Clang!
A full six hours later, a sword hum rang out, cold and clear as an empty valley.
Su Yi gripped his spiritual sword and held it up to his eyes for a closer look.
The sword was three feet, two inches long and three fingers across. The blade was clear and dark as ink, and the edge was as fine as a cicada’s wing. It glinted with dark luster.
As Su Yi called upon his cultivation, the subtle and complex pattern of an Edict appeared on the sword as dark and mysterious as the night sky. The complex glyph looked like layer upon layer of rippling waves of stars revolving around a deep and serene black hole.
The Spirit-Devouring Edict!
This was an Edict that originated from the Demonic Path. It was recorded on the “Stele of Self-Severing”, an inheritance of one of the Wilds’ Three Great Demonic Sects, “the Demons’ Elysium.”
The Stele of Self-Severing was the Demons’ Elysium’s sect-protecting treasure. It recorded nine Edicts in total, and it was the work of the sect’s founder, the Heavensdeath Demon Emperor.
In his past life, Su Yi once stepped into the Demons’ Elysium, sword in hand. Then, as the top experts of the demonic path watched in fury they dared not give voice, he silently committed the nine Edicts carved on the Stele of Self-Severing to memory.
However, the Spirit-Devouring Edict he’d placed upon the sword embryo had many deletions and simplifications. It only preserved the Edict’s most fundamental applications.
Its effects were less than one ten-thousandth of the complete Spirit-Devouring Edict.
There was nothing for it; he was limited by his first-level Grandmaster cultivation. He could only settle and refine a coarse, lesser version of the original.
If he wanted to carve an intact Spirit-Devouring Edict, he’d have to be in the Spirit Dao at the very least.
“This sword’s power is already no different from that of a true spiritual weapon. It’s enough for me to display the full extent of my power as a first-level Grandmaster.” After examining it for a while, Su Yi nodded to himself. “It’s made of Abstruse God Wood, so for now, I’ll just call it the Abstruse God Sword.”
Su Yi put the sword away, turned, and left the workshop.
…..
He’d only just returned to his residence when he saw Ning Sihua, Shen Jiusong, and Chen Zheng waiting for him outside.
“Young Lord Su, I’m afraid something bad has happened.” Chen Zheng hurriedly stepped forth and explained the contents of the Firedome King’s letter in detail.
When Su Yi heard this, he arched his brow and glanced at Ning Sihua. “Is the Su Family’s power sufficient to threaten Heaven’s Origin Academy?”
Ning Sihua knew what Su Yi was worried about. She said, “They might cause a little chaos, but with Grand Elder Shang around, Miss Lingxue and Miss Cha Jin will be perfectly safe.”
Su Yi’s tightly knit brow instantly relaxed. “Then there’s no problem.”
When the curtains closed on the Western Mountain’s Tea Party, he’d already guessed that the Su Family wouldn’t just let Deacon Yue Changyuan’s death go.
Afterward, the Jade Mountain Marquis, Pei Wenshan, came calling at the House of Waveswept Rocks. This was clear proof of the Su Family’s attitude.
As was Su Hongli’s vicious declaration that he’d give Su Yi a chance to lower his head and repent, but that his deadline was the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
And Su Yi’s response was that he’d proceed to the Jade Capital, visit the Su Family, and gather offerings. Then, on the fifth day of the fifth, he’d go sweep his mother’s tomb.
There was no doubt about it: his response had provoked the Su Family, resulting in them taking direct action against him.
The Firedome King’s letter was the most direct proof of this.
“Fellow Daoist, we cannot afford to take this matter lightly. I suspect that the Su Family has already started acting against those connected to you.” Ning Sihua’s delicate eyebrows knit together as she warned him. “If that’s the case, it’ll be troublesome indeed.”
Su Yi’s gaze was cold. “They dare not come looking for me, yet they dare act against the innocent? If the Jade Capital’s Su Family really sinks so low, they’ll only disgrace Su Hongli.”
He paused, then continued, “And of course, if they do so, they’ll pay the corresponding price.”
His tone was calm and casual, but all of them could hear the icy killing intent hidden in his words.
Without any further delays, Su Yi and company boarded the Bluescale Eagle and set off, leaving the Greenplate Army’s encampment behind.
This time, the Spiritmartial Marquis, Chen Zheng, left with them. 𝒷𝓭ℴ𝓋𝓵.𝒸ℴ𝓶
Su Yi had agreed to teach him a soul technique and instruct him on how best to refine the soul power entity sealed in his sea of consciousness. He naturally wouldn’t go back on his word.
……
The Imperatorial Provincial Capital.
The light of the setting sun bathed the rows of densely clustered buildings. The streets were packed with human traffic, the picture of prosperity.
The House of Waveswept Rocks.
When the Bluescale Eagle carrying Su Yi and company landed, they saw a young man seated cross-legged beside the pond, leisurely fishing.
He wore elaborate robes embroidered with cloud patterns and a tall crown. His face was handsome, but as he looked around, his gaze was unbridled and wild.
When he saw Su Yi and company, he laughed, stretched, and grinned. “Third Young Master, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting.”
Shen Jiusong’s pupils constricted slightly. “Heavenbrave Marquis, what are you doing here?”
The Heavenbrave Marquis, Yue Qing!
He was one of the five non-Zhou marquis to emerge from the Su Family. Of the eighteen who shared his rank, he was the odd man out.
He was peevish, domineering, and overbearing by nature, making him difficult to deal with. He’d never submitted to anyone except Su Hongli, and only Su Hongli could order him around.
But none of this could overshadow his shocking talent. He was young, but he was already a peak fourth-level Grandmaster, and he had a reputation as a rising star amongst the marquis. His “Deboning Saber Art” was famous throughout the empire.
Yue Qing glanced at Shen Jiusong out of the corner of his eye, then warned him with a laugh. “Don’t interrupt. I’m talking to our third young master.”
Shen Jiusong’s brow furrowed, but Su Yi just said calmly, “Who let you in?”
Yue Qing slipped a deed out of his sleeves, then unfurled it in mid-air. He pointed to the name stamped on top and laughed. “Third Young?Master, two nights ago, I purchased the House of Waveswept Rocks. This is the deed. Want to take a look?”
His posture was showy, as if he were saying, “See? I was prepared for this, and everything is happening according to plan.”
Ning Sihua, Shen Jiusong, and Chen Zheng glanced at each other. All of them realized that he’d come here with ill intentions!
Su Yi’s expression remained as calm as ever. “I already paid a year’s rent to the House of Waveswept Rock’s owner….”
Before he could finish, Yue Qing laughed and cut him off. “Third Young Master, are you talking about Chen Jinlong?”
He then clapped. “To me! Bring Chen Jinlong over.”
Two capable-looking men emerged from the pavilion and dragged Chen Jinlong all the way to the side of the pond.
Thud!
They tossed Chen Jinlong to the ground.
His hair was disheveled and unkempt, and he was curled up in the fetal position, terror, panic, and uncertainty written all over his face as he said in a quavering voice, “Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! You said that so long as I sold you the deed, you wouldn’t take my life.”
“Calm down.” Yue Qing crouched, grinned, then reached out and raised Chen Jinlong’s jaw. “I just want to ask you something: who owns the House of Waveswept Rocks?”
“You, Your Excellency!” stammered Chen Jinlong.
Yue Qing asked lightly, “Then allow me to ask you again. If someone else rented this residence earlier, do I have the right to rescind their tenancy now?”
“Of course!” shrieked Chen Jinlong.
Yue Qing smiled and stood, then looked at Su Yi. “Third Young Master, you heard him too. You might have rented this residence, but I am well within my rights to rescind your tenancy.”
He paused to think, then took out a handful of gold and flung it in the dirt. “How about this? I’ll compensate you for a year’s rent.”
He flashed Su Yi a radiant smile. “Third Young Master, this gold should be more than enough to compensate you for your lost rent money, right?”
Both his words and behavior were domineering and aggressive to the extreme.
It was then that Chen Jinlong noticed Su Yi for the first time. First, he was stunned. Then, he wailed, seemingly on the verge of a mental breakdown, “Brother Su, I was forced into this! They said they’d kill me if I refused!”
“It’s not good to force people like this,” said Su Yi, looking at Yue Qing. His tone was calm. “I truly cannot imagine why a marquis, the master of his own territory, would do something so debased. Do you think this is funny?”
Yue Qing rubbed his nose and said in exasperation, “There’s nothing for it. I wanted to meet with you as soon as possible, so I had no choice but to wait for you in the House of Waveswept Rocks. If I did so without first buying the place, wouldn’t that make me guilty of trespassing?”
Shen Jiusong was so angry that he couldn’t help but laugh. “Heavenbrave Marquis, do you really think you’re in the right here?”
Yue Qing smiled too, then said with complete confidence, “Cloudlight Marquis, this residence now belongs to me, and you’ve barged in without my permission. Did I fault you for that?”
He then fixed his gaze back on Su Yi and laughed, “Third Young Master, I imagine you’ve already guessed why I’m here. Let’s put it like this: the family head thinks you’re still young and that you don’t know the height of the heavens or the depths of the earth. He thinks you need someone to beat some sense into you and open your eyes.”
“And you think you’re enough to do that?” asked Su Yi.
Yue Qing laughed and shook his head. “Of course not. Third Young Master, you might not know this yet, but your friends and relatives have already turned their backs on you. There’s no longer anyone left for you to rely on.”
He paused, his gaze mocking. “But that doesn’t matter. Tomorrow at dawn, all you have to do is visit the seat of the provincial government. Then, you’ll naturally understand just how dire your current situation is. Perhaps that’s the only way to jolt you to your senses and teach you how big the world really is.”
Yue Qing then raised the deed to the residence and ripped it apart. “This residence is no longer of any value to me, so I’ll give it to you as a gift. Of course, if you so please, you’re still welcome to collect the gold off the ground.”
He then strode off, leading his two subordinates and laughing boisterously with every step.
“Stop!” bellowed Chen Zheng. “We haven’t finished talking, and you’re already leaving?”
“Aiyo~!” said Yue Qing, feigning surprise. “What? Spiritmartial Marquis, don’t tell me you plan to fight me?”
His exaggerated, terrified gaze swept across Su Yi, Ning Sihua, and Shen Jiusong. “Don’t try anything funny. I’m just a humble little messenger boy. If anything happens to me, a few people connected to the third young master might be in trouble!”
Having said this, he couldn’t help but burst into mocking laughter. He clutched his gut and threw back his head.
That eccentric, domineering impudence was irritating to the extreme; just watching, Ning Sihua felt the urge to kill him.
She’d never seen anyone so detestable before. He was just too much!
Only Su Yi remained just as calm as before. He said casually, “Let him leave. Tomorrow morning at dawn, when we visit the seat of the provincial government, I guarantee I’ll have him obediently re-enact everything he just did.”
“Haha, is that so? Then I’m really looking forward to seeing just how you plan to teach me obedience.” Yue Qing threw back his head and laughed, then waved. “I’m leaving. No need to see me off.”
As he spoke, he was already striding off into the distance.