Su Yi furrowed his brow as he suddenly recalled something.
His uncle, Ye Yunlan, had left not long ago, and heâd yet to return!
âCome in,â said Su Yi. As he spoke, he indicated for his companions to step away.
All of them considerately slipped off, save for the old blind man, who stood guard at Su Yiâs side.
Before long, the gate swung open, and a woman in gray walked in. Her face was ordinary at best, but her figure was unusually prideworthy.
She wore her long hair in a bun, and she had a black jade ruler strapped to her back. She walked with a sultry elegance, and as her eyes shifted, they inadvertently glinted with a unique sharpness.
There was no doubt about it. This was Ye Jinzhi.
âGreetings, Fellow Daoist Su.â
Ye Jinzhi walked up and subtly inclined her head in greeting, but it was obviously perfunctory. There were traces of smug pride in her expression.
Her sense of superiority ran bone deep.
âWhat does the Ye Family wish to discuss with me?â asked Su Yi.
Heâd never liked pleasantries.
Ye Jinzhi stood with her hands behind her back and swept her gaze across the courtyard. âArenât you going to offer me tea? This is no way to treat a guest.â
She then fixed her gaze back on Su Yi and smiled faintly. âBesides, by the rules of kinship and seniority, Iâm in the same generation as your mother. You⊠ought to call me âaunt.ââ
â....â The old blind man was stunned. Iâm afraid this womanâs insane. Sheâs blatantly trying to take advantage of His Excellency Su!
Su Yi glanced at Ye Jinzhi and got straight to the point. âAny more nonsense, and Iâll kill you.â
His tone was casual, but the domineering attitude they revealed made Ye Jinzhiâs expression shift. An overcast look arose on her face.
A moment later, she flashed him a charming smile. âMy reasons for coming here are simple. Iâm here to tell you to bring the Seed of the Azure to Falling Petal Mountain three days from now, and that if you donât show up, Ye Yunlan will die beyond a doubt.â
Su Yi sighed inwardly. Just as I thought. Something happened to that uncle of mine.
I urged him against investigating the Ye Family, but he was extremely stubborn about it. This is just great! Now theyâve gone and taken him hostage.
But Su Yi wasnât particularly worried about him. Ye Yunlan wasnât dead yet; if he was, what would the Ye Family threaten him with?
âAnd here I thought Ye Xiao was capable. It turns out heâs just another rat.â Su Yi shook his head.
The old blind man couldnât help but grin too. âIndeed. Using a hostage to threaten us? In terms of presence, heâs already far inferior. Your Excellency, calling him a 'rat' is right on the mark.â
â....â
And here Ye Jinzhi had thought that, after learning this grievous news, Su Yi would be furious and alarmed, and that heâd lose his composure. Sheâd figured his expression would be a sight to behold!
But Su Yiâs reaction was completely different than sheâd expected!
And heâd even gone so far as to call Ye Xiao a rat!
âYou⊠donât you care about your uncleâs life and death?â Ye Jinzhi frowned.
The old blind man couldnât help but sneer. âIf he dies, what will you have to threaten His Excellency with? Idiot!â
The insults made Ye Jinzhiâs face alternate white and green. She was almost overcome with fury.
But when she recalled Su Yiâs heaven-defying combat prowess, she forced her anger back down and snorted, âItâs not up to you to decide whether or not our young master is a âratâ or not!â
Su Yi naturally wouldnât make too much trouble for a mere messenger. âYe Xiao is from a branch family. When did he become the young master of the Kunwu Mountain Ye Family?â
Ye Jinzhi took a deep breath and said expressionlessly, âI imagine Ye Yunlan has already told you a bit about our clanâs situation? Then you ought to know that the main branch of the Ye Family has already declined. It can no longer bear the weight of major responsibilities.
âYears ago, the family elders tacitly agreed that Ye Xiao was a qualified candidate to succeed the position of family head.â Here, her voice revealed a hint of pride. âWhen the time comes, we side branch members will naturally become the legitimate main branch of the family!â
Su Yi didnât find this at all strange.
Practically every major cultivation faction had its share of internal conflict.
Usurping power and seizing authority like sheâd just described was commonplace.
âAlas, youâve offended His Excellency Su Yi, so youâre doomed never to see that day,â the old blind man said wistfully, his gaze carrying a hint of pity.
His tone and expression left Ye Jinzhi flabbergasted and displeased. She couldnât help but snort coldly, âYouâre just a blind man, yet you dare speak so brazenly? Ludicrous!â
The old blind man sighed, sounding even more sympathetic than before. âYou have eyes, but you cannot see. Someone like you is far more pitiful than a blind man like me. If I were you, I wouldnât be able to laugh.â
â....â Ye Jinzhi ignored the old blind man for fear that, if things went on like this, sheâd lose control of her temper.
âSu Yi, Iâll say it once more. Three days from now, if you donât go to Falling Petal Mountain, your uncle is doomed! Farewell!â Ye Jinzhi said firmly. Then, just like that, she turned and left.
âWait,â said Su Yi.
Ye Jinzhi furrowed her brow. âWhat, donât tell me you want to fight? Iâm not afraid to tell you that even if you use me as a hostage, you wonât be able to buy back your uncleâs life!â
Su Yi laughed dryly. âIf I wanted to kill you, I could do so effortlessly. Wait there a moment; Iâll go with you to Falling Petal Mountain.â
Ye Jinzhi was obviously stunned. It seemed she hadnât expected that Su Yi would be so decisive.
âXinzhao.â Su Yi called Wen Xinzhao over, then said, âRemember this: when you receive a map from Weng Jiu, come directly to Falling Petal Mountain to find me.â
Wen Xinzhao nodded her agreement.
Then, without any wasted words, Su Yi looked at Ye Jinzhi. âLetâs go.â
As he spoke, he walked out of the courtyard.
He said heâd leave, and he left, just like that.
Ye Jinzhi couldnât help but doubt⊠everything. How is this guy⊠so fearless?
Donât tell me he thinks weâre going to Falling Petal Mountain to admire the scenery?
The old blind man sighed wistfully, âAigh, itâs a pity. I have important business to attend to. Otherwise, Iâd just love to accompany you to Falling Petal Mountain and see just how that rat Ye Xiao dies.â
Ye Jinzhi was so angry that steam practically blew out of the seven apertures of her face. She wanted nothing more than to chop the old blind man to death.
But in the end, she held back, turned, and followed Su Yi.
âŠâŠ
Late at night, the radiant moon was the sole source of light.
Su Yi stepped onto Abstruse Celestial and flew through the air, his robes fluttering around him. He was like a banished immortal, a magnificent sight.
However, he wasnât traveling all that quickly. It seemed as if he were out for a journey. From time to time, heâd even take out a gourd of wine and have a drink. He seemed dashing and composed.
Ye Jinzhi followed him, and when she saw this, her gaze was a bit complicated.
Is this guy seriously not worried at all? Not even a little?
âDid Ye Yunlan tell you about our young master?â Ye Jinzhi couldnât help but ask.
âHe did,â said Su Yi, his thoughts elsewhere.
âThen you ought to know that heâs nothing like the Spiritual Revolution cultivators you killed yesterday. If you really want to save your uncleâs life, I urge you to offer up the Seed of the Azure as soon as you reach Falling Petal Mountain.
âAlthough our young master has proven his Dao through slaughter, heâs extremely benevolent with his clansmen. Ye Yufeiâs blood flows through your veins. So long as you lower your head and submit, he wonât make things difficult for you.â
Ye Jinzhi went on and on, but it was as if Su Yi didnât even hear her; he didnât react at all. She couldnât help but frown. âSu Yi, are you listening to me?â
She sounded a bit angry.
Su Yi said casually, âOur words wonât get through to each other; why bother? In your eyes, Ye Xiao is strong enough to inspire blind faith. In my eyes, heâs no more than someone about to die. Our perception is completely different; conversing will do us no good. Itâs a waste of spit.â
Ye Jinzhi was so angry that she almost laughed, and her gaze frosted over. âThey say kind words cannot dissuade those determined to throw their lives away, and mercy cannot save one from themselves. Su YiâŠ. youâd best watch yourself!â
Then, she couldnât be bothered to say so much as another word.
Su Yi furrowed his brow. âYouâre here as a messenger. Donât you think you ought to be leading the way? I most certainly donât know where Fallen Here Mountain is. If you delay our business, can you bear the consequences?â
â.....â Ye Jinzhi repressed her rage, shot ahead, and led the way.
Just wait! When we reach Falling Petal Mountain, Iâll be eager to see just how you die! Ye Jinzhi gnashed her teeth.
Su Yi wasnât the least bit concerned with her feelings.
He stood on the flat of Abstruse Celestial. Along the way, he used the gentle light of the moon to survey the landscape below with great relish.
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".
Now that he thought about it, he hadnât gone out wandering since arriving in Nine Tripod City.
Tonight, soaring through the sky, the landscape he saw along the way had been revitalized by the influx of spiritual power, giving it an all-new appeal.
Alas, this new era has little draw for me. Once Iâve settled my debts and grudge in the Azure Continent, Iâll go to the Netherworld, thought Su Yi.
How could he possibly forget the grudges and entanglements of his past life?
And how could he forget the treasures heâd left in the Netherworld prior to his reincarnation?
His cultivation had already reached the Spiritual Incarnation Realm. Only the Spiritual Revolution Realm remained between him and a chance at proving his Dao and entering the Imperial Realm.
But a chance like that couldnât be found on the Azure Continent.
In other words, although the Azure Continent had welcomed an unprecedented Radiant Epoch, its source had crumbled, and it was doomed to wane.
In a damaged world like this, he could at most establish the cultivation base and foundations needed to become an Emperor; there was almost no hope of actually breaking into the Profound Dao.
This was why Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivators reigned supreme here.
With Emperors out of the mix, Spiritual Revolution cultivators naturally reigned supreme!
As the night gradually receded, dawn broke.
Ye Jinzhi led the way, and soon, Su Yi saw Falling Petal Mountain in the distance.