Chapter 1123: So It Was You
(Readers, "The Legend of the Choice of Heaven" is not yet finished. Although the previous few chapters were indeed written a bit too well, a bit too profound, there are still many major events in this story. First, we have to vulgar-ly unify the world, and then, shouldn't we go take a look at other worlds? Also, I made another mistake in yesterday's chapter. After it was updated, a friend reminded me, and I changed it right away. I don't know if any friends saw it. If you did, please pretend you didn't...)
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That monster was Chu Su.
In White Emperor City, Xu Yourong had forced him back step by step, and he was no match for her at all. But that was due to their mutual restraint. In truth, within the world below the Divine Domain, he had the ability to threaten any powerful being, be it Chen Changsheng or Qiu Shanjun.
This desolate grassland had no overly ancient or powerful demonic beasts. Even if there were some troublesome beast packs, with the help of that ground squirrel, he easily subdued them. Over the course of several years, he quickly became the sovereign of this grassland.
Perhaps it was because the lingering soul of the previous sect master's influence on his core was growing weaker, or perhaps because he was enjoying this kingly life, Chu Su never left this grassland again, let alone thought of continuing to take revenge on Su Li's descendants.
Occasionally, in the dead of night, he would sit on the highest point of the meadow, staring southward in silence for a long time.
It wasn't out of longing. He absolutely did not miss the cold, damp days at the bottom of the cliff in the Longevity Sect. Rather, he was battling the desires within his instincts.
When he was created, an indelible bloodlust and a bone-deep hatred for all those connected to the name Su Li were implanted into his soul. If he could not vent these desires and hatred through violent acts, he would very likely be devoured by the Yellow Springs Art.
But too many Xiu Ling tribesmen had died on this grassland back then. The soil beneath the grass was soaked through with blood, and few people ever passed by.
He had no one to kill, so he could only learn to endure, to struggle against these instinctual desires.
One night, as he sat on the highest point of the meadow, he suddenly sensed something and looked up at the sky.
Among the countless stars, one had become exceptionally bright, at least several hundred times brighter than usual, very conspicuous.
Chu Su's face turned deathly pale, so much so that even his black bristles couldn't hide it.
Whether it was whitened by the starlight or for some other reason.
"How is this possible?"
Looking at that dazzling star, Chu Su's mind was in turmoil.
"Someone else has entered the Divine Domain! Why isn't it me!"
He roared in fury, his hands pounding the ground incessantly, sending grass clippings and dirt flying everywhere.
"No! This absolutely cannot stand!"
Chu Su's harsh, raspy voice echoed endlessly across the grassland under the night sky, and the entire world could feel his unwillingness and resentment.
Suddenly, he stopped shouting and began sniffing the air constantly, like a dog, smelling the night breeze.
With a rustling sound, that ground squirrel appeared on the meadow, scratching at the ground with its forelimbs as it crawled over to Chu Su.
Chu Su was hunchbacked, short in stature, dressed in tattered black robes, and exuded a stench of decay.
The more beautiful the starry sky, the uglier Chu Su became, especially when his wildly waving hands were illuminated by the starlight.
His hands were covered in scales and black fur, his sharp claws caked with filth and the rotting flesh of unknown origin that had been decaying for who knows how many years.
Anyone, even a demonic beast, would show disgust or fear upon seeing such a monster.
The ground squirrel did not. Its eyes, looking at Chu Su, were filled with confusion, trust, and worship.
"There's a treasure."
Chu Su looked at a certain place in the night and said in a low, raspy voice.
That brightest star in the night sky signified that a powerful being had entered the Divine Domain, just like when Wang Po broke through by the Luo River back then. All things in the world would sense this, especially those rules or existences above the Divine Domain.
Chu Su very clearly felt a fluctuation of divine aura.
He could sense it so clearly because that divine aura was right there on the grassland, not far away.
The entity emitting that divine aura should be in a state of slumber or weakness.
For a greedy cultivator, this was an irresistible temptation, especially for Chu Su, who practiced the Yellow Springs Art.
Without hesitation, he dove into the ground and headed towards that place in the night.
The ground squirrel looked around the meadow, letting out a low, warning whine, then stood up, urinated, and also dove into the ground.
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Dozens of miles away, there was a rocky mountain. It looked ordinary on the outside, but the rock inside was red.
In the deepest part of a certain cave, the walls were painted with ancient, primitive murals using tree sap. The light was dim, and a stone platform could be vaguely seen.
On the stone platform was a nest made of branches and soft grass, inside which lay a drab little bird.
This cave was several miles deep, with an extremely complex structure and countless forks in the middle. No matter how powerful a demonic beast, it would be impossible to reach the bottom.
Logically, that gray bird should have been safe.
However, no matter how complex the structure, it couldn't stop those species capable of burrowing through the earth.
Seeing that unremarkable gray bird, Chu Su's body trembled incessantly, and the stench from his tattered black robes grew stronger.
He wasn't afraid of a life form from the Divine Domain, nor was he disappointed that he had found the wrong target. He was excited.
He felt that the rough fate of his life had finally come to an end.
The word "luck" had finally fallen upon him.
When the ground squirrel emerged from the earth following the trail Chu Su had left, this was the scene it saw.
When its gaze fell upon that drab little bird, it went rigid.
In other words, even this worldly-wise, extremely vicious and shameless creature was dumbfounded.
The ground squirrel recognized that drab little bird.
Even if it had changed its form, even if it had turned to ashes, it wouldn't dare forget.
That bird was a Golden-Winged Roc.
On the Sun-Scorched Grassland, countless demonic beasts revered it as their lord.
Like the dragon clan and the phoenix, the Golden-Winged Roc was a born divine being.
Chu Su knew very well how much benefit eating a Golden-Winged Roc would bring him.
Clearly, this Golden-Winged Roc was in the middle of a long awakening process and had no ability to defend itself.
Chu Su absolutely could not miss such an opportunity.
The ground squirrel knew this too, so no matter how cunning and treacherous it was, it couldn't think of a way to stop Chu Su.
Just then, the gray little bird opened its eyes.
With one look, it knew what the monster reeking of decay intended to do.
The young Roc's eyes showed no fear or pleading, only utter indifference.
An indescribably terrifying pressure appeared in the cave.
"Do you think I'll be scared by you?"
Chu Su's voice was very hoarse and unpleasant.
The young Roc's eyes were filled with anger.
But just as Chu Su had thought, it was at a critical moment of soul awakening and couldn't move.
A screech full of violence and grievance echoed through the cave.
"You and I are the same—proud, cold, poisonous seeds who never liked this world. We have no masters, no friends, so naturally, no one would be willing to save us. Since that's the case, why don't we merge into one and then have a contest with this world?"
Chu Su said to the young Roc seriously.
The young Roc rolled its eyes at him, as if looking at an idiot.
Suddenly, a line of fire appeared in the night sky.
The line of fire plunged straight into the rock.
The earth shook, magma surged, and the heat was indescribable.
The rocky mountain collapsed, and a great cloud of dust rose.
Chu Su sensed a familiar aura, remembered the pain from a few years ago, and his face turned deathly pale.
A petite figure walked out of the dust cloud, her wings slowly folding in and then disappearing.
The young Roc chirped at the figure, sounding terribly wronged, like a child throwing a tantrum.
Xu Yourong reached out and touched it.
The young Roc seemed comfortable, grunted a couple of times, closed its eyes, and continued to sleep.
"So it was you..."
Seeing this scene, Chu Su said mournfully, "All the good things in the world are yours. Is there any justice in this?"
Xu Yourong thought for a moment and said, "It does seem a bit unfair."
Feeling her aura, Chu Su suddenly laughed.
His laugh was unpleasant, and his smile was even uglier.
"So it wasn't you."