First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 144 - Zhu Guqing’s Overbearing Might

“In another month, Bloodthistle Yao Mountain will erupt with its once-in-a-decade beast tide. When the time came, numerous vicious spirit beasts will run rampant,” said Zhang Yiren. “Although it’s incomparably dangerous, for martial artists like us, it’s also a rare opportunity. You can both slay spirit beasts for spiritual materials and temper your Dao. It’s a real test of your abilities.”

Su Yi looked thoughtful. “There’s a beast tide once every ten years? There’s got to be something strange going on there.”

Chen Zheng instantly looked at him with admiration. “You’ve got good eyes, Young Lord Su. I’ve been stationed near Bloodthistle Yao Mountain for close to thirty years, and I’ve experienced two beast tides. After conducting an investigation personally, I discovered that there really is a mysterious secret behind the beast tides.”

He paused, then continued, “That said, for now, all I know is the source of the beast tide. It’s deep within the mountain, a place called the ‘the Abyss of a Hundred Burials. Every time a beast tide erupts, strange phenomena appear in the skies over the abyss. Wind, cloud, and thunder intercross, like countless divine beams. It’s an incredible sight to behold.”

Su Yi exclaimed, “In that case, the abyss is quite likely is home to a terrifying yaoling, or a psychically-active treasure, or ancient ruins with a still-functional formation. It’s hard to say which.” 

Despite himself, Chen Zheng was visibly stunned. He exclaimed, “I perused countless ancient tomes to uncover that information. Who’d have guessed you’d reach the same conclusions after such a brief explanation? You’ve truly broadened my horizons.”

Su Yi smiled but said no more. In his past life, he’d explored who-knows-how-many danger zones, and his experience was incomparably rich. How could such paltry profound mysteries elude him?

But the information Chen Zheng shared with him was actually somewhat tempting.

Su Yi currently lacked nothing more than true trials and combat. Without them, there was no way he’d break through his current bottleneck any time soon.

There was no doubt about it: Bloodthistle Yao Mountain was an excellent destination.

Chen Zheng extended an invitation. “Young Lord Su, if you’re interested, we can proceed there together in a month.”

Su Yi nodded. “If I have the spare time, I’d actually be interested in checking it out.”

Chen Zheng smiled back. “Excellent. We’ll await your arrival eagerly!”

They made no attempt to hide their conversation. Just listening stirred up waves in the three heretical cultivators’ hearts, and they found it hard to regain their calm. They were increasingly certain that the Su Yi they’d just looked down on was actually an extraordinary figure.

Otherwise, how could the Spiritmartial Marquis personally invite him yao hunting?

Suddenly, Qing Wan’s timid voice reverberated through Su Yi’s ears. “Mystic Master, I sensed it! The man who played the flute last night is headed right towards us!”

Su Yi’s eyes narrowed. “Marquis Chen, I expect Weng Yunqi will arrive any minute now.”

“Do you require my assistance?” asked Chen Zheng.

Su Yi shook his head. “No need.”

The Blood Balance Daoist and his companions glanced at each other, visibly uncertain.

For a while, all of them fell silent. They just waited in silence.

Su Yi thought to himself, Fortunately, martial artists don’t possess divine sense. If they did, there’s no way Weng Yunqi would approach us now. Just sensing us would alert him to the fact that there’s something strange going on in the courtyard.

Before long, a raspy, aged voice resounded from beyond the courtyard. “Young Lord, I’ve received intelligence that a group of wicked fiends have set their sights upon your residence. If you’re willing to return Qing Wan to me, I can help you escape this calamity.”

Weng Yunqi!

Just listening to his voice was enough for the three dharma protectors to confirm his identity.

But more than that, what shocked them was that Su Yi didn’t just have the Soul-Nurturing Gourd; he had Qing Wan with him too!

“The gates aren’t locked. Come in for a chat,” said Su Yi calmly.

The man beyond the gates fell silent. A little while later, the door silently opened by a crack.

Su Yi shot forth like lightning, and with a single explosive leap, he landed atop the courtyard walls.

“This is bad!” Weng Yunqi was visibly startled, but he reacted quickly and turned to flee.

Clang!

As Su Yi charged, Guiding Mysteries emerged from its sheath and cut through the air.

Sword shadows, like illusions or lightning, burst forth with terrifying speed.

Clang!!!

A bronze sword-breaker appeared in his hand, but although he blocked Su Yi’s attack, he was sent flying, and his energy flowed in reverse.

His expression shifted. What a strong kid! 

But Weng Yunqi had ample combat experience. He took advantage of the recoil to hurtle himself out of the alleyway.

Behind him, a sneer tugged on Su Yi’s lips. He clucked his tongue. “Tch!”

His voice contained the subtleties unique to the Great Void Soul Sword Incantation, and a divine sword seemly forged of a primordial mountain bore ruthlessly down on Weng Yunqi’s soul.

Boom!

Weng Yunqi’s soul was in agony, and everything went dark. He staggered back and almost fell. Just as he was about to struggle, he felt a hand wrap around his throat.

“A mere peak Qi Accumulation martial artist, that’s all. If I weren’t worried about you running away, you wouldn’t be worth using the Great Void Soul Sword Sutra to suppress.”

As Su Yi’s calm voice echoed through his ears, Weng Yunqi struggled frantically, but it was no use. He instantly slumped, then said bitterly, “I would never have guessed that an early-stage Qi Accumulation youth would be so strong…”

Su Yi exerted strength through his finger, and Weng Yunqi instantly sank into unconsciousness. Su Yi carried him back into the cottage as easily as if he were a chicken.

“This…” When they saw how quickly Su Yi captured Weng Yunqi, the Blood Balance Daoist and his companions felt chills in their hearts. They were increasingly unsettled.

“The peak of the Qi Accumulation Realm? Someone like that is nothing to Young Lord Su.” Chen Zheng shook his head.

Bam!

Su Yi tossed Weng Yunqi to the ground. Inwardly, he relaxed. He was one step closer to obtaining the soul jade. 

But then, he seemed to sense something, and his head whipped up.

Although he didn’t know when she got there, he saw a tall, slender figure with hair as white as snow standing atop the walls. She was unadorned and elegant, her peerlessly beautiful face as cold as ice.

She had a longsword strapped to her back. Standing there, she was like a fairy from the vast tundra, ethereal and detached.

When she saw the situation inside the courtyard, her delicate brow furrowed. “This really is a vile cesspit of evildoers!”

Chen Zheng rose and said in surprise, “Aren’t you the Heaven’s Origin Academy elder, Zhu Guqing?”

The snowy-haired beauty glared coldly. “Marquis Chen, aren’t you stationed at Bloodthistle Yao Mountain? What are you doing here, sitting alongside these heretics of the Deathbringer’s Gate?”

Her words and tone were decidedly impolite. It seemed she actually suspected the Spiritmartial Marquis of consorting with the Deathbringer’s Gate!

Meanwhile, Su Yi’s eyes flickered with a strange light. So this is Wen Lingzhao’s master?

Her appearance really does stand out from the crowd. She’s a rare beauty, and it seems she has an innate bloodline talent. Otherwise, there’s no way her aura could be this icy.

Oh? Now that I think about it, her disposition is actually pretty similar to Wen Lingzhao’s. No wonder she accepted Wen Lingzhao as her apprentice….

“Elder Zhu, this is a misunderstanding.” Zhang Yiren tried to explain, “The marquis and I are here to visit Young Lord Su. We just happened to bump into—”

“I’ve been watching from the alleyway this whole time,” Zhu Guqing coldly cut him off. “If you aren’t on their side, why didn’t you kill them right away? Why did you spend so much time talking to them?”

Chen Zheng’s brow furrowed in displeasure. “I’ve spent my life on the battlefield, working tirelessly on behalf of the Great Zhou. I disdain consorting with disreputable lowlives like the Deathbringer’s Gate!”

“If you want to prove that point, it’s simple. All you have to do is kill them. Do it now, and I’ll believe you,” said Zhu Guqing, her gaze indifferent. 

“Ludicrous! What need do I have to prove myself to you?” Chen Zheng laughed coldly. 

He was displeased. Yes, Zhu Guqing’s suspicions were only natural. Anyone who witnessed this scene would suspect the same thing.

But Zhu Guqing refused to hear any of their explanations, and her attitude was forceful and domineering, as if she thought nothing of the marquis. Of course Chen Zheng was angry!

“Elder Zhu, might you first get off my walls?” Su Yi furrowed his brow in displeasure too.

This was Humble Tranquility cottage, his home, yet someone was standing on his walls and chastising him. In his shoes, anyone would have been displeased!

Zhu Guqing’s clear gaze was as sharp as a sword. Her gaze swept toward him. “A mere heretical cultivator dares be so brazen? I’ll kill you first!”

One sentence, and she’d already labeled Su Yi a heretic of the Deathbringer’s Gate.

Chen Zheng and Zhang Yiren were speechless. They were so angry, they almost laughed. What kind of person made accusations like so lightly, and with so little evidence?

Su Yi was angry too. It seemed Zhu Guqing has preconceived notions about them, and any attempts to explain themselves would fall on deaf ears.

He couldn’t be bothered to explain, either.

This was his territory, yet someone had barged in, pointed the finger, and rebuked him. 

Would he explain himself or correct her misconceptions? 

No! If he did that, it would just make him look like a pathetic coward!

The nearby Blood Balance Daoist suddenly said out of nowhere, “Young Lord Su, it’s obvious this woman is here to cause trouble. How about we join forces and wipe her out?”

A heavy silence followed this suggestion.

But then, Chu Silang and Liu Xianglan seemed to understand. “Yeah! Let’s attack together and kill her!”

Instead, Su Yi’s cold, indifferent gaze to swept across them. “You want to stir up trouble to create an opportunity to escape? You’re seeking death!”

Chen Zheng smiled and shook his head. “Today’s heretical cultivators are getting more and more brazen. They even dare attempt to taint my reputation? They’re truly throwing their lives away!”

“Marquis Chen, Young Lord Su, just moments ago, we were talking and laughing. Why is that, as soon as we were discovered, you changed your tune and refused to acknowledge us?” The Blood Balance Daoist sighed, looking disappointed, as if he’d been abandoned.

Clang!

Atop the walls, Zhu Guqing drew her sword, and her energy filled the air.

It was like an icy current, spreading across heaven and earth, incomparably imposing.

“Do you have anything else to say for yourselves?” Zhu Guqing’s words were even icier than before.

Her courage was undeniable; despite facing so many people all by herself, she wasn’t the least bit afraid.

Chen Zheng snorted coldly. “Then we’ll just have to duke it out!”

But Su Yi merely waved his hand and said calmly, “This is my territory, and you are my guests. As your host, allow me to resolve this trivial manner.”

Chen Zheng’s gaze focused, but then, he laughed. “Alright. Then we’ll keep an eye on the door. They’re not going anywhere!”

He was still confused as to how exactly Su Yi defeated Mu Cangtu. This was an opportunity to witness Su Yi’s skills for himself.

“Attack!” Suddenly, the Blood Balance Daoist bellowed.

His voice had only just rung out when he waved his sleeves and…

Whoosh~!

A dense swarm of insect-like shadows blotted out the skies, shrieking and surging like a tidal wave.