First Immortal of the Sword - Chapter 2275 - In My Eyes

Chapter 2275 – In My Eyes

Su Yi could tell that Bao Yun meant every word, and that she had no ill intentions.

She wasn’t exactly bullying him, either. Perhaps, it was just as Bao Yun said; she was just acknowledging the disparity as she saw it.

“You’re right. The gap between me and them is indeed far too great,” said Su Yi between sips of wine.

The way he saw it, the so-called “divine children” had long since ceased to be worthy of his attention. Watching them at tonight’s banquet felt like watching a pack of kids playing house.

Bao Yun’s expression mellowed considerably. “I’m glad you understand. Don’t be sad, okay? It’s only by acknowledging reality that you can get in the right mindset and avoid pointless frustration.”

She’d obviously misunderstood Su Yi.

Su Yi laughed, but didn’t explain. At his level, there was absolutely no need to argue about right and wrong, not over something like this.

“Why…. Why aren’t you saying anything? Did I hurt your feelings just now?” Bao Yun looked stunned. “But I was already being as restrained as possible for fear of hurting your dignity. Whatever you do, don’t overthink it.”

Su Yi sighed. “I’m really not overthinking it.”

Bao Yun pursed her lips. “It was only out of consideration for the time we spent traveling together that I bothered saying all that.”

When she saw that Su Yi still wasn’t saying anything, she hesitated, then said, “Fine. Let me tell you something else so that you can completely give up hope. That way, you won’t have any illusions that you might still have a chance.”

Su Yi was stunned. “What is it?”

“Not long ago, Sun Zangyun said that soon, he’d visit Xinlan’s family to ask for her hand in marriage. His seniors, as well as the higher-ups of the Donghua Sword Pavilion, will all be there to bear witness to their marriage alliance,” transmitted Bao Yun. “When the time comes, even if Xinlan refuses, she won’t be able to defy her family’s orders. She’ll have no choice but to accept it.”

Su Yi said thoughtfully, “You’re saying that the Zhong Family will disregard her objections and agree to this marriage alliance?”

Bao Yun sighed. “The Zhong Family might be ancient, but their forces have dried up like a river during a long drought. They’ve declined, and they’ve long since become a subordinate faction of Donghua Sword Pavilion. Given the circumstances, how could they dare to refuse this marriage? It won’t matter if Xinlan refuses!”

Her voice was full of frustration and melancholy. “How dazzling and unparalleled is Xinlan? But she’s limited by her background. When it comes to her marriage, she’ll have no choice but to compromise.”

Bao Yun paused, then said, “Now do you understand how great Sun Zangyun’s influence is?”

Su Yi drank a cup of wine, then said, “Want to hear the truth?”

“Of course.”

“In my eyes, the ‘authority’ and ‘status’ you speak of are as fleeting as the passing clouds,” said Su Yi, gazing at the distant Zhong Xinlan. He could tell that she had no interest in engaging with Sun Zangyun, but she had no choice but to feign politeness.

“‘As fleeting as the passing clouds?’” Bao Yun snickered. Ludicrous! And here I thought that Ye Mu had grasped the reality of the situation.

Even if you’d hit her over the head, she would never have guessed he’d boast so shamelessly!

She felt the urge to make fun of him and take him down another peg, but in the end, she held back. She just got up and left.

They said that summer insects could not understand the concept of ice.

She finally understood the meaning of that famous phrase. Ye Mu didn’t understand the bigger picture. There was no way to reach him, so she wouldn’t waste her breath!

Su Yi just sat there, as calm as ever.

……

Meanwhile, beneath the same night sky.

Cloudy Heights Temple, in an ancient, lamplit hall permeated with the fragrance of sandalwood.

“Everything is already in order. After tomorrow’s Dharma Assembly of Warding Evil, we can return to the Western Paradise Spirit Mountains!”

A monk with coarse features and coppery skin sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. His hands naturally formed a Golden Vajra seal, and his figure seemed as towering and unshakeable as a mountain, with enough force to bear down upon the very dome of heaven itself.

This was the Skywalking Monk, Mo Ye!

He was the most mysterious, low-profile expert of Cloudy Heights Temple, and he’d been trained in the Western Paradise Spirit Mountains. He was the Dipankara Buddha’s martial nephew.

He was also a peak Five-Tribulation Master God!

“It has finally come time to use that pawn. I just wonder how that heretic Su Yi will feel when he finds out about this,” said someone seated across from Mo Ye.

He was a decrepit old man, and his stick-thin figure was hidden beneath an enormous, oversized monk’s robe.

Hui Jin! The grand high elder of Cloudy Heights Temple!

He was also their most ancient, powerful expert, a Six-Tribulation Master God.

“The battle at Skybright Mountain proved that the heretic is susceptible to threats. He will not remain a bystander when his allies’ lives are on the line,” Mo Ye said calmly. “But this time will be different, because he cannot possibly go to our hostages’ aid. He’ll have no choice but to let us lead him around by the nose.”

Hui Jin fell briefly silent, then said, “We’d still best be careful. He prepared thoroughly for the battle at Skybright Mountain, giving him time to turn things around and seize victory. I don’t want something like that to happen to us.”

Mo Ye inclined his head. “Rest assured that Su Yi has no idea what we’re up to. According to our intelligence, he and his allies haven’t reacted to our plans in the slightest.

“Spear Demon Zang Wushu has infiltrated the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

“Wan Zitian went to the Tianxiu Sword Shrine on the southwestern border of the Spirit Firmament Divine Continent.

“The other old-timers have all gone into hiding or left for faraway places. Not one has come to the Southern Flame Divine Continent.

“All of this proves that Su Yi knows nothing about what we plan to do tomorrow. Thus, we can capture him off guard. There’s no way he’ll be able to save his friends or change the outcome!”

Mo Ye let out a deep breath. “Now, all we have to do is wait for tomorrow’s assembly.”

Hui Jin pondered in silence, then murmured an indistinct line of scripture before responding. “All is impermanent, and all is suffering. All is without self, and there is peace only in Nirvana.”

Mo Ye seemed touched. He, too, recited a line of scripture. “I transform my compassion into a demon-smiting tribulation and act as a wrathful Golden Vajra of immeasurable power. My Buddhist light illuminates all, saving the masses. It is good indeed.”

By the time he finished chanting, he’d taken on the appearance and imposing dignity of a golden vajra.

The temple hall was suddenly full of austere, murderous energy. The flickering lamplight swayed, and the statue niche rumbled. The ancient Buddhist statues on each side of the hall lit up.

The indistinct figure of a heavenly dragon coiled around Mo Ye, and he was enveloped in Buddhist light. The sound of chanted sutras resounded without end.

……

The following morning.

“Let’s go, Big Sister Yun.” Zhong Xinlan emerged from their inn in Frozen Skies City.

“Xinlan, where is Ye Mu?” exclaimed Bao Yun. She looked around, but there was no sign of him.

“Fellow Daoist Ye isn’t going with us,” said Zhong Xinlan. “Also, he said that if we see him at Cloudy Heights Temple’s Dharma Assembly of Warding Evil, we should act like he’s a stranger. No matter what, we shouldn’t acknowledge that we know him.”

Bao Yun was briefly stunned, but then, she seemed to understand. “So, he finally understood what I was saying, huh? That actually works out.”

Zhong Xinlan seemed confused. “What are you saying, Big Sister Yun?”

Bao Yun laughed. “It’s nothing. Ye Mu did well. He realized that the disparity between the two of you was too great, and that things couldn’t possibly end well between you, so he gave up of his own accord. His self-awareness is truly rare and precious.”

Zhong Xinlan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Big Sister Yun, you’ve misunderstood. Fellow Daoist Ye isn’t traveling with us because he doesn’t want to cause trouble for us.”

Bao Yun laughed. “I get it, I get it.”

The way she saw it, last night’s warning had taken effect. Ye Mu had realized the adversity and stepped back of his own accord!

Zhong Xinlan said no more on the matter. She and Bao Yun simply set off.

Cloudy Heights Temple.

The peak of Frigid Pool Mountain.

Misty clouds permeated the area. There was an ancient ritual ground built here, and it was surrounded by a forest of temples. Beneath the light of the heavens, they shone with seemingly holy light.

Gazing down from the peak, one could see a pool coated in ice.

The waters were blue and clear, as if the base were inlaid with blue-green gemstones. Cold air rose from the surface of the pool.

This was the famous Frigid Pool of Cloudy Heights Temple. The center of the pool supposedly gathered the rare, supremely cold, Nine-Yin Profound Water.

Those who drew near were instantly frozen, right down to their vital energy. All died on the spot, even gods!

The upcoming Dharma Assembly of Eradicating Evil was to be held at the ritual grounds atop Frigid Pool Mountain.

When Zhong Xinlan and Bao Yun arrived, the area around the ritual ground was already packed with people.

Many of them were prominent, illustrious experts from all over the Southern Flame Divine Continent. Pick any one of them at random, and they’d intimidate the entire Southern Flame Divine Continent.

That aside, numerous divine children had come to watch the ceremony, just like Zhong Xinlan.

Sun Zangyun of the Donghua Sword Pavilion was there too.

When he saw Zhong Xinlan and Bao Yun, he immediately went up to greet them and invite them to sit next to him.

Zhong Xinlan seemed a bit uncomfortable. She continuously scanned the crowd, but in the end, she saw no sign of Su Yi.

“What are you looking for, Junior Apprentice Sister Xinlan?” Sun Zangyun asked with a smile.

“It’s nothing.” Zhong Xinlan set those thoughts aside. She was in no mood to talk to Sun Zangyun; were it at all possible, she’d have rather sat in a random corner. Even that would be better than sitting next to him.

Bao Yun, meanwhile, took in the elegant Sun Zangyun. She couldn’t help but compare him to Ye Mu.

After a while, she shook her head. One was the unparalleled divine son of Donghua Sword Pavilion. The other was a nobody of unknown origins. How could you even compare them?

Time slipped by.

Once all of the guests were in their seats, the boundless ringing of a bell filled the air. The crowd instantly fell silent.

Abbot Fa Zhen led a group of the temple’s prominent experts to the jade platform in front of the ritual grounds.

The Skywalking Monk, Mo Ye, Grand High Elder Hui Jin, and several other Undying Realm Master Gods were in attendance.

This lineup was so impressive that the spectators couldn’t help but be solemn.

Before long, Abbot Fa Zhen announced the beginning of the Dharma Assembly of Warding Evil.

The first item on the agenda was promoting their disciple, Zheng Yun, or “Righteous Cloud”, to Buddhist Son.

The ceremony was solemn and grand. The crowd bore witness to the birth of a new Buddhist Son.

But their thoughts were elsewhere. All of them were waiting and trying to guess why Cloudy Heights Temple had caused such a disturbance and sent out such a massive lineup.

Just what were they about to announce?

They said that whatever it was, it would change the balance of power in the entire Southern Flame Divine Continent!