Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning, Yin, Yang, Life, and Death.
The Eight Lineage Masters!
Mount Yongsheng had once been among the top forbidden lands in the world. The Life Dao that Su Yu had previously absorbed had originally belonged to the Life Lineage Master; King Wen had given it to him, though it had been largely depleted over the years.
Of the eight lineage masters, two were dead: the Life Lineage Master and the Yang Lineage Master, both slain by King Wen.
Today, only six lineage masters remained alive.
Of the eight peaks, six radiated brilliant light, while two lay dormant and lifeless. Across the various forbidden lands, an assembly of eight lineage masters could only be matched by the Eight Halls of Mount Tianqiong.
The mountain was teeming with experts.
Every giant peak was a kingdom in its own right.
Each mountain was vast beyond measure, home to countless living beings. Such was the scale of a forbidden land.
The four lineage masters now accompanied Su Yu inside.
Su Yu sized them up; every one of them was formidable.
Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—not one stood below twenty-six Daos.
Practically all of them hovered between twenty-six and twenty-seven Daos. Clearly, their clashes with King Wen and his allies over the years had yielded gains of their own. Even though two had perished, the survivors had benefited.
Noticing Su Yu gazing around curiously, the four experts—two men and two women, with Rain and Lightning being female and the remaining two male—exchanged glances. The woman whose presence was as gentle as rain smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist, how are your injuries? Would you like me to treat them?”
Su Yu had just stepped into the realm of twenty-five Daos, making him a top-tier figure in this era.
Though he was somewhat weaker than them, he still stood within their tier.
The lineage masters were curious about him. Did he have a connection to Lord Fa?
Lord Fa had permitted his entry without specifying what to do with him next. For a moment, the lineage masters were unsure how to handle him.
Su Yu smiled and nodded. “If Lineage Master Rain doesn't mind, I would appreciate your assistance with some healing...”
“You know me?”
Su Yu laughed. “Milady is as gentle as water and skilled in the art of healing. Who else could you be if not Lineage Master Rain?”
Lineage Master Rain chuckled, her expression softening even further. “And what might your name be, Fellow Daoist?”
“Riyue!”
Su Yu smiled with veiled significance. “The sun and moon suspended high in the heavens are a splendid sight across the myriad realms. A pity we have no such thing inside the gate; after all, this is an era of ruin!”
Riyue!
The four turned the name over in their minds. While names invoking the sun and moon were relatively common, prominent experts bearing that name were few and far between.
Seeing that he spoke with subtle undertones, they refrained from prying further.
Lineage Master Rain smiled warmly. “Daoist Riyue, allow me to tend to your wounds first...”
“Much obliged!”
Without a word, Lineage Master Rain released a surge of water power, washing it over Su Yu. The energy gradually seeped into his physical body, prompting a slight flicker in her thoughts.
*A formidable physical body! He specializes in the flesh Dao!*
As she extended her power further, a burst of confinement energy erupted and blocked her senses. Lineage Master Rain did not mind, forming another quick assessment. *He also excels in the Dao of Confinement.*
He had concealed his aura remarkably well earlier, so he likely cultivated the Dao of Breath Concealment too.
A capable fellow indeed!
Of course, they were even more curious about the gate that had materialized behind him to block King Wen's strike.
A Dao technique?
A treasure?
Or something else?
As Lineage Master Rain probed him, Su Yu said with a light laugh, “If there is anything you wish to know, Fellow Daoist, you can investigate at your leisure later. Why not focus on healing me first? What do you say?”
Lineage Master Rain was slightly startled—not because he had seen through her probing, but because he had called it out so directly.
At this moment, the man was remarkably bold, shedding all of his earlier humility.
Before entering, he had been exceedingly humble.
Yet once inside, he carried himself with haughty arrogance.
Faced with such an abrupt shift in attitude, the lineage masters found it hard to get a clear read on him.
Lineage Master Rain quickly mended his injuries and smiled. “Your wounds are not severe. That move you used earlier was truly astonishing—to actually withstand a strike from Thief Wen!”
Su Yu laughed dismissively. “Nothing special. I merely borrowed external strength!”
With that, Su Yu glanced around and smiled. “Could you arrange a place for me to rest a bit? And then... please ask Lord Fa if he can spare a moment to see me.”
Su Yu chuckled. “Important people have busy schedules, and Lord Fa sits high and mighty above the rest, so he likely doesn't have much time to spare. Naturally, I won't take up too much of it. It's just that I do have an urgent matter to report!”
The lineage masters frowned slightly.
On the surface, the words seemed harmless enough, yet they carried an undeniable undercurrent of mockery.
Mocking Lord Fa!
Had he lost his mind?
*Important people have busy schedules... sits high and mighty...*
His tone was laced with distinct resentment.
All four were veteran powerhouses and ancient eccentrics; they naturally picked up on the nuance. Puzzled, they maintained impassive expressions. It was best not to meddle in such matters, as there might be hidden circumstances at play.
None of them lashed out or scolded him on the spot.
Without understanding the full picture, turning hostile rashly was foolish—what if there was a deeper background involved?
The cultured man, gentle as a spring breeze, offered a broad smile and spoke softly: “Daoist Riyue, there is no need to rush. Lord Fa has indeed been busy of late. The Forbidden Land Conference is approaching, and Thief Wen has been causing trouble repeatedly. We will report to Lord Fa shortly!”
He then turned to the woman. “Rain, accompany Daoist Riyue around, find a place to settle him down at the VIP Pavilion, and the rest of us will report to Lord Fa!”
“Understood!”
“Daoist Riyue, pardon our lack of hospitality. We shall return once we have reported to Lord Fa...”
“You are too polite!”
Su Yu offered an easy smile, showing no rancor toward the four.
The lineage masters grew even more puzzled. Was this man deliberately holding a grudge only against Lord Fa?
It was not overt hostility, but rather a palpable air of grievance.
***
Soon, the group dispersed.
At the summit of the central mountain, a grand hall hovered in midair, standing proudly against the sky.
When the three lineage masters stepped inside, someone was already present.
Of the six living lineage masters, the two who had not shown their faces earlier—Yin and Death—were both here.
The three newcomers bowed, and Lineage Master Wind reported, “Lord Fa, that man calls himself Riyue. He cultivates the three Daos of Flesh, Confinement, and Breath Concealment, possessing the strength of twenty-five Daos. Regarding the gate that appeared earlier, he claimed he was merely borrowing external power... He says he wishes to meet with you!”
Fa gave a slight nod. After a brief pause, he said impassively, “Noted.”
The three lineage masters remained bewildered.
At that moment, the Death Lineage Master spoke in a sepulchral tone: “Lord Fa, this man...”
Fa remained silent for a moment before slowly replying, “He may be an opportunity... or he may not. Let him wait for a day. I will see him tomorrow.”
“Understood!”
None of them dared press further. Having stayed at Mount Yongsheng for countless years, they could guess a thing or two.
The three below had also pieced together a vague hunch.
The gate!
That was the crucial clue!
Once the lineage masters withdrew, a figure materialized in Fa's eyes: Su Yu.
He sank into deep thought.
*Did only he come?*
*What news will he bring me? What outcome?*
As for the resentment Riyue displayed, Fa paid it no mind. Was the young man trying to put him in his place?
A pity... none of you have the standing to discipline me!
The one who truly has the authority to keep me in line hasn't fully awakened yet!
While Fa sat in contemplation, a dark shadow suddenly drifted out from behind him, chuckling softly. “Lord Fa, do you need assistance?”
“Assistance?” Fa said indifferently. “What could you assist with?”
“Helping these people realize that Lord Fa is their sole reliance... whereas they may not be your only option!”
Fa said coldly, “Does this require your interference? Since when do my affairs concern you?”
“I wouldn't dare!”
The dark shadow chuckled smoothly. “However, I observe that this man harbors resentment. Although someone of his level is far weaker than you, people like him have been on that side all along. Once he returns, a few casual remarks about your lack of respect or some venomous slander... could prove exceedingly troublesome.”
“Often, grand schemes are ruined by petty men like him!”
The shadow chuckled. Fa sneered, “And what about you?”
“Do not misunderstand, Lord Fa. I have never spoken ill of you. My goal has always been to welcome you into our fold as a true partner as soon as possible...”
Fa replied coolly, “It is far too early to discuss that. After all these years, you have failed to resolve King Wen! Allowing him to tie me down continuously—are you incapable of resolving him, or simply unwilling?”
“Lord Fa misunderstands. Our strength simply fell short of our ambitions... This, after all, is not our home ground!”
Fa sneered and said no more, closing his eyes in silence.
His inability to devour the Time Master was not solely due to King Wen's interference.
King Wen had indeed tied his hands, but someone had also been fanning the flames from the shadows, ensuring that no one else would lend aid, even leaking information to the outside. Otherwise, how could King Wen and King Wu have roamed freely here for so long?
Someone merely needed them to keep him in check!
Because they knew that once he devoured the Time Master, the entire balance of power would shift. They were trying to force him to take a side.
Fa saw through it all clearly!
Yet some decisions could not be made lightly. Naturally, the upcoming Forbidden Land Conference might be the moment for the final choice.
Seeing that Fa had fallen silent, the shadow did not mind and said softly, “Earlier, our preparations were inadequate and time was short... Now, if Lord Fa is willing, this Forbidden Land Conference can be the occasion to help you eliminate King Wen and King Wu once and for all.”
“We shall see!” Fa responded flatly.
Without another word, the shadow quietly withdrew, vanishing without a trace.
Once the shadow was gone, Fa snapped his eyes open, a cold gleam surfacing in his gaze!
Fair enough!
Riyue had arrived at just the right time. Since both factions sought to recruit him, both would have to demonstrate sincerity. He had been stalled here for years, trapped in place. Soon, this matter would finally reach a conclusion!
Shop around before making a choice!
Although he had always relied on that certain existence, if that person still could not help him resolve the immediate trouble, he would simply choose whichever path favored him most!
“Riyue...” he murmured. Twenty-five Daos was not weak. Had he come to intimidate, or to offer a practical solution to the deadlock?
After all, that existence had opened a world. Even if he had not fully awakened, he might still be able to provide some measure of support!
***
During the day, Rain did not take Su Yu far, merely showing him around a few less important areas.
Night fell.
Su Yu stayed in a small pavilion.
He had been meditating with his eyes closed when he suddenly opened them. In the next instant, a figure materialized before him. Su Yu's expression remained cold as he said, “You’ve come!”
“Emissary, summoning me at this moment... I fear...”
The newcomer looked fraught with worry. Su Yu snapped coldly, “What are you afraid of? So what if Martial Uncle Fa is watching? He has lived carefree out here for so many years that he seems to have forgotten who gave him everything he has today!”
“Emissary, this...”
Su Yu snorted. “Yes, he has done quite a bit over the years, but has he forgotten who lured the Time Master here for him? Who helped him open half a world? Who has been constantly finding ways to make him stronger? And what about him? What has he offered in return? Especially over these past few years—has he forgotten his true benefactor just because he got tangled up with the Human Gate faction?”
“Emissary, mind your words!”
The newcomer was terrified. This was Mount Yongsheng!
Su Yu stood up, shedding his earlier low profile and displaying blazing fury. “I was nearly killed! He watched with his own eyes yet did not come to my rescue immediately! What was he trying to do? Get me killed?”
“A misunderstanding...”
“Shut up!”
Su Yu glared at the man and growled, “Or have all of you forgotten over the years who granted you everything? Do you truly believe we are nothing without him? Have you forgotten how we are to leave this world when the final moment comes? Do you think he can accomplish that? Can he stand against the other supreme beings? Without the Master... he is nothing!”
“Emissary, you mustn't... you mustn't say such things! This is Mount Yongsheng. Today was merely a misunderstanding, and we have never forgotten our mission!”
Su Yu snorted coldly. “I hope so! Now that he has become the lord of a forbidden land and grown powerful, he thinks he is beyond reproach! Back then... forget it. Back then, the plan was to pour all our support into another person to become the forbidden land lord. It wasn't meant to be him. Everyone gave up their chance to grant him his opportunity. And what came of it?”
Su Yu fumed, “The result is that I nearly died at his front doorstep! I came here full of hope and anticipation, even longing for him to grow stronger, devour the Time Master, and become the fourth supreme expert within the gate!
“And the result? I was nearly slaughtered!”
The newcomer understood that Riyue's rage stemmed from the clash with King Wen.
“Thief Wen's sudden appearance caught everyone off guard...”
“Shut up! Have you defected to his side?”
Su Yu said coldly, “Unaware? Thief Wen has been active in this vicinity for ages. Who didn't know?”
“Before the Emissary arrived, we truly had no idea...”
Su Yu raged, “Nonsense! Since he sent word, we were bound to respond. How could we not send someone? The Forbidden Land Conference is such a monumental event, yet he acted on his own initiative, sent a single message, and said nothing more. Acting first and reporting later? We exhausted our efforts to summon the Primordial Ancestor, racking our brains to solve his predicament, and what about him?
“Did he not know someone would arrive around this time?”
Su Yu was livid. “He knew! He did it on purpose! He wanted to give me a show of strength!”
At this point, the man before him dared not speak another word.
These matters involved the highest echelons; offering opinions would only invite disaster.
Su Yu snorted again. “There are things I didn't want to bring up! Of the eight lineage masters, the Life and Yang masters were our people. Why did they fall? What a convenient coincidence! Does he take us for fools? Everyone simply hoped he would come to his senses... but looking at it now, heh!”
“Emissary... that was truly an accident!”
The old man hastily explained, “I can swear to that, it was truly an accident! Lord Fa would never deliberately undercut his own strength...”
Su Yu said darkly, “I know. He had no reason to kill his own people just to make us wary of him. There was no need. But I suspect a third party intervened deliberately, yet he gave no explanation whatsoever!”
The old man nodded, his voice dropping low. “That... might be true! I once caught a glimpse of a dark shadow appearing inside the Hall of Myriad Fa.”
Su Yu frowned. “Tell me the details. The people who came before were far too weak! Over the years, everyone lacked the time and opportunity to interfere, nor did they wish to, because he was the one we chose to push forward... Now look at him—does he want to break away and establish his own house? Has he forgotten whether he can even match the Primordial Ancestor on his own?”
“The Primordial Ancestor is invincible!”
The old man muttered softly before quickly reporting, “Emissary, over the years, Mount Yongsheng has seen few major shifts, aside from frequent harassment by King Wen and King Wu. A number of our planted operatives have also fallen...”
Su Yu listened silently, nodding occasionally. After a long while, he asked, “How is Wen Yu doing?”
“She remains as she was,” the old man sighed helplessly. “She has come to place some trust in us, especially a few years ago when we helped send a copy of the Time Record out of the world. That earned us some of her trust, but every time we bring up the original copy, she changes the subject...”
Su Yu mused, “She hasn't grown suspicious? After all, this is Fa's territory!”
“Not at all. If not for us back then, she wouldn't have survived until now. We saved her life... Furthermore, we have plenty of legitimate reasons to interact with her...”
Su Yu nodded slightly. “Good! Your line of contact is vital. That is the primary reason for my visit!”
He then paused and added, “However... whether to use this line, when using it might end up benefiting Fa... I am undecided for now!”
Su Yu exhaled. “I cannot be sure of his attitude, his thoughts, or his loyalty! If he continues like this, we would only be nursing a tiger that will turn to bite us!”
“Milord, Lord Fa... wouldn't betray us, would he?” The old man trembled.
Su Yu murmured, “At his level, nothing is certain! Pass down the order for everyone to be prepared. He wants to see me tomorrow. If things take an unfavorable turn... find a way to evacuate!”
“Milord...”
“Enough, dismiss yourself!”
“Understood!”
The old man dared not delay and vanished swiftly.
Su Yu turned his gaze toward the towering central peak in the distance and muttered, “Whether you hear this or not, what I need to see is not a lofty, aloof Lord Fa, but the Martial Uncle Fa who departed back then, vowing to strengthen our faction! People say the outside world easily corrupts one's heart... I didn't believe it before, but today I do. You didn't even come to my rescue immediately!”
***
At the summit of Mount Yongsheng.
Fa shook his head slightly with a wry smile.
*So that is the basis of your judgment?*
*Because I didn't save you immediately, you believe I've turned traitor?*
These people could be remarkably unreasonable at times!
*Can they truly resolve her?*
He recalled Riyue's earlier words. Were they merely dangling an empty promise as before, or did they possess a genuine method to eliminate the trouble?
If they could, the Forbidden Land Conference would become his grand stage to unite the gate's experts under his rule.
If not... the conference was bound to see turbulence.
“We shall see tomorrow!”
***
Day and night alternated within the forbidden land.
The next morning, sunlight washed over the mountain.
Su Yu was still cultivating when Lineage Master Rain's cheerful voice sounded outside: “Daoist Riyue, are you still in seclusion?”
The doors swung open on their own, and Su Yu materialized before her like a wisp of smoke. He smiled and nodded. “Lineage Master Rain arrives right on time; I have just finished my cultivation. Does Lord Fa finally deign to grant me an audience?”
Lineage Master Rain smiled gently. “Lord Fa has been terribly busy. He was occupied all of yesterday, and the moment he returned to the Hall of Myriad Fa, he sent word to summon you...”
“How considerate of him!” Su Yu chuckled.
“Shall we proceed now?”
“Lead the way, Fellow Daoist!”
Lineage Master Rain was deeply intrigued by Su Yu. As they walked, she remarked casually, “Daoist Riyue, on your way here, did you happen to witness the battle among the forbidden lands?”
“No, but I sensed the ripples from afar.”
As he spoke, Su Yu suddenly sent a sound transmission: “Be wary of Dead Spirit Hell and Mount Myriad Tribulations. Seeing that you have a kind face, I will share a few extra words: that Su Yu of Mount Myriad Tribulations is by no means simple!”
Lineage Master Rain pondered his words. *Not simple? In what way?*
Before she could ask, the grand hall atop the massive central peak began to emit a gentle radiance. Lineage Master Rain called out promptly, “Lord Fa, Daoist Riyue has arrived!”
“Let him enter!” Fa's voice resonated from above. “Wait below!”
Rain was slightly taken aback. A private audience?
Even the lineage masters were not permitted to listen in?
Very well!
She looked toward Su Yu, her smile growing even warmer. “Please proceed on your own, Fellow Daoist. Lord Fa is waiting for you!”
Su Yu nodded and soared into the sky, flying straight toward the grand palace on the mountain peak!
***
Soon, an immense hall stood before him.
The palace doors hung wide open.
A translucent silhouette was faintly visible inside.
The moment Su Yu stepped into the hall, a terrifying wave of pressure erupted, forcing him backward step by step. Clenching his teeth as sweat beaded on his forehead, Su Yu snarled, “Martial Uncle Fa truly lives up to his name as the lord of a forbidden land—powerful enough to suppress your own nephew!”
Fa's voice drifted over coolly: “For someone so young, you certainly have quite a temper! Have you forgotten how to respect your elders? Or do you imagine that because you were pampered over there, you will be pampered here as well?”
Su Yu gritted his teeth. “I have no such delusion!”
“Then why display it so blatantly?”
Su Yu ground his teeth. “I implore Martial Uncle to execute that emissary from the Human Gate!”
“You switch sides whenever it suits your tongue. Do you know who orchestrated that contact back then?”
Su Yu maintained his stubborn glare. “I know! But that was then, and this is now! Those vermin have already stirred Martial Uncle's ambitions. They must be slain, or disaster will strike sooner or later!”
“I will make my own judgments!”
Su Yu fumed, “Does Martial Uncle truly believe those maggots from the Human Gate can offer you greater benefits?”
At that precise moment, a dark shadow drifted into view, chuckling playfully: “Little fellow, hurling insults so freely is unbecoming...”
Su Yu's expression changed instantly!
With a furious roar, Su Yu threw a punch straight at the shadow, his rage boiling over.
“Scoundrel! This is an utmost secret conference—how dare you meddle?”
Su Yu appeared utterly consumed by wrath, his punch shattering the void as it slammed toward the figure. Yet the shadow dispersed like mist, laughing, “Don't be so rash. We are allies, after all; what need is there for this?”
Su Yu roared, “Fa! Are you dead set on betraying us?”
At last, Fa, seated atop the dais at the head of the hall, turned his head. His eyes were cold as he spoke: “Enough, both of you. Stand down! This is no place for you to run wild!”
The shadow vanished in an instant, its laughter lingering: “Lord Fa, I didn't lift a finger. This little fellow is simply too impetuous!”
Su Yu breathed heavily, his fists clenched as he glared at Fa, then at the empty space where the shadow had been. Gradually, he reined in his fury, his voice icy: “I was rash! I was unaware this person was Lord Fa's honored guest. Had I known, I would never have come!”
Fa took his seat on the high platform, remaining silent.
Su Yu looked directly at him.
Fa appeared quite young, with eyes as brilliant as constellations and dark hair flowing freely. He carried an air of scholarly elegance, yet radiated immense power. His subtle aura alone felt like sharp blades scraping against Su Yu's skin, while the dark shadow had rippled incessantly under its weight.
Fa fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly: “Back then, it was your side that instructed me to make contact with the Human Gate. Now, it is your side saying I shouldn't. All these years, I have wronged no one. Yet you have continually delayed the timing of my fusion, leaving me no choice but to seek my own way out.”
Su Yu ground his teeth. “That was due to unavoidable constraints, not deliberate malice! Who would want you permanently stuck at this bottleneck?”
Fa showed no reaction.
Was that truly the case?
Perhaps!
Yet there was undeniably an element of restraint involved.
Otherwise, was there truly no way to resolve the impasse?
Was it not because certain individuals feared he would advance too rapidly and threaten that existence's supremacy?
Did they dare deny it?
It was only now, with the great gates nearing their opening and that existence close to full awakening, that they felt secure enough to loosen their grip.
Fa asked indifferently, “Did you bring a solution with you this time?”
Su Yu glanced in the direction where the shadow had vanished and insisted firmly, “I ask Martial Uncle to kill him first! How did the Yang and Life lineage masters perish? King Wen and King Wu are strong, but with Martial Uncle right here, how could only those two among the eight masters fall? I refuse to believe no one orchestrated it! This person must have manipulated events behind the scenes to drive a wedge between Martial Uncle and us! I believe Martial Uncle would never murder his own people for an outsider's sake!
“Martial Uncle was well aware of their identities, so why would you kill them?”
Su Yu lowered his voice. “Only he possessed such a motive!”
The shadow's voice drifted through the air with a chuckle: “How could that be? King Wen and King Wu are exceptionally powerful. Little fellow, you cannot rely purely on conjecture!”
Su Yu closed his eyes, falling silent, standing frozen like a statue.
Seeing this, Fa said flatly, “Step outside for now.”
The shadow trembled slightly, then chuckled, “Then I shall take my leave. Ease your anger, Lord Fa; he is merely a young fledgling...”
He vanished entirely.
Only then did Su Yu open his eyes, regaining his calm. “Did Martial Uncle wish to show me that even if we withdraw our support, you have theirs to lean on? Is that your purpose, Martial Uncle?”
Fa looked at him and nodded slowly. “Yes! I simply wish to make it clear that when one reaches my level of cultivation, authority, power, and grand futures are all meaningless illusions! What we pursue is solely the Dao, solely freedom!
“Whoever stands in the way of my Dao is an enemy!”
Fa said calmly, “At this stage, there is no need for pretenses. If someone else can grant what you cannot, I have no choice but to choose them. Because... I cannot wait any longer!”
Su Yu took a deep breath. “And what of our convictions? Our dreams? Has all of it vanished?”
“Some remains. On equal footing, I would naturally prefer to support your side.”
Fa looked at Su Yu and said softly, “You do not understand me, nor do you need to. You only need to know that if you can deliver what I want, I remain your Martial Uncle. Otherwise... we are mere strangers!”
“And the Primordial Ancestor?”
Su Yu sounded outraged. “You would even betray the Primordial Ancestor?”
“Betray?”
Fa chuckled. “He... has not awakened! Everything you say is merely your own desires masquerading as his. Now that I have attained my present cultivation, do you still presume to manipulate me? Even if I devour Wen Yu, he will not stop me; he will applaud my success! Yet petty figures like you invoke his name to control a supreme expert of unity—how utterly laughable!”
His tone dripped with mockery.
Su Yu frowned. “I brought the devouring method. With your attitude, are you certain I will hand it over?”
Fa remained entirely composed. “You will, because that devouring method is not something you could devise; only he could create it... Since he sent you here, it represents the sacred will! If you refuse to surrender it, do you think your fate will be any better than mine? Will your elders fare any better than I?”
Su Yu gritted his teeth. “At the very least, I can decide the timing! If I give it to you after the Forbidden Land Conference concludes... that still counts as giving it to you!”
“Slippery little devil!”
Fa laughed heartily. “Speak. What do you want?”
“First, I want to become the Yang Lineage Master!”
“Granted!”
Fa did not care in the slightest; it was a trivial matter.
“Second, execute that man...”
“If you succeed, killing him is a small matter. But that must happen afterward, not now!”
Fa delivered his condition clearly. If the attempt succeeded, he would naturally dispose of the fellow.
But what if it failed?
Su Yu frowned, then nodded. “Third, you must cooperate with me in putting on a show for Wen Yu. I do not have absolute certainty yet. For the coming days, everyone on the mountain must obey my command!”
“Granted!”
Fa smiled. “Do you need me to leave? I can use the pretext of hunting King Wen.”
“We can decide that later; it isn't set in stone. But I must see Wen Yu first!”
Fa frowned slightly. “She might notice something.”
Su Yu shook his head. “There is no time to worry about that. This method isn't guaranteed to succeed. The most critical requirement is finding her exact core; only then can she be devoured swiftly. That is an absolute necessity!”
Fa's brow furrowed. “Are you certain you can accomplish this?”
Su Yu nodded. “I have substantial confidence! My arrival here is the consensus reached by everyone. They all agreed that only by sending me would there be a chance of success!”
“Very well!”
Fa gave his consent once more, smiling faintly. “There are sixteen days remaining until the Forbidden Land Conference! If you cannot resolve this within sixteen days... do not blame me for disregarding old ties. I will not kill you, but... Mount Yongsheng will no longer turn back!”
Su Yu's expression shifted slightly. He looked angry, but suppressed it and replied heavily, “I understand!”
At this point, Su Yu pondered for a moment before adding, “There is one more matter... I may require your cooperation. I might have to leak Martial Uncle's core location to Wen Yu!”
Fa's expression changed abruptly!
Su Yu said solemnly, “Martial Uncle can think this through carefully. Without taking risks, I believe the chances of success are slim. To succeed, we must take gambles! Of course, there is no need to rush into this right now. Martial Uncle is a supreme expert, and I also hope Wen Yu will yield her core before reaching such an extreme. But... if we cannot succeed otherwise, I can only hope Martial Uncle will agree to this! Or perhaps you could forge a fake core...”
Fa waved a hand dismissively. *How simple you make it sound! What do you know?*
*At my level, and at Wen Yu's level, we share dominion over the world. If it were fake, she would see through it in an instant!*
Only the genuine core could win her trust.
Yet doing so was an extraordinarily dangerous gamble!
At this moment, Fa sank into contemplative silence.
Su Yu pressed no further, bowing respectfully. “Riyue will take his leave for now. It will not be too late for Martial Uncle to decide once you have weighed the matter!”
Watching him step back, Fa suddenly spoke: “The power of that gate of yours...”
“Bestowed by the Primordial Ancestor!”
Su Yu did not bat an eyelid. “The Primordial Ancestor... has already recovered seventy percent!”
Fa was visibly shaken!
Seventy percent!
That meant he was on the verge of full awakening!
Fa lowered his voice: “Also, earlier when the Lord of Dead Spirits summoned his world, why was he not stopped? Do you know the inside story?”
Su Yu feigned thought, then replied, “I do not know the details. I was already outside on that day. It may be related to Xingyu... We will have to wait until we return to inquire about this matter, or Martial Uncle may ask in person.”
This time, Fa said nothing further, merely waving his hand.
Su Yu quickly withdrew.
He descended the mountain.
At the foot of the peak, several lineage masters were waiting. Su Yu wasted no words, declaring directly, “Lineage Master Rain, please escort me to Mount Yang. Lord Fa has commanded that I take charge of the Yang Lineage!”
The crowd froze. *He became a lineage master just like that?*
As expected, his background was terrifying!
Lineage Master Rain immediately broke into a radiant smile. “Congratulations! Daoist Riyue, to think that upon your arrival, you would already stand on equal footing with us...”
Su Yu sighed and shook his head. “You don't understand... Forget it, you will in the future! The Yang and Life lineage masters were my elders. Their demise today was entirely due to the machinations of despicable villains!”
Su Yu snorted coldly, then added, “Everyone, be careful. I believe you may know a thing or two. If that individual approaches any of you, whoever can slay him will be handsomely rewarded by me! Rest assured, I will personally shoulder all responsibility before Lord Fa!”
The lineage masters remained silent.
They had pieced together the broad picture!
Neither side was to be trifled with; it was best not to invite trouble upon themselves!
On one side was the old master, on the other a potential new master... Neither was someone they could afford to offend!
Su Yu continued, “Furthermore, for the next half-month, the entirety of Mount Yongsheng will answer to my command!”
Everyone was stunned, glancing up toward the grand mountain. No sound came from above, yet they knew this was Lord Fa's tacit consent.
Solemnly, they bowed. “We shall obey the order!”
Only then did Su Yu break into a smile. “Fellow Daoists, my thanks! If this venture succeeds, everyone will reap immense benefits—benefits far beyond what those treacherous scoundrels could ever offer! After all, this is inside the Heavenly Gate!”
Su Yu spoke with pointed emphasis, gesturing toward the sky. “Some individuals wish to stick their hands in, but they should look at who they are facing first! No matter how strong they are, they are not present in the flesh; what's more, they are nothing more than puppets!”
The lineage masters smiled awkwardly, unable to respond.
They only knew that this newcomer was not someone to be crossed!
Su Yu burst into hearty laughter. “Enough, I won't make things difficult for you. Sooner or later, you will understand which path is the correct one to choose!”
With that, Su Yu flew toward one of the giant peaks, and Lineage Master Rain hastily followed.
Even if they could not afford to offend him, currying favor was certainly harmless.
***
Soon, news spread throughout Mount Yongsheng: a seventh lineage master had emerged. Mount Yang had remained quiet for many years, so the sudden appointment of an expert as its new master came as a surprise to many.
Moreover, on this day, experts from the other seven mountains cast aside their duties and converged on Mount Yang.
The lineage masters made no attempt to stop them, fully aware of what was happening.
These were operatives planted by that faction. It seemed they were no longer bothering to hide their affiliations.
Indeed, there was no longer any need to hide!
For Lord Fa would soon be forced to make his final choice.
***
At this moment, standing atop Mount Yang, Su Yu allowed a faint smile to surface.
Behind him stood a group of people, among them the old man who had visited him earlier. Su Yu said with an amused smile, “Make the arrangements. I want to see Wen Yu!”
“Understood!”
The crowd answered in unison. The old man asked in a low voice, “Milord, under what identity should we arrange for you to meet her?”
“Under what identity... I have my own plan!”
Su Yu smiled. “I am quite curious about her. Someone capable of holding Martial Uncle Fa in check is truly a rare sight!”
The others smiled bitterly. *Curious? Over this very matter, Fa has been driven half-mad with frustration for years!*
Su Yu fell silent, a trace of anticipation rising within him.
He was about to meet the Time Master!
Desolate?
Pitiful?
Or something else entirely?
The last time he had caught sight of her back, she had wept so sorrowfully... *Hmph, why do I find that so hard to believe?*
Chapter 917