First Immortal of the Sword

Meanwhile, beneath the River of Destiny.

The water gradually returned to its former calm, but the Dark Light Forbidden Zone, River Ancestor Sparrow’s territory, had long since vanished.

River Ancestor Sparrow, however, still stood not far away, silent and uncertain.

When Su Yi glanced at him, he shuddered and came to his senses. There was no hiding the terror or unease on his face!

He’d witnessed Su Yi and Ying Qi’s entire battle from a distance. Just watching it left him overcome with fright, to the point that his hands and feet went numb. He couldn’t even imagine how someone as strong as Ying Qi had lost!

“Want to fight?” said Su Yi as he took out a jug of wine and had a drink.

Sometimes, he felt that he and Zhi Wuzhong were rather similar. Zhi Wuzhong couldn’t stop snacking, while he couldn’t stop drinking.

But then, Su Yi had no intention. The path of cultivation was far too solitary; without the pleasure of drinking, it would be too dull to endure.

River Ancestor Sparrow shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“If you don’t want to fight, why didn’t you flee?” asked Su Yi.

River Ancestor Sparrow grimaced. “I really, truly, wouldn’t dare.”

He’d only just watched Su Yi suppress Ying Qi, and he was worried that if he fled, death would soon follow.

Su Yi couldn’t help but be surprised. Is this the courage of a River Ancestor? Isn’t he a bit overly craven?

Su Yi didn’t know it, but prior to this, River Ancestor Sparrow had been absolutely terrified of Ying Qi. It was only natural that he’d wimp out in front of the man who killed him!

“Then what do you want to do?” asked Su Yi. He could tell that River Ancestor Sparrow was as nervous as a mouse facing a cat; there was no hiding his terror.

“I want to beg for mercy!” blurted River Ancestor Sparrow with no concern for his face or dignity. “I’m willing to make amends, Chosen. Spare my life, and I’ll serve you like a dog or horse without complaint!”

He clasped his palm and bowed. Even his title for Su Yi had changed.

He was a River Ancestor, a figure comparable to a Heavenly Sovereign, yet here he was, meekly begging for his life. Honestly, Su Yi found it a bit hard to adjust.

After a while, Su Yi flipped his palm, and the Book of Destiny floated into the air. “If you’re really willing to submit, leave a trace of your True Name’s aura in the Book of Destiny.”

River Ancestor Sparrow stiffened, his expression shifting, but he hesitated only for a moment before gnashing his teeth and drawing his finger through the air. A wisp of silver light rose, then whooshed into the Book of Destiny.

This was the aura of his true name!

Meanwhile, Su Yi vividly sensed a new imprint appearing in the Divine Punishment Destiny Ruin on the first page of the Book of Destiny. It was condensed out of the aura of River Ancestor Sparrow’s true name, and it appeared in one of the many cells.

When Su Yi sensed it with his heart power, he instantly learned a bit about River Ancestor Sparrow.

His true body was a Spacesplitter Sparrow, and his true name was Guang Hou. He’d been cultivating for 193,000 years now, and his natal divine ability was called “Flash of Wind.”

Before long, Su Yi knew about River Ancestor Sparrow in detail.

“Thank you for your benevolence, Chosen!” River Ancestor Sparrow was instantly all the more respectful, servile, and fearful.

Su Yi pondered briefly, then quickly understood. River Ancestor Sparrow isn’t submitting and begging for mercy simply because I suppressed Ying Qi. It’s mainly because I carry the Book of Destiny!

After all, Destiny’s Chosen presides over the life and death of every denizen of the River of Destiny!

“Carry me to the Golden Frost Forbidden Zone,” Su Yi said casually.

River Ancestor Sparrow was briefly stunned, then mad with delight. He knew that by entrusting Su Yi with a wisp of his true name’s aura, he’d earned some semblance of Su Yi’s recognition!

In other words, at least for the time being, he’d escaped disaster!

“Yes, Chosen!” River Ancestor Sparrow’s figure blurred as he expanded into a ninety-foot bird. His feathers flowed with stinging silver radiance. He then lowered his head to the ground, unfurled his wings, and prostrated before Su Yi.

Su Yi hopped onto his back, pondered briefly, then took out his wicker chair and lay down. He was already covered in wounds and physically and mentally exhausted, so he almost fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

He hadn’t anticipated that River Ancestor Sparrow would submit of his own accord. Naturally, Su Yi didn’t mind giving him a chance to turn over a new leaf.

Whoosh!

The Spacesplitter Sparrow shot off, carrying Su Yi through the surrounding waters and towards the Golden Frost Forbidden Zone. He was as quick as a beam of flowing light.

Along the way, Su Yi said casually, “I’m badly injured. Had you fled immediately, you might well have succeeded. I’m not sure I could have stopped you.”

River Ancestor Sparrow’s heart was briefly overwhelmed with frustration and regret, but a moment later, all of that gave way to solemnity. What if this is a test?

After taking a moment to calm himself, he said solemnly, “I’ve already thought it through. I might have escaped in the moment, but it wouldn’t last. Given your abilities, Chosen, you’ll one day reign over all of these waters. When that day inevitably comes... how could there be any place left for me in this world?”

River Ancestor Sparrow paused, then said firmly, “Chosen, to me, your mercy was an act of benevolence akin to rebirth. I dare not harbor any resentment. All I want is to forsake my wicked ways and make amends for my mistakes!”

Su Yi couldn’t help but sigh. He really is a River Ancestor. Now that he’s lowered his head, his attitude has changed completely, and even his words are like music to the ears. No ordinary person could compare.

Su Yi said no more on the matter. Now that there was a wisp of his true name in the Book of Destiny, there was no need to fear River Ancestor Sparrow betraying him.

Su Yi cast aside his scattered thoughts, calmed his heart, and focused on the second page of the Book of Destiny.

He’d gained the capacity to control the second page’s power in his most recent battle, but he’d yet to take the time to experience its mysteries.

Of course, before he did that, he had to visit his newest captive, Ying Qi.

The Abyss of Ceaseless Destiny.

The dark, enormous abyss surged with formless power of the Laws, like a curtain of eternal night enveloping the abyss in its entirety.

Ying Qi sat somewhere amidst the darkness, hair disheveled, looking listless and dejected.

“You fool! You let him use you as a whetstone! He used you to break through, and now he can control the second page!” sputtered one of the imprisoned old monsters, frantic with anger. “Do you realize that you’ve just destroyed our hopes of ever escaping captivity?”

“Why didn’t you use your ultimate killer weapon as soon as the battle began? Why give Su Yi time to struggle? Why!?” someone else shouted, then slapped Ying Qi across the face, leaving his cheek bloodied and swollen.

Ying Qi just sat there in silence, unmoving. He made no attempt to fight back or explain himself.

“When you sensed that something wasn’t right, you should have fled! Why insist on acting tough?”

“Worthless wretch! How could our clansmen have sent someone so useless to carry out this mission?”

One angry voice after another rang out. Ying Qi’s eyes dimmed, and he pursed his lips and clenched his teeth, sinking even deeper into silence.

Deep within his heart, he was frustrated, angry, and aggrieved, too, but... he’d already lost. What good would arguing do him?

“Enough!”

Suddenly, Mo Hanyi’s voice rang out, instantly quelling the other voices.

“In his shoes, you wouldn’t necessarily have won either. Everything is clearer in hindsight,” said Mo Hanyi. “The Little Chosen carries the Book of Destiny. He wouldn’t have chosen to fight unless he had a plan. Ying Qi tried his best; he was neither lazy nor incautious. He did quite well, all things considered,” said Mo Hanyi. “In other words, he didn’t lose because of anything he did, but rather, because the Little Chosen was already on the verge of igniting his Natal Heart Lamp.”

Ying Qi’s heart churned with emotion. He felt seen and understood. Mo Hanyi really is the first Sovereign Preceptor of our people! He instantly determined the root of my defeat!

Suddenly, Mo Hanyi called out, “Am I right, Little Chosen?”

A thrill of terror coursed through Ying Qi’s heart. Su Yi can see us in here?

He’d only just thought this when a beam of light illuminated the endless darkness of the abyss, then transformed into a human figure. This was none other than Su Yi.

He stood there, the only source of light against the boundless black backdrop.

“Victory and defeat have already been determined. Why say anymore on the matter? It’s no longer important,” Su Yi said casually.

Meanwhile, he surveyed the abyss. It was shrouded in endless darkness, but he could see it clearly.

There were seven people gathered around Ying Qi, six men and one woman. All of them had the character “prisoner” emblazoned on their forehead.

One of them was seated on the ground. He was the calmest of all.

His plain cloth robes were stained with blood, and his long white hair hung loose, going all the way to his waist. His face was thin and fair. He had a tranquil, mellow air about him.

The most startling thing about him was the sword embedded in his chest. It was made of wood, and it pierced his ribs and came out the other end. Only the hilt jutted out of his chest. It was covered in dark splotches of dried blood.

This was none other than Mo Hanyi, the first and only Sovereign Preceptor of the Negative Karma Destiny Demons! The unparalleled figure who’d fought his way all the way to the Far Shore of Destiny!

This was Su Yi’s first time seeing Mo Hanyi’s appearance.

Mo Hanyi seemed to notice Su Yi’s attention lingering on the sword piercing his chest. He said warmly, “The last Destiny’s Chosen left that there. He called it ‘Nine in Third.’ A rather unusual name.”

A line rose unbidden to Su Yi’s mind. “The cultivated gentleman is industrious all day and cautious even at night. Though imperiled, he suffers no blame.”

The name was a reference to a hexagram from the Yi Jing. Su Yi couldn’t help but wonder if Xiao Jian had other swords that referenced different hexagrams.

Like “Nine in Four” for “seeing a dragon in the fields” and “Nine in Five” for “hesitating to emerge from the abyss,” and so on and so forth.

Of course, all of that was mere conjecture.

Xiao Jian was a man of learning. Given his disposition, he likely wouldn’t take all of his swords’ names from hexagrams.

Su Yi asked with great interest, “Why not remove the sword? Why leave it in your body all this time?”

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