First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1115 - A Mysterious Spearwoman

The Little Western Paradise.

The canopy of the ancient Bodhi Tree stretched into the heavens. Misty light flowed across the surface of its verdant leaves, and a holy aura permeated its surroundings.

An elderly monk as thin as a stalk of bamboo sat beneath the tree, eyes tightly shut, as inert as a boulder.

The white-robed, middle-aged Ji Yuan walked over, then stopped far away, clasped his palms together, and inclined his head. “Master, the battle at Martial Heaven Peak has ended.”

The elderly monk didn’t react in the silence. It was as if he’d sunk into deep meditation and couldn’t hear his disciple at all.

Ji Yuan didn’t find this at all strange. He continued, describing the battle in full detail.

Unlike most of those spreading rumors of the battle, Ji Yuan had witnessed it personally. Thus, he could describe it in vivid, accurate detail.

But when he reached the end of his account, lingering confusion appeared on his brow. “I find it difficult to understand how a cycle of reincarnation could lead to such unbelievable changes. I still cannot be certain who this ‘Su Xuanjun’ really is.”

Beneath the Bodhi Tree, the aged monk’s eyes remained shut, but his hoarse voice emaciated from afar. “Neither of us understands reincarnation, so we cannot fathom the subtleties and wonders of this Grand Dao. Never mind us, not even the leaders of the Nine Heavens Pavilion, the Church of the River of Stars, or the Studio of the Heart have grasped these mysteries.”

Ji Yuan looked stunned. “Master, don’t tell me that not even you can determine just who Su Xuanjun is?”

“I have a theory,” said the old monk, “but I cannot be certain. That said... when Su Xuanjun reclaims the Grotto of Abstruse Force, all will become clear.”

Ji Yuan’s heart shook. “Master, do you think Qing Tang’s actions will help us determine who Su Xuanjun really is?”

The elderly monk subtly inclined his head. “That woman came to the Wilds from the stars beyond eighteen thousand nine hundred years ago. Not even Su Xuanjun realized her true nature, but she couldn’t fool me.”

He paused, then continued, “I’ve largely guessed what she’s after. That’s why I’ve chosen to spend all these years dormant in the Little Western Paradise; I’d hate to alert her by acting rashly. The moment she realizes, all my years of dormancy... will go to waste.”

Before Ji Yuan could ask any further questions, the old monk said, “Calm your heart and wait. It’s been less than half a year since Su Xuanjun’s return to the Wilds, but Pi Mo has already been executed, and the forces of the Studio of the Heart have already fled from his sword. Given Su Xuanjun’s disposition, it won’t be long before he proceeds to the Grotto of Abstruse Force. Then, Qing Tang will surely lay everything out in the open.”

Ji Yuan sank into a brief silence, then inclined his head. “Very well.”

......

Towering cliffs, flowing streams, and pouring waterfalls. Ancient pines dug their roots into the soil, and a lush bamboo forest flourished.

A beautiful mountaintop.

Su Yi sat casually in his wicker chair, watching the clouds stretch over the horizon as he chatted with the Skythorn Poison Emperor.

Two days had passed since Pi Mo’s death.

Su Yi had spent them in silent meditation, stabilizing his early-stage Profound Serenity Realm cultivation base and building his Profound Serenity Dao Platforms. In his soul, he’d condensed his Avatar of Will, and his Laws of the Grand Dao underwent a thorough sublimation.

His combat strength was no longer comparable to what it had been in the Profound Illumination Realm.

“You’re saying that after you all ventured into the stars, you encountered a mighty foe, and only you managed to flee?” said Su Yi, a bit surprised.

Tens of thousands of years ago, the Skythorn Poison Emperor, Peerless Martial Emperor, Ghost Emperor of the Western Seas, and several other old-timers set off, venturing into the stars beyond together.

However, they met with unexpected misfortune shortly after.

Strictly speaking, it was because of a certain spearwoman!

According to the Skythorn Poison Emperor, a mysterious woman had intercepted mid-journey.

She said that their meeting was a stroke of fate, and that anyone capable of blocking one of her attacks could become her subordinate and receive her protection.

That seemed unquestionably domineering, even absurd. The Skythorn Poison Emperor and the others naturally wouldn’t agree.

But they sensed that this spearwoman wasn’t at all simple, so they didn’t insult or overtly reject her. They planned to bypass her and leave.

Who’d have thought she wouldn’t let them? She attacked directly.

The results were terrifying.

She was unbelievably strong. Even when they joined forces, the Peerless Martial Emperor, the Ghost Emperor of the Western Seas, and the others just barely managed to block one of her attacks.

In the end, she took them all away.

Only the Skythorn Poison Emperor made it back to the Wilds.

When he reached this point of the story, his face filled with bitterness and shame. “It’s not that I fled, but that she thought I wasn’t even worth looking at, as I couldn’t block even a single attack. She said I wasn’t worthy of becoming her subordinate.”

“...” Su Yi didn’t know what to say to that. That was far too humiliating!

Although the Skythorn Poison Emperor wasn’t as strong as the Peerless Martial Emperor and the others, he was still an old monster of the late-stage Profound Unity Realm. Furthermore, his poison arts were unparalleled.

Who’d have thought that lady spearwoman would disregard him completely?

“Based on what you told me, that spearwoman is at least a World King. Her cultivation was at least one level above yours,” said Su Yi. “It’s even possible it was multiple realms higher. Right, do you remember what she looked like?”

His curiosity really had been piqued.

Deep within the starry skies, a spearwoman wandered alone, and she took down the Peerless Martial Emperor and the others with ease. This was unquestionably unbelievable.

After all, the Peerless Martial Emperor, Ghost Emperor of the Western Seas, and their traveling companions were all either Imperial Apex or late-stage Profound Unity Emperors. They’d once traveled the Wilds unimpeded, and they struggled to find worthy opponents!

Given their aptitude and foundations, if not for the fragmented Grand Dao of the Dark and God Star Realm, they might well have proven their Daos and become World Kings a long time ago!

They’d ventured into the stars precisely to seek out that higher path.

Who’d have thought a spearwoman would defeat them with ease? How could Su Yi not be surprised?

“Have a look, Old Monster Su,” said the Skythorn Poison Emperor. He flicked his finger, and a jade slip floated into the air. Misty light flowed around it, outlining a scene.

It depicted a boundless, barren starscape. A woman carried a long spear and stood in the void, in front of a shattered meteorite belt.

Her outfit was extremely simple. She wore plain gray cloth robes and straw sandals. A red string tied her flowing dark hair into a ponytail.

Her face was obscured by a bronze mask. Only her icy, pale purple eyes were visible.

She had no other adornments, but even just standing there casually, she emanated the unsurpassed majesty of a sovereign!

How boundless were the starry skies? Yet she trampled them beneath her feet!

Cloth robes, a mask, red string, a ponytail, and a long spear!

She stood there like a sovereign, markedly different from the masses, like a goddess of the spear. The sight of her intimidated the heart and soul.

Su Yi took particular note of her spear. It was fully twelve feet long and gray throughout. The tip was simple and old-fashioned, sharp and restrained.

And the shaft was covered in a mysterious totem reminiscent of the Buddhist swastika, the “卍”!

The swastika represented completion and a new beginning, an endless cycle.

“Was that spearwoman perhaps affiliated with Buddhism?” Su Yi’s eyebrows rose.

Alas, it was just an image. Su Yi couldn’t see any more than was presented.

“Did she perhaps tell you her name or where she came from?” Su Yi asked.

The Skythorn Poison Emperor shook his head. “No. She just called herself a spearwoman. She’s spent the years wandering the stars, seeking out powerful opponents and a stronger path.”

Su Yi was a bit stunned. Interesting!

“Right.” The Skythorn Poison Emperor seemed to recall something. “She asked us about the Dark and Gold Star Realm and said, ‘If fate allows it, I’ll visit. Otherwise, forget it.’”

Su Yi couldn’t help but feel surprised. “It seems she has no worries, nor is she after any specific goal. She leaves everything up to fate. That really is in line with the behavior of some wandering monks.”

When the Skythorn Poison Emperor and his companions encountered the woman in the stars beyond the Wilds, she said they were fated to meet.

That meant she wasn’t after them in particular. They’d simply happened upon each other.

However, she really was quite domineering. They were fated to meet, but she nonetheless attacked, and furthermore, she even took most of them as her subordinates...

“That’s true enough. I really didn’t sense any true enmity from her,” said the Skythorn Poison Emperor. “Furthermore, it’s been a long time since then, but she still hasn’t come to the Wilds. It seems... fate didn’t bring her to us, and she won’t be coming.”

Su Yi teased, “Don’t tell me you want her to come?”

The Skythorn Poison Emperor hurriedly shook his head and said bitterly, “With her strength, if she came to the Wilds, none of us would be a match for her. Not even you, you old monster! Believe me, the disparity is enormous!”

He spoke with firm conviction.

Su Yi laughed, but thought nothing of it. “It’s a difference in cultivation boundary. Sooner or later, I’ll be able to make up for it. I most certainly don’t believe that she’d be able to beat me if we were both in the same realm.”

“That’s true,” said the Skythorn Poison Emperor. He agreed completely.

As the two of them conversed, Jin Kui walked over and said softly, “Master, I’d like to ask what I should do with Pi Mo’s remains.”

“Give them to me,” Su Yi said casually. “Later, when we go to the Grotto of Abstruse Force, I can use his remains to determine whether or not Pi Mo is truly completely dead.”

Jin Kui exclaimed, “Master, you suspect Pi Mo isn’t really dead?”

Su Yi nodded slightly. “Pi Mo has always been meticulous, and he always plans everything before he acts. In the battle a few days ago, anyone with keen eyes would have realized that even if he went all out, he’d be little more than a moth to flame. That’s not his style.”

He paused, then said, “Even if the young mistress of the Studio of the Heart bewitched his soul, that’d be far from enough to make him foolishly throw his life away.”

Jin Kui gasped, “Now that you mention it.... But... How could Pi Mo possibly still be alive? When I gathered his remains, I confirmed that they were from his true body. Even if he cultivated a Grand Dao Clone, now that the original has fallen, there’s no way his clone will survive.”

Su Yi said softly, “I left a Twolives Twin Lotus in the Gotto of Abstruse Force. With it, he could have refined a clone free of the original’s influence. Thus, I need to have a look around the Grotto of Abstruse Force and see whether or not Pi Mo obtained that particular treasure before I can determine if he’s alive or dead.”

Only then did Jin Kui understand. She couldn’t help but ask, “Master, when do you plan to return to the Grotto of Abstruse Force?”

When they heard this, the distant Wang Que, Ye Luo, Bai Yi, and Xuan Ning looked over as well.

The Grotto of Abstruse Force was the foundation of their sect!

More importantly, if they went to the Grotto of Abstruse Force, they’d surely have to settle things with Qing Tang!