First Immortal of the Sword

Beneath the lamplight, the elderly appraiser’s expression shifted.

Finally, he slipped a golden jade slip from his sleeves. It contained the bounty list published half a month ago.

Of them, two bounties were particularly eye-catching.

The first had been posted by the Church of the Pure One. It offered a reward of one hundred thousand immortal jades and a Saint-level immortal treasure to anyone who uncovered the whereabouts of the group who’d ascended to White Deer Mountain’s Ascension Grounds.

The other had been posted by Cloud Apparatus Immortal Major. It offered eighteen thousand immortal jades. They too were after the most recent ascendants to the Immortal Realm.

Both bounties had caused an enormous disturbance in the Immortal Realm. After all, both the Church of the Pure One and Cloud Apparatus Immortal Manor were top powerhouses. Especially the Church of the Pure One, as they’d long since announced their intention of re-establishing the Central Immortal Court. Their authority was readily apparent.

Now, both factions had posted bounties, promising extraordinary rewards for the new ascendants’ whereabouts. Who wouldn’t have been shocked?

Why were these two factions doing this? What kind of origins did these ascendants have, for two powerful factions to go to such lengths? They’d practically opened up a vein!

No one had answers.

But as time passed, news came out that both factions had actually suffered a massive loss at White Deer Mountain’s Ascension Grounds. Apparently, several dozen Void Realm True Immortals had died there!

This caused yet another widespread uproar. White Deer Mountain’s Ascension Grounds was instantly the center of attention. Countless prominent experts of the Immortal Dao went there to investigate, hoping to figure out where the ascendants had gone.

By now, the old man in the goatee was certain that the young man in blue he’d just met with had been involved! And not just superficially, either!

This was because the goods Su Yi had just sold off included treasures of both the Church of the Pure One and Cloud Apparatus Immortal Manor!

If I inform the Church of the Pure One and Cloud Apparatus Immortal Manor that that young man appeared here, the bounties alone will be worth a fortune…. The elderly appraiser’s heart thudded violently in his chest. He took a deep breath, glanced at the five hundred immortal jades on the table, and sneered.

How could such paltry hush money compare to that promised fortune?

The old man got up, then left the room.

“Ol’ Wen.” The elderly appraiser called over a servant and passed him a sealed jade slip. “Deliver this jade slip to Shadow. He’ll know what to do with it.”

The elderly servant solemnly assented, then turned to leave.

Meanwhile, the elderly appraiser sighed and thought, Both the Church of the Pure One and Cloud Apparatus Immortal Manor have set their sights on you. No matter how impressive your origins, you’re doomed! I might as well use your life to earn a fortune, right? That way, you at least won’t have died in vain.

He laughed to himself, humming a tune as he returned to his quarters.

But before long, someone knocked on his door.

“Come in.” The old appraiser was sipping wine in high spirits.

“You look happy.”

A raspy, almost feminine voice rang out.

The elderly appraiser stiffened, then shot to his feet and exclaimed, “Boss, what are you doing here?”

A man with hair as white as snow stood in the doorway. He had youthful features, but his eyes shone with the dense vicissitudes of countless years.

This was the man behind the curtain, the owner of Generalists' Tower, Feng Yeyun!

Feng Yeyun’s gaze was distant and inscrutable, and his voice was calm. “If I hadn’t come, I’m afraid you’d have destroyed the Generalists' Tower.”

As he spoke, he turned over his hand, and a jade slip floated into the air.

When the elderly appraiser saw it, his expression shifted abruptly. “Boss, I didn’t expect this trivial matter to draw your attention. Is there… perhaps a problem?”

Feng Yeyun sighed. “There is a problem, and an enormous one at that. Ol’ Liu, you’re a veteran of Generalists' Tower, but I’m afraid I’ll need your head to resolve this one.”

The appraiser’s heart thudded in his chest, but before he could respond, Feng Yeyun attacked.

A moment later, he held a bloody head aloft.

A moment later, he slipped a blood-red scale shaped like a leaf out of his sleeves and gently drew his fingertip across it.

The scale caught ablaze, and a perfectly round screen of light floated into the air, reflecting an illusory figure.

Feng Yeyun solemnly bowed. “Your Excellency, I’ve already handled the situation. Fortunately, the message on the slip didn’t spread. We’ve avoided a crisis!”

He paused, then held the elderly appraiser’s head up. “This is the head of one of our appraisers. He’s already paid for his greed with his life.”

“Don’t you think you deserve your share of the blame as the owner of Generalists' Tower?” The crisp voice of a young woman emanated from the curtain of light. Despite its youthful quality, it contained a bone-chilling iciness.

Feng Yeyun felt a chill course down his spine. He lowered his head, not daring to argue in the slightest. “Please punish me, Your Excellency!”

“Every debt has its debtor. Handle this as you see fit.”

As this voice emanated through the air, the illusory figure and curtain dissipated into a rain of light.

Feng Yeyun wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and his eyes flashed with ruthlessness.

Feng Yeyun crushed the elderly appraiser’s head in a fit of fury and shouted, "You wretch. You discovered something like this, and you deliberately chose not to notify me? Your death is unworthy of pity!”

He paused, then muttered to himself, “But who was that young man in blue? Her Excellency has paid no heed to worldly affairs for countless years. How could he possibly have drawn her attention?”

……

Su Yi was resting in the inn. He planned to wait until the Church of All Spirits’ assembly was over, then visit the Cave of Trials.

The Cave of Trials was a famous testing ground of the Black Dragon Market. Overcoming its trials could temper the cultivation base, but that wasn’t all. Successful trial-takers could receive other unexpected benefits as well.

That aside, the market was home to the Forest of Steles, a place that had existed since the early days of the Immortal Realm. It too was unique, and ordinary people weren’t qualified to enter.

I ought to seize this opportunity to cultivate properly, thought Su Yi.

Su Yi’s cultivation base had already recovered, and he was starting to plan his breakthrough into the Immortal Dao.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

Qing Wei was contemplating the secret art she’d received, but when she heard the sound, she immediately got up to open the door.

“Who might you be?”

A man with youthful features and hair as white as snow stood outside the doorway. His entire body emanated the characteristic energy fluctuations of an Immortal Lord!

Qing Wei furrowed her brow.

But against her expectations, the new arrival bowed in apparent shame. “This humble one is Feng Yeyun, the manager of Generalists' Tower. I’ve come uninvited to request forgiveness!”

Qing Wei was stunned. Forgiveness? What’s this about?

She instinctively glanced at Su Yi, who was sprawled out in his wicker chair.

“Come in if you want to talk,” Su Yi said casually.

“Many thanks.” Feng Yeyun straightened his back and walked inside.

When he looked at Su Yi, he saw no sign of a cultivation base, but he could determine Su Yi’s bone age, and he knew that Su Yi was still in his twenties.

Even so, this Saint Realm top expert of the Black Dragon Market dared not be even the slightest bit negligent!

“What crime are you requesting forgiveness for?” asked Su Yi.

Feng Yeyun apologetically laid the whole situation out in the open. However, he deliberately avoided mentioning that mysterious figure.

After hearing the whole story, Su Yi couldn’t help but be surprised. “In the end, nothing leaked, and your subordinate has already paid for his transgression with his life. What need was there for an Immortal Lord like yourself to come apologize in person?”

Feng Yeyun had long since prepared an explanation, so he didn’t even pause to think. “I just came to express my guilt and request your understanding. Only then can I rest and ease and protect Generalists' Tower’s reputation!”

Su Yi laughed dryly. “Alright. You can leave.”

Feng Yeyun produced a bronze box, which he proffered with both hands. “Consider this a token of Generalists' Tower’s sincerity. Please, accept it.”

Su Yi looked thoughtful, but in the end, he said nothing. “You can just leave it on the table.”

Feng Yeyun felt a massive weight lift from his shoulders. He hurriedly set the box down, then bowed once more. “If I can do anything to assist you during this visit to the Black Dragon Market, the Generalists' Tower is at your service. I dare not disturb your rest any longer. Farewell!”

With that, he turned to leave.

It was only after he’d left the inn and reached the streets that Feng Yeyun sighed in relief; he felt as if a massive weight had lifted from his shoulders.

That young man really isn’t simple! He actually has Immortal Lady Qing Wei attending to him. His origins are surely terrifying beyond comparison! But more than that, he’s drawn Her Excellency’s attention. That’s the really scary part. No matter who he is… he’s absolutely not someone I can afford to offend.

……

“Young Lord, that Feng Yeyun guy was obviously lying,” said Qing Wei. “He’s an Immortal Lord. How could someone of his status come to apologize in person just because one of his subordinates made a mistake? Especially when the offender is already dead and the crisis was averted?”

She paused, then continued, “It would be understandable if he knew who you were, but it didn’t seem like he recognized you.”

Su Yi subtly inclined his head. “It’s indeed a bit strange, but there’s no need for concern. All will soon become clear.”

With that, he opened the bronze box. Radiant purple immortal light surged forth, permeating the air with a dense, soothing medicinal fragrance.

A purple lingzhi lay in the box. Its surface was covered in naturally formed and wondrous Dao Markings. A rain of light scattered around it, and misty radiance rose into the air. It was an extraordinary sight.

Qing Wei exclaimed, “A Nine Revolutions Lingzhi! That’s a rare Saint-level medicinal herb!”

Even an Immortal Lady like Qing Wei was impressed. That made it obvious how extraordinary this Nine Revolutions Lingzhi was!

“You take it,” Su Yi said casually.

Qing Wei hurriedly refused. “Generalists' Tower gave it to you, Young Lord. I’m not fated to enjoy it.”

Su Yi tossed the box to her. “I won’t be able to use ingredients of this level anytime soon. It’s best suited for an Immortal Lady like you. Take it.”

Only then did Qing Wei dare accept it. Her heart churned, and an indescribable warmth coursed through her.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen the world before, but the way Su Yi didn’t even hesitate to give her this rare and precious immortal medicine surprised and moved her.

Is this… what it feels like when the sovereign sees you as one of his own?

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