Chapter 263: All Abnormalities are Omens

Late at night, Su Hongli quickly learned of the current Emperor's attitude towards the matter at hand. Although the Emperor still entrusted the Su family to handle the situation as before, Su Hongli furrowed his brows slightly.

The elder in the Daoist robe also sensed that something was amiss and said, "Your Majesty's attitude seems respectful on the surface, but it appears somewhat indifferent."

Su Hongli fell silent for a moment and said, "This is the conflict between cultivators and secular authority. In my eyes, secular authority is like fleeting clouds and smoke, no longer worth longing for. But in the eyes of His Majesty, he still regards me as his subject."

"In these ten years, I have secluded myself, ignoring official orders and worldly affairs. I have repeatedly refused His Majesty's invitation to serve, which has naturally disappointed him. That is the crux of the matter."

As he spoke, a hint of strangeness appeared in his eyes as he said, "Of course, I am well aware that His Majesty has always been curious about the great opportunities I obtained from the 'Dark Demon Mountain' in my youth."

"Now, His Majesty is only one step away from stepping onto the path of the Primordial Dao, but it is precisely this step that has left him trapped for three years without success."

Upon hearing this, the elder in the Daoist robe's face slightly changed, and he said, "Could it be that His Majesty wants the fortune you obtained from the Dark Demon Mountain back then?"

Su Hongli replied calmly, "Our Majesty's thoughts are not so easy to fathom. If you think he covets the fortune within me, you're oversimplifying."

The elder in the Daoist robe nodded and said, "I'm not worried. Although the Cyan-Blue Continent is a realm of the mundane, ultimately, the true power that allows one to stand at the pinnacle of the world is the power held by cultivators, not secular imperial authority."

However, Su Hongli smiled and said, "Brother, what if one possesses both secular imperial authority and the power to intimidate all beings?"

The elder in the Daoist robe fell silent.

...

That night, the "Ten Directions Pavilion," renowned for its mystery, announced the news of the battle at the Governor's Mansion in Gunzhou, causing countless forces within the Great Zhou Empire to awaken from their slumber and stir up a tumultuous storm.

It was also on this night that the name Su Yi resonated throughout the Great Zhou Empire.

Like a comet streaking across the night sky, its brilliance shone brightly, attracting countless attention.

The past life experiences of Su Yi were also uncovered and made public by the Ten Directions Pavilion, causing a thousand waves to surge.

"Su Hongli's son is actually in conflict with the Su family? What's going on?"

Some people were astonished.

"A seventeen-year-old Grandmaster, already incredibly dazzling. Who would have imagined that such a young Grandmaster would possess the ability to kill a Martial Prodigy at the Celestial Martial stage? He's simply a monster!"

Some trembled, unable to believe it.

"The White Eyebrow King, the Fire Dome King, the Huaiyang Marquis, the Yushan Marquis, the Tianyong Marquis... These renowned figures who shake the world were all killed by Su Yi?"

"Heavens, was it also Su Yi who caused the bloodbath at the West Mountain Tea Gathering in Gunzhou?"

"A few months ago, Su Yi was a worthless waste without any cultivation base. He was a son-in-law of the Wen family in Guangling City. But now, he has become a terrifying figure of unimaginable power. It's too incredible!"

"How could there be such a person in this world?"

... Various voices of shock, astonishment, perplexity, and disbelief echoed in the ink-like darkness of the night, resonating in different regions of the Great Zhou Empire.

Countless cultivators trembled in response.

Not knowing how many forces were analyzing Su Yi's life deeds overnight.

However, it was foreseeable that as time passed, information about the West Mountain bloodbath in Gunzhou, the battle at the Governor's Mansion, and Su Yi's life experiences would further spread and become known to the world.

Tianyun Mountain.

Qingya Residence, shrouded in darkness.

"So, it was that kid who took away my three Pure Yang Fire Peaches..."

Ge Changling, holding a feather fan, sat in front of an alchemy furnace, his eyes showing a hint of peculiarity.

This man, known as the "Sea-Swallowing King" who had become famous thirty years ago in the Great Zhou Empire, appeared as a thin old man with an air of elegance and purity. His hair and beard were gray, and his eyes were as clear as a baby's.

He had long ignored worldly affairs and had been idle for many years, focusing on the path of alchemy.

But tonight, he was disturbed by the news just released from the Ten Directions Pavilion.

Upon learning about Su Yi's past deeds, Ge Changling couldn't help but recall a piece of news brought back by his disciple, Ge Qian, from the Ghost Mother Ridge nearly two months ago.

There was a young man named Su Yi who left a message in front of a Fire Peach tree: "Su Yi took three Fire Peaches from the Great Zhou Calendar on the evening of the fourth day of the second month."

"Indeed, there are more and more abnormalities occurring in this world..."

Ge Changling murmured to himself.

Thirty years ago, he had already entered the ranks of the "Ten Great Celestial Martial Prodigies," and as for his current cultivation, few in the world knew to what extent Ge Changling had reached.

"Could it be true, as the inscription on the stone tablet in the 'Green Vine Demon Mountain' mentioned? Is it destined that unknown changes will occur in this world?"

Ge Changling fell into contemplation.

Many years ago, he had ventured into the "Green Vine Demon Mountain," one of the Eight Great Demon Mountains, in search of opportunities. There, he had accidentally come across a partially damaged stone tablet.

On the stone tablet, an ancient wedge script was engraved with a passage:

"The power beneath the seal will inevitably break free."

"All that was once imprisoned will be shattered."

"The former era of grandeur and bloodshed will return."

"Before the mist is unveiled, all abnormalities are omens!"

The lines of text, left behind by an unknown person, had been eroded by time, becoming blurry, yet they emitted a breathtaking power.

Since seeing these words, Ge Changling would often involuntarily think of them over the years, lingering like a nightmare that couldn't be dispelled.

Until now, Ge Changling, who had experienced the vicissitudes of the world and gained insights into many unknown secrets, had a vague understanding that the Cyan Continent was far from being as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Just within the depths of the Eight Great Demon Mountains in the Great Zhou Empire, there were many terrifying and profound mysteries hidden!

The more he understood, the more he realized that the inscriptions on the stone tablet he had seen back then were by no means some vague prophecy. They were deductions based on certain facts!

"Before the mist is unveiled, all abnormalities are omens..."

Ge Changling's expression became slightly solemn. "This Su Yi... is undoubtedly an abnormal character... Could this be one of the omens?"

For a long time, Ge Changling shook his head.

These matters had surpassed his understanding, and even though he had speculations and doubts, he couldn't be certain.

But tonight, upon learning about Su Yi's deeds, he became even more aware that the words on the stone tablet he had seen back then might truly come true someday!

Under the same night sky.

In a city located on the southwestern border of the Great Zhou Empire, adjacent to one of the Eight Great Demon Mountains, the "Silver Flame Demon Mountain."

A young girl dressed in white, carrying an ancient sword, sat quietly on the deserted city wall. The night sky above her was deep, and the stars shone brightly.

"Could it be that Su Yi has been possessed by a cultivator from another realm? Or has he obtained a mysterious power sealed somewhere?"

The girl in white took out a gourd of wine and took a sip, a hint of contemplation appearing on her gentle and tranquil features.

After a while, she put away the wine gourd and stood up from the city wall.

Her slender and cold figure shimmered with a touch of dreamlike radiance under the starlight, resembling the fairy goddess of the moon.

And the ancient sword behind her added a chilling and awe-inspiring aura.

"When I return from the Silver Flame Demon Mountain, I will go and meet this person."

The girl in white made up her mind, and with a flash, her figure disappeared into the vast night.

The girl's name was Yue Shichan.

She had an even more resounding title: the Feather-Flowing Queen of the Great Zhou Empire.