First Immortal of the Sword

An Emperor!

The old blind man’s hands and feet quivered, and he was visibly flabbergasted.

But when he realized he was the only one in attendance who hadn’t noticed, the old blind man was inwardly irritated. These people aren’t at all trustworthy! Why didn’t they tell me that that kindly old man was an Emperor!?

Of course, the old blind man dared not question why Su Yi hadn’t warned him…

Su Yi stepped in to comfort him. “That was just a soul avatar he was using to enter this world, not his true body. No need for panic.”

The old blind man said sheepishly, “I just didn’t expect it, that’s all. I’m not afraid.”

Su Yi laughed. Only then did he answer the Ninth Libationer’s question. “It’s true that he’s an Emperor, but there’s no grudge between us. Why should I be afraid of offending him?

“....”

If Su Yi were simply fearless out of ignorance, that would have been one thing.

But Su Yi wasn’t the ignorant sort. On the contrary, he’d discerned Cui Jingyan’s origins after a single glance at her jade pendant.

He’d even inferred the Adjudicator of the Netherworld’s thoughts and intentions!

How could someone like him possibly be ignorant?

Besides, Su Yi had already told them that he’d long since realized the old man in Daoist robes was an Emperor.

Yet it seemed Su Yi didn’t care in the least, and he’d even dared quibble with an Emperor about his choice of titles, right to his face. It was truly incomprehensible!

“Young lord Su, of all the young people I’ve seen in my life, you’re the gutsiest, as well as the most arrogant,” Cui Jingyan couldn’t help but sigh.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” Su Yi couldn’t help but be amused. “Next time you see your ancestor, ask him if my behavior today could really be described as ‘arrogant.’”

Cui Jingyan’s delicate painted eyebrows rose. “From the sound of it, it almost seems as if you’d be this… utterly brazen in front of my grandfather too?”

Su Yi drank a glass of wine, then said casually, “I could say more, but there’s no way you’d believe me. When you see him, ask for yourself.”

It was then that something occurred to the Ninth Libationer, who suddenly interjected, “Fellow Daoist Su, you recognized the Adjudicator of the Netherworld’s pendant at a glance, as well as Jingyan’s background. Have you perhaps seen through that senior’s origins?”

The crowd couldn’t help but prick up their ears.

The experts of Meng Po palace had long since witnessed Su Yi’s mysteriousness, and they dared not treat him as they might an ordinary person.

He’d seen through that Emperor’s cultivation. It was entirely possible that he knew his origins, too!

And that was what they were most curious about.

“If he didn’t want to tell you, you’d best not pry,” said Su Yi after a moment’s thought. “Furthermore, that master and apprentice had a certain unpredictable karma about them. The way I see it, you’d best keep a respectful distance, or it might well bring disaster upon you.”

When they heard this, the crowd’s hair stood on end.

It sounded like Su Yi had already seen through that master and apprentice’s origins, as well as the nature of the karma they bore!

Whatever that karma was, should it stain them, it was highly likely to bring disaster upon even Meng Po Palace disciples like them.

This unquestionably implied that their karma was extraordinary!

Cui Jingyan was obviously intrigued, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Young lord Su, can’t you reveal a little more? You can at least tell us where they came from, right?”

But Su Yi wasn’t willing to discuss it any further. “Aren’t they carrying your third high elder’s command token? And they even helped you make contact with the experts of Meng Po Palace. Just ask the sect higher-ups when you get back.”

Cui Jingyan glared at Su Yi, then muttered, “You’re great in every way, except that you love talking in vague riddles. It’s truly unpleasant.”

Su Yi had nothing to say to that.

When the banquet ended, the Ninth Libationer arranged a residence for Su Yi and the old blind man.

When dawn broke, they’d activate their formation and leave the Azure Continent.

…..

Late that night, the Ninth Libationer, Xue Ye, and Cui Jingyan gathered for a private discussion.

“Both Su Yi and that master and apprentice have extremely fishy origins. When we get back to the Netherworld, we should distance ourselves from them as quickly as possible,” transmitted the Ninth Libationer.

Even with a sound-blocking formation, he couldn’t relax, so he’d already urged Xue Ye and Cui Jingyan to transmit anything they had to say.

Cui Jingyan didn’t seem at all concerned. “The sect agreed to receive the pair of them. It doesn’t have much to do with us. As for Su Yi? My clan’s ancestor attaches great importance to him, so there’s no way he’s some kind of evildoer.”

Xue Ye said somberly, “Ninth Libationer, we came to the Azure Continent to obtain the Seed of the Azure, but now, this grand stroke of fortune has fallen into Su Yi’s hands. I’m afraid that if the sect finds out about it, they’ll be tempted.”

The Ninth Libationer narrowed his eyes, his expression shifting erratically.  

He was a member of Meng Po Palace, and he naturally knew better than anyone how much the sect’s old-timers longed to obtain the Seed of the Azure.

Furthermore, there was no hiding this information.

The three of them weren’t the only Meng Po Palace experts to have come to the Azure Continent. Ten or so others had come too.

Someone would inevitably report that Su Yi was carrying the Seed of the Azure.

Besides, when the sect asked about it, who… who would dare hide the truth?

When the sect’s old-timers learned that Su Yi had the seed, they were sure to be interested in it.

He couldn’t dismiss the possibility that something terrible would happen as a result!

After a long silence, the Ninth Libationer took a deep breath, faced Cui Jingyan, and said, “Jingyan, I’ll need you to explain to the sect’s old-timers. Do your best to convince them not to go after Su Yi.”

The Ninth Libationer paused, then said helplessly, “If Xue Ye and I try to persuade them, they’ll disregard us. With our statues, we cannot possibly convince them.”

Although libationers occupied a lofty position in Meng Po Palace, the palace master and the emissaries of the river ranked even higher!

But Cui Jingyan was different.

Although her mother had long since vacated her position in Meng Po Palace, she was, after all, once one of their emissaries of the river. Her influence lingered.

And her father was the leader of the Cui Family. Moreover, her grandfather was the Adjudicator of the Netherworld, whose name intimidated the entire Netherworld.

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

She was naturally the most suitable candidate to convince the sect’s old-timers.

Cui Jingyan blinked her beautiful eyes, then laughed, “Why not let the old-timers teach Su Yi a lesson? They might beat the arrogance out of him!”

The Ninth Libationer was instantly solemn. “Jingyan, this isn’t about managing his arrogance. If we handle this badly, the resulting conflict might lead to rivers of blood! Don’t forget: the Seed of the Azure is a stroke of fortune grand enough that even Emperors would drool over it.

“But at the same time, Su Yi’s origins are highly suspicious. He’s absolutely incomparable to other Spirit Dao cultivators. Even your grandfather views him with enormous importance! Given the situation, we have to ensure the sect’s old-timers don’t start anything with him. If they do, the consequences will be unimaginable!”

When she heard this, Cui Jingyan realized how serious the problem was. After a moment’s thought, she solemnly agreed. “I’ll do everything I can, but I can’t guarantee they'll listen to me.”

The Ninth Libationer instantly sighed in relief, then smiled. “Just do your best.”

Xue Ye had been listening off to the side, and he wanted to say something, but in the end, he forced the words back down.

Even the Ninth Libationer couldn’t afford to get mixed up in this, much less a dharma protector like him!

 ……

Meanwhile, beneath the same night sky.

The old man in Daoist robes sat on the floor of a grand hall.

His expression was serious and focused, and he held a snow-white, jade-like turtle shell. It seemed he was pondering someone.

The young man in white reclined on a soft couch not far away, his legs crossed. “Master, that Su Yi guy really is quite impressive. Even amongst the Netherworld’s Spirit Dao cultivators, he’d be the absolute cream of the crop. But he’s too arrogant! And totally self-satisfied. If he dares act like that even in the Netherworld, I’m afraid he’ll fall flat on his face.”

The old man in Daoist robes shook his head. “Wang Ting, to you, he might seem arrogant, but in my eyes, his ‘arrogance’ is actually the type of invincible confidence acquired only through overcoming all manner of trials and tribulations. Furthermore… Su Yi is nowhere near as simple as you think.”

As he spoke, the old man put away the turtle shell, and his eyes flashed. “I dare say with certainty that, at the banquet just now, Su Yi saw through our origins.”

The white-robed young man jumped from his seat, obviously startled. 

“How… how is that possible?” he asked nervously. He took a deep breath, as if trying his best to remain calm. “Besides, if he saw through your origins, how could he possibly have dared to speak so impudently?”

His master was an Emperor! And no ordinary Emperor, either.

What Spirit Dao cultivator would dare speak impolitely knowing that?

The old man in Daoist robes laughed, then said warmly, “You needn’t be nervous. There’s no grudge between him and us. So what if he saw through our identities?”

He paused, then frowned. “The only thing that confuses me is that… it seems Su Yi didn’t just see through our origins, he even understood what we’re trying to do.”

The white-robed young man gasped, then murmured, “Master, you think too highly of Su Yi. He’s a Spirit Dao cultivator of the Azure Continent. How could he possibly tell all that just by looking? That’s impossible! It’s absolutely impossible.”

He repeatedly shook his head.

“Impossible?” said the old man in Daoist robes. “If not, why was it that he wished us a quick success at tonight’s banquet…?”

When the white-robed young man heard that, he tensed up.

Only now did he realize why his master had followed up and asked Su Yi to clarify what he meant at the banquet earlier. It turned out he’d long since surmised that Su Yi wasn’t just being polite when he wished them a quick success. No, he was trying to say something!

“If that was all, it’d be one thing. The main reason I reached that conclusion…” The old man’s gaze was suddenly distant and profound as he whispered, “...was the old blind man!”