First Immortal of the Sword

Shortly after Malevolent Release left the Little Necropolis, he transmitted Su Yi’s response to the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow.

“He instructed me to wash my neck and wait outside the Dark Capital?” When the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow heard the news, it was so angry that it almost laughed.

This was the City of the Wrongfully Dead! The Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court’s home base!

“You little punk! Here in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, there’s no more of Su Xuanjun’s cultivation base for you to take advantage of!” The crow’s blood-red eyes glinted with imposing murderous intent.

……

Fallen God Valley.

This was one of the nine most perilous danger zones in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, a place comparable to forbidden grounds like the Great Chaos Ruins and Calamity Ridge.

Rumor had it that Fallen God Valley was full of a type of Law that restricted the soul. They called it Corrosive Yin, and over the years, this power had transformed into black fog that enveloped the entire valley.

Over the years, no small number of proud Imperial Realm experts had attempted to glean enlightenment into the Laws of Corrosive Yin.

However, everyone who attempted this died, with no exceptions.

The fallen Emperors’ souls were infiltrated by the power of Corrosive Yin, transforming them into evil spirits. These spirits lurked in the valley’s depths, unable to escape.

As for their bodies? The power of Corrosive Yin corroded and dispersed them, transforming them into fertilizer for the Nightcall Flowers that grew in the valley.

There was a saying spoken throughout the Netherworld that went: “Even if you’re a god, if you enter Fallen God Valley, you’ll never return!”

Of course, Su Yi knew that this rumor wasn’t trustworthy.

Because back in the day, he’d once explored this very valley. He naturally understood the nature of this forbidden zone. How could he not?

Su Yi and company were currently traveling through the valley. The Book of Diting emanated wondrous, blue-gray Dao Light. It formed ripple-like circles that lingered around them.

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The black fog of the Laws of Corrosive Yin scattered and receded like the tide upon making contact with the Book of Diting’s power.

Although Yuan Linning had already witnessed several of Su Yi’s unbelievable methods, the power of Corrosive Yin was enough to threaten even Profound Serenity Emperors. When she saw him neutralize it with such ease, she couldn’t help but feel stunned.

But before long, Yuan Linning realized that You Xue, Qing Ting, and Qing Mu were all perfectly calm. As if in their eyes, this was perfectly ordinary and entirely unremarkable.

It seems all of them already know how incredible Fellow Daoist Su is. I’m the only one jumping and exclaiming like a fledgling leaving the nest for the first time… Yuan Linning mocked herself. 

Boom!

Suddenly, the distant black fog churned, and a terrifying figure shot toward them.

It was an evil spirit that had taken on the form of a white-robed man. He gripped a mottled bone spear stained with blood, and his eyes shone with explosive viciousness.

As he brandished his bone spear, a streak of black blade light full of the power of Corrosive Yin swept toward them from afar.

Its force and momentum was superior to even the Soul-Swallowing Birds Su Yi had subdued earlier. It was enough to make any Profound Illumination Emperor tremble.

It was then that You Xue attacked.

Whoosh!

The Burning Silence Ruler blazed bright red and floated into the air, filling the skies with a rain of fire and blocking the incoming black blade light with ease.

Then, as the Burning Silence Ruler descended, the white-robed man was incinerated into nothingness before he could even think of dodging. 

Yuan Linning and Qing Mu gasped.

Qing Teng, however, looked a bit conflicted. The Burning Silence Ruler was one of the Netherworld King’s Nine Taboos. Just last night, the Iron Daoist had used this very treasure to deal him devastating injuries. They’d even stolen his body and cultivation base!

And in You Xue’s hands, it was far stronger than when the Iron Daoist had used it!

Only Su Yi’s expression was perfectly ordinary as he continued ahead.

In life, that white-robed man was probably a late-stage Profound Illumination Emperor who’d met his demise in Fallen God Valley. His body had long since disappeared completely, while the power of Corrosive Yin had reduced his soul to an evil spirit.

If not for his control over the power of Corrosive Yin, You Xue wouldn’t have needed the Burning Silence Ruler to kill him with ease.

The group continued, but not much later, Su Yi abruptly stopped in his tracks and looked up a mountain on the side of the path.

A snow-white, jade-like spirit flower grew in the steep cliffside. It had twelve petals, and its stamen was like the wick of a lamp. It emanated wisp after wisp of black light.

It was a flower as white as jade, yet it spewed black light.

And although it was indistinct, the unsettling sound of weeping echoed through the air.

A Nightcall Flower!

This was an evil flower born of the power of Corrosive Yin. Any expert who died in the valley became fertilizer for these flowers after their bodies were destroyed.

“Twelve petals, with a stamen like a Yin candle. This Nightcall Flower is already twelve thousand years old.” Su Yi’s eyes lit up. “Even if you searched the entire world, you wouldn’t find such a plant anywhere else. It’s an extremely rare divine medicine.”

Those who perished in Fallen God Valley included no shortage of Emperors. Their flesh and blood were full of surging vital energy and the power of the Grand Dao.

And the Nightcall Flowers absorbed such high-quality fertilizer year-round, growing a new petal once every thousand years.

When they condensed their ninth petal, they’d undergo a qualitative transformation. Their stamen would produce the aura of the Laws of Corrosive Yin!

The flower before them had twelve thousand years of maturity; it was already a Grand Dao Elixir. Even Profound Serenity Emperors would have scrambled to obtain it.

“You Xue, go ahead and pick it,” ordered Su Yi.

“Got it.” You Xue stretched out her hand and grabbed it from a distance. She pulled the Nightcall Flower from the distant cliffside, roots and all.

But almost simultaneously, a swarm of terrifying evil spirits shot out of the mists higher up the mountain. All of them charged at Su Yi and his companions with intent to kill.

You Xue’s starry eyes glinted with cold light, but her expression remained tranquil as she struck from afar with the Burning Silence Ruler.

Boom!

Divine fire swept through the air like a windstorm, as if refining the dome of heaven. More than ten evil spirits wailed and shrieked in agony as their souls dispersed.

And the Nightcall Flower landed gently in You Xue’s hand.

Yuan Linning couldn’t help but feel awed. I wonder if I’ll ever wield such terrifying strength in his lifetime…?

Just as Yuan Linning looked at her with awe, You Xue looked tenderly at Su Yi. “Fellow Daoist, should I seal the flower?”

Su Yi shook his head. “Give it to Qing Teng.”

Qing Teng was instantly caught off guard, and he was just about to refuse when You Xue passed it to him. She gave him no opportunity to argue. “As I’m sure you’re aware, Fellow Daoist Su hates it when others refuse his gifts.”

Qing Teng was briefly dazed, but in the end, he accepted the flower. “Many thanks, Your Excellency Su!”

“I’m just assuaging my guilty conscience,” Su Yi said casually.

Seeing this, Yuan Linning couldn’t help but feel rueful once more. 

Over the years, she’d heard stories about the Heavenspan Yao Vine, the strange and terrifying existence that occupied the Little Necropolis. Experts of the older generation who ventured into the City of the Wrongfully Dead all instinctively avoided the Little Necropolis. They weren’t willing to take even a single step inside!

Because that was the Heavenspan Yao Vine’s territory!

Yet now, the Heavenspan Yao Vine, an entity that struck terror into the hearts of countless Emperors, was treating a young man like Su Yi with the same respect one might show a god!

Who wouldn’t have been astonished to see this?

But Su Yi paid this no heed. He simply continued ahead. Along the way, they encountered numerous evil spirits hidden in the fog, but You Xue slew them all with ease, no exceptions.

It was just a pity that they didn’t encounter any more Nightcall Flowers along the road.

A little less than ten minutes later, at the end of the valley, they found a cave leading deep underground.

Nothing grew near the cave’s entrance, and even the fog of Corrosive Yin energy disappeared without a trace. There was no trace of evil spirits, either.

It was as silent and empty as death.

An invisible, oppressive power bore down on the group’s hearts. Their bodies stiffened, and they felt an inexplicable sense of terror.

As if an unknown but lethal threat lurked at the bottom of the cave.

Even You Xue couldn’t help but frown. A rare look of solemnity appeared on her cold, beautiful face.

Grave peril lurked within that cave!

But Su Yi’s expression was as calm as ever. He ordered, “Qing Teng, you and the others should wait here. Remember: don’t try to examine the cave with your divine sense. You Xue, you’re coming with me.”

Qing Teng nodded solemnly. Then, Su Yi and You Xue walked into the cave.

……

Inside, everything was dark.

As they proceeded downward, the power of the Laws of Corrosive Yin filled every inch of space inside the cave.

Inwardly, You Xue was overcome with surprise. These Laws were obviously born of the City of the Wrongfully Dead’s source, and they were full of indescribable imposing pressure.

She had to admit that, if she’d come here without Su Yi and the Book of Diting, even she wouldn’t have dared enter this place recklessly.

However, it was then that something occurred to her, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Fellow Daoist, don’t tell me that the Book of Diting has the innate ability to suppress the source of the City of the Wrongfully Dead?”

Su Yi nodded. “The Book of Diting was the treasure born alongside the sacred guardian beast of the Infernal Palace, Diting. And Diting was born of the Netherworld’s source.

“Strictly speaking, the Laws of the City of the Wrongfully Dead’s source represent a portion of the Netherworld’s source power. It’s only logical that the Book of Diting would be able to suppress them.”

Su Yi thought for a moment, then added, “Of course, the Book of Diting’s primary purposes are to avert disaster, and suppress and kill malevolent entities.”

“Which is superior?” asked You Xue. “The Book of Diting or the tombstone that safeguards the City of the Wrongfully Dead?”

Su Yi thought for a moment, his expression a bit strange. “To the best of my knowledge, that tombstone really is the work of the last monarch of the Infernal Palace. It’s a monument to the divine beast, Diting, who sacrificed itself and its Dao to safeguard Fengdu for all eternity.”

You Xue was instantly stunned.

In ancient times, the guardian beast of the Infernal Palace, Diting, had sacrificed both its body and its Dao to watch over Fengdu?

This was an absolutely astonishing secret!

But then, Su Yi continued. “Although the tombstone isn’t a Xiantian Divine Treasure, it was created through the combination of three supreme powers.

“The first was the Natal Bone the Divine Beast, Diting, left behind.

“The second was the Xiantian Divine Lifeform of the Pool of Rebirth, the Mirrored Platform of Sin.”

“And the third was the utmost effort of the last monarch of the Infernal Palace. He gave it everything he had, even going so far as to damage his cultivation base to carve a canon of the Grand Dao into the tombstone’s interior. This Daoist canon is called the Cycle of the Six Paths, and it originates from one of the supreme divine artifacts of the Infernal Palace, the Record of the Netherworld. The canon’s contents involve the secrets of the Netherworld’s source.”

Here, Su Yi’s expression shifted inscrutably.

Because rumor had it that anyone who grasped the mysteries of the Cycle of the Six Paths could learn some of the truths of reincarnation!