The Dao of Reincarnation (191-192) (Patreon)

Chapter 191: Emperor's Fate (Part 7)

Ye Da made his move. The phenomenon of the Starfall Divine Body condensed at his fingertip as he pointed forward. Killing intent surged like frost—he was determined to make this arrogant fool pay the price.

The prodigy who dared challenge Su Chen was naturally no ordinary character. Since his debut, he had never met a match. Even some sealed monsters from previous great eras had fallen to him. He drew the sword at his waist, gathering a sharp Heaven-Severing Sword Intent that left the crowd gasping in admiration. This sword strike was truly stunning.

"So it's the successor of the Heaven Severing Sect. This is going to be a good show!"

Someone recognized the youth's identity. The Heaven Severing Sect was also an orthodoxy that had produced an Emperor, and the Heaven Severing Sword Classic ranked among the top ten sword classics of the current era.

Ye Da and the Heaven Severing Sect successor clashed fiercely. Their battle shook heaven and earth, enough to shatter mountains and rivers, yet the collision of their forces did not spill over to disturb the banquet. Their control over power had already reached a pinnacle.

Su Chen felt quite pleased.

The Jade Pool Banquet was indeed an excellent place. The Heaven Severing Sect successor would qualify as a genius even on the Emperor Path, possessing the potential to reach the Heavenly King level. Such talents were rare even among the myriad races. If he could be recruited, he would surely become one of Su Chen's strongest aides in the future.

Under Su Chen's guidance for a full year, Ye Da's cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds and his combat strength had doubled. However, facing one of the top prodigies of the human race, he still fell short. Covered in wounds, he refused to retreat. This scene moved many onlookers.

In the end, Ye Da lost. He stood before Su Chen with a face full of shame and said, "Master… I have lost…"

Su Chen nodded. His eyes remained calm and unruffled, showing neither joy nor anger. He said indifferently, "If you lost, then you lost. Failure is not shameful. The current Great Emperor has experienced hundreds of defeats yet still became Emperor. Learn from your failures, temper your heart and will. Only then will failure cease to be failure."

Su Chen did not punish Ye Da. He knew Ye Da was not the Heaven Severing Sect successor's opponent. He had merely used the opportunity to temper him. A good blade required careful sharpening. Su Chen was the whetstone handler, and the Heaven Severing Sect successor was the whetstone he had chosen.

Ye Da felt deeply moved.

On the banquet, the gazes many prodigies directed at Su Chen shifted from calm to shock and admiration. A true seeker of the Dao never feared failure. Not every Great Emperor had dominated their path unchallenged. The majority had archrivals and had been defeated by them multiple times.

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden's eyes rippled with surprise as she looked at Su Chen. This Emperor Son of the Ye Clan… was not simple. His understanding of the path of seeking the Dao far surpassed his peers. Before stepping onto the Emperor Path, no one would believe he could fail. Someone who could see through the concepts of victory and defeat would achieve great things.

Unfortunately, the Heaven Severing Sect successor could not see through the notion of victory and defeat, nor did he care to. His Heaven Severing Sword Intent reached its peak as he pointed directly at Su Chen and declared, "Victory is victory, defeat is defeat! I am unrivaled and will battle every enemy in the world until I reach the supreme realm!"

Facing the young, aggressive, and overbearing words of the Heaven Severing Sect successor, Su Chen merely smiled faintly. Over a hundred thousand years, he had been a spectator, full of youthful vigor, and had even dominated an entire era. He had witnessed too many changes in the structure of the myriad races and seen far too many geniuses like the Heaven Severing Sect successor.

Su Chen did not argue with him. People who had experienced different spans of time naturally possessed different mindsets; neither was superior nor inferior. Everyone simply walked from youth toward maturity.

But in the eyes of the Heaven Severing Sect successor, Su Chen's casual smile looked like mockery. His Heaven Severing Sword Intent unsheathed at its absolute peak.

It carried the spirit of a mortal drawing his sword to question the heavens. That was the thought in the minds of everyone present. They did not know why such a notion had arisen.

Facing this sword from the Heaven Severing Sect successor, Su Chen remained completely motionless. The aura around him surged like a terrifying torrent, blocking the successor's advance.

Here, one could see a supreme prodigy reduced to the likeness of an ordinary mortal, sword in hand, struggling to take even a single step. And Su Chen was the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao itself.

The Heaven Severing Sect successor stepped before Su Chen and thrust his sword lightly toward the space between Su Chen's brows. That unparalleled spirit condensed into a single sword strike.

"What a fine sword!"

Su Chen praised sincerely.

Under the gaze of his Myriad Laws Heavenly Eyes, he could clearly see the spirit behind that sword. What kind of person must the Great Emperor who created the Heaven Severing Sword Classic have been?

In Su Chen's eyes, the sword dao dissolved, revealing a golden sword hovering in the air, formed from countless runes. The Heaven Severing Sect successor suddenly shuddered, overwhelmed by an unparalleled terror. Those golden pupils were like the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao itself—sacred and inviolable.

He… felt fear. He felt dread. How could a mortal defy the heavens?

"Strike."

A majestic voice, like a heavenly decree, exploded in the Heaven Severing Sect successor's mind, jolting him out of his hesitation. Without further thought, he drove the sword forward. The blade disintegrated into dust inch by inch, and every trace of his Heaven Severing Sword Intent was ground away. The scene left the successor collapsing powerlessly to the ground, his eyes vacant and lifeless.

"If you can one day comprehend your own Dao, you may come seek me."

Su Chen looked at the belief-shattered Heaven Severing Sect successor and spoke calmly. This defeat was both an opportunity and a tribulation.

Talent was not what the Heaven Severing Sect successor lacked. What he lacked was his own Dao and time. A great era would not wait for him to grow. If he could comprehend it, the human race would gain another Heavenly King-level monster—a future Quasi-Emperor seed.

Many prodigies watched as the Heaven Severing Sect successor's Dao heart nearly collapsed. They did not know what he had seen in that final moment, but at this instant, the strength of the Ye Clan's Emperor Son was beyond doubt, even though he was still young.

Su Chen remained calm. This state of mind caused the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden to glance at him repeatedly.

"Chi Yao knows that everyone came here not for me."

The banquet quickly returned to its lively atmosphere. One prodigy laughed playfully, "Fairy Chi Yao, what are you saying? Perhaps we came for the divine medicine at first, but now, how can the divine medicine compare to Fairy Chi Yao?"

Another prodigy added, "So that's how it is. Does this mean one less competitor for the divine medicine?"

"Cough… actually, one can have both the fish and the bear's paw."

"..."

Laughter and banter filled the hall. The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden pursed her lips, then smiled and said, "I am delighted that everyone values Chi Yao so highly, but I still know my own limits. This is a leaf from the immortal tree."

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden held out her palm. Strands of law threads intertwined above it, condensing into a leaf that shimmered like emerald jade, filled with the power of laws. She continued, "All you need to do is gain recognition from this leaf, and you will qualify to approach the immortal tree and obtain the fortune of the divine fruit."

Many prodigies exclaimed in surprise, "Is the legendary test of the immortal tree really this simple?"

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden merely smiled without answering.

Whether it was simple or not… that depended on the person.

Chapter 192: Emperor's Fate (Part 8)

Su Chen opened his Myriad Laws Heavenly Eyes. Countless veins covered the immortal leaf, as if endless Great Daos were roaring within it.

"The rumor that the Jade Pool Sacred Land has connections with a transcendent being does not seem to be false."

The immortal leaf was extraordinary. It did not feel like an object from this world and contained heaven-defying fortune.

All the prodigies employed their own methods. Some displayed divine abilities, some manifested their cultivation techniques, some spoke of their own Dao paths with heavenly flowers raining down, and some struck various poses while walking different roads.

"The immortal leaf is moving!"

Someone cried out in surprise.

The originally still immortal leaf suddenly stirred, floating into the air and pointing in one direction. There sat an extraordinary man surrounded by golden lotuses rising from the ground and heavenly flowers scattering.

Someone recognized him and exclaimed, "It's him! The unrivaled genius who once fought alone against prodigies from the myriad races, the number one of his era. He sealed himself until now just to seize the opportunity before the great era begins!"

The man sensed the immortal leaf flying toward him. The phenomena around him grew even more astonishing. Yet after circling above his head once, the immortal leaf suddenly turned and flew toward another direction. This unexpected change left everyone stunned. The unrivaled prodigy seemed to have been toyed with by the immortal leaf. Even his shocking phenomena came to a complete halt.

The immortal leaf landed in the palm of a handsome youth and seemed somewhat excited, dancing lightly in the air. The scene left the crowd dumbfounded.

"This… the immortal leaf has gained sentience!"

Then again… it was a leaf from the immortal tree left behind since the distant mythical era. It was not surprising that it had gained sentience.

Su Chen smiled wryly. This immortal tree leaf was truly mischievous.

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden smiled and said, "As expected, it chose Young Master Ye."

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden seemed to have anticipated this outcome and showed no surprise.

Although many prodigies present felt some regret, none were unconvinced. Su Chen had easily defeated the Heaven Severing Sect successor, and such strength had already won them over. They were not surprised by this result. Only the prodigy who had been toyed with stood frozen in place, as if time and space had stopped. His phenomena no longer stirred.

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden slowly rose and said, "Since Young Master Ye has gained the recognition of the immortal leaf, he naturally qualifies to obtain the divine medicine opportunity. Please come with me, Young Master Ye."

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden invited Su Chen to the depths of the Jade Pool Sacred Land. Su Chen did not refuse. He was also very curious about the legendary immortal tree of the Jade Pool Sacred Land.

In the depths of the Jade Pool Sacred Land, Su Chen sensed many terrifying auras surging like a sea of clouds. Having survived from the mythical era until now without decline, the Jade Pool Sacred Land's foundation was naturally far deeper than it appeared.

Deeper inside, Su Chen saw an endless river of stars hanging from a single tree, as if the entire world had become its backdrop.

"This is the legendary immortal tree of my Jade Pool Sacred Land," the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden introduced without any intention of concealing it.

"This tree… seems to not belong to this era. It is rooted in the river of time. Truly astonishing!"

Su Chen sighed in admiration.

Nine-colored divine light radiated from the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden's body. She looked ethereal and otherworldly, like a goddess descending from the heavens. She gently removed the light veil covering her face, revealing her peerless countenance, and smiled, "Young Master Ye must be curious about how extraordinary the fruits on the immortal tree are."

Su Chen nodded and looked at the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden. At this moment, she seemed indistinct, as if she were about to merge with the immortal tree itself.

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden continued, "Actually, I am the incarnation of a fruit from the immortal tree."

The legendary fruit of the immortal tree, an opportunity comparable to a divine medicine, was actually the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden herself!

Su Chen was genuinely shocked. No wonder he could not see through her origins. He had never expected that the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden was the incarnation of a fruit from the immortal tree.

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden went on, "As long as Young Master Ye consumes me, you will receive the fortune bestowed by the immortal tree and become unrivaled in the world."

Su Chen: "..."

No wonder the opportunities of the Jade Pool Sacred Land had always been shrouded in mystery.

Su Chen gazed at the immortal tree that seemed to pierce through the ages and asked, "This is not that simple, is it? If I were to consume you, what price would I have to pay?"

Su Chen did not believe the Jade Pool Sacred Land would be so kind as to let their Sacred Maiden be eaten by an unrelated person. With such origins, even if one could not become an Emperor, breaking through to Quasi-Emperor would still be effortless.

A smile appeared on the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden's face. "Young Master Ye is wise. However, the price to pay is insignificant compared to the benefits gained. Whether or not Young Master Ye becomes an Emperor, after death, your Great Dao will return to the immortal tree's body and become its nourishment."

Su Chen sighed, "It seems your Jade Pool Sacred Land harbors grand ambitions."

Using the Dao traces of generations of human powerhouses and even Great Emperors as nourishment… What kind of monster would that create? If the immortal tree transformed into a living being, it might very well break the curse that no one had transcended since the mythical era.

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden's clear eyes looked at Su Chen as she said, "If Young Master Ye consumes Chi Yao, you will definitely undergo a transformation and advance further, becoming an Emperor in this era."

Su Chen replied, "I refuse."

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden was stunned. She asked in confusion, "Why? Does Young Master Ye not wish to become an Emperor?"

Su Chen shook his head. "Of course, I want to become an Emperor. That is my goal. But Fairy Chi Yao, you are mistaken about one thing. Even without the opportunity from the Jade Pool Sacred Land, I will still become an Emperor. It will not be because of the Jade Pool Sacred Land's opportunity. Therefore, I refuse."

Su Chen's tone was very calm.

Yet the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden heard an unshakable determination and unquestionable conviction in his voice. It was convincing. In this life, the youth before her would surely become the supreme Emperor who reigned over the universe and was revered by all races.

To Su Chen, this transaction was a joke. He possessed the Reverse Fate Scripture, such a supreme treasure, and the ability to reincarnate was his greatest secret. After death, his Great Dao would return to the immortal tree? Refine his corpse and use it again in the next life—wouldn't that be even better?

What surprised Su Chen, however, was that the secret of the immortal tree reminded him of the Ancient Tomb Forbidden Zone and the curse of the Bronze Immortal Palace. After death, the body would return to the Ancient Tomb Forbidden Zone, neither aging nor dying.

Perhaps there was a connection between the two, but these were not things the current him could explore.

Brilliant light bloomed in the Jade Pool Sacred Maiden's beautiful eyes. Across the ages, very few people would refuse the opportunity of the immortal tree. Those who wanted to become Emperors would not give up any chance to grow stronger.

Others might refuse out of pity, but the youth before her rejected it with absolute certainty that he would become an Emperor. It came from the bottom of his heart. Such a thing was rare throughout history.

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden felt extremely curious.

"The immortal tree only selects one person per great era. In this life, Chi Yao has already chosen Young Master Ye. From now on, Chi Yao belongs to Young Master Ye. If Young Master Ye ever changes his mind, you may consume me at any time."

The Jade Pool Sacred Maiden's expression was serious.