Chapter 2481 - A Delightful Outcome

That black palace was located in a spatial node. It led to another spacetime.

Inside, everything that had happened in the Thunderwind Sea was clearly reflected on a massive curtain of light.

A group of people had gathered in the palace. They included the progenitor of the Great Yin Divine Race, as well as several others who’d stepped onto the Path of Eternity and become Limitless Dao Lords.

However, all of them were clustered behind a certain figure, their bearings servile. They were like stars clustered around the moon.

That figure was a man in Daoist robes. His whole body was swathed in sword-shaped Eternal Dao Markings and a mysterious, inscrutable rain of the Grand Dao, rendering his features indistinct.

Only his eyes were clearly visible. They were as deep as abysses full of seemingly endless sword light.

The Malevolent Sword Venerate!

His hands were behind his back, and his solitary figure stood there in silence, his gaze fixed to the curtain of light.

The hall was utterly silent. No one dared utter a peep. They didn’t even dare breathe too loudly.

The battle reflected on screen left the Great Yin Divine Race experts’ hearts quivering with fright.

But none of them dared say a word. They forced their astonishment back down and maintained their silence.

Because the Sword Venerate they served disliked nothing more than noise, and he couldn’t stand the sight of people jumping and flinching at anything unexpected.

Once, a new Eternal shouted with mad delight and danced about for joy on account of his successful breakthrough.

Unfortunately for him, he did this in front of the Sword Venerate, who slapped him, dealing him a heavy blow before stripping him of his position. He’d been a mere guard ever since.

All of that was to punish that expert for losing his composure.

This was why all of them were so uneasy, as if they were walking on thin ice. Everyone was as silent as cicadas in winter.

Before long, the battle reflected on the curtain of light dissipated. The atmosphere in the palace was oppressive as could be.

No one spoke, but their expressions were full of astonishment, bewilderment, and tidal waves of shock.

The Sword Venerate’s avatar of will actually... lost!?

The Malevolent Sword Venerate Stood there, his expression shifting erratically. He said nothing at all.

No one could tell what he was thinking, but this silence only increased the tension. Many of the gathered experts broke out in cold sweats. They could barely even breathe.

Finally, the Sword Venerate spoke. “Don’t you think this is a delightful outcome?”

Delightful?

Everyone was stunned.

“As delightful as the heavens themselves!” said the Malevolent Sword Venerate.

As he spoke, he turned to face the others. Now, all of them could see the smile on his face!

But then, all of them lowered their hearts, not daring to look directly at him.

“My heart devil successfully reincarnated, mastered reincarnation, and he now carries the Epoch Spark. More than that, he’s stepped onto an unprecedented path. It’s truly wonderful!” the Malevolent Sword Venerate said leisurely. “The stronger he gets, and the more heaven-defying, the happier I’ll be!”

His voice was as smooth at jade. As it echoed throughout the hall, his delight was too great for words.

But the others exchanged glances. All of them found this hard to understand.

Why... why would that be cause for celebration?

In the end, an old man rallied his courage and said with a smile, “Esteemed Sword Venerate, this old man can sense your joy, and I can roughly guess why you’re so happy.”

The old man was dressed in white, and he had an otherworldly air about him, with a crescent moon imprint at the center of his forehead. He was none other than the progenitor of the Great YIn Divine race, Shang Pushe!

“Oh? Let’s hear it, then,” said the Malevolent Sword Venerate.

Shang Pushe’s heart quivered. “Su Yi is your heart devil, Esteemed Sword Venerate. The stronger it is, the more obvious your great strength is!”

The Malevolent Sword Venerate shook his head. “That’s not it.”

Everyone’s hearts clenched, and their expressions shifted. This was a purely instinctual reaction; they were terrified that Shang Pushe’s mistaken answer would provoke a severe punishment.

Shang Pushe instinctively tensed, too.

But then, the Malevolent Sword Venerate said, “Try again. It’s okay if you’re wrong; I won’t blame you.”

Shang Pushe inwardly sighed in relief, then said, “This old man might be ignorant, but he’ll boldly attempt another guess.”

He pondered briefly, then said, “Su Yi is your heart devil. No matter how strong he is, he’s sure to fall beneath your sword once more. When that happens, his power of reincarnation, the Epoch Spark, and his unique path will all become yours!

“Together, this harvest will enable you to advance further in your pursuit of the Grand Dao!”

But the Malevolent Sword Venerate shook his head once more. “You’re only half right.”

Everyone was stunned.

The Malevolent Sword Venerate turned and gazed at the curtain of light, which reflected Su Yi standing in midair. “I don’t just want all the things you mentioned. I want... his everything!”

His eyes heated up, his gaze now containing a hint of irrepressible longing.

Everything?

Shang Pushe and the others were baffled.

Don’t tell me that Su Yi has something even more precious than reincarnation, the Epoch Spark, and his unique path?

The Malevolent Sword Venerate didn’t explain. He couldn’t explain.

Because... what he most wanted was Su Yi’s vital source energy!

“Come on, let’s get ready. When the Dark Days of Legend arrive, I’ll send you to the God Domain personally,” said the Malevolent Sword Venerate, facing away from the crowd.

“Understood!” Everyone nodded their understanding.

But it was then that the Su Yi reflected on screen swung his sword.

It was just one slash, but it connected heaven and earth, and it was headed right toward the curtain of light.

In the face of that unstoppable sword force, all of the gathered experts instinctively narrowed their eyes.

Boom!!

The curtain of light shattered, and the scene dissipated.

Everyone had an unsightly look on their face. All of them knew that the Thunderwind Sea, their passage to the Immortal Realm, had been destroyed!

“All you did was destroy a spatial node. What good will that do you?” murmured the Malevolent Sword Venerate. “This actually makes you seem... like you’ve lost your composure...”

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, the Malevolent Sword Venerate silently vanished.

The crowd exchanged glances. Without exception, they sighed in relief.

When the Esteemed Sword Venerate is around, it feels like there’s a knife at our backs. It’s true what they say: accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger!

......

The Thunderwind Sea was gone. Even the black palace shrouded in turbulent spacetime had vanished.

“I’m afraid that going forward, the Great Yin Divine Race will hate us to the bone,” whispered Li Sanjiu.

“I think I know how to undo the Qilin Race’s vow. You won’t need to worry about them using it to control you going forward,” said Su Yi.

Li Sanjiu shook, and his eyes lit up. “Do you mean that, Fellow Daoist Su?”

Su Yi laughed. “Have you ever seen me joke around?”

He was badly injured, but he was in a good mood. This battle had given him a preliminary glimpse of his second incarnation’s heart devil’s abilities.

More importantly, he’d grasped the mysteries of the next stage of his cultivation, parting the mists formerly obscuring his way ahead. Now, he knew what direction to pursue next! This was today’s biggest harvest.

But Su Yi also knew that the Malevolent Sword Venerate had grasped his abilities and hidden cards, too. He’d undoubtedly prepare thoroughly before their next meeting!

“Come on, let’s go back,” said Su Yi.

The group promptly set off.

......

Half a month later, in the Qilin Race’s territory, the Ancient Eternity Secret Realm.

When Su Yi awakened from his meditation, his wounds had fully knit back together. His cultivation was back in peak condition, too.

The Qilin Ancient was ready and waiting beside him.

“Are all your preparations in order?” asked Su Yi.

The Qilin Ancient took a deep breath, then nodded.

“Then let’s get started now.” Su Yi rose, then flipped his hand.

Weng!

The Sword of the Nine Hells rose into the air.

When Su Yi drew on his cultivation base, the second Divine Chine swayed violently, erupting with dreamlike, misty light.

An ethereal figure floated out of the mist. He was identical to the Malevolent Sword Venerate.

The only difference was that the Malevolent Sword Venerate dressed in black, wore his long hair loose, and had a terrifying, tyrannical air about him. He seemed as sharp as his sword.

This man, however, was dressed in white, he wore his hair up, and his whole body seemed to emanate a tranquil, amiable charm. He seemed as smooth as jade.

This was Su Yi’s second incarnation!

“Master!” The Qilin Ancient recognized him at a glance. His knees thudded to the ground, and his eyes overflowed with silent tears. His face filled with excitement.

“Oh, you little fool!” That ethereal figure sighed with deep-seated emotion. “Hurry and get up. Time is short. We cannot afford delays.”

“Yes, Master!” The Qilin Ancient hurriedly rose. However, when he looked at the ethereal figure of his master, there was still no hiding his excitement.

“When the Qilin Race swore to serve me, your vow was carved into the Laws of the Eternal Heavens Domain. However, now that I’m here, I’ll be able to undo it,” the ethereal figure of Su Yi’s second incarnation said gently.

With that, he raised his fingertip into the air and formed a secret seal. He then pressed it onto the Qilin Ancient’s forehead.

The Qilin Ancient shook from head to toe. He could sense invisible shackles shattering and silently sloughing off.

Meanwhile, the other Qilin experts, no matter their status or cultivation base, felt the same way. The sensation left them all flabbergasted.

What exactly is going on here?

The Qilin Ancient was the first to understand.

Master already undid our vow!

Su Yi watched in silence from the sidelines. When he saw the shift in the Qilin Ancient’s expression, he guessed that the vow was no more.

He couldn’t help but sigh in relief and relax. Without the vow to worry about, the Qilin Race didn’t have to fear being forced to obey the Great Yin Divine Race’s orders!

When he next looked at his second incarnation, he saw that his already ethereal figure was cracked in numerous places, as if it might fall apart at a moment’s notice.

“Master, you...!” The Qilin Ancient looked alarmed.

“The current me is no more than a manifestation of my Dao Imprint. No need for concern,” that cracked, ethereal figure said gently. “Now, the Qilin Race can decide its future for itself. Where you go is entirely up to you. Fellow Daoist Su already agreed to that.”

Su Yi inclined his head. “That’s right.”

The Qilin Ancient shook his head. “Our Vow to the Heavens is no more, but we’ll continue in the spirit of our vow. The Qilin Race will serve you for generations to come, Master!”

Su Yi’s second incarnation said nothing in response. He just turned to Su Yi and clasped his fist. “Thank you.”

Su Yi waved his gratitude away. “Don’t mention it.”

He was indeed the one who’d given his second incarnation a chance to undo the Qilin Ancient’s vow.

His second incarnation quickly vanished.

The moment he disappeared, his voice echoed in Su Yi’s ears. “There’s something I must warn you about. Our third incarnation... will soon return.”