First Immortal of the Sword

Luo Yunxiu shook his head. "No one knows where the founder has gone, and everything regarding his whereabouts has long since been classified as top secret."

He paused, then said hesitantly, "Seems to me that there's only one person in the sect who might know these secrets."

"Who?" asked Su Yi.

Luo Yunxiu answered with a name Su Yi had never heard before. "Ancestor Hunshan."

Su Yi's brow furrowed.

Luo Yunxiu seemed to realize something. He said in a quavering voice, "Senior, I told you everything I know. Please, spare me!"

Su Yi nodded. "You have indeed been quite cooperative, so I'll let you choose whatever manner of death you like best."

Luo Yunxiu froze, stunned, then broke down and shouted, "Aren't you afraid of my sect's retribution? Why push me like this?"

Crack!

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, Luo Yunxiu shattered a talisman.

Then, he said with a hideous smile, "I've already called for aid. Even if you kill me, you won't escape disaster!"

"Oh," said Su Yi. "Then I'll just wait for your reinforcements to arrive, and I'll let you die thoroughly convinced of your defeat. How about it?"

Luo Yunxiu found this hard to believe. "Are you serious?"

"I don't tell jokes." Su Yi took out his jug of wine and had a sip.

He was actually eager to see just what kind of reinforcements Luo Yunxiu would be able to rally.

"Sir, this is too dangerous. I urge you to reconsider." Yan Beixue couldn't help but warn. He felt Su Yi was being overly reckless.

Spirit Vessel Yao Court was a peak faction with numerous Nine-Tribulation Master Gods there to oversee things.

Ancestor Hunshan, the one Luo Yunxiu mentioned, was particularly powerful. He was also Master Golden Crane's younger apprentice brother.

"If we can't beat them, we can just run away," said the River Child as he gathered up the spoils. He wasn't the least bit concerned.

"Run away?" Luo Yunxiu couldn't help but say, "This is the Endless Ocean! The moment Spirit Vessel Yao Court issues a bounty, you won't escape, no matter who you are!"

The River Child giggled. "I see. Now that you see hope of survival, your spine's grown back."

Luo Yunxiu shuddered, then said nothing.

"Let's have ourselves a chat first," said Su Yi. He turned around to look at Yan Beixue, then said, "Are you Yan Chizhen's descendant?"

Yan Beixue shook. "Did you figure it out a long time ago?"

"Is he still alive?" asked Su Yi.

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, and the Great Yin Lightning Transformation Spear flew from the gray-robed man's grip and landed in Su Yi's palm.

The gray-robed man looked stricken, but just as he was about to object, Yan Beixue waved for silence.

"If you like that spear, you're welcome to take it," Yan Beixue said with a smile.

"Answer my question first," said Su Yi, gazing intently at the spear.

Yi Daoxuan had given it to Yan Chizhen a long, long time ago. At the time, both of them were still just Greater Gods.

In the years that followed, both of them became Undying Realm Master Gods and stood at the pinnacle of the Endless Ocean.

Of Yi Daoxuan's eight dear friends in the Endless Ocean, he was closest to Yan Chizhen.

It was for this reason that Su Yi had chosen to board the tower ship in the first place; he'd noticed that Yan Beixue and Yan Chizhen looked a lot alike. More importantly, their auras were similar in a way that suggested he practiced the same legacy as Yan Chizhen!

"My father died a long time ago," said Yan Beixue, his expression dark.

"He's dead?" Su Yi looked up and gazed intently at Yan Beixue. "How did he die?"

"He was hunted down and killed," said Yan Beixue. He met Su Yi's gaze, then asked, "Why ask about that?"

After a moment's silence, Su Yi returned the Great Yin Lightning Transformation Spear and said, "First, tell me a little more about how your father died. After that... I'll give you an answer."

Yan Beixue nodded. "This isn't some kind of secret; it just happened a long, long time ago."

His eyes filled with reminiscence. "A long time ago, my father and the Master of Sunset Perch Island were dear friends, like sword brothers, and they understood each other deeply. Everyone in the Endless Ocean knew it, too."

"Not long after the Master of Sunset Perch Island, my father found himself beset with grave peril, too.

"And shortly after the Master of Sunset Perch Island passed away, my father was so overcome with grief and fury that he set off on a solitary journey of revenge."

Yan Beixue's expression was full of grief. "He went to Nine Demon Mountain and killed Demon Master Shen Ning. However, he was also badly injured in the process, and his life hung in the balance."

"Your father killed Shen Ning?" Su Yi was stunned, as Demon Master Shen Ning had been one of Yi Daoxuan's eight dear friends in the Endless Ocean.

"That's right. Father investigated and discovered that Demon Lord Shen Ning had colluded with the Master of Sunset Perch Island's enemies, repeatedly revealing his whereabouts. Furthermore, he monopolized most of what the Master of Sunset Perch Island left behind after he died."

Yan Beixue sighed. "At first, Father didn't even consider the possibility that Demon Master Shen Ning had betrayed them. He first went to Nine Demon Mountain to join forces with Demon Master Shen Ning and work together to avenge their mutual friend, the Master of Sunset Perch Island.

"But not long after he arrived at Nine Demon Mountain, my father discovered the truth and declared war on Demon Master Shen Ning in a fit of rage."

Su Yi's expression shifted erratically. "What happened next?"

"My father was badly injured, and he'd revealed his location, so a throng of powerful enemies chased and surrounded him. In the end, he perished," said Yan Beixue. As he spoke, he took out a worn-out talisman. "This is the message my father left me in his last moments."

Su Yi accepted it, then saw that it contained but a single sentence.

"Forget your grudges, and don't ever try to avenge me!"

It was just one sentence, but it filled Su Yi's heart with indescribable grief. He'd truly never even considered the possibility that Yan Chizhen was already dead...

Much less that he'd died trying to avenge Yi Daoxuan!

Su Yi took out a jug of wine and drank silently. The wine sloshed into his stomach, but he was in no mood to enjoy its flavor.

Yan Beixue had no idea how Su Yi was feeling. He let out a long sigh and tried to rally his spirits. "However, later, I found out that although Father died, he killed yet another powerful enemy while on the run!"

"Who?" asked Su Yi.

"The founder of Divine Gale Mountain, Jin Yuanzi!" Yan Beixue said with pride. "At the time, Father was already badly injured and surrounded by powerful foes, but he still managed to drag Jin Yuanzi to the grave with him. Knowing that, I trust that Father went to the Yellow Springs satisfied!"

Jin Yuanzi...?The image of an unsmiling Daoist in an iron crown floated into Su Yi's mind. He, too, had been one of Yi Daoxuan's eight closest friends, and even among them, he was an old-timer who'd long since become a peak Nine-Tribulation Master God.

His strength had been about comparable to Master God Yun He's, which meant that he was a bit stronger than even Liuxiang Hen.

"So Jin Yuanzi... was a traitor, too?" Su Yi looked a bit dazed.

By now, of Yi Daoxuan's eight old friends in the Endless Ocean, he could say with certainty that Demon Master Shen Ning of Nine Demon Mountain, Jin Yuanzi of Divine Gale Mountain, and Master Golden Crane of Spirit Vessel Yao Court, were traitors!

"I'm sure of it. Otherwise, why would the old bastard help our enemies hunt Father down?" said Yan Beixue. "Afterward, I heard rumors that after Father died, some of those prominent figures once close to the Master of Sunset Perch Island distanced themselves from him for fear of being implicated.

"Many of them even chose to work with the Master of Sunset Perch Island's enemies.

"However, those were all just rumors. I don't know how much of that's true, or who really did what. What I can say with certainty is that at least some of our former allies really did choose to work with our enemies to avoid being implicated!"

Su Yi agreed with this assessment.

After all, human relationships were often superficial. When a man died, his friends and followers' hearts wavered.

But that just made Yan Chizhen's reaction seem all the more precious.

That was also why Su YI was so overcome with grief.

Yan Beixue pondered his next words briefly, then said, "Might you tell me why you're asking now?"

The others pricked up their ears, too.

"I'll be sure to answer you soon enough," said Su Yi before changing the subject. "First, tell me what you came to the Endless Ocean to do, and why people are trying to ambush you."

Yan Beixue sighed, then explained the situation. It was actually quite simple.

Last year, Yan Beixue was ambushed, and although he escaped, he suffered severe Dao Wounds in the process.

He'd come to the Endless Ocean because he'd received reliable intelligence that someone was about to auction off an unparalleled treasure known as Colorful Ambrosia. The auction was to be held in Seven-Star City.

Colorful Ambrosia was a true Undying Realm treasure of heaven and earth used to repair Dao Wounds.

That was why Yan Beixue had taken the risk of coming here. He wanted to acquire it and cure himself.

Who could have imagined that this "reliable intelligence" would turn out to be a trap?

"That guy should understand the situation best," said Yan Beixue, gesturing to the kneeling Luo Yunxiu.

Luo Yunxiu quivered from head to toe, steeled himself, then said, "It's true. This was a trap, right down to the information about the Colorful Ambrosia. Spirit Vessel Yao Court spread word on purpose to lure Yan Beixue out of hiding."

"Information, that's all," said Su Yi. "How were you so certain that Yan Beixue would take the bait?"

Luo Yunxiao said softly, "If I tell you, can you let me leave with my life?"

Su Yi said calmly, "If you don't tell me, I won't wait for your reinforcements. I'll destroy you immediately."

"I'll speak!" Luo Yunxiu directly wimped out. "Yan Beixue would normally have found this information hard to believe, but when he heard it from the person he trusted most..."

Before he could finish his explanation, something unexpected happened.

The gray-robed man working for Yan Beixue suddenly seized the girl in red by the throat and shouted, "Stay away from me, all of you, or I'll kill her on the spot!"

As he spoke, he took his hostage and retreated explosively away.

Su Yi remained calm. The River Child looked on with derision. Both of them naturally realized what was happening.

"So, Wei Jia, you really did betray me," said Yan Beixue, a complicated look on his face. He'd obviously suspected this for a long time, but he hadn't been willing to believe it.

There was no doubt about it. Reality was cruelest of all.

Wei Jia's actions proved that he had indeed sold Yan Beixue out.

"Your Excellency, I truly had no other choice," said Wei Jia, his expression shifting and full of agony. "They forced me to do this!"