First Immortal of the Sword

Whoosh!

Old Yao White Eyebrows swayed and transformed into a several-dozen-foot-long beast. It had a leonine head, with jade-colored eyes and golden whiskers. Its four hooved limbs were like pillars, while its body was as long and thin as a flood dragon’s, and its skin was covered in snowy, crystalline scales.

The Radiant Void Beast!

This was Old Yao White Eyebrow’s true body, an ancient lifeform with innate mastery of the Laws of space.

“Might I ask Your Excellency to permit me to carry you?” Old Yao White Eyebrows said respectfully.

Su Yi naturally wouldn’t refuse out of politeness. He promptly stepped forward and sat astride the Radiant Void Beast’s back.

“Now that you’re seated…” Old Yao White Eyebrows took a step forward.

Whoosh~

Waves formed in the space in front of him, as if he were parting flowing waters.

A moment later, Su Yi and the Radiant Void Spirit Beast disappeared into thin air.

This strange scene made the Emperors gasp.

“In the City of the Wrongfully Dead, Old Yao White Eyebrows is utterly fearless, and there’s no old-timer he dares not challenge. Who could imagine that he’d willingly serve as His Excellency Su’s mount?” Qing Teng sighed.

Old Yao White Eyebrows’ talent was far too heaven-defying. He might not be the strongest, but if he wanted to flee, no one could hold him back.

“Fellow Daoist, just who is the ‘His Excellency Su’ you speak of? Where did he come from?” an Emperor of Yellow Springs Palace couldn’t help but ask.

Yuan Linning pricked up her ears as well.

She’d once asked Qing Mu this very question, but he’d been unwilling to answer her.

“If you don’t know, that means His Excellency Su Yi doesn’t want you to know. It’s best I don’t say anything.” Qing Teng shook his head.

“....” The crowd said nothing, but hearing that only made them even more curious about Su Yi’s origins.

Just how extraordinary must his background be for those terrifying existences to worship him as they might a deity and obey his every command? 

All eyes returned to the distant battlefield.

When You Xue, the White Bone Emperor, and Divine Monarch Falling Star returned and re-entered the battle, the three Dark Vassals’ predicament worsened.

It was obvious to everyone that the three attendants of the Netherworld King were unlikely to escape disaster.

In other words, the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court had already lost this battle!

……

An ancient tombstone stood in a desolate landscape. It seemed no amount of time could shake it.

Seventy feet away.

The man in black frowned, gazed into the distance, and said softly, “What happened, little crow? Why did you shatter the talisman I gave you?”

The Nine Serenitie Netherworld Crow stood in the air, its blood-red eyes shifting and uncertain.

A little while later, it slumped in dejection. “Truthfully, honored Executioner, tonight’s operation ended in failure.”

The man’s gaze focused. “Explain in detail.”

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow took a deep breath, then described everything that had happened in the battleground outside the Dark Capital.

When he heard the full story, the man in black couldn’t help but be surprised. “A young Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator somehow made terrifying existences like the White Bone Emperor lower their heads and obey his commands?”

There was no doubt about it; he, too, found this difficult to believe.

“That’s right. The boy comes from the ancient Cui Family. Back in Ziluo City, he was the one who borrowed the power Su Xuanjun left behind to ruin our operations.”

When he brought up Su Yi, the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow gnashed its beak with hatred.

“He’s from the Cui Family?” The man’s thin face filled with uncertainty. 

A little while later, he shook his head. “Members of the Cui Family are nowhere near capable enough to achieve something like that.”

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow exclaimed, “Sir, you suspect the boy isn’t a member of the Cui Family after all?”

The man in black nodded and said calmly, “I understand some of the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s accomplishments. He was once the sovereign of the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, unparalleled beneath the heavens. He really was the top expert of the Imperial Apex Realm.

“There’s absolutely no way a mere Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator could wield the power he left behind.

“Yet you’re certain that the boy is indeed in the Spiritual Revolution Realm. That means…” Here, the man’s gaze shifted, as if he’d guessed something. “Little crow, according to the rumors, the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force came to the Netherworld in search of the secrets of reincarnation. Is that true?”

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow nodded. “There are indeed such rumors.”

The man in black gazed at the tombstone just seventy feet away, a rare hint of excitement in his expression. “And he once explored the City of the Wrongfully Dead, right?”

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow answered without so much as pausing to think. “That’s right, but that was thirty-six thousand years ago, when I still lay dormant in Calamity Ridge. I’d yet to truly regain awareness, so it was only later that I heard about his exploits in the City of the Wrongfully Dead.”

Here, the crow paused and asked in confusion, “Executioner, why suddenly ask about Su Xuanjun?”

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The Executioner’s eyes shone with man fervor. He ignored the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow’s question and gazed intently at the tombstone seventy feet away, muttering, “In that case, Su Xuanjun undoubtedly visited this place. Perhaps he’s already grasped the threads of the secrets of reincarnation within that tombstone!”

Reincarnation!

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow stiffened. Don’t tell me the Executioner thinks that Su Xuanjun didn’t really die five hundred years ago, and that he reincarnated instead?

It was then that the man in black burst into laughter, his eyes shining like torches. “Earlier, I found it strange that a Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator could control the power Su Xuanjun left behind and command the likes of the White Bone Emperor, but now, I think I understand.”

Here, he sighed. “So, the fleeting rumors of the secrets of reincarnation existing somewhere in the Netherworld were true…”

It was as if the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow had been struck by lightning. “You’re saying that Cui Family pipsqueak is... the reincarnation of Su Xuanjun!?”

“If not, how could he possibly control the power Su Xuanjun left behind? And how could he possibly command terrifying evil spirits like the White Bone Emperor?” The man in black said calmly. He was nothing but smiles, as if he’d discovered an astonishing secret. He was visibly overcome with excitement.

“That…” Waves of shock coursed through the Nine Serenties Netherworld Crow’s heart, and it could no longer keep its cool.

It suddenly recalled several things. 

Rumor had it that the ancestor of the Cui Family, Cui Longxiang, was one of Su Xuanjun’s old friends.

Furthermore, the Falling Feather Spirit Empress of the Ghost Serpents, Ye Yu, had a close but ambiguous relationship with Su Xuanjun. 

And there were rumors that, during his time in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, Su Xuanjun had suppressed and defeated one matchless, grand foe after another!

Not long ago, a young Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator had appeared in the Cui Family’s territory and controlled the power Su Xuanjun left behind. That same young man was now accompanied by the spirit of the core treasure of the Ghost Serpents, the Tianya Dark Torchlight. Even the White Bone Emperor and several other rulers of the City of the Wrongfully Dead’s forbidden grounds had become his subordinates!

All of this was connected to Su Xuanjun!

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow’s scalp went numb, and its heart shook as it muttered, “No wonder that kid is so brazen. No wonder he ruined my plans on numerous occasions. If he’s the same Old Monster Su whose sword once dominated the heavens, it’s not at all strange…”

The crow sank into a daze.

“You’ve only just understood, little bird? Don’t you think you’re a bit late?” A calm voice suddenly emanated from afar.

As his voice rang out, Su Yi appeared in the distance on the back of the Radiant Spirit Beast.

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crw’s expression changed dramatically.

Its blood-red eyes stared intently at Su Yi, and it sounded conflicted. “You’re… really Su Xuanjun?”

The Radiant Void Beast that was Old Yao White Eyebrows couldn’t help but laugh coldly. “You’ve got eyes, but you sure are blind. You don’t even recognize his Excellency Su? And you call yourself the emissary of the Netherworld King! Seems to me you’re no smarter than a pig!”

The insults and mockery left an unsightly expression on the crow’s face.

It really wouldn’t have guessed that its opponent was the man who’d reigned supreme over his era, an unsurpassed legend.

“Stay here and don’t move. Otherwise, the power of the Laws within that tombstone will destroy you,” said Su Yi as he leaped from the Radiant Spirit Beast’s back and drifted to the ground.

“As you command, Your Excellency!” Old Yao White Eyebrows said with the utmost respect.

Seeing this, whatever hope the crow had that this was a misunderstanding disappeared. It finally dared say with certainty that this young man in blue really was Su Xuanjun.

Because over the years, only one person had ever defeated Old Yao White Eyebrows. Only one person could instill such obedience in him.

The Radiant Void Beast’s attitude was unquestionable proof of Su Yi’s identity!

But a moment later, the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow burst into laughter. “Old Monster Su, back then, your reputation was such that none throughout the heavens dared treat you with disrespect, but look at you now! You’re nothing but a Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator. You’re just too weak!”

It placed particular emphasis on that last sentence, and it spoke with utter disdain.

“So what if you reincarnated? In your current state, you’re as weak as an ant. All you can do is rely on others’ help. With your power, I could squish you like a bug with a single gesture!” The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow threw back its head and laughed, as if venting its rage and hatred. It seemed utterly unbridled.

Su Yi laughed. “My cultivation really is weak, but in this forbidden zone, taking a little bird like you down would be as easy as turning over my hand. Furthermore, I can assure you that the Wheel of Destiny won’t be able to save you this time.”

This light, airy sentence brought the crow’s laughter to an abrupt halt.

Su Yi was just too calm. Sure, he was accompanied by Old Yao White Eyebrows, but his fearlessness nonetheless made the crow’s feathers stand on end.

In truth, the moment the crow confirmed Su Yi’s identity, it dared not see him as an ordinary Spiritual Revolution Realm young man any longer.

Its earlier mockery and laughter were nothing more than a way to vent its pent-up anger.

“Little crow, allow me to chat with our Fellow Daoist Su.” The man in black had watched this exchange from the sidelines, but now, he spoke up.

He turned, his taupe eyes shining with whirlpool-like light as he looked at the distant Su Yi.

“Are you worthy of conversing with His Excellency Su?” Old Yao White Eyebrows snorted coldly.

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow was so angry, it laughed. “Old White Eyebrows, do you have any idea who you’re talking to? I’m not afraid to tell you that this is an old friend of the Netherworld King, His Excellency the Executioner! An expert from the depths of the starry skies! If he wanted to kill you, it’d be no more difficult than slaughtering a chicken!”

The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow froze. The depths of outer space? An old friend of the Netherworld King? Just who is this person?

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose too, and his eyes shone with a strange light.

In truth, the moment he arrived here and laid eyes on the man in black, something about him had seemed familiar.

Only now did he realize what exactly it was. The man emanated an aura similar to the Jailers!

The power of the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness!