First Immortal of the Sword

The blood-colored lightning struck, swift and dazzling, emanating an unearthly and terrifying air of destruction.

Ning Sihua instantly sensed the danger. She waved her sleeves, and a copper mirror carved with dense cloud patterns floated up.

Bang!

The mirror exploded into fragments.

Ning Sihua dodged right away, a rare, grim look on her clear and youthful features.

The copper mirror was an extraordinary spiritual treasure, yet it broke so easily!

From this, she could determine that the power of this grand formation was no weaker than the attack of an Origin Dao cultivator!

“She actually blocked it….” The Wuhuan Water Monarch was stunned too. He finally realized how scary Ning Sihua was and launched another series of attacks in a mad frenzy.

“Strike! Strike! Strike!” He bellowed repeatedly, his silvery dragon robes billowing around him and his blood-colored streamer waving through the air.

In response, the nine bronze doors surrounding the ritual grounds boomed, and a strange totem rose as if awakening from its deep slumber and fired terrifying attacks of all kinds.

Blood-colored lightning boomed like dazzling blades descending from the heavens. Bloody rain poured down in buckets, and illusory suns, moons, and stars blurred into crimson light and cut through the air…

“How terrifying!” Cries and exclamations rang out throughout the area. Who knew how many apparitions gasped when they saw this?

This was their first time witnessing the power of this grand formation. It was like witnessing the grandeur of a god!

Ning Sihua’s painted eyebrows knit together; she realized that this meant trouble.

A blue light streaked out of her sleeves, suddenly condensing into an unusual short halberd forged of blue metal.

It was about three feet long and thick as a child’s arm. Inscrutable, fiery patterns covered its surface, and the blade’s sharp edge glinted like the waning moon.

The Waning Blueflame Moon Halberd!

As soon as it entered Ning Sihua’s hand, the short halberd hummed, then bloomed with layer after layer of illusory blue flame. The blaze was dazzlingly bright, and it emanated a shocking air of destruction.

Weapon in hand, Ning Sihua’s imposing aura soared to a whole new level.

Clang!

Ning Sihua waved the short halberd. Its blue edge streaked through the air, leaving a trail of flame. In an instant, it struck and dispersed the incoming strike of lightning.

Sparks scattered, and her petite frame shook, but she wasn’t pushed back, nor did she cut as sorry a figure as before.

Even so, her expression was just as solemn as before.

The grand formation was circulating at full force, releasing lightning, torrential wind, howling gales, and bloody light… They seemed to cover all of heaven and earth, striking in rapid succession.

Power at this level could easily slaughter any Martial Dao Grandmaster of the mundane world. Even a Xiantian Martial Ancestor would struggle to block this tidal wave of explosive attacks.

Ning Sihua thought highly of herself, but for a moment, even she was shaken.

She blurred, darting back and forth throughout the ritual hall. She was like a flowing illusion, so quick that it was unbelievable. Each time, she dodged by a hair, avoiding one perilous strike after another.

Those she really couldn’t avoid, she destroyed with a swing of her short halberd.

When they saw that she was trapped, the venue instantly burst into piercing, raucous jeers and laughter.

“That woman’s in for it now! Ha ha ha!”

“I don’t care if it kills me; I’m seizing a piece of her flesh for myself!”

“The Water Monarch’s grand formation is just too strong; I suspect that even an Earthly Immortal would struggle to escape certain death! Don’t tell me that this is the benevolence the Water Monarch obtained through sacrifice?”

Some of the guests' hearts surged with excitement, and their eyes lit up. They were already starting to plan how they’d go about winning the Divine Monarch of Tragedy’s “benevolence” when the sacrifices began.

But in stark contrast, the Wuhuan Water Monarch’s expression was unsightly, and he looked bewildered.

This grand formation was called the “Nine Palaces Slaughter Formation”, and it linked the power of the Great Azure’s currents and the mountains of Thousand Whirlpool Ridge. It used the winding natural layout as its shape, and when it circulated, it could easily slay Earthly Immortals!

In the hundred-plus years that the Wuhuan Water Monarch had reigned over Ninebends City, this formation had always proven effective. He’d never once encountered so much as the slightest threat.

He would never have guessed that even after all this time and even after circulating the grand formation at full power, he’d fail to kill a little girl!

“It doesn’t matter who you are! All of you must die!” The Wuhuan Water Monarch’s eyes flashed with vicious light. He suddenly coughed a mouthful of bloody mist onto the streamer, and his energy weakened by about thirty percent.

But the Nine Palaces Slaughter Formation’s power instantly increased!

Rumble!

Wind, lightning, earth, fire, sun, moon, and stars. All kinds of dazzling power poured out of the formation like floodwaters through a dam. It was on the verge of swallowing Ning Sihua up!

Crap! Ning Sihua’s pupils constricted; she’d just realized there was nowhere left to dodge. If she didn’t use her trump card, it was highly likely she’d perish within the formation.

But….

When she considered how long she’d kept her trump card in reserve, only to use it in a filthy place like this, her heart ached.

What does it matter that I was once strong? I’m now just another ordinary mortal of the Four Realms of the Martial Dao…. Ning Sihua sighed to herself.

Determination flashed across her beautiful face.

I’ll show this riffraff the power of a real immortal!

A thin, red, fish-shaped sword appeared in her palm. It was translucent and crystalline, as thin as a bamboo chopstick. The handle had two characters carved in ancient seal script: “Red Carp.”

“Palace Master, don’t worry about me! Hurry up and run!” Off in the distance, the thoroughly chained Zhu Guqing sensed Ning Sihua’s predicament and shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Ludicrous! None of you shall leave this place alive!” The Wuhuan Water Monarch snorted coldly, his eyes filled with madness.

He’d already exhausted so much power circulating the grand formation that he feared he’d need years to recover.

This filled his heart with hatred.

Ning Sihua no longer hesitated. She took a deep breath, then silently activated her red, fish-shaped little sword.

She was just about to use it when—

“That’s a decent little blade you’ve got there. Using it here would be like defiling a heavenly treasure.”

The voice was casual, but it carried a hint of surprise.

Ning Sihua’s head whipped around, and although she didn’t know when he got there, she saw Su Yi in his characteristic blue robes.

“You…” Ning Sihua was stunned.

Boom!

The vast flood of power was already sweeping toward them, and the sound cut off what she was about to say.

“Leave this to me.” As Su Yi said this, he swung Guiding Mysteries.

It was like a formless giant hand appeared, squeezing the mad, explosive flood of power to a halt before it could descend.

Then—

Boom!

The following explosion reverberated throughout heaven and earth. That vast, sweeping power instantly exploded into specks of bloody light and dispersed.

Su Yi and Ning Sihua gradually came into view within the rain of sparks.

The entire area fell silent. Even the birds ceased their cries.

The yao and ghosts who just moments ago had been laughing with mad excitement now felt as if someone had squeezed them by the throats. Their jaws hung slack and their eyes widened. Astonishment was written all over their faces.

What’s going on?

“Don’t tell me it was that boy who broke through the grand formation’s attack just now?”

Some of the yao saw that Su Yi had appeared beside Ning Sihua, and they vaguely understood, but they dared not believe it.

Even Ning Sihua was stunned. How did he pull that off?

“Su…. Su Yi….” Off in the distance, Zhu Guqing was stunned. This scene shocked her too.

Earlier, she’d been beside herself with worry and frantic concern; she feared Palace Master Ning Sihua would suffer misfortune.

Who’d have thought all the danger would evaporate in the blink of an eye?

Su Yi reappeared beside Ning Sihua a moment later. When Zhu Guqing saw this, she naturally understood: Su Yi had saved Ning Sihua right in the nick of time!

The Wuhuan Water Monarch was caught off guard. His mind went blank, and his expression froze. He could never have anticipated this.

“Die!” The inwardly frantic water monarch bellowed and instinctively waved his blood-colored streamer.

However, the surrounding “Nine Palaces Slaughter Formation” didn’t react in the slightest.

The surviving ghosts and yao were dumbstruck. What’s going on?

Amidst the silence, the Wuhuan Water Monarch’s shout still echoed, but it was strangely…. awkward.

“Die!” It seemed that the Wuhuan Water Monarch still didn’t quite believe it. He circulated his full power and waved the pennant once more.

The nine bronze gateways were dead silent, and so were the surrounding ghosts and yao. The awkward, uncomfortable atmosphere lingering in the air only intensified.

Now, when he waved the streamer, the Wuhuan Water Monarch was like a monkey waving a rattle-drum: ridiculous and laughable.

Even Ning Sihua laughed dryly to herself. Can’t this guy tell that control over the grand formation has long since changed hands? It’s under Su Yi’s command now!

“How is this possible…..?” The Wuhuan Water Monarch’s face filled with rage and alarm. He couldn’t accept what was happening.

“The methods used to place this ‘grand’ formation were far too coarse. That Divine Monarch of yours obviously isn’t teaching you any worthwhile skills,” said Su Yi flatly.

“Divine Monarch…..” The Wuhuan Water Monarch was momentarily stunned. Then, he seemed to realize something, and he lunged for the nearby Zhu Guqing.

Obviously, he planned to use her as a sacrifice to obtain power from his benefactor.

However, as soon as he stretched out his hand, a bolt of red lightning streaked through the air like a knife, cutting his right arm clean off.

The Wuhuan Water Monarch’s face contorted in agony and disbelief. “You…. How can you possibly control the Nine Palaces Slaughter Formation!?”

The guests scattered throughout the ritual grounds were terrified too. All of their expressions changed as they fully realized their predicament.

The nine bronze doors had sealed off the entire ritual grounds, effectively trapping all of them inside. Even if they wanted to run, they couldn’t!

“I said I was going to flatten this place.” Su Yi glanced at Guiding Mysteries, then said casually, “The least troublesome approach is to borrow the power of this formation.”

“Flatten this place….” The Wuhuan Water Monarch’s eyes bulged, and he roared, “This city was constructed at the Divine Monarch’s behest. If you do this, you’re certain to suffer the Divine Monarch’s godly wrath!”

Su Yi lightly swung Guiding Mysteries.

Whoosh!

Yet another blood-colored streak of lightning descended. The Wuhuan Water Monarch’s cultivation was comparable to a third-level Grandmaster’s. How could he possibly bear the power of a formation of this level?

The onlookers watched as—

Bang!

His entire body was burnt black, becoming fragmented and indistinct. He now looked as if he might shatter into nothingness at any moment.

His legs gave out, and he fell to the ground, twitching non-stop.

When they say this, the surrounding ghosts and yao were completely dumbfounded. Their faces were ashen, and their souls seemed to leave their bodies.

Su Yi ignored the injured, dying Wuhuan Water Monarch, then strode up to Zhu Guqing. He flashed his sword, and her fetters split and clattered to the ground.

“Where is Lingxue?”

Seth's Thoughts

I don’t have the time to look into this in further detail, but the “Nine Palaces” seems to come from the “Nine Palace Grid”, which might help you picture what the formation looks like. Seems to have connections with Feng Shui as well as calligraphy.

If you look here and if you read Chinese, you’ll see it’s labeled with the various directions. If you don’t read Chinese, just trust me. It’s labeled with the various directions. ;) Plus some other stuff, but we can safely ignore all that.