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There was no doubt about it. The man in fiery robes was worried that Su Yi would go back on his word.
Zhang Yuntao, however, actually rather hoped Su Yi wouldn’t show up.
He understood Dongguo Feng’s strength.
With his late-stage Spiritual Manifestation Realm cultivation, he defeated Cloudsky Divine Palace’s High Elder True Monarch Tranquil Seas, a mid-stage Spiritual Incarnation Realm cultivator!
Someone like him was unquestionably far too terrifying.
Besides, Cloudsky Divine Palace had already become one of the Dongguo Family’s subordinate powers.
Should Su Yi proceed to their gates, it could lead to all sorts of unpredictable developments!
Agh, it’s a pity, but the Great Xia’s imperial family is already under storm and beset on all sides. I’m afraid they can’t offer Su Yi much aid
 Zhang Yuntao sighed.
“Third Brother, why did you transmit a warning not to attack just now? We missed a perfect opportunity to kill Su Yi for nothing,” said the colorfully-dressed woman beside the man in fiery robes.
The other Dongguo Family experts looked over as well.
Earlier, they’d been transmitting messages amongst themselves. They'd planned to seize this opportunity to take Su Yi down and avenge Dongguo Yun.
However, their leader, the man in fiery robes, had rejected the idea.
Zhang Yuntao couldn’t help but break out in cold sweats.
Only now did he realize that the Dongguo Family experts really had planned on attacking earlier!
“Elder Finch warned me that Su Yi had already stepped into the Spiritual Manifestation Realm,” said the man in fiery robes, his expression shifting erratically.
All eyes were instantly upon the Silverfinch perched on his shoulder.
The Silverfinch preened its feathers with its beak and said slowly, “There was something off about that kid’s aura. I could tell at a glance that he was hiding his strength. Had you attacked, it’s highly likely you would have encountered calamity.”
The group was stunned. Zhang Yuntao was unwittingly flabbergasted.
The Silverfinch was an ancient variant species, a Cloud-Swallowing Finch. It was only about the size of a palm, but it was nonetheless an extremely mighty Spiritual Incarnation Realm existence.
The Silverfinch had mastered numerous unique and powerful secret arts, and it was knowledgeable and experienced. It occupied a lofty position in the Dongguo Family; their experts even called it “Elder Finch.”
Zhang Yuntao suddenly realized that Su Yi was nothing like before!
The most obvious difference was his cultivation. A few months ago, Su Yi was just in the Gathering Stars Realm.
Yet now, Su Yi was already a Spirit Dao cultivator.
Zhang Yuntao’s spirits soared.
Even in the Gathering Stars Realm, Su Yi could kill Spiritual Manifestation Realm cultivators as if they were chickens. How strong must he be now that he was in the Spiritual Manifestation Realm himself?
It was then that an uproar broke out in the distance.
“What? Not long ago, Su Yi slew an entire group of Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain experts in the Inauspicious Wastes?”
“Is this for real?”
“It’s one hundred percent true!” Senior Guan Tieshan saw it himself, and furthermore, Yue Xingshan, Sun Shangliu, and several other seniors were there too!”
“They saw that not even Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain’s legacy disciple, Chu Yunke, was a match for Su Yi
”
“My heavens! Su Yi disappeared for a few months, only to do something like this the moment he returns? He might as well have poked a hole through the heavens!”

Voices rang out, one after another.
When they heard this, the fiery-robed man and the various other Dongguo clansmen couldn’t help but gasp and look at each other in astonishment.
Chu Yunke!
He was seventy-sixth on the Ranking of Stars, and he’d joined forces with five other Spiritual Manifestation Realm cultivators, yet Su Yi nonetheless slew every last one of them!
The fiery-robed man and his companions couldn’t help but rejoice; they’d just narrowly avoided calamity.
If they hadn’t heeded the Elder Finch’s warning, if they’d attacked Su Yi, the consequences
 would have been difficult to predict!
Zhang Yuntao remained outwardly calm, but waves of emotion coursed through his heart.
He inwardly cried out, Just as I thought! Su Yi hasn’t changed. He’s already made a mess of things!
The Silverfinch suddenly raised its head and said, “We must inform Dongguo Feng of this as soon as possible so that he can make plans, and so that he doesn’t underestimate his opponent!”
The group nodded.
However, they still didn’t know that after killing Chu Yunke and his companions, Su Yi slew five Spiritual Incarnation experts of the Deathbringer’s Netherworld Palace.
There was simply no way that Xuan Zhi would spread word of what had happened.

.
The fifteenth day of the second lunar month.
After disappearing for several months, Su Yi reappeared in the Glittering Ghost Domain and slew six experts of Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain, including Chu Yunke!
Word of this incident took the Great Xia by storm.



A blessed ground with abundant spiritual energy.
“Master, there’s news of Su Yi!” Chi Jiansu rushed into the old blind man’s immortal cave.
The old blind man had been fast asleep, but he shot to his feet as if he’d been electrocuted and exclaimed, “Where is His Excellency Su Yi now?”
This master and apprentice duo was rather strange.
Chi Jiansu called Su Yi directly by name, while the old blind man called him “His Excellency” as if it were perfectly natural.
However, both of them were used to it.
“Experts of my clan just received word that Su Yi is in the Glittering Ghost Domain
” Chi Jiansu quickly explained everything she’d learned.
Once he’d heard the full tale, the old blind man couldn’t help but laugh. “How deeply unfortunate for Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain! They actually dared to offend His Excellency Su Yi’s dignity? What is that, if not seeking death?”
“....” Chi Jiansu said nothing, but inwardly, she thought, Given the circumstances, shouldn’t you be worried about Su Yi?
It seems that in Master’s eyes, Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain is the one getting bullied here, and furthermore, he seems to think they deserve it

“Lass, I’m going to pay His Excellency a visit,” said the old blind man. He was already headed out the door.
Chi Jiansu said hurriedly, “Master, if you go to the Glittering Ghost Domain now, I’m afraid Su Yi will have left by the time you arrive.”
The old blind man didn’t even pause to think. “No matter. Unless I’m mistaken, he’s sure to head to Nine Tripod City.”
When she saw how much of a hurry he was in, Chi Jiansu couldn’t help but ask, “Master, just why are you in such a rush to see Su Yi?”
“It’s a matter of the utmost importance!” said the old blind man. By the time his voice finished echoing through the air, he’d already left. Before long, he disappeared without a trace.
Chi Jiansu froze, stunned. A moment later, she thought, This is no good! I have to go to Nine Tripod City and see what all the fuss is about too!



Nine Tripod City.
Within a pavilion atop the peak of Mount Heavenbristle.
“My lord, this is excellent! Fellow Daoist Su agreed to help us repair the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation upon his return to the Great Xia,” said Weng Jiu, his face lighting up with delight. “It seems to me that he’ll proceed to Nine Tripod City in the near future!”
Over the past few months, as the world continuously transformed, the Great Xia became turbulent and tumultuous.
The imperial family, the former hegemons of everything beneath the heavens, had suffered an enormous blow as a result.
Now, Nine Tripod City was beset on all sides by both internal and external foes. It was in a precarious situation, with danger at every corner.
Under the circumstances, if they could borrow Su Yi’s power and repair their defensive formation, the imperial family would have a weapon powerful enough to intimidate their foes!
“Fellow Daoist Su is the nostalgic sort. Send someone to clean up Azurecloud Court,” said the plainly-dressed emperor of the Great Xia. His voice was soft, but his eyes shone with a hint of eagerness.
“Yes, sir!” said Weng Jiu.
“Also, unless I’m mistaken, now that Su Yi’s appeared, the seven great ancient factions will surely take action against him. I’d like you to personally lead our forces and strengthen Nine Tripod City’s defenses.”
The Xia Emperor’s expression was solemn. “I’m afraid Nine Tripod City will soon become the eye of the storm. Whatever we do, we cannot get complacent.”
Weng Jiu’s heart shook, and he nodded silently.
Over the past few months, the seven ancient factions had all urged the emperor to abdicate and offer up both Nine Tripod City and Mount Heavenbristle.
This seemed like an attempt to seize territory, but in truth, they were trying to seize the imperial family’s authority over the empire!



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The Demonic Huan Family, the banks of the Demonification Pool.
“So, Su Yi, that little wretch, has finally shown up
” said an elder in old-fashioned hemp clothing.
“Ancestor, it’s time to avenge Shaoyou,” another Huan Family higher-up said gravely.
“Wait a little longer. Unless I’m mistaken, the boy is headed to Nine Tripod City to seek the Xia Family’s protection,” said the old man in hemp, his gaze indifferent. “If we’re going to take action, we ought to take care of everything at once. We ought to take him and the imperial family down together!”
He paused, then said, “But before that, we’d best not alert him. Go make contact with the other top ancient factions. I trust they won’t refuse an opportunity to exterminate Su Yi and flatten the imperial family!”
“Yes, sir!” The Huan Family higher-up nodded his assent.



Similar scenes took place in Tianji Dao Mountain, the Burning Sun Sect, the Hidden Cloud Sword Sect, and various other ancient factions.
When they learned that Su Yi had reappeared, all of them were restless and agitated.
Su Yi had killed far too many monsters of the ancient era during his time on Sumeru Immortal Island, and all of them had extraordinary statuses.
Like Tianji Dao Mountain’s Yan Jingyun, the Burning Sun Sect’s Jing Lingzhen, the Deathbringer’s Netherworld Palace’s Mo Xingzhe, and Dongguo Yun of the Dongguo Family.
Now that Su Yi had reappeared, how could the factions behind them possibly remain unmoved?
A storm was silently brewing.
It was clear that when the storm truly descended, its winds would throw the nation into chaos!



The Deathbringer’s Netherworld Palace.
An utterly infuriated roar echoed throughout a dimly lit palace.
“It’s bad enough that someone impersonated our founder, but now Su Yi’s gone and killed five of our Spiritual Incarnation experts, and they even ran off with our founder’s remains! Dammit! Su Yi deserves to die ten thousand times over!”
The black-robed man in the central seat wore a bronze mask, which obscured his features. However, an explosive aura surged around him; he was clearly infuriated.
This was the current palace master of the Deathbringer’s Netherworld Palace!
Xuan Zhi was prostrate on the ground, her beautiful face pallid.
A long time passed before the masked man got his fury under control, and his explosive aura gradually calmed down.
He suddenly asked, “Xuan Zhi, why didn’t he kill you?”
His voice was icy and grim.
Xuan Zhi quivered, lowered her head, and said, “Your Excellency, Su Yi told me he had a deep connection to the Ghost Serpent Race.”
“Is that so?” The masked men fell silent.
After a while, he said, “Do you think we ought to avenge this grudge?”
Xuan Zhi’s heart was heavy as she whispered, “It’s entirely up to you, Palace Master.”
“This is a young man who easily slew five Spiritual Incarnation experts. Just how powerful must he be?” whispered the masked man.
He seemed hesitant, as if he’d encountered an incomparably thorny problem.
Xuan Zhi hesitated, then said, “Your Excellency, how about
 we endure for now, then see how the situation changes? As I’m sure you’re aware, there are quite a few other factions intent on killing Su Yi too.”
The more she spoke, the softer her voice.
Her suggestion must have seemed cowardly and humiliating.
However, against all expectations, after a lengthy silence, the masked man nodded. “Very well.”