Supreme Sword Exalt

The world changed color. A vast, surging river appeared before Pi Luo, its form indistinct. The river seemed to stretch across the entire world. Its width was immeasurable, its origin unseen, its end unfathomable, as if it were eternal. The river water was a murky yellow. As it roared and surged, countless white bones rose and fell within its depths.

A massive stele that reached the heavens stood at its center. Black and mottled, it was covered in scratches, radiating a profoundly ancient aura. At the top of the stele, countless dao patterns interwove, vaguely forming an ancient word as large as a mountain: yellow.

Even though Pi Luo stood tens of thousands of zhang tall, he still appeared minuscule compared to that river.

The moment he saw the river, a flicker of gravity crossed his three eyes for the first time. “Oh?”

In the blink of an eye, the river surged over him. Even though it was but a projection, his divine barrier shook violently, eroded by the seemingly real murky yellow water.

At the same time, many white bones rose upright, clinging to him. His divine power consumption immediately increased tenfold, and a flash of anger passed through his eyes. His six arms clenched tightly, and divine might descended, scattering the endless skeletal remains. But the next moment, those bones returned and climbed onto him once more.

Without hesitation, his divine power expanded outward again, transforming into boundless red divine flames. “Divine flames purify the world!”

Endless wails echoed out as countless bones turned to ash in an instant. Before Pi Luo could relax, a small boat appeared on the river’s surface. It was a chi wide and three chi long. Compared to this vast, boundless river, it was so small it was nearly negligible. Strangely, no matter how fiercely the river roared, the boat remained perfectly steady without the slightest tremor.

The bones sank into the river’s depths, and the wailing also ceased. Even the roar of the river waters quieted considerably. It was as though they all greatly feared that unassuming skiff. To be precise, what they feared was the figure on the boat. The figure held a long bamboo pole and wore a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat. With each dip, the boat drew closer to Pi Luo.

At the same time, someone’s androgynous voice rang out. “Divine domain’s Divine King Pi Luo. Your name is recorded in the Yellow Springs Book of Life and Death. Today, I have come to escort you to the Yellow Springs!”

It sounded real yet illusory, and even the source of the voice was untraceable. Rusted, mottled iron chains rose from the river water. Each was a zhang thick and of unknown length, covered in corrosion and an aura of timeworn antiquity. They shot toward Pi Luo, about to restrain him.

A flicker of rage passed through Pi Luo’s eyes. “I am of the Innate Holy Clan! Beyond the six paths, outside of reincarnation!”

His divine power erupted completely, and a vast, overbearing divine might crashed down upon the figure on the boat. He displayed far greater strength than when he had fought Ren Wu and Ren Liu. However, the chains ignored divine power. The divine might, capable of destroying heaven and earth, also had no effect on that figure. Even though the chains were thick, they moved with incredible agility, swiftly wrapping around him and binding him tightly.

A bone-chilling yin qi seeped into him. Even his physique and divine power could not resist it. The chains tightened, dragging him downward toward the riverbed. Pi Luo’s divine power rampaged as he struggled desperately, but no matter what he did, he could not break free. He slowly sank toward the river’s bottom. For the first time, a trace of panic surged within him.

The voice sounded again, growing even more eerie. “Do not struggle. Once you enter the Yellow Springs, dust returns to dust, earth returns to—”

The voice stopped abruptly. In the span of a single breath, the river, the bones, the chains, and the boat, all vanished without a trace. The scene before Pi Luo’s eyes once again became the Central Continent. Pi Luo breathed a sigh of relief, still shaken. Scorched black marks covered him all over. Judging by their shape, they were clearly left by the chains that had bound him. This proved that what had just happened was no illusion.

***

On the outer circle of the Central Continent, chaos reigned. Nearly half of the Soaring realm experts within the continent had transformed into divine servants. Fortunately, Yan Qianjue and the others had narrowly escaped that calamity.

However, that didn’t mean they were safe yet. Seven or eight divine servants surrounded them. Despite having Elder Qian and the middle-aged man with them, they were still outmatched. As if being outnumbered wasn’t enough, the divine servants were also stronger than before. The five of them retreated step by step. Aside from Fatty and Qiu Qian, the rest could not help at all and instead became burdens.

In the distance, the red divine flames drew ever closer.

Yan Qianjue failed to block a divine servant’s attack, turning pale. “No! If this continues, we’ll be caught by that thing before these bastards kill us! None of us will escape then! I’ll stay and hold them off! You take them and—”

Fu Dahai was eerily calm. “I’ll stay! You all go!”

The situation was dire. Without hesitation, he took out a seemingly extraordinary jade talisman. It shattered and turned into specks of light that seeped into him, igniting everything he had. It was similar in effect to the poison pills Yang Ying had taken back then. In an instant, an aura far surpassing the Soaring realm erupted from him.

Upon seeing the divine servants charge again, his expression turned cold. With a wave of his hand, he sent them flying far away. “Scram!”

The group was deeply shaken.

“Ancestor!”

“Fellow Daoist Fu!”

“Senior Fu!”

None of them had expected Fu Dahai to be so resolute and decisive. Without giving them a chance to stop him, he had cut off his own retreat and chosen this suicidal act.

Fu Dahai took it in stride. “I don’t have many years left. If I don’t hold the rear, then who will? I can’t afford to lose face!”

The divine servants lunged again. Fu Dahai shook, unleashing a powerful aura. His old face gained a bit of luster, and he single-handedly defeated those divine servants.

Amid the battle, he tossed a jade box to Yan Qianjue. “I’m afraid I won’t have the fortune to enjoy this Life-Extending Fruit. It’s yours now!”

With a flick of his finger, he tossed his storage ring to Fu Youde and instructed, “You De, that’s probably all that’s left of the Fu family. If you manage to escape, and you see Chang He someday, tell him not to forget what I told him!”

Fu Youde’s eyes reddened as he tightly clutched the storage ring. “Okay!”

Fu Dahai cast one last look at the weeping Fatty. “Yulin, from now on, rein in that reckless nature of yours. The Fu family still need you!”

“Ancestor!”

“Daoist!”

“Senior!”

How could they not understand what he intended? They were all filled with sorrow.

Fu Dahai’s tone suddenly turned cold. “What are you guys doing?! Go! All of you, get lost! If you want my death to be in vain, then by all means, stay! See if you can live with yourselves!”

Thus, the others left the place despite their aching hearts. They had no right to waste the opportunity Fu Dahai had bought with his life!

Silently, Xiao Yang, Hua Xing, Elder Qian, Qiu Qian—all of them bowed respectfully to Fu Dahai. They had always been prideful about hailing from the Ancient Cang Realm.

From start to finish, their eyes had only been on exceptional talents like Gu Han, Feng Xi, and Fatty. While Fu Dahai was a top expert on this continent, he was commonplace in the Ancient Cang Realm. He was ordinary, without any particular distinction.

Yet apparently, even ordinary people possessed greatness! Even ordinary people could achieve extraordinary deeds! Today, they had truly come to understand the meaning of those two statements because of Fu Dahai.