Chapter 558: Acting as You Please

Upon reaching the Gathering Stars Realm, the Origin Power Seed nourished within the Origin Palace would condense Origin Power Stars.

In the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, there were two metrics for determining superiority in the Gathering Stars Realm.

The first was the quantity of Origin Power Stars condensed. The second was their quality.

The quantity and quality of one’s Origin Power Stars was inextricably connected to the size of one’s Origin Palace and the strength of one’s Origin Power Seed.

Like planting a garden.

Cultivators condensed an Origin Power Seed in the Grain Avoidance Realm. In the Origin Palace Realm, they "prepared the fields for planting." Then, in the Gathering Stars Realm, the seed sprouted, and the “crops” were harvested.

When ordinary cultivators entered the Gathering Stars Realm, they condensed around a thousand Origin Power Stars.

In the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, people like that were everywhere. They were mediocre at best.

Those who condensed three thousand Origin Power Stars were elites. The disciples of cultivation factions typically accomplished this.

Those who condensed between six and nine thousand stars were stand-out talents, less than one in a thousand. People like that were already qualified to become disciples of a first-rate ancient sect.

Those who condensed ten thousand Origin Power Stars were natural talents for cultivation in the eyes of the world. They were praised as chosen or miraculous geniuses.

Actually, in the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, whether or not one could condense ten thousand Origin Power Stars had already become a standard for determining whether or not someone was a true genius at cultivation.

Only those who succeeded were true geniuses, and they were one in a million! Even peak-level cultivation factions would struggle to recruit such people.

Ordinarily speaking, when someone accomplished this feat, the quality of their Origin Power Stars wasn’t lacking either.

Most of the monsters of the ancient era and geniuses of the present day who’d made it to Sumeru Immortal Island had accomplished this when they entered the Gathering Stars Realm.

But in Su Yi’s eyes, there were varying degrees of talent above the ten-thousand-star level too!

Simply put, those who condensed ten thousand stars were geniuses at cultivation, while those who condensed thirty thousand stars were matchless geniuses.

People like that were the core inheritors of peak-level orthodoxies, geniuses blessed with good fortune and almost unimaginable talent.

Those who condensed sixty thousand Origin Power Stars were the top geniuses of their eras!

People like that were extremely rare; tens of thousands of years might pass without any such genius appearing. When one emerged, it could lead to war between ancient orthodoxies.

In his past life, his nine legacy disciples included two top geniuses of their era.

The first was his fifth disciple, Wang Que. The second was his youngest disciple, Qing Tang.

Wang Que had condensed sixty-three thousand Origin Power Stars.

Qing Tang was even more astonishing; she’d condensed seventy-two thousand Origin Power Stars. As a result, her reputation spread throughout the world, and the people honored her as the greatest Gathering Stars cultivator the Wilds had ever seen.

In his past life, Su Yi had “only” managed to produce sixty-nine thousand Origin Power Stars, making him somewhat inferior to Qing Tang.

But…

Su Yi was already different from his past self.

Back when he stepped into the Grain Avoidance Realm, he made three thousand flowers bloom in the sky as he condensed an unprecedented Strongest Dao Seed.

When he entered the Origin Palace Realm, an immortal palace was reflected in the sky as he opened a vast and majestic Origin Palace in his dantian.

And now, as he stepped into the Gathering Stars Realm, the river of stars was reflected in the sky, manifesting an unbelievable phenomenon: a Yin-Yang, the Supreme Ultimate. He then condensed ninety thousand Origin Power Stars in one fell swoop!

The number nine represented the extreme.

Despite the 108,000 years of experience of his past life, Su Yi had never so much as heard of someone accomplishing such foundations in the Grand Dao. Even if you flipped through countless ancient tomes, you’d find no other examples.

This was naturally an unprecedented, historic accomplishment!

That I achieved this step is due to the foundations in the Grand Dao I built every step of the way, but it’s inextricably connected to the Sword of the Nine Hells, too…?thought Su Yi.

The Sword of the Nine Hells was extremely mysterious. Every time he achieved a qualitative breakthrough in his cultivation, it produced a strange and inscrutable power, further transforming and sublimating Su Yi’s foundations in the Grand Dao.

That was true in the Grain Avoidance Realm, and in the Origin Palace Realm.

Now, it happened again as he broke into the Gathering Stars Realm.

After condensing ninety thousand Origin Power Stars, the power of the Sword of the Nine Hells triggered a wondrous transformation. The Origin Power Stars became as sharp as swords, and they flickered with dazzling light. It was an utterly mysterious sight.

The boundless collection of Origin Power Stars gathered in his dantain’s Origin Palace, sweeping through like a river of stars. Sometimes, they formed a Yin-Yang diagram, which manifested all manner of unbelievable transformations.

Su Yi sat there and sensed it quietly for a while before ascertaining something: after entering the Gathering Stars Realm, his strength had increased by leaps and bounds; he wasn’t even remotely comparable to what he’d been in the Origin Palace Realm!

“Brother Su, congratulations on breaking through!” Wen Xinzhao stepped up to congratulate him. Her bright eyes shone, and she looked absolutely stunning.

Yue Shichan looked delighted and full of admiration too.

Su Yi’s breakthrough happened naturally, in one go. Furthermore, the accompanying phenomenon was astonishing. Even she couldn’t help but sigh over it.

“Congratulations on entering the Gathering Stars Realm, Your Excellency!” said Ge Qian respectfully.

Su Yi smiled, but he thought nothing of it. “It’s just a breakthrough, that’s all. This was within my expectations, and there’s nothing worth congratulating me about.”

More than his breakthrough, Su Yi was pleased that tonight, he’d mastered the Dao Charm of Lightning. He’d already mastered nine types of Dao Charm, which he could now fuse into three types of peerless Dao Charm: the Five Elements, Yin and Yang, and Wind and Lightning.

So long as he tempered his newly understood Dao Charms to full mastery, when he broke into the Spirit Dao, he could easily fuse them into the Spirit Dao Mysterious Truth of Genesis.

That was what Su Yi was most looking forward to.

Suddenly, the sound of someone streaking through the skies emanated from afar. Three figures were hurtling toward them.

The leader was a young man in silver, with starry eyes and sword-like eyebrows. He had the bearing of a dragon or a phoenix, and his long hair hung loose.

Li Handeng!

He was the leading figure of the Qingyi Dao Sect’s younger generation, and?he’d placed?fifth in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly. He was no weaker than the top monsters of the ancient era.

Two others accompanied him, a tall man in yellow robes and a cold young woman in a black dress.

The tall man in yellow was called Wu Xun, while the woman in black was called Gu Hanqiu.

All three were peak-level figures of the Qingyi Dao Sect’s younger generation.

When they saw Lin Handeng, Su Yi’s companions were instantly solemn.

The strongest member of the Qingyi Dao Sect’s younger generation had already become a Spiritual Manifestation Realm cultivator.

It was obvious that he’d only broken through recently, but the aura emanating from him was stronger than the world’s older-generation Spiritual Manifestation experts!

“Su Yi? So, it’s you.” Li Handeng scanned Su Yi and his companions. Despite himself, a strange expression appeared on his face. “Fellow Daoist Su, don’t tell me you’re the one who provoked that strange phenomenon in the night sky earlier?”

It was clear that Li Handeng and his companions were alarmed by what they’d seen and that they’d come to investigate.

When she saw that Su Yi didn’t seem interested in a conversation, Wen Xinzhao immediately answered on his behalf. “That’s only natural. Fellow Daoist Su is now in the Gathering Stars Realm.”

“The Gathering Stars Realm?” exclaimed the yellow-robed Wu Xun. “It caused such a huge disturbance that I assumed someone had entered the Spiritual Manifestation Realm.”

His tone carried a hint of mockery.

Wen Xinzhao furrowed her brow. “Did

you

cause a similarly unmatched phenomenon when you?broke into the Gathering Stars Realm?”

This left Wu Xun at a loss for words, and his face stiffened.

“Don’t be rude, Junior Apprentice Brother Wu,” rebuked Li Handeng.

He could tell that Su Yi didn’t want to pay them any heed, so he fixed his gaze on Wen Xinzhao instead. “Miss Xinzhao, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if I should say it or not.”

“Oh? You have advice for me, Brother Li?” said Wen Xinzhao.

Li Handeng was the leading figure of the Qingyi Dao Sect’s younger generation, while she was the most dazzling figure of Clousky Divine Palace’s younger generation, the Little Sword Demon. They’d encountered each other a few times before.

“A few days ago, Huan Shaoyou overcame his tribulation and entered the Spiritual Manifestation Realm,” said Li Handeng. “He’s currently searching for your whereabouts.”

Just one light, airy sentence, but Wen Xinzhao and the others’ expressions shifted in response.

Li Handeng glanced at Su Yi, only to realize that Su Yi didn’t seem to be paying attention. He had his hands behind his back as he gazed into the distant night sky, as if he were mentally wandering the stars.

In the end, Li Handeng couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Su, aren’t you worried at all?”

Su Yi’s gaze shifted away from the stars, and he looked at Li Handeng. “Are you asking because you want to watch the excitement?”

He exposed Li Handeng’s intentions in just one sentence.

Li Handeng had entered the Spiritual Manifestation Realm. Looking at Su Yi now, his attitude had already shifted; he no longer feared him as he had before.

On the contrary, with his newly increased cultivation, he seemed to look down on Su Yi.

And here he’d thought he’d hidden his intentions extremely well. Who’d have thought Su Yi would see through him at a glance?

“I wouldn’t call it that. I just think that something unexpected might happen if you encounter Huan Shaoyou without first making ample preparations,” said Li Handeng after calming himself. “Of course, this is just a well-intentioned reminder. Please, don’t overthink it.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh dryly. “I was involved in Li Miaohong’s death, and I killed Lei Feng and Ting He, two of the Qingyi Dao Sect’s Spiritual Manifestation cultivators. You’re the leading figure of the Qingyi Dao Sect’s younger generation, and you’ve already broken into the Spiritual Manifestation Realm. Despite this, instead of avenging your seniors, you’re here warning me about Huan Shaoyou out of the goodness of your heart…”

Su Yi couldn’t help but sigh. “I have to say that your ability to set aside grudges and repay enmity with kindness has truly moved me.”

His mocking tone was readily apparent.

Wen Xinzhao and Yue Shichan’s expressions turned a bit strange, while Ge Qian couldn’t help but click his tongue.

Li Handeng’s expression clouded over, and his handsome face turned a bit unsightly.

Wu Xun and Gu Hanqiu were even angrier.

“Su Yi, don’t push this too far!” bellowed Wu Xun. “Things have changed. Do you really think your Origin Dao cultivation is still enough to let you do whatever you want?”

Su Yi said calmly, “Here on Sumeru Immortal Island, I can indeed do whatever I want.”

“.....”

“.....”

Wu Xun and Gu Hanqiu fell silent.

The corners of Li Handeng’s lips twitched involuntarily.

He truly couldn’t comprehend it.?Why is it that even now, Su Yi dares be this arrogant!?