First Immortal of the Sword

The waves churned over the endless flowing current of the River of Destiny.

A massive, grand arena stood atop its waters, like a floating continent.

Numerous Heavenly Sovereigns had worked together to build it, and it was covered in formations to ensure that the aftershock of the battles soon to be fought didn’t reach the outside world or damage the arena

When the Struggle for Heavenly Fate began, these formations would be strong enough to block the attacks of even Heavenly Sovereigns!

Dense layers of golden auspicious clouds shrouded the arena. Lotus platforms lined the clouds. These were to be the spectator stands.

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan stood with the other Heavenly Sovereigns. Some stood, while others were seated on the clouds.

Every last one of them was a ruler of the Eternal Heavens Domain, and although their demeanors were starkly different, every last one of them was utterly terrifying.

“Ol’ Ku Xuan, even now, I don’t get it. Why choose this location for the Struggle for Heavenly Fate? Is there something special about this place?” Heavenly Sovereign E asked suddenly.

The other Heavenly Sovereigns had been chatting amongst themselves, but now, all of them looked attentive. Even now, they found it strange. Why had Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan chosen to host the competition here on the River of Destiny, and not in the Eternal Heavens Domain?

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan said with no outward change in expression, “A location, that’s all. What could possibly be special about it? I just wanted to avoid the attention of the masses of the Eternal Heavens Domain, so I chose someplace quiet.”

This answer obviously didn’t satisfy the other Heavenly Sovereigns.

Heavenly Sovereign Ling chuckled. “Nonsense. You’re worried about interference by experts of the Far Shore, aren’t you?”

The other Heavenly Sovereigns’ expressions shifted inscrutably.

Over the past few years, numerous variables had arisen in the Eternal Heavens Domain, but none were greater than the storm originating from the far Shore of Destiny!

The storm had yet to reach them, but even so, forces from the Far Shore were cropping up throughout the Eternal Heavens Domain, making arrangements in secret.

The general populace knew nothing about any of this, but as Heavenly Sovereigns, they knew that and so much more. For instance, they knew that the terrifying existences of the Far Shore were ultimately all after the Source of Destiny!

From a distance, a mountain range was like a green snake or a gray line. Similarly, in the present-day Eternal Heavens Domain, subtle details foreshadowed what was to come.

All of these secret movements were happening beneath the surface. When the storm truly arrived, all of these secrets would come to light.

All of them could foresee that when the day arrived, it would bring unprecedented changes to the River of Destiny!

But Heavenly Sovereign Ling was obviously getting at something else. None of the Heavenly Sovereigns had forgotten that one of Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan’s conditions was that experts of the Far Shore were not permitted to participate!

“I’m afraid they’ll interfere, huh?” Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan. “Whose ancestral grounds were invaded, and whose formations were shattered just a few days prior? And who was it who didn’t even dare to fart in protest?”

Heavenly Sovereign Ling’s expression darkened.

The other Heavenly Sovereigns had strange lights in their eyes.

The entire Eternal Heavens Domain was in uproar over the incident in the Xuanli Sect, but it was the sect’s founder, Heavenly Sovereign Ling, who’d lost the most face.

Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan’s jeers were little different from rubbing salt in his wounds.

Heavenly Sovereign Wen said gravely, “Now that we’re on the subject, there’s actually something I’d like to ask you, Fellow Daoist Ling. Have you figured out who it was that attacked the Xuanli Sect?”

Heavenly Sovereign Ling shook his head. He wasn’t just hiding the truth, either; not even Panwu Qing had been able to figure out the culprit’s identity, so how could he possibly know?

Moreover, this was a grave humiliation that threatened all of the Xuanli Sect’s plans. Heavenly Sovereign Yin had thus far failed to find the culprit, but he still didn’t want anyone to know that Su Yi had most likely been involved.

That’s right. The fact that the mysterious expert had come to save Luo Yan had convinced Heavenly Sovereign Ling that Su Yi had something to do with their misfortune!

He just wasn’t willing to say it around.

Everyone was selfish in their own way. Besides, the Heavenly Sovereigns were in no way a united front. Look closely, and you’d find plenty of rifts and disagreements between them!

For instance, Heavenly Sovereigns Ling and Ku Xuan were old enemies. They’d been fighting both openly and in secret for countless years already.

It was only for the sake of the Struggle for Heavenly Fate that they’d temporarily set aside their grudges.

“There’s far too much about the Far Shore of Destiny that we don’t understand. Unfortunately, given the limits of our abilities, we cannot go there to see it for ourselves,” Heavenly Sovereign Changhen said with a sigh.

Heavenly Sovereigns were the supreme rulers of the Eternal Heavens Domain, but they longed for the Far Shore of Destiny even in their dreams. Because that was where they could find a supreme Dao beyond the confines of Destiny!

“Never mind all that. The Struggle for Heavenly Fate begins tomorrow. Who do you think will emerge victorious in the end?”

The topic soon shifted, and soon, the Heavenly Sovereigns were discussing tomorrow’s competition.

“It’s hard to say. All of the participants are strong, and the differences in relative strength are subtle. We’ll have to wait and see who can get the most out of their cultivation bases tomorrow.”

“The older-generation participants are all hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Had the timing been different, or had Eternal Thrones not been so limited, they wouldn’t have stagnated at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Fate Realm like this.”

“But it wouldn’t do to underestimate the juniors, either. Each is more extraordinary than the one before. Their strength and foundations aren’t at all inferior to the other participants’.”

“Given the circumstances, it’s truly hard to predict who’ll come out on top.”

This was how all of the Heavenly Sovereigns saw it. This was what made the outcome of the Struggle for Heavenly Fate so suspenseful.

“Jiang Changhen, is Lian Yue really a deeply hidden, unparalleled figure?” Heavenly Sovereign Wuxu asked out of nowhere.

Jiang Changhen was the full name of Heavenly Sovereign Changhen, the founder of the Court of the Southern Heavens.

There were a handful of unusual names on the list of participants, people who didn’t fit the “established Heavenly Monarch of a Heavenly Sovereign faction” mold.

Wang Zhiwu, for instance, wasn’t affiliated with any of the Heavenly Sovereign factions. In the Heavenly Sovereigns’ eyes, he was at most a decently talented junior.

Yet for some reason, Heavenly Sovereign Wuxu had given him a place in the competition.

Lian Yue of the Court of the Southern Heavens seemed even more out of place. Everyone knew that she was only in the Unfettered Realm, yet for some reason, Heavenly Sovereign Changhen saw fit to give her a spot in the competition. Who wouldn’t have been surprised?

Heavenly Sovereign Changhen’s gaze was a bit strange. He said casually, “Lian Yue’s background is indeed rather extraordinary. You’ll understand when the Struggle for Heavenly Fate begins.”

Then, he laughed, his gaze rife with meaning. “I suspect that there’s no shortage of extraordinary disciples similar to Lian Yue among your ranks, too.”

The others’ expressions shifted, but none of them denied it.

The list of participants had already been finalized. If they examined it closely, they’d naturally find that Wang Zhiwu and Lian Yue weren’t the only unusual names on the list.

“I’m most curious, not about the people on the list, but about someone else,” said Heavenly Sovereign Wen, his gaze suddenly landing on Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan. “Ku Xuan, the Struggle for Heavenly Fate is about to begin. Don’t you think it’s about time you announced who you gave that spot to?”

The other Heavenly Sovereigns looked at Ku Xuan, too.

It hadn’t been easy to make the Struggle for Heavenly Fate happen, and Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan had been the biggest obstacle. He hadn’t just demanded they agree to three conditions. He’d also mysteriously announced that he was giving a spot to someone whose name he refused to reveal.

Even stranger, he made them swear that none of them would try to stop whoever it was from participating. They had to act in accordance with the rules no matter what. Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan went so far as to say that anyone who broke these rules would be his mortal foe.

These conditions were naturally highly fishy and unreasonable. However, for the sake of the Struggle for Heavenly Fate, all of the Heavenly Sovereigns agreed to take a step back and accept Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan’s demands. It was just that even now, they had no idea who Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan was sending to participate. Naturally, all of them were curious.

But Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan’s lips were tightly sealed. He shook his head. “You’ll see when the time comes.”

“You’re impossible, old man. It’s just one participant’s name. Why are you so afraid to share it with us?” Heavenly Sovereign Yaoguang smiled and chastised him. “Don’t tell me he’s your secret killer weapon? An expert capable of claiming the Eternal Throne with ease?”

Inwardly, Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan said, You think you’re a big deal, huh? Well, when he shows up, I bet he’ll scare the living daylights out of you!

But out loud, he just said flatly, “Just don’t piss yourself when the time comes, old man.”

The others couldn’t help but laugh. They just took it for Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan being argumentative.

“Everyone knows that the arrival of a tenth Eternal Throne represents a massive change to the balance of power!” said Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan, sweeping his gaze across the other Heavenly Sovereigns. “Everyone, I’d hate to see unnecessary bloodshed when the curtain falls on the Struggle for Heavenly Fate.”

All of them fell silent. Each had their own thoughts on the matter.

Seven Heavenly Sovereigns would be presiding over the competition. How could anything possibly go wrong while it was underway?

At least, that’s how it seemed. All of them knew that if something did go wrong, one or more of them was sure to be involved!

“Starting in the Primordial Era, struggles for Eternal Thrones have always involved bloodshed and conflict! That said, I hope we can avoid it this time,” Heavenly Sovereign Wen said gravely.

The conversation continued. Time was slipping by.

Suddenly, Heavenly Sovereign Ku Xuan said, “Just eight hours remain until tomorrow. Everyone, it’s about time we told the participants to make their way over.”

“Very well!” The other Heavenly Sovereigns nodded, then passed on their orders.

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