Chapter 3060 - Qualified to Submit

The duel ended in a flash, and there was no longer any sign of River Ancestor Hu Chan. It was as if he’d evaporated into thin air!

Who could have anticipated this?

Heaven and earth fell silent. Everything was dim on all sides.

The power of a River Ancestor still surged around Su Yi, lending him increased ferocity.

The way both his enemies and his allies looked at him shifted.

“No wonder. I heard rumors that Destiny’s Chosen had appeared a few years ago. So, it was you all along...” River Ancestor Luo Yu said solemnly.

He wouldn’t have been this afraid had Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan been there. On the contrary, he’d have had the confidence to compete with him.

But he wasn’t at all confident enough to face off against Destiny’s Chosen. River Ancestor Hu Chan’s misfortune was a vivid example of what might happen if he tried.

Destiny’s Chosen? The others’ hearts shook as they realized what was going on.

Throughout the ages, a mysterious rumor had circulated the River of Destiny. They said that he who controlled the Book of Destiny presided over the destinies of all denizens of the river!

That mysterious existence was known as Destiny’s Chosen.

There was no doubt about it. Su Yi had used the power of Destiny’s Chosen to suppress River Ancestor Hu Chan!

“Come on, then. It’s your turn.” Su Yi stood beneath the dome of heaven and gazed at the distant River Ancestor Luo Yu.

The seemingly youthful River Ancestor wasn’t as overtly aggressive as River Ancestor Hu Chan, but he’d been quite domineering earlier, too. He’d even said that it wouldn’t change a thing if Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan showed up.

But River Ancestor Luo Yu just looked exasperated. “Now that I know who you are, how could I be so foolish as to stand in your way?”

Everyone was stunned. River Ancestor Luo Yu is admitting defeat, just like that?

It was indeed unexpected, but when they considered what had happened to River Ancestor Hu Chan, everyone just about understood.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re the one who defeated River Ancestor Ji Dian and the others, right?” River Ancestor Luo Yu looked at Su Yi, a complicated look on his face.

This famous Immeasurable Realm sword cultivator had become Destiny’s Chosen, the one river denizens feared most!

The change in status was so enormous that it made River Ancestor Luo Yu’s heart shake.

Su Yi’s brow furrowed. “Submit to me immediately, and I wouldn’t mind answering your questions. If you refuse, fine, but quite nattering on and just come over to die already!”

He was so domineering that the onlookers couldn’t help but look askance at him, but none of them dared to say anything.

River Ancestor Hu Chan was brutal and tyrannical, yet even he had vanished in the throes of despair, still begging for help.

Who’d dare provoke Su Yi now?

“Submit?” River Ancestor Luo Yu just felt that this was an affront to his dignity. He couldn’t help but be enraged. “I admit that I’m no match for Destiny’s Chosen in a fight, but... if you think you can force me to submit to you, you’re insane!”

His voice was full of determination. This was the self-confidence of a River Ancestor.

A moment later, he took a deep breath. “How about we end this here? I guarantee that the hegemon of the Four Seas won’t...”

But before he could finish, Su Yi said, “There’s no way!”

River Ancestor Luo Yu furrowed his brow. “Must we fight to the death?”

Su Yi laughed. “A fight to the death? Are you worthy of that?”

He swept his gaze over Feng Ruhuo and the others, then said calmly, “Would you believe me if I said that I could single-handedly crush them and all four of their factions?”

Feng Ruhuo and the others’ hearts sank. Their expressions shifted erratically.

The River Ancestors were their greatest pillars of support. That was what gave them the confidence and foundations to clash with Heavenly Sovereign factions.

But now, even River Ancestors were no match for Su Yi. How could they possibly fight him?

Who would dare to disregard such a threat?

The worst part was that the founding ancestor of the Profound Phoenixes was now River Ancestor Luo Yu’s Dao Partner. Su Yi was thus threatening him where he was most vulnerable!

“Submit, and I can let bygones be bygones. Refuse, and you’ll just have to see whether or not I’m making empty threats!” Su Yi took out a jug of wine and had a sip. “You can call for help if you want. Weren’t there supposed to be four River Ancestors currently in Profound Phoenix territory? I’ve suppressed River Ancestor Hu Chan, but you aside, there should still be two left. Go ahead and call them over too; I can afford to wait.”

He spoke with the utmost confidence, like a ruler issuing a decree. Everyone who heard him felt invisible pressure bearing down on them!

River Ancestor Luo Yu’s expression darkened, while Feng Ruhuo and the others were completely flabbergasted. Their hearts sank.

They were targeting Crimson Kite Daoist Court to acquire a copy of their secret map. They would never have guessed they’d fall flat on their face like this, much less that they’d face a choice between submission and death!

The experts of Crimson Kite Daoist Court were all incomparably delighted. All of their nervousness and concern vanished, and all of them beamed.

This was satisfying, truly satisfying!

They wouldn’t have dared to cast aside all pretenses of cordiality like this even if Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan and Fei Yunzi had been here.

Yet now, Su Yi alone was enough to suppress all of their enemies’ bluster!

After a while, River Ancestor Luo Yu suppressed his fury and said, “This is a matter of the utmost importance. Might you permit us to return to discuss this with our allies?”

Su Yi nodded. “Yes. I’ll go with you.”

This time, River Ancestor Luo Yu was truly enraged. He said icily, “Su Yi, if you push us too far, it’ll only lead to mutual destruction. You might be able to bear that, but I can say with certainty that Crimson Kite Daoist Court...”

Boom!

Su Yi took a step forward, shaking heaven and earth. It was just one step, but Su Yi had directly invoked two divine abilities at once: Speaking Divine Writ and the Seal of Light.

River Ancestor Luo Yu finally experienced River Ancestor Hu Chan’s terror for himself. Both powers assailed his heart, severely weakening his cultivation base. Even his true name was under terrifying suppression.

It was as if he’d gone from a lofty ruler to a lowly mortal prisoner in a flash. He felt indescribably helpless.

Even though he was already on guard, and even though he was prepared to fight with all his might, the shock of it all suddenly overwhelmed him. Only now did he realize that all of his preparations were in vain. None would do him any good.

This was the suppression of the Book of Destiny, the bane of all denizens of the river!

All of this took some time to explain, but it happened in a flash.

One step forward, and Su Yi appeared directly in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere.

He raised his hand and seized River Ancestor Luo Yu by the throat.

It seemed far easier than defeating River Ancestor Hu Chan, but in truth, Su Yi had learned from experience. This time, he used the strongest abilities at his disposal right off the bat.

His goal was to dominate his enemy in a single blow.

That was what let him overwhelm River Ancestor Luo Yu with such ease!

Feng Ruhuo and the others were all flabbergasted. All of them instinctively moved further away, their expressions full of shock and unease.

Just like that, he’d suppressed River Ancestor Luo Yu, too!

There was no need to even describe their terror and unease. Their hearts were on the verge of breaking down!

“This is, admittedly, the Southern Sea. Here you can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Heavenly Sovereigns. There’s nothing you cannot do,” said Su Yi, still holding River Ancestor Luo Yu by the throat. “But you know I’m Destiny’s Chosen, and you’re aware of the Book of Destiny’s Power, so you ought to understand that you’re in no position to negotiate with me!”

River Ancestor Luo Yu trembled from head to toe. His true name shook within him, severely affected. He’d been captured alive, and there was bitterness all over his face... and terror, too!

He’d lived a long, long time. He’d long since become a ruling expert of the River of Destiny.

But this was his first time seeing Destiny’s Chosen, and his first time witnessing the power of the Book of Destiny.

Even after seeing what happened to River Ancestor Hu Chan, he thought he might well get lucky. He figured that he might not be able to clash with Su Yi head-on, but that he could at least flee without a problem.

Only now did he realize how utterly helpless he was in the face of Destiny’s Chosen. That power was just too terrifying and too taboo.

It was the bane of all River Ancestors!

“I... am willing to submit...” River Ancestor Luo Yu said bitterly, his expression bleak. “All I ask is that you show mercy and give me an opportunity to make amends, Your Excellency.”

A deathly silence descended over the crowd. Everyone was astonished.

A River Ancestor was submitting. To the cultivators of the Southern Sea, this was every bit as shocking as a Heavenly Sovereign doing the same!

“You won’t cry until you see the coffin, huh?” Su Yi shook his head.

River Ancestor Sparrow had been far wiser. He understood that he couldn’t defy Destiny’s Chosen, so he simply gave in.

As he spoke, Su Yi tossed River Ancestor Luo Yu into the first page of the Book of Destiny.

Only then did he turn his attention to Feng Ruhuo and the others.

The four of them were all prominent experts, famed Heavenly Monarchs of the Four Seas. Of late, the Southern Sea’s cultivation world had been paying close attention to their every move. There was no telling how many people were talking about them.

But now, all of them were scared out of their wits, visibly overcome with terror and unease!

The brutal reality of the situation was that without the two River Ancestors to oversee things, Su Yi could kill them all even without the Book of Destiny.

Before Su Yi could say anything, Feng Ruhuo lowered his head and cupped his fists. “Your Excellency Su, we’re willing to submit. All we ask is that you show mercy and grant us an opportunity to make amends!”

Sage King Qing Jue, the Blackmoon Dragon King, and Ying Tian all slumped their shoulders like condemned prisoners, then bowed. “Your Excellency Su, please grant us an opportunity to make amends.”

The four unparalleled Heavenly Monarchs the entire Southern Sea was watching had all lowered their heads and begged for mercy!

The sight left everyone in Crimson Kite Daoist Court slack-jawed with awe. They stood there in a daze, unable to calm down.

Who could have imagined this? When Su Yi first arrived, none of them had any faith in him.

But now, he seemed like a ruler. Everything was under his control!

His power was like that of the heavens themselves!

“Submit? Make amends?” Su Yi just laughed. “You’d best go back and discuss how best to convince the other two River Ancestors to come see me. It won’t be too late to worry about ‘submitting’ after that.”

Everyone was flabbergasted. It was obvious to all of them that Su Yi wasn’t the least bit interested in Feng Ruhuo and the others’ surrender.

That was a grave humiliation, but the Heavenly Monarchs weren’t concerned with all that. They just knew that Su Yi was letting them go!

“Be quick about it. I want a clear answer in three days’ time.” Su Yi shook his head slightly, then disregarded the terrified Heavenly Monarchs and returned to Goldstone Island.

Only then did Feng Ruhuo and the others dare to believe that Su Yi was letting them go.

“Thank you for sparing our lives, Your Excellency!” Feng Ruhuo and the others bowed once more before scurrying off.

Meanwhile, Sect Leader Lu Mu and the others left Crimson Kite Daoist Court and gathered around Su Yi.

Lu Mu was the first to bow with the utmost respect. He had an ashamed look on his face. “Earlier, we were blind and foolish. We failed to recognize your strength, and we humbly request your forgiveness, Your Excellency!”

Even the way he addressed Su Yi had changed.

The others followed suit. All of them spoke to Su Yi like juniors, their bearing and words full of awe and reverence.

The shift in their attitudes was thus readily apparent.

“A trivial matter. There’s no need for words of gratitude,” said Su Yi. He detested no more than excessive formalities, so he said directly, “Everyone, I’ve come all this way, but you’ve yet to offer me so much as a cup to drink. That’s no way to treat a guest.”

The group blinked in surprise.

Sect Leader Lu Mu facepalmed. “How inconsiderate of us!”

He promptly ordered, “Quick, arrange a banquet! Invite the musicians and dancers of Verdant Heavens Peak to entertain our guest!”

Su Yi couldn’t help but be surprised. Crimson Kite Daoist Court has dancers?

He overlooked the musicians; every sect had people capable of beating drums and blowing flutes. Some spirit cultivators even specialized in launching musical attacks.

But dancers... were far rarer!

They were typically only found in orthodoxies of yao cultivators and Demonists. They sought the Dao of dual cultivation, or alternatively, focused on charm magic.

It had been a long, long time since Su Yi had last relaxed. An opportunity to admire the dancers of a top orthodoxy actually sounded rather delightful.

Su Yi was all too willing to accept these arrangements.

But it was then that a treasure ship shot over from the distant skies. It was carrying Ninth Elder Yan Beigu and Yun Rong.

“Sect Leader, where are our enemies?” Yan Beigu exclaimed.

The others exchanged glances. They couldn’t help but laugh.

“You arrived too late. His Excellency Su has already turned the tide, and the battle is over. We’re preparing a feast to thank him and help him rest after his long journey,” Sect Leader Lu Mu explained with a smile.

It’s over? Yan Beigu was stunned. He’d rushed all this way, his heart frantic with anxiety. He’d been terrified that something bad would happen to his sect.

Who could have imagined that the threat would have evaporated by the time he returned?

“The two River Ancestors...” he started to ask.

Lu Mu smiled. “His Excellency Su defeated them already.”

Yan Beigu’s eyes practically popped out of their sockets for sheer shock.

The others couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. Hadn’t they reacted in much the same way earlier?

“Yun Rong, you come too,” said Su Yi, beckoning to her. “Let’s attend the banquet together.”

He’d promised to ensure her future prospects, and he naturally wouldn’t go back on his word.

When Yun Rong arrived, she was as tense as could be, her shoulders hunched and her head pulled in. Everyone present was a high-ranking authority figure, while she’d yet to even become an official outer sect disciple. The difference in status was enormous.

Even the ground she stood on seemed to burn her feet. She felt lowly and out of place, entirely unworthy of being here.

But when Su Yi introduced her, all of the higher-ups looked at her curiously.

Yun Rong’s nervousness peaked. She was at a complete loss. All she wanted to do was stick her head in the sand and hide.

When Su Yi saw this, he walked over, took her hand, and said gently, “Don’t be nervous. Just come with me.”

Once, long ago, Qing Wan had been much the same.