First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 971 – Nine-Star Sword Mountain

When Su Yi arrived, he found numerous figures clustered in the waters surrounding the Burial Ground of the Dao.

However, this stretch of ocean was so boundlessly vast that the gathered experts were still quite a distance from one another. It seemed they were on guard against each other.

“What are they doing? Waiting to watch the show? Or are they here to welcome their allied experts as they return from the Burial Ground of the Dao?” The Netherworld King didn’t quite understand it.

Su Yi shook his head. “They’re contemplating in hopes of an opportunity to break through.”

The Netherworld King was stunned.

But then, Su Yi continued, “The misty light of the Grand Dao envelops the Burial Ground of the Dao on all sides. This radiance originates from the power of the Laws of the Netherworld’s source. The sound of the Dao reverberating throughout this stretch of sky might seem fleeting and ethereal, but in truth, it’s the rhythm of the Laws of the Grand Dao. Much like a person’s breathing or the tidal fluctuations of the ocean, it hides all manner of secrets.

“If you calm your heart and contemplate, you can easily seize an opportunity to enter a state of enlightenment, break through the shackles of your cultivation, and realize a shocking metamorphosis in your pursuit of the Dao.

“But if your cultivation is inadequate or your accumulations are insufficient, it’s easy to descend into obsession and perish, your Dao destroyed!”

The Netherworld King felt enlightened, but at the same time, her eyes shone with a hint of strange light. “Fellow Daoist, does that mean that you too have come here in search of an opportunity to prove your Dao and break into the Imperial Realm?”

“That’s right.” Su Yi nodded. “If everything goes as I expect, I’ll become an Emperor within the Burial Ground of the Dao.”

Here, the depths of his gaze shone with a hint of anticipation.

Proving his Dao and becoming an Emperor!

The way Su Yi saw it, all of the hard work he’d put in since his reincarnation was in preparation for this.

This realm was a dividing line.

So long as he crossed it, it would mean he’d stepped into the same Dao he’d reached in his past life!

More importantly, back then, it was in the Burial Ground of the Dao that Su Yi discovered clues to the secrets of reincarnation. This meant that these ruins were like a bridge invisibly connecting Su Yi’s past and present lives.

The Netherworld King was stunned.

She wouldn’t have guessed that Su Yi would be so forthright and open.

However, looking at it from another angle, she could tell that Su Yi had absolute confidence in his impending breakthrough into the Imperial Realm! After a moment’s silence, the Netherworld King said, “Apparently, half a year ago, when the Burial Ground of the Dao reappeared, forces from the top factions of all six territories and thirteen realms of the Netherworld came to explore and investigate. That means that by now, countless experts have already gathered inside the ruins.”

Su Yi nodded gently.

Proving his Dao and becoming an Emperor was just one of the reasons he’d come to the Burial Ground of the Dao.

More importantly, he was here to search for Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer and the old rooster!

Also, he suspected that the mysterious Netherworld Vessel was somehow connected to the Burial Ground of the Dao!

“Are you sure you want to go there?” asked Su Yi.

The Burial Ground of the Dao was the most taboo, perilous place in the Sea of Bitterness. Even Emperors were unlikely to fare well there.

The Netherworld King didn’t so much as pause to think. “Of course. After all, this is just a clone. Even if I die in there, it wouldn’t matter. The risk is minimal, and I have a chance of uncovering the secrets of reincarnation. If I succeed, I’ll profit enormously.”

“Then you’d best watch yourself,” said Su Yi. He wasted no further time on persuasion.

With that, he put away the Unsinkable Boat and shot into the distance.

“Fellow Daoist, do you plan to travel on your own?” The Netherworld King couldn’t help but ask.

“Nonsense. You’ve had your sights on me this entire time. How could I not take precautions?” Su Yi didn’t so much as turn to look at her.

“….”

The Netherworld King said nothing. She was just about to give chase when Su Yi blurred, shot into the air, and gripped a thread of the radiant, misty light surrounding the Burial Ground of the Dao.

It was as if he’d caught a rope falling from the heavens. His figure swayed subtly, and he disappeared into the air.

Trying to leave me behind? There’s absolutely no way! The Netherworld King made up her mind.

It was true that she had ulterior motives for traveling alongside Su Yi.

Su Yi had explored the Burial Ground of the Dao in his past life, and he knew this forbidden, dangerous place like the back of his hand. Furthermore, it was here that Su Yi found clues to the secrets of reincarnation.

It was for this reason that the Netherworld King dared say with certainty that traveling alongside Su Yi would absolutely come with numerous benefits!

Yet now, Su Yi was trying to give her the slip. How could she possibly be willing to let that happen?

Whoosh!

The Netherworld King shot forward in a flash and launched into action.

However, she quickly stopped in midair and furrowed her brow.

Back in the City of Eternal Night, Su Yi told her how to get into the Burial Ground of the Dao.

But now that she was trying to put them into action, she realized that she needed to wait for an opportunity!

The Burial Ground of the Dao was surrounded by countless misty lights of the Grand Dao. One way to enter was finding a wisp of light amongst the countless strands that contained the Laws of Space.

Earlier, Su Yi had done just that.

But when the Netherworld King arrived, she discovered the streaks of light containing the Laws of Space darted about unpredictably. They were extremely difficult to capture.

A long time passed before she finally managed to catch a streak of light containing the Laws of Space. Despite her success, she was inwardly glum.

Because she realized that it would be quite difficult to catch up to Su Yi.

“No matter what, I’m going to find you!” The Netherworld King gnashed her teeth.

Whoosh!

Her graceful figure disappeared into thin air.

……

The Burial Ground of the Dao.

A snow-white full moon hung overhead, casting its faint silver radiance.

Mountains rose and fell, and the landscape seemed boundless, with a desolate, primordial air.

Atop one of the mountains.

“Your Excellency, it’s been half a month, but no one’s come in. Do we still have to stand watch here?” A black-robed man whose hair and beard were unkempt asked softly.

He was dark-skinned, with an ancient sword on his back. His eyes shone with fierce, intimidating light.

“It’s only been half a month. What’s the rush?” said an old man in a tall hat and old-fashioned robes. He sat there cross-legged, and his voice was calm. “We just need to act in accordance with our orders and keep watch over this entrance.”

There was a strange diagram on the left shoulder of his robes: nine stars surrounding a sword.

The black-robed man couldn’t help but say, “Sir, I still don’t understand. Just who are Pi Mo’s disciples looking for?”

The old man shook his head and shrugged. He wasn’t sure either.

Suddenly, the old man looked up. Spatial fluctuations suddenly rippled through the skies shrouded in silver moonlight.

“Someone’s here!” The black-robed man’s spirits soared, and he immediately got to his feet.

However, the elder was comparatively calm. “Let’s wait and see what their cultivation base is first. It would be best if they cooperated. It won’t be too late to take action after they refuse to come quietly.”

The man in black nodded.

As they conversed, the skies rippled, producing a low boom.

Immediately afterward, a young man in blue appeared amidst the flowing light.

Unlike most entering the Burial Ground of the Dao for the first time, he seemed calm and composed. He stood there, hands behind his back as he evaluated his surroundings.

Both the man in black and the elder were a bit surprised.

Who in the Netherworld didn’t know that the Burial Ground of the Dao was one of its most perilous forbidden grounds?

Throughout its history, any expert who came here immediately took out their treasures and remained on high alert for fear of sudden, unexpected developments.

But this young man didn’t seem the least bit nervous or on guard.

What surprised them even more was that his cultivation was only in the Spiritual Revolution Realm!

“Sir, it seems to me that there’s no way that kid is our target.”

The man in black seemed a bit disappointed.

He didn’t hide his presence or his voice; he seemed utterly fearless.

The old man sighed too. “The little fellow might not be particularly strong, but he sure is gutsy. He actually dared come to the Burial Ground of the Dao alone. Just go capture him.”

With that, the old man closed his eyes. It seemed he couldn’t be bothered to pay this matter any further heed.

I don’t want to deal with a kid like that either, you know, the man in black muttered to himself.

However, he still rallied himself, shot into the sky, and gazed at the distant blue-robed young man. “Little fellow, you sure have guts. You actually came to the Burial Ground of the Dao alone? Aren’t you afraid of death?”

Su Yi stood in the distant skies and pondered out loud, “Is this a robbery?”

The black-robed man laughed derisively, and he couldn’t even be bothered to explain. “Enough. Cut the crap and come over like a good boy. When the time comes, I’ll send you somewhere else.”

Su Yi stroked his jaw. “Where?”

The man in black was obviously running out of patience, and he shouted, “What’s with all the bullshit? Get over here! If you make me do this the hard way, it’ll cost you no small amount of pain!”

His aura abruptly turned cold and murderous, while the ancient sword on his back let out a subtle hum. Even the surrounding air wailed.

A Profound Illumination Emperor!

“Very well.” Su Yi walked on over.

The man in black snapped his fingers. “Truly a clever child. Come with me, then.”

He turned and walked out of the sky, arriving atop that mountain.

Su Yi drifted down shortly after.

When he saw the old man seated cross-legged, his eyebrows rose.

The diagram left the old man’s lapels was of nine stars orbiting a sword. That was the symbol of Nine-Star Sword Mountain!

And Nine-Star Sword Mountain was one of the Wilds’ Six Great Daoist Sects!

Su Yi was starting to understand. “You’re members of the Abstruse Force Alliance?”

Before leaving for the Sea of Bitterness, the boss of the House of the Cicada told him that Gu Ziming, Shangguan Jie, Ni Shuang, and Cheng Tiankun—four of Pi Mo’s disciples—had recently led experts of the Six Great Daoist Sects to the Sea of Bitterness in search of the Burial Ground of the Dao.

Still, Su Yi hadn’t expected that he’d bump into them as soon as he arrived!

This naturally wasn’t a coincidence.

“Eh? You’re quite perceptive, kid!” The man in black couldn’t help but be surprised.

They were from the Wilds. Here in the Netherworld, aside from a handful of old-timers from top orthodoxies, practically no one could discern their origins at a glance.

Yet now, a Spiritual Revolution Realm young man had done just that!

The old man seated cross-legged silently opened his eyes and took another look at Su Yi. He said calmly, “Seems your background isn’t simple, my young friend.”

Su Yi laughed. “You’re keeping watch here. Why is that?”

There were thirty-six spatial tunnels leading into the Burial Ground of the Dao. Each led to a different section.

Su Yi could help but suspect that the forces of the Abstruse Force Alliance had already set up sentries beyond each and every entryway!

And they had to have a reason for doing such a thing!