First Immortal of the Sword

Wen Xinzhao fell silent, then said, “Martial Uncle Zhang, can I share what you just said with Su Yi?”

Zhang Yuntao was stunned, and his gaze was conflicted. “Xinzhao, you… Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Su Yi?”

He was flabbergasted, and his heart ached.

They’d only known Su Yi for a few days, but the most dazzling genius of Cloudsky Divine Palace’s younger generation, the Little Sword Demon, had already fallen prey to Su Yi’s charms! He’d practically stolen her heart away!

Wen Xinzhao’s beautiful face froze, and her cheeks heated up. “Martial Uncle Zhang, it’s not like you think. I just respect Fellow Daoist Su’s abilities and way of conducting himself. I have enormous admiration….”

Before she could continue, Zhang Yuntao sighed and waved for silence. “Xinzhao, I don’t care whether or not you tell Su Yi, but there’s something I must warn you about.”

Wen Xinzhao said, “Martial Uncle Zhang, please tell me directly.”

“I hope that you can think this through and make a decision. As one of our disciples, should the sect truly decide to oppose Su Yi, what will you do?” With that, Zhang Yuntao turned and left.

Wen Xinzhao’s beautiful face was full of uncertainty. A long time passed before she sighed, turned, and went to look for Su Yi.

……

Su Yi was in his room, sprawled out in his wicker chair as he listened to Wen Xinzhao. He couldn’t help but nod. “Your Martial Uncle Zhang is right. If a sect cannot defend its members, it's doomed to fall.”

“If I were a sect master and I found out my sect’s disciples were murdered, I wouldn't let it go so easily either,” he added.

“Brother Su, you really aren’t afraid?” Wen Xinzhao was a bit confused. She saw no trace of anxiety on his face at all. He was so calm that it seemed a divine mountain could crumble in front of him and he wouldn’t even bat an eye.

Su Yi smiled and said casually, “I said it, didn’t I? If Cloudsky Divine Palace becomes my enemy, they’ll have to bear the consequences.”

He then glanced at Wen Xinzhao and said gently, “You needn’t let this incident trouble you. Even if you have no choice but to sever our connection on account of your sect, I won’t fault you.”

Wen Xinzhao sighed. “I couldn’t do something like that. I thought it through earlier; if the sect really decides to oppose you, all I can do is remain uninvolved.”

When he saw the worry on this peerless celestial beauty of a young woman’s face, Su Yi couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. He paused, then said, “How about this? Later on, if I get the chance, I’ll pay your Cloudsky Divine Palace a visit and resolve this problem personally. 

Wen Xinzhao’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed, “Brother Su, do you plan to kill your way into Cloudsky Divine Palace?”

Su Yi was at a loss for words. He shook his head. “I’m just going to visit and compare strengths. In simple terms, we’ll fight to see whose fist is bigger. Afterward, I trust Cloudsky Divine Palace will make a rational decision.”

He said this as casually as if he were discussing the weather, but his words went off like thunderclaps in Wen Xinzhao’s heart!

Throughout the Great Xia, who else beneath the heavens dared stand before the gates of Cloudsky Divine Palace and demand a contest of strength?

She feared not even a Spirit Dao cultivator would have such courage!

Yet Su Yi made it sound like a paltry, insignificant affair barely worth mentioning. It didn’t sound like he was bragging, either. No, it seemed like this really was an easily-fixed minor problem…

After a brief daze, a hint of anticipation arose inexplicably within Wen Xinzhao’s heart. Her eyes lit up, and she said, “Brother Su, in that case, I’ll be really looking forward to the day you arrive on Cloudsky Divine Mountain and display your divine majesty!”

Cloudsky Divine Mountain was the home of Cloudsky Divine Palace. It was a famous, blessed ground, a holy land for cultivation that most throughout history could only dream of!

If, one day, Su Yi really did single-handedly suppress Cloudsky Divine Palace, how impressive would that be?

Su Yi said distractedly, “What’s there to look forward to? You ought to focus on pursuing the Dao of the Sword instead.”

Wen Xinzhao couldn’t help but smile, looking as charmingly beautiful as flowers blossoming after the rain. 

The more time she spent with Su Yi, the more she understood that this handsome young man from the Great Zhou had a certain magic about him. Beneath his calm, detached exterior, his pride was carved into his very bones.

His pride didn’t always show on the surface, and he disdained to argue with anyone. 

However, when you really got to know him, and when you realized the extent of his intelligence and the loftiness of his attainments in the Dao of the Sword, you’d understand on a visceral level that his pride came from absolute confidence in his own abilities. His pride was nothing like that of a thoughtless braggart. 

……

The road ahead was calm, with no major obstacles.

Selling off the Jadeseed Spirit Chrysalis had netted Su Yi an enormous amount of wealth. The cultivation resources alone were enough to last him until he reached the Origin palace Realm. He could also use the spiritual materials and spirit jades to temper the Abstruse God Sword and refine talismans of shocking power.

In short, Su Yi wouldn’t have to worry about cultivation resources for a while. At least, he wouldn’t have to worry before reaching the Origin Palace Realm.

The atmosphere on board had changed of late.

Ren Youyou had already learned of her apprentice brothers’ deaths. Apparently, the news left her so shocked that the blood drained from her face, and she stood there in a daze for quite some time.

From that moment forth, she shut herself in her room, as if she feared nothing more than bumping into Su Yi.

Zhang Yuntao was similarly silent. He, too, tried to avoid any possible interaction with Su Yi, but he did occasionally have a chat with Wen Xinzhao.

Su Yi, however, acted as if none of this had anything to do with him. When he wasn’t cultivating, he was instructing Wen Xinzhao’s cultivation of the Dao of the Sword.

Late at night, when he got lonely, he’d call Qing Wan out, and the two of them would chat and drink.

However, most of the time, he talked and Qing Wan listened.

Even Su Yi couldn’t help but admit that Qing Wan was an extremely likable listener. When they were together, he could cast aside his reservations and talk freely about whatever was on his mind.

Qing Wan was happy too. She liked how Su Yi looked when he drank and spoke freely

Of course, every time Su Yi brought up embarrassing matters like dual cultivation, Qing Wan couldn’t help but feel bashful, and her cheeks reddened. 

Seven days passed in a flash.

They spent one of these days in the Bright Province, where they stopped at a city that produced an abundance of spiritual materials. Su Yi seized the opportunity to stock up on the basic materials needed for refining talismans.

The other six days, they continued ahead.

Only now did Su Yi realize just how vast the Great Xia’s territory was. 

They began their journey near the Great Xia’s southern border, and they’d flown ever since. They weren’t moving particularly quickly, but they’d been flying for almost ten days already.

However, they’d still only crossed three provinces.

According to Wen Xinzhao, it would be at least two more weeks before they arrived in the Azure Province, when the Great Xia’s imperial capital, Nine Tripod City, was located. 

Of course, this was somewhat related to the treasure ship’s slow flight speed.

Traveling by ship was comfortable, but it was far slower than even an ordinary Grain Avoidance cultivator’s flight speed.

However, Su Yi was in no rush, so this didn’t bother him at all.

Journeys were like life itself. If you rushed, you were sure to overlook the beautiful scenery along the way.

Cultivation was much the same. Striving for speed alone wouldn’t cut it; you couldn’t fixate on rapid breakthroughs. Instead, you had to proceed one step and a time for a stable foundation.

Late at night.

The Elephant Province, Broken Dragon Cliff.

The radiant moon hung overhead, and a vast, boundless river surged through the landscape below. The waves were like churning snow, and the moonlight was like scattered flecks of silver.

The treasure ship stopped on a mountaintop not far from Broken Dragon Cliff.

Aside from Ren Youyou, everyone disembarked. They lit a campfire, then ate, drank, and admired the moon from the mountaintop. As they surveyed the distant waters, they felt tranquil and at ease.

“They say that a long time ago, a black flood dragon lived within those waters. Its cultivation was profound and inscrutable, but it already had the potential to transform into a true dragon. Once every hundred years, it would emerge from the water and absorb the essence of the moon to temper its qi, blood, and fleshly body,” said Wen Xinzhao in her soothing, beautiful voice. 

“However, when the black flood dragon attempted to overcome its tribulation and become a true dragon, it encountered an unexpected development. A mighty sword cultivator crossed the river and attempted to seize its core while it underwent tribulation.

“In the end, atop Broken Dragon Cliff, the sword cultivator stabbed the black flood dragon’s skull. However, he was in turn devoured by the black flood dragon.

“The injured flood dragon didn’t just lose its chance at metamorphosis; the attempt left its body battered and broken, and it perished on the spot. The name 'Broken Dragon Cliff' comes from this legend, for they say that this is where the black flood dragon’s hopes of becoming a true dragon were ruined.”

Qing Ya felt awfully sorry for the black flood dragon’s misfortunate. 

Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing felt this even more deeply. They, too, were yao cultivators. They knew better than anyone that flood dragons were already terrifying existences among yao kind. They possessed shocking talent, and their bloodline was lofty and powerful. Ordinary yao couldn’t even begin to compare to them. 

But it was for this very reason that undergoing metamorphosis to become a true dragon was harder than ascending the heavens!

Cultivating was difficult enough, but that wasn’t all; even if they seized a rare, nigh-unattainable chance at metamorphosis, the following tribulation was unmatched and terrifying. They had little chance of survival.

“If the legend is true, that black flood dragon’s cultivation wasn’t at all simple. It had to be in the Spiritual Manifestation Realm at the very least. Furthermore, it must have already tempered its body until it grew a dragon’s horns, scaled claws, and ridged back. Having achieved that, it was just one grand tribulation away from breaking through and achieving the body of a true dragon, with draconic breath and majesty. Even then, it wouldn’t be a natural-born, pure-blooded true dragon, but it would still be far superior to the world’s flood dragons.” Su Yi took a sip of wine and said casually, “For that sword cultivator to have pierced its skull, he must have been in the Spiritual Manifestation Realm too. Otherwise, he could never have even gotten close to the black flood dragon.” 

Having said this, he couldn't help but shake his head. “Alas, that sword cultivator was ultimately just too stupid. When you kill a flood dragon, you have to start by cutting off its claws, then its tail. Next, you blind it and crush its horns. Once you’ve done all that, the flood dragon might still have its mighty cultivation, but it can only display half its power at best. In that state, you can kill it effortlessly.”

As the group listened, they were repeatedly dumbstruck.

They saw this as nothing but an insubstantial legend.

Who’d have thought Su Yi would directly discern so many secrets?

For instance, what cultivation and foundations a black flood dragon needed before attempting to become a true dragon, and the easiest way to attain victory…

“Big Brother Su Yi, you sure know a lot!” Qing Ya’s eyes sparkled, and she exclaimed, “If I didn’t know better, I’m afraid I’d think you’d really killed flood dragons before, Big Brother Su Yi.”

The others couldn’t help but feel rueful too. Su Yi was obviously just a young man in the Grain Avoidance Realm, yet it seemed like there was nothing he didn’t know.

When they heard him describe the secrets of cultivation, they couldn’t help but feel their horizons expanding, as if they’d been enlightened.

However, although none of them knew it, Su Yi hadn’t just killed flood dragons.

In his past life, he once skinned a dragon, removed its bones and plucked its sinews. He’d drunk wine brewed from dragon’s blood, and eaten phoenix marrow and the equally famous dragon liver….

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As they chatted, Su Yi suddenly sensed something. He arched his brow, then gazed into the distance.