First Immortal of the Sword

It was just as Weng Jiu first lamented. Su Yi might seem aloof from worldly affairs, but in truth, his pride was bone deep.

Even if the skies fell and the earth collapsed, even if the whole world stood against him, he wouldn’t be the least bit concerned.

However, threatening the safety of those around him was like touching a dragon’s reverse scale!  

It didn’t matter who you were. Even if you were a god, Su Yi would cut you down without the slightest hesitation.

The heavy and oppressive atmosphere made Xia Qingyuan’s hair stand on end. “Brother Su, the situation hasn’t gone so far awry that there’s no room to turn things around.”

Su Yi nodded. “Xia Linyuan doesn’t wish to get involved? That, I can understand. But why would he do this?”

Xia Qingyuan said gravely, “He told the ancient factions that before the imperial family made its position clear, it wouldn’t let you leave Nine Tripod City unauthorized.”

“That’s not ‘maintaining a neutral position,’” said Su Yi. “It doesn’t matter if they’re putting pressure on him or if he’s simply disregarding me completely. He’ll pay for what he’s done.”

He spoke casually, but the iciness of his apparent calm was enough to make one shudder.

Xia Qingyuan hesitated. “Brother Su, actually… When my father left half a month ago, he left something in reserve just in case. However, I’m afraid not even he could have anticipated that the third elder would act so quickly…”

Su Yi said thoughtfully, “Did your father leave intentionally?”

Xia Qingyuan nodded. “He said that although the Radiant Epoch is not yet truly upon us, the world is showing signs of increasing upheaval. If the Great Xia’s imperial family is to continue in perpetuity, there’s something he must do.”

Su Yi seemed to guess something, and his eyebrows shot up. “Scraping poison off the bone?”

Xia Qingyuan was stunned. She exclaimed, “Brother Su, you’ve already guessed it?”

“To fight the outside world, one must first secure what lies within one’s borders. If major factions wish to remain standing as the world changes without, they must first eliminate the cancer within,’” Su Yi said casually.

“Under ordinary circumstances, these ‘tumors’ seem harmless. However, in the face of pressure, they’ll act up. Some will collude with enemies and assist them from the inside. Others will seize any opportunity to seize power, while others are so spineless that they’ll run away at the first sign of pressure…”

Su Yi paused here. He couldn’t help but lament, “Throughout history, numerous peak orthodoxies have fallen, not because their opponents were too powerful, but because of the cancer in their own ranks!”

Xia Qingyuan said in complete agreement, “My father said much the same thing.”

She paused here, then continued, “Furthermore, he said with certainty that so long as he wasn’t around, when the curtains fell on the expedition to Sumeru Immortal Island, those malignant tumors wouldn’t be able to resist jumping out. However, I’m afraid not even my father could have anticipated that the third elder would be in such a rush…”

With an inscrutable expression on his face, Su Yi said, “Your father must have been certain that, with my temperament, I would kill quite a few monsters of the ancient era on Sumeru Immortal Island, thereby causing a storm. Thus… He used me to test the imperial family.”

Xia Qingyuan’s heart clenched, and she said hurriedly, “Brother Su, there’s no way my father meant it like that!”

Su Yi said, “I’m naturally well aware that those weren’t his intentions. He’s merely taking advantage of the waves to cleanse the imperial family of its filth.”

Xia Qingyuan instantly relaxed quite a bit. She then took out a sealed letter and passed it to Su Yi. “Brother Su, my father gave me this before his departure. He instructed me to give it to you if this incident displeased you.”

Su Yi opened the letter, and found that there was only one sentence written on it: “The imperial family of the Great Xia will forever stand by Fellow Daoist Su!”

The strokes were bold and vigorous, and the ink bled through the page. 

Su Yi’s eyebrows shifted, and he put away the letter. “Your father has his plans, but since I’ve gotten dragged into this… I’m afraid I won’t be able to wait until he gets back to resolve this.”

Xia Qingyuan’s heart shook. “Brother Su, don’t tell me you want to…”

“Didn’t Xia Linyuan invite me over tomorrow? Then I’ll just go see him,” said Su Yi casually.

Xia Qingyuan stood there in a daze for a while. Suddenly, she blinked, then grinned like a fox. “Then, I’ll be sure to show up and watch the show tomorrow.”

“You anticipated this, didn’t you?” Su Yi glanced at the crafty, beautiful young woman.

Xia Qingyuan giggled. “I thought about it on the way here. ‘What will Brother Su do when he finds out about this?’ I figured that, with your temperament, you couldn’t possibly just endure in silence.”

“Then was your earlier concern just an act?” teased Su Yi.

Xia Qingyuan shook her head. “No, actually. My only concern was that you’d misunderstand my father. That’s the reason I came here tonight.”

Su Yi smiled but said nothing.

……

The second day of the eleventh lunar month.

Early in the morning, the cold was as sharp as a knife. A bone-piercing chill hung in the air.

Su Yi got up early, practiced his fist technique, washed up, and ate, as he always did.

“I’m going to Mount Heavenbristle for a visit. I’ll be back shortly,” said Su Yi. He then headed out of Azurecloud Court.

“Brother Su, what are you going there for?” Wen Xinzhao asked curiously. 

“I’m going to bring Yuan Heng and Miss Bai back,” said Su Yi. As he spoke, he was already leaving the courtyard. “Right, prepare some food and drinks for lunch to welcome them back.”

“Alright.” Yue Shichan promptly agreed.

Wen Xinzhao asked in confusion, “Big Sister Shichan, why does something seem not quite right here?”

Yue Shichan’s gaze was as calm as a stagnant pool. “Do you think Brother Su will run into danger?”

“Of course not,” said Wen Xinzhao without so much as pausing to think.

“Then there’s naturally no need to worry about anything,” said Yue Shichan.

Wen Xinzhao couldn’t argue with that.

….

Mount Heavenbristle.

The residence of the Solar King.

“Everyone, when Su Yi gets here, make sure to be polite. After all, His Majesty once thought highly of the boy, and his strength is truly heaven-defying. We cannot be negligent when it comes to etiquette,” said Xia Linyuan slowly from his elevated seat at the center of the room.

He looked hale and hearty, with bright eyes, robes embroidered with dragons, and a poised, majestic bearing.

There were five other prominent members of the imperial family in attendance, and when they heard this, they all nodded. However, they didn’t take the warning to heart.

Even if Su Yi were far more heaven-defying, more than ten ancient factions had set their sights on him. He wouldn’t be able to jump around much longer!

He was about to die. What need was there to concern themselves with him?

When he saw this, Xia Linyuan’s eyes flashed. “Also, I sent someone to inform the emissaries of the ancient orthodoxies, and they’re already on their way. When Su Yi arrives, I plan to announce the imperial family’s stance to them directly.”

Someone couldn’t help but ask, “We’re announcing it today already?”

“How could we delay a matter of such importance?” said Xia Linyuan calmly. “Everyone, you saw it last night. Quite a few members of the imperial family oppose this decision. Delays will only lead to trouble. To prevent this, it’s better to get it over with quickly.”

The crowd nodded.

Indeed, the storm Su Yi had caused was intensifying, and more and more citizens of Nine Tripod City were paying attention.

Given the circumstances, it was naturally best that they removed the imperial family from the storm sooner rather than later.

Someone announced from outside the hall, “Third Elder, Her Highness, Xia Qingyuan, has arrived.”

“Let her in,” Xia Linyuan said casually.

Before long, the fair young woman in a pale green dress walked in. Xia Qingyuan smiled and said, “Third Elder, I’m just here to watch the excitement, assuming you don’t mind.”

Xia Linyuan laughed. “How could I mind? Find a spot and have a seat.”

Xia Qingyuan nodded, then found a seat relatively far away. Her bright eyes evaluated the other members of the imperial family present.

She muttered to herself, These are the people Brother Su called ‘poisonous tumors.’ 

Before long, some announced the arrival of the emissaries of the various ancient factions. 

“This way, please!” Xia Linyuan said in a low voice.

Before long, a dozen or so people entered the hall. There were both men and women, and all had an extraordinary martial bearing. Without exception, they were in the Spiritual Manifestation Realm.

The leader was middle-aged. He wore purple robes and a feather headdress, and a sheathed sword hung at his waist.

His name was Huan Tianhe, and he was an elder of the Demonic Huan Family.

As soon as he arrived, he scanned the hall and frowned. “Brother Xia, didn’t you say Su Yi would come today at dawn?”

Xia QIngyuan rose with a smile. “Fellow Daoist Huan, please, be patient and take a seat. For now.”

“Fine, we’ll wait for now.” Huan Tianhe waved and led the emissaries inside. All of them took their seats.

Just watching this, Xia Qingyuan felt uncomfortable. Aren’t these old farts a bit too brazen?

Even more infuriatingly, Third Elder is welcoming them with a smile!

“Brother Xia, we all have some understanding of the imperial family’s attitude. I must say, you’ve made the rational choice,” said Huan Tianhe slowly, with a reserved smile on his face. “When Su Yi arrives, there’s something we’d like to ask of you. It’s a presumptuous request, but we hope you’ll agree.”

Xia Linyuan smiled. “There’s no harm in asking.”

“We hope to borrow the power of the imperial family’s Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation to suppress Su Yi.”

What!?

Xia Linyuan and the other imperial family higher-ups all reacted to this pronouncement.

Theft is never good, try looking at [ pawread dot com ].

Xia Qingyuan’s pupils silently constricted, and she was inwardly furious. Bastard! You’ve actually set your sights on our clan’s core defensive formation?

You must die for this!

Huan Tianhe smiled faintly, then continued, “Of course, we merely plan to borrow it. Once we’ve dealt with Su Yi, we’ll naturally give the imperial family adequate compensation.”

Xia Linyuan’s expression filled with uncertainty. “Brother Heng, I only promised that the imperial family would maintain its neutrality. If I agree to your request, how is that any different from getting directly involved?”

Huan Tianhe’s brow furrowed. “Brother Xia, so long as you agree, the thirteen factions represented here will never forget the imperial family’s benevolence. This can only benefit the Xia Family, and it won’t harm you in any way.

“However, if you refuse, you’ll deeply disappoint us. I hope you consider this carefully!” 

His words contained a hint of an implied threat.

The emissaries of the other factions all looked at Xia Linyuan.

In the face of this invisible pressure, Xia Linyuan’s expression shifted repeatedly, and he sank into silence.

Not far away, Xia Qingyuan sighed to herself. This is what happens to those without a backbone!

The moment you show weakness, they’ll start demanding more and more. They’ll walk all over you!