Chapter 1260 - Penance

“But then, it makes sense. In the Thousand Opportunities Star Realm, the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect is a sovereign-like existence. The Solar Transformation Courtyard naturally doesn’t dare to offend them.”

As Su Yi pondered, he drifted down from the cloud and landed amidst the crowd.

Xue Changyi practically jumped with fright and cried out, “I... I’m from the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect. You...”

Su Yi laughed dryly and interrupted him. “Ol’ Charlatan Deng Zuo’s disciples and grand-disciples really do get worse with each passing generation.”

Deng Zuo!

The powerhouse with the greatest seniority in the entire Primordial Unity Daoist Sect. His name had long since shaken the stars.

He was an existence capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the Fisherman and the Painter.

When Su Yi called him directly by name, the crowd’s heart quivered uncontrollably.

Xue Changyi slumped, as if submitting to his fate, and said softly, “What World King wouldn’t be terrified in front of the Temple Master...?”

His voice was rife with bitterness.

So, he’d recognized Su Yi a long time ago!

The Temple Master!?

This title went off like a thunderclap, leaving the crowd completely dumbstruck.

The atmosphere was suddenly so silent that you could have heard a pin drop. Even the birds fell silent.

Out amongst the stars, the title of “Temple Master” belonged to one man and one man alone.

The legendary expert of the Temple of the Human Realm!

Throughout the ages and to the present day, the Temple Master had always been an unbeatable legend, an unparalleled expert of the sword!

It didn’t matter that he’d vanished for a long, long time. Tales of his legendary exploits circulated the various star realms to this day.

In a sense, he was like a god in the hearts of trillions of cultivators! A distant, unreachable deity they could only gaze upon from afar!

Once, an old-timer lamented that sharing an era with the Temple Master was fortunate, as they could witness this dazzling legend who’d have shocked any era he’d appeared in firsthand.

However, it was also unfortunate.

Because everyone, no matter who they were, seemed dimmer in comparison to the Temple Master’s brilliance!

It was easy to imagine just how great the crowd’s shock was when they heard Xue Changyi call the young man in blue the Temple Master.

“Come with me for a bit.” Su Yi glanced at Xue Changyi, completely ignoring the crowd’s expressions.

Xue Changyi’s heart clenched, and his expression shifted. “Where are you taking me, Your Excellency the Temple Master?”

“Back to your sect, of course,” said Su Yi.

Xue Changyi quivered from head to toe, then said in disbelief, “You... Don’t tell me you’re going to...”

Su Yi laughed. “Why, yes. I am going to.”

“....”

Xue Changyi was completely dumbstruck, and he fell into a daze.

“Ol’ Meng, do you have anything you’d like to say?” Su Yi glanced at Meng Changyun.

Meng Changyun hesitated briefly. “Please wait a moment, Young Lord.”

He then walked up to the man in warrior robes, the one who’d spoken up on his behalf. “Xing Feng, take care of yourself. Should the day come that you can no longer remain in the sect, come find me!”

Earlier, Xing Feng stepped forth and spoke on his behalf. Meng Changyun was deeply moved, and he naturally wanted to express his gratitude before he left.

As he spoke, he took out a jade talisman and gave it to Xing Feng.

Xing Feng grinned. “As you say, Martial Uncle!”

He solemnly accepted the jade talisman. “Martial Uncle, I trust you’ll be able to bring Ancestor Yue Hong and Junior Apprentice Brother Bai He back safely!”

As he spoke, he glanced at the distant Su Yi with a hint of reverence.

Meng Changyun patted him on the shoulder but said no more.

“Let’s go.” Su Yi turned and walked off. Meng Changyun followed.

Xue Changyi’s chest heaved, but even though he looked like he was on the verge of tears, he followed them too in the end.

He dared not run; he knew there was no way he could escape. His only choice was to cooperate!

“Martial Uncle Meng——!” Wen Zhixin suddenly called out, visibly shame-faced, and lowered his head. “Take... take care!”

Meng Changyun completely disregarded him. Before long, Su Yi and his companions disappeared from view.

“No wonder he could kill Ancestor Jing Que with a flick of his fingers. So, that legendary expert has returned...” someone said in a daze.

“Didn’t the rumors say that the Temple Master’s reincarnation was in the Dark and Gold Star Realm, and that his cultivation was still only in the Imperial Realm? Why is he so terrifying?” someone said with bewilderment.

“He’s the Temple Master,” someone said bitterly. “You can’t judge him by his cultivation base!”

“If only Martial Uncle Meng had told us that he was working for the Temple Master,” said someone. He stamped his feet in frustration. “If he had, we would never have...!”

“In the eyes of trillions of cultivators, we’re glorious enough already, but compared to a powerhouse of the stars like the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect, we aren’t even worth looking at,” someone said dejectedly. “But people like us can in no way afford to offend the Temple Master either. That’s... the most tragic part of this!”

The crowd’s hearts coursed with emotion. All of them were rueful.

Suddenly, someone said, “This might be unpleasant to hear, but the current Temple Master is ultimately just a reincarnation. A year ago, he was only in the Imperial Realm. I don’t even need to think to know that he’s far from his former peak!

He paused, then added, “But now, he’s bringing Martial Uncle Meng to the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect... I’m afraid this won’t go smoothly.”

He tried to phrase it tactfully, but everyone here had years of experience. How could they fail to realize what he was getting at?

“It’s true. The Primordial Unity Daoist Sect is one of the greatest factions of the stars, and they live up to their reputation. No matter how powerful the Temple Master’s reincarnation is, he’s ultimately just one person. I’m afraid it’ll be difficult for him to shake the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect,” someone said softly.

“Enough!” Suddenly, Sect Leader Wen Zhixin shouted and interrupted the discussion. “Ancestor Jing Que already paid with his life. Was that not enough of a lesson for you? What right do any of you have to comment on His Excellency the Temple Master?” His face was ashen, and he was obviously enraged.

The crowd fell as silent as cicadas in winter.

Wen Zhixin snorted coldly, then walked up to Xing Feng.

His expression already contained a hint of guilt as he sighed, “Junior Apprentice Brother Xing Feng, earlier, we were mistaken, and we wronged you. Going forward, you can rest assured and cultivate here in peace. As the leader of our sect, I guarantee that I won’t let anyone wrong you in the slightest going forward!”

Xing Feng was stunned; he wouldn’t have guessed that the sect leader’s attitude would change so quickly.

“I don’t feel wronged. I just feel wronged on Martial Uncle Meng’s behalf,” Xing Feng said firmly.

Wen Zhixin laughed bitterly, his expression bleak. “No matter what, I’ll... make it up to you properly...”

How could he not regret what he’d done? His intestines were green from regret!

That was the Temple Master!

Had they known Martial Uncle Meng had been serving at the Temple Master’s side, there was absolutely no way they would have displayed such an unpleasant attitude.

Alas, no matter what they said now, it was already too late. All they could do was try and fix things going forward.

Wen Zhixin thought to himself,

I just wonder whether or not the Temple Master is capable of contending with the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect right now...

He could see it already. When word of the Temple Master’s return spread, unpredictable, towering waves were sure to sweep through the stars!

......

A prosperous city.

Su Yi sat on the second floor of a restaurant, facing the window as he savored local delicacies.

Meng Changyun sat beside him, but his brow was furrowed with anxiety, and he could barely taste his food.

As for Xue Changyi? His head drooped, and he stood in a nearby corner, averting his gaze with deep unease.

Meng Changyun hesitated, then said in a low voice, “Young Lord, heading directly to the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect ultimately seems a bit reckless. The way I see it, we’d best get a feel for the situation first, then choose the right moment.”

Earlier, Su Yi said he’d take him to the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect to save the hostages, Ancestor Yue Hong and Bai He.

Although Meng Changyun was grateful, he was also worried. He didn’t want Su Yi to risk himself.

After all, this was the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect!

Even by the standards of the Eastern Profound Star Domain, it was a peak faction!

“Don’t worry. As big as the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect is, only a handful of its members are worth paying attention to. The only one really worthy of my attention is that old charlatan Deng Zuo.” Su Yi used his chopsticks to taste a piece of snowy, crystalline fish flesh.

There was no denying that Bluespot Spirit Carp roasted with this secret method had a unique flavor.

Su Yi thought for a moment, then added, “Besides, I’m not just going to help you save the hostage. I plan to settle the score with the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect while I’m at it.”

His tone was casual, but his words made Xue Changyi’s heart quiver with fright.

He muttered to himself,

Indeed, His Excellency the Temple Master has come with ill intentions!

“Young Lord, if you do this, you’ll have completely revealed your identity,” warned Meng Changyun.

Su Yi set down his chopsticks, picked up his jug of wine, and drank. He whispered, “I ought to let them know that I’ve returned.”

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He gazed out the window at the busy, bustling streets. The dense air of mortality made Su Yi feel as if he’d entered a different world.

Since leaving the Dark and Gold Star Realm, he’d always been either traveling through the stars or mixed up in some storm, resolving various enmities.

It had been a long time since he’d taken a relaxing stroll through the red dust of mortality.

“Besides, letting them discover my identity won’t necessarily be a bad thing. At the very least, I can lure the snakes out of their nests. I’ll effectively be taking a seat on the pier and casting my hook into the water. We’ll just have to see how many fish show up to take the bait.”

Su Yi laughed, then sloshed the wine in his cup. “How can one cultivate and seek the Dao without obstacles? Without conflict, how can I temper my sword?

“My greatest desires are more wine than I can drink, and more enemies than I can kill. Without them, the path of cultivation will be far too lonely and boring.”

Meng Changyun couldn’t help but sigh with admiration.

What courage and breadth of spirit does it take to laugh calmly in the face of the world’s winds and clouds?

Were anyone else about to fight the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect, they’d be scurrying to finish their preparations, and racking their brains to ensure no stone was left unturned. Only then would they dare begin this operation.

But His Excellency the Temple Master disdains to do any such thing!

Here, Su Yi suddenly beckoned to Xue Changyi. “Come here.”

Xue Changyi trembled from head to toe, then took a deep breath. Only then did he work up enough courage to approach, his head lowered. “What are your orders, Your Excellency?”

His voice contained a hint of an irrepressible tremor.

Su Yi rose, then straightened Xue Changyi’s clothes and said casually, “Go back and tell Ol' Charlatan Deng Zuo that I’ll give the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect a fair fight so long as you release the two hostages. If he refuses, he can’t blame me for setting up camp outside your gates and killing members of your sect on sight.”

Xue Changyi seemed overcome with disbelief. “You’re not going to kill me?”

Su Yi said distractedly, “If you’re dead, who will deliver my message? I’ll wait outside your gates three days from now. Go on. Be quick about it.”

With that, Su Yi returned to his seat, picked up his chopsticks, and resumed enjoying his meal.

One look at his leisurely bearing, and it seemed as if the orders he’d just given were so trivial that they weren’t even worth mentioning.