First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1996: A Strange Path of the Grand Dao

Lin Feng, Ning Xiu, and the others looked at Su Yi.

By now, everyone knew that Su Yi wasn’t just the reincarnation of the Eternal Night Immortal Sovereign; he was also the reincarnation of Li Fuyou, the master of Spiritual Desolation Mountain in the Primeval Era!

All of that had been common knowledge for a long time, but only Lin Feng and Ning Xiu knew that Su Yi hadn’t yet fused with their master’s Dao Imprint or reawakened his memories.

Su Yi finished his cup of wine and said, “Not yet.”

Lin Feng and Ning Xiu nodded. Until recently, hearing that would have disappointed them, but now, for some reason, it didn’t. Perhaps it was because deep in their hearts, they’d already accepted that Su Yi and their master were the same person.

Su Yi, meanwhile, could have fused with his fifth incarnation’s Dao Imprint whenever he pleased, but… He chose not to.

He wanted to see how he’d compare with Li Fuyou upon reaching the pinnacle of the Great Profound Stage. Rather, he wanted to see how much he could surpass him by!

He was competing with his past self.

He was currently still some ways away from the peak of the Great Profound Stage, but he wasn’t all that far off.

A day later.

Qing Wei rushed over to deliver a report. “Sovereign Venerate, the Academy of Eternal Night is currently recruiting disciples. Just now, a group arrived and said they knew you. It seems they hope that you can let them bypass the test and join the academy directly.”

Su Yi was stunned. “Come on, let’s have a look.”

No one in the present day would be stupid enough to lie about being his friend, especially not here in the Academy of Eternal Night. Whoever these people were, it was highly unlikely that they were lying. After all, if they were caught in the lie, they were sure to die very unpleasant deaths.

Thus, Su Yi couldn’t help but be curious as to just who had come looking for him.

Meanwhile, numerous people had gathered outside of the Academy of Eternal Night. All of them were undergoing the Academy of Eternal Night’s entrance exams.

The Academy of Eternal Night was now the mightiest, most transcendent faction in the Immortal Realm, a supreme holy land for cultivation in the eyes of the world’s cultivators.

Not long ago, when word spread that the Academy of Eternal Night was recruiting disciples, it threw the entire Immortal Realm into uproar. The test drew countless shocking, prominent talents from all over the world.

However, gaining admission to the Academy of Eternal Night was no small matter. You didn’t just have to participate in numerous tests and trials; the openings were highly limited.

This time, for instance, they would only recruit one hundred disciples. Furthermore, they had to be in the Universe Realm at the bare minimum! This requirement extinguished countless people’s hopes.

Over the past few days, the entrance examinations had been continuously underway outside the Academy of Eternal Night. There were over eighty thousand participants!

But now, a fierce argument had broken out.

“We ascended to the Immortal Realm alongside Sovereign Venerate Su, and we traveled together for a time. How could we possibly be lying?” a young man in ink-black robes explained frantically.

Several others accompanied him, all of them trying to explain much the same thing: that they’d come to the Immortal Realm alongside Su Yi via the Domain Boundary Battlefield, and that they were old acquaintances.

Uproarious laughter ensued.

“Sovereign Venerate Su has established himself at the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao, and he can slay a god with a swing of his sword. You’re just a pack of Universe Realm Immortals. How could you possibly be acquainted with Sovereign Venerate Su?” someone jeered.

“Heh heh. You’re faking a connection to Sovereign Venerate Su to gain an advantage? You’re blinded by greed!” someone else laughed coldly.

Everyone was here to take the Academy of Eternal Night’s entrance examination. Seeing the young man in ink-black robes and his companions try to get in by pulling strings provoked widespread indignation; everyone hurled insults at the young man and his companions.

“You’re wrong. There’s no way they’d pretend to be Sovereign Venerate Su’s acquaintances just to trick us. How would that be any different from suicide?” Someone clear-headed analyzed the situation and tried to argue. “After all, this is the Academy of Eternal Night, and if they lied and got caught, they wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences.”

But no one paid this argument any heed. Rather, all of them were doing their utmost to compete for highly limited spots. How could they tolerate the slightest underhandedness?

When Su Yi walked over and saw this, invisible pressure descended over heaven and earth. The entire area immediately calmed down, and every heart shook. The commotion instantly died down.

Sovereign Venerate Su! A year had passed. Now, he’d finally left seclusion!

Many of the immortals’ gazes heated up, and their eyes filled with reverence and awe. They were gazing upon a living legend.

When the young man in ink-black robes saw Su Yi, all of them were filled with nervousness.

Su Yi recognized several familiar faces at a glance: Yu Chen, Qin Suxin, Ren Changliu… All of them were from the Southern Fire Star Domain, the Western Chill Star Domain, and the Northern Abyss Star Domain!

Su Yi had competed with them in the Domain Boundary Battlefield. In the end, only a little over a hundred of the competitors managed to ascend to the Immortal Realm.

Furthermore, almost immediately upon arrival, Su Yi saved those who’d ascended alongside now.

Now, years later, they’d been reunited. How could Su Yi possibly have failed to recognize them?

“Sovereign Venerate, these people claim to be your acquaintances,” Qing Wei said softly.

One sentence, and everyone was paying attention. Everyone looked to Su Yi and waited to hear his answer.

Su Yi didn’t even miss a beat. “They are indeed. We know each other and we traveled together for a time.”

Boom!

The crowd was instantly in uproar, then incomparably stifled. Even if you’d hit them over the heads, they’d never have guessed that a group of Universe Realm Immortals like them really did know Su Yi!

Yu Chen, Qin Suxin, and the others all sighed in relief. Countless people throwing accusations at them had put them under enormous pressure. There was even a part of them worried that Su Yi wouldn’t acknowledge them. It had, after all, been a long time since they’d last interacted.

Fortunately, none of their fears came to pass.

Suddenly, someone called out indignantly, “Sovereign Venerate, when the Academy of Eternal Night announced that it was recruiting disciples, it set clear rules. Everyone must undergo the same trials if they are to gain admission, no exceptions, no matter how many strings they pull. If you break the rules, won’t you let the world down?”

The speaker’s voice boomed throughout the area. His words resonated with countless others.

The Academy of Eternal Night was a supreme sacred ground to the world’s immortal cultivators, and the masses revered Su Yi like a god. If Su Yi let his acquaintances bypass the entrance examination, all of them would be angry and disappointed.

But Su Yi just laughed. “Relax. Nothing of the sort will happen.”

It was then that Yu Chen spoke up. “Sovereign Venerate Su, we came here to take the test, and we never had any intention of relying on our connection to get into the Academy of Eternal Night. Earlier, we mentioned that we knew you in a conversation, and that caused an enormous misunderstanding.”

Qin Suxin, Ren Changliu, and the others nodded.

Su Yi inclined his head. “Regardless of your intentions, you must follow the rules. If you want to enter the Academy of Eternal Night, you must do so with your own strength.”

He glanced at Qing Wei. “Carry on in accordance with the rules. They are to receive no special treatment.”

Qing Wei solemnly nodded her assent.

The crowd was instantly in uproar, their cheers shaking the heavens. Every participant praised Su Yi’s decision.

“When the test is over, whether you manage to enter the Academy of Eternal Night or not, I’ll invite you to a banquet.” Su Yi looked at Yu Chen and the others and smiled.

Yu Chen and his companions’ spirits soared, and they hurriedly accepted the invitation.

An older-generation cultivator saw this play out from afar. He couldn’t help but sigh.

If anyone managed to gain admission to the Academy of Eternal Night, that would be worth more than eight lifetimes of accumulated good fortune. Successful test-takers' names would spread throughout the Immortal Realm, and their destinies would change forever.

But Yu Chen and the others had perhaps just benefited even more enormously. Even if they failed the test, who would dare look down on someone with a connection to Su Yi?

Even if the Academy of Eternal Night didn't want them, other peak orthodoxies would likely scramble to recruit them as disciples!

Sovereign Venerate Su’s influence was simply too enormous. Anyone with even the slightest connection to him didn’t even need to do anything; others would scramble to curry favor with them.

It was much like when an emperor of the mundane world toured his empire, any restaurant he stopped at would become famous. Countless others would flock to it.

Su Yi wasn’t thinking about all that. He couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with such trivialities. He hadn’t even known that the Academy of Eternal Night had recently begun recruiting new disciples.

All of this was because, at his level, he had no need to concern himself with such things. Those around him took care of it all for him.

……

A banquet was underway in a courtyard.

Su Yi, Yu Chen, and the others had gathered to drink and feast.

However, Yu Chen and his companions seemed reserved, even fearful. There was nothing for it; the disparity was too enormous.

Just six years had passed since they’d ascended to the Immortal Realm. They were still Universe Realm Immortals, while Su Yi… was someone they could only look up to! The gap was such that nervousness and unease were inevitable.

Back then, Su Yi was a member of their generation. They’d even clashed with him in their pursuit of the Grand Dao!

Just six years had passed, barely any time at all, but everything had changed. They were minor immortals in the early stages of the Immortal Dao, while Su Yi was an unparalleled living legend at its peak!

The banquet ended late at night.

Reuniting with Yu Chen and the others made Su Yi recall some of his old friends.

Six years passed in the blink of an eye. I’ve already brought peace and stability to the Immortal Realm, and I’ll soon set off for the River of Epochs. Before I leave, I ought to pay them a visit.

Several figures floated into Su Yi’s mind: Qing Tang, Qing Wan, Yue Shichan, Illuminating Emptiness, the Antique Dealer, Ol’ Cripple Wei, and Wei Shan….

It’s a pity that the Dark and Gold Star Realm has been hidden. I won’t be able to return until I’ve mastered the complete natural order of reincarnation. Otherwise, I’d love to take this opportunity to drop by.

Su Yi found it a bit of a pity. There were people he cared about in the Dark and Gold Star Realm, like Wen Lingxue, Ning Sihua, A’Cang, and the disciples he’d trained in the Wilds.

But Su Yi wasn’t upset. It was inevitable that he’d miss numerous opportunities to reunite with old friends and loved ones in his pursuit of the Grand Dao. The higher he climbed, the fewer people he’d have around him.

His old friends were alive and well. That was enough.