First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2483 – I strive for the Dao, and Find Joy Therein

The night was dark and deep. Lanterns hung from the eaves.

Bamboo swayed within a courtyard, and the fragrance of flowers and grasses wafted into the air, soothing the heart and mind.

Su Yi sprawled out in his wicker chair. He looked relaxed, or he would have, except that his brow was furrowed. He was pondering recent news of Luo Qingdi.

Finally, he made his decision. “A’Ning, we’ll just have to wait until next time.”

He’d set course for the Tianxiu Sword Shrine the following day.

After the banquet ended, he went to Xi Ning’s residence alone. He’d planned to enter her dreams and see that mysterious dreamscape for himself that night. He wanted to see if he could uncover anything.

But Luo Qingdi was in peril, so he had no choice but to set these plans aside for now.

“Business first.” Xi Ning sat on the stairs, her voice soft. “You don’t need to worry too much. The Qilin Race’s information network is unparalleled. If they say that the experts of the Three Purities Daoist Court and their allies still have the Tianxiu Sword Shrine surrounded, that unquestionably proves that Luo Qingdi is still alive.

Su Yi inclined his head.

It had been about five days since Luo Qingdi had fought his way into the Tianxiu Sword Shrine. He’d been trapped inside ever since, but it was unlikely that anything had happened to him yet.

“Some things are of greater importance and urgency than others. My problem can wait until you have time to resolve it,” said Xi Ning. She seemed extraordinarily calm and tranquil tonight.

Her graceful figure leaned against the stairs beneath the misty darkness of the night. She already had an ethereal, extraordinary air about her, but the flickering lamplight lent her an additional dreamlike charm.

When she looked at Su Yi, the depths of her gaze revealed nigh imperceptible hints of tenderness.

Over the past few years, she and Su Yi had spent barely any time together, but she paid close attention to everything he’d been up to.

She understood better than just about anyone that since Su Yi’s return to the God Domain, he was always either fighting or rushing toward his next battle.

And his exploits had thrown the entire God Domain into upheaval with great frequency.

Between the battles at Skybright Mountain, Qingwu Divine Court, Cloudy Heights Temple, and the Endless Ocean, everyone had long since lost track of how many gods had died beneath Su Yi’s sword.

Even numerous Undying Realm Master Gods had perished beneath Su Yi’s sword.

All of this combined meant that Su Yi’s reputation had soared in just a few short years, dazzling everyone beneath the heavens.

But… Who could possibly have understood how hard these years had been on Su Yi?

He’d faced blood, flame, and life-and-death trials along his journey. He’d been injured too many times to count, and he’d faced almost certain doom on numerous occasions.

Others just saw his shocking reputation and unparalleled sharpness. How many saw the blood he shed or the wounds he suffered?

The incident with the Qilin Race was a good example. When he learned that the Qilin were in trouble, he rushed to their aid alone.

Things had only just gotten settled here, but he was already preparing for a journey to the Tianxiu Sword Shrine!

When she saw Su Yi lie back in his wicker chair, Xi NIng couldn’t help but say, “If you’re tired, rest. Do nothing at all and get some sleep.”

Her voice was utterly doting.

Su Yi was stunned. He turned to look at her, then smiled. “In all my years of cultivation, I’ve never dared to slack off in the slightest. Is it tiring? Sure, you could say that, but more than anything, cultivation is a delight.”

“A delight?”

“That’s right. Fighting the heavens is endlessly delightful. So is fighting the earth, and so is fighting other people.” Su Yi shifted his gaze toward the night sky, the depths of his gaze lighting up.

“I wholeheartedly seek the Dao, and I find delight in it. My journey might seem exhausting, but in my eyes, they’re the perfect whetstone to temper myself with!”

Even though he was sprawled out languidly in his chair, his whole body emanated indescribable pride.

Xi Ning’s eyes sparkled, and ripples coursed through her heart. This is Su Yi. He… has never given into exhaustion, nor has he ever given up!

He strives for the Dao, and finds joy therein!

Perhaps that’s why, no matter how great the adversity or how dire his situation, he’s never truly been defeated before?

“What really exhausts me are trivial matters of little importance,” sighed Su Yi. “But that’s just how the world is. No one is ever truly free or truly unfettered.”

Xi Ning pressed her lips into a smile, her beautiful face extraordinarily charming and enticing beneath the lamplight. That’s indeed the case. The greatest dangers to one’s aspirations aren’t difficulty and adversity, but rather, all those complex yet trivial distractions.

But… who can remain entirely unaffected?

“A’Ning, I have a strong premonition that when the Dark Days of Legend arrive, I’ll face an unprecedented crisis,” Su Yi said softly. “There’s no telling how many people are making secret preparations to settle things with me once and for all. But I’m quite eager for that day to arrive.

“But there’s always someone skulking about in the shadows, too impatient to wait. Some of my enemies will choose to stir up the wind and waves now to disrupt my heart and prevent me from knowing peace.

“I know what they’re thinking. They’re worried that I’m breaking through too quickly, but they don’t dare to face me in a head-on confrontation, so they can only resort to petty tricks and schemes to restrict me, fritter away my time, and prevent me from focusing on my cultivation.”

Cold light arose in the depths of his gaze. “In that case, this time, I’ll just have to show all of my enemies in the God Domain what I’m really capable of!”

Xi Ning’s heart shook. She understood that Su Yi was talking about the Three Purities Daoist Court and the other top factions surrounding Luo Qingdi.

This incident had obviously hardened Su Yi’s determination. He was going to go all out!

He’d kill and kill until the entire God Domain shook, and until his enemies’ wills to fight crumbled. None would dare to stir up any waves then!

“While I’m at it, I can resolve some of my enmities from past lives before the Dark Days of Legend arrive,” said Su Yi. He took out a jug of wine and had a sip.

He had numerous enmities in mind.

There was his grudge against Hua Hongzhen, who’d betrayed Yi Daoxuan and his wife, and he’d yet to really punish the old-timers who’d betrayed him in the Endless Ocean…

Now, he had the strength and influence to threaten any top faction beneath the heavens.

He’d originally wanted to focus on his cultivation, then settle those lingering grudges of his past lives when the Dark Days of Legend arrived.

But now… Su Yi had changed his mind!

The world was already changing rapidly, and everything was already in turmoil. In that case, he didn’t mind fanning the flames of upheaval!

Soon, it was late at night. All was dark save for the pale moon and a smattering of stars. A wind blew past.

Su Yi and Xi Ning chatted for a long time. There was nothing they couldn’t share with each other.

For Su Yi, being alone with Xi Ning was a rare and precious chance to unwind. There was no need to worry about anything, and no need for reservations. He could just follow his heart and chat about anything that came to mind. It was extremely relaxing.

“Brother Su, I heard that the peach blossoms are in bloom in Sunset Perch Island year-round, and that they’re as radiant as the sunrise. They say it’s one of the most beautiful views in the Endless Ocean,” Xi Ning said suddenly. “Might… I see it for myself?”

Su Yi was briefly stunned. Then, he smiled. “Of course you can. Sunset Perch Island doesn’t just have peach blossoms; it has all the delights of the ocean, too. There’s nothing I like better than sitting on the white sand beaches, watching the waves and the sunrise or sunset. You can see it for yourself when you get there.”

Xi Ning’s eyes filled with uncontrollable longing. “Very well. I’ll set off tomorrow.”

“When you leave, you should ask Li Sanjiu to accompany you,” said Su yi.

Xi Ning inclined her head. She had always been independent and disinclined to rely on other people, but when she heard the concern in Su Yi’s voice, how could she possibly refuse?

……

The following morning.

The sun had yet to rise when a treasure ship set off. Soon, it had vanished over the horizon.

Su Yi stood at the head of the boat, his long hair and sleeves fluttering in the wind. He’d only just bid Xi Ning farewell.

After a while, he tied his hair into a loose topknot, took out a jug of wine, and drank.

Luo Qingdi’s sudden appearance seemed quite suspicious. Rather, the timing seemed fishy.

Dark currents were flowing beneath the surface of the God Domain. The wind and clouds were rising, and signs of upheaval were cropping up all over the place.

Spacetime forbidden zones had appeared throughout all four of the divine continents, and more and more experts of other spacetimes had entered the God Domain. Some formed alliances with other factions, while others recruited allies.

Those factions with roots in the God Domain going back countless years had, for the most part, chosen to lie low and stay out of the upheaval outside their gates. They were busy preparing for the Dark Days of Legend.

The world hadn’t changed much on the surface, but everyone knew an unparalleled storm was brewing!

The Dark Days of Legend would arrive in less than twenty years. Then, the God Domain… would really be turned on its head!

Thus, over the past few years, numerous ancient, influential experts had gone into hiding. They feared nothing more than being swept into the storm before the Dark Days of Legend arrived.

Despite the circumstances, the changes at the Tianxiu Sword Shrine had provoked the Three Purities Daoist Court and their allies into action.

Even Luo Qingdi, who’d been missing all this time, had finally shown himself. After a bloody battle, he found himself trapped in the Tianxiu Sword Shrine.

Something obviously wasn’t right here.

Why hadn’t Luo Qingdi ever gone looking for Su Yi?

Who in the God Domain didn’t know that Su Yi had taken up residence on Sunset Perch Island? And who didn’t know that he’d grown strong enough that not just anybody would dare to provoke him?

It was strange that Luo Qingdi hadn’t contacted Su Yi, but it was even stranger that he hadn’t contacted Luo Xuanji, his little sister. After all, she was the person he cared about most!

The appearance of the Three Purities Daoist Court and their allies was out of the ordinary, too.

It hadn’t been long since the battle in the Hazy Sea Forbidden Zone. Su Yi’s prestige was at an all-time high afterward. This glorious feat had astonished the God Domain; even its top factions trembled.

Moreover, both Yun He and Yun Xiao of the Three Purities Daoist Court had been injured during the battle. Both had fled in panic.

And Yun He and Yun Xiao both knew who Luo Qingdi was! After all, they’d been among those who’d tried to intercept Su Yi on his way to the God Domain. There, they’d fought Luo Qingdi personally. How could they not recognize him?

And how could they not have understood Luo Qingdi’s connection to Su Yi?

Yet now, Luo Qingdi had inexplicably shown up out of nowhere, and the Three Purities Daoist Court had inexplicably chosen to go to great lengths to target him.

Su Yi naturally found this suspicious. If it turns out that they’re targeting me again, this time… I’ll be sure to make them understand that if you play with fire, you get burned!

Su Yi raised and drained his jug of wine, his blue robes fluttering in the wind.