Chapter 511: Liu Xingshan Steps Forward (5k2)

If one were to pick the strongest Dao Child from among the Seven Sons of Yu Nanhong, there might still be considerable debate.

But if one were to pick the proudest, none could surpass Su Hongxiu.

At this moment, this Heavenly Sword Dao Child stood among the clouds, hands clasped in greeting, and raised her eyes to look at the figure in ink-colored robes above the long staircase.

Her sharp, gleaming eyes flickered with uncertainty, her gaze slowly falling upon that purple jade rainbow bridge.

"Huu."

After an unknown span of time, Su Hongxiu finally parted her crimson lips slightly, letting out a breath, yet it could not dispel the shock deep within her heart.

Much of the pride she had always carried came from the path she herself had walked—a path that could be called a near-perfect Return-to-Void road.

The reason it was only near-perfect—

was because before her, Yu Nanhong had another precedent: Senior Xuanqing of the General Nanyang Sect, who, even at the ninth layer of Return-to-Void, still had the ability to forge a supreme Heavenly Palace.

Compared to him, Su Hongxiu still fell one layer short.

But Li Xuanqing was, after all, a prodigy from ages long past; his era had long since passed, and even those earth-shattering rumors were gradually sinking into the long river of time.

She would not be affected by a figure from mere legend.

Yet at this moment, a purple qi rainbow bridge that could truly be called perfect had appeared before her eyes without any warning.

It left Su Hongxiu, for the moment, unable to collect herself.

Fortunately, she was not the only one showing such an expression; the minds of every cultivator present were immersed in this purple rainbow, unable to extricate themselves for a long time.

"What's wrong with you?"

Su Hongxiu suddenly noticed that the pretty Miss beside her seemed different from the others.

Logically speaking, with this Miss's cultivation, she would not even qualify to sit here, let alone share a table with Su Yushang. But the girl happened to have a master at the Harmony Dao realm and was the designated heir of the Baohua Sect, her status equal to that of a Dao Child.

At this moment, everyone else was staring at the purple qi rainbow, yet this Lady Baohua Xianzi was staring blankly at the seated figure atop the long staircase.

"N-nothing…"

Lady Baohua Xianzi seemed to have forgotten the solemn, austere setting she was in, and instinctively rubbed her eyes. Those clear, dewy eyes grew wider and wider, and even her breathing quickened considerably.

It was as if she had found the youth she had been longing for in her heart.

Yet she desperately denied the thought at the bottom of her heart.

Although they shared the same face, the youth in Lady Baohua Xianzi's memory was a loose cultivator who had to give his full concentration even when facing a fifth-layer Return-to-Void demon—not the existence before her now, who looked down from on high, calmly surveying the many powerful figures of Yu Nanhong.

Even her master, a Harmony Dao realm overlord, was at this moment positioned below and to the side of him.

"Who is he? No… who is the General Nanyang Sect Master?"

Lady Baohua Xianzi forced herself to steady her emotions, but she was still somewhat incoherent.

"…"

Su Hongxiu was stunned for a moment. In this situation, even she needed to use secret voice-transmission to speak that name without giving offense: "Shen Yi."

Hearing those familiar words—

Lady Baohua Xianzi suddenly tightened her grip on her sleeve. She had indeed heard those loose cultivators address the youth as Senior Shen, but she had never imagined that the weight of this "senior" would be so heavy—so heavy it reached a level she had to look up to.

No wonder she could find no news of him no matter how she searched.

With her gaze fixed on what was before her, how could she see General Nanyang in the heavens?

But… how could an existence of such lofty status condescend to personally go to the Baohua Sect to request pills?

With his status, he wouldn't even need to issue a decree; he would only need to hint at his intention, and the Baohua Sect would send someone to deliver the pills at the fastest speed.

"So he was just playing with me this whole time."

Lady Baohua Xianzi bit her lip, lowered her head, and her face turned slightly pale.

The so-called… Return-to-Void fourth layer, no need to add.

It was only because Shen Yi was a powerhouse who had ascended Bai Yujing; in his eyes, what happened that day was nothing more than children's play.

She had fled her sect with the mindset of a traveler through the mortal world, only to become part of someone else's travels.

No wonder when Shen Yi left, he couldn't even be bothered to ask her name.

When an immortal descends into the mortal world, whether doing good or punishing evil, how could he truly care about a village woman by the roadside?

"His situation is a bit special; you may be overthinking it."

Su Hongxiu seemed to have guessed something. Given Shen Zongzhu's habit of wandering outside, it was hardly strange that he would come to know a little girl from the Baohua Sect.

This Miss had most likely gotten the wrong idea about something.

Out of consideration for the Baohua Sect Master's face, she unusually offered a soft reminder: "After the grand assembly ends, I'll explain it to you."

"Alright."

Lady Baohua Xianzi nodded lightly and looked again at Shen Yi's face.

Whether expression or features, there was no change at all… and it had been less than a year; it would have been strange if there had been.

He had not deliberately tried to project any air of authority.

He only needed to sit quietly there, and others would feel that even casting a direct glance at him was an offense.

The shock of the purple qi rainbow bridge might linger for a long time.

But those present—who among them was not a person of steady mind? After completing their salutes, they quickly raised their heads, forcibly suppressing the strange feelings in their hearts, and continued to push the Seven Sons Assembly forward.

Of course, there were also quite a few who wore odd expressions.

The various Dao Children were among the most stimulated group; on the contrary, those personal disciples and elders who had originally coveted the Harmony Dao treasure land now suddenly felt much more at ease.

When virtue does not match the position, the General Nanyang treasure land is a juicy piece of meat.

But now that Shen Yi was already no inferior to, and even surpassed, the other Dao Children, that General Nanyang treasure land was something he was destined to possess.

"It's finally over."

Liu Shiqian stood in a corner, glanced sideways at Elder Chiyang, and the two exchanged a smile.

From the very beginning, when he had no confidence at all and was simply fulfilling the Meng Sect agreement, to later, after having deeper contact with Shen Zongzhu, he could not help but feel some anticipation in his heart, hoping that one day he would see the other party firmly seated upon this treasure land.

It was just unexpected that this anticipation would be fulfilled so quickly, so fast as to be jaw-dropping!

"I had thought earlier that it would be embarrassing." The cultivators of Bai Yujing from Yunxiao Pavilion and Xuanhai Studio, seated in the positions belonging to General Nanyang's vassals, were seeing Shen Zongzhu for the first time, and his performance far exceeded their prior imaginings.

They unconsciously straightened their backs, wearing expressions as if sharing in the honor.

Instead, Yan Xianqing quietly let out a breath of relief. Since the Sect Master had returned safely, there was no need for Senior Xuanqing to take the lead in seeking trouble with the South Dragon Palace, and General Nanyang Sect could also gain a little breathing room — for their vassals, this was naturally a good thing.

Thinking of this, he raised his head along with all the remaining cultivators, their gazes sweeping past the figure in the dark robe, toward the sky behind him.

There, six imposing illusory figures stood apart; though they stood high, they gave off the sense of clustering around Shen Yi.

Today's Seven Sons Assembly had been convened for General Nanyang Sect in the first place — the distinction between primary and secondary was extremely clear.

Now they only needed to wait for the six Sect Masters to issue their decree — a golden mouth and jade words — and the matter would be considered settled, with no room for change.

The six illusory figures exchanged glances, each seeing the complexity in the others' eyes.

But they did not say much.

A moment later, the Ji Sect Master of Qingyue Sect lowered his gaze toward Shen Yi, transmitted his voice directly into his ear, and softly reminded him: "Put on the Sect Master's ceremonial robe."

This young man might lack experience and had not considered so much; ordinarily it didn't matter what he wore, but today was different — at the very least, he had to let the cultivators of Yu Nanhong know which Sect's Master he was.

Everyone gathered their spirits and steadied their breath, quietly watching the long steps above.

Once he put on that white robe, from today onward, he would be the true Master of General Nanyang Sect.

However, at such a tense moment—

Shen Yi did not take out that ceremonial robe, but instead raised his eyes toward the sky.

The next instant, words spoken in a flat tone — yet causing everyone's expression to change — slowly rippled across the heavens.

"Am I the Sect Master?"

Shen Yi's expression was serious; he did not seem to be provoking or questioning, merely curious about this question.

Everyone else fell into bewilderment.

Even the vassals of General Nanyang Sect, as well as the many Xian Sect stewards under Li Qingfeng's lead, had confusion well up in their eyes.

At a time like this, why would he suddenly ask such a meaningless question?

Once the Seven Sons Assembly's procedures were completed, wasn't he the true Sect Master? Was there some other interpretation?

The six Dao Sons also froze in place, not quite sure what Shen Yi wanted to do.

Only the illusory figures in the heavens fell silent, seemingly pondering carefully the deeper meaning of this question.

Soon, the Tianjian Sect Master nodded: "Naturally you are."

"Good."

Receiving an affirmative answer, Shen Yi lightly nodded his chin and withdrew his gaze.

He was actually not a fool; he had long understood that in most cases, reason needed to be supported by fists.

For instance, the ownership of the General Nanyang treasure land — by rights, it should belong to General Nanyang Sect's disciples.

But this reasoning, no one had used fists to enforce it.

Senior Xuanqing might count as half, but clearly it was not enough.

In other words, as long as these Hegemony-realm titans were willing, they could seize this treasure land at any time, or at the very least seal themselves inside it forever.

But no matter what they planned in their hearts—

On the surface, the Meng Sect still left General Nanyang Sect a difficult path to survival.

This could already be considered a decent attitude.

Therefore, Shen Yi was also willing to cooperate with them, to accept those so-called trials.

But trials go both ways.

Now it was time for the Meng Sect to fulfill their promise.

Shen Yi still did not rise; he merely unhurriedly took a letter from his sleeve, then under the gaze of everyone, flicked his fingertip slightly — the letter shot out like a blade, embedding itself into a long table below.

His Bai Xi handsome face suddenly grew indifferent.

His pitch-black, deep-set eyes were like an ancient well without ripples; his gaze enveloped the figure behind the long table.

His voice carried an imperious tone, and he softly uttered two words.

"Come out."

The instant his words spread, everyone's gaze converged on the area behind that long table.

Liu Xingshan, who had just been disciplined by Su Hongxiu, had been sitting obediently at his own seat all day. Only at this moment, staring at the letter right before his eyes, did the corner of his eye twitch slightly, and he finally raised his head.

The aura emanating from that letter caused the surrounding Tianjian Sect elders to instinctively furrow their brows.

"What is this?" Someone reached out to take it, but Liu Xingshan violently gripped his wrist.

"What do you mean?" That elder looked over in shock and suspicion, only to see Elder Liu's face twisted like a raging beast, growling lowly at him: "Don't meddle in other people's business!"

"..." The moment these words were spoken, whether on the plaza or in the heavens, everyone sensed the eerie shift in atmosphere.

Among the Dao Sons, the others had not yet made any move.

Su Hongxiu seemed to have guessed something; she swept her gaze over with equal indifference, a sigh passing through her heart — her intuition was, as always, accurate.

Liu Xingshan had no intention of destroying that letter.

If he so much as lifted a finger toward that thing, it would be no different from confessing guilt and submitting to punishment — he would absolutely not leave this place alive today.

Ke Laosi! That useless trash!

After obtaining such detailed information, he still couldn't deal with a Return-to-Void cultivator — he even had the letter taken from him.

Liu Xingshan forcibly suppressed the resentment in his heart, clenched his teeth, and looked once more toward the figure on the long steps.

His voice is hoarse and heavy, his breathing slightly trembling, as he struggled to organize his words: "Today is Shen Zongzhu's grand occasion... do not let side matters spoil the mood... once the Seven Sons Assembly concludes, Xingshan will certainly give you a satisfactory answer."

In just a few words, the elder who had been the most rowdy earlier not only willingly acknowledged Shen Yi's noble status, but also, as if cutting flesh from his own body, gave a promise of full compensation.

His posture was lowered to the extreme.

He did not even care about making a fool of himself before the entire Yu Nanhong.

It was only because he knew clearly in his heart that only by bluffing his way through could there be a sliver of hope for survival.

If this letter were opened, then there would be no room for compromise left in everything.

Since Shen Yi had not opened the letter but instead sent it to his own hand, it indicated that the other party still had room for negotiation.

However, in the instant Liu Xingshan raised his gaze, he caught a trace of imperceptible... cruelty-laden mockery on the corner of the ink-robed youth's lips.

That thick meaning of ridicule seemed to mock him for still harboring thoughts of escape until now; the calmness between the youth's brows and eyes was also like that of an immortal god, high and mighty, indifferent to the common mortals.

The General Nanyang Sect Master, who appeared composed and calm, elegant and graceful in everyone's eyes.

At this moment, in Liu Xingshan's eyes, he finally revealed a trace of his ferocious nature.

"..."

Liu Xingshan's pupils contracted slightly, gradually realizing the other party's attitude.

He rose with a slight stumble, instinctively looking in all directions, seeing only the six shadowy figures in the sky standing silently, emitting no sound; this did not mean they disagreed with Shen Yi, but rather that when a Sect Master handled matters, they needed to maintain the most basic respect.

Even if the one being dealt with was an elder of the Tianjian Sect, or even a top-tier formidable existence among the elders.

The disciples of the Qi Sect in the square, though full of confusion, clearly had no one daring to question the General Nanyang Sect Master's decision.

As for the guests who had been invited, they were now silent, watching this scene with cold eyes.

In an instant, the entire world seemed to turn into a silent dead zone.

"Is there truly no room for negotiation left?"

"Good, good, good..."

Liu Xingshan nodded repeatedly, smiling bitterly without end, knowing there was no path to survival left; his fingertips fiercely touched his forehead.

Even if he died, he would try his best to make this Sect Master lose something.

For instance, let the Yu Nanhong forces see that the other party was still just a Bai Yujing cultivator; under the grandeur deliberately created for him by the Yu Nanhong Seven, he was actually just a green melon egg that still needed the protection of other Sect Masters.

In the next moment, two great cities opened one after another.

Even though the Dao Soldiers of the third great city had been destroyed by Su Hongxiu and needed time to recover, the moment the Hongmeng Heaven Sword and that heavy armor worn on his body appeared, he was still not an existence that an ordinary elder could deal with.

"Unknowing of life and death."

Wei Yuanzhou's face turned slightly cold, and he quietly stepped forward.

To dare to openly disrespect a Yizun Sect Master at the Seven Sons Assembly, Liu Xingshan did not even want the last shred of dignity.

Beside him, Su Hongxiu suddenly reached out and stopped him, then顺势 placed her fingertips on her forehead; her expression showed no joy or anger, but the killing intent in her eyes had almost solidified into substance; she said faintly, "The matter of the Tianjian Sect, I will handle it myself."

The other Dao Sons watched the spectacle as if it had nothing to do with them.

The purple qi long rainbow displayed by Shen Yi was indeed terrifying, but whether he truly possessed some strength was something that made them quite curious.

Of course, if Su Hongxiu wanted to act, it did not matter either; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future anyway.

However, in the instant Su Hongxiu was about to dash out.

Shen Yi remained seated on the highest cloud layer; he quietly gazed down at Liu Xingshan below, taking in the other's furious appearance and his desperate, fierce struggle with his eyes.

He did not rise; he simply raised his right arm slightly; the black ink sleeve lifted a bit, revealing a Bai Xi palm with distinct knuckles.

That palm, stained by blood talismans, casually covered downward.

No change appeared in the arena; only the six shadowy figures in the sky simultaneously turned their gaze toward him, and one of them made a sound: "Eh?"

Boom—

Liu Xingshan held a long sword and wore heavy armor; he was a Bai Yujing cultivator who had opened three cities; even though he bore hidden injuries, at this moment he fully exploded his vitality and foundation.

It even shook the world to change color, the sea of clouds rolling, as if the surrounding mountains and waves were all trembling in their entirety!

Those in the arena who could decisively and cleanly restrain him would not exceed two palms in number.

The full-strength power of this Tianjian Sect elder even surpassed that of some Dao Sons, such as Bai Wu and the like.

The seemingly vast distance across the sky was, to him, only a hair's breadth away.

"..."

Liu Xingshan drew his sword and rose, carrying a heart determined to die.

Then his entire body froze in mid-air.

His eyes were gradually filled with the myriad stars in the sky; just as he was confused and wanted to see through them, he saw the myriad stars actually withdraw on their own!

The old man's cloudy pupils returned to pitch black and lightless.

Only within this blackness did a tall figure clad in close-fitting black armor and holding a black knife appear, merging with the night.

All these changes occurred only in Liu Xingshan's eyes.

Almost no one noticed that in his wide-open eyes, blood vessels suddenly appeared, as if he had seen something unspeakably terrifying!

And in the vision of others, Elder Liu soared into the sky, then stood dazed in place, covered by that distant palm.

In an instant, a faint smell of blood spread through the clouds and mist.

The heavy armor on Liu Xingshan's body cracked and shattered with a crack; blood marks appeared between his skin, then were split into fragments along the patterns.

Mixed with the blood mist, they fell downward with a plop, plop.

Until the Dao Soldiers turned into smoke and clouds, returning to the Xiancheng, and the broken flesh fell into the clouds and mist, sinking into the depths of the mountains, as if nothing had happened.

Taking this scene into his vision.

Su Hongxiu slowly lowered the hand on her forehead: "..."

Many Dao Sons stared blankly at the spot.

On the square, whether guests or disciples, none had yet figured out what had happened; they could only look up at the sky like wooden statues.

Above the long staircase that pierced the clouds.

At some point, Shen Yi had donned a dazzling General Nanyang white robe; the wide hem of his clothes lifted in the wind.

He lowered his gaze slightly, seated on the armchair, wiping bloodstains that did not exist from his hands.

Immediately, he adjusted his collar, then raised his head and gave a slight nod. "Continue."

(End of Chapter)