First Immortal of the Sword

The boundless song of the conch filled the air.

The beating of the drums was deep and resonant.

The combination filled the air with solemn austerity.

The grand military procession resembled that of a monarch surveying his domain.

This is undoubtedly a yao faction, and of the thirty-six yao cultivators on parade, nine are in the Spiritual Manifestation Realm! Meng Jinghai, Gu Shandu, Fu Yunkong, and the other illustrious attendees were beside themselves with surprise.

They detected quite a few clues at a glance, and they realized that this procession’s origins weren’t simple.

The numerous factions gathered here had an extremely limited number of Spiritual Manifestation Realm experts.

The Wrath of Heaven Sect was now one of the Great Qin’s peak-level factions, but it only had eight Spiritual Manifestation experts in total.

Yet now, just the military procession creating a path for the grand chariot following it had nine Spiritual Manifestation Realm experts. Who wouldn’t have been surprised?

“That Molten Gold Lion is actually rather decent…” Su Yi’s gaze directly skipped over the procession and landed on the enormous lion-headed, elephant-bodied, golden-furred beast pulling the chariot.

Molten Gold Lions had innate control over fire and light, and they delighted in consuming treasures containing metal elemental aura. Their power was limitless, and they were ferocious as could be. 

This particular Molten Gold Lion was already in the Spiritual Incarnation Realm; it was no weaker than the black flood dragon, Ying Que!

The dirty little beast is actually worthy of protecting our sect’s gates, albeit just barely, thought Su Yi.

As he pondered, the military procession of yao cultivations stopped in the sky, not far from Cloudwave Plateau.

The curly-bearded elder at the forefront lowered his conch, then turned and faced the carriage with a bow. “My lord, we’ve reached Cloud Terrace Spirit Mountain!”

His voice spread throughout the sea of clouds, booming like thunder.

A lazy voice emanated from within the carriage. “Is the Cloud Terrace Assembly over?” 

The tall, stalwart drummer swept his gaze across Pinewave Plateau, then turned and said respectfully, “My lord, those cultivators are still here.”

This declaration made Meng Jinghai and the others’ hearts clench.

They suddenly realized that this procession of yao cultivators was here for the assembly too!

Another voice, this one coy, enticing, and sweet, said, “His Lordship says that we’re here to do good. Shuo Meng, go ahead and explain to them why we’re here. I trust they’ll make a rational choice.”

It was now clear that there was more than just one person within the ornate carriage.

“Yes, ma’am!” The tall, stalwart man, Shuo Meng, solemnly acknowledged these orders.

He turned, and his mountainous figure stood proudly amidst the clouds. His naked upper body looked firm as metal, as if he’d been forged out of bronze, and his bulging, rock-hard muscles were full of shocking, explosive power.

His eyes flashed like cold lightning. Meng Jinghai and the other attendees’ expressions shifted beneath his gaze; all of them sensed a forceful, austere aura.

“Fellow Daoists, you need not panic. My lord has graced this place with his presence for one reason and one reason only,” Shuo Meng said expressionlessly. “I hope you’ll cooperate.”

Cooperate?

One word, and the illustrious guests all sensed that something was amiss. Their brows furrowed.

“Might I ask what your honorable master had in mind?” Meng Jinghai asked gravely.

Shuo Meng’s voice boomed like thunder. “His Lordship pities the masses, and detests nothing more than bloodshed and turmoil.

“When he learned that you’d gathered here to host a meeting, reach an agreement, and quell the flames of war, His Lordship was deeply gratified. Thus, he chose to come in person and extend a helping hand in your effort toward world peace.”

“....” He sounded so righteous that they’d have had to be idiots to believe a word of it. 

Meng Jinghai weighed his words carefully, then said, “Fellow Daoist, we’ve already finished our discussion and established a rule. We’ve decided that, starting today, we’ll bury the hatch—”

“How could a rule you made on your own count for anything?” interrupted Shuo Meng. “Besides, what if one of you breaks the rule? Who will enforce it?”

The gathered experts furrowed their brows. All of them could tell that Shuo Meng’s so-called “lordship” was intent on intervening.

“Then… Might I ask your lord’s esteemed view on the matter?” Meng Jinghai asked gravely.

Shuo Meng didn’t even pause to think. “It won’t be difficult. Starting today, all you need to do is submit to His Lordship and obey his commands. That way, no one in the Great Zhou, Wei, or Qin will dare act wantonly, and there will be no further bloodshed or turmoil.”

Everyone’s expressions shifted dramatically in response.

Indeed, he was here with ill intentions!

Shuo Meng said calmly, “You need not worry. His Lordship is doing this out of consideration for you and your factions. If you become his subordinates, we’ll all be on the same side, and you’ll receive your share of the benefits.”

Meng Jinghai and the others’ expressions were already dark and overcast.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".

Who’d have thought that just as the curtains were about to set on the Cloud Terrace Assembly, a powerful faction of yao cultivators would show up out of nowhere?

And they even planned to force everyone present to submit!

“And if we don’t agree?” Fu Yunkong of the Great Wei’s Spirit Firmament Sword Pavillion asked gravely.

Shuo Meng couldn’t help but grin, and he said gravely, “Those who do not agree wish to bring ruin to the populace. Out of consideration for the common good, we must eliminate these harbingers of disaster!”

His voice boomed like thunder, and he spoke with air or righteousness.

This caused uproar among the gathered higher-ups, and their expressions shifted.

Only Su Yi remained as calm as ever. I wonder where this faction of yao cultivators came from? They’ve got quite the appetite.

“Dare I ask your lord’s honorable name and surname, and which faction you represent?” Meng Jinghai asked gravely.

Shuo Meng said with the utmost respect and solemnity, “His Lordship is the Holy Son of the Holy Church of the Caterpillar. His Daoist name is Qing Yuan!”

The Holy Church of the Caterpillar?

The Holy Son, Qing Yuan?

Meng Jinghai and the others looked at each other in confusion. When did this faction appear?

Su Yi was stunned too. The Holy Church of the Caterpillar?

The word “caterpillar” made him unwittingly recall a certain someone: the Divine Monarch of Tragedy!

The pitiful bird was trapped in a place called the Den of Caterpillars.

Could the Holy Church of the Caterpillar be connected to the Divine Monarch of Tragedy? 

When this thought occurred to Su Yi, he found himself suddenly intrigued.

Back in the Great Zhou’s Ninebends City, he met the one who called himself the “Divine Monarch of Tragedy” through a spatial node in the form of a blood-colored vortex.

It was then that Su Yi realized that this was undoubtedly a nine-headed bird, an unmatched vicious creature. However, the Divine Monarch of Tragedy was trapped in a place called “the Den of Caterpillars.”

Afterward, on his way to the Great Zhou, he clashed with the Firewood Daoist and his heretical cultivators on Floating Immortal Ridge. They summoned another blood-vortex spatial node to perform a blood sacrifice, through which Su Yi met the Divine Monarch of Tragedy once more.

He still remembered their conversation. Su Yi probed for further details, and realized that the Divine Monarch’s vitality was severely damaged. 

Furthermore, the Den of Caterpillars was a barren, perilous place.

In order to catch this “big fish”, Su Yi tossed the first scroll of the Refining Void Malevolent Incantation into the blood vortex.

And indeed, the fish took the bait.

The Divine Monarch of Tragedy was incomparably tempted by this secret art, and he requested the remainder of the technique.

However, Su Yi refused. He said that when the Divine Monarch of Tragedy changed his tune and shared his origins and experiences honestly and in detail, Su Yi would consider giving him the remainder of the technique.

But against all expectations, months had passed, and the Divine Monarch of Tragedy had yet to contact him.

As Su Yi pondered, that coquettish voice rang out from within the ornate carriage once more. “Shuo Meng, His Lordship said that we’re here to do good, but if they don’t know what’s good for them, we can just kill them to avoid wasting time.”

She had a sweet, charming voice, but when she spoke, the atmosphere was suddenly tense and oppressive.

Meng Jinghai and the other experts were both stunned and furious.

“Everyone, it’s time for you to make a choice.” Shuo Meng’s eyes flashed like lightning and his aura was imposing as he swept his gaze over everyone on Pinewave Plateau. 

It was then that the conch-blowing elder said slowly, “Should it come to a fight, this old man guarantees that even if you fight together… you won’t be any match for us.”

He was covered in silver scales, and a snow-white horn grew from his forehead. He, too, was domineering to the extreme.

Following this declaration, the other yao cultivators all looked toward the group gathered on Pinewave Plateau. They looked ready and raring to go, and they were rubbing their hands together with anticipation. 

The atmosphere was increasingly tense and murderous.

Meng Jinghai and the others tensed, and they felt a chill in their hands and feet. They were alarmed and furious as could be.

This calamity had come out of nowhere; they weren’t even remotely prepared for it.

Furthermore, they could tell that if they dared refuse, the yao cultivators of the “Holy Church of the Caterpillar” really would just attack!

What were they supposed to do?

Meng Jinghai subconsciously glanced at Su Yi.

When the others saw this, they suddenly reacted. They, too, turned to look at Su Yi.

Hm?

Shuo Meng, the curly-bearded elder, and the other yao cultivators realized what was happening and looked over. 

However, when they recognized Su Yi’s aura, they were dumbstruck. A Gathering Stars Realm kid?

What’s going on?

They then watched as Meng Jinghai took a deep breath, faced Su Yi, and bowed. When he spoke, he sounded ashamed. “Young Lord Su, the situation leaves us little choice. If possible, I hope you’ll lend us your aid!”

When the others saw this, they all bowed to Su Yi too.

“Fellow Daoist Su, please lend us your aid!” Their voices emanated from Pinewave Plateau, echoing throughout heaven and earth.

Shuo Meng and the other yao cultivators were flabbergasted. They almost dared not believe their eyes.

Were the leaders and top experts of the various cultivation factions really requesting aid from a young man in the Gathering Stars Realm? What on earth for?

“Master, earlier, none of these people treated you with this kind of respect. Now that they’re in danger, they’re acting like you’re their savior, and they want you to stick out your neck on their behalf. It’s truly a bit self-serving,” Yuan Heng frowned and transmitted at top speeds. 

“When the weak are helpless, they’ll instinctively gather around the strong. There’s nothing strange about it,” Su Yi said calmly.

He had no particular feelings about the matter. People went where the benefits were and avoided danger; it was in their nature.

However, when he saw this, the distant Shuo Meng couldn’t help but throw back his head and laugh uproariously.

“Hahaha! Everyone, look! Those guys are letting some Gathering Stars Realm kid make the decision! I’ve never seen anything so ridiculous before!”

His unbridled laughter reverberated throughout the clouds.