Chapter 3022 - Heroes’ Gallbladders and Beauties’ Heads
The group was a bit worried. In these turbulent times, River Ancestor Sparrow’s behavior stood out as the most unusual. Targeting him now seemed most unwise.
But Su Yi had made up his mind, so they made no further effort to dissuade him.
“Don’t worry, everyone. With me here, you have no need to worry about anything happening to Fellow Daoist Su,” said River Ancestor Lu Shu, smiling as he tried to comfort his companions.
But then, Su Yi changed his mind. “No, that won’t do. Better for me to act alone this time.”
The group was flabbergasted. He wants to deal with River Ancestor Sparrow by himself?
Su Yi then launched into an explanation of the spring’s secrets.
The group gasped. A spacetime barrier? Outside Celestial Demons? Who could have imagined that a forbidden zone in the River of Destiny hid such a secret?
“The moment the Outsider Celestial Demons break through the barrier, they’ll descend into this world,” said Su Yi. “It’s sure to be incomparably dangerous. It’s best that Daoist Brother Lu Shu stays here to oversee things just in case.”
River Ancestor Lu Shu agreed.
Then, Su Yi called Star Toad over and gave him the Ape Ancestor’s true name.
The Star Toad was so startled that he almost hopped into the air. He was completely flustered. “Your Excellency, you cannot! Someone as lowly as I cannot accept such fortune!”
Su Yi pushed the true name back into his hands. “I told you to take it, so take it. What’s with all the nonsense?”
The Star Toad stammered, “But...”
“If others can become River Ancestors, why can’t you?” Su Yi said with a laugh. He patted Star Toad on the shoulder. “Refine it quickly and become a River Ancestor as soon as possible!”
“Got it!” The rims of Star Toad’s eyes reddened. He was so excited that he’d completely lost his composure.
He was just a humble little River King. He couldn’t even raise his head in front of River Emperors. How could he dare to even fantasize about becoming a River Ancestor?
Yet now, Su Yi had just casually foisted such an opportunity onto him!
With a River Ancestor’s true name in hand, so long as he kept cultivating, he could one day prove his Dao and become a River Ancestor in his own right!
“Your Excellency, I won’t let you down!” Star Toad said staunchly.
He thought back to the distant past, when he cautiously established a positive karmic connection with Su Yi, even going so far as to give him the Toad Palace Pearl. He’d originally just hoped that Destiny’s Chosen might offer him his protection, and he’d have been more than satisfied with that.
He could never have imagined that Destiny’s Chosen would offer him an opportunity any River Emperor would long for even in their dreams!
It was to the point that Star Toad felt as if he were dreaming.
“Whether you accomplish great things or not, I won’t be disappointed so long as you stop looking down on yourself,” Su Yi said with a laugh.
River Ancestor Shen Xiao, River Ancestor Lu Shu, and the others couldn’t help but sigh.
They were starting to understand why Su Yi insisted on hunting River Ancestor Sparrow down.
It was because he cared about those around him!
He cared about River Empress Lu Ping’s death, and he cared about River Ancestor Shen Xiao’s injuries, too.
Star Toad was just a River King, a small fry, but Su Yi cared about him and his cultivation, too!
Who wouldn’t respect such a Chosen of Destiny? Who wouldn’t admire him?
Making his acquaintance was an honor!
Su Yi left the Golden Frost Forbidden Zone that very day.
......
A boisterous banquet was currently underway in the Dark Light Forbidden Zone, the territory of River Ancestor Sparrow.
Red-robed Ying Qi sat languidly in the centermost seat, while the host sat to his side.
The two of them were drinking together. Each had a plate of freshly grilled, crispy meat.
A tempting, savory fragrance wafted into the air, but River Ancestor Sparrow wasn’t eating. He didn’t even glance at his food.
Because the meat had been carved off of River Empress Bai Mang’s body!
The thought of it made River Ancestor Sparrow’s heart quiver with horror. The mere thought of it was repulsive. He naturally had no appetite.
Ying Qi, however, ate and drank with relish.
A bloody head rested on the table, its expression ashen and hideous. However, there was no hiding its beautiful features.
Its eyes were locked onto Ying Qi, shimmering with hatred.
The head belonged to none other than River Empress Bai Mang!
It seemed she wasn’t really dead, but all she could do was watch helplessly as Ying Qi devoured her flesh. By this point, her hatred was so intense that it seemed permanently etched on her face.
“Your Excellency, are you sure we don’t need to find a few more helpers?” River Ancestor Sparrow couldn’t help but ask.
Ying Qi threw back his head, tossed another piece of meat into his mouth, and said with his mouth full, “With me here, what need is there for anyone else’s help?”
He pointed at River Ancestor Bai Mang. “Take this woman, for example. No matter how unyielding she was, I still managed to break her, bit by bit. Now, here we are, sharing her meat over a drink. Someone like her would be nothing but a burden. What good could she do me?”
River Ancestor Sparrow laughed dryly. “I just wanted to share your burdens, Your Excellency, but it seems I wasn’t thinking clearly.
Not long ago, he’d dared to address Ying Qi as his fellow Daoist, but after witnessing River Ancestor Bai Mang’s grisly fate, his attitude toward Ying Qi had shifted.
Ying Qi laughed, drank a cup of wine, and said, “Of course, you’re different from that woman. You were sensible enough to cooperate, so I don’t mind granting you an opportunity to serve me.”
River Ancestor Sparrow said solemnly, “An opportunity to serve you is an honor, Your Excellency!”
Earlier, Ying Qi went looking for River Ancestor Bai Mang. He wanted her to submit too, but she’d refused, insisting she’d die before serving him.
In the end, Ying Qi heartlessly suppressed her, carved her flesh into chunks, and stripped her of her true name.
It was then that River Ancestor Sparrow realized on a visceral level that even River Ancestors were helpless against Ying Qi of the Destiny Demon lineage!
Something suddenly occurred to River Ancestor Sparrow. “Your Excellency, word has already spread, but what if Su Yi doesn’t take the bait?”
Ying Qi set down his cup and said softly, “I’ve been reading reports about Su Yi, and I now have a very clear picture of his disposition, conduct, cultivation, abilities, connections, and external powers.”
Ying Qi poured himself another cup, then continued. “I’ve reviewed the materials thrice daily, and I’ve looked at them from every possible angle. In the end, I reached a few solid conclusions.
“I’ve never met Su Yi face-to-face, but I can say with certainty that few in this world understand him as well as I do.”
He spoke casually, yet with the utmost confidence.
This was because he’d received the most detailed report on Su Yi from the Heavenly Sovereigns.
Reading about everything Su Yi had accomplished, starting from his time in the God Domain, astonished even Ying Qi. He couldn’t even imagine how such a sword cultivator could exist in this world.
He was a true anomaly!
You couldn’t possibly defeat an anomaly with typical methods.
Over the past few days, Ying Qi had contemplated countless strategies to defeat Su Yi, and he’d long since lost track of how many divinations he’d performed.
In the end, he discovered that no matter how wondrous his strategies seemed, all of them had enormous variables!
There wasn’t a single surefire strategy to be found.
This was Ying Qi’s first time encountering such an opponent, which was noteworthy, given that he’d have had no such reservations about targeting a Heavenly Sovereign or River Ancestor.
Typical Immeasurable Realm cultivators were mere ants to him. He could crush them at whim. It was to the point that he couldn’t even be bothered to deal with them personally.
But Su Yi was different!
The more Ying Qi learned about Su Yi, the more impressed he was, and the less he dared to look down on him.
It was also for this reason that he was increasingly looking forward to meeting Su Yi face-to-face.
Ying Qi had stopped trying to come up with a plan. He was now convinced that no amount of planning and scheming would help him defeat Su Yi. Victory and defeat would ultimately come down to who was stronger.
They’d just have to see who hit harder!
Ying Qi’s only consolation was that the forces of the Far Shore would stay out of it. Had that not been the case, he’d have abandoned the mission without hesitation, reported back to Demon Sovereign Ling Zhao, and told her that he wasn’t confident he could succeed.
Of course, even knowing that the forces of the Far Shore would stay out of things, Ying Qi dared not get complacent.
The Heavenly Sovereigns’ reports said nothing about Su Yi acquiring the Book of Destiny, but here in the River of Destiny, no treasure could have been a greater variable!
Destiny’s Chosen and the Destiny Demons were fated to oppose each other. It was also because of Destiny’s Chosen that the Destiny Demons had been confined to the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain for countless years.
Thus, Ying Qi understood how taboo the Book of Destiny was far better than most.
Fortunately, judging from what River Ancestor Sparrow told him, Su Yi had yet to truly master the Book of Destiny. He wasn’t even worthy of the title “Destiny’s Chosen!”
All of this increased Ying Qi’s confidence that he could defeat Su Yi.
“You expressed concern that Su Yi wouldn’t ‘take the bait,’ but your concerns are entirely unnecessary,” said Ying Qi, pouring himself a cup of wine. He continued slowly, “Put gently, Su Yi is the type to remember both kindnesses and enmities. Put less gently, he’s the type to hold a grudge.
“If you offend him, he might let it go, but hurting those around him... is like touching his reverse scale. He’s sure to seek revenge!”
Ying Qi paused, his gaze suddenly inscrutable. “You helped the other River Ancestors attack River Ancestor Shen Xiao, while I slaughtered River Empress Lu Ping and her subordinates. When Su Yi hears the news and learns of your involvement, he’s sure to come for you!”
River Ancestor Sparrow was completely convinced. “You’re wise indeed, Your Excellency!”
Ying Qi shook his head. “This is no time to flatter me. If anything, you ought to be ashamed. After all, Su Yi wouldn’t come here for revenge if he wasn’t convinced he could kill you.”
River Ancestor Sparrow had nothing to say to that.
Ying Qi laughed. “More importantly, he still doesn’t know I exist. If he did, it’s hard to say whether he’d rush to seek revenge.”
The people of the Eternal Heavens Domain thought Su Yi acted with abandon. They thought he wasn’t afraid of anything.
But by now, Ying Qi knew better. Su Yi was brave, but not foolhardy, and he didn’t really act without reservations.
If Su Yi were really as fearless as people said, wouldn’t he have tried to settle things with the Heavenly Sovereigns by now?
But he hadn’t, for the simple reason that he did have reservations. He knew he was no match for the Heavenly Sovereigns in his current state.
“Do you know why I left your head intact?” said Ying Qi, suddenly turning his attention to River Ancestor Bai Mang.
Her eyes were full of hatred, but she didn’t say a word.
Ying Qi chuckled and held her head aloft. “The Destiny Demons all know that I, Ying Qi, have two hobbies: collecting heroes’ gallbladders and beauties’ heads.
“You have unyielding pride, and you never once submitted to me. That’s what makes you a true beauty, the type they write about in history books. It’s also what makes you just barely worthy... of becoming one of my trophies.”