Chapter 2082 - Substituting One Thing for Another

Su Yi looked over and saw a man in black robes whooshing over from afar. He gripped a silver spear and seethed with murderous intent.

Su Yi could tell at a glance that this was a god from the God Domain’s Nine Profundities Yao Court!

“What are you doing, sir?” Su Yi asked flippantly.

He’d long since sensed that a series of Great Profound Stage cultivators had appeared throughout the surrounding star sea, just as he had.

But without exception, the gods stationed throughout the surrounding area intercepted them to interrogate them about their identities and origins.

All of them were quite cooperative. None dared to resist. How could they? Compared to gods, Great Profound Stage cultivators weren’t even worth looking at. They could only gaze up at deities from afar.

When Su Yi saw this, he instantly understood what was happening. His enemies from the God Domain had arrived before him, and they were waiting here to target him!

“Cut the chit-chat! Tell me who you are and where you're from! Then hold still and let me make sure you aren’t in disguise. Don’t fight back!” The man in black stood several hundred feet away, his silver spear pointed at Su Yi. His gaze was icy, and his tone left no room for negotiation.

“Very well.” Su Yi nodded, then stood still, just as he was told.

He’d long since disguised himself as a Daoist in dark robes. His features were now unassuming. Furthermore, given his capabilities, he had no need to fear a Lesser God seeing through his disguise.

A powerful divine sense erupted from the black-robed man’s body and enveloped Su Yi completely. The search was extremely impudent; he scanned Su Yi’s entire body, and even tried to pry into Su Yi’s soul.

But then, Su Yi silently circulated his cultivation base and used a secret soul art called “Replacing a Rafter With a Pillar.”

In the end, the man in black learned nothing at all. He waved impatiently. “You’re free to go!”

Su Yi smiled, not at all concerned. “First, might I ask for your honorable name and surname?”

“Huh?” The man in black laughed coldly. “What, do you plan to get revenge?”

He pointed to himself. “In that case, listen carefully. My name is Niu Huang, and you’re welcome to seek revenge against me at any time!”

His voice was full of proud disdain.

Su Yi inclined his head. “I’ll remember your name.”

“Feh! You’re just a Great Profound Stage cultivator. Even if you achieve divinity in the Deification Star Sea, you’ll be a brand-new god.” Niu Huang spat. “His Excellency forbade me from slaughtering the innocent, but if he hadn’t, I’d have killed a blind fool like you a long time ago!”

Su Yi was outwardly stunned, but inwardly, he was thinking about something else entirely.

If I run into this guy again, I could have a feast! But should I?

He could tell at a glance that Niu Huang’s true form was a One-Horned Demon Ox!

Niu Huang, meanwhile, felt a sudden, inexplicable hint of danger. He couldn’t help but frown and scan his surroundings, but he didn’t discover anything at all.

I wouldn’t have felt an ill premonition for no reason. I’m sure there’s danger. I have to be careful, and no matter what I do, I have to make sure I don’t run into Su Yi,

he grumbled to himself.

As a Lesser God, he could look down on all Great Profound Stage cultivators. The only one he didn’t dare to underestimate was Su Yi.

No, it went beyond that. He was afraid of Su Yi!

He’d been ordered to investigate trial-takers, but were it at all possible, he didn’t want to run into Su Yi. That would be far too unlucky!

“Hurry up and scram!” Niu Huang waved.

Su Yi was just about to leave when a shout resounded from the distant stars.

“Everyone, the orders have changed. Su Yi has left the City of the Beginning. Going forward, all who enter the Deification Star Sea are to be taken into custody so that Their Excellencies can confirm their identities for themselves! If anyone dares to resist, kill them without mercy!”

The voice went off like a thunderclap, resounding throughout the stars. Throughout the surrounding area, the gods tasked with investigating Great Profound Stage cultivators reacted accordingly, capturing their targets instead.

Startled cries rang out, but the Great Profound Stage cultivators didn’t dare to struggle. They were afraid that if they did, they’d be executed.

Su Yi frowned. The Deification Star Sea was a trial ground prepared specifically for Great Profound Stage cultivators, yet now, a pack of gods from the God Domain had muddled their way in.

Worse, they were attacking wantonly, capturing every Great Profound Stage cultivator they saw. This was unquestionably over the line. They were blatantly violating the path of trials’ rules!

At the same time, Su Yi realized that his enemies had a contact in the City of the Beginning.

Otherwise, they could never have learned of his arrival the moment he left the city!

“You really are an unlucky one, but there’s nothing for it. I disdain making things hard on a small fry like you, but for now, I have no choice but to take you into custody.” Niu Huang’s gaze was instantly sinister. “Well? Don’t just stand there! Come quietly, and this lofty one will spare your life!”

Su Yi smiled. “I changed my mind, too. I apologize in advance.”

Niu Huang froze, stunned, but before he could react, a large, powerful hand seized him by the throat. His whole body stiffened as his cultivation base was sealed, and he lost all power to resist.

His eyes widened as if he’d been struck by lightning, and he blurted, “You... You’re Su Yi!?”

Rather, he

tried

to say it. His voice was immediately sealed; only Su Yi heard him.

“That’s right. A delightful surprise, isn’t it?” Su Yi laughed.

Niu Huang shook from head to toe.

Fuck! How could I have been the one to bump into this star of disaster!?

Boom!

He was knocked unconscious before he even knew what hit him and stuffed into the Divine Replenishment Furnace.

“Niu Huang! What happened over there?”

Someone in the distance sensed the commotion and looked over.

“Nothing. I just suppressed a disobedient little luckless bastard,” said Su Yi.

He’d silently transformed, taking on Niu Huang’s appearance. Even his clothing and his voice were a perfect match. No one would be able to tell the difference unless they looked extremely closely.

He then strode into the distance. Along the way, he saw other experts of the God Domain all over the place, as well as numerous Great Profound Stage experts captured one by one!

Su Yi just watched coldly from the sidelines. He didn’t intervene, but inwardly, dense, murderous intent was brewing in his heart.

He hated nothing more than when his enmities implicated the innocent!

The Deification Star Sea was boundlessly vast and flecked with countless stars. The path of trials began the moment someone entered that stretch of stars. As you traversed the path through the void, you could find the good fortune hidden here.

The good fortune relating to divinity was, for the most part, tucked away in hidden realms manifested from stars!

Su Yi didn’t need these opportunities at divinity. He was striving for his own path of divinity.

But before he could become a god that way, he needed to fully grasp the mysteries of the Hidden Summit Realm and temper his cultivation to perfection!

I wonder if the Deification Star Sea has trial grounds suitable for me. If not, I’ll just rush to the Nine Great Celestial Trials,

Su Yi pondered as he advanced.

Moments later——

“Niu Huang! Weren’t you supposed to be standing guard over the entry point of the Deification Star Sea? What are you doing here?”

Su Yi looked in the direction of the voice and saw a stalwart, red-haired man looking his way.

He was a Limit Realm Mid-Rank God!

“I...” Su Yi was just about to come up with an excuse when the red-haired man shook his head.

“Never mind. I happen to need an attendant, so come with me.” With that, the red-haired man continued along the path. “Just now, His Excellency Wen Xiao commanded me to protect Divine Son Feng Wuji.”

Feng Wuji!

Su Yi was briefly stunned.

He’s here too?

But he quickly understood. Feng Wuji was the descendant of the Rahu Yao Ancestor, and the Nine Profundities Yao Court was his faction. It also wasn’t at all strange that an unparalleled divine son like Feng Wuji would come to the Deification Star Sea.

Still, the mention of Feng Wuji’s name made Su Yi feel a bit strange.

Feng Wuji was quite interesting. Back in the Immortal Realm, he’d made it perfectly clear that he had no intention of becoming Su Yi’s enemy.

Especially in the Epoch Battlefield. There, he announced to his ancestor’s face that he refused to become Su Yi’s enemy because he didn’t want to die...

The Rahu Yao Ancestor had flown into a rage over this, cursing Feng Wuji for his unfilial behavior. This provoked uproarious laughter, but Feng Wuji didn’t care.

He’d thus left a deep impression on Su Yi.

Even as he pondered, Su Yi stuck close to the red-haired man, sticking to him like a shadow.

“The divine son accompanied several other divine children into a hidden realm in search of good fortune capable of helping them achieve divinity,” explained the red-headed man. “When we get there, help me keep an eye on things just in case something happens.”

Su Yi nodded.

“But we don’t need to do anything beyond that, as only those beneath the divine level can enter the hidden realms of the Deification Star Sea. We just need to wait outside until the divine son returns,” said the red-headed man.

He couldn’t help but laugh. “It might seem like a dull post, but it has the advantage of being safe. At the very least, we won’t need to worry about bumping into Su Yi.”

He seemed quite pleased with this arrangement.

Su Yi looked at him strangely, then perfunctorily voiced his agreement. “You’re wise indeed, Your Excellency.”

The red-haired man burst into laughter. “Wise? No, not at all! I just want to keep myself out of danger. You know how dangerous Su Yi is. I’m afraid that among us, only the Fortune Realm Greater Gods are a match for him!”

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

A moment later, he wiped the smile off his face and said, “Don’t tell anyone I said that. Otherwise, His Excellency Wen Xiao is sure to punish me!”

Wen Xiao was a Greater God of the Nine Profundities Yao Court. He’d appeared earlier in the City of the Beginning, just as Ren Beiyou of the Three Purities Daoist Court had.

“Understood.” Su Yi nodded.

As they conversed, they saw a massive star swathed in blazing, fiery mist in the distance.

“That’s a hidden realm containing a chance at divinity. According to Bo Yun, that Greater God from the Divine Court of Providence, it most likely hides good fortune comparable to a first-level Epoch Fragment!” The red-haired man pointed into the distance. “Even here in the Deification Star Sea, such hidden realms are rare. It’s among the best.”

Su Yi noticed that numerous figures had clustered around the star. There were around thirty divine children in total, all of them accompanied and protected by gods.

Feng Wuji was there too. His clothes were whiter than snow, and his handsome face stood out of the crowd.

“Ol’ Gui, hurry over!” When he saw the red-haired man, Feng Wuji hurriedly waved to him. “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”

The red-haired man smiled and rushed over to greet him. Su Yi also followed and greeted him perfunctorily.

Feng Wuji looked at him suspiciously. “What’s Ol’ Niu doing here?”