First Immortal of the Sword

Su Yi held his jug of wine and strode confidently into the hall.

Pei Hongjing was briefly stunned. A moment later, he got up and clasped his fist. “Are you perhaps Fellow Daoist Su?”

Su Yi subtly inclined his head. “Yes. Forgive me for arriving unannounced so late at night.”

Pei Hongjing laughed heartily. “I’m delighted that you came. How could I possibly take offense? Please, right this way!”

He got up to welcome Su Yi into his seat personally, and even poured him a cup of tea.

This was the dean of Blue Cliff Academy, the highest authority figure of an Immortal King faction, yet here he was, filling a young man’s cup. Were anyone to see this, their jaws might well have fallen off in shock.

But Pei Hongjing knew that this young man was worthy of such treatment!

Last night, he received a message from High Elder Zhao Yunfeng. It described Su Yi’s performance in full detail, and he urged Pei Hongjing to treat Su Yi with all due respect. It wouldn’t do to be negligent.

Because of this letter, Pei Hongjing knew what kind of unrivaled, extraordinary genius this young man was!

He’d overcome the Blue Cliff Twelve Towers, setting a new, unprecedented, and unbreakable record in all twelve trials.

No matter the age, you could search the entire Immortal Realm without finding anyone capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him!

Furthermore, Su Yi had given Nie Weirui of Pine Hut College a convincing defeat in just three punches.

All of this combined made Pei Hongjing feel as if he were gazing upon a supreme expert. He simply didn’t dare treat Su Yi like just another ordinary person.

After exchanging pleasantries, Pei Hongjing said, “To tell the truth, when I first heard that you wanted to participate in this Immortal-Demon Deathmatch, I was opposed to the idea. It isn’t that I look down on you, Fellow Daoist, but that someone with your heaven-defying aptitude has limitless potential. You’re sure to one day challenge the legendary Great Realm and become an expert at the peak of the Immortal Dao.

“If you participate, and if anything goes wrong, you risk dying with that potential unrealized. Thus, I initially hesitated.”

Here, he laughed bitterly. “But there’s nothing for it. The Immortal Realm has lost far too many times. If we keep losing, it’ll shake the foundations of the Seventh Gate of Heaven.”

Su Yi nodded. “I understand. If we lose every time we fight, everyone will think the demons of the Beyond are undefeatable, and it’ll shake their will to fight, making them timid and afraid. That way, when another large-scale War of Immortals and Demons breaks out, the Seventh Gate of Heaven will be in peril.”

Pei Hongjing agreed completely. “Well said, Fellow Daoist. That’s why I ultimately decided to let you participate. I wouldn’t have thought those old-timers would misunderstand like that.”

But then, he laughed. “But I actually understand their reaction. If I didn’t know how extraordinary you were, I wouldn’t have let you participate either.”

Su Yi took a sip of tea, then said, “I came here tonight with a few questions I’m hoping you can answer, Fellow Daoist.”

Pei Hongjing smiled. “Please, go right ahead.”

“Who initiated the Immortal-Demon Deathmatches?”

“The demons of the Beyond.”

“What are they trying to accomplish?”

“Supposedly, they’re trying to use these deathmatches to kill the greatest of our Immortal Lords. It’s also an opportunity to get a feel for the Immortal Realm’s true strength.”

This question-and-answer session went on for a while longer. So long as he had answers, Pei Hongjing held nothing back.

Before long, Su Yi understood why the core fortress of the Seventh Gate of Heaven, the City of Ten Thousand Stars, had become so lively and prosperous. It was connected to its Garrison Master, Shen Qingshi.

The gambling dens, brothels, and other such businesses had established themselves in the City of Ten Thousand Stars with Shen Qingshi’s permission.

The Smooth Sailing Casino really did have a prominent expert behind it, and that prominent expert was one of Shen Qingshi’s subordinates!

Su Yi suddenly asked, “Do you approve of how the City of Ten Thousand Stars has changed?”

After a moment’s silence, Pei Hongjing said, “It’s sleazy, depraved, and chaotic! But there’s nothing I can do. Garrison Master Shen Qingshi is backed by Cloud Apparatus Immortal Manor. He…”

Su Yi shook his head. “You don’t need to explain. If it’s wrong, it’s wrong. Even if you come up with ten thousand excuses, it’ll still be wrong. All I need to know is, who’s responsible for what happened here.”

Pei Hongjing’s pupils constricted as he realized that something was amiss. “Fellow Daoist, don’t tell me you plan to hold Shen Qingshi accountable?”

Su Yi laughed. “You needn’t worry. I’m just going to correct a few mistakes that never should have existed in the Seventh Gate of Heaven in the first place.”

Pei Hongjing’s heart quivered with fright. He would never have guessed that a young man like Su Yi would have such courage!

Shen Qingshi was an Immortal King!!

What Universe Realm Immortal would dare proclaim that they’d hold an Immortal King accountable?

More importantly, Shen Qingshi had a world-famous top orthodoxy, Cloud Apparatus Immortal Manor, behind him.

After pondering briefly, Pei Hongjing said, “Fellow Daoist, forgive me if what I’m about to say upsets you, but the Immortal Realm is in chaos. Its order has collapsed, and without a powerful faction like the Central Immortal Court to unify the world and uphold the rules, it wouldn’t matter if we replaced the garrison master. It would still be difficult to fix the situation here.”

Su Yi nodded. “You’re right, and righting wrongs isn’t something that can be done overnight. It isn’t just the Seventh Gate of Heaven that needs fixing. There needs to be change—and a reckoning—for everything that’s gone wrong in the Immortal Realm.”

His tone was calm and casual, but Pei Hongjing could sense the will and spirit behind it. He wants to quell the world’s upheaval and unify the Immortal Realm?! No wonder the academy’s old-timers couldn’t stop singing Su Yi’s praises. His breadth of spirit and courage are enough to put even an Immortal King like me to shame!

This is what it means to care for everything beneath the heavens!

But after calming himself down, Pei Hongjing couldn’t help but warn Su Yi. “Fellow Daoist, something like that will take time, and it absolutely cannot be rushed. Haste will only invite disaster.”

Su Yi smiled noncommittally.

…

The following morning, at daybreak, numerous figures gathered atop the winding walls at the northern end of the City of Ten Thousand Stars.

From here, they could clearly see the scenery beyond the Seventh Gate of Heaven.

The Bloodthirsty Plains stretched as far as the eye could see. The skies were overcast, and there was a cluster of buildings built in the distance.

It was a temporary war camp housing the experts of the demons of the Beyond. This was where the Demon Noble participants in the upcoming Immortal-Demon Deathmatch were staying.

The deathmatch wasn’t due to start until noon, but numerous experts had already gathered on the walls.

Numerous others were rushing over from all across the enormous City of Ten Thousand Stars.

“I wouldn’t have thought Blue Cliff Academy would wimp out too this time. They actually sent a Universe Realm Immortal called Su Yi to participate in this Immortal-Demon Deathmatch.”

“Is that true? Aren’t only Immortal Lords qualified to participate?”

“It’s most likely true, and Blue Cliff Academy wouldn’t have done it if they didn’t have means of letting a Universe Realm Immortal participate.”

“What is Blue Cliff Academy thinking? This is a disgrace!”

Everyone on the city walls was discussing this. Last night, when word spread that Blue Cliff Academy planned to have a Universe Realm Immortal compete, it triggered a widespread uproar.

By now, everyone in the city knew Su YI’s name. All of them struggled to wrap their heads around it. They couldn’t even imagine how Blue Cliff Academy could do something so shameful. They’d brought shame upon the entire Immortal Realm!

Suddenly, someone exclaimed, “Look! That’s Immortal King Mo Yun of the Golden Firmament Immortal Sect!”

Off in the distance, a man in jade-colored robes walked through the sky and arrived at the immortal platform hovering beneath the dome of heaven.

The immortal platform was ten thousand feet across. It hung beneath the firmament, and there were numerous seats built on its surface.

The Cloudy Dome Immortal Platform!

Garrison Master Shen Qingshi and the other higher-ups of the Immortal Realm’s camp had worked together to build it prior to the Immortal-Demon Deathmatch. It was a place to watch the competition.

The participating Immortal Lords were to assemble here as well.

As time passed, other Immortal Kings of the Immortal Realm and the participants arrived, one after another. Each new arrival triggered a round of discussion.

Garrison Master Shen Qingshi soon arrived too.

He was tall and thin, with a tall hat, old-fashioned robes, and a majestic bearing. When he reached the Cloudy Dome Immortal Platform, he immediately became the center of attention.

The atmosphere silently shifted, becoming more solemn. Much of the commotion died down.

That is, until a shout broke the austere silence.

“Look! The dean of Blue Cliff Academy has arrived!”

Countless eyes looked over, then saw Pei Hongjing leading a young man in blue toward the Cloudy Dome Immortal Platform.

The crowd instantly burst into uproar.

“That’s the Su Yi who’s supposed to participate in the Immortal-Demon Deathmatch? He really is in his twenties!”

“What on earth is Pei Hongjing thinking?”

“Argh, I can tell that Blue Cliff Academy thinks poorly of our chances in this Immortal-Demon Deathmatch.”

The comments were a mix of insults, jeers, and anger.

Pei Hongjing was an Immortal Lord, but even he found their words grating to the ear.

There was no doubt about it. Someone had deliberately spread word and stirred up the waves. Otherwise, there was no way everyone would have cursed and spat at them as soon as they arrived.

When they arrived on the Cloudy Dome Immortal Platform, many of the Immortal Kings made their displeasure clear. Some looked dejected, some glowered, and others simply looked away.

The Immortal Lord participants looked displeased too.

All of this made Pei Hongjing thoroughly uncomfortable.

As for Su Yi? From beginning to end, he took everything in calmly. It didn’t affect him in the slightest.

After arriving on the platform, he was completely focused on just one person.

Garrison Master Shen Qingshi!

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