Chapter 3084 - Blinded By Her Own Preconceptions

Everyone in the All-Profound Dominion knew that the Big Boss of Sword Sovereign City paid no heed to worldly affairs. He was always either deep in seclusion or out wandering.

Fortunately for Sword Sovereign City, they had the Little Boss to take care of things. He handled daily affairs, transmitted the Dao, and resolved the sword cultivators’ doubts.

Even the cultivators of Sword Sovereign City often sighed that no one was indispensable to Sword Sovereign City—except the Little Boss. They absolutely couldn’t do without him!

It was thus easy to understand just how important the Little Boss’s role was.

“So, it’s you...” Zhi Yue paled, instantly despondent.

There was already a grudge between Sword Sovereign City and Three Purities Temple. Thus, Zhi Yue was naturally well aware of just how terrifying an existence the “steward” of Sword Sovereign City was.

He... really was fully qualified to challenge Lonely Heights!

“According to the usual rules of our conflict, I shouldn’t touch a junior like you,” said the man in white, his gaze as friendly and gentle as before. “But this time, you broke the rules first. That means that it won’t count as bullying the weak even if I kill you.”

His gaze shifted, and a single step carried him directly beneath the dome of heaven.

The crowd watched in astonishment as Zhi Yue crumbled into ash and dissipated.

Meanwhile, Ruo Su transmitted to Su Yi, “The only way to kill someone on the Path to Ancestry is by refining their life force and Laws of the Grand Dao into Tribulation Ash. Nothing less will truly destroy them.”

“Tribulation Ash” referred to the ash that resulted when someone was annihilated by a tribulation of the Laws.

The experts on the Path to Ancestry had refined their Laws to the point that they were like Heaven’s Will unto themselves. When they killed their opponents, they were like incarnations of tribulation itself.

Nothing short of this could truly annihilate opponents of the same level.

Ruo Su paused before continuing. “Those who’ve proven their Daos and become Ancestors are incomparably difficult to destroy. That Song Lan the Little Boss killed is a perfect example. Even if the Little Boss had refined his true body into Tribulation Ash, he could have come back to life.

“The ability to survive countless tribulations is what makes Dao Ancestors such troublesome opponents.”

Su Yi just listened quietly and didn’t ask any questions. He’d long since known that the Path of Ancestry was fundamentally about “tracing everything back to its source.” However, Su Yi knew very little about the details.

As they conversed, the white-robed Little Boss smiled amiably. “Everyone, you’re all Secluded Ones, and you’re the ones who set these rules, only for this to happen. Don’t you think you owe Sword Sovereign City an explanation?”

The Secluded Ones were silent. When it was just Ruo Su demanding an explanation, they were confident they could wriggle out of this, or at least minimize the problem.

After all, Three Purities Temple was involved. Who didn’t want to give Three Purities Temple face?

But now, the Little Boss of Sword Sovereign City had shown himself for the first time in a long, long time. The Secluded Ones no longer dared to decide anything recklessly.

It was Old Lord Gouchen who ultimately broke the silence and sighed. “Three Purities Temple has already paid for its transgressions, and I trust that no one else will dare to disregard the rules after this!”

The Little Boss smiled and shook his head. “It was Ruo Su and I who killed them; the Secluded Ones have yet to punish them in any way, and that isn’t right. Don’t tell me... that your rules are really nothing but empty posturing?”

Many of the Secluded Ones were uncomfortable. Song Lan was a Dao Ancestor, one of the grandmasters of the Supreme Purity lineage of Three Purities Temple, but he’d lost his clone, while Guan Shui, Ling Jue, and Zhi Yue had paid with their lives.

Surely that was punishment enough already?

Why was Sword Sovereign City stubbornly refusing to let this go? Why keep demanding more and more?

Of course, they kept all such thoughts to themselves. Ultimately, the Little Boss was right. Three Purities Temple had broken the Secluded Ones’ rules first!

If the Mountain of the Secluded Ones overlooked it, who’d respect their rules going forward?

After a moment’s thought, Old Lord Gouchen said, “I swear by my name that if there are any further incidents, I’ll kill the offenders without pardon!”

There was no hiding the murderous intent in his voice, especially as he said that last part.

Many of the onlookers were solemn. Old Lord Gouchen was among the most ancient of the Secluded Ones. Who’d dare to disregard his promises?

“Does that go for Three Purities Temple, too?” the Little Boss asked with a smile.

He’d been smiling since he arrived, as warm and mellow as a spring breeze. He seemed kind and approachable.

But after seeing his abilities firsthand, who’d dare believe that the Little Boss was anything of the sort?

“Yes, that goes for them, too!” Old Lord Gouchen said gravely. “I’d say the same thing even if the three founders and Lonely Heights were here!”

The Little Boss sighed. “The Mountain of the Secluded Ones is lucky to have you, Fellow Daoist.”

Old Lord Gouchen’s eyes flashed. “If you’re interested in joining us, I can vouch for you personally!”

The Little Boss chuckled. “I might consider it once I’ve gotten even with all of Sword Sovereign City’s enemies, but for now? Forget it.”

Old Lord Gouchen let out a long sigh. Far too many forces had been involved in the destruction of Sword Sovereign City. Several progenitor-level factions had been involved, and countless threads tied them to various Secluded Ones.

Old Lord Gouchen naturally understood what the Little Boss was getting at. How could he not?

This was a battle between orthodoxies, an ancient grudge. It wasn’t so easily settled!

Meanwhile, the Little Boss returned to Su Yi’s side and said warmly, “I’m a sword spirit. According to the boss’s orders, I’m not supposed to meddle in anything the boss is involved in. I only came this time because they broke the rules.”

“Did he send you?” asked Su Yi.

The Little Boss blinked, then understood. He smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

“How is he doing?” asked Su Yi.

The Little Boss shook his head. “I don’t know.”

He paused, then said, “This is a rare opportunity. If there’s still hatred in your heart, I can kill a few more of them.”

The Secluded Ones’ eyelids twitched, but Su Yi refused. “Letting others kill my enemies for me is unsatisfying.”

The Little Boss beamed at him. It was just that, although he was smiling, the depths of his gaze were full of grief. There was no telling what he was thinking about.

In the end, he lowered his voice and said, “It would be great if you could still say things like that... after awakening the memories of your first life...”

Su Yi blinked, but a moment later, the realization hit him, and he laughed. It seems that the Little Boss thinks of my first incarnation as a man of few words, too.

“I’ll be leaving soon. I’m going to the Retracing Sky Zone to see Lonely Heights,” said the Little Boss. “Do you have any orders before I go? If there’s anything you want, you might as well ask. I trust that the Secluded Ones gathered here are all sensible people. I’m sure they’ll compensate you!”

The Secluded Ones froze. With the Little Boss here, who could refuse to be ‘sensible’?

Old Lord Gouchen laughed bitterly. He could tell that the Little Boss was seizing this opportunity to shake the tree and gather fruit.

But Su Yi shook his head. “I’m not familiar with the Mountain of the Secluded Ones, or with the Secluded Ones themselves. It’s enough that I know who was in the wrong here, and who was in the right. There’s no need for any sort of ‘compensation.’”

His refusal actually made them even more solemn. Their expressions shifted slightly. Don’t tell me the Big Boss’s reincarnation is displeased with us?

The silver-robed man who’d stepped forth to face Ruo Su couldn’t help but frown. His expression was particularly unsightly.

“Very well.” The Little Boss smiled. “I’ll be on my way, then.”

“Wait,” said Su Yi. “Is Lu Hongpao alright?”

The Little Boss grinned mischievously. “I knew you’d ask. Miss Hongpao... is doing great. She’s just been spending a lot of time in seclusion, that’s all. If you have anything to say to her, I can pass on a message.”

Su Yi shook his head. It was enough to know that she was alive and well.

The Little Boss suggested, “Why not write a letter for me to deliver to her?”

“No need for that,” said Su Yi. “You can leave now.”

The Little Boss was just about to say something when he noticed Hua Qingyi standing not far away. He smiled in apparent understanding, then let the subject go. Without another word, he took a step forward, then vanished into thin air.

“Why was that guy grinning like that?” said Hua Qingyi, looking a bit bewildered.

Su Yi vaguely understood, but he didn’t say anything. Sometimes, there was nothing to say. Explaining would only make things worse.

The Secluded Ones relaxed once the Little Boss had left.

“Fellow Daoist, if there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way,” said Old Lord Gouchen.

“Wait!” said Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi. She took a deep breath, then faced Old Lord Gouchen. “Senior, back then, you said that after granting me my freedom, you’d show me a path that’d lead me all the way to the Far Shore of Destiny. Do you still remember?”

Even in the face of an existence like Old Lord Gouchen, her exquisitely beautiful face showed no sign of fear or dread.

The Secluded Ones were stunned. They wouldn’t have guessed that someone like Old Lord Gouchen would have such a connection to a mere Heavenly Sovereign.

Old Lord Gouchen pointed to Su Yi, his gaze rife with meaning. “Isn’t your path right there by his side?”

Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi blinked in surprise.

Su Yi couldn’t help but object. “Don’t you think this is rather dishonest of you?”

Old Lord Gouchen laughed. “An opportunity to serve as your Dao Protector is an enormous stroke of good fortune, but even now, she doesn’t realize it... She really is blinded by her own preconceptions.”

Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi stood there in a daze, replaying everything she’d seen and heard here today. An indescribable feeling arose in her heart.

It’s true. I really was foolish not to have realized it earlier. It’s just... having to ask Su Yi...

As her thoughts raced, Ruo Su said gently, “Heavenly Sovereigns don’t lack legacies, but rather, guidance and support. That’s not something Fellow Daoist Su can provide for you right now.”

She paused, then said, “But I can help you.”

Su Yi smiled. “That would be best. It’d keep Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi from owing an outsider a favor.”

Old Lord Gouchen grimaced. He, of course, understood that he was the “outsider” whom Su Yi spoke of.