Chapter 797: The Tail End of the Great Tribulation

"……"

Shen Yi's footsteps slowed slightly, and he turned his gaze sideways to the woman half-crouching outside the hall.

This was probably the most noble of all the Ladies in this realm — not only one of the Six Imperial Sovereigns, but also the one who had personally built this comparatively peaceful and prosperous age.

Shen Yi trusted the assessments of the other immortals — Empress Hou Tu Emperor Qi should have no interest in this Great Tribulation — but he did not foolishly consider her one of his own.

The reasoning was also very simple.

In the path the Human Emperor wished to fight out for the mortal beings of the Red Dust, there was most likely no place for immortals; among those immortals who had to be driven out was the Lady before his eyes.

Empress Hou Tu Emperor Qi might have held a little extra affection for the Red Dust, but her identity as an Imperial Sovereign destined her to stand on the opposite side of it.

Therefore, Shen Yi had no intention of making much contact with her, but what he had not quite expected was that she would actually take the initiative to speak.

"Mm?"

Lady Empress Hou Tu was likewise sizing up the young man not far away.

Without soul-searching, even an Imperial Sovereign had no ability to see through another's heart; she was only rather familiar with the mortal world, and the scent of the Red Dust on this chief disciple of the Sanxian Sect was a little too heavy.

What she found curious about his "lack of guilt" was not simply that this young man was about to debate the Dharma on behalf of the Sanxian Sect and knew the Dongji Imperial Sovereign would not trouble him at such a time, nor that he felt the position of Immortal Emperor was already in his grasp and therefore looked down upon an Imperial Sovereign.

It was a kind of slightly inexplicable openness.

If one's body was upright and unafraid of a slanting shadow, why would one need to lie? Yet he had clearly lied — so why could his heart be so open? It was truly a little contradictory.

"This disciple does not quite understand."

"But as for why I feel no guilt, perhaps it is because I have done nothing wrong?"

Facing Lady Empress Hou Tu's gaze, Shen Yi paused for a moment, replied softly, then offered a junior's salute, cupped his fists in farewell, turned, and left the great hall.

"Done nothing wrong…"

Lady Empress Hou Tu chewed over the words carefully twice, and suddenly found it a little interesting.

He had done nothing wrong, yet had to lie — that meant it was the Dongji Imperial Sovereign who was wrong. The dignified parent of this realm, one of the Six Imperial Sovereigns — and someone actually dared to think him in the wrong.

"Tell me, where is Dongji in the wrong?"

Lady Empress Hou Tu patted the wild dog's head and let it go. That earlier shift in the heavenly light, meant to display majesty, could frighten these little creatures — what other meaning could it possibly have?

Behind the Lady, a graceful figure slowly emerged.

The newcomer wore a purple robe, her features alluring; she first offered a disciple's salute, then said with some indignation: "Of course he was wrong. He clearly knew that Master had been wronged in this Great Tribulation, yet still insisted on dragging you into it. All that talk of great righteousness — his belly is full of schemes."

The purple-robed woman was called Shi Mu, Lady Empress Hou Tu's sole disciple.

"That is not what I meant."

Lady Empress Hou Tu laughed helplessly, lightly brushing the loose fur from her palm: "Forget it."

Ever since the two Sects set the date of the Great Tribulation, she had argued with the Three Pure Ones until they parted on bad terms, then returned to the Imperial Sovereign's residence — claiming she sought peace and quiet, but in truth unwilling to witness all that was about to happen, yet powerless to change it, able only to hide away and ignore the world.

Now that she had chosen to come out, it was certainly not because of those hypocritical consoling words from the Dongji Imperial Sovereign — she simply could not resist wanting to see what this mortal world looked like now.

She had not expected that, although the world was deeply mired in suffering, it was still a little better than she had imagined.

Along the way she had heard much news — that this state of affairs was actually because the chief disciple of the three Sects had been the first to break the rules, intending to vie for incense offerings, yet inadvertently giving the common people a path to survive.

According to Empress Hou Tu's original estimate, at least seventy percent of mortal beings would have to perish before the situation eased somewhat, because by then the Divine Dynasty would already be out of the game, leaving only the struggle between the two Sects.

Now it appeared that, with seventy percent still preserved, the two Sects had hurriedly decided to end this Great Tribulation — a blessing for all living beings.

Precisely because of this, Empress Hou Tu had given Shen Yi an extra glance.

She wanted to know whether it had been deliberate or accidental on his part.

Judging from that young man's earlier treasonous remark hinting that the Dongji Imperial Sovereign was in the wrong, it seemed the former was slightly more likely.

Empress Hou Tu ought to have felt joy, but after a moment's thought, she did not try to keep him.

By rights, such a disciple ascending to the position of Immortal Emperor should have been a little gentler toward the Red Dust than others.

But in truth, once one reached their level, one had long understood perfectly well.

No matter what manner or heart a person had before ascending, once seated in that position, every word and deed was no longer under their own control, but entirely subject to the great Sect's disposition — so whether one was utterly evil or merciful made no difference at all.

"Does Master think this chief disciple of the Sanxian Sect can win the great debate?"

Shi Mu glanced in the direction the young man had left and asked, somewhat curious.

"What do you think?" Lady Empress Hou Tu strolled on at her leisure.

"This disciple thinks… the chances are not great." Shi Mu hurried to catch up, considering seriously: "He has stolen too much of the limelight. The Puti Sect now must hate him to a man, and whoever defeats him will surely leap straight to the position of Puti Sect's chief disciple. Add to that those monks' usual habit of shielding their own — their methods will certainly be unclean. Under such circumstances, winning will be very difficult."

At this point Shi Mu suddenly realized that the Lady rarely took the initiative to question a junior, and she quickly corrected herself: "Of course, this is merely this disciple's foolish opinion. I wonder how Master views it."

"……"

Empress Hou Tu walked slowly through Songfeng Fucheng. Compared with the cold and quiet Imperial Sovereign's residence, even though this place seemed far more filthy and noisy, it gave her a strange sense of solidity.

She said lightly: "That seat of Immortal Emperor — whoever sits in it is all the same."

……

Before second-rank, deathless Jin Xian and the Great Freedom Bodhisattvas, these third-rank cultivators were mere juniors.

But if the nearly thousand disciples — who had gathered the strength of both Sects and encompassed the great majority of the realm's powerful cultivators — were to fight without restraint across the land of Shenzhou, then before an Immortal Emperor could even be chosen, the mortal world would already have become a dead zone.

Therefore, this debate was simply set in the Eastern Sumeru.

The seventy-two Cave Jin Xian had originally been a little uneasy, but a glance at the four towering treasure mountains and the figures seated cross-legged upon each one made them pinch their noses and accept it.

With the Dongji Imperial Sovereign and Empress Hou Tu Emperor Qi presiding, even if the Joyful Buddha and the Medicine King Buddha opposite had the mind to play tricks, they would absolutely have no chance.

There were seventeen first-rank giants of the two Sects in total; now four had come forth together to personally draw a full stop to this Great Tribulation.

Originally, the disciples still needed to travel the world, borrowing the hands of great demons to make the common people of Li Min see the Human Emperor's lack of virtue, to stabilize the immortal Dao and spread Buddhism into the Red Dust, and finally to topple the tyrant as a matter of course.

Now there was no time for all that.

Yet having chosen this crude and simple method, it did not arouse the dissatisfaction of disciples on either side; on the contrary, in the eyes of all present, killing intent brimmed.

The blood-feud of fellow disciples, the struggle for incense offerings.

Either alone was enough to make them go all out.

Even if he couldn't seize the position of Immortal Emperor, defeating a few more of the opposing sect's disciples would not only vent the resentment in his heart, but with this battle merit, he could also exchange for more dao-fields afterward.

Before, they had been competing against disciples of the same sect; now they were striking out at another great sect—of course, this was a great blessing.

Below the four towering mountains, the dense yellow clouds were divided into dozens of portions, like a chessboard, with disciples from both sides seated at either end, their densely packed figures no different from chess pieces.

On the Sanxian Sect's side, that figure in splendid dark robes, though seated among the crowd, drew the vast majority of gazes.

"..."

Shen Yi quietly raised his eyes and met the gaze cast down from the mountain peak by the Eastern Peak Emperor, a look that faintly carried a hint of a smile.

Under normal circumstances, the chief disciple of the great Sanxian Sect must surely carry the hopes of the great sect; before going into battle, the sect would surely bestow some foundation upon him no matter what.

He had joined the sect too late, and his foundation was indeed thin.

But it shouldn't have come to the point that not a single person came to give him instructions.

The reason probably lay with this Eastern Peak Emperor. That one phrase "stay a moment" from the other party had led many Jin Xian to think the Emperor was stepping in to help; with a first-rank great figure bestowing treasures, the meager things in their own hands naturally couldn't be presented.

Stepping back further, even if it were merely adding flowers to brocade, they still worried about angering the Eastern Peak Emperor. After all, judging by this Emperor's meaning, being so enthusiastic about the great tribulation clearly meant he wanted to lay out arrangements in advance—he had likely taken a fancy to Taixu Zhenjun. If others crowded forward, it would easily cause misunderstandings.

"Heh heh."

Lingxuzi fawningly smiled toward the Eastern Peak Emperor.

He had originally held no expectation of Shen Yi seizing the position of Immortal Emperor; the Jin Xian with endless lifespans understood best the fate of being the bird that sticks its head out.

But now the situation was different.

With the Emperor backing him, and with no real confidence in being able to keep Shen Yi, it was better to let him go generously—at the very least, it could be exchanged for a seat among the Twelve Jin Xian.

Compared to when he had just returned to Half-Falling Cliff, Lingxuzi back then wouldn't have dared to dream along these lines even in his sleep; now, naturally, he wouldn't dare offend the Emperor in the slightest.

"Heh."

The Eastern Peak Emperor returned the smile. With a sidelong glance, he swept his eyes over the monks below—whether the third-rank disciples about to participate in the dharma debate, or those Great Freedom Bodhisattvas, their expressions were all unfriendly to the extreme.

And of this unfriendliness, at least half was concentrated on that one person, Taixu Zhenjun.

This was the price of arrogance and recklessness.

Under such immense pressure, the other party could for now force himself to meet his gaze, but only needed to suffer a small setback; if he were clever, he should be able to react immediately.

"..."

Shen Yi withdrew his gaze. Just then, a series of footsteps sounded by his ear.

He glanced sideways and saw Chiyunzi approaching under the gaze of everyone. His somewhat more withered face than before bore no particular expression.

"No need to worry too much; just do your best."

Chiyunzi quietly sat down, his gaze cast forward, not looking at Shen Yi.

Having said that, he took a treasure pouch from his sleeve and gently placed it beside him: "Inside are some spirit treasures I've recently tempered. You can use them right away, no need to familiarize yourself further. Whether for body protection or killing enemies, nothing is lacking. Keep them with you—perhaps they'll come in handy."

"Thank you, Senior."

Shen Yi pressed his lips together, picked up that Yan Daizi, and the moment he handled it, he could sense that within it was actually hidden a six-times-tempered long spear. Just as the other had said, the preparations could truly be called thorough in every respect.

To put it bluntly, these things were clearly spirit treasures Chiyunzi had prepared for himself; the so-called "tempering" the other spoke of was merely erasing his own aura from them.

Today's Shen Yi certainly didn't lack such things, but upon thinking of the entanglement between himself and Chiyunzi, he couldn't help but slightly avert his gaze.

Stance is stance, but this Jin Xian, under everyone's watching eyes, swaggering over here—the pressure he bore went without saying.

"What's there to thank."

Chiyunzi smiled silently: "Back then I had your Master Chu Xi help me pass along a word of thanks. Seeing his petty manner, he probably didn't deliver it. But that's fine too..."

"I thank you on behalf of Chu Xi."

Chiyunzi patted Shen Yi's shoulder, stood back up, and then looked toward the Eastern Peak Emperor on the mountain peak: "What are you looking at?"

He had thoroughly demonstrated what it meant that, as long as one didn't care about future prospects and incense offerings, a second-rank was invincible under heaven.

"..."

The Eastern Peak Emperor expressionlessly shifted his gaze away.

But Lingxuzi couldn't help secretly cursing. He had long seen that something was off with this old fellow. The Elder Chi Yun Cave was nearly dead to the point of being extinct, and now he wanted to poach the walls of his own Lingxun Cave. Fortunately, the Emperor was here; otherwise, judging by Shen Yi's shameless look of taking anything offered, he really would have let the other succeed.

"Hoo."

Shen Yi tucked the treasure pouch into his robes.

He didn't have the habit of deceiving others' feelings. The truth would always come to light, but now was not yet the time.

Just then, several figures had already darted toward the yellow clouds in the middle.

This was the tacit understanding between both sides. Most disciples had no qualification to vie for the Emperor's position, but they could be used to probe the strengths of both sides.

The disciples had no complaints about this; after all, if dragged to the later rounds, the ones going down would all be those prodigies who had reached the nine-nine transformations. Better to earn more merit in the earlier rounds.

"Disciple of Jin Guang Cave of the Sanxian Sect, cultivation has reached the three-three realm. Kindly instruct me."

On the patch of yellow mist closest to Shen Yi, a proper-looking middle-aged Daoist Priest stepped on his flying sword and haughtily cupped his fists toward the opposite side.

The recent experience of suppressing a group of monks in the Eastern Continent without them being able to fight back had already greatly boosted the Sanxian Sect disciples' confidence. Many disciples hadn't even seen what divine abilities the opponents' Bodhisattva Golden Bodies possessed before joining forces with a pile of dharma artifacts to blast them into dust.

"Southern Xumi, Suspended Tianshan."

Among the monks, a dark-skinned, emaciated monk in a plain yellow robe slowly rose to his feet.

He did not summon any Buddhist treasure, but relying on those bare feet, walked step by step onto the cloud.

Seeing this sight, the Jin Guang Cave cultivator grinned, unceremoniously forming a sword art. He was among the first batch of disciples to take the field, and had rarely gained the opportunity to be watched by so many elders—of course he had to argue out the Sanxian Sect's bearing.

His opening move was a killing technique.

The dharma sword beneath him transformed in an instant into thousands upon thousands of streams of light, overwhelmingly blasting toward that dark, emaciated monk.

The sword light flew like a shuttle, grazing the monk's skin, yet failed to leave the slightest mark. The crisp sound of collision sounded more like that dharma sword wailing.

He just walked slowly through the river of swords like this, arriving before the Jin Guang Cave disciple, and in that disciple's stunned gaze, casually threw a punch.

Golden Body Subduing Demons!

The cultivator was still forming his body-protection dharma art when he discovered his body had already been swallowed by the Jinhe.

By the time he came to his senses, the searing pain made him realize with a shudder that he was lying outside the Huang Yun, his limbs shattered.

"Please offer your instruction."

The Monk casually tossed the broken sword onto that disciple, raised a single palm, and gazed silently at the crowd of the Sanxian Sect.

Amidst the sudden uproar that erupted.

The disciples of the Sanxian Sect exchanged glances; aside from the lost face, they suddenly realized something far more important.

That was, during their surprise attack on the Eastern Continent, although they had gained much, this group of Monks had thoroughly sized them up, whereas on their side, until now... they could not even call out the Dharma name of this black and thin Monk!

(End of this chapter)