Chapter 2314 - We Can Only Be Enemies

They had no other choice!

When the crowd heard Master God Yun He say that, they struggled to calm themselves back down.

Were the Master Gods not strong enough?

No, that wasn't it.

It was because Su Yi could control the Supreme Emergence Source Power of the Celestial Capital. He could never have forced those Master Gods into such a wretched state otherwise!

Lu Shi sighed. “It’s just a pity about that command token, and it’s a pity about this avatar of will, too. It could have been put to great use, but it was wasted here.”

Master God Yun He, Liuxiang Hen, and the others instantly lost their cool. They didn’t even need to think to know that Dao Venerate Lu Shi was displeased with them!!

“When you have external sources of support, it’s inevitable that you’ll grow dependent on them,” said Dao Venerate Lu Shi. “Because you had my command token, you thought you could throw your weight around without reservation and challenge Fellow Daoist Su. That’s what got you into this mess.”

Master God Yun He and the others’ expressions were instantly complicated. It was true! They'd taken the medallion into account while planning, as they'd figured that it would be more than enough to take Su Yi down.

They’d never even considered what they’d do when they could no longer rely on the medallion.

It was true. Their reliance on something external really had gotten them into trouble!

“Fellow Daoist Su is an opponent worthy of your heartfelt respect. Only those who take him seriously have any hope of competing with him,” Dao Venerate Lu Shi said solemnly.

The crowd was stunned. They hadn’t anticipated that Daoist Venerate Lu Shi would rebuke Master God Yun He and the others in front of Su Yi!

And his words made it obvious how seriously he took Su Yi, too. He used no insults or expressions of disdain. Rather, he spoke as if he were simply stating a fact.

All of this shifted the onlookers’ perceptions of Lu Shi, and they admired him more than before.

Even Su Yi couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.

This Dao Venerate Lu Shi is really quite something. But opponents like him are often the most dangerous, and the most terrifying!

“You’re absolutely right, Dao Venerate,” Master God Yun He sighed. “We really were reckless this time.”

Dao Venerate Lu Shi inclined his head. “All of you are prominent experts famed throughout the God Domain. There’s no need for me to explain certain things; you can figure them out on your own.

“I just want to say that in a true clash of the Grand Dao, you cannot simply hope to get lucky, and you

certainly

cannot pin all your hopes on schemes or external treasures.”

With that, he turned his attention toward Su Yi. “To old-timers such as ourselves, life, death, victory, and defeat ultimately come down to strength. Do you agree, Fellow Daoist?”

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Su Yi said calmly, “You ought to say that to the Dipankara Buddha. No one likes hiding in the darkness and playing chess more than him. Ideally, you'd tell the Angler, too. That would save him from wasting all his time running around and carrying out unseemly little schemes.”

He singled out the Dipankara Buddha and the Angler because, of all his old enemies, they were the craftiest.

Dao Venerate Lu Shi smiled. “You’re clearly biased against the Dipankara Buddha, Fellow Daoist. Let me put it like this: the Dipankara Buddha can do far more than simply play chess. When he enters the battlefield personally, you’re sure to change your mind about him.”

“Oh,” said Su Yi. “Then I’ll be interested to see when he finally dares to enter the battlefield.”

Dao Venerate Lu Shi said solemnly, “If you live to see the Dark Days of Legend, I’m sure you’ll get to witness his strength firsthand.”

In other words, “When the Dark Days of Legend arrive, the Dipankara Buddha will fight you personally!”

Su Yi didn’t respond to that. He just said, “Surely you’re done talking this time, right?”

Lu Shi nodded, but he seemed to find it a bit of a pity. “Personally, I actually rather hope my true body gets the chance to meet you again.”

With that, he waved his sleeve through the air and said, “Yun He, you and the others should leave.”

Boom!

A silver arc of divine radiance surged forth, arcing through the sky and blocking Su Yi’s path.

Practically simultaneously, Master God Yun He, Liuxiang Hen, and the others turned and left the Celestial Capital.

Su Yi didn’t hesitate to crack the whips of divine punishment.

Kaboom!

The whips danced about like mad. It was like a lightning apocalypse!

But the silver divine radiance blocked it all.

“Fellow Daoist, this is a prime opportunity. Why not show me your power of reincarnation?” Dao Venerate Lu Shi said with a laugh.

He’d remained calm this entire time, laughing and chatting, but his imposing majesty bore down on everyone present.

“Just to defeat a remnant of your will? It isn’t worth it,” said Su Yi. As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, and a waterfall of the power of divine punishment came crashing down, like the river of stars bursting through a dam and descending from the nine heavens in a boundless flood.

Lu Shi swung his sleeves, and countless arcs of divine radiance exploded into being, all of them emanating Eternal, indestructible power. They completely neutralized Su Yi’s attack.

Then, they shot through the air, putting immense pressure on Su Yi.

If not for the power of divine punishment, he wouldn’t have been able to take it.

"When circumstances are in your favor, even heaven and earth will lend you their aid. Fellow Daoist, you’ve seized the complete geographical advantage. That really is impressive,” sighed Lu Shi.

That was why he didn’t attack earlier. He’d known right from the start that his avatar of will wasn’t enough to defeat Su Yi here in the Celestial Capital.

Fortunately, helping Yun He and the others escape safely wasn’t all that difficult.

“Yes, but when fortune deserts him, even a hero struggles to retain his freedom,” said Su Yi. “I’m no hero, but I’m naturally well aware that the power you’re using is no more than flowers reflected in a mirror or a moon reflected in the water. Fighting me will just fritter your avatar of will away.”

The two conversed as they fought. Just watching it left the onlookers repeatedly startled.

None of them could intervene at all. Not even Nine-Tribulation Master Gods could participate in a battle like this!

Meanwhile, Su Yi’s words seemed to move Dao Venerate Lu Shi. He couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s a pity that we’ve long since been destined to oppose each other. Otherwise, I’d want you for a beloved friend. We’d drink and make merry together, then discuss the Dao. I’m sure it would be incomparably joyful.”

He obviously meant every word. It was obvious to everyone that he approved of Su Yi. But...

Su Yi shook his head. ‘Our paths are different, so we cannot work together. It’s better that we be enemies.”

Lu Shi pondered briefly, then readily agreed. “It’s true! I feel the same way!”

Boom!

The conflict raged with ever greater intensity, shaking the entire Celestial Capital.

The power of divine punishment, a manifestation of Supreme Emergence Source Power, flooded down the slopes of Blue Sky Divine Mountain under Su Yi’s direction.

Lu Shi’s avatar of will, however, was like a reef in a storm. No matter how the flood assailed him, he seemed Eternal, unshakeable, and indestructible!

His arcs of silver light were like an Eternal Natural Order. They were endlessly terrifying, and they could actually destroy the Supreme Emergence Source Power on impact!

This clash was terrifying to the extreme. Even Wan Zitian was incomparably nervous just watching, and he couldn’t help but sweat on Su Yi’s behalf.

“You agree?” Su Yi asked suddenly.

“I find it a pity that we cannot be friends,” said Dao Venerate Lu Shi. “But I agree that men like us need worthy enemies if we aren’t to feel lonely in our pursuit of the Grand Dao!

“Conflict is the most enthralling part of the struggle for the Grand Dao. If you kill me, that’s fine. If I kill you, that’s good too. I’m afraid we’ll run into few such battles in our lifetimes, so it’s only natural that I’d look forward to them!”

His expression was full of eagerness, and his gaze was heated. Anyone else might have taken him for a madman!

But Su Yi wouldn’t. He remained silent because Dao Venerate Lu Shi’s words had indeed resonated with him. He even had the rare, uncharacteristic sensation that he wasn’t alone in his pursuit of the Grand Dao!

He too often lamented that despite the endless throngs of cultivators, few were worthy of being his enemies!

He knew that it was lonely at the top. He’d experienced it firsthand.

In both his past lives and his current incarnation, he started out surrounded by enemies, only for his enemies to dwindle until none remained. Then, he’d search the world for those capable of opposing him!

Few could truly understand his heart and pursuit of the Dao.

Dao Venerate Lu Shi obviously didn’t understand him either, but his words told Su Yi that he and this powerful enemy had at least one thing in common. Both were hungry for worthwhile opponents!

That was why Su Yi fell silent.

He’d heard Lu Shi’s name before, but that was all. This was his first time witnessing Lu Shi’s magnificence for himself. Now, he finally understood. This opponent... was far more terrifying than he’d imagined!

But this only stirred Su Yi’s valiant pride.

“Another day, I’ll be sure to give you what you’re after. We’ll fight to the death and decide which of us is superior!” said Su Yi.

This wasn’t a threat. Rather, he was formally declaring war.

Lu Shi smiled faintly. “Just as I said earlier, as your enemy, I hope you live to see that day. If you don’t, it’ll really be an awful pity.”

Boom!

His avatar of will suddenly exploded. Only his voice remained, still echoing throughout heaven and earth.

Meanwhile, Master God Yun He, Liuxiang Hen, and the others had long since fled the Celestial Capital.

It wasn’t just them. Their subordinates left with them.

Dust and smoke permeated the air as everything gradually returned to stillness.

But even after a long time passed, no one could remain calm.

First, Su Yi whipped a pack of Master Gods, a ludicrous, yet astonishing scene. Then, when Dao Venerate Lu Shi’s avatar joined the battlefield, he intimidated everyone present. Moreover, his proud, contemptuous majesty left countless onlookers in awe.

His clash with Su Yi was heart-palpitating and perilous. More than that, it was beyond the limits of the crowd’s comprehension.

Who could possibly calm down all at once after seeing that?

When they thought back to Lu Shi and Su Yi’s conversation, the more they thought about it, the more rueful they felt.

Both Su Yi and Lu Shi displayed a breadth of spirit far beyond any ordinary cultivator. Each was prouder than the one before!

This wasn’t the pride of one who looked down on others. No, it was a pride kept deep within their Dao Hearts. They disdained to show it off publicly, and they disdained using their words to call attention to it.

It was only when they encountered a truly worthy opponent that they’d display it without reservation!

Such clashes of the Grand Dao were beyond the bounds of hatred and benevolence. That was what made them so astonishing.

But when the fighting truly began, it wouldn’t end until one party was dead.

It was just as Su Yi said. They’d fight to the death and see which of them was superior!

Unfortunately, even if the onlookers grasped the flavor of their words, few could truly understand how Su Yi and Dao Venerate Lu Shi had felt during their battle.

Meanwhile, as the crowd gaped in astonishment, Su Yi took out a jug of wine and drank.

He’d suddenly recalled something.