Chapter 3054 - Mister Wen’s True Identity

The waves surged beneath the dark skies.

A man in a conical hat stood on his little boat and watched Mister Wen approach from afar.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something. He tapped the boat with his foot, and it exploded into nothingness, while the man in the conical hat vanished.

Practically simultaneously, Mister Wen flung the Cauldron of Fate.

But he was one step too late. Endless starlight surged out of the cauldron, sweeping over Mister Wen’s body. It exploded into pieces with a bang.

Starlight fell like rain as Hua Qingyi’s tall, graceful figure came into view. She stretched out her hand, and the Cauldron of Fate landed in her palm. Her cold, clear gaze peered into the distance.

“And here I thought I was up against someone special. So, it’s you, old man.” A mocking jeer tugged at her lips.

The man in the conical hat stood over distant waters and smiled back at her. “I knew that Su kid was dishonest, but I wouldn’t have guessed you’d willingly serve him, Hua Qingyi.”

Boom!

A dazzling streak of light descended from the heavens, cleaving through the darkness and hurtling toward the man in the conical hat with horrifying speed.

The man in the conical hat raised his hand and tapped, shattering the starlight. As flecks of light flew to and fro, they illuminated a face previously obscured in shadow.

Heavenly Sovereign E!

He took a step forward, then shot into the distance. “If you want to help Su Yi find Ku Xuan, you’d best stay your hand!”

Hua Qingyi snorted coldly, then drew her hand through the air.

Boom!

The air around him collapsed as if cut by a sword. Practically simultaneously, countless beams of starlight descended like sharp spears of the natural order. The dense onslaught left Heavenly Sovereign E’s figure riddled with holes, and it collapsed with a bang.

A moment later, Heavenly Sovereign E appeared in a nearby stretch of sky. He walked through the air, calm and composed, then smiled without the slightest concern. “I’ll wait for you in Shattered Star City. If you really want to compete with me then, have at it. I won’t disappoint you.”

Then, before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, he blurred into a wisp of misty light and vanished.

Hua Qingyi furrowed her brow. In the end, she decided to return.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t have caught up to him, but that she was concerned he was deliberately luring her away.

......

Meanwhile, on the Dragonbone Worldship, Luo Yun’an suddenly felt lighter. The terrifying pressure bearing down on him had vanished.

He rose with great difficulty, wiped the blood from his lips, and looked around. Although he saw no sign of Su Yi, he bowed in gratitude. “Thank you for sparing my life, Senior!”

“You’re welcome to call people over and try to get revenge.” Su Yi’s voice resounded out of nowhere. “But if you do, you’ll die.”

Luo Yun’an hurriedly shook his head. “This junior wouldn’t dare.”

Su Yi had nothing to say in response. Luo Yun’an inwardly sighed in relief as he realized he’d escaped with his life this time.

He thought briefly, then scurried out of the pavilion and over to the Crimson Kite Daoist Court disciples’ room. Yun Liu and several others were still inside.

It was just that Yue Qiu’s expression was bleak, and he was slumped over listlessly, as if he’d lost his soul.

Luo Yun’an was stunned. Yue Qiu isn’t dead!? I guess Senior Mo Hanyi really isn’t the type to kill people casually.

“You’re here, Daoist Brother Luo,” said Yue Qiu, forcing a smile. However, it was so strained that it was more unsightly than simply bursting into tears.

Luo Yun’an sighed. “We escaped disaster with our lives. That’s already good fortune indeed, don’t you think?”

Yue Qiu fell silent. When Su Yi searched his soul, he’d thought he was doomed. In the end, he escaped with his life, but the thought of everything he’d experienced filled his heart with lingering terror.

“You’re right, Daoist Brother. This time... we were in the wrong. We provoked someone we shouldn’t have,” Yue Qiu said bitterly.

Luo Yun’an nodded. “It’s good that you realize that, but I still have to warn you: Don’t do anything so stupid ever again!”

With that, he turned to leave. Yue Qiu sat there in a daze, expression shifting and uncertain. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Yun Liu couldn’t help but call out to him. “Senior Apprentice Brother Yue, are we really just going to let this go?”

Yue Qiu whipped around and glared at her. “Fuck! Was this disaster not big enough for you?”

Yun Liu froze, then trembled, as silent as a cicada in winter.

Although he said that, inwardly he growled, She’s right, though. I naturally can’t just let this go!

The depths of his gaze surged with irrepressible hatred. This was the gravest humiliation he’d suffered since beginning his cultivation.

More importantly, he could tell that this incident had left a lingering dark shadow over his heart, and that would surely lead to problems.

If he didn’t get his revenge, he could forget about making any further progress in this lifetime. He even risked losing himself to obsession!

Combined, this meant that Yue Qiu would rather die than accept this like some kind of coward!

......

Meanwhile, Hua Qingyi returned to the ninth pavilion, her black dress billowing around her like the petals of a lotus, stark against her snowy skin.

“You were right. That old-timer really was Heavenly Sovereign E.”

Su Yi rose, then poured her a cup of tea. “I’m just glad you returned safely.”

“Hmph,” said Hua Qingyi, but despite her outward nonchalance, she rather enjoyed having Su Yi offer her tea.

“Right, how did you guess his identity?” asked Hua Qingyi.

“He disguised himself well, but there was no disguising his powers of the Grand Dao,” said Su Yi. “Admittedly, he tried. He used one of the lesser Daos at his disposal, changing his aura, but when I examined it with my heart power, I detected hints of a familiar presence. That led me to guess that ‘Mister Wen’ was really Heavenly Sovereign E.”

He thought for a moment, then added, “Rather, that was most likely his clone.”

Hua Qingyi sighed. “The power of a Natal Heart Lamp is unparalleled indeed.”

She was a Heavenly Sovereign, but she’d merely condensed a Heart Soul. Looking purely at their hearts, she was inferior to Su Yi despite him being only in the Immeasurable Realm.

Su Yi returned to his seat. “Last time, in the battle outside the Taiwu Sect, the Heavenly Sovereigns sent their avatars of will. The only one missing was Heavenly Sovereign E. Even then, I realized something wasn’t quite right.

“Looking back on it now, I suspect the old-timer wants to reap all the benefits for himself. I bet he never even told the other Heavenly Sovereigns about Ol’ Brother Ku Xuan’s misfortune in the Southern Sea.” Su Yi let out a long sigh. “It’s a good thing, too. If they knew for sure that Ol’ Brother Ku Xuan was indisposed, they’d have crushed the Taiwu Sect by now.”

Hua Qingyi shook her head. “You’re wrong. I knew Yan Feizhen once, long ago, and I know how cold and ruthless he is. Given the opportunity to safely crush the Taiwu Sect, he wouldn’t hesitate.

“Seems to me that he wasn’t certain of Ku Xuan’s absence until after the battle outside the Taiwu Sect.”

Yan Feizhen was Heavenly Sovereign E’s true name.

Su Yi couldn’t help but sigh over Hua Qingyi’s analysis. “You’re perceptive indeed, Fellow Daoist, and you got straight to the heart of the matter. I’m indeed inferior.”

A faint smile tugged at Hua Qingyi’s lips. “Seeing such modesty from you is actually rather pleasant.”

Su Yi rubbed his forehead. “May heaven and earth serve as my witness: I wasn’t just saying that to flatter you!”

Hua Qingyi sneered in obvious disbelief. “Yan Feizhen told you to go to Shattered Star City. Are you going to listen?”

Su Yi laughed. “Would you believe me if I said he’d come looking for me again even if I don’t go?”

Hua Qingyi blinked in surprise, then inclined her head. “That’s true, actually. He wants something from you, so he naturally has reservations. Moreover, he came out behind in this exchange. It won’t be so easy for him to lead you around by the nose now.”

Heavenly Sovereign E was after the Cauldron of Fate. So long as Su Yi controlled the Cauldron of Fate, he’d have the initiative. There was no need to worry about Heavenly Sovereign E’s conditions.

In contrast, if Heavenly Sovereign E wanted the cauldron, he’d have to seek out another opportunity to meet with Su Yi!

That was the difference between an active and passive position.

“Enough. I can’t be bothered to concern myself with all that. Just say something when it’s time for me to fight,” said Hua Qingyi. With that, she stretched languidly, blurred into a beam of light, and returned to the medallion hanging from Su Yi’s waist.

It was just like when she’d been sealed in a black sheep’s body. She preferred to hide inside her own private space, heedless of the passing seasons.

All Su Yi had to say about this behavior was, “Lazy!”

The Dragonbone Worldship flew over the water.

Luo Yun’an arranged to seal information about everything that had happened on board, so the incident caused little commotion. Even the Crimson Kite Daoist Court disciples were suddenly obedient. None set food outside their room.

That went for Yun Rong, too. She stayed by Su Yi’s side to attend to him.

Well, at least, that was the plan. In truth, Su Yi spent the whole time meditating, and there was no need for her to do anything.

Two days later, Su Yi awakened from his meditation, opened his eyes, and sighed.

At this point in his cultivation, bitter cultivation and seclusion were of little use. His cultivation was still in the early-stage Immeasurable Realm. Making even the slightest hint of progress was difficult.

Ultimately, seclusion didn’t suit his cultivation style. He needed to explore and temper himself through life-and-death adversity.

Alternatively, he needed to break through while seeking out good fortune.

If all he did was cultivate bitterly in seclusion, he might not see any progress in tens of thousands of years.

Su Yi rose, then emerged from his secluded room.

Yun Rong was staring into space, beautiful eyebrows knit together. When she saw Su Yi, she jumped to her feet. “Senior, we’ll be reaching Myriad Jades Island soon.”

Myriad Jades Island was the Dragonbone Worldship’s final stop. It was an island like a floating continent, with an enormous city and market built atop it.

The island was under the control of the Southern Sea’s greatest faction, the Profound Phoenixes.

It was also a rest stop for those entering and leaving the Southern Sea, as well as a hub for trade between the Southern Darkness Continent and the Southern Sea. Thus, the whole island was extraordinarily prosperous.

Most of those on board the Dragonbone Worldship were headed for Myriad Jades Island, but even those who planned to venture further into the Southern Sea typically stopped here, as this was where they could find the best, most up-to-date intelligence.

“Mm.” Then, suddenly, Su Yi said, “Don’t worry. I want to visit Crimson Kite Daoist Court after stopping on Myriad Jades Island, and I’ll still need you as my guide.”

He paused, then chuckled. “When we get there, I’ll make arrangements for you. You won’t need to fear the other disciples’ reprisal.”

Yun Rong blinked in surprise, then lit up with delight. “Thank you, Senior!”

She’d spent the past two days fraught with worry, because she’d assumed that she and “Mo Hanyi” would part ways as soon as they reached the island.

The moment she lost this senior’s protection, her sectmates were sure to seek revenge!

But now, Su Yi had promised her that she wouldn’t need to worry about any of that. Of course she was delighted!

I wouldn’t have thought that Senior Mo Hanyi would consider the safety of someone as unimportant as me. He’s... truly kind! I... have no idea how to even begin to express my gratitude.

Should I... repay him with my body? She rejected the idea as soon as it occurred to her. To even suggest it would be to invite my own humiliation. Someone of his status has surely seen all kinds of beauties. How could he take interest in someone like me?

But... I can’t think of any other way to repay him. I’m just a Lesser God. Even if I work hard at my cultivation for my whole life, I might never find an opportunity to pay him back...

She couldn’t help but worry. The weight of Su Yi’s kindness was such that she couldn’t help but feel at a loss.

Su Yi could tell what she was thinking, and he couldn’t help but laugh. She recognizes a kindness and wants to repay it. It’s enough. Besides, if she hadn’t run into me, she would never have been implicated.

Out loud, he said, “Just focus on your cultivation and try to ensure that no one humiliates you like this again going forward. That’ll be plenty.”

Suddenly, a clamor of voices arose outside the ship. They’d reached Myriad Jades Island!

The island was like a massive turtle shell floating on the surface of the sea. It was covered in mountains and rivers straight out of a painting, as well as a city that occupied about half of its land.

Countless beams of light darted through the sky. Some shot toward the island, others away from it in an endless, bustling flow of traffic.

This was indeed the most prosperous, important hub of trade and transit between the Southern Darkness Continent and the Southern Sea.

It was because the city was so well-located that all of its major factions had bases here.

The Dragonbone Worldship stopped in the sky not far from the city.

As they disembarked, Luo Yun’an approached Su Yi and said, “Senior, please accept this as a token of my sincerity!”

He then proffered a storage treasure. It contained a full one hundred Destiny Jades!

That was a massive sum even for a Heavenly Monarch.

Luo Yun’an had prepared a generous gift for Yun Rong, too: ten Destiny Jades’ worth of Eternal Essence Gold.

Yun Rong was stunned, but also flustered. She instinctively glanced at Su Yi.

But Su Yi just looked at Luo Yun’an and said, “You’re a clever one indeed. Very well. I’ll let bygones be bygones. All of this ends here. Yun Rong, accept your gift. Otherwise, he won’t be able to relax.”

Only then did Yun Rong accept her gift, but inwardly, she was all the more frantic. The debt I owe him is only getting bigger and bigger. What am I supposed to do...?

Su Yi wasn’t worried about all that. He just disembarked and headed toward the island. Yun Rong set aside her scattered thoughts and hurried after him.

Luo Yun’an watched the two of them fade from view. Only then did he relax.

No one knew how much torment and unease he’d endured over the past few days. He’d been terrified that Su Yi would change his word and annihilate him.

Fortunately, nothing of the sort had happened.

But just as Luo Yun’an was about to leave, his gaze focused.

Dazzling lights shot off the distant Myriad Jades Island, and they were headed straight for Su Yi and Yun Rong!