Chapter 83: Tempest

The apocalypse that Shen Yu spoke of was the most terrifying calamity imaginable in this world.

The man in scholar’s robes was momentarily stunned upon hearing those words.

Three thousand years ago, in that dazzling age of stars, there lived an immortal swordsman who split the river of heaven with a single blade, true immortals who inherited the sacred arts of holy lands, and warriors whose might was unmatched. These ancient powers stood tall in their era. If a world-ending disaster truly befell them, what sort of adversary could that possibly be?

Both men turned their gaze almost simultaneously toward the little monkey behind them.

The divine beast had its eyes half-closed, as if a monk deep in meditation, radiating tranquility. When it sensed their gaze, it shook its head.

A spiritual thought resonated in Shen Yu’s mind, as if an idea had flashed into existence. The monkey’s meaning was clear: it had been sealed in a spiritual cocoon since birth, only awakening three hundred years ago, and thus had no memories of anything from three millennia past.

Shen Yu’s expression remained calm; he had suspected this outcome from the moment he first saw the monkey. Yet he was not disappointed, for he had finally confirmed something.

Three thousand years ago, something extraordinary had undoubtedly taken place, and his own resurrection after death was closely tied to it.

In truth, Shen Yu cared more about his rebirth, for his soul had been utterly scattered in death and should have vanished from the world forever.

And what of the three celestial artifacts that had appeared out of nowhere to block his path to enlightenment—who were their owners?

More baffling still, who possessed the power to reforge his soul, once unrivaled and utterly destroyed? Such an unfathomable method was unheard of.

He gently rubbed the monkey’s head and asked, “Was Yuan the Second your ancestor?”

The monkey, suffused with Buddhist aura, nodded.

Shen Yu looked at it.

Moments later, the always serene little monkey suddenly lifted its head, as if it had heard something astonishing.

Jiang Zhouyao either failed to notice or deliberately ignored this, only gazing into the distance.

There lay the Immortal Martial Plaza of Guiyun Immortal Sect, where today’s grand ceremony and competition were held. Snow and wind blanketed the sky, obscuring all view.

Within that pavilion, upon learning that Ximen Guan had lost, Yun Qing had already gone there.

Shen Yu said lightly, “I sensed a familiar aura from you.”

The man in scholar’s robes placed his left hand behind his back, pointed into the distance with his right, and smiled: “Back when I studied at Guiyun Immortal Sect, I met a traveler. We talked for days, and many doubts accumulated over the years were suddenly resolved, allowing me to break through later.”

Shen Yu was surprised.

“I thought he came from the Central Plains Academy.”

Jiang Zhouyao said, “But later I learned he was the chief disciple of the current Daoist Sect’s leader—Su Mo.”

Shen Yu nodded and said, “So it was Senior Brother.”

The middle-aged man suddenly stepped back and bowed solemnly. “I have a favor to ask.”

Shen Yu remained silent, having already guessed what it was.

Yesterday, Yun Qing had mentioned certain matters, and naturally, Shen Yu could deduce some things.

In the world of cultivation, people were no different from mortals—seven emotions, six desires, entangled loves and hates, equally as mundane.

“Because of a fortuitous act by the sect leader three hundred years ago, this innate spiritual monkey agreed to cultivate here, absorbing the sect’s fortune, which led to the present prosperity. I stayed because of my friendship with the former leader and other reasons.”

Jiang Zhouyao gazed at the horizon. “But somewhere along the way, Guiyun Immortal Sect... changed.”

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Shen Yu said calmly, “No matter, speak plainly.”

Jiang Zhouyao replied candidly, “Yun Qing knew how to use you to get rid of Ximen Guan, but she still acted too naively.”

“If she wants to challenge the sect leader and remain rooted in Guiyun Immortal Sect, merely killing Ximen Guan is far from enough.”

“So I wish to ask you, as the chief disciple of the Daoist Sect, to protect her within Guiyun Immortal Sect.”

“I am willing to impart all my cultivation to you, as repayment for Su Mo’s guidance years ago.”

Shen Yu looked at him and said, “The key to everything is the leader of Guiyun Immortal Sect.”

Cultivators solved problems differently from mortals—directly and simply.

It was all about cultivation rank and strength.

Shen Yu knew this well, so he shook his head, “That person has already entered the Upper Three Realms. I cannot kill him.”

The man in scholar’s robes looked at the snowstorm swirling across the sky and quietly smiled.

“Leave it to me.”

...

The grand ceremony of Guiyun Immortal Sect lasted from dawn until dusk.

Shen Yu and Jiang Zhouyao stood atop the giant Buddha statue, watching spiritual energy surge and clouds roll in the distance.

For a long time, both men’s eyes lingered only on that hint of green by the lake.

Night finally fell.

The woman who had just triumphed in the sect competition arrived.

She looked at the limp corpse on the ground, long devoid of life, and paused, her expression unreadable.

“I’ve earned the qualification to enter the academy.”

Yun Qing soon joined them and said, “Zhong Shenluo is furious.”

Zhong Shenluo was the current leader of Guiyun Immortal Sect, and Yun Qing called him by name, revealing that their relationship was now almost completely severed.

Shen Yu remained silent, idly playing with the monkey.

Seeing this, Yun Qing was momentarily dazed, deeply shaken.

“You’ve done very well.”

The man in scholar’s robes patted her shoulder gently. “Recently, I uncovered some things about your eyes. I left some notes on my desk; they might help your cultivation. Go look first, leave this to me.”

Yun Qing suddenly looked up, undisguised joy in her eyes.

The man smiled softly, “Go on.”

Yun Qing nodded slightly, glanced at Shen Yu, and left.

Shen Yu watched her green silhouette fade into the night and said, “Eyes of Truth.”

Jiang Zhouyao’s expression was complex. “Most likely.”

On this continent, many legends had been passed down since ancient times.

It was said that in the far south there was a bottomless abyss, the other side of the world, where all souls returned after death.

There, a palace governed countless ghosts, with ten levels. On the ninth level sat the Lord of Reincarnation, who ruled over the cycle of spirits and ghosts.

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But one day, someone broke into that infernal palace, gravely wounded its ruler, and the other lords of the palace were killed or injured.

The Lord of Reincarnation unleashed endless power to drive the intruder away, but fell into eternal slumber himself.

Before losing consciousness, he plucked out his own eyes and cast them into the void, declaring that whoever obtained the Eyes of Truth would become the next Lord of Reincarnation.

To Shen Yu, these were mere legends. He never believed them.

Night deepened.

The man in scholar’s robes rose, the breeze caressing his face, his sleeves billowing.

Shen Yu, surprised, asked, “Are you serious?”

Battles among cultivators of the Upper Three Realms were far from ordinary contests. Those who reached those realms had transcended many worldly rules.

It was truly a clash of immortals.

There was no difference in level among those realms; for two such cultivators to determine life and death, only overwhelming disparity would decide a victor. Otherwise, both would likely suffer grievous wounds, with no margin for error.

Shen Yu said, “You care deeply for her.”

Jiang Zhouyao gazed at the sky, his expression tranquil.

He suddenly shook his head and murmured, “But she is not who she was.”

...

No one knew that during the widely famed breakthrough years ago, when vanquishing his inner demons, Jiang Zhouyao fell into an illusion.

It felt real.

He went to a place marked by axe and blade scars on battered city walls, where corpses lay everywhere and smoke rose in chaos.

There, on the city wall, stood a woman in green robes, stunningly beautiful.

The war that destroyed the nation raged for many years, and he fought through countless cities. The peerless woman seemed to stand atop those walls for years.

She waited, day after day, year after year, ten years passed, but she never saw the one she awaited.

Until later, the scholar who sought the Dao through words realized that illusion was but a fleeting dream of the Scholar’s Sect.

The man said softly, “As we agreed, three years from now, I leave her to you.”

Shen Yu sighed gently and nodded.

The middle-aged man suddenly laughed aloud, “Su Mo once said, ‘A scholar is useless in a hundred ways.’”

“But I believe one cannot remain weak forever, so I secretly learned a few things from my sect’s ancient texts.”

“I hope this time no one will mock me.”

Shen Yu replied, “I look forward to it.”

In the next instant,

The scholar, who had hidden his brilliance after decades of study at Guiyun Immortal Sect, took a single step forward.

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