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Who could accept others interfering in their affairs?
The way sect leaders like Gu Shandu and Cao Ying saw it, it was only by eliminating Su Yi’s influence over the Great Zhou that they could truly establish themselves as its rulers.
Otherwise, Su Yi’s existence would be like a sharp sword hanging over their heads. No one could predict when it would come slashing down!
The Celestial Prison Demon Court’s demise was the best possible proof of this.
This was one of the reasons why neither the Treasureflame Spirit Sect nor the Thousand Illusions Sect dared act up after setting up in the Great Zhou.
They were worried that if they did, they’d follow in the Celestial Prison Demon Court’s footsteps!
But if this situation continued, neither sect would be able to tolerate it.
As the spiritual energy of heaven and earth recovered and the curtains gradually opened on a new era, they’d have to expand their territories and build up their forces.
If they allowed Su Yi’s threat to hover over them, it would undoubtedly influence their development!
“Tell me then, Fellow Daoist Gu: how do you think we should handle this?” Cao Ying asked in a raspy voice, his eyes flashing.
“Yesterday, I received word from Sect Leader Song Changhe of the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect. Apparently, they intend to take Su Yi down a peg at the Cloud Terrace Assembly, and they hope for my Treasureflame Spirit Sect’s cooperation,” said Gu Shandu, running his hand through his beard. He transmitted, “I actually think this is a rather decent opportunity.”
Cao Ying looked thoughtful. “You want us to cooperate with the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect and knock some sense into Su Yi? It’s not a bad idea, but given the boy’s temperament, I’m afraid he won’t back down.”
Gu Shandu’s expression didn’t so much as waver. “We’ll just have to see whether he’s even capable of standing his ground.”
Cao Ying nodded, but said no more.
Ultimately, neither he nor Gu Shandu were willing to attack Su Yi in earnest. They feared the cost would be too great.
However, if the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect stepped up, they wouldn’t mind going with the flow and helping them intimidate Su Yi!
“Throughout the three nations, only Su Yi strikes any fear into my heart. Were he anyone else, what need would we have for all this planning and deliberation? We could just go right ahead and kill him,” transmitted Gu Shandu. He sounded a bit wistful.
Cao Ying agreed completely.
Time slipped by, and soon, it was almost noon.
Sect Leader Song Changhe of the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect arrived, bringing Grand Elder Zhu Kunyang, his closed-door disciple Yuan Shuo with him.
When they arrived, many of those present instinctively glanced at Su Yi.
The atmosphere shifted, becoming a bit strange and ambiguous.
“Brother Cao, it seems we aren’t the only ones who know that the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect intends to intimidate Su Yi,” transmitted Gu Shandu. His spirits soared. “Furthermore, I suspect that quite a few of them hope to cooperate with them too!”
Cao Ying nodded. He, too, sensed that there was something off about the atmosphere.
There was no doubt about it. The Five-Lightning Spirit Sect clearly contacted quite a few factions in hopes of opposing Su Yi together!
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To Cao Ying and Gu Shandu, this was unquestionably wonderful news!
“Master, it seems something’s not quite right here,” transmitted Yuan Heng, instantly solemn.
“Mm,” grunted Su Yi as he played with his wine glass. “Yuan Heng, tell me: how would you go about establishing a rule that none of these factions would dare break?”
Yuan Heng thought for a moment, then said, “It seems to me that you’d have to explain the trade-offs, draft a document describing the rule, and have everyone swear an oath together. Right, you’d have to clarify the consequences of breaking the rule too.”
Su Yi shook his head. “These are all trivial methods. They’re not the least bit threatening.”
Yuan Heng paused, then humbly requested guidance. “Then what do you think we should do?”
“It’s simple,” Su Yi said casually. “All you have to do is kill a chicken to warn the monkeys. The more impressive the chicken, the less likely anyone is to break your rules lightly.”
Yuan Heng froze. He was obviously a bit confused.
“The top authorities of these factions have all experienced both wind and rain, and they all have their own goals. None are easy to deal with,” said Su Yi. “Look at it this way: if Sect Leader Meng Jinghai of the Wrath of Heaven Sect weren’t strong enough to suppress them, his attempts to create rules would undoubtedly invite controversy and conflict.”
He’d only just said this when someone caused a disturbance.
Song Changhe had only just arrived on Pinewave Plateau. As soon as he took his seat, he said calmly, “Where is the head of the Donghua Sword Sect?”
Qiu Tianchi had been working as a greeter this entire time. When he heard this, his expression shifted, and he lowered his head in greeting. “Senior, what are your orders?”
Song Changhe said with cool indifference, “I dare not give ‘orders.’ I simply wish to ask you this: where is the Donghua Sword Sect’s Cloudstone Venerate, Fu Yunlang?”
Lan Suo tensed, and the look on her beautiful face shifted dramatically.
Yuan Heng’s expression darkened.
Two days prior, on a mountain outside the Dongfu Prefectural Capital, Su Yi had Yuan Shuo pass on a message. He warned the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect to end this here, and said that if they did, he wouldn’t pursue this any further either.
Should they refuse to back down before the Cloud Terrace Assembly, Su Yi would no longer be so polite.
However, Song Changhe’s behavior made it obvious that he had no intention of letting this go!
Su Yi poured himself a drink; it seemed he didn’t even notice what was happening.
“Senior, when we learned of Fu Yunlang’s mistakes, the Donghua Sword Sect exiled him; we… no longer know his whereabouts,” Qiu Tianchi said with a bow. Facing a Spirit Dao cultivator like Song Changhe left him tense and uncertain, and his back was drenched in cold sweat.
Song Changhe said coldly, “Sacrificing the chariot to save the general? A petty trick. Does the Donghua Sword Sect really think distancing yourself is enough, and that you can just sit back and relax?”
Qiu Tianchi was increasingly frantic, and he couldn’t be bothered with anything else. He just turned his head and looked at the distant Lan Suo. “Lan Suo, hurry up and tell him your master’s whereabouts!”
Everyone instinctively looked over, each with a different expression.
Some could tell that Song Changhe had ulterior motives. It might have seemed like he’d pointed his spear at Qiu Tianchi, but in truth, he was doing this so Su Yi would see it!
Lan Suo silently clenched her fists and pursed her lips. She subconsciously glanced at Su Yi.
“Qiu Tianchi cast your master out of the sect. Why pay him any heed?” Su Yi said calmly. “Let’s just watch the show. When it comes to your master, I naturally won’t remain a bystander.”
This declaration left Qiu Tianchi dumbstruck, and he had no idea how to respond.
The others present had strange looks on their faces too.
Su Yi had already revealed his stance on the matter; he didn’t care in the slightest whether Qiu Tianchi lived or died.
However, if the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect wanted to act against the Cloudstone Venerate, they’d have to get through Su Yi first!
Song Changhe could naturally read between the lines. His brow furrowed, and he opened his mouth as if to say something.
However, it was then that a burst of hearty laughter filled the air.
“Everyone, it’s the Wrath of Heaven Sect’s honor to have you here with us today. If our earlier hospitality was in any way lacking, we humbly request your understanding.”
A tall, middle-aged man appeared alongside this voice.
He was dressed in purple, and he wore a feather headdress and a white jade belt. His gait was as vigorous as a dragon or tiger, and he had an imposing bearing.
This was the leader of the Wrath of Heaven Sect, a Spiritual Incarnation Realm existence!
When he arrived, many of the influential guests rose to greet him and exchange pleasantries.
Meng Jinghai smiled and responded to them, one by one.
When he arrived at Su Yi’s table, there was no need for Bu Fan to speak; Meng Jinghai promptly smiled and clasped his fist.
“I imagine that this is Fellow Daoist Su. I’ve long since heard tales of your miraculous accomplishments, and I admire you deeply. Now that I see you in person, I see that you are indeed a dragon among men!”
Su Yi nodded. “I’ve never liked empty pleasantries. You can go greet the others.”
He remained seated, and he showed no sign of getting up.
Since Su Yi didn’t move, Yuan Heng and Lan Suo naturally didn’t either.
Watching this left quite a few other guests dazed. This kid really is as rumors say. He’s arrogant to the extreme!
Meng Jinghai was their host and a renowned expert, but Su Yi didn’t even get up to return his greeting!
They didn’t know it, but in Su Yi’s eyes, his mere presence at the meeting was already a show of respect to Meng Jinghai…
Meng Jinghai was stunned too, but he didn’t take it to heart. A moment later, he smiled and went on to greet other guests.
In the end, he sat at the centermost seat, swept his gaze across the gathered illustrious guests, and smiled. “Everyone, I’m sure you’re all already aware of why I’ve called you here today.”
The guests nodded.
Meng Jinghai continued, “It seems to me that if we can reach a unanimous agreement, we’ll be able to end hostilities here. I trust that that would be a blessing to both cultivators and to the common folk.
“Furthermore, I trust that you hope for the same thing.”
Before Meng Jinghai could say any more, Song Changhe of the Five-Lightning Spirit Sect interjected, “Brother Meng, before we get down to business, I have something to say.”
Pinewave Plateau fell silent.
Meng Jinghai had already guessed what this was about. “Fellow Daoist, whatever it is, can’t it wait until after the Cloud Terrace Assembly?”
Song Changhe and coolly, “If we don’t discuss it, it’ll be like a fishbone stuck in my throat or a dagger at my back. How could I possibly focus on the matter at hand?”
Meng Jinghai’s brow furrowed. After a moment’s silence, he said, “Fellow Daoist, please speak directly.”
Song Changhe said gravely, “Fu Yunlang, the so-called ‘Cloudstone Venerate’ of the Donghua Sword Sect, fought and injured disciples of our Five-Lightning Spirit Sect not long ago, and he ran off with a treasured medicine. Brother Meng, I trust you’ve already heard about this incident.
“The Donghua Sword Sect is now under the Wrath of Heaven Sect’s banner. Tell me, Brother Meng, how do you plan to resolve this?”
The entire plateau fell so silent that they could have heard a pin drop.
Song Changhe’s started causing trouble! Gu Shandu, Cao Ying, and numerous others instantly perked up.
Lan Suo’s heart clenched. She felt as if she were sitting on a bed of needles.
“Even if the skies fall, I’m here,” Su Yi said softly.
He felt a bit exasperated. Ever since they’d arrived at Cloud Terrace Spirit Mountain, Lan Suo had behaved like a startled fawn. She was far too uneasy.
But then, when he considered her predicament and what she was concerned about, Su Yi understood. Her reaction was perfectly normal.
Concern made one frantic.
“A trivial matter, that’s all. Given your status, why concern yourself with that?” Meng Jinghai said with a burst of hearty laughter. “Fellow Daoist, if you’re displeased, how about I have Qiu Tianchi apologize to you?”
However, Song Changhe said expressionlessly, “Brother Meng, it’s as you say. This was originally a trivial matter. However, not long ago… someone proclaimed that our Five-Lightning Spirit Lightning Sect was to back down or else! After that, how could I possibly treat this as a trivial matter?”
As he spoke, he glanced, seemingly inadvertently, in Su Yi’s direction.
The implications were obvious.