Chapter 1019: Holy Emperor's Golden Edict

"Ahahaha, brilliant!""This is truly spectacular! Absolutely astounding!"At the site of the Lone Sound Cliff, the Water Ghost, pushing the half-golden beast mask on his face with the heel of his palm, stared intently at the void before him. Even though there was nothing visible, he was so amused that he slapped his thigh, as if watching a mundane play.

In reality, there was no deep sea at the bottom of Lone Sound Cliff. The entire expanse of deep sea here was the Water Ghost's domain. Hmm... describing it as a "domain" might not be entirely accurate. Strictly speaking, the Water Ghost's domain had merged with the internal world of the Sea-Guiding Divine Halberd, forming something akin to an interdimensional space. Naturally, as the master of this deep-sea realm, the Water Ghost could instantly perceive anything happening within it if he wished.

At that moment, he was observing the confrontation between Huang Quan, the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, and the Jiang Clan's Half-Saint. Simultaneously, he watched as Jiang Buyi's Half-Saint avatar, lured by Xu Xiaoshou, stood utterly bewildered before Rao Yaoyao and her companions at the Void Gate.

"Simply brilliant!" The Water Ghost couldn't stop smiling, shaking his head in admiration. He had used the Sea蜃珠 and the Heavenly Dao Reversal method—a trick to deceive Heaven—to lure both Jiang Buyi and Huang Quan's true forms into the sea, believing his strategy was exceptionally clever and a masterful move. Who would have thought he only wanted Jiang Buyi's head, yet Xu Xiaoshou, with a flick of his wrist, had targeted the entire Jiang Clan of Half-Saints?

Through the mouth of Dao Qiongcang's disciple, Situ Yongren, Jiang Buyi was accused of "plotting for the Saint Emperor's position." This accusation was then unequivocally slapped onto Rao Yaoyao, the contemporary representative of the Rao Clan, a Saint Emperor family. How could Jiang Buyi possibly clear his name from this? Even if he had a hundred mouths and spoke with eloquent lotus tongues, Situ Yongren, for self-preservation and his own interests, would never allow Jiang Buyi to live. And when all these matters reached Rao Yaoyao's ears, how could the Rao Clan, a Saint Emperor family, permit a potential cancerous growth like the Half-Saint Jiang Clan to scheme for their authority? It was like a mute person eating coptis—unable to speak of their suffering. Exactly!

"This child is truly ruthless!" The Water Ghost showered him with praise. He truly hadn't expected that letting Xu Xiaoshou into the deep sea would lead to so many elaborate schemes; he was now utterly delighted with the boy. Xu Xiaoshou truly lived up to Bazun'an's specific instructions: a chess piece that absolutely had to be moved, whether necessary or not, just to set it in motion. The strategist didn't even need to devise elaborate plans. Once activated, this piece would move on its own, often yielding brilliant, unforeseen effects through unforeseen circumstances. It was simply too wonderful!

"Cough, cough... What brings such joy?" Just as he was watching excitedly, a weak cough came from behind him. The Water Ghost turned his head and saw a dejected middle-aged man slowly approaching, supported by an old man with a small axe at his waist. His facial features were sharp, and his appearance was excellent. Unfortunately, he only had eight fingers, a sword scar on his neck, and his eyes were dull and yellowish, as if in decline, making him look like a contradictory combination: both young and old, clearly spirited, yet very weak. The newcomer carried a gleaming golden scroll in his hand, exuding extraordinary sacred power, which might have been the only radiant thing about him.

"Bazun'an?" The Water Ghost stared for a moment, his eyebrows rising high. He then looked at Cen Qiaofu, who was supporting Bazun'an, gave a slight nod, and asked, "Why are you here?"

"I haven't seen you this happy in a long time." Bazun'an smiled as he walked closer, raising his arm to indicate he no longer needed support. After emerging from the spatial currents, the path was flat, so he wouldn't be so weak as to stumble on level ground.

"Your man is incredibly useful," the Water Ghost said, thinking of Xu Xiaoshou, a smile uncontainable on his lips. "The surprises he's brought me are truly immense.""Naturally," Bazun'an replied, also smiling. Xu Xiaoshou was indeed useful; otherwise, Bazun'an wouldn't throw the boy into the center of the storm's vortex with every operation. No extensive instructions were needed; just by giving him a final direction, the fellow, like a stirring rod, could churn the vortex into the desired shape. Although he didn't know what Xu Xiaoshou had done beneath the deep sea, seeing the Water Ghost's expression, Bazun'an was certain that the boy had stirred up trouble again.

"Your condition seems to have worsened." As the Water Ghost watched Bazun'an walk closer, his brows gradually furrowed. As the former Eighth Sword Immortal, if he didn't know the real person, the Water Ghost truly wouldn't believe that such a legendary figure would decline day by day, falling into such a dilapidated state. Look! In terms of cultivation realm, Bazun'an, by rough estimation, was now at most at the Third Realm of Spirit Refinement. This was almost no different from an ordinary person! Give an ordinary person a sword, and under a sneak attack, they might actually be able to kill a sleeping Bazun'an... It was simply preposterous!

"It was agreed that I would handle things here. If you insist on doing everything yourself, I fear you might suddenly drop dead very soon," the Water Ghost said with a faint smile."It's not that I don't trust you," Bazun'an replied, easily discerning the underlying meaning, and chuckled teasingly, "It's just that you've hogged all the limelight here. If I don't show my face soon, the world might forget about Bazun'an entirely."The Water Ghost: "..."This generation, even if they could forget the Sword God Solitary Shadow, they would never forget Bazun'an!

Bazun'an, however, didn't think much of it, gesturing towards the vast sea of clouds between the cliffs. He praised, "Look! This game played at Lone Sound Cliff has trapped all the Grand Voids from the five domains. I hear even a Half-Saint went down?""Mmm-hmm," the Water Ghost nodded, a slight smirk on his lips. "So?""What brilliant calculations!" Bazun'an exclaimed with a sigh of admiration. "Once word of this gets out, your name, Water Ghost, will spread across the four seas, becoming a household name.""Fame..." The Water Ghost shook his head. "What good is this bit of fame to me?"Bazun'an disagreed: "Even famous swords need the nourishment of fame. The path to becoming a Saint also requires the blessing of fame and the power of faith."The Water Ghost chuckled softly, noncommittally.

Bazun'an suddenly grew quiet, staring at the half-golden beast mask on the other man's face, and smiled:"However, you truly don't need this bit of fame. Once the mask comes off, the true name of the Saint Slave Water Ghost will be known to all. If we speak of the next person in this era capable of instantly becoming a Saint... it can only be you!"The Water Ghost remained silent, gazing at the sea of clouds between the cliffs, seeing only boundless vastness. He touched the half-golden beast mask on his face, thinking to himself, what more than just the identity of Saint Slave Water Ghost did this mask conceal?"The road ahead is still very long..."

Nearby."What sycophants, each praising the other so skillfully..." Cen Qiaofu, still wrapped in bandages, mused inwardly. He then stepped forward, also gazing at the sea of clouds between the cliffs, eager to join the mutual flattery."Why aren't you including this old man?" He paused with a smile, stroking his beard and proudly stating, "Becoming a Saint requires enlightenment. And when it comes to enlightenment, if this old man says he's second, who dares say they're first?"At the Lone Sound Cliff ruins, Bazun'an and the Water Ghost both burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Indeed, you are one."The world might regard the legend of "a woodcutter in the Southern Domain who achieved Dao in a single night" as mere mythological talk for after-dinner conversation. But these two present knew... it was a true story. Relying on the Grand Dao comprehended from chopping wood, he had, in one night, pierced through the mysteries of Post-Natal, Pre-Natal, Grandmaster, and Throne Dao realms, directly severing his past mortal path and entering the Spirit Refinement world. How could such a figure be ordinary? Once Cen Qiaofu joined, the two stopped their commercial mutual flattery, realizing that what they had just said was indeed quite embarrassing.

Without turning his head, the Water Ghost asked, "What is it?""This," Bazun'an gestured to the golden scroll in his hand, his gaze still fixed on the sea of clouds below, as if trying to discern something. The Water Ghost's attention was involuntarily drawn to it again. The golden scroll was extremely eye-catching; the intense sacred power emanating from it clearly indicated it was no ordinary item. Indeed, accompanied by the aura of the Saint Emperor Dragon Scales, the Water Ghost perceived a Saint Emperor's will from the scroll, no less potent than that of the Dragon Scales themselves."A Saint Emperor's Golden Edict?" the Water Ghost asked, glancing sideways."Yes," Bazun'an nodded."What's written on it? Not something like 'By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees,' I hope?" The Water Ghost's lips curled, teasingly. He knew that Bazun'an wasn't originally from the pure Spirit Refinement world; in the past, he was a mundane mortal who had even gone to the capital for imperial examinations, hoping to pass and become an official. Given his personality, and now holding this "Saint Emperor's Golden Edict," there was a high probability he might actually write words that would shock those in the Spirit Refinement world."It wouldn't be that superficial..." Bazun'an chuckled at this, his gaze still fixed on the sea of clouds below. He asked, "How is the situation down there?""Very chaotic," the Water Ghost replied. "But everyone who should be here has arrived, and so have those who shouldn't. The time is now ripe; the Void Gate can open at any moment."Bazun'an nodded, stepped back, and shifted his gaze to the distant Sky City above the Eastern Royal City, which was almost entirely extracted from the spatial currents. "In that case... no more waiting, let's begin now!"His tone became serious. With a flick of his wrist, the Saint Emperor's Golden Edict unfolded. The Water Ghost waited solemnly, his gaze also fixed on the distant Sky City, knowing that something major was about to happen. But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Bazun'an's frail body was subtly struggling to withstand even the Golden Edict's pressure. He couldn't help but say with resignation, "Perhaps I should do it?""You can't." Bazun'an shook his head, refusing. He first took out a pill and swallowed it. His aura immediately shifted, showing a temporary surge of power, like a final burst of light before death. Then, he extended his index finger, lightly pricked it between his lips and teeth, and blood welled up, a vivid crimson. Pressing the bloody fingertip firmly onto the Saint Emperor's Golden Edict, Bazun'an's aura sharpened like a sword, shooting straight into the sky. At this moment, he slightly puffed out his chest, and his presence became so imposing that even the heavens seemed unable to suppress it.With his bloodied finger, he slowly began to write upon the Golden Edict: "Saint Secret... Eradication of the World... A Thousand Millennia..."How could the Water Ghost and Cen Qiaofu miss this historic moment? Both stepped forward, looking sideways, their eyes fixed on the Saint Emperor's Golden Edict, reading out each of the ancient characters that had instantly solidified from the dancing crimson script, resembling ancient talismans.But the next second, the intense Saint Emperor power emanating from the Golden Edict stung their eyes, causing blood-tinged tears to flow."Pfft!" Cen Qiaofu spat out blood, his face greatly alarmed."Cough, cough! Cough!" The Water Ghost coughed heavily several times. Reaching up to wipe his face, he realized blood was flowing from all seven of his orifices. Neither dared to look further. This Saint Emperor's Golden Edict had too much power! It was undoubtedly the condensed power of several Saint Emperors from Void Island, accumulated over hundreds of years. For mortals to look upon it was like blasphemy!But Bazun'an was different. He stared intently at the Golden Edict, and with a mortal body, used his bloodied finger to write upon the Saint Emperor's secret treasure. At this moment, the Water Ghost suddenly understood why Bazun'an had said he couldn't do this particular task. Because there was only one Venerable of the Black and White Veins. No matter how strong the Saint Emperor's Golden Edict's power was, there was still this one person suppressing all the Saint Emperors of Void Island! In this era, only he could, with a mortal body that hadn't yet attained the Saint level, write upon this Saint Emperor's Golden Edict!

"Om—"On Lone Sound Cliff, as each ancient character formed, the Saint Emperor's Golden Edict unleashed surging power, pushing both the Water Ghost and Cen Qiaofu aside, like an imperial procession that commoners could not approach.At the same time, from the nearby bushes.Amidst rustling sounds, a one-armed, limping old man, carrying a large peach-wood box on his back and holding a paper crane in his palm, muttered softly to himself as he walked: "Why can't I suddenly pinpoint Senior Brother's location? Didn't they say that with this person-finding paper crane, I could find anyone, anywhere in this world?"Xiu Yuanke sighed. He had been startled by a few Gold Hunter Order assassins near the Eastern Royal City, causing a delay. How could he not keep up with Senior Brother's pace? They had clearly agreed to wait for him...Suddenly, Xiu Yuanke's steps halted. He saw three figures on the cliff not far away. The leading figure was particularly prominent. From the side, Xiu Yuanke could see eight fingers slowly moving on the golden scroll. Upon closer inspection, the person writing also had a distinct sword scar on their neck..."Senior Brother!" Xiu Yuanke exclaimed in surprise. Wasn't this the image Senior Brother used when impersonating their teacher, Bazun'an, outside? Hmm, where was the sack? That wasn't important! What was important was that Xiu Yuanke, after searching for so long, had finally found his Senior Brother, Xiao Kongdong. He instantly lunged forward, tears streaming down his face."Senior Brother, I've had such a hard time finding you. What are you doin'—" Before he could finish, Xiu Yuanke's lunging figure halted in mid-air, as if hitting an invisible barrier, then quickly fell, landing with a thump on the mountain ground.The Water Ghost and Cen Qiaofu clearly noticed this uninvited guest and simultaneously cast their gazes sideways."What the hell?" Xiu Yuanke was stunned. He didn't recognize the person wearing the golden beast mask. But Cen Qiaofu's appearance... "I know this one!" Staring at the small axe on the other man's waist, Xiu Yuanke then glanced at his own, suddenly understood something, and burst into loud sobs: "Senior Brother, I was only a step late, how could you find a replacement for me? Wah, you can't do this!"Cen Qiaofu: ???The Water Ghost: ???Who was this sudden appearance? What did his words mean? To prevent any accidents, the Water Ghost raised a hand and, treating the one-armed, limping old man as an intruder, immediately restrained him with a water sphere. At this crucial moment of writing the Saint Emperor's Golden Edict, clearly no disturbances could be allowed."Let me go, let me go!" Xiu Yuanke thrashed vigorously within the water sphere. But these people were Senior Brother's helpers; he had to save face, so he couldn't directly draw his sword and break the restraint. However, seeing "Cen Qiaofu" staring blankly at him, Xiu Yuanke grew anxious."What are you looking at, you replacement! If I hadn't been late, did you really think Senior Brother would have found *you*?"Inside the water sphere, Xiu Yuanke haphazardly wiped his face, instantly transforming into Cen Qiaofu's appearance. He raised the small axe on his waist high, saying excitedly: "See clearly now? I am the real Cen Qiaofu! You can leave Senior Brother now! Want to usurp my place? Get in line!"