First Immortal of the Sword

The “red dust” represented worldly affairs and living things in all their facets, while “annals” were historical records.

The Dao of the Annals of Red Dust required gleaning enlightenment into the secrets of the Grand Dao through historical records and the shifting of worldly affairs.

Those who pursued this Dao were extremely rare, because it was far too difficult.

It required an enormous amount of effort and countless years wandering the world, immersed in the red dust of the mortal world in all its facets. At the same time, it also required comparing the present day to the annals of history and contemplating the world’s changes and the secrets therein.

Experts who pursued this Dao were typically Confucian. In the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, they were known as the Historians of the Grand Dao. Alternatively, and less flatteringly, they were known as “pettifoggers.”

The Nine Provinces Academy, the Wilds’ top Confucian faction, was a supreme orthodoxy of the Annals of Red Dust.

In his past life, Su Yi quite admired such cultivators. It was thanks to them that the long history of the world of cultivation had been preserved in the form of written documents for future generations to learn from.

However, such cultivators and organizations were extremely rare in the Azure Continent. Fu Qingyun had been stunned earlier because Su Yi determined the nature and origins of Bluecloud Tower at a glance!

“Since you pursue the Dao of the Annals of Red Dust, I imagine you’ve researched the modern world and its inhabitants?” asked Su Yi.

Fu Qingyun raised his hand to adjust his lotus crown, then said solemnly, “Bluecloud Tower has always kept an eye on both records of the past and changes to the modern world. I am indeed aware of many things unknown to the world at large.”

“I’m not interested in the things you’ve understood,” said Su Yi. “If you’re here as a witness, might you do me a favor when my enemies appear?”

Fu Qingyun said apologetically, “Fellow Daoist, Bluecloud Tower won’t interfere with what happens here today. Please understand.”

“Rest assured,” said Su Yi. “I can take care of all the killing myself. All I want is for you to tell me my enemies’ origins as they appear.”

Fu Qingyun inwardly sighed in relief. Outwardly, he nodded. “Alright.”

A moment later, he realized that something wasn’t quite right here. He couldn’t help but say, “Fellow Daoist, why do you want to know that? Don’t tell me… you’re planning something?”

Su Yi laughed. “There are people trying to ruin my tribulation and seize my treasure. I ought to at least learn their origins, right?”

Fu Qingyun had nothing to say to that. 

“Of course, I’m the type to hold a grudge. I have to remember the names of each and every faction that bears me ill intent,” added Su Yi.

Fu Qingyun was inwardly alarmed. He suddenly realized just why Su Yi wanted to know where his enemies had come from. He wanted to get revenge!

The two of them made no effort to conceal their conversation. It resounded throughout the skies shrouded in tribulation clouds, and the distant onlookers heard every word. Countless hearts shook as they realized that Su Yi was already planning how he'd get even!

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Suddenly, a burst of cold laughter rang out. “Su Yi, it remains to be seen whether or not you’ll live through today. Now, you’re already raving about getting revenge? Ludicrous!”

A grand procession of cultivators shot over from afar with fierce momentum. There were at least ten of them.

Their ranks included both men and women and a mixture of ages. Their clothes were all different, but all of them emanated the characteristic aura of the Spiritual Revolution Realm!

Their arrival shook the entire area.

“The Demonic Huan Family, the Burning Sun Sect, Tianji Dao Mountain, and the Pure Emptiness Buddhist Sect!”

“There are more than ten Spiritual Revolution cultivators in that group!”

“He’s finished! There’s a deep grudge between Banished Immortal Su and those four ancient factions!”

….There was a commotion off in the distance.

During last year’s expedition to Sumeru Immortal Island, Su Yi slew Huan Shaoyou and several other monstrous geniuses of the ancient factions. In doing so, he established a deep grudge between these factions and himself.

Furthermore, on the tenth day of the third lunar month, not long ago, Su Yi cut down five Spiritual Revolution experts in front of Nine Tripod City, routing the alliance of five ancient factions!

Now, aside from Hidden Cloud Sword Mountain, all these factions had returned!

The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.

“There’s really no getting rid of those ancient factions!” The Xia Emperor, Weng Jiu, and the others’ expressions darkened.

“I believe we call this ‘throwing one’s life away’ where I'm from. His Excellency Su Yi will surely settle the score with them, one by one,” said the old blind man with a cold laugh.

Meanwhile, Bluecloud Tower Master Fu Qingyun introduced them.

“Fellow Daoist,” he said warmly, “These twelve Spiritual Revolution cultivators all broke through not long ago, during the descent of the Radiant Epoch. All of them have extraordinary accumulations and cultivation bases. They’re far beyond others of the same realm…”

He’d only just said this when Su Yi waved and interrupted him. “I’m not interested in their names. Just tell me where they’re from.”

Fu Qingyun instantly shut his mouth, while the four ancient factions’ twelve Spiritual Revolution cultivators glowered. How could they fail to realize that Su Yi didn’t take them the least bit seriously?

“Su Yi, we’ll see if you’re still this brazen when your lightning tribulation begins!” a white-robed man in the Huan Family’s camp laughed coldly.

His name was Huan Shanglin, and he was leading this expedition. His hair and eyes were black as ink, and he was tall and stalwart, with an icy, imposing presence.

Su Yi’s expression remained tranquil as he blatantly ignored him. The man was little more than a jumping flea. How much longer would he be able to prance about?

Instead, Su Yi looked up at the sky.

The tribulation clouds were deep and heavy, and they covered one hundred thousand feet of sky. As time passed, the apocalyptic aura of calamity grew increasingly dense.

However, it still showed no signs of truly erupting.

There was no doubt about it. The tribulation was still accumulating power. It was growing continuously stronger!

This change made the nearby cultivators’ hair stand on end. They couldn’t even imagine what kind of terrifying tribulation this was.

Just how powerful would it be?

When Su Yi ignored them yet again, Huan Shanglin and the others’ expressions grew increasingly unsightly.

However, all of them remained far away. None attacked.

Everyone knew that if they interfered with Su Yi prior to his tribulation, all they had to do was disrupt his mental state. That’d be enough to ensure he died beneath his tribulation!

What Huan Shanglin and the others were truly wary of were their competitors!

“Su Yi, haven’t you realized yet? So long as you offer up the Seed of the Azure, this conflict will have nothing to do with you,” a vigorous voice rang out.

A second group of cultivators rushed in from another direction. There were ten of them, and each of them surged with the characteristic aura of the Spiritual Revolution Realm.

The speaker was the tall, thin, fair-skinned young man in purple leading the pack. He had an ancient sword strapped to his back, and the sheer abundance of his aura shook heaven and earth!

“They’re experts of the House of the Skywalking Sword, the Tiandou Spirit Cult, and the Incarnation of Stars Sect!”

“I wouldn’t have thought that the three top otherworld factions would get mixed up in this too…”

“Possessing an overly precious treasure is a sin in its own right. Su Yi’s tribulation is imminent, and he’s in grave peril. This is the perfect opportunity to seize the Seed of the Azure. What faction would let it slip through their fingers?”

The area was in uproar once more, and discussion broke out on all sides.

Fu Qingyun introduced these new arrivals to Su Yi as well. However, this time, he only told him their sects of origin and cultivation boundaries. He skipped their names.

He’d clearly realized that Su Yi didn’t care about their names in the least.

“Petty crooks like you are unworthy of possessing the Seed of the Azure,” Su Yi said softly.

Petty crooks!

When they heard this disdainful title, the experts of the three top otherworld factions all had unsightly looks on their faces.

“Forget it. No need to argue with someone about to die,” said the leader, the young swordsman in purple. He shook his head.

Xie Zhibei.

He was an expert of the House of the Skywalking Sword and the leader of the otherworld cultivators' camp.

“Besides, our real opponent isn’t that Su guy,” said the purple-robed Xie Zhibei. He glanced pointedly at Huan Shanglin and the others.

Huan Shanglin obviously noticed it, and he couldn’t help but let out a cold snort. He said expressionlessly, “The few of you alone cannot possibly leave with the Seed of the Azure. Heed my warning: you’d best leave this place as soon as possible.”

Xie Zhibei laughed. “We won’t know unless we try. Who knows who will wind up with the Seed in the end?”

Su Yi hadn’t even said anything, but the two major camps were suddenly at each others’ throats!

It was obvious that both the experts of the ancient factions and the three major otherworld factions saw Su Yi as little more than a fish on the chopping block.

There was no need to pay any attention to him. The way they saw it, their real competition would be between their two camps!

When they saw this, Pu Surong, Pu Jue, and the others couldn’t help but sweat on Su Yi’s behalf.

He was on the verge of undergoing tribulation, but he was surrounded by enemies on all sides. How could Su Yi possibly survive such a situation?

However, Su Yi didn’t seem the least bit panicked.

He raised his jug of wine without a care in the world and took a swig. Then, he swept his gaze into the distance and said calmly, “Since you’re here, stand forth. Don’t make me look down on you.”

It was just two light, airy sentences. Every word reverberated clearly throughout heaven and earth.

The crowd was initially stunned, but a moment later, hearty laughter rang out. “Since Fellow Daoist Su has invited us, we naturally cannot refuse.”

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, three figures appeared out of nowhere.

Their leader was a middle-aged man in long, dark-green robes. His hair and beard were dark as ink, and his features were gentle.

A wizened elder and an icy woman in black followed him. 

The aura of the Spiritual Revolution Realm surged around all three of them, and each was stronger than the one before.

The middle-aged man at the forefront in particular. As he walked, golden Dao Charm manifested Dao Markings; when he walked, it was as if the Grand Dao were holding him aloft.

However, the crowd was bewildered; these people didn’t seem at all familiar. No one knew where they’d come from.

Huang Shanglin, Xue Zhibei, and their allies were instantly on guard, and their expressions turned solemn.

Although the middle-aged man was accompanied by just two people, their auras were extraordinarily strong!

The middle-aged man was clearly a late-stage Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator!

Fu Qingyun’s eyes flashed, and he said gravely, “Fellow Daoist Su, these three are…”

Before he could finish, the middle-aged man waved and interrupted him. “No need to trouble yourself, Fellow Daoist. I’ll introduce myself.”

He then looked at Su Yi, smiled, and inclined his head. “This humble one is called Wang Zhongyang, and I’m from the Celestial River Realm’s Frigid North Sword Pavilion. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Su.”