First Immortal of the Sword

Without any further delays, Su Yi passed the eighth step and arrived atop the Dragon Ascension Platform.

Weng!

The moment he arrived, a strange energy fluctuation arose from the surface of the eight-thousand-foot-tall Dragon Ascension Platform, and the countless strange and inscrutable totems seemed to awaken from their long dormancy. All of them erupted with stingingly bright light.

Xi Ning and Fan Zhui were standing guard not far from the platform. The spectacle instantly drew their gazes. They watched as golden firelight interwove above the platform, transforming into one illusory true dragon after another.

There was a Red Dragon covered in divine flames, with scales that looked like they’d been carved out of fiery red jade. Fire erupted from its mouth with every breath, and it threw back its head and roared.

There was a Water Dragon that controlled the clouds, mist, and currents. Its scales were a deep, inky black, and endless radiance poured down around it, like light shimmering on the water’s surface. 

There was a Silver Dragon just ten feet long and swathed in imposing arcs of electricity. A shocking destructive power emanated from it.

…Each of the true dragons looked different, and there were thousands of them. When they gathered in one place, it was a wondrous sight, like countless dragons entering the world!

Draconic roars swept out like the tides, resounding throughout heaven and earth. It was utterly astonishing. 

And once the illusory true dragons appeared, all of them turned and charged at the Dragon Ascension Platform, then flew through the air above it.

Su Yi was standing atop it, surrounded by countless dragons!

Fan Zhui murmured in a daze, “Is this a Grand Dao Dragon Vein? It really is unbelievable.”

Xi Ning calmed her heart and sensed it, then whispered, “It really is just like the rumors say. The power of a Grand Dao Dragon Vein is unique, and can only be happened upon by chance. It would be extremely difficult to find another even in the God Domain.”

The illusory true dragons weren’t actually living things. Rather, they were strange phenomena manifested by the power of the Grand Dao Dragon Vein!

Were one to rank the spirit veins of heaven and earth, then a Grand Dao Dragon Vein was undoubtedly among the best of the best.

Even Great Realm experts could only dream of finding such good fortune, let alone Immortal Kings!

There was no doubt about it. Su Yi had already passed the trials of the Dragon Ascension Platform and smoothly acquired its good fortune.

……

Su Yi sat cross-legged atop the Dragon Ascension Platform, calmed his heart, and meditated.

As his qi cycled through him, the illusory dragons manifested of the Grand Dao Dragon Vein charged into his body and transformed into vast, overflowing source power, which merged with his cultivation base.

His skin, flesh, organs, meridians, acupoints, and even his essence, qi, and spirit all caught ablaze and erupted with shocking latent potential!

From the outside, it seemed as if his body were a furnace refining one true dragon after another. It was a simply shocking sight!

Su Yi could clearly sense his foundations in the Grand Dao undergoing repeated tempering and advancement. His cultivation base advanced with them.

The most wondrous part was that even the Tree of All Worlds rooted in his Immortal Origin Space received nourishment. Its branches swayed as it continuously absorbed the Grand Dao Dragon Vein’s power. The tree was undergoing an obvious transformation!

As time passed, its transformation slowly proceeded…

Fan Zhui saw it all, Despite himself, undisguisable envy appeared on his face.

Su Yi was still just in the early-stage Miracle Realm, but he was already so strong. Now, he’d received yet another rare and unparalleled stroke of good fortune. His cultivation base was sure to rise and undergo new breakthroughs. How strong would Su Yi be then? The mere thought of it was enough to make one’s heart shake!

It’s no wonder the gods forbid reincarnation, Xi Ning muttered to herself.

Those capable of reincarnation could begin their cultivation again from the beginning, capitalizing on the knowledge and experience of their past lives to seek the strongest, highest possible path.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Did you go down the wrong path? Were there flaws in your cultivation? No matter! All you had to do was reincarnate!

This was unquestionably a taboo, a path others couldn’t even dream of!

Su Yi’s unreasonable, heaven-defying strength was completely beyond the bounds of common sense, and Xi Ning knew that this was inextricably connected to his mastery over reincarnation. 

“How unusual. He’s caused such an enormous disturbance, but I still don’t see any of our enemies. That’s not at all what I would have expected,” whispered Fan Zhui.

Xi Ning whispered back, “What’s there to worry about? Just stay calm and wait.”

Fan Zhui nodded.

……

A ruined valley far from the Dragon Ascension Platform.

A jade mirror covered in flowing, colorful light hovered before Divine Son Qing Xiao. It was only about the size of a palm, and the Dragon Ascension Platform was reflected on its surface.

They saw Xi Ning and Fan Zhui standing guard, as well as Su Yi meditating on the platform. Everything was visible in full detail.

When Jin Zhuliu, Qing Wu, and Gongyang Yu saw the scene reflected in the mirror, their eyes surged with murderous intent.

That would have been a rare and precious opportunity for them, too!

“Now can you sense this old man’s sincerity?” High Elder Jing Cheng of the Giant Whale Spirit Race stood in the air about ten thousand feet away.

Qing Xiao looked over and said, “This treasure is indeed extraordinary.”

Jing Cheng nodded. “It’s called a Heaven-Illuminating Mirror, and it's one of the wondrous treasures we found in the Dragon Palace. Activate it, and you can see what’s going on in many of the Dragon Palace’s forbidden zones. With it, Su Yi and Xi Ning have nowhere to hide!”

“This little token is far from sufficient proof of your sincerity,” Qing Xiao said flatly.

Jing Cheng frowned. “Then what kind of sincerity would convince you to work with me?”

Qing Xiao flicked his fingers, and a black talisman floated into the air.

“This is called a Shadow Surveillance Talisman. Wear it on your person, and no matter where you go, I’ll be able to sense you.” Qing Xiao gazed intently at the distant Jing Cheng. “Refine it, and I’ll represent all of us in agreeing to cooperate with the Giant Whales.”

Jing Cheng’s expression shifted. He knew what such a talisman represented.

“Rest assured. The talisman cannot harm or control you. It simply tells me exactly where you are at any given moment,” Qing Xiao said calmly. “I disdain using a talisman to harm a mere Great Martial Stage cultivator.”

Earlier, Jing Cheng had come to them of his own accord to suggest that they work together to capture Su Yi.

This was outside of Qing Xiao’s expectations. He initially planned to disregard Jing Cheng, but after seeing the wondrous applications of the Heaven-Illuminating Mirror, he changed his mind.

After a moment’s silence, Jing Cheng said, “Very well. I agree.”

With that, he stretched out his hand, grabbed the Shadow Surveillance Talisman, and passed a jade slip to Qing Xiao.

“That slip contains a map of the central forbidden ground of the Dragon Palace, the Ancestral Worship Hall. This old man will meet you there,” said Jing Cheng. With that, he turned and left.

Qing Xiao accepted the jade slip and looked it over. A cold smile tugged at his lips. “I can tell the old fart has been forced into a corner. Otherwise, he would never have come here and lowered his head of his own accord. After all, Su Yi’s the only one here who can read the Dragon Palace’s secret glyphs. If the Giant Whales can’t capture Su Yi, they cannot acquire much of the Dragon Palace’s good fortune.”

“Daoist Brother, why not just capture the old man?” Qing Wu asked in confusion.

Qing Xiao gestured to the Heaven-illuminating Mirror. “This wasn’t the only treasure Jing Cheng had on him. He wouldn’t have dared come see us if he weren’t completely confident that he could leave if need be. 

He paused, then laughed, “Besides, working with them is actually not a bad idea. We’ll acquire the benefits while they risk their lives. Doesn’t that work out perfectly for us?”

Many of the others laughed along.

“Daoist Brother, we’re looking at a perfect opportunity right now.” Jin Zhuliu fixed his murderous gaze on the vision reflected on the Heaven-Illuminating Mirror, Su Yi meditating on the Dragon Ascension Platform.

The others looked at Qing Xiao. The sight of Su Yi atop the Dragon Ascension Platform filled them with eagerness. They wanted to seize this opportunity to capture him, and Xi Ning and Fan Zhui, too!

Qing Xiao shook his head. “Don’t be reckless. This might seem like an opportunity, but it’s most likely a trap. I refuse to believe that Xi Ning hasn’t prepared anything.”

He gazed into the Heaven-Illuminating Mirror and laughed coldly. “Besides, do you really think that old codger Jing Cheng would give us this treasure out of the goodness of his heart?”

Qing Wu frowned. “Is he trying to borrow our hands to kill his enemies?”

“I’m sure of it,” said Qing Xiao. “With this treasure, we can keep an eye on Xi Ning and Su Yi’s movements. If we attack, Jing Cheng can simply watch tigers fight from a safe distance, then swoop in to reap the benefits! Moreover, if we win, that’s great, but on the off chance something happened to us, we’d be the ones to suffer, not him. It just doesn’t make sense for us.”

“But… are we really just going to give up?” Jin Zhuliu was obviously unwilling.

“If you rush to eat hot tofu, you’ll only burn yourself,” said Qing Xiao. “I’m sure you all know how troublesome an opponent Su Yi is. We need to lie low, then strike like lightning after making thorough preparations. We have to kill him for sure this time!

“Come on, let’s go to the Ancestral Worship Hall. If it’s as I suspect, enormous secrets are hidden there. It’s even possible that the Dragon Palace’s treasury and the Book of Karma are nearby!

“Let’s get a feel for the situation, then take our time to plan!” 

As he spoke, Qing Xiao put away the Heaven-Illuminating Mirror and turned to leave.

The others exchanged glances, then hurried after him.

……

Time slipped by. One day passed after another as Su Yi meditated atop the Dragon Ascension Platform.

“A whole week has passed, but Fellow Daoist Su is still refining that Great Dao Dragon Vein…”

Fan Zhui was astonished. He felt as if Su Yi’s body were a black hole; he’d absorbed the power of the Grand Dao Dragon Vein for seven days straight.

Anyone else would have hit their limit a long time ago.

“Extraordinary people do extraordinary things,” said Xi Ning, a hint of anticipation in her bright, starry eyes. “To us, this might seem like a miracle, but perhaps to him, it’s as ordinary as could be.”

“...” Fan Zhui truly had nothing to say to that. She was right! No matter how extraordinary something was, when Su Yi was the one doing it… it really didn’t seem all that strange.

Common sense simply didn’t apply to him.

...

Later that day, Su Yi awakened from his meditation.

Boom!

The power of the Grand Dao Dragon Vein was already sparse, but now, it abruptly disappeared without a trace.

And it seemed Su Yi’s aura could no longer be suppressed. It abruptly expanded, and a resplendent rain of the light of the Grand Dao manifested visions of the cycle of reincarnation behind him. It was indistinct, but an illusory Dao Sword seemed to float within these visions!

He stood in the distance, like a deity gazing proudly down upon the world with unparalleled magnificence.

Just seven days had passed, but he’d had another breakthrough in his cultivation!