First Immortal of the Sword

Jiang Li already loathed Tao Yunchi to her very bones.

Back in the ruins of the Locust Tree Kingdom, it was Tao Yunchi’s provocations that resulted in conflict between them and Su Yi.

Earlier today, at the workshop, he repeatedly stirred up trouble and fanned the flames, attempting to use Yu Shuya and Yu Wenshu’s power to suppress Su Yi.

Now, he was actually trying to target Qiu Hengkong!

It was only out of consideration for their relationship as sectmates that Jiang Li didn’t cut down this mischief-making, gossiping fool where he stood. 

Yu Wenshu was a bit displeased too.
He said coldly, “Junior Apprentice Brother Tao, you’ve repeatedly attempted to use the sect’s prestige against Junior Apprentice Brother Qiu, but have you ever once seen him attempt to use his old friend Su Yi’s power against you?”

Tao Yunchi stiffened, and he shuddered, his expression filled with terror.
“Senior Apprentice Brother Yu, I…”

“There’s no need to explain,” said Yu Wenshu flatly.
“If it happens again, I won’t let you off.”

As a sword cultivator, he too detested none more than crafty, petty schemers who exploited others’ power.

Tao Yunchi was so scared that his soul seemed to leave his body, and the blood drained from his face.

He realized that he’d offended both Jiang Li and Yu Wenshu. I’m afraid there’s no place for me in the Fulcrum of Heaven Sword Sect anymore…

The storm poured down, and the autumn chill was as sharp as a knife.

Just as Yu Wenshu, Jiang Li, and company were about to leave, a thin figure appeared in the distant curtain of rain.

He wore Confucian robes, and his face was clean-shaven.
He looked like he was in his thirties or forties, and every inch of him emanated the distinctive energy fluctuations of a Spiritual Manifestation Realm expert.

As he walked through the rain, he remained perfectly clean and dry.
Not a single drop of autumn rain touched him.

“Father? You… What are you doing here?” Jiang Li was flabbergasted, and her beautiful phoenix eyes widened.

The man in Confucian robes was none other than Family Head Jiang Xiaosheng, the leader of one of the Great Xia’s three great clans.
Even in Nine Tripod City, he was a highly prominent Spiritual Manifestation Realm expert.

Yu Wenshu and the others’ expressions filled with respect.

As the head of the Jiang Family, Jiang Xiaosheng and their sect leader could sit together as equals!

If Zhou Fengzhi, one of the Fulcrum of Heaven Sword Sect’s inner sect elders, were still alive, he’d have to take the initiative to bow in greeting!

“If I didn’t come, it would be hard to resolve the aftermath of tonight’s incident.” Jiang Xiaosheng sighed, looking conflicted. 

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Jiang Li asked in confusion, “Father, what do you mean by that?”

After a moment’s silence, Jiang Xiaosheng said, “You should consider yourselves lucky you didn’t anger that Young Lord Su.
Otherwise, even if he’d killed every last one of you, I’m afraid it wouldn’t have had much effect on him.”

The winds and rain were piercingly cold, the ambient chill as sharp as a knife. 

But when they heard Jiang Xiaosheng’s declaration, a chill even sharper and colder than the autumn rains made Jiang Li, Yu Wenshu, and the others shudder.
Their expressions shifted in response.

What… What the heck is that supposed to mean?

Could it be that Su Yi doesn’t just have heaven-defying combat prowess? Are his origins unimaginably great too?

Otherwise, why would someone of Jiang Xiaosheng’s status say such a thing?

“Father…” Jiang Li was just about to ask something when Jiang Xiaosheng waved for silence.

“You are not to spread word of what happened here,” he said.
“Not a word of it!”

His voice was as firm as iron, and it contained enormous majesty.

The look on Jiang Li’s beautiful face shifted erratically.
She felt an unprecedented chill.

Yu Wenshu and the others fell silent. 

No matter how stupid they were, they knew what it meant for Jiang Xiaosheng to say something like that.
Su Yi wasn’t just strong enough to cast their hearts into despair; his status was such that they couldn’t afford to offend him!

When they realized this, the likes of Tao Yunchi and Gu Tengying felt their courage give out.
They were really and truly beside themselves with terror and dread.

Only Qiu Hengkong looked utterly bewildered.

Don’t tell me… Does Brother Su really have unknown origins?

If not, why would someone like Family Head Jiang insist on such secrecy?

“But Father, I’m afraid there’s no way we can hide Elder Zhou’s death…” whispered Jiang Li.

Jiang Xiaosheng’s gaze was increasingly complex.
“That has nothing to do with us.
Someone will naturally resolve this incident.”

……

The autumn rains intensified, pouring down like a waterfall.

“On the fifteenth day of the ninth lunar month, Su Yi entered the city.
That night, at the Song of the Sandy Creek, he slew Sikong Bao, a monster of the ancient era from the Heavenly Annihilation Demonic Gate. Old Demon Slaughterer died shortly after.

“On the night of the sixteenth, Elder Huo Tiandu of Cloudsky Divine Palace fell beneath Su Yi’s sword over Cloudcomb Lake.

“And tonight, he cut down the Fulcrum of Heaven Sword Sect’s newly promoted elder, Zhou Fengzhi, in just three attacks.”

“In just three short days, three Spiritual Manifestation cultivators died because of him.
That’s more dead Spiritual Manifestation cultivators than in the past three hundred years of the Great Xia’s cultivation world’s history combined!”

A middle-aged man in simple cloth robes stood in a pavilion on the peak of Mount Heavenbristle.
His hands were behind his back, and he had a bitter smile on his face.
He seemed vexed.

Weng Jiu had a strange look on his face, and when he spoke, he sounded conflicted.
“If that were all, then forget it.
But every time, we have to take the initiative to wipe his but for him.
It’s irritating!”

The middle-aged man sighed helplessly and rubbed his brow.
“If you really get down to it, Su Yi isn’t to blame for these incidents.”

Weng Jiu nodded.
“Were he anyone else, with the Heavenly Annihilation Demonic Gate, Cloudsky Divine Palace, and Fulcrum of Heaven Sword Sect all targeting him… I’m afraid he would have already died countless times over by now, without stirring up any waves.
But Su Yi isn’t an ordinary person.
If I had to blame someone… All I can say is that those prominent factions are too accustomed to throwing their weight around.
They thought they were just taking down a rogue cultivator from a backwater, only to discover that they’d actually kicked an iron board.”

The middle-aged man waved.
“These are troubled times.
Helping Su Yi clean up after himself is nothing compared to repairing the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation.”

Weng Jiu’s eyes narrowed, and he nodded.

“Right, was Jiang Xiaosheng displeased?” asked the middle-aged man.

Weng Jiu shook his head.
“Family Head Jiang is a clever sort.
You made your intentions to protect Su Yi clear.
Family Head Jiang naturally knows what he should do.
Besides, the Jiang Family incurred no losses during the incident on Goldenscale Lake; Family Head Jiang naturally has no other thoughts on the matter.”

The middle-aged man pondered for a moment, then said, “Write a letter to the head of the Fulcrum of Heaven Sword Sect.
Say that if they’re willing to let this end here, I’ll give them a portion of Spiritual Manifestation Treasure Source as compensation.
If they refuse, make it clear that I plan to stay involved until the very end!”

His tone was casual, but his words contained a powerful prestige and air of superiority.

Weng Jiu’s heart shook.
“My lord, how precious is Spiritual Manifestation Treasure Source? It’s enough to help the Fulcrum of Heaven Sword Sect train a new Spiritual Manifestation Realm expert! Giving that up just to help Su Yi deal with the aftermath of this incident… Is it worth it?”

The middle-aged man laughed dryly.
“It’s just a portion of Spiritual Manifestation Treasure Source, that’s all.
How can it compare to repairing the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation? And how can it compare to establishing a positive karmic tie with Su Yi?”

He then looked at Weng Jiu and said gravely, “Ol’ Jiu, sometimes, spectators see a game more clearly than the players.
In all your years of life, have you ever seen a heaven-defying genius so far beyond the bounds of common sense?”

Weng Jiu shook his head.” “I’ve never seen one.
No…
I’ve never even heard of one.”

The middle-aged man’s gaze shifted subtly, and he said in an increasingly grave voice, “A young Origin Palace cultivator with both the heaven-defying strength needed to slay Spiritual Manifestation cultivators and the skills needed to repair the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation? On top of all that, during his visit to Treasure Trove Tower’s workshop, his forging skills made even a wantonly arrogant old-timer like Yu Shuya lower his head.
Someone like this… Even thirty thousand years ago, people like him had to be as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.”

He gazed into the distant night sky.
“With Su Yi’s cultivation and accumulations, how brightly will he shine when the Radiant Epoch is upon us? That monster of the ancient era, Zeng Pu, was right.
The future belongs to the younger generation, and the world shall be their stage.
The old-timers currently standing at the pinnacle of this world are doomed to be surpassed, fit only to act as foils for those who best them!”

Wen Jiu’s heart shook.
He was finally starting to understand why the middle-aged man attached such importance to Su Yi.

…

Late that night. 

Azurecloud Court. 

Outside, it was still pouring rain, and the wind was still bitingly cold.

A room in a pavilion.
Red candlelight flickered, and the atmosphere was warm and pleasant.

“I’m done.” Su Yi removed his hand from Yue Shichan’s smooth stomach, then let out a breath of turbid air.

Qing Wan deftly covered Yue Shichan with a layer of blankets.

When she saw that Yue Shichan’s blushing face seemed even more extraordinarily beautiful than usual, Qing Wan couldn’t help but smile.
“Big Sister, you’re really pretty when you’re embarrassed!”

Yue Shichan blushed, and her eyelashes fluttered.
“If it were you… Don’t tell me you wouldn’t be embarrassed?”

“Uh…” Qing Wan paused.
Who knows what she was thinking, but her fair little face was instantly as red as an apple, her blush spreading all the way to the base of her ears.
She lowered her head and fidgeted with the hems of her skirt.
For a time, she couldn’t even speak.

She was at such a loss that Yue Shichan felt dazed just looking at her. This peerless stunner of a ghost… can actually get this flustered?

Su Yi sat there lazily, watching the lamplit Qing Wan and Yue Shichan.
Despite the bitter cold, all he saw was the beautiful scenery of springtime.

A feast for the eyes and a joy for the mind and senses. 

When she saw that Su Yi had no intention of averting his gaze, Yue Shichan couldn’t help but feel bashful.
She rustled under the blankets and put everything back on, only emerging after she was fully dressed.

Just as she was about to leave, Su Yi took out a jade slip and passed it to her.
“This is a legacy known as the Lesser Starry Vestige Sword Sutra.
It’s perfectly suited to your Profound Illumination Spiritual Body.
Between it and Cicada’s Heart, even if you duel Yu Wenshu, there’s no way you’ll lose.”

Yue Shichan was stunned.
She only now realized that, between forging a sword, granting her a legacy of the Dao of the Sword, and choosing Yu Wenshu as her opponent, Su Yi had made meticulous arrangements for her, down to the slightest detail!

The young woman’s heart swelled with emotion, and her icy gaze softened.
She looked deeply moved.

When he saw that she was about to thank him, Su Yi stopped her before she got the chance.
“Don’t thank me.
I’m not doing this to make you cry tears of gratitude.
I’ll say it again; I’m eager to see what you can become with my guidance.
In the future, you’re sure to blossom with your own unique radiance.”

Yue Shichan was briefly dazed.
Then, she bit her lip and nodded.
“Mm!”

Her starry eyes and beautiful face were utterly calm and determined.

Morning the next day.

The skies were still misty and only just starting to brighten.

Outside Nine Tripod City, an enormous, glittering treasure ship fully a thousand feet long soared in from the distant skies. 

A beautifully handsome young man with purple hair and a golden crown pointed at the capital.
“Head directly to Mount Heavenbristle.
I want to pay the ol’ emperor of the Great Xia a visit!”