First Immortal of the Sword

Before Ye Donghe’s murderous voice finished echoing through the hall, a thin figure suddenly stepped forth.

His skin was waxy, his eyes were sunken, and his hair was sparse.

As he rose, a terrifying Imperial aura swept through the hall alongside a bone-piercing chill.

Ye Zishan and the other main lineage members’ expressions shifted.

Ye Jing! 

An early-stage Profound Illumination Emperor of one of the Ghost Serpents’ branch lineages!

“This is finally getting a bit interesting,” said Jiang Yingliu, a faint smile on her lips.

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Huang Yuanxiu said coolly, “Alas, no matter how many trump cards he has, this is the Ghost Serpents’ territory. It’ll be difficult for him to escape death.”

Yue Shi sighed. He’d already tried to dissuade Su Yi. Who’d have thought that the young man wouldn’t just disregard his advice, and that he’d even go on to kill someone?

He’d already thoroughly provoked Ye Donghe, and Ye Jing was already taking action.

Ye Jing’s expression was wooden, and he said nothing. With every step he took, his terrifying murderous intent locked onto Su Yi.

His imposing aura alone was enough to make the world’s Spiritual Revolution cultivators break down.

When he was just thirty feet from Su Yi, Ye Jing suddenly stopped in place and said softly, “Die!”

A streak of black saber qi exploded into being, like the lightning of the nine serenities. It was full of the wondrous and inscrutable aura of the Law of the Profound Dao.

And it was unbelievably quick!

The Emperors present instantly realized that, no matter who intervened, it was already too late to stop this terrifying attack. Some of them could already picture Su Yi dying a brutal death on the spot.

But it was then that…

Clang!

The clear hum of a sword rang out.

Abstruse Celestial appeared in Su Yi’s palm. With a shift of his wrists, a streak of clear, flowing light shot forth. 

It cut through the air as if it were made of canvas, leaving a perfectly straight rift.

Ye Jing’s streak of black saber qi silently split down the midline.

Then, thirty feet away, a bloody line appeared between his eyes.

This entire series of events seemed slow, but in truth, everything happened in a flash.

Beneath the crowd’s flabbergasted gazes, astonishment and terror arose on Ye Jing’s formerly wooden expression, and his sunken eyes widened.

He tried to lower the right hand he’d just attacked with, only for it to tremble and fall limply to his side.

Then, his body silently split down the midline. Before any blood or flesh hit the floor, he was reduced to ash, dead on the spot.

Destroyed, both body and soul!

His last word, “die”, still echoed throughout the grand hall, as did the clanging hum of a sword.

Everyone present was overcome with astonishment and rooted to the spot. They were tongue-tied and dumbstruck.

A single slash had instantly killed a Profound Illumination Emperor!?

An indescribable astonishment assailed the onlookers’ hearts and minds, crashing into them like a tidal wave.

Yue Shi was visibly astonished, and his hands quivered.

Jiang Yingliu’s jade-like hands silently clenched, and astonishment arose on her beautifully contoured face.

She’d long since guessed that Su Yi had trump cards up his sleeves; he wouldn’t have dared be so forceful otherwise. But she’d figured they were treasures or other types of external power.

Who would have guessed this? The results left her utterly astonished!

From beginning to end, Su Yi hadn’t borrowed any external power or revealed any trump cards at all. No, he’d relied purely on his Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivation to cut down an Emperor!

This was unquestionably far too terrifying!

“This…” Huang Yuanxiu couldn’t help but gasp. He, too, was astonished.

He was from one of the Wilds Six Great Daoist Sects, the Profound Yellow Sword Pavilion. He’d experienced the ups and downs of worldly affairs, and he’d grown accustomed to the wind and waves.

But he’d never even heard of a Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator capable of killing an Emperor in a single slash!

This was simply unheard of! It was appalling! 

Ye Zishan and the young woman in the ink-black skirt looked at each other. Each could see the astonishment in the other’s eyes.

Even they would never have anticipated that Su Yi could accomplish such a feat!!

Meanwhile, in the centermost seat, Ye Donghe’s gaze was shifting and uncertain. He couldn’t calm down either.

He wasn’t afraid; it was just that he couldn’t even imagine how Su Yi, a Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator, had cut down an Emperor in a single attack!!

Throughout the Netherworld’s long history, this accomplishment was unprecedented and unheard of!

Clang!

Amidst the deathly silent, stifled grand hall, Su Yi flipped his palm and sheathed his sword. “Would anyone else like to try me?”

This light, airy sentence broke the silence.

All eyes were on Su Yi, and everyone looked bewildered and uncertain.

Ye Donghe took a deep breath. “I never would have thought that a kid like you had such heaven-defying attainments in the Dao of the Sword. However, do you really think that no one can punish you for committing murder in our Ancestral Hall?”

His tone was dark and icy.

Su Yi said casually, “Pardon my rudeness, but that is exactly what I think. Your presence here is of no consequence.”

Everyone’s eyelids twitched.

Had Su Yi dared to say such a thing earlier, they would have seen him as brazen and suicidally reckless, with an inflated opinion of himself. 

But now, no one dared view him that way.

This was the prestige that came with killing an Emperor in a single slash!

The world’s cultivators saw the Profound Dao as the heavens, while Emperors were like gods.

The gap between the Profound Dao and other Daos had always been like an insurmountable natural barrier; practically no one could cross it.

Yet now, Su Yi had done just that!

The deeper the onlookers’ cultivations, the more keenly aware they were the terrifying power imbued within that slash.

This wasn’t just “fighting back” against an Emperor with Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivation. There had been no fierce or bitter struggle.

No, Su Yi had slain an Emperor in an instant!

This unquestionably implied that the Spiritual Revolution Realm Su Yi was strong enough to one-sidedly suppress early-stage Profound Illumination Emperors like Ye Jing! That was heaven-defying!

Who wouldn’t have been astonished? What Emperor’s heart wouldn’t have shaken?

“That so? I’d actually be curious to see just whose presence is ‘negligible’!” Ye Donghe’s gaze was increasingly cold.

As he spoke, he rose from his chair, and a terrifying aura spread outward.

This was the momentum of a Profound Serenity expert.

A stifling atmosphere instantly blanketed the hall.

But it was then that Jiang Yingliu suddenly interjected. “Wait.”

Then, beneath the crowd’s bewildered gazes, Pi Mo’s disciple rose and said softly, “The boy’s attainments in the Dao of the Sword are unprecedented. Even in the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, I’ve never seen such a heaven-defying genius of a Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator. It would be a shame to just kill him.”

Then, her bright eyes focused on Su Yi. “If you’re willing, I can pay a bit of a price in exchange for a path to life for you. My demands are simple: all I require is that you obey me going forward!”

Uproar ensued.

Ye Donghe and various old-timers of the branch lineages could no longer remain seated, and their expressions shifted erratically.

None of them had anticipated that Jiang Yingliu would develop a love of talent at a time like this.

Su Yi felt a bit dazed too.

“Whether you search the Wilds or the Netherworld, in terms of legacies of the Dao of the Sword, one faction stands above all others. No faction but the Grotto of Abstruse Force would dare claim the number-one position for themselves.”

Jiang Yingliu’s voice was full of pride as she continued. “The founder of our lineage was the man honored throughout the heavens as the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force. I trust that you too are aware of just how dazzling his attainments in the Dao of the Sword were. I see that you’re a sword cultivator too. That’s why I’m willing to give you this opportunity. I hope that you won’t be willful, and that you’ll think twice before making your decision.”

Silence followed.

Ye Donghe and the others had increasingly unsightly expressions on their faces, but none of them dared to object.

All of them knew Jiang Yingliu’s status, and they had no choice but to treat her with respect.

The thought that Su Yi had actually won Jiang Yingliu’s admiration, and that she’d even gone so far as to invite Su Yi to cultivate in the Wilds, sent waves of emotion coursing through the guests’ hearts.

Only Su Yi had a rather strange look on his face.

Someone was trying to use the reputation of the Grotto of Abstruse Force to rope him in? This was Su Yi’s first time experiencing something so utterly absurd.

Furthermore, Su Yi could tell that Jiang Yingliu’s respect for his past life came straight from the heart…

There was no doubt about it. When Pi Mo founded the Abstruse Force Alliance and recruited disciples, he did so under the banner of the Grotto and Abstruse Force, all the while proclaiming himself Su Xuanjun’s inheritor!

This was called ‘exploiting another’s prestige’ or ‘using a great cause as a pretense.’ 

It seemed highly likely that Jiang Yingliu had no idea what kind of person her master really was.

Su Yi couldn’t help but shake his head.

He set his scattered thoughts aside and glanced at Jiang Yingliu. “Here’s my advice: you’d be best just sitting back and watching the excitement. Otherwise, no matter what your ultimate goal is, you’ll pay the price for your actions.”

Jiang Yingliu was stunned. He refused my offer!?

The crowd found this difficult to believe.

But Ye Donghe’s spirits soared, and the branch members visibly perked up.

When Jiang Yingliu stepped in to offer Su Yi a path to life, they could only suppress their rage; they dared not object.

Who’d have thought Su Yi would refuse such a wonderful opportunity?

Of course they were delighted!

“Fellow Daoist Jiang, when the heavens wish to see someone destroyed, they first drive him to madness. No matter how impressive the boy’s aptitude for the Dao of the Sword, he’s brazen and egotistical. If he accompanied you to the Wilds to continue his cultivation, who knows how many disasters he’d bring upon you?” Ye Donghe said gravely, his murderous intent on full display.

After a moment’s silence, Jiang Yingliu said coolly, “Very well. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

She then returned to her seat, her gaze cold.

Su Yi hadn’t just rejected her good intentions; he’d even threatened her. She couldn’t help but feel utterly infuriated.

“Now, my young friend, I’ll have to ask you to show me just how ‘negligible’ my presence is!” Ye Donghe said leisurely.

As he spoke, he took a step forward.

Boom!

The Ancestral Hall shook, and the Silver Star Stones embedded in the ceiling flashed. The energy fluctuations of an ancient formation swept forth, defending the entire hall.

Otherwise, Ye Donghe’s aura alone would have destroyed the entire ancient building with ease!

Everyone felt a chill course through their hearts, as if they’d been plunged into an icy abyss.

The majesty of a Profound Serenity Emperor was far beyond that of the early-stage Profound Illumination Ye Jing!

Even Ye Zishan and the others, who’d only just developed a little confidence in Su Yi, couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Only Su Yi remained just as calm as before.

He stood there, dressed in blue, one hand behind his back, the other holding his sword. It was as if he had no idea of the danger he was in; he looked so calm that it seemed the heavens could crumble around him and he wouldn’t so much as furrow his brow.

But it was then, just as the tension peaked, that a calm, raspy voice resounded from beyond the hall.

“Young lord, leave this old codger to me. He’s not worth dirtying your hands over.”

The voice wasn’t loud, but it went off like a thunderclap, booming throughout the enormous hall and leaving many of the attendees’ ears buzzing. Even their souls palpitated with fright.

Without exception, the Emperors’ expressions shifted.

What a terrifying presence!

Just who is this person?