First Immortal of the Sword

Ye Yunlan quickly understood. He figured Su Yi was speaking out of anger.

Anyone would have been upset about getting swept up into these enmities out of the blue and through no fault of their own. 

His expression softened, and he said, “Su Yi, I know you cannot accept this all at once, and that you reject me and the Ye Family. Nonetheless, out of consideration for your safety, I hope you can leave with me. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure your safety and pave your future path!”

Every word came straight from the heart.

Su Yi could tell that Ye Yunlan really did see him as a relative, and that as his senior, he wanted to protect his nephew from harm.

However, it was difficult for Su Yi to accept this kindness.

He didn’t need it!

“I appreciate your good intentions,” said Su Yi. “However, I won’t leave with you, and I don’t need your help. As for my path to the Imperial Realm… I have no need of the Ancestral Origin Divine Canon’s assistance whatsoever.”

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He paused, then said, “I’m actually rather eager for the forces of the Ye Family to come knocking on my door. That way, I can get even on my mother’s behalf.”

Ye Yunlan was stunned. Then, he laughed bitterly, “Su Yi, don’t let your anger get the best of you. If the Ye Family’s forces truly come for you, I’m afraid none in the Azure Continent will be able to oppose them, let alone you.

“Even if you reject this uncle of yours, please don’t be spiteful, not about this. I know the Ye Family’s strength far better than you do. If they learn that you’re Yufei’s son, there’s no way they’ll show you any mercy!”

Every word was full of loving concern. He was earnestly trying to persuade his nephew.

However, Su Yi couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated. Why did he interpret my words as spiteful?

“Do you have any other business here today?” asked Su Yi.

Ye Yunlan shook his head. “I came to the Azure Continent to visit relatives. Now that I’ve found you, I naturally ought to ensure your safety, no matter the cost.”

“....” Su Yi had nothing to say to that. 

After a while, he said, “Don’t tell me the Ye Family doesn’t know you’re here?”

“They won’t discover me right away,” said Ye Yunlan, “But eventually, they’ll realize I’ve come to the Azure Continent.”

He thought for a moment, then said, “Actually, the experts of the Ye Family will come to the Azure Continent within a month. Therefore, I hope you can leave with me as soon as possible and avoid an otherwise inevitable disaster.”

Su Yi was finally starting to run out of patience. “I’ll say it one last time. I won’t leave the Azure Continent any time soon. If you bring it up again, don’t blame me for kicking you out.”

Ye Yunlan was stunned. He took in the young man’s displeased expression, but in the end, he remained silent.

Had anyone else dared speak to him like that, he would have slapped them to death.

But this was his nephew; he couldn’t bring himself to be angry.

“How about this? You can think it over for now.” Ye Yunlan took a deep breath. “If, in the end, you decide against leaving with me, I won’t push the matter.”

As he said this, his spirits sank, but there was nothing for it. 

Then, he shook his head, turned, and prepared to leave.

“I’ll remain in Nine Tripod City for now. When you’ve made up your mind, have the Xia Emperor’s subordinates come looking for me. This is the imperial family’s territory; locating me won’t be difficult for them.

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, Ye Yunlan left Azurecloud Court.

Beneath the light of the setting sun, his thin figure looked desolate and bleak.

Su Yi remained sprawled out in his wicker chair. He didn’t move, but he did sigh.

How could he fail to realize that his uncle had a guilty conscience over his mother’s death, and that he wanted to do everything he could to make it up to him?

However, although Ye Yunlan didn’t know it, Su Yi didn’t need him to make up for anything.

Even if the forces of the Ye Family came looking for him, he wouldn’t be at all concerned. 

In any event, my mother had a good older brother, and now I’ve got an uncle…. As he thought this, a strange look appeared in Su Yi’s eyes.

Now that he thought about it, he had someone surnamed Ye with him already, someone who’d always wanted to be his little brother-in-law.

Now, someone with the same surname had become his uncle…

His would-be brother-in-law wanted nothing more but to sink his claws into him and hold on for dear life. 

While his biological uncle wanted nothing more than to protect him…

Of course, Su Yi was well aware that Ye Xun was a member of the Ghost Serpent Race, and that he had no connection to the Eight Star Ruin’s Mysterious Blue Realm or the Kunwu Mountain Ye Family. 

After all, the surname “Ye” wasn’t all that rare. Plenty of people had it.

“Brother SU, you really don’t plan to go to the Ye Family?” Wen Xinzhao couldn’t help but ask. She’d listened in on the whole conversation.

“Not anytime soon,” said Su Yi without so much as pausing to think. “Later, I’ll be sure to visit them. First, to deal with the bastards who hurt my mother. Second, to retrieve the fortune that was rightfully hers. Hm… No reason I can’t give it to my uncle.”

Wen Xinzhao asked in confusion, “It’s a stroke of fortune that will help prove your Dao and make you an Emperor. Aren’t you at all tempted?”

“To me, proving my Dao and becoming an Emperor will be no more difficult than turning over my hand,” Su Yi said calmly. “It doesn’t matter. In this lifetime, I’m striving for a path beyond the Imperial Realm.”

Although Wen Xinzhao was accustomed to Su Yi’s way of doing things, she was nonetheless stunned. 

“A path beyond the Imperial Realm? Does such a thing truly exist?” The young woman was a bit dazed.

In her eyes, the Imperial Realm represented the pinnacle of the Grand Dao; she’d never once heard of cultivations beyond that.

“It exists,” said Su Yi. He was calm, but his tone left no room for doubt.

If he weren’t absolutely certain of this, why would he have chosen to reincarnate?

“Of course, it’s still too early to discuss that.” Su Yi laughed. “It won’t be too late to discuss that after you’ve proven your Dao and become an Emperor.

……

In the time that followed, Su Yi’s life was tranquil, without the slightest wave.

When he wasn’t cultivating, he was at Mount Heavenbristle repairing the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation. From time to time, he would gaze up at the sky and calculate when the Radiant Epoch would arrive.

Lately, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to be recovering faster than before. It was fair to say it was growing like mad.

The entire Azure Continent, from the seldom-frequented mountains and seas to densely-populated cities and nations, was undergoing a shocking transformation.

Countless cultivators benefited from this stark change, realizing rapid advancements in their cultivation!

Furthermore, countless unbelievable opportunities and strokes of fortune arose, and people fought over them like mad.

One mountain and river after another would become a blessed ground, while countless spiritual medicines and materials would break through the earth. Immortal caves and ruins buried for countless years would re-emerge…

When heaven and earth changed, worldly affairs would change with it!

Those who found themselves in the middle of this transformation received unimaginable benefits, regardless of whether they were advanced cultivators of the Spirit Dao or mundane martial artists.

And Su Yi? By peering up at the heavens and surveying their changes, he could infer numerous secrets.

For instance, he knew that when the Radiant Epoch arrived, an unprecedented rain of the source power of the Grand Dao would rain upon the entire Azure Continent!

It would be similar to what happened on the second day of the second month.

However, it would be far more intense!

Of course, Su Yi had the Seed of the Azure. When the Radiant Epoch arrived, he naturally had no need to fear failing to seize the power of the grand Dao that would rain from the heavens.

Half a month passed in a flash.

Morning on the first day of the fourth month.

Su Yi asked between sips of congee, “The Radiant Epoch is sure to arrive within seven days. Xinzhao, are you ready?”

Wen Xinzhao smiled bitterly. “To tell the truth, I won’t be able to suppress my cultivation boundary much longer.”

Su Yi was dumbfounded.

Over the past half month, the ambient spiritual energy had grown increasingly dense. Wen Xinzhao wasn’t the only one who’d benefited; his cultivation speed had increased too!

Of course, Su Yi wasn’t blindly chasing speed, but despite taking his time to ensure firm foundations, he’d already smoothly entered the late-stage Spiritual Manifestation Realm, and he was nearing the peak of the realm!

Part of that was that he had no shortage of cultivation resources.

But more importantly, as the spiritual energy recovered faster and faster, the denser and clearer the presence of the Grand Dao in heaven and earth.

When Su Yi sat down to cultivate, his heart was one with his surroundings and connected to the aura of the Grand Dao. This made it easier to glean enlightenment. 

“The ambient spiritual energy really has changed a lot. Even I have gained a lot lately,” Daoist Master Coldsmoke said with a smile.

She and Qing Ya had been cultivating in Azurecloud Court too.

“Me too,” said Qing Ya. Her mouth was full of porridge, so her words were somewhat indistinct. “It won’t be long until my cultivation reaches the late-stage Gathering Stars Realm!”

“I imagine that countless cultivators have obtained considerable benefits of late,” sighed Su Yi.

Last night, he and Qing Wan had conversed. Qing Wan almost couldn’t suppress her cultivation boundary any longer, and she could break through at any time.

It seemed everything was headed in a positive direction.

However, Su Yi was well aware that when the Radiant Epoch was truly upon them, it would bring unprecedented turmoil to the Azure Continent! 

At the time, the world was sure to descend into bloodshed and turmoil. Even the seven great ancient factions and three top otherworld factions dared not proclaim that they’d be the ones smiling in the end.

Not long after they’d finished their breakfast, Weng Jiu rushed over.

He said at top speed, “Fellow Daoist Su, I just received word that the Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain’s Shen Suiyun will soon enter Nine Tripod City and challenge you to a duel!”

Shen Suiyun!

He was the monster of the ancient era who’d maintained a solid first place on the Ranking of Stars ever since its inception. He was the sword chief of his generation in the Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain and the leading figure of their younger generation! 

Rumor had it that his talent was extraordinary, and his swordsmanship was transcendent. He was seen as the Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain disciple with the greatest hope of proving his Dao and becoming an Emperor.

Not long ago, when he stepped into the Spiritual Incarnation Realm, he triggered an unmatched phenomenon, causing widespread uproar. 

Recently, countless people had compared Su Yi and Shen Suiyun, leading to enormous controversy.

Many people thought Su Yi was strong enough to seize Shen Suiyun’s position at the top of the Ranking of Stars.

However, many people were certain that Su Yi couldn’t possibly be a match for Shen Suiyun.

This was the cause of the controversy.

Thus, as soon as he heard the news, Weng Jiu rushed over.

“A duel?” Su Yi was stunned, but a moment later, he shook his head. “I’m not interested.”