Chapter 1290 - Victory!

Mutual destruction!

The Supreme Leader of the Nine Heavens Pavilion, Yan Daolin, had actually chosen to fight to the death.

Even though this was just a clone, his ruthless decisiveness sent chills through the onlookers’ hearts.

Wei Shan, Meng Changyun, and the others’ expressions shifted, and their courage failed them.

Beneath the dome of heaven, Yan Daolin’s body seemed to catch ablaze. Explosive, appalling, destructive power spread out around him.

He’d obviously used some sort of forbidden technique, making the power he had on display terrifying beyond imagination.

The skies seemed to catch ablaze, distorting with a bang.

Before Yan Daolin could get close to Su Yi, his fingers clasped the air, like a divine expert forming hand seals, and he struck Su Yi from afar.

Boom

——!

A resplendent, burning fist imprint whooshed through the air, like the rising of the morning sun. Unstoppable, misty light stung the onlookers’ eyes so badly they couldn’t help but close them.

Too terrifying!

Even just watching from afar caused rending pain in the onlookers’ souls.

There was no need to even question it. This was a strike intended to pierce the heavens. Yan Daolin was burning his cultivation base and putting his very life on the line!

Beneath the dome of heaven, Su Yi’s surroundings suddenly reflected endless Dao Light, like a whirlpool swallowing up the nearby rain of light.

Meanwhile, he pressed his fingers into a sword and slashed.

A streak of sword qi flashed into being, simple and direct, like a blade descending from the heavens with unstoppable force to block Yan Daolin’s fist imprint.

Bang!!!

A heaven-shaking impact rang out.

The fist imprint swayed violently, then split into countless flecks of firelight.

Yan Daolin stiffened as if he’d been struck by lightning. Blood flowed from the corners of his lips, and he instantly seemed to age.

His eyes filled with bewilderment and disbelief.

Cultivators were supposed to be in their weakest state immediately after overcoming tribulation and proving their Dao, but it seemed that didn’t apply to the Temple Master. Not only was he not in a weakened state, but his cultivation base was many times stronger than before.

Even a casual strike neutralized his no-holds-barred attack!

“He blocked it!” Wei Shan, Meng Changyun, and the Netherworld King felt a massive weight lift from their shoulders. All of them were so excited that they practically lost control.

Just now, they almost suspected that Su Yi was about to meet with disaster.

“Mutual destruction is only an option when foes are evenly matched. That trick you just pulled? That wasn’t mutual destruction. That was an ant trying to shake a tree.” Su Yi laughed dryly, then stretched and rose to his full height.

Boom!

It was as if ten thousand Daos were rumbling within him, their surging power coursing through him and making his skin light up. His entire body was shrouded in dreamlike, illusory light.

In that moment, he fully established his foundations in the Oneness Realm. He hadn’t just rebuilt his ruined left arm; just like with Yan Daolin earlier, all of his injuries had vanished in moments.

The air of majesty aiming from him seemed to shake the eternal firmament and the stars, overturning the nine heavens and the ten earths!

After reincarnating and restarting his cultivation, every major breakthrough was accompanied by a transformation far beyond anything others of the same level experienced!

Take now, for instance. Although his clothes were still tattered and stained with blood, his imposing aura was such that he seemed like an entirely different person.

“I truly wouldn’t have thought you’d be able to use a tribulation to turn the tables,” sighed Yan Daolin.

His body was still burning. There was no doubt about it; after using a forbidden technique and his attempt at mutual destruction, his clone didn’t have much time left.

“Then are you still ‘satisfied?’” asked Su Yi as he approached.

Yan Daolin’s gaze was complicated. “Do you see me laughing? But I’d actually quite like to use what time I have left to test the might of the Temple Master’s Oneness Realm cultivation for myself.”

Here, his overcast expression disappeared, replaced with calm determination.

Su Yi threw back his head and laughed.

He shifted positions and attacked, his fist as forceful as a sword, with natural, sweeping motions.

Yan Daolin threw a punch too, his fist force like an avalanche or tidal wave.

His essence, qi, and spirit seemed to catch ablaze, all of them far mightier than before.

But a moment later, Yan Daolin was sent flying a thousand feet back, cleaving a long, narrow rift in the sky.

His right arm was completely shattered. Blood and chunks of flesh flew through the air.

“So strong!” Meng Changyun was dizzy with astonishment.

His Excellency the Temple Master seems completely different! He’s as contemptuous as a god, as transcendent as an immortal, with combat strength unparalleled between heaven and earth!

“He’s even stronger than the young master at his peak!” murmured Wei Shan.

He was more familiar with the Temple Master than just about anyone, and he could tell at a glance that Su Yi was at least as strong as the Temple Master had been at his peak, if not stronger!

The Netherworld King thought to herself,

Supreme Leader, oh, Supreme Leader. Didn’t you only just ask me what kind of person the Temple Master’s reincarnation was? Do you understand now?

“How is this...” Heavenly Libationer Lu Yun’s face paled, and his eyes bulged.

Meanwhile, although Yan Daolin’s thoughts were typically as inscrutable and deep as the ocean, he couldn’t help but gasp, looking grimmer than ever before.

“Might I ask what you think of that punch?” asked Su Yi.

The corners of Yan Daolin’s lips twitched.

Su Yi’s words and bearing were a perfect match for his when he first drew upon his Half-Step Transcendent cultivation base.

“It’s far from the level of a true Transcendent,” Yan Daolin said irritably.

He attacked first, throwing a punch with his left arm. He never retreated. On the contrary, he fought even more forcefully.

Su Yi used his fingers as a sword and slashed the air.

Boom!

Yan Daolin was like a kite with its strings cut. He flew backward with a new wound, one so deep that even his bones were visible.

“I have no idea how strong a true Transcendent is, but when your true body steps onto that path, I’ll be sure to crush you beneath my feet!”

Su Yi’s gaze was profound, and his tone casual, but his words were utterly contemptuous.

“Hah? You’re bragging even now? You’re only in the Oneness Realm. You cannot possibly step onto the Path of Transcendence before I do,” said Yan Daolin.

His wounds were severe, and it looked like he wouldn’t hold out much longer, but he still laughed and spoke with calm composure, as if not at all concerned about his injuries.

“And I can already foresee that soon, one expert of the Path of Transcendence after another will enter this world. When the time comes... you’d best watch yourself, Temple Master.”

“That will make the world much more interesting. If things were just as they were before, I wouldn’t have needed to reincarnate to dominate the entire Eastern Profound Star Domain,” laughed Su Yi. “To tell the truth, I’m rather looking forward to the day your true body steps onto the Path of Transcendence. I said the same thing to that old charlatan Deng Zuo.”

Yan Daolin fell silent. There was inner conflict in his gaze...and a nigh-indetectable hint of admiration. “When it comes to spirit, I truly am not your equal, Temple Master. I’ll be curious to see just how you ‘crush me beneath your feet’ after I step fully onto the Path of Transcendence.”

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, Yan Daolin struck once more.

That firm decisiveness and calm disregard for his own life and death were enough to stir the onlookers’ hearts.

This was the Supreme Leader of the Nine Heavens Pavilion. It was no accident that he’d become one of the top powerhouses of the stars.

“Farewell. Forgive me for not seeing you off,” said Su Yi. His sleeves billowed in the air.

Bang!!

Unstoppable sword intent swept out in all directions, like an arc of divine light. When it slammed into Yan Daolin, his already badly battered body shattered with a bang.

Completely destroyed, both body and soul!

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

Dust and smoke still permeated the tumultuous landscape.

The surrounding mountains and rivers lay in ruin, the ground riddled with scars.

Beneath the dome of heaven, a beam of the light of heavens poured onto Su Yi’s tall, upright figure, making him the center of attention.

Victory!

In this duel, neither Su Yi nor Yan Daolin used external items

When Su Yi found himself in peril, he chose to undergo tribulation.

When Yao Daolin found himself in peril, he chose to fight to the bitter end.

From beginning to end, neither violated their agreement and resorted to terrifying treasures or hidden trump cards.

This was a true clash of the Grand Dao!

They competed in their attainments in the Dao, determining a winner and a loser, as well as life and death!

Even Su Yi’s allies found it difficult to criticize Yan Daolin’s behavior.

And even Lu Yun couldn’t find fault with Su Yi!

“When word of this battle spreads, it’s sure to cause widespread uproar. Just as I said earlier, it will enter the annals of history. They’ll be talking about this for generations.” Wei Shan sighed with deep emotion, visibly delighted.

“You’re absolutely right, Senior,” Meng Changyun said in complete agreement.

The Netherworld King watched that tall, upright figure in a daze, her heart full of a complicated mix of emotions.

Su Yi was once a member of the same generation, but then, he went and became the Temple Master. Now, he’d even become her senior...

This feeling was truly difficult to describe in words.

“Is the Temple Master... truly undefeatable?” Lu Yun’s expression was bleak.

He knew better than anyone that the Supreme Leader had endured for far too long, spending an enormous amount of time and effort, all in preparation for this day.

But in the end, he still lost...

Lu Yun suddenly jumped; Su Yi was walking right toward him. Despite himself, his heart quivered. “Victory and defeat are already clear. Might I ask what you’re after, Your Excellency?”

Su Yi extended his hand. “My spoils.”

Lu Yun reacted as if awakening from a dream. He hurriedly took out a jade slip and proffered it with both hands. “Please accept this, Your Excellency.”

Yan Daolin had left the seal. Before the battle began, he said that he’d recorded the answers to all of Su Yi’s questions inside.

Su Yi accepted the slip, then put his hands behind his back and turned to leave. “Little Wei, Old Meng, let’s go.”

His companions hurried after him.

It was only after watching them fade from view that Heavenly Libationer Lu Yun felt a massive weight lift from his shoulders, and he sighed in relief.

Inwardly, he muttered, “It really is as the Supreme Leader said. The Temple Master wouldn’t sink to letting their enmity reach the rest of the Nine Heavens Pavilion.”

Within the Nine Heavens Pavilion, every expert who witnessed this battle lowered their heads, the lights in their eyes dimming.

Meanwhile——

Su Yi sprawled out comfortably at the tail end of his flat boat, holding a jug of wine and taking big gulps.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He didn’t want to think about anything at all right now. All he wanted was to find a quiet place to stabilize his freshly broken-through cultivation base.

Meng Changyun steered the boat, while Wei Shan and his daughter, the Netherworld King, conversed softly.

......

The Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone.

A dark, barren landscape.

From time to time, streaks of immortal light soared through the sky, even more dazzlingly bright than shooting stars.

Mountains of bones lay strewn across the ground.

Yan Daolin was currently seated cross-legged in meditation, tending to his wounds.

He’d only just overcome a bitter struggle with a pack of revenants he suspected were Transcendent experts in life. The battle had left him badly wounded.

“It won’t be much longer. Soon, I’ll truly be able to step onto the Path of Transcendence!” murmured Yan Daolin.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and he coughed up blood. His face was instantly deathly pale.

His expression shifted, and after a lengthy daze, he let out a bitter laugh. “I wouldn’t have thought that after all my years of sacrifice and enduring in silence, I’d still lose to the reincarnated Temple Master...”