First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1341 - An Invitation to the Violet Heavens Platform

Flurries of snow filled the air, and the winds were bone-chillingly cold, but the old man didn’t seem at all affected.

Before long, he saw Universal Emptiness Temple in the distance.

“Temple Master, an old friend has come to see you,” whispered the old man.

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it rode the icy winds all the way into the temple.

Bang!

The temple gates opened.

Illuminating Emptiness’s tall, stalwart figure appeared. When he saw the old man in the round black cap, his gaze instantly frosted over, and his whole body seethed with killing intent. “I said a long time ago that if you dared get within a thousand square miles of Universal Emptiness Temple, I’d kill you myself! Don’t tell me you forgot?”

This old man was none other than the Tailor!

The Tailor looked at him, his gaze a bit conflicted, and whispered, “Illuminating Emptiness, the moment you gave the Thousand Opportunities Seal to the Temple Master, I ceased to owe you a thing.”

He paused, then pointed at himself and spoke without the slightest ripple of emotion. “The one you see is nothing but a clone. I’d fall to a single attack. Once I’ve seen the Temple Master, this clone will destroy itself. No need for you to do anything.”

Illuminating Emptiness frowned.

“Come in.”

Su Yi’s voice emanated from within the temple.

The Tailor smiled, then walked over. He passed through the temple gates and walked right past Illuminating Emptiness without so much as glancing at him.

“What wickedness have you come here for, you old schemer?” Illuminating Emptiness’s face filled with aversion and loathing.

The Tailor continued ignoring him. He just continued through the snow and arrived by the ancient tree Su Yi was reclining beneath.

The fire of the little clay furnace blazed, and the fragrance of wine wafted into the air.

The Tailor’s nostrils flared. “Good wine.”

“But it’s a pity,” said Su Yi. “You aren’t worthy of drinking with me."

The Tailor sat on the ground, his gaze calm. “I gave up alcohol a long time ago, but when Butterfly Girl died, I broke my own rule and had a drink. That flavor... I recall it vividly even now.”

“You mean that butterfly I swatted?” said Su Yi.

The Tailor took out a teacup and teapot and poured himself a full cup of tea. “That’s right. I brought her up myself. I was both a master and a father to her. It was much like your relationship with Qing Tang.”

“Does it hurt?”

“It hurts.”

“So you’ve come here to avenge her?”

“Indeed I have,” the Tailor said with a nod, sipping from his cup of tea. He said softly, “I’ve come here in person to tell you that I’ve decided to get revenge.”

“Oh?” said Su Yi. “And how do you plan to achieve that?”

“I’ve arranged for some of our old friends to discuss the Dao with you seven days from now, on Mount Pitaya’s Violet Heavens Platform,” said the Tailor. “With life and death in the balance.”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose.

Mount Pitaya was a large but ordinary mountain of the Divine Capital Star Realm.

And the Violet Heavens Platform stood at the highest point of Mount Pitaya.

More importantly, this was the place where the Tailor first suffered a crushing defeat at the Temple Master’s hands!

Su Yi asked with great interest, “Just who are these ‘old friends’ you speak of?”

“Some you can surely guess,” said the Tailor. “Others will surprise you. You’ll know when you get there.”

Su Yi subtly inclined his head. “You wouldn’t have arranged all this if you didn’t have ample reasons to believe I’d show up. You might as well speak directly.”

The Tailor took a copper coin out of his sleeves. It was round, with a square hole, and it was threaded on a black string.

“A world exists within this copper coin. I’ve pondered it for a long time, but I still cannot see through its mysteries,” said the Tailor. “But I can tell you that the Antique Dealer is inside.”

With that, he passed the coin to Su Yi.

Su Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment’s silence, he accepted the coin.

But instead of examining it, he asked, “Were you connected to the attack on the Glittering Jewel Hidden Realm?”

The Glittering Jewel Hidden Realm! This was the Temple Master’s former home.

But a long, long time ago, a group of mysterious experts destroyed it. In the end, only Wei Shan and his daughter, A’Jiu, escaped alive.

As for Old Cripple Wei and the others? Their fate was yet unknown.

Wei Shan had told Su Yi that he’d asked the Antique Dealer for help uncovering the identities of their mysterious assailants.

But after the Antique Dealer agreed to help him, he inexplicably disappeared!

The Tailor shook his head. “Had I been involved, Wei Shan and his daughter would never have survived.”

He paused, then said, “But the Antique Dealer suspected me of destroying the Glittering Jewel Star Realm, which is why he attacked me.

“Unfortunately for him, he was completely mistaken. Furthermore, one wrong move, and I almost destroyed him. In the end, he hid himself within this copper coin. Only then did he escape with his life.”

Here, he paused once more to drain his cup of tea. “I gave you the coin because I disdain to use the Antique Dealer’s life to threaten you.”

Su Yi drew his finger across the coin. “No, you gave it to me because you knew a threat like that wouldn’t be at all effective.”

The Tailor didn’t deny it. “Although I didn’t destroy the Glittering Jewel Hidden Realm, I know who did.”

He looked at Su Yi. “If you return from Violet Heavens Platform alive, I’ll give you answers.”

There was no doubt that this was why the Tailor was so confident Su Yi would show up!

Su Yi didn’t even stop to think. “Those conditions are insufficient.”

The Tailor smiled. “I understand. If I want you to knowingly enter the deathtrap I’ve arranged for you, I’ll have to offer you some real treasures.”

With that, he flipped his palm, and a simple, unadorned gray sword floated into the air.

The weapon was covered in holes and cracks, and there was a layer of dried blood on the hilt. The two tiny characters carved near the smeared blood read “Clarity of the Heart.”

Su Yi’s brow furrowed, and a hint of a chill appeared in the depths of his gaze. “Why do you have that sword?”

The sword’s name came from the phrase “A sword like a lake of ice, so crystal-clear you can see the wielder’s heart.” This was the weapon the Temple Master had forged for Old Cripple Wei!

The Tailor gave it to Su Yi and said, “Old Wei is still alive. Show up to the duel, and I’ll tell you his whereabouts. Is that enough for you?”

Su Yi gazed intently at the Tailor, then burst into laughter. “You’re crazy! Might you tell me just what troubles have befallen you to push you out of the darkness? What could be so bad as to make an old schemer like you come here to discuss this with me openly of your own accord?”

The Tailor froze, his expression suddenly unreadable. He sighed, “I’ve always felt that if we weren’t enemies, we could have had a wonderful friendship. We understand each other.”

“Don’t dirty the word ‘friendship,’” Su Yi said coolly. “I’ve always looked down on you, both before and after my rebirth.”

The Tailor laughed, not at all concerned. “It’s not that I’ve run into any particularly thorny difficulties, but that I understand some of what’s going on behind the curtain. I don’t want others to kill you first. If they did, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. “What did you find out?”

“In two years, the Domain Boundary Battlefield will open,” said the Tailor. “Experts of other star domains will then enter the Eastern Profound Star Domain, ushering in a war for control. The secrets I’ve learned pertain to the Domain Boundary Battlefield.”

Here, a strange light lit in his eyes, revealing an uncharacteristic hint of pity. “Put a bit more directly, during the two years leading up to the Domain Boundary Battlefield reopening, you’ll face unpredictable disaster.

“This about it. You’re the common foe of every revenant beneath the heavens, and my enemy, too. Now, there’s an unpredictable disaster looming over you. Who knows when it’ll strike?

“Tell me, do you find your predicament... pleasant?”

Su Yi just laughed and patted the Tailor on the head. “Being invincible is boring. If I’m surrounded by enemies, that just means I have something to look forward to. We’ve opposed each other all these years. Surely you understand that?”

The Tailor shoved Su Yi’s hand away and frowned. “Don’t touch me! What are you doing? Are you trying to humiliate me?”

Su Yi laughed. “Calm down. It’s just a clone. So what if I pat it on the head?”

The Tailor rose, his gaze cold and indifferent. “I said everything I have to say. Decide for yourself whether or not you’ll come to our appointment.”

With that, he turned and was just about to leave when Su Yi called out, “What’s your relationship with the Epoch of Demonism’s Lady Snowjade of the Six Desires Demonist Sect?”

The Tailor stopped in his tracks and looked at Su Yi. “You’re Shen Mu’s reincarnation. You learned the truth back in Crow Ridge. You ought to know that I helped Lady Snowjade set up a deathtrap targeting you.

“I’m sure Yan Daolin also told you who Qing Wan really is. She’s Lady Snowjade’s closed-door disciple. When Qing Wan awakens the memories within her soul birthmark, she’s sure to turn against you.”

Here, the tailor seemed comforted, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “As for my connection to Lady Snowjade...? I’ll say it again: if you come to the Violet Heavens Platform and leave it alive, I’ll tell you.”

With that, he turned and walked off.

“Stop right there!” Illuminating Emptiness blocked his path.

The Tailor frowned. “The bond between us has been severed. Don’t bring suffering upon yourself.”

The monk grinned. “Just now, you said that after seeing my bro the Temple Master, there’d be no need for violence, as your clone would destroy itself. Well? You can destroy yourself now.”

“....”

“Be quick about it!” urged Illuminating Emptiness. “Don’t tell me you aren’t going to keep your word?”

The Tailor stared icily at the monk for a moment, then smiled faintly. “Illuminating Emptiness, no matter what, you once saved my life. Should you meet with disaster, I’ll personally lay your bones to rest, burn incense, and recite sutras before your tomb.”

With that, he disintegrated into ash and dissipated.

But even after watching the Tailor disintegrate, Illuminating Emptiness wasn’t at all pleased. He gnashed his teeth and said, “That act of compassion is the biggest regret of my lifetime, you bastard!”

He then walked up to Su Yi. “Whatever you do, don’t fall for his tricks. The old schemer’s got a bellyful of malintent. That he invited you to this duel means he’s made ample preparations. I don’t even need to think to know that if you go, it’s highly likely you’ll never return!”

His gaze was solemn, and his heart was full of concern. He understood the Tailor far too well. He typically lay low, but when he attacked, he did so with a thorough, well-conceived plan!

Flurries of snowflakes danced in the air, and the fragrance of wine wafted from the red clay furnace.

Su Yi was still sprawled out in the wicker chair. He closed his eyes, as if dozing. Only his lips moved. “I go where my sword points. I’m not afraid of never returning. My only fear is that I’ll return disappointed. How could I be happy then?”