Chapter 900: Arrogant Wherever He Goes

Mount Evernight.

The sacred ground.

Abundant with primal energy, dense with the power of laws, it appeared small from afar, but once Su Yu truly entered, he discovered a hidden paradise, like a celestial realm.

The entire Mount Evernight consisted of nine towering, colossal peaks.

Eight were slightly lower, encircling the tallest mountain at the center—that was Mount Evernight itself, the dojo of the Law. The other eight belonged to the eight Pulse Masters, though now two of them were missing.

Wind, rain, thunder, lightning; yin, yang, life, death.

Eight Pulse Masters!

Mount Evernight had once been one of the top forbidden lands. The Life Dao that Su Yu had absorbed earlier actually came from the Life Pulse Master, gifted to him by King Wen, but over the years, it had been heavily depleted.

Of the eight Pulse Masters, two had died—the Life Pulse Master and the Yang Pulse Master, both slain by King Wen.

Now, six Pulse Masters still lived.

Of the eight great mountains, six radiated light, while two were shrouded in deathly stillness. The eight Pulse Masters were matched only by the eight halls of Mount Skyvault among the forbidden lands.

On the mountains, there were many powerful beings.

Each great mountain was a kingdom in itself.

Each mountain was immense, teeming with countless living beings—such were the forbidden lands.

Four Pulse Masters now accompanied Su Yu as they entered.

Su Yu assessed them: all were formidable.

Wind, rain, thunder, lightning—none had fewer than twenty-six Dao threads.

Almost all were between twenty-six and twenty-seven Dao threads. Clearly, over the years, these individuals had gained something from their battles with King Wen and the others. Though two had died, the rest had made some progress.

Seeing Su Yu glance around curiously, among the wind, rain, thunder, and lightning—two men and two women—the Rain and Lightning masters were both female, while the remaining two were male.

At that moment, the woman as gentle as rainwater smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist, are your injuries serious? Would you like me to treat you?”

Su Yu had just stepped into the twenty-fifth Dao thread, which in this era was considered a top-tier existence.

Though slightly weaker than them, he was still on the same level.

The Pulse Masters were somewhat curious about Su Yu.

Was he connected to the Law Master?

Otherwise, why would the Law Master allow him entry without specifying what to do next? For a moment, the Pulse Masters were puzzled about how to handle this person.

Su Yu smiled and nodded. “If Rain Pulse Master doesn’t mind, I’d trouble you to heal me a little…”

“Do you know me, Fellow Daoist?”

Su Yu chuckled. “You, my lady, are as gentle as water and skilled in healing—who else could you be but the Rain Pulse Master?”

The Rain Pulse Master smiled, her laughter even softer. “May I ask your name, Fellow Daoist?”

“Sun and Moon!”

Su Yu smiled, a hint of meaning in his tone. “The sun and moon hanging high—a beautiful sight across the myriad realms. A pity my own sect lacks it, for it belongs only to an age of ruin!”

Sun and Moon!

The four of them savored the name. Such titles were common enough, but few notable figures bore them.

Hearing the Sun and Moon speak with such implication, they did not press further.

Still, the Rain Pulse Master laughed. “Fellow Daoist Sun and Moon, allow me to treat your wounds first…”

“Much obliged!”

The Rain Pulse Master said nothing more. A surge of water energy spread out, enveloping Su Yu. That power seeped into his flesh bit by bit, and then the Rain Pulse Master’s heart stirred.

His flesh was very strong!

He excelled in the Dao of the Physical Body.

As the energy spread further, a force of suppression erupted, blocking her power. The Rain Pulse Master paid it no mind, making another judgment inwardly: he was skilled in the Dao of Suppression.

His aura had been well concealed before; he likely also excelled in the Dao of Concealment.

A formidable fellow!

Of course, they were even more curious about the door behind him that had blocked King Wen’s strike earlier.

Was it a Dao technique? A treasure? Or something else?

As the Rain Pulse Master probed swiftly, Su Yu said lightly, “If you wish to know something, Fellow Daoist, you can investigate slowly later. For now, please heal me a little—what do you say?”

The Rain Pulse Master was slightly startled—not because he had seen through her, but because he had spoken it aloud.

Now, this man was bold, shedding his earlier humility.

Before entering, he had been very deferential.

But after entering, he had grown somewhat arrogant.

This shift in attitude… for a moment, the four could not discern its meaning.

The Rain Pulse Master quickly healed his injuries and smiled. “Your wounds are not serious. That move of yours earlier was truly remarkable—to block that thief Wen’s strike!”

Su Yu smiled. “It was nothing—just borrowing external power.”

With that, Su Yu looked around and said, “Could you arrange a place for me to rest a while? And then… trouble you to ask the Law Master if he can spare time to see me?”

He added cheerfully, “The busy have many affairs; the Law Master sits high above, likely with little time. Of course, I won’t waste too much of his time. But I do have important matters to report.”

The four frowned slightly.

The words themselves were innocuous, but they carried an indescribable hint of mockery.

Mocking the Law Master!

Was he mad?

“The busy have many affairs; sits high above…”

There was even a trace of resentment in the words.

The four were all powerful beings and ancient relics; they could naturally sense this, but they remained expressionless. It was best not to meddle—there might be some hidden reason.

No one suddenly changed expression or rebuked him…

They didn’t know the full situation, so to turn hostile rashly—what if there was more to it?

At that moment, the man as refined as the wind, with a full smile and soft voice, said, “Fellow Daoist Sun and Moon, don’t be anxious. The Law Master has indeed been busy lately. The Forbidden Land Assembly is about to begin, and that thief Wen keeps causing trouble. We will report to the Law Master soon!”

Then he smiled and said, “Rain, accompany Fellow Daoist Sun and Moon to look around, find a place to settle him—the Guest Pavilion. We’ll go report to the Law Master!”

“Alright!”

“Fellow Daoist Sun and Moon, forgive our neglect. After we report to the Law Master, we’ll return…”

“You’re too kind!”

Su Yu smiled slightly, harboring little resentment toward these few men.

The others grew perplexed; was this newcomer deliberately causing trouble for the Lord of Law?

Not quite, though it certainly felt like a lingering grievance.

……

Soon, the company departed.

Atop the central peak, a grand palace floated between heaven and earth, towering high in the clouds.

When the three pulse lords entered, others had already gathered.

Of the six pulse lords, only Yin and Death had refrained from showing their faces, while everyone else was present.

As the trio stepped through the doors, the Lord of Wind bowed and reported, "Lord of Law, that man calls himself Ri Yue. He cultivates the three paths of the physical body, imprisonment, and breath containment, possessing the power of twenty-five paths. The gate that appeared earlier was merely a borrowing of force, by his own account... He says he wishes to meet you, Lord of Law!"

The Lord of Law nodded slightly, reflecting for a moment before replying indifferently, "Understood."

The three pulse lords remained bewildered.

At that moment, the Lord of the Death Pulse spoke in a voice devoid of life, "Lord of Law, this person..."

The Lord of Law fell silent for a span, then spoke slowly, "Perhaps he is an opportunity... and perhaps he is not. We shall wait a day. I will grant him an audience tomorrow."

"As you command!"

The assembly dared not press further, though they had vaguely guessed at something; after all, having spent countless years upon the Mountain of Eternity, how could they remain entirely ignorant?

Down below, the three pulse lords had also faintly deduced a hidden truth.

The gate!

That was the critical piece of information.

Once the crowd had withdrawn, a figure manifested in the eyes of the Lord of Law—it was Su Yu.

He sank into deep contemplation.

Has he come alone?

What kind of news will he bring me, and what kind of outcome?

As for the man's resentment, he cared little for it; perhaps it was an attempt to give him a warning?

A pity... none of you possess the qualifications yet.

The one who truly has the right to discipline me has not fully awakened.

And while he stood in silence, a dark shadow suddenly emerged behind him, materializing with a faint smirk. "Lord of Law, do you require assistance?"

"Assistance?"

The Lord of Law said coldly, "What assistance could you possibly offer?"

"To let these people realize that you, Lord of Law, are their sole reliance... while they, conversely, may not be yours."

The Lord of Law replied frostily, "Does this require your interference? Since when do my affairs concern you?"

"I dare not presume,"

The shadow chuckled, its tone laced with amusement. "However, I observe that this man harbors resentment. Though such a person is not strong, and you are infinitely more powerful than he, people of his sort remain over there. Once he returns, a few casual words claiming you lack respect, a bit of provocation... that is what proves most troublesome."

"Sometimes, great endeavors are ruined by precisely these petty individuals."

The shadow smiled, and the Lord of Law smiled as well. "And what of you?"

"Please do not misunderstand, Lord of Law. I have never spoken ill of you. My objective remains to have you join us as true comrades as soon as possible..."

The Lord of Law spoke detachedly, "It is far too early to speak of such things. A single King of Wen, and for all these years, your kind has remained powerless to eliminate him! Allowing him to constantly pin me down—is it because you cannot resolve the matter, or because you choose not to?"

"You misunderstand, Lord of Law. Our strength simply falls short of our desires... This place, after all, is not our home ground."

The Lord of Law gave a cold snort, offering no further remark, and closed his eyes in silence.

His inability to devour the Master of Time was not solely due to the constraints imposed by the King of Wen.

The King of Wen had indeed restrained him, yet there were others secretly fanning the flames from the shadows, ensuring that no one else was willing to take action, even going so far as to spread certain rumors. Otherwise, how could the King of Wen and the King of Wu have lived so freely here for so long?

Someone simply required them to keep him in check.

For they knew that if he devoured the Master of Time, it might alter the balance of power, and they were using this to force him to choose a side.

He understood everything clearly in his heart.

Yet certain decisions were not easily made; of course, the upcoming Council of the Forbidden Grounds might well bring about the final resolution.

Behind him, seeing that he had fallen silent, the shadow cared little and murmured softly, "In the early stages, preparations were insufficient, and time was short... Now, if you are willing, Lord of Law, this Council of the Forbidden Grounds can help you eliminate Wen and Wu once and for all."

"We shall see."

The Lord of Law gave a noncommittal response.

The shadow pressed no further, quietly retreating until it vanished without a trace.

Once the shadow had disappeared, the Lord of Law abruptly opened his eyes, a glint of chill reflecting within them.

Very well.

Ri Yue had arrived at the perfect moment; both factions sought to win him over, which meant both would have to show true sincerity. Having been dragged along for so many years, trapped in this place, a conclusion should soon be reached.

One must compare options before choosing.

Though he had always relied upon that particular existence, still... if that entity remained incapable of resolving his immediate troubles, he would have no choice but to opt for the path most beneficial to himself.

"Ri Yue..."

He murmured the name; twenty-five paths was not weak. Did this arrival signify a threat, or the delivery of a practical solution to his predicament?

That existence had, after all, opened a world. Though not yet fully awakened, perhaps... some measure of support could be provided.

……

On this day, Yu did not take Su Yu running about, choosing only to guide him through a few less significant regions.

Night fell.

Su Yu took residence within a small pavilion.

He sat in meditation with closed eyes, then suddenly snapped them open. In the next instant, a figure manifested. Su Yu’s expression remained unchanged as he said coldly, "You have come."

"Envoy, summoning me at this hour... I worry..."

The newcomer appeared fraught with anxiety, to which Su Yu responded with ice in his voice, "What is there to fear? What if Martial Uncle Law is watching? He has roamed free outside for so many years, he has likely forgotten who granted him everything he has today."

"Envoy, this..."

Su Yu gave a cold scoff. "True, he has accomplished many things over the years, but has he forgotten who helped draw the Master of Time to him? Who helped him open half a world? Who has constantly devised ways to make him strong? And what of him? What has he given in return? Especially these past few years—has he entangled himself with the people of the Human Gate and forgotten who his true benefactor is?"

"Mind your words, Envoy!"

The newcomer was consumed by terror; this was, after all, the Mountain of Eternity.

Su Yu stood up, abandoning his previous low profile, his demeanor replaced by absolute fury. "I was nearly killed! He watched with open eyes, yet he failed to come to my rescue at the first opportunity! What does he intend? To see me dead?"

"A misunderstanding..."

"Silence!"

Su Yu looked at the person before him and said in a low voice, "Or... over these years, have you also forgotten who granted you all of this? Do you think that without him, we would be nothing? Have you forgotten how you left this world in the end? Do you believe he can do it? Can he stand against other strong ones? Without the Master... he is nothing!"

"Envoy, you must not... must not speak thus. This is the Eternal Mountain, and today is merely a misunderstanding. We have never forgotten our mission!"

Su Yu snorted coldly, "I hope so! He has become the master of the forbidden land, powerful beyond measure, beyond provocation! As for what happened back then... forget it. Back then, we were supposed to fully support one person to become the master of the forbidden land, but it wasn't him. Everyone gave up the chance and gave it to him. And what was the result?"

Su Yu was somewhat irate, "The result was that I nearly died at the gates of his forbidden land! I came full of hope, full of anticipation, even yearning for him to grow stronger, to devour the Time Master and become the fourth supreme within this sect!"

"And what happened... I nearly died!"

The newcomer now understood the source of the Sun and Moon's anger—it was still about the matter of the Literary King.

"The Literary Thief appeared suddenly; no one anticipated it..."

"Shut up! Have you defected?"

Su Yu said coldly, "You didn't know? The Literary Thief has been active around here all along. Who doesn't know that?"

"Before the envoy arrived, we truly did not know..."

Su Yu fumed, "Nonsense! Since he sent a message, we would certainly have responded. How could we not send someone? The assembly of the forbidden lands, such a major event—he acted on his own, sent a single message, and then nothing more. Acting first and reporting later? We exhausted ourselves summoning the Ancestor, devising ways to solve his problems, and what did he do?"

"Didn't he know that someone would surely come recently?"

Su Yu was furious, "He knew. He did it deliberately. He wanted to intimidate me!"

At this moment, the person before him dared not say anything more.

These matters involved the higher echelons; to interject further might bring trouble.

Su Yu snorted again, "There are things I don't wish to say! The eight vein masters, the Life and Yang veins—all were our people. Why... did they fall? Such a coincidence? Do they truly think we are ignorant? But in the end, we all hoped he would come to his senses... Now, it seems, hah!"

"Envoy... that truly was an accident!"

At this, the elderly man who had come quickly explained, "I can vouch for that. It was truly an accident! The Dharma Master would never deliberately weaken his own strength..."

Su Yu said darkly, "I know. He had no need to kill, only to make us wary—that wasn't necessary. But I suspect a third party intervened deliberately, yet he offered no explanation!"

Hearing this, the old man nodded and said in a low voice, "That may... be the case. I once vaguely saw a black shadow appear in the Myriad Dharma Hall."

Su Yu frowned, "Tell me in detail. Those who came before were all too weak! Over the years, we had no time, no opportunity, and no desire to interfere, because he was the one we elevated... And now? Does he want to break away? Does he think that if he stands alone, he can match the Ancestor?"

"The Ancestor is invincible!"

The old man murmured softly, then quickly said, "Reporting to the envoy, over the years, there have been no other changes on the Eternal Mountain, except for the constant harassment by the Literary and Martial Kings. Some of the agents we planted have also been lost..."

Su Yu listened silently, nodded, and after a long while said, "How is Wen Yu doing?"

"She is still the same!"

The old man said helplessly, "She trusts us somewhat, especially a few years ago when we let a copy of the Time Book fly out of the world—that earned us some of her trust. But every time we mention the original, she changes the subject..."

Su Yu mused, "Has she suspected nothing? After all, this is the domain of Dharma!"

"No, not at all. If not for us back then, she would not have survived to this day. We even saved her life... Besides, we have ample reasons and grounds to approach her..."

Su Yu nodded slightly, "Good. This line of yours is crucial! It is also the key reason for my coming here."

Then Su Yu added, "But... whether to use this line or not—once used, it might end up benefiting Dharma... I am not certain now!"

Su Yu exhaled, "I am uncertain of his attitude, uncertain of his thoughts, uncertain of everything about him! If he continues like this, we are merely raising a tiger to bring disaster upon ourselves!"

"Lord, the Dharma Master... would not betray us, would he?"

The old man's heart trembled.

Su Yu said darkly, "At his level, anything is possible. Send word: have everyone prepare. Tomorrow he wants to see me. If things take a turn... find a way to withdraw!"

"Lord..."

"Enough. You may go!"

"Yes!"

The old man dared not delay and vanished swiftly.

Su Yu, gazing at the distant mountain, murmured, "Whether you heard or not, what I need to see is not the lofty Dharma Master, but the Dharma Uncle who left that day, vowing to strengthen us. They all say the outside world easily corrupts the heart... I didn't believe it before, but today I do. You didn't even save me at the first moment!"

...

On the Eternal Mountain.

Dharma shook his head slightly, somewhat helpless.

Is this the basis of your judgment?

That I didn't save you at once makes you think I have betrayed?

These people can sometimes be utterly unreasonable!

"Can she truly be resolved?"

Now, he recalled the words of the Sun and Moon from before—was it the same empty promise as before, or could it truly solve the trouble?

If it could be resolved, then the assembly of the forbidden lands would be his gathering to unify the strong within the sect.

If not... then the assembly might stir up some waves.

"Tomorrow will tell!"

...

Within the forbidden land, there was a division of day and night.

The next day, the sun shone brightly.

Su Yu was still cultivating when, outside the door, the voice of the Rain Vein Master rang out with laughter: "Daoist Sun and Moon, still cultivating?"

The door swung open without wind, and Su Yu appeared ethereally before the Rain Vein Master, smiled, and nodded slightly: "Daoist Rain, you have come at just the right time. My cultivation is finished. Has the Dharma Master deigned to see me?"

The Rain Vein Master smiled gently, "The Dharma Master has been very busy, occupied all of yesterday. I saw him return to the Myriad Dharma Hall only a short while ago, and he soon sent word that he wishes to see you, Daoist..."

"That is very kind of him!"

Su Yu laughed.

"Shall we go now?"

"Come with me, Daoist!"

The Rain Vein Master was actually quite curious about Su Yu. As they walked, he asked casually, "Daoist, on your journey here, did you happen to witness the recent battle in the forbidden land?"

"No, but I sensed it from afar."

Su Yu then transmitted a message, "Be wary of the Dead Spirit Hell and the Myriad Calamity Mountain. I speak out of goodwill, seeing your kind face. That Su Yu from the Myriad Calamity Mountain—his origins are probably not simple!"

The Rain Vein Master pondered. Is that so?

Not simple?

In what way?

But soon, there was no time to ask further. On that towering mountain, the great hall emitted a faint radiance. The Rain Vein Master quickly said, "Dharma Master, Daoist Sun and Moon has arrived!"

"Let him in!"

Dharma's voice echoed, "You wait below!"

Rain's heart trembled slightly. A private meeting?

Even we Pulse Masters are not qualified to know?

Fine!

She turned to Su Yu, her smile growing even gentler: "Then go up yourself, Daoist. The Dharma Master is waiting for you!"

Su Yu nodded, shot into the air, and flew toward the grand hall atop the high mountain.

...

Soon, a massive hall appeared before him.

The hall's doors were wide open.

A faint, illusory figure was vaguely visible.

Su Yu stepped into the hall in one stride. A powerful aura erupted, forcing him back step by step. Gritting his teeth, drenched in sweat, he said through clenched jaws: "Uncle Dharma is indeed worthy of being the master of the forbidden land—so mighty that he can suppress his nephew!"

Fa's voice drifted over, ethereal: "Young as you are, your temper is not small! Have you forgotten how to respect your elders? Or do you think that, over there, you were spoiled by everyone, and here, you expect the same indulgence?"

Su Yu gritted his teeth: "That is not my intention!"

"Then why keep showing it?"

Su Yu clenched his jaw: "I beg you, Uncle, to kill that man from the Human Gate!"

"Both the straightforward and the ironic words come from your mouth. Do you know who orchestrated this matter back then?"

Su Yu continued to grind his teeth: "I know! But then was then, now is now. Those fellows now have stirred up Uncle's heart-fire. They must be killed, or trouble will come sooner or later!"

"I will judge for myself!"

Su Yu fumed: "Does Uncle think those maggots from the Human Gate are more beneficial to you?"

At that moment, a dark shadow materialized, carrying a hint of amusement: "Little one, cursing repeatedly—that's not good..."

Su Yu's face changed!

The next instant, he roared and threw a punch at the shadow, filled with fury.

"Bastard! This is a secret meeting—how dare you meddle?"

Now Su Yu, acting utterly enraged, punched so hard that space shattered, aiming at the shadow. But the shadow dissipated instantly, still laughing: "Don't be impulsive. We're all allies—why be so harsh?"

Su Yu bellowed: "Fa, are you determined to betray us?"

At this, Fa, seated above the hall, finally turned around, his tone cold: "Enough! All of you, stop. This is not a place for your insolence!"

The shadow vanished at once, its laughter lingering: "Lord Dharma Master, I never struck a blow. This little one is too rash!"

Su Yu was incandescent with rage!

Clenching his fists, he looked at Fa, then at the shadow. Soon, he suppressed his anger, his voice turning icy: "I was impulsive! Had I known this man was your honored guest, I would never have come!"

Fa sat down on the high platform, silent.

Now Su Yu stared straight at him!

Fa was young, his eyes bright as stars, black hair flowing, carrying an air of scholarly refinement—yet immensely powerful. His aura leaked slightly, cutting Su Yu like a blade, and even the shadow twisted and warped.

Fa was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Back then, it was you who made me contact the Human Gate. Now, it is you who say I should not have done so. Over the years, I have wronged no one. Yet you have repeatedly delayed my fusion, and you have allowed me to seek my own path."

Su Yu gritted his teeth: "That was unavoidable, not intentional. Who wanted you to remain stuck at this stage forever?"

Fa did not confirm or deny.

Was that so?

Perhaps.

But wasn't there also an element of restraint?

Otherwise, was there truly no solution?

Wasn't it that some feared his rapid progress might even threaten the rule of that one?

Dare they deny it?

Only now, with the gate about to open and that one about to awaken, did they no longer hold such fear.

He said calmly: "Since you have come this time, do you have a solution?"

Su Yu glanced at the shadow, gritted his teeth, and insisted: "I beg Uncle to kill him! How did the two Pulse Masters, Yang and Sheng, die? Though Wen and Wu were strong, here in Uncle's domain, among the eight Pulse Masters, only they died... I refuse to believe no one manipulated it! This man must have schemed to force Uncle to break with us. I trust Uncle would not kill his own for an outsider!"

"Uncle was not unaware of those two's existence—why kill them?"

Su Yu said solemnly: "Only this man has such a motive!"

The shadow chuckled softly: "How could that be? Wen and Wu were still formidable. Little one, relying on conjecture won't do!"

Su Yu suddenly closed his eyes and fell silent, standing motionless where he was.

Seeing this, Fa said flatly: "You may withdraw for now!"

The shadow trembled slightly, then quickly laughed: "Then I shall take my leave. Lord Dharma Master, calm your anger—it's just a youngster..."

He vanished swiftly.

Only then did Su Yu open his eyes again, his composure restored: "Uncle means to tell me that even if we withdraw our support, there are others who will back you? Is that your purpose, Uncle?"

Fa looked at him and nodded slowly: "Yes. I only want to tell you that when one cultivates to my level, power, authority, the future—all are empty. What we pursue is only the Dao, only freedom!"

"When you obstruct my Dao, you become my enemy!"

Fa said calmly: "At this point, there is no need for concealment. What you cannot give, others can. So I can only choose the other side, because... I cannot wait any longer!"

Su Yu took a deep breath: "And faith? Dreams? Are they all gone?"

"Some remain. On equal footing, I would naturally prefer to support you!"

Fa looked at Su Yu and said softly: "You do not understand me, nor do you need to. You only need to know that if you can give me what I want, I will still be your uncle. Otherwise... we are merely strangers."

"And the Ancestor?"

Su Yu was somewhat angry: "Would you even betray the Ancestor?"

"Betray?"

He smiled. "He... has not awakened. Everything has been your will. Now that I have cultivated to this level, do you still think you can manipulate me? Even if I devoured Wen Yu, he would not stop me—he would applaud me. It is you people, using his name, who try to control me, to control a Unity-stage cultivator—how laughable!"

There was a hint of mockery in his voice.

Su Yu frowned: "I have brought the Devouring Method. Are you sure that if you act like this, I will give it to you?"

Fa said unhurriedly: "You will give it. Because the Devouring Method—you cannot create or research it. Only he can... Since he sent you, it is the sacred will. If you do not give it, do you think you will fare better than me? Will your elders fare better than me?"

Su Yu gritted his teeth: "At least I can decide the timing! After the Forbidden Land conclave ends, I will give it to you—that is still giving!"

"You little fox!"

Fa laughed, a faint smile on his lips: "Speak. What do you want?"

"First, I want to become the Pulse Master of the Yang Pulse!"

"Agreed!"

Fa was indifferent—this was a trivial matter.

"Second, kill that man..."

"If you succeed, killing him is just a small matter, but it must be after the deed, not now!"

Fa gave his answer: succeed, and naturally I could slay that fellow.

But what if I don't succeed?

Su Yu frowned slightly and nodded. "Third, you must cooperate with me in putting on a show for Wen Yu. At this moment, I am not entirely certain. I need everyone within the mountain to obey my commands in the near future!"

"Agreed!"

Fa smiled. "Do you need me to leave? I could use the excuse of pursuing the Wen King."

"Let's see about that later; it's not decided yet. But I must meet Wen Yu first!"

Fa frowned slightly. "She might notice something."

Su Yu shook his head. "That can't be helped. This method may not succeed. One thing is crucial: finding the exact core location to devour it quickly. That is essential!"

Fa frowned again. "Are you sure you can do it?"

Su Yu nodded. "At least I have great confidence! My coming here was the result of everyone's discussion. We all agreed that only I have a chance of success!"

"Agreed!"

Fa permitted once more, smiling. "There are still sixteen days until the forbidden ground meeting. If you cannot resolve this within those sixteen days... don't blame me for being unfeeling. I won't kill you, but... you will never return to Eternal Life Mountain!"

Su Yu's face changed slightly, a hint of anger rising, but he suppressed it and said in a low voice, "I understand!"

With that, Su Yu thought for a moment and added, "One more thing... I may need your cooperation. I might have to reveal the location of your core to Wen Yu!"

Fa's expression shifted!

Su Yu said gravely, "You can think it over, Uncle. Without taking risks, I think the chance is slim. But to succeed, we must take risks. Of course, this is not urgent now. You are also a supreme being, and I hope it won't come to this—that Wen Yu will hand over the core willingly. But if that fails... I can only hope you agree to this. Or we could forge a fake core..."

Fa waved his hand. Easy to say, but you don't understand!

At my level, and at Wen Yu's level, we jointly govern the world. A fake would be spotted at a glance!

Only the real thing can make her believe.

But this is an extremely risky move!

At this moment, Fa fell into deep thought.

Su Yu said no more, bowed, and said, "I'll take my leave now, Uncle. You can decide after thinking it over; there's no rush."

Fa watched him retreat and suddenly asked, "That power of your gate..."

"Granted by the Ancestor!"

Su Yu did not change his expression. "The Ancestor... has already awakened seventy percent!"

At these words, Fa was slightly shaken!

Seventy percent awakened!

That meant full awakening was imminent!

Fa said solemnly, "Also, when the Lord of the Dead summoned the world earlier, why was there no interference? Do you know the inside story?"

Su Yu thought for a moment and said, "I don't know the specifics. I was outside that day. It might have something to do with Xingyu... I'll have to ask after returning, or you could inquire yourself, Uncle."

Fa said nothing more and waved his hand.

Su Yu quickly withdrew.

Down the mountain.

At the foot, several vein lords were waiting. Su Yu did not elaborate and said directly, "Trouble Rain Vein Lord to escort me to Yang Mountain. Lord Fa has ordered me to take charge of Yang Mountain!"

The crowd was startled. He became a vein lord just like that?

Truly, he came from a great background!

Rain Vein Lord immediately beamed. "Congratulations! Daoist Sun-Moon, I never thought you'd become one of us so soon after arriving..."

Su Yu sighed and shook his head. "You don't understand... Never mind, you'll understand later. Yang Vein Lord and Sheng Vein Lord were both my elders, and now they've fallen—all because of petty villains!"

Su Yu snorted coldly and then said, "Be careful, everyone. I think you might know who I'm talking about. If anyone can kill him, I will reward you handsomely. Rest assured, I will take full responsibility with Lord Fa!"

The others remained silent.

They had a general idea.

Neither side was easy to provoke. Better to stay out of trouble!

One was the old master, the other a possible new master... neither was easy to deal with!

Su Yu added, "Furthermore, for the next half month, the entire Eternal Life Mountain will obey my commands!"

The crowd was stunned and looked up at the high peak. No sound came from it, but they knew Lord Fa had tacitly agreed.

Soon, they all bowed solemnly. "We shall obey!"

Su Yu finally smiled. "Thank you, fellow daoists. If this succeeds, everyone will benefit. This is not something those traitors can offer. After all, this is within the Heavenly Gate!"

Su Yu spoke meaningfully, pointing to the sky. "Some people want to meddle, but they should consider who they are facing. No matter how strong, they are not here, and besides, they are merely puppets!"

The vein lords smiled awkwardly and did not respond.

They only knew that this man was not to be trifled with!

Su Yu laughed heartily. "Enough, I won't make things difficult for you. Sooner or later, you'll understand who is the right choice!"

With that, Su Yu flew toward a great mountain, and Rain Vein Lord hurriedly followed.

He couldn't afford to provoke him, but getting closer was fine.

...

Soon, the entire Eternal Life Mountain knew that the seventh vein lord had appeared. Yang Mountain had been quiet for years, and the arrival of a strong man who instantly became a vein lord surprised many.

Not only that, but on this day, strong men from the other seven great mountains, regardless of their duties, all gathered at Yang Mountain.

The vein lords did not stop them; they understood.

These were all planted by the other side. It seemed they were no longer hiding it.

There was probably no need to hide anything anymore.

Because this time, Lord Fa might have to make a choice.

...

At that moment, Su Yu, standing on Yang Mountain, showed a hint of a smile!

Behind him followed a group of people, including the old man who had come to see him earlier. Su Yu said softly, "Make arrangements. I want to see Wen Yu!"

"Yes!"

The crowd responded. The old man said in a low voice, "Sir, what identity should we arrange for you?"

"What identity... I have my own plans!"

Su Yu smiled. "I am also curious about her. It's rare to find someone who can counter Uncle Fa."

The crowd smiled bitterly. You're curious? For years, this matter has driven Fa nearly mad!

Su Yu said no more, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

I am going to meet the Timekeeper!

Desolation?

Pity?

Or something else?

Last time I saw a back view, weeping so sorrowfully... Hmph, I don't quite believe it!

PS: Too sleepy, one chapter later tonight, a bit after ten, I'll take a nap.