First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1325 - The Thousand Opportunities Talisman

When Qin Hongyu, Liang Guan, and the other revenants read the jade slip, their hearts stirred.

“Fellow Daoist, is there a grudge between you and the Tailor?” asked Liang Guan of Yang Transformation Immortal Mountain.

Massacring the innocent would hurt his reputation. When word spread, every cultivator beneath the heavens would criticize him. It’d hurt the sect’s reputation as well.

“The old bastard is insidious and ruthless. That’s common knowledge throughout the stars. Ask around, and you’ll find out everything you need to know,” said Illuminating Emptiness. “Let me tell you just one thing: you were only able to find this place because the old bastard was stirring up waves and fanning the flames from behind the scenes. In other words, he was using you as weapons!”

The revenants frowned in response to this declaration. Their eyes met. All of them had unsightly looks on their faces.

“If we do what you’ve asked, how will we find you, Fellow Daoist?” asked Qin Hongyu.

Su Yi pointed at Illuminating Emptiness and said, “Just find this old monk. Even if I’m not at Universal Emptiness Temple, he’ll be able to inform me immediately.”

Illuminating Emptiness smiled. “That’s right.”

The founder of Universal Emptiness Temple was now in residence. There was no need to fear others making trouble!

The revenants then went on to inquire about some of the details. Su Yi responded to every question.

When the onlookers saw this, they realized that the revenants were obviously tempted. All of them planned to take action against the Tailor and his subordinate factions!

“It’s a pity that we cannot leave the temple,” sighed Sword Immortal Qingshi. “Otherwise, I’d be sure to take the Tailor’s head to repay Fellow Daoist Su’s benevolence.”

He and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha had cultivations too high for the present day. They were subject to the Laws’ restrictions, and they couldn’t leave Universal Emptiness Temple without suffering a backlash.

“No need to rush. In a year at the soonest, two at most, the complete Path of Transcendence will reappear within the Laws. When the time comes, we’ll be able to wander the world entirely unrestricted,” said the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha. “Besides, Fellow Daoist Su has already broken our curse. All we have to do now is recover our former cultivations as quickly as possible.”

Sword Immortal Qingshi subtly inclined his head.

Although their curses had broken, their bodies still bore their mark. They wouldn’t be able to explore the outside world any time soon. That wasn’t just true for them, either. The same went for other revenants of the same level.

It was only the relatively weak revenants, those comparable to Nascent Divinity Transcendents, who could explore freely.

But Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha both knew that within two years at most, even old-timers like them would regain their freedom. They’d no longer be confined to tiny pockets of the world!

Meanwhile, outside the temple, the gathered revenants and onlookers gradually dispersed. Everyone could already predict that when word of what had happened outside of Universal Emptiness Temple spread, it would stir up enormous waves!

Su Yi and Illuminating Emptiness returned to the temple. Illuminating Emptiness couldn’t stop smiling.

“We’re rich!”

The spoils were piled high right in front of them, their glittering treasure light filling the entire room. The pile included all types of spiritual medicines, materials, treasures, and legacies. All were Transcendent-level treasures!

“Alas, you only fought four battles. Otherwise, you surely would have won even more treasure.” Illuminating Emptiness smacked his lips and sighed, finding it an awful pity.

“Are you really a monk free from worldly passions?” Wei Shan was at a loss for words.

The monk was tall, bare-chested, with a fierce, martial bearing. He spoke without reservation, with none of a monk’s usual austerity.

Su Yi sat cross-legged off to the side. He’d only just broken through, and he needed to stabilize his cultivation base.

As he cultivated, Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha got to work appraising the trophies.

“Peasants. All of those spoils are ordinary goods.” Sword Immortal Qingshi shook his head.

“There really aren’t many treasures worth noting,” said the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha.

Illuminating Emptiness felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured on his head. “Founder, don’t tell me they tricked us?”

“No, that’s not it,” explained the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha. “These really are Transcendent treasures, but within that level, they’re ordinary at best. They’re only enough to support a Nascent Divinity Transcendent’s cultivation.”

He paused, then continued, “The only treasure worth mentioning is the Red Phoenix Blood Gold from Mu Yun’an of the Red City Daoist Sect. It might only be the size of a thumb, but its value is inestimable. It’s a first-rate divine material for swordsmithing.”

Only then did Illuminating Emptiness understand. He sneered, “Aside from Mu Yun’an, each of those revenants were more miserly than the one before!”

Sword Immortal Qingshi couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t blame them for that. These are just trophies. Who’d offer up their supreme treasures?”

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha sighed. “In truth, it was hard enough for them to even offer up these treasures. After all, the world is no longer what it was back then..”

Sects of seekers of immortality had been as numerous as trees in the forests, and Transcendent orthodoxies had stood all over the Human Realm. There had been no shortage of true immortals descending from the Immortal Realm to walk amongst mortal men.

Back then, Transcendent treasures had been too numerous to count. There had even been true immortal medicines!

But the End of the Dharma had destroyed it all. The present day couldn’t even begin to compare.

Four hours later, Su Yi awakened from his meditation and opened his eyes. His late-stage Oneness Realm cultivation had fully stabilized.

Furthermore, unlike when he merely cultivated assiduously, Su Yi could tell that he hadn’t simply broken through; he’d transformed completely. It was like a rebirth!

Those battles allowed me to , but that likely isn’t the full story. I suspect the Sword of the Nine Hells contributed too, thought Su Yi.

He could still recall that clear, completely focused mental state he’d entered while fighting Mu Yun’an.

It was then that his energy resonated with the Sword of the Nine Hells, letting its aura fuse into his fleshly body, cultivation base, and soul!

It seems that I can only fully awaken the sword’s power in true, unadulterated life-or-death combat.

“How do you feel, Fellow Daoist?” Sword Immortal Qingshi asked with a smile.

Su Yi thought for a moment, then answered honestly. “If I were to fight Mu Yun’an again, he couldn’t even scratch me.”

Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha looked at each other, their hearts coursing with emotion. What... What kind of heaven-defying sword cultivator is he?

“Mu Yun’an is a revenant. His current strength is around the peak early-stage of Nascent Divinity. Within his level of cultivation, no one around can touch him. Even a typical mid-stage Nascent Divinity expert couldn’t compare to him,” said Sword Immortal Qingshi. “And you’re still in the Oneness Realm, yet you defeated him. In other words, save for a few heaven-defying figures, no Nascent Divinity Transcendent is a match for you now.”

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha nodded with deep emotion. “Even in ancient times, only a few descendants of true immortals could have competed with you. Everyone else would have dimmed by comparison.”

This was what it meant to be a legend! He was unique, and he would have dazzled any era he’d appeared in!

“So that’s it.” Su Yi nodded in understanding.

“Do you have the item I requested, monk?” Su Yi looked at Illuminating Emptiness.

“Yup. Prepared it a long time ago.” Illuminating Emptiness took out a black talisman and handed it over.

The talisman was extraordinarily strange. There were strange, chain-shaped markings on it, each seemingly composed of countless worms.

The sight was enough to make one shudder.

“This is a Thousand Opportunities Talisman, the talisman the Tailor takes the most pride in. You can only use it once. Take your time and be careful to avoid a backlash,” warned Illuminating Emptiness.

Su Yi nodded. If asked who in this world best understood the Tailor, he’d definitely answer, “Illuminating Emptiness.”

A long time ago, the two of them had some kind of relationship. In the end, they went their separate ways, growing more and more distant from each other.

No one else knew the details.

Illuminating Emptiness had never volunteered the information, and Su Yi never asked. Everyone had their secrets.

Not everything needed to be investigated.

“Little Wei, for now, you should stay here in Universal Emptiness Temple. Don’t go out.” Su Yi looked at Wei Shan and ordered.

Wei Shan nodded. “As you say, Young Master.”

Sword Immortal Qingshi smiled. “Fellow Daoist Su, with me and Old Monk Universal Emptiness here, you can rest assured.”

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha said warmly, “Seems to me that Fellow Daoist Wei’s cultivation has already reached the late-stage Cosmic Enlightenment Realm. Daoist Brother Qingshi and I will do our utmost to assist him in his cultivation. If all goes as I expect, Fellow Daoist Wei will step onto the Path of Transcendence within half a year!”

Sword Immortal Qingshi smiled and expressed his agreement.

Wei Shan was overcome with delight. He hurriedly bowed. “Thank you so much, Seniors!”

“What about me, Founder?” asked Illuminating Emptiness frantically.

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha laughed. “That goes for you too.”

Inwardly, he felt a bit conflicted. He would never have expected that the only monk remaining in Universal Emptiness Temple would be... such a poor example of a monk...

What emptiness of the five aggregates? What freedom from the six worldly desires? None of that had anything to do with this monk. Illuminating Emptiness really was an odd duck.

“Heh heh, in that case, it’s all good! I’ve watched over Universal Emptiness Temple for who-knows-how-long. On numerous occasions, I felt the urge to just burn the place down and leave the monastic life. Fortunately, my time has finally come. Our founder has returned! With you here, won’t I be able to go wherever I please without fear?” Illuminating Emptiness clutched his stomach and laughed with abandon.

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha didn’t know what to say to that. For a moment, he felt the urge to pummel this unfilial disciple. Is that any way for a Buddhist cultivator to talk?

Sword Immortal Qingshi couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Su Yi and Wei Shan were amused too, and both of them laughed along.

Su Yi left alone that very day.

He and the Tailor were old enemies. He understood his foe’s disposition. He knew better than to expect that those revenants could do much damage.

Thus, he’d decided to take action personally!

Before Su Yi left, Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha each offered him jade slips and a treasure.

The jade slips recorded their experiences and everything they’d comprehended regarding cultivating the Three Realms of the Path of Transcendence.

Su Yi still couldn’t use that information yet, but when the time came for him to step onto the Path of Transcendence, the two peak experts’ recorded experiences would surely come in handy. The jade slips were thus priceless treasures, the type that could only be happened upon by chance.

And the treasures were a sword pellet and a prayer bead.

The day Su Yi left, word of the battle at Universal Emptiness Temple swept across the thirty-six provinces of the Divine Capital Star Realm as if it had grown wings.

Everyone beneath the heavens was startled, and massive waves of uproar ensued.