First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2476 – Unraveling a Mystery, All Becomes Clear

Su Yi sank into thought.

Xi Ning’s dreamscape was indeed strange and unbelievable, but upon giving it further thought, it wasn’t hard to discover that the indistinct conversation was between that mysterious woman and child.

He was also certain that Xi Ning and that mysterious woman had some sort of special relationship.

And it turned out that the mysterious woman had sought out Dao Venerate Lin, all for the sake of seeking something through reincarnation!

A strange notion rose uninvited to Su Yi’s mind. Could it be that that mysterious woman was Xi Ning’s past life, and… that she was looking for me?

Su Yi wasn’t flattering himself. Rather, back in the Immortal Realm, the Book of Karma had told him of an extraordinary karma that existed between him and Xi Ning.

Su Yi had pondered the matter many times since. After all, ever since they’d first met, a natural, tacit understanding had existed between him and Xi Ning.

When he and Xi Ning were together, he felt relaxed and at ease. There was no need to worry, and oftentimes, there was no need for words. A single glance was enough to understand what the other wanted.

Take this strip to the Thunderwind Sea. The moment Xi Ning asked to come with him, Su Yi realized that she had something to tell him.

At first, it had been just a guess and a feeling, but after their time in the Epoch Battlefield, the changes that arose on Xi Ning’s person convinced Su Yi that he and Xi Ning really had known each other before!

He vividly recalled the way the mysterious seal inside Xi Ning had awakened. A starkly different power and awareness had appeared within her.

At the time, she said, “I just hope that the next time we meet, we won’t ever part ways again.”

That aside, when he met with the spearwoman, Li Jinghong, she told him that the relationship between him and Xi NIng was extraordinary, and that they’d naturally understand the karmic tie between them when Xi Ning awakened the source of her talent.

All of this had long since convinced Su Yi that Xi Ning’s past life had been close with one of his past lives.

She was the incarnation of someone who’d once been important to him!

That was why Su Yi concluded that she’d gone into the cycle of reincarnation in search of him after hearing about Xi Ning’s dream.

But Su Yi couldn’t figure out who that child formed out of a drop of water was. He didn’t ring any bells.

Something occurred to Su Yi, and he transmitted a message to the heart devil in the rusted sheath, explaining Xi Ning’s situation in full.

Then, he asked, “Just… who is she?”

The heart devil fell uncharacteristically silent. A long time passed without a word.

This unusual response told Su Yi that the heart devil knew Xi Ning’s origins… and that he wasn’t willing to discuss them!

A long time passed before the heart devil sighed. “She sure is stupid!”

It was just a few words, but they carried a hint of exasperation and indescribable melancholy.

Su Yi could tell that Xi Ning’s origins really were incomparably extraordinary, and that she’d known his first incarnation!

Before Su Yi could ask any further questions, the heart devil said, “She’s yet to awaken her memories, and you’ve yet to fuse with my Dao Imprint, so there’s no need to go into this any further.

“Once you’ve both awakened, you won’t need me to explain. You’ll naturally understand the situation on your own.

“But I can tell you that if you let her down, it will throw your heart out of balance when you fuse with the Dao Imprint I left behind when I entered the cycle of reincarnation.

“Don’t… discuss anything regarding her with me going forward.”

With that, the heart devil sank back into silence. He had nothing more to say.

Su Yi rubbed his forehead.

The heart devil’s attitude was far too out of the ordinary. It was thus obvious that Xi Ning’s relationship with his first incarnation wasn’t simple!

Here, Xi Ning couldn’t help but ask, “What are you thinking about, Fellow Daoist?”

She’d told Su Yi about her dream because the woman she saw in her dreams had mentioned the cycle of reincarnation.

Su Yi gazed intently at Xi Ning’s incomparably beautiful face, then said, “A’Ning, you’ve guessed some of the situation, haven’t you?”

Xi Ning’s eyelashes fluttered. “Mm.”

The atmosphere was instantly heavier. Su Yi could tell that Xi Ning looked uncertain, and that her hypothesis left her a bit ill at ease.

Su Yi understood this unease better than anyone.

“There’s no need to worry. No matter how you change after awakening the mysterious imprint within your body, you and I met and got to know each other in our current incarnations. Nothing can erase that.” Su Yi said gently, “I understand your concerns.”

He’d reincarnated numerous times. How could he have failed to understand Xi Ning’s unease? She was worried she’d become someone else entirely.

“You and your past self are, ultimately, the same person,” Su Yi said gently. “What you need to do is accept her, fuse with her, and adapt. It might help if you think of your current self as… having lost some of your memories.”

Xi Ning inclined her head and let out a deep breath, her gaze gradually mellowing. “I’ve always been curious. In this world, some people call you Wang Ye, while others call you Li Fuyou or Yi Daoxuan… But how do you aee yourself?”

Su Yi smiled, took a sip of wine, and said, “I answered that question long ago, back in the Human Realm. A single sentence is enough to describe it: ‘I compete with myself. There’s no one I’d rather be than me!’”

He smiled. “All of them are me, whether they’re my past lives or my current incarnation! In my heart, I know who I am.”

As confusing as it sounded, Xi Ning understood. All of them are Su Yi, but none of them can replace Su Yi.

Because those past selves are no more than other lives he’s lived. His current self is his true self!

Xi Ning said, “Your past lives are like your memories, except that they’d been sealed. Now, you’ve begun breaking these seals, one by one, and fusing with your past selves. Right?”

Su Yi inclined his head. “That’s one way of understanding it.”

Xi Ning stretched. A relaxed, joyful look appeared on her face. “I understand what I have to do next.”

She looked like a young woman, and when she relaxed, she had a natural charm about her. Her eyes were bright and beautiful.

Her skin was snowy and bright, and it glowed beneath the light of the heavens. She was as beautiful as a painting, and the sight of her soothed the eyes.

Su Yi enjoyed spending time alone with her. “If possible, next time you have such a dream, I’ll watch over you, and while I’m at it, I’ll see if I can join you in your dreams.”

Xi Ning batted her clear, bright eyes.

Su Yi instantly understood. He laughed. “I’ll just enter your dreams. I won’t do anything else.”

It would have been better if he hadn’t explained. Xi Ning’s jade-like face flushed red with bashfulness.

Su Yi couldn’t help but be stunned. This was his first time seeing Xi Ning like this. This was starkly different from her usual ethereal charm.

He coughed dryly. “If it’s inconvenient, forget it.”

Xi Ning shook her head. “Let’s talk more once we’ve resolved things with the Great Yin Divine Race.”

Su Yi nodded.

Entering Xi Ning’s dreams required using his divine sense to enter her soul. That was unquestionably as personal as it got. Even if he pretended to be blind, there was no avoiding sensing Xi Ning’s most private secrets.

That aside, to cultivators, touching someone’s soul was far more sensitive and intimate than touching their body. It was incomparably dangerous, too.

Unless you trusted someone completely, and knew them deeply, you wouldn’t risk it, not even with those closest to you.

Now that Su Yi thought about it, he realized that his suggestion had been a little abrupt, like asking a beauty to spend the night in his room. Of course she’d misunderstood him!

It was then that Li Sanjiu approached from afar.

“Fellow Daoist, the Thunderwind Sea is three thousand miles ahead. The entire area is shrouded in mists manifested by a formation. We’ll be sensed the moment we draw close,” Li Sanjiu said gravely. “But two of our clan ancestors are stationed there. The clan leader already sent word commanding them to receive you. WIth their help, you should be able to sneak in unnoticed.”

Su Yi inclined his head. “We’ve troubled you. When we arrive, you should leave first.”

Li Sanjiu nodded.

Shortly after, an area completely shrouded in leaden clouds came into view. The clouds were completely impenetrable; Su Yi couldn’t see through them at all.

From time to time, blood-red lightning flashed within the depths of the mist, rumbling and booming. The entire area shook, and an air of calamity spread outward.

“This formation blankets the sky, blots out the sun, and hides everything within it from the heavens, but internally, it’s full of hidden threats. It’s quite something.” Su Yi stood at the head of the boat, hands behind his back.

He examined the formation for a little while, then said, “A’Ning, you should head back to Qilin territory with Fellow Daoist Li.”

Xi Ning shook her head. “I’ll stay here. I promise not to be a burden.”

“How could you possibly be a burden?” Su Yi laughed. “If you want to stay, go ahead and stay.”

With that, he took a step forward and shot ahead.

“Li Sanjiu, you should head back for now.” Xi Ning looked at Li Sanjiu.

Li Sanjiu pondered briefly, then said, “Miss Xi Ning, this is the Great Yin Divine Race’s territory. Staying here alone is dangerous. How about I stay behind to protect you?”

“Oh?” Xi Ning keenly picked up on a shift in this peak Nine-Tribulation Master God’s attitude toward her. He was far more respectful than before.

There was no doubt about it. He was treating a junior like her with such respect on Su Yi’s account.

Xi Ning pondered briefly, then agreed.

Off in the distance, Su Yi had yet to draw near that mist-shrouded landscape when an aged voice rang out. “This old man is called Qi Bowen. I’m here with my clan brother, Qi Shulin, to welcome you, Fellow Daoist. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have no choice but to serve as the Great Yin Divine Race’s watchmen, and we cannot welcome you properly. We humbly request your understanding.”

Su Yi nodded. His divine sense had already detected two figures floating amidst the mist-shrouded landscape. These were undoubtedly ancestors Qi Bowen and Qi Shulin of the Qilin Race.

Su Yi transmitted, “It’ll be enough if you can guide me into the Thunderwind Sea.”

“Very well!” Qi Bowen agreed.

Before long, a path silently opened in the mists. It was just large enough for a single person to enter.

Su Yi promptly shot forth, and before long, he’d vanished into the endless mists.