First Immortal of the Sword

Grand Libationer Gu Zhongxun was quite surprised.

He’d long since realized that Cui Jingyan planned to use the sect’s transmission array to take Su Yi to visit the Cui Family, and he’d already prepared for it. He figured that so long as they took the transmission array, Su Yi wouldn’t escape, not even if he grew wings.

Who’d have thought that they’d change their mind?

“A diversion? No, if they don’t use the transmission array, at their pace, they can forget about leaving the River of Forgetfulness Domain within the next ten days or so.” Gu Zhongxun frowned… “What exactly is Su Yi thinking?”

“Grand Libationer, why concern yourself with all that? All of the River of Forgetfulness Domain is Meng Po Palace territory. The various major factions distributed throughout its borders are all under our leadership,” Third Libationer Yuan Linning said coldly. “So long as you issue orders, they’ll serve as our eyes and ears. No matter where Su Yi goes, we’ll find out right away!”

The mere mention of Su Yi’s name filled Yuan Linning’s heart with rage and hatred. She wanted nothing more than to rush out and cleanse herself of her humiliation right away!

“Don’t let your anger muddle your head,” said Gu Zhongxun, his eyes flashing. “Martial Uncle Lu Changming’s behavior was out of the ordinary yesterday. It seemed he was helping Su Yi, but I suspect that he was really trying to fan the flames.”

Something occurred to him, and he said, “How about this? Take the Fifth Libationer with you.”

“The Fifth Libationer?” Yuan Linning looked stunned. “What am I bringing him for?”

“He’s Martial Uncle Lu Changming’s closed-door disciple, and he’s closer to Martial Uncle than anyone. Years ago, Martial Uncle decided to pass his mantle onto the Fifth Libationer and do everything in his power to help him prove his Dao and become an Emperor,” Gu Zhongxun said coldly. “If you bring him with you to take down Su Yi, and on the off chance something unexpected happens, do you think Martial Uncle Lu will just sit back and watch?”

Yuan Linning furrowed her brow. “We’re just taking down Su Yi, that’s all. Why plan it out so thoroughly?”

She felt that Gu Zhongxun was overdoing it.

Gu Zhongxun smiled. “Yesterday, Martial Uncle Lu got involved and stopped us from ‘doing business’ with Su Yi. How can we ensure he sits back and watches from afar this time?

“Besides, this concerns a grand stroke of fortune like the Seed of the Azure. Sending the Fifth Libationer with you isn’t at all inappropriate.”

He looked at Yuan Linning. “It’s settled. Even if Martial Uncle Lu rebukes us, I have ways of handling it.”

Yuan Linning nodded, then rose. “I’ll go find the Fifth Libationer now.”

….

The Fifth Libationer’s name was Lu Changqing, and he was a peak Spiritual Revolution cultivator.

When Yuan Linning arrived, he was leisurely sipping tea. Yuan Linning directly announced why she’d come. 

“The Grand Libationer has ordered you to accompany me on a mission.” 

Although both of them were libationers, she was an Empress, so her status far exceeded Lu Changqing’s. 

After a brief, stunned pause, Lu Changqing rose. “Third Libationer, dare I ask what mission the Grand Libationer would have us complete?”

“We’re to find Su Yi and retrieve the Seed of the Azure,” said Yuan Linning. She disdained to lie about such a thing.

Lu Changqing’s expression instantly changed, and he took a deep breath. “I dare not go against the Grand Libationer’s orders. How about this? I’ll go pay my respects to my master, and when I get back, we can set off right away.”

Yuan Linning shook her head. “Time is short. We cannot delay.”

Lu Changqing’s heart sank. “We have to… leave right now?”

Yuan Linning nodded. “That’s right.”

Lu Changqing’s expression shifted, but in the end, he nodded his agreement. “Alright.”

The Grand Libationer was currently in charge of all of the sect’s affairs, and Third Libationer Yuan Linning was an Empress. Even if he wanted to refuse, he couldn’t. 

Yuan Linning promptly led him away from Naihe Divine Mountain. 

Just one hour later.

Evening Glow Peak.

Lu Changming was pruning the plants and grasses of his immortal cave when suddenly, he frowned.

His disciple, Lu Changqing, typically came by every morning to pay his respects and request his guidance in regard to his cultivation. 

But today, Lu Changming had already waited an hour, yet Lu Changqing hadn’t arrived. Something was undoubtedly amiss here.

It was then that a low voice emanated from outside the immortal cave.

“Martial Uncle Lu, I’ve come to pay respects on Lu Changqing’s behalf.”

Lu Changming’s eyelids twitched. He emerged from his residence and saw Gu Zhongxun standing there. He’d inclined his head, and he was clasping his fist in a display of respect.

“On Changqing’s behalf? What’s that supposed to mean?” Lu Changming frowned.

Gu Zhongxun laughed. “No need to hide it. Junior Apprentice Brother Lu had an urgent matter to attend to, and he and the Third Libationer have already left Naihe Divine Mountain. I’m well aware that Junior Apprentice Brother Lu comes to pay his respects on a daily basis, but he isn’t available today, so I naturally took it upon myself to do it in his stead.”

Lu Changming’s expression darkened as he realized this wasn’t looking good. “He’s left Naihe Divine Mountain? What are he and Yuan Linning going to do?”

His tone was a bit scathing, but Gu Zhongxun didn’t even seem to notice. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Martial Uncle. No one in the River of Forgetfulness would dare touch a member of Meng Po Palace, and besides, Junior Apprentice Brother Lu is accompanying the Third Libationer. Nothing could possibly go wrong.”

He spoke with complete conviction.

However, the more he spoke, the more keenly aware Lu Changming was that something was amiss, and his expression darkened. “Did you send Changqing to deal with Su Yi alongside Yuan Linning?”

“They’re not going to ‘deal with’ Su Yi, but rather, to retrieve the Seed of the Azure,” said Gu Zhongxun. “A Spiritual Incarnation Realm young man can in no way control such a grand stroke of…”

Before he could finish, Lu Changming bristled with anger and shouted, “Excellent! You dare scheme against me like this?”

His imposing bearing was terrifying, and the distinctive aura of the Profound Serenity Realm made the surrounding air tremble and wail.

Gu Zhongxun answered without the slightest panic. “Martial Uncle, you’ve misunderstood. When the palace master and great high elder left, they entrusted the sect’s affairs to me. Both the fifth and third libationers are inheritors of Meng Po Palace. How could sending them on a mission possibly be a plot?”

When he took in Gu Zhongxun’s fearlessness, the infuriated Lu Changming suddenly calmed down.

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“Do you have any idea how dangerous that Su Yi person is?” Lu Changming asked coldly.

Before Gu Zhongxun could answer, Lu Changming said coldly, “If your arrangements get Yuan Linning and Changqing killed… will you be able to bear the consequences?”

Gu Zhongxun’s pupils constricted, and he furrowed his brow. “Martial Uncle, don’t tell me you think a Spiritual Incarnation kid who only just arrived in the Netherworld will be a match for an Empress?”

Lu Changming said icily, “His cultivation might not be worth mentioning, but that doesn’t mean he’s helpless against an Empress like Yuan Linning! Otherwise, why would I have stopped Yuan Linning from acting against him yesterday? Did you really think I just had nothing better to do?”

Gu Zhongxun’s eyelids twitched. “Martial Uncle, are you saying… the boy has an expert’s protection?”

Lu Changming let out a long sigh, then pointed at Gu Zhongxun. “You’re clever, huh?”

With that, he strode out of the room.

“Martial Uncle, where are you going?” Gu Zhongxun asked coldly.

“What else? You pushed Changqing into the fire; I’ve naturally got to put it out!” Lu Changming’s icy, infuriated voice emanated from afar.

His figure had long since disappeared from view.

Gu Zhongxun’s expression shifted erratically.

Seeing this, he finally understood something on a visceral level.

There… really was something up with Su Yi!

No wonder you stepped in to fan the flames last night, you old fogey. You obviously wanted to borrow Su Yi’s hands to take me and the Yuan Linning down a peg… Gu Zhongxun’s expression darkened.

He was well aware that for a Profound Serenity Emperor like Lu Changming to lose his temper and rush to his disciple’s aid almost certainly meant Su Yi had a powerful backer’s protection!

Otherwise, why would Lu Changming be so panicked? And what need would he have to be angry?

When this occurred to him, Gu Zhongxun couldn’t help but break out in cold sweats.

And here he’d thought retrieving the Seed of the Azure from Su Yi was a trivial matter. He’d figured that with the power of Meng Po Palace, they could easily force a Spiritual Incarnation youth like him to meekly lower his head.

But now, it seemed this would be nowhere near as simple as he’d imagined!

Fortunately, I had the Third Libationer take the Fifth Libationer with her. This way, there’s no way Martial Uncle Lu, the old fart, can watch the fire from a safe distance. He’ll have to get involved, if only to cover his own ass…

This thought left Gu Zhongxun feeling relieved, but also indescribably stifled. 

Su Yi was obviously just some Spiritual Incarnation cultivator from the Azure Continent, so why did he have so many suspicious secrets about him?

How did this make any sense?

…

In the eyes of ordinary folk from other worlds, the Netherworld seemed utterly sinister and imposing, as terrifying as purgatory.

But the Netherworld wasn’t actually like that.

It was an extremely vast, ancient world, boundless seemingly beyond limit and home to countless lifeforms. All manner of clans and races lived here, and ancient orthodoxies were as common as trees in a forest.

However, compared to other worlds, the danger zones dispersed throughout the Netherworld’s territories were noticeably more abundant and even more terrifying.

The Ghost’s Gate, the Path to the Yellow Springs, the Pool of Rebirth, and the City of the Wrongfully Dead were all well-known danger zones, but there were numerous as-of-yet unknown or little understood forbidden grounds too.

Take the Sea of Bitterness. Even now, no one knew just how vast it was or what secrets it hid.

After leaving Naihe Divine Mountain, Su Yi and company proceeded south. Su Yi’s destination was a forbidden zone in the south of the River of Forgetfulness Domain:

Yama's Floating Mountains!

Su Yi had left something here in his past life.

The first light of dawn illuminated the vast landscape.

Su Yi and company flew through the air, traversing mountains and rivers. They weren’t in a rush, but they weren’t moving particularly slowly, either.

Su Yi could clearly sense that the ambient power of heaven and earth was different here than in the Azure Continent. It had a heavier, vaster, more ancient quality to it.

Only a place like this could support Imperial experts’ cultivation.

Su Yi felt leisurely and relaxed. In stark contrast, Cui Jingyan was racked with worry, and she frequently surveyed their surroundings, a look of concern on her brow. 

She dared say with certainty that the Third Libationer and her cohort wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to go after Su Yi!

Thus, as they made their way, her heart was on tenterhooks. She feared that if she let down her guard, Yuan Linning would appear out of nowhere.

As Cui Jingyan felt ill at ease——

Two streaks of light suddenly soared over from beyond the distant horizon.

Cui Jingyan reacted much like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; her hair instantly stood on end, and she couldn’t help but mutter, “See? I told you there was no way they’d let you go!”