Chapter 799: The Fool in the Game

「……」

Master Shu Yu’s body tensed slightly; the other had just been effortlessly stripped of his disguise, so his realm was certainly far below his own.

But if Shen Shan hadn’t suddenly gone mad, his absurd reaction could only mean the situation was more complicated than imagined.

Spare me, Venerable One?

Repeating those words in his mind several times, Master Shu Yu knew “Venerable One” was a title for Bodhisattvas—but what Bodhisattva could drive Shen Shan into such frenzy?

He lifted his head slightly: “The Venerable of the Bodhi Sect, the Subduer of Dragons and Tigers?”

The moment those words echoed through the cave, Shen Shan Ancestor finally ceased his kowtowing, his whole body trembling violently.

The first time they met in Nan Zhou, even as he watched a host of Bodhisattvas reduced to dust, he had forced himself to remain calm, summoned his magic treasure, and tried to break the formation and escape—that was pure survival instinct.

But after barely escaping with his life, the events of that day had replayed countless times in Shen Shan Ancestor’s mind, becoming his deepest nightmare.

Meeting again under such sudden circumstances, staring at that pale, handsome face, he lacked even the strength to stand.

This monstrous deity had actually followed him all the way to Bei Zhou!

Shen Shan Ancestor’s reaction confirmed Master Shu Yu’s suspicions; in an instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind—the deaths of Ling Su and Mao Feng and others gradually linked to the face before him.

The Bodhi Sect hadn’t just entered Bei Zhou—they had nearly infiltrated the inner ranks of the Three Immortal Sect!

“A Bodhisattva of the ultimate Nine-Nine Transformations, yet resorting to such despicable tactics.”

Master Shu Yu’s face twisted into a snarl; he instantly swung his Dao sword, unleashing a dense storm of pure light already stored within the blade, as if capable of splitting everything before him.

Yet those rays of pure light never fully spread—Shen Yi casually swept his palm, golden paste surging from his fingertips, seizing the countless rays like a tangled knot in his palm.

Merely this sight made Master Shu Yu see the truth: regardless of whether the other boasts about the Bodhisattva in Nan Zhou were exaggerated, at least his cultivation base of Third Rank’s peak was undeniable.

There was a full Transformation between their realms; any sane person, no matter how deep their foundation, would no longer consider how to win—escape with his life was the priority.

“Teh!”

Master Shu Yu reacted instantly, opening his mouth and spitting out a jade-green seed.

This was a life-saving artifact, far beyond ordinary magic treasures, nearly touching the aura of a Spirit Treasure.

Before the seed even touched the ground, it erupted with astonishing radiance, shielding Master Shu Yu’s Dao body while rapidly growing into a thick vine that lifted him into the sky, shooting straight upward!

The colossal vine, now like a pillar of heaven, moved like a living serpent, extending into the distance at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

Master Shu Yu stood solemnly atop the vine, repeatedly flicking his sleeves; instead of summoning other magic treasures to fight, he flung out one jade slip after another, channeling all his Tribulation energy to send them away.

The true killer of Ling Su and his fellow disciples had finally appeared—Bei Zhou’s heroes would surely rush here en masse; besides his sister, famed across the continent, perhaps even senior elders of the sect could arrive—these were the only things that could save his life.

After sending off the jade slips, Master Shu Yu finally exhaled.

With the Azure Water Green Vine protecting him, buying some time was certainly possible.

But at that moment, the True Person’s expression changed slightly; in his vision, all the jade slips had reached the horizon’s end—but did not vanish, instead freezing in place.

Beyond that sky, ripples spread like water.

“The moon in the mirror, the flower in the water…”

Master Shu Yu’s heart lurched; he spun around frantically, his pupils trembling, his face turning deathly pale.

This tangible world was fake!

From the moment he stepped into this immortal mountain, he had walked into a trap.

And for someone of his realm to detect nothing amiss, it must be a Buddha artifact comparable to a Spirit Treasure!

If so, then not only Ling Su and the others, but even his own several great demons were likely slain by this fiend.

He had thought he and the other had accidentally stepped on an iron board—but this Bodhisattva had been watching him long before!

First kill Ling Su, trigger upheaval in Bei Zhou, stir up the thoughts of his fellow disciples.

Then erect a divine shrine, draw attention, finally set the ambush, waiting for himself—the one closest to Li Tian Tower Mountain—to walk right in. Everything had been meticulously planned by the other.

Once he understood it all, Master Shu Yu finally knew why Shen Shan Ancestor had shown such a grotesque state—such cruel, meticulous cunning, even letting those two escape in Nan Zhou must have been foreseen by this Bodhisattva.

“Even if I die…”

Master Shu Yu’s face twitched, his pupils blazing with ferocity like a cornered beast as he glared downward, roaring: “I’ll tear off chunks of your flesh!”

He was no Shen Shan—he would never surrender until the final moment.

He refused to believe that the Qingguang Sect’s ten-thousand-year legacy, the Dao arts bestowed, the magic treasures granted, could not bridge the gap between Six-Six Transformations and Nine-Nine.

He possessed seventy-nine threads of Heavenly Dao order—only twenty short of the other.

Overcoming a realm gap? Bei Zhou had precedents!

“Azure Water Green Vine—kill!”

Master Shu Yu slammed both palms onto the vine, pouring all his Tribulation energy into it, temporarily granting the treasure bestowed by his master the power of a Spirit Treasure.

「……」

Shen Yi stood beneath the green vine; behind his fluttering robes, four powerful, muscular arm shadows gradually emerged.

As he was bathed in golden radiance, Shen Shan Ancestor’s face filled with terror, his breath halting—as if he had returned to that day in Nan Zhou.

In an instant, the four arm shadows struck the vine with clean precision, then surged with force!

Boom!

The earth shook, the heavens trembled.

Amid a deafening roar, Shen Yi brutally ripped out the colossal vine and hurled it back with savage force.

That emerald vine, resembling a giant serpent, offered not a single ounce of resistance in the hands of the golden four arms; it let out a deep, mournful cry, lashing the ground like a whip, shattering the earth’s spine.

“Huh! Huh!”

Before Master Shu Yu could react, one moment he had been suspended in the heavens, the next he stumbled onto the ground before Shen Yi.

He stared blankly at the opposite figure.

The shock of that moment surpassed even the legend of his former senior sister, You Yao, who had single-handedly defeated two peers.

Just as Nan Zhou cultivators rarely encountered profound Immortal techniques, so too in Bei Zhou, where the Three Immortal Sect reigned supreme, these disciples rarely witnessed the ferocity of a Follower.

Watching the figure—golden rivers rippling around him, the four arm shadows slowly stretching behind him, walking steadily toward him—

Master Shu Yu felt his throat burn, his strength drained from every limb and bone.

His neck stiffened, despair slowly consuming his face; finally, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, voice hoarse: “Venerable One… Venerable One, spare me…”

In contrast, Shen Shan Ancestor, who had been kneeling silently beside him the whole time, now sat utterly motionless, eyes glazed.

Anyone who had witnessed the battle in Nan Zhou, once defeated, no longer held any hope—this man had casually slain the Golden Toad Bodhisattva; why would he spare anyone?

Indeed, Shen Yi said nothing; he simply placed his palm upon the trembling Master Shu Yu’s forehead.

The next instant, a surging river of gold swallowed his entire body.

Shen Yi turned and swept his sleeve; the golden river roared, smashing Shen Shan Ancestor’s Dao body into fragments!

He dismissed his Dharma Form and stepped out of this realm.

“We pay homage to our Lord.”

On the true mountain, Emperor Nan held the jade mirror, watching his master emerge from within; he hurried forward and offered the treasure mirror.

“My Lord, shall we proceed as before?” Shen Xu Ancestor also stepped forth from the Grand Void.

“Not this time.”

Shen Yi shook his head; previously, he had sought to incite conflict. Now that conflict had begun, and he held Li Tian Tower Mountain, Master Shu Yu’s death would inevitably draw attention to him—he was already suspect. Repeating the same trick would be too obvious.

Besides… Shen Yi recalled the woman in the black robe who had observed Li Tian Tower Mountain for a long time.

That senior sister of the Qingguang Sect was indeed a clear-minded person, hard to deceive.

But chaos had already erupted; she was caught within the scheme, and maintaining such clarity would not be easy.

「……」

Chen Yi’s eyes shimmered with a faint, half-understanding light.

He was beginning to grasp why Shen Xu Elder had told him to watch quietly.

Merely from the fact that Emperor Nan had stayed behind with the treasure mirror, causing Master Shu Yu to come uninvited, one could glimpse the hidden design.

Beneath his seemingly reckless charge lay countless calculations.

“Let’s return.”

Shen Yi, having just slain a disciple of a great sect, now returned to Li Tian Tower Mountain as if nothing had happened.

With his return, a strange atmosphere suddenly settled over the vast Kaiyuan Prefecture.

First, from the direction of the prefectural city, the Qingguang Sect immortals responsible for relief efforts kept vanishing without a trace.

The refugees, even with Immortal aid, were already little more than living corpses—but without water or food, driven by survival instinct, they mechanically rose to their feet, seeking a path to live.

The path was not far—it was, in fact, right before them.

They stood at an invisible boundary, staring at the scattered farmhouses ahead; after a long while, under the torment of hunger, their eyes glowed with wolf-like ferocity.

Dragging their stumbling steps, they gradually surrounded one particular farmhouse.

Soon, the owner finally reacted, gripping a firewood axe, cautiously appearing behind the flimsy wooden door that barely kept out the wind.

He looked at the expressions on their faces—and suddenly felt a strange familiarity.

Not long ago, he and his own people had looked exactly like this, fighting desperately for a sip of water or grain.

He swallowed hard, hesitated a moment, then pulled a handful of rice grains from his robe—this tiny amount could never feed so many.

The farmer set down his axe and whispered: “The Grand Void True Lord provided enough food… after you eat, go get more yourselves…”

Outside the courtyard, the crowd, standing like wooden stakes, remained stunned after hearing this—not because they didn’t understand, but because they couldn’t believe it.

…

Qingguang Sect, Grand Hall.

Today, several disciples from the main lines were missing, replaced by a large group of unfamiliar faces.

Chi Yunzi had returned, yet could only sit in the second seat; the foremost seat belonged to the master of Qingguang Mountain, long unseen.

Both were Hunyuan Da Luo Jin Immortals, respected elders within the sect.

At this moment, all other disciples stood upright below, their expressions solemn, not daring to slacken in the slightest—including You Yao, the senior disciple.

Yet the reason for this gathering was the young disciple kneeling in the center of the hall, only at the Sixth-Six Transformation realm.

The Three Immortals Sect has lost a life—and this time, not at the hands of the monks.

“Elders, I cannot accept this judgment!”

The young disciple was bound tightly with immortal ropes, yet still struggled to crawl forward on his knees, his face filled with grief and outrage.

Qingguangzi closed his eyes to cultivate his spirit.

Today’s matter is simple: with many prodigies having left Beizhou—including the eldest disciple of Chiyun Cave—it is necessary to make the monks in the other continents feel the same pain of losing a fellow disciple.

This lineage had already suffered setbacks under the Bodhi Sect, and without their senior brother’s protection, their weakness was only natural.

And it was this disciple of the prince who conceived the plan.

He summoned several great demons to seize the disciple of Chiyun Cave’s cultivation ground.

According to tradition, the two sides would test their skills and resources; the loser would withdraw of his own accord.

But this time, the difference was that the Chiyun disciple chose to fight to the death, determined to slay these great demons… and was subsequently devoured alive by the enraged beasts.

These wicked beasts were all executed without mercy.

But now the question is: how should the mastermind kneeling in the hall be punished?

This man is not a disciple of Qingguang Cave, yet he came today to discuss matters here—there is another reason behind it.

“…”

Chiyunzi’s expression was blank as he turned to the woman in black robes: “You were there?”

You Yao clenched her fists, then nodded slightly: “I was there.”

“As senior disciple of your lineage, even my disciple calls you ‘Senior Sister.’ You watched two youngsters play recklessly, watched him die—and you did nothing?” Chiyunzi stared into her eyes.

“I never thought it would end like this,” You Yao said, pressing her lips together before raising her head to explain.

“Good.”

Chiyunzi exhaled slowly: “Today, I entrust you with his punishment.”

At these words, You Yao froze.

Last time, when she spoke up for Lingsu and Maofeng and others, she had won the favor of this Uncle Chiyun.

But now, he clearly disapproved of her inaction.

Thinking of this, You Yao looked at the unrepentant disciple on the ground.

“Senior Sister You Yao! What crime have I committed?!”

The disciple, seeing the woman approaching, lunged forward and fell to the ground, yet still roared loudly.

You Yao stopped before him.

Under the tense gaze of the other disciples, she formed a sword finger, a clear light flickering uncertainly at her fingertip.

After a long silence, You Yao waved her finger casually—not to injure the disciple, but to sever his immortal restraints.

She took a deep breath, turned back to Chiyunzi, and bowed respectfully: “Uncle, I believe he is innocent.”

If we kill him today, what becomes of my Four Palaces territories? If everyone chooses to fight to the death from now on, how can my plans proceed?

This vast Beizhou must ultimately have a master.

This world must eventually choose one Immortal Emperor.

Before the great calamity, there is only retreat or death—that is the rule!

“…”

Chiyunzi slowly rose to his feet, glanced coldly at the girl, then turned to Qingguangzi and smiled faintly: “Innocent? Good. Good. I only hope you do not regret this.”

(End of Chapter)