First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2469 – Captured Alive

The pavilion was called “Refreshing Jade.” This was where Qi Wei lived and cultivated.

Despite its name, today, the Refreshing Jade Pavilion was extraordinarily lively.

First, Qi Jingxiao and the other clan higher-ups had shown up uninvited. Next, Xi Ning arrived, followed by Shang Wushe.

Now, Shang Wushe had ordered that Shang Yun kill Xi Ning in front of the crowd. The atmosphere in Refreshing Jade Pavilion was tense to the extreme.

But just as this disaster was about to unfold, that calm voice rang out. Even before he arrived, the sound of that calm voice made Xi Ning’s eyes light up.

It’s him? Xi Ning’s expression shifted, her heart on tenterhooks. What’s he doing here!? Didn’t Ancestor Qi Rongshan and Li Sanjiu go to intercept him? Why did he stubbornly show up anyway?

Qi Jingxiao and the other higher-ups were initially confused, but they quickly seemed to grasp what was happening. Their expressions shifted, too.

Shang Yun disregarded that voice. Shang Wushe had told him to kill Xi Ning, so he naturally wouldn’t hesitate. No matter who showed up, they could forget about trying to stop him!

He took a step forward and arrived beside Xi Ning, using his fingers as a knife to cleave at her throat.

“Stop!” Clan Leader Qi Jingxiao was already on guard. Now, he didn’t hesitate to intervene.

But someone else was even quicker! A tall, upright figure appeared before Xi Ning, seemingly out of nowhere.

Bang!

Shang Yun’s palm strike could have destroyed a fellow Greater God with ease.

But when it landed on that upright figure, it was as if he’d attacked an unshakeable mountain. Shang Yun didn’t just fail to hurt this new arrival; he himself staggered back on impact, his wrist almost shattered.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Tables and chairs shattered behind him. Furniture crumbled, decorations split and collapsed, and it was only after he reached the wall that he just barely managed to stabilize himself.

His cold, indifferent face alternated white and green.

Only now did he see this new arrival clearly. He was a handsome young man in blue robes. Even just casually seated there, he had an air of transcendence about him.

Su Yi! It really is him! Qi Wei’s eyes widened with worry and excitement.

She was worried because by showing up here, Su Yi had practically jumped into the firepit. He was sure to meet with grave peril.

But she was excited because Su Yi had come despite knowing the consequences!

Su Yi!? Qi Jingxiao and the other higher-ups exchanged glances. Their hearts shook, and their expressions shifted.

From their perspective, Su Yi’s arrival actually made the situation even more troublesome! Were that not the case, why would they have bothered sending Qi Rongshan and Li Sanjiu to dissuade Su Yi from coming?

But…

None of them had guessed that Su Yi would come anyway, much less that Li Sanjiu would lead him right into Refreshing Jade Pavilion.

For a moment, Qi Jingxiao and the other higher-ups were completely flustered. They had no idea what to do next.

But when she saw Su Yi’s familiar figure stand in front of her once more, all of Xi Ning’s anger and anxiety vanished.

Utter calm and confidence took its place. She felt like an untethered boat that had suddenly found the shore. A sense of peace appeared on her face, and it arose from the very depths of her heart.

Whether she lived or died, and no matter what disasters befell her, everything was fine so long as that tall, upright figure was there.

Shang Wushe’s gray eyes glared at Su Yi, but then, he broke into a grin. “Su Yi! So, it’s you! Hahahaha! A clear path to the heavens lay before you, but you insisted on barging your way into hell uninvited anyway!”

His voice was full of delight and excitement, and his aged face was nothing but smiles. There was no doubt about it; he’d seen images of Su Yi before, and he’d recognized him at a glance!

But his laughter was extraordinarily grating to the ears. Qi Jingxiao and the others’ hearts tensed, and they felt a deep sense of foreboding.

Su Yi? Shang Yun finally understood who this uninvited guest was. He’s that unparalleled swordsman! The reincarnator!

Su Yi really wasn’t in disguise. It was true that he’d planned to show up under the guise of Li Sanjiu’s disciple, but when he heard the commotion in Refreshing Jade Pavilion, he could no longer be bothered with that.

When he took in Shang Wushe’s delight, Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh too. “Am I your ancestor? If not, why are you so happy to see me?”

“….” No one knew what to say to that.

Shang Wushe’s smile froze. Then, he said coldly, “Family Head Qi, I order the Qilin to capture Su Yi and deliver him to the Great Yin Divine Race for punishment! Refuse, and you’ll suffer the backlash of breaking your Vow to the Heavens. All of you will be instantly reduced to ash!”

Everyone’s expressions shifted. This inescapable crisis had finally arrived!

Qi Jingxiao took a deep breath, then said gravely, “Daoist Brother Shang, you said that so long as my daughter and Shang Yun got married, you wouldn’t force us to oppose Fellow Daoist Su. You…”

But Shang Wushe interrupted him before he could finish. “The wedding isn’t for another three days. That promise… does not yet apply!”

“You…” Qi Jingxiao’s expression darkened.

“Hurry up and attack! Are you really going to break your ancestral precept and Vow to the Heavens?” Shang Wushe said sinisterly.

But before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, Su Yi vanished, then appeared in front of Shang Wushe.

He raised his right hand, then lightly, airily pressed down.

“You’re courting death!” Shang Wushe laughed coldly. He’d long since been on guard; this wasn’t the least bit surprising.

The moment Su Yi took action, Shang Wushe’s sleeves billowed. His long, stick-thin figures formed seals, and a swath of taboo blood-red light descended.

“The Lifeless Blood Moon Seal!” Shang Yun’s eyes lit up with strange light. Clan Uncle is simply ruthless! He’s using his strongest divine ability right off the bat.

How could Su Yi, someone who only just recently broke into the Undying Realm, possibly block it?

There’s no doubt about it. Clan Uncle has long since been prepared. After Su Yi’s brilliant performance in the Hazy Sea Forbidden Zone, Clan Uncle knew better than to look down on him. By showing up now, Su Yi has effectively thrown himself into our net!

Shang Yun could tell what was going on, so how could old-timers like the Qilin higher-ups fail to realize it?

Their hearts clenched. The same thought rose unbidden to their minds: This is bad!

Boom!!

A heaven-shaking impact rang out.

The pavillion was covered in mysterious defensive formations, but it exploded into pieces in the face of that sheer destructive power.

Churning smoke and mist reduced the pavillion to scorched earth.

When the dust and smoke cleared, a series of gasps rang out. “This…”

Qi Rongshan looked on in disbelief. The other Qilin higher-ups were wide-eyed and tongue-tied too.

The scene that had appeared before them wasn’t the worst-case scenario they’d been picturing. On the contrary, the results of this sudden clash completely overturned their imaginations and perceptions of reality.

Because… Shang Wushe had been captured alive!

The old man’s hair was disheveled, and his gaunt frame trembled uncontrollably. Astonishment and horror were written all over his face. He was like a startled chicken, unable to even struggle!

“How is this possible!?” Shang Yun cried out. Clan Uncle has touched the threshold of the River of Destiny. He’s even stronger than Nine-Tribulation Master Gods!

And he used the Lifeless Blood Moon Seal, his strongest divine ability!

What Nine-Tribulation Master God in the God Domain could possibly be a match for him? Yet now, his strongest ability was blocked, and he was captured alive in a single attack!

How could Shang Yun possibly have accepted this all at once?

“That guy… is as unbelievable as ever…” murmured Qi Wei. She looked dazed.

At a critical juncture, her father had stood before her, shielding her from the impact.

She was unharmed, but when she saw Su Yi effortlessly suppress and capture someone on Shang Wushe’s level, even she was a bit stunned.

No one in this world has ever truly grasped Fellow Daoist Su’s limits, Xi Ning thought to herself. Perhaps that’s why all of this seems so unbelievable to them.

Li Sanjiu had immediately stepped in to shield her, so she hadn’t felt the impact, either.

Now, when Xi Ning gazed at Su Yi’s tall, upright figure bathed in the light of the heavens, a dazed look rose unbidden to her beautiful face. She couldn’t help but recall her time exploring the Immortal Realm with Su Yi.

“Don’t just stand there! Hurry up and attack! Save my clan uncle!” Shang Yun said icily.

Qi Jingxiao and the others were jolted to their senses. They exchanged glances, then furrowed their brows.

Qi Jingxiao’s heart stirred. He bellowed, “Su Yi, hurry up and let him go! Otherwise, the Qilin absolutely won’t let you off!”

The other higher-ups reacted with seething murderous intent. All of them made it clear that if Su Yi didn’t let his captive go, they’d ensure he died here!

Their murderous intent rose into the heavens, stirring up the wind and clouds.

But Su Yi just laughed.

Whap!

He smacked Shang Wushe across the face, leaving his cheeks red and swollen. He’d even left a five-fingered imprint behind.

Then, he said casually, “if any of you dare try anything, I’ll kill him on the spot.”

“This…” Qi Jingxiao and the others hesitated. All of them looked troubled.

Shang Yun gnashed his teeth, his gaze icy. There was no way he’d miss that they were just putting on an act. He even suspected that in their heart of hearts, the Qilin were grinning from ear to ear!

“Daoist Brother Shang, how do you think we should resolve this?” Qi Jingxiao sighed, then looked at the captive Shang Wushe with deep concern.

“That’s right. Whether we attack or not is entirely up to you!” The others spoke up, one after another, all of them the very picture of righteous indignation, as if they wanted to eat Su Yi alive.

Qi Wei had a strange look in her eyes. Why didn’t I realize that these old-timers were such skilled performers?

And they’re acting so upright and righteous about it, too. Those who didn’t know better would never have suspected them of putting on an act.

But what kind of person was Shang Wushe? There was no way he’d fail to realize that the Qilin’s anger was just for show!

His heart filled with fury, but outwardly, he feigned calm. “Do the Qilin dare defy their ancestral precept and Vow to the Heavens!?”

“We absolutely wouldn’t dare!” Qi Jingxiao said without pausing to think.

“In that case, if I die, will Su Yi be able to leave your territories alive?” asked Shang Wushe.

Qi Jingxiao said with firm assurance, “We’d do our utmost to capture him and avenge you, Daoist Brother!”

“See that, Su Yi?” Shang Wushe said gravely. “It doesn’t matter whether the Qilin are just putting on an act. If I die, they still won’t be able to violate their ancestral precept or their vow. They’ll have no choice but to become your enemies!”

His gaze filled with ruthlessness. “It’s true that they might well look the other way and let you leave, but if they do, my people will punish them severely. We’ll leave them with no choice but to fight you to the bitter end, whether they like it or not!”

His voice boomed throughout the surrounding area.

The atmosphere instantly grew stifled and heavy.