First Immortal of the Sword

The sword cultivators were furious and struggling to keep things contained. Even the higher-ups of the Heart-Tempering Sword House had unsightly looks on their faces.

The Aberrant experts smiled coldly, their attitudes firm and unyielding. Their leader, a middle-aged man in beast-skin robes, said coldly, “If you sword cultivators are really so tough, why seek refuge in our lands?”

He paused, then said slowly and clearly, “If you want our protection, you have to follow our rules! This won’t end until you’ve compensated us!”

The silver-robed young man’s eyes bulged as if about to pop. As a sword cultivator, he’d never even considered that he’d win a clash of the Grand Dao fair and square, only for someone to turn around and humiliate and extort him!

“Seniors, you needn’t concern yourselves with this. I caused this problem, so I’ll end it!” The silver-robed sword cultivator stepped forward, eyes bloodshot. “If you’re so dead-set on being compensated, go right ahead! My life is yours—if you’re bold enough to claim it!”

Clang!

He raised his sword, his whole body billowing with murderous intent.

But this didn’t intimidate the Aberrants. On the contrary, they burst into laughter. Their leader said coldly, “Your life is worthless. We want compensation. Real compensation, got it?”

Wen Feng and Fei Qiu glowered, unable to take any more of this.

But before they could intervene, Su Yi pulled them back. “Stay out of this. Let’s watch a while longer."

Wen Feng and Fei Qiu blinked, stunned, then exchanged glances. In the end, both remained silent.

The silver-robed sword cultivator could no longer suppress his murderous intent. He leaped forward, sword in hand, and swung at the middle-aged man in beast skins.

“You’re courting death!” The middle-aged man laughed coldly, then swung his palm.

Against all expectations, the silver-robed young man made no attempt to block. He showed no concern for his own life.

Instead, he spun his sword and aimed for the Aberrant lying in a pool of blood.

A life for a life!

Even if he died, he’d take the man currently lying in a puddle of blood down with him!

The middle-aged man in beast skins looked stricken. His tall frame suddenly erupted with blood-red Aberrant markings, then condensed into a rain of crimson starlight. Before anyone knew what was happening, his attack slammed into the silver-robed sword cultivator.

Kaboom!

A massive impact rang out, and his sword flew from his grip. The young man was forced backward, then onto the ground, where he coughed up blood. His expression was full of deep-seated unwillingness.

The middle-aged man in beast skins roared in fury, “You dare try to kill my clansman right in front of me? I cannot spare you!”

He waved his sleeve, and strange, blood-red Aberrant markings condensed into crimson lightning, then descended upon the young man in silver.

But then, a gray-haired sword cultivator appeared out of nowhere and swung his sleeve.

Bang!

The crimson lightning shattered, and the middle-aged Aberrant was sent flying. He landed in the dirt several hundred feet away.

The other sword cultivators inwardly sighed in relief, their hearts full of excitement. All of them recognized the gray-haired old man as Mountain Lord Gu Zheng of Moonpluck Mountain.

The Aberrants, meanwhile, lost their tempers and broke into curses.

The gray-robed man scanned the Aberrants expressionlessly, his eyes as sharp as swords.

The Aberrant experts quivered, their hair standing on end. All of them were visibly startled.

“Is the Heart-Tempering Sword House planning to oppose us?” The middle-aged man crawled to his feet, his expression ashen.

Gu Zheng suddenly raised his hand, pulled the middle-aged Aberrant into his hand, and held him aloft by the throat. His gaze was cold and indifferent. “There are no cowards in the Heart-Tempering Sword House. Push us, and we’ll respond without any reservations whatsoever.”

Bang!

Gu Zheng swung his hand, tossing the middle-aged man in beast skins away. “Take your people and leave immediately. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind suppressing every last one of you and delivering you to your clansmen personally!”

As his voice echoed through the air, the Aberrants gaped at him in astonishment, their expressions shifting erratically.

“Just you wait, old-timer!” The middle-aged Aberrant glared, then led the others away.

Gu Zhen turned and helped the now-injured young man in silver robes to his feet. He said approvingly, “You’re a good kid, bold and decisive, with no fear of death. You really are a disciple of the Heart-Tempering Sword House!”

The young man was instantly excited. “Mountain Lord Gu, you... don’t blame me for this?”

Gu Zheng laughed. “You’ve done nothing wrong. Why would I blame you? On the contrary, I ought to reward you thoroughly!”

The nearby sword cultivators smiled, all of them in high spirits and happy on the young man’s behalf.

Su Yi took all of this in. He inwardly nodded his approval.

This little spat might have seemed trivial, but sometimes, a single spot was enough to picture an entire leopard. This proved that the spirit of the Heart-Tempering Sword House remained intact, even after all this momentary setback!

And that was exactly what Su Yi wanted to see.

Mountain Lord Gu Zheng of Moonpluck Mountain approached from afar. Wen Feng and Fei Qiu went up to greet him with a smile.

......

As the greatest Heavenly Monarch faction around, the Heart-Tempering Sword House had two halls, four pavilions, and thirteen mountains.

The two halls were supreme. They were known as the Heart-Inquiring Hall and the Dao-Seeking Hall.

The four pavilions were known as Spring Rain Pavilion, Autumn Wind Pavilion, the Pavilion of Scriptures, and the Pavilion of Discipline.

Spring Rain Pavilion focused on transmitting the Dao. Its name was inspired by the way spring rains silently nourished all life.

Autumn Wind Pavilion focused on trials, tempering, and combat. Its name was inspired by the hope that its swordsmen would sweep through their foes like a wind blowing away the fallen leaves.

The Pavilions of Scriptures and Discipline focused on exactly what their names implied: transmitting classics and legacies and upholding discipline in the sect.

The thirteen mountains were beneath the four pavilions. Every disciple who joined the Heart-Tempering Sword House was sent to one of the thirteen mountains to cultivate.

Only those who stepped into Eternity could participate in the Trials of the Sword, a competition held between the disciples of the thirteen mountains. Those who distinguished themselves were then sent to the four pavilions.

Each mountain had a lord to oversee things, like Mountain Lord Wu Qing of Mount Heavenquench, Mountain Lord Wen Feng of Expanding Heavens Peak, and Mountain Lord Gu Zheng of Moonpluck Mountain.

The two halls, four pavilions, and thirteen mountains aside, there were other scattered facilities, like the Hall of Medicine, the Hall of Forging, and the Chamber of Incense.

Now, the higher-ups of both halls, all four pavilions, and all thirteen mountains, as well as the various other prominent experts, all gathered on Candlelight Peak.

Even some of the high elders were startled into action. One after another, they came in person to see what was going on.

Sect Leader Lu Ye took a seat in the center, but all eyes gathered on the same place—the young man in blue in the seat of honor on the left side of the room. This was none other than Su Yi.

When word of his arrival spread, it shook the entire sect. Everyone rushed over to see him with their own eyes. After all, all of them knew that his background was extraordinary. This was the reincarnation of their founder, Jiang Wuchen!

Who could possibly remain seated knowing that?

Everyone in the Heart-Tempering Sword House had heard about Su Yi’s accomplishments in the Eternal Heavens Domain.

It was just as Wen Feng had said earlier. The Heart-Tempering Sword House felt conflicted about Su Yi. They were glad their founder was back, but worried, too!

Moreover, this was their first meeting with Su Yi. All of them felt a bit strange about it. Should they recognize him as their founder? And how should they behave around him?

Many of the old-timers felt a headache coming on just thinking about it.

Thus, the atmosphere in the hall was strange, stifled, and a bit awkward.

Even Sect Leader Lu Ye lacked his usual composure and imposing presence. He seemed a bit out of sorts as he rattled off pleasantries.

Su Yi took all of this in. He couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Many of the old-timers present were people Jiang Wuchen had recruited personally. Some of the old monsters had once traveled the world alongside Jiang Wuchen, and they shared a close bond.

Su Yi had fused with Jiang Wuchen’s Dao Imprint, so the sight of them naturally brought up all kinds of memories.

In the end, Su Yi decided to break the awkward silence with memories of their shared past. He hoped these would resonate with them, touch their hearts, and close the distance between them.

“Lu Ye, did you ever manage to grasp the full mysteries of the ninth scroll of the Great Void Heaven-Deriving Sutra?”

The sutra had stumped Lu Ye in his youth, his progress stagnating at the ninth scroll. He’d fretted over this day and night for years.

Lu Ye shook, and his heart clenched. He instinctively responded, “Master, your disciple has indeed already grasped the ninth scroll!”

He was acting just as he did in his youth, when his master tested him without warning, as nervous and tense as could be.

A moment later, Lu Ye realized he’d forgotten himself and laughed sheepishly.

The others couldn’t help but laugh along. Sect Leader Lu Ye had always been dignified, imposing, and meticulous. It had been a long time since anyone had seen him embarrass himself like this.

Su Yi smiled, then looked at an old man with hair as white as snow. “Ol’ Wen, did you succeed in refining that Divine Replenishment Sword of yours?”

The white-haired man opened his mouth, then said glumly, “I haven’t! I don’t know what’s going on, either. Every time I tried, I failed at the last step. I’ve long since left the blasted old thing to gather dust.”

“When we find a bit of spare time, I’ll help you try again,” said Su Yi. He then looked at an extraordinary beauty in green and smiled. “Wu Yao, I recall you telling me you’d one day find a prime specimen of a man and become his Dao Partner. A long time has passed since we last met. Did you ever find anyone suitable?”

The woman in green froze, her face suddenly red. “Those were nothing but the nonsensical fantasies of my youth. I’m now wholeheartedly focused on my cultivation; I’ve long since ceased to concern myself with such things.”

Suddenly, the rims of her eyes reddened with unshed tears. She gazed intently at Su Yi, then murmured, “Founder, is that really you?”

Perhaps because Su Yi’s words had uncovered long-hidden memories, she lost control of her emotions.

The crowd took all of this in, emotions coursing through them.

There was no need to even question it. Su Yi was their founder!

Only their founder could have called them all by name like this, and only their founder recalled all of these memories from a past so distant that even they had almost forgotten it.

At the same time, they knew that Su Yi was only their founder’s reincarnation. It was that knowledge that let them stay in control. Otherwise, they'd have acknowledged him immediately.

“I am indeed Jiang Wuchen, but now, I call myself Su Yi,” said Su Yi. “On my way here, I heard about the Malevolent Sword Venerate’s rules. Now that I’ve returned, I need to obtain your recognition. In that case, act in accordance with the rules and begin... your test.”

Su Yi had already risen to his feet.

The group was stunned. They exchanged glances, all of them visibly hesitant.

Because the test that the Malevolent Sword Venerate had arranged for Su Yi seemed all but impossible for a sword cultivator so young to pass!

Su Yi laughed. “You needn’t worry. We won’t know if I’m capable of earning your recognition or not until I’ve tried it.”

Lu Ye took a deep breath, then regained the clear-headed, decisive bearing of a sect leader. “Fellow Daoist Su, as Jiang Wuchen’s first disciple, I shall now begin your test. If I offend you in any way, I humbly request your understanding!”