First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 958: Little Heavenly Prayer

Su Yi laughed.

It seemed like the Netherworld King was answering his questions, but in truth, she was trying to ‘follow a vine back to the melon’ and pry information out of him.

But Su Yi couldn’t be bothered to take her to task. “The Burial Ground of the Dao does indeed contain leads relating to the secrets of reincarnation.”

The Netherworld King’s eyes lit up. “So if someone finds said leads, they’ll be one step closer to uncovering the secrets of reincarnation?”

Su Yi chuckled and drummed the table. “You’re answeringmyquestions.”

The Netherworld King couldn’t help but smile, and she straightforwardly told him about the forces the Nine Heavens Pavilion had sent to the Sea of Bitterness.

Nine years ago, the Third Warden of the Nine Heavens Pavilion sent a group led by two Executioners, Hong Ying and Mo Chuan, to the Netherworld in search of the secrets of reincarnation.

After arriving in the Netherworld, Fourth Executioner Hong Ying led a group of experts to the Sea of Bitterness. To avoid revealing anything about the Nine Heavens Pavilion, they called themselves experts of the Far Shore.

Only Fifth Executioner Mo Chuang proceeded alone to the Sea of Bitterness to investigate the Netherworld King’s whereabouts.

Hong Ying was accompanied by seven Jailers and three Chosen Apostles.

And Hong Ying was after Liu Changsheng because not long ago, Liu Changsheng killed a Chosen Apostle, Wen Zhongxu.

Wen Zhongxu was a prominent figure amongst the sect’s Chosen Apostles. One of the Heavenly Libationers thought highly of him and believed he had the potential to compete for the title of Holy Son.

Yet now, he’d died a miserable death at Liu Changsheng’s hands. This naturally infuriated Hong Ying.

Su Yi finally understood the situation.

During his earlier discussion with the Timekeeper, he asked about Liu Changsheng. According to the Timekeeper, not long ago, Liu Changsheng killed an early-stage Profound Illumination Emperor of the Far Shore. They attacked him as a result, and his injuries were so severe that he’d had no choice but to seek refuge in the City of Eternal Night.

Hong Ying had come to see the Timekeeper to urge him not to get involved, and he wanted permission to kill Liu Changsheng within city limits.

The Timekeeper naturally refused.

However, Hong Ying didn’t let up, and he’d already made his position clear. If Liu Changsheng didn’t leave the City of Eternal Night within three days, Hong Ying would take action against him.

“Is he so typically so bold?” asked Su Yi.

The Netherworld King paused, but after a moment’s thought, she realized Su Yi was referring to Hong Ying, and she couldn’t help but smile. “He’s the Fourth Executioner of the Nine Heavens Pavilion, and he’s in the mid-stage Profound Serenity Realm. With his mastery of the Laws of Heavenly Prayer, it would be difficult for him to find a worthy opponent in the Netherworld.”

Here, she added, “Of course, you’re an exception, Fellow Daoist.”

Su Yi was capable of countering the Laws of Heavenly Prayer. That was no different from mastering a lethal weakness of the members of the Nine Heavens Sect!

“And you?” said Su Yi. “What’s your ranking amongst the Nine Heavens Pavilion’s Wardens, and what is your cultivation?”

The Netherworld King’s eyes flashed, and she chuckled, “Of the seven Wardens, I’m ranked at the bottom. As for my cultivation? It’s a bit inferior to what yours was in your past life.”

“Still, you’re a Profound Unity Empress. Even in the Nine Provinces of the Wilds, you’d be a peak expert.” Su Yi stared intently at her. “Besides, you’ve mastered the Laws of Heavenly Prayer.”

The Netherworld King sighed. “And what good are the Laws of Heavenly Prayer? In ancient times, they still trapped me within the City of the Wrongfully Dead, didn’t they?”

Su Yi laughed. Then, he suddenly asked, “And what are the Heavenly Libationers’ cultivations?”

The depths of his gaze revealed a hint of eagerness.

The way he saw it, the seven Wardens of the Nine Heavens Pavilion were already in the Profound Unity Realm. The Heavenly Libationers were ranked above even the Wardens, so it seemed entirely possible that their cultivation transcended the Three Realms of the Profound Dao. They might well have stepped onto an even higher path!

And it was that very higher path that Su Yi had reincarnated to pursue!

The Netherworld King batted her charming eyes. “Fellow Daoist, if you’re willing to chat with me about the secrets of reincarnation, I wouldn’t mind telling you a bit about the Nine Heavens Pavilion’s three Heavenly Libationers.”

After a moment’s silence, Su Yi said, “Very well. Let’s talk about something else.”

“Alright.” The Netherworld King twirled a strand of windblown blue hair growing from her temples and said softly, “I came to see the Timekeeper to ask about the Burial Ground of the Dao. However, he said that I was working with Hong Ying, and he refused to tell me anything.”

She looked at Su Yi. “Might you clear up my doubts, Fellow Daoist?”

Su Yi smiled and asked, “Does this count as the beginning of our exchange?”

“It does.” The Netherworld King nodded.

Su Yi took out a jade slip and passed it to her. “This contains a method for entering the Burial Ground of the Dao, as well as some information about its layout.”

The Netherworld King couldn’t help but feel a bit stunned. “Fellow Daoist, did you already guess why I visited the Timekeeper?”

Su Yi laughed. “It wasn’t difficult to infer, now was it?”

The Netherworld King’s beautiful eyes shifted. Then, she burst into laughter. “Fellow Daoist, you’re so kind and considerate. I’m truly afraid that I’ll fall for you.”

Her lips were as red as fire, and her skin was whiter than snow as she sat there languidly, like a sovereign presiding over the nine heavens. When she laughed, that beauty capable of bewitching the masses made everything around her seem duller by comparison.

Su Yi made no attempt to disguise his admiration. Beauties were like paintings: both deserved whole-hearted appreciation.

However, more than that, he was keenly aware of just how terrifying this woman was. He didn’t let her beauty muddle his head.

“So long as you don’t act up, you’re welcome to fall for me,” Su Yi said leisurely. “Also, you still have to answer my questions in exchange for that slip.”

The Netherworld King didn’t put the slip away. Instead, she asked, “Are you still interested in the Heavenly Libationer’s abilities?”

Su Yi shook his head. “I’ve lost interest in that answer. I’m more curious about the sect’s core treasure, that Dao Sword.”

The pupils of the Netherworld King’s beautiful eyes constricted, and after a moment’s silence she said, “Aside from the sect master, no one knows the sword’s origins. Aside from him, no one in the sect even knows what the sword really looks like.”

“Not even the Heavenly Libationers?”

“Not even them,” the Netherworld King said with staunch assurance.

Su Yi couldn’t help but feel a bit dejected.

The way he saw it, the Dao Sword of the Nine Heavens Pavilion wasn’t at all simple. It was most likely the foundation upon which the sect had established itself!

“Then can you tell me about the leader of the Nine Heavens Sect?” asked Su Yi.

A complicated expression appeared on the Netherworld King’s face: deep dread, fanatical admiration, and bone-deep hatred.

In the end, she sighed. “The Pavilion Leader is so mysterious that even I, a Warden, have never seen his true appearance. During my time cultivating in the Nine Heavens Sect, I’ve only met him twice.

“The first time was when the former First Warden betrayed the sect. The leader took action personally. It took him just three days to return to the sect with the First Warden’s head and announce the First Warden’s replacement.

“The second time, he left without anyone else knowing about it, then brought a three or four-year-old girl back from the outside world. He then announced that she was to be his closed-door disciple.”

An inscrutable light appeared in the Netherworld King’s eyes. “No one knew her background, but all of us knew that her future prospects were inestimable. It even seemed entirely possible that she’d become the next Pavilion Leader.

“It was only afterward that members of the Nine Heavens Pavilion learned that our leader granted that little girl an unbelievable Daoist title.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but be intrigued. “What was her title?”

The Netherworld King’s red lips parted, and she spoke just two words. “Heavenly Prayer.”

Su Yi’s eyes focused.

Heavenly Prayer!

The Nine Heavens Pavilion was built in a plane called the Heavenly Prayer Star Realm, and the calamitous power of the Grand Dao its members wielded was called the “Laws of Heavenly Prayer.”

Yet the sect master had granted the little girl he’d brought back to the sect the title “Heavenly Prayer.” There was absolutely no way he’d do such a thing casually.

In other words, there were surely enormous secrets behind this decision!

“We old-timers of the Nine Heavens Pavilion are in the habit of calling her ‘Little Heavenly Prayer,’” said the Netherworld King. “However, Little Heavenly Prayer hasn’t appeared since she first entered the sect. No one has laid eyes on her since. Still, we’re all certain that as the Pavilion Master’s closed-door disciple, she’s sure to return sooner or later.”

Here, the Netherworld King asked with a smile, “Well, Fellow Daoist? Does that answer satisfy you?”

Su Yi nodded, and the Netherworld King put away the jade slip.

The two of them went on to ask and answer numerous questions.

Regrettably, when the questions involved the mysteries of reincarnation of the core secrets of the Nine Heavens Pavilion, neither was willing to reveal anything lightly.

As a result, neither learned much of what they wanted to know.

But then, Su Yi wasn’t overly disappointed.

He didn’t even know where the Heavenly Prayer Star Realm was. There was naturally no rush to learn everything about the Nine Heavens Pavilion.

However, the Netherworld King was obviously a bit unwilling. Her eyes flashed, and she laughed, “Fellow Daoist, I dare say with certainty that with your current cultivation, you couldn’t possibly be a match for me. If I attacked you now, I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to escape unless the Timekeeper intervened.”

She paused, then added, “Furthermore, I’m well aware that you can counter the Laws of Heavenly Prayer. Should we fight, there’s no way I’ll pit my weaknesses against your strengths. Given the circumstances, what do you think your odds of victory are?”

This sounded like idle conversation, but the atmosphere shifted, becoming tenser and heavier.

Su Yi thought for a moment, then laughed. “You might as well try me. After all, you’re only an avatar. Win or lose, it won’t affect your true body much at all.”

The Netherworld King stared intently at him for a moment. Then, in a voice as soft as water, she said… “In that case… I really am going to try you.”

Before her voice had even finished echoing through the air, she raised her fair, slender right hand and snapped her fingers.

Bang!

The entire stretch of sky silently seemed to catch ablaze as countless fine, chain-like streaks of firelight exploded into being.

They were instantly cut off from all of heaven and earth.

Su Yi found himself in a world as red. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but fine, scarlet chains, and all of them were sweeping toward him.

Scarlet formed a domain, and chains of fire bound even gods!

This mysterious and inscrutable power seemed like the work of a sovereign presiding over the nine heavens, transforming the heavens and swapping out the sun!