Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 473 Chen Ye's Plucking Words
Su Chunyi hovered in the void, showing no trace of controlling sword energy.

Only a tiny lotus flower at the toe gently supports the jade-like foot.

Looking at the person in front of him, Chen Ye couldn't help but sigh. Su Chunyi's appearance hadn't changed at all since they first met, but this girl seemed to be different every time they met.

Chen Ye already knew that Su Chunyi had extremely high talent in swordsmanship.

Despite Sheng Huai'an's claim to have inherited Zhang Qi's mantle, and even being acknowledged by Zhang Qi himself as potentially surpassing him in the future, the supreme swordsmanship that Zhang Qi created in his later years, which directly addresses "cause and effect," is something that only Su Chunyi in the entire Qinghe Sword Sect can master.

Those who can comprehend such sword principles naturally possess extremely high comprehension.

Unlike Chen Ye, who spent hundreds of years mastering a sword technique specifically designed for him, he could only be considered to have mastered it, not to have truly mastered it.

Therefore, it's normal that Su Chunyi was able to comprehend this method of refining magical power; Chen Ye was only shocked by how quickly she learned it.

From the moment the dragon's roar resounded to the moment everyone entered a meditative state, only a few breaths passed. While others were still struggling to "understand" and "imitate," she seemed to have already figured out the answer and directly filled in the result.

Sheng Huai'an was still meditating on his flying sword, while Su Chunyi had already mastered it.

As for Su Chunyi's comment about the thinness of his internal mana, this was actually within Chen Ye's expectations. After all, not everyone has his abnormal physique with eighteen Qi Seas. For a beginner, refining a mouthful of mana takes a very long time and can only be done slowly over time.

However, the shock was short-lived. Chen Ye was happy for Su Chunyi: "Your swordsmanship will definitely improve greatly. Perhaps, you're about to break through again?"

Su Chun shook his head and said, "The swordsmanship of the Qinghe Sword Sect has little to do with cultivation level. However, perhaps I can break through to the Void Returning Realm faster."

Chen Ye couldn't respond to the topic of swordsmanship, but when he heard Su Chun say that she was about to break through, Chen Ye smiled and said, "That's good. Then I've made a huge profit in this bet."

Su Chunyi simply smiled and didn't say anything to repay him. Instead, she said as if by telepathy, "The master invited so many people to listen to his lecture, so he was already prepared to lose this bet."

Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, Chen Ye felt an even stronger warmth in his heart. To have such a confidante in his life made his life worthwhile.

"Since that's the case, and we're just killing time anyway, why don't we take a stroll around? I imagine you've never been to this sacred mountain in the Northern Frontier before. At the summit are the ruins of the holy city left behind by the Nirvana Sect. Are you interested?"

Su Chun nodded, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, and said softly, "Please lead the way, sir."

Although Su Chunyi said that Chen Ye should lead the way, she took the initiative to walk to Chen Ye's side, and lotus sword energy bloomed under her feet, supporting Chen Ye as well.

Traveling together on swords, just like the first time we met.

They left behind the group of people still diligently cultivating by the snow pool, transforming into two streaks of light and flying towards the majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Before long, a dilapidated giant city came into view.

Huge black stone pillars, like the skeletons of giants, leaned into the snow. The streets were broken, and the stone slabs carved with Buddhist scriptures had long been worn and cracked. The gale howled through the gaps in the destroyed dome, making a wailing sound.

This is what the Holy City looks like now.

This place has been eroded over thousands of years and has long since become a ghost town. Originally, there was a tribe that remained there, but now Chen Ye has taken them to Fengdu City. The Holy City has become a completely dead city.

In addition, the Great Sage Who Overturned the Seas carved the mountain into a pool, and this holy city was directly shaken to the point that most of it collapsed, leaving only broken walls and ruins.

Even so, walking through it, one can still see its former grandeur.

Chen Ye explained, "Back then, the Nirvana Sect spent countless years and killed countless people to build this holy city on this snow mountain. It is said that every brick and stone is inhabited by vengeful spirits."

Su Chunyi didn't speak. She simply stretched out her slender, pale fingers and gently stroked a cracked stone wall, feeling its coldness and vicissitudes.

After a moment, she suddenly spoke, her voice ethereal and fleeting: "Now that the Northern Frontier is under your control, I imagine everyone can live and work in peace and contentment."

Chen Ye shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. We can make ends meet, but we're afraid we'll have to live a life of comfort and happiness."

Su Chun blinked and asked in confusion, "Isn't having enough to eat and wear?"

"The human heart is like the sea, never to be filled." Chen Ye's gaze was fixed on the distant horizon blurred by wind and snow. "When hungry, people long for food; when full, they think of warm clothes. When everyone is well-fed and clothed, these things become taken for granted, and people turn to pursuing other things. Some seek power, some practice martial arts, some pursue profit, some aspire to immortality... The human heart is never satisfied, and so-called peace and happiness are always just a pursuit, and most of the time, they cannot be obtained."

Su Chunyi seemed to be deep in thought. She listened quietly, and after a moment, asked softly, "Then what are your pursuits, sir?"

"Me?" Chen Ye was taken aback, then answered without hesitation, "My pursuit is very simple: to cultivate into an immortal and live forever."

However, Su Chunyi gently turned her head, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes quietly looking at him, as if she could see the uncertainty in Chen Ye's eyes.

Su Chunyi asked, "Sir, it's not difficult for you to become an immortal now; it's just around the corner. What happens after you become an immortal?"

That's right.

If Chen Ye had any free time and focused on cultivation, with his talent and affinity for immortality, becoming an immortal would be a certainty, and it wouldn't even take more than a few years.

What happens after becoming an immortal?

Chen Ye rarely thought about this question. When he first started cultivating, he couldn't even find a Qi Condensation Pill, and he felt that this question was too ambitious.

However, several years have passed, and Chen Ye's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. Becoming an immortal is just around the corner. But recently, Chen Ye has been so busy that he has no time to think about these things.

Now, when Su Chun asked him about it, Chen Ye felt somewhat confused.

Having heard those ancient secrets, I know that the Heavenly Dao is broken, and I also know that ascension is a one-way trip.

What happens after you become an immortal?
You can't just throw yourself into the immortal realm and wait to die after finally achieving immortality.

Even if we don't die, what's the point of a world ravaged by war?
Or perhaps, one could remain in this mortal realm forever, like Zhang Qi, refusing to ascend to immortality until their lifespan is exhausted?

"I..." Chen Ye hesitated for a long time, but finally said, "I don't know. I haven't thought about the things that happen after becoming an immortal, and I can't think about them now."

Looking into Su Chunyi's clear eyes, Chen Ye couldn't help but ask, "And what about you? Now that you've already cultivated magical power, ascension shouldn't be difficult for you. What are your plans?"

"I shouldn't ascend." Su Chunyi's answer was without the slightest hesitation, as if she had thought about it a thousand times over.

"Just like the sect leader, practicing swordsmanship, cultivating, and eliminating demons... I don't find such days boring, so I continue as always. If one day I run out of lifespan, I will unleash my last sword strike to rid the world of the last demon."

Chen Ye couldn't help but say, "I really envy you."

No wonder Su Chunyi was able to learn Zhang Qi's last sword technique; perhaps it was because Su Chunyi, like Zhang Qi, had a pure heart and no other thoughts than to eliminate evil and protect the righteous path.

The earlier you set your life goals, the sooner you can start working hard and achieve your wishes more quickly.

Chen Ye has progressed too fast in the past few years, and is about to surpass his own goals, which has made him somewhat confused.

After much thought, Chen Ye could only say, "The world is constantly changing, and there are countless things to worry about. I can't be carefree at all, so I really can't talk about the future. I'll consider these things when there are no immortals pressing down on me and I can truly be free."

"However, I hope you'll still be by my side then."

Su Chun smiled, like a lotus flower blooming, and the surrounding wind and snow seemed to soften a little because of her smile.

"Okay, I'll go with you, sir."

Chen Ye suddenly felt all his confusion disappear. Ascension to immortality was a matter for the future; right now, he should focus on the people in front of him.

"I once said that once I learned to fly on a sword, I would see all the beautiful scenery in the world. I never imagined that my journey would be filled with nothing but killing and scheming, with not a moment of peace. Now that I have stolen half a day of leisure, I might as well go further. I have heard that the sunrise over the snow-capped mountains is a rare and magnificent sight."

Su Chunyi naturally wouldn't refuse. With a thought, a clear, melodious sword light rose from beneath her feet, ready to travel with him again. However, just as the sword light was about to take flight, Su Chunyi's eyes suddenly narrowed, as if a drawn sword had frozen in place. Her gaze passed over Chen Ye's shoulder and fixed intently on the ruins behind him.

Chen Ye didn't turn around. Judging from Su Chunyi's expression of being on high alert, he knew that something big must have happened. Without hesitation, he summoned the Emperor of Fengdu and protected the two of them.

After doing all this, he slowly turned around.

A hundred feet away, among the broken black stone pillars, stood a magnificent reindeer.

Its antlers were like jet-black coral, with a touch of luster; its fur was also extremely glossy, the most beautiful coat Chen Ye had ever seen. The reindeer watched the two of them from a distance, without moving.

Chen Ye blinked, and his pupils turned golden.

However, upon closer inspection, the reindeer appeared quite ordinary, showing no trace of spiritual energy.

"An ordinary deer?" Chen Ye frowned.

Something's not right. This holy city ruin was already a dead land, barren of everything. Now, with the mountains sealed off by ice and snow, where did it come from? And what does it eat?

Su Chunyi, standing beside her, also frowned slightly. She couldn't see any flaws either, but Su Chunyi's swordsmanship was sharp, and she felt extremely dangerous the moment she saw the reindeer.

Moreover, Chen Ye has now even summoned the Emperor of Fengdu, a power that is enough to make mountains and rivers tremble and ghosts and gods flee.

If it were a real deer, it would have run away by now, instead of remaining motionless.

"Sir, be careful, this deer is definitely unusual."

Chen Ye nodded, his expression more serious than ever before.

As far as the eye could see, several thick, red fire snakes appeared, flicking their tongues as they coiled around the reindeer.

Su Chunyi gathered several sword energies, ready to strike at any moment.

Just as the crimson fire serpent was about to coil around the reindeer, the reindeer finally made a move.

The reindeer raised its front hooves and, unhurriedly, took its first step toward the two of them.

With just one step, all those ferocious crimson fire serpents vanished.

Without Chen Ye's prompting, Su Chun pointed his fingers like a sword, and a sword aura, condensed to its extreme and as thin as a hair, shot out from his fingertips. Its sharpness was enough to pierce through metal and stone.

The sword energy pierced the air, too fast for the naked eye to see, and shot precisely at the reindeer's hind leg.

There was no clang of metal, no flash of blood.

The invincible sword energy dissipated like a crimson fire serpent the moment it touched the deer's leg.

The reindeer never stopped moving, step by step.

Eighty zhang... seventy zhang... sixty zhang...

It strolled along leisurely, bearing the supreme divine power of the Fengdu Emperor's Dharma Image. Its ancient and indifferent eyes always reflected the figures of Chen Ye and Su Chunyi.

"Let's retreat first!"

This deer is too strange; even Su Chunyi's sword energy couldn't harm it. So what are we waiting for? Let's run first.

The Great Sage Who Overturns the Sea is not far away; once we return to Dragon Pool, we will be safe.

Su Chunyi did not linger in the fight. He enveloped the two of them with sword energy and they flew away as streaks of light. In the blink of an eye, the two of them would be back by the side of the Great Sage Overturning the Sea.

However, the sword energy seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall, exploding into a sky full of streaks of light with a loud bang.

Chen Ye and Su Chunyi had no choice but to reveal themselves.

Unbeknownst to them, this world had been isolated by a strange barrier, which even Su Chunyi's sword energy could not break through.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ye raised his palm in the form of the Fengdu Emperor, and the power of hell condensed in his palm, transforming into layers of dark realms, which he then slapped towards the reindeer.

Su Chunyi also cooperated perfectly, her lotus sword energy weaving in whenever there was a gap in the Fengdu Emperor's attacks.

The two rarely joined forces against enemies, but their cooperation this time was flawless.

The Emperor of Fengdu's palm transformed into a dark, hellish realm, slamming down to cast the reindeer and the space it inhabited into the cycle of reincarnation.

boom--!
This palm strike is enough to shatter a mountain peak.

But when the giant paw came within three feet of the reindeer, it melted away silently and disappeared completely.

Chen Ye felt that the Emperor of Fengdu had suffered a severe injury; that attack just now had consumed countless incense offerings and prayers.

Chen Ye's all-out attack couldn't even stop the reindeer in its tracks.

Su Chunyi's sword energy was similar; lotus flowers bloomed, but they withered instantly upon landing on the reindeer.

The reindeer continued walking towards the two.

Twenty feet.

Ten feet.

despair.

With the final thud of hooves, the reindeer came to a stop.

It had already walked up to Chen Ye, and its breath was almost landing on Chen Ye.

Chen Ye remained calm, met the strange and powerful reindeer's gaze, and asked, "May I ask, are you from the Heavenly Court, or a friend of the Great Sage Overturning the Sea?"

The only beings in this world who can render Chen Ye utterly powerless are true immortals.

According to the Great Sage Who Overturns the Sea, after he escapes, he will definitely attract the attention of many "old acquaintances".

The deer in front of us should be one of them.

Chen Ye felt that this person was probably not a friend of the Great Sage Who Overturns the Sea.

If they were truly old friends, they wouldn't need to joke with Chen Ye; they should have gone straight to find the Great Sage Overturning the Sea.

That's most likely someone from Heaven.

Chen Ye recalled what he had said to Fei Lian a few days ago and couldn't help but curse himself for being a jinx.

If you actually encounter even a one in ten thousand chance, the Heavenly Court will immediately send someone to slap you to death?
Unfortunately, Su Chunyi was also implicated. Chen Ye is now filled with regret and can only hope that the Great Sage of the Overturning Sea can sense the commotion here and come to save him as soon as possible.

Just when Chen Ye thought he was about to die, the reindeer spoke in human language: "Mortal, do you know your crime?"

(End of this chapter)