âMother, please calm down. Donât let your anger damage your health.â Su Boning looked at his mother in concern.
You Qingzhiâs eyes were hollow, as if sheâd lost her soul. The shock had left her utterly dispirited.
âEarlier, for the sake of disposing of Su Yi, the little beast, I requested aid from the family. Your cousin, You Xinglin, and Li Changning were the first to come to my aid. The result? Both fell prey to that little beast.â
You Qingzhi muttered, âNow, heâs killed even your second uncle. How can I not blame myself? Going forward, how am I to face my clansmen?â
Her tone was bitter and downcast, and her voice was hoarse.
When he learned what had happened on Nine Millet Mountain, Su Boningâs heart filled with alarm and indignation too, but he now had no choice but to suppress it and focus on comforting his mother.
âMother, the heavens havenât fallen. Donât forget that we still have Father! Thereâs no way heâll let that bastard Su Yi off!â Su Boning gnashed his teeth.
âYour fatherâŠâ You Qingzhiâs hollow gaze shifted slightly. She was instantly energized, like a drowning woman grasping at straws. âThatâs right! Your father is still here. With his methods, never mind killing Su Yi; if he wanted to, he could effortlessly dominate the entire Great Zhou!â
âCome on! Letâs go see him!â With that, You Qingzhi rose and walked outside.
Dominate the entire Great Zhou? Is Father really that amazing? Su Boning was inwardly a bit confused. Â
He was Su Hongliâs son, but even after all these years, he had no idea what level Su Hongliâs strength had reached. All he knew was that ten years ago, his fatherâs name had once shaken the entire country. They said he was the most mysterious of the Ten Great Xiantian Martial Ancestors, and just like Hong Shenshang, he was honored as one of the Twin Ramparts of the Great Zhou.
As for the rest? Su Boning had no clue.
But from his motherâs words, Su Boning keenly picked up on something. It seemed that his long-secluded father was most likely even stronger than his uncle, You Tianhong!
âŠâŠ
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Su Hongli rubbed the spot between his eyes as he looked at the furious, grief-stricken You Qingzhi. He couldnât help but laugh, âYou thought you were clever, didnât you?â
It was just a few words, but they were like a knife, stabbing You Qingzhi right in the heart.
She quivered from head to toe, her face pallid. âHongli, I was acting in the Su Familyâs best interests. You⊠How can you chastise me like this?â
As she spoke, she burst into tears, which made her look even more desolate and bereft.
âYou did this for the Su Family?â Su Hongli said coldly. âNo, you did this because you were jealous. You were jealous that my unworthy child, Su Yi, was stronger than Boning. You were worried that Iâd change my mind and accept the unfilial wretch, or worse, make him my heir instead. Am I right?â
You Qingzhiâs entire body went rigid, and her expression shifted erratically.Â
âGo on.â Su Hongli had no interest in any further conversation, so he waved her away.
You Qingzhiâs heart surged with intense bitterness. She defiantly raised her head and met her husbandâs gaze. âHongli, all I want to know is this: just how do you plan to dispose of Su Yi? All I want is a clear answer!â
Su Hongliâs brow furrowed slightly, but in the end, he suppressed his displeasure and uttered just one word: âDeath.â
His tone was so flat that there was no discernable trace of emotion.
However, although it was just one word, You Qingzhi smiled. She felt as if a massive boulder had been lifted from her heart, and she relaxed completely.
She wiped the tears from her face, then turned and left.
Su Hongli watched her leave. He couldnât help but shake his head. âDonât tell me my attitude wasnât obvious enough already?â
It seemed his interest was waning.
The Daoist elder said lightly, âConcern leads to emotional turmoil. The Fourth Lady of the House has lost both her nephew and her elder brother to Su Yi; itâs understandable that sheâd forget herself.â
Su Hongli waved dismissively; he had no interest in lingering on the subject. âDaoist Brother, tell me your analysis of the battle.â
The elder fell briefly silent, then said, âThe boy is terrifying indeed.â
âTerrifying?â When he heard that word coming from the elder, Su Hongliâs brow furrowed slightly. âMight you explain in further detail?â
The elder thought back to the battle on Nine Millet Mountain, and pondered out loud, âI imagine that whatever we saw, Su Yi didnât mind us seeing. What truly fills my heart with dread is whatever strength heâs still hiding.â
He paused to gather his thoughts, then continued, âHeâs in the Grandmaster Realm, yet he already has divine sense, mastery of the charm of the Dao, and he controls spiritual Dao Light. Furthermore, his attainments in the Dao of the Sword far surpass Earthly Immortals. I recognized these powers in him, one by one.
âI trust that the state preceptor, Shi Fengliu, Lonely River, and the others picked up on them too. However, I dare say with certainty that none of them could discern just how much power Su Yi has left in reserve.
âBut then, if that were all it was, it wouldnât matter. Who doesnât keep a few cards in reserve?â
Su Hongli nodded, his expression tranquil. âPlease, continue.â
The elderâs eyes flashed. âBut Su Yi is different. Heâs breaking through too quickly! When he left the Imperatorial Provincial Capital, he was only a second-level Grandmaster. Less than twenty days have passed, but heâs already a peak fourth-level Inner Furnace Realm cultivator!
âFellow Daoist, as Iâm sure youâre aware, every time someone like Su Yi rises to another level, his combat strength is sure to evolve to a shocking degree. From this, I can predict that by the time the fourth rolls around, heâll have already reached the fifth level of the Grandmaster Realm!Â
âAt the peak of the Inner Furnace Realm, the five elements are fully realized, and they circulate as one. His cultivation, physique, and soul will all undergo an unimaginable metamorphosis.
âThat in turn means that Su Yi will be far stronger than he was today, when he killed You Tianhong.â The elder sighed. âAnd those are only the variables I could deduce.â
Su Hongli fell silent. âThat really is an unpredictable variable. Was there anything else worth noting?â His tone was calm as ever, but there was a hint of solemnity on his brow.
When he heard that Su Yi killed You Tianhong, surprise rippled through Su Hongliâs heart. Even he had to admit that heâd underestimated Su Yiâs strength.
Only now did Su Hongli see the âunworthy descendantâ heâd loathed for over a decade in a new light. He could no longer simply dismiss him.
It was a rather strange feeling.
Imagine a monkey that, to date, had done nothing but jump around, only to suddenly reveal enough power to overturn the heavens. It was surprising, but more than that, it left others with no choice but to restrain their earlier contempt and loathing. Monkey it may be, but youâd still have to treat it seriously.Â
The Daoist let out a long sigh. âI suspect that Su Yi has an extremely terrifying secret treasure on him!â
âSo thatâs really the case? He has a⊠secret treasure on him too?â Su Hongliâs eyes flashed with a strange light.
His use of the word âtooâ provided ample food for thought.
The elderâs expression was suddenly grave. His gaze was distant as he thought back to the duel. âWhen he fought You Tianhong, I attempted to capture a trace of his aura, then use the Celestial Compass to see what I could deduceâŠâ
Su Hongli immediately looked interested.Â
The Celestial Compass!
This was an extremely mysterious, ancient treasure.
So long as you could find even a trace of somethingâs aura, you could use the compass to perform various divinations. This enabled you to discern the source of the auraâs secrets and true nature. It was highly mystical.
Although no one knew it, over the years, the elder had used the power of the Celestial Compass to make numerous deductions on Su Hongliâs behalf, uncovering countless deeply-hidden secrets!
From this, theyâd learned much about the Great Zhouâs Eight Great Yao Mountains, as well as the impending Radiant Epoch. Theyâd also resolved numerous cultivation-related doubts.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Celestial Compass was an unparalleled treasure!
âDaoist Brother, why arenât you saying anything?â Su Hongliâs eyebrows shot up. He could tell that something was a bit off about the elderâs expression.
âFellow Daoist, please take a look for yourself.â The old man grimaced and took out a round, smooth bronze object that looked like a compass. It was a treasure mottled with the vicissitudes of life.
The treasureâs surface was engraved with moons, suns, and stars, as well as totems of flowers, birds, bugs, and fish. The rim was inlaid with detailed glyphs, while a blood-red spirit pearl was in its center, like the pupil of an eye.
When activated, the totems and glyphs would surge with an inscrutable and mysterious formation diagram, like a pattern of stars. It was extremely subtle and profound.
Whatever truths and mysteries the compass determined were reflected in the pupil-like, crimson spiritual pearl at its center.
This was the Celestial Compass.
The blood-red spirit pearl and its center was called the Celestial Pearl.
But now, a hairline fracture had appeared on the surface of the Celestial Compass!
When he saw this, Su Hongliâs pupils constricted. His habitual mask of calm finally cracked.
It seemed he was stunned. He couldnât believe his eyes!
It was extremely rare to see such an expression on the head of the Su Familyâs face;Â he could no longer keep his cool.
The atmosphere was instantly tense and heavy.
After a long time, Su Hongli finally calmed himself down. He rubbed the spot between his eyes and said, âYouâre saying that whatever treasure the boyâs carrying, itâs strong enough to stop even the Celestial Compass?â
The Daoist elder nodded. âThat seems to be the case.â
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âIt seems I really did underestimate the unfilial whelp.â Su Hongliâs eyes flashed, his gaze heavy and deep. âBut I truly donât understand. Where did his treasure come from? Donât tell meâŠâ
He suddenly thought of something, and his expression instantly darkened. His aura turned utterly cold and terrifying.
The elderâs eyelids twitched, and he said, âFellow Daoist, do you suspect itâs a treasure Ye Yufei left Su Yi?â
âI canât think of any other possible explanation.â Su Hongli took a deep breath, his gaze imposing. âIâve long since wondered about this. Given her temperament, how could that bitch not have left anything in reserve? Yet even after she dropped dead, I couldnât find anything of note among her possessions. Now, it seems whatever cards she left behind are in my unworthy sonâs hands!â
This was a rare display of anger, in stark contrast with his typical ease and utter composure. His face brimmed with incomparably terrifying murderous intent.
âFellow Daoist, please remain calm. For now, thatâs only conjecture,â urged the elderly Daoist.
Su Hongli took a deep breath. Suddenly, he turned and stared directly at the old man. âDaoist Brother, the power my unfilial son has displayed is such that I can no longer afford to disregard him. Youâd best prepare yourself.â
Beneath the weight of Su Hongliâs gaze, the old man visibly stiffened, and his expression shifted erratically.
A long time passed before he finally nodded and said in a low voice, âFellow Daoist, rest assured. I knew this day would come sooner or later, and Iâve long since prepared for it.â
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