Soul Suppressing Stele

"Master Su, what's wrong? Could it be that my life tribulation still hasn't eased?"

Hua Ziyan had been watching Su Li's mood closely, so she noticed the change at once and asked anxiously.

"Let me make another deduction."

Su Li had pored over Hua Ziyan and Mu Yuxi's Life Archives several times. He knew the two women inside and out, and naturally couldn't bear to see two delicate flowers wither just like that.

After all, he'd worked so hard to win their favor and gain such useful connections. Wouldn't it be a shame to let them go to waste?

Su Li rubbed his chin, weighing whether to keep shamelessly milking Hua Ziyan or squeeze another round of benefits out of Mu Yuxi.

Mu Yuxi cost less, but the rewards were also meager—usually only 250 Heavenly Secrets Value.

Hua Ziyan cost more, but the rewards were greater. The catch was that resolving her tribulation was much harder.

"Light Blue, lock onto Hua Ziyan and open her Life Archive for the next three days."

Su Li turned around, clasped his left hand behind his back, and extended his right, carefully curling his fingers as he made his calculations.

[Viewing this time will consume 1000 Heavenly Secrets Value. Confirm?]

"1000 points? Why does it keep getting more expensive? What a rip-off."

Su Li grumbled inwardly.

But the system was just a panel of light and shadow. There was no haggling with it. No matter how unhappy he was, he still had to pay what was due.

"Confirm!"

Once Su Li confirmed it in his mind, an entirely new set of information appeared below Hua Ziyan's original Life Archive.

Then the information transformed into streaks of light and sank into Su Li's eyes.

[On September 1, 3030, Yunhuang Calendar, at 6:11 a.m., under the leadership of Hua Yunxiao and Yun Wanchu, Hua Ziyan will join Wanli Holy Land's prodigies Yun Qingxuan, Yun Qinghong, Que Xinyan, Fang Yueheng, Leng Yunshang, and Mu Yuxi on an expedition to the Blazing Wasteland...]

[On September 1, 3030, Yunhuang Calendar, at 1:38 p.m., the Heavenly Town Soul Stele will descend. The void over the Blazing Wasteland will collapse, and its laws will fall into chaos. At that time, Hua Ziyan and Hua Yunxiao will be comprehending the Purple Qi Ten Thousand Ways inheritance in the Abyss of Blazing Flames when the Soul Suppressing Stele plummets from the sky, pierces the void, and crushes Hua Ziyan to death on the spot. Her soul will scatter, and her body will be reduced to ashes...]

As Su Li pondered, he opened Hua Yunxiao's Life Archive.

[Hua Yunxiao: Male, 936 years old.

Realm: Nascent Soul Realm, early ninth stage.

Nascent Soul: One-star Sacred Infant.

Talent: Purple Qi Ten Thousand Ways.

Constitution: Chaos Sacred Body.

Fate: ???

...]

Hua Yunxiao was Hua Ziyan's father, and a true, mighty expert. Su Li wasn't surprised that he couldn't determine Hua Yunxiao's fate through indirect observation.

Then, one by one, Su Li selected the names of the others and opened their Life Archives, examining the fate section in detail.

What he saw was a sea of glaring blood-red words: "On the verge of death." They ran through the very heart of each person's Life Archive.

"Your situation really is grim. Fairy Li, this time it's not just your life tribulation at stake. Because of it, a whole group of people will be dragged into danger."

Su Li spoke solemnly.

At his words, Yun Wanchu, Hua Ziyan, and Mu Yuxi immediately grew grave.

"Please, Master Su, don't hold back. Tell us what you know."

Yun Wanchu clasped his hands and bowed.

"The morning after tomorrow, Fairy Li, your father will contact you and arrange an expedition to the Blazing Wasteland. The Holy Lord, along with his disciples Yun Qingxuan, Yun Qinghong, Que Xinyan, Fang Yueheng, Leng Yunshang, and Mu Yuxi...

They'll all be going.

But I'm afraid none of you will make it back."

"What?!"

Yun Wanchu shuddered. It would be one thing if he were the only one in danger, but Hua Yunxiao, the Imperial Lord of the Hua Clan, wouldn't return either?

If he'd heard this before, Yun Wanchu would never have believed it.

But now, dread gnawed at him!

For him—and for the remnants of the Hua Clan—it would be a calamity of epic proportions!

"Will someone ambush and suppress us? Is this an assassination? Or...?"

After hesitating, Yun Wanchu asked another question.

Hua Yunxiao, head of the Hua Clan, was an unrivaled figure in the world.

If someone managed to scheme against him and kill him, there would probably be no way to undo it!

Even if they knew beforehand and avoided this time, what about the next?

"Do you know about the Soul Suppressing Stele?"

Su Li didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked a question.

"The Soul Suppressing Stele? What's that?"

Yun Wanchu clearly had no idea.

"A giant stele will fall from the sky and pierce the entire Blazing Wasteland. Every living thing in that region will perish. Think carefully: is this a natural disaster or a man-made one?"

Su Li didn't hide anything. He was counting on changing fate once more and earning enough Heavenly Secrets Value to activate the Heavenly Secrets Mall.

"How is that possible?!"

Yun Wanchu was stunned again, unable to conceal his shock.

"A Li."

After pondering for a moment, Yun Wanchu looked at Hua Ziyan.

"Holy Lord, please report everything to Father truthfully."

Hua Ziyan gave a slight nod.

Yun Wanchu wasted no time and immediately sent a message.

The Phantom Spirit Boat continued flying through the air.

Yun Wanchu soon made contact with Hua Yunxiao.

"Yan'er mentioned that boy named Su Li before. He seems quite decent. From her tone, she seems to favor him."

"My lord, I've already looked into him. His talent and constitution seem utterly ordinary, though there may be more to him than meets the eye. I just can't tell what."

"For eighteen years, he lived in a small fishing village beneath Luoxia Mountain, muddleheaded and foolish. A few days ago, his father, Su Xinghe, passed away, and he suddenly came to his senses. Now he lives alone in the Silent Ancient Temple...

An ordinary young man suddenly gained an astonishing ability to deduce the future!

Doesn't that strike you as strange?

He's been very friendly, but could he be hiding some unspeakable secret?

Could he have ulterior motives?

In dealing with him, I feel he can even see through my thoughts. So I've kept myself in a state of 'empty mind, free of thoughts and desires' at all times, just in case..."

"Wanchu, there's no need for that. Yan'er's situation is already as desperate as it can be; things can hardly get worse. Since he's willing to help us, that shows sincerity. Even if he has a few ulterior motives, so long as Yan'er can be a little happier and have some hope, that's enough.

Ulterior motives? Hidden schemes?

Wanchu, you should know that I couldn't care less about such things!

As long as he stays as he is and Yan'er continues to favor him and wants to be with him, I'll give him whatever he wants, whatever his motives!

If something comes of it and they give us a descendant, that would be an even greater blessing!

Think about it: the fact that he knows Yan'er's background and still dares to approach her says a great deal!

As for the tribulation he mentioned, if it really is caused by something as unbelievable as the Heavenly Town Soul Stele, then I'll postpone our plans for a few days and see what happens.

If nothing happens, then his deduction was simply wrong. No harm done.

But if something really does happen...

Then bring him to the ancestral grounds to see me.

No—if something really happens, I'll go to Wanli Holy Land myself and invite him! I'll recruit him personally!"