First Immortal of the Sword

According to the Vermillion Bird, three hundred years ago, a mysterious person had ventured deep into the wilderness of Yama’s Floating Mountains, broken Su Yi’s sealing formation, and entered the forbidden ground.

Similarly, three hundred years ago, the Wei Family discovered that the seal had loosened, and that they now had an opportunity to go inside.

There was one thing Su Yi knew for sure: it was Wei Daoyuan who’d shared the secret to entering that forbidden ground with his clansmen.

No ordinary person could possibly have known that the key to entering the forbidden ground was a spirit fish like the Pure Yang Fire Perch.

Su Yi sank into thought. Once every hundred years, the Wei Family uses the forbidden ground’s power to set up a death trap and kill a group of evildoers. I’m sure that Wei Daoyuan arranged this too.

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But why would Wei Daoyuan do that? Given his abilities, killing Spirit Dao-level heretical cultivators would be no more difficult than squishing an ant. This is entirely unnecessary.

Admittedly he’s been in seclusion for the past few hundred years, but with the Wei Family’s foundations and power, they too could slay those Spirit Dao heretical cultivators with ease. Why go out of their way to lure them into that forbidden ground?

Su Yi could tell that there was another reason behind Wei Daoyuan’s arrangements.

But before he could wrap his head around it, a deep voice boomed outside the hall. “Third Brother, the patriarch has invited Fellow Daoist Su for an audience.”

The speaker was none other than the grand elder of the current generation of the Wei Family, Wei Cheng.

On their way back to the Wei Family estate, they’d exchanged pleasantries, and Wei Cheng had already learned Su Yi’s name.

Wei Yun’s spirits soared, and he sighed in relief. “Fellow Daoist, it seems we’ve managed to grant your request. If you please!”

Su Yi glanced at Cui Jingyan and the old blind man. “You two should wait here.”

With that, he turned and left the hall.

….

Wei Daoyuan was in seclusion in the Wei Family’s forbidden ground, Golden Dawn Peak, halfway up the mountain.

When Su Yi, Wei Yun, and Wei Cheng arrived, they saw a blessed grotto. The gate was shut tight and covered in dense layers of formations.

A thoroughly dignified man in purple stood outside the gate.

This was the current generation leader of the Wei Family, Wei Zhongxi. He was a Spirit Dao expert with one foot past the threshold of the Profound Illumination Realm.

He was “one foot past the threshold” because he’d already grasped the enlightenment needed to break through. So long as he underwent tribulation and proved his Dao, he’d step into the Imperial Realm!

Without the necessary enlightenment and opportunity, cultivators would remain trapped in the Spirit Dao, unable to advance any further.

And although Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivators were quite numerous, less than one in ten thousand achieved the enlightenment necessary to break through!

“Family Head, this is Fellow Daoist Su,” said Wei Cheng.

Wei Zhongxi smiled, then clasped his fist in greeting. “Many thanks for your assistance tonight, Fellow Daoist Su!”

Su Yi subtly inclined his head.

Wei Zhongxi had already heard about Su Yi’s personality and conduct, so he was naturally already aware that the young man in blue disliked wasting words and that he was proud to the bone. Knowing that, he didn’t mind Su Yi’s somewhat aloof attitude.

He smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment.”

As he spoke, he adjusted his clothing, proceeded to the tightly-shut entrance of the immortal cave, and inclined his head in greeting.

“Patriarch,” he said solemnly, “Fellow Daoist Su has arrived.”

Wei Cheng and Wei Yun hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Su Yi couldn’t help but find it funny. That kid Wei Daoyuan sure knows how to put on airs.

But then, it makes sense. I knew Wei Daoyuan in my last life, but that was thirty thousand years ago. After all that time, it’s easy to imagine how lofty his position must be within his clan.

Suddenly, the ripples of a formation spread across the immortal cave, and the tightly-sealed entrance slowly opened.

A deep, mellow voice emanated from within the cave. “Please come in for a chat, my young friend.”

Su Yi was just about to approach when he hesitated. “It’d be better if you came out instead.”

Wei Zhongxi and the others’ eyelids twitched, and their expressions stiffened. I knew this kid was extremely proud, but I wouldn’t have thought he’d put on such airs!

Wei Zhongxi coughed dryly. “Fellow Daoist, our patriarch has been in seclusion for hundreds of years. It’s only because of your great benevolence that he broke seclusion to meet with you…”

Before he could finish, Su Yi waved his concerns away. “I’m not trying to put on airs. I just want to stand here and have a chat with your patriarch, that’s all. I won’t delay his seclusion.”

“This…” Wei Zhongxi was just about to say something when a burst of hearty laughter rang out.

Afterward, a thin figure in a feather coat emerged from the immortal cave.

His hair and beard were graying, and he looked thirty or forty, but his brow and the corners of his eyes bore the marks of the vicissitudes of the years.

When he emerged, although he suppressed his imposing presence, every gesture contained enough power to make one’s heart tremble.

His arrival felt much like the descent of a sovereign!

“Greetings, Patriarch!” Wei Zhongxi, Wei Yun, and Wei Cheng bowed.

But when Su Yi saw this arrival, he couldn’t help but look a bit dazed.

Although “Little Wei” looked pretty much the same, he lacked his former unbridled, contemptuous bearing. In its place, he had the kind of tranquil air only acquired over countless years.

“No need for such politeness,” Wei Daoyuan said with a smile. He looked at Su Yi and subtly inclined his head. “I already understand the gist of what happened tonight. Many thanks for your assistance, my young friend.”

Su Yi set aside his scattered thoughts, then said calmly, “No need for pleasantries. There are a few things I hope you can clarify for me.”

He was facing an Emperor of the older generation, but he was as calm and composed as ever. Seeing this left Wei Zhongxi and the others inwardly rueful.

Our fellow Daoist Su really is no ordinary person!

Wei Daoyuan smiled. “Please, speak directly. If I can assist you, I naturally won’t refuse.”

“Three hundred years ago, who was it who broke that sealing formation?” asked Su Yi.

Wei Daoyuan shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m not sure. Forgive me, but I cannot answer you.”

“Oh,” said Su Yi. “Then were you the one who taught the Wei clansmen how to enter that forbidden ground?”

Wei Daoyuan nodded. “I was.”

Wei Zhongxi, Wei Cheng, and Wei Yun found this rather strange. Why is he so interested? None of that has anything to do with him.

However, Su Yi only continued. “Does that mean that the Wei Family’s centennial trap—creating a commotion and luring heretics and fiends into the forbidden ground—was arranged at your orders?”

Wei Daoyuan’s eyes flashed. He, too, felt there was something strange about Su Yi’s line of questioning. 

He thought for a moment, then nodded. “That’s right.”

Su Yi’s gaze was distant and inscrutable as he stared directly into Wei Daoyuan’s eyes. “Don’t you think this arrangement was entirely superfluous?”

Wei Zhongxi and the others’ expressions shifted. This question was far too rude!

But against all expectations, Wei Daoyuan wasn’t angry. Instead, he said warmly, “I arranged this simply to temper my clansmen. There’s nothing superfluous about that.”

“To temper your clansmen?” Su Yi’s brow furrowed. Don’t tell me I’m overthinking this? Or is it just that Wei Daoyuan sees me as a young stranger and has no intention of telling me the truth?

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask, my young friend?” Wei Daoyuan’s tone was as amiable as ever, but his words revealed a hint of impatience.

“That’s it.” With that, Su Yi turned and left.

This didn’t just stun Wei Zhongxi and the others; Wei Daoyuan found it rather unexpected too. He’s seriously leaving just like that?

“Don’t just stand there!” ordered Wei Daoyuan. “Quick, see our young friend off. Don’t let anyone say our Wei Family’s manners are lacking!”

Wei Zhongxi and company hurriedly agreed and chased after Su Yi.

Wei Daoyuan watched them leave. Only then did he turn, re-enter his cave, and reseal the entrance.

At the foot of Golden Dawn Mountain.

“Fellow Daoist Su, I’ve already ordered our clansmen to prepare a banquet. In a bit, we’ll invite your two companions, and we’ll all feast and drink together. How about it?” asked Wei Zhongxi.

Although Su Yi had come across as rude, aloof, and proud, he was still the Wei Family’s benefactor. It was only right that they show him their hospitality.

Wei Cheng and Wei Yu nodded along.

Su Yi stopped, then looked the three of them over. Suddenly, he transmitted, “You three, what I’m about to say might come as an enormous shock, but I hope you won’t make any noise or cause any kind of disturbance.”

The three of them were instantly solemn, but none of them had any idea what this was about.

However, they’d all experienced their share of wind and rain, so they quickly steadied their mental states.

Wei Zhongxi subtly clasped his fist and transmitted, “Please enlighten us, Fellow Daoist Su.”

Su Yi didn’t hide it any further. “That person we saw earlier wasn’t your family’s patriarch.”

One sentence, an earth-shattering revelation!

Wei Zhongxi and the others’ expressions changed dramatically. They almost couldn’t help but cry out.

However, when they recalled what Su Yi had just asked of them, they held back in the end. Nonetheless, their expressions filled with disbelief. 

Wei Zhongxi urgently transmitted, “Why do you say that?”

“It would be troublesome to explain,” said Su Yi. “In a bit, you’ll see for yourselves. Then you’ll understand.”

Wei Zhongxi, Wei Cheng, and Wei Yun looked at each other. All of their expressions shifted erratically, and waves of astonishment coursed through their hearts.

Su Yi’s revelation was far too unbelievable. If Su Yi hadn’t saved Wei Yun, they might well have dismissed him as a lunatic!

After all, Wei Daoyuan was an Imperial expert of extremely high seniority, and he occupied a lofty position. How could just anyone doubt him?

But Su Yi’s calm composure made them realize that he’d almost certainly realized something; otherwise, he wouldn’t have said something like that.

All of them were instantly overcome with confusion.

If that wasn’t our patriarch just now, who was he?

If he’s an enemy, why hasn’t he done anything to harm the clan over the past few hundred years?

“Fellow Daoist, you’re… you’re sure you’re not mistaken?” Wei Yun couldn’t help but transmit.

Su Yi looked up at the sky. In another two hours, the night would be over.

“Whether you believe me or not, all will soon become clear. In a bit, no matter what happens, please don’t interfere,” Su Yi transmitted.

Wei Zhongxi, Wei Cheng, and Wei Yun fell silent, their expressions shifting and uncertain.