Volume One: Sword and Rebirth Chapter One: Spirit Hall
Spirit Hall.
A green bronze coffin lay horizontally within, engraved with ancient patterns of birds, beasts, insects, fish, sun, moon, and stars.
A young girl dressed in a pure white gown knelt in front of the coffin, exuding a rare and ethereal beauty.
Outside the Spirit Hall was a realm akin to a pure land, filled with terrifying figures resembling gods and buddhas engaged in fierce battles.
Roars echoed through the air.
Blood of gods flowed abundantly.
Inside the Spirit Hall, however, there was tranquility.
The girl remained prostrated on the ground, her expression devoid of sorrow or joy, as calm as a still lake.
"Heh, so this is how it is after my 'death'..."
Su Yi chuckled, his eyes filled with a chilling intent.
Only when he occasionally looked at the girl did a barely perceptible gentleness appear in his gaze.
In his lifetime, he had traversed the myriad realms, wielding his sword across the starry sky, unrivaled in his dominance.
He had conquered the universe, reigning supreme in an era.
He was revered as the only "Master of Myriad Paths" in the vast land of the Nine Provinces.
In the eyes of the sword giants of the Nine Provinces, he was the unparalleled "Xuanjun Sword Master" on the path of swordsmanship.
But everything changed when news of his death spread.
"Hahahaha, Rong Qingming, refine the grand dao, from now on, Su Xuanjun, this 'Melting Heaven Furnace,' belongs to this seat!"
A boisterous laughter resounded in the realm outside the Spirit Hall, filled with delight and joy.
Su Yi raised his eyes to look.
That was a Golden-winged Peng, its feathers cascading like clouds that touched the heavens, its color resembling golden liquid poured out, radiating an unmatched brilliance that overwhelmed mountains and rivers.
Clutched within its tearing claws was a crimson, burning furnace.
"This little bird has betrayed me as well..." Su Yi sighed.
He still remembered eighty thousand years ago when the Golden-winged Peng prostrated itself outside the mountain gate, bowing for ten days and ten nights, just to serve under his command and listen to his profound teachings.
Considering its sincere heart, he allowed it to stay by his side for cultivation.
But now, it dared to call his name and snatch away his Melting Heaven Furnace.
A complete traitor!
"Su Xuanjun owes me the lives of 893 disciples of my Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion, and he has stolen our highest heritage, the 'Tenfold Sword Scripture.' Today, we've come to collect the debt, and whoever dares to obstruct us will be killed!" Under the thunderous sky, a robed cultivator shouted with a fierce voice, emanating an overwhelming killing intent.
Su Yi was stunned.
The Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion was originally an obscure small sect, and its founder was merely one of the 36 named disciples by his side.
It was only with the power and protection of Su Xuanjun that the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion gradually rose, becoming one of the six major sects in the vast land of the Nine Provinces, shaking the universe.
But now, the people from the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion had also arrived.
The claim of owing 893 lives was pure nonsense.
Not to mention that the "Tenfold Sword Scripture" was a gift he personally bestowed upon the founder of the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion!
Clearly, upon learning of his death, the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion fabricated a reason and used the pretext of collecting debts to seize the opportunity for robbery.
"People's hearts have become corrupted, nothing more." Su Yi couldn't help but shake his head, his mood inevitably turning somewhat gloomy.
Throughout those years when I was alive, I never mistreated those close to me.
"Listen up, all of you! Su Xuanjun is the 'Master of the Myriad Paths' we all revered together. Today, with us here, we will not tolerate you taking advantage of the situation and robbing his belongings!"
Amidst the torrential rain of blood, numerous majestic figures shouted with divine authority.
"Enough with the nonsense! It's just an excuse to come and plunder treasures after hearing the news of Su's death!"
"How hypocritical!"
Someone sneered and retorted.
"Take a look at what you have in your hands: the Green Vine Immortal Tree, the Great As-You-Wish, the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Lamp, the Myriad Purple Jade Flask... Aren't these all 'Peerless Dao Treasures' left by Su Xuanjun?"
"If you truly had good intentions, why not put those treasures into Su Xuanjun's coffin and bury them with him?"
...Many horrifying figures burst into cold laughter.
The world trembled, and the battle raged on fiercely.
The figures engaged in the battle were all the top powerhouses in the vast land of the Nine Provinces, fighting fiercely against each other. The scene was truly boundlessly terrifying.
In Su Yi's eyes, all of this was ridiculous and absurd!
These scoundrels were respectful and obedient to him during his lifetime.
But after his "death," they revealed their true faces!
"Things are indeed different in life and death."
Su Yi withdrew his gaze and looked at the girl kneeling in front of the bronze coffin in the spirit hall. A gentle expression appeared on his face. "Fortunately, Qingtang has always been here..."
When Qingtang was thirteen years old, she followed him in cultivation. It has been eighteen thousand nine hundred years since then. In the land of the Nine Provinces, she was known as the "Qingtang Empress."
In the eyes of outsiders, Qingtang was a lofty ruler, commanding the masses and dominating the Nine Provinces. Even those of the same cultivation realm would show three points of respect.
But in front of Su Yi, she had always been like a little girl, aside from cultivation, she served by Su Yi's side with gentleness and humility.
"Sister apprentice, you have been guarding the spirit for seven days. If you don't leave now, we won't be able to hold on!"
Suddenly, a tall and imposing figure walked into the spirit hall. His white battle robe was already tattered and stained with blood. He had just experienced a bloody and fierce battle, emanating a terrifying aura.
Vimukti!
Su Yi's top disciple among the nine inner disciples was known as the "Vimukti War Emperor." He had been following Su Yi in cultivation for thirty-nine thousand years.
Qingtang, who had been kneeling in front of the coffin, slowly stood up. Her voice was cold and indifferent as she said, "Senior Brother, before Master's passing, he had instructed the nine of us to leave and go our separate ways. Why... did you come back?"
Vimukti frowned slightly and spoke with righteousness, "How could I just stand by and watch those traitors and enemies destroy everything Master left behind? Besides, if you, Junior Sister, are unwilling to leave and choose to guard the spirit here, as the eldest senior brother, how could I leave?"
Qingtang turned around, her beautiful eyes as cold as sharp blades, staring at Vimukti. "At this point, Senior Brother, you still refuse to speak the truth?"
Vimukti's pupils slightly constricted. After a moment of silence, he suddenly laughed, his gaze chilling. "Junior Sister, do you dare say that you are not here to guard this sword, the 'Nine Hells Sword,' which you have always been obsessed with?"
Qingtang did not deny it. A calm and serene expression remained on her exquisitely fair and beautiful face as she said, "Senior Brother, you are mistaken. I stayed here not just for the Nine Hells Sword."
"What else?" Vimukti couldn't help but ask.
Qingtang's gaze turned towards the outside of the spirit hall, looking at the world where gods and demons fiercely fought. Unperturbed, she said, "Everything Master left behind in his lifetime... I want it all!"
Every word she spoke was casual and calm. But as she reached the end, a compelling majesty emanated from her slender and beautiful figure.
"I want it all..."
Vimukti was first stunned, then couldn't help but burst into laughter, his face filled with mockery. He said, "I never expected that among the nine of us disciples, the one with the biggest appetite would be you, little junior sister! If Master were alive and witnessed this scene, I'm afraid he wouldn't have expected his most cherished and trusted Qingtang to be so greedy!"
In fact, Su Yi had been silently observing all this.
He didn't care about the betrayal of the Golden Winged Peng or the members of the Yu Hua Sword Pavilion.
Even if those formidable enemies came knocking on his door, he wouldn't mind.
But when he saw his most highly regarded disciple, Vimukti, and his most beloved Qingtang each harboring their own ambitions and plans, he fell silent.
It was just a few treasures, yet they had caused his two disciples to turn against each other. How tragic it was!
Clang!
Suddenly, Qingtang made a sudden move and severely wounded Vimukti with a single sword strike.
"I never expected that you, this despicable person, were hiding so deep!" she exclaimed.
In the nick of time, Vimukti seized the opportunity to escape from the spirit hall, his voice filled with anger and panic.
He never expected that Qingtang's cultivation level was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
Even Su Yi was surprised. It turned out that this little junior sister had already made a breakthrough.
Vimukti didn't linger and fled immediately.
Qingtang didn't pursue him. She stood alone in front of the bronze coffin in the spirit hall, a scornful expression on her lips, murmuring to herself, "If Master knew that his eldest disciple was the first one to collude with the Six Great Sects, how sad he would be."
"And Third Senior Brother, Huo Yao. Although he didn't participate, he stole the 'Mysterious Primordial Mirror' before he left. With just this treasure, he could ascend to the 'Imperial Realm'..."
"Unfortunately, Master has already passed away and will never see all of this."
Qingtang sighed softly.
Meanwhile, Su Yi's face gradually darkened.
He finally realized that his most trusted eldest disciple had committed an act of betrayal, allowing the enemy to enter his domain!
He also learned that Huo Yao, his third disciple, had stolen the "Mysterious Primordial Mirror" that suppressed this secret realm.
No wonder those traitors and enemies were able to effortlessly invade his territory...
Thinking of this, Su Yi was filled with both anger and sorrow.
At that moment, Qingtang stepped out of the spirit hall.
Her graceful and slender figure seemed isolated from the world. Her beautiful and indifferent eyes swept across the heavens and earth as she coldly declared, "From this day forward, the Great Wilderness shall be ruled solely by me, Qingtang!"
Swish!
As she stood there, a profound sword intent surged from her body, ethereal and pervasive, filling the heavens and the earth. The pure and clear sword intent shot out like a shower of light, resembling the blades of Xingtian, effortlessly slaying one terrifying figure after another.
In just an instant—
The world turned into a painting, dyed in divine blood!
The remaining terrifying beings were all astonished, as if they had fallen into an icy cave, their bodies shivering with cold.
"Surrender or die," Qingtang calmly spoke amidst this terrifying and bloody atmosphere, her voice echoing through the nine heavens and ten earths.
"We are willing to serve the Empress!"
"We are willing to serve the Empress!"
At this moment, trembling under Qingtang's imposing aura, those mighty beings from the various realms all bowed their heads!
"This girl..."
Su Yi's pupils slightly narrowed. His heart couldn't calm down either. He never expected Qingtang's cultivation to have reached such a level.
Initially, as her Master, he should have felt gratified.
But now, there was only an indescribable sense of desolation and emptiness.
At this moment, how could he not understand that his beloved little disciple, in those past years, had her own hidden secrets?
Not long after, Qingtang turned around and walked back into the spirit hall.
Her gaze returned to the bronze coffin, she bowed respectfully, and her voice remained calm.
"Master, your disciple Qingtang has guarded your spirit for seven days and has also suppressed the traitors and enemies. I have fulfilled the bond between Master and disciple."
"From now on, I alone will inherit everything you have left behind."
As she spoke, she took a step forward, raised her hand, and gently said while pressing it on the bronze coffin,
"The Nine Purgatory Sword should not be buried with you like this. When your disciple understands the secrets within this sword, I will return it. Master, please forgive me for disturbing your rest..."
Bang!
The lid of the bronze coffin was lifted.
However, in that brief moment, Qingtang, who had always been calm and composed, revealed an unusual change in expression.
"How could this be..."
Inside the bronze coffin, there was nothing but emptiness.
Not only was the Nine Purgatory Sword missing, even the remains of the Master were nowhere to be found!
Su Yi, who witnessed everything, felt boiling anger in his eyes.
Even though he had prepared himself for what was about to happen before deciding to reincarnate and cultivate again, he still couldn't contain his rage.
But gradually, the anger in Su Yi's eyes faded little by little, leaving behind only endless indifference and coldness.
"When I return, I hope you bastards are all still alive..."
The ethereal figure of Su Yi, unnoticed by anyone, dissipated into nothingness and disappeared completely.
...
In the history of Da Huang spanning 108,000 years, the era of the "Xuanjun Swordmaster" Su Xuanjun, who was revered as the sole ruler of the Nine Provinces, came to an end, shaking the entire land.
Seven days later.
Qingtang, the disciple of the Xuanjun Swordmaster, swept through the Divine Continent, pacifying the various realms, and declared herself the Empress.
...
Five hundred years later.
In the Great Zhou Kingdom, Yunhe County, Guangling City.
At dusk, the evening sky was ablaze with sunset hues.
Outside the Songyun Sword Manor.
Su Yi stood alone from a distance, waiting for his younger sister, Wen Lingxue, to finish school.