Chapter 922: One-Year Pact

“What was chasing us just now? Even the warship nearly got destroyed—we barely escaped by crossing four worlds in succession; otherwise, we might not have shaken it off.”

Inside the warship, Lin Yue was still shaken; though she didn’t know exactly what had happened, she could feel the immense danger just now—if not for this modified warship’s astonishing defenses, she might have died near the Moon.

“The Crystal Palace on the Moon had accumulated too much polluted energy; just now, a killing intent surged forth, carrying that terrifying power toward us—it was indeed dangerous,” Li Yi said. “Sister Lin, don’t worry—you’re safe inside this Immortal Dao warship.”

Then he turned his gaze to the knife-coin in his hand.

Within the knife-coin’s aura and shadow, the residual soul of Emperor Huaqing coalesced.

“Huaqing, what did you find inside? Why did such a sudden upheaval occur?” Li Yi asked.

"I used the knife-coin to manifest a heavenly blade and slashed open the Crystal Palace, discovering a massive array in motion—built upon dragon marrow and phoenix gall, reinforced with the remains of countless ancient powerful beings," the Huaqing residual soul said. "I intended to unleash power and destroy that array, helping you resolve Earth's pollution problem."

“But just as I was about to act, two piercing gazes from deep within the hall transformed into divine swords and struck me—I barely held my ground before fleeing immediately. That killing intent earlier must have come from them.”

“Still, I didn’t return empty-handed. Though I had no time to strike fully, I still severed a corner of the array, disrupting its operation. While this won’t fully solve Earth’s pollution, it will reduce its severity.”

Li Yi’s expression grew grave: “You mean someone is guarding the array inside the Crystal Palace?”

“Not necessarily a person,” the Huaqing Emperor’s residual soul shook his head. “It could be a sentient evil entity, or some kind of lifeform. Either way, its power is immense—especially within that polluted spiritual energy. My disruption of the array was also meant to weaken it; otherwise, we’d face the same crisis again.”

“As long as some of the polluted spiritual energy dissipates, the evil lifeform inside the Crystal Palace will certainly be affected. But for now, you must not return near the Moon—it has formed an energy tide. Getting close won’t just expose you to pollution; you might be locked onto again by that terrifying killing intent.”

“Fortunately, the Moon is far enough from Earth—even if its influence is wide, it’s unlikely to reach the planet itself.”

“So that’s how it is. I didn’t expect you to consider so much in such a short time,” Li Yi said.

Knowing he couldn’t win, he still shattered a corner of the array, eased the pollution, weakened the enemy, and laid groundwork for future action.

“But even though I didn’t use my full strength, my residual soul was damaged—I can’t assist you further. From now on, you’re on your own. I need to retreat to the Incense World to recuperate,” Huaqing added, seizing the chance to make his request.

Li Yi narrowed his eyes: “Not now. I’ll send you to the Incense World to recover once I return to Earth and assess the situation.”

He didn’t believe the other’s words alone.

“You must hurry—my residual soul is damaged and won’t last long, even with ample spiritual energy to nourish it,” the Huaqing residual soul said.

Without the unique nature of the Incense World, his current state could never hope for resurrection.

“Don’t worry—I’ll keep my promise,” Li Yi said. He ordered Hong Ji to open the hatch, leapt out, and scanned the warship’s hull.

There, on the crimson-gold hull, a jagged tear had been ripped open—cutting through three decks, nearly severing the warship in half.

Such an attack would have reduced Lin Yue to dust; even Li Yi’s divine body would have been injured.

“It seems releasing just one Dao flower isn’t enough to fully resolve Earth’s pollution. Only when the Three Flowers converge at the crown can I even consider confronting the strange lifeform on the Moon.”

Li Yi roughly estimated the enemy’s strength from this attack.

Though powerful, the enemy’s strength had limits—it wasn’t utterly beyond reach. After all, Li Yi was still a god in his own right.

“I’ll have Tian Gong Daoist repair it later. Though badly damaged, the core components weren’t hit—the losses are acceptable,” Li Yi thought to himself.

Then he waited a moment longer in the End-Dharma Dao World.

Once he confirmed no danger followed, he prepared to return the Immortal Dao warship to Earth.

But just as he thought this, Li Yi suddenly froze, then looked up at the distant sky—where intense spatial fluctuations had appeared, and spiritual energy continuously spilled forth.

“The Gate of Tianwai Tian has opened. A cultivator of Perfect Realm has descended again into this End-Dharma world.”

Li Yi immediately understood what was happening, then recalled something.

When he last came to this End-Dharma world, he had met several Perfect Realm cultivators, and told them he would return one day to offer them a chance to cross over.

Now, a year had passed.

His words from last time had fermented for a year—likely known throughout Tianwai Tian by now.

What surprised Li Yi was how these cultivators had sensed his arrival so quickly—by what means?

Li Yi thought for a moment, then didn’t leave.

Since he’d come here unexpectedly, he might as well meet these Perfect Realm cultivators. With his current strength, they meant nothing to him.

Yet undeniably, they were still powerful allies—if they chose to follow him away, they could play a major role in cross-world warfare.

Thinking this, he stood firmly atop the Immortal Dao warship, waiting for their arrival.

Soon.

The Gate of Tianwai Tian fully opened, and dozens of figures appeared before Li Yi’s eyes—all Perfect Realm cultivators, arriving together with clear determination.

When their gazes met.

“Taiyi, you truly kept your word—you returned to this End-Dharma realm after a year. I am Daoist Yùqīng, here representing Tianwai Tian, seeking to discuss crossing over with you.”

A thin-faced Daoist stepped forward from Tianwai Tian, stepping on five-colored divine light.

The other experts remained within Tianwai Tian, unwilling to descend into this world—even at the cost of expending energy to maintain the spatial gate.

Li Yi smiled: “Before I crossed over last time, I said this was your final chance. After I leave now, no one else will ever descend into this realm—you’ll lose your chance to cross over forever.”

“We come with sincerity,” Daoist Yùqīng said seriously.

“Sincerity? You won’t even address me by my honorific title. I see no sincerity in you—only numbers. Are you planning to overwhelm me and force me to reveal the method of crossing over?”

Li Yi coldly smiled: “If that’s your intent, then strike. Let victory decide—it’s simple and direct enough.”

Daoist Yùqīng’s expression grew grave. As a Perfect Realm cultivator, he sensed the Dao’s currents—he truly felt the opportunity to cross over from this Taiyi, but also a terrifying danger.

The man’s power was terrifying. If he struck, the heavens and earth would overturn. Even all thirty-three of them combined might not gain the upper hand.

His gaze lingered on the warship beneath Li Yi’s feet.

The crimson-gold material was astonishing—capable of being forged into a Dao artifact with immense defensive power. The forging technique resembled that of Daoqi Sect disciples. Yet such a treasure had been torn apart by force.

Clearly, this Taiyi had recently endured an extremely perilous battle.

Through these details, Daoist Yùqīng could roughly estimate Li Yi’s strength.

“Friend, you jest,” Daoist Yùqīng smiled. “As the saying goes, it’s better to resolve enmity than to deepen it. We are merely trapped souls, seeking only a chance to cross over—why resort to weapons?”

At his words, the hostility of those behind him instantly vanished.

Clearly, the others understood Yùqīng’s meaning: no fighting.

“If you won’t fight, yet show no sincerity, how am I supposed to take you across? Even ordinary people pay for a carriage ride. You’re all renowned experts—each of you a patriarch in this world. Do you think you can ride with me on nothing but your old faces? You’re not beautiful immortal maidens—if you were, I might consider it.”

Li Yi spoke calmly.

“Daoist, I understand nothing in this world comes free. If you’re willing to take us across, name your terms—we’ll fulfill them without hesitation,” Daoist Yùqīng said, taking a deep breath.

Li Yi scanned the group: “Take the Self-Sacrifice Spell. Serve me. When you’ve earned great merit, I’ll lift the spell and grant you freedom.”

“The Self-Sacrifice Spell? That’s too harsh—can’t we negotiate another condition?” one Perfect Realm cultivator blurted out.

The others frowned, silent.

Clearly, Li Yi’s condition was too extreme. As Perfect Realm cultivators, to become servants to an outsider—how could they accept it?

“It seems you still live comfortably in Tianwai Tian, untouched by the cruelty of End-Dharma,” Li Yi said. “But my terms stand. Whether you accept is up to you. Yet I’ve heard that in nature, when drought comes, wise animals find new water sources before the springs dry up—ensuring survival. But foolish ones wait until drought strikes—then it’s too late. I doubt you’re less wise than animals.”

Though crude, his analogy was clear to every cultivator present.

Tianwai Tian still had spiritual energy—but it too would eventually vanish. No one could survive until the next spiritual revival. They must cross over before the energy fully depletes.

And this path was viable—they had already seen one of the Seven Immortal Maidens of Tian Dao Sect, Xuan Yuezi, reach Perfect Realm, her spiritual energy overflowing—proof she had gained the chance to cross over.

Moreover, this plan is feasible; last time they saw Xuan Yue Zi, one of the Seven Immortal Maidens of the Tian Dao Sect, who had already reached Great Perfection, her body brimming with spiritual energy, clearly indicating she had gained the opportunity to cross realms.