Chapter 58: Entropy Tianyan

Sang Shuiyun looked at him, as countless threads of power slipped into the earth’s depths, swiftly fleeing the cave dwelling.

“Entropy Brother, I never thought you’d see me this way,” Sang Shuiyun said in a low voice. “I do have secrets—and so do you! I thought… we understood each other, that neither of us would probe the other’s secrets. Yet you’ve been investigating me, even suspecting me of being Blood Cloud Divine Lord? Do you really think a lone cultivator like me could possess such power?”

Entropy Tianyan stared at him: “Still denying this now?”

“You’re truly mistaken,” Sang Shuiyun said, meeting his gaze.

“If I’m mistaken, why has your true form already fled?” Entropy Tianyan looked at him.

Sang Shuiyun fell silent.

“Entropy Brother, it seems you’re stronger than I anticipated—you sensed my escape technique,” Sang Shuiyun sighed. “My escape technique blends three Chaotic Realm techniques, utterly silent; ordinary Eternal True Gods could never detect it.”

“I’m not skilled in much—only a bit of artifact forging,” Entropy said. “Even after returning to Hu Yang City, I had no heart for competition. Yet outsiders still say my artifact forging ranks among the top two in Hu Yang City.”

“Even without competing, you’re still top two?” Sang Shuiyun looked at him. “I’ve always known you’re just like me.”

“You and I are not the same,” Entropy Tianyan said, gazing at him. “We’re both lonely in this world, with little attachment. But I’m grateful for the experiences of this life—I’ve watched the world’s wonders, watched countless cultivators, each with their own pursuits, their own beloveds… just as you and I once were, full of ambition, full of longing.”

“This world is so wondrous—why must you destroy it all?” Entropy Tianyan looked at him. “What do you gain by destroying it?”

“As long as I grow stronger, sacrificing everything is worth it!” Sang Shuiyun’s eyes turned icy. “Even if billions of lives perish—what of it? I, Sang Shuiyun, will become the Chaotic Sovereign—and someday, even a Divine King!”

“And then what?” Entropy Tianyan looked at him. “Even as a Divine King, ancient forces like the Flame Wind Ancient Nation and Thunder Ancient Nation still dwarf you. The vast Origin Continent always holds beings stronger than you.”

Sang Shuiyun spoke coldly: “I am alone in this world. Now, I only wish to cultivate and grow stronger.”

“To grow stronger for strength’s sake?” Entropy Tianyan shook his head. “You and I are truly different.”

“Of course we are!” Sang Shuiyun said. “You’re but a tiny ripple on the Origin Continent. I… will become the boundless heavens and earth, ruling all things! Countless beings across the Origin Continent will be shaped by me—my will shall decide the life and death of countless lives.”

Entropy Tianyan looked at him: “Then—are you happy?”

Sang Shuiyun froze.

“No matter how powerful you become, no matter how many lives you control—ask your heart. If you remain lonely and pained, then your path is a path of suffering,” Entropy Tianyan said, gazing at Sang Shuiyun. “We’ve known each other long. I only hope you walk a path that brings you inner liberation, true joy—where you can face your former beloveds without regret.”

“No matter how the world changes, your inner feelings are the only truth,” Entropy Tianyan said, looking at Sang Shuiyun.

“Hahahaha! You actually think you can change me?” Sang Shuiyun stared at Entropy Tianyan. “We’ve known each other too long—I see right through your thoughts.”

“Yes, I am trying to change you. I know I can’t stop you. Even Yu Nation may not kill you. A cultivator as wicked as you might truly become a Chaotic Sovereign—or even a Divine King. I only hope that one day, a supreme powerhouse… faces this world with kindness, not malice,” Entropy Tianyan said, gazing at Sang Shuiyun.

“Hahahaha…” Sang Shuiyun’s eyes burned with madness. “You have your path—I have mine! What is good or evil? My will is the will of heaven and earth—it is the will of all beings!”

Entropy Tianyan shook his head gently.

“You came here—you must have prepared a backup,” Sang Shuiyun said, staring at him. “What is your backup? No one in Hu Yang City can kill me now—not even General Yong fears causing mass casualties. So your backup… relies on a great power?”

“Very clever,” Entropy said.

“What backup did you arrange?” Sang Shuiyun fixed him with a piercing gaze. “Tell me—I’ll spare your life.”

“Guess,” Entropy Tianyan smiled. “My backup isn’t guaranteed to kill you—but I’d say there’s a ninety percent chance.”

“What exactly is your backup?” Sang Shuiyun’s eyes blazed with madness.

“Let me test your strength—Blood Cloud Divine Lord’s strength!” Entropy Tianyan suddenly threw a punch.

Bare-handed, his single punch carried a force that made heaven and earth tremble! Sang Shuiyun stood motionless, letting the punch pierce straight through his chest—his entire body rippled like a tide of blood.

An invisible domain enveloped the entire cave. Sang Shuiyun, his body now a flowing tide of blood, stared at Entropy Tianyan: “You forged your divine body to resemble a mechanical artifact? Entropy Brother, your artifact forging skill truly surpasses everyone in Hu Yang City. You shouldn’t die like this—tell me, what is your backup?”

Knowing the backup would let him respond better.

He understood Entropy Tianyan too well! Entropy Tianyan seemed warm, making friends with countless disciples and sect members—but in calculation, he was no less cunning than Sang Shuiyun.

They both knew each other perfectly.

“Do you think I’ll tell you?” Entropy Tianyan shook his head.

“Then I’ll have to send you off myself!” Sang Shuiyun’s body dissolved into a torrent of blood, fully engulfing Entropy Tianyan.

Trapped within the blood tide, Entropy Tianyan turned his head toward this world: “This world is so wondrous—and yet you would slaughter and destroy it all… all for a sliver of hope to break through…”

Whoosh!

The blood tide eroded him—Entropy Tianyan’s body dissolved quickly, his True God Heart annihilated.

Sang Shuiyun stood silently in place. Entropy Tianyan was dead—his only friend in this world, killed by his own hand.

“Those who stand in my way deserve death,” Sang Shuiyun said, expressionless. He scanned all directions. “No ambushes at all. So you didn’t rely on Hu Yang City’s powerful figures—you planned to summon outside forces to kill me?”

That strand of Blood Cloud energy also slipped silently into the earth and departed.

This place was no longer suitable for residence.

…

In a modest dwelling, the metallic lifeform Qiu Shu stared at the night sky, tense with anticipation—then suddenly, the master’s karmic message token registered the dissolution of Master “Entropy Tianyan’s” karmic thread.

“Master,” Qiu Shu trembled—he knew the master was finally dead.

Without hesitation, following the master’s prior instructions, Qiu Shu immediately sent secret messages to five targets.

Entropy Tianyan had no absolute certainty that Sang Shuiyun was Blood Cloud—he needed confirmation! He feared that if he confirmed it, he might die before he could send word. So he asked Qiu Shu to help transmit the secret message.

In truth, Entropy Tianyan had also used his “karmic message token” to transmit a clearer message.

…

At the City Lord’s mansion, Mo Li Meng was handling the aftermath—Blood Cloud Divine Lord had slaughtered over eight billion lives, a catastrophe that would deeply shake Hu Yang City; one misstep could trigger mass panic.

“Hmm?” Mo Li Meng first received Entropy Tianyan’s message, then Qiu Shu’s secret letter.

“The true identity of Blood Cloud Divine Lord is ‘Sang Shuiyun’?” Mo Li Meng’s face lit up with delight. “Sang Shuiyun has lived in Hu Yang City far too long—I’ve even met him several times at Meng Hua Pavilion. Wherever he goes, traces remain—the more traces, the easier to divine his path… Hmm?”

Mo Li Meng finished reading Entropy Tianyan’s full secret letter.

!.

“What a brilliant Entropy Tianyan—he possessed a ‘Karmic Tracking Token’—and it contained Sang Shuiyun’s karmic imprint? With this token, we can track Sang Shuiyun’s location?” Mo Li Meng rejoiced. “This makes it easy. With his location known, Marquis can plan meticulously and eliminate him in one strike.”

Even if he rivals General Yong!

As long as his location is confirmed, with proper preparation, overwhelming force can be mobilized to erase him utterly.

“Entropy Tianyan has done a great service,” Mo Li Meng exulted—then suddenly noticed Entropy Tianyan’s karmic thread had vanished from his message token.

“He’s dead?” Mo Li Meng’s heart jolted.

“His Karmic Tracking Token is stored in the Flame Wind Pavilion’s secret chamber—only my father, Mo Li Xiao, can retrieve it?” Mo Li Meng didn’t hesitate—he immediately reported the news.

This was information Entropy Tianyan gave with his life.

Sang Shuiyun was extremely cautious—even as Entropy Tianyan’s closest friend, he had never left behind blood or any physical trace that could be used to lock his karmic signature.

But Sang Shuiyun didn’t understand the methods of a master artifact forger. Their long-term association inevitably created karmic entanglements. Through this mutual karmic bond, Entropy Tianyan had imprinted him into the ‘Karmic Tracking Token’—enabling him to track Sang Shuiyun’s location.

In Entropy Tianyan’s view, if Blood Cloud Divine Lord caused havoc, Yu Nation might tolerate it once—but not twice or thrice.

Once Yu Nation decided to kill Blood Cloud Divine Lord, with the Karmic Tracking Token to pinpoint his location, success was nearly certain.

But Entropy Tianyan also knew the future held too many variables—he could only do his utmost.

…

The Mistress of Meng Hua Pavilion sat alone in her pavilion, playing a melody—then suddenly received a message.

“Hmm?” The Mistress of Meng Hua Pavilion checked it.

“The leader of the Shi Nation, Blood Cloud Divine Lord, is Sang Shuiyun! At this moment, the top few factions in Hu Yang City all know this! But don’t worry—the City Lord’s mansion owes me greatly; I’ve already asked them to look after you. Several top factions in the city also have good relations with me—they won’t trouble you. If you ever face grave danger and others prove unreliable, only Luo He Divine Lord can help you.”

“I know his nature—he’ll help you once, because of me. But don’t trouble him too much—he hates trouble! If he grows to dislike you, he’ll abandon you to your fate.”

“Don’t worry about Sang Shuiyun—he won’t come back to Meng Hua Pavilion.”

“Meng Hua, your illusion arts are truly mediocre—even among Eternal True Gods skilled in illusion, you’re at the bottom. You must cultivate harder. In this world, you must rely on yourself.”

The secret letter left the Mistress of Meng Hua Pavilion stunned.

Only two Eternal True Gods had ever been infatuated with her: Entropy Tianyan and Sang Shuiyun.

“Tianyan is dead?” The Mistress of Meng Hua Pavilion noticed Entropy Tianyan’s karmic thread had vanished from her message token. She stood frozen, her mind roaring with thoughts too numerous to calm.

…

Inside the cave, atop the high mountain.

Luo Feng sat cross-legged, meditating in stillness.

He did not use a karmic message token—he received no karmic messages—but he received a message from the Flame Wind Pavilion’s secret chamber.

“Luo He Divine Lord, Entropy Tianyan is confirmed dead. Per his final wishes, all assets he left in the Flame Wind Pavilion’s secret chamber—over three million cosmic sands and all treasures, including a secret letter—are to be transferred to you. Please come personally to collect them.”

This message left Luo Feng stunned.

Entropy Tianyan… confirmed dead?

—

Thank you to the new Patron: Mao Ben.

(End of Chapter)