Chapter 2538 - The Truth Behind the Sunset Perch Dao Assembly

Zhang Wushan was the leader of Spirit Vessel Yao Court and a true Nine-Tribulation Master God.

When you set aside those old-timers deep in seclusion, he was a peak authority figure by the standards of the Endless Ocean. He was a peak expert by the standards of the God Domain as a whole, too.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

A group of the sect’s experts sat inside a thoroughly lamplit hall, their expressions shifting and uncertain.

Third Elder Mo Yu and the master of the treasury, Liu Shangfei, were there too, as well as the son of the grand elder, Luo Yunxiu.

Luo Yunxiu and the others had already laid the whole situation out in detail.

No one reprimanded Luo Yunxiu for bungling things, nor did they chastise him for his cowardice.

Because... he’d been up against Su Yi!

An unparalleled legend not one of these prominent experts dared to look down on.

“In just one battle, we lost two Master Gods and thirty-three other deities. This price... was far too heavy!” someone sighed deeply.

Even in peak factions, the number of gods was highly limited. Losing two Master Gods would have been a heavy loss for any faction.

“Don’t forget the battle of Skybright Mountain. There, three Nine Tribulation Master Gods lost their lives. Then, at the battle of Cloudy Heights Temple, the whole sect was wiped out...”

An old-timer listed Su Yi’s accomplishments, a complicated look on his face. “Compared to that, our losses... are still just barely acceptable.”

The crowd discussed the matter a while longer before turning their attention toward their Zhang Wushan. “Sect Leader, how should we handle this?”

“A long time ago, although there were numerous figures capable of ruling a stretch of the Endless Ocean, Yi Daoxuan, the Master of Sunset Perch Island, was the greatest of them,” Zhang Wushan said gravely. “He was unquestionably the greatest expert in the Boundless Ocean, but... times have changed!”

Zhang Wushan’s gaze was deep and heavy. “The Endless Ocean is not what it was back then. Even if Su Yi is the reincarnation of the Master of Sunset Perch Island, he can no longer control what happens in these waters!”

The crowd’s spirits soared. “Sect Leader, are you saying you have means of countering him?”

Zhang Wushan smiled faintly. “Do you remember the Sunset Perch Dao Assembly that Divine Billows Palace announced several years ago?”

They naturally knew about it. It was just that even now, the details had yet to be pinned down, and the event was shrouded in mystery.

“The assembly, in truth, is bait,” said Zhang Wushan. “Its goal is to lure Su Yi to the Endless Ocean!

“The reason the assembly lacks concrete details, including a specific time frame, is because we had no way of knowing when Su Yi would come to the Endless Ocean.

“However, we were all certain that when Su Yi learns of the Sunset Perch Dao Assembly, he’ll be sure to attend!

“After all, in the past, he was the Master of Sunset Perch Island!”

When the others heard that, they felt enlightened.

“So you’re saying that the top factions of the Endless Ocean are after Su Yi, just like Spirit Vessel Yao Court?” someone couldn’t help but ask eagerly.

“No.” Zhang Wushan shook his head. “Don’t forget what happened at Skybright Mountain. How many terrifying figures opposed Su Yi, only to leave in abject defeat?”

The others were stunned.

Before they could respond, Zhang Wushan laughed. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the changes to the Endless Ocean in recent years?”

Third Elder Mo Yu’s expression shifted. “Sect Leader, are you planning to borrow the power of those spacetime forbidden zones to defeat Su Yi?”

Over the years, three spacetime forbidden zones had arisen in the Endless Ocean, each terrifyingly dangerous.

Master Gods once explored them, but without exception, all of them lost their lives in the process!

Rumors of the three spacetime forbidden zones had circulated throughout the Endless Ocean ever since, causing an enormous disturbance.

“You’re mistaken,” said Zhang Wushan. “We aren’t borrowing the power of the three forbidden zones. Rather, they’re the ones orchestrating this Sunset Perch Dao Assembly from behind the scenes!

“We factions of the Endless Ocean are just helping them make their arrangements, that’s all.

“When it comes time to attack Su Yi, we just need to stand back and watch. That way, we absolutely won’t get swept into things!”

A smile arose on Zhang Wushan’s face. “What do you think of that plan, everyone?”

The crowd gasped. Learning the inside story shocked them all.

It was true. Not even prominent figures like them had known that all these secrets were hidden behind the Sunset Perch Dao Assembly!

“Everyone, just wait and watch the show,” said Zhang Wushan. “When the snipe and the clam fight, it’s the fisherman who benefits. Who knows? We might well be able to profit enormously!”

Waves of emotion rose and fell through the crowd’s hearts at the thought of it.

But Luo Yunxiu couldn’t help but say, “Sect Leader, even if we’re just helping make arrangements and staying out of the fighting, if Su Yi finds out about our involvement, how could he possibly let us off lightly?”

The questions seemed extraordinarily sudden.

Zhang Wushan glanced at him. “Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. I considered those risks a long time ago.”

In other words, “Don’t worry about it, kid.”

But Luo Yunxiu persisted. “Never mind the rest. Su Yi is currently in Seven-Star City. What will he do if he attacks our sect?”

The crowd’s eyelids twitched. That was exactly what they were worried about.

Over the years, they’d gradually gotten familiar with how Su Yi did things. They knew that when he attacked, he always came prepared. He never initiated a battle he couldn’t win.

That meant that if Su Yi came for them, he’d do it after preparing thoroughly, and he wouldn’t be the least bit afraid of the threat Spirit Vessel Yao Court represented!

“Rest assured. When the founder left the sect and went into seclusion, he gave us three brocade pouches specifically to guard against the possibility of powerful enemies attacking us in his absence,” Zhang Wushan said calmly. “He commanded that should such a day arise and threaten the survival of the sect, all we need to do is open the first of the pouches.”

The crowd’s eyes lit up. Their founder and Master Golden Crane were one and the same!

“Although Su Yi is currently in Seven-Star City and not yet a threat, the Sunset Perch Dao Assembly will soon begin, and with it, a death trap targeting Su Yi. It seems to me that we’d be wise to open the first of the brocade pouches and have a look inside,” someone suggested.

Others chimed in their agreement. They wanted to see just what kind of countermeasures their founder had left for them.

Zhang Wushan pondered briefly, then agreed.

It was true. When it came to defeating Su Yi, no amount of caution was excessive.

That aside, Zhang Wushan was curious.

He promptly took out the first pouch. All eyes were instantly upon him.

Zhang Wushan’s hands formed seals. He undead the pouch’s seal, then removed the jade slip inside.

But when he saw its contents, he was left unwittingly stunned.

The message was simple. It was just a few sentences. “If other powerful foes march upon our gates, you can request aid from the Dipankara Buddha of the Western Paradise Spirit Mountains.

“If Yi Daoxuan’s reincarnation arrives, you are to surrender immediately. You might have to pay a bit of a price, but that will be enough to ensure the sect’s safety.

“Remember: you are not to fight him no matter what!”

Zhang Wushan fell silent, his expression shifting and uncertain. He would never have guessed that the founder’s “wondrous plan” was simply admitting defeat!

He swept his gaze across the crowd, then said, “The message in the first pouch was rather shocking. I’ve decided to look at the second one.”

Then, disregarding the others’ flabbergasted expressions, he opened the second pouch.

It too contained a jade slip with a short, simple message. “I can tell that Yi Daoxuan’s reincarnation is at our gates. Otherwise, there’s no way you’d have opened the second pouch.”

Zhang Wushan stiffened. He couldn’t help but feel a little guilty; it was as if the founder were watching him, or even reading his mind.

He kept reading.

“I understand Yi Daoxuan’s terrifyingness far better than you. If he attacks the sect, he’ll surely be after me.

“I told you to submit. I’m sure you’re unwilling, especially... if he demands something wildly excessive. There’s no way you’ll agree.

“But I’m telling you: submit first, then talk terms. If he still won’t let up, take out the third pouch and give it to him. He’s sure to let up then.

“Remember, you are not to open the third pouch prior to this, and you absolutely cannot give it to Yi Daoxuan if there’s any other option!

“If you dare defy my orders, I’ll do a thorough housecleaning when I get back and punish all offenders severely!”

Zhang Wushan’s expression shifted erratically. The others noticed, and they could tell that something was amiss.

“Sect Leader, just what countermeasures did the founder leave for us?” someone couldn’t help but ask.

Zhang Wushan took a deep breath, then said calmly, “All I can tell you is that if Su Yi really attacks the sect, the founder’s pouches will be enough to transform disaster into good fortune!”

The crowd instantly felt reassured.

But Liushang Fei couldn’t help but interject. “Sect Leader, Su Yi is currently in Seven-Star City, and he didn’t just attack many of our sectmates; he even seized our Colorful Ambrosia. Surely we aren’t going to just let this go?”

Zhang Wushan fell briefly silent, then gnashed his teeth. “Pay him no heed. Let’s wait until the Sunset Perch Dao Assembly begins and let him and the experts of the three spacetime forbidden zones duke it out!”

This decision was unquestionably humiliating.

But Zhang Wushan dared not act recklessly, and... he dared not defy the founder’s orders.

“Next, have our forces spread word that Su Yi has arrived in the Endless Ocean,” ordered Zhang Wushan. “Once we’ve stirred up a storm, there’ll be no need for us to intervene any further. Su Yi will be in for disaster!”

......

An inn in Seven-Star City, beneath the same night sky.

Su Yi listened to the intelligence Madam Mei, the Sky-Swallowing Daoist, and the other ancient divine wraiths had gathered.

There was no denying it. The modern Endless Ocean really did differ from the Endless Ocean he remembered in numerous ways.

Numerous new factions had arisen, while others had vanished.

There was nothing for it. The passage of time changed all things, from people to places. Nothing lasted forever.

There were two things that truly drew Su Yi’s attention.

First, three mysterious and terrifying spacetime forbidden zones had appeared in the far reaches of the Endless Ocean!

Second, he’d thought that Sunset Perch Island had long since been reduced to ruin, but it turned out that Divine Billows Palace, one of the area’s top factions, had taken it over!

And when Divine Billows Palace came up, Madam Mei brought up something else that instantly drew Su Yi’s attention.