Chapter 2061 - Play With Fire and Get Burned

Beneath the dome of heaven.

After Buddhist Venerate Ghama arrived, numerous other terrifying presences appeared on all sides.

These were the other seven Heavenly Gods of the Kingdom of Lasting Light.

The entire venue was instantly in uproar. Now, all of the Nine Great Heavenly Gods had gathered in one place! They appeared on different sides, collectively sealing the whole place off.

Their leader, Buddhist Venerate Ghama, stood out as the most terrifying of all. His imposing presence blanketed the entire area!

We’re saved!

Many of those present sighed in relief. Prior to this, most of them had been too terrified to flee. They were beset on all sides, unable to retreat or advance.

But now, the situation had turned around.

Even Heavenly God White Flame and the other four Mid-Rank Gods sighed in relief. Su Yi fought with such ferocity that their will to fight was on the verge of breaking down.

He’s finished! There’s no way Fellow Daoist Su can escape now...

Bi Kongliu’s heart sank.

But against all expectations, Su Yi remained as calm as ever. He just stood there calmly, not the least bit flustered.

“Su Yi, so long as you give me the Epoch Spark, I promise to spare your life,” said Buddhist Venerate Ghama, his voice booming and grand. A rain of golden lotuses fell around him, manifesting a sacred vision of three thousand illusory Buddhist kingdoms.

All the while, the other Heavenly Gods stared coldly at Su Yi.

But Su Yi just laughed. “Sure.”

He flipped his palm, and the Epoch Spark hidden within his internal Chaos of the Grand Dao suddenly appeared.

The Epoch Spark was gray and outwardly unassuming, but a flowing rain of chaos fire revolved around it, and its aura was mysterious and taboo, with an ancient, primeval quality.

The moment it appeared, it melted the nearby skies. Heaven and earth dimmed, and even the power of the Laws covering the surroundings was affected!

Everyone was unwittingly shaken.

This is the Epoch Spark!?

That’s an unparalleled stroke of good fortune thought only to exist in rumors. Even Master Gods would go crazy over it!

But what really surprised them was that Su Yi would take such a treasure out so casually. He was being so cooperative it seemed downright ridiculous.

And unquestionably out of character.

Buddhist Venerate Ghama couldn’t help but be stunned. “Are you sure you want to lower your head and offer up such precious good fortune?”

“Of course,” said Su Yi. He flung it through the air. “Take it.”

Whoosh!

The Epoch Spark blurred into a gray beam of firelight and shot toward Buddhist Venerate Ghama.

Buddhist Venerate Ghama’s pupils constricted, but he dared not get complacent. He circulated his Fortune Realm Greater God cultivation base, formed seals with both hands, and defended himself with all his might.

But against his expectations, the Epoch Spark presented no threat whatsoever. He effortlessly suppressed and took control of it.

All of his hard work and defenses suddenly seemed like a ridiculous overreaction.

The crowd was stunned. Buddhist Venerate Ghama’s face, meanwhile, reddened. He was visibly ill at ease.

He’d suspected that something strange was afoot with the Epoch Spark, which was why he proceeded with such caution. He’d never anticipated that it might simply not be the slightest bit dangerous.

This made him come across as a bit cowardly...

But these feelings of awkwardness quickly faded away. The moment he took the Epoch Spark in hand, indescribable excitement and delight washed over him, and his expression was suddenly kindly and benevolent.

“The ancients said that wise men adapt to their circumstances. Fellow Daoist, you’ve made the wisest possible choice!” Buddhist Venerate Ghama said with an approving sigh. “How about this? Offer up the secrets of reincarnation, and I’ll let you leave. I won’t trouble you any further, either.”

Gasps arose throughout the crowd. Some of the Heavenly Gods’ expressions grew strange. It was obvious to all of them that Buddhist Venerate Ghama was pushing to find Su Yi’s limits and that he had no intention of letting him off lightly.

Bi Kongliu cursed Buddhist Venerate Ghama out inwardly.

But Su Yi just laughed again. “Just as I expected, any amount of concessions or compromises will be interpreted as weakness, and they’ll just invite others to walk all over you. You can’t trade cooperation for survival.”

Buddhist Venerate Ghama couldn’t help but laugh too. “Would you have lowered your head if you hadn’t realized you couldn’t escape? Since you’ve admitted defeat, why not be thorough about it?”

He paused, then said solemnly, “Do you have any choice but to cooperate?”

The crowd chuckled. Many of them agreed with Su Yi; concessions and compromises were expressions of low confidence, and they’d only invite further bullying and oppression.

Simply put, if you wanted peace, you had to fight for it! Making concessions in a bid for peace would only lead to doom.

Su Yi opened his right hand and said, “Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Give the Epoch Spark back to me.”

Several of the divine children couldn’t help but laugh.

Regret? What good will regret do you now? Su Yi is obviously just throwing a tantrum!

Buddhist Venerate Ghama couldn’t help but smile, too. “You gave me the Epoch Spark. How can you take it back? It’s no longer yours!”

A hint of disdain appeared on his brow.

Whatever else one might say about him, Su Yi was Li Fuyou’s reincarnation. How could he be so childish?

“Is that so?” Su Yi laughed. “A certain idiom comes to mind. Have you heard of it?”

“What idiom?”

“If you play with fire, you’ll burn yourself,” whispered Su Yi.

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, something unexpected happened.

Kcch!

The Epoch Spark suddenly erupted with dazzling chaos fire in Buddhist Venerate Ghama’s hands. It happened so quickly that the venerate’s hand burnt to ash before he even realized what was happening.

A wisp of chaos fire traveled up his right arm, and wherever it went, blood, flesh, bones, and sinews were reduced to ash.

It happened so suddenly that Buddhist Venerate Ghama instantly lost his cool.

Splurt!

Without the slightest hesitation, he used his left hand as a knife and severed his right arm. At the same time, he retreated explosively. Only then did he escape the danger.

Even so, this brush with death left him drenched in sweat, and his expression was unsightly.

The Epoch Spark’s power was too great and too strange. It hadn’t just destroyed one of his limbs. That terrifying, burning power instantly dealt him massive damage. His entire body was wracked with burning pain, and he felt a searing, piercing sensation in both his flesh and his soul.

Meanwhile, Su Yi flashed through the air and arrived before one of the Heavenly Gods.

Yue Yitian!

Not long ago, this Heavenly God had attempted to ambush Su Yi over the River of Epochs, only for Su Yi to turn around and relentlessly pummel him. In the end, the god had no choice but to crush a Fortune Realm talisman and flee.

Buddhist Venerate Ghama’s suffering startled Yue Yitian. He would never have considered the possibility that Su Yi might suddenly change targets and go after him instead.

By the time he reacted, it was already too late to dodge.

Clang!

The Sword of Proximity appeared and attacked Yue Yitian from a distance.

Yue Yitian blocked with all his might, but alas, Su Yi had now reached the Hidden Summit. Earlier, he’d killed so many Mid-Rank Gods that their corpses fell like rain, and that was without a weapon.

He was, of course, even stronger when he drew the Sword of Proximity. How could he not be?

Within moments, a deafening blast of sword qi rang out, and Yue Yitian was slain on the spot. His body was blasted to bits, and chunks of bloody flesh scattered the surroundings.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

This happened at almost the same time Buddhist Venerate Ghama took damage, so quick that it seemed unbelievable.

When the crowd caught up, they were all visibly horrified. Only now did they realize that Su Yi hadn’t given up the Epoch Spark to compromise or admit defeat; it was a killer weapon in its own right. His real goal had been to catch Buddhist Venerate Ghama off guard!

And now, Yue Yitian was dead, too! Who wouldn’t have been startled?

“You’re seeking death!” Buddhist Venerate Ghama roared in fury and waved his remaining hand. A thirty-six-petal lotus platform rose into the air, and the three thousand illusory Buddhist kingdoms descended upon Su Yi with endless, all-encompassing light.

Heaven and earth changed color in an instant. Everything shook on all sides.

This was the majesty of a Fortune Realm Greater God. It was far beyond that of Mid-Rank Limit Gods!

Even though Buddhist Venerate Ghama had just suffered badly, the power of this strike was enough to instill terror, dread, and despair in the hearts of the world’s Mid-Rank Gods.

Su Yi didn’t clash with him head-on. By killing Yue Yitian, he’d broken his enemies’ encirclement and created an exit!

When Buddhist Venerate Ghama attacked, he laughed dryly, then turned and fled. Within moments, he’d vanished without a trace.

Buddhist Venerate Ghama’s infuriated strike hit nothing but air.

Unbelievably, the Epoch Spark flashed, then followed Su Yi as if it were sentient.

A Mid-Rank God tried to stop it, only for the Epoch Spark to burn him to ash instantaneously. He was destroyed, body and soul!

The sight made countless gods’ hearts quiver. They no longer dared try to intercept it.

The divine children were completely dumbstruck.

Is Su Yi really going to get away?

Bi Kongliu dared not express it out loud, but inwardly, he silently whooped for joy.

Yes! How satisfying!

Su Yi had broken out of the encirclement masterfully. First, he’d used the Epoch Spark as bait, and to catch Buddhist Venerate Ghama off guard. Then, he crisply cut down Yue Yitian and broke the encirclement.

By the time Buddhist Venerate Ghama attacked in fury, it was too late!

This entire series of events happened smoothly, naturally, and in a flash. It was as crisp as could be.

The natural ease with which Su Yi slipped away left Bi Kongliu sighing with amazement and admiration.

Badass! He’s really a badass!

“Come with me! We’re going to Ancient God Ridge!” Buddhist Venerate Ghama bellowed, then led the other gods into the distance.

He dared say with certainty that Su Yi was heading for the Ridge of the Ancient Gods.

After all, that was where the entrance to the Path of the Ancient Gods was!