First Immortal of the Sword

The middle-aged man in simple cloth robes burst into laughter. “Lass, you lied to me first. I just went with the flow.”

The girl in the blue-green dress fumed, “Fine! Hurry up and tell me why someone so lofty would bring up Su Yi out of the blue?”

The middle-aged man thought back to his first meeting with Su Yi outside of the city gates and everything that had happened over the past few days. Despite himself, his expression shifted inscrutably. “It’s a long story.”

The girl batted her beautiful eyes. “Then take your time.”

“Alright. Tonight, let’s have ourselves a nice chat as father and daughter.” The middle-aged man casually sat off to the side and took out a jar of wine.

His daughter sat obediently by his side.

The night gradually deepened. The peak of Mount Heavenbristle was shrouded in a sea of clouds. Everything was still and silent.

The only sound was a conversation between father and daughter. One asked, and the other answered.

A long time passed before the girl learned of everything Su Yi had done since arriving in Nine Tripod City. Her exquisitely-crafted little face was full of bewilderment.

So, that guy has already gotten this strong?

And even Father seems to admire him immensely. This is just too unbelievable…

“Father, why are you only telling me all this now?” the girl couldn’t help but ask.

A hint of tenderness appeared in his gaze. “It’s simple. I wanted to see just what kind of person Su Yi was, and why you thought him worth entrusting with your mother’s dragon sparrow jade pendant.”

The girl looked a bit uncomfortable. She whispered, “Father, you’re overthinking this. Brother Su and I are just friends. We overcame life-and-death tribulations together, and we drank and rejoiced together. I gave him the pendant, but that was just because I was worried people would bully him when he came to the Great Xia…”

As he watched his daughter lower her head, almost as if she were guilty, the middle-aged man’s expression turned a bit strange. Why does it seem like she’s trying to hide something?

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The middle-aged man thought for a moment, then said gently, “Lass, regardless of how you feel about Su Yi, as your father, all I want to say in this. In some ways, Su Yi and your mother are much the same type of person. Both have unknown origins and abilities beyond the bounds of common sense…”

He paused here, his expression suddenly forlorn and melancholy. When he next spoke, he sounded gloomy. “But as you can see, your mother and I… couldn’t accompany each other for the rest of our lives.”

The girl in the blue-green dress was stunned. “Father, didn’t you say Mom left involuntarily?”

The middle-aged man nodded. “Yes, but have you considered this? With the power and talent Su Yi’s displayed thus far, and should he strive for greater heights of the Grand Dao, he cannot possibly spend the rest of his life on the Azure Continent.”

The girl’s eyelashes fluttered, and she fell silent.

The middle-aged man gently patted her shoulders. “I would hate to see you follow in my footsteps in this regard.”

“I understand, Father.” The girl nodded.

“No, you don’t, but… It won’t be too late if you understand later. No matter what, as your father, I’ll protect you for the rest of my life,” said the middle-aged man with a smile.

His daughter smiled sweetly back. “I knew you doted on me most of all!”

…..

Late that night.

A little restaurant somewhere in Nine Tripod City.

It was getting late, and the diners left, one after another. Only a few scattered drunkards remained

Ge Qian sat there daydreaming and dressed like a waiter, his expression filled with uncertainty.

“Old man, I might have disguised myself, and I might be using a pseudonym, but as soon as I participate in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly, the old-timers in the audience will surely be able to discern my true appearance,” muttered Ge Qian. “If that were all, it’d be one thing, but what if someone discovers you? That would be awful!”

A moment later, an infuriated voice resounded from within Ge Qian’s sea of consciousness. “Are you chickening out at the last minute? Again?”

Ge Qian furrowed his brow. “You can’t put it like that! I’m doing this out of consideration for you, aren’t I?”

“Drop the nonsense!” The old-timer shot back, “At the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly, there’ll be no shortage of people with secrets! What monster of the ancient era or genius of the present day doesn’t have any secrets? Even if someone discovers me, there’s no need to worry.”

The old man paused, then continued, “Besides, this is a rare opportunity. If we go to Sumeru Immortal Island, we might well find a stroke of fortune grand enough to treat my injuries! No matter what, you have to get your hands on a Sumeru Talisman!”

Ge Qian felt a headache coming on. “Can I… just not go?”

“No!”

“I really can’t stay home?”

“Not even if you kill me!”

“Fine.” In the end, Ge Qian could only grimace, hold his nose, and endure.

…..

Dawn, the morning of the twenty-fifth. 

This was the day the curtains opened on the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly.

It wasn’t yet light out, but the streets were already teeming with cultivators. All of them were headed east.

The Orchid Terrace was the largest ritual ground and arena in all of Nine Tripod City. It had always been under the control of the imperial family, and it was large enough to contain tens of thousands of people. 

Rumor had it that a long time ago, the ancestor of the Great Xia’s imperial family, Emperor Yu of the Nine Tripods, built this place. It was specifically intended to provide scions of the imperial clan with a place to cultivate and spar.

Today, it would serve as the venue for the event the whole world was paying attention to: the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly.

“This unprecedented grand occasion is finally about to begin!”

Some people were excited. 

“I just wonder whether the champion will be a monster of the ancient era or a genius of the present day?”

Others were eager.

“Over ten thousand cultivators are participating, but in the end, only thirty will receive a Sumeru Talisman. The competition is sure to be fierce!”

….The city was lively even this early in the morning. There were cultivators everywhere, all of them streaming east. They surged through the spider-web-like streets and allies, all of them headed to the same place.

Azurecloud Court.

After eating and drinking his fill, Su Yi sprawled out in his wicker chair.

“Brother Su, what would you like to eat today? I’ll make it for you when I get back,” said Yue Shichan gently.

Her clothes were whiter than snow, and Cicada’s Heart was strapped to her back. Her delicate figure stood beneath the light of dawn, as graceful as if she’d walked out of a painting.

Su Yi laughed. “Why worry about that? You can just focus on the competition.”

“A calm follows every storm. Don’t you say that all the time?” Yue Shichan blinked her starry eyes.

Su Yi had nothing to say to that.

“Master, Miss Shichan and I are heading out.” Yuan Heng had already finished preparing, and he was raring to go.

Su Yi watched them fade from view, rested a while longer, and returned to his room to cultivate, as was his habit.

The Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly was a grand occasion. The whole world was paying attention.

The participants included famous geniuses of the present day, but also monsters of the ancient era with mysterious origins and terrifyingly firm foundations. Some were powerful and influential enough to shake entire regions…

Even those unqualified to participate were beside themselves with eagerness.

However, Su Yi couldn’t work up even the slightest interest.

He wasn’t the kind to be the only sober man at a party, judging everyone else for being drunk. He wasn’t putting on airs; he just thought occasions of this sort were boring. They were far less meaningful than tranquil cultivation.

Around noon.

Su Yi left Azurecloud Court, walked right up to the Apricot Blossom House, the restaurant diagonally across the street. He ordered their signature dish, a bowl of vegetarian noodles, and ate with great relish.

Business was poor today, and the shopkeeper was in low spirits. Almost everyone in the city had already gone to watch the grand spectacle.

After eating, Su Yi was just about to pay and leave when the shopkeeper couldn’t help but ask, “Young Lord, it’s obvious at a glance that you’re a cultivator. Why not head east and see what’s happening at the Orchid Terrace?”

Su Yi laughed. “All that commotion pales in comparison to a bowl of your noodles.”

With that, he put his hands behind his back and left.

After a brief daze, the shopkeeper couldn’t help but sneer. A bowl of vegetarian noodles is enough to satisfy him? This young man has no ambition at all!

As dusk fell, the skies looked as if they were on fire.

Nine Tripod City was incomparably lively. Every teahouse and restaurant, every street and alleyway, and even the gambling dens and brothels were full of conversation. Without exception, everyone was discussing the glorious battles that took place today at the Orchid Terrace.

The city was significantly more boisterous than usual.

Azurecloud Court.

Both Yue Shichan and Yuan Heng returned victorious, and both looked relaxed.

They joined Su Yi in the courtyard, drinking and describing everything that had happened today.

Su Yi showed no sign of impatience. He just listened in silence.

When it was starting to get late, Su Yi ordered, “You two should rest up. In the days to come, the battles will only get fiercer, and your opponents will get stronger and stronger.”

He then returned to his room to continue his cultivation. 

Over the past few days, since no trivial affairs disturbed him, his cultivation proceeded quickly. He was now just one step away from the late-stage Origin Palace Realm.

Morning the next day.

Yuan Heng and Yue Shichan set out once more.

Su Yi’s life remained unchanged. It was as if the attention-grabbing battles unfolding on stage had absolutely nothing to do with him.

However, when they returned that night, both Yuan Heng and Yue Shichan’s faces were full of unconcealable excitement.

Yuan Heng immediately informed Su Yi that today, he sensed energy fluctuations identical to those of the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra!

This immediately piqued Su Yi’s interest. “Does that mean Ge Qian is participating in the Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly?” 

Yuan Heng nodded. “Yes, but he’s using a fake name. He calls himself ‘Ge Changling.’”

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “What an unfilial little punk! He dares parade ostentatiously about under his master’s name?”

As soon as he said this, he seemed to realize something, and he shot outside of Azurecloud Court.

Whoosh!

Practically simultaneously, Su Yi’s divine sense spread out, instantly enveloping the surrounding streets.

The flow of human traffic never ceased.

Su Yi’s divine sense keenly picked up on a distant figure in apricot-yellow Daoist robes. He seemed to be fleeing, and he quickly disappeared into the crowd.

“Just as I thought. Ge Qian sensed Yuan Heng’s energy fluctuations too and tailed him in secret.” A smile rife with hidden meaning tugged at the corners of Su Yi’s lips.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Su Yi dared say with certainty that he wouldn’t need to seek Ge Qian out. Now that Ge Qian knew that someone else in this world practiced the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra too, cowardly and cautious as he was, there was no way Ge Qian would simply run away.

On the contrary: sooner or later, he’d come knocking on their door of his own volition!