First Immortal of the Sword

Three days later.

“Where is this?”

“Who am I?”

“What am I doing?”

Tao Qianqiu awoke from his coma still in a daze. After extensive effort, he finally recovered some of his memories.

“I brought Elder Ran Tianfeng of the Netherworld Sky Sect and a group of Divine Peak Sword Court cultivators to ZIluo City to capture the inheritor of the Ghost Lantern Sarcophagus Bearers, but that old bastard Cui Chang’an didn’t give me any face at all…”

Before long, he recalled how Cui Chang’an had refused him, and how he led his group out of Ziluo City. 

But try as he might, he couldn't remember anything that happened after they boarded the treasure ship.

“What exactly happened? How did I appear here? Where are the others?”

Tao Qianqiu looked around and discovered that he was in a barren stretch of wilderness. The sun was setting, bathing all of creation in orange light.

After a lengthy daze, Tao Qianqiu’s expression gradually darkened.

“Dammit! Someone erased my memories!” His face was ashen, and he clenched his fists. “Unless I’m mistaken, the Cui Family was behind this!”

He’d long since heard that Cui Chang’an’s wife, Xue Huaning, was once one of Meng Po Palace’s Emissaries of the River.

And the disciples of Meng Po Palace excelled at nothing more than controlling souls and erasing memories!

“What on earth happened to make the Cui Family step in and erase my memories? What secrets didn’t they want me telling anyone?

“And if they were worried I’d leak something, why not just kill me? Or erase my memories of everything that’s happened in my three hundred years in the Netherworld? Wouldn’t that be better for them?”

Tao Qianqiu was increasingly confused. All of this seemed absurd and inexplicable.

After a while, his eyes flashed with decisive light.

“I have to inform Master of this as soon as possible!”

…

The Cui Family estate.

The light of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, casting mottled light on a young man reclining in a wicker chair. This gave him an additional air of tranquility and relaxation.

“Uncle Su, we’ve already cast our bait. Now we just have to wait and see how the Abstruse Force Alliance responds,” laughed Cui Chang’an.

He already understood why Su Yi hadn’t killed Tao Qianqiu, instead choosing to erase a small portion of his memories.

It was simple: he wanted Tao Qianqiu to realize that something was fishy and immediately send word back to the Abstruse Force Alliance!

“Even if you use ancient formations to open tunnels between worlds, traveling from the Netherworld to the Wilds requires traversing at least ten barriers between worlds and passing through over a hundred planes both big and small,” Su Yi said softly. “That means it’ll be at least half a year until Pi Mo receives word of this.”

He’d explored the Netherworld in his past life, and he naturally knew just far it was from the Wilds.

Even at the pinnacle of his past life and drawing upon the full extent of this cultivation base, the journey took him three months.

Su Yi certainly didn’t think that with Tao Qianqiu’s abilities, he’d be able to make contact with Pi Mo faster than that.

“Uncle Su, a few years ago, I heard Father say that Pi Mo has already broken through the bottleneck of the peak Profound Serenity Realm, and that he’s become a Profound Unity Emperor,” Cui Chang’an said in a low voice. “If he comes to the Netherworld…”

The leader of the Cui Family spoke cautiously, but before he could finish, Su Yi laughed dryly. “Are you worried I’m no match for that traitor?”

Cui Chang’an nodded slightly.

Su Yi’s gaze was distant as he said, “In his youth, Pi Mo cultivated at my side. He’s got a steady disposition, and he kills decisively. He has a rare talent for cultivation. But setting aside that I taught him everything he knows, based on my understanding of him, I can say with certainty that he wouldn’t dare come to the Netherworld.”

Cui Chang’an was stunned. “He wouldn’t dare?”

Su Yi gazed at the last light of the setting sun through the window lattice, his expression inscrutable and his tone a bit strange. “That is, unless he can kill his youngest apprentice sister, Qing Tang. If he leaves while she still breathes, she’s sure to massacre the Abstruse Force Alliance in his absence.”

Cui Chang’an’s heart shook.

Qing Tang!

She was the most dazzling Empress of the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, the sole ruler of the Grotto of Abstruse Force. She gazed down upon the heavens with pride!

Five hundred years ago, this legendary Empress single-handedly ousted all the factions attempting to invade the Grotto of Abstruse Force, killing her way through both gods and Buddhas!

After this battle, she took over the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s authority, proclaiming herself sect leader of the Grotto of Abstruse Force and intimidating everyone beneath the heavens!

If Pi Mo was a mighty, unparalleled war Emperor, then Qing Tang, the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s successor, was a dazzling legend of the Dao of the Sword!

“Let’s discuss it no further,” said Su Yi with waning interest.

Cui Chang’an considerately asked no further questions.

……

That very night. 

Jinluo Grotto, beneath the Tree of Ten Thousand Daos.

Su Yi sprawled out in his wicker chair. There was a little table beside him, upon which Po Suo had placed tea, wine, and refreshments.

“Fellow Daoist, this bottle contains the power of sin I refined from the skeleton spirit.” Po Suo took out a jade bottle and passed it to Su Yi.

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Then, she took out a sealed wooden box and handed it over as well.

“This wooden box contains the source energy I refined from the Dark King of Purgatory. It’s of the Purgatory of Dark Shadows, an extremely rare Dao. In ancient times, only those who grasped the path of Kṣitigarbha had the opportunity to comprehend and master this grand Dao.”

Su Yi accepted the jade bottle and wooden box, then put them away. Suddenly, he said, “I’m leaving for the Ghost Lands tomorrow.”

Po Suo froze, a hint of strangeness in the depths of her starry eyes. “Do you plan to invite me to accompany you again, Fellow Daoist?”

Su Yi laughed. “You read my mind! This is what they mean when they speak of two hearts beating as one.”

He swept his gaze across Po Suo, starting from her snow-white hair, then focusing on her matchlessly beautiful face.

Po Suo had an elegant, ethereal quality, like an orchid growing in a secluded valley. Hers was a tranquil charm acquired over countless years; she was far beyond any ordinary beauty.

Su Yi’s evaluating gaze made her a bit uncomfortable, and she said a bit helplessly, “I cannot leave.”

As if worried she’d rejected him too firmly, she explained gently, “Cui Longxiang isn’t here. If I leave, what if something else happens to the Cui Family? The consequences would be unimaginable.”

Admittedly, she wouldn’t get involved in the Cui Family’s affairs, but if the Cui Family faced annihilation, she was there to use the Tree of Ten Thousand Dao’s power to help them escape safely.

Su Yi naturally understood this, so he didn’t push the matter any further.

……

Morning the next day.

“Hold onto this talisman,” said Su Yi, passing the talisman he’d prepared to the old blind man. “If you run into a crisis you can’t resolve on your own, shatter it.”

“Many thanks, Your Excellency Su!” The old blind man didn’t refuse. He accepted it with both hands, then said a bit reluctantly, “I’ll be sure to come back to find you.”

“Staying with me will only delay your cultivation,” said Su Yi. “Once you’re ready to prove your Dao and become an Emperor, come to the Cui Family. If I’m still in the Netherworld, I’ll personally act as your dharma protector while you undergo tribulation. If I’m not available, ask Cui Chang’an to be your dharma protector in my place.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want the old blind man traveling with him. He just knew that the old blind man’s internal Dao wounds had already healed, and he had to start preparing to attempt a breakthrough into the Imperial Realm.

He then took out a jade lip and passed it to the old blind man. “This contains some of my insights and experiences regarding breakthroughs into the Imperial Realm. Please accept it.”

The old blind man shook.

Although Su Yi spoke lightly, how could the old blind man be ignorant of how precious such a jade slip was?

His heart swelled with emotion, and a warm current coursed through him. He said with firm conviction, “Your Excellency Su, I won’t let you down!”

Su Yi smiled, then said, “Leave avenging your master’s grudge up to me. All you need to do is focus on your cultivation.”

The old blind man was moved; he hadn’t anticipated such generosity. “Your Excellency Su, I… I have no idea how to go about repaying your kindness.”

Su Yi sighed. “I’m just doing what I ought to do.”

It was his traitorous disciple Pi Mo who’d hurt the old blind man’s master. Su Yi could help but feel guilty about this.

Given the opportunity, he’d naturally do all he could to make it up to the old blind man.

“Your Excellency Su, before I leave, might I ask you a question?” said the old blind man a bit uneasily.

Su Yi nodded. “Go ahead.”

The old blind man took a deep breath, then said, “What exactly is your connection to His Excellency the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force?”

He’d hidden this question within his heart for a long time. Now that his departure was imminent, he could no longer hold it in.

Su Yi was briefly stunned, but then, he couldn’t help but laugh. He’s just like Jingyan; he’s always assumed I’m my past life’s descendant.

“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you. You’d think I was insulting and making fun of the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force,” laughed Su Yi. “It’d be better not to say anything.”

“I’ll believe you!” the blind man said frantically.

Su Yi’s smile faded, and his gaze was calm and profound. “I am him, and he is me.”

The old blind man fell into a daze.

After a while, he finally came to his senses and smiled sheepishly. “Your Excellency Su, just… just pretend I never asked.”

“....”

The old blind man still didn’t believe him!

This little interlude passed quickly.

That very morning, the old blind man departed on his own.

Su Yi, meanwhile, accompanied Cui Jingyan to the recently re-opened Fragrant Cloud, where he enjoyed a sumptuous meal.

Upon their return to the Cui Family, he chatted with Cui Chang’an and Xue Huaning for a little, then decided to set off.

Shortly before his departure, Su Yi told them his plans. “Once I’ve resolved a few matters, I’ll proceed to the Sea of Bitterness. When the time comes, I’ll naturally investigate your father’s whereabouts.”

Cui Chang’an was excited, but he couldn’t help but worry. “Uncle Su, recently, a lot has changed in the Sea of Bitterness. If you’re going there, you must be careful!”

Su Yi nodded.

That evening, Su Yi left Ziluo City on his own.

A fiery curtain of dusk covered the vault of heaven, glittering and magnificent. 

The young man’s blue robes swayed around him as his tall, upright figure gradually faded into the distance. Before long, he disappeared into the boundless wilderness.

Cui Jingyan watched in a daze from atop the city walls. She muttered to herself, “I wonder when I’ll next see him…?”

The light of dusk illuminated the stunning young woman’s shifting expression.

Although she didn’t know it, her words inadvertently made her parents’ hearts clench. Both of them looked concerned, and both husband and wife silently steeled themselves. No matter what, we can’t let her get any ideas about Uncle Su!

Ten days later.

The southeastern border of the Six Paths Royal Territory.

Shortly before nightfall, Su Yi gazed upon a distant, towering and grand mountain.

Its name was Peach Haven Mountain.

In ancient times, it had been one of the Five Great Ghost Gates.

But Su Yi had only come here for a piece of peach wood.