https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-741-Annihilating-the-Bodhisattvas-the-Immortal-Venerables-Flee/13466026/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-743-Farewell-to-Nanyang-the-Road-of-Escape/13466292/
Chapter 742: When in Poverty, Cultivate Virtue Alone
Chapter 742: When in Poverty, Cultivate Virtue Alone
"Haaahh—"
Patriarch Shen Mountain fell from the cloud sea, a Great Emptiness Immortal, yet he was now gasping for breath like a mere mortal. The main reason was fear rather than exhaustion.
Having cultivated for so long in the Great Southern Continent, he was well-versed in the secrets of Mount Sumeru.
Yet, he had no idea when such a terrifying deity had emerged.
The scene of the Bodhisattvas being slaughtered to the last still haunted Patriarch Shen Mountain, lingering in his mind. The young man had shown no emotion, let alone any sense of camaraderie.
Thinking of this, he shuddered with dread.
Patriarch Jade Pool was in a similar state, barely managing to steady her nerves before she couldn't resist glancing back.
Confirming that the black-robed figure had not pursued them, she clenched her fingers tightly, only to find her body already weak and sore.
"They're all dead..."
Patriarch Jade Pool retracted her gaze, her voice trembling.
"One survived."
Patriarch Shen Mountain swallowed hard. "To escape from that person, even with the Old Ancestor of Shen Xu sacrificing himself, the Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens should be proud."
Indeed, when those four magical artifacts fell, the Great Emptiness Immortal's heart was filled with despair.
To put it bluntly, his life today was saved purely by the treasures bestowed by the Northern Continent and the unexpected appearance of the South King. Without either, he would have been obliterated just like the Bodhisattvas.
"Now what?"
Patriarch Shen Mountain, lost in thought, could only turn his gaze to the old woman beside him.
"Now what?"
Patriarch Jade Pool gritted her teeth, her frustration evident. "Do you think the Great Southern Continent can still tolerate you?"
Having inadvertently witnessed so much, once the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Bodhisattva was free, the first thing he would do would be to eliminate any potential threats.
The mere thought of facing that black-robed figure again made Patriarch Jade Pool feel a chill. The overwhelming oppression he exerted left her with no will to resist, a feeling she would never forget.
Let alone competing for incense offerings with him.
"Your meaning is... to flee to the Northern Continent?"
Patriarch Shen Mountain hesitated, a look of reluctance on his face, clearly unwilling to abandon the rich resources of the Southern Continent. But thinking of the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Bodhisattva, he sighed in resignation. "Such a vast Southern Continent, all for one person to devour."
"Perhaps not."
Patriarch Jade Pool's tone changed. Under the puzzled gaze of the old man, she narrowed her eyes. "When did the imperial court gain the strength to repel the South King? Even with the few old experts we know, even with the Imperial Qi's blessing, can they stand a single blow from the South King?"
"You mean there are other powerful figures in the Southern Continent?"
Patriarch Shen Mountain frowned, having never heard of such beings during his time in the Great Southern Continent.
"A powerhouse comparable to the Nine Nine Transformations, how could they appear so quietly? They must eat, train, and leave some traces... unless they were sent by the Divine Dynasty."
"The Divine Dynasty has no spare resources to care for a peaceful Great Southern Continent."
Patriarch Jade Pool shook her head. "I used to think it was impossible, but look at recent events. Whether it's the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Bodhisattva, Jin Chan, or the Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens who escaped the Dragon's grasp, they have all advanced rapidly, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain."
"Don't forget, last time by the North River, the Dragon Subduing and the Grand Emptiness were still Fourth-Grade Cultivators."
"I've heard that during great calamities, exceptional individuals always emerge. I used to dismiss it as nonsense, thinking the so-called calamity was just a plot by a few old experts. But now... I believe it. These young people have surpassed us in a short time, defying all logic."
Perhaps the aftermath of the ordeal had made Patriarch Jade Pool's thoughts clearer.
"Does the Divine Dynasty have similar figures?" Patriarch Shen Mountain understood her meaning and asked in surprise.
"Yes."
Patriarch Jade Pool nodded firmly. "I once set up a plan for my disciple Tian Dong, intending to make him famous in the Southern Continent at Pine Wind Manor. However, someone else reaped the benefits. That person is called Nanyang. Around the same time, he, at the Fourth-Grade level, killed eight same-level great demons and dozens of Taiyi Demon Immortals, leaving no survivors."
"The experiences of these young people are truly terrifying, far beyond what our generation could achieve."
"If there is truly a calamity and destiny, and our two sects have produced such extraordinary individuals, it stands to reason that the Divine Dynasty should also have figures capable of matching them."
"If he had been the one to repel the South King... that Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Bodhisattva might regret today's impulsiveness. The Southern Continent might not be so easily breached."
Jade Pool Patriarch let out a long sigh, smiling bitterly. "But no matter what, this great calamity belongs to them. If we try to intervene, it’s as good as courting death. We should hurry back to the Northern Continent and focus on preserving our lives."
"How did it come to this..."
Shen Mountain Patriarch stood rooted to the spot, somewhat dazed.
Not long ago, they had been reluctant to personally get involved, thinking that sending a few disciples would suffice to secure their position and wait for the harvest.
How much time had passed? Despite their supreme cultivation, they had been reduced to a state where their lives were in peril, and they had been driven out, losing even the right to participate.
This was the true face of the great calamity, not just a grand spectacle as they had once imagined.
No one could escape.
...
Amidst the lush mountains and towering cliffs, Shen Yi sat quietly against the barren cliff face, eyes closed, savoring the hard-won peace.
On his left, the small Taisui, a blob of flesh, wriggled slowly. On his right, the silkworm rapidly flapped its six translucent wings.
"Lord, why do we go through all this trouble?"
The South King lay at his feet. Since transforming into the Zhen Stone, the once-proud First Demon King of the Southern Continent had become much more humble and low-key.
Beyond the efficacy of the demon essence, the last battle it had fought in life had given it a deeper understanding of this seemingly calm and reserved young man.
If it had to describe him with one word, the South King could only say "terrifying."
At the Six Six Transformations stage, to face a great demon of the Nine Nine Transformations and still instill a sense of despair—such a feat was truly frightening.
The cultivation techniques and magical treasures were secondary; the most crucial factors were the owner's rich combat experience, sharp instincts, and decisive nature.
But what puzzled the South King the most was how, after reaching the peak of the Nine Nine Transformations, this ruthless and fierce individual had deliberately let the cultivators of the San Xian Sect go free.
"Why?"
Shen Yi lazily opened his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then chuckled bitterly. "Of course, it’s to save our lives."
Despite only having practiced the Dao for a little over a decade, he was still the same ordinary person, capable of making decisive decisions and feeling fear afterward—these two aspects did not conflict.
Slaying the South King and a group of Demon Lords cut off Mount Sumeru’s retreat.
In other words, from now on, no great demon could be chosen to lead the charge for the two sects, breaking through the defenses of the Great Southern Continent.
To swallow the Southern Continent, they would have to wait until the affairs of the other three continents were settled, and then the demons from there would gradually encroach on the south... It sounded like just a matter of waiting, which wouldn’t be much of a concern for those lofty deities and immortals.
In reality, if that were to happen, Mount Sumeru would lose all initiative. The fat prize that they had monopolized would have to be shared with the San Xian Sect.
Such a grave mistake would inevitably lead to a thorough investigation by the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation.
When several Bodhisattvas gathered to discuss the matter, it would be clear who was at fault.
So Shen Yi could not allow that to happen.
These Bodhisattvas must die here.
Even so, the problem wouldn’t be truly resolved. The Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation would still investigate, but the process would be slightly slower.
Moreover, after slaying Jin Chan, the disciple of the Future Buddha, his crimes would become even more severe.
But for Shen Yi, it was like having too many mosquitoes; they no longer itched. He was already facing a death sentence, so a little more severity didn’t matter.
What was crucial was to buy some time to maneuver.
"The identity of the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Bodhisattva can no longer be used."
Shen Yi gently massaged his temples.
Even with eight mouths and the best acting skills, it would be hard to explain why the Southern Continent hadn’t been breached, yet all the Bodhisattvas were dead.
In this situation, he had to maintain his identity within the San Xian Sect. The only way to preserve his life under the auspices of one great sect was to seek refuge with another.
This was why he had gone to great lengths to let those two patriarchs go.
A new disciple from the Southern Continent seeking refuge in the Northern Continent with the San Xian Sect—his words alone wouldn’t be enough to gain trust, let alone infiltrate the inner circle.
At such times, a witness was needed.
He needed someone else to speak on his behalf, to explain what had happened in the Southern Continent.
Those two, after witnessing such carnage, would inevitably flee to the place they felt safest.
If everything went smoothly, his life would be temporarily safe. How long it would last depended on when the people from Mount Sumeru found him and when he could break through to the Second Grade.
As long as one breaks through to the Second Grade and achieves Great Liberation, they will be immortal and indestructible...
“Master, shall we set off for the North Continent now?”
Old Ancestor of Shen Xu had been with Shen Yi longer and clearly had a better grasp of the situation.
The other party had not only thwarted Mount Sumeru’s grand plans but also killed the Future Buddha’s disciple. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Bodhisattva of Great Liberation came after them, or even if a True Buddha personally suppressed them.
The vast Great Southern Continent offered no safe haven for their master.
“Not yet.”
Shen Yi slowly stood up, stretched his body, and ended his brief rest: “I plan to visit the Imperial City first.”
Rushing into other places like a headless fly would only invite trouble.
Before that, it was essential to gather necessary information, much like when he had sent Qinghua to the heavens. It would be best to have a reliable source of news, one that could help foresee many problems.
When it came to controlling information across the Four Continents, no one could match the Red Dust Lord.
Shen Yi had already given up hope of receiving any rewards from the Divine Dynasty.
This fallen household of the three continents was predictably impoverished, and even if they sold everything, they might not be able to gather enough Imperial Qi gold pills to match his contributions.
However, if they could provide him with information and logistical support in recognition of his achievements, that would be quite beneficial.
In addition...
Shen Yi pressed his lips together.
After resolving the issues in the Great Southern Continent, he was no longer the naive demon slayer he once was.
Jin Chan’s words, though seemingly heartless, provided a crucial piece of information.
Seven days, wipe out nine prefectures, and leave three percent alive.
The most important part was this “three percent.” Given Jin Chan’s character, this was certainly not out of mercy.
This number was likely the limit that the two sects could accept.
Without any restrictions, if the Divine Dynasty’s people were wiped out entirely, who would provide the Imperial Qi? Even after the great calamity ended and there was ample time for the people to recover, some seeds of life must be left behind.
In other words, even in the worst-case scenario, with the Divine Dynasty covered in corpses and the land desolate, at least three percent would remain.
Shen Yi wasn’t praising the Two Sects for their restraint; he was simply reminded of the Human Emperor, whom he had only met once.
All the current events could be traced back to the Human Emperor’s establishment of the Immortal Department.
But now it seemed that this department had no real significance.
Its strongest members were only at the Great Emptiness Immortal level, and they were the least promising of that rank. Once they broke through to the Second Grade and achieved Great Liberation, they would have transcended the mortal and immortal realms. Who would be willing to serve the mortal court?
Under the control of a group of Great Emptiness Immortals with no future, the Human Emperor’s grand proclamation to suppress the Immortal Court now seemed absurd and laughable.
Unless the once-mighty ruler was a madman, it could only mean one thing... the Human Emperor had another purpose.
The Demon-Slaying Bureau was controlled by a group of Third-Grade cultivators, a rank that was intriguing.
This level was just enough to resist the Two Sects but also to ensure that the gods, buddhas, and immortals would be drawn into the conflict, preventing the Two Sects from achieving their goals with just a group of young disciples.
What was the point of this?
When the gods, buddhas, and immortals were drawn into the conflict, and the Four Continents were successfully conquered and the population reduced to a certain limit, the remaining forces would likely turn on each other, fighting for the offerings of the people.
To what extent they would fight... Shen Yi couldn’t even begin to predict.
As the saying goes, the observer sees clearly. Like the old patriarchs back then, each thought they would be safe, but once they were personally involved, perhaps their disciples would die, or their fellow disciples would be killed. Once they were all driven to madness, even those with bright futures might act out of rage.
As for the Divine Dynasty, which was already in a dire state and couldn’t afford any further damage, it could now remain on the sidelines, perhaps even receiving protection from the Two Sects.
“Hiss.”
At this thought, a chill ran through Shen Yi’s heart.
He suddenly considered a possibility.
That the Human Emperor had, from the very beginning, been prepared to sacrifice seventy percent of the populace.
Just the thought of it was chilling.
But what was the purpose of such a great sacrifice?
What reward could be so tempting that a Human Emperor would stake the entire realm on it?
“...”
Shen Yi usually didn’t care much about matters that didn’t involve him.
But now, he really wanted to see the Human Emperor again.
To see if the man was a delusional madman.
If not...
Then he wanted to see that “purpose” with his own eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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