Su Yi read the jade slip and sank into thought.

Over the past few years, he’d learned that two Eternal Thrones had been lost during the grand battle at the end of the Devastation. One fell into the Abyss of Endless Tribulations, while the other was lost to the Sea of Fate.

In the Literati Continent, Lu Hongpao mentioned that she’d originally wanted to send him to the Southern Sea, as the Sea of Fate lay beyond it.

As for the Abyss of Endless Tribulations? It was an extraordinary and strange forbidden ground. It floated in the River of Destiny, endlessly shifting positions. No one knew where it was at any given moment.

Even those who’d seen it couldn’t approach it.

It was thus obvious how precious the Key to Endless Tribulations was. Whoever acquired it would find a way to enter the Abyss of Endless Tribulations. That would, in turn, lead to an opportunity to claim the lost Eternal Throne. Who wouldn’t have been tempted?

The hall was deathly silent. River King Purple Tiger and the others didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly.

After a moment’s silence, Su Yi said, “So you’re saying that River Empress Peacock is currently in the Spirit Treasure Celestial City?”

River King Purple Tiger said, “It’s entirely possible!”

But then, he said inquisitively, “Three days ago, it was River Emperor Winged Dragon and three of his subordinates who spotted River Empress Peacock’s clone in the Abhorrent Evil Origin Zone. Didn’t you hear about it, Your Excellency?”

Su Yi was instantly solemn as he realized he’d just let something slip. However, on the surface, he remained calm. “I was sent to the Five-Colored Hidden Realm on a mission, and I’ve only just returned to the city.”

River King Purple Tiger nodded as if everything suddenly made sense.

Su Yi, meanwhile, changed the subject. “According to your intelligence, who among the experts who’ve entered the city of late is worth taking note of?”

River King Purple Tiger was just about to answer when the sound of footsteps emanated from outside the hall.

“Master, His Excellency Mo Sang has arrived!”

Before the voice had even finished echoing through the air, a gaunt old man walked inside. He had a goatee and a sparse head of hair. The sides of his face had fine golden scales, and a glittering golden horn grew from his forehead.

“Your Excellency Mo Sang, what are you doing here?” River King Purple Tiger asked hurriedly.

The other three River Kings also stood to greet the new arrival.

“I’m here to see my brother!” said the old man with the goatee. His eyes instantly landed on Su Yi.

Suddenly, he bellowed. “You’ve sure got gall. How dare you impersonate River King Whistling Moon!?”

The hall shook. Everyone looked stricken.

Su Yi sat there. He glanced silently at the old man, but instead of responding, he asked, “Who sent word to him?”

One of the River Kings beside River King Purple Tiger stiffened, visibly ill at ease. He was dressed in golden robes, and he was enormously tall and stalwart, with long silver hair and coarse, hideous features. This was River King Hei Liao.

He said solemnly, “Don’t be angry, Your Excellency. When I first saw you, I suspected that someone was impersonating you, so I secretly used a talisman to send word to His Excellency Mo Sang so that he might confirm your identity!”

Su Yi couldn’t help but rub his forehead. As cautious as he’d been, he hadn’t accounted for the possibility that River King Hei Liao would pull such a stunt. There was no doubt about it. This Mo Sang person was familiar with River King Whistling Moon. It was even highly likely that they were part of the same camp.

“How could you River Kings have let this guy fool you?” bellowed Mo Sang. “You’re simply blind!”

He pointed at Su Yi, his gaze sinister. “Speak! Who exactly are you, and why are you impersonating River King Whistling Moon?”

“Your Excellency Mo Sang, you must be mistaken. That’s really River King Whistling Moon,” River King Purple Tiger said hurriedly. “We saw his natal avatar with our own eyes. There’s no mistake!”

“Nothing in this world is absolute,” Mo Sang said with a frown. “Who says no one can fake a natal avatar?”

He glared intently at Su Yi. “Of course, I can give you a chance to prove yourself. Answer a few of my questions, and I’ll believe you’re really who you say you are!”

Su Yi slowly rose from his seat. “Mo Sang, how dare you treat me with such disrespect?”

“Cut the fucking crap,” Mo Sang said coldly. “I’ll just ask you this: dare you answer my questions?”

Su Yi suddenly laughed. “Do you dare to let me call your name?”

Mo Sang laughed coldly. “Go right ahead! Shout until your throat is raw if you like. It’ll do you no good!”

He was ferocious and domineering. He’d barged right into River King Purple Tiger’s territory, but he didn’t take River King Purple Tiger the least bit seriously. And when he faced Su Yi, his murderous intent was on full display, and he seemed ready to attack at any moment.

“Oh,” said Su Yi. A low, inscrutable sound suddenly left his lips, echoing throughout the hall.

The River Kings were completely befuddled. At least, for a moment. Then, their expressions shifted dramatically.

They’d just watched as Mo Sang suddenly clutched his skull and shrieked, tumbling to the ground and writhing in agony, his whole body convulsing. “My true name! How... how did you figure out my true name!?”

Mo Sang’s face was hideously contorted, his expression full of shock and terror as his flesh sloughed off in chunks.

Chills coursed through the other River Kings’ hearts. All of them gasped.

“We’ve known each other all these years. How could I not know your greatest secret?” Su Yi walked up to him. “Mo Sang, you shouldn’t have challenged me!”

Boom!

Mo Sang exploded into pieces. He was dead, destroyed in both body and soul. All that remained was a single perfectly intact strand of hair.

It wasn’t at all eye-catching, and the true name carved on its surface was even easier to overlook. It was written in characters so small, they were all but indiscernible.

Su Yi casually picked it up, then said, “None of you suspects my identity anymore, right?”

The River Kings’ foreheads broke out in cold sweat. All of them shook their heads.

River King Mo Sang was yet another of River Emperor Winged Dragon’s generals. He had an extraordinarily lofty position and was terrifyingly fierce. Who could have imagined that such a lofty River King would die so easily?

“Your Excellency, this junior understands his mistakes!” River King Hei Liao’s knees thudded to the ground. His face was pallid.

He was the one who’d sent word to River King Mo Sang. Now that Mo Sang was dead, Hei Liao was utterly terrified.

“That depends on your performance,” Su Yi said casually.

River King Hei Liao gnashed his teeth, took out a jade bracelet, and presented it with both hands, his whole body quivering with fright. “This contains all of the wealth I’ve accumulated over the years. If you don’t disdain it, please accept with a smile!”

“That’s all?” Su Yi said with a cold laugh.

River King Hei Liao shuddered. “If there’s anything you want, Your Excellency, just ask. This junior is sure to agree!”

Life in the River of Destiny was far more brutal than in the world of cultivation. The denizens of the river fought amongst themselves regularly. Brutally killing each other was commonplace.

Naturally, they understood better than anyone that the strong ate the weak.

Su Yi pondered briefly, then turned to look at River King Purple Tiger and his two companions. “Attack and kill him together, and I’ll let what happened today go. Refuse, and you’ll die, too.”

What? The three remaining River Kings looked stunned.

River King Hei Liao, meanwhile, shot out of the hall in an attempt to flee. He moved with extraordinary speed.

River King Purple Tiger gnashed his teeth and bellowed. “This is my territory. How could I possibly let you escape, Hei Liao?”

Boom! 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The entire hidden realm silently transformed. Endless blood-red light descended from the heavens, closing in like a cage and trapping River King Hei Liao inside. Practically simultaneously, the other two River Kings attacked, unleashing their mightiest divine abilities. They acted so quickly and directly that even Su Yi couldn’t help but be impressed.

It seemed that it wasn’t at all unusual for these River Kings to turn on each other. They cooperated with practiced ease. Afterward, two of them gathered up River King Hei Liao’s corpse and belongings, then turned to offer them to Su Yi.

This was how battles between River Kings usually ended. The loser’s flesh, blood, true name, and belongings became the victor’s spoils.

“Are you satisfied, Your Excellency?” River King Purple Tiger said obsequiously.

Su Yi’s gaze was hard to read. “Why not try to use the hidden realm’s power to kill me?”

River King Purple Tiger stiffened, then said hurriedly, “Please don’t misunderstand, Your Excellency. Even if you gave me a thousand times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to try any such thing!”

In truth, he really had considered it, but River King Whistling Moon’s infamy made him cautious. He dared not act on these thoughts.

Su Yi looked satisfied. “I killed Mo Sang, while you killed Hei Liao. If word of what happened here today gets out...”

Before he could finish his sentence, River King Purple Tiger said without hesitation, “Your Excellency, rest assured. None of us will leak a word of it!”

He was inwardly bitter. How could he possibly have failed to realize why River King Whistling Moon had demanded that they kill Hei Liao together?

He wanted them to be co-conspirators! This way, if word got out, they’d be implicated, too!

“Very well. This ends here,” said Su Yi. He put away the spoils, then left without further hesitation.

River King Purple Tiger and the others hurriedly saw him off, then watched from the gateway as he faded from view. Only then did they relax and ascertain that they really had narrowly survived a close brush with death.

“Someone must surely know that River King Mo Sang came to your manor, Daoist Brother. Now, he’s dead, so there’s no way we can cover it up. What do we do if River Emperor Winged Dragon asks questions?” one of the River Kings asked suddenly.

River King Purple Tiger said grimly, “What else can we do? We’ll just have to tell the truth!”

The two River Kings fell silent.

Tell the truth? But if we do, that’ll implicate us, too!

But... if we’re really forced into a corner, we won’t have any other choice!

As the three River Kings worried about their best course of action, Su Yi leisurely sauntered out of the alleyway. The information he’d acquired earlier came as a huge relief. He was now certain that River Empress Peacock was still alive. For now, that was enough.

Now, he had to set course for the Abhorrent Evil Origin Zone immediately to see if he could find any leads.

But Su Yi had only just barely left the Tiger’s Den when he froze, stunned. He’d just spotted a familiar figure.