Chapter 997: Conspiracy

The Celestial Immortal messenger entered, launching indiscriminate attacks?

At first hearing this, even though Qin Yue had sensed everything without exception, he couldn’t help but turn his head to look at Su Daji, thinking this was just too shameless. Hadn’t they agreed to compete for the five spots using their own skills, wisdom, and fortune? Once the Celestial Immortal messenger entered the fray, wouldn’t the final five remaining be decided entirely by them?

This was blatant manipulation of the outcome!

As this thought flashed through his mind, Qin Yue suddenly sighed, a self-mocking smile appearing. Circumstances dictated actions, and Golden Turtle Island possessed overwhelming strength; whatever they wanted to do was ultimately decided by Su Daji alone.

Without corresponding strength to counterbalance, why would the strong bother reasoning with the weak?

Sometimes, seemingly fair rules exist merely because the strong feel generous or harbor ulterior motives!

Qin Yue turned back to look at the water screen, watching Meng Qi constantly evading wild beasts, fierce birds, and fake Dharma Bodies by the narrowest of margins. A strange sorrow welled up in his heart. No matter how hard Meng Qi tried and how desperately he fought to change his fate, it couldn’t compare to a single word from Su Daji.

Suddenly, two more suns appeared in the sky over the Primordial Wastes, blood-red and gazing down, scorching the entire world. The mud dried into “scabs,” the wastelands cracked, giant trees withered, and wild beasts grew frenzied and mad from the heat.

The Celestial Immortal messengers Yin Bu’er and Zhu Zisheng entered the scene.

Beside them, the Night Emperor observed the various battles displayed on the water screens, appreciating the martial arts techniques, divine abilities, and magical arts, clearly enjoying himself and benefiting greatly, eagerly anticipating the Celestial Immortals’ imminent actions.

He walked with his hands hanging down, looking around casually, and unknowingly approached the Fate Daoist.

Hearing the Fate Daoist still muttering about “predestined fate,” Huoli Shang seemed genuinely curious and bent down to ask, “Why must this Daoist master be so pessimistic? The future is unpredictable, full of changes. No one knows whether they will return home or be forever lost. Therefore, each new day is an unknown experience, a delightful enjoyment. Even if you’ve consumed the Nine Revolutions Li Xuan Pill, there’s still a chance to accumulate merits and obtain the true antidote. Isn’t that something to look forward to?”

Even if you’ve consumed the Nine Revolutions Li Xuan Pill, there’s still a chance… While focusing on the Dharma Body battles, Qin Yue heard the Night Emperor’s words and felt a stirring in his heart, instinctively overlooking the part about accumulating merits. His previously sorrowful and bleak mood reignited with a glimmer of hope.

Indeed, as long as one is alive, there is still opportunity and hope!

The Fate Daoist glanced at Huoli Shang and shook his head, saying, “You don’t understand.”

“If you don’t speak, how can I understand?” the Night Emperor smiled.

The Fate Daoist’s expression grew serious, his despondency fading. “Everything in this world is determined. If you know all the prerequisite conditions, you can deduce a single outcome. We feel the future is unpredictable simply because we lack sufficient information. If you could now perceive every minute change across all realms and every thought in every mind, could you not deduce what is about to happen?”

“Therefore, everything has been predetermined since the beginning of creation. Every action you take, every future encounter, could have been deduced from the beginning. Even if you believe your thoughts change unpredictably and are entirely under your control, beyond external prediction, how do you know these changes aren’t influenced by past experiences and mental states?”

“Fate has already been sealed; we can only endure what is destined for us. Just as no matter how hard I try to escape, I still can’t avoid Golden Turtle Island. Ah, when I was young, I thought my Grandmaster’s philosophy was too pessimistic and fatalistic. My masters, uncles, and senior brothers were all lifeless and inactive, so I sought Golden Turtle Island’s help to defy fate and change my destiny. In the end, I only confirmed the phrase ‘predestined fate.’ My Grandmaster truly did not deceive me…”

The Night Emperor’s lips twitched slightly at this extreme fatalism and pessimism, so diametrically opposed to his own path. Although he often felt sorrow and lamented his inability to return to the Dao, like a person away from home enduring much hardship, precisely because of this, he wanted to savor life’s beauty and look forward to the different possibilities of the future, laughing joyfully through countless experiences.

Huoli Shang had never truly understood the saying “Those with different paths cannot plot together,” but at this moment, he finally grasped the sentiment behind those words.

With different paths, there is no point in plotting together; this person simply cannot be persuaded… The Night Emperor’s lips relaxed into a smile as he turned back to the layered water screens.

He Qi was delighted at encountering the Cloud Crane Immortal, but before he could engage in deeper conversation, he encountered the wild beast Xiu She.

Encountering wild beasts was not a big deal, but at a critical moment, the Cloud Crane actually summoned the “Primordial Unity Supreme Divine Talisman,” manifesting the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Formation, shifting stars and constellations, transforming killing intent into falling stars that descended one after another.

He Qi was caught off guard, shocked as he was struck by the falling stars. Although his Formless Sword Intent was nearly at the Earth Immortal level, excelling in group battles and escape, the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Formation was precisely his weakness, blocking the发挥 of his strengths. Coupled with his serious injuries and the gathering of numerous wild beasts, he was finally enveloped in the Flame Emperor Dragon Fire unleashed by the Cloud Crane.

Only at this point did he notice the Cloud Crane’s eyes were cold and emotionless, with a hint of the demonic.

This wasn’t the real Cloud Crane! With this realization, He Qi was enveloped by the light of the Golden Turtle Restriction Talisman and reappeared in the Biyou Palace.

The surrounding scenes entered his mind. Su Daji was propping her chin with one hand, smiling, the most eye-catching figure. Though sitting in a corner with a gloomy expression and five-colored head, the presence of Tai Li was no less imposing than Su Daji’s.

“He Lord of the Estate failed to recognize people correctly and ultimately must consume the Nine Revolutions Li Xuan Pill,” Su Daji smiled, tilting her head, while Yin Weiyang stepped forward to subdue He Qi, who was wrapped in the restriction talisman.

He Qi opened his mouth to say something defiant when a sudden jolt in his heart filled him with mixed emotions.

The Donghai Sword Manor had gone through generations of ancestors exploring, countless attempts and failures, enduring much hardship and pain. It was only with him that the Dharma Body cultivation method and the Formless Intent were finally perfected. With the repeated help of Kuang Dao and Master Lu, he had gained some opportunities to gradually explore the path toward Earth Immortality. But today, would all of this vanish?

Should he stand firm with pride and refuse to yield, or should he bow to Golden Turtle Island for the sake of Donghai Sword Manor’s legacy and continuity, sacrificing his dignity to survive?

For a moment, the proud He Qi found himself unable to speak.

Just then, more defeated contestants returned—Cloud Crane Immortal, and Zhi Mo Tian Jun Shan Heng, who had attempted to ambush Su Wuming and was severely wounded by a single sword strike. The Biyou Palace became lively once again as Yin Weiyang busied herself subduing these individuals, leaving no time to force He Qi to consume the “Nine Revolutions Li Xuan Pill.”

He Qi sensed his surroundings, discovering the Cloud Crane Immortal, the different battle scenes displayed on the water screens, and within them, another Cloud Crane, another Tai Li, and two each of Su Wuming, Gao Lan, Master Lu, the Primordial Fairy, the Tai Xuan Prince, and the Seven Seas Immortal Lord…

Most importantly, he saw “himself”—his Formless Sword Intent had reached perfection, his aura and presence indistinguishable from his own, already an Earth Immortal!

Could the fragments of the Primordial Wastes replicate Dharma Bodies? And even project them to higher realms? He Qi frowned deeply.

No, the fake Gao Lans, fake Su Wumings, and fake Master Lus weren’t as strong as their originals!

Such replication had limitations…

As his thoughts raced, Qin Yue nearby suddenly grasped the issue and, disregarding everything else, spoke loudly: “As time progresses and the originals employ more and deeper techniques, the ‘imposters’ become increasingly similar to the real ones, their movements growing more seamless and their techniques gradually replicated and mastered!”

Instant silence fell in the hall, each person lost in thought, speculating about this chilling and eerie phenomenon.

Suddenly, the Cloud Crane Immortal said solemnly, “If the ‘imposters’ possess the same Dharma Bodies, ultimate techniques, divine abilities, auras, appearances, and characteristics as ourselves, and even have corresponding memories, wouldn’t they be able to replace us in the world, taking on our karmic consequences and lives?”

“At that point, who is real and who is fake?”

SWOOSH—the gaze of all present focused on Su Daji’s smiling face. The panic of being replaced and having one’s existence erased surged in their hearts.

Nothing is more terrifying than watching helplessly as someone else takes your place!

The Night Emperor nodded thoughtfully, seemingly understanding something.

Su Daji smiled without a word, while Yin Weiyang stepped forward, her overwhelming and oppressive aura pressing against the void of the palace, making even the bright moon pale in comparison to the sun.

“Immortal Miss Su, when you spoke of competing for the five spots, did you include these ‘imposters’?” the Night Emperor asked with a smile.

Su Daji’s eyes flickered. “Of course, whoever remains at the end is the real one.”

Qin Yue’s lips trembled slightly, a strange fear rising within him. He couldn’t help but turn back to the water screen, hoping that the Earth Immortals and the mysterious blue-robed human immortal would defeat his own “imposter.”

Many Dharma Bodies also shifted their attention to the water screen, watching the battle unfold, hoping their companions would defeat the “imposters.”

In a corner, Tai Li observed everything with a gloomy and cold expression, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a secret voice entered his mind:

“The Nine Revolutions Li Xuan Pill won’t take effect for another year. If you capture Su Daji now, you might still obtain the antidote and completely escape.”

Who? Tai Li looked around, seeing the Dharma Bodies’ flickering gazes and inner struggles, only meeting the Night Emperor’s smiling eyes for a moment.

Was it him?

Just then, Qin Yue, He Qi, and others’ gazes suddenly froze, the atmosphere instantly becoming oppressive, as the Celestial Immortal messenger Zhu Zisheng intercepted Meng Qi just as the group was about to reunite.