First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1078 - Assassination

Off in the distance, Ye Luo heard every word of Su Yi and Garuda’s conversation. He silently clenched his fists, and his chest filled with fury difficult to put into words.

When criminals were on trial, they typically tried to explain away their bad behavior in hopes of forgiveness. This was quite common.

But Ye Luo would never have imagined that Garuda had betrayed them over something like this. It was ridiculous, even ludicrous!

Is Master biased?

Without him, how could you have achieved your current cultivation, prestige, and success?

And everyone in the Wilds knows how protective and caring he is.

When a disciple of the Grotto of Abstruse Force wanders the Wilds, no matter their status in the sect, who would dare to treat them with disrespect?

Even old fossils whose prestige shakes the heavens are as polite as could be. They dare not offend us lightly!

That Garuda rebuked his master even after all that infuriated Ye Luo so badly that he almost laughed.

“Garuda was obviously long since aware of Su Yi’s true identity, but he nonetheless didn’t hesitate to coordinate that massive army against him. He tried to kill his own master! Such behavior really is ‘bullying one’s master and spurning one’s ancestors’ or ‘deviating from scripture and defying the Dao!’” muttered Wang Zhuofu.

The Dark Mountain Yao Emperor carried the Blue Ox Yao Emperor away.

Beneath the distant dome of heaven, the Red Pine Yao Emperor and Elder Yin’s fierce battle raged on. They fought until heaven and earth dimmed, and the landscape lost its color.

Within the world in the chessboard, Garuda sank into a lengthy silence and hung his head.

It seemed he’d completely admitted defeat. He said bitterly, “I hope you’ll do as you said and let me die with dignity.”

He then took an object out of his sleeves and proffered it with both hands. “Wang Que is imprisoned inside this treasure. With your strength, I’m sure you can undo the seal.”

It was a black lock about half a foot long. The surface was covered in strange, contorted diagrams. It was an extremely mysterious sealing power.action

Su Yi glanced at it. It was immediately obvious that the lock was the work of the Studio of the Heart; the power sealing it was condensed out of the Laws of Spirit Nirvana.

But before Su Yi could investigate any further——

Beneath the distant dome of heaven, Elder Yin shouted an obscure incantation. “Hah!”

The sound shook both heaven and earth.

And the black lock exploded in Su Yi’s hands.

A rain of light scattered, and the sharp edge of a sword exploded forth!

It was just too fast!

It was a slash like the first light of dawn. Condensed, unstoppable sword intent gathered in the blade, then burst mid-thrust. The attacker’s utterly terrifying attainments in the Dao of the Sword were on full display.

They’d obviously been gathering power for the strike for a long time, and it seemed as if they'd put everything they had into it.

And the attack was so sudden and launched from such close quarters that it seemed like the work of a first-rate assassin. It was enough to kill its target instantly!

But when this strike was just three inches from Su Yi’s forehead, Moonlit Shadow blocked it.

Clang!!!

When the two swords clashed, divine light burst, and sword qi scattered.

Even Su Yi was caught off guard, and the force of the impact sent him staggering several steps back. His blood and qi churned, and a shallow, bloody mark appeared right between the eyes.

That strike had almost pierced his brain!

That had been far too close. Terrifyingly close.

Had Su Yi reacted even the slightest bit slower, he would have died!

Moonlit Shadow buzzed and trembled in his hands.

This sudden assassination attempt left Ye Luo, Wang Zhuofu, the Dark Mountain Yao Emperor, and the others stunned. Their hearts quivered.

It had seemed as if Garuda had completely admitted defeat. None of them had guessed he was hiding such an insidious killer move!

“He blocked it?” Elder Yin was stunned.

Garuda had already seized this opportunity to flee as the assassin struck.

Still, when he saw Su Yi block the assassination attempt, he couldn’t help but feel stunned, and his expression shifted. “Dammit!”

The Red Pine Yao Emperor’s expression darkened, and he couldn’t help but blame himself. He’d given Elder Yin the opportunity to coordinate with Garuda, leading to this assassination attempt.

Only Su Yi remained as calm as ever, but his brow furrowed.

He’d anticipated that Garuda wouldn’t accept his death willingly. He’d even been prepared for the possibility that dangers were hidden within the black bell.

However, he wouldn’t have guessed that the one to trigger this deathtrap would be Elder Yin, not while he was busy fighting the Red Pine Yao Emperor beneath the distant dome of heaven.

As a result, although he blocked the attack, his response was a bit rushed.

Still, this couldn’t shake Su Yi’s mental state!

He’d overcome countless live-or-death battles in his past life. This assassination attempt might have been incomparably perilous, but such brushes with death had long since ceased to be to him.

However…

When Su Yi saw the would-be assassin, he was stunned.

The assassin was covered in a black cloak, obscuring his face. Only his sharp, imposing eyes were visible.

Nonetheless, Su Yi recognized him at a glance.

Bai Yi!

The eighth of the nine legacy disciples he accepted in his past life!

Practically simultaneously, Ye Luo recognized his junior apprentice brother. His expression darkened, and he shouted, “Bai Yi! To think I spent all those years searching for you and worrying something had happened to you. So… you betrayed Master, just like Pi Mo!”

Bai Yi?

So, this assassin is the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s eighth disciple. Wang Zhuofu’s heart shook.

Bai Yi was fascinated with the sword, and he was a combat maniac. His combat experience was incomparably abundant. Everyone in the Wilds knew that the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s beloved disciple was a fanatic!

Within the world in the chessboard, Bai Yi said nothing. His whole body surged with murderous intent as he struck once more.

Whoosh!

His attack was simple and direct, but nothing could stand in its way. He struck with tyrannical, forceful momentum.

When he thrust his sword, its force was terrifying almost beyond imagination.

Were someone to describe his Dao of the Sword in a word, it would be “pure”!

It was as simple to the extreme, and forceful to the extreme. He poured his essence, qi, spirit, mind, and will into his weapon, seaking to break all techniques with a single strike!

Su Yi’s gaze shifted subtly, and he casually rotated Moonlit Shadow and struck the air.

Clang!!!

A deafening blast followed, and Bai Yi staggered several steps back as sword qi tore his black robes to shreds.

His slightly thin, pallid face soon came back into view, and his eyes widened with disbelief.

“There was too much viciousness in that attack. You couldn’t reach a state of perfect mental clarity. It’s obvious that your hatred and murderous intent have affected your heart,” Su Yi sighed.

Off in the distance, Garuda shouted, “Bai Yi, don’t let him fool you. Don’t forget your Eldest Apprentice Brother’s instructions. Quick, kill him! Quickly!”

‘Fool?’ Su Yi’s eyebrows rose.

Bai Yi pursed his lips, gnashed his teeth, and attacked again without another word.

However, his ruthless determination was written all over his brow.

Boom!

Wherever the edge of his sword passed, it descended like an arc of divine light, ripping through the heavens.

The power gathered within that strike was enough to destroy even a mighty yao cultivator like the Blue Ox Yao Emperor.

But as a heaven-shaking impact rang out, Bai Yi was once more sent flying. He flew several hundred feet before stabilizing himself.

His thin, pallid face filled with astonishment.

“Your comprehension of the Small Infinities Sword Sutra has already reached the pinnacle of mastery, and you’ve already started building upon it. With enough time, you might well break through its confines and create a new style all your own.”

Su Yi’s gaze was inscrutable as he gazed at the distant Bai Yi. He seemed gratified, but his gaze was pitying. “Bai Yi, I don’t know what Pi Mo told you, but we’ve already crossed blades twice. You ought to have realized the truth.”

Bai Yi’s expression shifted.

“Bai Yi, this is how that despicable imposter seized control of Ye Luo’s mind. Don’t tell me you’re going to fall for his tricks too!?” Garuda shouted.

It was a ridiculous scene.

He’d only just rebuked Su Xuanjun for his biased nature, and he seemed utterly enraged and resentful.

Yet now, he was pretending Su Yi was an imposter!

There was no doubt about it: he was trying to get Bai Yi to risk it all and take Su Yi down.

Su Yi realized this. Naturally, Ye Luo, Wang Zhuofu, the Dark Mountain Yao Emperor, and the others realized it too.

But looking at it from another angle, it now seemed extremely likely that Bai Yi had been tricked all this time, just like Ye Luo had been. He was most likely completely ignorant of what had happened!

“Decide for yourself.” Su Yi put one hand behind his back. The other held Moonlit Shadow aloft as he stood there quietly.

“Attack, quickly!” Garuda screamed frantically.

“Bai Yi, three chances is the limit. You’ve already attacked Master twice. Try that again, and you’ll have to bear the consequences,” Ye Luo roared in fury.

Bai Yi took a deep breath, and his tin face filled with determination. “I know what I have to do.”

Clang!

His sword rumbled and boomed. Murderous intent pierced the heavens as he slashed at Garuda.

Splurt!

With a spray of fresh blood, a severed arm flew through the air.

Garuda cried out in agony, then roared in surprise and fury. “Bai Yi, don’t tell me you’ve let him confound you, too!?”

As he spoke, his figure flashed, and he tried to escape the world within the chessboard.

Su Yi couldn’t help but nod to himself, and Ye Luo’s expression mellowed. It seems that kid has finally come back to his senses!

Boom!

Bai Yi’s attacks never stopped. He relentlessly chased after Garuda.

It seemed he was venting his hatred. He struck rapidly, and each strike contained terrifying murderous power.

Su Yi had already left Garuda badly injured, and he was trapped within the chess board. How could he possibly be a match for Bai Yi?

A few blinks of the eye later, and he was covered in dense cuts. His skin was in tatters, and he gushed with blood. He was a startling sight.

He fled in panic and cried out, but Bai Yi showed no mercy.

In the end, Garuda seemed to break down. He screamed and begged Elder Yin for help.

“You really are a waste! You’ve brought shame to the Golden-Winged Great Peng lineage!” Elder Yin was still locked in fierce combat with the Red Pine Yao Emperor, but he couldn’t help but snort coldly.

Then, his voice boomed like spring thunder once more. “Hah!”

An unexpected development followed.

Earlier, Su Yi saved the three captive Wang Family elders, but their souls were sealed. He’d left them with Wang Zhuofu.

But now, the three of them suddenly opened their eyes and immediately launched themselves at Ye Luo and Wang Zhuofu.

A sudden attack from extremely close quarters.

Both Ye Luo and Wang Zhuofu looked stunned.