Chapter 1454 - Is That Clear Enough For You?

The old monsters’ voices still echoed through the air.

When they heard these voices off in the distance, Yun Huaqing and Yu Ning’s hearts surged with emotion. They couldn’t help but look in the same direction.

Not far away, Su Yi and Daoist Master Red Cloud were conversing in hushed whispers.

Who could have believed that a young man like him, someone who’d only recently stepped onto the Path of Transcendence, could have ventured into the Abandoned Monument and destroy the servant of a god? And who could have imagined that Su Yi was behind the changes to the Starjade Forbidden Zone?

The cursed stele had disappeared. The Abandoned Monument had vanished into nonexistence too. Now that the Laws of the Immortal Dao were recovering, it wouldn’t be long before the Human Realm changed completely!

The thought filled their hearts with longing, and their hearts surged with emotion.

......

Daoist Master Red Cloud hesitated, but nonetheless asked, “Fellow Daoist, are you aware of my origins?”

Su Yi nodded.

Daoist Master Red Cloud’s surname was Ning. She was a descendant of the eighth leader of the Central Immortal Court, the Southern Profound Immortal Sovereign.

The Southern Profound Ning Family was one of the eight most ancient Immortal Sovereign clans of the Immortal Realm!

Wang Ye had memories of the clan’s progenitors. All of them were towering, powerful figures.

But the Southern Profound Immortal Sovereign was the greatest of them all.

Daoist Master Red Cloud. “Then... What about you, Fellow Daoist? Uh, I mean... who were you before?”

“You’ve long since picked up on some clues, haven’t you?” Su Yi said with a laugh.

Daoist Master Red Cloud exclaimed, “You... You’re really the Sword Fanatic’s reincarnation?”

The Sword Fanatic!

Back then, he was the greatest of the ten Immortal Lords of the Central Immortal Palace.

One of the greatest sword immortals of the Immortal Realm! He was infatuated with the sword, and he had a paranoid, tyrannical disposition. He was so obsessed with the Dao of the Sword that some older-generation cultivators referred to him as the Sword Fanatic.

“The Sword Fanatic?” Su Yi was briefly stunned. He shook his head. “I don’t know who that is.”

Daoist Master Red Cloud realized she’d guessed wrong. “Then...”

She was just about to ask another question when Su Yi laughed. “Should the opportunity arise, you’ll naturally learn who I am. In any event, there is indeed a deep connection between me and the clan behind you. I also understand why you attached such importance to me when we first met, too. I’ll remember your benevolence.”

Daoist Master Red Cloud smiled and nodded. Now that he’d said all that, asking any further questions would only invite a rebuff.

She thought for a moment, then said, “If all goes as I expect, the Domain Boundary Battlefield will soon reappear in the Human Realm.

“When the time comes, it won’t just be Transcendents of the Eastern Profound Star Domain who can enter. Transcendents of the other three great star domains will be able to enter too.

“Some will come in search of good fortune. Others will participate in the battle in hopes of an opportunity to proceed to the Immortal Realm to continue their cultivation.

“If peak Cloud Soaring experts want to rise to the Immortal Realm, the Domain Boundary Battlefield is their only opportunity.

“Of course, in the years to come, if the Laws of the Immortal Dao are no longer restricted, it’ll be entirely possible to become an immortal here in the Human Realm.”

Here, Daoist Master Red Cloud looked at Su Yi. “Fellow Daoist, do you plan to visit the Domain Boundary Battlefield?”

Su Yi thought that over. “Let’s discuss it when the time comes.”

Talk of the Domain Boundary Battlefield made him recall numerous memories.

For instance, there was the mysterious spearwoman he’d met in the Wilds. She told him that when the Domain Boundary Battlefield reappeared, she’d come back to the Human Realm.

......

That very day, Su Yi and Daoist Master Red Cloud left the Starjade Immortal Zone.

As for Yun Huaqing and Yu Ning? They chose to remain behind. The Starjade Immortal Zone was now free of the power of the End of the Dharma, and this was the first place to show signs of the re-emergence of the Immortal Dao.

To Void Realm True Immortals like them, this was little different from finding the path to life they’d sought. So long as they remained here, all they had to do was wait for the world’s changes to advance. It wouldn’t be long before they’d rebuilt their bodies, and when they did, they’d have an opportunity to return to the Immortal Realm.

They no longer needed to fear their cultivation bases dropping and their life forces waning.

It wasn’t just Yun Huaqing and Yu Ning, either. The other Void Realm True Immortals who’d entered the ruins this time chose to stay behind too.

......

Mount Clearmoon, Universal Emptiness Temple.

After Su Yi returned with Daoist Master Red Cloud, he flopped down in his chair like a salted fish, so lazy that he didn’t even want to move a finger.

There was nothing for it. He was exhausted.

It was mental exhaustion.

During this trip to the Starjade Forbidden Grounds, he’d continuously clashed with his sixth incarnation, forcing him to maintain constant vigilance. Then, he’d entered the Abandoned Monument, where he ran into numerous unexpected situations.

Climbing the Path of Endless Trials, saving Daoist Master Red Cloud, clashing with Divine Attendant Mi Zhen, finding himself trapped atop the River of Spacetime...

This series of developments shook his heart and stirred his soul.

Every time he encountered danger, he didn’t just have to guard against external foes. He had to defend his Dao Heart and avoid giving Wang Ye an opening, too. Even someone as iron-willed as Su Yi found himself under unprecedented pressure.

Now that he relaxed completely, an avalanche of exhaustion washed over him, surging throughout his entire body. He cast aside all scattered thoughts and cleared his head completely. He thought nothing and did nothing. He just lay there in a daze, barely conscious.

“Don’t disturb him,” warned Daoist Master Red Cloud. She led the others away, leaving Su Yi alone with his wandering thoughts and his wicker chair.

“Senior, is my master alright?” asked Qing Tang. She was a bit worried.

Illuminating Emptiness, Old Cripple Wei, the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha, Sword Immortal Qingshi and the others looked over as well.

This was their first time seeing Su Yi so exhausted after returning to the temple.

Daoist Master Red Cloud thought for a moment, then said, “Fellow Daoist Su is most likely undergoing a mental shift, and he’s overcome far too much adversity. By the time he recovers, his mentality will be starkly different from before.”

Only then did the crowd sigh in relief.

“The Mo Family can return to the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone now,” said Daoist Master Red Cloud, looking at Mo Xinglin. She calmly ordered, “When you go back, pass on a message for me. From this day forth, I’ll personally kill anyone who opposes Su Yi!”

Mo Xinglin’s heart quivered, but he solemnly assented. “Got it!”

That very day, Mo Xinglin led Mo Qingchou and the other Mo clansmen away.

“It won’t be long before the Domain Boundary Battlefield returns to the Human Realm. You’d best prepare,” said Daoist Master Red Cloud, handing the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha and Sword Immortal Qingshi each a jade slip. “These each contain a legacy of the Immortal Dao. Consider it a token of my appreciation.”

Both Cloud Soaring experts were overcome with surprise and delight, and they hurriedly bowed in gratitude.

Daoist Master Red Cloud then got to work dealing with other matters.

She ordered Xing Que to do all it could to guide Illuminating Emptiness, Old Wei, and the others’ cultivation until the Domain Boundary Battlefield reopened. She also took out rare and precious cultivation resources and left them in the temple. Moreover, she personally placed a formation strong enough to slay immortal revenants around Mount Clearmoon.

That night, she even took to the kitchens and prepared a sumptuous feast with her own two hands, then delivered it to Su Yi with a jug of quality brew.

It was only after she saw that Su Yi had eaten and drunk his fill that she turned to leave.

What’s going on? Why... does the mistress seem like a completely different person since returning from the Starjade Forbidden Zone...?

The yellow mutt Xing Que hurried after Daoist Master Red Cloud. For some reason, her behavior didn’t seem quite real.

Finally, the dog couldn’t help but seize an idle moment to ask, “Mistress, why are you...”

Daoist Master Red Cloud said distractedly, “Do you think I’m acting like a servant?”

The dog hurriedly shook its head.

Daoist Master Red Cloud took a seat beneath a tree, then gazed into the night sky. The stars were few, and their light was sparse.

She sighed, then murmured, “He’s exhausted. I... just want to do what I can in his stead. At the very least, I don’t want him to waste his energy on these trivial matters. Most important of all, he saved my life. Never in my life... have I ever been so ashamed over my own ineptitude.”

Here, a hint of self-deprecation tugged at her lips. “And here I wanted to protect him...”

The dog was stunned, and its heart churned. “Mistress, it’s just because you lost too much of your cultivation base during the End of the Dharma. Were you at your peak...”

Daoist Master Red Cloud shook her head and interrupted Xing Que. “You don't understand.”

She didn’t want to say anything more on the matter.

The incident in the Abandoned Monument concerned the power of the gods. Even at her former peak, she couldn’t possibly have defended herself from a deathtrap the gods had arranged, let alone now.

The dog fell silent. It could tell that the expedition to the Starjade Forbidden Zone had had an enormous impact on its mistress, and that her attitude toward Su Yi had changed enormously!

Suddenly, Daoist Master Red Cloud said, “Xing Que, when the Domain Boundary Battlefield opens, let’s... go home and have a look.”

“Okay!” The dog agreed without even pausing to think.

Daoist Master Red Cloud hesitated, then said softly, “But we’ll have to ask Fellow Daoist Su what he thinks first.”

The dog was at a loss for words.

Why do we have to ask that kid if we can go home or not!?

Don’t tell me that after this enormous setback, she’s developed feelings for that punk? But if she hasn’t, why is she always thinking about him?

The dog was suddenly deeply concerned. To the best of its knowledge, its mistress had never favored any man so highly before!

......

Meanwhile, beneath the same night sky.

Su Yi gradually awakened from his vacant mental state.

He still lay in his wicker chair, entirely unmoving, his clear, profound gaze reflecting the sparse stars of the night sky.

“I’m exhausted, but aren’t you exhausted too?” Su Yi whispered to himself. “Seeing the power of the gods, and Luo Yao’s unrivaled divine abilities put enormous pressure on you too, right?

“After all, the Dipankara Buddha of the Past was a true god, and Mi Zhen was his attendant. That Luo Yao was just an avatar of will, yet she crossed the River of Spacetime to destroy Mi Zhen and destroy the Dipankara Buddha’s power of the natural order. How terrifying is that?

“This... is a power you never had, not even when you stood at the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao.

“Otherwise, when you ventured into the River of Epochs and faced the threat of the gods, why would you have retreated?”

Su Yi sighed to himself. “It’s no wonder I’ve been in such low spirits since returning from the Starjade Forbidden Zone. I even feel stifled and dejected. So, that’s your influence.

“But of course, I feel the same as you. Perhaps this is the sympathy of a fellow sufferer. Thus... I’m not qualified to mock you.”

“However...” Su Yi’s distant, clear gaze suddenly filled with staunch determination. He whispered, “What you all failed to do, I’ll do in your stead!

“The enemies you couldn’t kill, I’ll kill for you!

“I’ll just say this. One day, I, Su Yi, will control the Dao Imprints of all nine of my past lives. I’ll end the gods, cut down my enemies, and far surpass all nine of my past selves. I’ll reach the very pinnacle of the Dao of the Sword!”

“Is that clear enough for you?”