First Immortal of the Sword

A mighty yao at the peak of the Spiritual Manifestation Realm, someone whose power shook the world, had taken the initiative to request guidance from a Grain Avoidance youth?

This was astonishing.
If word spread, most likely no one would believe it.

Yet now, it really was happening!

The long-robed middle-aged man, the son of a black flood dragon, was indeed humbling himself and requesting Su Yi’s aid.

Su Yi sat in his chair, calmly accepting this show of respect.
“Let’s hear it.”

Ying Que took a deep breath and said, “Thirteen thousand years ago, my father welcomed his tribulation and attempted to become a true dragon on what is now known as Broken Dragon Cliff.
In the end, a sword cultivator dashed his hopes, but he has yet to truly pass away.”

The black flood dragon wasn’t dead!?

This revelation shocked the whole group.

However, although Father survived, he’s spent the past thirteen thousand years trapped in a life worse than death.
The torment has robbed him of the will to live, but even if he wanted to end it all, he cannot…”

Ying Que ’s eyes shone with grief, and he said in a low voice, “My father has long since sunk into delirium.
He’s muddled and confused, but I know that he longs for nothing more than release from his torment.”

Ying Que paused here, looked at Su Yi, and said earnestly, “Thus, I have chosen to request your guidance.
Fellow Daoist, how can I help my father realize his heart’s desire?”

Thirteen thousand years of a life worse than death, unable to die!?

What could possibly have led to such brutal torment!?

Just listening, Wen Xinzhao and the others’ hearts shook, and their eyes widened over and over again.

Su Yi couldn’t help but feel curious too.
He asked with great interest, “Don’t tell me that power has restricted your father’s soul and fleshly body?”

“You’re sharp, Fellow Daoist.” Ying Que nodded.
“When my father underwent his tribulation, the power of the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness invaded and contaminated him, resulting in his miserable predicament.”

The Prohibition of Ancient Darkness!

The expressions of Zhang Yuntao, Wen Xinzhao, and the others shifted.
They looked enlightened, but at the same time, they couldn’t help but shudder.

They were naturally well aware of how terrifying the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness was.
It was that very taboo power that plunged the Azure Continent into thirty thousand years of destruction and withering, resulting in its current barren state.

In the years that followed, countless once mighty orthodoxies faded and disappeared beneath its power!

The power of the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness had actually contaminated the black flood dragon.
In that case, it was no wonder its situation was so bleak. 

“So, it’s the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness.” Su Yi understood.

He thought back to the Sea of Chaotic Spirits and its Four Perils: the Isle of No Return, the Mountain of Funerals, White Bone Tower, and the Starlight Vessel.

He also recalled the four entities confined within them: Fire Demon Lihuo, Old Yao Bone Eater, Thunder Monarch Oblivion, and Daoist Star Girdle.

There was no doubt about it; the black flood dragon was suffering in much the same way, and he’d yet to break free even now.

Su Yi did indeed have means of resolving this thorny problem.

When he slew Fire Demon Lihuo, Old Yao Bone Eater, and Thunder Monarch Oblivion over the Sea of Chaotic Spirits, he did so by borrowing the power of the Sword of the Nine Hells.
This enabled him to effortlessly break through the power of the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness and slaughter the three terrifying entities it confined. 

Su Yi thought for a bit, then said, “You ought to know that the Radiant Epoch will descend within just three to five years.
When the time comes, the power of the Prohibition of Ancient Darkness will disappear on its own, and your father’s confinement will end with it.”

Ying Que was silent for a moment.
Then, he let out a bitter sigh.
“You don’t know this, but I’ve already stagnated in the Spiritual Manifestation Realm for almost one thousand years.
I’ve continuously suppressed my cultivation, but recently, I had a sudden premonition that my chance to break through would soon be upon me.
It’s going to happen soon.

“I’m not afraid of the resulting tribulation in and of itself.
My only concern is that my father’s misery has long since become my heart’s demon.
It’s highly likely that this will become a fatal opening when I attempt my tribulation.
In that case, even my life will be in danger…”

Su Yi instantly understood.
“So you’re hoping to free your father before you attempt your breakthrough because in doing so, you can rid yourself of this demon of the heart?”

“That’s right.” Ying Que nodded.
“My father failed his tribulation when he attempted to become a true dragon, resulting in more than ten thousand years of continuous torment.
This outcome is far, far too terrifying, and over the years, it’s given rise to weakness within my heart.
If I don’t eliminate it, I have no hope of surviving my tribulation and breaking through to the next realm.”

Wen Xinzhao and the others’ emotions surged just listening to this tale.
All of them were moved.

These were the perils of the path of cultivation. 

A flood dragon like Ying Que might have seemed incomparably glorious.
He could gaze proudly down at the world and command the wind and rain.

However, when he broke through, the resulting tribulations were far more terrifying than those faced by ordinary cultivators. 

If he didn’t remove his heart demon, it wouldn’t matter how capable he was.
He was almost certainly doomed to perish while attempting to undergo tribulation.

Su Yi smiled faintly.
“And why do you think I know how to free you of your inner demons?”

Ying Que grimaced.
“I won’t hide it; it’s because of your description of how to kill a flood dragon.
It made me realize that your understanding of our lineage far surpasses other cultivators.
Not even Spirit Dao cultivators are so well-informed.”

This was no empty compliment.

When he heard Su Yi say you ought to first sever a flood dragon’s scaled claws, then cut off its tail before blinding it and crushing its horns, Ying Que felt a chill course through his heart.
It was as if Su Yi had seen through all of his weaknesses!

Severing their scaly claws prevented them from manipulating the power of the wind and clouds.

Cutting off their tail prevented them from flying.

Blinding them would severely limit their divine sense.

And shattering their horns? This would effectively rob them of the greater part of their cultivation.

As the son of a black flood dragon, there was no way Ying Que wouldn’t know this.
Su Yi’s method of killing a flood dragon hit them right where it hurt the most; he’d learned all of their fatal weak points!

How could someone with such knowledge possibly be ordinary?

This was why Ying Que decided to make an appearance.

So everything Su Yi said just now was right on the mark… His companion’s hearts shook, and their expressions were strange.

Ying Que’s words made them suddenly aware that although Su Yi’s earlier description sounded calm and leisurely, he had in fact listed all the fatal weak points of flood dragon kind!

Su Yi thought for a moment, then said, “I can indeed help your father escape his torment, but… Why should I help you?”

Ying Que ’s heart shook, and his face filled with undisguised joy and excitement.

He then took a deep breath, clasped his fist, and bowed.
“Fellow Daoist, if you assist me, I’ll be sure to offer you a generous reward as a token of my gratitude, and I’ll remember this benevolence to the end of my days!”

Su Yi looked at him.
“I don’t need a ‘generous reward’, nor do I need you to remember my benevolence.”

Ying Que was stunned.
He said solemnly, “Then what do you need? So long as it’s within my power, I’ll give it to you without so much as furrowing my brow.”

Su Yi extended three fingers.
“In the future, when I need it, you’ll do me three favors.
Of course, you can rest assured; I won’t force you to do anything that goes against your convictions, nor will I send you to your death.
So long as you agree, I’ll free you of your heart demons now.”

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Su Yi then raised his wine gourd and took a swig, looking utterly languid.
“Think it over for yourself.”

He wasn’t some spineless people-pleaser.
Were he anyone else, how could the monstrously powerful Spiritual Manifestation Realm Ying Que possibly be so docile and meek in front of him?

Ying Que’s expression shifted erratically, while Su Yi’s companions were inwardly tense.
They feared that the mighty Spiritual Manifestation yao’s humiliation would turn to rage, and that he’d lash out and force Su Yi to “help.”

But in the end, Ying Que took a deep breath, bowed, and said, “Fellow Daoist, I agree.”

“You should know that although I’ve attached conditions, I’m stepping in to help you,” said Su Yi, his tone rife with meaning.
“I’m even helping you avert a fatal calamity of the path of cultivation.
If you’re unwilling, or if you plan to just muddle your way through and renege on your promise, I guarantee that your fate will be even more miserable than your father’s.”

Ying Que’s entire body went rigid.
In the face of Su Yi’s calm, distant gaze, he felt an inexplicable, bone-piercing chill rise within him.

“Fellow Daoist, please, rest assured! I can swear on my life and my soul if need be!” Having said this, Ying Que bit through the skin of his fingertips as if to make a vow.

However, Su Yi had already risen from his chair, and he waved to stop him.
“No need.
A vow like that has no use.
I’ve always considered the heart, not its vestiges.”

Ying Que was a bit dazed, and felt increasingly unable to see through the Grain Avoidance young man in front of him.
He was obviously so young, and his cultivation was still so paltry.

Yet for some reason, his bearing left others unable to see through him!

“Let’s go.
Take me to see your father.” Su Yi put away the wicker chair and stretched.

It was already late at night, and the full moon shone overhead, radiant and pure.

Ying Que led Su Yi and his companions through the sky, then deep into the river flowing past Broken Dragon Cliff.

The river was called the Angry Dragon.
It was vast and boundless, with a rapid current.

The riverbed of the Angry Dragon contained an entrance to an underground path.
When the group entered, everything suddenly brightened, and a vast underground world appeared before them.

To their surprise, the underground space had been decorated to resemble a lavish imperial palace, with halls as numerous as trees in a forest.
It was grand and imposing.

“This place has a formation sealing a spirit vein and drawing upon the force of the mountains and river.
This set-up is actually quite extraordinary; it’s a blessed ground for cultivation, albeit just barely,” said Su Yi in surprise.
“An ordinary cultivator couldn’t possibly sense this place’s existence, and if an enemy does manage to find it, the formation can immediately initiate a defense to prevent them from entering.”

Ying Que was visibly stunned; he wouldn’t have guessed that Su Yi would see through these mysteries at a glance.
He said admiringly, “Your perception is quite keen, Fellow Daoist.”

Before this, he still had some concerns about Su Yi’s abilities, but now, his lingering doubts vanished in a puff of smoke. 

So what if Su Yi was in the Grain Avoidance Realm?

Who among the world’s Spirit Dao cultivators had such an unbelievable breadth of knowledge and experience?

“Fellow Daoist, please, right this way.” As his thoughts raced, Ying Que smiled and led the group deep into a palace with buildings numerous as the trees.

The scenery along the way was beautiful, with all manner of flowers and grasses, carved railings, and jade steps.

They even encountered guards, serving girls, and attendants.
Almost all were yao, and some of the guards had cultivation in the Origin Palace Realm!

When they saw Ying Que, all greeted him with the utmost respect, calling him “His Excellency the Dragon Monarch.”

Wen Xinzhao and company felt as if their horizons were expanding.
They were beside themselves with amazement. 

Su Yi, however, shook his head. He’s just a black flood dragon, yet he calls himself the ’Dragon Monarch’? What ambition!