Chapter 962: Master, Servant, Prisoner, Evil Guest

Three joined forces to slay the Demon Flame.

A being who could revive, who over the years had divided the two sects and amassed deep reserves—such an existence, himself wielding the flame of rebirth, now also grasped Su Yu’s paths of life and death.

How many times could this creature resurrect, and whether this time was the last, none could judge.

For Su Yu and the others to rise from extinction and be reborn, they needed abundant life force to sustain their revival. But the Demon Flame’s accumulation was too vast; he had even mastered two eras, and during the sealed age, he must have drained countless life forces.

Thus, how many times he could revive, Su Yu did not know.

Now, the Demon Flame had already died twice, his power nearing forty-six paths. If he died once more, would he directly step into forty-six paths?

Unknown!

So they chose this moment to join hands and slay the Demon Flame.

Among the four mighty ones, not one could be missing.

Without Su Yu and Black Scale, they could not kill the other, and the risk would be immense.

But with three joining forces, the odds grew greater.

At this instant, Su Yu, Cang, and Black Scale each held longswords—three swords spanning heaven and earth, their sword-light blazing through the void, tearing chaos asunder!

The Demon Flame’s eyes were icy cold.

Yet exchanging for Su Yu’s path of life and death was still worthwhile. What irked him was that these wretches now joined against him. Unless Cang was slain, none would have a chance.

These bastards!

Both Su Yu and Black Scale were the type to hedge their bets; in one-on-one combat, neither could match Cang or the Demon Flame.

Now, the Demon Flame fought while retreating, flames scorching the entire void, his voice frigid: “Cang, there’s no need to kill me. Better to slay Su Yu and Black Scale first, then you and I can settle the score!”

Cang said nothing.

That would require a premise—that you could no longer revive!

If you kept resurrecting, fighting you would be nothing but suicide.

Seeing no reply, and the three continuing their siege, his wounds worsening, the Demon Flame’s eyes grew even colder.

Do you think me so easy to kill?

Last time, Cang had recklessly insisted on killing him, proving he could revive and grow stronger—only to save his own skin. But now?

These creatures were all detestable!

Thinking thus, the Demon Flame swiftly retreated, weaving through the void to escape.

The three gave relentless chase, closing in from three sides.

As they pursued, Su Yu and Black Scale both jolted, instantly reversing their flight.

Su Yu had cultivated the path of calamity, and Black Scale was himself the incarnation of calamity. At that moment, both sensed a crisis and realized at once: the Demon Flame was about to self-destruct!

And so it was.

The instant they retreated, the Demon Flame’s eyes turned glacial. If this continued, he would still be encircled and slain. Better to use this incarnation—kill one if he could, or at least gravely wound all three!

“Endless!”

With a low cry, boundless flames erupted from the Demon Flame. The next moment—BOOM!

Chaos shattered!

The entire chaos was blasted apart; all darkness vanished, replaced by fire. Between heaven and earth, a world of flame was born.

A thunderous roar, a colossal force exploded, turning all chaos into an ocean of fire.

Three muffled groans sounded at once.

Though Su Yu and Black Scale had fled first, the self-destruction of a being nearing forty-six paths was still terrifying.

In that instant, Su Yu was swiftly torn apart and burned.

His physical form, now composed of three gates, was not greatly affected—only slightly cracked by the heat—but his will was scorched nearly to extinction.

Not only that: the flames seeped along his world, spreading inward. The Human Emperor and the others roared in fury, yet the fire was too fierce; in a blink, it cracked them open!

The Human Emperor and the Lord of the Dead bellowed, channeling their path power madly. Su Yu’s will also churned, his mind growing turbid. The greater the pain his will endured, the clearer he became.

But when overwhelming external force directly crushed him, even Su Yu could not withstand it.

Within the gates, the last remnants of primal power rushed to mend his will, succeeding just in time. By then, the vast primal power stored in the Human Gate was almost entirely spent.

Only then did Su Yu barely recover. In his hand, Qiong had begun to crack, badly seared by the flames. Su Yu hurriedly helped extinguish the fire.

After a moment, Qiong’s feeble voice came through: “So strong!”

Had its true form not been the Heaven-Opening Sword, it would have shattered completely!

At that moment, not far away, Cang’s figure emerged, the River of Ages book covering him. Yet Cang seemed unwell; the book looked dim, and the River of Ages sword in his hand also appeared lackluster.

That sword was formed from the River of Ages and the myriad realms. Now it seemed tarnished. Su Yu frowned slightly. The myriad realms had been absorbed into the river, now in Cang’s grasp.

This time, battered by the Demon Flame’s fire, the river would not be destroyed, but had the myriad realms suffered greatly?

How many had died?

Su Yu did not know.

But such a violent disturbance might have let the flames invade, perhaps killing many.

After a moment, Black Scale’s figure also emerged, looking somewhat broken, the aura of annihilation seeping out continuously.

All three were badly wounded.

Cang especially—already injured, and now closest to the Demon Flame—wore a grim expression.

At the center of the three, a single spark flickered, swaying gracefully.

Soon, the Demon Flame’s form reappeared.

Now the three observed closely: how many times he had revived, and whether he could resurrect again, could sometimes be discerned. The Demon Flame’s foundation was not Su Yu’s path of life and death; it was the flame itself that let him command life and death.

At this moment, the spark where he stood seemed to have dimmed.

Had the flame’s power of rebirth dissipated?

Unknown!

Su Yu and the others guessed so, but could not be certain.

In that instant, the Demon Flame materialized again, his aura indeed stronger than before. Now, like Cang earlier, he had reached the level of forty-six paths.

And Cang was gravely wounded, while the Demon Flame was at full strength!

The Demon Flame’s eyes were icy as he gazed at the three.

They were only injured, not dead—though he had anticipated this, he was still somewhat disappointed.

They had fled too quickly!

Especially Su Yu and Black Scale, whose sensitivity to deathly crisis was too acute; they escaped instantly. Otherwise, Su Yu and Black Scale, being weaker—Su Yu especially—would have been far more grievously hurt than now!

At this moment, the Flame transformed into human form, a burly man with a flame at the center of his brow.

This was somewhat similar to certain beings of the demon race.

It seemed that the demons after Yanhuo’s generation might indeed carry a trace of his bloodline power.

Of course, at this moment, Su Yu and the others had no interest in knowing whether this fellow had influenced Yanhuo through his flames, or if he truly had an affair with Yanhuo’s mother, cuckolding the first demon emperor.

Who knew?

No one cared about these things.

Everyone was merely heavy-hearted, especially Su Yu, who glanced around with an even graver expression.

The Flame had entered the 46th Path, at its peak!

Cang was also at the 46th Path, but severely wounded.

Blackscale was at the 45th Path, with minor injuries.

He himself was actually only at the 44th Path, and also injured.

Having fought to this point, he, Su Yu, was still the weakest side—a situation that was truly despairing. No matter how he fought, he could see no chance of victory, at least no opportunity for him to turn the tide.

At this moment, the Flame also spoke, looking at Cang with some coldness: “Cang, are you satisfied?”

Cang chuckled lightly: “Satisfied? Flame, you were the one who first allied with them against me. Shouldn’t I be the one asking that question?”

The Flame revived again and again, each time stronger than before.

Cang judged that it should be about enough.

Even if the Flame continued to grow stronger, having died three times in succession by now, his reserves should be exhausted. Each death involved the dissipation and consumption of vast amounts of energy, including vitality.

After three times, even if the Flame could still undergo annihilation and rebirth, without sufficient vitality and energy, he should no longer be able to revive.

At this moment, Blackscale also smiled: “Now that’s fair!”

This way, it was interesting!

Then, Su Yu suddenly spoke: “Blackscale, are you unable to escape? Now that the long river is compressed, if you could flee, you should have left by now. Why haven’t you?”

“Flee?”

Blackscale laughed, his tone ethereal: “You think too simply. If I could leave, why would I stay here? Without the long river shattering, I cannot go!”

Only when the long river broke would he have a chance to depart.

As for how the Lord of Time had managed it, Su Yu did not know. Sealing a powerhouse like Blackscale was no simple matter, and this was not mere suppression. Blackscale could move freely, but he could not stray too far from the long river.

Only the shattering of the long river would suffice!

At this moment, the Flame said no more, merely looking at Blackscale and speaking calmly: “You kill Su Yu, I kill Cang! There is still a basis for cooperation between us, Blackscale. We’ve played enough; it’s time to end this battle!”

Blackscale smiled: “Agreed!”

The Flame glanced at him, nodded slightly, and the next moment, stepped through the void toward Cang!

Whether Blackscale could kill Su Yu, he did not know, but he was in far better shape than Cang, who was heavily wounded!

If he killed Cang, and Blackscale killed Su Yu, then he would devour the River of Time… all those years of waiting would be worth it!

Able to fully devour the river, at this moment, he possessed the power of the 46th Path.

After successful devouring, he should reach the power of the 49th Path.

Becoming the foremost powerhouse in this chaos!

Of course, he did not know the exact strength of the Lord of Time—only that he was very strong—but the Flame had no interest in how strong he was. That one would not return; perhaps dead, perhaps in seclusion, perhaps entangled elsewhere.

That had nothing to do with him!

Countless ages had passed, and that one had never come back.

…

On Su Yu’s side, Blackscale stepped through the void.

Looking at Su Yu, a faint smile appeared on his stern face: “They say the Human Gate is treacherous, that the Human Gate brings annihilation. Su Yu, tell me, are you the Human Gate, or am I?”

Su Yu remained silent.

He gripped his longsword tightly, gazing at Blackscale. Blackscale was stronger than him, but that did not mean there was no way to fight. The gap was one Path, and within Su Yu’s world, the Human Emperor and the Lord of the Dead still supported him, though both were now heavily injured.

Blackscale chuckled: “Su Yu, in truth, Cang and I have been watching you for a long time!”

Blackscale walked toward him step by step, a longsword materializing in his hand. He swung it with a faint smile: “You rose not long ago, and we have been watching you since then!”

“An honor!”

Su Yu’s tone was somewhat mocking as he swung his sword to meet the attack!

Blackscale’s sword was extremely eerie, its strikes ethereal and impossible to track. When the blow came, Su Yu felt no warning at all. At this moment, he experienced what Cang and the others had felt when attacked by Blackscale.

Silent and soundless!

A sword suddenly appeared, and Su Yu hurriedly parried, somewhat flustered.

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out as the two swords clashed. Qiong let out a pained cry, “Damn it!”

Blackscale’s sword dealt him great harm.

The power of annihilation!

Blackscale struck one sword after another, saying calmly: “You have gathered too much fortune from all realms; it was impossible not to watch you! I just never imagined back then that you would come this far!”

Even as he spoke, his sword did not cease!

Blow after blow, Su Yu could not hold his ground, retreating steadily, but he gritted his teeth and continued to counterattack!

In the distance, the Flame and Cang were locked in fierce combat, flames and river power erupting endlessly!

Blackscale’s voice rose again: “That you could grasp some power of calamity was the key reason I watched you!”

“The power of calamity is mine alone! Do you know why you could wield it?”

Su Yu’s voice came: “No. Did you arrange it?”

“Not at all!”

Blackscale denied it, with an air of nonchalance: “I had no need to arrange anything, nor did I wish to. For countless years, the only thing I have done is… leave this place! To you, the myriad realms are home, a nation, a place to live… but to me, they are merely a cage! Why would I arrange anything within a cage?”

He had arranged nothing, nor did he need to.

He merely waited for some ambitious fools to bring about annihilation!

As for the Locust of Devouring, that was only to target the spirit of the long river, to weaken it so that he could break free and escape—that was the key to the Locust’s annihilation.

“Back then, that fellow wanted to use the Human Gate where you now stand to convert me, to make me the spirit of this long river, to command it and go join him…”

Blackscale suddenly stopped speaking of the power of calamity and began to speak of the Lord of Time.

Su Yu swiftly dodged, evading the thrust of a black sword.

“Then why did you refuse?”

If Blackscale had been willing, now converted and in control of the long river, he would likely have already reached the 49th Path, for this world was opened for him!

"Ridiculous!"

Black Scale said coldly, "If I refine you into my sword, let you grow strong within it, let you master my blade, and then have you wield the sword to come find me and serve me—would you be willing?"

Su Yu was silent. Probably... unwilling?

He would surely resist!

Even if it meant becoming stronger, he would most likely rebel.

Was this Black Scale's intention?

But the Lord of Time couldn't have failed to foresee this. Su Yu suddenly said, "The Lord of Time used the Way of Seven Emotions and Six Desires to convert you, which means you originally had little will or thought—perhaps even cold and desireless, right?"

"Correct!"

Black Scale said calmly, "So he succeeded halfway and failed halfway. After all, I was converted for many years, and the Way of Seven Emotions and Six Desires did have an effect on me, giving me some thoughts of my own... But he forgot—when I began to have my own ideas, would I still follow his will and continue to accept his conversion?"

Su Yu didn't know why Black Scale was telling him all this.

Because it seemed unnecessary to reveal these things.

Clearly, Black Scale meant that he originally shouldn't have thought of escaping, but later, the idea of escape arose. During that time, something must have changed.

As Su Yu pondered, Black Scale suddenly chuckled darkly, "For all this, I must thank Cang! According to that fellow's plan back then, once I developed some emotions of my own, I would naturally take over the River Book, become the River's Spirit, and thus completely merge with the River of Time... But guess what happened?"

Did he even need to guess?

Su Yu also smiled: "When you took over, the River Book already had a spirit!"

"Exactly!"

Black Scale laughed too, his voice echoing: "The moment I automatically merged into the River Book... I was actually rejected! I only fused with a small part; someone else was controlling the vast majority!"

That someone was Cang!

It was precisely because Cang rejected Black Scale that Black Scale gained the opportunity, the idea, to escape this prison. Otherwise, at that time, he would have directly merged into the River Book, become the River's Spirit, and never conceived the thought of fleeing. He would have continued to accept conversion, grow stronger, and once he fully mastered the River, he would have ridden it, transformed into a new Sky Sword, and gone to find the Lord of Time.

"I should truly thank Cang!"

Black Scale said with a faint smile, "If not for him, I would have been nothing but that fellow's puppet, always obeying his orders. If he wanted me to become the River's Spirit, I would become the River's Spirit—without ever having my own thoughts, without ever seeking freedom!"

Buzz!

The black sword suddenly appeared beside Su Yu's ear, and with a *pfft*, it pierced through his ear. At this moment, even the flesh formed by the Three Gates couldn't block it; a force of calamity swept in!

Blood streamed from Su Yu's ear as he swung his sword to parry!

What did all this have to do with him?

Su Yu didn't really want to hear it, because it seemed meaningless.

"It does have to do with you!"

Black Scale seemed to know Su Yu's thoughts and struck again with his sword, saying calmly, "Didn't I mention earlier that you have mastered the power of calamity that belongs exclusively to me? This is the reason!"

Su Yu didn't understand. Was there a connection?

"Still don't get it?"

Black Scale laughed, "You are an existence born to face calamity! And you are actually one of the back-ups left by that fellow... In other words, although that fellow didn't think I could escape, he still made some preparations. If I truly escaped or chose to escape... then a thread of the Way of Calamity would be born in the myriad realms. Who would inherit it is unknown, but only calamity can kill calamity!"

Su Yu's heart stirred.

Black Scale continued, "I... am immortal and indestructible!"

Black Scale suddenly said this again, "The only one who can kill me is myself—only my own Way. So, the only one who can kill me now... is you!"

Su Yu's mind trembled slightly as Black Scale's sword slashed through his clothes. He couldn't help but ask, "Why are you telling me this?"

Why say it?

If he hadn't spoken, Su Yu wouldn't have known.

Black Scale didn't explain, but went on, "I cannot be killed... Of course, 'cannot be killed' doesn't mean Cang and the others have no way to deal with me. If they kill me now, 'cannot be killed' only means I will be reborn in the myriad realms again—just like before, losing my emotions, becoming the old me again, and continuing to accept conversion... This cycle repeats until one day I am fully converted!"

At this point, he said, "I'm telling you this just to say—if I am to die, let it be by your hand!"

Black Scale's tone carried a hint of mockery, whether directed at Su Yu or the Lord of Time, "If you kill me, I will be utterly annihilated and never reborn. If I cannot escape the myriad realms... then let you kill me! To be reborn again and again, returning to my former self—that is not what I want! That fellow never considered whether the spirit of destruction, once it had emotions, would still be willing to continue accepting his conversion!"

Only if Su Yu killed him would he truly die.

Otherwise, if others killed him, he would be reborn endlessly in the myriad realms, returning to his original form, and again accept the conversion of the River of Time until he was fully converted!

Such infinite reincarnation was not the result Black Scale wanted.

Bang!

At this moment, Su Yu finally struck him with his sword, carrying the power of calamity. Indeed, this blow left a wound on Black Scale's body—a deep wound, from which blood even seemed to trickle!

Black Scale felt it and suddenly laughed, "So this is the feeling of pain? Very interesting! You should know that before, whether I was injured or not, the injury was just an injury—there was no pain. But now, I actually feel pain!"

Su Yu said nothing, focusing solely on the fight!

In the distance, the battle grew fiercer!

Cang and Flame Demon were now locked in a deadly struggle. A sword of fire clashed with a sword of the sky, and with a thunderous boom, Cang seemed to be wounded again.

He couldn't match Flame Demon!

Flame Demon was the strongest at this moment!

Su Yu's expression shifted uncertainly. He was now entangled by Black Scale and couldn't get over there. This meant that even if Flame Demon killed Cang, Su Yu would have no chance to gain any advantage or compete with Flame Demon for the myriad realms and the River. By then, Flame Demon would devour the myriad realms, the realms would be destroyed, and after growing stronger, Flame Demon would come to kill him—far too easily!

In this battle, the victor seemed destined to be Flame Demon!

At that moment, Black Scale struck Su Yu back with his sword and said calmly, "You're distracted while fighting me, Su Yu. Sometimes, you are still very naive and young. Your so-called sophistication is nothing but a disguise!"

Su Yu's face darkened, but he said nothing.

Now, however, Black Scale stopped attacking and looked into the distance, saying softly, "Flame Demon!"

Flame Demon, on the verge of victory, heard Black Scale's voice and boomed back, "Black Scale, you don't want to fight anymore? No matter—just keep Su Yu blocked, and everything else is fine!"

All he needed was for these two not to interfere!

One-on-one, he would surely win!

"Flame Demon!"

Black Scale said softly, "Cang and I are not of the same origin, yet we are of the same origin! Cang controls seventy percent of the River Book, and I control thirty percent. If you kill Cang, you can only devour seventy percent of the River's power. You must separate the other thirty percent and let me go!"

It was very difficult for him to leave!

Moreover, Flame Demon couldn't devour the entire River completely!

"Fine!"

Flame Demon agreed readily!

But Black Scale sighed and murmured, "Humans and beasts alike are greedy. Flame Demon, I actually... hoped you would agree. But why are you so greedy?"

In the distance, Flame Demon, who was suppressing Cang, couldn't help but curse, "I said I agreed! What more do you want?"

"You agreed too readily!"

Demon Flame roared angrily: "If I had hesitated, would you have said the same? Black Scale, if I devour seventy percent of the River's power, I might already step into the 49th Dao; devouring more would be useless! I have no need to deceive you!"

Was this Black Scale fellow about to cause trouble?

"Black Scale, your only chance at freedom—only I can give it to you!"

"The River is eternal; you cannot leave!"

Demon Flame bellowed a few more times!

Do you understand?

Don't stir up any trouble now!

At that moment, Cang's muffled groan came: "Black Scale, do you think he will give up that thirty percent of the River's power? He has waited so many years—will he abandon it? When the time comes, he'll devour you too! And Su Yu, you as well—if he wins... you are doomed!"

Black Scale's face was complex, and he said softly: "But if you win, what then? Isn't it the same as now... no, if you win, you will drive me out, annihilate me, and make me reborn as that emotionless, desireless spirit, becoming your puppet..."

He, in truth, had the least choice of all!

If Cang won, at this moment Cang had enough time, enough opportunity, to slowly expel his control over the River and annihilate him!

To turn him into that emotionless, desireless spirit!

If Demon Flame won, he might not spare him either.

Su Yu's eyes flickered; just as he was about to speak, Black Scale said flatly: "Shut up, Su Yu. You're no good either. Even if you win in the end, you won't let me go. It's just a pity... I don't seem able to win!"

Su Yu was a bit embarrassed: "No, I'll find a way..."

"You?"

Black Scale laughed, with some mockery, some self-mockery: "First, say that when you can surpass that one!"

"I can try!"

Su Yu put on a determined look, but Black Scale continued with a mocking smile.

He looked over there, then back at Su Yu, and regained his calm: "I've said much to you, only to say this: if in the end, the winner is not me... will you kill me?"

Su Yu's expression shifted slightly.

Kill you!

Black Scale—was he saying he didn't want to be reborn again as that emotionless, desireless spirit?

This fellow, though claiming not to be converted, had indeed been influenced by the Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires!

And Black Scale, again looking at Su Yu, said: "You don't need to join the battle. If you go, you'll come to no good end—you're too weak..."

Then, with a hint of amusement, he said: "Su Yu, tell me, can time really flow backward?"

Su Yu looked at him and said nothing.

Could it?

No, it couldn't!

The past and future in the River of Time, the different speeds of time—in Su Yu's view, they were merely sensory differences caused by the Dao, also related to the density of energy. Time was singular!

Black Scale continued: "Do you know why you can incarnate as a Gate? Do you know the difference between you and Demon Flame? You can easily merge with the Human Gate—why can't Demon Flame? If he could, he would have long sent a clone to merge!"

Black Scale laughed: "Because... you are the Calamity!"

Su Yu's face changed, and he said gravely: "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?"

Black Scale laughed: "I said, because you are the Calamity! Born to meet the calamity, born for me. You can wield the Human Gate because it is the Gate to convert me—naturally you can wield it! Even if you don't cultivate the Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires, you can still wield it! Your Dao transforms into a Gate; your Gate is different from Demon Flame's! Demon Flame's Gate is only to isolate part of the River, to corrupt part of it. But the Gate born from you is fundamentally meant to deal with me—because the entire River was actually born for me!"

This River existed to deal with him!

"You are my calamity... and the calamity of all realms..."

Black Scale said flatly: "Your Gate is not meant to isolate the River, but to seal the entire myriad realms! To prevent me from escaping, to prevent me from leaving, to continue converting me—this is the key point of your birth as the Calamity, giving birth to the Gate!"

"So, I was born to kill you? Or convert you?"

Su Yu said, somewhat helpless.

Black Scale said calmly: "Though your thoughts may not be so, in truth, it is precisely for this reason that you grew powerful so quickly—because the myriad realms had to give birth to one who could deal with me!"

Having said this, Black Scale said calmly: "Su Yu, do you know what your only way to victory is?"

Su Yu looked at him—did you know?

"You, the myriad realms, the River, born as the Calamity, the Gate, the seal, heaven and earth..."

Black Scale laughed: "Think for yourself! When you sort it out and see it clearly, you will have a chance to win! You must understand—the master of this myriad realm is not the outsider Demon Flame, not Cang, not me, but you..."

"If that one is the father who opened the River, then you, born from the myriad realms, are the children of the River, all children of the River. The one you call the Lord of Time is, in a sense, your father—the father of humanity!"

"And Cang and the like are merely servants!"

"Demon Flame is an unwelcome guest!"

"I am a prisoner!"

Black Scale's voice grew stranger, more mocking: "On your own turf, can you let servants and unwelcome guests take the lead? As for me, this prisoner—I am the prisoner of the Lord of Time. He can let the beings born from the myriad realms kill me—how could he let these guests and servants kill me?"

Sentence after sentence echoed forth, and Black Scale's figure had already vanished. The next moment, he appeared beside Cang!

Su Yu watched silently, lost in thought.

Black Scale had told him much.

But he hadn't spelled it out. Though countless thoughts churned in Su Yu's mind, he still had no complete picture. What was Black Scale really thinking?

At this moment, Demon Flame grew wary and shouted: "Black Scale!"

Black Scale said calmly: "I'm just watching. Demon Flame, after you kill Cang, I hope you'll keep your promise!"

"Of course!"

Demon Flame punched Cang, making him burst into flames, but inwardly he cursed—this Black Scale fellow had to come over; he'd better not cause any trouble!

And Cang, now looking pitiful, his wounds growing heavier, shouted with some unwillingness: "Black Scale, Su Yu, if he kills me, you'll both come to no good end. Joining forces to kill him is the only way out!"

Why were these fools so stupid?

Did they really think Demon Flame would have a change of heart and let them go?

Damn it!

Cang was furious—was no one clear-headed?