First Immortal of the Sword

That very day, Mo Qingchou’s forces got to work spreading the news.

The ancient orthodoxies spread across the stars learned of it immediately. Despite themselves, they descended into uproar.

After the curtains fell on the battle at Universal Emptiness Temple, Su Yi had promised that he’d aid anyone who cut down the Tailor’s subordinate factions. He had offered to break their curses in exchange.

But most of the ancient orthodoxies had turned their nose up at this offer. How would they be willing to let Su Yi use them as a weapon? On the contrary, it seemed to them that capturing Su Yi would be enough to solve all their problems.

Now, after the battle at the Violet Heavens Platform, the ancient orthodoxies realized Su Yi’s terrifyingness on a visceral level. They no longer dared to act recklessly. Some of them even regretted not cooperating with Su Yi earlier.

But now, their chance had arrived!

Furthermore, Mo Qingchou, a descendant of immortals with an illustrious reputation, had offered an immortal weapon as a reward, all to help Su Yi locate the Tailor.

Who wouldn’t have been surprised?

...

The Red City Daoist Sect.

“After the battles at the Violet Heavens Platforms and Goldendawn Divine Mountain, the Temple Master’s prestige has reached unprecedented heights. Even we ancient orthodoxies have no choice but to re-evaluate him. We cannot take any further action recklessly,” an old-timer said softly. “By searching for the Tailor, we can improve our relationship with the Temple Master. That wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Many others chimed in their agreement.

The Red City Daoist Sect had never formed a grudge with Su Yi. If they seized this chance to express their good intentions, they’d definitely have a shot at receiving his aid.

“But what if we can’t find the Tailor?” someone said in confusion.

“It doesn’t matter if we can’t find him. As long as we try our best, I trust that Su Yi will sense the Red City Daoist Sect’s sincerity,” that old-timer said softly. “Even if he doesn’t, we have nothing to lose by trying.”

The crowd nodded.

No small number of ancient orthodoxies reached similar conclusions. These were factions with no prior enmity with him, so when they learned of Su Yi’s offer, they decided to try their luck.

Thus, that very day, the Red City Daoist Sect and numerous others expressed their stance, announcing their willingness to lend Su Yi a hand!

As for the Illusory Sword Immortal Tower, Yellow Springs Demon Mountain, Hidden Skies Immortal Sect, Southern Flame Pure Lands, and other sects with grudges against Su Yi? All of them disregarded his offer.

They were enemies already, and they’d suffered devastating casualties in the battle of the Violet Heavens Platform. They hated Su Yi to the core. How could they possibly agree to assist him?

“Has Mo Qingchou gone mad? Otherwise, why would she publicly proclaim her intention to help Su Yi? Doesn’t she realize that we and Su Yi are irreconcilable enemies!?” Fu Dongli said with a scowl.

Not long ago, at the Immortal Assembly, a group of descendants of immortals and experts of peak orthodoxies had convened and discussed how to handle Su Yi.

Many of them had already announced their decision, proclaiming that Su Yi had half a year to submit or die.

Yet now, Mo Qingchou, the one who’d first called for an assembly, seemed to have changed her tune completely. She was obviously trying to assist Su Yi! How could Fu Dongli not be furious?

“Young Leader, don’t be angry. Mo Qingchou is obviously only doing this in hopes of having her curse broken,” whispered an elderly servant. “The factions who’ve chosen to aid Su Yi are obviously after the same thing. Ultimately, this is just an exchange. None of this implies that Mo Qingchou and the other factions involved will establish an alliance with Su Yi.

“If they dare do any such thing, we aren’t the only ones who’ll object. Every other revenant beneath the heavens will oppose them!”

Fu Dongli nodded. That was indeed the case. So long as Su Yi controlled the power of reincarnation, the world’s revenants would view him as their common foe!

Mo Qingchou could choose to do business with him.

But if she dared forge an alliance with him, all other revenants would view her with enmity. Not even Mo Qingchou could bear the consequences of that!

That went for the ancient orthodoxies too!

......

The Hidden God Lands.

Almost no one knew of these lands. They were a hiding place the Tailor kept in reserve.

He was currently leisurely sipping from a cup of tea. He’d decided to lie low for a while, watch the wind and clouds, and wait for an opportunity to take Su Yi down.

As the man behind the curtain, the Tailor had always been patient. It didn’t matter how long something took. He could wait.

However, the Tailor knew that as the world changed continuously, it wouldn’t be long before Su Yi, with his mastery over reincarnation, got what was coming to him!

“Cloud Soaring experts will soon enter the world, and immortal revenants are awakening from dormancy. More and more experts will join the hunt, and the Temple Master... is their prey. We don’t even need to do anything. He’s doomed either way,” the Tailor said softly.

He raised his cup to his lips and drank.

“My Lord, we just received word. Something major happened outside!” an elderly servant approached solemnly.

“What happened?” asked the Tailor. He didn’t seem at all concerned.

The elderly servant said, “The Yun Family of the Ancient Guardian Clans of the Dao suffered a crushing defeat. The Temple Master swept through them, making Goldendawn Divine Mountain run red with rivers of blood. He even emptied out their entire treasury!”

The Tailor’s eyes narrowed. All of a sudden, his tea seemed completely flavorless.

“I can say with certainty that the Yun Family hates me to the bone. They must think the Temple Master came knocking because I divulged what happened back then.” The Tailor rubbed his forehead. “How many hidden connections do we have left in the outside world?”

The elderly servant said solemnly, “My Lord, not long ago, I acted in accordance with your orders, severing all connection we had to the outside world. Only three connections remain to carry out your commands and gather intelligence.”

The Tailor didn’t even pause to think. “Immediately sever all three connections!”

The elderly servant exclaimed, “My Lord, if we do that, we’ll lose all control over the outside world. If something disadvantageous happens, we’ll be in a completely passive position...”

The Tailor said with calm indifference, “Remember, never, ever underestimate the Temple Master. When the Yun Family met with disaster, they surely tried to drag me under the water. I suspect... that the Temple Master has already learned some of our secrets from Yun Changhong!”

The servant looked stricken, and a chill coursed down his spine.

“Well? Why haven’t you left yet?” The Tailor furrowed his brow.

The elderly servant said hurriedly, “My Lord, there’s something else.”

He then explained the conditions Su Yi had offered the revenants, as well as Mo Qingchou and the ancient orthodoxies’ response.

When the Tailor learned that Mo Qingchou had offered an immortal weapon to anyone who could help locate him, the Tailor’s expression finally waved as he realized the severity of the problem.

He hid behind the curtains, calmly watching the wind and clouds shift. However, if he wanted to take Su Yi down, he’d have to make contact with the ancient orthodoxies. There was no other way to stir up waves and borrow another’s hands to kill his enemy.

Now, everything had changed. Su Yi’s conditions would let him borrow the ancient orthodoxies’ power to take the Tailor down instead!

This unquestionably implied that if he dared make contact with the ancient orthodoxies, they were highly likely to sell him out!

“When you kill a snake, you ought to strike seven inches below its head. When you kill a man, you have to kill his heart first. The Temple Master has seized the initiative. Well played,” said the Tailor, his voice growing colder.

“Then we’ll have to hide ourselves completely and sever all links to the outside world. A year from now, I’ll have another look and see if the Temple Master is still alive!”

The Tailor had made his decision. He could already foresee that within a year, immortal revenants would awaken from dormancy and re-enter the world.

Even if the Temple Master survived that long, his mastery over reincarnation would make him a target. The immortal revenants were sure to destroy him!

“Right.” Something suddenly occurred to the Tailor, whose gaze was instantly solemn. “Qu He, there’s something I need you to do for me.”

When the elderly servant heard his master call him directly by name, he realized the severity of the problem. He shook from head to toe, then said solemnly, “Please command me, My Lord.”

“Bring three Hidden God Guards and take a trip to the Divine Capital Star Realm.” The Tailor took a deep breath, then passed him a jade slip. “When you get there, act in accordance with these instructions.”

The Hidden God Guards!

The elderly servant, Qu He, couldn’t help but gasp. “My Lord, we’ve kept the Hidden God Guards in reserve all these years. Didn’t you say we wouldn’t use them unless it was absolutely life or death? Don’t tell me...”

The Tailor furrowed his brow and coldly interrupted him here. “Qu He, you’ve overstepped. You should be on your way.”

Qu He shuddered from head to toe, but he dared not hesitate any further. He immediately rushed off to carry out his orders.

After Qu He’s figure faded from view, the Tailor sat there alone, his expression full of uncertainty. Finally, he sighed. “I hope... I hope things aren’t as dire as I imagine...”

......

Late at night.

The Bright Province of the Divine Capital Star Realm.

A thoroughly lamplit, prosperous city.

A barefoot monk in hemp clothes and a conical hat sat quietly in the corner of a teahouse.

A storyteller was in the middle of a tale of one of the Temple Master’s legendary accomplishments, a story from long ago. He spoke with such fervor that his spit flew through the air, and he practically frothed at the mouth.

The monk listened with enthusiasm. Beneath the lapels of his clothing, the aura of a seal silently gathered.

Suddenly, an ordinary-looking man in black walked over, looked the monk up and down, then slowly sat across from him.

“Our master has already issued orders. We’re no longer accepting missions. Please go back, friend,” whispered the man in black.

The monk said warmly, “This humble monk has come here to meet with your master.”

The man in black frowned. “What for?”

The monk clasped his palms together and said softly, “To beg for alms.”

The man in black froze, stunned, then frowned and said irritably. “What alms? Do you think our boss is some kind of saint? Or do you take me for a fool?”

As he spoke, he rose and turned to leave. There was something strange about this monk. Something was clearly off!

The man in black sensed that this didn’t bode well, and he immediately decided to retreat. But he’d only just left the teahouse when a sigh full of pity for the mundane masses echoed in his ears.

“Benefactor, those who choose the monastic life do not lie. This humble monk sees a dark spot between your eyes. If you leave now, this will surely be a night of bloodshed.”

The man in black shifted on his feet, visibly stricken, and was just about to unleash an evasive art and flee when a large, powerful hand seized him by the throat. He could no longer move a muscle.

When he looked back, he saw the monk smiling benevolently at him.

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