First Immortal of the Sword

Rumble! Boom!

As time passed, the lightning clouds above Mount Heavenbristle expanded, and lightning serpents of five different colors roared within them.

Blue, white, black, red, and yellow. Five colors of lightning intertwined. It was a dazzling sight.

Surging spiritual energy and a rain of light burst forth, like waters through a dam, mixing with the lightning as it descended and surged into the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation.

When A’Leng arrived at the foot of Mount Heavenbristle and saw this, his long, narrow eyes shone with a rare trace of bewilderment.

Just what kind of amazing Spirit Treasure are they refining?

Its sound and momentum are terrifying!

Don’t tell me the Xia Family still has some sort of power an Imperial expert left behind?

A’Leng continued onto the mountain. This was the imperial family’s territory, and it was covered in layer after layer of formations, as well as expertly placed elite guards.

However, A’Leng seemed as casual as if he were out for a stroll. He just walked right in.

The formations might as well have not even been there; they couldn’t delay him in the slightest.

The guards along the path didn’t notice any trace of him either!

This was unquestionably unbelievable!

So, someone is using the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier’s power to refine a weapon. No wonder it caused such an enormous commotion, and no wonder it’s not damaging Mount Heavenbristle at all…

It seems that although the Xia Family lacks an Imperial expert, they have a supremely capable formations grandmaster. No one else could use such an unbelievable method to refine their Natal Spirit Treasure.

A’Leng’s eyes darted about, and he picked up on my clues and secrets invisible to ordinary folk.

Before long, A’Leng stopped in place, and his eyes flashed. “So it’s over there. I finally found you! I’m eager to see just who…”

A faint smile tugged at his lips, and he was just about to approach when…

Boom!

A terrifying fluctuation of the formation’s power formed a Dao sword and descended from the heavens!

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A’Leng’s pupils constricted, and he dodged.

Kcch! 

The Dao Sword silently dispersed in the very spot A’Leng had stood just moments prior, becoming the power of the formation once more.

He actually discovered me? Incredible! A’Leng was stunned. His sleeves billowed around him, and it seemed a strange and mysterious power had awakened within his body. His entire presence silently transformed.

His frivolous bearing disappeared. He now seemed as grave and solemn as an abyss, with a misty, strange air about him.

His long, thin eyes shone with the vicissitudes and divine radiance.

Boom!

Before A’Leng could do anything, the power of the formation churned throughout the surrounding area. Densely-packed, radiant streaks of sword qi surged forth, sweeping through the air.

His eyelids shot up; that destructive power could kill a Spiritual Incarnation cultivator with ease!

Not even a Spiritual Revolution expert would dare take it head-on!

“Confusing Reality!” A strange, low incantation left A’Leng’s lips.

Bang!

As the radiant sword qi descended upon A’Leng, his figure burst into pieces, then reappeared hundreds of feet away.

He laughed, then charged toward the heart of Mount Heavenbristle once more.

Boom!

However, after just a few steps, A’Leng stiffened. He wasn’t sure when they’d gotten there, but ripple-like waves of the formation’s power were descending upon him.

“Smoke and Mirrors!” A’Leng let out a strange cry and disappeared into thin air.

However, a moment later, he reappeared in the same spot and staggered back.

Ripples of the formation’s power had surrounded him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Explosions rang out, and misty light scattered around A’Leng.

The ripples of the formation looked gentle, but in truth, they could easily exterminate a Spiritual Incarnation cultivator. However, they didn’t kill A’Leng.

A black heart-protecting mirror shaped like a turtle shell floated before his chest, emanating strange energy fluctuations that neutralized the rippling power of the formation.

Even so, the blast left A’Leng’s hair disheveled, his clothes in tatters, and his skin charred black. He cut an extremely sorry figure.

His expression darkened, and he was beside himself with fury. “Do you really think I’m helpless against that fucking formation?”

Practically simultaneously, a calm voice emanated from the nearby power of the formation: “Wicked little creature, do you really think hiding an Imperial expert’s will within your body means you can do whatever you want?”

A’Leng was briefly stunned. Then, his expression changed dramatically, and he was so startled that his hair stood on end. Just who is this guy? How could he possibly have seen through me at a glance?

A’Leng gulped with great difficulty, then said, “Friend, if I said I’d come here purely out of curiosity and that I had no other motives… would you believe me?”

That calm voice rang out once more. “Scram!” 

“Okay!” A’Leng turned around and dashed off as if his but were on fire, the very picture of speed and efficiency.

It was only after he’d left Mount Heavenbristle that the look on his handsome face darkened, becoming incomparably sinister. “I’ll remember this loss!”

Meanwhile, in the heart of Mount Heavenbristle, Su Yi withdrew his divine sense and focused on refining his sword.

Forging his weapon was unquestionably far more important than squishing an insignificant little fox. Especially since this was the most critical moment.

Su Yi took a deep breath, and his fingers flew through the air at top speeds, as if they were dancing. He seemed like a master of the zither playing the most impassioned part of a song.

Moments later, a miraculous Edict took shape and hovered in midair.

The Nirvanic Flame Edict!

It got its name from a phoenix’s flames of rebirth.

This was one of the three great Edicts Su Yi had invented in his past life. It combined the vermillion bird lineage’s Firemark Totem, Daoism’s Profound Phoenix Dao Seal, the Celestial Butterfly Race’s Bloodmark Totem, and around a dozen other top inheritances.

The core of its strength was its ability to undergo metamorphosis. Just like a phoenix, it could achieve rebirth amidst nirvanic flames and transform, like a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Whether used to refine weapons or place a formation, this Edict had a miraculous effect, like seizing fortune from the heavens or transforming the old and rotten into treasure!

Now, Su Yi planned to forge the Nirvanic Flame Edict into his Natal Sword.

That way, when he nourished his Natal Weapon, its power and quality could realize transformation after transformation, and he wouldn’t need to repeatedly forge new weapons. At least, not during the Three Realms of the Spirit Dao.

Furthermore, with the Nirvanic Flame Edict, so long as his natal sword wasn’t completely destroyed, any damage it took wouldn’t affect his cultivation base.

There was no greater taboo among Spirit Dao cultivators than damage to their Natal Weapons, because that in turn meant damage to their cultivations!

“Go!” Su Yi’s fingers pressed down on the air.

The Nirvanic Flame Edict hummed and transformed into a streak of fiery light, which shot into the Immortal Estate Eight Trigrams Furnace.

Boom!

The furnace seemed to boil over. The clanging and humming of a sword emanated from within, and it surged with divine radiance and misty light.

A spiritual sword floated within it, its blade trembling. It looked as if it were forged out of divine gold, and it emanated dazzling light.

After a while, the Immortal Estate Eight Trigrams Furnace gradually sank back into dormancy.

“Activate!” Su Yi circulated his divine sense.

Clang!

A streak of light shot out of the furnace, accompanied by a clear, ethereal sword hum, like the music of the heavens.

Su Yi rose, stretched out his hand, and beckoned. That streak of light fell into his palm.

His blue robes swayed around him, and his black eyes sparkled like gemstones. Blue light soared around him, and he now held a three-foot Dao Sword. It was clear, ethereal, and black throughout, as deep and profound as the night sky.

As Su Yi turned his wrists, the simple, unsophisticated blade surged with countless mysterious Dao Marks. The Netherflame Demon Sparrow soul essence was faintly visible within the blade, as if it were beating its wings and soaring through the endless night sky. This lent the sword an additional air of mystery.

Boom!

When Su Yi exerted strength through his fingers, terrifying sword qi erupted out of the sword, and the blade hummed, like the sound of the divine.

Thunderclouds churned in the skies above Mount Heavenbristle, and the waterfall of spiritual energy reacted as if it had been summoned, surging into the cave at the heart of the mountain.

The sword in Su Yi’s hands was like a while drinking in the ocean, devouring the surging thunderclouds and waterfall of spiritual energy.

It was only faintly visible, but an intricate Edict appeared on the blade, shining with dazzling firelight. The sword’s aura intensified, growing stronger and stronger.

“This sword used Celestial Blue as its embryo, and I fused the source of the Abstruse god Sword into it. It’s now truly a Natal Dao Sword. Going forward, how about… I call it Abstruse Celestial?”

It took the word “Abstruse” from the Abstruse God Sword, and the word “Celestial” from Celestial Blue.

Abstruse Celestial, a name like the immortal domains of myth!

As Su Yi spoke, the sword hummed, the sound like the music of the heavens. It seemed delighted.

Su Yi couldn’t help but smile too.

A Natal Spirit Treasure stuck with its cultivator through thick and thin; it was like a part of one’s cultivation!

And Abstruse Celestial’s might undoubtedly pleased Su Yi.

Were this the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, and were I to let the old-timers of the Touch of Gold Pavilion try to appraise Abstruse Celestial, I’m afraid they wouldn’t be capable of evaluating it properly, thought Su Yi.

The Wilds’ Touch of Gold Pavilion specialized in appraising the world’s treasures and curiosities.

However, the highest possible evaluation they could give a Natal Spirit Treasure was insufficient to appraise Abstruse Celestial.

Its power far exceeded the typical perfect Spirit Treasure!

Clang!

Su Yi flung his weapon, and the three-foot sword transformed into a streak of light. He then opened his mouth and swallowed it, storing it in his Grand Dao Spirit Palace.

The forging process couldn’t have gone so smoothly without the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation. Oh well; I’ll just have to repay the Xia Emperor for this benevolence, thought Su Yi.

Repairing the grand formation was one thing.

Borrowing its power to forge a weapon was another.

Su Yi naturally understood the difference.

Without any further delays, Su Yi turned and exited the cave.

Lightning clouds surged overhead, and the unprecedented strange phenomenon of spiritual energy pouring down like a waterfall had already disappeared without a trace, as if it had vanished in a puff of smoke.

However, the Xia Emperor, who’d been keeping watch outside this entire time, still looked astonished.

When he saw Su Yi emerge, he instantly smiled and walked up to him. “Congratulations on refining a matchless Natal Spirit Treasure, Fellow Daoist!”

Su Yi inclined his head. “I owe it to the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation’s assistance. Going forward, I’ll naturally focus on repairing it and ensure it can reveal its power sooner rather than later.”

Having said his piece, he was just about to walk away when the Xia Emperor said suddenly, “Fellow Daoist, please wait.”

Su Yi stopped in place and looked over.

The Xia Emperor paused to consider his words, then said, “Last night, an expert from the House of the Skywalking Sword came calling. He hoped to meet you.”

Su Yi was stunned. “What did he want to see me for?”

He’d heard of the House of the Skywalking Sword. It was one of the three great otherworld factions alongside the Tiandou Spirit Cult and the Incarnation of Stars Sect!

Its forces were no inferior to any of the seven top ancient factions!