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Yuan Heng could tell that Su Yi really wasn’t interested in the three great lists.
After thinking it over, Yuan Heng understood.
No matter how dazzling they were, both monsters of the ancient era and modern geniuses were ultimately just peak Origin Dao cultivators.
Master can already kill even a mid-stage Spiritual Manifestation Realm old-timer like Huo Tiandu. Why would making the List of Modern Geniuses make him happy?
“Unfortunately, Miss Shichan’s name isn’t on the list,” sighed Yuan Heng.
Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s just a list. It’s not like they could include every top genius beneath the heavens, right? When the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly begins, who’s strong and who’s not will be readily apparent.”
The past few days had passed in rare and precious peace. When he wasn’t cultivating, he was instructing Yue Shichan in the Lesser Starry Vestige Sword Sutra.
In just a few days, Yue Shichan’s strength had already undergone a qualitative transformation!
When it came to the Dao of the Sword, her powers of comprehension were such that even Su Yi couldn’t help but praise her.
When a student understood everything with just the barest nudge in the right direction, what teacher wouldn’t be happy?
Su Yi was rather eager to see just how brightly she’d shine at the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly.
Of course, her ranking was less important.
What mattered was that Yue Shichan seized this opportunity to temper herself in battle. This would give her a clearer awareness of her own abilities.
“Master, I heard that over ten thousand mighty Origin Dao cultivators have registered for the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly already. More than half are from the Great Xia, while the remainder hail from the continent’s various other nations,” said Yuan Heng. “It’s obvious how fierce the competition will be.”
Su Yi glanced at him. “Are you afraid?”
Yuan Heng hurriedly shook his head and said sheepishly, “I’m just worried that my final ranking will disappoint you…”
Yuan Heng had registered too. Two days from now, he’d participate in the first round of the competition.
“Your ranking doesn’t matter. Just fight with everything you’ve got.” Su Yi was open to whatever happened.
Yuan Heng had been cultivating by his side for quite some time. His talent wasn’t top-notch, but he practiced the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra, a peerless legacy.
In combination with Su Yi’s guidance, Yuan Heng’s strength was already far beyond an ordinary cultivator.
Nightfall the same day.
Weng Jiu showed up to deliver an invitation.
“Fellow Daoist, this is an invitation to the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly. Should you so please, you can use this invitation to gain admission as a spectator,” said Weng Jiu with a smile.
He’d long since known that Su Yi didn’t plan to participate, which was why he visited to deliver an invitation.
“Thanks.” Su Yi accepted the card.
“Fellow Daoist, the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly shall take place over the course of five days. On the final day, the top hundred participants shall compete to determine their final rankings,” said Weng Jiu. “Two days later—that is, the first day of the tenth lunar month—the imperial family shall activate the Altar of Teleportation and send everyone with a Sumeru Talisman to the entrance above Meteor Abyss. Should you wish to join them, please be ready then.”
Su Yi nodded.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Weng Jiu bade farewell and left.
……
A grand, majestic hall.
“Young master, there are sixty-three people on the List of Modern Geniuses. Most are from various factions of the Great Xia. Only around ten are from the various mundane nations,” said a woman in a phoenix print skirt. “Information on a young man called Su Yi is sparsest of all, but he’s also the most noteworthy.”
The purple-haired, golden-crowned Huan Shaoyou looked intrigued. “How so?”
“Of the sixty-three people on the List of Modern Geniuses, fifty-seven are in the Gathering Stars Realm. The other six are in the Origin Palace Realm. Five of the six hail from the Great Xia’s peak-level orthodoxies; they’re core disciples of their respective sects. Su Yi is the only exception. He’s not a cultivator of the Great Xia. Instead, he’s from a tiny, remote nation called ‘the Great Zhou.’”
The woman’s eyes shone with strange light. “Don’t you think that’s out of the ordinary, young master?”
Huan Shaoyou nodded. “The List of Modern Geniuses is the joint effort of the imperial family’s old-timers. Their choice to include Su Yi proves that he has extraordinary foundations and talent. He’s precisely the type of person I need most.”
He paused, then said, “How about this? When the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly begins, I’ll see how Su Yi performs. If he really is extraordinary, I’ll recruit him to the Huan Family’s cause.”
The woman’s expression turned a bit strange. “Young master, according to my investigations, Su Yi’s name isn’t on the list of participants.”
This left Huan Shaoyou a bit stunned. “This guy… really is strange!”
He thought for a moment, then waved dismissively. “Forget it. The strongest participants of the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly are more important targets for our recruitment efforts than Su Yi.”
The woman smiled. “I’m eager to watch you perform, young master.”
“That so? How about I perform for you right now?” Huan Shaoyou laughed, wrapped his hand around her slender waist, and headed toward a side palace.
“Young master, what are you doing?” The woman’s breath sped up, and her beautiful eyes sparkled.
Whap!
He slapped her right on the butt.
“You already know, so why ask!?”
……
“Granny, did you just say that Su Yi isn’t participating in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly?” Gu Cangning sat in an elegant pavilion, looking confused.
“That’s right. The registration period ended yesterday, but Su Yi’s name isn’t on the list of participants,” said the old woman softly.
“Doesn’t he plan to visit Sumeru Immortal Island?” Gu Cangning furrowed his brow, then sighed. “And here I was eager to see whether or not he had the power to suppress the world’s elites at the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly. I wanted to find out if he could take down the likes of Zeng Pu, Huan Shaoyou, Chi Jiansu, and other peak monsters of the ancient era one by one to achieve the championship. Now, it seems that won’t be possible…”
The old woman shook her head. “Zeng Pu and Huan Shaoyou are among the mightiest of the monsters of the ancient era. They possess the heaven-defying strength to suppress even Spiritual Manifestation Realm cultivators. Even if Su Yi participated, I’m afraid… He’d have little hope of defeating them.”
Gu Cangning smiled. “Perhaps.”
……
“Su Yi isn’t participating in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly?” Jiang Li asked in a daze.
“He possesses the strength to suppress Zhou Fengzhi in just two strikes. Why would he want to participate in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly?” said Yu Wenshu, looking conflicted. “I’m afraid that even such a grand occasion is unworthy of his notice…”
When Jiang Li heard that, she couldn’t help but feel a bit dejected too.
She and Yu Wenshu were among the most dazzling geniuses of the present day. Among Origin Dao cultivators, they were the best of the best, stand-out elites of the younger generation!
However, although only they and a few others knew it, Su Yi had long since left them in the dust!
Jiang Li suddenly recalled something, and her expression turned a bit strange. “Senior Apprentice Brother, don’t forget. Su Yi said that if you defeated Yue Shichan at the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly, he’d apologize to you in person.”
Yu Wenshu’s eyes glinted with sharp light. “I’ll naturally give it everything I’ve got.”
……
“Master, Su Yi’s name isn’t on the list of participants,” said Wen Xinzhao, her eyes shining with confusion. “How could this be?”
She and her master, Daoist Master Coldsmoke, had spent the past few days in Nine Tripod City, investigating Su Yi’s whereabouts. Frustratingly, they’d yet to locate him even now.
“Why are you worried about that at a time like this?” said Daoist Master gently. “The sect leader is due to arrive in Nine Tripod City tomorrow. What you need to do now is conserve your strength and make ample preparations for the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly.”
Wen Xinzhao said somewhat dejectedly, “And here I thought I’d get to see Fellow Daoist Su again before the assembly began. It seems we weren’t fated to meet.”
Daoist Master Coldsmoke sighed to herself. Lately, all she can think about is finding Su Yi. It’s like she’s been bewitched…
Daoist Master Coldsmoke set those thoughts aside and said, “It seems to me that even if Su Yi doesn’t plan to participate in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly, he’s likely paying attention to this unprecedented grand occasion. After all, the whole world is watching. I certainly don’t believe a cultivator like him could completely disregard it.”
Wen Xinzhao’s eyes lit up. “Is that so? Does that mean that if I put on a good showing, Fellow Daoist Su might see it?”
“Of course,” said Daoist Master Coldsmoke with a faint smile.
……
The peak of Mount Heavenbristle.
“My lord, on the final day of the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly, the leaders of the four great orthodoxies and three great clans will all come to spectate,” said Weng Jiu respectfully.
The middle-aged man in simple cloth robes nodded, then asked, “What did Su Yi say? Does he plan to come watch?”
“Uh…” Weng Jiu whispered, “He accepted the invitation. He’ll most likely come.”
“No matter what, save his seat for him,” said the middle-aged man. “Even if it’s empty, we can’t let anyone else take it.”
“That's only natural,” said Weng Jiu.
“Father, you finally let me out!” Not far away, a peal of crisp, clear laughter rang out, and a delicate, exuberant figure dashed out.
She was a pretty, fair-skinned young woman in a long, blue-green dress. Her dark hair was tied into a fluffy bun that hung behind her head, revealing an expressive, exquisite little face.
Her teeth were pearly white, and her eyebrows were curved. Her almond-shaped eyes were lively and bright, the very picture of an energetic little fairy.
When Weng Jiu saw this, he considerately slipped away.
The middle-aged man grunted coldly. “Will you sneak out and run away from home again?”
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The young woman in the blue-green dress giggled and wrapped her arm around the middle-aged man’s. She said affectionately, “I wouldn’t dare!”
As he took in her smiling face, the middle-aged man’s gaze softened. “Tell me lass, do you still remember Su Yi?”
“Su Yi?” The young woman in the blue-green dress was stunned. She couldn’t help but picture a young man in blue.
Then, she hurriedly shook his head. “I don’t know him. Why do you ask, Father?”
“Oh?” said the middle-aged man. “It’s nothing. If you don’t know him, why discuss him?”
The girl’s eyes darted around. “Father, don’t tell me… you plan to act against him?”
The middle-aged man nodded. “That’s right.”
“No! You absolutely mustn’t!” The young woman’s heart clenched, and she immediately objected.
The middle-aged man couldn’t help but laugh.
The young woman immediately realized she’d been tricked. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she growled, “It’s just as they say! You should never trust anything a man says!”