First Immortal of the Sword

Countless people watched as a figure walked over from beneath the distant dome of heaven.

He was tall, upright, and clad in blue. One hand was behind his back. The other held a jug of wine, and he looked as if he were out for a stroll through the clouds.

The clear, dazzling light of the heavens shone on his extraordinary figure, making him seem even grander.

This was none other than Su Yi!

Given his abilities, it wouldn’t have been difficult to sneak into the Yun Family’s Goldendawn Divine Mountain unnoticed. But he didn’t do so.

Instead, he arrived openly!

When they saw him, a group of Yun Family experts rushed up to intercept him.

“Step back, all of you!” bellowed Family Head Yun Changhong.

The Yun Family experts instantly dispersed. When they looked at Su Yi, their gazes were full of dread, but more than that, enmity.

This was supposed to be the Yun Family’s day of celebration, yet the Temple Master had come uninvited, forcing his way through their gates. He’d hurt their leader’s elderly servant, too. It was obvious at a glance that he was here to cause trouble!

How could they not view him with enmity?

But Yun Changhong nonetheless let out a hearty laugh. “Temple Master, you honor us with your presence. What a delightful surprise. Please, forgive me for not welcoming you at our gates!”

With that, he clasped his fist and greeted Su Yi from afar.

His bearing and breadth of spirit made countless people exclaim with admiration. He had to know that the Temple Master had come with ill intentions, but Yun Changhong remained perfectly calm, greeting him with a smile. This truly was extraordinary.

But against all expectations, Su Yi completely ignored Yun Changhong.

When he reached the Goldendawn Ritual Grounds, his gaze landed on the elderly servant sprawled out on the ground. “Come on, then. Explain to me. What’s so ‘terrible’ about my arrival?”

The servant trembled from head to toe, then gazed pleadingly at Yun Changhong.

Yun Changhong’s expression darkened considerably. As the leader of the Yun Family, an uninvited guest had ignored him in front of countless others. This was unquestionably an enormous humiliation!

But in the end, Yun Changhong held back. He took a deep breath, then said, “My subordinate spoke foolishly. If he offended you, I humbly request your forgiveness.”

Luo Xiaoyun of Yang Transformation Immortal Mountain said slowly, “Surely someone as lofty as the Temple Master won’t sink to a servant’s level?”

The atmosphere was instantly incomparably stifled.

The Goldendawn Ritual Grounds were packed with prestigious guests, and just moments before, everyone was lively and joyful.

But as soon as Su Yi arrived, it was as if a cold wind had blown through the venue. Heaven and earth were instantly austere, and the crowd fell as silent as cicadas in winter.

“When a barking dog blocks my path, how can I let it off lightly?” Su Yi gazed up at Yun Changhong.

As for Luo Xiaoyun of Yang Transformation Immortal Mountain? Su Yi ignored him completely.

Yun Changhong’s gaze shifted until finally, he said gravely, “Temple Master, if you’re here to congratulate us, that’s naturally the Yun Family’s honor. But if you have other business, please speak directly.”

The crowd nodded. They were completely baffled. They couldn’t for the life of them imagine why Su Yi, who had only just overcome the battle at the Violet Heavens Platform three days prior, would barge into Yun Family territory out of nowhere.

Su Yi took a sip of wine, thought for a moment, and said softly, “Release Old Wei, and I’ll just kill the primary culprit and spare the rest of the clan. Refuse, and this joyous occasion might well become the anniversary of the Yun Family’s annihilation.”

Astonishment followed this declaration.

Countless hearts quivered as the crowd realized that the Temple Master had come here to destroy the entire Yun Family!

“Old Wei? Who is that?”

It wasn’t just the guests who were bewildered. Most of the Yun clansmen in attendance were baffled too. They obviously had no idea what was going on.

All eyes were instantly on Yun Changhong.

Yun Changhong frowned. “Old Wei? Are you perhaps referring to the elderly servant who used to accompany you, Temple Master? I know who he is, but what connection does he have to the Yun Family?”

Only then did the crowd understand.

A long time ago, when the Temple Master explored the stars, an elderly servant with a bad leg typically traveled alongside him. There was no doubt that this was the Old Wei the Temple Master spoke of!

Su Yi took a deep, dark look at Yun Changhong. “Do you think I’d come here and demand him for no reason?”

Before Yun Changhong could answer, Su Yi said calmly, “The Tailor told me what happened then. If you insist on feigning ignorance...”

Su Yi swept his gaze across the crowd. “Then Goldendawn Divine Mountain will run red with rivers of blood, and your Yun Family will disappear from the face of the earth!”

Every word felt like the edge of a sword pressed to their throats. The crowd felt chills course down their spines, and their hearts thudded in their chests.

Yun Changhong’s expression shifted erratically.

Meanwhile, Luo Xiaoyun couldn’t help but snort, “Annihilating their entire clan? Making their lands run red with rivers of blood? Again? You sure know how to throw your weight around, Temple Master! Do you really think that after the battle at the Violet Heavens Platform, nobody in this world can stop you?”

This time, Su Yi finally turned to look at him. “Do you intend to stick out your neck on the Yun Family’s behalf?”

Luo Xiaoyun said expressionlessly, “Everyone seated here is an invited guest. I trust that they too won’t just sit back and watch as you act wantonly!”

Many of the guests’ faces turned green. Inwardly, they cursed him out. Who fucking agreed to that!? If you want to stand up to the Temple Master, fine! But don’t drag the rest of us down with you!

But none of them could say anything out loud. If they did, they wouldn’t just offend Luo Xiaoyun. They’d offend the entire Yun Family, too!

“Fellow Daoist, this is the Yun Family’s day of celebration. Don’t you think showing up uninvited and behaving so forcefully is over the line?” Nie Yunyuan of the Profound Divinity Sword House said calmly. “Heed my advice. If you want to solve your problems, you’d best reign it in a little. I don’t know whether or not the Old Wei you speak of is here or not, but I do know how easy it is for hostages to meet with unexpected misfortunate!”

His words were like needles wrapped in a blanket, softness laced with barely concealed threats!

“And who are you?” asked Su Yi.

Nie Yunyuan laughed. “My name is Nie Yunyuan, and I’m from the Profound Divinity Sword House.”

Typically, revealing his identity was enough to resolve most disagreements. The reason for this was simple. Of the ancient factions active in the present day, the Profound Divinity Sword House was among the greatest. Only a handful of factions could compare!

But Su Yi just let out a perfunctory “oh” and said, “Never heard of you.”

Nie Yunyuan’s smile froze in place.

Su Yi said casually, “If you don’t want to die, shut your mouth. Or else, I wouldn’t mind sending you on your way too.”

He then glanced at Luo Xiaoyun. “That goes for you too.”

Both Nie Yunyuan and Luo Xiaoyun were instantly enraged. Su Yi had just threatened them in front of countless onlookers. This was an unprecedented affront to their dignity!

But in the end, they suppressed their anger.

A man’s reputation didn’t come out of nowhere. The impact of the battle at the Violet Heavens Platform hadn’t waned.

Su Yi wasn’t at all concerned about their backgrounds. How could they dare fight him to the death?

The crowd took this in and sank even deeper into silence. Their hearts churned with emotion. The Temple Master really is as domineering as ever! He’s barged into Yun Family territory, but he still doesn’t have so much as the slightest reservation. He’s even disregarding these prominent experts of ancient sects!

“It’s time for you to make a choice.” Su Yi looked at Yun Changhong.

The Yun clansmen in attendance instantly felt enormous pressure.

The Temple Master was certainly domineering and tyrannical, but this was the man who’d single-handedly slain over a hundred Transcendents. Who had the guts to protest?

“Don’t tell me someone’s come to cause trouble for the Yun Family? Let me see just what kind of madman could be so bold!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the distant mountain gates. A figure shot over from afar accompanying this voice.

All eyes were instantly upon this new arrival.

He was an old man in Daoist robes patterned with wind and flame. His hair was tied in a Daoist topknot, and he had the air of an immortal.

He headed right toward the Goldendawn Ritual Grounds. When Family Head Yun Changhong saw him, he instantly lit up with delight. “So, it’s you, Senior Li Zhong. Please, forgive me for not welcoming you earlier!”

Li Zhong was one of the Nine Great Yao Monarchs of ancient times. He was also one of Mo Qingchou’s most capable subordinates!

His arrival caused a disturbance amongst the other representatives of ancient factions. They couldn’t help but be surprised; they wouldn’t have guessed the Yun Family could have successfully invited such an influential guest to their wedding!

“You arrived just at the right time, Senior Li Zhong!” Luo Xiaoyun’s spirits soared. He pointed at Su Yi and said, “He’s the one who’s come to the Yun Family to cause trouble. He’s far too brazen. He disregarded our attempts to dissuade him, and even threatened to annihilate the entire Yun Family and make these lands run red with rivers of blood!”

But by the time the words left his lips, he sensed something was amiss.

Actually, everyone present picked up on it. Something wasn’t right here.

After Li Zhong arrived, he froze in place, as if he’d seen something unbelievable. Upon closer inspection, veins bulged on his forehead, and the corners of his lips twitched. Everything about him seemed out of the ordinary.

The atmosphere silently stilled.

Li Zhong felt as if he couldn’t have been any unluckier. He’d come here on orders. He was supposed to give the Yun Family a perfunctory gift and go through the formalities in Mo Qingchou's stead.

He would never have guessed that he’d bump into a “familiar face” as soon as he arrived!

What surprised him even more was that said "familiar face” had obviously come with ill intentions!

“What are you doing here?”

It was Su Yi who broke the silence. His brow was furrowed slightly. Why is that I bump into this old man everywhere I go?

Li Zhong reacted as if awakening from a dream. He suddenly took a deep breath, smiled, and clasped his fist in greeting. “So, it’s Fellow Daoist Su. I didn’t know what was going on earlier. If my words offended you, I humbly request your understanding.”

His reserved, tentative bearing left the crowd flabbergasted. Their eyes widened, and their jaws hung slack.

What’s going on?

This is Celestial Mo Qingchou’s emissary, a Cloud Soaring Realm yao monarch famous even in ancient times. How could he apologize to the Temple Master with such politeness?

Yun Changhong’s pupils constricted. Nie Yunyuan stiffened, and he was suddenly uncertain.

As for Luo Xiaoyun? His heart clenched, and his expression paled. This isn’t good!

The atmosphere sank even deeper into deathly silence. Waves of astonishment silently coursed through the crowd’s hearts.

But it was as if Li Zhong didn’t even notice. He just maintained his respectful posture.

He’d already committed to showing Su Yi his sincerity! This would unquestionably mean irrevocably offending the Yun Family. That wasn’t ideal, but he was even less willing to offend Su Yi!

Especially since Mo Qingchou needed an opportunity to establish positive karma with Su Yi, and even Celestial Red Cloud was backing him!

Of course, what mattered most was that if Li Zhong established a positive connection with Su Yi, he might one day receive Su Yi’s help dispelling his curse!

As soon as he realized this, Li Zhong was no longer conflicted about his next steps.

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶