First Immortal of the Sword

When Su Yi appeared, the tense, hostile atmosphere sank into silence. All eyes were instantly upon him.

He’s finally here!

The Immortal Lords who’d suffered crushing defeats at Su Yi’s hands looked at him strangely. Some delighted in his misfortune, while others pitied him.

Some, like Gong Nanfeng, Weng Changning, and the other unrivaled Immortal Lords, just watched coldly from the sidelines.

Meanwhile, several of the Immortal Kings made no attempt to conceal their enmity and murderous intent!

Tang Lingqi frantically transmitted an explanation of the situation and the Tang family’s stance to Su Yi. “Fellow Daoist, no matter what happens next, you have to endure! So long as you cooperate, the Tang Family will do everything in its power to ensure that you escape this predicament safely!”

But Su Yi just let out a dry laugh and transmitted, “A few Immortal Kings, nothing more. They aren’t worthy of forcing me to endure!”

Tang Lingqi was stunned. He’d anticipated that someone as cold and aloof as Su Yi would struggle to accept their arrangements and resist backing down. Still, he wouldn’t have guessed that Su Yi would refuse without even pausing to think. He couldn’t help but find this frustrating, and… deeply concerning!

This wasn’t the Seventh Gate of Heaven. Here, there was no Stele of Heaven’s Will to control the power of the area’s Laws. Given the circumstances, how could Su Yi possibly contend with Immortal Kings?

“I understand the Tang Family’s stance, but all you need to do is stand back and watch. That way, you won’t get swept into this,” Su Yi transmitted.

Tang Lingqi grimaced but made no further attempts to dissuade Su Yi. Deep, imposing roars were already rising throughout the surrounding area.

“Shen Mu, do you realize what you’ve done?”

Every word boomed like thunder, resounding throughout heaven and earth.

Everyone shook from head to toe.

Immortal King Xie Kuiyuan rose from his seat, his gaze cold and indifferent as he stared at Su Yi.

He spoke as if he were sentencing a convict!

Numerous other Immortal Kings gazed over, all of them seething with murderous intent. All of their anger was focused on Su Yi and Su Yi alone!

That terrifying, imposing pressure would have been more than most Immortal Lords could take, but Su Yi didn’t even seem to notice. He just took out his jug of wine, had a sip, and said casually, “Tell me, then. What crime have I, Shen Mu, committed?”

His sheer nonchalance made Xie Kuiyuan, Lei Beique, and the other Immortal Kings frown.

“We suspect problems with your identity, origins, and cultivation base. If it’s as I suspect, you’ve severely violated the rules of the Divine Hunt!” said Xie Kuiyuan, his voice booming like thunder throughout the ritual grounds. “Furthermore, I suspect that you were involved in Chu Batian’s inexplicable disappearance!”

He was ferocious and overbearing.

Before Su Yi could respond, Li Beique of the Church of Supreme Oneness said expressionlessly, “Of course, out of consideration for Daoist Brother Tang Jinhong, we’ll give you a chance to prove your innocence. You may now speak in your defense!”

The atmosphere was stifled and oppressive. The Immortal Lords felt their hearts quiver just watching.

But against all expectations, Su Yi seemed as calm and relaxed as ever. He showed no sign of fear or indignation whatsoever.

“Prove my innocence?” Su Yi whispered, his eyes flashing with mockery. “You have no evidence beyond mere conjecture, yet here you are, throwing your reputations away to band together and oppress me. The Immortal Realm’s Immortal Kings… have really gone downhill.”

As he spoke, he shook his head in apparent disappointment.

The crowd was flabbergasted. They couldn’t help but wonder, Has this guy gone insane?

Xie Kuiyuan, Li Beique, and the others’ expressions darkened. They couldn’t even imagine how a junior like Shen Mu would dare poke fun at Immortal Kings like them at a time like this!

“Brother Tang, no matter the Tang Family’s stance on the matter, we have to get to the bottom of that boy’s origins!” Xie Kuiyuan said gravely. “If you insist on protecting him, don’t blame us for disregarding our bond!”

Tang Jinhong’s expression filled with uncertainty. He looked at Su Yi and said, “Shen Mu, I’ll just say this. The innocent have no fear of unfounded rumors! So long as you can prove your innocence, we’ll be sure to back you up, and we won’t let anyone mistreat you!

He spoke with incontrovertible firmness, but it was obvious to everyone that he was making concessions. He’d effectively agreed to the Immortal Kings’ unreasonable demand that Shen Mu prove his innocence!

How could Ancestor Jinhong do this!? Doesn’t he realize that at this rate, they’ll find out Fellow Daoist Su’s identity? Tang Yuyan’s heart clenched, and she paled. Don't tell me that he can’t withstand the Immortal Kings’ combined pressure either, and that he has no choice but to… compromise?

Xie Kuiyuan, Li Beique, and the others’ expressions mellowed. They could, of course, tell that Tang Jinhong was wavering!

But Su Yi just laughed. “The innocent have no fear of unfounded rumors? Very well. What if I said that every last one of these Immortal Kings harbors malintent, and that they’re all secretly agents of the Beyond? What would you say then?”

Uproar ensued as countless people argued and lashed out at once.

What kind of joke is that? How could these Immortal Kings possibly be agents of the Beyond?

Su Yi disregarded it all. He just looked around and said, “Want to know if they’re really spies? Simple! Just have them prove their innocence.”

The crowd finally understood what Shen Mu was up to. He was using the Immortal Kings’ tactics against them.

Many of the onlookers looked conflicted. There were so many people gathered here. How could they not understand how ridiculous, contrived, and excessive the Immortal Kings’ accusations were?

But no one dared speak up on Su Yi’s behalf. After all, these were Immortal Kings!

Moreover, they were each representatives of an enormous cultivation faction! So what if their demands were excessive? Who in the Immortal Realm would dare to say anything?

Reality was cruel!

“Shen Mu! Why can’t you take even a single step back?” Tang Jinhong said darkly. “If you go on like this, we won’t be able to protect you!”

Su Yi said calmly, “You’re jumping to conclusions. When did I ever say I would rely on you to protect me?”

“???”

Everyone was flabbergasted.

Fellow Daoist Su… Tang Yuyan’s delicate frame shook, and her heart ached.

Tang Jinhong’s chest heaved with anger. “Very well! The Tang Family will intervene in this no further!”

Xie Kuiyuan, Li Beique, and the others lit up with delight.

Earlier, they were cautious of the ancient Tang Family’s attitude, so even when Su Yi insulted them to their faces, they endured.

But now, Tang Jinhong had made his position perfectly clear: he wasn’t going to protect Su Yi any longer. The Immortal King’s reservations instantly disappeared.

“Hahaha, Shen Mu, have you given into despair?” Weng Changfeng couldn’t help but laugh. He really couldn’t wrap his head around it. How could Shen Mu be so stupid as to refuse the Tang Family’s protection? How is that any different from seeking death?

The gathered Immortal Lords couldn’t help but sigh. Without theTang Family’s support, how can Shen Mu possibly turn this around?

Why do I get the sense that this guy’s plotting something? Zhuo Yun’s eyelids twitched. This can’t possibly be so simple. Given Shen Mu’s intelligence, there’s no way he’d seek out his own demise like this. Does he have a way of resolving this predicament?

“Excellent! Since Brother Tang has made his position clear, let’s not waste any more time!” Chi Meng of the Jade Firmament Immortal Palace rose, eyes surging with murderous intent, and locked onto the distant Su Yi. “I’ll give you one last opportunity. Prove your innocence, or… I’ll search you by force. Take your pick!”

His voice boomed throughout the surrounding area. Everything was deathly silent and suffocatingly oppressive.

Su Yi raised his jug of wine, threw back his head, and drank with relish before putting it away. A moment later, he stepped into the air and soared airily into the heavens.

“Alright then,” he said with a gentle wave to Chi Meng. “Come to die.”

Boom!

The entire area was instantly in uproar. None of them would have imagined that an “unrivaled Immortal Lord” like Shen Mu would be so domineering. He’d just declared war against an Immortal King!

He was simply sick in the head!

It wasn’t just the Immortal Lords, either. Even the Immortal Kings were gobsmacked.

All eyes converged on Su Yi. Even those who viewed him with enmity had to admit that in terms of sheer courage, they were far inferior to him!

Even Chi Meng was unwittingly stunned. It had been eight thousand years since he’d proven his Dao and become an Immortal King. In all that time, no Immortal Lord had ever provoked him like this!

“Even if it turns out Chu Batian’s disappearance had nothing to do with you, I’ll have your head for that!” said Chi Meng. As his voice boomed through the air, he shot into the sky.

He was tall and thin, with a head of silver hair and tawny eyes. His golden robes fluttered around him.

When he arrived beneath the dome of heaven, the imposing pressure of an Immortal King swept through the skies like an avalanche. The clouds collapsed, and throughout the entire region, the mountains and rivers swayed.

Even heaven and earth changed color!

This was the wrath of an Immortal King. How could it possibly be ordinary?

He was so terrifying that even just gazing upon him from afar made the unrivaled Immortal Lords feel as if there were a knife pointed at their backs. Their hair stood on end.

“Shen Mu is finished!”

“How is challenging Immortal Kings any different from suicide?”

“Don’t tell me he’s got some card up his sleeves that can resolve this?”

…Everyone’s thoughts raced.

He can defeat even unrivaled Immortal Lords with ease, and he has unbelievable abilities. Since he dared to declare war like this, I’m sure there’s reason for his confidence!

Meanwhile, the Immortal Kings all looked up at the dome of heaven. Chi Meng was young by the standards of Immortal Kings; it had only been eight thousand years since he’d entered the Miracle Realm, and he was still in its early stage.

Even so, he could defeat unrivaled Immortal Lords with ease!

Immortal Kings were kings of the Immortal Dao. It might seem like there was just one realm between them and Immortal Lords, but in truth, they were as far apart as heaven and earth!

But the Immortal Kings also understood that since Shen Mu dared provoke Chi Meng, he likely had some trump card up his sleeves.

When the battle began, they’d be able to borrow Chi Meng’s hands to get a handle on the mysterious Shen Mu’s abilities. They’d soon know how strong he was, and what secrets he was hiding!