First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2211 – Receiving Merit

The clouds were dark and dense. The night was the color of ink.

Su Yi and Rong Yue encountered little further danger as their treasure ship hurtled through the Barren Mountains of Divine Calamity.

“Xiao Jian, what were you doing on that battlefield? Where are the others?” Rong Yue asked suddenly.

Su Yi sighed. “To tell the truth, High Elder, something unfortunate happened earlier.”

He then concisely recounted everything that had happened at the run-down temple. He didn’t leave anything out, either.

When he learned of Huang Changting’s death, Rong Yue frowned. “Huang Changting was blinded by greed. He was far too brazen!”

But then, he looked at Su Yi, his eyes shining with a strange light. “You managed to borrow that lamp? That’s truly unbelievable.”

“The owner of the lamp planned to recruit me,” said Su Yi. “That’s why he was willing to lend it to me.”

Rong Yue inclined his head. “That’s to be expected. The owner of that lamp is not of this era. If he wants to make arrangements in the present day before he arrives, he naturally needs to select capable subordinates to act on his behalf.”

Next, Su Yi told Rong Yue that he’d found Qian Hu, Chu Bi, and the others unconscious in the temple.

No part of his story aroused Rong Yue’s suspicions.

“Should the opportunity arise, we could actually revisit that temple and make contact with the owner of that lamp. He and Qingwu Divine Court might well be able to cooperate,” said Rong Yue.

But then, he shook his head. “Forget it. Let’s think about that later.”

Shortly after, Su Yi let Qian Hu, Chu Bi, and the others go.

When they first awakened from unconsciousness, they had no idea what was going on. When they learned that it was Su Yi who’d saved them and brought them with him, all four were deeply moved and beside themselves with gratitude.

When they learned that Xiao Jian had saved High Elder Rong Yue, too, the four of them started looking at Su Yi differently.

“I explained the situation to the high elder earlier,” said Su Yi. “But I have no proof to back it up. How about you take this opportunity to tell the high elder what happened in the temple?”

Qian Hu was the first to step forth and vehemently express his anger and discontent with Huang Changting’s behavior.

Chu Bi, Hou Yu, and Zhou Jia occasionally chimed in from the sidelines.

Su Yi didn’t interject. He could tell that their unanimous testimony had alleviated all of Rong Yue’s lingering suspicions!

That, combined with him saving Rong Yue’s life, meant he wouldn’t even need to explain himself when he returned to Qingwu Divine Court. Rong Yue would put in a commendation on his behalf!

Just as he expected, he’d only just thought this when Rong Yue said solemnly, “Xiao Jian, you’ve achieved a feat of supreme merit this time. When we get back to the sect, I’ll personally ensure you’re commended for your accomplishments!”

Su Yi smiled and clasped his fist in gratitude.

A moment later, he said, “High Elder, do you think we can capture Su Yi this time?”

He was probing; he wanted to see what else these top factions had prepared in the name of capturing him.

Rong Yue shook his head. “It’s hard to say. If Su Yi fell for our trap and entered the Barren Mountains of Divine Calamity, he’ll struggle to escape even if he grows wings. We’ve placed a seamless, inescapable net around the mountains and sealed off all exits!

“Su Yi might well have managed to sneak into the mountains, but there’s no way he’ll be able to slip past us on his way out.”

Qian Hu couldn’t help but interject, “But the rumors say that Su Yi has endless tricks up his sleeves. If he disguises himself, I’m afraid not even Master Gods will be able to see through it!”

“You realized that. Naturally, we Master Gods realized it too,” said Rong Yue. “Anyone who attempts to leave these mountains must first pass a thorough investigation. Even if Su Yi disguises himself, he can forget about getting past it!”

He laughed bitterly. “That said, whether we capture Su Yi or not matters little to we of Qingwu Divine Court anymore.”

He was badly injured, and his wounds were only getting worse. He’d completely lost interest in capturing Su Yi.

When Su Yi heard that, he felt much calmer. No one in this world could see through his disguise, because his Torch Dragon bloodline wasn’t fake! Add that to his position as a Deacon of Wandering Night Palace, and who could possibly have seen through him?

Just as Su Yi thought, all of them had to undergo a thorough investigation before leaving the mountains, but none of the Master Gods’ treasures or abilities could see through his secrets.

Furthermore, due to the severity of High Elder Rong Yue’s injuries, they reconvened with High Elder Li Shanming and set course for Qingwu Divine Court that very day.

……

Later that day, the curtains fell on the expedition into the Barren Mountains of Divine Calamity.

The top factions’ joint operation to surround and capture Luo Qingdu had long since drawn widespread attention, but the results were not what the world expected.

It was only after the fact that the general populace realized that capturing Luo Qingdi was a ruse. This mission was really targeting Su Yi!

Alas, their plans ended in failure.

But that no longer mattered, because it was also on that day that word of the three spacetime forbidden zones hidden in the mountains spread, sending waves of uproar throughout the God Domain.

Spacetime forbidden zones represented powers of not this age, as well as the imminent onset of the Dark Days of Legend. Each of these forbidden zones represented a terrifying force that would one day enter the God Domain!

There were three of them in the Barren Mountains of Divine Calamity alone. People couldn’t help but suspect that similar spatial nodes existed in other forbidden zones.

All sorts of rumors started spreading. Everyone was talking about the spacetime nodes and the onset of the Dark Days of Legend.

It wasn’t just the ordinary cultivators of the God Domain. Even the top factions felt true pressure.

This was because only they knew that when the Dark Days of Legend arrived, powerful factions not of the present day would emerge from each of the spacetime nodes.

When the time came, the existing order of the God Domain would be under attack!

No one would be able to remain a bystander!

…

Qingwu Divine Court.

“Vice Palace Master Huang is dead!?”

“I would never have guessed that Deacon Xiao was so incredible. He didn’t just save Qian Hu and his other companions. He even rescued High Elder Rong Yue at a critical juncture!”

“After such an enormous act of merit, I’m sure they’ll make an exception and promote him.”

“I heard that High Elder Rong Yue personally brought Xiao Jian’s accomplishments up with the sect leader and asked that Xiao Jian be commended!”

…Word of what had happened in the Barren Mountains of Divine Calamity quickly spread throughout Qingwu Divine Court.

Su Yi’s performance in particular shook his sectmates and drew an enormous amount of discussion.

“Deacon Xiao really is an unparalleled figure. It’s been just over a month since he joined the sect, but he’s already established his reputation. Everyone’s talking about him!”

“The battle at Spirit Bamboo Peak proved how mighty he was among Lesser Gods, but the expedition into the Barren Mountains of Divine Calamity proved that he’s an unparalleled figure we ought to look up to. If anyone tries to criticize him, I’ll be the first to step forth and object!”

“I feel the same way!”

Many of the sect’s old-timers were inwardly rueful, too.

At first, Xiao Jian had refused to serve as the sect leader’s pawn. Everyone thought he’d be excluded and oppressed as a result, and that his outlook was bleak.

Who could have imagined that, shortly after, Xiao Jian would do more than just establish himself in the sect. He’d even gathered an enormous flock of devotees, and his reputation grew with each passing day. He was now one of the most attention-grabbing members of the sect.

Especially since he’d risked his life to save High Elder Rong Yue from otherwise certain doom.

That alone would have been enough to establish Xiao Jian’s reputation in the sect. At this point, even the sect leader and the grand elder had little hope of suppressing Xiao Jian’s brilliance!

After all, he really had made an enormous contribution to the sect!

Little Pine Peak.

Tie Wenjing was beside himself with delight. He soon came calling with a jug of wine.

Su Yi’s extraordinary performance reflected well on him, too!

“High Elder Rong Yue said that no matter how unwilling the sect leader is, he has no choice but to reward you lavishly!” said Tie Wenjing, smiling so broadly that his eyes narrowed into slits. “Xiao Jian, you’ve really brought me far too many delightful surprises. I’ll be interested to see if anyone in the sect dares try to push you around after this!!”

Su Yi smiled airily, then raised his cup of wine. “A toast to you, Elder Tie.”

How could he concern himself with such empty titles?

Still, the thought that he’d established himself in Qingwu Divine Court in just one short month filled his heart with satisfaction. Everything was under his control, and it felt great.

“Haha! Drink up!” Tie Wenjing raised his cup.

But then, an attendant stopped outside the immortal cave to deliver a message. “Elder, the sect elder decreed that Deacon Xiao is to be rewarded generously! He says that when Deacon Xiao has a free moment, he should proceed to the Celestial Treasure Palace to receive his reward.”

Tie Wenjing smiled. “Look, the sect leader’s decree has arrived! Right, did the decree say anything about a promotion?”

The servant lowered his head and averted his gaze. “It didn’t, Elder.”

Tie Wenjing’s smile froze, and his brow furrowed. “It didn’t? Say that again!!”

The attendant shuddered, then stammered, “The sect leader’s decree has already spread throughout the sect. It says that Deacon Xiao is to be rewarded generously, but it really doesn’t say anything about a promotion.”

Tie Wenjing’s expression was instantly unsightly. “How is this possible? Deacon Xiao achieved such an enormous act of merit, and High Elder Rong Yue personally spoke up on his behalf, so why isn’t he getting a promotion?”

Bang!

He flung his cup of wine to the ground and gnashed his teeth. “Is this fair? How does he intend to assuage the masses now? Won’t treating Deacon Xiao like this disappoint the rest of the sect?”

Tie Wenjing was overcome with anger, and his face was ashen. “I understand. The sect leader is just targeting Deacon Xiao, isn’t he?”

Su Yi threw back his head, drank, and tried to comfort Tie Wenjing. “Don’t be angry, Elder Tie. Perhaps… the sect leader has his reasons.”

At first, he was a bit surprised. Sect Leader Liang Lingxu was obviously deliberately trying to suppress him.

But once he realized that, he no longer cared. On the contrary, he was delighted to see this happen. One look at Tie Wenjing’s indignation, and Su Yi knew that the sect leader’s arrangements were sure to infuriate the entire sect!

He was the victim of unfair treatment, but that would naturally win him widespread sympathy and support!

The way Su Yi saw it, this was actually good news.

“No, this won’t do! I have to meet with the sect leader!”

Tie Wenjing rose in a huff, then turned and stormed off, heedless of Su Yi’s attempts to dissuade him.

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