First Immortal of the Sword

The night was dark and heavy, and few people remained on the streets and alleyways.

One palace lantern after another hung in front of the House of Fallen Petals, casting shifting, mottled glows on the ground.

Not far away, the Daoist elder stood there with a smile, his tone warm and polite.

Yet, his words were utterly contemptuous, with a clear intent to humiliate. They went off in Mu Xi and his companions’ ears like a sudden crack of thunder.

Their intoxication vanished immediately, and all of them looked solemn.

“All of you, leave first.” Mu Xi took a deep breath and readied himself for battle.

However, the elder only laughed. “Since I’m here, how could I possibly leave you any hope of escape?”

With that, his right hand shot out of his sleeves and gently pressed down.

Boom!

A massive black hand condensed in the air. It was fully ten feet long. Lu Zhangfeng was over a hundred feet away when the giant hand bore down on him.

Lu Zhangfeng was an elder of Kongtong Academy, and he was now a Xiantian Martial Ancestor.

But in the face of this attack, he was as helpless as a gnat. The hand formed him to his knees with a bang, and he coughed up blood. The pressure was so immense that he couldn’t even raise his head.

That utter domination made the others’ expressions shift dramatically. So strong!

“This humble Daoist doesn’t wish to brag, but I have to say that forcing you to kneel will be no more difficult than taking something out of my pocket,” said the Daoist elder with that same amiable smile.

He smiled, but the sight made Mu Xi and company shudder.

“Take this!” Mu Xi was the first to attack. He waved his spear and charged explosively into the fray.

He was almost an Earthly Immortal; he was only off by a thread. Furthermore, he practiced the cultivation technique Su Yi had taught him, and he had the Qilin Blood Jade Pendant’s support. His strength far surpassed others of the same realm.

However, the elder only shook his head. “Mountain-Subduing King, you’re quite clever. How could you overestimate your abilities like this?”

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers.

Kcch!

A streak of black sword qi arced through the air like an arrow loosed from a bow, quick as a flying sword. It circled in the air, then shot at Mu Xi.

The sword light was so sharp and forceful that even from over a hundred feet away, the onlookers felt their skin sting as if it were being sliced open.

Mu Xi’s pupils constricted, and he activated his cultivation to its highest possible level. He suddenly swept his spear, clashing with the black sword qi.

However, a moment later, he was sent flying, and even his spear flew from his grip. He grunted in pain and fell several dozen feet away.

Astonishment rose on his face. How could that old man be so strong?

When Pu Yi and the others saw this, chills coursed down their spines. The power of one finger was enough to injure Mu Xi? How terrifying is that?!

“Mountain-Subduing King, you really are a first-rate young genius, yet now, you’ve sunk to becoming Su Yi’s dog. It’s truly a pity,” said the elder with a deep sigh.

As he spoke, he pressed down on the air twice more.

Boom! Boom!

Two more black hands condensed in midair, aiming for Pu Yi and Jiang Tanyun respectively. Neither had any power to suppress; the hands’ power effortlessly forced them to their knees.

The most shocking part was the elder’s pristine application of power. He forced both men to their knees without harming them.

After all, he was just here to humiliate them. Were he here to kill them, he could do so with a snap of his fingers.

The pedestrians near the House of Falling Petals had long since fled in terror. A few, the stronger among them, stayed to watch from a distance. As they watched his play out, all of them gasped, and their expressions changed dramatically.

He was just too strong!

The methods at the elderly Daoist’s disposal were completely oppressive, and they seemed to take him no effort at all!

“Mountain-Subduing King, will you kneel on your own, or do you need me to help you?” The Daoist turned his amiable gaze on Mu Xi.

“I won’t kneel today, not even if it kills me!” Mu Xi wiped the blood from his lips and crawled to his feet. That tall, upright figure emanated a terrifying majesty.

“Is that so?” The elder smiled faintly, then raised his hand and pressed through the air.

Boom!

A giant, black hand pressed through the air, pushing downward.

“Out of my way!” Mu Xi roared in fury, both hands pressing upward to resist the mounting pressure. He gave it everything he had, practically burning himself up as he pushed himself to the limit.

Bang!

The giant black hand pressed downward.

Mu Xi swayed. The ground beneath his feet couldn’t withstand the pressure, and it suddenly collapsed, scattering fragments of stone.

Shockingly, Mu Xi had managed to block the terrifying pressure, at least temporarily!

The elderly Daoist was stunned despite himself. “I couldn’t tell at first, but your path of cultivation far transcends mundane martial artists. Mountain-Subduing King, you’re worthy of the title of ‘true cultivator.’ Alas…. You’re still nothing but a mantis trying to block a chariot.”

He shook his head.

Boom!

The giant black hand lit up and pushed down even harder.

Mu Xi’s body was like a wooden stake. The force shoved him ruthlessly into the dirt. Blood leaked from all seven apertures of his face, and his bones and muscles creaked beneath the pressure. Minute tears appeared all over his skin, which seeped with blood.

Everyone could tell that Mu Xi was giving this everything he had. He’d rather get hurt than suffer the indignity of being forced to kneel.

Just watching, the distant onlookers couldn’t help but feel forlorn. This was the lofty Mountain-Subduing King, a famed genius of his generation. How could he be so helpless?

Who was this elderly Daoist, and why was he so terrifying?

Bam!

In the end, although Mu Xi managed to resist the black hand’s power, it embedded him deep in the earth. Only his head remained above ground.

Blood poured from the corners of his lips, and his eyes looked like they were about to pop. “Damn geezer, unless I die, I will never, ever kneel to anyone in this lifetime!”

His voice was hoarse, but it reverberated throughout the night sky.

The elderly Daoist furrowed his brow, then laughed. “Is that so? I’ll just have to drag you out and try again.”

As he spoke, his sleeves billowed, but just as he was about to attack once more—

Clang!

The hum of a sword emanated from afar.

A moment later, a man in hemp clothes, a wide belt, and a high-brimmed hat rode in on his sword, his wide sleeves fluttering in the air, like a god or immortal.

“Fellow Daoist, don’t you think bullying the weak is beneath someone of your cultivation?” The man in hemp clothes fixed his gaze on the elderly Daoist, his eyes as radiant as stars.

“Cloudstone Venerate?” The Daoist elder seemed a bit surprised. He recognized that this was the strongest high elder of the Great Qin’s Donghua Sword Sect, Fu Yunlang. He was honored as the Cloudstone Venerate.”

Fu Yunlang’s arrival caused a disturbance among the onlookers; it was clear that they recognized him as well.

“Never mind. I’ve already accomplished my goal, so I shall not pursue the matter with these ants any further.” With that, the Daoist elder turned and left.

His voice, as gentle and warm as a spring breeze, soon emanated from afar, “Tell Su Yi that I came here tonight to get justice for the Su Family’s fourth lady of the house and for Young Master Su Boning. If he’s displeased, he need not wait until the fourth. He’s welcome to come to the Su Family estate this very night. This humble Daoist will naturally accompany him to the very end.”

His voice still echoing through the air, the elderly Daoist blurred into a streak of flowing light and disappeared into the vast darkness of the night sky.

Those present looked at each other in astonishment.

Only then did they realize that the elder had come here, not for them, but to point his spear at Su Yi!

“Who was that? He actually had such a mighty cultivation…” The Cloudstone Venerate’s expression was somewhat grave.

He was an expert at the very pinnacle of the Grain Avoidance Realm. He was even somewhat stronger than You Tianhong.

Yet when he faced down that elder just now, even he felt enormous pressure!

“Young Lord Mu, are you alright?” A delicate, slender figure dashed over, and a face that looked like the work of a master sculptor came into view.

This was none other than Lan Suo.

The Cloudstone Venerate was her master.

She immediately helped Mu Xi up, concern written all over her beautiful face. “Where is Young Lord Su? I’ll take you to see him now.”

Mu Xi grimaced. “I can’t face Brother Su.”

“What are you saying? At a time like this? Come on, let’s go already!” Lan Suo glared at him, then led the group away, leaving no room for argument.

If not for the fact that she and her master just happened to be strolling through the area that night, and if they hadn’t just happened to sense the fluctuations of a battle, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Furthermore, the Daoist elder was obviously after Su Yi. The sooner Su Yi found out about this, the better.

Pinewind Villa.

Su Yi reclined in the courtyard, leaning back into his wicker chair and drinking on his own.

Qing Wan was by his side, her head lowered; she was busy shelling sunflower seeds. The little white plate beside her was already covered in a heaping pile of them.

The light of the moon bathed the world, tranquil and pleasing.

From time to time, Su Yi reached out to grab a handful of shelled sunflower seeds. They went quite well with the moonlight and alcohol.

From time to time, Qing Wan’s big, shiny eyes snuck a glance at him. Every time, she’d hurriedly lower her head, as if from a guilty conscience.

There was no way Su Yi would fail to notice this, but he feigned ignorance.

After all, the girl was pretty and likable, delicate and innocent, cute and silly. The way she snuck glances at him was highly pleasing to the eye.

However, when Lan Suo and Mu Xi arrived in a hurry under the cover of darkness, Su Yi’s leisurely mood vanished instantly.

He surveyed the group, and his brow gradually furrowed. A hint of a chill shone in the depths of his gaze.

Su Yi wouldn’t have guessed that Su Hongli would pull something like this.

“Did he lose his cool? Or is he trying to use this to make me lose my cool and charge into the Su Family estate with no regard for the consequences?” Su Yi pondered out loud.

“Young Lord Su, what should we do about this?” asked Lan Suo.

This was her first time seeing Su Yi since they last parted ways, but she was in no mood to exchange pleasantries.

Su Yi said calmly, “On the fourth, I’ll personally take the old man’s head and help my allies wash away the shame of what happened tonight.”

“You… You aren’t even a little angry?” Lan Suo found it hard to understand, but she sensed no signs of rage in Su Yi.

“Lass, wouldn’t losing his temper at a time like this mean giving the Su Family exactly what they wanted?” The Cloudstone Venerate walked up and inclined his head. “I am Fu Yunlang of the Donghua Sword Sect. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Su.”

Lan Suo hurriedly said, “Young Lord Su, this is my master. Tonight, it’s only because Master acted right in the nick of time that we sent that geezer packing.”

When he heard this, Su Yi no longer chose to remain seated. He got up and nodded. “Fellow Daoist, you have my thanks for coming to their aid. I’ll be sure to repay this favor.”

The Cloudstone Venerate smiled and waved his gratitude away. “I heard that you intervened to save Lan Suo’s life. If you wish to speak of gratitude, it is I who ought to repay you.”

Su Yi didn’t linger on the subject. Instead, he glanced at Mu Xi and the others. “From this day forth, you are to remain here.”

All of them agreed.

The Cloudstone Venerate and Lan Suo lingered a while longer before bidding their farewells.

That night.

Word of the elderly Daoist forcing Mu Xi and his companions to kneel at the House of Falling Petals, effectively pointing his spear at Su Yi, spread throughout the Jade Capital, stirring up an enormous commotion.