First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1588 - The Mysteries of the Immortal Origin Space

The Sword of the Nine Hells returned to Su Yi’s soul.

The strange and terrifying calamitous aura blanketing the surrounding three thousand miles disappeared in a puff of smoke.

An endless, dazzling rain of light burst forth like a waterfall, surging into Su Yi’s tall, upright figure.

Great flurries of snow fluttered down to earth once more, like fragments of jade ornamenting the boulders, ancient pines, and cliffs.

Su Yi strolled through the snow, disregarding the earth-shaking transformation occurring within him. He just wanted to return to that relaxed state and enjoy the night and snow.

Alas, after his Immortal Tribulation’s disruption, he couldn’t quite achieve that state of calm, clear-headed tranquility.

Su Yi shook his head and started walking back. When the mood struck him, a nighttstroll through the snow was joyous indeed. When the mood left him, there was no pleasure in it, and a stroll was meaningless.

It all depended on his whims.

......

Within the dilapidated Daoist temple, the bonfire gradually went out.

Fang Han was crouched by the fireside. When he saw Su Yi return, he hurriedly asked, “Senior, what just happened outside? Why was it so terrifying?”

“Oh, I underwent tribulation,” said Su Yi.

“....” Fang Han was at a loss for words. How are you so casual about it?!

A moment later, the youth realized something, and he said excitedly, “Does that mean you’ve proven your Dao and beca Universe Realm Immortal?”

“Mm.” Su Yi casually leaned back into his wicker chair. “Get srest.”

He then closed his eyes and sensed his transformation.

The Immortal Dao was divided into four realms: the Universe Realm, the Void Realm, the Saint Realm, and the Miracle Realm.

The Universe Realm was the first of the four, the starting point of the Immortal Dao.

“Universe” meant “space,” as in the Universe Realm, cultivators opened an Immortal Origin Space within their Nascent Divinity, like the first parting of chaos at the start of creation.

The Immortal Origin Space contained the cultivation base. The firmer and deeper your foundations, the more durable the Immortal Origin Space, and the more Immortal Origin it could hold.

Upon reaching the Immortal Dao, the power of one’s cultivation base was converted to Immortal Origin. Cultivators inhaled and exhaled Immortal Spirit Qi, and condensed Immortal Laws.

They seemed simple, but in truth, the Immortal Origin Spaces of Universe Realm cultivators were incomparably wondrous and subtle, like independent universes. They contained all types of Grand Daos, manifesting them into celestial bodies and all facets of creation.

They even reflected the cycle of the seasons and the withering and flourishing of living things.

Those with especially firm foundations could even transform their Immortal Origin Space into different shapes!

Like ancient demon domains, the Western Paradise of Buddhism, or primeval wildernesses suitable for yao cultivators.

The deeper one’s foundations, the higher one’s cultivation, and the greater one’s mastery of Immortal Laws, the more wondrous the phenomena manifested within one’s Immortal Origin Space! At high levels of mastery, you could even materialize it externally!

When Wang Ye established his foundations in the Universe Realm, he manifested a thirty-three-layered sword domain within his Immortal Origin Space!

Upon reaching the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao, when he circulated his cultivation base and raised his hand, his thirty-three-layered sword domain entered the world. It seemed real and tangible, and it could easily blanket the sky, blot out the sun, and slay even the mightiest of foes!

However...

To Su Yi's astonishment, he realized that the Immortal Origin Space he'd created upon entering the Universe Realm had an "immeasurably vast and unfathomably deep" charm about it, as if it could contain endless mysteries of the Grand Dao.

In other words, there was nothing it could not hold!

Within his Immortal Origin Space, his powers of the Grand Dao transformed into Immortal Laws, then took on the shape of the Sword of the Nine Hells!

However, it was indistinct and illusory, and it just floated there in silence.

I walked an unprecedented variant of the Path of Transcendence: Manifesting Mortality, Manifesting Truth, and Manifesting Void. My foundations in the Grand Dao maintained the shape of the Sword of the Nine Hells throughout it all.

Now, within my Immortal Origin Space, my power of the Grand Dao has taken on the form of the Sword of the Nine Hells...

How are they connected?

Su Yi sank into thought.

He had Wang Ye’s memories and experiences, and his understanding of the Immortal Dao was absolutely far beyond that of the masses. But he was walking a different path from Wang Ye. As a result, he didn’t fully understand these changes either.

What I can say with certainty is that the Immortal Dao I seek is far beyond that of my past lives. At the very least, my foundations and power of the Grand Dao are far beyond my past selves.

Su Yi’s gaze suddenly shifted inscrutably.

His Immortal Origin Space had manifested the shape of the Sword of the Nine Hells. Did that mean that as his cultivation rose, he’d eventually be able to use his power of the Grand Dao to materialize the Sword of the Nine Hells and kill his enemies?

Wang Ye had his thirty-three-layered sword domain. Now, Su Yi had the Sword of the Nine Hells. Perhaps he’d be able to manifest “Nine Hells of the Grand Dao!”

Tslipped by as Su Yi continued sensing the changes to his cultivation base.

Reaching the Immortal Dao was like rising into the heavens. It fully transformed your cultivation base, as well as the very essence of your being.

This transformation was incomparable to past breakthroughs into higher realms. It was a completely different path.

That’s why they said, “Mortals and immortals are as far apart as men and the heavens.”

Those of prior realms, including the Path of Heaven’s Ascension and Transcendence, were classified as simply "cultivators."

The Immortal Dao was above them all.

It was the difference between a cultivator of the Human Realm and an immortal from on high!

When Su Yi first broke into the Manifesting Void Realm, he was already capable of killing most Void Realm True Immortals. Now that he’d stepped into the Immortal Dao and beca Universe Realm Immortal, the very nature of his life force and cultivation had undergone a qualitative breakthrough. Naturally, his strength had undergone an earth-shaking transformation!

A little while later, Su Yi set aside his scattered thoughts and took out a jade bottle. It contained three Goldenmist Aperture-Cleaning Pills, the greatest pills in existence for establishing one’s foundations in the Immortal Dao. The Divine Replenishment Furnace had only just finished them yesterday.

Each such pill was so precious that even peak orthodoxies would fight over them. If he auctioned them at the Black Dragon Market, they’d absolutely fetch an astronomical price!

Alas, when these pills took shape, they inevitably triggered a pill tribulation. Although the Divine Replenishment Furnace warded it off, several of the pills were destroyed. In the end, only three remained.

Su Yi swallowed one, then sat down to meditate.

Boom!

His Immortal Origin rumbled and boiled, as if heaven and earth were a blazing furnace.

Outside the temple, everything was still, save for the flurries dancing through the air.

......

The following morning, the winds were bone-chillingly cold. The snow had stopped overnight, and the sunlight illuminated the boundless white landscape.

Su Yi awakened from his meditation feeling thoroughly relaxed and comfortable.

After refining three Goldenmist Aperture-Cleaning Pills, he’d completely stabilized his early-stage Universe Realm foundations. They no longer had any flaws, and they were far firmer than Wang Ye’s had been. No, they weren’t even remotely comparable!

Su Yi rose, his aura calm and relaxed. It showed none of the characteristic charm of the Immortal Dao.

This was what they meant when they said a true expert’s aura was reserved! Never mind ordinary people, even those of higher cultivations would struggle to discern Su Yi’s mysteries of the Grand Dao.

“Let’s go.” Su Yi decided to set off, and he walked right on out of the temple.

Fang Han hurriedly followed him.

The landscape was glistening and white. Mists hung in the air, and the vegetation was cloaked in sheer white.

Not long after they set off, Fang Han suddenly cried out excitedly, “Senior, I can sense a Bi’an Shooting Star Talisman!”

Su Yi was briefly stunned. A moment later, he gazed into the distance.

There, beneath the distant dof heaven, he saw a figure fast approaching.

He was a short, thin, thoroughly wrinkled old man in brocade robes and a round cap. He emanated the characteristic energy fluctuations of a Void Realm True Immortal.

When he arrived, he first glanced at Su Yi, then at Fang Han. A massive weight seemed to lift from his shoulders. He smiled, “Might I ask if you’re Fang Han, my young friend?”

Fang Han nodded. “That’s me.”

The old man smiled benevolently. “This old man is called Yu Ting, and I’m here to welcyou on the young leader’s orders. Here’s a token to prove my identity.”

He then took out a talisman. Su Yi recognized it at a glance. This was a Bi’an Shooting Star Talisman!

Fang Han was confused. “Young Leader? Who are you talking about? Why do they have a Bi’an Shooting Star Talisman?”

The old man, Yu Ting, smiled. “My Young Leader is a descendant of the White Reed Province’s Liang Family. His nis Liang Wenyu. As for the talisman? The young leader’s fiancée gave it to me.”

He added, “Oh, yes, you probably don’t know this yet, but your sister, Fang Yourong, is engaged to our young leader. The Liang Family will host their wedding in just seven days.”

“Big Sister... is getting married!?” Fang Han was flabbergasted. He almost dared not believe his ears.

Su Yi was stunned. If he recalled correctly, Fang Han’s older sister had been sold into slavery just three years ago.

Who’d have thought she’d get married just three years later? And to the scion of an Immortal Lord clan?

The disparity was absolutely enormous.

Yu Ting said warmly, "Exactly. Fellow Daoist, if you're confused, wait until you see her. You'll understand then. All I can say is, their feelings for each other are true, and they're very much in love. When he received your message, the Young Leader immediately sentout to welcyou."

“Is that... is that... true?” Fang Han was a bit flustered, and he found this difficult to believe.

He instinctively glanced at Su Yi, who patted him on the shoulder and said casually, “Go and have a look. You’ll know then.”

The Bi’an Shooting Star Talisman was real; there was no faking that.

Fang Han nodded. “I’ll do as you say, Senior.”

Yu Ting couldn’t help but re-evaluate Su Yi. “And who might you be, sir?”

Su Yi said casually, “A rogue cultivator.”

“Oh,” said Yu Ting. “Forgive my rudeness, but might I ask what your relationship with Fang Han is?”

But there was no need for Su Yi to respond. Fang Han didn’t even pause to think. “Senior Su saved my life!”

“So that’s it.” Yu Ting mulled that over, then sighed. “But that makes this a bit difficult... I was only ordered to bring Fang Han back. I dare not bring others back without permission...”

He looked at Su Yi and said, “How about... you and our young friend Fang Han part ways here?”

His tone was casual, but when he looked at Su Yi, he surged with imposing, formless pressure.

Although this wasn’t an overt threat, most people couldn’t have withstood it.

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. The old man seems amiable and polite, but he’s actually quite domineering. He’s looked down onright from the start. He isn't proposing anything; he is issuing an order!