FIRST IMMORTAL OF THE SWORD

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Chapter 1388 - An Appointed Duel

The young man wore robes as white as snow. His gaze was desolate and full of self-recrimination.

His name was Hong Feiguan.

He was the most dazzling descendant of the Hong Family’s main line of descent. There was no one else comparable.

Prior to the End of the Dharma, his numerous legendary accomplishments shook the world, and the people saw him as a leading figure among descendants of immortals.

The recently deceased Hong Feiyu was his little brother.

“Young Leader, it was Su Yi who killed Second Young Master. You needn’t have a guilty conscience over this.” A tall, steady and stalwart middle-aged man in black robes appeared by the cliffside.

“No, you’re wrong.” Hong Feiguan shook his head. “Everyone thought Feiyu a domineering hoodlum, but although few knew it, Feiyu was crafty to the extreme. He was both courageous and shrewd.

“He went to Mount Clearmoon to achieve one of two goals. First, if at all possible, he wanted to get his hands on the mysteries of reincarnation. In doing so, he would have made a lasting contribution to the clan, and his prestige would have far surpassed mine going forward.

“Barring that, he wanted an opportunity to break his own curse! That way, even if he couldn’t acquire the secrets of reincarnation, he’d be among the first to rebuild his fleshly body. The clan would invest more resources in him, and he’d ultimately be able to suppress me.”

Hong Feiguan let out a melancholy sigh. “Ultimately, Feiyu wasn’t convinced of my superiority, and he wasn’t willing to have me, his older brother, looking over him.”

The middle-aged man in black sank into silence.

Everyone in the clan knew that the brothers got along like fire and water. Hong Feiyu had never disguised his ambition. A long time ago, he swore to one day surpass his brother, Hong Feiguan, and force the clan’s old-timers to see him in a new light.

“It’s true that Feiyu and I didn’t have a good relationship, but he was still my little brother. If I don’t avenge him, I’ll feel guilty forever, and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life,” said Hong Feiguan.

His delicately handsome face was already incomparably calm. “No matter how the clan decides to respond, Su Yi... must die!”

The middle-aged man’s heart clenched, and he said nervously, “Young Leader, the ancestor said that you are not permitted to leave the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone until immortal revenants can travel the world freely!”

Hong Feiguan didn’t even miss a beat. “Then we’ll just have to think of a way to make Su Yi come to the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone!”

Here, he glanced at the middle-aged man and said, “Can you still make contact with the Tailor?”

The middle-aged man shook his head. “He’s severed all his connections to the outside world.”

Hong Feiguan furrowed his brow. “It’s a pity. With his help, we might well be able to take hold of Su Yi’s weaknesses and force him to come to us.”

He’d only just said this when an elderly servant rushed over to deliver a report. “Young Leader, someone sent us a secret message. He said you were to open it personally, and that... it was about getting revenge for Second Young Master.”

As he spoke, he proffered the sealed envelope.

Hong Feiguan’s gaze focused. He accepted the envelope and examined it briefly. Once he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with it, he gently opened it.

The letter inside contained just a single sentence: “Tonight, during the hour of the rat, I’ll be waiting for you on Purple Brample Mountain.”

It was signed “the Tailor.”

Hong Feiguan couldn’t help but find this surprising. “He actually anticipated that I’d be out for revenge? Interesting!”

......

Purple Bramble Mountain.

An enormous mountain located within the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone. It wasn’t far from Hong Family territory.

The hour of the rat.

When the white-robed Hong Feiguan arrived, he saw a thin figure seated at the peak.

He was a thin-faced old man in gray robes and a round black cap. He was currently seated atop a boulder in the shade of a tall tree and brewing a cup of tea.

The fragrance of tea permeated the air, soothing the heart and mind.

“Are you the Tailor?” asked Hong Feiguan.

“I am indeed,” said the thin old man. He didn’t rise. Instead, he gestured to himself and said, “Well, strictly speaking, I’m just the Tailor’s clone.”

“Oh,” said Hong Feiguan. He then got straight to the point. “Let’s talk business.”

“Very well,” said the Tailor. “As soon as I heard about what happened at Mount Clearmoon, I knew you wouldn’t let this matter go. And if you’re after revenge, I can assist you!”

Hong Feiguan’s eyes flashed. “How can you assist me?”

“I’ve spent my life fighting the Temple Master,” said the Tailor. “I understand his personality better than anyone. If you want revenge, I can help you come up with a plan.”

“What if I told you I wanted the Temple Master to come to the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone?” said Hong Feiguan. “Could you make that happen, Fellow Daoist?”

The Tailor thought for a moment, then laughed. “A trivial matter. But first, might you tell me how you plan to dispose of the Temple Master.”

After a moment’s silence, Hong Feiguan said, “A one-on-one discussion of the Dao. We’ll determine victory and defeat, as well as life and death.”

“Why do it like that?” The Tailor frowned.

Hong Feiguan said calmly, “In the outside world, I’d still be subject to the restriction of the Laws, and I’d only be able to display about forty percent of my strength. Here in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone, I’ll face no such restrictions.

“I’ve learned of Su Yi’s accomplishments. Based on my years of combat experience, I’m certain that the power of reincarnation alone wouldn’t have been enough to slay the Blue Astral Immortal Flood Dragon, much less contend with an immortal’s will.

“Here in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone, with his late-stage Cosmic Enlightenment cultivation, he might still be able to fight typical Cloud Soaring revenants, but against me...”

Hong Feiguan paused, a contemptuous look on his handsome face. “He’s in for a crushing defeat!”

The Tailor fell silent. After a while, he sighed. “Forgive my rudeness, but dueling the Temple Master seems fundamentally foolish to me. Your analysis is admittedly accurate, but in a one-on-one confrontation, the Temple Master has always been more unfathomable than his opponents anticipate, and more terrifying, too!”

He looked at Hong Feiguan. “Seems to me we’d be better off arranging a deathtrap. With the Hong Family’s resources, all we need...”

But Hong Feiguan never let him finish the sentence. “I seek a forthright and just Grand Dao. In the face of absolute power, schemes and tricks are ultimately useless, unable to take so much as a single hit!

“I’ve heard about you, and I know that you were once seen as the hidden sovereign of the stars, the man behind the curtain.

“But do you know why you’ve never managed to defeat the Temple Master?

“It’s because you’re too fixated on your tricks and schemes! You’re so hung up on the details that you’ve forgotten the fundamentals. It’s completely backward!

“Your methods might well make you invincible against ordinary foes, but in the face of a powerful enemy, your tricks are entirely unworthy of notice!”

In the past, the Tailor would likely have dismissed such an argument disdainfully.

But suffering so many crushing defeats in such rapid succession had come as a heavy blow to his mental state.

Thus, when Hong Feiguan chastised him to his face, the Tailor felt as if he’d been stabbed in the heart. His wrinkled face stiffened, and for a moment, he felt the urge to leave in a huff.

Hong Feiguan just looked at him. “I’ll just ask you this. Will you help me or not?”

After a moment’s silence, the Tailor said, “I’ll help you!”

......

Three days later, Su Yi awakened from his meditation.

“I’m just one step away from the pinnacle of Cosmic Enlightenment,” Su Yi sighed softly.

In his lifetime as the Temple Master, his progress had stagnated at the pinnacle of the Cosmic Enlightenment. He had ultimately failed to step onto the Path of Transcendence.

Now, the Path of Transcendence had re-entered the world, and Su Yi was already close to reaching it!

Over the course of Su Yi’s three days of meditation, the Divine Replenishment furnace had already refined the medicinal ingredients among Su Yi’s spoils.

Only half went to Su Yi, but even if he just looked at the Transcendent-level spirit pills, there were thirteen different types, five of each kind. Their quality was unparalleled, and every last one was precious!

However, Su Yi noticed that they were still somewhat inferior to the pill created by refining the Blue Astral Immortal Flood Dragon.

Su Yi immediately made a decision. I can save these for when I break into the Nascent Divinity Realm.

He then rose, pushed open his door, and left. He’d agreed to help the other revenants of friendly ancient orthodoxies break their curses, and he naturally wouldn’t go back on his word.

But against all expectations, Su Yi soon learned that a variable had arisen in his absence!

“Yesterday, the Hong Family announced that you were their irreconcilable enemy! Furthermore, they declared that anyone, no matter their faction of origin, who dared make contact with you would become their enemy too!” explained Sword Immortal Qingshi. “This development has thrown the stars into upheaval. The factions who previously expressed their willingness to aid you have all shrunk back. None dare come to Mount Clearmoon now.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but find this surprising. “I was just helping them break their curses, that’s all. I had no expectation of any kind of reward, but look at them! They don’t even dare to show up!”

“The crux of the matter is that they dare not offend the Hong Family,” said Sword Immortal Qingshi. f𝚛e𝐞𝐰𝚎b𝚗o𝚟𝚎l.c𝗼m

The Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha said from the sidelines, “The Hong Family also announced that once they’ve killed you and gained control over the power of reincarnation, they’ll naturally assist the world’s revenants in breaking their curses.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “The Hong Family’s methods are sure to provoke the other ancient factions’ resentment. After all, they cannot necessarily fulfill their promise to break the curse like I can. Furthermore, I can do it immediately. After comparing the two of us, who wouldn’t be resentful?”

“Aren’t you angry, Fellow Daoist Su?” Sword Immortal Qingshi looked stunned.

Su Yi shook his head. “I only helped them because I wanted their help seeking out the Tailor. I had no expectation that they’d join my cause.”

“Then... If, sometime down the line, they ask for help breaking their curses again, will you refuse them?” asked the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha.

Su Yi laughed. “That depends on their ‘sincerity.’”

Sincerity.

It was just one word, but it left ample food for thought.

Sword Immortal Qingshi and the Universal Emptiness Sword Buddha laughed. That indeed ought to be the case!"

Suddenly, Illuminating Emptiness walked in. “Bro, Li Zhong is here. He says he has something important to discuss, and he’s waiting outside the gates.”

Li Zhong? Su Yi thought for a moment, then left the temple and headed toward the mountain gates.

As soon as Li Zhong saw Su Yi, he approached and said, "Fellow Daoist Su, I’ve been ordered to deliver you a message.”

“What is it?” asked Su Yi.

Li Zhong said with concern, “Young Leader Hong Feiguan of the Hong Family has invited you to discuss the Dao with him on Mount Luowu two weeks from now.”

He then gave Su Yi a concise introduction of Hong Feiguan’s background.

Su Yi couldn’t help but find this confusing. “If Hong Feiguan is the one who wants to duel me, why are you here?”

“Hong Feiguan is concerned that you won’t dare come to the appointed duel, so he sought out my young mistress. He said that with her as a guarantor of fairness, you might well be able to rest assured, Fellow Daoist,” Li Zhong explained hurriedly. “She couldn’t refuse, so she sent me here to deliver the news.”