First Immortal of the Sword

Yue Xingshan’s arrival filled the others’ hearts with dread. However, they weren’t willing to leave just like that.

This resulted in a stalemate.

How could Yue Xingshan fail to realize this?

He looked at the middle-aged man in dragon robes. “Might you do me a favor?”

The middle-aged man’s expression shifted erratically. After a while, he sighed. “Since you asked, Fellow Daoist Yue… How could we be so foolish as to refuse to take a step back?”

Yue Xingshan smiled faintly. “Many thanks.”

He then looked at Shun Shangliu and the other Cloudwater Sect cultivators. “Might you give up this opportunity too?”

Sun Shangliu’s eyelids twitched, but out loud, he said, “Brother Yue, if you please!”

Yue Xingshan couldn’t help but look pleased. “Many thanks!

Only then did he turn to look at Ye Xun. He laughed, “Friend, you can’t stir up trouble now. How about it? Are you willing to offer up that treasure?”

This long-established Spiritual Manifestation Realm cultivator of the Dragon Elephant Spirit Sect seemed elegant and composed, as if he were completely assured of his victory.

Ye Xun laughed too, then pelted him with curses. “You sure know how to fucking put on airs, huh? Why don’t you take a good hard look at yourself, shithead? You really think you can screw me over?”

Everyone was flabbergasted, and their faces were full of disbelief.

Wasn’t that a bit too coarse? He was like some hoodlum cursing in the streets!

Su Yi couldn’t help but facepalm.

If they knew that this was the Netherworld Asura Emperor, the founder of the Deathbringer’s Netherworld Palace, what would they think?

Yue Xingshan’s face was flushed red. His eyes bulged with anger, his hair and beard bristled, and he growled, “Bastard! You’re looking to get hurt!”

His aura boomed around him with forceful and imposing momentum. He suddenly raised his hand and was just about to attack.

Only for someone off in the distance to shout, “Stay your hand!”

Everyone froze, then looked over. A group was hurtling toward them.

The leader was a middle-aged man in black. This was none other than Guan Tieshan, and man Su Yi and Ye Xun met outside.

When Ye Xun saw him, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Brother-in-Law, I wouldn’t have guessed it, but that guy’s actually quite righteous!”

He still remembered that just before they entered the Glittering Ghost Domain, Guan Tieshan proclaimed that should they encounter trouble inside, they could give the offender his name.

At the time, Ye Xun was extremely disdainful. He thought Guan Tieshan was just putting on airs.

Who’d have thought that, at a time like this, Guan Tieshan would actually stand up for them?

“That so? Let’s wait and see,” Su Yi said calmly.

As he spoke, there was a disturbance amongst the crowd, and startled exclamations rang out.

“Experts of Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain!”

“Since when did ol’ Guan Tieshan manage to get in their good graces?”

The middle-aged man in dragon robes, Sun Shangliu, and their followers were all stunned when they saw the group behind Guan Tieshan.

They were, naturally, the young man in the feather coat, Chu Yunke, and the other Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain experts.

Yue Xingshan’s expression shifted dramatically. He promptly lowered his hand and bowed in greeting. “Yue Xingshan of the Incarnation of Stars Sect greets you, Your Excellencies!”

This long-established, experienced Spiritual Manifestation cultivator was now utterly awed and respectful. He was as humble as he could be, with none of this earlier elegance.

“Greetings, Your Excellencies!” Everyone else present hurriedly greeted them too. Without exception, their expressions revealed their awe.

Even in the face of such treatment, Chu Yunke’s expression remained as cold as ever. He merely nodded slightly, but he seemed proud. 

“No wonder that guy’s so outrageous. So, he’s got Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain backing him…” Ye Xun finally understood.

He naturally knew about Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain. Thirty thousand years ago, it was the world’s top faction of sword cultivators.

Its founder, the Seven Absolutes Sword Emperor, was a legendary expert of the Dao of the Sword.

However, the Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain disciples in front of him didn’t impress Ye Xun at all.

Besides, with Su Yi here, never mind the disciples of Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain; even if the king of heaven were here, Ye Xun wouldn’t so much as furrow his brow.

“So, we meet again, you two.” Guan Tieshan walked up and greeted them with a smile.

When they saw this, Yue Xingshan, Sun Shangliu, and the others couldn’t help but break out in cold sweats.

They suddenly realized that the pair they saw as fatty sheep were acquainted with Guan Tieshan!

Ye Xun laughed. “I wouldn’t have guessed it, but you’re actually quite capable.”

Guan Tieshan waved the compliment away and said solemnly, “Don’t say that. Today, I’m merely acting as an errand boy for the illustrious experts of Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain.”

Although he said this, his expression was full of smug pride.

Ye Xun laughed. “You might be an errand boy, but you’ve still intimidated this lot. Not just anyone can do that!”

“Guan Tieshan, don’t waste any more time,” said the white-haired elder beside Chu Yunke with a frown

Guan Tieshan stiffened, and he hurriedly nodded. “Got it!”

Then, he coughed dryly and said to Ye Xun, “Friend, as you can see, our arrival helped you avert a potentially fatal disaster, so… don’t you think you ought to express your gratitude?”

Ye Xun was stunned. Then, he raised the remnant of Electric Frost and said, “You’re here for this too?”

Guan Tieshan smiled. “His Excellency Chu Yunke is interested in that treasure fragment. It would be wonderful if you were willing to offer it to us.”

“Offer?” Ye Xun’s smile faded, and he sighed in disappointment. “And here I thought you were brave and righteous. So, it turns out you were just after this treasure too.”

Guan Tieshan instantly felt awkward, and he said in displeasure, “Friend, I just helped you avert disaster. How… How can you still talk to me like that? Quick, offer us the treasure. I’ve got important people with me. Don’t waste any more of their time!”

His tone already carried a clear threat and rebuke.

When they saw this, Yue Xingshan, Sun Shangliu, and the middle-aged man in dragon robes finally realized that earlier, they’d misunderstood. 

Guan Tieshan and the Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain experts weren’t here to save those two at all!

They couldn’t help but sigh to themselves.

With Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain experts around, how could they possibly have any hope of seizing that divine artifact fragment?

However, it was then that they saw Ye Xun pat Guan Tieshan on the back and say earnestly, “Ol’ Guan, you’re just an errand boy. Out of consideration for the good karma between us, I’ll give you an opportunity. Hurry up and leave. If you don’t, you might not die, but you’ll at least lose a layer of skin.”

“???” Guan Tieshan didn’t know what to make of that.

“....” Neither did the onlookers.

Is that unkempt old Daoist really insane?

If not, doesn’t he realize what kind of situation he’s in? Doesn’t he understand that giving up the treasure fragment is the only way he can get out of this alive?

“Martial Uncle Wang, go deal with this,” Chu Yunke said coldly. He was already out of patience.

“Alright.” The white-haired elder nodded.

He was just about to attack when an ornately-dressed man laughed and stepped forth. “Why use a cleaver to kill a chicken? Martial Uncle Wang, allow me.”

The speaker had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, slender figure. His skin was coppery, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s. 

As he stepped forth, the atmosphere instantly grew tense and oppressive.

Guan Tieshan’s expression instantly changed, and he said urgently, “Come on! Hurry up and offer them the treasure, then apologize!”

“It’s too late.” The ornately-dressed man waved. “Go stand over there!”

“This…” Guan Tieshan’s heart clenched.

“Hm?” The ornately-dressed man’s brow furrowed.

Guan Tieshan was instantly as startled as a rabbit, and he hurriedly moved further away.

The sight was rather ridiculous, but no one present dared laugh.

The ornately-dressed man’s presence was simply too overpowering. He was like an unsheathed sword, his edge dazzling the eyes.

However, it was as if Ye Xun didn’t even notice. He just shrugged helplessly and said to Su Yi, “Brother-in-Law, this time, I really didn’t make trouble. They’ve just pegged us for fatty sheep.”

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Su Yi sighed. “You didn’t cause this particular incident, but isn’t this still the indirect result of trouble you caused?”

Ye Xun was instantly at a loss for words.

Despite their circumstances, the two of them conversed as if there was no one else around. This left everyone from Guan Tieshan to Yue Xingshan unwittingly dumbstruck.

Are those two ignorant, or just insane? Aren’t they disregarding Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain a bit too much?

“Those two are in for trouble. It’d be one thing if Senior Apprentice Brother Han stayed out of it, but as soon as he gets involved, someone’s bound to die. He’d never managed to fix that temper of his,” said one of the Hidden Cloud Sword Sect experts, a beautiful woman in an ink-black skirt.

Someone was bound to die!!

The crowd’s hearts clenched, and their bodies stiffened.

“You shitheads are the ones in for trouble!” Whenever Ye Xun opened his mouth, out flew obscenities. “Little bitch, just you wait! I’m going to slap you right across the face!”

Everyone’s eyes widened, and they gasped. 

Who’d dare imagine that an unkempt old Daoist would dare curse at a disciple of Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain like that?

“You…” The woman’s face was instantly ashen.

“Junior Apprentice Sister Yu, no need to concern yourself with the outrageous behavior of a soon-to-be corpse,” said the man she called “Senior Apprentice Brother Han.”

As he spoke——

Weng!

A streak of silver sword qi surged out of his hand. It was a foot long and dazzlingly bright. Its edge glinted terrifyingly. 

The imposing aura of the Spiritual Manifestation Realm spread out and covered the entire area. Many of those present were visibly stricken.

Ye Xun hurriedly retreated and hid behind Su Yi.

“.....” The crowd was speechless.

The corners of Su Yi’s lips twitched imperceptibly. “You don’t think I’d let you get hurt, do you?”

This guy was just too embarrassing! Even Su Yi felt ashamed.

Ye Xun said sheepishly, “Aigh, it was just an instinctive reaction. Brother-in-Law, you have no idea how difficult it’s been staying alive all this time. When I encounter danger and it’s time to flee, I run; there’s nothing for it. I’m not what I once was. I’m no longer the….”

He went on and on; it seemed he wanted to vent his inner turmoil.

However, the ornately-dressed man couldn’t take any more of this, so he suddenly attacked.

Kccch!

A streak of glittering gold sword qi shot through the air, like a dazzling arc of divine light. It cleaved straight toward Su Yi.

So strong!!

Is this the power of a Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain expert?

Yue Xingshan, Sun Shangliu, and the other Spiritual Manifestation cultivators around all visibly reacted. The sword qi made them sense an enormous threat!

The other cultivators, meanwhile, were visibly astonished, and their hearts shook.

It was obvious that the power of that slash had alarmed them.

Only Chu Yunke and the other Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain experts remained calm.

They naturally understood better than anyone else here how powerful the ornately-dressed man was. In their eyes, Su Yi and Ye Xun might as well already be dead.

It was then that Su Yi took action.

He casually swung his sleeves.

The fast-approaching golden sword qi was so dazzling and forceful, but now, it splattered like tofu beneath a giant hammer.

Remnants of sword qi scattered and fell like rain!