First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1389 - An Immortal in the Human Realm

Su Yi was quite surprised.

He thought for a moment, but he still didn’t get it. “Why is this Hong Feiguan so certain that I’ll show up to his duel just because Mo Qingchou is serving as his guarantor?”

“Hong Feiguan wants to challenge you openly and fairly,” said Li Zhong. “He wants to determine victory and defeat, as well as life and death. That’s why he asked my Young Mistress to oversee the duel and ensure fairness. He hopes to dispel your reservations and convince you that nothing will go wrong.”

Li Zhong paused, then said, “As for whether or not you’ll show up? Hong Feiguan said that once you saw this, there was no way you’d refuse him.”

He then took out a jade slip and passed it to Su Yi.

Before Su Yi could examine its contents, Li Zhong said with deep concern, “Fellow Daoist Su, no matter what’s recorded inside, I personally think it best you don’t go.”

The Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone was the revenants’ hturf!

More than half of the orthodoxies that had survived the End of the Dharma had bases there.

There, Su Yi, the man who controlled the secrets of reincarnation, would be like a sheep in a tiger’s den. Countless ancient factions were sure to set their sights on him!

That aside, in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone, revenants weren’t subject to the restrictions of the Laws!

Su Yi had killed Cloud Soaring revenants with such ease in part because they were subject to the restriction of the Laws. They could only display about forty percent of their strength at most.

But in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone, this advantage no longer existed!

And that’s before factoring in the immortal revenants awakening within the top ancient orthodoxies. Although they couldn’t yet wander freely, power of that level was unquestionably even more terrifying.

At first, Su Yi wasn’t at all interested in this duel.

But after reading the jade slip’s contents, he sank into silence. Despite himself, his eyes narrowed. A long tpassed without a word.

When Li Zhong saw this, his heart thudded in his chest as he realized that something was amiss.

He was just about to say something when Su Yi put away the jade slip and said, “Go back and tell Hong Feiguan that half a month from now, I’ll be there.”

His tone was calm, and his gaze didn’t so much as ripple with emotion.

Li Zhong couldn’t help but say, “Fellow Daoist Su, although my young mistress agreed to ensure fairness, that doesn’t mean everything will go smoothly. If anything happens....”

Su Yi laughed. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“....” In the end, Li Zhong just sighed and left to deliver Su Yi’s response.

......

Hong Feiguan’s message was simple and to the point. It read: “The Tailor has delivered your disciple, Qing Tang, to me. So long as you cto our appointed duel, regardless of who lives and who dies, she will be permitted to leave the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone alive!”

Qing Tang!

After the battle in front of the Grotto of Abstruse Force ended, Qing Tang set off, returning to the stars on her own.

There’d been no word of her since.

Su Yi had recently ordered the Bookkeeper to use the forces the Four Seas Tower had spread throughout the stars to search for leads to her whereabouts. However, they’d yet to accomplish anything at all.

Only now did Su Yi learn that Qing Tang had long since fallen into the Tailor’s clutches. Now, Hong Feiguan was using her as a hostage!

Judging from Hong Feiguan’s tone, it really seemed like he disdained using Qing Tang to threaten him any more than needed to ensure his arrival.

But after the Tailor got mixed up in this, Su Yi picked up on an entirely different scent. There was no doubt about it: the Tailor knew what had happened on Mount Clearmoon, and he’d even stuck his head out of his shell and chosen to cooperate with Hong Feiguan, all in an attempt to kill his hated foe!

Su Yi was certain that the Tailor was already at the end of his rope. He wouldn’t have left the shadows if he’d had any tricks left, much less used Qing Tang’s life just to aid the Hong Family.

Not long ago, the Tailor had eyes and arms throughout the stars. How could he possibly have needed to take action personally?

“Old schemer, I’m actually quite curious to see what tricks you’ll play this time. Whatever you do, don’t letcatch you.” Su Yi had a strong premonition that although his duel with Hong Feiguan might not amount to much, the Tailor was certain to use this opportunity to stir up waves!

......

Universal Emptiness Temple.

When they learned that Su Yi planned to fight a duel in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone, Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha both frowned.

“Half a month from now? They obviously picked the timing quite carefully,” said Sword Immortal Qingshi. “Universal Emptiness and I did sdivinations, and we concluded that within a month, the complete Path of Transcendence will re-enter the world.

“For Hong Feiguan to choose to duel you half a month from now suggests that he’s worried that given any more time, you’ll step onto the Path of Transcendence!”

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha said solemnly, “Simply put, Hong Feiguan has timed this to kill you before you can beca Transcendent.”

Su Yi sprawled out in his wicker chair, not at all concerned. “You needn’t worry. I’ve long since been interested in visiting the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone. Besides, with my current cultivation, I can step onto the Path of Transcendence whenever I want.”

Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha looked at each other. They could tell that Su Yi had already made up his mind; there’d be no dissuading him.

“Mo Qingchou is from an Immortal Lord clan. With her to ensure fairness, they’re unlikely to try any foul play,” said Sword Immortal Qingshi. “However, in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Grounds, ancient orthodoxies are as numerous as trees in a forest, and there are numerous descendants of immortals. There’s no shortage of factions willing to contend with the Mo Family.

“That aside, while Hong Feiguan might disdain resorting to trickery, the rest of the Hong Family won’t necessarily act in accordance with his will. They, too, are a latent threat.

“If you must go despite the circumstances, you must be careful. Make ample preparations first.”

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha suddenly suggested, “How about... we get in touch with Daoist Master Red Cloud?”

Su Yi smiled and shook his head. “No need.”

Over the course of several lifetimes, he’d overctoo many fierce battles to count. How could he possibly fear a bit of adversity?

The battle hadn’t even begun. If he went looking for external support already, it’d seem overly pathetic.

Su Yi sipped from a jug of wine and said, “My sword and I will be plenty.”

Sword cultivators had hearts like iron.

They ought to have the spirit to attempt even the grandest of undertakings!

Su Yi might have once been cautious of venturing into the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone, but now, he was eager. The more powerful foes he encountered there, the better!

Besides, this time, he had an important reason to go.

......

Su Yi took the weeks before the duel to enter seclusion.

Weng!

The Divine Replenishment Furnace rumbled as it produced one bundle of essence power after another from divine materials.

These were all Transcendent-level materials. After they entered the furnace, they transformed into colorful bundles of essence.

There was no need for Su Yi to even do anything. As soon as the essence power appeared, the Sword of the Human Realm absorbed and refined it.

It was as if the Divine Replenishment Furnace were a chef cooking a delicious feast, while the Sword of the Human Realm was its delighted customer. It was quite an interesting sight.

After fusing with the Thousand Wonders Furnace, Nine Purities Dao Flame, and the Dark and Gold Fortune Vine, the Sword of the Human Realm really had changed.

It wasn’t just its appearance. Its power was far greater than before, and it had the potential to evolve continuously!

Take now, for instance. As the Divine Replenishment Furnace provided it with divine materials’ essence, the sword absorbed them, its quality and power improving and transforming.

Su Yi paid this no heed. He was cultivating quietly to steady his heart and cultivation base.

Neither Shen Mu nor the Temple Master had ever stepped onto the Path of Transcendence.

Fortunately, Shen Mu’s memories contained a vast ocean of ancient tomes, giving Su Yi a thorough understanding of the Three Realms of the Path of Transcendence.

He was now just one step away from the Path of Transcendence.

Once his preparations were in order, he’d prove his Dao, break through, and establish unparalleled foundations!

......

The Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone, a mountain shrouded in immortal energies.

“He... agreed?” Mo Qingchou, a woman dressed like a man, looked dazed, as if she found this difficult to believe. “Did you try to dissuade him?”

Li Zhong smiled bitterly. “I tried, but it was no use. He even said... he was looking forward to it.”

“....” Mo Qingchou extended a slender, snowy finger and pressed the spot between her eyes. She grumbled, “I agreed to act as Hong Feiguan’s guarantor, but I never thought Su Yi would actually agree to duel him. Any ordinary person ought to have realized that this is no simple fair duel. How... How could he possibly have agreed to participate?”

Li Zhong fell silent. He still didn’t get it either.

A little while later, Mo Qingchou reached a decision. “Very well. When the tcomes, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that Su Yi and Hong Feiguan’s duel isn’t influenced by any accidents or external powers!

“As for what will happen after the curtains fall... I’m afraid that’s beyond my control.”

She sighed, feeling rather strange. Even in the Immortal Realm, she’d never encountered anyone like Su Yi before! He was confident and aloof, with unmatched courage. Even rarer, his cultivation base was unique and unprecedented.

And his every action cas a complete surprise!

Take this duel, for instance. Mo Qingchou had to admit that in his shoes, she would have refused without a second thought.

It wasn’t just her; just about anyone would have refused.

Coming to a duel in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone was tantamount to suicide!

Yet for sreason, Su Yi had accepted Hong Feiguan’s challenge.

Mo Qingchou couldn’t even imagine the level of confidence and courage needed to make such a decision.

A while later, she said to Li Zhong, “Go tell Hong Feiguan the news.”

“Understood.” Li Zhong went off to carry out his orders.

Mo Qingchou, meanwhile, proceeded toward a forbidden ground covered in an Immortal Dao-level restriction.

This was an immortal cave, and waves of dense immortal energy emanated from it.

A simple, old-fashioned platform stood at the cave’s center. A massive and strange hunk of jade floated above it.

Chaotic energy circulated within it, and immortal radiance rose.

Upon closer inspection, there was a human figure seated cross-legged inside. His eyes were tightly shut, as if he’d sunk into a deep slumber.

When Mo Qingchou arrived before him, she took a deep breath, then inclined her head in greeting. “Ancestor, I’ve chere with something important to discuss. I’m afraid I have no choice but to disturb you.”

She then explained Hong Feiguan’s duel with Su Yi in full detail.

“I agreed to serve as their guarantor, but I fear that my prestige won’t be enough to dissuade would-be troublemakers,” Mo Qingchou said in a low voice. “Thus, I can only ask for your aid.”

Within the jade, that cross-legged figure suddenly opened his eyes. The entire cave trembled, and immortal power rumbled and boomed. Even the platform shook violently.

Terrifying pressure swept outward.

This was the power of an immortal in the Human Realm!