First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1308 - Trading a Peach for a Plum

“Who wouldn’t be tempted by the mysteries of reincarnation?” said Daoist Master Red Cloud. “But I won’t violate our ancestral precepts.”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. He couldn’t help but be curious. Just what is this precept that her family has passed down for generations?

As if reading his mind, Daoist Master Red Cloud said, “Should you get the opportunity to enter the Immortal Realm, and if my seniors yet live, they might well tell you what you want to know."

Su Yi asked no further questions about it. Instead, he got straight to the point. “Do you need my help?”

Daoist Master Red Cloud might well be the descendant of immortals, but she was also a revenant. She definitely needed his power of reincarnation to break the curse afflicting her.

But against Su Yi’s expectations, Daoist Master Red Cloud shook her head. “No need, at least not now.”

A moment later, she explained.

Although great changes were taking place throughout the various star realms, and although the Path of Transcendence would soon reappear within the Laws, the restrictions on revenants remained!

The stronger the revenant, the greater the restrictions.

That was especially true for those on Daoist Master Red Cloud’s level. Even if he broke her curse now, she wouldn’t be able to leave the Impermeable Demon Ocean.

If she tried, she’d inevitably suffer a backlash from the Laws, leading to her death.

“At the end of the day, revenants like us ought to have died during the End of the Dharma. That we’ve reawakened is because we wrested a thread of vitality from the will of the heavens,” Daoist Master Red Cloud said softly. “Our curse is a power from a bygone era. Even if we shatter it, it’ll leave its mark on us. The Laws will see us as miscreants and heretics to be eliminated.”

Here, she let out a soft sigh. “These are the Laws of creation. Even after becoming an immortal, we cannot truly rise above them.”

“That means that once the Path of Transcendence reappears within the bounds of the laws, revenants like you will be able to re-enter the world?” said Su Yi thoughtfully.

“That’s right,” said Daoist Master Red Cloud. “Revenants like Li Beishan ought to be able to re-enter the world as soon as their curse is broken. Furthermore, it won’t be long until those cultivators of the modern era who stepped onto the Path of Transcendence will be able to wander the outside world.”

She pointed at the dome of heaven. “In short, a new era has already arrived. As time passes, more and more experts and treasures of the Path of Transcendence will appear.”

She looked at Su Yi once more. “You’d best hurry up and improve your cultivation. Otherwise, your control over the power of reincarnation will make you the target of countless arrows.”

Su Yi’s gaze narrowed slightly, but then, he laughed. “To tell the truth, I’m actually rather eager for that.”

“Why?” said Daoist Master Red Cloud, a bit stunned.

Without even pausing to think, Su Yi said, “I want to test the strength of a Transcendent while still a World King.”

“....” Daoist Master Red Cloud was obviously surprised. She couldn’t help but take another look at Su Yi.

It was only after she confirmed that he wasn’t joking that she said, “You’ve got ambition. To the best of my knowledge, even in the Immortal Realm, World Kings capable of defeating Transcendents are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Such experts are either rare natural-born immortals or the holy sons of top immortal orthodoxies.

After hearing this, Su Yi couldn’t help but exclaim, “And here I thought no such person had ever existed. Now, it seems I’ve underestimated the experts of the Immortal Realm.”

Daoist Master Red Cloud’s expression was strange. “Should you reach the Immortal Realm, you’ll naturally understand how extraordinary the ‘natural born immortals’ and ‘holy sons of immortal orthodoxies’ I spoke of are. For you, a man of the Human Realm, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them is absolutely unprecedented.”

Su Yi smiled but said no more.

The two chatted a while longer until finally, Daoist Master Red Cloud revealed her intentions. In a year at minimum, two years at most, the Path of Transcendence would reappear within the Laws.

When the time came, she would leave the Impermeable Demon Ocean, find Su Yi, and ask him to break her curse.

Su Yi didn’t refuse.

“That girl’s aptitude is extraordinary, and her accumulations in the Imperial Realm are firm. If you don’t object, you could have her stay here and cultivate with me,” said Daoist Master Red Cloud, glancing at the nearby Netherworld King. “If all goes as I suspect, I can help her achieve first-rate foundations when she steps into the World King Realm.”

Su Yi thought for a moment. “We’ll have to see what she wants to do.”

Daoist Master Red Cloud nodded.

Before long, Li Beishan returned with a mountain of spoils he’d collected from the Ghost Scholar and Buddhist Master Blood Lanterns’ lairs.

But Daoist Master Red Cloud didn’t even look at them. She just ordered him to give them all to Su Yi.

Su Yi could tell that she’d been trying to establish positive karma between them from the moment they first met!

She’d treated him to dumplings, shared fine wine, and given him guidance over the course of their cultivation. All of this was done for two simple reasons.

First, because of the ancestral precept her clan had passed down for generations.

Second, to get closer to him.

Given the circumstances, Su Yi naturally wouldn’t refuse. He knew that when the time came to repay her, all he needed to do was break her curse. As for whether or not she had other intentions? Su Yi didn’t care.

“Positive karma” was just helping each other out. It was a win-win.

That very day, Daoist Master Red Cloud took out some of the other wines she’d brewed and shared them with Su Yi and his companions. Including Li Beishan, who found this both surprising and flattering.

By the time they finished the resulting banquet, Wei Shan and the others were all tipsy, and they immediately sat down to cultivate.

Su Yi found it all a bit hard to digest too. There was nothing for it; Daoist Master Red Clouds wines and delicacies were all rare, supreme treasures. Feasting with her was in all respects ingesting vast quantities of divine medicine. All of them were stuffed and nearing their limit.

When Daoist Master Red Cloud saw this, she ordered the yellow dog, whom she called Xing Que, to instruct their cultivation and help them smooth out any issues.

Meanwhile, she sat there alone and continued drinking, tranquil and entirely unperturbed.

Except when her gaze landed on Su Yi, who was cultivating nearby, she just stared into space.

Father, if you were still alive, I’m afraid you wouldn’t dare believe that the power of reincarnation forbidden by the Contract of the Gods would appear here, in the Eastern Profound Star Domain...

This person really is extraordinary. It’s just as the ancestral precept stated... His age, cultivation, and wisdom... Common sense isn’t enough to gauge any of them.

To me, this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To the clan, the opportunity spoken of in our ancestral precepts has finally arrived.

Alas... you’re no longer here. I don’t even know whether or not the clansmen we left in the Immortal Realm still live...

Here, she couldn’t help but sigh to herself.

A moment later, her gaze filled with calm determination. No matter what, I’ll carry out our ancestral precept. I’ll do everything in my power to handle this properly!

......

Three days later.

Su Yi and his companions awakened from their meditation, one after another.

All of them had benefited enormously.

Zhuang Bifan’s cultivation base firmed up, while Wei Shan broke into the late-stage Cosmic Enlightenment Realm, and Meng Changyun reached the peak of the Heavenly Longevity Realm.

Su Yi’s cultivation remained in the mid-stage Oneness Realm, but he already wasn’t far from the late stage.

After talking it over with Wei Shan, the Netherworld King had decided to stay behind and cultivate alongside Daoist Master Red Cloud.

The yellow dog she called Xing Que called Meng Changyun over and said, “Ol’ boy, you’re about to face your Tribulation of Oneness. This lofty one urges you to remain behind. With my guidance, I guarantee that you’ll make rapid improvements in the Grand Dao and transform yourself completely!”

Over the past three days, Meng Changyun’s pleasing flattery and comportment had won the dog’s admiration. When it learned that Meng Changyun was about to leave, it was a bit reluctant to part with him.

But Meng Changyun shook his head. “Senior, I appreciate your kind intentions, but I vowed to follow my master and obey his orders for the rest of my life. How could I possibly go back on my word?

The dog was moved. “Well said! Your words resonate with me deeply. Truly admirable!”

Hadn’t it followed its mistress loyally all these years in much the same way?

This only made the dog admire Meng Changyun even more.

Su Yi witnessed this exchange, and he couldn’t help but find it amusing. “Ol’ Meng, there’s no harm in staying behind. It’s just two years. Let’s see how much this dog senior of yours can change you.”

The dog bared its teeth. “What ‘dog senior?’ Are you insulting me?”

“Err....” Meng Changyun hurriedly tried to refuse.

But before he got the chance, Su Yi waved. “It’s settled, then.”

He didn’t mind having Meng Changyun around. It was just that he was advancing too quickly, and Meng Changyun’s aptitude restricted him. His advancement was slow.

If Meng Changyun stayed with him for his future adventures, it wouldn’t necessarily be good for him.

Staying here and focusing on his cultivation might well let Meng Changyun transform his cultivation base and advance rapidly, just as the dog said.

“Stay, then,” said Daoist Master Red Cloud.

Meng Changyun made no further attempts to refuse.

Instead, he faced Su Yi and bowed solemnly. “Your Excellency, thank you for your support of my cultivation. I’ll carve this kindness into my heart, and one day, I’ll be sure to come looking for you. I’ll work tirelessly on your behalf, even if it means my death!”

Su Yi subtly inclined his head.

Li Beishan, meanwhile, was jealous just watching. An opportunity to cultivate at Daoist Master Red Cloud was a chance even Transcendents could only dream of!

Even Zhuang Bifan was envious. He would have loved to stay behind too.

After all, in life, Daoist Master Red Cloud was a true immortal descendant! Her strength was terrifying beyond measure, far beyond your ‘typical’ Transcendent!

Alas, he had to return to his clan and oversee the big picture. He could only give up on staying behind.

“Fellow Daoist Su, since your attendant is staying here, why not let Li Beishan work for you?” Daoist Master Red Cloud suddenly suggested. “He can handle most Transcendent revenants, and in return, all you need to do is dispel his curse.”

Li Beishan trembled from head to toe, his heart full of emotion as he realized that she was trying to pave a path for him!

If he served as Su Yi’s attendant, why would he ever need to worry about how he’d break his curse?