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It was difficult for ordinary people to recognize the aura of the Possessed. This was especially true if they were strong; such experts could achieve perfect compatibility with their stolen body’s power. Even some advanced cultivators of the Spirit Dao found them difficult to discern.
But Su Yi could tell at a glance if someone had been possessed.
In the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, practically every sect had either treasures or secret methods capable of detecting the possessed.
As the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force, there was no way Su Yi would lack such an ability.
The moment he laid eyes on Hong Shenshang, Su Yi’s divine sense told him that Hong Shenshang’s aura wasn’t the least bit ordinary.
When he used a secret technique to investigate further, it was just as he suspected: a foreign entity had occupied Hong Shenshang’s soul!
Hong Shenshang has spent the past several years working alongside the emperor. Could it be that the emperor still hasn’t seen through him? Or does the emperor keep him close despite knowing? wondered Su Yi.
He had no enmity with Hong Shenshang, but if the state preceptor dared oppose him, he wouldn’t mind removing his soul for a nice, thorough investigation.
……
……
That day, word of the uproar at the Overflowing Goblet spread throughout the Jade Capital, provoking widespread attention.
Numerous prominent figures were beside themselves with surprise. “Who’d have thought the first to step up would be the Great Qin’s Sword Monarch Tianhong?”
“Su Hongli’s fourth wife and his son, Su Boning, were forced to kneel before the Overflowing Goblet. Isn’t that a blatant slap in Su Hongli’s face?” Some people were shaken by Su Yi’s methods.
“They say that the sixth prince was there too. This is getting more and more interesting.”
“Su Yi clashed with You Tianhong, but he wasn’t at a disadvantage at all. It’s truly beyond expectations.”
“Three days from now, at Nine Millet Mountain!”
…After all sorts of discussion, by some unspoken agreement, everyone focused their attention on You Tianhong and Su Yi’s upcoming duel.
Su Yi’s accomplishments were already the talk of the town, but very few in the Jade Capital had witnessed his strength for themselves.
This was an opportunity! Three days from now, on the peak of Nine Millet Mountain, they could see Su Yi’s true power!
The imperial palace.
When he heard State Preceptor Hong Shenshang’s report, the emperor couldn’t help but feel curious. “State Preceptor, do you perhaps know You Tianhong’s cultivation?”
Hong Shenshang didn’t so much as pause to think. “He’s at the peak of the Grain Avoidance Realm, and he’s mastered the heaven grade, mid-rank Yin Lightning Sword Intent. Within his realm of cultivation, you could call him a peak expert.
“His spiritual sword is called ‘Silversnow.’ They say it’s an ancient treasure he found deep within the Sea of Chaotic Spirits, and that its power is unfathomable.”
The emperor’s eyes flashed. “It’s common knowledge that nine years ago, You Tianhong had a grand and fortuitous encounter deep within the Sea of Chaotic Spirits. They suspect it involves an ancient orthodoxy, but even now, no one knows the precise nature of You Tianhong’s good fortune.”
He then glanced at Hong Shenshang. “State Preceptor, do you think you’ll be able to discern any clues three days from now, during the battle on Nine Millet Mountain?”
Hong Shenshang said, “We’ll see. When the time comes, I’ll go in person.”
Emperor Zhou nodded. “With you there, I can rest assured. It’s only out of consideration for my status that I’ve chosen to stay behind. Otherwise, I’d love to go see Su Yi’s skills for myself too. Alas…”
“Your Majesty, do you think we should teach His Sixth Highness a lesson?”
The Zhou Emperor instantly fell silent. After a while, he waved. “Never mind him.”
……
The Su Family.
Verdant Parasol Courtyard.
Even after learning of the incident at the Overflowing Goblet, Su Hongli’s expression remained utterly tranquil.
He showed no sign of emotion, not even after learning that You Qingzhi and Su Boning had been forced to kneel. He was so calm that it was terrifying.
“I originally thought You Tianhong possessed of grand fortune and valiant spirit, but now, it seems I overestimated him.” A hint of disdain flashed across Su Hongli’s face. “As cultivators, if our souls and vital energy are in harmony, we can handle any variables in our path.  But look at him; he couldn’t even sense my unworthy son’s soul art. He’s truly useless.”
The Daoist elder sighed, “It’s actually quite understandable. Who could have guessed that a Grandmaster like Su Yi would have mastered the power of divine sense? This is simply unprecedented; even after flipping through numerous ancient tomes, I couldn’t find a single other example.”
“Divine sense…” Su Hongli muttered to himself. “That’s right. He’s a mortal of the Martial Dao. How could he possibly have attained power on the level of divine sense? It’s truly unbelievable….”
The Daoist elder asked, “Fellow Daoist, will you watch the battle on Nine Millet Mountain three days from now?”
Su Hongli waved dismissively and explained nothing.
But it seemed the elder had anticipated this response. He laughed, “Well, I plan to go. I’m increasingly curious as to just what secrets Su Yi is hiding.”
Su Hongli said calmly, “Daoist Brother, when the time comes, you are not to get involved.”
The Daoist elder narrowed his eyes, and nodded. “Right, about what happened today. Are you really just going to take it?
No matter what, You Qingzhi was Su Hongli’s wife, while Su Boning was his legitimate son. Their recent humiliation would likely make them laughingstocks in the Jade Capital.
“Let my unworthy son jump around a while longer.”
Although Su Hongli’s expression was calm, a nigh-imperceptible hint of cold light flickered through the depths of his gaze.
He wasn’t truly heartless.
His wife and son had suffered such a grave humiliation. How could he remain unmoved?
……
Within a lamplit hall in the Great Qin’s embassy.
“Why not wait a while? Remember, there’s absolutely no shortage of people out to kill the Su Yi boy. They’re all in the Jade capital as we speak, but all of them are waiting. No one is willing to be the first to stick out their neck,” said Lonely River softly. “In other words, everyone is planning to wait and see whether Family Head Su really will ‘extinguish his own blood in the name of righteousness.’”
The chief elder of Shanglin Temple’s Arhat Hall was frail and decrepit, and he emanated an air of peace and tranquility.
“Others might fear the power with which Su Yi killed Li Changning. They dare not attack him lightly. However, I am a sword cultivator. How could I possibly shrink back in fear?” said You Tianhong, his posture perfectly upright and his eyes glinting like swords. “It’s easy to temper one’s strength, but difficult to refine the heart. When your heart is full of apprehension, your momentum is weak. To cultivators, this is a taboo.”
Lonely River laughed. “Your heart is staunch as iron. It’s truly worthy of admiration. Three days from now, I’d like to travel to Nine Millet Mountain alongside you.”
You Tianhong furrowed his brow. “You can watch the fight, but don’t intervene.”
Lonely River laughed. “If you can take the boy’s head, there’ll naturally be no chance for this old man to get involved.”
……
……
Three days passed in a flash.
Before long, the time of the duel arrived.
Dawn on the twentieth day of the fourth month, on the peak of Nine Millet Mountain, thirty miles outside the capital.
The peak was flat, and standing here, one could gaze into the roiling sea of clouds. It was quite the grand spectacle.
Thus, the peak was called “Ocean View Plateau.”
Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
This spot was beloved by the Jade Capital’s scholars and poets, who often came here to gaze upon the scenery. It had inspired numerous poems.
However, today, it had become a gathering point for martial artists. Experts were as numerous as the clouds!
The sky had only just brightened, yet there were numerous figures clustered around Ocean View Plateau.
Some were Grandmasters, people capable of shaking their respective territories. Others were Xiantian Martial Ancestors famed throughout the nation. There were even legendary and elusive Earthly Immortals in attendance.
It was no exaggeration to say that today, the peak of Nine Millet Mountain was like the opening ceremony of some grand and glorious occasion. Numerous older generation experts, people who rarely left seclusion, had made an appearance.
Those below the Grandmaster level weren’t even qualified to mix into the crowd. If they wanted to join in on the fun, they could gather further down the mountain and around its base.
“Look! The Hidden Dragon Sword Sect’s experts have arrived. Senior Shi Fengliu is leading the group!”
When Shi Fengliu appeared, looking like the very picture of an immortal, the plateau was instantly in uproar, and countless gazes turned toward him.
Yet today, the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect was not destined to be the center of attention.
Before long, another startled exclamation rang out—
“Isn’t that the Featherflow King? That once-in-a-millennium genius? She’s a legend! She’s actually here too?”
The peak practically boiled over as everyone turned to look at the young woman in white. She had her ancient sword strapped to her back, and she looked like a celestial immortal beauty.
After Yue Shichan arrived, she casually stood beneath a cliffside pine, tranquil and aloof. Her presence added a beautiful figure to the already stunning landscape.
Afterward, one prominent figure after another arrived, causing commotion after commotion in the area around Cloud View Peak.
Someone did some rough calculations and realized that there were dozens of Xiantian Martial Ancestors in attendance. Such a grand occasion made countless onlookers’ hearts quiver in terror.
This was to be expected. Three days ago, when word of You Tianhong’s upcoming duel with Su Yi spread, it shook the entire Great Zhou. Prominent figures stationed throughout the nation set off as soon as they heard the news, all of them headed for the capital.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness a duel between true experts!
“The state preceptor is here too!”
Before long, the atmosphere boiled over once more. The reason was simple: the head of Phoenix Pass Academy, as well as the current state preceptor, had come in person!
“Hahaha, Fellow Daoist, I wouldn’t have thought you’d come too! It’s truly quite the surprise.” A burst of hearty laughter followed.
When the crowd looked, they saw a group approaching. Their leader was a white-haired, white-bearded elder in red robes. He carried a Daoist insignia in one hand, and a feather whisk in the other. He was majestic and imposing.
“The high elder of the Great Wei’s Wheel of the Moon Sect, Yun Zhongqi!”
This announcement threw the area into uproar. All eyes were upon this new arrival.
Yun Zhongqi had become one of the most illustrious Earthly Immortals in the Great Wei decades ago. He was in charge of the Wheel of the Moon Sect’s legacy magic treasure, an object passed from generation to generation, the “Mountain-Suppressing Insignia.” Furthermore, his cultivation was deep and unfathomable, and his prestige shook the nation.
He was also the leader of the Great Wei’s diplomatic mission!
Hong Shenshang glanced at Yun Zhongqi and nodded. “I naturally wouldn’t miss such a grand occasion.”
As he spoke, there was a disturbance off in the distance. Immediately afterward, someone shouted, “Sword Monarch Tianhong has arrived!”
Instantly, everyone present, including both famous Earthly Immortals and influential figures capable of shaking the world with a single stomp of the foot, turned to look.
They then saw a group off in the distance, walking through the mountains.
Two people walked at the forefront.
The first was a thin-faced man in plain white robes and a high-brimmed hat.
The other was dressed in Buddhist robes, a doddering, amiable-looking monk.
These were none other than You Tianhong and the chief elder of Shanglin Temple’s Arhat Hall, Lonely River!
The group walking behind them were all prominent figures and members of the Great Qin’s diplomatic mission.
When they arrived, the atmosphere on Ocean-View Plateau reached an unprecedented level of intensity.
Especially You Tianhong. He was instantly the center of the crowd’s attention.
After all, it was the Great Qin’s Sword Monarch Tianhong who’d issued today’s challenge!