Chapter 798: Two Eyes Filled with Tears

Shu Yu True Person casually settled the matter this way.

In the Three Immortals Sect, his strength was unremarkable, but because of the existence of his senior sister You Yao, he had watched her rise step by step to her current position, so his understanding of this great calamity was far clearer than that of his fellow disciples.

Take Yun Miao of the Spirit Void Grotto as an example.

Shu Yu True Person still did not know exactly how strong this person was, but no matter what, one who had become the senior disciple of a lineage, coupled with power reaching the pinnacle of ninety-nine transformations, could hardly be weak.

Yet because of his hesitation and indecisiveness, he had now sunk to serving other lineages’ disciples, waiting for scraps from their table.

This great calamity is about securing eternal incense offerings; the situation shifts by the moment. Under the emperor’s aura’s enhancement, the cultivation base of many fellow disciples has risen to a degree unseen in their lifetimes.

Seize the initiative, show no mercy, and grasp every scrap of incense offering within your capacity, or you will be pushed out of the game in the coming calamities.

“Invite him out under the pretense of being from Nan Zhou and wanting to catch up.”

Shu Yu True Person slowly closed his eyes. With such chaos erupting in Bei Zhou, those elders who spent their days idly visiting friends and discussing the Dao were surely returning now—among them, his senior uncle Ling Xu.

He did not wish to gamble on how this uncle would view a Nan Zhou cultivator temporarily staying in the Spirit Void Grotto.

Moreover, immortals refraining from fighting each other before mortals was an unwritten rule in Bei Zhou; one must maintain the dignity befitting a great sect.

“Senior brother…” Shen Shan Ancestor moved his lips.

“What, unwilling to go?” Shu Yu True Person frowned, his tone growing cold.

“Not at all, younger brother merely wishes to say: never underestimate this Dan Huang. I have never seen him myself, but I have personally witnessed the methods of the Bodhisattva Who Subdues Dragons and Tigers. To escape from such a fearsome deity is no simple feat.”

Shen Shan Ancestor knew these Bei Zhou cultivators possessed many tricks, yet he still feared the man might stumble and meet disaster in a back alley.

“Hah.” Shu Yu True Person laughed, opening his eyes to sneer: “Didn’t you escape from his grasp too? Could senior brother have been blind to your extraordinary talents, Shen Shan?”

“Th-this is different,” Shen Shan Ancestor stammered, waving his hands. “We were because…”

“Relax. I know what I’m doing.”

Shu Yu True Person ceased his teasing and waved his sleeve to cut him off.

He never believed in accidents—or rather, if one truly had strength, one should be able to resolve such accidents. No matter how you spin it, it still came down to the Bodhisattva Who Subdues Dragons and Tigers lacking sufficient power.

He committed fratricide, killed the future Buddha’s disciple Jin Chan, yet still let three live ones escape.

At this level, it was simply hard to believe.

Of course, Shu Yu True Person understood the gravity of this matter. Even though everyone knew that as the situation intensified, casualties among fellow disciples were inevitable, no one could afford to be the first to start it—even if the Tai Xu Dan Huang was only half a fellow disciple.

Damaging one’s reputation would make one a target for all.

After all, he had You Yao senior sister above him bearing the pressure; it was the other lineages’ disciples who should be the ones panicking.

“Enough. Go. After you invite him out, come find me here.”

Shu Yu True Person gripped his immortal palanquin; they had arrived at Tian Ta Mountain.

He flung out a jade slip, watched Shen Shan Ancestor dart downward, then reactivated his artifact to seek out the few great demons guarding the nearby Daoist grounds.

As the saying goes, more hands make light work—call in several more to guard and prevent the Tai Xu disciples from escaping again.

Moments later.

Shu Yu True Person retracted his immortal palanquin and landed before a cave dwelling.

He frowned slightly.

In the past, merely sensing his aura would have prompted these great demons to respectfully emerge to greet him—but today, he had reached the entrance, yet there was still no movement.

With a flick of his spirit, Shu Yu True Person swept his wide sleeve, and in his palm appeared a Daoist sword.

He infused it with tribulation energy, subtly embedding a divine technique within, then stepped calmly into the cave.

“...”

Shu Yu True Person halted slowly, gazing at the unaltered surroundings. After careful inspection, he found no trace of battle—yet all four demon lords had vanished.

Finally, confusion crept into his eyes.

He had clearly ordered these demons: under no circumstances were they to leave this place without his decree.

This is a trick!

After a moment’s thought, Shu Yu True Person turned and darted out of the cave—yet found no array blocking his path.

Holding his Daoist sword, he stared at the empty sky, his breathing growing rapid.

Long moments passed. His face turned ashen, and at last he spat: “You wretched beasts!”

With no sign of battle, and no trap laid by another, only one possibility remained.

Since the Bei Zhou calamity began, great demons had become highly sought-after treasures; everyone wanted to recruit them, and no one would ever turn away if they could afford to keep them.

These vile beasts must have been insatiable and defected to another house!

Shu Yu True Person took several deep, ragged breaths to suppress his surging rage.

No need to rush. Since they had spent so much to acquire these demons, they surely wouldn’t hide them away unused. As long as they let the demons harvest the emperor’s aura, traces would inevitably surface.

Once he learned which disciple’s house they belonged to, he would make them understand the cost of raiding Qing Guang Cave for demons!

Shu Yu True Person turned back into the cave and slammed his Daoist sword onto the table with a sharp crack.

First, deal with the matter at hand.

…

Tian Ta Mountain.

Shen Yi sat cross-legged; the lifespan he had gained from slaying those great demons had now fully transformed into part of his Dao fruit.

The Divine Wind had dissipated into mist, completely enveloping the Bodhisattva’s divine form within.

With thirty more threads of Heavenly Dao’s primordial order added, he had now reached the sixty-fourth stage—finally standing at the threshold of the next transformation, just like Shen Xu Ancestor.

His Shen Xu path was pure: solely meant to conceal his cultivation from the Bodhi Sect.

So far, the effect had been excellent.

To forcibly peer into another’s foundation required vastly superior cultivation. Once he reached the sixty-six transformation stage, no cultivator at the third-rank level should be able to see the golden divine form hidden within the gray mist.

The incident of slaying the White Ape still simmered among Tian Ta Mountain’s populace. Though the emperor’s aura since then had not matched that one-time bounty, replenishing the missing two thousand tribulations was still simple.

“...”

Shen Yi sensed a ripple in the aura but did not look up—only quietly opened his eyes.

The next instant, a streak of light landed.

The newcomer first glanced around with some restraint, his gaze landing on the immortal shrine atop the mountain, where fleeting envy and jealousy flashed in his eyes.

The old man quickly composed himself and bowed to the young man in white robes: “This humble one is Shen Shan from Nan Zhou. I heard the Dan Huang also encountered that monster and traveled far to Bei Zhou. I’ve long wished to visit, and now I finally have the chance.”

As he spoke, a look of sorrow crept onto Shen Shan’s face. He smiled helplessly: “Nothing is more bitter than being exiled from one’s homeland, unable to return in this lifetime. In Bei Zhou, after years of cultivation with Yu Chi, I still feel helpless. Fortunately, now the Dan Huang has arrived—we three can rely on each other.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi showed no warmth, only gazed silently.

“Th-this, Dan Huang, rest assured.”

Shen Shan Ancestor seemed to sense something, hurriedly explaining: “Neither of us has come here to cling to your success. To have joined Qing Guang Cave and preserved our lives is already fortune enough—we dare not seek more. We merely wish to catch up on old times.”

By former divisions, he and Shen Xu Ancestor were of the same generation—technically Shen Yi’s senior uncle—yet now he used honorifics.

The old man portrayed helplessness perfectly.

All who fled from Nan Zhou faced discrimination—this Tai Xu Dan Huang was no exception. Otherwise, why would he still be a lone cultivator?

Yun Miao True Person ignored the Dan Huang; this young man must be desperate for a new sect to join. He likely won’t refuse to associate with two fellow refugees already in Qing Guang Cave.

Indeed, after a slight hesitation, Shen Yi stood: “I have nothing better to do. A chat won’t hurt.”

“Exactly, exactly!”

Shen Shan Ancestor rose on a cloud, smiling broadly as he led the way.

He had finally fulfilled Senior Brother Shu Yu’s order. He exhaled in relief—yet failed to notice that while he still relied on the jade slip to guide the path, the Tai Xu Dan Huang seemed to know it already, following calmly behind.

The two soon reached an unremarkable mountain range.

Shen Shan Ancestor carefully scanned the area, found the cave, then turned back with a smile to explain: “It’s humble, I know. We’re newcomers with no proper guest quarters—please don’t disdain it, Dan Huang.”

Upon reaching the agreed location, the old man unconsciously straightened his back.

He withdrew his gaze and descended toward the cave.

His eyes grew colder.

Shen Shan Ancestor could endure Bei Zhou cultivators’ disdain—for survival’s sake. He could bow to this Tai Xu Dan Huang—for his senior brother’s command.

But he could not accept that this junior, as a mere disciple, had silently accepted his full bow without even a hint of refusal.

Recall how, back at Shen Xu Mountain, this master and disciple had treated Tian Wu Ancestor with utter disrespect. After surviving life and death, they remained the same—no growth at all.

All of them fled for their lives—who was nobler than whom? Why should this man retain his former arrogance, making even Yun Miao senior brother furious?

Deserved!

Shen Yi followed the old man slowly into the cave.

Shen Shan Ancestor stared ahead and saw Senior Brother Shu Yu seated at the stone table, showing no immediate intent to act.

He hesitated, unsure of the man’s intentions, yet dared not defy him. He found another excuse: “Dan Huang, this is Qing Guang Cave’s Shu Yu True Person. He heard of your deeds and is quite interested in meeting you, so he came along with us… Senior brother, where is Yu Chi?”

“She has some business. She’ll return soon.”

Shu Yu smiled faintly, showing no trace of his earlier rage, gesturing warmly: “Friend, please sit.”

Something amiss must be afoot. His four great demons had vanished—likely taken by another—but the Tai Xu Dan Huang was right here on Tian Ta Mountain. Testing him first wouldn’t hurt.

Shen Shan Ancestor obediently sat beside the stone table, then glanced at Shen Yi beside him. He had expected his improvised excuse to fail—but to his surprise, Shen Yi showed no wariness, instead sitting calmly across from him.

This… had he become so desperate to join an immortal lineage that he thought this was his chance?

“I am an old acquaintance of Yun Miao True Person of the Spirit Void Grotto. He often speaks of you.”

Shu Yu True Person casually sized up the young man.

“Probably not anything good,” Shen Yi replied coolly, while silently instructing his guardian stones to scan the vicinity for any hidden presence.

This made Shu Yu True Person smile wider. “So you know yourself, then—your senior brother Yun Miao is indeed not very generous.”

“But…”

He changed tone and shook his head: “My senior sister is in charge of investigating the Bodhi Sect—I, as her junior brother, wish to lend whatever little help I can. Tian Ta Mountain was promised to Sister Lingsu by our fellow disciples; now that she’s in trouble and the matter remains unresolved, why have you established a celestial shrine atop the mountain? Isn’t that rather inappropriate?”

Upon hearing mention of Tian Ta Mountain, Shen Shan’s Ancestor’s eyes brightened with renewed interest.

Though he didn’t know why Brother Shu Yu had changed his mind, if this Tai Xu Dan Huang would simply yield Tian Ta Mountain… he’d accept it!

After all, even if this person achieves something and returns to seek revenge, Qing Guang Cave still stands above him.

Even Shen Shan’s Ancestor himself hadn’t noticed that, where his domain was concerned, his thoughts had shifted again and again—long since diverging from his original goal of merely surviving.

At this moment, he gazed eagerly toward the Tai Xu Dan Huang.

“Inappropriate?”

Shen Yi lifted his eyes lazily and raised an eyebrow: “Then why don’t you tear it down yourself?”

This defiant, unexpected reply stunned not only Shu Yu, but also Shen Shan’s Ancestor.

Since arriving in the Northern Continent, he had grown accustomed to bowing his head and submitting; perhaps Yu Chi was more defiant, but even he only stood firm on the matter of Tian Ta Mountain—everywhere else, he remained humble.

Yet why did this man dare respond so bluntly and directly?

Under this stark contrast, before Shu Yu True Person could react, a wicked flame had already surged within Shen Shan’s Ancestor.

We are all kneeling, begging for a single thread of life—what gives you the right to stand tall and demand dignity even while begging for scraps?

“...”

Shu Yu True Person came to his senses; the smile on his face slowly faded.

Only now did he understand why even the cowardly Yun Miao Senior Brother had despised this man.

Shu Yu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his palm: “You’ve been in the Northern Continent for so long and still dare not show your true face. Is this how you speak to me? It’s hardly respectful.”

Before the words had even left his lips, a powerful tribulation force had already surged forth.

He was growing impatient; he resorted to a more direct test—if this man truly had ability, he’d block the strike, and Shu Yu would merely wish to see his true face. Even if it was impolite, it wasn’t a matter of life or death… If the disguise was torn away and he was revealed as a hollow shell, he’d be killed outright.

Shen Yi sat quietly; the concealment on his face dissolved effortlessly before the oncoming tribulation force.

Shu Yu True Person lowered his sleeve, seeing no anger on that pale, handsome face. Just as he grew puzzled, a blood-curdling scream suddenly pierced his ear.

“Ahh!!”

He turned his head and saw Shen Shan’s Ancestor, who had been sitting calmly moments before, now collapsed on the floor, face twisted in terror, palms pressed to the ground, legs kicking wildly as if trying to flee the table.

In an instant, the old man was drenched in sweat, tears and snot streaming down his face, his voice hoarse and broken.

“It’s you—”

Though the cave wasn’t cramped, Shen Shan’s Ancestor quickly scrambled into the corner.

Under Shu Yu True Person’s bewildered gaze, the old man trembled violently, fell to his knees, and banged his head against the floor: “Mercy, Venerable One! Mercy, Venerable One!”

This bizarre scene sent a chill down the spine.

Shu Yu True Person turned his gaze back to the opposite side and gripped the Dao sword on the table.

Yet neither Shen Shan’s Ancestor’s absurd reaction nor his own act of drawing the sword stirred the slightest reaction from the young man.

“...”

Shen Yi, having received the reports from the Zhen Shi stones, slowly rose to his feet and looked down upon Shu Yu True Person, brushing dust from his sleeve: “Are you satisfied now?”

(End of Chapter)