First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2278 – One Strike

The Blade of Heaven’s Loathing!

Su Yi recognized the weapon at a glance. It, too, was one of the Nine Mysteries of Chaos! It was loathed by the heavens and feared by men, gods, and gods alike!

The Book of Karma had described “Second Brother Blade” and “Third Brother Sword” as rivals.

In terms of sheer killing power, the Blade of Heaven’s Loathing was among the strongest of the Nine Mysteries of Chaos. Only the Sword of Proximity could compare.

Now, the Blade of Heaven’s Loathing had appeared in Mo Ye’s hands. Its blade force alone was enough to shake the prominent attendees.

“Su Yi’s sword is one of the Nine Mysteries of Chaos, just like my Blade of Heaven’s Loathing,” Mo Ye said icily. “A wondrous connection exists between these treasures. Were Su Yi to come here, the Blade of Heaven’s Loathing would inform me immediately. I’d be able to see right through him even if he were in disguise!”

In other words, Su Yi couldn’t possibly be Su Yi.

The Cloudy Heights Temple higher-ups visibly relaxed upon hearing this. The more perceptive onlookers noticed. Cloudy Heights Temple might have declared war against Su Yi, but they’re still terrified of him!

Still, Mo Ye’s analysis made them sigh in relief, too.

If that young man really was Su Yi, Cloudy Heights Temple wouldn’t be the only ones to suffer. Many of the onlookers would be in danger.

After all, their factions of origin had grudges with Su Yi, too!

The audience included members of the Severed Heavens Demon Court, Red Dust Demon Land, and Qingwu Divine Court, among others.

Su Yi just smiled in response to Mo Ye’s analysis. He didn’t explain; on the contrary, he was glad for the misunderstanding.

As for why the Blade of Heaven’s Loathing hadn’t sensed the Sword of Proximity? That was simple. Su Yi had used the Sword of the Nine Hells to seal it.

Were that not the case, he’d have been detected long before reaching Cloudy Heights Temple.

“You say you’ve come here to flatten Cloudy Heights Temple, but I don’t understand. What gives a mere Mid-Rank God the confidence to boast like that?” asked Abbot Fa Zhen.

As the leader of the temple, he was obviously much more cautious than Mo Ye.

Su Yi said casually, “If you don’t run, I can do it by myself, but to prevent you from fleeing during the chaos, I had to invite a few helpers to seal off your escape routes.”

Many of the gathered experts reacted the same way. Helpers! Just as I thought. That’s why he’s so fearless!

“Oh, is that so? And where are these helpers of yours?” Fa Zhen asked calmly. He wasn’t intimidated.

Su Yi laughed. “You’ll see them if you try to flee.”

He swept his gaze across the distant attendees and said leisurely, “Of course, I urge you not to flee either. Once I’ve settled things here, I’ll naturally let you leave.”

The crowd’s expressions filled with uncertainty. This felt ridiculous. A Mid-Rank God was threatening experts of top orthodoxies. He was simply… sick in the head!

“Whether we stay or go isn’t up to you,” a gray-robed elder said with a cold snort. He was a Greater God from the Red Dust Demon Lands, and he was quite famous in the Southern Flame Divine Continent.

“You’re welcome to leave now, then,” Su Yi said flatly. “Everyone is watching. Refuse to leave now, and that’ll make you a spineless craven. I’ll take it as acknowledging that I make the rules here!”

“You…” The gray-robed old man’s expression reddened. He could sense numerous gazes focused on him.

He felt thoroughly uncomfortable, but when you rode a tiger, it was hard to get back off.

If he stayed, he’d disgrace himself. But… What if he left and something bad really happened?

“Fellow Daoist, don’t listen to his nonsense!” Grand High Elder Hui Jin had remained silent this entire time, but now, he interjected, “You’re an honored guest of Cloudy Heights Temple. You’re welcome to leave whenever you please. Rest assured that we absolutely won’t just stand back and watch anything happen to you!”

He made it sound nice, but many of the onlookers’ expressions shifted. Who could miss that Hui Jin was urging the old man to leave and see what happened?

The gray-robed elder’s expression shifted erratically, but in the end, he shook his head. “The Dharma Assembly of Warding Evil isn’t over yet. How could I leave now? That would make me seem far too cowardly.”

“….” The crowd fell silent. No matter how nicely you put it, you can’t hide the fact that you wimped out.

Su Yi shook his head. He couldn’t be bothered to pay the old man any further heed.

Hui Jin, meanwhile, said gravely, “Everyone, this impudent child brazenly ruined our assembly. To avoid causing trouble for you, I declare that this assembly is now over!”

He paused, then said, “You’re welcome to assist us in defeating him. If you don’t wish to get involved, I’ll have to ask you to leave immediately!”

The crowd was flabbergasted. All of them exchanged glances.

He wasn’t kicking them out; he was using them as weapons. Alternatively, he wanted them to risk their lives and see what happened when someone tried to leave!

If they stayed behind and helped Cloudy Heights Temple fight that unknown young man, there was no way they could remain bystanders.

The crowd was instantly enraged. They’d come here to watch a ceremony. Who could have imagined they’d get swept into a storm like this?

“Abbot Fa Zhen, surely the lofty Cloudy Heights Temple can resolve this upset on its own?” an older-generation expert said in a huff.

“As Martial Uncle Hui Jin said, it’s precisely because we’d hate to see you implicated that we’ve asked you to leave,” Fa Zhen said flatly.

The crowd’s expressions darkened, but they couldn’t argue.

Someone looked at Su Yi. “Sir, might you show mercy and permit us to leave?”

“Don’t panic. Once I’ve flattened this place, I’ll be sure to let all of you leave,” Su Yi said calmly. “For now, though, you’d best sit tight and wait.”

It was then that Mo Ye snorted icily. “Cloudy Heights Temple has made itself perfectly clear. Leave immediately, or join us in battle!”

The crowd was trapped in the middle, unable to retreat or advance. All of them were shocked and furious.

Su Yi couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh. “I’ve got to say, Cloudy Heights Temple really is shameless. No wonder you committed so many shameless, unseemly acts over the years.”

With that, he shot into the air. “I finally understand. This is the limit of your ability. If you’re out of tricks, just attack me already.”

Boom!

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, terrifying murderous intent surged from Su Yi’s body, rising into the firmament.

Laws of the Natural Order interwove, transforming into an abyss of chaos around him.

His divine majesty immediately intimidated everyone present. Countless people felt intense pressure bearing down on them.

Some of the onlookers tried to guess Su Yi’s identity based on his Laws of the Grand Dao, but all such attempts ended in failure.

This was because Su Yi’s path of divinity was unique and unprecedented. He could fuse ten thousand Daos into himself, and he could naturally manifest the mysteries of ten thousand Daos, too.

If he wanted to hide his identity, no one, no matter who they were, could discern it based purely on his energy fluctuations.

Of course, if he ran into truly troublesome opponents, Su Yi wouldn’t mind revealing his true identity.

“Since we’re going to fight, why not ask your allies to step forth?” Abbot Fa Zhen bellowed.

The way he saw it, as terrifying as this Mid-Rank God’s presence was, he alone wasn’t worthy of concern. What really concerned him was that even now, he saw no sign of this interloper’s allies.

“I said it, didn’t I? So long as you don’t run away, I alone am enough to flatten this place.” Su Yi walked through the sky, drawing closer to Abbot Fa Zhen.

Everyone was astonished. Without exception, their minds went blank. A Mid-Rank God is challenging a group of Undying Realm Master Gods!? That’s simply insane!

“Let me be the first to test your mettle!” A tall, powerfully built, old monk stepped forth, his whole body shining with Buddhist light. His aura was terrifying.

Fa Heng!

He was a Two-Tribulation Master God and Abbot Fa Zhen’s junior apprentice brother. The people of the Southern Flame Divine Continent knew him as the Blazing Summer Arhat.

When Fa Heng stepped forth, Frigid Pool Mountain trembled beneath his feet. The clouds shattered overhead, and the surrounding skies churned violently.

He arrived beneath the dome of heaven in a single bound, his eyes blazing like twin suns as he said with seething murderous intent, “Dare you fight me, you evil creature?”

His voice boomed far and wide. Everyone felt their heart shake.

Fa Zhen, Mo Ye, Hui Jin, and the others readied themselves for battle, on guard in case Su Yi’s allies attacked.

“No need for that.” Su Yi shook his head slightly. His robes billowed as he suddenly raised his right hand, pressed his fingers together like a sword, and attacked Fa Heng from afar.

Kcch!

A simple, unassuming streak of sword qi appeared out of nowhere and then descended upon Fa Heng, quick as teleportation.

This strike was just too simple, without any skill to speak of. The sight left the gathered experts gobsmacked. That’s all he’s got!?

But when Hui Jin, Mo Ye, and the other Master Gods saw it, their gazes focused. All of them looked stricken.

The power imbued in that strike was enough to fill even their hearts with unease!

At the same time, Fa Heng sensed something strange about that slash. He was instantly solemn, and he dared not be negligent. He fought back with all his might.

Boom!

Waves of Buddhist light emanated from him, condensing into thirty-three golden lotus barriers above his head. Undying Laws interwove, manifesting an illusory Buddhist tower.

A thousand worlds appeared reflected in the tower, all of them blazing with Buddhist flame!

“Hah!” Fa Feng’s hands formed seals, and he struck Su Yi’s incoming sword qi like an Arhat subduing demons or a temple guardian.

This strike was so mighty that it made heaven and earth change color. Even the formation covering Frigid Pool Mountain rumbled and boomed.

The boundless skies of the far west rumbled, startling countless lifeforms.

The onlookers gathered around the ritual grounds felt their hair stand on end. This was the power of a Master God. How could it possibly be ordinary?

But a moment later, everyone was left unwittingly stunned and rooted to the spot as they watched something unbelievable happen.

That simple, unassuming streak of sword qi cleaved through Master God Fa Heng’s full-force attack as if it were made of paper window paneling!

Boom!!

First, Fa Heng’s hand seal split, scattering into a rain of golden light.

Immediately after, the treasure tower condensed out of Undying Laws boomed and collapsed. The thousand words inside it crumbled, and its Buddhist flames went out.

Next, the thirty-three golden lotus barriers exploded, producing an all-encompassing torrent of destructive power that enveloped the firmament.

Last of all, Fa Heng’s tall, stalwart, Undying Golden Body split.

He’d been cleaved in two!

Scalding hot divine blood fell like a waterfall, red and stingingly bright.