First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 896 - A Blacksmith

She was dressed in gray, with her long hair tied up. Her appearance stood out of the crowd, unadorned yet extraordinary.

However, her disposition was far too icy.

Even You Xue could tell that the gray-robed woman looked a bit ill at ease, and she couldn’t help but find it strange.

But before she could process it, the woman in gray turned and dashed off.

“Fellow Daoist, who was that woman?” You Xue asked, a bit confused.

Were the woman an ordinary person, there’s no way You Xue would have cared.

But the woman in gray obviously recognized Su Yi. You Xue couldn’t help but wonder.

“The third libationer of Meng Po Palace. Her name is Yuan Linning,” Su Yi said casually. “She’s also the first Emperor I defeated after reincarnating.”

You Xue was briefly stunned. Then, she couldn’t help but laugh. “In that case, she ought to be honored. After all, not just any Emperor has the opportunity to lose to you, Fellow Daoist.”

Su Yi, however, frowned. Members of Meng Po Palace have come to Snowy Skies City too? Don’t tell me some of their Emperors are trapped in the Dark Capital too?

A moment later, he shook his head and gave the matter no further thought.

……

Lu Changming sat in a pavilion, lost in thought, his brow tightly furrowed.

“Martial Uncle.”

Yuan Linning walked inside.

Lu Changming immediately perked up. “How is it, Linning?”

Yuan Linning said with concern, “Earlier, I went to see Senior Yun Songzi of Yellow Springs Palace. He told me that recently, quite a few Emperors have indeed gone missing, and that he suspects that the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court is involved.”

The Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court!

Lu Changming’s expression shifted. “So the second libationer’s disappearance is likely connected to the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court?”

Yuan Linning nodded. “That’s most likely the case.”

“What exactly are they up to?” Lu Changming’s eyes flashed.

Not long ago, he led Second Libationer Xiao Beiye and Third Libationer Yuan Linning to the Netherworld River Territory. They planned to enter the City of the Wrongfully Dead to investigate what had happened in the Dark Capital.

But not long after arriving in Snowy Skies City, the second libationer disappeared inexplicably while asking around for information!

Three days had passed, but Xiao Beiye had yet to return!

Now, according to Yuan Linning, it seemed likely that the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court was behind this. How could Lu Changming be anything but surprised?

“Martial Uncle, what should we do next?” asked Yuan Linning.

Lu Changming said nothing.

He’d heard about the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court more than once since arriving in the Mysterious Netherworld Territory.

He knew that this mighty but mysterious faction had risen to prominence recently, and he knew how terrifying their foundations were. Rumor had it that practically every heretical faction of the Netherworld River Territory had already submitted to their leadership!

That was far too terrifying.

A little while later, Lu Changming sighed. “If the second libationer’s disappearance really is connected to the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court, with our abilities, I’m afraid we have no hope of saving him.”

Yuan Linning couldn’t help but say, “Martial Uncle, how about we request reinforcements from the sect?”

“It wouldn’t be appropriate.” Lu Changming shook his head. “We still can’t say with certainty that his disappearance really was connected to the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court. Also, our mission is to investigate the changes to the Dark Capital. It wouldn’t do to mobilize the sect’s forces now.”

He then made a decision. “Tomorrow night, the blood-red moon will appear in the skies. When the time comes, the entrance to the City of the Wrongfully Dead will appear in Inverted Ridge. If we miss it, we’ll have to wait around two weeks for our next opportunity.”

Yuan Linning said, “Martial Uncle, you plan to go to the City of the Wrongfully Dead first?”

Lu Changming nodded. “That’s right. One of our Emissaries of the River, Mo Heng, is trapped inside. We still don’t know whether he’s alive or dead. No matter what, we must first get to the bottom of what happened to the Dark Capital.”

Emissary Mo Heng was an old fossil of Meng Po Palace. He’d entered the Dark Capital to explore thousands of years prior.

The change to the Dark Capital left all of Meng Po Palace concerned about his safety. Thus, they sent Lu Changming, Yuan Linning, and Xiao Beiye to investigate.

Lu Changming continued, “As for the second libationer, it won’t be too late to investigate further upon our return.”

But Yuan Linning was still worried. “Martial Uncle, I don’t know why, but I have an ill premonition that if we go to the City of the Wrongfully Dead, we’ll be throwing ourselves into a storm. Who knows how many dangers await us? We…”

Lu Changming interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. “Don’t worry, Linning. Numerous powerful factions have dispatched their experts to investigate what happened in the Dark Capital. We won’t be alone.

“And I’ve already met with the old-timers of Yellow Springs Palace and Fire Illumination Divine Palace. We’ve decided to conduct our operations in the City of the Wrongfully Dead together. That way, we can look after each other along the way.”

Once he’d said his piece, he raised his teacup and took a sip.

Yuan Linning felt somewhat reassured. “It really will be much safer that way.”

The City of the Wrongfully Dead was a forbidden ground; even Emperors feared it.

However, if a group of older-generation experts of peak factions traveled together, they were unlikely to encounter any major waves.

“Martial Uncle.” Yuan Linning suddenly recalled something.

“Is there something else?”

Yuan Linning hesitated, then said in a low voice, “Just now, on my way back, I saw that young man from the Azure Continent, Su Yi.”

Su Yi!!

The name left Lu Changming stunned. A conflicted look appeared on his face. How could he possibly forget that young man in blue? The Grand Libationer had tried to seize the Seed of the Azure from Su Yi back in Meng Po Palace. Lu Changming, then a high elder, made no attempt to stop him. As a result, Emissary Mo Wuhen stripped him of his position!

Even now, Lu Changming couldn’t wrap his head around why Emissary Mo Wuhen viewed a young man from the Azure Continent with such importance.

He’d tried asking about it, but Mo Wuhen didn’t give him a clear answer. He just said that Su Yi’s origins were incredibly grand, and that no one in Meng Po Palace was to offend him.

This only left Lu Changming even more confused.

But no matter what, he dared say with certainty that a young man held in such esteem by even a relic like Mo Wuhen couldn’t possibly be ordinary.

After calming himself down, Lu Changming said, “What… What is he doing in Snowy Skies City?”

Yuan Linning shook her head. “I’m not sure. I merely caught a glimpse of him from afar before I turned and left.”

Talking about Su Yi left her feeling rather conflicted.

The young man had defeated her, a Profound Illumination Empress, while still in the Spiritual Incarnation Realm.

It was because of him that she’d been confined to the Heart-Tempering Cliff as punishment. All of this had dealt her an incomparably heavy blow.

Even now, whenever she thought of Su Yi, she felt an indescribable bitterness.

Lu Changming inwardly sighed in relief. “Fortunately, you didn’t try anything. Otherwise, who knows what kind of disaster would result?”

Yuan Linning was stunned. “What do you mean, Martial Uncle?”

Lu Changming let out a deep sigh. “Linning, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten Ancestor Mo Wuhen’s stance on the matter? We… cannot afford to offend Su Yi!”

Yuan Linning was instantly silent.

A long time ago, Mo Wuhen was the leader of Meng Po Palace.

He’d since left his position, and he’d been in seclusion in the Divine Cave of the River of Forgetfulness ever since. His seniority was incredibly lofty, and his position was transcendent.

Yet he’d lost his temper on account of a young man like Su Yi, stripping Lu Changming of his position of high elder and sending the grand libationer to repent in Blackwater Cave. Even Third Libationer Yuan Linning had been confined to Heart-Tempering Cliff.

Yuan Linning was naturally well aware of this. Su Yi’s identity was likely utterly extraordinary and unique. Otherwise, there was absolutely no way that Ancestor Mo Wuhen would have been so angry.

After a while, Yuan Linning said, “Martial Uncle, if I get the chance, I’d actually love to spar with Su Yi again. Not to get revenge; I’d simply like to see who’s stronger.”

Lu Changming furrowed his brow, but a moment later, he sighed. “We can talk about it if the opportunity arises.”

How could he fail to realize that even now, Yuan Linning wasn’t over her defeat at Su Yi’s hands?

……

The northeast corner of Snowy Skies City.

There were numerous ancient, run-down buildings throughout the area. In stark contrast with the hustle and bustle of other districts, the northeast corner was noticeably less populated.

Night was fast approaching, and the swaying fires of the lamps illuminated the streets.

The sound of a blacksmith’s hammer was audible even from a distance.

Su Yi led You Xue toward the source of the noise.

Before long, a smithy appeared within their field of view. It was extremely crude and not at all eye-catching.

A tall, stalwart young man with coppery skin waved a massive hammer, standing next to the furnace as he pounded away at a black flying sword.

Every time his massive hammer descended, a clang filled the air, and sparks scattered.

A thin man in dark robes stood to the side of the smithy. He was obviously a customer, and he watched the black flying sword the young man was working on with rapt attention.

When You Xue saw this in the distance, she couldn’t help but ask, “Fellow Daoist, don’t tell me that young man is the blacksmith you’re looking for?”

She was a bit confused.

The stalwart young man looked young, no more than thirty. His cultivation wasn’t impressive either; he was only in the mid-stage Spiritual Revolution Realm.

“It’s not him.” Su Yi shook his head.

However, when he saw the young man’s forging methods, Su Yi said, “He’s most likely the old blacksmith’s disciple.”

As they conversed, the man in dark robes seemed to sense something, and he suddenly looked over.

When his gaze swept over Su Yi, he directly overlooked him. However, when he saw You Xue, he was obviously stunned, and his eyes flashed with a strange light.

A moment later, he smiled and looked away.

Su Yi’s expression was calm; he didn’t care.

You Xue, however, furrowed her brow. That’s a Profound Serenity Emperor! It seems this unassuming little workshop really isn’t simple!

“Customer, we’ve finished quenching your flying sword.” It was then that the stalwart young man suddenly spoke up, flashing the man in dark robes a straightforward smile.

The man in dark robes smiled warmly back, then clasped his fists. “Many thanks, my young friend. If possible, when you next see your master, please greet him on my behalf.”

His tone and mannerisms were solemn and polite.

You Xue couldn’t help but be surprised.

That stalwart young man’s master had to be extraordinary for a Profound Serenity Emperor to behave so humbly!

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