contemporary romance
Chapter 1154 - A Decree From the Powerful Factions of the Stars Beyond
Ancestor Peng approached, clasped his fist, smiled, and exchanged pleasantries with Wen Lingxue, Cha Jin, and the others.
Jing Xing chimed in from the sidelines, smiling and introducing Ancestor Peng and his companions.
The oldest expert of the Nine Extremes Profound Capital!
The Pure One honored by all of the Wilds’ Daoist sects!
When they realized that this unassuming old man had such a status, Wen Lingxue and the others were dumbstruck, and they hurried to their feet to greet him.
“These are just some random trinkets, but please do me a favor and accept them, my young friends.” In the end, Ancestor Peng took out several treasures, which he passed to Su Yi's guests. All of them flowed with colorful light and extraordinary spirituality. Every last one of them was a rare treasure.
Su Yi’s friends were instantly flattered, but also a bit alarmed. However, just as they were about to refuse, Su Yi laughed. “Take them. To that old fart, those things really are just some random trinkets.”
These seriously aren’t precious!?
Wen Lingxue and the others couldn’t even find words to express their feelings.
Immediately after, the Border Mountain Yao Ancesetor, the Skythorn Poison Emperor, and the other old-timers took turns greeting Su Yi’s guests.
Jing Xing patiently introduced them one by one.
Furthermore, all of them followed Ancestor Peng’s example and gave out various treasures.
Tomes, medicines, divine materials....
With their statuses, any treasure they saw fit to give out was rare and precious, or in some cases, completely unique.
By the time they’d finished, Wen Lingxue and the other’s minds were blank. All they could think was, These seniors are far too easygoing! They’re far too kind! They aren’t putting on airs at all, and they’re nowhere near as unapproachable as I would have thought!
......
Ancestor Peng and the others soon took their seats, raised their cups, and drank. Their smiles and laughter were as pleasant as a spring breeze, and the atmosphere at the banquet was smooth and harmonious.
Suddenly, Wang Que rushed in and reported, “Master, Elder Gu Wentian of Red Dust Demon Palace requests an audience.”
“Gu Wentian? That old codger suffered a major loss at Old Monster Su’s hands way back when. What’s he doing here today?” exclaimed the Skythorn Poison Emperor.
Su Yi was a bit surprised too.
Wang Que continued, “Gu Wentian said that he’s here as an emissary on behalf of the powerful factions of the distant stars. He’s here to pass on their decree, Master.”
Everyone in attendance was flabbergasted.
Ancestor Peng and the others’ eyes flashed, and their brows furrowed.
“An emissary passing on a decree?” Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “Very well. Since he has the courage to come see me, I naturally can’t turn him away at the door. Invite him in.”
Before long, Wang Que led over a middle-aged man in red Daoist robes. He had the air of a Daoist immortal, with a willowy beard. This was none other than High Elder Gu Wentian!
A mid-stage Profound Unity Realm old devil!
“Hm?” When Gu Wentian saw Ancestor Peng, the Border Mountain Yao Ancestor, and the other old-timers in attendance, his expression briefly froze.
He was a powerhouse of the Demonist path, but he was far inferior to the old-timers in attendance.
But before long, Gu Wentian regained his former calm.
In the past, he wouldn’t have visited the Grotto of Abstruse Force alone, not even if you’d beaten him to death.
But today, he was full of confidence!
His back straightened, and he looked at Su Yi and said calmly, “Su Xuanjun, the factions of the stars beyond have issued a joint decree. Within ten days, you are to kneel before Red Dust Demon Palace!
“Come quietly, lower your head, and admit to your crimes! Or else, we’ll eliminate every person and faction connected to you from this world!”
The atmosphere in Symphony of Waves Pavilion was instantly tense and stifled.
The old-timers were visibly enraged, and their expressions darkened..
Su Yi drained a cup of wine. “Factions from the stars beyond? Who specifically?”
Gu Wentian smiled. “Want to know? Su Xuanjun, you’ll know once you’ve knelt before my Red Dust Demon Palace.”
He spoke with calm composure and complete confidence.
“Mind your tongue, Gu Wentian,” the Skythorn Poison Emperor said coldly, “or I’ll shatter your kneecaps.”
Gu Wentian narrowed his eyes. “I’ve come here as a representative of the factions of the starry skies. If anything happens to me in the Grotto of Abstruse Force, they’ll take it as a slap in the face! Skythorn Poison Emperor, if you’re not afraid of having your entire lineage annihilated, go right ahead and hit me!”
The crowd furrowed their brows.
The Skythorn Poison Emperor rose, then said expressionlessly, “Alright.”
Whap!
He raised his hand and slapped Gu Wentian right across the face. Gu Wentian staggered back and almost fell.
His face swelled and reddened as he glared at the Skythorn Poison Emperor. “You...”
Whap!
Gu Wentian took yet another slap to the face. Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose.
This scene left Wen Lingxue and the others wide-eyed and tongue-tied.
Too domineering!
The Skythorn Poison Emperor was slapping around a mid-stage Profound Unity Realm old devil! Gu Wentian was helpless to resist!
“You’re nothing but the dog of the factions of the distant stars, and you dare to show off in front of us? Old Demon Gu, the longer you live, the more worthless you get,” the Skythorn Poison Emperor said coldly, brimming with murderous intent.
Gu Wentian’s face filled with shame and indignation. He rasped, “I’m not afraid to tell you that the factions of the stars beyond have already established an alliance. With their power, they could easily annihilate everyone in the Wilds! If you plan to accompany Su Xuanjun to the very end, you’ll be no different from mantises trying to block a chariot!
“Don’t believe me? Fine, just wait and see!”
With that, he swooshed his sleeves indignantly and was just about to leave when...
“Stop right there,” said Ancestor Peng. “We’re not done talking, but you already want to leave? This is the Grotto of Abstruse Force. Do you really think you can just come and go as you please?”
The other old-timers’ expressions were decidedly unfriendly as well.
Gu Wentian stiffened, then laughed coldly and took out a secret talisman. “They call this the Immolated Star Talisman. It was given to me by an expert of the Church of the River of Stars. With it, not even all of you together can stop me from leaving!”
“That so?” said Su Yi. “You’re welcome to go ahead and try it.”
In the face of Su Yi’s gaze, Gu Wentian’s heart clenched inexplicably, and he shattered the talisman without hesitation.
Bang!
Resplendent starlight flashed into being, stirring up spatial ripples that enveloped Gu Wentian completely.
But practically simultaneously, a cold snort rang out.
Su Yi raised his right hand into the air and flicked his finger.
Kcch!
A streak of sword qi flashed by, shattering that resplendent starlight into pieces.
Gu Wentian’s figure staggered out of the void.
It happened in a flash! This scene left even Ancestor Peng and the others clicking their tongues.
With their powers of perception, they naturally could tell how wondrous Gu Wentian’s talisman was. It was full of a seemingly taboo power of the Laws.
Who’d have thought that Su Yi could destroy its power with a single light, airy slash?
Gu Wentian’s face was instantly deathly pale, and he completely panicked. “Su Xuanjun, when nations go to war, they don’t execute emissaries. Killing me won’t benefit you in any way. You’ll only irrevocably provoke the powerhouses of the stars beyond and invite calamity upon yourself!”
Su Yi picked up a jug of wine and poured himself a glass. “Answer some of my questions, and I’ll let you return and deliver your report alive. Otherwise, I’ll give you a quick death here and now.”
Gu Wentian quivered from head to toe, took a deep breath, and forcefully suppressed his panic and terror. “Go ahead and ask.”
The old monsters instantly burst into cold laughter. Who could fail to realize that Gu Wentian had completely chickened out?
“Jing Xing, take Wen Lingxue and the others to get some rest,” Su Yi ordered casually.
“Yes, Master.” Jing Xng rose, then led them away.
Only then did Su Yi say, “Tell me, how many people came representing these powerful factions of the stars?”
About ten minutes later, Su Yi finished asking all his questions. Gu Wentian was actually quite cooperative. So long as he knew the answers, he held nothing back.
When they’d learned the truth of the impending storm, the atmosphere within Symphony of Waves Pavilion was incomparably stifled.
According to Gu Wentian, over a hundred factions of the stars beyond were involved in this operation! The number alone was suffocating.
“They’ve really gone all out!” Ancestor Peng sighed.
“It might not be pleasant to hear this, but a lineup like that really could destroy the Wilds.” The Border Mountain Yao Ancestor’s brow tightly furrowed, and he said with obvious worry, “Even if we old-timers work together... I’m afraid we won’t be able to stop them.”
“There’s no need to doubt that the storm about to descend will decide the fate of every cultivation faction in the Wilds,” someone said somberly. “I can foresee it now. Anyone who opposes the factions of the stars risks being simply obliterated...”
Everyone’s expressions filled with uncertainty.
When the curtains fell on the grand battle outside the Grotto of Abstruse Force, they predicted that the factions of the stars beyond wouldn’t let up so easily. Sooner or later, they’d return.
They just hadn’t anticipated that when this storm arrived, their lineup would be so terrifying!
“No wonder Old Demon Gu was willing to become their dog. I’m afraid few of the WIlds’ factions would dare stand up to such a threat,” someone laughed bitterly.
Gu Wentian stood not far away, completely silent.
“How do you see it, Old Monster Su?” The Skythorn Poison Emperor looked at Su Yi.
All eyes were instantly on him.
Su Yi took a sip of wine, entirely unperturbed. “Over a hundred factions of the stars beyond? If you ask me, I guess they look scary, but they don’t really amount to much.”
His gaze was distant and inscrutable as he said calmly, “These factions are all subordinates of the Studio of the Heart, Church of the River of Stars, Nine Heavens Pavilion, and Primordial Unity Daoist Sect.
“They’ve dispatched a large number of experts, but true World Kings are just a small, small minority. The others are merely in the Profound Unity Realm.
“Admittedly, their Celestial Laws are extraordinarily powerful, and they can suppress experts of the same cultivation here in the Wilds. Still, in my eyes, people like that have long since ceased to factor into my calculations.
“The only ones worth viewing with importance are that tiny handful of World Kings.”
But this didn’t help Ancestor Peng and the others relax at all.
“Old Monster Su, it’s the World Kings we’re worried about,” sighed Ancestor Peng. “If experts like that enter the Wilds, who could possibly fight them?”
Su Yi laughed and shook his head. “Here's the catch. They cannot enter.”
The group was stunned.
Su Yi explained, “The Laws of the Dark and Gold Star Realm have been severely damaged for a long time. This prevents World Kings from entering in the flesh. If they try, they’ll suffer a backlash from the Laws of the Dark and Gold Star Realm!
“We’ve seen several experts of the Studio of the Heart, Nine Heavens Pavilion, and Church of the River of Stars, but not one was a World King.
“Qing Tang suppressed her cultivation. And the Tailor? He was just a Dao Clone. That’s how he managed to appear in the Wilds.”
Here, Su Yi’s eyes glinted with cold light. “That means that even if they’d sent far more World Kings, they wouldn’t be able to enter the Wilds without suppressing their cultivation boundaries down to the Imperial Realm. As they are, they can only stay outside the Wilds!”
