Chapter 2002 - The Kind Cannot Survive

Kaboom!

The surface of the river churned, giving rise to towering, turbid waves.

The massive lifeform caused far too great a disturbance wherever it passed, like a walking windstorm.

“A Mountain-Bearing Turtle?” Su Yi exclaimed.

Mountain-Bearing Turtles were massive creatures similar to turtles, but their bodies tapered into massive fish tails. They only existed in the River of Epochs, and they devoured the bodies and souls that sank into the oblivion of the river’s depths.

They were terrifyingly strong; each was comparable to a Great Profound Stage expert.

Furthermore, here in the River of Epochs, the Mountain-Bearing Turtles were an absolute advantage. They were extremely troublesome opponents. By throwing the surrounding current into chaos, they could bury even powerful foes!

Ordinarily speaking, few were willing to provoke these vicious creatures.

“Fellow Daoist, save me! I’m willing to offer you every Baleful Current Pearl I have on me as a reward!”

The woman in purple fled, too panicked to consider where she was going. When she saw Su Yi in the distance, she rushed toward him as if desperately clutching at straws.

Boom!

The Mountain-Bearing Turtle relentlessly gave chase, stirring up monstrous currents full of the aura of the epochs. The sight was enough to make one’s heart quiver.

That woman’s really quite selfish.

Su Yi frowned. She was in no way “asking for help.” She was obviously trying to redirect this disaster onto him! She wanted to use him as a weapon!

Su Yi thought for a moment, then attacked. He raised his right hand, and a ten-thousand-foot streak of sword qi descended.

Boom!

The Mountain-Bearing Turtle’s massive body split beneath the water’s surface. Its blood stained the entire area red, and the towering waves quickly ceased.

The woman in purple was unwittingly stunned.

He just killed a Mountain-Bearing Turtle in a single attack? Who is this guy? How could he be so strong?

The way she looked at Su Yi instantly shifted. She drew closer on her red lotus to express her gratitude. “You have my utmost gratitude, Fellow Daoist. If not for you, I’m afraid I might well have lost my life today.”

She was a moving, bright-eyed beauty, and her figure was impressive, too. The outlines of the two ample, snowy mounds on her were visible beneath the lapels of her clothing.

Her icy demeanor was in stark contrast with her innate, sultry charms. It was a shock to the senses.

“It was no more difficult than lifting my hand.” Su Yi glanced at the woman in purple, then stretched out his hand and grabbed.

Boom!

A bloody bone broke free of the Mountain-Bearing Turtle’s corpse and whooshed out of the water before landing in the palm of Su Yi’s hand.

The Mountain-Bearing Turtle’s natal bone! This was a divine material far more precious than a Baleful Current Pearl, and it would make for excellent fodder for the Divine Replenishment Furnace.

“My name is Shan Ruoqin. I live and cultivate in the Fire Crow Watershed. Might I ask your honorable name and surname?” asked the woman in purple, her eyes full of admiration.

Someone capable of slaying a Mountain-Bearing Turtle with ease was unquestionably a top expert by the standards of the Fire Crow Watershed.

Su Yi tossed the turtle’s natal bone into the Divine Replenishment Furnace, then looked at Shan Ruoqin. “You have to keep your promise.”

Shan Ruoqin froze; she could tell that Su Yi disliked her, and she couldn’t help but look shamefaced. “I was reckless earlier, and I made trouble for you. I hope you won’t take offense.”

She was a beauty, and she looked sincerely apologetic and pitiful. She could have easily won most people over.

But it was as if Su Yi didn’t even notice. He just looked at her in silence.

Shan Ruoqin instantly felt pressure. Her face shifted, and she no longer hesitated to give Su Yi every last Baleful Current Pearl she had on her.

Then, she said, “I hope that you’ll accept these as compensation and overlook my earlier rudeness.”

Su Yi glanced at the thirteen pearls, then shook his head. “It’s not enough.”

Shan Ruoqin froze, and her brow furrowed. “What do you mean, Fellow Daoist?”

A hint of displeasure appeared on Su Yi’s face as he said calmly, “These are the compensation you promised me if I saved your life. Don’t you think you ought to compensate me for your earlier rudeness, too?”

Shan Ruoqin’s beautiful face was instantly unsightly. It seemed she would never have guessed that Su Yi would seize this opportunity to demand a reward!

She took a deep breath, then said, “Fellow Daoist, your demands are heartless. You...”

But then, her sentence came to an abrupt halt. She could sense the murderous intent surging in the depths of Su Yi’s gaze, and indeed, he made no attempt to hide it.

Shan Ruoqin stiffened, and a chill coursed down her spine. Instinct told her that if Su Yi lost his temper, he could kill her instantly!

She no longer dared hesitate. She took out all of her treasures, including her fishing rod and finishing basket. She couldn’t have been any more cooperative.

“Are you happy now, Fellow Daoist?” Shan Ruoqin asked coldly.

Su Yi took a deep, hard look at her. “Don’t forget that

you’re

the one who tried to redirect a disaster onto me, and

I’m

the one who saved your life. Despite that, all I asked for in return is a little compensation.”

Shan Ruoqin’s expression shifted, but in the end, she sighed. “And here I thought you were the hot-blooded, heroic sort, and that you wouldn’t concern yourself with that. Who’d have thought I completely misunderstood you? Farewell.”

With that, she poured her strength into her red lotus and floated away.

“‘Hot-blooded’ and ‘heroic?’” Su Yi watched Shan Ruoqin fade from view, then laughed dryly.

Who among those who explore the River of Epochs isn’t hard-hearted and ruthless? The kindhearted cannot survive here!

That Shan Ruoqin was obviously just probing me earlier. Had I come across as overly compassionate, I’m certain she would have thought she’d found someone worth getting to know—as an idiot she could exploit as she pleased!

Su Yi shook his head, then set all such thoughts aside. He didn’t care whether Shan Ruoqin bore a grudge against him or not. If she dared act on her grudge, Su Yi wouldn’t mind showing her the true meaning of the word “heartless.”

Su Yi glanced at her treasures, then immediately lost interest and tossed them all into the Divine Replenishment Furnace.

It wasn’t that she didn’t have anything valuable, but that the vast majority of Great Realm treasures no longer drew Su Yi’s attention.

Su Yi then continued along the River of Epochs alone. He took out his wicker chair, placed it on the expanded Sword of Proximity, and sprawled out comfortably, instantly relaxed.

Reclining was far more comfortable than sitting cross-legged.

A Mountain-Bearing Turtle appeared. That’s an inauspicious omen.

Of the creatures of the River of Epochs, several were considered inauspicious omens. Their appearance was inevitably accompanied by catastrophe. These included Mountain-Bearing Turtles, Human-Headed Birds, Ghost-Eye Butterflies, and Demons of Drought.

Demons of Drought were particularly dangerous. When they appeared on dry land, they inevitably invited a drought, but when they appeared in the River of Epochs, they meant unpredictable, enormous catastrophe!

About fifteen minutes later, the Sword of Proximity quivered, then transmitted a message. “Master, a strange whirlpool is forming in the water ahead.”

Su Yi looked over. There, on the surface of the river, he saw pale gray mist permeating the air. When the waves churned, he caught glimpses of flashing silver light.

That aside, he caught subtle hints of a delicate fragrance in the air. A single whiff was enough to soothe the heart and mind.

Before long, the river transformed. Countless flecks of silver right revolved, creating a massive whirlpool that churned the surrounding waters, producing a sound like the low rumbling of thunder.

A terrifying suction emanated from the silver whirlpool, ripping the surrounding thirty thousand feet of sky as if it were made of paper. Soon, the very air itself was riddled with holes!

Su Yi froze, stunned, as he recalled a rumor that circulated throughout the River of Epochs.

They said that too many treasures to count had been lost in the riverbed, left there by experts who lost their lives while exploring the River of Epochs.

Ordinary treasures couldn’t withstand the corrosion of the ages. They were ultimately ground away to nothingness.

The few that lasted despite the passage of countless years were all among the rarest and most precious treasures in existence.

They included no small number of Epoch Treasures and Undying Materials!

Alas, none dared dive deep into the River of Epochs. Doing so was no different from suicide. The power of the ages would wear you away, and the mottled, explosive aura of the epochs would invade your body.

That aside, the River of Epochs was unfathomably deep and home to numerous unknown and terrifying dangers, including hidden currents and inauspicious lifeforms. Not even true gods would dare venture deep into its waters lightly!

But that didn’t mean it was impossible to acquire the treasures in the riverbed. When an Epoch Whirlpool appeared, it would stir up the lost treasures and fling them onto the river’s surface.

And the radiant silver vortex up ahead was one such Epoch Whirlpool!

Epoch Whirlpools were formed from the mottled aura of the epochs, and they were terrifying; any Great Profound Stage cultivator who drew near would be ripped to shreds!

Still, their appearance meant that rare good fortune was soon to enter the world. If Su Yi stood guard over the area, when the whirlpool drew treasures from the bottom of the river, he’d be first in line to seize them!

When I encountered that Mountain-Bearing Turtle, I thought disaster was imminent. Who’d have thought I’d run into such good fortune instead?

Su Yi rose from his wicker chair, stood on the Sword of Proximity, and stopped not far from the Epoch Whirlpool, fishing rod in hand.

The fishing rod was among the treasures Shan Ruoqin had given to him as compensation. Now, Su Yi planned to use it to fish for good fortune!

Boom!

The River of Epochs revolved, it stirred up the surrounding waters, producing thunderous rumbling. The glittering silver light of the whirlpool emanated an imposing, baleful aura.

This was the mottled, chaotic aura of the epochs!

The force and momentum were enough to stun even Su Yi. He promptly directed the Sword of Proximity to move further away.

Whoosh!

A streak of dazzling blue light shot out of the Epoch Whirlpool, piercing the firmament.

It instantly drew Su Yi’s attention.

Upon closer inspection, a fist-sized hunk of copper had shot out of the River of Epochs. It was swathed in dazzling, misty green light. Whatever it was, it had to be extraordinary for it to have survived the River of Epoch’s corrosive power all this time!

Su Yi shook his wrists, and a transparent fishing line flew through the air and effortlessly wrapped around the hunk of copper.

But then, a bang rang out, and the incomparably durable fishing line shattered beneath the copper fragment’s green light!

“This treasure isn’t simple.” Su Yi’s eyes lit up. He flew through the air on the flat of his sword, stretched out his palm, and grabbed.

But then, the distant skies suddenly split, and a large hand emerged from the rift, grabbing the glowing hunk of copper before Su Yi got the chance!