First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2610 – The Sole Master of the Epochs

Dao Venerate Lu Shi merely glanced at Su Yi before turning his attention to Wang Zhiwu. He clasped his fists and asked with a smile, “Before we arrive at Returning Dragon Mountain, might I ask why you’re here, Fellow Daoist?”

Wang Zhiwu smiled back. “I’m here to eat, drink, watch the show, meet with old friends, and irritate my old enemies.”

Lu Shi let out a burst of hearty laughter. “You’re as carefree and playful as ever, Fellow Daoist. I wonder, are you perhaps interested in joining my New World Alliance?”

Wang Zhiwu said, “You know how I am. I’ve always been a loner, and I’ve always hated getting embroiled in others’ enmities.”

Lu Shi inclined his head. “I understand.”

With that, he led his companions away on that golden, misty cloud.

“It seems Lu Shi couldn’t see through your disguise either, Fellow Daoist,” Wang Zhiwu transmitted thoughtfully.

Su Yi had changed his appearance. Wang Zhiwu wasn’t sure how he’d done it, but if he hadn’t already known that this was Su Yi, he wouldn’t have been able to see through Su Yi’s disguise either.

Now, it seemed Dao Venerate Lu Shi couldn’t see through it either.

Su Yi responded casually, “A petty trick, that’s all. You’d both have seen through it a long time ago if you’d brought your true bodies.”

The corners of Wang Zhiwu’s lips twitched. Su Yi was just being too modest, and keeping too low a profile. There was no sign of his edge at all. Wang Zhiwu still wasn’t used to it.

Su Yi, meanwhile, was pondering something.

This was the Ancient Nirvana Divine Continent, the Western Paradise Spirit Mountains’ territory, yet Lu Shi hadn’t brought the Dipankara Buddha, nor had he brought Di E. Instead, he’d brought the Angler. Su Yi couldn’t help but find the situation strange.

“Before we get there, there’s something I must remind you about. No matter what happens when we reach the peak of Returning Dragon Mountain, you should just watch. Whatever you do, don’t get involved,” Wang Zhiwu said solemnly.

“Afraid I’ll implicate you, huh?” said Su Yi.

Wang Zhiwu rubbed his nose and said forthrightly, “It’s not that I’m worried about being ‘implicated.’ I just don’t want you to misunderstand. If anything happens to you, I most certainly won’t step in to save you.”

“Remaining a bystander is still better than kicking me while I’m down,” said Su Yi.

Wang Zhiwu was briefly stunned. “Relax. I said it earlier, right? I invited you here with no ulterior motives, and I have no intention of borrowing others’ hands to get rid of you.”

He paused, then said playfully, “But if you cause trouble, don’t blame me for it.”

Su Yi glanced at him. “Why do I get the sense that you’re eager for me to cause trouble?”

Wang Zhiwu laughed. “That’s your business. What I want has nothing to do with anything.”

He paused, then added, “But I trust that when you see the old-timers gathered on Returning Dragon Peak, you won’t dare to cause trouble.”

“Why are you so sure?” said Su Yi.

“It’s too dangerous!” said Wang Zhiwu with unusual solemnity. “All of them are the type to eat a man alive without pausing to spit out the bones. Each is more ruthless than the one before. They…”

Su Yi shook his head slightly. “I get it, enough already. Let’s hurry.”

Wang Zhiwu’s expression froze, but he said no more on the matter.

The two reached the mist-shrouded peak shortly after. By the time they got there, numerous figures had gathered in the ritual grounds built in a clearing.

Su Yi had seen many of them on their way here, but some were unfamiliar. Most were experts from the River of Destiny, but there were a few Master Gods, too. There just weren’t many, and all of them came with Eternals.

The Eternals alone numbered almost thirty people!

There are already this many old-timers of the River of Destiny here in the God Domain? Su Yi couldn’t help but find this surprising.

But then, he realized something. No, that can’t be right. I’m sure this is just a handful of them.

Furthermore, the meeting hadn’t yet begun. It was entirely possible that more people would show up.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, you and your fellow Daoist can sit anywhere you like,” a man in Confucian robes said with a smile. He had an otherworldly air about him, and he held a feather fan. This was Yu Chiyang from the Court of the Southern Heavens.

On their way here, Wang Zhiwu told Su Yi that the Court of the Southern Heavens was the true backer of the Myriad Daos Alliance!

When Wang Chiyang spoke, many of those present looked at Su Yi and Wang Zhiwu, each with a different expression.

Su Yi said nothing, but he silently took it all in.

The seating arrangements were quite interesting. Yu Chiyang and his followers all sat to the west, while Lu Shi’s group sat to the east. The distinction was quite clear cut.

Them aside, there were a handful of people seated to the north and south, about six or seven people, total.

The seating arrangements alone were enough to suggest a confrontation between the two alliances!

After all, Yu Chiyang and the old-timers accompanying him backed the Myriad Daos Alliance, while Lu Shi and his allies backed the New World Alliance.

As for the scattered figures to the north and south? They were obviously neutral parties, unwilling to get involved in the standoff between camps.

“Please, take a seat, Fellow Daoist Wang,” Lu Shi said with a laugh.

It sounded like an ordinary invitation, but who could fail to realize that both of them wanted to see whose side Wang Zhiwu was on?

Wang Zhiwu didn’t hesitate. He led Su Yi straight to the seats in the north.

Then, he faced the crowd and said with a smile, “I’m just here for spectacle. Don’t mind me.”

Everyone realized that the “Master of Legends” from the River of Destiny had no intention of getting involved in the dispute between camps.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, your companion is unfamiliar to us. Might you help us get acquainted?” someone said with a smile.

Su Yi’s arrival had long since drawn attention. After all, he’d come here with Wang Zhiwu, and he obviously was a travelling companion, not a servant.

Before Su Yi could respond, Wang Zhiwu said calmly, “He’s just here for the show, too. No need for introductions.”

This little interlude passed quickly.

As time passed, more and more experts of the River of Destiny arrived. Some sat to the east, others to the west. A few chose to sit to the north and south, just like Su Yi and Wang Zhiwu had.

Their choice of seating effectively announced their allegiances.

Enough time to brew a cup of tea later.

“Practically everyone I invited has arrived, so let’s get down to business,” said Lu Shi, the host of the meeting. He swept his gaze across the attendees and said, “I invited you all here today to discuss just three matters.”

Silence instantly descended over the area as the crowd ceased their conversations and turned their attention to Lu Shi.

“First the Battle for Order. Second, the general populace of the God Domain. And third, the Reincarnator, Su Yi!”

Even after hearing that, Su Yi’s expression didn’t so much as ripple.

Wang Zhiwu, however, drained a cup of wine and transmitted, “See that? If you hadn’t come, how could you have known how all these old-timers see you?”

“Su Yi just said, “Mm.”

He’d anticipated this, and he didn’t find it the least bit strange.

Lu Shi continued, “Let’s discuss the first article on the agenda first. As I’m sure you’re all aware, the Central Divine Continent is transforming. No small number of the God Domain’s cultivators have already gone there in search of good fortune.

“If all goes as we expect, the ruins of Red Pine Mountain will reappear within half a year. When the time comes, the curtains will open on the Battle for Order.”

After taking some time to set the scene, Lu Shi got to the point. “This Battle for Order will determine the rules and direction of all the major epoch civilizations. Whoever wins will rule over them all.

“As you know, this Battle for Order is extraordinary. It won’t just affect the God Domain. It will even impact the balance of power of the River of Destiny!”

Everyone narrowed their eyes, their expressions shifting.

It was true. This Battle for Order was different because it would determine more than just the future of the present epoch. It would determine the natural order of the past and present, too!

This was because the Laws of the natural order that maintained the division of past, present, and future were collapsing!

That in turn meant that whoever won the Battle for Order would rule over the natural order of the past, present, and future!

People had ruled over the epochs of the past, but this time was different. The winner of this Battle for Order would rule over all epochs!

They’d become a true Master of the Epochs!

If this Battle for Order weren’t so extraordinary, it would never have drawn the attention of so many terrifying experts of the River of Destiny, nor would they have started planning for this so far in advance.

Su Yi had heard about all this before, too.

“There’s no need to labor the importance of this Battle for Order. What exactly are you trying to say, Fellow Daoist Lu?” someone said gravely.

Dao Venerate Lu Shi smiled. “Simple. I hope that we can join forces and seal the site of Red Pine Mountain off until the ruins re-emerge. Together, we can ensure that only the factions under our banners can participate in the Battle for Order!”

Uproar ensued. It would have been obvious to anyone what Dao Venerate Lu Shi was after. He wanted to seize authority over the impending Battle for Order!

Doing so would eliminate many would-be contenders in advance!

When the time came, everyone else, no matter who they were or how qualified they were to vie for victory, would have to get through all these old-timers first. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even be able to enter the ruins.

Wang Zhiwu said suddenly, “Forgive my rudeness, but I’m afraid that doing so will create numerous enemies.”

The God Domain was home to countless factions. Even disregarding the others and just looking at factions of the River of Destiny, there were numerous sects and clans not represented here!

Lu Shi smiled faintly. “That’s why I convened this assembly. If everyone here agrees, with our combined power, what need will we have to fear those enemies?”

Everyone pondered briefly, then expressed their agreement, one by one.

Even Yu Chiyang and the others in the camp opposed to Lu Shi agreed.

When Su Yi saw this, he couldn’t help but sigh to himself. He even felt a bit moved.