Chapter 122: Vast Seas and Boundless Skies

Xiao Qian silently ranked the "Three Swords," all of whom possessed equivalent cultivation levels.

Song Yang possessed the highest aptitude for immortal cultivation; his mastery of swordsmanship was slightly inferior to Su Ye's but superior to Ouyang Zhi's.

Ouyang Zhi’s aptitude was slightly lower than Song Yang’s but higher than Su Ye’s, though his swordsmanship was the weakest. His unscrupulous methods, however, had allowed him to progress the fastest.

Su Ye possessed the poorest aptitude but the highest mastery of swordsmanship.

A flicker of regret surfaced in Xiao Qian’s heart. Over a decade ago, on a spring night, a peerless sword cultivator, the likes of whom the world had never seen, was born. Those great beings who knew the past and future, aware that a calamity was approaching, chose to follow the dictates of fate and remain mere bystanders. Had Song Yang not acted decisively to abandon the common people, Xiao Qian might not have refrained from intervening.

The karmic ties of the mortal world are tangled and chaotic. The torrent of destiny had brought this peerless sword cultivator—possessing only a sliver of natural talent—right before him. It was both pathetic and lamentable.

Two golden cushions appeared in the great hall.

"Sect Leader Su, please sit." Xiao Qian cast aside all imperial majesty, appearing as if he were a long-time intimate friend of Su Ye.

Su Ye sat cross-legged on the cushion, facing the Son of Heaven.

"Your 'Heart-Questioning Trial' has reached its full fruition," Xiao Qian’s voice was clear, echoing through the silent hall. "You shall now store your spirit and question your heart here in this Dragon-Head land, formally stepping into the ranks of immortal cultivators."

"Your innate potential surpasses that of the Sword Saint, Song Yang; however, your aptitude is too poor, far below that of an ordinary person. If Song Yang’s cultivation could be described as rivers returning to the sea, your own process is like trying to fill a vast ocean with a mere gourd scoop—it is truly as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Su Ye had already learned of this "dreadful news" from Zen Master Jingyue back at Mount Putuo. Xiao Qian’s candor did not alter his state of mind.

"If you do not wish to shoulder the Mandate of Heaven, you may remain in the mortal world as the leader of the Sacred Fire Sect, calling for wind and rain as you please. I will not force you."

Su Ye spoke clearly and calmly:

"I have a long-cherished desire to attain immortality... Whether for myself or for others, it is a path I must complete. Since there is a possibility of fulfilling the Mandate of Heaven, I do not wish to let the opportunity slip away."

Xiao Qian’s eyes were like lightning; he looked deeply at Su Ye and smiled.

"Those who walk the path of sentient cultivation truly value fame and fortune."

"It is not for fame or fortune that I seek immortality. I cannot bear to see my beloved suffer; I do not wish to disappoint those who hold me in high regard; I cannot endure the sight of the common people suffering in misery... All of these things have solidified my resolve to attain immortality."

"Even if it is as difficult as ascending to heaven, you still wish to become an immortal?"

"I must." Su Ye’s gaze was resolute, his tone devoid of the slightest hesitation.

Xiao Qian fell silent for a long time, then sighed: "Had I been more broad-minded back then, the person sitting before me today would have been an invincible sword cultivator of world-shaking talent. Alas..."

Su Ye said softly: "The calamities of the mortal world and the mandates of heaven—how could they be explained in a few words? At the very least, in my eyes, you are a wise and righteous ruler."

A smile appeared on Xiao Qian’s face as he asked: "What constitutes righteousness, and what constitutes wickedness?"

"This commoner is dull and does not understand the great affairs of the world... In my humble opinion, one who does not act arbitrarily and places the welfare of the common people first can be considered a wise ruler."

"In your view, what is a wicked and muddled ruler?"

"One who indulges in wine and debauchery, fostering a culture of luxury... who drains the treasury to build grand palaces... who cannot distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous, and who treats human life like blades of grass... such can be called a wicked and muddled ruler."

"You possess no small talent in the field of Confucian studies," Xiao Qian said. "Now that you have achieved some success in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, I can safely send you to meet the Dharmakaya of the Three Ancestors."

"When may I see them?"

"Tomorrow at noon, you may ascend the Pilgrimage Terrace."

Having given Su Ye the time, Xiao Qian waved his sleeve, sending him before the Wufeng Hall.

Qin Qingyu, dressed in white crane Taoist robes and wearing a fish-tail crown, strode into the hall as the restrictions were lifted. A brilliant smile appeared on Qin Qingyu’s androgynous, delicate face.

"Should the duel between Your Majesty and Su Ye be recorded truthfully in the annals of history, or should it be slightly embellished?"

"Record it truthfully," Xiao Qian said, his hands behind his back. "Qingqiu, convey my decree: change the era name to 'Taichu' (Great Beginning)."

Li Qingqiu, who had just appeared from the void, was about to accept the order when Qin Qingyu raised a hand to stop him.

"Your Majesty, the world knows that Su Ye’s sword is named 'Taichu.' Changing the era name to 'Taichu' might be seen as excessive favor..."

"Taichu signifies the formless and the quality-less, mentioned alongside Taiyi, Taishi, Taisu, and Taiji," Xiao Qian’s eyes were deep and steady, his aura vigorous. "I do not do this to praise Su Ye, but to shatter the past and, with a righteous heart, face the coming calamity of the human realm."

Qin Qingyu was speechless. He then cupped his hands and bowed: "Your Majesty is wise."

"Qingqiu, convey my decree." Xiao Qian gazed at the distant sky beyond the hall, his eyes reflecting a long-term vision.

Li Qingqiu bowed in acknowledgment and vanished once more.

***

Su Ye followed a palace maid into the Wufeng Hall. Upon reaching the entrance, he crossed paths with the smiling Feng Yu'an. He cupped his hands and asked: "General Feng, is Hong’er inside?"

Feng Yu'an smiled faintly, then pulled Su Ye to the right side of the hall door and whispered: "Regarding the matter at Weilan City, I owe you an explanation."

"No explanation is needed," Su Ye laughed. "I have weathered many storms; what have I not seen? Such a small matter is already a thing of the past."

"..." Feng Yu'an laughed. "Is this not because I wanted to ask a favor of you?"

Su Ye’s eyes brightened instantly: "If you want someone to do you a favor, you must show sincerity."

"You will be pleasantly surprised when you enter the hall," Feng Yu'an lowered her voice. "...If you manage to refine the Divine Brilliance Pill in the future, don't forget me."

"So it was the pill she was after." Su Ye’s thoughts raced, but in the end, he decided not to take advantage of the situation. Feng Yu'an had subdued demons in Putuo City, which, in a way, was done for his sake and counted toward his own merit. He would treat it as a "loss-making transaction."

"If I ever attain the mastery to refine the Divine Brilliance Pill, I will certainly not forget General Feng," Su Ye said, cupping his hands. "However, once I leave Yunjing this time, I will not return for many years. When that day comes, I will have to trouble you to make the trip yourself."

"The world is vast, but I can reach you in an instant," Feng Yu'an smiled. "At my level of cultivation... a hundred thousand miles is but a single thought away."

Su Ye smiled and nodded. He knew full well that Li Qingqiu and Feng Yu'an helping him was entirely due to the Emperor’s command. Once the Heart-Questioning Trial ended, he would begin his journey of immortal cultivation and be freed from Xiao Qian’s control. There was no reason to return to Yunjing, be shackled by court rituals, or get entangled in the strife of the mortal world.

Feng Yu'an’s voice was clear: "Once you enter the hall, you will surely be surprised."

Filled with curiosity, Su Ye stepped over the foot-high threshold of the Wufeng Hall.

His eyes fell upon a red official robe, and the lotus-silk cloud-walking boots on his feet were of an elegant style. He looked up and met a pair of clear, peach-blossom eyes.

"Hong’er?!" Su Ye’s eyes widened as he noticed the Pixiu patterns on the shoulders of Luo Jinghong’s official robe.

"Brother Su, I’ve become a Jinwu Guard!" Luo Jinghong waved the green ribbon and silver seal in her hand, her eyes filled with joy.

"Congratulations..."

The Jinwu Guards served in the Yunjing Demon Suppression Division. Su Ye, who had thought he was about to break free from the constraints of the mortal world, could not help but be stunned by the sight.

Empress Hu, sitting on a grand armchair on the high dais, sensed Su Ye’s thoughts and laughed softly: "Su Ye, Jinghong was personally appointed by me as a Jinwu Guard. She is not under the command of the Great General and does not need to report for duty in Yunjing. After tomorrow, you shall have your freedom of body and mind."

The Empress, who carried the dignity of the world, was, after all, a noble soul who had risen from the "Ten Miles of Spring Breeze" town. In the end, she did not use the identity of the Jinwu Guard to bind Su Ye, who yearned so deeply for freedom.

Su Ye bowed and cupped his hands, thanking Empress Hu from the bottom of his heart for her generosity.

The Heart-Questioning Trial was also the beginning of a new life.

The sea is wide enough for the fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for the birds to fly.