Late that night, at the imperial palace.

This incident started the emperor too.

“Ten years ago, that Daoist elder appeared by Su Hongli’s side seemingly out of nowhere. Even now, no one knows his name or origins. Who would have thought that tonight, he’d cause such a disturbance?”

In the time it took to snap his fingers, he effortlessly suppressed the Mountain-Subduing King and his companions, forcing them to kneel. This was a terrifying level of power.

State Preceptor Hong Shenshang said, “Your Majesty, as I said long ago, this person is extremely dangerous. He’s incomparable with ordinary Earthly Immortals. This incident is proof of that.”

He paused, then continued, “Grand Elder Fu Yunlang of the Donghua Sword Sect is one of the three strongest sword cultivators in the Great Qin, but although he made an appearance tonight, not even he dared act recklessly. From this, it’s clear just how terrifying that Daoist elder’s strength is.”

The emperor furrowed his brow. “Could he be the source of Su Hongli’s confidence?”

Hong Shenshang shook his head. “If so, Su Hongli wouldn’t have revealed him so easily. Furthermore, the old Daoist clearly follows Su Hongli’s orders. This means that the truly terrifying one is still Su Hongli!”

The emperor took a deep breath. “Ten years ago, just when Su Hongli entered seclusion, the old Daoist appeared out of nowhere. Just how much has Su Hongli’s cultivation grown over the past decade?”

His voice was solemn.

Hong Shenshang fell momentarily silent. This time, he said, “Your Majesty, there’s no rush. All will soon become clear.”

……

“Where exactly did that old Daoist come from?” Throughout the Jade Capital, countless prominent figures were pondering this very question.

They’d only just learned that Su Hongli hid such a mighty figure by his side. This was entirely unexpected!

“Earlier, I didn’t think highly of Su Hongli’s chances. After all, Su Yi could even kill a peak Grain Avoidance cultivator like You Tianhong. How could Su Hongli pose any kind of threat? Now, it seems I underestimated Su Hongli!” sighed some older-generation experts.

“If this father and son truly clash, which of them is stronger?”

“It’s definitely Su Yi! Two Earthly Immortals, Li Changning and You Tianhong, have fallen beneath his blade in just the past few weeks. He even sent Shi Fengliu fleeing in disgrace. Who in the Great Zhou could possibly be a match for him?”

“Not necessarily! Su Hongli has been in seclusion for ten years. Who knows how strong he’s become? Besides, if he weren’t strong enough, how could he convince that mysterious old Daoist to serve at his side?”

That night, the elderly Daoist’s sudden appearance made people reevaluate both Su Hongli and Su Yi. Each seemed stronger and more mysterious than the other!

This was unquestionably unbelievable.

“On the fourth, all will become clear!”

As a result of tonight’s incident, the prominent figures and experts dispersed throughout the capital grew increasingly eager for the battle due to unfold on the fourth.

……

The third day of the fifth month.

The Great Zhou dispatched its Shadow Dragon Guards, evacuating all ordinary inhabitants of the area within ten miles of the Jade Capital’s Su Family.

The Imperatorial Providence, Heaven’s Origin Academy.

Ning Sihua stood alone atop a mountain, beside a sea of cloud. She said softly, “Tomorrow, they’ll finally have their duel. Alas, I cannot watch in person…”

A hint of regret arose on her immature, beautiful features.

She then glanced at the nearby, transcendently beautiful Cha Jin, who was currently sitting there blankly, looking dazed and anxious.

Ning Sihua walked over and comforted them with a smile. “Rest assured. No one in this world can kill your young lord.”

“Oh!” Cha Jin exclaimed, then awake from her daze and said sheepishly, “I’ve embarrassed myself, Palace Master Ning.”

Ning Sihua said nothing. Worry came from caring and concern. Ning Sihua was no exception; deep down inside, how could she truly remain calm?

Meanwhile, within a bamboo building.

Wen Lingxue sat by the window lattice, resting her head in her hands. Her clear, beautiful face looked utterly serene as she muttered to herself, “Big Brother Su Yi will definitely be okay…”

Wen Lingzhao was on the other side of the room, making tea. She looked as pure as snow and as cold and proud as ice. However, she felt all twisted up inside.

She still recalled the day Su Yi told her that he’d venture to the Jade Capital, visit the Su Family, and resolve their wedding contract personally. At the time, she thought it utterly absurd, and she didn’t believe a word of it. They’d even gotten into a heated argument over it.

Who’d have thought that just a few months later, Su Yi would cause such a massive storm? He’d become the most dazzling figure in the Great Zhou, a young legend!

Today, he would return to the Su Family estate and sever their grudge!

When Wen Lingzhao recalled this, she couldn’t help but mock herself. Should I blame myself for being blind and short-sighted?

“Big Brother, Big Brother Su will be okay, right?” Feng Xiaoran looked up and met Feng Xiaofeng’s gaze.

“Of course!” said Feng Xiaofeng without so much as pausing to think. 

……

The fourth day of the fifth lunar month.

It was still dark out, yet numerous martial artists from all over had already set out. All of them were surging toward the district of the Su Family estate.

Their ranks included no shortage of cultivators from the Great Zhou, Great Wei, and Great Qin.

All of them were worried that, if they left too late, others would take the spots with good views of the battle.

“I wonder how many experts this battle has attracted? It seems the whole world is watching; there hasn’t been such a grand occasion in the past century,” Qing Jin whispered. She was accompanying her master, the Pineflame Daoist.

Throughout the past few weeks, she’d kept up with recent developments, and she was well aware that the battle about to unfold had long since drawn the attention of the Great Zhou, Wei, and Qin’s cultivation factions!

However, even now, she found it hard to imagine that Su Yi was at the center of all this…

She still remembered meeting him on the Tower Ship, just two or three months ago. At the time, he hadn’t even come close to breaking into the Grandmaster Realm.

Yet now, his prestige shook the nation!

“I just hope Young Lord Su can emerge victorious…” said Chang Guoke in a low voice.

“Hmph!” The Pineflame Daoist’s face revealed a hint of displeasure. “I know Su Yi saved your life, but don’t forget: he’s the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect’s enemy!”

Chang Guoke instantly fell silent, and his expression turned bitter and conflicted.

……

“Master, do you think Young Lord Su can win this fight?” Lan Suo couldn’t help but ask. She was on the way to the Su Family too.

“It’s hard to say,” said the Cloudstone Venerate after a moment’s thought. “There are too many variables in play. I’m afraid no one can predict who will emerge victorious in the end.”

Lan Suo was stunned. She whispered, “I still think highly of Young Lord Su’s chances.”

The Cloudstone Venerate laughed. “He saved your life; of course you think highly of him! But when the battle begins, you must not be reckless. The Jade Capital is currently a city of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, with experts as numerous as the clouds.

“Before Su Yi and the Su Family determine the final victor, you must not jump in. Otherwise, I’m afraid Su Yi’s foes will set their sights on you. If that happens, even if we want to step in at the last minute and help Su Yi out, they’ll inevitably block our path.”

“Mm!” Lan Suo said with delight. “Master, I just knew you wouldn’t just stand back and watch!”

…..

Were you to look down from above, you’d see it clearly. Countless figures were swarming toward the Su Family estate from all directions. They were densely packed, like an encroaching tidal wave.

However, those that dared lead the pack were all highly influential figures.

Grandmasters could only stand off to the sides. 

“Hurry up and look! The Shanglin Temple’s Elder Lonely River is here!” someone in the crowd exclaimed.

They turned and saw a benevolent-looking, elderly monk leading the other prominent figures of the Great Qin’s delegation in a grand procession.

This instantly drew countless gazes.

Shortly after Lonely River and company’s arrival, the red-robed, white-haired, white-bearded grand elder of the Great Wei’s Wheel of the Moon Sect arrived. He, too, led a delegation of prominent figures.

Yun Zhongqi held a Daoist insignia in one hand and a feather whisk in the other. He was so majestic and imposing that when his group appeared, they too provoked widespread uproar.

Ordinarily, both Lonely River and Yun Zhongqi were the centers of attention no matter where they went.

However, today, numerous figures of comparable status had gathered here at the Su Family estate. None of them could possibly monopolize the limelight.

Shortly after, the Hidden Dragon Sect’s Shi Fengliu and Pineflame Daoist arrived, leading other members of the sect.

Even the long-reclusive Sea-Swallowing King appeared, drifting over on his own.

The picturesque swordswoman in white, the Featherflow King Yue Shichan, followed, attracting just as much attention as she had back on Nine Millet Mountain.

When the high elder of the Donghua Sword Sect, the Cloudstone Venerate, arrived, he too caused a commotion. 

One such scene after another left the various martial artists in a daze. It didn’t seem real.

Earthly Immortals were like legends or living Buddhas. Yet today, these rare and elusive experts were showing up one after another!

This was unquestionably an unprecedented and grand occasion!

By the time day broke and the first light of dawn cut through the darkness hanging over the Jade Capital, the area occupied by the Su Family was already packed. Experts were as numerous as the clouds!

Within the Su Family estate.

You Qingzhi and Su Boning waited anxiously outside Verdant Parasol Courtyard, both eager and uneasy. 

Not far away, the Su Family’s gathered experts were waiting. They, too, had gotten there early, and all of their hearts were filled with conflicted emotions. 

Today, countless eyes were upon the Su Family.

But at the same time, the outcome of today’s battle would determine the Su Family’s life and death!

Within Verdant Parasol Courtyard. 

Su Hongli had changed into a set of long, dark robes, and he wore his hair up in a topknot. His tall, upright figure was bathed in the light of dawn, like a solitary mountain towering into the heavens. He seemed utterly unshakeable. 

He glanced up at the sky and said, “I’ve been in seclusion for a decade, awaiting the onset of the Radiant Epoch. I disdain displaying my power before the world at large. I would never have guessed that I’d have no choice but to reveal my power prematurely all because of my unworthy descendant.”

But then, he retracted his gaze and laughed. “But fine. Today, I’ll just have to show the world what I, Su Hongli, can do.”

He put his hands behind his back, turned, and left Verdant Parasol Courtyard. 

The Daoist elder followed hot on his heels. 

When dawn broke, Su Yi rose, and just as he always did, he washed, cultivated, and ate.

His routine was the same as ever. He didn’t let his upcoming battle with the Su Family influence his cultivation in the slightest.

After experiencing the countless tribulations of mortality, they felt little different than a cool breeze blowing across his face.

A grand battle was imminent, but Su Yi was at peace.

When Su Yi emerged from Pinewind Villa, Fang Yuan was waiting for him with a horse-drawn carriage.

Su Yi got inside, then casually ordered, “After you drop me off at the Su Family’s, come back and warm up a jar of wine. Also, remember to buy a serving of roasted butterfish.”

Fang Yuan’s mind went blank.

This request was as ordinary as could be, yet for some reason, it shook him to the core.

Like a sudden clap of thunder against dead silence!

The last line is a Lu Xun quote. It's from a short, untitled poem he wrote. You can view it here. The blog post includes historical background, the original Chinese, and an English translation.