FIRST IMMORTAL OF THE SWORD

Chapter 1044 - His Life Is Under My Protection!𝓯𝙧𝒆𝒆𝔀𝒆𝓫𝒏𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝙘𝒐𝙢

This new arrival was dressed in a feather coat, and he had a willowy beard. A Dao sword hung by his waist, and he had an extraordinary bearing!

Most striking of all, he stood atop a golden thundercloud!

“An expert from the Nine Extremes Profound Capital!” There was a disturbance amongst the guests, and their expressions shifted with irrepressible awe.

The Nine Extremes Profound Capital!

This was the top Daoist sect of the wilds, one of the Four Apexes of the Wilds. That meant that it was home to an Imperial Apex expert!

Throughout all of the Wilds and its associated worlds, only the top Buddhist holy land, the Little Western Paradise, the top Demonist sect, the Demons’ Elysium, and the Grotto of Abstruse Force could stand shoulder to shoulder with it!

Until recently, the Grotto of Abstruse Force had been the greatest faction in all of the Wilds, the leader of the Four Apexes!

But everyone knew that in the five hundred years following the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force’s passing, the Grotto of Abstruse Force had descended into internal turmoil. Its strength was far from its former peak.

“Someone from the Nine Extremes Profound Capital?” Yue Bailing and the others were briefly stunned, but then, they realized something, and their spirits soared.

This new arrival was only in the Profound Illumination Realm, but with his status, everyone present had to treat him with respect. None would dare offend him.

In stark contrast, the Red Lotus cultists were solemn, and their expressions were shifting and uncertain.

Zhangsun Hong, who’d seemed confident and grand just moments prior, went so far as to rise and welcome him with a smile.

“Zhangsun Hong of the Red Lotus Cult greets you, Fellow Daoist!” Zhangsun Hong inclined his head in greeting.

He was a Profound Serenity powerhouse, yet now, he’d taken the initiative to welcome a Profound Illumination Emperor, and he’d even greeted him with solemn respect!

This made the others even less willing to be negligent, and it further offset this new arrival’s transcendent status.

“The Nine Extremes Profound Capital? Are these reinforcements Miss Shichan sent over?” Su Yi said thoughtfully.

The man in the feather coat stood in the skies not far from Autumn Waters Cliff. He swept his gaze across the group, and he barely reacted even when he saw Zhangsun Hong inclining his head in greeting.

There was no doubt about it; he’d long since grown accustomed to this sort of special treatment.

“Yue Shichan is a legacy disciple of our sect, and several of our seniors hold her in high regard. Fellow Daoists of the Red Lotus Sect, might you give the Nine Extremes Profound Capital face and let this end here?” the man in the feather coat said calmly, his tone casual.

One light, airy sentence, and the Red Lotus Cult’s camp felt their hearts sink.

Conversely, Yue Bailing and company were both surprised and delighted. Yue Shichan had entered the Nine Extremes Profound Capital just last year. Who’d have thought she’d be able to convince one of its Emperors to lend her his aid already?

“Shichan really is a good kid!” Yue Bailing’s heart shook, and the other Yue clansmen inwardly sighed in relief.

They refused to believe that the Red Lotus Cult would go against the Nine Extremes Profound Capital!

“Err…” Zhangsun Hong hesitated, his gaze shifting and uncertain.

With his cultivation, he could have killed the man in the feather coat with ease, but he dared not try it.

Because if he offended the Nine Extremes Profound Capital, they were sure to rip the Red Lotus Cult up by the roots!

“Hm? Don’t tell me there’s a problem?” the man in the feather coat said coolly.

Zhangsun Hong stiffened, then hurriedly shook his head.

“Then it’s settled,” the man in the feather coat said casually. “From this day forth, the Red Lotus Cult is not to make trouble for the Yue Fa—”

But then, a burst of cold laughter rang out. “The Nine Extremes Profound Capital’s prestige is quite something! They sent a mere Profound Illumination cultivator, and they think that’s enough to influence what happens here today?”

Uproar ensued, and everyone looked over.

There, beneath the distant dome of heaven, an old man in beast skin robes strode over. He was tall and thin, with a waxy complexion.

Everywhere he went, wind and lightning surged, and heaven and earth trembled. His imposing aura was monstrous and terrifying!

“He’s finally here…” A hint of a smile tugged at Zhangsun Hong’s lips.

All of his nervous tension instantly disappeared without a trace!

“Who is that?”

“Mo Hengtian, a Profound Serenity Powerhouse from Red Dust Demon Mountain. That’s one of the Wilds’ Three Great Demonist Sects!”

…There was uproar throughout the plateau, but everyone in the Red Lotus Cult’s camp looked delighted.

And the Yue Family? They were confused and uncertain.

None of them had anticipated further developments after an expert of the Nine Extremes Profound Capital arrived!

Indeed, I didn’t misremember. The founder of the Red Lotus Cult really does have a deep connection to Red Dust Demon Mountain, thought Su Yi.

This development didn’t surprise him at all.

Although Red Dust Demon Mountain was inferior to the Wilds’ greatest Demonist Sect, the Demons’ Elysium, it wasn’t far off. It was far beyond most of the Wilds’ peak factions.

That Mo Hengtian dared intervene and rebuke the man in the feather coat was in part due to his status, and in part because he was a Profound Serenity cultivator. He naturally had no reason to fear a Profound Illumination cultivator like the man in the feather coat.

“Old Monster Mo?” The man in the feather coat furrowed his brow, his expression grave.

“Hmph!” The sallow old man in beast skin robes glared coldly at him. “I don’t know your status in the Nine Extremes Profound Capital, but out of consideration for your sect, I can represent the Red Lotus Cult in taking a step back. We won’t pursue Yue Shichan’s misdeeds any further.”

Mo Hengtian paused, then said, “But Yue Changtian must die! I urge you not to intervene any further. Otherwise, if we cast aside all pretenses of cordiality, I’m not afraid to teach you a painful lesson!”

His words were tyrannical beyond measure.

But at the same time, he was giving the man in the feather coat an out, and he’d agreed to let Yue Shichan off and settle the score with Yue Changtian instead.

The man in the feather coat hesitated, then fell silent.

When Yue Bailing and company saw this, they felt as if someone had doused their delight with a bucket of cold water, and they felt chills in their hands and feet.

Mo Hengtian smiled faintly, then issued a solemn warning. “Yue Shichan is ultimately just a legacy disciple, and this is a conflict between two of the Profound Sky Realm’s top factions. Fellow Daoist, is it really necessary to come into conflict with me over a single legacy disciple?”

Before the man in the feather coat could respond, Mo Hengtian clasped his fist. “Please cooperate with me, Fellow Daoist!”

The man in the feather coat sighed, then said coldly, “Old Monster Mo, when I get back to the sect, I’ll be sure to report everything you said and did here today to the sect!”

This might have seemed like a threat, but he was in effect agreeing.

There was no doubt about it: he’d realized that should conflict break out, Mo Hengtian most likely really would teach him a painful lesson!

In that case, he wouldn’t just fail to help the Yue Family; it’d leave his own face in shambles too.

“Hahaha! If the Nine Extremes Profound Capital finds fault with me, I’ll naturally compensate them!” Mo Hengtian burst into satisfied laughter.

The Red Lotus cultists and their guests laughed too. Their former glumness had vanished completely.

Meanwhile, the Yue clansmen’s eyes dulled, and their conviction wavered.

Mo Hengtian’s arrival was like the straw that broke the camel’s back. Even Yue Bailing felt as if he had no options left.

He’d come prepared, and he did have a few cards left, but none of them would be useful against Mo Hengtian!

After all, even the man in the feather coat had backed down!

“Yue Bailing, my patience is limited. I’ll just ask you this: are you handing him over or not?” Zhangsun Hong said gravely.

He looked ferocious, and he didn’t plan to draw this out any longer. He wanted to force the Yue Family to lower its head!

All eyes were instantly on Yue Bailing.

Yue Bailing’s expression shifted, and his fists were tightly clenched. Everyone could tell that this was brutal torment for this Profound Serenity powerhouse.

“Old Monster Yue, you should lower your head. I told you: the Yue Family has no hope of turning this around. Yue Changtian is just one person, and sacrificing him will buy peace for the entire family. That’s the best result you can hope for,” urged Venerate Cloud Shadow.

Yue Bailing’s face was ashen and unsightly, and he gnashed his teeth so hard they almost shattered.

Suddenly, a raspy voice rang out. “Ancestor, you needn’t trouble yourself on my behalf any longer.”

A figure flew over from the distance. He was a middle-aged man in jade robes. He was tall and upright, with strikingly handsome features, but his face was pallid, and his aura was weak.

“Yue Changtian! He actually dared show up!!” someone cried out.

Autumn Waters Cliff was instantly in uproar.

“Changtian, what are you doing here?” Yue Bailing’s eyes widened with fury. “Quick, go back!”

Yue Changtian laughed. “They’re after my life. I’ll just give it to them!”

He swept his gaze across Zhangsun Hong, Qin Ruoshui, Mo Hengtian, and the others. When he saw Su Yi seated by the cliffside, he paused briefly, but he quickly overlooked him.

“No matter what, I appreciate you coming to our aid today, Fellow Daoist.” Yue Changtian faced the man in the feather coat and inclined his head in greeting. “The Yue Family is endlessly grateful for this benevolence.”

The man in the feather coat was instantly a bit uncomfortable, and he sighed. “Don’t say that. I didn’t help much at all.”

Yue Changtian’s gaze was tender as he whispered, “I trust that my daughter will be safe cultivating in the Nine Extremes Profound Capital. Thus, even if I die, I can die without regrets.”

Quite a few people were moved. Everyone could tell that Yue Changtian had come here to die! He wanted to trade his life for peace for the Yue Family!

Clang!

Qin Ruoshui took out a Dao sword and tossed it. It hovered vertically in the air.

“Want to kill yourself? Very well. Use this sword to end your life!” Qin Ruoshui’s proud, aloof face was utterly cold.

The atmosphere was instantly oppressive.

Yue Bailing and the high elders were furious and enraged, and all of them spoke up to dissuade Yue Changtian.

Zhangsun Hong watched coldly from the sidelines. Yue Changtian had come here to die. That meant that the outcome of this Autumn Waters Assembly had already been determined!

“If you’d come to die just a little bit earlier, wouldn’t it have saved us all a lot of trouble?” Mo Hengtian snorted coldly.

The man in the feather coat looked away; he couldn’t bear to watch.

But it was then that Su Yi put his jug of wine away. He wasn’t waiting any longer.

And here he’d thought he’d see someone from the Little Western Paradise come to their aid. In that case, he wouldn’t have needed to get involved.

After all, he’d told Yue Shichan that if she ran into trouble too great to resolve on her own, she could go to the Little Western Paradise for assistance. There was no way Buddhist Master Inkstone Heart would just stand back and watch her die.

Now, it seemed Yue Shichan had never requested their aid.

But none of that mattered anymore. There was absolutely no way Su Yi would let anything happen to Yue Changtian.

After a moment’s thought, Su Yi got up, put away his wicker chair, and faced Yue Changtian. “Your life is under my protection.”

Everyone present was flabbergasted.

Earlier, Su Yi had disregarded everything that happened around him, to the point that Zhangsun Hong and company had practically forgotten he existed.

It was for this very reason that when Su Yi abruptly stood up and proclaimed his intent to guarantee Yue Changtian’s life, everyone almost assumed they’d misheard.

It was truly unexpected.

After all, the assembly had reached a critical stage, and everyone’s attention was focused on Yue Changtian. Who’d have imagined a young man who’d remained uninvolved thus far would choose this moment to step forth?

Su Yi was instantly the center of attention.

Yue Bailing and company were stunned.

Stepping up at a time like this was far beyond what most people were capable of!

Look at Zhao Linkong and Xiao Wuji, who’d backed down at the last moment. Or Venerate Cloud Shadow, who’d chosen to work with the Red Lotus Cult. Who among them wasn’t a long-famous Profound Serenity expert?

Yet none of them dared back the Yue Family up, while a young man like Su Yi did!

Yue Bailing and company were moved, and they felt indescribably rueful.

“No matter what happens, even if we have to risk our lives, we cannot allow Fellow Daoist Su to get swept up in this,” Yue Bailing transmitted with staunch conviction.

The others nodded.

It was easy to add flowers to brocade but difficult to send coal in a blizzard!

Su Yi’s actions were unquestionably precious and meaningful to them.

“My life… under your protection…?” Yue Changtian was stunned too, and it seemed he found this difficult to believe.

A moment later, he flashed Su Yi a dashing smile and clasped his fists. “My young friend, I appreciate your good intentions, but please, don’t get involved. I’d hate for you to get hurt.”

There was no doubt about it: in Yue Changtian’s eyes, Su Yi was just a hot-blooded youth. He didn’t take his words seriously at all.

Yue Bailing and the others nodded too. All of them spoke up to dissuade Su Yi.

“....” Su Yi said nothing.

“Who is this little baby? What’s he doing here? He’s simply causing a ruckus!” But Mo Hengtian snorted coldly, seemingly a bit displeased.

Zhangsun Hong and the others were angry too. Some kid they’d overlooked dared jump out into the open now? How reckless!

“Chi Peng, go make that kid shut his mouth,” ordered Zhangsun Hong.

“Yes, sir!” Elder Chi Peng stood up, but before he could do anything, one of the guests laughed.

“Elder Chi Peng, he’s just a little fellow. Why trouble yourself? Please, allow me.” The speaker was a middle-aged man in brocade robes. He was in the mid-stage Profound Illumination Realm, and he was one of the prominent experts the Red Lotus Cult had invited here.

As he spoke, he shifted on his feet and swung his palm at Su Yi’s head. “Young man, loose lips lead to disaster. You’ve just cost yourself your life!”

Splurt!

A bloodied head flew through the air.

But the crowd’s eyes widened in response.

Because it was the middle-aged man in brocade who’d been killed!

A streak of sword qi had cleaved right through his neck. As his severed head flew through the air, his body crumbled into ash.

Too quick!

The middle-aged man in brocade was dead before his cold, contemptuous mockery had even finished echoing through the air.

But now, his attempt at mockery seemed as ironic as could be.

He said loose lips led to disaster, only to die first as a result…

The entire area was deathly silent. The influential guests were stunned, while the Red Lotus cultists were flabbergasted. They found this difficult to believe.

“Oh?” Qin Ruoshui couldn’t help but reevaluate Su Yi.

Zhangsun Hong’s expression darkened, and his brow furrowed.

Elder Chi Peng broke out in cold sweats, and his heart shook. He couldn’t help but imagine what could have happened. What would have become of me if I’d been the one to attack?

“So, that kid is a hidden expert!” Venerate Cloud Shadow’s eyes flashed.

“Eighteen or nineteen, that’s all, yet he killed a mid-stage Profound Illumination Emperor in a single blow. That’s a bit interesting!” Mo Hengtian’s eyebrows rose.

He could tell that in Su Yi’s earlier casual strike, his fingertips had burst with sword qi, letting him slay the middle-aged man in brocade robes with ease. He’d destroyed the middle-aged man in brocade robes effortlessly. His power was unbelievable!

“Incredible!” Yue Changtian looked impressed.

Yue Bailing and company were relatively calm. They’d already heard from Yue Yunshan that Su Yi had slain fourteen infamous old devils on the Thousand Whirlpools Star Road!

“Where did that kid come from?” The man in the feather coat, the reinforcements from the Nine Extremes Profound Capital, was stunned too.

A strange silence descended upon the venue.

Su Yi casually brushed off his clothes and said flatly, “No need to waste any more time. I said it already: Yue Changtian’s life is under my protection. If you’re not convinced, I’ll kill you.”

This declaration provoked uproar throughout the plateau.

“Little scoundrel, do you really think you’re some kind of sovereign? How dare you disregard me!” Elder Chi Peng bellowed in fury.

Su Yi flicked his fingertip.

Whoosh!

A wisp of sword qi flashed into being, then descended.

Boom!

Elder Chi Peng resisted with all his might, but mere moments later, his defensive power and treasures exploded.

That streak of sword qi had split him in two, and his bisected corpse disintegrated into ash with a bang.

Destroyed, both body and soul!

This tyrannical killing technique astonished everyone present once more.

They could have chalked up the brocade-robed middle-aged man’s death to complacency.

But Elder Chi Peng had obviously fought with all his might. Su Yi slew him with ease nonetheless!

And Elder Chi Peng had been in the late-stage Profound Illumination Realm. He was even stronger than the middle-aged man in brocade, yet he nonetheless crumpled like paper, dying beneath a single slash!

This was far too terrifying.

The Profound Illumination Emperors in attendance were all visibly stunned, and their hair stood on end. Who is that kid? How could he be so terrifying?

And the Profound Serenity experts Zhangsun Hong, Qin Ruoshui, Venerate Cloud Shadow, all had unsightly, alarmed looks on their faces.

To the point that they were starting to regret not taking the time to suss out the young man in blue’s origins as soon as he appeared.

And Yue Changtian, who’d been prepared to face his death, was increasingly stunned. The same went for the man in the feather coat.

None of them could imagine how a teenager could possess such fighting strength!

But there’s no way they’ll let up now, not until he’s dead or they’re dead… Yue Bailing sighed to himself.

He realized that now that Su Yi had struck a killing blow, it wouldn’t matter if the Yue Family did everything in their power to protect Su Yi. The Red Lotus Cult wouldn’t rest until he’d been destroyed!

The Autumn Watters Assembly could only end in death!

Off in the distance, Mo Hengtian said icily, “An ordinary Profound Illumination Emperor will surely be no match for him. Fellow Daoist Ruoshui, how about you handle him? Remember: don’t take his life. I’m quite interested in him!”

“Got it!” Qin Ruoshui nodded.

Her robes were black, and her skin was snow-white. She had a cold, aloof disposition.

As soon as she stepped forth, incomparably forceful and terrifying murderous intent swept outward, scattering the clouds. Even the mountain swayed beneath her feet.

Clang!

She stretched out her hand, and the sword hovering before Yue Changtian whooshed back into her grip.

Sword in hand, she stepped into the air, her beautiful eyes flashing like lightning as she gazed down at Su Yi. “Dare you fight me, little fellow?”

Yue Bailing couldn’t hold back. He said gravely, “You’re a lofty Profound Serenity cultivator, yet here you are, bullying a junior. How shameless! If you want to fight someone, this old man will be happy to accompany you!”

His voice boomed throughout heaven and earth.

“Ancestor, allow me.” Yue Changtian took a step forward and ascended.

Both Yue Family Profound Serenity Emperors were obviously prepared to risk it all.

“If you dare intervene, I assure you that you’ll implicate the entire Yue Family. Do with that knowledge as you see fit!” Mo Hengtian said coldly.

Yue Changtian’s expression was instantly incomparably unsightly, while Yue Bailing’s brow furrowed. His heart sank.

But by now, Su Yi was starting to lose patience. He sighed. “A minor inconvenience, that’s all. What need is there to lose your cool?”

He then swept his gaze across Yue Bailing, Yue Changtian and the others. “Starting now, all of you should just stand back and watch.”

“Err….” The Yue clansmen were stunned, and their eyes widened.

Even if you’d hit them over the head, they never would have guessed that Su Yi would want to face this calamity on his own. Furthermore, judging from his tone, it seemed… he was a bit displeased with Yue Bailing and Yue Changtian’s behavior?

Mo Hengtian, Zhangsun Hong, and the others were dumbstruck too.

They’d seen arrogance before, but never anyone this arrogant.

Who beneath the heavens would dare disregard Profound Serenity Emperors like them?

Even that Nine Extremes Profound Capital Profound Illumination Emperor could only endure in silence!

Yet now, a teenager had announced his intentions of fighting all of them on his own. This seemed simply frenzied!