First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1316 - The Fan Province’s Pure Lands

The Temple Master’s reincarnation had appeared within the Divine Capital Star Realm!

This news spread throughout the Divine Capital Star Realm practically overnight, causing massive waves of uproar.

The Divine Capital Star Realm was the greatest of the star realms, the heart of the Eastern Profound Star Domain. The Six Ancient Guardian Clans of the Dao and the other top factions of the stars, including the peak World King Clans, all had bases here. When this news spread, the top factions were the first to learn of it.

And the revenants hiding behind the curtains of these top factions stirred. Dark currents flowered beneath the surface. A storm was brewing.

......

As a storm brewed in the Divine Capital Star Realm, Su Yi set off for the Fan Province.

This was one of the Divine Capital’s thirty-six provinces, and most of its factions were Buddhist. Treasure temples and ancient monasteries were as numerous as trees in the forest, and there was always incense burning at their altars.

In the Divine Capital, they called the Fan Province a “Buddhist holy ground in the Human Realm.”

“Young Master, word has spread of the battle in All Willow City. By now, all of the Divine Capital knows of your return,” said Wei Shan with a frown.

Just now, they’d passed through a lively, prosperous city. It was then that they discovered that the entire star realm was in uproar following their recent battle.

“That isn’t strange. The Tailor, the old schemer, is surely behind this. He’s trying to tangle me up in trouble, as it’s easier to fish in turbulent waters.”

Even if Su Yi thought with his toes instead of his brain, he would have realized that the Tailor was stirring up these waves from behind the scenes.

“That old bastard. He deserves death by a thousand cuts!” Wei Shan gnashed his teeth.

“Calm down. The angrier you are, the smugger the old man hiding in the shadows will be,” Su Yi said casually. “Once we’ve found Old Monk Illuminating Emptiness, I’ll naturally settle the score with the old schemer.”

He’d only just said this when...

Kccch!

A black flying weaver’s shuttle appeared out of nowhere and bore a hole into their ship from below.

Boom!

The ship exploded with a bang, splitting into countless pieces.

Su Yi and Wei Shan disappeared into thin air just in time to dodge the ambush. But before they could steady themselves, a roar reverberated throughout the heavens, and a black vicious bird the size of a mountain range appeared, beating its wings as it shot toward them.

Immortal light flowed around the bird’s massive frame. Its wings were like sabers slicing through the heavens, ripping the skies asunder as it stirred up eye-catching, stinging winds of the Grand Dao.

Su Yi rose to his full height, swung his fist as he might a sword, and slashed through the air.

Boom!!

The unstoppably tyrannical power of reincarnation descended, like a divine mountain falling into the Human Realm. It forced the black vicious bird back, and the impact even blew away its feathers, which scattered as it shrieked and fled.

But this wasn’t over yet.

A massive black net appeared in the surrounding skies, blotting out the sun. It was woven out of the Laws, and it gave rise to dazzling immortal qi. Four figures appeared, each holding a corner of the net, and all four put their full force into the attack.

The net instantly enveloped Su Yi and Wei Shan. Within its confines, everything was utterly dark, as if the sky and sun were no more, and there was nowhere left to run.

Su Yi didn’t run.

Clang!

As the Sword of the Human Realm shot forth, Su Yi grabbed Wei Shan’s arm and attacked. Wherever the sword went, the two of them followed.

Bang!!!

Where its tip pointed, a corner of the great net tore open. Su Yi and Wei Shan fled through the opening.

Practically simultaneously, that black flying weaver’s shuttle attacked once more, so quick it was unbelievable. That mountain-range-sized vicious bird also beat its wings like mad, stirring up a windstorm of immortal light that filled the skies and swept toward Su Yi and Wei Shan.

This series of attacks unfolded in the blink of an eye, perilous to the extreme. Were Su Yi any other World King, he couldn’t possibly have blocked it. In fact, Wei Shan was so startled that he broke out in cold sweats.

However, Su Yi just snorted coldly and swung his sleeve.

Clang!

The Grain Rain Flying Sword shot forth, bringing with it the dim power of reincarnation. It flashed through the air, cleaving through the windstorm filling the sky and into the massive bird. In a flash, both its wings were severed, and just as it let out an agonized shriek, even its head was popped open.

The next moment, a clang rang out. Su Yi swung the Sword of the Human Realm through the air, severing the black weaver’s shuttle in two.

A grave voice suddenly echoed beneath the distant dome of heaven.

“Stop, all of you.”

A figure appeared, accompanying this voice. It was a tall and thin man dressed in dark robes. His features were handsome, and he walked as if he were out for a casual stroll through his own yard.

As soon as he appeared, the other experts involved in the ambush clustered around him.

“So, it’s a pack of revenants.”

Wei Shan’s expression darkened.

It was only now that they saw who’d attacked them. There were five of them in total, all intelligent revenants with strengths far beyond modern World Kings!

Su Yi’s gaze was calm and distant. “This is the Tailor making trouble for me. Even if he can’t kill me, he can disgust me.”

“Impressive. No wonder the Hidden Skies Immortal Sect fell flat on its face against you, Temple Master.” The man in dark robes had already arrived before them. He smiled and said, “We attacked recklessly now, but that was simply to confirm your identity, Fellow Daoist. We absolutely didn’t have any other intentions. We humbly request your magnanimity.”

As he spoke, he waved his hand. “Quick, apologize to the Temple Master.”

“Understood!” The revenants nodded their assent, then bowed, one after another. “We humbly request your magnanimity, Fellow Daoist.”

Wei Shan was instantly disgusted. He gnashed his teeth and said, “That was an ambush with obvious intent to kill, and you think a few sentences are enough to explain it away? What kind of attitude is that, huh?”

“Don’t be angry, Fellow Daoist. If we hadn’t attacked, how could we have confirmed that this truly is the Temple Master? Besides, we’ve already apologized. Isn’t that enough?” a hemp-clad old man said expressionlessly. He gripped the two halves of the severed weaver’s shuttle.

There was no doubt about it. He’d been the first to ambush them just now, and it was he who’d damaged their ship.

Su Yi couldn’t even be bothered to waste time talking. Instead, he attacked directly.

With a flash of sword light, ten thousand feet of sky split. Unstoppable sword qi swathed in the power of reincarnation descended, blasting apart the old man in hemp clothes.

His soul scattered and dispersed!

The dark-robed man and his companions’ expressions shifted, then darkened.

“Temple Master, it’s understandable that you’re angry. Anyone would be displeased after being tested in such a way.” The dark-robed man took a deep breath, then laughed. “But surely you’ve vented now? In truth, we’ve come here with good intentions. We hope to establish a positive karmic tie and make friends—”

Before he could finish, Su Yi attacked again. He didn't even bother to say anything in response.

Boom!

Sword qi rose into the air, tearing through the dome of heaven. A white-robed man had led the charge earlier, and sword qi bore a hole right through him, killing him on the spot.

That terrifying sword qi swept outward. The dark-robed man and his companions couldn’t escape.

For a moment, they were completely frantic, startled, and enraged. They couldn’t even imagine how the Temple Master dared be so domineering.

His gaze was calm and indifferent. The Laws of Reincarnation shrouded his tall, upright figure, making him seem like a sovereign surveying his territory.

“Retreat!” The dark-robed man’s face was ashen as he turned tail and fled.

Boom!

Sword qi ran rampant, sweeping forth like a raging tidal wave. Two revenants didn’t even have time to dodge before they were cut down on the spot. In the end, only the dark-robed man and the badly maimed black bird managed to escape in panic.

“Didn’t you want to make friends? Why run? What about your positive karma?” shouted Wei Shan.

The dark-robed man didn’t even bother to respond. In the blink of an eye, he’d disappeared without a trace.

Su Yi put away the Sword of the Human Realm. “Are these people stupid stupid?”

“They knew your power over reincarnation countered them,” said Wei Shan. “Yet they threw their lives away anyway. What are they if not stupid?”

“But what if their ambush had succeeded?” said Su Yi. “What if they’d captured me alive?”

Wei Shan froze.

Before he could respond, Su Yi answered his own question. “They were risking it all for that possibility. Men die for wealth and birds die for food. Looking from outside, their ambush attempt seems foolish, but had they succeeded, they would have been the first group of revenants to break their curses. Furthermore, they’d have control over the power of reincarnation, making them sovereigns over the lives and deaths of other revenants.”

Wei Shan let out a deep sigh. “The temptation really is far too great. It’s enough that some of them won’t be able to help but risk it.”

Su Yi said, “Outsiders always think that they’re intelligent and crafty enough. Little do they know, were they faced with similarly irresistible temptation, they wouldn’t necessarily do any better than those guys did.”

Wei Shan said wistfully, “It’s true. Everyone knows gambling will only hurt you, and everyone knows the perils of lustfulness, but has there ever been a shortage of gambling addicts or brothel patrons?”

“....” Su Yi fell briefly silent before whispering, “Those who watch a situation they’re not involved in from a distance and think they understand everything are the most ridiculous of all.”

Wei Shan laughed. “It seems you’re speaking straight from the heart, Young Master.”

“There’s nothing for it. Those flies repulse me,” said Su Yi. He was already shooting into the distance. “Let’s go. I’m sure more and more flies will come looking for trouble in the days to come, but... a single slip-up on our part, and we’re doomed. We absolutely can’t give the flies an opportunity to exploit.”

Wei Shan agreed completely.

Three days later.

The Fan Province, a seemingly endless barren landscape.

“That stone Buddha actually vanished?” Su Yi’s brow furrowed slightly.

Universal Emptiness Temple was one of the stars’ most unknown, mysterious grands. It was an otherworldly holy ground in the eyes of Buddhist cultivators.

Throughout the ages, only a select handful of people ever learned that the temple stood within this barren stretch of wilderness.

And entering it required first finding a certain stone Buddha.

But the stone Buddha was nowhere to be found.

“Don’t tell me the old monk’s gone to the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone too?” Su Yi’s brow furrowed.

After a moment’s thought, he suddenly soared into the air, his hands forming lotus seals as his voice boomed like spring thunder.

“I think of the Buddha of ages long gone, cultivating throughout endless eons, performing endless acts of charity as numerous as the motes of dust in the measureless pure lands. His forms are endless, and they circulate throughout the lands...”

“I think of the Buddha of ages long gone, cultivating throughout endless eons, performing endless acts of charity as numerous as the motes of dust in the measureless pure lands. His forms are endless, and they circulate throughout the lands...”

Sanskrit chanting boomed throughout heaven and earth.

All of a sudden, a rain of immortal light scattered, illuminating the darkness. Heaven and earth were a vision of holiness, as if a Buddhist kingdom had descended upon the world, recreating the wonders of paradise.

This was the Immeasurable Emptiness Monastic Dharma Sutra.

Old Monk Illuminating Emptiness once proclaimed himself the Monastic Guardian. The foundations of his cultivation lay in this supreme Buddhist sutra.

But even after Su Yi recited the whole sutra, nothing changed at all.

Su Yi couldn’t help but find this a pity. There was no doubt about it; Universal Emptiness Temple was no longer here.

Otherwise, had Universal Emptiness Temple sensed this sutra, its bells would have rung in resonance with it.

“Let’s go.” Su Yi turned and was just about to leave when he heard a series of heaven-shaking footsteps in the distance.

Then, an unbelievable scene unfolded before Wei Shan and Su Yi’s eyes.

There, beneath the distant horizon, a bare-chested, tall old monk with a martial bearing ran toward them like mad, carrying a mountainously huge temple on his back!