First Immortal of the Sword

The Kunwu Mountain Ye Family!

Su Yi furrowed his brow as he suddenly recalled something.

His uncle, Ye Yunlan, had left not long ago, and he’d yet to return!

“Come in,” said Su Yi. As he spoke, he indicated for his companions to step away.

All of them considerately slipped off, save for the old blind man, who stood guard at Su Yi’s side.

Before long, the gate swung open, and a woman in gray walked in. Her face was ordinary at best, but her figure was unusually prideworthy.

She wore her long hair in a bun, and she had a black jade ruler strapped to her back. She walked with a sultry elegance, and as her eyes shifted, they inadvertently glinted with a unique sharpness.

There was no doubt about it. This was Ye Jinzhi.

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Su.”

Ye Jinzhi walked up and subtly inclined her head in greeting, but it was obviously perfunctory. There were traces of smug pride in her expression. 

Her sense of superiority ran bone deep.

“What does the Ye Family wish to discuss with me?” asked Su Yi. 

He’d never liked pleasantries.

Ye Jinzhi stood with her hands behind her back and swept her gaze across the courtyard. “Aren’t you going to offer me tea? This is no way to treat a guest.”

She then fixed her gaze back on Su Yi and smiled faintly. “Besides, by the rules of kinship and seniority, I’m in the same generation as your mother. You… ought to call me ‘aunt.’”

“....” The old blind man was stunned. I’m afraid this woman’s insane. She’s blatantly trying to take advantage of His Excellency Su!

Su Yi glanced at Ye Jinzhi and got straight to the point. “Any more nonsense, and I’ll kill you.”

His tone was casual, but the domineering attitude they revealed made Ye Jinzhi’s expression shift. An overcast look arose on her face.

A moment later, she flashed him a charming smile. “My reasons for coming here are simple. I’m here to tell you to bring the Seed of the Azure to Falling Petal Mountain three days from now, and that if you don’t show up, Ye Yunlan will die beyond a doubt.”

Su Yi sighed inwardly. Just as I thought. Something happened to that uncle of mine.

I urged him against investigating the Ye Family, but he was extremely stubborn about it. This is just great! Now they’ve gone and taken him hostage.

But Su Yi wasn’t particularly worried about him. Ye Yunlan wasn’t dead yet; if he was, what would the Ye Family threaten him with?

“And here I thought Ye Xiao was capable. It turns out he’s just another rat.” Su Yi shook his head.

The old blind man couldn’t help but grin too. “Indeed. Using a hostage to threaten us? In terms of presence, he’s already far inferior. Your Excellency, calling him a 'rat' is right on the mark.”

“....”

And here Ye Jinzhi had thought that, after learning this grievous news, Su Yi would be furious and alarmed, and that he’d lose his composure. She’d figured his expression would be a sight to behold!

But Su Yi’s reaction was completely different than she’d expected!

And he’d even gone so far as to call Ye Xiao a rat!

“You… don’t you care about your uncle’s life and death?” Ye Jinzhi frowned.

The old blind man couldn’t help but sneer. “If he dies, what will you have to threaten His Excellency with? Idiot!”

The insults made Ye Jinzhi’s face alternate white and green. She was almost overcome with fury.

But when she recalled Su Yi’s heaven-defying combat prowess, she forced her anger back down and snorted, “It’s not up to you to decide whether or not our young master is a ‘rat’ or not!”

Su Yi naturally wouldn’t make too much trouble for a mere messenger. “Ye Xiao is from a branch family. When did he become the young master of the Kunwu Mountain Ye Family?”

Ye Jinzhi took a deep breath and said expressionlessly, “I imagine Ye Yunlan has already told you a bit about our clan’s situation? Then you ought to know that the main branch of the Ye Family has already declined. It can no longer bear the weight of major responsibilities.

“Years ago, the family elders tacitly agreed that Ye Xiao was a qualified candidate to succeed the position of family head.” Here, her voice revealed a hint of pride. “When the time comes, we side branch members will naturally become the legitimate main branch of the family!”

Su Yi didn’t find this at all strange. 

Practically every major cultivation faction had its share of internal conflict.

Usurping power and seizing authority like she’d just described was commonplace.

“Alas, you’ve offended His Excellency Su Yi, so you’re doomed never to see that day,” the old blind man said wistfully, his gaze carrying a hint of pity.

His tone and expression left Ye Jinzhi flabbergasted and displeased. She couldn’t help but snort coldly, “You’re just a blind man, yet you dare speak so brazenly? Ludicrous!”

The old blind man sighed, sounding even more sympathetic than before. “You have eyes, but you cannot see. Someone like you is far more pitiful than a blind man like me. If I were you, I wouldn’t be able to laugh.”

“....” Ye Jinzhi ignored the old blind man for fear that, if things went on like this, she’d lose control of her temper.

“Su Yi, I’ll say it once more. Three days from now, if you don’t go to Falling Petal Mountain, your uncle is doomed! Farewell!” Ye Jinzhi said firmly. Then, just like that, she turned and left.

“Wait,” said Su Yi.

Ye Jinzhi furrowed her brow. “What, don’t tell me you want to fight? I’m not afraid to tell you that even if you use me as a hostage, you won’t be able to buy back your uncle’s life!”

Su Yi laughed dryly. “If I wanted to kill you, I could do so effortlessly. Wait there a moment; I’ll go with you to Falling Petal Mountain.”

Ye Jinzhi was obviously stunned. It seemed she hadn’t expected that Su Yi would be so decisive.

“Xinzhao.” Su Yi called Wen Xinzhao over, then said, “Remember this: when you receive a map from Weng Jiu, come directly to Falling Petal Mountain to find me.”

Wen Xinzhao nodded her agreement.

Then, without any wasted words, Su Yi looked at Ye Jinzhi. “Let’s go.”

As he spoke, he walked out of the courtyard. 

He said he’d leave, and he left, just like that.

Ye Jinzhi couldn’t help but doubt… everything. How is this guy… so fearless?

Don’t tell me he thinks we’re going to Falling Petal Mountain to admire the scenery?

The old blind man sighed wistfully, “Aigh, it’s a pity. I have important business to attend to. Otherwise, I’d just love to accompany you to Falling Petal Mountain and see just how that rat Ye Xiao dies.”

Ye Jinzhi was so angry that steam practically blew out of the seven apertures of her face. She wanted nothing more than to chop the old blind man to death.

But in the end, she held back, turned, and followed Su Yi.

……

Late at night, the radiant moon was the sole source of light.

Su Yi stepped onto Abstruse Celestial and flew through the air, his robes fluttering around him. He was like a banished immortal, a magnificent sight.

However, he wasn’t traveling all that quickly. It seemed as if he were out for a journey. From time to time, he’d even take out a gourd of wine and have a drink. He seemed dashing and composed.

Ye Jinzhi followed him, and when she saw this, her gaze was a bit complicated.

Is this guy seriously not worried at all? Not even a little?

“Did Ye Yunlan tell you about our young master?” Ye Jinzhi couldn’t help but ask.

“He did,” said Su Yi, his thoughts elsewhere.

“Then you ought to know that he’s nothing like the Spiritual Revolution cultivators you killed yesterday. If you really want to save your uncle’s life, I urge you to offer up the Seed of the Azure as soon as you reach Falling Petal Mountain.

“Although our young master has proven his Dao through slaughter, he’s extremely benevolent with his clansmen. Ye Yufei’s blood flows through your veins. So long as you lower your head and submit, he won’t make things difficult for you.”

Ye Jinzhi went on and on, but it was as if Su Yi didn’t even hear her; he didn’t react at all. She couldn’t help but frown. “Su Yi, are you listening to me?”

She sounded a bit angry.

Su Yi said casually, “Our words won’t get through to each other; why bother? In your eyes, Ye Xiao is strong enough to inspire blind faith. In my eyes, he’s no more than someone about to die. Our perception is completely different; conversing will do us no good. It’s a waste of spit.”

Ye Jinzhi was so angry that she almost laughed, and her gaze frosted over. “They say kind words cannot dissuade those determined to throw their lives away, and mercy cannot save one from themselves. Su Yi…. you’d best watch yourself!”

Then, she couldn’t be bothered to say so much as another word.

Su Yi furrowed his brow. “You’re here as a messenger. Don’t you think you ought to be leading the way? I most certainly don’t know where Fallen Here Mountain is. If you delay our business, can you bear the consequences?”

“.....” Ye Jinzhi repressed her rage, shot ahead, and led the way.

Just wait! When we reach Falling Petal Mountain, I’ll be eager to see just how you die! Ye Jinzhi gnashed her teeth.

Su Yi wasn’t the least bit concerned with her feelings.

He stood on the flat of Abstruse Celestial. Along the way, he used the gentle light of the moon to survey the landscape below with great relish.

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

Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t gone out wandering since arriving in Nine Tripod City.

Tonight, soaring through the sky, the landscape he saw along the way had been revitalized by the influx of spiritual power, giving it an all-new appeal.

Alas, this new era has little draw for me. Once I’ve settled my debts and grudge in the Azure Continent, I’ll go to the Netherworld, thought Su Yi.

How could he possibly forget the grudges and entanglements of his past life?

And how could he forget the treasures he’d left in the Netherworld prior to his reincarnation?

His cultivation had already reached the Spiritual Incarnation Realm. Only the Spiritual Revolution Realm remained between him and a chance at proving his Dao and entering the Imperial Realm.

But a chance like that couldn’t be found on the Azure Continent.

In other words, although the Azure Continent had welcomed an unprecedented Radiant Epoch, its source had crumbled, and it was doomed to wane.

In a damaged world like this, he could at most establish the cultivation base and foundations needed to become an Emperor; there was almost no hope of actually breaking into the Profound Dao.

This was why Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivators reigned supreme here.

With Emperors out of the mix, Spiritual Revolution cultivators naturally reigned supreme!

As the night gradually receded, dawn broke.

Ye Jinzhi led the way, and soon, Su Yi saw Falling Petal Mountain in the distance.