First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 237 - Mu Xi’s Treasure

So-called “Hundred-Refined Corpses” were nothing but the lowest-class corpse puppets around.

In the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, any sect of heretical cultivators with even the slightest power at their disposal disdained refining such sinister things; they were unfit for the public eye.

Su Yi merely glanced at the corpses before turning his attention toward the two people they had surrounded. “Who are they?”

“The grand elder of Kongtong Academy, Jiang Tanyun, and their second elder, Lu Zhangfeng,” Shen Jiusong answered immediately. “They’re both fourth-level Grandmasters, but Jiang Tanyun’s foundations are stronger. He’s ranked forty-seventh on the Great Zhou’s Grandmaster Leaderboards, and even some fifth-level Grandmasters are no match for him.”

Su Yi nodded.

The Four Realms of the Martial Dao were, after all, still within the confines of mortality.

Two people who looked like they had similar cultivations often had enormous differences in strength. The key difference lay in the depths of their foundations. 

“Young Lord Su, should we go lend a hand?” Shen Jiusong couldn’t help but ask.

Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng were completely surrounded by hundred-refined corpses. Their plight was dire to the extreme. Worse, their complexions were tinged dark, and their eyes were bloodshot. It was clear they’d been afflicted with corpse poison. 

If no one went to their aid, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“If you go now, the restriction formation’s whisper-like energy fluctuations are sure to attack you. You might be a fourth-level Grandmaster, but if the living corpses surround you while your soul is under attack, you’re doomed,” said Su Yi casually.

Shen Jiusong was horrified, but Ning Sihua seemed to realize something. She said gravely, “No wonder even someone like Jiang Tanyun has found himself in such a predicament. So, someone is using the power of the formation to attack his soul, preventing him from realizing the full extent of his strength….”

The way she saw it, while those hundred-refined corpses might be on par with Grandmasters, they shouldn’t have been any match for someone like Jiang Tanyun. 

Why had their situation turned out like this? Su Yi’s explanation was the only thing that made sense. Someone had to be using the power of the formation to target the two Kongtong Academy elders!

“I’d actually be rather interested to see just who’s behind this.” Ning Sihua planned to get involved personally.

Part of this was to help save Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng, but part of it was curiosity. Just who was controlling the power of the formation?

But before she could intervene, Su Yi pulled her back. “Wait a moment longer.”

Ning Sihua was stunned and confused, but before long, just as it seemed Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng couldn’t hold out any longer, a clear, hearty voice rang out—

“Don’t panic! Allow this king to help slay your foes!” Each word was like the beating of a drum, reverberating throughout the area. 

They then watched as a young man in robes as white as snow arrived, walking through the sky. Rosy light circulated around him, vast and mighty as the ocean.

He was tall and thin as bamboo, with delicately handsome, refined features. As soon as he entered the bloody mist-filled gorge, he swung his golden spear.

Boom!

One arc of golden lightning after another interwove as illusory spears filled the skies, their towering destructive power spreading through the air.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The vast golden net of spear shadows descended. The dozen or so hundred-refined corpses didn’t even have time to dodge; they were obliterated where they stood. Their flesh was so firm, they had no need to fear blades, but now, they burst into pieces. Fragments of corpse scattered; they seemed as fragile as paper mache. 

A single attack resolved Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng’s peril in an instant!

The youth in white held his golden spear. He was refined and handsome with a peerless bearing. 

“The Mountain-Subduing King!” Shen Jiusong was stunned. He recognized the young man in white. This was none other than one of the nine non-Zhou kings famous throughout the empire, the youngest of the bunch, the Mountain-Subduing King, Mu Xi!

“So, that’s him.” Ning Sihua looked enlightened. She’d heard rumors about the Mountain-Subduing King. He became a king at just over twenty years of age; he was indeed worthy of the title of “peerless monster.”

“Fellow Daoist, did you sense that the Mountain-Subduing King was on his way earlier?” Ning Sihua glanced at Su Yi.

“When we arrived, he was watching the battle from afar. You two just didn’t notice,” said Su Yi casually.

As he said this, he stared at the distant young man in pristine white robes, his expression a bit strange. 

“That so….?” Ning Sihua was instantly solemn. 

Even with her foundations and keen eyesight, she didn’t sense any trace of the hidden Mountain-Subduing King!

This surprised her, but more than that, it told her that the youngest of the non-Zhou kings was undoubtedly extraordinarily capable. 

“Daoist Corpse Controller, even now, you won’t come out and face me?” The Mountain-Subduing King’s voice boomed as he clenched his spear. He looked remarkable, and as he looked around, his gaze was proud, even contemptuous. 

His voice reverberated throughout the gorge. Both Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong were instantly serious. Daoist Corpse Controller?

That’s one of the Deathbringer’s Gate’s peak-level experts. He’s a true master of the heretical way, and the citizens of the Great Zhou pale at the very mention of his name!

Suddenly, a corpse puppet shaped much like a child emerged from beneath the rocks lining the gorge. Its innocent, guileless face was lined with winding cracks reminiscent of centipedes; it was hideous and terrifying.

The child corpse puppet raised its head and stared up at Mu Xi. Its mouth split, revealing two rows of sharp fangs. 

It then spoke in a high-pitched voice, like grinding serrated knives.  “Mountain-Subduing King, heed my warning: You’d best not get involved. Otherwise, I guarantee that even if you’re a monstrous genius possessed of grand fortune, you’ll die beyond a shadow of a doubt!” 

Its voice spread throughout the gorge. Everyone who heard it felt goosebumps rising on their skin. 

“Filthy scum! Even if your sect leader showed up, he wouldn’t dare behave impudently before me!” Mu Xi snorted coldly, then stabbed his spear into the air. 

Bang!

A hundred feet away, the child-like corpse puppet burst apart.

“Haha, in that case, I’ll just wait until you’re dead, Mountain-Subduing King. I’ll personally help you dispose of your body. I’ll be sure to make you into a beautiful corpse puppet.” 

Cold, sinister laughter filled the gorge. A long time passed before it gradually faded away.

Mu Xi shook his head. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned. 

Clang!

He put away his golden spear, then turned his attention toward the nearby Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng. He tossed them a jade bottle and smiled warmly.

“These pills contain an antidote for corpse poison. Please, swallow them immediately. If you wait any longer, I’m afraid the poison will reach your heart.”

Both of them were visibly grateful, and they clasped their fists in greeting. “Many thanks, Mountain-Subduing King!”

“Don’t be polite. Deal with the poison first.” Mu Xi laughed and waved away their thanks.

Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng immediately took a pill each, then sat cross-legged.

Mu Xi then glanced at Su Yi and his companions and said in a loud, clear voice, “My three friends, this place is no longer dangerous. Please, come out and say hello.” 

Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong both glanced at Su Yi. There was no doubt about it; Mu Xi had discovered them a long time ago.

Su Yi said nothing. He just walked straight out.

The center of the gorge.

Shen Jiusong smiled and greeted them. “Long time no see. Young king, your bearing is even more impressive than in the past. The way you destroyed those hundred-refined corpses has me sighing with admiration.”

Mu Xi laughed heartily. “Cloudlight Marquis, you’re exaggerating.” 

He then turned to Ning Sihua and gently clasped his fist. “If I’m not mistaken, you are Palace Master Ning Sihua of Heaven’s Origin Academy. Is that right?”

He had a dignified and impressive bearing, and he spoke as if nothing had happened. He was modest and polite, too; he seemed completely different from that contemptuous person who’d just cut down the walking dead. 

Ning Sihua nodded but said nothing.

Still, there was no denying it: Mu Xi’s amiable, modest bearing made him quite easy to like.

Mu Xi then turned toward Su Yi, smiled, and clasped his fist. “Please forgive me for my ignorance. Might I ask for your honorable name and surname?”

Shen Jiusong hurriedly introduced him. “Young King, this is Young Lord Su.”

“He’s surnamed Su?” Mu Xi mulled that over, then asked, “Might he be a disciple of the Jade Capital’s Su Family?”

“This….” Shen Jiusong hesitated, then glanced at Su Yi.

“Why keep it a secret? There’s no harm in telling him,” said Su Yi.

Only then did Shen Jiusong say, “Your guess is right on the mark, Young king. Young Lord Su is none other than the son of Family Head Su Hongli.” 

Mu Xi smiled. “The Su Family is a grand and stately top-level clan with deep foundations, and its ranks are full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Their disciples include no shortage of peerless geniuses. I could tell at a glance that you were extraordinary, Young Lord Su.”

This was, of course, mere polite nonsense. After all, this was their first meeting. 

But although his compliments weren’t quite sincere, Mu Xi didn’t dismiss or look down on Su Yi.

After all, he was traveling with Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong. He couldn’t possibly be an ordinary person. 

In the face of Mu Xi’s pleasantries, Su Yu responded with a perfunctory nod.

But he didn’t overlook Mu Xi either. 

Just now, he watched Mu Xi’s fight from a distance and realized that the youngest of the Great Zhou’s non-Zhou kings had something strange about him. His body emanated the extremely subtle aura of a treasure!

This was why he piqued a hint of Su Yi’s curiosity. 

Now, seeing him from up close, he could already vaguely discern some clues. Mu Xi undoubtedly had some kind of miraculous secret treasure on his person, and it had silently, subtly changed his aura, making it subdued and harder to read.

It was subtle; unless you sensed his presence carefully, it was extremely difficult to notice.

How terrifying were the waves of power emanating from the restriction formation? Both Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng were severely affected, which led to their earlier peril.

Yet it didn’t affect Mu Xi at all.

This was likely due to the secret treasure he had on him.

Of course, that was only a conjecture.

Everyone had their secrets. That Mu Xi had, at such a young age, soared to prominence and become a king famed throughout the nation meant he’d undoubtedly had his own fortuitous encounters, and he was sure to have his own trump cards, too.

It would be just great if he were my enemy…. Then I could take a look and see just what kind of treasure he’s got…. Su Yi thought it a bit of a pity.

With the knowledge and experience of his past life, the barest hints of a treasure’s aura emanating from Mu Xi were enough for Su Yi to judge that whatever his treasure was, it was sure to be extraordinary. 

But he was still just curious.

Given his status and his temperament, he disdained treating Mu Xi as prey over some treasure. He naturally wouldn’t sink to killing someone to seize their treasures.

By now, Mu Xi, Ning Sihua, and Shen Jiusong were already chatting amongst themselves.

When he learned that they’d come here on account of the mountain’s strange phenomena, Mu Xi smiled and invited them to travel with him. 

Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong both glanced at Su Yi; something like that was naturally for him to decide. 

Su Yi didn’t refuse.

He wanted to see if, as they worked alongside each other, he could discern the true nature of Mu Xi’s treasure. 

And when he saw that figures on the level of Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong let Su Yi make this decision on their behalf, the Mountain-Subduing King was instantly serious. 

He was increasingly aware that the youth before him wasn’t simple; he wasn’t just another disciple of the Jade Capital’s Su Family!

I’ll have to keep an eye on him….. Mu Xi thought to himself.