First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1216 - The Curtains Open on a New Era

Su Yi left.

The crowd remained around that massive abyss. A long time passed before they came back to their senses.

Suddenly, Lu Yan let out a long breath of turbid qi, and his eyes gradually lit up. “A new era... has begun!”

It was just five words, but they carried enormous weight, and they startled all of the Servants of the Dao out of their daze.

They’d experienced years of wind and waves. After mulling Lu Yan’s words over, they understood what he was trying to say.

That mysterious catastrophe had been a turning point in the Dark and Gold Star Realm’s history.

The years before it were resplendent and grand, giving rise to legendary experts. The Dark and Gold Star Realm was seen as an ancestral ground throughout the Eastern Profound Star Domain!

Who knew how many experts had come here from the stars beyond, as if on a holy pilgrimage?

But after the onset of that mysterious catastrophe, the Laws of the Dark and Gold Star Realm shattered, and its legendary experts perished. Even its glorious history had been wiped from record.

The enormous Dark and Gold Star Realm had descended into ruin, and it had been of little interest to the Eastern Profound Star Domain ever since.

Its world of cultivation had waned, but that was the least of it; even its connection to the Path of Heaven’s Ascension had been severed. Outside of the Graveyard of Fallen Immortals, no new World Kings appeared here!

These were the ups and downs of worldly affairs, the alternating of history.

Yet now that the war spear had been destroyed, this era had effectively ended.

The curtains were slowly starting to open on a new epoch!

This was no exaggeration, either.

Over the years, the Graveyard of Fallen Immortals had given rise to numerous World King Servants of the Dao. However, due to the damaged Laws of the Dark and Gold Star Realm, they could only cultivate in the Sea of Chaos.

Similarly, it was only by relying on the power of the Sea of Chaos that they’d prevented that war spear from escaping all this time.

Now that the spear had been destroyed, the power of the Sea of Chaos could recover itself and repair its shattered Laws!

Thus, the long-devastated Dark and Gold Star Realm was surely on its way to revival!

In the years that followed, the chaos source power of the Dark and Gold Star Realm would re-enter its worlds and planes. This would inevitably revitalize its world of cultivation.

And the Path of Heaven’s Ascension was sure to appear once more!

The flow of history would surely change as a result.

All of this was because of Su Yi.

They said that when a butterfly beat its wings, it could trigger massive changes. In this case, a “butterfly” had opened the curtains of a new era of history!

“Doesn’t that mean that... we’ll be able to leave the Graveyard of Fallen Immortals and re-enter the world?” the man in warrior robes muttered excitedly.

The other Servants of the Dao were worked up too.

They’d watched over this place for a long, long time. Who among them didn’t long to leave this place and see the outside world once more?

“It might not be possible in the short term, but it will be later,” Lu Yan affirmed.

A long time ago, he and Kong Shen acted in accordance with Venerate Flooding Heavens’ will, leading the Enforcers and Custodians in overseeing the Graveyard of Fallen Immortals.

First, to select trial-takers capable of receiving the legacies of him and his legendary experts.

Second, to watch over these forbidden grounds and prevent the spear from escaping.

Then, Su Yi appeared, becoming the first trial-taker in history to overcome the path of trials.

He’d gone on to destroy the spear, too!

This had already changed the established order of the Graveyard of Fallen Immortals. To Lu Yan and the others, this was equivalent to realizing Venerate Flooding Heavens’ wishes.

They naturally wouldn’t need to protect this place any longer!

Even Lu Yan found it difficult to stay calm. He... wanted to see the outside world too! How could he not?

“Esteemed Officiant, might I ask just who that fellow Daoist is?” The colorfully dressed woman, Ming He, couldn’t help but ask.

The other Servants of the Dao instantly pricked up their ears. They too were full of irrepressible curiosity.

“He...” Lu Yan recalled everything Su Yi had done since entering the Graveyard of Fallen Immortals. For a moment, he wasn’t quite sure what to say.

A little while later, he looked solemn, and he spoke with unprecedented respect. “His name is Su Yi, and he’s the most extraordinary trial-taker we’ve ever had. He's the only Emperor to ever pass the path of trials.

“A sword cultivator even Venerate Flooding Heavens addressed as his fellow Daoist, and...”

Here, Lu Yan paused, his eyes filling with emotion as he said slowly and clearly, “And the one who shattered the pre-existing order and lifted the curtain of a new era. He's... a legend!”

The thirteen Servants of the Dao looked at each other, too astonished for words.

Su Yi was an Emperor, yet an Officiant viewed him with such reverence. He really was worthy of the title “legend!”

......

That little desolate island just a few hundred feet across.

After Su Yi returned to his former seclusion grounds, he put his hands behind his back and gazed calmly up at the distant dome of heaven.

His blue robes fluttered around him, rustling in the ocean winds.

As time passed, dark tribulation clouds silently surged beneath the firmament, as dense and dark as ink, a slowly revolving vortex.

A stifling, deathly silence enveloped the entire Sea of Chaos.

Just like before. It doesn’t want to give me any hope of survival at all. Su Yi laughed, took out a jug of wine, and drank.

In this lifetime, every time he made a major breakthrough, he faced a tribulation completely different from other cultivators.

It was full of calamitous, destructive power, and it left him no path to life at all.

For all the experience of his past lives, Su Yi had never seen or heard of anyone else facing such strange, tyrannical tribulations.

He dared say with certainty that were his tribulations to target any other cultivator in this world, they’d be completely doomed.

Without the Sword of the Nine Hells, he’d have been no exception.

It was to the point that he suspected he was a variable that these strange tribulations could not tolerate!

But no matter how strange his tribulation was, Su Yi was accustomed to them, and he wasn’t at all panicked.

The Sword of the Nine Hells exists in part to seal the Daos of my past lives, but... Isn’t it also here to cleave through all the strange tribulations I encounter along the road?

This is just further proof that in this lifetime, I’m walking the right path. Otherwise, how could I provoke such unusual tribulations?

One day, when I can contend with these strange tribulations with my own power, perhaps... it’ll prove that I’ve truly mastered the Sword of the Nine Hells.

Su Yi’s gaze was distant, his heart as tranquil as the waters of an ancient well.

On this day, a strange tribulation descended.

But Su Yi had long since made sufficient preparations.

He’d spent the past half year in seclusion, combing through the Daos of three lifetimes and settling his Dao Heart.

Furthermore, he’d contemplated the source power of the Dark and Gold Star Realm here in the Sea of Chaos, and he’d fused his cultivation base with the star realm’s Laws.

This was enough to ensure he wouldn’t create the same flaw that the Temple Master had during his breakthrough!

Lu Yan and the servants of the Dao rushed over from the distant seas. Lu Yan then smiled and clasped his fists. “Fellow Daoist, your tribulation is imminent. Do you need us to act as your dharma protectors?”

The Second Officiant looked utterly respectful. His attitude was obviously different from before. The same was true of the four Cosmic Enlightenment and nine Oneness World Kings behind him. When they looked at Su Yi, their gazes now contained undisguisable awe.

“No need to trouble yourself.” Su Yi shook his head.

“Then we’ll simply watch the spectacle from here. Allow me to congratulate you in advance on proving your Dao, achieving Heavenly Longevity, and ascending into the heavens in a single bound!” Lu Yan said with a smile.

The Servants of the Dao said solemnly, “Congratulations in advance on proving your Dao and ascending into the heavens, Fellow Daoist!”

Their voices spread throughout heaven and earth.

Boom!

Before long, tribulation clouds surged beneath the dome of heaven. Thunder and lightning interwove, and a calamitous aura enveloped the surrounding area.

Everyone’s hearts palpitated with fright.

Even Lu Yan, a Cosmic Enlightenment Realm powerhouse, was visibly alarmed. What a terrifying Tribulation of Heavenly Longevity!

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have been able to imagine how a Profound Unity Emperor could possibly face such an unparalleled grand tribulation.

It was unquestionably unique and unprecedented.

Even in ancient times, he’d never heard of such a thing.

Everyone was stunned, except for Su Yi, who looked as calm as before.

“How is this possible...? In the end, I was one step too late.”

A vexed voice emanated from afar.

A bony old man with a red sword case on his back shot over from the distant seas, leading the Heavensdeath Demon Empress and Meng Changyun.

The speaker was none other than the Heavensdeath Demon Empress.

Her dress was as red as fire, her beauty extraordinary and transcendent enough to bewitch the masses. Her every movement revealed the majesty of a World King.

Su Yi was stunned. “What do you mean by that?”

The Heavensdeath Demon Empress sighed and transmitted, “And here I thought that since I became a World King first, I could seize this opportunity to push you down and have my way with you. Now, it seems... I won’t get that chance...”

She pursed her red, luscious lips with obvious disappointment.

Su Yi was at a loss for words, and he glared at her hatefully. Is this what that demoness spends all her time thinking about!?

“Old Peacock, have you... recovered!?” Lu Yan exclaimed delightedly.

For the past half year, Kong Shen’s mind had been in turmoil. Lu Yan had worried about his mental stability on numerous occasions.

But now, he’d appeared here with the Heavensdeath Demon Empress and Meng Changyun in tow. Furthermore, judging by his demeanor and aura, he was completely different from before!

“Mm.” Kong Shen grunted expressionlessly.

Suddenly, he turned, faced Su Yi, and bowed. “I, sword cultivator Kong Shen, thank you for your benevolence in granting me rebirth, Fellow Daoist!”

His voice was solemn, his bearing pious.

Like a devotee before a sage!

This scene left everyone present startled.

Except for Lu Yan, who smiled as if a massive weight were lifting from his shoulders. The stubborn old peacock is finally mending his ways!

Su Yi subtly inclined his head. “To you, it was the gift of rebirth. To be, it was just a few words of guidance. Even if you’re grateful, you needn’t behave so reverently. You’re a sword cultivator, so you ought to act like one.”

Kong Shen stiffened slightly, then silently straightened his back and clasped his fist. “I’ll carve your guidance into my heart, Fellow Daoist.”

Here, Meng Changyun said hurriedly, “Your Excellency, your tribulation is imminent! Please, you must be careful! This old man has already prepared fine wine to celebrate your breakthrough!”

This Heavenly Longevity World King had long since submitted to Su Yi. He looked humble and sincere.

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. The old-timer really doesn’t miss a single opportunity for flattery!

Boom!

The long-brewing, strange tribulation was finally upon him.

When that first streak of terrifying tribulation light descended, Lu Yan, Kong Shen, and the others almost felt as if that mysterious catastrophe were re-entering the world.

No. This was even stranger and more unsettling than the catastrophe had been!

The onlookers’ hair stood on end, and their hearts trembled uncontrollably.

And they were World Kings! If even they felt this way, it was easy to imagine how terrifying this tribulation was.

But there was simply no need for Su Yi to do anything.

The Sword of the Nine Hells had only just feasted. Its illusory figure now shot straight into the firmament.

As if running it right through.

The mad vortex of surging tribulation cloud split with a bang.

A single slash cleaved through the blue dome of heaven, cutting down a divine tribulation!