Chapter 1497 - The Source of Disaster

There was no doubt about it. Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha weren’t on Eastern Profound Peak. Otherwise, they’d have long since heard of his arrival and come looking for him.

“Your Excellency Su, you’re finally here!”

A group approached. Their leader was none other than Li Zhong, the Mountain-Overturning Monarch who served under Mo Qingchou!

He was accompanied by the Wood Spirit Monarch, the Yellow Sword Demon, and several others. These were Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha’s good friends.

They’d once shared a drink with Su Yi at Universal Emptiness Temple.

“Earlier, I was cultivating in seclusion when I was informed of your arrival.” Li Zhong smiled and bowed in greeting, visibly delighted. The others followed suit.

These were Su Yi’s old acquaintances, but their attitude toward him had shifted. The change was most obvious in how they addressed him.

Previously, they addressed him as their fellow Daoist. Now, they called him “Your Excellency!”

Su Yi smiled and nodded. “Come on, let’s find a place and have ourselves a chat.”

“If you please, Your Excellency.” Li Zhong led the way ahead, and soon, the group arrived at a cliffside palace. This was Li Zhong’s residence.

As soon as everyone was seated, Su Yi inquired about Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha’s whereabouts.

The Wood Spirit Monarch explained, “Your Excellency, the two of them left the Plains of Welcoming ten days prior to your arrival. They went to the Blackwater Forbidden Grounds in search of Cloud Soaring Divine Essence.”

The Blackwater Forbidden Grounds were one of the most famous and perilous places in the First Battleground.

However, they also hid considerable good fortune.

Including Cloud Soaring Divine Essence!

This was a unique treasure born in deep underground veins. It was unbelievably useful in Cloud Soaring Realm experts’ cultivation. Rumor had it that if you refined enough of it, it would significantly increase your chances of successfully becoming an immortal!

And this treasure was only available here in the First Battleground. Among Cloud Soaring Transcendents, it was a universally acknowledged supreme treasure!

Su Yi had heard of Cloud Soaring Divine Essence too. It was roughly comparable to the Third Battleground’s Nascent Divinity Source and the Second Battleground’s Grand Dao Profound Jade and Five Aggregates Stones.

When Su Yi learned that Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha had left in search of good fortune, he instantly relaxed.

Everyone then threw a banquet, and the atmosphere was joyful and harmonious.

Before long, everyone started talking about the leading experts of the other three camps.

“I have to say, of the three of them, the Northern Abyss Star Domain’s Yu Chen is my most mysterious, and he keeps the lowest profile. He seldom ventures outside, and even now, no one has seen him take action,” Li Zhong sighed. “But his junior apprentice sister, Wen Xiuzhu, is already practically invincible against foes of the same cultivation. She’s terrifying to the extreme! She once defeated thirty-nine experts in a row atop the Welcoming Grounds, and she’s yet to lose even once. But she says that her strength is far from comparable to her senior apprentice brother’s!”

The others nodded, their expressions complicated. Even though they were in competition with the Northern Abyss Star Domain, they had to admit that Yu Chen was a terrifying existence.

The Wood Spirit Monarch said suddenly, “The Western Chill Star Domain’s Qin Suxin isn’t at all lousy either. She presides over a whole group of valiant experts, and none of them dare to defy her. Her abilities are far-reaching and mighty. She’s the greatest Cloud Soaring Transcendent in all of the Western Chill Star Domain.

“Not long ago, she traversed Thundermist Mountain, one of the First Battleground’s danger zones. They say that over a hundred Xiantian Demon Spirits fell at her hands, and that's not even considering all the other vicious creatures she slew!"

Xiantian Demon Spirits were neither human nor ghost. They were born of impure, baleful energies, and their strength was enough to threaten the lives of even Cloud Soaring Transcendents! Yet Qin Suxin had single-handedly ventured into Thundermist Mountain, slaying over a hundred of them. When word got out, it threw all four camps into uproar.

“And the Southern Flame Star Domain’s Ren Changqing...”

When Li Zhong saw that they were about to continue this topic of conversation, he interrupted them. “No need to discuss the others. Come, let’s drink!”

He smiled and raised his cup.

In truth, he’d noticed that Su Yi had little interest in this topic. No, he didn’t care at all. Li Zhong immediately realized that it’d be best to change the subject.

The crowd quickly realized this too. When they thought about it, it made sense. To them, the top experts of other camps were extraordinary existences.

But to Su Yi, they were nothing at all!

The crowd then launched into a discussion of the good fortune dispersed throughout the First Battleground. Su Yi instantly looked interested.

What Su Yi currently found the most frustrating was that Transcendent-level materials could no longer satisfy the needs of his cultivation.

As for immortal-level materials? They were extremely rare in the Human Realm, to the point that they could only be happened upon by chance.

Fortunately, there were some rare and wondrous treasures available in the Domain Boundary Battlefield, just the kind he needed.

Like Nascent Divinity Source, Grand Dao Profound Jade, and the Five Aggregates Stone.

Now, Su Yi set his sights on Cloud Soaring Divine Essence!

It’s a pity. The rules of the First Battleground forbid killing. If not, I could just kill a bunch of enemies and gather a bunch of Cloud Soaring Divine Essence that way,

Su Yi sighed to himself.

Horses needed to graze night and day to get fat.

He could bitterly seek out good fortune, but it was simpler and more effective to just kill his enemies and take their treasures.

But he wouldn't do that. Su Yi might not care about the rules, but these rules benefited everyone, regardless of their camp of origin. He wouldn’t break them lightly.

“I’ll just have to find some time to visit the danger zones with Cloud Soaring Divine Essence available and gather as much as I can. That way, I won’t have to worry about my cultivation for a while,” thought Su Yi.

He was already running low on suitable cultivation resources. His current supply would only last him a month or so.

At the end of the day, his foundations were far too strong. They were like a bottomless hole.

The higher his cultivation grew, the more stringent the requirements for his cultivation resources.

“Your Excellency Su, are you planning to turn that Qiongqi you subdued into your attendant?” Li Zhong asked suddenly.

He’d long since noticed the kitten-like Qiongqi curled around Su Yi’s feet.

“It isn’t worthy of that.” Su Yi shook his head.

“...” The Qiongqi lowered its head. It felt depressed, as if its dignity had been heartlessly trampled.

But it dared not voice its objections.

“When the curtains fall on the Domain Boundary Battlefield, if any of you return to the Eastern Profound Star Domain, I’ll ask you to bring it and this feathered beast back with you.” As Su Yi spoke, he flipped his palm, and the Bloodwing Ghost Bird appeared.

The unrivaled ferocious bird was trembling uncontrollably, its eyes full of dread. It looked utterly weak and pitiful.

“The two of them are just barely enough to watch over Universal Emptiness temple’s gates,” said Su Yi.

The crowd instantly understood.

So, he subdued these two vicious beasts to serve as temple guardians...

Su Yi added, “Of course, if I encounter any tougher vicious beasts in the days ahead, I naturally won’t let them go.”

The crowd exchanged glances. Here in the First Battleground, these vicious beasts were top predators. They could send just about any Cloud Soaring Transcendent scampering away in panic.

But obviously, in Su Yi’s eyes, they weren’t much at all....

Those ‘unrivaled’ vicious beasts had best pray they don’t bump into His Excellency Su. If they do, they’re in for grave misfortune!

Once the banquet ended, the group accompanied Su Yi to the mountaintop and helped him find a suitable residence.

They settled on a cliffside palace with a view of the distant Welcoming Grounds.

It was already occupied by a top Cloud Soaring expert of the Eastern Profound Star Domain, but when Su Yi arrived, the man delightedly offered it to him. He even got everything in order for Su Yi first.

Su Yi accepted this calmly. To express his gratitude, he asked the man his name.

The man introduced himself as Fan Shuyou, and was incomparably delighted; he realized that he’d effectively established positive karma with Su Yi!

Trading a residence for such a positive karmic tie was more than worth it!

That very day, Su Yi took up residence atop Eastern Profound Peak and went into seclusion.

Several days passed in a flash.

Su Yi’s arrival drew enormous attention from the various camps, but as time passed, everything returned to normal.

The Welcoming Grounds were still lively, with duels taking place every day.

Most of the participants were from other camps; the experts of the Eastern Profound Star Domain weren’t foolish enough to seek out their own humiliation. They knew they were no match for the competition, so it was natural that they wouldn’t want to participate.

But even more people were out exploring the First Battleground’s danger zones in search of good fortune. They were trying to strengthen themselves.

If they were strong enough, they’d have a shot at ascending to the Immortal Realm when the Road of Welcoming appeared!

...

Just as Su Yi was considering whether or not to take a trip outside to gather Cloud Soaring Divine Essence, Li Zhong hurried over.

“Your Excellency Su, Fellow Daoist Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha have returned, but...” Li Zhong furrowed his brow and lowered his voice. “Both of them are severely injured, especially the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha. His physical body has been destroyed, and all that remains is his badly damaged soul. His situation doesn’t bode well...”

Su Yi’s gaze was calm, but cold, sharp light flashed through his eyes as he rose to his feet. “Bring me to see them.”

Li Zhong hurriedly led the way, and before long, the two of them arrived at a spot halfway up the mountain.

The palace built here now served as Sword Immortal Qingshi’s residence.

The Wood Spirit Monarch, Yellow Sword Demon, and the others had long since gathered here. They were clustered around Sword Immortal Qingshi, all of them visibly fraught with worry.

“Step aside, all of you! His Excellency Su is here!” said Li Zhong.

Instantly, the crowd parted like water. Everyone stepped aside to clear a path.

Only then did Su Yi see Sword Immortal Qingshi.

He was seated cross-legged, his entire body covered in blood. His face was pallid, and he seemed weak and listless. His energy was mottled and chaotic, and it was obvious that his wounds were severe.

When he saw Su Yi, he lit up with delight, only to break into violent, hacking coughs. Blood dripped from the corners of his lips.

He laughed bitterly, then wiped the blood away and said hoarsely, “Fellow Daoist Su, forgive me for not rising to greet you.”

Su Yi walked over, looked him up and down, and frowned. “Why are your injuries so heavy?”

Sword Immortal Qingshi shook his head. “My wounds are nothing compared to the monk’s.”

“Where is he?” asked Su Yi.

Sword Immortal Qingshi swept his gaze across the room. “Might everyone step out for a moment?”

The crowd considerately left the room, and soon, only Su Yi and Sword Immortal Qingshi remained.