/
Qin Dongxu took a deep breath and said, “That’s right. Your Excellency, if you kill Su Yi for us, we’ll naturally be willing to follow you.”
Clarifying Truth pressed his palms together and nodded.
When they saw You Changkong, Qin Dongxu, and Clarifying Truth express their positions, Shang Luoyu and Lin Yubei made their positions clear.
Su Yi and Hua Xinfeng were instantly surrounded on all sides, with no allies or reinforcements.
Even Hua Xinfeng hadn’t anticipated this development. Qin Dongxu and the others had chosen to throw in their lot with Chu Xiu due to Su Yi’s presence!
Her heart was instantly heavy beyond comparison.
She’d originally planned to take this bunch down, one by one, after seizing whatever good fortune the ruins had to offer!
So many top-class Earthly Immortals were pointing their spears at the two of them. It was easy to imagine just how heavy Hua Xinfeng’s heart was!
But then, Chu Xiu laughed and swept his gaze across the group. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re pretending to comply in hopes of borrowing my strength to kill Su Yi, and you plan to find a way to escape later.”
Qin Dongxu and his allies’ expressions shifted, but just as they were about to speak—
Chu Xiu laughed and stopped them. “Don’t panic. You’ve given your conditions, but I have my own plans. For now, just be good and sit tight.”
He then turned his eerie green gaze on Su Yi. “Fellow Daoist, if you’re willing to join me, I wouldn’t mind killing the whole lot of them.”
Qin Dongxu and the others’ eyes widened.
But then, Chu Xiu continued, “Of course, should you refuse, I’ll just have to kill you and give them what they want. The choice is yours.”
His words were unhurried, but the atmosphere was instantly incomparably tense and oppressive.
“Oh?” Su Yi’s gaze swept across the group before returning to Chu Xiu. “Do you have any other subordinates nearby?”
“I don’t,” said Chu Xiu. He asked with great interest, “Don’t tell me you don’t think we’re strong enough to kill you?”
“You’re way off,” said Su Yi. Then, after a moment’s thought, he said, “But you’re just barely qualified to act as my stepping stones.”
“What? This kid sees us and His Lordship as stepping stones?”
“Hahaha!”
Tong Xinghai and the other old fiends burst into uproarious laughter.
Qin Dongxu and company were briefly flabbergasted. Then, then too burst into cold laughter. Su Yi was this arrogant even now, at a time like this? He clearly didn’t even know the meaning of the word “death”!
However, Su Yi’s attitude actually made them side in relief. After all, Chu Xiu said he’d kill them all so long as Su Yi joined his cause.
There was no way that would happen now.
Furthermore, if Su Yi fought Chu Xiu’s group, they could just sit back and watch from a safe distance!
Chu Xiu only sighed. “Fellow Daoist, I see you as a rare talent destined to shine. I wanted to keep you by my side so that I could guide and instruct you. I never thought you’d refuse. If I can’t use you, I’ll just have to destroy you here. It’s truly a pity.”
Su Yi arched his brows, then smiled faintly. “Since you’ve said that, I’ll be direct with you. In my eyes, a paltry little thing like you really
 isn’t even worthy of carrying my shoes.”
Chu Xiu was briefly stunned, but then, he couldn’t help but burst into uproarious laughter.
Then, he waved suddenly. “A’Lin, come test our fellow Daoist’s strength!”
“Yes, sir!” A young woman carrying a silver spear stepped forth.
Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her hair was the color of young wheat. Her features were well-formed and beautiful, and she wore form-fitting black armor that outlined and accentuated her slender curves.
However, her expression carried an icy, piercing chill, and her aura was cold, sharp, and imposing.
As she stepped forth, a bone-piercing, icy blue chill spread out around her, forming a layer of frost on the ground and in the surrounding air.
Many of those nearby shuddered. The cold seemed to penetrate their very souls, and their expressions shifted.
The girl Chu Xiu called A’Lin was strong!
Chu Xiu smiled faintly. “Fellow Daoist, A’Lin is just like me; she isn’t from the Azure Continent either. Don’t let her Grain Avoidance Realm cultivation fool you; her combat strength is absolutely superior to that Origin Palace cultivator you killed, Zhou Changyi.”
He paused, then put his hands behind his back and said leisurely, “If you can defeat her within ten attacks, I’ll let your earlier insults go. I’ll even give you a chance to change your mind.”
Su Yi said calmly, “I urge you all to attack at once. Otherwise, you won’t even be qualified to act as my stepping stones.”
Chu Xiu’s eerie green eyes narrowed. Then, he laughed and waved. “A’Lin, use your full strength. Whatever you do, don’t underestimate our Fellow Daoist Su.”
“Yes, sir!” A’Lin nodded.
Her foot pressed off against the ground, and she launched herself into the air like a streak of lightning and stabbed with her silver spear.
Boom!
The air rumbled, and a streak of cold light shot forth, like a dragon emerging from the abyss. Before the tip of the spear struck, piercingly cold frost filled the air around Su Yi.
Even his clothes, skin, and air were coated in pale blue frost, as if both he and his surroundings had frozen solid!
Chu Xiu’s eyes flashed with appreciation. The silver spear was called Heavenfrost. A’Lin circulated the ice element Dao charm she’d mastered, unleashing it through the Frozen Spirit Annihilation Art.
This spear was undoubtedly strong enough to kill Origin Palace cultivators of the mundane world!
Qin Dongxu and his allies watched from not far away, their expressions shifting as the cold pricked at their skin.
That spear strike left them deeply stunned, but more than that, they sensed a potentially fatal threat.
The woman he called A’Lin was just one of Chu Xiu’s subordinates, yet her combat prowess was this terrifying!? Who wouldn’t have been surprised?
Tong Xinghai and the other heretical cultivators narrowed their eyes, but they looked calm by comparison. All of them understood A’Lin’s terrifying abilities, so this came as no surprise.
“Take this!”
All of this took a long time to explain, but it happened quickly. A’Lin was already swinging her spear with the intent to kill. It swept through the air, like icy lightning.
A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.
When the tip of the spear was just three feet away, Su Yi stretched slightly.
Bang!!!
The pale blue frost encapsulating Su Yi burst apart, like the surface of a frozen lake, scattering countless shards of ice in all directions, like sharp little arrows.
At the same time, Su Yi stretched out his right hand and grabbed the descending spear from midair, holding it firmly in place.
Then, the strength he exerted through his fingers increased explosively.
Boom!
Terrifying true essence burst forth like a tidal wave, charging ruthlessly down the silver spear’s shaft.
A’Lin’s expression changed dramatically. She felt as if she were trapped in stormy seas, beset on all sides by rampaging winds, violent rains, and turbulent currents.
Before she could even react, her right wrist broke with an audible crunch. It was as if a divine mountain had slammed into her, sending her flying backward. She crashed to the ground in the exact spot she’d been standing earlier.
Splurt! The color drained from her beautiful face, and she hacked up a mouthful of blood.
The entire area fell silent; every last onlooker was shaken. Their exchange only lasted a moment, so quick that it was unbelievable.
They saw A’Lin leap through the air, swinging her spear, only for Su Yi to defeat her in the blink of an eye.
As easily as if he were flicking away a bug.
This guy is even more terrifying than rumors say! Qin Dongxu and his allies gasped. Their hearts shook.
They were naturally aware of Su Yi’s accomplishments. They knew he’d killed an entire group of Earthly Immortals in the skies above the Jade Capital, and they knew he’d defeated the top sword cultivator of the Great Wei, Qiu Hengkong.
Who’d have thought that he was far stronger than they imagined?
The strength A’Lin put on display was enough to startle even Origin Palace cultivators like them, yet she couldn’t even take a single hit from Su Yi!
“He’s actually this strong?” Off in the distance, Tong Xinghai and the other old fiends could no longer remain calm. Their expressions shifted erratically.
Even the young saber wielder in purple and the elder in a high-brimmed hat and ancient robes looked solemn.
“No way! No way! That’s all you’ve got? That’s all? Young Lord, are you disappointed?” Hua Xinfeng snickered with utter derision.
It wasn’t that she was so courageous; she just understood that in their current situation, fear wouldn’t change anything, so she didn’t bother with it.
“A small fry unworthy of notice, that’s all,” said Su Yi. “I never had any expectations in the first place, so I can’t say I’m disappointed.”
When he heard this, Chu Xiu’s allies’ expressions grew unsightly.
It was then that Chu Xiu laughed. “Fellow Daoist Su, you’re really quite something. You’re a good deal stronger now than when you defeated Qiu Hengkong. If I’m not mistaken, you’re just one step away from the Grain Avoidance Realm. Is that right?”
“You talk too much,” said Su Yi flatly.
He then pressed his fingers into a sword and cut through the air.
Whoosh!
Streaks of misty sword qi flew through the air, one after another, slashing toward Chu Xiu.
“You’re seeking death!” The young saber-wielder in purple was the first to charge.
Clang!
He leaped, drew his saber, and attacked, completing all three motions in one go. A streak of unnatural red saber qi surged into being and descended furiously, stirring up dazzling, stinging light.
Bang!
Saber qi clashed against sword qi, and turbulent currents of energy scattered and spread out from the point of impact.
In the end, the young man in purple managed to block Su Yi’s attack, but he was forced back, and his face alternated green and white. His long, thin, blood-colored saber buzzed and shook in his hands.
The crowds’ expressions shifted once more.
Su Yi had only attacked once, and casually at that, yet it seemed the young man in purple was being suppressed!
Just how strong was Su Yi, anyway?
Chu Xiu witnessed this entire exchange, and his smile faded. “Ol’ Yun, you, Rong He, and A’Lin should attack together. Test Fellow Daoist Su’s abilities. I’m
 I’m increasingly interested in him.”
Even now, Chu Xiu showed no sign of panic, nor was he willing to fight personally. He still had his companions test Su Yi on his behalf.
His calm composure gradually soothed the tension in his other allies’ hearts.
“Yes, sir.” A’Lin, the elder in the high-brimmed hat, and the young man in purple nodded. Their eyes flashed like lightning as they locked onto Su Yi.
In the face of yet another test, Su Yi couldn’t help but frown. He was finally running out of patience.