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The Great Qin, Verdant Parasol Spirit Mountain.
The Five-Lightning Spirit Sect’s base of operations.
Inside a grand hall.
“This Su Yi person’s attitude is far too outrageous!” a middle-aged man in dragon-embroidered robes said gravely.
Zhu Kunyang. He was a grand elder of the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect, as well as Yuan Shuo’s master.
The others in attendance had overcast expressions as well.
They’d only just received word from Yuan Shuo that Su Yi was planning to interfere with their attempts to capture the Cloudstone Venerate.
“Outrageous? No, there’s a reason for his confidence,” said the man in the central seat. This was the leader of the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect, Song Changhe.
His hair and beard were silver, and he had the air of an immortal. He dressed in Daoist robes, and he had a graceful bearing.
Everyone fell silent.
Given their statuses, how could they possibly be ignorant of Su Yi’s strength?
The Celestial Prison Demon Court’s destruction was a vivid example!
Furthermore, to the best of their knowledge, although Su Yi was young and only in the Gathering Stars Realm, his combat prowess was incomparably terrifying. He could kill Spiritual Manifestation cultivators with ease.
“Sect leader, don’t tell me we’re just going to let this go?” asked Zhu Kunyang.
“Capturing the Cloudstone Venerate was never that important. However, if we back down just because Su Yi told us to and word gets out, it’ll hurt our prestige,” Song Changhe said slowly.
“Su Yi plans to participate in the Cloud Terrace Assembly, doesn’t he? When the time comes, we’ll just have to find an opportunity to take him down a peg, then back down. That way, we can bury the hatchet while maintaining our image. It’ll be an opportunity to vent our frustrations too.”
“That’s sure letting that punk off easy,” someone said coldly. They were unwilling; Song Changhe’s proposal seemed unsatisfying.
“Leader, I heard that Su Yi is extremely prideful and lawless, and that he’s capable of anything. What if he’s unafraid to cast aside all pretenses of cordiality? What if he refuses to back down at the Cloud Terrace Assembly?”
Everyone’s gazes were instantly solemn.
However, Song Changhe merely laughed. “He wouldn’t dare! Don’t forget: the Wrath of Heaven Sect convened this meaning to quell the flames of war and prevent fighting between the various factions. Given the circumstances, if Su Yi openly disrespects us, heedless of the consequences, won’t he effectively ruin the Cloud Terrace Assembly?”
Grand Elder Zhu Kunyang stroked his beard and nodded. “You’re absolutely right, sect leader. Every cultivator beneath the heavens is invested in the Cloud Terrace Assembly’s outcome. If Su Yi ruins it, he’ll provoke the masses’ ire and become a public enemy. There’s no way he’d dare bear such consequences!”
He paused, then laughed. “Never mind the rest; the other factions in attendance couldn’t possibly just sit back and watch as Su Yi acts up.”
When the others heard this, they nodded.
Indeed, Cloud Terrace Assembly was an unprecedented occasion; should anyone ruin it, they would become public enemy number one!
“It’s settled, then. When the time comes, the grand elder and I will take a trip to Cloud Terrace Spirit Mountain,” said Song Changhe.
……
The nineteenth day of the first lunar month.
Early morning.
Cloud Terrace Spirit Mountain was once one of the most dangerous places in the Great Qin.
As the spiritual energy of heaven and earth recovered, this once perilous mountain underwent a dramatic transformation. It had already become a true blessed ground for cultivation.
The base of the mountain was already quite lively.
Days ago, when they received word of the upcoming Cloud Terrace Assembly, numerous rogue cultivators and martial artists gathered here.
They weren’t simply here for the spectacle. Rather, they hoped to seize this opportunity to witness the bearing of the top factions’ experts from up close.
There was also no shortage of experts who hoped the peak-level factions would notice them, allowing them to leap over the dragon’s gate.
“The Cloud Terrace Assembly begins today at noon, on Pinewave Plateau,” someone said softly.
“I heard that eight peak-level factions from the Great Qin, Zhou, and Wei will be in attendance. It’s an unprecedentedly grand occasion!” said someone else, his expression full of longing.
“I just hope that the Cloud Terrace Assembly is as Sect Leader Meng Jinghai of the Wrath of Heaven Sect says. I hope the three nations’ various factions can reach agreement, calm the flames of war, and restore the peace,” someone sighed.
His words resonated with many of the others present.
Over the past few months, everything beneath the heavens was in a constant state of flux. The world was in turmoil, and rivers of blood soaked the earth. It was a vision of widespread suffering.
Who didn’t hope that someone could bring peace to these turbulent times?
This was the scene that greeted Su Yi when he arrived.
“Let’s go,” said Su Yi. Without any further delays, he continued confidently ahead.
The Wrath of Heaven Sect’s main gates was at the base of Cloud Terrace Spirit Mountain, and many of its experts were keeping watch.
When Su Yi took out his invitation, a familiar figure soon scurried over.
This was Bu Fan, a deacon of the Wrath of Heaven Sword Sect.
“Your Excellency Su Yi, this way, please!” Bu Fan was nothing but smiles as he welcomed Su Yi’s group and led them to the venue.
He was visibly delighted that Su Yi had arrived.
“Your Excellency Su Yi, the Cloud Terrace Assembly shall begin at noon. Until then, the participants can rest on the Pinewave Plateau.” As Bu Fan led the way ahead, he said, “Should our hospitality prove in any way insufficient, please don’t take offense.”
“Mm,” grunted Su Yi, but he didn’t speak.
Bu Fan, however, was a bit apologetic. “Your Excellency, our leader planned to welcome you himself, but there are simply too many guests here today, so he truly couldn’t find the time…”
“A trivial matter,” said Su Yi with a dismissive wave. “No need to say more.”
Bu Fan immediately toned it down; he could tell that Su Yi wasn’t interested in such pleasantries.
Lan Suo, meanwhile, was repeatedly shocked as she watched this play out.
Earlier, she only half believed that Su Yi was here for the meeting. Now, she dared say with certainty that the Wrath of Heaven Sect really did attach enormous importance to him!
I wonder just what Brother Su has been up to lately. Why is the Wrath of Heaven Sect treating him with such respect and politeness…? Lan Suo was inwardly confused. Later on, I’ll have to find a chance to ask for news about the Great Zhou!
When the group arrived halfway up the mountain, they saw numerous figures clustered in groups, laughing and chatting amongst themselves.
When Su Yi looked over, Bu Fan whispered an explanation. “An enormous number of factions have come to attend the meeting. However, only the greatest factions and top experts such as yourself are qualified to proceed to Pinewave Plateau to discuss matters of importance.”
Reading between the lines, he was saying that the higher-ups of the other factions could only gather halfway up the mountain.
Su Yi nodded and was just about to continue upward when suddenly, a middle-aged man in golden robes rushed up to Lan Suo. He said nervously, “Lan Suo, what are you doing here? Don’t you know how enormous a disaster your master caused?”
The look on Lan Suo’s beautiful face shifted. She took a deep breath and said, “Senior Apprentice Brother Wang, I’ve come to the Cloud Terrace Assembly specifically to help my master with his predicament.”
The golden-robed middle-aged man said irritably, “Nonsense! Can’t you tell what kind of occasion this is? Besides, now that he’s offended the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect, who could possibly help him now?”
Lan Suo’s face paled. “Senior Apprentice Brother Wang, my master is the high elder of the Donghua Sword Sect, as well as your martial uncle. How… How could you say something like that?”
The golden-robed middle-aged man’s expression shifted. Finally, he sighed. “Lan Suo, why is it that you still don’t understand? The incident your master caused is far too great for our Donghua Sword Sect to get involved in.
“Furthermore, the sect leader has already ordered that he be stripped of his title as high elder and banished from the sect!”
Lan Suo reacted as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her face paled, and she almost dared not believe her ears.
Then, she was so angry that her delicate frame quivered. “You… It’s one thing not to help but, but how… how could you go that far?”
The golden-robed middle-aged man said expressionlessly, “Lan Suo, if we didn’t do this, your master would only implicate the entire Donghua Sword Sect. The way I see it, if you’re willing to reveal his whereabouts, or if you can convince him to turn himself in to the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect, perhaps… he might still have a chance at life. If you refuse, never mind your master; I’m afraid not even you will escape this calamity!”
It was then that Su Yi calmly interjected, “Nothing will happen to her. Nothing will happen to the Cloudstone Venerate either.”
He couldn’t be bothered to spare the golden-robed middle-aged man another glance. He just patted Lan Suo and the shoulder and said, “Never mind him. Let’s go.”
Lan Suo nodded dejectedly. There was no doubt that she’d just suffered an enormous shock. She looked dazed, bewildered, grief-stricken, and despondent.
“And who are you? How dare you intervene in the Donghua Sword Sect’s affairs?” the golden-robed man said in displeasure.
Bu Fan suddenly stepped up and gazed coolly at the man in gold. “Do you know who I am?”
The golden-robed man froze.
However, when he saw the silver badge hanging from Bu fan’s waist, he tensed, quivered, and hurriedly bowed. “Wang Luyong greets you, honored deacon!”
The Donghua Sword Sect had become the Wrath of Heaven’s Sect’s subordinates. Even their leader would have had to treat a Wrath of Heaven Sect deacon with respect!
Bu Fan said coldly, “His Excellency Su Yi and Miss Lan Suo are both esteemed guests of the Wrath of Heaven Sect. If you dare treat them with any further disrespect, don’t fault me for my poor manners.”
With that, he turned away and rushed ahead to continue leading Su Yi.
The golden-robed man stood there in a daze, drenched from head to toe in cold sweat.
Since when was Lan Suo an esteemed guest of the Wrath of Heaven Sect!?
And just who is ‘His Excellency Su Yi’?
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Wait a moment!
The golden-robed man suddenly recalled something. The leader of the Donghua Sword Sect, Qiu Tianchi, was currently at the peak of Pinewave Plateau.
However, he was working as one of the Wrath of Heaven Sect’s greeters, welcoming important guests alongside the various Wrath of Heaven sect higher-ups.
If the sect leader sees Lan Suo, he’ll surely cause a scene! The golden-robed man inwardly cried out in alarm.
He was just about to give chase when he saw that Su Yi and company were already far away.
Given his status, he was nowhere near qualified to proceed to the Pinewave Plateau.
This… What do I do now!? The golden-robed man was frantic as an ant on a hot wok, and he felt at a complete loss.