Chapter 459 - 426: Chiyou, the Approaching Crisis
’Something like that... it’s not very likely, is it?’
After all, even he wouldn’t have known about the heaven-shaking opportunity hidden in the Day Flame Sea Region without the guidance of a benefactor!
’He most likely doesn’t know about this opportunity.’
’And even if he did, at his fledgling Golden Core Realm, he could hardly pose a threat...’
Combat prowess and cultivation realm were two different things.
If one’s realm wasn’t high enough, some things were simply out of reach.
After a moment of contemplation, Chiyou came to a conclusion and breathed a small sigh of relief.
However, Su Ye’s rise still instilled a sense of urgency in the naturally suspicious Chiyou!
He realized the current situation was not as comfortably under his control as he had imagined... an accident could happen at any moment!
Especially since...
’The Flame Alliance is backed by the True Treasure Pavilion!’
’A Nascent Soul-level power!’
’A chamber of commerce that has existed for thousands of years, with shipping routes all over the Yaoguang Islands. With their financial power, it would be perfectly normal for them to find some clues over time...’
’If that’s the case...’
A sharp glint flashed in Chiyou’s eyes.
’Indecisiveness will only bring disaster!’
’I can’t delay any longer!’
Crushing the Flame Alliance with the utmost speed was the only correct course of action!
Even if it aroused suspicion, it couldn’t be helped!
It was time to cut the Gordian knot!
With these thoughts running through his mind, the old demon gathered himself, nodded, and spoke nonchalantly.
"I understand."
"Xuetu, for the time being, do your best to maintain the stalemate. Just focus on tying up Yehai and Shenxiao."
"Yingshi, come to my location. I have a task for you."
"If I may ask, Cave Master, what are you planning?"
Yingshi was taken aback. Chiyou was currently facing off against Zuo Hongtu and Yunchong River, the two great cultivators of the Flame Alliance!
’Could it be...’
"Mm," Chiyou grunted, sensing her speculation and nodding in affirmation.
"That’s right. I’m preparing to make my move and eliminate those two stumbling blocks, Zuo and Yun..."
Chiyou said faintly.
’So it’s true!’
Xuetu and Yingshi exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised!
These two great cultivators of the Flame Alliance had been entangled with the Candle Python Cave for years since the war began; they were by no means weak.
Aside from the very beginning of the war, when they’d used the help of the aberrant dragon-men to severely injure Yunchong River, they had achieved no other victories.
And now...
’Slay them?’
Disbelief instinctively rose in the hearts of the two Golden Core cultivators.
However... knowing Chiyou, the fact that the old demon would say such a thing proved he was at least sixty to seventy percent confident!
HISS...
Curiosity stirred in Xuetu’s and Yingshi’s minds... ’Where did the Cave Master get this confidence?’
But Chiyou remained perfectly composed.
Clearly, he had no intention of explaining.
After giving one more instruction, his image dissolved into light and disappeared from the jade slip.
The two Candle Python Cave Golden Core cultivators exchanged a look and could only suppress their thoughts and follow his orders.
...
「Several months passed.」
Raindrops carrying the scent of the tide fell with the sea breeze, soaking the ground.
Tens of thousands of bug-beast corpses were piled up like mountains. Their bright red blood snaked across the ground like crimson serpents, merging with the rainwater to flow like a river.
DRIP.
A cold raindrop slid down Su Ye’s face.
A flicker of realization crossed his eyes, as if he were waking from a dream, and his senses returned to him.
A sudden inspiration struck Su Ye.
He summoned his panel, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes as he glanced at it.
[Laws: Netherworld (100%), Erosion (19%), Annihilation (20%)]
"Success!"
Joy bloomed in Su Ye’s heart.
After the battle at Yu Lan Island, the Candle Python Cave’s offensive had gradually slowed.
There were no more bug tides numbering in the tens of millions, but smaller-scale attacks of several hundred thousand were still common.
They occurred almost every few days!
These small-scale attacks, in addition to the bug-beasts, also included aberrant dragon-men and evil cultivators from the inner sea, posing a significant threat to any Luotian Array without a Golden Core cultivator guarding it.
Therefore, Su Ye had volunteered his services.
Over the past few months, he had fought across thousands of miles along the Yu Lan Island front, reinforcing the Luotian Array points.
In dozens of battles, he killed nine Tier Three beings, slew fourteen million bug-beasts, destroyed twelve Flesh Nests, and dealt a heavy blow to the Candle Python Cave forces on the Yu Lan Island front!
His gains were enormous!
The number of merit points in Su Ye’s Token had reached an astronomical figure!
He estimated that the resources one could exchange for with this amount would be enough to nurture a Golden Core cultivator... and that was even accounting for failure and death rates!
At the same time,
this slaughter also allowed his profession level to soar once more!
[Profession: Pastor of the Sea lv.15 (2369/150000)]
[Profession Stat Bonus: Damage +77, Protection +57, Evasion +44, Mystery +44]
[Pastor of the Sea lv.15]!
Fighting felt great!
’Ever since coming to this world, I’ve never had such a satisfying and easy time harvesting experience points. Those good brothers from the Candle Python Cave are truly my benefactors!’
His Mystery stat, as high as 44 points, combined with the incessant slaughter, had made comprehending the Law of Annihilation incredibly simple!
His comprehension of this law, even without a Divine Intent, had surprisingly surpassed that of the Law of Erosion!
It had reached 20%.
Meeting the condition for advancement.
’Speaking of which, my comprehension of the Law of Erosion is only off by 1%.’
’I remember the cooldown for the Bright Moon Reflecting Sea Map should be about over. Another viewing should be enough to close that 1% gap, right?’
Su Ye mused.
The increase in his Mystery stat had boosted the speed at which he comprehended laws in every aspect.
’Does that mean I can break through to the Mid-stage Golden Core in a few days at the latest?’
A strange light flickered in Su Ye’s eyes.
After all, it hadn’t even been two years since he’d reached the Golden Core Realm!
It was too fast!
It was an insane pace!
Like he was using a cheat!
’No, this is the culmination of long accumulation!’
Su Ye frowned, retorting in his mind.
’I have a Nine-Method Golden Core, something unprecedented throughout the ages. What’s wrong with advancing a little faster in the Golden Core Realm?’
Besides, for geniuses with outstanding comprehension, grasping concepts quickly was normal. Their progress only slowed because their Magical Power accumulation couldn’t keep up with their rapid enlightenment.
’But I have the Spiritual Spring of the Far South Continent, so my Magical Power accumulation can be accomplished in a single step.’
’This promotion speed is perfectly normal.’
’Considering I control an entire continent, possess a panel, have a stable foundation, and inexhaustible resources, it would be abnormal if my cultivation was slow, wouldn’t it?’
Su Ye chuckled to himself as he considered this.
"Mr. Yehai, this junior has prepared a victory banquet for you..."
Not far away, several Crystallization Realm guardians from the fortress saw that Su Ye had finished his meditation. They approached cautiously and invited him with utmost respect.
"I don’t have time."
Su Ye gave them a cursory glance and refused.
He had no interest in such needless formalities.
"However, prepare a Seclusion Chamber for me with a Tier Four Spirit Gathering Array, and a hot spring..."
Su Ye ordered casually, requesting a quiet room be set up according to his usual routine.
He planned to strike while the iron was hot, entering seclusion for a period to meditate on the [Bright Moon Reflecting Sea Map].
With this, he would complete his comprehension of the ’Erosion’ law and could then break through to the Mid-stage Golden Core!
"Yes!"
The Crystallization Realm cultivators nodded repeatedly, their attitude eager and attentive.
This Yehai’s momentum was unstoppable. He had clearly established his own faction within the Flame Alliance. Fawning over such a great figure was an opportunity in itself!
...
The Crystallization Realm cultivators moved quickly.
Before long, Su Ye’s quiet room was ready.
The environment was serene, with silvery-white walls, and the Spiritual Qi concentration reached as high as Tier Four Mid Stage, leaving him quite satisfied.
Su Ye bathed, changed his clothes, soaked in the hot spring to wash away his mental fatigue, consumed a Calming Heart Enlightenment Elixir, and took out the [Bright Moon Reflecting Sea Map], immersing himself in it!
"Erosion... vast sea..."
The process of comprehending a law was, in truth, quite tedious.
But for Su Ye, his extremely high Mystery stat allowed him to clearly feel his progress every time he observed a Divine Intent.
This tangible progress was quite intoxicating.
Even though Su Ye didn’t have a personality defined by outstanding perseverance and single-minded devotion to the Dao, his years of cultivation had still forged a firm Dao heart.
...
Su Ye entered secluded cultivation.
「Meanwhile.」
In a distant sea region, Chiyou stood on a deserted island, his expression placid.
Before him stood a Teleportation Array forged from black gold, its surface covered in complex array patterns.
He placed the last top-grade Spirit Stone into it.
HUMMM!
The Teleportation Array flashed with brilliant light.
Several figures appeared.