Master of the Demon Emperor

Two months had passed since Su Yie became a Supreme Elder of the Dustblade Sect.

During this time, there were always Supreme Elders, Elders, and Core Disciples who came to visit, all bearing gifts—certainly rare Heavenly and Earthly Treasures or Miraculous Pills and Medicines, which indeed brought Su Yie quite a harvest.

Beyond them, disciples of other ranks and stewards dared not disturb him.

Su Yie's days were quite peaceful, and the Chaos Imperial Clan didn't come to trouble him anymore.

Everything seemed to be getting back on the normal track.

One day.

In the courtyard, Su Yie was reading an ancient tome, with hundreds of ancient books and bamboo slips piled on the stone table in front of him, as a black-clothed youth was carefully organizing them.

Not far away, two young female disciples were tending a fire before the Giant Cauldron, concocting Body Tempering Potion for Su Yie.

Aside from the sounds of the flames and the flipping of bamboo slips, the courtyard was very quiet.

The three disciples didn't dare breathe too loudly, for fear of disturbing Su Yie.

"Interesting, a million years ago, the person who encountered the Karmic Tribulation Technique left this plane and left behind a saying."

"Within the Hongmeng, at the border of Chaos, bound by myriad shackles, one must break them with fate."

Holding the ancient tome, Su Yie murmured, making the black-clothed youth look up curiously.

Although the black-clothed youth appeared young, he was actually over three hundred years old and had grown up in the Dustblade Sect. From being a steward to an elder, and then to a Supreme Elder, he had served each rank. He was considered young and promising and had already risen high.

He cautiously asked, "Ancestral Master, are you very concerned about the Karmic Tribulation Technique?"

In the Dustblade Sect, disciples facing a Supreme Elder must call them Ancestral Master.

Su Yie nodded, without taking his eyes off the ancient tome.

"This technique is said to be a punishment from the Dao itself. Only those who anger the rules of the Dao will be afflicted by it. Throughout ancient and modern times, few have broken this technique. However, someone once encountered a person afflicted with the Karmic Tribulation Technique during the Holy Realm Refinement. That person's cultivation was powerful, unmatched by anyone, mad and crazed, constantly muttering, 'Karmic tribulation, fate, the Infinite descends...'"

The black-clothed youth mustered his courage and continued to speak.

Upon hearing this, Su Yie looked up at him with an indifferent gaze, as if piercing through him, which frightened the youth and made him hurriedly lower his head.

"How did you come to know this?"

Su Yie asked, feeling somewhat helpless inside. Could it be that Duan Chengjian had him stirring the pot?

He wasn't very interested in the Holy Realm Refinement, which is why he hadn't agreed to Duan Chengjian's proposal.

The black-clothed youth hesitated before responding, "I heard it from disciples within the sect. They often go out to experience the world and have seen much, and I like to listen to their stories of extraordinary encounters."

"Is that so?"

Su Yie stared at him intently, frightening the youth into kneeling on the ground and hurriedly explaining in fear, "Ancestral Master above, I dare not deceive you. You can ask around if you doubt me... I dare not lie..."

The two female disciples tending the fire kept looking back, their expressions somewhat anxious.

Su Yie seemed contemplative. He put down the ancient tome and picked up another jade slip, saying nonchalantly, "Rise, there's no need to kneel so easily. A man's knees are worth gold."

Upon hearing this, the black-clothed youth looked up, relieved, quickly stood up, and continued to organize the ancient books and jade slips on the stone table for Su Yie.

This matter, however, remained in Su Yie's mind.

Perhaps it would be worthwhile to take part in the Holy Realm Refinement.

Li Huahun, Supreme Dragon Shaking, Qi Taxing, and others were also set to participate. The Holy Realm Refinement happened once every ten thousand years, and there were still over a hundred years before the next opening, giving them enough time to adapt to Chaos.

"Su Yie, come to the main hall. There are important matters to discuss," came the voice of Duan Chengjian in Su Yie's ears, while the three disciples in the courtyard heard nothing and continued to mind their own business.

Su Yie put down the jade slip and vanished from the spot.

The black-clothed youth was startled and then resumed his meticulous organizing.

...

At the main hall of the Dustblade Sect.

All the Supreme Elders and Elders were gathered together, along with eight Core Disciples, and not a single steward was there.

Su Yie sat in the seat of the Supreme Elders, ignoring the grave atmosphere of the hall, drinking wine on his own.

Duan Chengjian broke the silence, asking, "How do you all see this matter?"

The Elder of the Punishment Hall, who was also the father of Guo Jiansheng, was the first to shout, "Go and kill them! The Qingdao Sect killed our disciples of the Dustblade Sect, how can we withstand this?"

The Elder of the Medicine Hall, with a worried expression, said, "Although the Qingdao Sect's strength is comparable to ours at Dustblade Sect, they have the backing of the great powers of the Demon Path, and the Tian Yuan Alliance is not to be trifled with, they are relentless in seeking revenge."

The Tian Yuan Alliance!

That name pressed heavily upon nearly everyone present, leaving them struggling to breathe.

Recently, a group of disciples from the Dustblade Sect had a conflict with those from the Qingdao Sect. The incident where the elders of the Qingdao Sect attacked and killed them had already spread throughout the stars. If the Dustblade Sect did nothing, it would certainly be ridiculed.

The eight core disciples were filled with indignation. They were the pride of heaven of the Dustblade Sect, lofty and proud, how could they tolerate this?

But facing the Tian Yuan Alliance, they dared not speak much.

Contending with the Tian Yuan Alliance was undoubtedly like throwing eggs against rocks.

The main hall fell silent once more, the atmosphere awkward and heavy.

"If you guys dare not, I'll do it!"

A stern voice rang out, breaking the silence and causing everyone to turn their heads.

It was none other than Su Yie.

He simply couldn't stand idly by any longer. Duan Chengjian's sidelong glances toward him were so obvious they might as well have been written on his face.

Indeed, as soon as Su Yie spoke up, a smile bloomed across Duan Chengjian's face like a chrysanthemum.

The aura that Su Yie displayed that day was enough to convince him of Su Yie's strength.

The Grand Elders of the Dustblade Sect had too many concerns, often making it difficult for Duan Chengjian to act.

Now, he wanted to use the edge of the Celestial Authority Demon Star to break this pattern!

Su Yie had just become a Grand Elder, with his spirit at its peak. The other Grand Elders couldn't stop him even if they wanted to, because they hadn't managed to win over Su Yie yet.

Seeing Su Yie's temperament, he did not seem like someone who could be easily manipulated by others.

"That's the Tian Yuan Alliance, don't act recklessly!"

One of the Grand Elders advised with wide eyes.

Su Yie glanced at him. This old fellow had a smile utterly different from the one he wore when he came to bring gifts.

"Stop with the nonsense; the leader of the way of the sword, bullied and yet not daring to fight back? Are we even fit to practice the sword?"

Su Yie snorted coldly, his words domineering, leaving no room for rebuttal.

The core disciples were all stirred up.

Su Yie's words had made their blood boil.

The elders looked at each other, but they understood Duan Chengjian's intent in calling Su Yie.

"Let's depart now, who will lead the way for me?"

Su Yie slowly stood up; the quiet life of late had actually been making him feel uneasy.

It was a good time to strike at Qingdao Sect!

Even Long Su of Divine Honor had joined Emperor Su's Sect; how could the mere Tian Yuan Alliance intimidate him?

Seeing Su Yie's haste, the Grand Elders grew anxious.

"Junior Brother Su, you can't be so hasty!"

"This matter is about the life and death of the Dustblade Sect!"

"That's right, we can't be rash, we need to discuss this further."

"The Tian Yuan Alliance could easily wipe out our Dustblade Sect!"

"Elder Su, if you go, you might not be able to return!"

Su Yie remained unmoved, his gaze firmly on Duan Chengjian.

Duan Chengjian stood up as well, with a grand and heroic air, and declared, "Good, Elder Su, I now appoint you to seek justice for our sect's fallen disciples!"