Chapter 1338 - A Formal Visit

The Divine Capital Star Realm was the greatest of the star realms.

All six of the Ancient Guardian Clans of the Dao and many of the stars’ top factions had forces stationed here.

When word of the battle at the Divine Forge spread, those who stood at the pinnacle of the modern era found out immediately.

These top factions were instantly astonished.

“Just how strong has the Temple Master become?”

This was what everyone was wondering.

A month prior, in the battle at Universal Emptiness Temple, the Temple-Master single-handedly defeated four Nascent Divinity Realm revenants in a row.

Now, just a month later, he killed Nascent Divinity revenants without difficulty, as if he were slaughtering chickens!

This change left the top factions’ hearts quivering with fright.

“Times have changed. We thought that the Temple Master, a legend of the former era, was doomed to be left behind. Who’d have thought that he’d become this strong while still on the Path of Heaven’s Ascension....?” an old-timer said gravely. “What will happen if things go on like this?”

“Reincarnation is a natural counter to revenants, but the Temple Master is strong enough to slay Nascent Divinity Transcendents with ease, even without it. Is he... even human?” someone said bitterly.

“Just wait. The more dazzlingly strong the Temple Master is now, the closer he is to death!” someone said hatefully, gnashing their teeth.

The home of the ancient Zhou Family.

Family Head Zhou Huaji sat alone, his expression overcast.

Within the grand hall, the Zhou Family higher-ups were busy arguing.

Some were overcome with fury. They urged the others to do everything in their power to kill the Temple Master and avenge their clansmen.

But others opposed this notion. They thought it unwise to act recklessly; doing so would only create more casualties.

These two starkly opposed camps argued with incomparable ferocity.

“How about I pay him a visit?” a calm voice resounded from beyond the grand hall, instantly quelling the fierce debate. The hall was suddenly so silent that you could have heard a pin drop.

The crowd then watched as a stick-thin man in a plain, undyed shirt walked into the hall. His features were as smooth as jade, and he wore a willowy beard. A rain of immortal light scattered around him.

“Ancestor!”

Everyone, including Family Head Zhou Huaji, rose to greet him.

Zhou Hanshan.

He was a veritable living fossil, who’d proven his Dao and stepped onto the Path of Transcendence in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone ten years prior!

He’d only just recently returned to the clan.

The Zhou Family had always kept this secret tightly under wraps. There were numerous guesses and rumors floating around, but no outsiders knew that Zhou Hanshan had already returned!

“And what do you think we should do, Family Head?” Zhou Hanshan asked warmly.

Zhou Huaji took a deep breath. “Suffering such devastating casualties has indeed brought shame on the entire family, but given the current situation, putting everything we have into opposing the Temple Master would be most unwise.”

“What makes you say that?” asked Zhou Hanshan.

Zhou Huaji’s gaze was cold and calm as he explained at top speed, “The world is changing rapidly. Both the ancient orthodoxies and the top factions of the present day are rallying and expanding their forces. As of yet, none have declared war against the Temple Master.

“If we do so, win or lose, we’ll only benefit other factions. Declaring war will only hurt us, and it’ll bring no advantages whatsoever!

“After all, when two tigers fight, it’s always been those who watch the battle from a safe distance who benefit in the end.

“But if we endure a while longer, we can take advantage of the world’s changes to rapidly strengthen ourselves. We can also wait until other factions fight the Temple Master, then attack. That way, we’ll have nothing to worry about.”

His words cleared the heads of every higher-up in attendance.

“That’s right,” Zhou Hanshan said approvingly. “I just met with an elder of the Southern Flame Pure Lands, and he told me that within the next six months, two noteworthy changes are due to arrive.

“First, more and more experts of the present day will step onto the Path of Transcendence.

“Second, within the ancient orthodoxies, revenants comparable to Dao Integration Transcendents will be able to re-enter the world.

“All of this means that the Temple Master’s situation will become increasingly perilous. If all goes as I expect, we won’t have to wait long before an unparalleled catastrophe befalls the Temple Master!”

The crowd’s spirits soared.

“Ultimately, time is on our side,” said Zhou Hanshan calmly. “The world is changing, and a new era is approaching. As a peak faction, the greater the changes, the more advantages we can seize. As for the Temple Master? Even if he were stronger, he’s ultimately stuck struggling within the World King Realm. The more time passes, the greater his disadvantage will become!

“Besides, the ones most eager to deal with the Temple Master are those ancient orthodoxies! When someone finds themself surrounded by enemies on all sides, it’s as if they’re contending with the era itself. Such people are ultimately doomed to be ripped to shreds!

“This is the trend of the future. Those who follow it shall flourish, and those who oppose it shall perish!”

Here, Zhou Hanshan laughed. “Of course, I’m not looking down on the Temple Master. He really is terrifying, and he really is heaven-defying. Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly have made enemies with the whole world. Even so, the more he jumps around now, the more brutal his fate will be when it’s time to get even!”

Waves coursed through the gathered higher-ups’ hearts. All of them were filled with excitement.

Zhou Huaji couldn’t help but ask, “Ancestor, might I be so bold to ask whether or not you could handle the Temple Master with your current cultivation?”

All eyes were instantly on Zhou Hanshan.

Zhou Hanshan mulled it over. “If I caught him off guard, I’m about seventy percent sure I could take him. In a direct confrontation... I’d give myself even odds.”

The crowd couldn’t help but look impressed. Their eyes lit up.

The battle at Universal Emptiness Temple showed the world just how terrifying the Temple Master was.

The battle at the Divine Forge left even the old-timers of the Ancient Guardian Clans unable to stay calm. Their hearts quivered, and they felt incomparably stifled, even pessimistic.

But now, Zhou Hanshan’s words had swept away the gray cloud lingering over their hearts!

“In this new era, the first group of experts to step onto the Path of Transcendence will be people like me. All of us are old-timers with incomparably terrifying foundations.

“Take Zhong Tianquan of the Zhong Family or Deng Zuo of the Primordial Unity Daoist Sect. Who among them lacks talent or strong foundations?” Zhou Hanshan said flatly. “In ancient times, it wouldn’t have been difficult for them to achieve immortality, never mind stepping onto the Path of Transcendence!

“I spoke with a higher-up of the Southern Flame Pure Lands and confirmed that even in ancient times, my foundations in the Nascent Divinity Realm would have been absolutely top-notch, comparable to the core disciples of powerful sects!"

Here, he couldn’t help but let his pride slip.

“A group of Nascent Divinity Realm experts has already arisen. Their strength is already sufficient to leave the Temple Master unable to raise his head!

“If Dao Integration Realm revenants enter the world, hah... Even with his mastery over reincarnation, the Temple Master will no longer be able to threaten them. He’ll die beyond a shadow of a doubt!”

......

Similar discussions took place throughout the other Ancient Guardian Clans and top factions of the stars.

Throughout the stars, the winds rose and the clouds surged. The world was in uproar.

But as time passed, everything gradually returned to stillness.

Just when everyone thought the Zhou Family would aggressively launch a bid for revenge, they backed down and chose to endure, taking no action at all.

Similarly, after the curtains fell on the battle at the Divine Forge, the ancient factions that had re-entered the world and the top factions of the present day seemed to reach a tacit agreement. None of them took any action against the Temple Master.

It was to the point that they actively avoided provoking the Temple Master. In the days that followed, they didn’t even discuss him.

A rare peace followed.

However, those with keen noses could tell that this was merely the calm before the impending storm!

Universal Emptiness Temple.

Autumn winds blew past. It was dusk, and the landscape was desolate and bleak. Piles of golden leaves covered the ground, filling the courtyard.

Su Yi sprawled out in his wicker chair, taking in the colorful leaves and appreciating their tranquil beauty.

It had already been half a month since he’d returned.

He’d spent this time cultivating in Universal Emptiness Temple. From time to time, he, Sword Immortal Qingshi, and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha discussed the Dao and exchanged stories of long ago.

By now, Su Yi understood a fair bit. In ancient times, the catastrophe known as the End of the Dharma broke out, overturning all existing factions of seekers of immortality.

It also destroyed numerous experts from the Immortal Realm!

But now, times were changing. Countless years after it first disappeared, the Path of Transcendence was re-entering the world. The revenants who’d lain dormant all this time were gradually re-entering the world with it.

Former top sects, once unparalleled proud sons of heaven, and mysterious, high-ranking descendants of immortals were entering the stage.

According to Sword Immortal Qingshi’s best estimate, it’d be three months at minimum, or three years at most before Dao Integration Realm experts could traverse the stars once more.

Even in ancient times, Dao Integration Realm revenants had been influential experts.

More importantly, revenants of this level were strong enough to stave off some of the power of reincarnation’s effects!

In other words, in a direct confrontation, Su Yi’s power of reincarnation might make them cautious, but it wouldn’t be lethal.

That is, unless his cultivation broke into a higher realm!

Sword Immortal Qingshi suppressed his cultivation down to the Dao Integration Realm, and the two sparred to confirm this.

In the end, they confirmed that unless Su Yi could break a Dao Integration Realm revenant’s defenses, reincarnation’s threat was significantly reduced. It no longer served as an effective counter.

“I really am increasingly pressed for time.” Su Yi rubbed his forehead.

“Are you afraid trouble will come knocking on your door?” Illuminating Emptiness walked over, and plopped down beside him, holding a freshly roasted boar leg. As he feasted, he laughed, “What’s there to be afraid of? With the founder and Senior Qingshi here, who’d dare to make trouble?”

Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha’s lips twitched imperceptibly, but they couldn’t be bothered to pay him any heed. They just pretended not to have heard anything.

“What makes you think I’m afraid?” Su Yi said irritably.

Illuminating Emptiness seemed confused. “If you’re not afraid, why are you spending your time lying around the temple?”

“I’m nourishing my heart,” Su Yi said airily.

When he attacked, his heart was as sharp as his sword. At rest, it was as smooth as jade. That was how a sword cultivator ought to be.

“Nourishing your heart? Yeah, right,” Illuminating Emptiness sighed. “Seems to me you’re just lonely. I understand you. What well-adjusted person would be willing to spend all day in a temple this remote? Hell, not even birds can be bothered to poop here! You’d have to be totally disinterested in the world’s temptations, immune to beauty, with no taste for fine food or wine!”

“....” Su Yi, Sword Immortal Qingshi, and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha didn’t know what to say to that.

Is he saying we aren’t well-adjusted?

But before they could respond, an aged voice resounded from beyond the temple gates.

“Li Zhong has come here to pay his respects on his young mistress’s orders!”