First Immortal of the Sword

Su Yi hadn’t just been trying to scare Mo Hanyi and the others. Not long after he stepped into the Immeasurable Realm, his Dao Heart shifted, and his Light of the Heart intensified, shining and flickering like starlight. It now showed signs of eternal, immeasurable charm.

These were signs that he was close to igniting his Natal Heart Lamp.

Moreover, Su Yi now had no shortage of methods to temper his heart. These included the Spirit Platform Chapter’s first section, as well as the power of Destiny’s Wrath.

Now, the Book of Destiny had refined the flesh and souls of two River Ancestors, and Destiny’s Wrath had grown stronger. That would unquestionably benefit Su Yi’s cultivation of secret heart power.

He predicted that he could attempt to break through the next time he went into seclusion.

But he couldn’t do it now, as he and his companions had to leave the Five-Colored Hidden Realm as soon as possible.

Su Yi planned to realize a breakthrough in his cultivation of the heart, then go deal with River Ancestors Bai Mang and Sparrow. He still had to avenge River Ancestor Shen Xiao.

Once he’d finished up his business here, he’d return to the Eternal Heavens Domain and bring the Yitian Eternal Throne to the Heart-Tempering Sword House. There, he’d decide just which of Jiang Wuchen’s three disciples should be the first to become a Heavenly Sovereign.

Three days later, Su Yi and his companions set off. All of them left the Five-Colored Hidden Realm and set course for a place known as the Golden Frost Forbidden Zone.

Few ventured into the Golden Frost Forbidden Zone, as it was perilous to the extreme. River Ancestor Shen Xiao had discovered it long ago, while exploring the River of Destiny. To his surprise, it was ownerless territory.

The Golden Frost Forbidden Zone was dangerous, but it had one big advantage: namely, that almost no one knew about it.

Moreover, River Ancestor Shen Xiao was confident that between him, Su Yi, and River Ancestor Lu Shu, they’d be more than strong enough to establish firm footing there.

......

Three days after Su Yi and his companions left, a figure appeared out of nowhere just outside the now vacant Five-Colored Hidden Realm.

He was tall, thin, and dressed in red. He wore his long hair in a crown, and his face was pallid. He had a brand that read “prisoner” on the center of his forehead.

This was none other than Ying Qi, an unparalleled expert of the Negative Karma Destiny Demon Race.

Not long after Ying Qi arrived, a group shot out of the Five-Colored Hidden Realm. One of them stepped forth and said with the utmost respect, “Your Excellency, the Five-Colored Hidden Realm has been vacated. There’s no one left inside.”

“Just as I expected.” Ying Qi subtly inclined his head; it seemed he didn’t find this at all strange. “Did you find any worthwhile leads?”

The experts shook their heads.

“Oh,” said Ying Qi. “Go ask around the Spirit Treasure Celestial City. I’m going to pay someone a visit.”

With that, he vanished into thin air.

The experts all inwardly sighed in relief.

When they faced Ying Qi, they felt like ants before a sovereign. No matter how warm and friendly Ying Qi was on the surface, they still felt powerful terror and dread.

Their fear emanated from their very bones!

......

Emerald Hill—this was River Empress Lu Ping’s territory.

River Empress Lu Ping was seated in a grand hall, looking over a report her subordinates had just delivered. She couldn’t help but look astonished.

“The Ape Ancestor and River Ancestor Ji Dian most likely perished during the attack on the Five-Colored Hidden Realm? Only River Ancestor Sparrow and River Ancestor Bai Mang survived?”

This was the shocking rumor that had recently taken the River of Destiny by storm, causing a massive wave of uproar.

After all, River Ancestors’ position in the River of Destiny was comparable to that of Heavenly Sovereigns in the Eternal Heavens Domain. They were like the heavens themselves; none dared to provoke them.

Yet now, two of them had died at once. That was unprecedented! Who wouldn’t have been astonished?

Everyone was still trying to guess who the culprit was.

Once River Empress Lu Ping had calmed down, she quickly concluded that River Ancestors Shen Xiao and Lu Shu had been involved. After all, she couldn’t imagine anyone else capable of accomplishing such a thing.

It was just too unbelievable!

Don’t tell me there’s more to this than meets the eye?

She’d only just thought this when a chill coursed through her. She couldn’t help but shudder.

Meanwhile, the sound of footsteps emanated from beyond the hall. A cold wind that reeked of bloodshed swept into the hall accompanying the sound, the pungent stench assailing her nostrils.

Her heart quivered and she shot to her feet.

It was then that a pale, red-robed figure sauntered into the room, entering her field of view. This was none other than Ying Qi!

He took in River Empress Lu Ping’s shock, then said gently, “Don’t be afraid. All of your subordinates are already dead, so no one will disturb our conversation.”

They’re all dead!? Chills coursed through River Empress Lu Ping’s body.

She stammered, “W-who are you?”

“No need for such stupid questions. All you need to know is that if you don’t cooperate, I’ll make you cooperate. The end result will be the same no matter what. The only difference is that you’ll suffer minimally if you cooperate, and immensely if you don’t,” said Ying Qi.

He scanned the room, then fixed his gaze on River Empress Ying Qi. “A few years ago, you, River Ancestor Shen Xiao, and several others explored the Abhorrent Evil Origin Zone in search of the Key to Endless Tribulations. Is that right?”

River Empress Lu Ping stiffened. Is he after the Key to Endless Tribulations?

Whap!

A crisp, clean slap rang out, and River Empress Lu Ping staggered, then toppled over backward. Terrifying power invaded her body, effortlessly shattering her cultivation base. She just sat there in a heap, overwhelmed with agony. Her face contorted as she groaned, then convulsed uncontrollably.

“Don’t get distracted. Answer my questions.” Ying Qi peered down at her, his gaze cold and indifferent, as if he were looking down at an ant.

“That’s right,” said River Empress Lu Ping.

Ying Qi said approvingly, “Good, you’re doing well! Here’s another question: Who of those who entered the Cave of Obsession carries the Book of Destiny?”

The Book of Destiny!? River Empress Lu Ping was flabbergasted. She suddenly realized that she’d been mistaken. This terrifying, mysterious figure wasn’t here for the Key to Endless Tribulations after all.

“Answer the question,” said Ying Qi, his eyes glowing red.

River Empress Lu Ping’s mind buzzed and her soul quivered. Her eyes went vacant as an invisible power intimidated and overwhelmed her soul. She murmured, “Su Yi. His Excellency Su controls the Book of Destiny. He’s Destiny’s Chosen, and his powers are grand and far-reaching!”

Su Yi? Ying Qi blinked in surprise. The name was entirely unfamiliar to him.

He’d assumed that River Ancestor Shen Xiao carried the Book of Destiny. Now, it seemed that Demon Sovereign Ling Zhao’s conclusion had been off the mark.

“Tell me more about this person,” said Ying Qi, stroking his chin. “I’m very interested to know more about him.”

River Empress Lu Ping had been rendered into a soulless marionette. She could do nothing but launch into a detailed explanation of their experiences in the Cave of Obsession. She held nothing back, either.

Ying Qi couldn’t help but sink into silence after hearing the full story. A measly little human cultivator now carries the Book of Destiny? And he entered the Cave of Obsession and defeated River Ancestor Lu Shu of the Primordial Era? He even acquired the Key to Endless Tribulations?

Ying Qi was deeply surprised, and he found it hard to believe.

He went on to ask several follow-up questions, but much to his frustration, River Empress Lu Ping had played only a minor role on their expedition, and her knowledge was limited. She hadn’t participated in the final battle, and her senses had been obscured, so she didn’t know the details.

For instance, she didn’t know about Su Yi’s clash with the Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence, nor did she know that River Ancestor Lu Shu had become a Harbinger of Tribulations.

Even so, she gave Ying Qi several viable leads.

In the end, Ying Qi acquired a portrait of Su Yi. He looked it over, then clucked his tongue. “Tch tch. You really can’t judge a man by his appearance. I would never have guessed the new Destiny’s Chosen was some human kid.”

Ying Qi flicked his finger, and the portrait caught ablaze, then burnt into ash.

He then looked down at River Empress Lu Ping, who’d collapsed in a heap on the floor, and said, “I’d originally planned to take you hostage. It seemed you were just barely worth using; I might well manage to use you to threaten Su Yi. After all, you did once face life-and-death adversity side by side. Unfortunately...”

He pressed his fingertip to her forehead, then flicked.

Bang!

Her head exploded, and her body and soul caught ablaze. In the end, only her true name remained. It transformed into a bundle of golden light, then landed in Ying QI’s palm.

“Unfortunately for you, I disdain resorting to such unseemly little tricks when I kill my enemies.” Ying Qi tossed River Empress Lu Ping’s true name into the air, then threw back his head, caught it in his mouth, and devoured it.

He chewed, then grumbled in disappointment and left the hall. “A River Empress’s true name... is every bit as flavorless as I remember...”

By the time he left, River Empress Lu Ping and all of her thousands of subordinates were dead.

...

Half a month later.

The Shimmering Mist Water Domain was the territory of River Emperor Tao Mo, except now, someone else had taken over.

“Your Excellency, this is news gathered from throughout the surrounding six hundred thousand miles of water, but there’s only one thing worth noting. Who knows who she and her subordinates offended, but River Empress Lu Ping and her followers have been completely wiped out, down to the dogs and chickens!”

River Emperor Tao Mo stood in a resplendent palace and reported, his demeanor as modest and respectful as a servant’s. He had a toadyish smile on his face.

A white-robed young man sat on the throne at the center of the hall. He gripped a jade fan, and a rain of golden light fell from his long hair.

This was none other than River Ancestor Sparrow!

He was drinking alone in low spirits when he heard the news. He blinked, then furrowed his brow in thought. “River Empress Lu Ping? The woman who accompanied River Ancestor Shen Xiao and River Empress Peacock on their search for the Key to Endless Tribulations?”

“That’s the one.” River Emperor Tao Mo nodded repeatedly. “Your memory is quite impressive, Your Excellency. I’m surprised you ‘d take note of something like her.”

River Ancestor Sparrow couldn’t be bothered to heed his flattery; he knew something wasn’t right here. “Why would someone kill her and her subordinates? Don’t tell me it was because of the Key to Endless Tribulations? Strange. Who could possibly feel the need to do something so unnecessarily brutal? Did they just have too much time on their hands?”

It was then that a voice resounded from outside the hall. “Too much time on my hands? No, not at all. Killing her and her followers... was no more difficult than crushing an ant. It wasn’t even worth mentioning. You’re a River Ancestor. Why make such a fuss about nothing?”

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