First Immortal of the Sword - Chapter 2287 - Visiting the Mountain

Chapter 2287 – Visiting the Mountain

The atmosphere within the pavilion shifted, growing tense and heavy.

The mountain breeze blowing through the window lattice had a newfound cold austerity.

Lu Qingmei raised her beautiful head, making no attempt to avoid the Severed Heavens Demon Master’s gaze. “Why do you say that?”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master laughed and said calmly, “Over the years, you’ve lived deep in seclusion, seldom wandering outside or heeding the sect’s affairs. The only exception was that time, just a few months ago, when you suddenly decided to take a group of disciples to Qingwu Divine Court for a sparring competition.

“Sure, it was a chance for both orthodoxies’ disciples to discuss the Dao, but how could something so trivial require your personal attention?”

Before Lu Qingmei could respond, the Severed Heavens Demon Master continued, “And according to reports, you seemed to pay particular attention to Xiao Jian during Qingwu Divine Court’s banquet. Everyone who saw it felt that something strange was going on. At the time, I didn’t understand, but I didn’t care, either. After all, a lot in this world doesn’t make sense.

“But now that I know Xiao Jian is really Su Yi in disguise, it seems to me that that was no mere coincidence!” The Severed Heavens Demon Master’s gaze suddenly frosted over. “Su Yi was Yi Daoxuan in his past life, and, well… Surely there’s no need for me to explain what kind of relationship you two had, right?”

Lu Qingmei suddenly laughed. “Disregarding the question of whether Xiao Jian really is Yi Daoxuan’s reincarnation or not, do you really think I would have let him go had I known earlier?”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master frowned.

A long time ago, Yi Daoxuan and Lu Qingmei were Dao Partners, until one day, Lu Qingmei turned on him, catching him off guard and striking to kill!

Although she failed to kill him in the end, she did injure him to the brink of death, leaving him with irreparable, severe Dao Wounds.

It was because of these wounds that Yi Daoxuan ultimately found himself surrounded and killed by his enemies. It was fair to say that Lu Qingmei had played a crucial role in killing Yi Daoxuan!

Given that, it didn’t make sense to accuse her of having known who Xiao Jian was.

“Severed Heavens, do you know why I chose to become your Dao Partner?” A look of derision appeared in Lu Qingmei’s beautiful eyes. “Because of all the old-timers in your cohort, you’re the most stupid!”

“You…” The Severed Heavens Demon Emperor’s expression darkened, and his brow furrowed.

Lu Qingmei, however, just smiled radiantly. Her face was endlessly charming, yet her gaze was utterly disdainful.

“No matter how much you long to make me your own, you’ve got wicked intentions without the courage to back it up. You second-guess yourself at every turn!” Lu Qingmei laughed coldly. “That’s why I was willing to become your nominal Dao Partner. A man like you is no threat to me at all. How could you possibly harm me?”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master’s face reddened, and the veins bulged on his forehead. He was obviously enraged.

He was a peak Nine-Tribulation Master God, an expert of the same era as the Dipankara Buddha and Master God Yun He. He was a legend!

Yet here Lu Qingmei was, making fun of him for being a useless, stupid, craven. How could he not be furious?

In stark contrast, Lu Qingmei just sat there as if everything were perfectly normal. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her peerlessly beautiful face was bathed in light. She looked utterly calm and composed.

Like an empress of the nine heavens gazing down at a bungling crown having a tantrum.

The Severed Heavens Demon Master’s chest heaved. His gaze was fierce and explosive, as if he might lunge and rip Lu Qingmei to shreds at any moment.

But in the end, he did no such thing. It was just as Lu Qingmei had said; he didn’t dare to touch her without permission!

Lu Qingmei refrained from insulting him any further. She just said calmly, “Tell me, then. Why did Old Man Dipankara send you that information? What is he after?”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master took a deep breath, suppressed his fury, and said, “He wanted me to investigate Xiao Jian and see if he really is Su Yi in disguise or not.”

Lu Qingmei snickered. “The bald donkey is obviously trying to redirect a disaster onto someone else and borrow another’s blade to kill his enemies.”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master’s pupils constricted. “What do you mean?”

“If Xiao Jian really is Su Yi, wouldn’t investigating him be little different from suicide?” Lu Qingmei said playfully. “How about I put it this way. Do you really have confidence in your ability to take Su Yi down on your own?”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master’s expression shifted erratically.

He’d participated in the battle at Skybright Mountain, joining forces with Master God Yun He, Tian Huang, and the others, all to take down Su Yi

Disregarding all of Su Yi’s helpers, Su Yi’s worn-out sword sheath had been enough to block the Nine-Tribulation old-timers’ joint attacks!

And Su Yi was convinced that an anomaly like Su Yi had more than one hidden card up his sleeve!

“Way back when, we fought Yi Daoxuan for years, and we fought Li Fuyou for years, too. Although we defeated them both in the end, surely you know how many casualties we suffered in the process?” Lu Qingmei sighed. “Besides, if Ol’ Dipankara’s so convinced that Xiao Jian and Su Yi are one and the same, why not attack himself? Why send you to investigate? Don’t you think he’d rather kill Su Yi and claim his Dao Fruit for himself?”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master sank into silence. His expression shifted erratically.

“And if Xiao Jian isn’t Su Yi, what’s the point in investigating him?” said Lu Qingmei. “The bald donkeys of Cloudy Heights Temple publicly announced their plans, including how they used the Rahu Yao Ancestor. Ol’ Dipankara was surely behind that.

“If the Dipankara Buddha is willing to use the Rahu Yao Ancestor, I’m sure he’d happily exploit you, too.”

Lu Qingmei’s gaze was suddenly pitying. “In other words, you’d have to be a real ignorant fool to do what the Dipankara Buddha tells you!”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master frowned and snorted coldly. “I’m not like you. I don’t have a heart full of plots of schemes!”

Lu Qingmei smiled. “I’ve said all I have to say. It’s up to you what you do next. I won’t get involved.”

After a moment’s silence, the Severed Heavens Demon Master said suddenly, “I know what to do. If Xiao Jian is at Qingwu Divine Court, it’s Hua Hongzhen who ought to be most concerned!”

Lu Qingmei was stunned. “Hasn’t that old-timer been out wandering for a long, long time? Never mind us, not even most of Qingwu Divine Court’s old-timers know where he went.”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master sensed her confusion. He couldn’t help but laugh, as if he’d finally regained some of his lost face. “I don’t know where Hua Hongzhen went, but I know how to contact him!”

“Oh?” exclaimed Lu Qingmei. “What are you going to do?”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master burst into laughter. “If Hua Hongzhen finds out that Su Yi is suspected to have disguised himself and hidden in Qingwu Divine Court, how frantic and furious will he be?”

“…” Lu Qingmei had nothing to say to that.

“A problem has arisen in his own backyard. How could Hua Hongzhen not be frantic?” The Severed Heavens Demon Master said with confidence, “So what if the Dipankara Buddha is using me? It’s my turn to foist this mess onto someone else. Let Hua Hongzhen deal with it!”

Lu Qingmei fell briefly silent. “I would never have guessed that someone as stupid as you could learn to borrow another’s hands like this.”

The Severed Heavens Demon Master’s smile froze. He said coldly, “‘Dear, if it turns out that Xiao Jian really is Su Yi, you’d best be prepared to explain yourself!”

With that, he left with a swoosh of his sleeves.

Lu Qingmei just remained seated there, her beautiful eyes darting about. No one knew what she was thinking.

……

The following day, a red-robed young man rode up to the gates of Qingwu Divine Court on a liger’s back and announced, “I, Yan Shuiming, the disciple of Purple Mist Grotto, have come to visit the mountain!”

The whole sect was instantly in uproar.

Yan Shuiming!

No one had heard his name until recently, but now, he shone as brightly as a comet tearing through the night sky. He was a heaven-defying monster.

He hailed from an unknown territory, Purple Mist Grotto.

It hadn’t been long since he’d visited the Red Dust Demon Lands and defeated nineteen Greater Gods and one One-Tribulation Master God in a row, all by himself!

This development astonished the entire God Domain. Everyone knew about it.

Yan Shuiming, his accomplishments, his Nine Yin Profound Body, and his Grand Dao Divine Ability, a Thousand Watery Graves, were all hot topics for conversation.

Yet now, this famous, legendary expert had come to challenge Qingwu Divine Court. Who wouldn’t have been astonished?

What really gave the sect’s higher-ups a headache was that “visiting the mountain” was a euphemism for challenging them to a clash of the Grand Dao.

Refusing would leave their reputation in shambles and make them the laughingstocks of the entire world.

After all, Yan Shuiming had come to challenge them alone. If not one person in the sect dared to accept his challenge, it would be disgraceful.

But if they agreed, who were they supposed to send to fight him?

The Red Dust Demon Lands’ misfortune was clear proof of this. Not one Greater God in Qingwu Divine Court could suppress Yan Shuiming!

“You can send One-Tribulation Master Gods into battle too,” said Yan Shuiming, as if seeing right through them. “If I lose, I’ll agree to any request that’s within my power to grant.

“If I win, you just have to give me ten pieces of your Purplegold Phoenix Jade!”

Everyone in Qingwu Divine Court was furious. They felt like their dignity had been ruthlessly trampled.

The old-timers in particular were so furious that they couldn’t help but gnash their teeth.

Purplegold Phoenix Jade!

This precious material was unique to Qingwu Divine Court. It was an Undying treasure, and the sect’s underground spirit vein only produced a single thumb-sized piece once every ten thousand years. Each was an unquestionably priceless treasure.

Purplegold Phoenix Jade could be used to refine artifacts or medicine, but it was also incomparably beneficial for cultivating within the Undying Realm.

Even the Master Gods of Qingwu Divine Court were hesitant to use up such a treasure.

Yet now, Yan Shuiming was demanding ten pieces at once. Who wouldn’t have been furious?

“Of course, if you aren’t willing to clash with me, you can just admit defeat. Give me the Purplegold Phoenix Jades and I’ll leave immediately.”

Yan Shuiming sat astride his liger, blocking the entrance to Qingwu Divine Court.

He’d come alone, yet he seemed unstoppable, like a single brave warrior blocking a pass!

In the end, Sect Leader Liang Lingxu issued a decree. “Someone has come to our gates and challenged us. How could Qingwu Divine Court possibly shrink back? We’ll just have to fight!”