As he looked at the smiling young man seated across from him, the proprietor couldn’t keep his cool.

His chest heaved, as if he were trying to suppress his turbulent emotions.

Some time passed before he thudded back into his chair, picked up the jug of wine, and chugged.

Then, he let out a long, turbid breath and muttered, “That’s right. In this world, only you know about the barrier in my Dao heart, and that it’s trapped me for a long time…”

As he spoke, he examined Su Yi once more, his expression conflicted.

“Five hundred years ago, when word spread of your ‘death,’ I went mad with joy, and I got roaring drunk. Who’d have thought you weren’t dead after all, you old monster…”

Su Yi laughed and said calmly, “Had I died, with your ability, you never would’ve broken through your Dao Heart’s shackles. In the end, you have no choice but to beg for my help.”

The old man in front of him was called Shang Tianque, and he was a member of the Demon Ape Race. He was known as the Blood Slaughter Spirit Emperor.

But Su Yi was accustomed to calling him “old butcher.”

Tens of thousands of years ago, Shang Tianque was already old, and he had already long since traversed the far reaches of the Sea of Bitterness. He had a vicious disposition and explosive temperament, and he was famous as one of the Seven Devils of the Sea of Bitterness.

It was only when he encountered Su Yi far from shore in the Sea of Bitterness that Shang Tianque fell flat on his face.

At first, he mistook Su Yi for a fatty sheep, and he used the lure of non-existent good fortune to invite Su Yi on a treasure hunt.

Su Yi straightforwardly agreed.

In the end, at the ambush site Shang Tianque had prepared, Su Yi turned around and robbed the old butcher instead…

That was how the two of them had first met.

“‘Beg?’” After a moment’s silence, the old butcher sighed. “You’re not wrong. Although I’d just love it if you dropped dead, you old monster, I know full well that without you, I’ll most likely never break through the mental barrier shackling my Dao Heart.”

When he suffered a crushing defeat at Su Yi’s hands, he’d had mid-stage Profound Serenity cultivation. That loss had left a lingering shadow on his Dao Heart.

As a result, despite thirty-six thousand years, his cultivation hadn’t progressed in the slightest!

He’d attempted to break through these shackles on more than one occasion, but every attempt had ended in failure.

By now, the old butcher was fully aware that only the person who’d shackled him could free him; he needed Su Xuanjun.

Otherwise, this dark shadow would restrict his cultivation forever, and he’d never take so much as another step forward!

“Do you hate me?” asked Su Yi.

The old butcher’s expression shifted. Finally, he gnashed his teeth and said, “I do!”

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “Relax. I promised that sooner or later, I’d return your freedom, and I naturally won’t go back on my word.”

The old butcher snorted coldly. “If I didn’t trust your word, how could I have wasted tens of thousands of years here? How could I have eagerly awaited your return all this time, you old monster?”

His voice was full of unconcealed resentment.

Su Yi raised the jug of wine and filled his cup. “Enough. If you’re done venting, let’s get down to business.”

The old butcher was instantly enraged. “I’m not done venting yet! Thirty-six thousand years! Do you have any idea what it was like? I….”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Mm?”

The old butcher was instantly at a loss for words. His expression shifted, but in the end, he forced his complaints back down and snorted coldly. “Go ahead. What business do you have to discuss?”

Su Yi thought for a moment. “Earlier, you saw it too. The Ghost Serpents have descended into a bit of upheaval…”

Before Su Yi could finish, the old butcher said, “I only agreed to keep watch over the Falling Feather Spirit Emperor from the shadows. Even you told me not to get mixed up in the Ghost Serpents’ affairs. There was nothing wrong with my response tonight.”

It sounded as if he was afraid Su Yi would criticize him, so he seized the initiative to explain himself.

From this, it was clear just how dark a shadow Su Yi had left on the old butcher’s heart all those years ago…

Su Yi laughed. “I never said you’d done anything wrong.”

The old butcher visibly calmed down, and his icy, firm tone mellowed. “Good. Now I can relax.”

“Long story short, I need an assistant to quell the Ghost Serpents’ unrest.” Su Yi looked at the old butcher. “Are you willing to assist me?”

The old butcher muttered, “Old Monster Su, if you’re the one asking, how could I dare refuse?”

But then, he seemed to realize something, and he looked at Su Yi. “With your abilities, you should be able to flatten the entire Ghost Serpent Race with ease. Why do you need my help all of a sudden? Don’t tell me…?”

Su Yi nodded, not bothering to hide it. “As I’m sure you can see, I’m currently only in the Spiritual Revolution Realm. I’m nowhere near comparable to my former peak.”

“Is that so….?” The old butcher’s eyes flashed. “Doesn’t that mean that… a single movement of the finger and… I could crush you to death, you old monster?”

The atmosphere was suddenly inscrutable and stifled.

Su Yi raised the jug of wine, poured himself a cup, and sloshed the liquid around. He said flatly, “Why not go ahead and do it?”

The old butcher hesitated, his thin face full of uncertainty.

Were any other Spiritual Revolution cultivator to face an incomparably terrifying expert like the old butcher, their hearts would have long since started trembling, and they would have been overcome with unease.

But that didn’t apply to Su Yi.

His expression, mannerisms, and even his gaze didn’t waver in the slightest.

On the contrary, a sneer rife with mockery tugged at his lips, as if he were trying to provoke the old butcher.

The old butcher suddenly took a deep breath, then laughed coldly. “Back in the Sea of Bitterness, you played the part of a weakling, tricking me into thinking I’d happened upon a fatty sheep. But in the end, you turned around and bled me dry! Never mind that I lost every treasure I had on me; you even left a dark shadow on my heart, one I’ve yet to dispel even now!”

Here, his voice slowed, and he paused for emphasis between each word. “Do you really think… I’d fall for that again?”

He then raised his cup and sullenly took a drink.

“I’m truly only in the Spiritual Revolution Realm,” said Su Yi with complete honesty. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t come to you for aid.”

The old butcher laughed heartily. “I’m afraid a Spiritual Revolution Realm Su Xuanjun is stronger than even the world’s Emperors! I, Shang Tianque, am in no way stupid enough to knowingly walk into a death trap!”

Su Yi said softly, “Once I’ve resolved the Ghost Serpents’ unrest, I’ll help alleviate the shadow on your heart and return your freedom.”

The old butcher instantly fell silent.

Beneath the lamplight, the look on his thin face shifted erratically. He seemed excited, delighted, and eager, yet overcome with disbelief.

A long time passed before he lowered his head and stared at his cup. “Very well!”

Then, he raised his cup and drained it. He’d been stifled for thirty-six thousand years. Now, he was finally going to get the chance to vent his frustrations!

……

Meanwhile, beneath the same night sky.

The Ghost Serpents’ estate.

An ancient, thoroughly lamplit hall.

Ye Donghe sat there, his expression dark and icy. “You’re telling me you truly entrusted your Ancestral Jade Seal to an outsider’s care?”

He wore old-fashioned robes, and his temples were graying. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s.

Ye Donghe, the Third High Elder of the Ghost Serpents, was in the peak of the Profound Illumination Realm. One step further, and he’d enter Profound Serenity.

“That’s right,” said Ye Tianqu with a calm nod. He was seated off to the side.

Shortly after his return, and before he could find a member of the main lineage to ask for further information, he received orders to come see the third high elder.

That was what led up to this current scene.

Ye Tianqu had already made it clear that he didn’t have the Ancestral Jade Seal on him, as he’d already entrusted it to a friend.

He offered no further details.

Bang!

Ye Donghe slammed the table, then shouted, “Ye Tianqu, how brazen are you? The Ancestral Jade Seals are among the most central treasures of the Ghost Serpent Race. How could you entrust one to an outsider?”

His voice shook the entire hall, and his terrifying, imposing presence swept forth like a wave. 

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".

This increased the pressure on Ye Tianqu many times over, and he even felt a bit suffocated.

But he nonetheless remained fearless. “Ancestor Ye Yu is merely trapped in the Dark Capital, and the grand high elder has already gone there to investigate. I see no need to inaugurate a new leader.”

Ye Donghe’s expression was increasingly icy. “I have just one question for you: who is currently in possession of the Ancestral Jade Seal? And where is that outsider now?”

Ye Tianqu took a deep breath, then rose. “I have nothing to report!”

With that, he turned and was just about to leave.

Ye Donghe’s gaze was sinister. “If you don’t give me a clear answer, you’re not permitted to leave!”

Boom! 

The power of a formation surged from the hall’s four walls, sealing off the exit.

Ye Tianqu’s expression changed dramatically.

But he quickly calmed down and said, “The old-timers of the main lineage already know that I’ve come to see you. If anything happens to me, how will you explain yourself?”

Ye Donghe said indifferently, “You took it upon yourself to give the Ancestral Jade Seal to an outsider. That’s a violation of the clan’s rules. Even if I imprison you, who will dare accuse me of misconduct?”

Ye Tianqu sighed to himself. Su Yi had warned him about this upon their arrival in Tianya City, almost as if he had precognition.

It was true that the Ghost Serpents forbade killing each other.

But if Ye Donghe wanted to deal with Ye Tianqu, all he needed was an excuse to imprison him!

Ye Tianqu took a deep breath and said with determination, “Even if you imprison me, there’s no way I’ll tell you the seal’s whereabouts!”

Ye Donghe snorted coldly. “Even if you won’t speak, someone else surely will. Guards! Imprison Ye Tianqu in the dungeons!”

Ye Tianqu’s heart shook, and his expression finally shifted.

He wasn’t worried about himself, but rather, that Tu Yong or Ye Boheng would leak word of the Ancestral Jade Seal’s whereabouts!

That very night.

Word that Ye Tianqu had entrusted the Ancestral Jade Seal to an outsider without prior authorization, and that the third high elder had imprisoned him spread throughout the Ghost Serpents, causing an enormous uproar.

Almost immediately after Ye Boheng and Tu Yong heard the news, the third high elder’s subordinates led them away.

“Don’t be afraid, child,” Ye Donghe said to Ye Boheng, sounding like a gentle and benevolent elder. “I’m just going to search your soul. Once I’ve found my answers, I’ll naturally let you go.”

Ye Boheng’s face paled, and he said in a quavering voice, “Ancestor, I…”

Before he could finish, he let out a low, pained grunt and lost consciousness.

A little while later, Ye Donghe withdrew his divine sense. His brow furrowed. Su Yi? Auspicious Cloud Tower?

Ye Boheng’s memories hadn’t contained any other information about Su Yi.

The reason for this was simple. Back on the Cloud Tower Treasure Ship, shortly after Xiang Tian’s true body appeared, Ye Boheng was knocked unconscious. He had no idea what had happened after that. 

All Ye Donghe had learned was that the young man in blue was called Su Yi, and that he’d headed straight to Auspicious Cloud Tower upon arriving in Tianya City!

“The proprietor of Auspicious Cloud Tower is no simple character…” Ye Donghe’s expression shifted erratically. 

Finally, his gaze landed on Tu Yong. “In a bit, I need you to go to Auspicious Cloud Tower and do something for me.”