First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1543 - Venting

Cheers rang out on all sides of Sky Tripod Arena, shaking the air.

Wen Yuanming stood in the arena as the center of attention.

After her crushing defeat, someone had to help A’Ning to her feet. Her face was ashen.

“Big Sister!” A’Li rushed up to her. When she saw how badly her sister was injured, her tears flowed uncontrollably.

Elder Ma Xingkong of the Jade Firmament Immortal Sect frowned. “A’Ning, we told you to just admit defeat if you ran into Wen Yuanming, but you stubbornly refused to listen!”

A’Ning’s expression darkened. She pursed her lips and said nothing.

Another higher-up sighed. “This is just great. You haven’t just embarrassed yourself; you’ve brought shto everyone in the Jade Firmament Immortal Sect.”

Even Qian Yu couldn’t help but say, “Senior Apprentice Sister, why stubbornly insist on acting tough?”

A’Ning trembled with deep disappointment. She’d only just returned after a bitter defeat. Who’d have thought her elders would “welcome” her with rebukes and displeasure, and that even her sectmates would kick her while she was down?

A’Li was overcwith fury too. These are Big Sister’s elders and sectmates?

Su Yi silently appeared beside A’Li and said softly, “Look after your big sister. I’ll help you vent.”

A’Li was stunned.

A’Ning heard him too. She’d only just suffered a crushing defeat. Wen Yuanming had trampled her dignity in front of a crowd, but that wasn’t all; even her seniors and fellows had welcomed her with cold mockery and rebukes. Her heart was full of humiliation and bitterness.

Su Yi's words filled her heart with indescribable fury. She couldn’t help but shout, “Su Yi, you’re still on about that nonsense even at a tlike this? If something happens, I can’t possibly save you!”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened and welled with tears. This Su Yi person was such a disappointment. Was this helping her?

No! He was obviously just causing trouble on purpose!

Su Yi didn’t get angry. Instead, he gently patted her shoulder. “All you have to do is watch.”

A’Ning was stunned. Turbulent emotions coursed through her, and for sreason, she could no longer hold back her tears. This guy’s always making people worry about him. He’s a disappointment, but he... was the first to step forth to helpand my little sister get even!

A’Li couldn’t help but say, “Big Brother Su, you...”

Su Yi laughed. “Lass, haven’t you been trying to getto participate in this immortal assembly all this time? Now, I agree.”

With that, he put his hands behind his back, turned, and walked off.

“Su Yi, what are you doing? This is the Seven Stars Immortal Assembly! If you make trouble, the Jade Firmament Immortal Sect won’t protect you!” shouted Qian Yu.

Su Yi ignored him.

“Nonsense! If he insists on seeking death, let him!” Ma Xingkong snorted coldly.

The other Jade Firmament Immortal Sect higher-ups’ expressions were overcast. That junior Su Yi is simply unreasonable!

Chang Lexing muttered to himself, That mysterious existence is about to intervene... It seems A’Ning’s injuries have thoroughly enraged him!

Suddenly, for sreason, he found himself quite eager to see what happened next.

A voice rang out from within the Sky Tripod Ritual Grounds. “Next is core disciple Peng Qingsong of the Profound Transformation Daoist Sect versus core disciple Nie Yunshuang of the Northern Frost Sword Sect!”

But before this voice even finished echoing through the air, Su Yi’s tall, upright figure appeared on stage, seemingly out of nowhere.

The platform was covered in formations of the Immortal Dao. Only World Kings could step onto the platform. Cultivators of other levels would be trapped outside.

But Su Yi had already suppressed his ten percent of a cultivation base down to the World King level! In other words, the Su Yi currently on stage was “just” a World King!

“Who is that guy?”

“Impudent! Who do you think you are, to take the stage uninvited?”

“Hurry up and get down!”

....When a stranger like Su Yi appeared on stage, an uproar followed. Rebukes rang out, one after another.

As one of the hosts of this event, the Northern Frost Sword Sect’s black-robed elder rose and bellowed, “Whose disciple is that?”

Numerous gazes converged on the Jade Firmament Immortal Sect’s camp.

Ma Xingkong promptly said coldly, “The boy did chere with us, but his behavior has nothing to do with us. Do with him as you see fit!”

Everyone was dumbstruck. Don’t tellthere’s internal discord in the Jade Firmament Immortal Sect’s camp?

The black-robed old man from the Northern Frost Sword Sect snorted coldly, then fixed his dark gaze on Su Yi. “Young man, what are you trying to do? If you can’t offer a satisfactory reason for your behavior, this shall be the day you die!”

Su Yi took out a jug of wine, had a sip, and said flatly, “This is a challenge to determine life and death.”

It was just one sentence, but it was like a magic spell. Deathly silence descended over the entire area.

Countless people were wide-eyed and tongue-tied.

The Seven Stars Immortal Assembly really did permit such challenges. World Kings without a spot in the tournament could still participate as challengers!

Fighting as a challenger meant single-handedly defending against all competitors who accepted your challenge. The challenge only ended when no one else was willing to accept your invitation to duel. Only then was your challenge considered successful.

Notably, if a challenger lost even once, they had to pay with their life, but even if they won, they weren’t permitted to kill their opponents.

These rules were naturally unfair, and they were incomparably cruel and strict. Thus, over the years, practically no one had ever dared to participate in the Seven Stars Immortal Assembly by initiating a challenge.

Who’d have thought such a challenger would step forth today? Of course the crowd was startled!

“Big Brother Su...” A’Li’s heart was on tenterhooks.

A’Ning looked dazed. Her heart quivered too, but in the end, she just softly comforted her little sister. “Don’t worry. He wouldn’t have attempted this if he didn’t have reason to be confident.”

Although she said this, in truth, she wasn’t at all confident. On the contrary, she regretted not realizing what Su Yi had planned earlier. If she had, she would have done everything in her power to dissuade him!

By now, there was no longer any hope of turning this around.

“A challenge? Hah! He’s obviously sick of living!” Ma Xingkong shook his head.

Qian Yu chimed in his agreement. “You’re absolutely right, Elder! I’m afraid he doesn’t even know how to write the word ‘death!’”

He was quite excited. Just a few days prior, he’d lost all face in front of Su Yi, and he’d long since been eager for an opportunity to kill him. Who’d have thought Su Yi would choose this moment to step forth and throw his life away?

Boom!

An enormous uproar broke the deathly silence, like a pot blowing off its lid.

“Who is this guy? How could he be so bold?

“He’s obviously gambling with his life! Seems tothat he wouldn’t have dared recklessly ascend to the stage if he weren’t strong!”

“We’re in for a show this time!”

...As a clamor of voices rang out, the prominent World Kings of the seven immortal sects all evaluated Su Yi, as if trying to figure out where he’d cfrom.

But in the end, they were disappointed. None of them could figure out who Su Yi was.

“A challenge?” The old man in black robes laughed coldly. “Very well, I’ll give you what you want! The challenge begins now. Anyone willing to take down that madman can go right ahead!”

His words resounded throughout the area, suppressing the uproar.

“I’ll go first!”

A cold voice rang out, and a man in teal took to the skies and shot toward the platform.

Peng Qingsong, a core disciple of the Profound Transformation Daoist Sect!

Earlier, if not for Su Yi’s intervention, it would have been his turn to take the stage and duel core disciple Nie Yunshuang of the Northern Frost Sword Sect. He was naturally the first to take umbrage with Su Yi’s interruption.

Whoosh!

He appeared on the platform and muttered a sword incantation. A sword shot forth, the markings on the blade as vigorous as the grain of ancient pinewood. Misty blue light spread out around it.

As for Peng Qingsong himself? His aura grew fierce and imposing.

“Ping Qingsong is a genius of the Dao of the Sword. Among the young World Kings of the Jing Province, he’s a top-notch figure. He might not compare to Xie Yunfeng, Zhou Budu, Zheng Tiantu, or a few other unparalleled geniuses, but he’s definitely in the running for the top ten of this Seven Stars Immortal Assembly!” murmured A’Ning, her face full of concern.

“Big Brother Su can definitely win!” In stark contrast, A’Li’s face filled with conviction. “I have faith in him.”

Ma Xingkong and the others shook their heads and laughed. Even higher-ups like them were impressed by Peng Qingsong’s strength. How could a moocher like Su Yi possibly compare?

It wasn’t just Ma Xingkong and the other elders who thought that way, either. The vast majority of the spectators had full confidence in Peng Qingsong.

As for Su Yi? Perhaps because he was too unfamiliar, he had few supporters in the crowd.

“Tellyour name! My sword doesn’t cut down nameless foes!” Peng Qingsong said coldly.

Su Yi just glanced at him. “You’d best leave. I’m only here to suppress that bastard Wen Yuanming.”

This declaration left the entire venue flabbergasted, to the point that they almost dared not believe their ears. He initiated a life-or-death challenge... to target Wen Yuanming!?

How insane is he?

Many of the higher-ups in the audience couldn’t help but laugh. This youngster really is ignorant...

“He... argh!” A’Ning sighed, her heart churning. How could she miss that Su Yi really was trying to vent on their behalf? She was moved, but more than that, she was worried!

Over in the Fallen Cloud Immortal Sect, Wen Yuanming was sipping tea. His eyelids didn’t so much as twitch; he ignored Su Yi completely.

But Peng Qingsong couldn’t ignore this!

If this challenge was targeted at Wen Yuanming, didn’t that mean that he wasn’t even worth fighting?

“That’ll depend on whether or not you can get throughfirst!” Peng Qingsong attacked directly.

Clang!

A sword hum rang out as Peng Qingsong attacked. Sword qi condensed in the air, forming a grand, majestic mountain seemingly intent on suppressing the dof heaven.

The crowd couldn’t help but sigh over his attainments in the Dao of the Sword.

Most of them turned their attention to Su Yi. They wanted to see how this unfamiliar face bold enough to initiate a challenge would handle this.

Then, they watched as——

Su Yi subtly shook his head. Without so much as looking at his opponent, he stretched out his hand, extended a finger, and casually tapped.

A simple, understated gesture without the slightest flourish.

But when his fingertip landed....

Bang!!

The majestic mountain of sword qi popped like a soap bubble, shattering into fragments of sword qi. Peng Qingson’s rage-fueled attack could have suppressed the vast majority of foes of the slevel, yet now, it seemed utterly pathetic.

Su Yi’s finger was like an axe through bamboo. Peng Qingsong watched in shock as it continued past the shattered sword mountain and gently tapped the tip of his sword.

Crunch!

The ancient sword was a top treasure of the World King level, yet it shattered inch by inch, starting from the tip, offering no more resistance than paper.

The force of Su Yi’s tap continued toward Peng Qingsong’s chest, then withdrew, like a dragonfly pausing briefly on the water’s surface before resuming its flight.

Peng Qingsong was sent directly flying. He slammed to the ground outside the arena, a bloody hole in his chest. Screams of agony filled the air!

With a tap of his finger, Su Yi destroyed a sword mountain, broke his opponent’s weapon, and seized victory!

Deathly silence descended upon the crowd. Everyone’s eyes widened.