First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1344 - Determining Life and Death, Severing Enmities

Yan Daolin and the Fisherman agreed with Deng Zuo completely.

The Temple Master had always been like that.

“His heart is as sharp as his sword. He advances without any concerns. Were that not the case, how could he have suppressed the hundred great star realms beneath his sword for all those years?” whispered Yan Daolin.

The Fisherman sighed. “That’s indeed the case. In this world, I’m afraid only he can truly act without fear of death, calm in the face of both glory and humiliation.”

These were the Temple Master’s enemies.

But as they discussed him, they had no choice but to admit that he was a powerful opponent. No matter how much importance they attached to him, it wouldn’t be excessive!

The conversations continued until suddenly, a wave of startled cries rang out, filling the entire stretch of heaven and earth.

Yan Daolin, the Painter, Deng Zuo, and the Fisherman all gazed into the distance, but they already knew what they’d see.

The Temple Master had arrived.

Su Yi was alone, dressed in blue as always, with his hands behind his back. His gaze was calm as he approached from beneath the distant dome of heaven.

Countless eyes instantly converged upon him. Startled cries and a wave of uproar resounded throughout the surrounding area.

“His Excellency the Temple Master... really showed up!”

Waves rocked countless onlookers’ hearts. They were beside themselves with excitement.

“He knows he won’t leave this place alive, yet he came anyway. What kind of courage and spirit does it take to face certain doom alone? No one can insult him now,” sighed some of the influential revenants.

The cultivators of the present day actually included such a proud sword cultivator. Such people were far too rare.

Even in ancient times, they were like phoenix feathers and qilin horns!

“When someone dies, all their hard work comes to naught. Were I him, I’d lie low for a while, wait until I reached the Path of Transcendence, then point my sword at the heavens and sweep through my enemies,” said an expert of an ancient orthodoxy. “But look at him! His valiance and spirit might well be unparalleled, but... isn’t this just a fool’s courage?”

When the old-timers of the Ancient Guardian Clans of the Dao heard that, their expressions shifted inscrutably. Were this anyone else, that criticism would have been apt, but it didn’t apply to the Temple Master!

In his past life, the Temple Master reached the pinnacle of the stars by overcoming countless bloody battles. Had he chosen to endure and backed down, he could never have become such a dazzling and unparalleled legend!

Suddenly, a young cultivator mustered up his courage and shouted, “Your Excellency the Temple Master, this battle is fundamentally unfair, so why did you show up?”

Su Yi stopped in his tracks and looked at him.

The young man held his breath. He’d never been more nervous in his life, but he stubbornly met Su Yi’s gaze nonetheless. His confusion was readily apparent, and it seemed he was dead-set on getting an answer.

Su Yi laughed. “I’m surrounded by enemies, but what could be more delightful?”

With that, he continued toward the peak.

“‘I’m surrounded by enemies, but what could be more delightful...?’” The young cultivator repeated, his gaze full of bewilderment. Just what kind of mentality is that?

Numerous other onlookers were flabbergasted. They would never have expected that they’d get such a response.

But when they thought it over, they could sense Su Yi’s indescribably powerful spirit!

“‘Delightful?’ But it seems to me this won’t end in delight for you!” a cool voice rang out, causing uproar throughout the surrounding area.

Over in the Zhou Family’s camp, the venerable Zhou Hanshan spoke up. “Temple Master, have a look around. There are around a hundred Transcendents gathered here, and who knows how many more are watching you from the shadows?

“Are you... truly delighted even now?”

Two months ago, at the battle of the Divine Forge, Su Yi slew a group of the Zhou Family’s higher-ups. Zhou Hanshan naturally hadn’t forgotten this grudge.

The atmosphere was instantly stifled. Murderous intent permeated the surroundings, making the crowd’s hearts quiver.

“For now, let’s disregard everyone else. How about you join me on the Violet Heavens Platform too?” Su Yi said casually.

Zhou Hanshan’s expression froze, but then, he snorted coldly. “Say that after you’ve merged your first battle alive!”

Su Yi laughed dryly, then ignored him. Zhou Hanshan’s expression darkened considerably.

Who could miss that, in terms of presence, this Transcendent expert of the Zhou Family had lost?

But then, yet another expert stepped forth. “Please wait, Temple Master.”

This was the graying, smooth-faced Zhong Tianquan, an expert of the ancient Zhong Family. He wore a scholarly tall hat and a broad belt.

He was one of the modern Transcendents people paid the most attention to. Rumor had it that he was the first to step onto the Path of Transcendence in the new era.

“What is it?” said Su Yi.

“Not long ago, at the Immortal Assembly, several fellow Daoists of ancient orthodoxies and descendants of immortals expressed that you could avoid death if you submitted within the next six months,” Zhong Tianquan said slowly. “Have you thought it over?”

The higher-ups of ancient orthodoxies all looked at Su Yi and waited to hear his response.

But Su Yi just asked casually, “What does that have to do with the Zhong Family?”

Zhong Tianquan furrowed his brow. “The attitude of the Zhong Family is the same as that of Illusory Sword Immortal Tower.”

The crowd was stunned. They were openly declaring that the Zhong Family had thrown its lot in with Illusory Sword Immortal Tower!

But Su Yi just grunted and said, “In that case, I’ll make my position clear too. Within half a year, I’ll wipe the Zhong Family from the face of the earth.”

With that, he continued toward the peak.

But his words provoked enormous waves of uproar throughout the crowd. No one could wrap their heads around it. He’s come to this appointed duel on a mountain riddled with peril, and he’s all alone. How could he be so domineering even now?

Zhong Tianquan couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “If those are your last words, they’re sure to become the greatest joke beneath the heavens!”

The revenants of ancient orthodoxies couldn’t help but frown. This Temple Master really is the type who doesn’t cry until he’s already lying in his coffin!

Suddenly, a voice transmitted directly into Su Yi’s ears. “Daoist Brother, whatever you do, watch out! What you see now is only the tip of the iceberg!”

The speaker was Zhuang Bifan. This old-timer had always loved nothing more than being the center of the attention, yet now, he’d mixed in with the crowd, and he was unusually low-key and reserved.

“The Zhuang Family has established some links to a few ancient orthodoxies, and we understand some of what’s going on behind the scenes. It’s highly likely that this duel will descend into a chaotic battle!

“Neither the ancient orthodoxies nor the descendants of immortals can bear the thought of anyone else seizing your power of reincarnation!” warned Zhuang Bifan. “Whatever you do, don’t take them lightly.”

Su Yi smiled and transmitted back. “Just stand back and watch.”

Zhuang Bifan still had lots to say, but he forced it all back down.

Makes sense. Perhaps the Temple Master has reason to be confident. I’m sure he’s known some of the truths behind this deathtrap for a while now... thought Zhuang Bifan.

Those closest to Mount Pitaya were practically all experts of the Path of Transcendence. They hailed from different factions, and by now, there were over a hundred of them. All had monstrously powerful auras.

Ordinary cultivators dared not approach; they couldn’t withstand the Transcendents’ combined pressure.

But Su Yi didn’t even seem to notice.

His gaze didn’t so much as ripple with emotion. He looked at the Transcendents as if they were rocks, ants, and blades of grass.

And when he arrived at the peak of Mount Pitaya, all eyes converged on the Violet Heavens Platform.

The duel was about to begin!

On one side, there were four freshly minted Transcendents, four of the greatest experts of the stars.

On the other side, there was the Temple Master!

It was just a title, but it was enough.

Everyone could already foresee that this battle was sure to enter the annals of history, and moreover, it was sure to change the entire Eastern Profound Star Domain’s balance of power!

......

Violet clouds permeated the deep blue skies.

The Violet Heavens Platform stood at the top of Mount Pitaya.

When they saw Su Yi’s slow approach, Yan Daolin, the Fisherman, Deng Zuo, and the Painter stopped what they were doing. The four of them stood apart, all of them calm and composed.

But formless power of the Grand Dao brewed and gathered around them, as fierce and tyrannical as lightning, as boundless as the ocean, as ethereal as smoke, or as piercingly cold as frost.

Heaven and earth were austere. The deep blue dome of heaven dimmed, and the purple clouds silently crumbled until no trace of them remained.

The formless energy fluctuations swept forth like astral winds, rustling Su Yi’s blue robes.

“This battle really is inglorious, and your arrival has filled me with shame,” sighed Deng Zuo.

He’d stepped onto the Path of Transcendence, yet he’d joined forces with others to take the solitary Temple Master down. There really was no glory in that.

“We’re here to sever our grudges and determine victory and defeat, as well as life and death. There’s no need for talk of glory. When the fighting begins, just give it your all,” Su Yi said calmly.

Deng Zuo was briefly stunned, but then, he inclined his head. “But of course.”

Suddenly, Yan Daolin stepped forth and swept his gaze across the gathered spectators. He said calmly, “From this moment forth, the four of us will not permit anyone else to intervene in this battle!”

His voice reverberated throughout heaven and earth. The entire area fell deathly silent as the onlookers’ expressions shifted.

The Fisherman turned over his palm, and a jade slip floated into the air. “The Tailor said that if you win, this is yours. He said it has the answers to your question. The old-timer might be insidious, but he’ll keep his promise.”

“You can look after it for now,” said Su Yi.

“Temple Master, before the battle begins, might you let me paint your portrait?” the Painter asked with a laugh, taking out a slender paintbrush.

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. “What for?”

“For future generations,” the Painter said solemnly. “I’d like to ensure they don’t forget your face.”

A painting to remember the dead!

Uproar ensued throughout the crowd. Who could miss that this seemingly solemn offer was, in fact, full of unconcealed provocation?

“You really haven’t changed. You’re the most unseemly of the bunch,” Su Yi shook his head. “We’ve been enemies all this time, but that doesn't mean I disconsidered every bit of you. Yet now, you’ve gone and willingly participated in the Tailor’s schemes. To tell the truth, when I learned of this, I was deeply disappointed in you.”

Deng Zuo sighed. The Fisherman acted as if all of this were perfectly normal. Yan Daolin’s gaze was calm, as if he hadn’t heard anything at all.

But the Painter laughed. “You're about to die. What right do you have to be disappointed in us? It’s those words of yours that are truly unseemly.”

Su Yi disregarded this. He just took out a jug of wine, threw back his head, and drank. “No need to waste words. Today, we naturally ought to determine life and death and sever our enmities!”

As he spoke, his killing intent filled the heavens. The wind and clouds shifted, and the mountains and rivers fell silent.