First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1294 - An Immortal’s Guidance?

Outside of Crow Ridge’s Sky Crow Palace, Su Yi had used his peak Heavenly Longevity Realm cultivation to single-handedly defend against nineteen Cosmic Enlightenment World Kings’ joint full-force attack.

Now, he was already in the Oneness Realm, and he’d changed completely. Even killing Yan Daolin’s half-step Transcendent clone was no trouble. He could, of course, absolutely crush three Cosmic Enlightenment World Kings.

He was now even stronger than the Temple Master had been at his peak!

The entire area was deathly silent. Even the birds ceased their song.

Zhuang Bifan’s fists silently clenched. He was wide-eyed and tongue-tied.

Zhong Yangxun, who was watching from a distance, suddenly stiffened, his eyes perfectly round.

An oppressive atmosphere spread throughout heaven and earth, so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. Even the distant, churning waves of the Impermeable Demon Ocean fell silent.

The distant onlookers were completely caught off guard, and so startled that their jaws practically fell off.

All of them had been sweating on Zhuang Bifan’s behalf. They even suspected he wouldn’t be able to escape disaster.

After all, he was up against three of the Studio of the Heart’s powerhouses!

None of them would have guessed that before the battle even broke out, a young man in blue would appear out of nowhere and destroy three Cosmic Enlightenment Realm powerhouses in a single casual move!

Their deaths were so sudden that they sent bone-piercing chills through the onlookers’ hearts, making them quiver with fright. It was as if they’d been plunged into an icy abyss.

It was just too terrifying!

Out amongst the stars, Cosmic Enlightenment experts represented the pinnacle of power.

Who could have imagined that someone would kill such experts as if they were nothing but clay chickens and porcelain dogs?

Only Su Yi’s companions remained calm. The way they saw it, it would have been stranger if the Temple Master hadn’t been able to pull that off.

“Come on, then. Go ahead and show me your so-called ‘lawlessness,’” said Su Yi, disregarding everything else to gaze at Zhong Yangxun.

Zhong Yangxun shuddered from head to toe, and his expression changed. A moment later, despite his inner fright, he growled, “Who are you? Why are you interfering in the affairs of the Zhong Family and the Studio of the Heart?”

“Backing down so easily? Your Zhong Family is one of the most prosperous in the entire Eastern Profound Star Domain, and its disciples have always taken pride in their 'steadfast, unyielding character,’ so why are you such a sniveling coward?” jeered Zhuang Bifan. He looked utterly disappointed. “Were I your ancestor, I’d be angry enough to blow the lid off my coffin.”

Zhong Yangxun’s expression was instantly overcast and unsightly.

A moment later, he seemed to realize something, and he stared intently at Su Yi. “Are you... Are you perhaps the reincarnation of the Temple Master?”

Complete uproar followed this question.

Over the past few days, rumors of the Temple Master’s return had spread like wildfire throughout the stars, provoking countless waves and endless discussion.

However, no one would have guessed that the center of all this attention would appear here in the Impermeable Demon Ocean.

It was truly far too surprising.

“No wonder he’s so terrifyingly strong! So, it turns out he’s the Temple Master!” some of the onlookers looked enlightened.

Su Yi, meanwhile, looked thoughtful. Has someone perhaps revealed what I’ve been up to?

“My elders told me that when an expert of the Temple Master’s ability kills his enemies, he typically disdains to harm the weak.” Zhong Yangxun took a deep breath. “Do you plan to prove them wrong?”

Many of the onlookers’ expressions turned strange. Who could have imagined that an illustrious scion of the Zhong Family would beg for his life in such a way?

Su Yi laughed too. “You’re in the mid-stage Cosmic Enlightenment Realm, while I’m only in the early-stage Oneness Realm. How can you call that bullying the weak? How about this? I’ll give you a chance to think of another reason I should spare you.”

“....” Zhong Yangxun fell silent, then said, “Our clan’s Ancestor Tianquan has already successfully stepped onto the Path of Transcendence!”

The entire area sank abruptly into silence.

The Path of Transcendence!

Over the past few days, rumors had circulated throughout the stars that an old-timer of the Zhong Family had broken through in an immortal ruin, stepping onto the Path of Transcendence. But although these rumors took the stars by storm, there was no proof.

Yet now, Zhong Yangxun, a member of the primary lineage of the Zhong Family, had revealed this truth of his own accord! He’d even specified which of their members had broken through. It was one of their most ancient experts, Zhong Tianquan!

“Is that enough of a reason, Your Excellency?” Zhong Yangxun said slowly and clearly, a look of smug pride on his face.

The Transcendent Realm!

This was sure to bring about a new age. And the Zhong Family’s Ancestor Tianquan was among the first, if not the first, to break into the Path of Transcendence since it was first severed!

Who would dare disrespect such power?

But Su Yi shook his head and sighed. “I gave you an opportunity, but you failed to seize it.”

Zhong Yangxun was stunned.

Splurt!

A streak of sword qi descended from the heavens, piercing Zhong Yangxun’s skull. His entire body exploded into pieces, and even his soul dissipated.

The crowd was alarmed and terrified.

Except for Zhuang Bifan, who laughed. “You don’t know how to lower your head and cooperate, but you do know how to use your ancestors to threaten other people. How stupid is that? Have the juniors of the Zhong Family forgotten that the Temple Master hates nothing more than threats?”

He was quite wistful.

Had Zhong Yangxun been an elder of the Zhong Family, there was no way he would have resorted to threats, not unless he was prepared to risk it all.

Meanwhile, Wei Shang and Meng Changyun both instinctively got to work gathering up the spoils.

“Senior, please, allow me,” Meng Changyun said hurriedly.

“Aigh, how could I let you trouble yourself over something so trivial?” said Wei Shan.

He wasn’t just accustomed to gathering his young master’s spoils. No, he’d long since developed a taste for it. How could he possibly let Meng Changyun do it in his stead?

Meng Changyun said solemnly, “It’s because it’s such a trivial matter that I couldn’t possibly let you take care of it in my stead, Senior. Please, allow me.”

How could Wei Shan possibly agree to that? He immediately started arguing.

When the Netherworld King saw this, her red lips twitched. Is this really worth an argument?

Su Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he couldn’t be bothered to pay their argument any heed.

Instead, he looked at Zhuang Bifan. “Ol’ Zhuang, did you bring the treasure?”

“I did,” Zhuang Bifan said with a laugh.

“Come on, let’s step away and have ourselves a chat,” said Su Yi, already shooting off to find somewhere away from the crowd.

Zhuang Bifan hurried after him.

Just like that, the curtains fell on Zhuang Bifan’s crisis. However, it was Su Yi’s appearance that swept across the shores of the Impermeable Demon Ocean like a storm.

......

Fifteen minutes later, Su Yi sat in his wicker chair. His right hand fiddled with a walnut-sized dim blue spirit pearl.

The pearl was clear and translucent, and swathed in wisps of dreamlike blue mist. Its interior was full of mysterious, wondrous, chaos origin energy.

The Sea-Stabilizing Water-Parting Pearl!

This was one of the Zhuang Family’s greatest treasures. Rumor had it that it was born in the eye of an ancient sea of chaos, and it had unbelievable, wondrous applications.

In a perilous forbidden zone like the Impermeable Demon Ocean, it could neutralize many potential disasters with ease.

“Is someone trying to push me into the fire?” asked Su Yi.

After conversing with Zhuang Bifan, he knew that rumors of his exploits had recently spread across the stars like wildfire.

Especially since there were rumors that others had stepped onto the Path of Transcendence ahead of him. They said he was a legend of a bygone era, and he was doomed to be crushed beneath these new Transcendents’ feet.

Su Yi didn’t care about the rumors, but he did care about just who was stirring up these waves. It had only been a few short days, but practically everyone had heard the rumors already.

There was obviously something strange afoot.

Zhuang Bifan gripped his green bamboo flute and put one hand behind his back. “There’s surely a reason for this. I’m certain it’s one of your enemies from your past life! They’re trying to push you into the heart of the storm and make you the target of countless arrows. That way, you’ll be in for endless trouble.”

But Su Yi shook his head. “Even idiots know that Cosmic Enlightenment World Kings are already not much of a threat. Given the circumstances, who would be stupid enough to throw their lives away?”

But then, his eyebrows rose; he understood. “It seems this news is intended for those about to break into Transcendence, or perhaps, those who’ve already broken through.”

Zhuang Bifan’s pupils constricted, his gaze solemn. “Does that mean that Transcendents are likely to come looking for a fight with you in the near future?”

Su Yi laughed. “Why, if that's the case, I’m actually quite eager!”

Zhuang Bifan watched Su Yi sprawl out comfortably in his wicker chair, his expression calm and composed. He couldn’t help but sigh over his own inferiority. “They say there’s nothing in this world I can’t brag about, but when it comes to putting on airs, I’m far inferior to you.”

“When did I put on airs?” Su Yi said irritably.

Zhuang Bifan said with solemnity, “It comes straight from your heart, and it runs bone deep. Your every gesture reveals your prideful bearing. Even without saying anything, you’ll naturally find yourself the center of attention. This method of putting on airs has already fused with your personality; I naturally can’t point to anything specific. And that... is exactly what has me sighing over my own inferiority.”

Su Yi didn’t know what to say. What kind of explanation is that!?

As they conversed, his companions flew over.

Su Yi didn’t delay any further. He rose from his wicker chair and said, “Let’s go.”

The group promptly shot into the Impermeable Demon Ocean.

A day later.

Baleful mist floated on top of a stretch of sea. Countless star corpses floated within the dark seawater, like desolate islands.

There was an ancient ritual ground built on one such mountainous star corpse.

At the center of the ritual grounds, there stood a ninety-foot altar. It blazed with divine flames, and Dao Light soared into the heavens. The boundless sounds of the Grand Dao echoed throughout the surrounding seas, like the music of the heavens.

A tall, stalwart figure sat cross-legged atop the ninety-foot altar, like a god or immortal. He held an ancient scroll and chanted sutras.

From time to time, cultivators flew in from the distant seas. The moment they heard his chanting, their expressions filled with astonishment and excitement. All of them rushed over to the ritual grounds and sat cross-legged to listen.

Soon, Su Yi and his companions appeared in the distance.

“All he’s doing is chanting sutras, but I feel somehow enlightened, as if all mysteries could become clear at any moment...” The Netherworld King’s eyes lit up, and delight and astonishment appeared on her face. “Don’t tell me that’s really a Transcendent transmitting the Dao?”

Wei Shan and Meng Changyun looked impressed too.

This scene really was holy and far beyond the ordinary, like an immortal sharing truths of the Grand Dao.

Only Su Yi furrowed his brow.