Chapter 2988 - The Revolving Destiny Lotus

Each of the seven Heavenly Sovereigns took out a talisman and acted in unison.

The talismans lit up, and a beam of golden light descended from the heavens, then split into countless fine threads of light and spread throughout the surrounding area.

A mysterious formation of misty golden rain enveloped the surrounding thirty thousand miles of water. As soon as it took shape, it effectively carved out a hidden realm separating everything inside from the outside world.

This was a Heavenly Sovereign-level formation—Spanning Heaven and Earth!

Anyone who wanted to fight their way inside would face more than just a formation; they’d have to stave off the attacks of seven Heavenly Sovereigns, too.

All of this was in place to ensure that nothing disrupted the Struggle for Heavenly Fate.

Once the formation was complete, Heavenly Sovereign Wen said gravely, “We said we’d reconstruct the Yitian Heavenly Throne after a winner was determined, but for now, I’d like to request everyone to take out their fragments of the Yitian Eternal Throne for all to see.”

The Heavenly Sovereigns naturally didn’t object. Each took out a fragment of the Eternal Throne.

And Su Yi took out Great Sorrow.

Everyone instantly looked over.

Each fragment of the Eternal Throne was different, but they emanated identical, mysterious, heart-palpitating auras.

When Su Yi took out Great Sorrow, the Heavenly Sovereigns’ fragments struggled as if they’d been summoned.

The Heavenly Sovereigns’ expressions shifted. They instantly concluded that the fragment in Great Sorrow was the biggest, and that it contained the Eternal Throne’s source energies!

That was why it called to the others!

But before the crowd could examine Great Sorrow any further, Su Yi put it away.

The Heavenly Sovereigns exchanged glances, then put their fragments away, too.

They’d confirmed that Great Sorrow was indeed in Su Yi’s hands, and all of them felt reassured. They were now fully confident that they could rebuild the Yitian Eternal Throne.

All they had to do now was host the Struggle for Heavenly Fate and determine who ultimately received the rebuilt Yitian Eternal Throne.

“It won’t do to delay, so let us begin,” suggested Heavenly Sovereign Wen. “In the name of fairness, let’s have all the participants use the Revolving Destiny Lotus to draw lots to determine their opponents.”

The Heavenly Sovereigns had already discussed and agreed to this, so they naturally had no objections.

Countless eyes watched as a blue lotus suddenly bloomed in the middle of the arena, revealing innumerable petals, like a giant, revolving roulette.

The lotus was quite unusual. Each of its petals flowed with mysterious, indescribable, crystalline light.

When a cultivator approached and examined it with their divine sense, one of its many petals resonated, allowing them to sense a thread of the aura of fate. It was utterly wondrous.

It could also be used to draw lots. Those who sensed the same petal would compete.

This was the fairest way to determine match-ups, because outsiders had no means of interfering. Not even Heavenly Sovereigns could affect the outcome.

“That’s somewhat interesting.” Su Yi noticed that when the lotus bloomed, the Book of Destiny quivered slightly.

Fortunately, he intervened in time, decisively cutting off the Book of Destiny’s aura. Only then did he narrowly avoid causing a disturbance.

Had he acted any slower, he might well have revealed the Book of Destiny!

From this, it was clear how mystical and extraordinary the Revolving Destiny Lotus was.

Earlier, Su Yi saw it clearly. The Revolving Destiny Lotus was Heavenly Sovereign Yaoguang’s contribution.

“Go ahead and sense the lotus to select your opponent,” said Heavenly Sovereign Wen.

The almost one-hundred combatants promptly entered the arena, stood around the lotus, and sensed it. Many of them soon found opponents, the results on clear display.

When Su Yi sensed the lotus, he felt a strange sensation, as if the Revolving Destiny Lotus were... somehow... afraid of him?

None of its petals dared to refuse him. It seemed he could force whichever one he wanted to select him.

Don’t tell me that this is because of the Book of Destiny? Su Yi pondered, then decided to try it.

He glanced imperceptibly at Pei Shi, the Limitless Palace grand elder who’d been the first to step forth and provoke him. Pei Shi had already sensed one of the petals, but he was still waiting for an opponent. Su Yi exerted his will and instantly sensed the same petal as Pei Shi. Pei Shi then looked right at him in apparent disbelief.

A moment later, he burst into laughter. “It’s true! When fortune comes calling, you cannot block it even if you want to! You’re dead, you little wretch!”

The crowd stirred as they realized what was happening. Many of them were instantly gleeful. They all planned to watch Su Yi’s match.

Pei Shi was unquestionably one of the mightiest Heavenly Monarchs around!

He’d reached the peak of the Piercing Illusions stage a long, long time ago. He was a “living fossil” of the Five Great Continents, so he’d had countless years to consolidate his abilities.

The overwhelming majority of Heavenly Monarchs had to call him “senior!”

It seemed obvious to everyone that getting Pei Shi in the first round was extraordinarily unlucky for Su Yi!

Meanwhile, Su Yi laughed, too. It really worked! Heavenly Sovereigns are helpless to influence the Revolving Destiny Lotus, but with me, it’s as obedient as can be. This means I’ll be able to select my opponents freely in the following rounds, too!

“Look! That guy’s seriously laughing even now!” someone exclaimed.

“Let him laugh," someone else said coldly. “Then watch as Senior Pei Shi makes him cry!”

Before long, the matchups were announced in the order they’d be fought, and the first round began.

Heavenly Sovereign E’s ninth son, Yan Xiaosheng, was up against Third Elder Xun Guang of Eternal Lightning Court.

The battle instantly drew the crowd’s attention.

Su Yi, however, returned to his seat, took out a jug of wine, and watched the battle only briefly before looking away.

By the standards of the Eternal Heavens Domain as a whole, this was an extraordinary battle, a match between peak Heavenly Monarchs.

However, to the current Su Yi, it was at most barely worthy of his attention. It certainly wasn’t anything shocking.

His instincts told him that unless something unexpected happened, Xun Guang was sure to lose. It wasn’t at all suspenseful.

“What are you thinking about, little brother?” Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan’s voice suddenly transmitted directly into Su Yi’s ears.

Su Yi said casually, “I’m wondering whether I’ll be able to leave this place alive if I win.”

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan paused, then fell uncharacteristically silent. Earlier, he’d confidently proclaimed that he’d guarantee Su Yi’s safety, but he no longer dared say with certainty that nothing unexpected would happen during the competition.

He paused, then said, “Little brother, I’ll do everything I can to fulfill my end of our agreement, even... if I have to risk it all! So you should just focus on the competition.”

Su Yi inclined his head. “I have faith in you.”

Just as Su Yi thought, Yan Xiaosheng emerged victorious. Guang Xun didn’t just lose; he found himself crushed beneath the scholarly young man’s feet, looking as wretched as could be.

After his victory, Yan Xiaosheng’s demeanor suddenly changed, becoming meek and modest, and he personally helped Guang Xun get up and walk out of the arena.

Then, he faced the crowd and said something not even remotely modest. “When the Struggle for Heavenly Fate ends, no matter who is granted the Eternal Throne, it’s time that some of you fellow Daoists of the older generation stepped down!”

The crowd was instantly in uproar. Some of the older cultivators chastised Yan Xiaosheng for his brazenness and shameless boasting.

However, his words resonated with some of the younger cultivators. The central authority of the Heavenly Sovereign factions was concentrated in the hands of the older generation. That left younger cultivators with little opportunity to assume power or rise to prominence! Had there been a disparity in strength, they naturally couldn’t have objected to this arrangement, but all of them were peak Heavenly Monarchs. Why should the old-timers cling to their positions forever?

Yan Xiaosheng’s words had effectively brought the conflict between the younger and older generations to the surface.

“What spirit! As befits the son of Heavenly Sovereign E.” Heavenly Sovereign Ling couldn’t help but smile approvingly.

Heavenly Sovereign E said, “Flowing water never rusts, and a door hinge never rusts; movement staves off decay. When some of these older-generation experts lose, it’s only right that they vacate their positions and relinquish their authority.

Su Yi thought nothing of it.

The Heavenly Sovereigns’ positions were just too stable. No one in the Eternal Heavens Domain could shake them. That was why they could discuss such things so lightly. Had it been their positions that were under threat, not one of them would have remained this calm.

The participants proceeded to fight one match after another, startling the crowd time and time again.

Everyone fought with all their might, so each bout was fierce, a sight to behold. Were these scenes to circulate in the outside world, they’d astonish the entire Eternal Heavens Domain.

Even the Heavenly Sovereigns were absorbed in the spectacle and discussing every detail amongst themselves.

Not even Su Yi could remain disinterested. He couldn’t help but sigh to himself. These Heavenly Sovereign factions’ foundations sure run deep! Every one of them, both the older-generation experts and the young elites, has extraordinary qualities. They’re top experts of their level.

The Heart-Tempering Sword House could at most produce two or three people capable of competing, and there’s no guarantee that they’d win even their first match. This is the disparity between Heavenly Sovereign and Heavenly Monarch factions!

When Lian Yue took the stage, everyone watched with bated breath. Even the Heavenly Sovereigns all looked over.

Lian Yue was dressed in white, her skin fairer than snow. She was an elegant, ethereal beauty.

Her opponent was an older-generation expert of Sevendeaths Court. His Daoist title was Fu Ya.

The battle wasn’t particularly fierce, but it was nonetheless extraordinarily shocking.

Because as soon as she took the stage, Lian Yue’s cultivation soared with unstoppable momentum, breaking through four times in a row!

She started in the Unfettered Realm, then rapidly passed through the Divine Wandering, Silent, and Immeasurable Realms to reach the Heavenly Fate Realm!

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

The sight left the onlookers so stunned that their jaws practically fell off for sheer shock.

When Lian Yue attacked, even the Heavenly Sovereigns lost their cool.

Because Lian Yue managed to suppress her opponent in a single strike!

In that moment, a radiant full moon rose over the arena, its misty light illuminating the nine heavens and ten earths.

Elder Fu Ya of Sevendeaths Court was a ferocious, terrifying, peak Heavenly Monarch with a wealth of combat experience, but even though he gave it his all, he couldn’t block a single hit. The radiant moon suppressed him, pinning him ruthlessly in place. He couldn’t move a muscle!

Who wouldn’t have been stunned?

But Lian Yue acted as if she’d just done something trivial and commonplace. She just said, “Well fought,” and floated off the battlefield.

Her transcendent, ethereal bearing was such that countless onlookers’ expressions shifted.