Chapter 1103 - Self-Satisfied

But Yan Suni was quite displeased.

She attached great importance to Yue Shichan, and she quite admired her. She’d been planning to accept her as her closed-door disciple for a long time.

Yet now, the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force had said all that in front of countless people. He was undoubtedly trying to warn her to give up on taking Yue Shichan as her apprentice.

Yan Suni couldn’t help but say, “Your Excellency Su, you said it yourself that you’d never accept another disciple in this lifetime, so why are you trying to snatch a student from a junior?”

The crowd was instantly in uproar. They recognized Yan Suni, the peerless immortal beauty of her generation of the Nine Extremes Profound Capital.

“I never said anything about taking a disciple. I’m just going to guide Miss Shichan’s cultivation, that’s all,” Su Yi said with a dry laugh.

Then, without any further delay, he proceeded toward Martial Heaven Peak.

Countless eyes followed him.

By now, everyone was already aware that the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force hadn’t really died five hundred years ago. Rather, he uncovered the legendary secrets of reincarnation and stepped onto the path of rebirth to cultivate anew.

When they saw this legendary figure display mere Profound Illumination Realm cultivation, none of them found it strange.

Nor did they dare underestimate him at all!

Setting aside the former Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s prestige, the recent battle in the Ten Directions Yao Mountains was enough to prove that even as a Profound Illumination Realm cultivator, Su Yi’s combat prowess had long since transcended the bounds of the Profound Illumination Realm!

Just how unbelievably strong was the current Swordmaster of Abstruse Force? No one knew for sure.

“Senior Su, this humble monk has come to greet you on his master’s orders.”

Before Su Yi could get close to Martial Heaven Peak, a white-robed, middle-aged monk appeared and clasped his palms together as he greeted Su Yi from afar.

Ji Yuan of the Little Western Paradise!

Xuan Ning was following Su Yi, and his pupils constricted as he recalled the secret seal shaped like a clashing sword and saber that his master had recently discovered in his soul.

Su Yi just glanced at Ji Yuan, then said plainly, “When you get back to the sect, greet your master on my behalf.”

He said nothing more on the matter.

From the moment he discovered the secret imprint in Xuan Ning’s soul, he realized a certain problem—

Either something had changed with Buddhist Master Inkstone Heart, or there was a problem with Ji Yuan himself!

Later on, he would naturally visit the Little Western Paradise to investigate.

Just as Su Yi was about to reach Martial Heaven Peak, a deep, indifferent voice boomed throughout heaven and earth.

“Master, your apprentice has been waiting for you!” Every word rumbled like thunder, reverberating throughout the ten directions. Even heaven and earth changed color.

The entire area fell silent. Even the birds ceased their song.

Countless eyes gazed up at the peak. There, they saw a tall, majestic figure standing in the air, his black robes billowing in the wind.

His features were steely and firm, and his long hair fluttered around him. He seemed as steady as a primordial divine mountain, utterly unshakeable.

This was none other than Pi Mo!

When he appeared, a stifled atmosphere descended upon the world, and chilly, austere killing intent permeated every inch of the sky.

Jin Kui, Wang Que, Ye Luo, Xuan Ning, and Bai Yi’s expressions darkened with fury and enmity, but more than that, with confusion.

Even now, they still couldn’t understand why their eldest apprentice brother had betrayed them!

Seeing his eldest disciple for the first time in five hundred years, a nigh-imperceptible hint of emotional conflict flashed across Su Yi’s face.

Bai Yi was the first to lose control. He shouted, “Pi Mo, has Master ever mistreated you over the years? Why did you betray him?”

His expression was utterly cold, and he boiled over with murderous intent.

“Eighth Apprentice Brother, water flows downhill, while men seek out greater heights. You aren’t me. Even if I told you why, you wouldn’t truly understand me, so why bother?”

Pi Mo shook his head slightly, then looked at Su Yi. “Master, as your first disciple, there’s something I’d like to warn you about before the battle begins.”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose slightly.

Pi Mo then continued, “You carry the secrets of reincarnation, and several prominent factions of the stars beyond have set their sights on you. If I harbored such secrets, I would have long since fled as far as I could. I would never have stirred up a ruckus and made sure the whole world knew about it. That would be... truly stupid!”

He drawled his words, and they might have sounded like a warning, but they were clearly ill-intentioned.

After all, he was a disciple, yet here he was, calling his master stupid, and in front of countless eyes at that. This was brazenly unfilial

Jin Kui, Ye Luo, and the others were visibly enraged, and their gazes frosted over. Pi Mo’s behavior disappointed them. They couldn’t imagine how the eldest apprentice brother they'd once known had become like this!

Su Yi’s expression was as calm as ever, but deep down inside, he felt as if he’d been stabbed in the heart. An indescribable, piercing pain coursed through him.

“Do you have anything else to say?” asked Su Yi.

“Of course!” Pi Mo didn’t even pause to think. “You’ve long since interacted with the Studio of the Heart, the Nine Heavens Pavilion, and the Church of the River of Stars. You ought to understand that every word I say comes straight from the heart, and none of it is intended to insult you. You might see me as traitorous and unfilial, but I’d still like to give you some earnest advice.”

Here, he paused, his eyes flashing like lightning as he stared directly at Su Yi and said emphatically, “Stop being so self-conceited!"

Every word went off like a crack of thunder, reverberating throughout the dome of heaven.

There was uproar amongst the onlookers. All of them were surprised and uncertain.

Master and apprentice now viewed each other with enmity. This was one of the cruelest things that could happen in this world.

Yet now, Pi Mo seemed strangely domineering. He rebuked his master without the slightest politeness and without fear.

This was completely beyond the crowd’s expectations.

His apprentice brothers and sisters gnashed their teeth with fury.

Su Yi was increasingly calm. He muttered, “Self-conceited? It would never have occurred to me that you thought of me that way.”

Pi Mo laughed coldly. “It’s not that I think of you that way.’ It’s a fact! It’s true that you once stood proudly at the pinnacle of the Wilds, and that you were once invincible. But ultimately, you were

only

in the Imperial Apex Realm. You had no idea of the World King Realm above you! There are existences terrifying beyond imagination in the depths of outer space!”

This declaration provoked widespread uproar. Even the old fossils were stunned.

The World King Realm!

Does that mean there’s a higher path above the Profound Dao?

Pi Mo’s voice then rang out once more. “Long ago, I was muddled and ignored. I thought you as grand as the heavens themselves. But ever since I learned about the stars beyond, I realized that no matter how strong you are, you’re just the strongest frog in this well, and all you can see is the tiny patch of sky visible from the bottom!”

His low voice rumbled throughout heaven and earth like thunder. Everyone visibly reacted.

Some of the old-timers’ expressions darkened. Pi Mo was comparing all of the Wilds to a well. That implied that they, its cultivators, were frogs in a well!

Who wouldn’t have been furious?

Only Su Yi remained perfectly calm, without the slightest ripple of surprise. “It’s clear that you’ve truly changed since allying yourself with the Studio of the Heart.”

Pi Mo couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “Master, you shouldn’t speak in anger like that. Your disciple simply saw the boundless starry skies beyond. I offer this guidance with only the best of intentions: you shouldn’t be so blind and conceited going forward.”

“‘Guidance?’ Everything you’ve said has been a blatant insult to our master!” Bai Yi was furious, and his eyes surged with murderous intent.

Jin Kui, Ye Luo, and the others looked on icily. They were completely disillusioned with Pi Mo.

Su Yi waved dismissively. “No need for anger. Let him say how he feels.”

When Pi Mo saw how calm Su Yi’s reaction was, his eyes narrowed, and he said gravely, “Whatever you do, don’t misinterpret my words as slander or provocation. Master, if you’re willing to heed my warning and leave immediately, I swear to do my utmost to resolve the conflict between you and the Studio of the Heart!”

Here, Su Yi finally couldn’t help but laugh dryly. “I can tell that what’s happened over the past few months has dealt you a heavy blow. If you were confident, given your disposition, you would never have wasted this much time talking before a battle.”

Pi Mo’s expression shifted, and his eyes flashed.

Su Yi’s smile faded. “You say the factions of the stars beyond broadened your horizons, but let me ask you this: if they’re so strong, why did they insist on coming to the Wilds?”

Pi Mo’s brow furrowed.

“If they’re really as you say, if the Wilds is nothing but a well and I’m nothing but an oversized frog, why are they so dead-set on coming to this 'well' and obtaining the secrets of reincarnation? Are they... really that deficient?”

There was uproar amongst the onlookers as they inwardly cheered Su Yi on. Pi Mo’s words had hurt and stung many of those present, and they’d long since been displeased with him.

Su Yi’s counter-argument boosted their spirits. All of them felt delighted.

He was right. If the factions from the stars beyond were really all that, why had they come to the Wilds? Why were they after the secrets of reincarnation? Pi Mo’s brow furrowed even deeper, and he was just about to say something when Su Yi said plainly, “In your eyes, I’m unfit to be your teacher, but no matter how lacking I might be, I’ve already cut down several experts of the Studio of the Heart and killed a Holy Son of the Church of the River of Stars. The experts of the Nine Heavens Pavilion didn’t even dare to face me in battle! Now, you’re trying to use them to offer me ‘guidance’? Are you... worthy?”

Even greater uproar ensued. Some of the old-timers couldn’t help but exclaim and applaud.

Facts trumped arguments.

Pi Mo made the factions of the stars beyond sound lofty and supreme, but hadn’t they recently suffered repeated losses at the hands of the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force?

Everyone beneath the heavens knew this. There was no room for Pi Mo to argue!

Off in the distance, Pi Mo fell silent. He couldn’t help but shake his head. “Master, if you think the people you killed represent the full extent of those factions of the stars beyond, you couldn’t be any more wrong.”

Su Yi felt his interest waning. He had no desire to converse any further.

He controlled the Sword of the Nine Hells. Way back in the Netherworld, he’d killed too many experts of the Nine Heavens Pavilion to count, and he’d even traveled alongside the Netherworld King. How could he possibly be ignorant of the situation in the stars beyond?

Besides, one of his past lives was the Temple Master of the Temple of the Human Realm. The Temple Master wasn’t at all afraid of the Fisherman of the Church of the River of Stars!

Yet now, Pi Mo stood before him, going on about how powerful the factions of the stars beyond were. How could Su Yi

not

find that ridiculous?

He sipped from a jug of wine and said, “I’ve already given you three months to prepare. Now it’s time for you to show me just how much you’ve learned from the Studio of the Heart!”

This declaration left the crowd stunned. They realized that the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force didn’t want to converse any longer. He’d decided to attack!