First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1099 - None of the Joys of Human Life Compare

Qing Tang brushed her fingers against the wicker chair’s armrests and said distractedly, “Let’s hear it. What did my master want you to tell me?”

Meng Tianjun steadied his heart, then repeated everything Su Yi had said, word for word.

Qing Tang couldn’t help but laugh, and her pink lips parted. “It seems Master has already realized that there’s something strange about my origins.”

She then looked up at Meng Tianjun. “That you made it back alive implies that you revealed some information about me. Is that right?”

Meng Tianjun’s heart clenched, and a chill coursed down his spine. How terrifyingly perceptive is this woman?

He calmed himself, then said, “I only knew so much, and besides, you never forbade us from discussing your affairs.”

Qing Tang laughed. “No need to be nervous. I no longer care about such things. Right, what did Shang Tianqi say?”

“The Esteemed Libationer says that Su Xuanju must die!” said Meng Tianjun.

Qing Tang’s beautiful eyes narrowed. “Qin Feng’s death must have hit him quite hard. Did he say when you’re planning to attack?”

Meng Tianjun shook his head.

Qing Tang said thoughtfully, “Is he perhaps planning to wait until the Fisherman’s clone returns from the Netherworld, then attack?

The Fisherman!

When Meng Tianjun heard Qing Tang refer to their leader like that, his expression shifted erratically, and he couldn’t help but recall what Su Yi had told him.

“You’re hiding something from me. What else did my master say?”

Suddenly, Qing Tang’s voice reverberated throughout Meng Tianjun’s soul, booming like thunder and full of the might of the heavens. Meng Tianjun shuddered, and he looked dazed.

He said instinctively, “He said our founder’s clone killed himself…”

But before he could say any more, he abruptly came to his senses. His expression filled with rage and alarm, and he bellowed, “You actually used a secret soul art to confound me? How dare you!”

Qing Tang ignored him. She was stunned.

Master actually said the Fisherman’s clone killed himself?

Meng Tianjun was visibly frantic. He gnashed his teeth and said, “I’m telling you, there’s absolutely no way something could have happened to our founder’s clone. There’s no way!”

After a moment’s silence, Qing Tang said, “There’s no need to shout.”

Meng Tianjun’s expression shifted erratically. In the end, he swooshed his sleeves and left without a word.

Qing Tang stretched languidly in her wicker chair, an irrepressible grin on her clear, beautiful face. In that moment, she was so radiant that even the light of the heavens seemed dim by comparison.

“The Fisherman’s clone actually killed himself… It seems the power of the Sword of the Human Realm… has already been awakened.”

Qing Tang picked up her jug of wine and drained it in a single swig.

Perhaps because of the alcohol, her beautiful face flushed red, and her bright, inscrutable eyes sparkled. There was a hint of an extraordinary charm about her.

In all her years of life, she’d never felt more pleased!

“Master, I’m increasingly looking forward to the day we meet again…”

…….

The Abstruse Force Alliance.

“The Holy Son of the Church of the River of Stars died!?”

When Pi Mo heard this news, he couldn’t help but feel dumbstruck.

He sat there alone, his typically inexpressive face shifting erratically as tidal waves of shock coursed through his heart.

After a while, he let out a deep sigh and whispered, “Master, it seems that I haven’t heard any good news since you returned…”

A hint of exhaustion appeared on his brow.

First, two experts of the Studio of the Heart, Feng Ji and Fei Yun, lost their lives at Profound Sky Academy.

Then, the Levitating Sword Hall was crushed, and its Emperors were executed, including their leader.

Almost immediately afterward, they lost the grand battle in the Ten Directions Yao Mountains. The unparalleled deathtrap overseen by Elder Yin of the Studio of the Heart, Bai Yi, Garuda, and a throng of Yao Emperors set in the mountains was a complete failure!

Later, the Three-Eyed Golden Toad, an emissary of the Studio of the Heart, met with disaster during a trip to the estate of the Middle Province Wang Family!

This series of defeats had long since stirred up an unprecedented uproar. To Pi Mo and the Abstruse Force Alliance, they represented one major setback after another, and they’d had a powerful impact.

The world’s cultivators already saw Pi Mo as a traitor who’d betrayed his sect and spurned his master. He was the subject of widespread criticism, and the masses spat upon him.

Even the factions formerly subordinate to the Abstruse Force Alliance had drawn a clear line between them. Now, only the five surviving members of the Six Great Daoist Sects remained in the Abstruse Force Alliance.

Now, even Pi Mo’s attempt to borrow another’s hands to kill his master had failed. Who’d have thought that even Holy Son Qin Feng of the Church of the River of Stars would die a brutal death in front of the Middle Province Wang Family?

Pi Mo’s heart was as steady as a mountain, but now, he was under unprecedented pressure. He was now keenly aware of just how dire his predicament was.

“Song Chai once said that if Qin Feng went all out, he’d be able to kill even me. Now, he lost at the hands of Master’s reincarnation… does that mean that if Master and I were to clash head-on, I’d…”

Pi Mo shuddered, and he dared not pursue that line of thought any further.

He’d never underestimated his master’s strength, but when he learned that his master’s cultivation was still only in the Profound Illumination Realm, in his heart of hearts, he still felt a certain sense of superiority.

He was in the Profound Unity Realm. He hadn’t been at all afraid to fight his master.

It was only now that Pi Mo realized just how badly mistaken he’d been!

After a lengthy silence, he no longer hesitated. He decisively took out the Primordial Hellscape Painting and unfurled it in the air.

The door to the immortal cave in the corner was still tightly shut.

Pi Mo looked over and said gravely, “Young Mistress, it’s not that I’m unable to stay calm, but this really is a crisis. No matter what, please come out and speak with me!”

But there was only silence from the immortal cave.

Pi Mo’s heart filled with indescribable franticness, and he couldn’t help but say, “The emissary has already met with disaster, and Holy Son Qin Feng of the Church of the River of Stars has already been killed. The experts of the Nine Heavens Pavilion realized the situation didn’t bode well and left without even trying to fight my master…”

Before he could finish, a sigh emanated from within the immortal cave.

“Pi Mo, your heart is in chaos.”

That voice was cold, clear, ethereal, and pleasing to the ear.

Pi Mo stiffened, and excitement appeared on his face in an uncharacteristic loss of composure. He muttered, “Young mistress, you’ve finally responded to me…”

That clear voice rang out once more. “I’ve been in seclusion this whole time, but I neglected your feelings. If you feel that you’ve been wronged, I apologize.”

Pi Mo took a deep breath and shook his head. “What need is there for you to apologize to me, Young Mistress? I have only myself to blame for letting my master’s return influence my heart, leading to a loss of comportment. If anything, I’m the one who ought to apologize.”

The immortal cave’s tightly shut door slowly opened.

A graceful figure emerged. She was a transcendent beauty in white, with her hair tight up. Her skin was lustrous and crystalline, and she had a cold serenity about her, like an orchid growing in a secluded valley.

Pi Mo quivered, and his eyes shone with a hint of infatuation. A moment later, he lowered his head, afraid that he’d lose his composure if he looked any longer.

This was the young mistress of the Studio of the Heart! A prominent figure of mysterious origins!

She stood outside the immortal cave and said coolly, “I already know everything you told me earlier. I have to admit that Su Xuanjun’s strength has surpassed my expectations. That said, you should relax. The situation isn’t dire yet.”

“The situation isn’t dire yet?” murmured Pi Mo.

The woman subtly inclined her head. “Look.”

She raised her hand.

Boom!

Suddenly, the hovering Primordial Hellscape Painting trembled violently. Within the blood-soaked picture of a demonic realm, one terrifying aura after another surged forth, like primordial demon gods awakening from a long dormancy.

Pi Mo gasped in visible astonishment.

Because he could tell that those terrifying auras belonged to entities so powerful, he couldn’t discern their depths!

“The Primordial Hellscape Painting is a supreme treasure of our sect. It contains a true demonic realm, and those terrifying lifeforms are all experts our founder captured and imprisoned. They include unparalleled demons and yao, as well as experts whose names once shook the starry skies,” the woman said softly. “If I fully unleash the scroll-painting’s sealed power and let those terrifying entities out, a storm of carnage and bloodshed is sure to befall the world.”

With that, she waved, and the violently shaking Primordial Hellscape Painting returned to its former stillness.

“Do you still think we need to be afraid of Su Xuanjun?” she asked.

Pi Mo shook his head. He felt reassured, and the overcast look on his brow had disappeared without a trace. He sighed, “So, you had a plan all this time. Now, I can finally rest assured.”

“Didn’t your master used to say that a calm proceeds every storm? I hope that you won’t panic any further over the next few months.” With that, the woman turned and re-entered the cave. Her voice emanated from within, “Three months from now, if Su Xuanjun dares show up, we’ll be sure to make him fall flat on his face.”

Soon, the doors to the cave were tightly shut, but her cold, serene voice still echoed through the air.

Pi Mo felt as if a massive weight had lifted from his shoulders. He slowly straightened his back, and a hint of a cold smile tugged at the corners of his lips. If I didn’t act like I was panicking, there’s no way you would have been willing to see me, Junior Apprentice Sister…

……

The Middle Province Wang Family, the Allmist Spirit Mountains.

Three days after Qin Feng’s death, the Heavensdeath Demon Empress returned.

“Big Brother Su, I kept you waiting.”

When she saw Su Yi, the Heavensdeath Demon Empress flashed him a charming smile, her starry eyes full of tender sentiment and her voice as soft as water.

“Don’t get full of yourself. It’s not like I was just sitting around waiting for you,” Su Yi said flatly.

The Heavensdeath Demon Empress rolled her eyes, then laughed. “Big Brother Su, have a look at these.”

As she spoke, she stretched out her right hand and flipped her palm. A jade pendant and a bronze seal floated into the air.

The jade pendant was clean and smooth, while the bronze seal was old-fashioned and worn. Both carried the air of countless years, but other than that, there was nothing outwardly special about them.

But when Su Yi saw these treasures, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Did you find these Dark and Gold Treasures yourself?”

“If I could recognize Dark and Gold Treasures, I wouldn’t have let those Nine Heavens Pavilion people trick me,” the Heavensdeath Demon Empress sighed.

But then, her red lips curved into a smug grin. “But I finally managed to vent this time. I tricked the Sixth Warden into giving me these!”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. “And he didn’t suspect you at all?”