First Immortal of the Sword - Chapter 2286 - A Stormy Return Journey
Chapter 2286 – A Stormy Return Journey
When Su Yi first arrived in the Southern Flame Divine Continent, he planned to visit the Red Dust Demon Lands at some point, in part to get revenge, and in part to retrieve the treasures they’d stolen.
Who could have guessed that Yan Shuiming of Purple Mist Grotto would take the Undying divine tree before Su Yi got the chance?
Strange. A challenge, that’s all, yet they used the Osmanthus Tree of the Toad Palace as a wager…
Su Yi had a strong premonition that Yan Shuiming had challenged the Red Dust Demon Lands precisely because he hoped to acquire the tree.
And who didn’t know that Yi Daoxuan had once planted the Osmanthus Tree of the Toad Palace on Sunset Perch Island?
Could it be that Yan Shuiming claimed the tree as his prize… because of me?
Su Yi suddenly recalled the old man who just wouldn’t die and his disciple, the two members of Clear Breeze Daoist Temple.
It was just that he couldn’t say for sure whether Purple Mist Grotto was his friend or his enemy.
“Similar incidents have arisen in all four divine continents of late,” explained Elder Wei. “Disciples of unknown territories have entered the world, one after another, all of them challenging major orthodoxies. It’s caused an enormous disturbance.
“But Yan Shuiming is the first Greater God to challenge a top orthodoxy, which is why he’s drawn so much attention.”
Elder Wei sighed. “The God Domain is increasingly tumultuous. Disciples of unknown territories are cropping up all over the place, but that’s not all. Terrifying existences who’ve long since vanished into seclusion are coming back out into the open, too.
“Every top faction of the God Domain has begun preparing. Some orthodoxies have even long since made alliances with factions from spacetime forbidden zones.
“All of this is in anticipation of the Dark Days of Legend due to arrive in less than thirty years!”
Su Yi took all of this in, but he was nowhere near so rueful.
The onset of the Dark Days of Legend had long since become inevitable, and no one would be able to remain a bystander. Even the experts of the River of Destiny were paying attention.
Times were changing, and there was no stopping it. It was only natural that everyone had begun preparing.
Su Yi was no exception, either. He had to prove his Dao and reach the Undying Realm before the Dark Days of Legend arrived!
Later that day, Su Yi left Spring and Autumn City and set course for Qingwu Divine Court.
……
Qingwu Divine Court, an old, worn, dimly lit hall on the back mountain, the sect’s forbidden ground.
Sect Leader Liang Lingxu stood at the center of the room and said gravely, “I hope that you can do your utmost to assist me in this endeavor, seniors!”
His voice boomed throughout the hall.
There was a row of seats at the front of the hall, thirteen in total. Five were currently occupied.
All five seated experts were old-timers of the Undying Realm. Even the weakest had overcome four Dao-Refining Tribulations, while the strongest was an Eight-Tribulation Master God!
However, there was no sign of Second High Elder Bai Liyin.
This was because all five old-timers were older-generation members of Sect Leader Liang Lingxu’s camp.
“I have three questions for you, and I want to hear the truth. Your answers will decide whether or not we help you!” A disheveled elder said hoarsely. “My first question is, are you certain that Xiao Jian killed Hui Qing, Yuan Shan, Ku Zhen, and the others?”
Liang Lingxu fell briefly silent, then said, “I’m certain!”
“Very well. My second question is this: do you have proof that there’s a problem with Xiao Jian’s background?” asked the old man.
The others gazed intently at Liang Lingxu as well. Formless pressure bore down on him, assailing him right in the face.
He took a deep breath, then said, “I have no proof, but my instincts tell me that there’s a big problem! If it turns out that I’m mistaken, I’ll willingly step down as sect leader and accept whatever punishment you see fit!”
The elders were stunned. It was obvious to all of them that Liang Lingxu was dead set on killing Xiao Jian, to the point that he was willing to risk his position as sect leader!
“Alright. Now, for my third and final question,” said the old man, his gaze deep and heavy. “Grand Elder Wei Zhong thinks incomparably highly of Xiao Jian. If we kill him, it will lead to internal strife. How do you intend to handle that?”
Grand Elder Wei Zhong represented the sect’s other faction, one strong enough to contend with the sect leader’s faction.
The old-timers gathered in this hall didn’t care whether Xiao Jian lived or died, but if Xiao Jian’s death led to a complete falling out with the grand elder’s faction, it would inevitably lead to strife within Qingwu Divine Court.
The consequences of that would be severe.
Liang Lingxu was prepared for this question, so he didn’t miss a beat. “I dare say with certainty that Xiao Jian will reveal his true nature when he dies. When that happens, the grand elder will have nothing to say in his defense! On the contrary, he’ll do his utmost to distance himself from Xiao Jian to avoid inviting any further trouble!”
The elder shook his head. “None of that is important. I just want to know what you’ll do in the likely event of internal strife.”
Liang Lingxu’s expression shifted erratically, but in the end, he gnashed his teeth and said, “I trust that once Xiao Jian is dead, the grand elder won’t be able to find any excuse to make trouble for us! If anything like that really does happen, I’ll take full responsibility for it and pay the price myself!”
The old man glanced at the others. “What do you think we should do?”
A shapely, white-haired woman said with a smile, “I think he’s just a measly little Lesser God, and that this is a bit of an overreaction.”
But then, she added, “That said, the sect leader is convinced that he was involved in Yuan Shan and Hui Qing’s deaths. If that’s true, Xiao Jian really is dangerous. It’s understandable that the sect leader would request our support.”
The others nodded.
Liang Lingxu let out a deep breath. “Please, rest assured, seniors. I’ll handle this properly!”
With that, he turned and left the hall.
That very day, he used a secret transmission talisman to personally issue Xiao Jian a decree!
……
Atop a picturesque mountain of the Severed Heavens Demon Court.
Lu Qingmei sat by the window lattice, her head resting in her hands as she gazed leisurely into the distant clouds.
Gentle sunlight poured in through the window lattice, bathing her beautiful face and impressive figure. Her whole body was shrouded in dreamlike, ethereal luster.
Her face was particularly exquisite, like the greatest masterpiece of the heavens, so beautiful that heaven and earth seemed dimmer by comparison. Her beauty could topple the masses.
When the Severed Heavens Demon Master walked in and saw her, he couldn’t help but feel fire building in his chest.
He was a peak Nine-Tribulation Master God, an old devil who’d lived for countless years. He’d seen no small number of dazzling beauties and unparalleled daughters of heaven.
But none could compare with Lu Qingmei.
Her beauty was more than just skin deep. Every movement and every gesture contained the majesty of an empress of the nine heavens!
She was a master of Demonism famed throughout the God Domain. Other gods saw her as a demon empress of unique beauty.
Who… Who wouldn’t have been tempted?
Conquering an unparalleled demoness like her was a feeling no amount of wealth or power could buy you!
Alas…
The Severed Heavens Demon Master sighed and suppressed the fire building in his chest. The more unattainable she was, the more appealing she seemed.
The Severed Heavens Demon Master knew better than anyone how ruthless and terrifying his nominal Dao Partner was!
“What do you want?” Lu Qingmei remained seated by the window lattice, gazing into the distance. She didn’t even turn her head to look at the Severed Heavens Demon Master.
“Why haven’t I seen that adopted son of yours lately?” the Severed Heavens Demon master asked with a smile and sat down beside her.
He was talking about Lu Zhanxuan, whom Lu Qingmei had recently renamed “Yi Chen.”
“I sent him away,” Lu Qingmei said distractedly. “He’s been under my protection all this time, but now… It’s time he walked his own path.”
“Oh,” said the Severed Heavens Demon Master. He didn’t find this at all strange.
In truth, he was just using Lu Zhanxuan to start a conversation. He didn’t care about Lu Qingmei’s adopted son one way or another.
“You’re not here just to ask about my adopted son, are you?” Lu Qingmei finally retracted her gaze and sat upright. Her former indolent bearing vanished in a flash, replaced with bone-deep majesty.
“Of course not,” laughed the Severed Heavens Demon Master. “I’m here to ask you about someone.”
“Who?”
“A member of Qingwu Divine Court, a young man called Xiao Jian,” said the Severed Heavens Demon Master. As he spoke, he gazed intently at Lu Qingmei, as if hoping to see her reaction.
“Xiao Jian?” Lu Qingmei’s eyes flashed, and she said with feigned casualness, “It’s true that I saw Xiao Jian when I visited Qingwu Divine Court, but he’s a trivial figure. Why ask about him?”
“He’s no trivial figure,” said the Severed Heavens Demon Master, his gaze hard to read. “Otherwise, why would I go out of my way to ask you about him?”
Lu Qingmei’s brows furrowed. “Don’t beat around the bush in front of me. What exactly are you trying to say?”
The Severed Heavens Demon Master smiled, rose, and approached Lu Qingmei. There, he gazed down at her beautiful face and said softly, “I just received a message from the Dipankara Buddha. He suspects that Xiao Jian has another identity, and he wants me to investigate.”
His gaze was as deep as an abyss as he stared at Lu Qingmei from close quarters, as if trying to discern even the most subtle shifts in her expression to determine her innermost thoughts.
Unfortunately, Lu Qingmei just looked repulsed. “Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll gouge out your eyes.”
It was just one cold, calm sentence, but the Severed Heavens Demon Master’s gaze focused. He knew better than anyone that his “wife” was ruthless; she wouldn’t have threatened him like that if she didn’t mean it.
He straightened his back and considerately returned to his seat, then laughed, “Don’t be angry. Aren’t you curious about Xiao Jian’s other identity?”
“If you’re going to keep leaving me in suspense, just leave!” Lu Qingmei said with a cold laugh.
An almost imperceptible hint of anger appeared on the Severed Heavens Demon Master’s face, but in the end, he suppressed it and laughed. “The Dipankara Buddha suspects that Xiao Jian is really that heretic Su Yi in disguise!”
Lu Qingmei was stunned. The look on her beautiful face shifted.
Even though she’d seen her share of wind and waves, she would never have guessed that the Dipankara Buddha would figure it out from all the way on the Ancient Nirvana Divine Continent.
It was simply unbelievable!
The Severed Heavens Demon Master gazed intently at Lu Qingmei’s expression, then said out of nowhere, “Tell me, why do I get the sense that you already knew about this?”
