First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1875 - Breaking Down

Su Yi looked over.

That tall male figure had eyes like the sun and moon and skin like copper. He had a willowy beard, and his entire body was swathed in wisps of blue lightning.

“An avatar of will, that’s all? Chu Shentong, it’s been a long tsince I last saw you, but you’re as useless as ever,” Su Yi laughed derisively.

This was none other than Immortal Sovereign Sky Killer, Chu Shentong, the founder of Jade Firmament Immortal Palace. Prior to the Age of Fallen Immortals, he was an unrivaled Immortal Sovereign at the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao. He was also a yao cultivator; his true body was a Kui Ox.

But this Chu Shentong was no more than an avatar of will.

Chu Shentong was entirely unperturbed in the face of Su Yi’s mockery. He had a complex look on his face as he sighed, “You really have returned, Tyrant.” @@ @@

Su Yi took out a jug of wine and had a sip. “Are you that afraid of me?”

Chu Shentong laughed. “I wouldn’t call it ‘afraid.’ Old-timers likeare just far more keenly aware of how terrifying you can be, Tyrant.”

“So, the moment you learned I’d be paying Jade Firmament Immortal Palace a visit, you ordered everyone to retreat?”

“That’s right,” Chu Shentong said casually. “It’s not just Jade Firmament Immortal Palace, either. The Kui Oxen have evacuated too.”

Su Yi asked in confusion, “Jade Firmament Immortal Palace is backed by Divine Venerate Tian Huang and is now working under Divine Son Jin Zhuliu, so why are you still so afraid of me?”

And here he’d thought that Jade Firmament Immortal Palace would have placed layer upon layer of death traps in preparation for his arrival. It even seemed likely that Chu Shentong would make an appearance.

But the reality was the exact opposite.

Chu Shentong said calmly, “A little impatience can spoil even great plans. In the ruins of the Dragon Palace, you and Divine Daughter Xi Ning made numerous divine children suffer a massive setback, and a huge number of Great Martial experts and Immortal Kings lost their lives at your hands. Given the circumstances, how could I be foolish enough to wait here for you despite knowing full well that you were here for retribution?”

He spoke as if he had the situation under control and as if everything were in accordance with his predictions. His words were even tinged with mockery.

Su Yi couldn’t help but find it amusing. “You fled before the battle even began, bringing shupon yourself, but look at you! You’re still so self-satisfied. You’ve lived for such a long time, but you haven’t improved in the slightest.”

The insult didn’t bother Chu Shentong. He just looked Su Yi up and down and said, “I didn’t leave an avatar of will here to argue with you, Tyrant.”

“If you have something to say, say it directly,” said Su Yi.

Chu Shentong nodded, his gaze suddenly inquisitive. “A month from now, Sect Leader Qi Nie of the Church of the Pure One plans to convene a conference on the Central Plain Province's Cloudsoar Peak. There, he’ll re-establish the Central Immortal Court. Have you heard about this?”

“In passing, yes,” said Su Yi.

Chu Shentong smiled. “Then I’m sure you’ve guessed that they’re doing this to target you. After all, in the past, anyone who wanted to assleadership of the Central Immortal Court required your nod of approval. Qi Nie is effectively declaring war against you.”

“Is that what you wanted to say to me?” Su Yi asked flatly.

“No.” Chu Shentong laughed and shook his head. “I simply wanted to tell you that Qi Nie plans to hold a grand sacrificial rite during the conference. Those connected to you will be used as sacrificial offerings.”

Su Yi’s eyes narrowed. “He’s threatening me?”

Chu Shentong shook his head once more. “No, those who understand your personality understand that you’ve never feared threats. They’ll carry out the sacrificial rite whether you show up or not.”

Here, he couldn’t help but chuckle, his eyes full of sadistic glee.

Su Yi’s gaze was as calm as ever; he seemed entirely unmoved. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

“No, there’s two more things,” said Chu SHentong, running his fingers through his beard. “The demons of the Beyond have sent an emissary to attend the conference.”

Su Yi’s brow furrowed. “Qi Nie is colluding with the demons of the Beyond?”

Chu Shentong laughed. “Careful not to lose your temper! You might burst a blood vessel and hurt yourself. To the best of my knowledge, during the ceremony to re-establish the Central Immortal Court, Qi Nie plans to sign an agreement with the emissary of the demons of the Beyond. He’ll cede the sixteen provinces bordering the Nine Gates of Heaven to the demons. In turn, the demons will agree to coexist peacefully with the Immortal Realm and invade no further.

“Once signed, the Immortal Realm’s forty-nine provinces will shrink to thirty-three.”

Having said this, he gazed intently at Su Yi, as if hoping to see him lose control of his emotions and fly off the handle.

But in the end, he was disappointed. Su Yi’s expression didn’t so much as ripple.

Chu Shentong couldn’t help but frown. “Every inch of our land is suffused with the blood of warriors who died defending it. The Immortal Realm and the demons of the Beyond have fought for so many years that we’ve lost track, and countless brave heroes of the Immortal Realm have died at the Nine Gates of Heaven! The grudge between us is like an ocean of blood. Not avenging it is one thing, but Qi Nie plans to buy peace by offering them sixteen of our provinces. Aren’t you... at all angry?”

He knew Wang Ye, and he knew that Wang Ye cared about the security of the Nine Gates of Heaven above all else. Moreover, no one hated the demons of the Beyond more than him. But as much as Wang Ye loathed the demons, he loathed those traitors who colluded with them even more!

Thus, Chu Shentong had expected Wang Ye—or rather, his reincarnation, Su Yi—to lose control of his temper.

But none of that happened. Chu Shentong found it difficult to accept.

“When the heavens wish a man dead, they first drive him to madness,” said Su Yi. “Just because Qi Nie has agreed to something doesn’t mean anyone else will agree. Besides, so long as I’m here, none of that will happen. Why would I be angry?”

Chu Shentong couldn’t help but laugh. “In the past, I might have believed that you could stop him, but with your current power... Hah!”

He just laughed coldly and left the rest unsaid. His silence was a clear expression of disdain.

Su Yi didn’t argue with him. He could tell that Chu Shentong was testing him; he wanted to see whether or not Su Yi had the confidence to handle this thorny problem.

So Su Yi just smiled and said, “That was the second thing you wanted to tell me. What’s the third?”

His calm, understated attitude obviously displeased Chu Shentong, whose brow furrowed slightly.

A moment later, he calmed himself and said, “The third thing I’d like to discuss involves achieving divinity!”

“Oh,” said Su Yi. “Go on.”

Chu Shentong said leisurely, “To the best of my knowledge, you proved your Dao and becan Immortal King just a few months ago. You might well have heaven-defying strength, and you might be able to fight Great Unity experts, but... your cultivation is ultimately too weak! You’re doomed to miss this chance to beca god!”

He couldn’t help but grin, the picture of delight. He even threw back his head and burst into laughter. “The Path of Divinity will appear in just three to five years. You’re just an Immortal King. How could an Immortal King like you possibly vie for a chance at divinity?

“But for old timers like me, it’s a completely different story!”

He grinned at Su Yi, his eyes narrowing into slits. “I’ve waited a long, long time, going deep into seclusion to avoid the divine misfortune of the Age of Fallen Immortals. Finally, the movement I’ve been waiting for is almost upon us! I’ve been preparing for my chance at divinity all this time, and I’m completely confident that, as soon as the Path of Divinity appears, I’ll be able to ignite my Divine Fland beca god!!”

His eyes shone with eagerness. “When the tcomes, I’ll transcend the Immortal Dao and beca god! A being so lofty and superior that even at your former peak, you’d have been no more than an ant to me!”

“Is that so?” Su Yi had a strange look in his eyes. So, that’s why the old fart’s so happy. He thinks I’m doomed to miss my chance at divinity...

Chu Shentong pointed at Su Yi. “Wang Ye, don’t act like this has nothing to do with you. You ought to understand the gap between immortals and gods even better than I do! And you know what? Nothing makeshappier than the thought that you returned through the cycle of reincarnation only to miss your chance at divinity! Hahaha!”

His gaze was full of sadistic glee. “When the tcomes, how will you possibly fight me? Your paltry Immortal King cultivation base... won’t cut it!”

Su Yi looked at Chu Shentong as if he had three heads. “A lot can happen in three to five years. It’s all still up in the air, so why are you laughing like an idiot?”

But Chu Shentong only laughed all the harder. “See! You’re already panicking! I’m not afraid to tell you that Blood Firmament, Jiang Tai’e, Nan Pingtian, and the others have prepared to achieve divinity, just as I have. We’re all waiting to see you reduced to a laughingstock, Wang Ye!”

Suddenly, Su Yi said, “Tell me, if I kill you before the Path of Divinity appears, would that be the most painful outcimaginable for you?”

Chu Shentong’s laughter cto an abrupt halt, but a moment later, he jeered, “No need for any further inane nonsense. You have no hope of achieving that. I’m going to lie low until the Path of Divinity appears. Even if you locate everyone else in Jade Firmament Immortal Palace, you won’t find me!”

Su Yi said flatly, “Heaven’shas wide meshes, but nothing escapes it. No matter what I say, you won’t listen, so let’s just wait and see.”

Chu Shentong laughed. “I’ll be waiting, then!”

Su Yi laughed too. “Let’s see if you can still laugh like this after I’ve captured your true body.”

Chu Shentong’s eyes flashed. “Save talk like that for after you’ve captured me. Now, I’d... best get going!”

Whoosh!

He shot into the distance.

Su Yi immediately gave chase, but before he got far, Chu Shentong whipped around and charged at him instead.

“Wang Ye, you fell for it! I had another reason for waiting here for you: testing your true strength! It won’t be too late to leave after we’ve fought!”

Chu Shentong laughed uproariously and swung his fist.

Boom!

Heaven and earth shook, and the sky collapsed.

The terrifying power of the Great Profound Stage erupted from Chu Shentong’s avatar of will, gathering in his fist. He was entirely unassuming at first, but when he attacked, he struck with unstoppable force!

Su Yi’s eyes glinted with mockery. He stretched out his hand and grabbed.

Bang!!!

Chu Shentong’s terrifying sword force collapsed and scattered in a rain of light. Meanwhile, Su Yi seized Chen Shentong by the throat and held him aloft as he might a little chicken.

Instant suppression!

It was just so casual and understated. Despite himself, Chu Shentong’s eyes widened, and he blurted, “You...”

Su Yi’s gaze was suddenly pitying. “I forgot to tell you, but even though I really did only becan Immortal King a few months ago, I’ve since stepped into the Great Realm.”

Chu Shentong reacted as if struck by lightning. He completely broke down!