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When he heard Yue Shichan’s name, the image of a picturesque beauty, as pretty as a fairy or an immortal, dressed in white with an ancient sword strapped to her back, rose unbidden in Su Yi’s mind.
He still remembered their last meeting in the Jade Capital, when she invited him to travel with her to the Great Xia and participate in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly.
Time flew; it had already been three months since then.
But then, Su Yi wasn’t at all surprised that Yue Shichan had become famous in the Great Xia.
From the moment he first laid eyes on her, Su Yi could see her talent and tell how firm her sword heart was. She was a rare, shocking genius, one in a million.
At the time, out of sheer love of talent, he even offered to guide Yue Shichan in her pursuit of the Dao.
Of course, at the time, Yue Shichan refused him, saying she needed “time to think it over.”
Still, that did nothing to reduce Su Yi’s admiration for her.
As a sword cultivator, it was hard for Su Yi to avoid having a special fondness for those who, like Yue Shichan, shared his obsession with the blade.
When she saw Yuan Heng glance at Su Yi, Qing Ya couldn’t help but feel curious. “Big Brother Yuan Heng, don’t tell me you and Big Brother Su Yi know Yue Shichan?”
When he saw that Su Yi had no objections, Yuan Heng said, “We know her. She’s from the Great Zhou, just like us. Before she left for the Great Xia, she was the famous Featherflow King of the Great Zhou, a dazzling, legendary figure.”
“The Great Zhou?” Huo Yunsheng, Qian Tianlong, and Sun Feng were briefly dazed. It took them a moment to even remember what kind of place the Great Zhou was.
“Who’d have thought a remote, barren little backwater like the Great Zhou would give rise to a miraculous genius like Yue Shichan? That’s truly rare,” sighed Huo Yunsheng.
“But then, it’s not that strange. Lately, perhaps because the power of the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness is fast receding, all types of dazzling geniuses are popping up all over the Azure Continent’s hundred-plus nations,” said the silver-robed Qian Tianlong calmly. “Of course, there are also quite a few Possessed, as well as those lucky enough to have obtained ancient legacies, too.”
Sun Feng stroked his chin. “There are quite a few miraculous geniuses and monsters out there nowadays, but those capable of defeating Luo Hanchuan, an inner sect legacy disciple of the Qingyi Dao Sect, aren’t at all common. Furthermore, what ordinary person could refuse the Fulcrum of Heaven Sword Sect’s offer to join them as Yue Shichan did?”
His tone contained unconcealed admiration.
Qing Ya batted her bright, clear eyes and looked at Su Yi. “Big Brother Su Yi, in my heart, you’re the greatest genius of the Great Zhou!”
Su Yi couldn’t help but smile and shook his head. “I’m no genius.”
Qian Tianlong laughed, and although he didn’t say anything, his dismissive attitude was readily apparent.
Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
Yuan Heng’s expression darkened. He could endure Qian Tianlong’s lack of respect for him, and he could ignore these Cloudsky Divine Palace disciples’ disdain for yao cultivators.
However, he couldn’t tolerate seeing them treat Su Yi like this!
He took a deep breath, then said gravely, “And here I assumed that cultivators of Cloudsky Divine Palace had bearing and deportment far beyond the masses. I have to say that your current behavior reveals a shocking lack of manners!”
When he said this, the atmosphere was instantly stifled.
Huo Yunsheng and Sun Feng frowned. It seemed that neither of them had guessed that Yuan Heng would dare rebuke Qian Tianlong to his face.
Qian Tianlong’s expression darkened, and he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Are you… Trying to teach me how to behave myself?”
Ling Yunhe’s expression shifted, and he said hurriedly, “Please, you two, stay calm. It’s just a verbal disagreement; let’s avoid any unpleasantness.”
Qian Tianlong snorted coldly. “Fellow Daoist Ling, since that yao cultivator remains unconvinced, I’ll just have to speak openly: if not for you and Qing Ya, we wouldn’t pay some backwater rogue cultivator and a pair of yao cultivators any heed at all!”
He no longer made any attempt to hide his contempt.
Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing’s expressions turned even more unsightly.
Ling Yunhe couldn’t help but glance at Su Yi, who was sipping away at his drink. He said nothing.
However, his calm, composed bearing made Ling Yunhe’s heart clench.
“Fellow Daoist Qian, what do you mean by that?” Ling Yunhe gnashed his teeth and slammed the table. “These are our friends, yet you’ve repeatedly insulted them right in front of me. Don’t you think that’s over the line?”
Qing Ya was displeased too. “That’s right! Do you really think that being disciples of Cloudsky Divine Palace means you’re better than everyone else? Wait until I see Little Martial Aunt. I’ll be sure to ask her what’s going on here!”
Even Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya erupted in rare displays of anger. This was completely beyond Huo Yunsheng, Qian Tianlong, and Sun Feng’s expectations.
Especially Qian Tianlong. His expression shifted erratically, and his heart was full of rage.
He could disregard Su Yi and his companions, but he couldn’t disregard Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya. Otherwise, if they really told Wen Xinzhao about this, it would lead to unpredictable consequences.
The atmosphere was instantly oppressive.
Huo Yunsheng said, “Junior Apprentice Brother Qian, Senior Apprentice Sister Wen sent us here to welcome her guests. Don’t cause trouble.”
He then smiled at Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya. “Please, don’t be angry. Junior Apprentice Brother Qian spoke without reservation and offended you, but please, let me apologize on his behalf.”
Although this sounded like a concession, in truth, his apology was only directed at Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya.
He ignored Su Yi, Yuan Heng, and Bai Wenqing completely.
This made his attitude abundantly clear. How could Ling Yunhe possibly miss it?
He was inwardly vexed. These arrogant disciples of top factions are really as dumb as it gets. If they really provoke Su Yi, he certainly won’t concern himself with their background; he’ll just kill them!
Ling Yunhe took a deep breath, then ignored Huo Yunsheng, faced Su Yi, and clasped his fists in apology. “Fellow Daoist Su, please, stay calm. Let this slide, and when we arrive in Spiritbend City, I’ll host another banquet as an apology.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong,” said Su Yi casually. “Why should you apologize?”
“Fellow Daoist Su, are you saying that I, Qian Tianlong, am the one who’s done something wrong?” asked Qian Tianlong coldly. “And do you want me to apologize to you?”
When he heard this, Ling Yunhe inwardly cried out, This doesn’t look good!
He then watched as Su Yi set down his cup, looked at Qian Tianlong, and said calmly, “I don’t just want you to apologize; you have to kneel first. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind teaching you good manners myself.”
Huo Yunsheng and Sun Feng were dumbstruck, and their expressions darkened. Where does a rogue cultivator with no background to speak of get off saying stuff like that?
Earlier, they'd planned to make peace out of consideration for Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya.
Who’d have thought Su Yi would be so reckless and foolish?
Qian Tianlong was so angry that he laughed, hit the table, and rose. “I’d actually quite like to see just how a measly little rogue cultivator plans to teach me good manners!”
As he spoke, he swept his gaze across the room. “Everyone, don’t try and stop me. Let me and Fellow Daoist Su settle this ourselves. Rest assured, I promise I won’t kill him!”
His tone was icy, yet rife with pride.
Huo Yunsheng and Sun Feng were both silent. They watched coldly from the sidelines, making no attempt to dissuade him. Su Yi’s attitude had angered them too. We’ll have Qian Tianlong teach him a lesson on our behalf. Recognizing the gap between us won’t be a bad thing for Su Yi.
Ling Yunhe was angry too. He snorted coldly but said nothing.
Qing Ya, however, said, “You can relax. I guarantee I won’t stop you.”
Now, when Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing looked at Qian Tianlong, their gazes carried a hint of pity.
“Come on then, Fellow Daoist Su! I’m standing right here, just waiting for you to teach me how to behave myself,” said Qian Tianlong with a cold laugh.
He was clad in silver robes, with deportment that would stand out from any crowd. Although his cultivation was only in the mid-stage Grain Avoidance Realm, as an inner sect legacy disciple of Cloudsky Divine Palace, both his foundations in the Grand Dao and the inheritances and techniques at his disposal were far beyond ordinary cultivators.
Never mind Grain Avoidance cultivators; Qian Tianlong wouldn’t even concern himself with most of the world’s Origin Palace cultivators!
This was a disciple of a peak-level faction. All of them were carefully chosen, the cream of the crop, elites who’d passed round after round of testing to reach their current position. All of them were dragons and phoenixes among men and geniuses at cultivation.
Alas, this time, he’d bumped into Su Yi, the man who reigned supreme over the Nine Provinces of the Wilds in his past life, a terrifying existence whose sword once suppressed the heavens.
Even though he was only a Grain Avoidance cultivator now, how could he possibly concern himself with a small fry like Qian Tianlong?
That guy’s really cruising for a bruising… Qing Ya muttered to herself.
Ling Yunhe suppressed a bellyful of anger and watched coldly. Before Su Yi, Gathering Stars Realm cultivators were nothing but clay chickens and porcelain dogs. Even a monster like the Nirvanic Winds Holy Son barely escaped their clash with his life and wound up fleeing in terror.
This Qian Tianlong… Really doesn’t know how to treasure his life!
Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing naturally weren’t worried on Su Yi’s behalf. From the moment the two yao cultivators boarded the treasure ship, they’d been repeatedly slandered and disrespected, and they too had bellies full of pent-up rage. They’d been eager to teach Qian Tianlong a painful lesson for a while now.
“When you ask others to teach you good manners, you have to humble yourself. First, kneel.” As Su Yi spoke, he stretched out his hand and pressed down.
It was a light, airy gesture, yet a formless power condensed around his hand and descended with the force of a divine mountain.
Boom!
Thirty feet away, Qian Tianlong went rigid. His qi suddenly surged and boomed around him, expanding to its very limit, and he raised his hands as if lifting a cauldron above his head.
However, just a few blinks of the eye later, the group discovered that Qian Tianlong’s face was flushed red, and his veins bulged on his forehead, as if he couldn’t bear the weight. A series of cracking sounds emanated from his skeleton, like beans in a hot wok.
Bang!
The table in front of Qian Tianlong burst apart, and the cups and plates shattered into powder.
Beneath him, the power of the restricting covering the floor circulated with a dazzling rain of light; it seemed it was countering the pressure transmitted through Qian Tianlong’s feet.
When they saw this, Huo Yunsheng and Sun Feng’s pupils constricted.
However, before they could react—
Bang!
Qian Tianlong’s body suddenly bent, and his knees slammed to the floor, shaking the entire hall.
Everyone’s tables, cups, and plates rattled.
The entire room fell so silent, they could have heard a pin drop.
Just one casual palm strike had forced Qian Tianlong to his knees!
He was an inner sect legacy disciple of Cloudsky Divine Palace. Even by the standards of the Great Xia as a whole, he was an elite of the younger generation, so much so that ordinary cultivators of the prior generation could only sigh over their own inferiority.
Yet against a single palm strike, he failed to hold out for even three breaths of time before falling to his knees.
He couldn’t take even a single hit!
Su Yi sat behind a table not far away and drank a cup of wine. He said casually, “If you’re not satisfied, stand back up. It’s not like I have anything better to do; I’ll just have you kneel until you’re completely convinced of your defeat.”