Chapter 48: The Might of a World Sovereign

From noon until dusk, the small courtyard remained undisturbed by visitors. Su Mu’s eyes brightened, and he felt a sudden urge to speak. Did this mean they didn't have to leave? Had she been mistaken? Were those people not coming for her after all?

However, Su Mu said nothing, and his eyes soon dimmed. That lifestyle was something many craved, and he understood why Su Su detested it; it was only because of its unchanging monotony that she pursued freedom. The children stared with wide eyes, listening to the things Su Su described: massive dragons, towering spires, gargantuan trees, boundless divine statues, and vast oceans—wonders that had never even appeared in their dreams.

"You cannot see these other things for now, but as for the dragons, aren't they just outside the city? Perhaps you might even get to play with them for a while. Big Sister will take you to see them," Su Su said with a smile, ruffling Su Yin’s hair.

Waiting is always agonizing. Once the end of one's destiny is known, to be stuck in the final sprint is a torment few can endure with peace of mind. Su Su began to worry if something had gone wrong. The moment she sensed that presence, she knew her journey of flight was coming to an end.

Just as these children were destined never to reach the Sky Tower, so too was her own fate. Whether it was escaping far away via teleportation arrays or hiding in the shadows, Su Su had never truly expected to evade the Sky Tower. It was destiny—her destiny, her inescapable fate, an unchangeable reality. Her flight had merely been a testament to her refusal to accept it, at least for the time being.

"Can we not go? If we don't, they won't be able to find you, Big Sister." Su Yin, whose illness had just subsided, still looked pale. Her eyes were wide, her question innocent, yet it reflected the harsh reality of their situation.

Su Mu glared at Su Yin, then quickly hoisted the injured Su Zhe onto his back. Su Yin grabbed the small bundle, and Su Su took the other two children by the hand. The streets were deathly silent, practically deserted, with no sign of life. In the distance, a massive fissure was visible. Su Su’s heart tightened. Had something happened to the people from the Sky Tower?

The prestige and divine demeanor of high-ranking figures are usually only apparent when viewed from below. For instance, Elder Quan had initially appeared like a deity descending to the mortal realm, but now, with his bristling beard and glaring eyes, he looked entirely human. As for the "deity" Wu Daofa, he didn't even dare to speak a harsh word, whispering only, "Don't stifle it, don't stifle it."

As for the Purple Flame, Gold Armor, and Red Armor guards, they had no room to speak at all. The natives of Black Curtain City would not even have been permitted to watch if not for Zhang Xuan. At this moment, they didn't even dare to whisper, merely observing from afar with wide, disbelieving eyes, witnessing a story they were destined to rarely encounter. Even when Ye Xinchan, that domineering monk who traversed the land from south to north, had visited before, they had merely watched with curiosity. This time, however, they felt as if their ancestors had blessed them; it was nothing short of extraordinary luck.

Wu Yue made a sound of realization and casually pulled the frost dragon from his robes. He tapped it cautiously, and the dragon, which had been half-dead, suddenly leaped up. Wu Yue hurriedly caught it by the tail. The frost dragon, Rhys, was dangled in mid-air, clawing and snapping. Recalling its earlier majesty and seeing it now, one could only feel a sense of shame.

"Elder Quan," a crisp voice rang out. Elder Quan turned his head in a daze. As a high-level cultivator of the Affinity Realm, he should not have been so disoriented, but today he felt his mental capacity had been completely exhausted. He looked at the few newcomers, finding one of them vaguely familiar, before turning back to fuss over the frost dragon.

Su Su froze. She had never expected such a scene. Could it be that they weren't here for her after all? Had she misidentified them?

Then, her eyes widened in shock, and she exclaimed, "Uncle Rhys, how did you end up like this? Ah! Wu Yue, hurry up and let Uncle Rhys go!"

Elder Quan turned back abruptly, looking at Su Su with tears streaming down his face.

"Young Mistress..."

"Elder Quan, don't cry. What on earth is going on?"

"Young Mistress, don't ask for now. You know him? Tell him to release Lord Rhys at once!" It was as if a glimmer of hope had arisen, though it was uncertain whether it would be extinguished just as quickly.

"Wu Yue, let Uncle Rhys go!" Su Su shrieked, her tone instinctively commanding. "Otherwise, you will face mortal peril. The Sky Tower is not something you can afford to offend." Su Su spoke with good intentions.

At his age, Yu Fu was in a rebellious phase. Much like on a distant blue planet in a far-off universe, Yu Fu was at that age of unlikable teenage defiance.

Yu Fu simply hated girls—plain and simple. He could help Zhao Qingzhi treat Su Zhe and Su Yin, and he could help Su Su call for the police to rescue Su Mu. In fact, he helped with selfless dedication, yet he would not yield an inch in verbal sparring. Wu Yue had once comforted Su Su, saying, "The child is growing up; he's entered puberty," which naturally earned him a classic Yu-style eye-roll.

So, before Wu Yue could speak, Yu Fu shouted, "This was given to us by the old grandfather! I’m going to eat dragon meat and drink dragon soup tonight!" Wu Daofa nodded in agreement.

Su Su said urgently, "This is no time for jokes. Give Uncle Rhys to me, or your lives will be in danger. You cannot provoke the Sky Tower. Not just you, but everyone present will suffer!" No sooner had she finished speaking than she felt her hem tugged gently by Elder Quan. She looked at him, confused.

Wu Daofa’s fondness for Yu Fu was undisguised, a fact many present had already noted. Thus, someone quickly chimed in: the masked Ancestor of the Hai family chuckled and said, "A group of exiled sinners, daring to be so arrogant."

Su Su was about to fly into a rage when Elder Quan, standing beside her, suddenly barked, "Shut your mouth! How dare you speak to the World Master like that!" The words were incredibly blunt and disregarded all protocols of hierarchy. But in that moment, only those two words echoed in Su Su’s mind.

World Master!

She was no ordinary person. Because of the unique nature of the Sky Tower's inheritance, Su Su could not yet manifest her divine abilities, but that did not mean she lacked knowledge; on the contrary, she knew a great deal. For instance, she knew the Immortal Spirit World had a World Master—one who governed the laws of heaven and earth and controlled all life within the realm. Perhaps an emperor was not the strongest person in a nation, but the World Master was certainly the strongest in the world.

It couldn't be this young woman. Su Su trusted her instincts and looked further, spotting an elderly man in Daoist robes, though he didn't seem old at all. Clad in black and white, with black eyebrows and white hair, he seemed the very embodiment of black and white distinctness.

Su Su found it unbelievable, yet she had no choice but to believe.