First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 145 - Rising Like a Rabbit, Diving Like a Falcon, Unblockable Force

Ghoul Worms!

Thousands of them emitted piercing wails from their hideous mouthparts as they swept through the air.

Zhang Yiren unsheathed his saber. Chen Zheng snorted coldly. His sleeves billowed with a burst of wind and thunder.

At the same time, a bamboo sheath silently appeared in Su Yi’s hand.

Clang!

With a flick of his thumb, he pushed his sword from its sheath.

Then, he rotated his wrist, raising his sword. Its blade glowed pale blue.

He raised the blade into the air, and beam after beam shot forth, like countless streaks of cold light.

My sword wanders the ten directions, from the blue dome of heaven to the yellow springs below!

This was the Rejoicing Sword Sutra’s “Wandering the Ten Directions.”

The hum of his sword still echoed as every worm within the vast swarm exploded in an instant. The mighty sword qi burst them into powder.

Zhu Guqing’s gaze focused on this attack. What a profound, miraculous sword art!

Furthermore, Su Yi’s actions surprised her. Could it be that they were telling the truth and that they really aren’t from the Deathbringer’s Gate?

At almost the same time, Zhu Guqing’s keen senses picked up on the fact that, as soon as they unleashed the Ghoul Worms, the three dharma protectors immediately scurried toward the exit.

Swoosh! She no longer hesitated. She shot straight into the fray.

She was quick as a beam of light, and her sword released waves of hums as it fired rays of dazzling sword qi. It was like a patch of mist piercing through the air as she slashed at the Blood Balance Daoist.

The Misty Haze Soul-Chilling Sword!

This was Zhu Guqing’s most famous sword art. Once unleashed, it was like mist catching the light, and the resulting sword qi was bone-chillingly cold. It could instantly freeze and injure opponents’ qi and even their souls.

It seems this woman’s finally figured out what’s going on. She’s not too stupid after all, Chen Zheng thought to himself.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Before it met its target, Su Yi blocked Zhu Guqing’s sword, effortlessly shattering its momentum.

“You!” Zhu Guqing was instantly furious, and her expression frosted over.

“Step aside. I’ll settle the score with you later.” Even as he spoke, Su Yi charged ahead. Guiding Mysteries stabbed right toward the Blood Balance Daoist, who was currently attempting to climb over the walls.

The old man’s eyes flashed with ruthless light. He suddenly stretched out his hand, grabbed Chu Silang, and viciously flung him.

Chu Silang was so terrified that his soul almost left his body. He roared, “Screw your mom…!”

Splurt!

His body split right down the midline, and fresh blood burst forth like a waterfall, bringing his curses to an abrupt halt.

The Blood Balance Daoist seized the opportunity to lead Liu Xianglan over the walls, but before they took more than a few steps, a figure emitting a vast and austere murderous intent blocked their path. He was like an impenetrable wall!

“I said I’d help Young Lord Su keep an eye on the door.” Chen Zheng pointed toward the courtyard, his face expressionless. “Go back!”

The Blood Balance Daoist’s expression was extremely unsightly.

He turned and was just about to flee in a different direction when he saw Zhu Guqing in her pristine white dress charging right at him.

“Dammit!” The old man’s face was ashen. He stretched out his hand, hoping to reuse an old trick. This time, Liu Xianglan’s life would clear his path.

Except his hands grabbed nothing but air.

When he glanced over, he saw Liu Xianglan fleeing like a startled rabbit in Chen Zheng’s direction. As she ran, she spat out a series of curses. “I just knew I couldn’t count on you, you old fart!

“Your Excellency, I admit defeat!” Liu Xianglan flung herself to her knees, her eyes wet with tears as she begged for mercy. “My life and death are in your hands!”

Chen Zheng furrowed his brow.

The Blood Balance Daoist despaired, but he dared not be negligent; Zhu Guqing was charging right toward him.

Clang!

But when Zhu Guqing’s attack was only halfway finished, Su Yi blocked it again. Her slender figure swayed, and she took several steps back before stabilizing herself. She was a sorry sight.

This time, she was so angry that she gnashed her teeth, and her clear eyes blazed with fire. “You brat, why the hell are you so spiteful?”

The Blood Balance Daoist, meanwhile, was practically mad with delight.

He seized the opportunity to charge explosively through a gap, covering over a hundred feet in a single bound. He’d done everything he could to flee; it was just a pity there hadn’t been two more paths available.

“I won’t let anyone else kill someone I’ve already decided to kill.” As he spoke, Su Yi shot after the elderly Daoist. 

Grandmasters could already soar through the skies like birds,  free and nimble. They could even condense the power of their true essence to stabilize their bodies and temporarily hover in mid-air. They could walk on water as if it were solid ground.

When someone like that wanted to flee, only another Grandmaster had any hope of catching up to them.

Even if the methods at Su Yi’s disposal were far more exquisite and incredible, he still wasn’t a Grandmaster, and his true essence hadn’t even achieved “Astral Manifestation.” He couldn’t take to the skies, so he had no hope of catching up to his target.

But he had no plans of giving chase.

He muttered an obscure chant, which rumbled like a thunderclap on the ground as Su Yi called upon the mysteries of the Great Void Soul Sword Incantation once more.

Everyone watched as the Blood Balance Daoist, who was already a few hundred feet away, reeled, and his face contorted in shock and agony.

But he was still a Grandmaster, and furthermore, he’d cultivated his soul. Despite this sudden attack, he managed to pull through.

Before Su Yi could get close, he resumed fleeing in a mad panic.

“The old fart’s got some skills.” Su Yi couldn’t help but exclaim.  

Even as he thought, his movements never paused. He suddenly raised Guiding Mysteries into the air and flung it.

Whoosh!

Guiding Mysteries shot straight ahead like a laser, slicing through the air.

The Blood Balance Daoist sensed the incoming danger. He suddenly raised his hands and opened a bronze umbrella behind himself.

Bang!

The bronze umbrella burst apart.

The force made him stagger back, and his face was utterly pallid.

But before he could stabilize himself…

Another obscure chant went off like an explosion.

Boom!

The Blood Balance Daoist’s mind buzzed as if he’d been struck by lightning. His agony was so intense that it was as if his very soul itself were being ripped apart, and he couldn’t help but shriek.

Although he’d cultivated his soul, how could he possibly endure two successive attacks from the Great Void Soul Sword Incantation?

He convulsed and twitched as if he were having a seizure. He could no longer control his body.

It was then that Su Yi drifted over. He lifted his hand, then pressed.

Crunch!

The Blood Balance Daoist’s skull shattered.

“I’m… I can’t accept this….” His eyes widened in fury as his body fell limply to the ground.

“Nonsense. Who’s happy to die?” Su Yi shook his head.

Off in the distance, Chen Zheng applauded. “Young Lord Su, what impressive skills!”

The battle was over in a flash, but it included numerous unexpected developments, like the Ghoul Worm swarm and Zhu Guqing’s involvement.

Yet Su Yi had single-handedly dealt with all of it. First, he wiped out the worms. Then, he cleaved the unfortunate meat shield, Chu Silang, in two. During this process, he blocked both of Zhu Guqing’s attempts at interference, yet despite this, he killed the Blood Balance Daoist before he could escape their encirclement.

Throughout this battle, he was as nimble as a rabbit, and he struck with the force and speed of a diving falcon. Despite Chen Zheng’s decades on the battlefield, just watching was enough to broaden his horizons, and he couldn’t withhold his praises.

He no longer wondered how Su Yi forced the leader of Blueriver Sword Manor, Mu Cangtu, to lower his head!

Meanwhile, the expression on Zhu Guqing’s beautiful face shifted erratically. She was furious that Su Yi had gotten in her way twice in a row, but also stunned that an early-stage Qi Accumulation youth like him could display such shocking power. 

A long time passed before she managed to calm herself. 

But Su Yi’s thoughts were nowhere near as complex. If not for the Blood Balance Daoist’s speed, he would have fought directly, and in a direct clash, he could have killed the man in a single attack. He wouldn’t have needed to expend nearly as much effort.

The core problem is that, due to my cultivation, my movements are restricted. This is now my only shortcoming… As Su Yi pondered, he bent at the waist, and was just about to pick up Guiding Mysteries when....

Hmmm! Suddenly, an explosive sword hum rang out.

The distant Chen Zheng and Zhu Guqing were both stunned. Their instincts alerted them to an extremely dangerous presence.

Su Yi, meanwhile, paused briefly, then reacted at top speed. He immediately picked up his sword and held it in front of himself.

Bang!

An incomparable radiant flying sword cut through the air and slammed into Guiding Mysteries. It burst with immense power, and the impact sent Su Yi staggering back. His handsome face looked a little pallid, and he even felt the urge to cough up blood. 

“You actually injured me….!” Su Yi was a bit surprised, but in an instant, his gaze was calm and utterly cold. This was his first time in such a dire predicament since his reincarnation.

This was also the first time an opponent caught him off guard like this!

How long had it been since he’d last experienced this?

Vrrrr!

The seven-inch flying sword spun, then flew back from whence it came.

But it only took one good look for Su Yi to recognize it as a talisman sword, a secret treasure, not a real flying sword. It was the work of an Origin Dao cultivator, and its power was sufficient to slay Grandmasters.

“Hm?” An exclaimed voice rang out from just outside Bottlegourd Alley. It seemed the would-be assassin hadn’t expected Su Yi to block this attack.

Whoosh!

Su Yi leaped and charged out of the alleyway. His heart surged with murderous intent.

However, when he left the alley, the streets were crowded and bustling. People came and went, but he saw no sign of his assailant.

“You can run for now, but can you run for the rest of your life?” Su Yi took a deep breath, and his heart gradually regained its usual calm.

“Young Lord Su, are you alright?” Chen Zheng dashed up to him. When he saw the attack Su Yi endured, even he felt a chill run down his spine. He, too, recognized the flying sword for what it was.

Su Yi nodded, his expression calm. “It’s just a mouse hiding in its hole, too scared to come into the light. It cannot harm me.”

“Do you know where that person came from?” asked Chen Zheng.

Su Yi nodded. “At least, I can make a rough guess.”

He’d already fully regained his composure, and now, it didn’t so much as ripple. He laughed, “Marquis Chen, you needn’t concern yourself with such a trivial matter.”

As he spoke, he headed back to the cottage.

A trivial matter? That was a talisman sword forged by an Earthly Immortal. In his shoes, any ordinary Grandmaster would have lost their head by now. Chen Zheng thought to himself.

It was then that he realized how terrifying Su Yi really was. How dangerous was that situation? Yet he’d blocked it head-on!

Sure, he came out looking a little bedraggled, but this was still a miracle.

Even if you tested every other Qi Accumulation cultivator beneath the heavens, you’d have trouble finding even a few capable of blocking a comparable attack!

Zhu Guqing stood there, and when she saw Su Yi walk over, she hesitated for a moment, then clasped her fist. “Earlier, I was overly fixated on hunting down my enemies, and I misunderstood you. If I offended you, I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Having said this, even she felt a little bashful, and her expression was unnatural. Inside, she felt awkward and embarrassed.

Su Yi merely glanced at the white-haired, icy beauty and laughed, “And here I thought you were too stubborn to lower your head. So, you actually know how to apologize?”

Zhu Gujing’s beautiful face contorted, and her bright eyes shone with a mixture of shame and anger. I already apologized, didn’t I? Why won’t this stinky brat let it go? He’s really over the line!

Although he didn’t say it out loud, when he saw this icy beauty’s awkward expression, Chen Zheng was inwardly delighted.

Still, he spoke up to smooth things over. “You can’t get to know someone without a little conflict. We’ve already resolved this misunderstanding, so there’s no need to let this damage our relationship. What do you think, Young Lord Su?”

“You needn’t worry, Marquis Chen,” said Su Yi offhandedly. “I haven’t sunk so low as to make trouble for a woman over a trivial matter like this. If I did, wouldn’t that make me no different from her?”

Zhu Guqing was briefly dazed. Then, her eyes widened and bulged in fury, and her chest heaved up and down. She was so angry that she could barely repress the desire to swing her sword and cut him up.

This kid is definitely practicing a type of ‘qigong’, the type designed to make his opponents die of anger!

Seth's Thoughts

“This kid is definitely practicing a type of ‘qigong’, the type designed to make his opponents die of anger!”

This line is a bit of a pun.

The “Qi” here means “energy”, and “gong” is like… “skill”.

But the same character, “Qi” can also mean "anger" in certain contexts. 

So in that line of dialogue, qigong has gone from “a way of controlling inner energy” to “a way of infuriating people”, just by interpreting the exact same characters differently.