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Above the gates of Ziluo City.
“Hm? That Su kid has come back.” The elder in blue had a strange look on his face, and he seemed surprised.
Earlier, he and the man in white assumed that the young man Cui Jingyan had taken a liking to had fled the city like a coward.
“He really is back…” said the man in white. He too was a bit stunned.
A moment later, he noticed that there was a woman with Su Yi. Although he couldn’t see her features clearly, her charm and disposition alone were astonishing, and the sight left him unwittingly dazed.
Could she be a lady immortal from on high?
The man in white was an Emperor, and he’d seen countless beauties, but this was his first time meating one so astonishing.
Her hair was white as snow, and she looked as ethereal as an immortal?
“Who is that woman?” The elder in blue was astonished too.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see the woman’s features clearly. She had an ethereal quality to her, and her features were shrouded in faint mist, as if she were a dream or an illusion.
They watched as Su Yi and Po Suo entered the city and disappeared down the streets and alleys, side by side.
Only then did the man in white react as if awakening from a dream. He furrowed his brow and said, “I wouldn’t have guessed it, but the kid has quite a way with women. But isn’t he letting Jingyan down by doing this?”
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The old man in blue had a conflicted look on his face. “Philandering isn’t right, but what would you choose if you met a lady immortal like her?”
The man in white instantly fell silent.
Both were Emperors of the Cui Family, but they’d never seen Po Suo before. They had no idea that the woman they were discussing was none other than the Great Basis Spirit Sovereign generations of the Cui Family had revered.
“Quick, look! Who are they?” The blue-robed old man’s expression shifted as he gazed over the distant horizon.
“Emperors?” The white-robed elder’s eyes flashed with imposing light.
And Su Yi and Po Suo, who’d only recently re-entered the city, stopped and turned back to look.
There, over the distant horizon, several figures emanating terrifying auras shot toward Ziluo City.
In just a few breaths of time, they were only a few thousand feet from the city gates. There, they stopped and hovered in midair.
One was a middle-aged man on a magic cloud. He was dressed in red robes and a feather headdress.
One was a massive man built like a barbarian god. He was about ten feet tall, with coppery skin and fire dragons wrapped around his arms.
One was a decrepit elder with a bamboo cane. He was balding, and his beard was white.
One was a radiantly beautiful swordswoman in colorful clothes. She wore her long hair up.
The four of them all looked different, but all four emanated auras that shook heaven and earth. The terrifying majesty of the Imperial Realm was on full display.
Boom!
As they appeared, the entire stretch of heaven and earth shook. The skies churned, and the surrounding landscape quivered as if in submission.
The Cui Family cultivators patrolling the city gates all reacted, instantly on guard.
Atop the city walls, both the man in white and the blue-robed elder knit their brows.
They recognized these four uninvited guests. Three hailed from the Qu, Hong, and Tantai Families, and one was a Denglong of the Shentu Territory!
“My four fellow Daoists, might I ask what you’re doing in Ziluo City?” the elder in blue asked gravely, his voice emanating from afar.
“We naturally haven’t come as guests,” said the leader, the red-robed man riding on a magic cloud. His eyes flashed like lightning, and his expression was cool and indifferent.
His name was Qu Bohou, and he was a Profound Illumination old monster from the Qu Family.
As he spoke, he swept his gaze across the distant Ziluo City. He suddenly rose to his full height and said in a voice that boomed like spring thunder: “Cui Chang’an, listen up! Let Elder Qu Mingwei go today, or face the consequences!”
His voice rumbled and boomed, spreading throughout Ziluo City’s airspace and causing widespread uproar.
About seventy percent of the city’s inhabitants had already fled, leaving the grand, ancient city empty and desolate.
But as Qu Bohou’s voice rang out, the few that remained all realized that this situation wasn’t looking good.
Was the ancient Qu Family declaring war against the Cui Family!?
Atop the city walls, the white and blue-robed elders’ expressions darkened.
Within the city, Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. He could already guess that these four Emperors had come to put pressure on the Cui Family.
Why? Naturally, to discuss conditions.
But it was also possible that they’d simply declare war.
“Fellow Daoist, I’ll step aside for now,” transmitted Po Suo. A long time ago, she’d sworn not to intervene in the Cui Family’s affairs.
Su Yi thought it over, then said, “Let’s leave together.”
Po Suo was stunned. “Didn’t you say you’d help the Cui Family avert calamity?”
Su Yi said casually, “There won’t be fighting today. Didn’t you see that those old-timers didn’t dare so much as pass through the city gates? I’m in no mood to stick around just to watch the show.”
As he spoke, he was already on his way into the city.
Po Suo glanced at the situation outside, considered Su Yi’s words, and smiled despite herself before catching up to him.
Shortly after the two of them disappeared into the city, a group of Cui Family experts led by Cui Chang’an appeared near the city gates.
……
What left Su Yi speechless was that, when he arrived at the Fragrant Cloud for a drink and a meal, he discovered that the restaurant famous throughout the Six Paths Royal Territory wasn’t open!
There was nothing for it; he could only return to the Cui Family estate with Po Suo.
…….
Jinluo Grotto.
Su Yi sat cross-legged beneath the Tree of Ten Thousand Daos.
He’d only just overcome his tribulation today. Now that he’d reached the Spiritual Revolution Realm, he had to take his time to stabilize his cultivation base.
Po Suo, meanwhile, had already returned to the Tree of Ten Thousand Daos.
Time slipped by.
It was late at night when Su Yi awoke from his meditation. Only then did he realize that, at some point, Cui Chang’an had arrived, and he now stood not far away.
When Cui Chang’an saw Su Yi open his eyes, he smiled and congratulated him. “Uncle Su, congratulations on proving your Dao and entering Spiritual Revolution!”
Su Yi took out a wicker chair, sprawled out, and raised a jug of wine.
“Enough already,” he said between sips. “I’m sure you’re not just here to congratulate me on my breakthrough. Well? How did your discussion with those factions go?”
Cui Chang’an’s smile faded, and a chill flashed across his face. “Each offered stricter conditions than the one before. They see us as nothing more than a fatty lamb just waiting to be slaughtered. Had I agreed, even if we survived the Lantern Festival, the Cui Family’s ancient foundations would soon be ruined!”
His voice couldn’t hide his indignation.
Su Yi laughed. “It’s to be expected. It seems to me that there’s no way they’ll just let this go. After all, even the Nine Serenities Netherworld Bird showed up. In their eyes, the Cui Family… is sure to lose.”
Cui Chang’an nodded. He was naturally well aware of the severity of the Cui Family’s predicament.
“Right, Uncle Su, did you see the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow?” asked Cui Chang’an.
“I did,” said Su Yi with a nod. “I know roughly where it came from and the nature of its power of the Grand Dao. If it uses the Lantern Festival to stir up waves, it really will imperil Ziluo City.”
Cui Chang’an’s expression shifted. “Then do you have any countermeasures?”
He’d only just said this when he realized it wasn’t quite appropriate, and he started to explain, “It’s not that I’m doubting you, but…”
He was an Emperor, and he held authority over the entire Cui Family, but now, he seemed frantic and nervous over a slip of the tongue. Su Yi found it rather funny to watch.
He waved. “Enough. How could I concern myself about that? With me here, the crow won’t be able to cause any major waves.”
His tone was calm and casual, but it revealed his absolute self-confidence.
Cui Chang’an felt enormously reassured. “Uncle Su, how can the Cui Family best coordinate with you during the Lantern Festival?”
Su Yi thought it over, then asked, “How many inhabitants have remained in Ziluo City?”
“Less than thirty percent,” said Cui Chang’an. He couldn’t help but sigh. “I suspect that after what happened today, even more of them will leave. I’m afraid Ziluo City will be completely empty by the time the Lantern Festival arrives.”
Ziluo City was historically one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the Six Paths Royal Territory, and it drew cultivators from all over. They in turn gave the city endless vitality.
As the ruler of Ziluo City, the Cui Family benefited enormously from this prosperity. With their various businesses, they obtained an ocean of wealth and cultivation resources.
But lately, with the vast majority of the inhabitants gone, Ziluo City was so abandoned and bleak it was almost painful to look at.
There was nothing Cui Chang’an could do to stop this.
After all, even if the citizens left the city now, they could still return later, and their lives wouldn’t be in danger.
But if they didn’t leave now, if Ziluo City really fell, they’d be doomed to fall with it.
“It’s best that the city is empty,” said Su Yi, his gaze distant and profound. “If those external foes dare take advantage of the festival to cause chaos, we naturally can’t leave them any hope of fleeing.”
Here, he looked at Cui Chang’an. “If we’re going to play, we’re going all in. We’re going to trap them like beetles in a jar and destroy them down to the last man!”
Cui Chang’an’s heart shook; Su Yi’s bold suggestion stunned him.
But the more he thought about it, the more excited he felt. It was as if all his blood were boiling.
Of late, the Cui Family had been beset both inside and out, its situation precarious. This had long since left Cui Chang’an feeling stifled, dejected, and indigent.
It would naturally be wonderful if they could annihilate all of their external foes during the Lantern Festival!
Furthermore, if they succeeded, the Cui Family could use their momentum to turn their foes’ plans against them and teach the hostile ancient factions a painful lesson!
But Cui Chang’an quickly cooled down.
He knew that although Su YI’s suggestion was a good one, it would require accepting an enormous risk. If anything went wrong, Ziluo City would fall, and moreover, it would deal unpredictable, devastating damage to the Cui Family!
After a while, he took a deep breath, steeled himself, and asked, “Uncle Su, forgive my abruptness, but what do you think our odds of success are?”
Su Yi said casually, “There’s no such thing as a perfect plan. All I can guarantee is that I won’t let the Cui Family face annihilation. Still, if you think my plan is too risky, I won’t insist.”
Cui Chang’an’s expression shifted erratically. After a while, he gnashed his teeth and made a decision. “It’ll be as you say, Uncle!”
Su Yi smiled, raised his wine gourd, and took a sip.