Chapter 3086 - So-Called Fate

The Past Karma Blood Lotus hovered there, as enormous as a mountain.

Ruo Su said, “This lotus is quite strange. A mysterious power is sealing it, and even though I can break it, if I do, I’ll hurt the people trapped inside.”

Su Yi said hurriedly, “Let me do it.”

He then lifted the Medallion of Past Karma and tapped the lotus from afar.

Dreamlike, ethereal, blood-red light arced out of the lotus and landed in Su Yi’s palm. The light condensed, and only then could everyone see it clearly. That arc of light was actually a bronze compass the size of a baby’s fist. It was perfectly round and covered with inscrutable markings of the Grand Dao. They looked as if they’d been naturally formed.

“The aura of fate? Don’t tell me that’s a treasure born of fate source energy?” Ruo Su exclaimed.

Su Yi inclined his head. “It is indeed.”

This treasure was known as the Compass of Fate. It was the source of the Blood Lotus Forbidden Domain, like a pool of energy. It was the compass that had manifested the lotuses that demarcated and distinguished this stretch of ocean.

All of the Past Karma Blood Lotuses growing here were, in truth, rooted in the Compass of Fate!

It served as their soil, and it was what gave the lotuses their aura of Past Karma.

These were among the secrets that True Progenitor Shi Yin had told Su Yi.

When they’d fought Ling Jue, the middle-aged Daoist of Three Purities Temple, Su Yi had been worried that the aftershock would hurt Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan. He’d acted in secret, awakening the Compass of Fate to suppress and protect the giant Past Karma Blood Lotus.

Their battle had destroyed the entire Blood Lotus Forbidden Domain, save for that one lotus, which Ruo Su had gathered and preserved.

“Fate is one of the Laws of Destiny. It’s also among the most terrifying and powerful of Laws,” Ruo Su said softly. “This Grand Dao can manifest and direct karma, influencing the fates of individual cultivators, including their life and death. Were a Heavenly Sovereign to master this power, they’d be able to affect the fates and fortunes of every inhabitant of any of the Eternal Heavens Domain’s continents.”

She looked at Su Yi. “You control the Book of Destiny, so you needn’t fear a backlash of the power of fate. However, you still have to be careful when you use this treasure. When you tug a strand of hair, you move an entire body. Similarly, pulling the threads of fate can have unexpected consequences. Use them, and their power is sure to influence you—that is, unless you can grasp the ultimate mysteries of destiny.”

Su Yi was instantly solemn. He nodded.

The thing they called “fate” was present throughout the world. Morning glories knew nothing of the light of the moon, cicadas knew nothing of spring or autumn, and summer insects knew nothing of ice. All of these were the workings of fate.

Mortals of the mundane world were born, only to age, sicken, and die. The ever-shifting fortunes of all living beings were all subject to the influence of karma and fate.

Past Karma was the power of fate made manifest. Controlling it meant controlling the workings of fate!

The strength of the Negative Karma Destiny Demons lay in their innate control over the power of Past Karma.

In the early days of the Primordial Era, the Destiny Demons chose to build a base in the Sea of Fate because of the power of fate.

Meanwhile, the Past Karma Blood Lotus’s petals silently opened, and two figures came into view.

One was Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan. The other was a thin old man whose hair and beard were white as snow. This was obviously the founder of Crimson Kite Daoist Court, Fei Yunzi.

“Little Brother, I didn’t think you’d be the one to save me this time!” Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan laughed and pulled Su Yi into an embrace. Delight and excitement were written all over his face.

He’d only been trapped for a few months, but he’d already planned for the worst; he knew things didn’t bode well, and that there was little hope of him ever leaving the lotus alive.

He would never have guessed that he would survive what should have been certain doom, much less that Su Yi would be the one to save him!

Of course Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan was excited! Of course he’d lost his composure!

Su Yi laughed. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

He and Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan had already experienced life-and-death adversity together. There was naturally no need for pleasantries.

“This is my sworn brother, Fei Yunzi,” said Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan, gesturing to his companion. “He, too, is someone I trust with my life.”

Fei Yunzi smiled, walked up to Su Yi, and clasped his fist in greeting. “I’ve heard of you, Fellow Daoist Su, but I could never have anticipated that I’d meet you for the first time immediately after you’d saved my life.”

River Ancestor Luo Yu couldn’t help but add, “His Excellency Su isn’t just your benefactor, Fei Yunzi. He’s the master Hu Chan and I have sworn to follow, even if it costs us our lives.”

River Ancestor Hu Chan nodded. “Everyone in the Four Seas acknowledges his rule. They call him the Master of the Four Seas!”

Both of them spoke with the utmost pride.

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan and Fei Yunzi had initially been somewhat confused to see the two River Ancestors. They weren’t sure what was going on.

Now, the two River Ancestors’ words made their minds buzz. Su Yi is actually their master? And he’s even the Master of the Four Seas? What exactly happened while we were gone?

A moment later, Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan was stunned yet again; he recognized Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi. “Hua Qingyi?”

Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi’s gaze was as cold and clear as ever. “I work for Su Yi now, too.”

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan gasped, his eyes widening. He was a Heavenly Sovereign, but even so, this didn’t seem real. He almost felt as if he were dreaming.

We’ve only been trapped here for a few months, but it seems like the outside world has changed completely in our absence. The long-vanished Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi has returned. Now, she and two River Ancestors, each comparable to a Heavenly Sovereign, have all become Su Yi’s attendants!

It was only natural that he found this hard to accept. Who could have believed something like this all at once?

“And... who is that?” asked Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan, suppressing his astonishment and confusion. He was looking at Ruo Su.

Su Yi said with the utmost seriousness, “This is Fellow Daoist Ruo Su. I couldn’t have saved you from Three Purities Temple without her!”

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan’s heart shook. He could sense that both the River Ancestors and Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi were reserved and respectful around Ruo Su.

Moreover, the two River Ancestors looked at her with undisguised awe!

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan couldn’t help but feel even more confused. Ruo Su? Is she perhaps a terrifying existence mightier than even a Heavenly Sovereign?

As his thoughts raced, Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan smiled, approached, and clasped his fist in greeting. “This humble one is known as Ku Xuan. Greetings, Fellow Daoist. Thank you so much for saving us!”

Fellow Daoist!? The two River Ancestors’ hearts shook. That’s a Dao Ancestor! A supreme expert even on the Far Shore of Destiny! Ling Jue and Guan Shui of Three Purities Temple were strong enough to suppress Heavenly Sovereigns with ease, but they couldn’t even block a single one of Dao Ancestor Ruo Su’s attacks!

Ruo Su blinked, then said warmly, “I helped you on Fellow Daoist Su’s behalf. You ought to thank him instead.”

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan smiled. “Fellow Daoist, you’re too polite. I’ve carved this great act of benevolence into my heart. I’ll be sure to repay you another day!”

Ruo Su smiled and said nothing.

Su Yi suggested, “Come on, let’s find a place to have a drink.”

Ruo Su shook her head slightly. “I have to return shortly. Let’s share a drink another time.”

She pointed at Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi. “How about I bring her with me when I leave?”

Su Yi instantly understood that Ruo Su was offering to guide Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi, so he quickly agreed.

Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi’s heart filled with excitement. She lowered her head, then bowed with the utmost respect. “Thank you for granting my request, Senior!”

Senior? Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan gaped in surprise. Just what kind of expert is Ruo Su? Why is a woman as haughty as Hua Qingyi treating her with such reverence?𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

“Right,” said Ruo Su. Something had suddenly occurred to her. “The aftereffects of today’s battle are sure to ripple throughout the world. Some variables might arise sooner than previously expected. You’d best take precautions, Fellow Daoist.”

Su Yi’s heart shook as a lot occurred to him at once.

The Struggle for Heavenly Fate had had an enormous impact on the world’s balance of power.

For instance, Su Yi knew that both the Outsider Celestial Demons of the Void and the Negative Karma Destiny Demons of the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Zone were readying themselves for battle.

Other changes were taking place throughout the Eternal Heavens Domain, like recent developments in the Sea of Fate. There were also signs that the long-vanished Primordial Divine Court would soon reappear.

And those were just the changes he knew about. There were surely far more changes that he wasn’t aware of.

Now, Ruo Su was telling him that this battle would lead to further changes. There was no way Su Yi would dismiss such a warning.

Perhaps the Outsider Celestial Demons would attack sooner than previously expected, or maybe the Negative Karma Destiny Demons would escape the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Zone ahead of schedule.

Or perhaps, the Primordial Divine Court, the faction that had ruled the Eternal Heavens Domain in the earliest days of the Primordial Era, would re-enter this world!

Su Yi was still pondering even after Ruo Su left with Heavenly Sovereign Qingyi.

The appearance of so many experts of the Far Shore following the Struggle for Heavenly Fate had influenced the Laws of the Eternal Heavens Domain. This in turn had an enormous impact on the world’s balance of power.

Forces of the Far Shore had been involved in this battle, too. This battle would also change the world.

Moreover, Su Yi now understood that the ones really influencing all this were those on the Path to Ancestry. If they disregarded the rules and stirred up the wind and waves, the world would descend into complete chaos.

All of this meant that time was running out. Su Yi had to cultivate and prove his Dao sooner than previously expected!

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan couldn’t hold back any longer and asked the two River Ancestors to explain. “Just what kind of person is Fellow Daoist Ruo Su, anyway?”

Fei Yunzi pricked up his ears, too.

The two River Ancestors looked uncertain. Both instinctively glanced at Su Yi, who said distractedly, “Her? She’s a Dao Ancestor.”

“Ah, so she’s a Dao Ancestor...” Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan nodded.

A moment later, his eyes widened, and he cried out, “What? A... Dao Ancestor!?”

Fei Yunzi looked on blankly. A Dao Ancestor? What’s that?

Su Yi barely restrained laughter. “Come on, let’s find someplace nearby to drink and have a proper conversation.”

He still had questions for Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan, but he wanted to have a look at the Untethered Boat floating somewhere in the Sea of Fate, so he had no intention of actually leaving just yet.

“Alright!” Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan agreed. He had lots of questions he was just itching to ask, so he was eager to chat with Su Yi, too.

The group promptly set off.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Sea, outside the Sea of Fate.

The six Heavenly Sovereigns hovered in midair, gazing into the distant skies. They could clearly sense that the disturbed power of the Laws had quieted down.

That unquestionably implied that the battle in the Sea of Fate had ended, and the forces of the Far Shore had left.

“Everyone, how about we seize this opportunity to catch them off guard and finish them off?” Heavenly Sovereign E suggested.