First Immortal of the Sword

One attack, and he’d killed the Netherworld Hell Witch with ease!

Cui Chang’an’s heart shook.

He’d long since known that the Netherworld River Dragon Monarch was strong, but this still surpassed his expectations.

However, Su Yi didn’t find it all strange.

The old reptile was a natural-born aberrant species, a dragon of sin born of blood and souls. Years ago, it took the experts of numerous peak orthodoxies working together to suppress him.

Cui Longxiang once said that, had they not suppressed the old reptile then, he would have had a real shot at the Imperial Apex Realm!

Even after ninety-thousand years of suppression beneath Heavenly Tripod City, this terrifying creature’s malevolent, vicious power was far more than ordinary Emperors could withstand.

Outside the city.

The man in Confucian robes, the Tianji Yao Empress, and Fei Kongdong were stunned. All of them retreated, clearing space for the old reptile.

Strangely, when the Sinful Ghost Monk and Child of Sin sensed the old man’s strength, they stopped in their tracks and retreated far away.

At the same time, the distant landscape shook, and the ten-thousand-foot-tall Dark King of Purgatory attacked.

Boom!!!!

The Dark King of Purgatory swung his spear, then thrust it at the thin old man. The skies exploded around him, and a long, thin rift appeared in the sky.

The thin old man’s faint golden eyes shone with murderous light.

He suddenly stretched out his hand.

A draconic claw covered in blood-red scales shot forth, expanding until it was a thousand feet across. One swipe disrupted the spear’s trajectory.

The thin old man disappeared into thin air. 

A moment later——

The entire stretch of heaven and earth wailed, and the skies collapsed.

A ten-thousand-foot blood-red flood dragon appeared out of nowhere, as massive as a mountain range. Its entire body was covered in blood-red scales.

Boom!

When the flood dragon appeared, its incomparable, vicious majesty bore down on the skies. The very air itself trembled before it.

When it swung its claws, a single attack was enough to send the Dark King of Purgatory’s mountainous figure staggering backward.

The Dark King of Purgatory let out a low grunt, swung his spear, and charged, like purgatory in motion. He was swathed in baleful energy that spread out as he moved, blanketing the skies.

The blood-red flood dragon slashed with its sharp claws, seemingly enraged. A fierce battle began.

Boom!

Heaven and earth were in turmoil. The destructive shockwaves made even the other old monsters break out in cold sweats.

The Dark King of Purgatory was as mighty as a mid-stage Profound Serenity Emperor, and it controlled a power connected to the source of purgatory itself. Its murderous power was monstrous and terrifying.

But its opponent was the Netherworld River Dragon Monarch! The crimson flood dragon’s sharp claws ripped open the skies, leaving the Dark King of Purgatory covered in bleeding wounds.

In a flash, the Dark King’s ten-thousand-foot frame was riddled with injuries.

Finally, the flood dragon let out a long roar, opened its mouth, and devoured the badly battered Dark King of Purgatory.

Just watching made Cui Chang’an tremble uncontrollably. That old monster is simply too strong!

The flood dragon didn’t stick around; its massive figure disappeared into thin air. 

A moment later, a thin old man reappeared on the city walls, opened his mouth, and exhaled. A bundle of bloody light appeared containing the sealed Dark King of Purgatory. 

“Please accept this, Your Excellency.” The gaunt old man proffered the bundle of blood-colored light with both hands.

Earlier, Su Yi had told him to suppress the Dark King of Purgatory; he naturally wouldn’t kill it.

Su Yi accepted the bundle of light. As he toyed with it, he said, “I expect the little crow is already enraged.”

He’d only just said this when a cold, sinister voice emanated from the distant darkness.

“Old dragon of sin, how proud and contemptuous were you back then? You dared disdain even gods and Buddhas, yet now, you seem more like a spineless reptile. You’re even willing to let the Cui Family order you about. It’s truly disappointing!”

The crow’s voice boomed throughout heaven and earth.

Off in the distance, the Sinful Ghost Monk, Child of Sin, and the endless horde of evil spirits stood unmoving.

As if in submission to the owner of that voice!

The formerly chaotic battlefield was now deathly silent, and an oppressive atmosphere hung in the air. All was still save for the dense darkness and bloody, baleful mists that permeated the landscape.

The thin old man seemed a bit confused. He fixed his dim golden eyes into the distance. “Who are you to insult this old man?”

Su Yi asked calmly from his wicker chair, “You don’t recognize the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow?”

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow!

The gaunt old man’s pupils constricted. “So, it’s that crow that controls the power of upheaval and calamity…”

His voice actually carried a hint of solemnity.

“Are you afraid of it?” asked Su Yi.

The gaunt old man lowered his head. “Everyone in the Netherworld dreads that inauspicious bird.”

Boom!

It was then that the distant darkness trembled. 

A massive, blood-colored mountain shot through the air. Wherever it passed, countless evil spirits flung themselves to the ground in prostration. 

The Sinful Ghost Monk and Child of Sin stepped aside and bowed.

The blood-colored mountain was ten-thousand feet tall and covered in strange and intricate Dao Markings. Waterfalls of bloody light poured from it, filling the air with a terrifying, baleful aura of sin. 

A black-robed figure stood on the peak, shrouded in wisps of dark, mysterious light, like a legendary god of the Netherworld!

The Tianji Yao Empress, Fei Kongdong, and the old man in Confucian robes all felt a prickling pain on their skin, and their hearts trembled as the sensation of a potentially lethal threat bore down on them.

Strong!

Just who is that?

Meanwhile, atop the city walls, Cui Chang’an’s expression was as grave as could be.

The Cui Family had existed since antiquity. They’d overcome countless Lantern Festivals, but this was their first time facing such a strange and terrifying existence.

He stood atop a mountain of blood, and a horde of evil spirits prostrated themselves before him!

The thin old man’s pale golden eyes flashed, seemingly with alarm. “A Dark Vassal!? Didn’t those terrifying evil spirits die out a long, long time ago!?”

A Dark Vassal!

Cui Chang’an’s heart clenched; he’d finally remembered what Dark Vassals were.

In legends of ancient times, the Dark Vassals were the guards of the Fallen Netherworld King. All of them were manifested out of the souls of the dead, and they wielded the powers of calamity, sin, and chaos. They were strong beyond measure.

However, those rumors dated back to antiquity. Although tales still circulated, sightings of Dark Vassals were practically unheard of.

Yet tonight, one of these terrifying entities had appeared!

“So, the little crow brought a Dark Vassal out of Calamity Ridge. Just what is it attacking Ziluo City for?” Su Yi sat in his wicker chair, stroking his jaw. He was finally intrigued.

He’d explored the City of the Wrongfully Dead in his past life, and he’d entered the place considered the most dangerous part of the city, Calamity Ridge. He naturally knew about the Dark Vassals that had lain dormant there since ancient times.

He’d even hoped to acquire one to research thoroughly.

Alas, the Dark Vassals lay dormant year-round, and Calamity Ridge was so enormous that he ultimately failed to realize this ambition.

Yet now, the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow had come with a Dark Vassal!

“Wicked old dragon, this lofty one shall grant you an opportunity. Step aside, and I’ll spare your life. Refuse, and don’t blame me for my poor manners!” 

That icy voice emanated from the distant darkness once more.

The thin old man said coolly, “Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow, I have advice for you too. Hurry up and lead these evil spirits away. If you do, you might still escape with your life. Otherwise, it won’t matter how capable you are; I’m afraid you and your Dao will both meet your end.”

He really was afraid of the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow.

But he knew that the young man in blue currently sprawled out in a wicker chair was even more terrifying.

He didn’t even need to think to know that, if he dared try anything, the terrifying existence who’d once presided over the Wilds would kill him instantly!

“I’ll meet my end? Hahaha, ol’ dragon, oh, ol’ dragon, you’ve truly disappointed me!” The crow’s laughter emanated from the distant darkness.

Immediately afterward——

Boom!

The blood-colored mountain shifted, carrying the Dark Vassal toward the city gates.

The skies wailed and collapsed. Heaven and earth trembled.

Its momentum alone left the Tianji Yao Empress and the others stifled and suppressed.

“Come on back, you three,” Su Yi said calmly.

The three of them felt a massive weight lift from their shoulders, and all of them retreated right away.

They were under the control of the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern, and they had no choice but to obey Su Yi’s orders. Even so, they had absolutely no desire to fight a terrifying, ruthless ancient entity like the Dark Vassal.

It was then that Su Yi finally rose from his wicker chair.

He glanced at the stone statues guarding the gates, the Xiezhi and the Bi’an, then at the encroaching Dark Vassal.

Then, he made a decision.

“Retreat.”

He put away his chair, turned, and simply walked away.

The thin old man, the Tianji Yao Empress, and the other old monsters were stunned. They almost dared not believe their ears.

This was the man who’d once stood at the pinnacle of creation, the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force. How could he possibly retreat without a fight even at a time like this!?

When had the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force ever fled from battle?

It had never happened before!

But now, he was retreating due to the threat of the Dark Vassal….

An indescribable mix of disappointment and bewilderment coursed through the old monsters’ hearts. This is the former Swordmaster of Abstruse Force! How could he… do something like this!?

Don’t tell me he’s really just a weak little Spiritual Revolution Cultivator, not the undefeatable legend he once was?

If their lives weren’t under the control of the Heaven’s Writ Lotus Lantern, the old monsters would likely have been tempted to see what Su Yi was made of for themselves.

“Uncle Su, isn’t this a bit abrupt?” Cui Chang’an was stunned too. He naturally knew what Su Yi was doing, but they hadn’t even tried to fight back yet. Retreating just like that seemed a bit too sloppy.

“They’re here to invade the city. If we give them a chance, how could they possibly resist it?” Su Yi said casually.

As the two of them conversed, they gradually faded into the distance.

The old monsters glanced at each other, then followed. When they overheard Su Yi and Cui Chang’an’s conversation, they felt something wasn’t quite right here. However, they couldn't quite put their finger on what was amiss.

Boom!

The blood-colored mountain slammed into the city gates. The massive energy fluctuations produced on impact shook the entire city.

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Without Su Yi and company fighting back, the Golden Grow Annihilating Calamity Formation’s power couldn’t possibly resist the onslaught of the horde of evil spirits. 

Moments later, the eastern city gates broke.

Countless evil spirits flooded into the city, blanketing heaven and earth. The emptied-out Ziluo City descended into chaos and upheaval.

However, no one noticed that before the gates broke, the stone statues guarding them silently disappeared.