Chapter 1999 - Divine Severing, the Carefree Medallion

Waves lapped the shore of a desolate island deep within the Impermeable Demon Ocean.

When Su Yi scanned the area with his divine sense, he instantly discovered a mysterious formation covering the island. To Su Yi's surprise, he quickly discovered that the formation was the handiwork of a god.

Don’t tell me a god appeared here five years ago and sealed the place, trapping Qing Wan, Qing Tang, and the others inside? And that they still won’t let anyone draw near?

Su Yi’s thoughts raced. This discovery was completely unexpected.

“Who is it?” A bundle of black light floated into the sky, then silently transformed into a gaunt male figure.

The man’s long hair hung loose, and his features were cold and firm. He was dressed in dark warrior’s robes, and he carried a bronze short spear at an angle on his back. When his eyes opened and closed, they surged with imposing crimson lightning.

As soon as he appeared, he gazed into the sky, crimson lightning shooting from his eyes. Terrifying majesty surged from his thin frame.

“No, who are

you

? And why have you hidden here?” A calm voice rang out, and the power of the natural order surged beneath the dome of heaven as Su Yi’s avatar of will appeared out of nowhere. He then descended from the heavens, walking on air.

The gaunt man’s aura was inscrutable; he was obviously using some sort of secret ability to obscure and suppress it, preventing the Laws from discovering him.

Still, Su Yi could tell at a glance that the man was a divine avatar of will, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent.

But when the gaunt man saw Su Yi clearly, he froze, stunned, and his imposing power instantly receded. Then, he clasped his fist in greeting. “Please don’t misunderstand. My name is Bei Yuan, and I descended into the Human Realm five years ago on orders to watch over your old friends.”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. “Who told you to do that?”

“My master.” A solemn look appeared on Bei Yuan’s face. “When the gods first targeted you, my master already knew your identity and origins. Thus, he commanded me to come here to assuage your worries.”

“And who is your master?” Su Yi was increasingly baffled.

Could he be an old friend from one of my past lives?

“My master’s Daoist title is Shen Jue, or ‘Divine Severing,’” said Bei Yuan. “You most likely don’t know of him. In truth, he’s doing this to establish positive karma between you, and he hopes that you’ll have an opportunity to work together after you arrive in the God Domain.

Su Yi’s brow furrowed. He really hadn’t heard the title “Divine Severing” before.

“How does he want to work together?” asked Su Yi.

Bei Yuan explained, “Master said that you have common enemies. When you proceed to the God Domain, he’ll naturally find an opportunity to meet with you.”

Bei Yuan then took out a silver medallion and passed it to Su Yi from afar. “This is my master’s token, the Carefree Medallion. If you run into thorny difficulties in the God Domain, activate it, and he’ll send reinforcements immediatly. You can at most use it three times, so please look after it. As for me... now that I’ve completed my mission, I’ll be on my way.”

Bei Yuan suddenly transformed into a rain of light and vanished.

“....” Su Yi was stunned.

He destroyed his avatar of will so casually!

A mysterious man said a bunch of mysterious things, then gave me a mysterious medallion before vanishing mysteriously. It’s all just too strange.

Someone as mysterious as Shen Jue, Divine Severing, actually... took the initiative to express his goodwill in the hope that we could one day work together. He even sent a divine emissary of will to watch over this place for five years straight...

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Su Yi sank into thought.

And he said we have common enemies. Could it be that his enemies... are the same gods who oppose me? That’s entirely possible!

Su Yi glanced down at the Carefree Medallion and discovered something new. The aura emblazoned on it was highly similar to that of the Dipankara Buddha and the other Master Gods!

Su Yi couldn’t help but suspect that the medallion’s owner, Shen Jue, was a Master God too!

In the God Domain, some people want me dead, while others want to join forces with me, and my old friends are waiting to reunite with me... Could it be that something big is about to change in the God Domain? Rather, will unexpected developments take place upon my arrival? Is that why everyone is already making arrangements?

Interesting.

Su Yi pondered, then put the Carefree Medallion away, but first, he covered it in numerous layers of seals. He wasn’t finished, either. When he saw his true body, he planned to use the Sword of the Nine Hells’ power to add yet another seal.

It was important to stay on guard. Who knew what this “Shen Jue” person was after?

Su Yi also finally understood why everyone who’d tried to approach the island over the past five years had died. With Bei Yuan’s avatar of will protecting the place, no one in the Human Realm could draw near!

......

A towering and grand ancient temple stood on a barren island: Universal Emptiness Temple!

Su Yi’s eyes shone with a hint of reminiscence as a scene floated to the forefront of his consciousness: a broad-chested monk carrying a city-sized temple on his back and dashing madly across the landscape.

Su Yi chuckled quietly to himself, then walked into Universal Emptiness Temple.

While exploring the Divine Capital Star Realm, he spent most of his time in this very temple. It was here that he'd cultivated, feasted, and watched the winds rise and the flowers grow.

It had been six years since he was last here. Seeing the temple’s familiar trees and flowers, including the ancient tree of the courtyard, brought countless memories surging to the forefront of his consciousness.

The sound of uproarious discussion filled the air.

Illuminating Emptiness and Ol’ Cripple Wei were eating hot pot in the corner of the courtyard and sharing wondrous tales of immortals. From time to time, they took big gulps of wine.

The Antique Dealer crouched not far away beside a pool of water. He held a beast skin, and he was meticulously wiping off the enormous, diverse collection of antiques placed over the ground. His movements were cautious, and his gaze was focused and infatuated.

Wei Shan was in seclusion in a meditation room, and his qi rumbled and boomed within him. He’d forgotten himself completely.

A pair of beauties conversed in the shade of an ancient tree.

One was dressed in white, her bearing as cold as ice. Her black hair hung loose, stretching all the way to her waist, and her features were picture-perfect.

The other had curved eyebrows, and she was adorable and charming, with bright, big eyes, the type you could get lost in. She sat there, cute and pure, but with clear traces of extraordinary, exceptional grace and charm.

Qing Tang and Qing Wan!

“I wonder when we’ll be able to leave this place,” sighed Qing Wan.

“Don’t be in such a rush. I actually think this is quite pleasant; with that senior protecting the place, no one can hurt us, and anyone who tries is doomed,” said Qing Tang, who was sitting with a sword across her legs. Her eyes were as cold and sharp as the edge of her weapon, but when she looked at Qing Wan, her gaze softened considerably.

“I’m just worried about Master. He’s gone to the Immortal Realm, only for countless immortals to descend to the Human Realm to target those close to him. I’m... I’m sure he’s in danger, too,” Qing Wan said with deep concern. Her voice was like the music of the heavens, but now, it sounded a bit downcast.

Qing Tang couldn’t help but smile. “Over the past five years, you’ve said such things countless times over. It seems you love Master to your very bones. No, to the very depths of your soul.”

Qing Wan flushed red, her bright eyes suddenly bashful as she averted her gaze and stammered, “I.... I’m just worried about him...”

“Don’t worry,” said Qing Tang. “Five years have passed, and we’re all alive and well. I’m sure Master is doing just fine, too. After all, if anything happened to him, those experts from the Immortal Realm would have dispersed by now. What need would they have to linger in the Divine Capital Star Realm any further?”

“Big Sister, aren’t you worried about Master?” Qing Wan asked in apparent confusion.

“I am,” said Qing Tang without missing a beat. “But more than that, I trust that Master can turn disaster into good fortune and slay anyone who stands in his way, be they god or Buddha. No one can stop him... not even the gods!”

When Su Yi heard that, he couldn’t help but mentally applaud her. Qing Tang was both the Temple Master’s only disciple and Su Xuanjun’s last and most beloved disciple. In many ways, her disposition was similar to his.

“And... don’t you miss him?” Qing Wan couldn’t help but ask.

Qing Tang froze. “I do miss him, but I’m different from you. After Master entered the cycle of reincarnation to cultivate anew, I waited alone for him for hundreds of thousands of years. This time, it’s been but six years since we parted ways. What does that amount to?”

Qing Wan sighed. “But to me, six years is far too long. They say that when you miss someone, a day feels like a year. Now, I finally understand how that feels.”

Qing Tang smiled and patted Qing Wan on the shoulder as if to comfort her.

Su Yi smiled too, and a familiar warmth filled his heart for the first time in a long time. He looked around and saw his friends and loved ones, each attending to their own affairs and finding delight therein. For a moment, he almost couldn’t bear to disrupt this peaceful scene.

But he had no other choice. His avatar of will was already half expended. He’d have to set off soon if he wanted to bring everyone here to the Immortal Realm.

“Argh, this place has really been missing something since Daoist Master Red Cloud led that mangy mutt away,” sighed Old Cripple Wei between bites of hot pot.

Illuminating Emptiness gazed into the bubbling hot pot, eagerly engulfing its contents. When he heard that, he replied instinctively, “I feel much the same way. When it was around, I always wanted to eat dog meat hot pot. Now that it’s gone, I have no appetite for that.”

He’d only just said this when calm laughter rang out. “How about I take you to see the dog now?”

It was just one sentence, but silence immediately descended over the courtyard.

The hot pot continued to boil, but Illuminating Emptiness and Old Cripple Wei set down their chopsticks. The Antique Dealer set down the antique he was cleaning, and Qing Wan and Qing Tang set aside their conversation.

Every old friend Su Yi had in the temple courtyard stopped what they were doing. Some rushed out of their rooms, while others shot to their feet.

Then, all of them gazed at the center of the courtyard.

A tall, upright figure stood beneath the light of the heavens, the branches of the ancient tree swaying in the wind. The light pouring through the leaves cast mottled shadows on the ground, making that tall, upright figure flicker in and out of view.

A wind blew past, rustling his blue robes.

This new arrival couldn’t have been any more familiar, but the sight of him left everyone unwittingly stunned.

It was a beautiful day for a reunion.

His return marked a wondrous moment in time for the Human Realm.