Chapter 835: The Final Chapter of the Great Calamity

「……」

Shen Yi’s steps paused slightly as he turned his head to look at the woman crouching outside the hall.

This was likely the most esteemed lady in this realm—not only one of the Six Sovereigns, but also the one who personally forged this relatively peaceful era.

Shen Yi believed the other Immortals’ assessments: Hou Tu Huang Di Zhi had no interest in this great calamity, yet he never entertained the foolish notion of treating her as one of his own.

The reason was simple.

In the path the Emperor of Mortals sought to carve out for mortal beings, there was likely no place for Immortals—and among those Immortals who must be driven out, this lady before him was included.

Hou Tu Huang Di Zhi might favor mortals slightly more, but her status as an Emperor-Prince doomed her to stand opposed to the mortal realm.

Thus, Shen Yi had no intention of engaging her further, yet he had not anticipated that she would speak first.

「Hmm?」

Empress Hou Tu likewise studied the young man at a distance.

Without soul-searching, even an Emperor-Prince could not peer into another’s heart; she merely knew the mortal realm well, and this first disciple of the Three Immortals Sect carried an overwhelming stench of mortal affairs.

Her curiosity about his “lack of guilt” was not simply because this youth would soon represent the Three Immortals Sect in debate, knowing the Eastern Ji Emperor would not trouble him at such a time, nor because he believed the Immortal Emperor’s throne was already in his grasp and thus looked down upon an Emperor-Prince.

It was a strange, inexplicable candor.

If one’s conduct was upright, why lie? Yet if he had lied, how could his heart remain so untroubled? It was truly contradictory.

「Disciple does not quite understand.」

「But if I must say why I feel no guilt, perhaps it is because I have done nothing wrong?」

Meeting Hou Tu Huang Di Zhi’s gaze, Shen Yi paused a moment, then softly replied, bowed in deference as a junior, clasped his hands in farewell, and turned to leave the hall.

「Done nothing wrong…」

Empress Hou Tu chewed over the words twice, then suddenly found them intriguing.

If he did nothing wrong yet lied, then the one at fault must be the Eastern Ji Emperor—the very parent of this realm, one of the Six Sovereigns—yet someone dared to think him in error.

「You say, where did Eastern Ji err?」

Empress Hou Tu patted the stray dog’s head and let it go; that display of heavenly radiance earlier, meant to show authority, served little purpose beyond frightening these small creatures.

Behind the Empress, a graceful figure slowly materialized.

The newcomer wore a purple robe, her face alluring; she first bowed in disciple’s salute, then spoke with indignation: 「Of course he erred—he knew Master suffered injustice in this great calamity, yet still dragged you here, spouting grand righteousness while harboring nothing but calculations.」

The woman in purple robe was called Shi Mu, the sole disciple of Empress Hou Tu.

「I did not mean that.」

Empress Hou Tu chuckled softly, brushing away a speck of dust from her palm: 「Never mind.」

Since the two sects agreed to the great calamity, she had quarreled with the Three Pure Ones until they parted in anger, then returned to her Emperor-Prince’s palace, claiming to seek peace, but in truth avoiding what was to come—powerless to change it, she chose only to hide and ignore the world.

Now that she had chosen to emerge, it was not because of the Eastern Ji Emperor’s hollow words of comfort, but because she could not help but wish to see how the mortal realm looked now.

She had not expected that though the world was steeped in ruin, it was slightly better than she imagined.

Along the way, she had heard many reports: this situation had arisen because the three sects’ first disciples broke the rules first, vying for incense offerings, yet unintentionally gave mortals a path to survival.

According to Hou Tu’s original estimate, at least seventy percent of mortal life would have perished before the situation eased, for by then the Divine Court would already be out of the game, leaving only the two sects to fight.

Now it seemed seven-tenths of mortal life remained intact, and the two sects hurriedly decided to end the great calamity—fortunate indeed for all living beings.

Precisely because of this, Hou Tu had looked at Shen Yi a moment longer.

She wished to know whether his actions were deliberate or accidental.

Based on the young man’s audacious implication that the Eastern Ji Emperor was in error, the former seemed slightly more likely.

Hou Tu should have felt joy, yet after brief reflection, she made no move to detain him.

Logically, a disciple of such caliber ascending to Immortal Emperor’s throne should show slightly more mercy toward mortals.

But in truth, at their level, they all knew full well.

No matter the nature of the person before ascending, once seated upon that throne, every word and deed would no longer be under their own control—entirely dictated by the sect’s will; thus, whether cruel or merciful, it made no difference.

「Master, do you think this first disciple of the Three Immortals Sect can win the debate?」

Shi Mu glanced toward the direction the youth had left, curiously asking.

「What do you think?」 Empress Hou Tu walked casually forward.

「Disciple believes… the odds are slim.」 Shi Mu hurried to keep pace, thinking seriously: 「He’s drawn too much attention—Bodhi Sect disciples must all hate him now. Whoever defeats him will instantly become their first disciple, and with those monks’ usual protectiveness, their tactics will surely be dirty; under such conditions, winning is extremely difficult.」

As she spoke, Shi Mu suddenly realized: the Empress rarely initiated conversation with a junior. She quickly corrected herself: 「Of course, this is merely this disciple’s foolish opinion—I wonder what Master thinks.」

「…」

Empress Hou Tu walked slowly through Nianping Fucheng; compared to the cold, silent Emperor-Prince’s palace, even its filth and clamor gave her a strange sense of solidity.

She said softly: 「Whoever sits on that Immortal Emperor’s throne—it makes no difference.」

…

Before the second-rank, deathless Golden Immortals and Great Liberation Bodhisattvas, these third-rank cultivators were mere juniors.

Yet if these nearly a thousand disciples, united by the strength of both sects and encompassing most of the realm’s strongest, unleashed their full power across Shenzhou without restraint, the mortal realm would become a dead wasteland long before an Immortal Emperor was chosen.

Thus, the debate was set within Eastern Xumí.

The seventy-two Caves’ Golden Immortals had been uneasy at first, but after glancing at the four towering, cloud-piercing treasure mountains, where figures sat cross-legged atop each, they reluctantly accepted it.

With the Eastern Ji Emperor and Hou Tu Huang Di Zhi presiding, even if the opposing Joyful Buddha and Medicine Buddha wished to interfere, they would have no chance.

The two sects together had seventeen first-rank titans; now four had appeared in person, to personally close this great calamity.

Originally, disciples were to wander the world, using great demons to make mortals recognize the Emperor’s tyranny, solidify the Immortals’ path and the Buddha’s teachings among mortals, and ultimately overthrow the tyrant in due course.

Now there was no time for such subtlety.

Yet this crude, direct method did not provoke discontent among disciples; instead, all present bore unmistakable murderous intent.

Rivalry among sectmates. Struggle for incense offerings.

Either one alone was enough to drive them to give their all.

Even if they failed to claim the Immortal Emperor’s throne, defeating even a few opponents would vent their resentment—and with such battle merits, they could later claim more sacred grounds.

Previously, they fought only within their own sect; now they struck against another great sect—this was a great advantage.

Beneath the four high mountains, thick yellow clouds were divided into dozens of sections like a chessboard; disciples from both sides sat at opposite ends, their dense ranks indistinguishable from chess pieces.

On the Three Immortals Sect side, the figure in black robes and ornate attire sat among the crowd, yet drew nearly all eyes.

「…」

Shen Yi calmly raised his gaze and met the faintly smiling eyes of the Eastern Ji Emperor on the mountaintop.

Under normal circumstances, the first disciple of the Three Immortals Sect would carry the sect’s highest hopes; before battle, the sect would surely bestow upon him some foundational treasures.

He had joined too late—his foundation was indeed weak.

But it was still odd that not a single senior came to offer counsel.

The reason likely lay with the Eastern Ji Emperor himself: his earlier words of “stay” led many Golden Immortals to believe the Emperor intended to intervene personally; with a first-rank titan offering treasures, their own gifts naturally became unworthy to present.

Even as a mere bonus, they feared provoking the Eastern Ji Emperor—given his unusual enthusiasm for the calamity, he clearly sought to lay early groundwork, likely favoring Tai Xu Zhen Jun; others approaching him might easily be misunderstood.

「Hah.」

Ling Xu Zi smiled obsequiously toward the Eastern Ji Emperor.

He had never expected Shen Yi to win the Immortal Emperor’s throne; Golden Immortals with endless lifespans knew best the fate of the first bird to fly.

But now things were different.

With the Emperor’s backing, and since he himself had no hope of keeping Shen Yi, it was better to generously let him go—perhaps even securing a position among the Twelve Golden Immortals.

Compared to when he first returned to Banluo Cliff, he had never dared dream of this; now he dared not offend the Emperor in the slightest.

「Hmph.」

The Eastern Ji Emperor returned the smile, his gaze flickering over the monks below—whether the third-rank disciples about to debate or the Great Liberation Bodhisattvas, all wore unmistakable hostility.

And at least half of that hostility was focused squarely on Tai Xu Zhen Jun alone.

This was the price of arrogance and recklessness.

Under such immense pressure, the man could still hold his gaze on him now—but if he suffered even a minor setback, a clever man would surely realize it immediately.

「…」

Shen Yi lowered his gaze, when suddenly footsteps sounded beside him.

He turned his head and saw Chi Yun Zi approaching openly before all eyes; his face, slightly more withered than before, showed no expression.

「Don’t worry too much—just do your best.」

Chi Yun Zi sat quietly, gazing ahead without looking at Shen Yi.

Then he withdrew a treasure pouch from his sleeve and placed it gently beside him: 「Inside are some spiritual treasures I’ve recently refined—take them, you can use them immediately, no need for further familiarization; they’re sufficient for defense and offense. Keep them—they may prove useful.」

「Thank you, Elder.」

Shen Yi pursed his lips, picked up the pouch, and upon touching it, immediately sensed it contained a six-refined spear—indeed, as the elder had said, the preparation was thorough.

Plainly put, these were clearly Chi Yun Zi’s own treasures; his so-called “refining” meant erasing his own spiritual imprint.

Shen Yi certainly did not lack such items now, yet thinking of his connection to Chi Yun Zi, he subtly shifted his gaze away.

Loyalty is loyalty—but this Golden Immortal had walked openly before all eyes, bearing immense pressure without hesitation.

「Don’t thank me.」

Chi Yun Zi smiled silently: 「I once asked your master to deliver my thanks to you—he looked so petty, I doubt he did. But then again, it’s better this way…」

「I thank you on behalf of Chu Xi.」

Chi Yun Zi patted Shen Yi’s shoulder, rose, and turned to gaze at the Eastern Ji Emperor on the mountaintop: 「What are you staring at?」

He had fully demonstrated what it meant: when one no longer cares for future or incense offerings, a second-rank cultivator is invincible under heaven.

「…」

The Eastern Ji Emperor turned his gaze away, expressionless.

Lingxu Zi couldn’t help muttering under his breath—he had long sensed something off about this old rascal; with Chiyun Cave nearly wiped out, he was trying to lure away disciples from Lingxu Cave. Fortunately, the Emperor was here, or else, given Shen Yi’s shameless habit of snatching up any treasure he saw, the old man would have succeeded.

“Huh.”

Shen Yi tucked the treasure bag into his robe.

He had no habit of manipulating others’ emotions; the truth would eventually come out, but not yet.

At that moment, several figures darted toward the central Huangyun.

This was an unspoken understanding: most disciples lacked the qualification to vie for the throne, but they could use the chance to probe each side’s strength.

The disciples bore no resentment—after all, by the time it reached the later rounds, only the prodigies who had reached the Nine-Nine Transformation would face off. Better to earn merit early.

“Disciple of Jinguang Cave, Three Immortals Sect, cultivation base at the Three-Three Realm, I humbly seek your guidance.”

On the Huangwu closest to Shen Yi, a middle-aged Daoist with a dignified appearance stood atop a flying sword and bowed respectfully to the opposite side.

Recent victories over a group of monks in Dongzhou had greatly boosted the confidence of the Three Immortals Sect disciples; many hadn’t even seen the Bodhisattva’s Dharma Body’s abilities before they combined dozens of magical artifacts and reduced the monks to ash.

“Nan Xumí, Xuantian Mountain.”

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

He did not summon a Buddhist treasure—he simply walked barefoot, step by step, up onto the clouds.

Seeing this, the Jinguang Cave cultivator grinned, and without hesitation formed the sword seal. He was among the first to enter the arena, a rare opportunity to be watched by senior elders—he must display the Three Immortals Sect’s prestige.

He struck with lethal intent.

The magic sword beneath him instantly split into countless streaks of light, raining down upon the dark, thin monk.

The swordlight sliced across the monk’s skin but left no mark; the crisp clangs sounded more like the sword itself crying out in pain.

He walked slowly through the river of blades, reaching the Jinguang Cave disciple’s side, and, in the man’s stunned gaze, casually threw a punch.

Golden Body Subduing Demons!

The cultivator was still forming his protective spell when he realized his body had been swallowed by the golden river.

Only when the searing pain jolted him back to awareness did he realize, horrified, that he lay outside the Huangyun, his limbs shattered.

“I humbly seek your guidance.”

The monk casually tossed the broken sword onto the disciple’s body, raised one palm, and gazed silently at the Three Immortals Sect disciples.

Amid the sudden uproar,

the Three Immortals Sect disciples exchanged glances. Beyond the loss of face, they suddenly realized something far more important.

That during their surprise assault on Dongzhou, though they had gained much, they had also been thoroughly exposed by these monks—while on their side, even now… they couldn’t even name the black, thin monk’s Dharma name!

(End of Chapter)