Chapter 1131 - The Temple Master?

Heaven and earth shook violently, and the air was in disarray.

When Qing Tang steadied herself, her face was deathly pallid, her long hair was disheveled, and beads of crimson blood dripped down her body.

Her injuries were far too heavy. Blood poured from the corners of her mouth in a nonstop flow.

She was such a miserable sight that the onlookers’ hearts clenched.

For the past five hundred years, she’d been the sole ruler of the Grotto of Abstruse Force, sovereign of the Wilds, respected by all.

And now, she’d displayed terrifying power that astonished even the oldest in the audience. Her every gesture was like the descent of a sovereign.

Who’d have thought that despite this, she’d wind up so wretched and miserable? The Tailor really was one of the most terrifying experts of the stars beyond!

And this battle was a perfect example of just how terrifying he was!

“Qing Tang, looking at you now, it seems you won’t be able to drag me down with you even if you disregard your own life.” Off in the distance, the young mistress of the Studio of the Heart, Ruoxi, couldn’t help but smile. Her voice contained blatant mockery.

Earlier, Qing Tang’s threats had scared her into shutting her mouth, too afraid to utter a single word.

But now that Qing Tang was badly injured, the young mistress of the Studio of the Heart obviously no longer took her threats seriously.

“You’re from the stars beyond the Wilds, and you spent years hiding in the Grotto of Abstruse Force. You’ve deceived Su Xuanjun all this time. This means that no one will come to your aid.” Ruoxi laughed. “Look at those around you. They’re all just watching as you struggle on the brink of death. Not one of them has stepped forth to help you!”

Her words left Ancestor Peng, the Border Mountain Yao Emperor, and the other antiques visibly uncomfortable.

It was true. Although they sympathized with Qing Tang’s predicament, given her status, no one was willing to come to her aid.

Jin Kui, Wang Que, and the other apprentices all looked at Su Yi, visibly worried and frantic.

If their master didn’t say anything, it didn’t matter that they were gradually coming to accept Qing Tang once more. They still wouldn’t recklessly take a stand.

The Tailor stood in the distance as if all of this were perfectly normal. He could tell that Qing Tang wouldn’t last much longer.

But it was likely that she’d choose this moment to go all out. This was unquestionably when she was at her most dangerous!

In contrast, the longer he dragged this out, the worse it would be for her.

“Look? Every time you open your mouth, it’s all ‘master, master!’ But even the master you respect so much is watching coldly from the sidelines,” chuckled Ruoxi, obviously even more fearless than before.

Everyone looked at Su Yi, only to see him just standing there, not moving an inch, his expression as calm as ever.

The crowd couldn’t help but find this confusing.

Earlier, Qing Tang had given him so many “delightful surprises,” and everything they’d found suspicious about her was gradually becoming clear. By now, few of the onlookers still thought Qing Tang was a traitor.

Yet for some reason, her master, seemed cold, even... a bit heartless!

Heaven and earth were deathly silent, and the landscape was barren and withered.

Qing Tang scanned the crowd and saw that the old-timers all averted their gazes, while her fellow apprentices looked frantic with worry. She saw it all.

The Tailor stood in the distance, his expression unwavering.

And her master...

When she saw the calm look on Su Yi’s face, the corners of Qing Tang’s lips twitched, but in the end, she said nothing.

“I never expected that anyone would come to my aid today,” said Qing Tang. She looked at Ruoxi. “And if I put my life on the line, you’re sure to die today.”

Her tone was light and airy, but it sent a chill down Ruoxi’s spine.

Qing Tang really was badly injured, but her back was perfectly straight, and the calm determination in her gaze never wavered!

The Tailor stepped through the air, approaching Qing Tang.

He appeared under the guise of Buddhist Master Inkstone Heart, his aged face never so much as rippling with emotion, and he emanated an aura so powerful as to make one give in to terror and despair.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“I know you still have cards left, so go ahead and play them,” he said slowly.

His gait was unhurried, but with each step he took, his imposing aura grew even stronger. It bore down on the air, leaving the skies rumbling and wailing. Heaven and earth shook.

Off in the distance, the pressure assailed Qing Tang right in the face. She wiped the blood from her lips, but she disregarded the bleeding wounds covering her skin. Her aura abruptly soared to new heights.

It was as if her sword intent had caught ablaze, linking heaven and earth and dazzling the world.

It wasn’t at all cold, but the onlookers trembled, and their faces filled with astonishment. How could they miss that Qing Tang had used a forbidden technique and that she was prepared to fight to the death?

The Tailor’s eyes narrowed, but in the end, he shook his head. “You won’t cut it.”

His hands formed a seal, and he struck the air from afar.

Boom!

The surrounding ten thousand feet of heaven and earth shattered like glass.

That unstoppable first imprint contained indescribable, terrifying momentum, as if the will of heaven had fully merged into it!

Qing Tang’s dress billowed around her, but it was as if she’d sunk into a swamp, unable to break free. It was as if the Grand Dao itself viewed her with enmity, and she felt alone, insignificant, and helpless.

She pursed her pale lips, but she never asked for help, nor did she reveal any emotion, but the determination shining in the depths of her gaze intensified.

She raised her right hand, and pressed her fingers into a sword. The sword intent practically lightning her ablaze rumbled and boomed as it poured into her fingertips.

But it was then that the boundless hum of a sword rang out.

Practically simultaneously, a tall, upright figure appeared in a flash, swung his sword, and blocked the Tailor’s palm strike.

Qing Tang’s eyes widened.

Bang!!!

When sword qi and palm strike clashed, an appalling current of destructive power swept throughout the landscape.

Su Yi was sent flying back. By the time he’d steadied himself, he was only a foot in front of Qing Tang.

Qing Tang could see clearly that his qi was churning violently. That attack had obviously injured him.

But her master stood there like a proud, solitary mountain linking heaven and earth, rooted into the ground as if he’d stand tall even as all of creation crumbled around him.

Or as if no wind could get past him, no matter what direction it struck from!

Silently and without a trace, two lines of crystalline tears burst uncontrollably from Qing Tang’s eyes, dripping down her pallid face.

Earlier, she’d been aloof, proud, contemptuous, and domineering. Even when injured, even when mocked, even when no one came to her aid, she didn’t care. She maintained her calm determination without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

But now, when she saw that tall, upright figure at close quarters, she could no longer hide her emotions.

The rims of her eyes reddened, and tears fell like rain.

“Master... you...” As Qing Tang spoke, she tried her utmost to repress her emotions, but her words still came out choked with sobs.

“Earlier, I didn’t intervene because I was internally conflicted. I wasn’t certain how to treat you, but now, I’ve thought it through.” Su Yi didn’t turn to look at her, but he could sense her tears, and he couldn’t help but look pitying. Even his voice turned gentler.

He didn’t say what conclusion he’d reached.

Qing Tang didn’t ask, either. Her tears flowed uncontrollably, and a delighted smile appeared on her pallid face. It came straight from the heart.

She suddenly felt that all the emotions she’d hidden deep within her heart over the years, all that helplessness and frustration, all those feelings she couldn’t share with anyone, had been washed away by a current of warmth.

Even if she died now, she wouldn’t have any further regrets!

The old-timers inexplicably sighed in relief. They were well aware that if Su Yi, Qing Tang’s master, had waited any longer to intervene, Qing Tang would likely have been completely destroyed.

Jin Kui and the others felt a massive weight lift from their shoulders, and they were beside themselves with excitement.

Her fellow apprentices' hearts ached, especially when they saw Qing Tang weeping uncontrollably. How excited and joyful was she to lose control and weep in front of so many people?

“Hah? Putting on a show of affection between master and apprentice?” Ruoxi of the Studio of the Heart jeered.

Su Yi ignored her and looked at the Tailor. “The Temple Master failed to kill you, but one day, I’ll fix that.”

“So, you haven’t become the Temple Master after all...” The Tailor couldn’t help but smile as if he’d seen through Su Yi’s secrets. He visibly relaxed, and a smile appeared on his aged face.

This exchange left most of the others present completely baffled.

But when the young mistress of the Studio of the Heart heard that, it was as if she’d been struck by lightning. She stiffened and said in a quavering voice, “Your Excellency the Tailor, are you saying... that he’s... the Temple Master!?”

She was stammering with undisguisable panic.

This left the onlookers increasingly surprised.

The Temple Master? When did the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force get yet another identity?

“No, he isn’t, not yet. You can view him as Su Xuanjun, just as you did before,” the Tailor said slowly. “That means I can relax. There’s no need to fear him any longer.”

As he spoke, a faint smile appeared on his parched lips.

Boom!

The Tailor’s bony frame erupted like an ancient volcano, his majestic aura soaring to new heights once more.

A swath of strange, cold, dark luster silently blanketed heaven and earth. It was midday, but it was as if the skies had been plunged into the darkness of an eternal night!

This strange scene sent chills down the onlookers’ spines.

Earlier, the Tailor’s terrifying power was already enough to leave them on the brink of despair. Who’d have expected his strength to erupt once more?

There was no doubt about it. He’d been holding back right from the start!

“Wait there. I’ll deal with this old codger,” ordered Su Yi.

But Qing Tang shook her head, and her tears instantly evaporated as she regained her former calm. “Master, I have to give you the last of the gifts I’ve prepared for you first.”

Su Yi frowned slightly.

But it was then that the Tailor chuckled. “They say the net of heaven has a wide mesh, but nothing can slip through it. It’s the same when I conduct my affairs, and when I kill someone. Su Xuanjun, you won’t get the opportunity to see the future.”

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, the Tailor vanished.

Boom!

The skies were as black as night, as if all light had been devoured.

And the Tailor’s aura had disappeared completely!

Su Yi’s field of view was all pitch-black, and even his six senses seemed as if they’d been severed. He couldn’t detect anything at all.

Even when he used his divine sense, it was to no avail!

This sudden development made Su Yi tense up, and a chill coursed down his spine.

Without the slightest hesitation, he used the strongest method at his disposal. His sea of consciousness churned as he fully awakened the Sword of the Nine Hells.

A mysterious, inscrutable power spread from the sword.

But before Su Yi could strike, the booming clang of a sword rang out, like the sonorous cry of a phoenix, echoing throughout the nine heavens.