First Immortal of the Sword

Had they gotten complacent? No, they hadn’t. They’d discussed their approach long before the battle began, and they’d gone over every detail of Shen Mu’s battle following the Divine Hunt.

In the end, they reached a few useful conclusions.

First, Shen Mu was strong enough to contend with the mightiest of early-stage Miracle Realm experts. They’d reached this conclusion after going over his battle with Immortal King Chi Meng of Jade Firmament Immortal Palace.

Second, Shen Mu couldn’t face multiple Immortal Kings on his own strength. Otherwise, there was no way he would have used that Combat Soul Puppet when seven Immortal Kings encircled him. He sent out the puppet without even trying to fight first.

Third, that Combat Soul Puppet’s power was exhausted!

This third point was the most crucial, as it was the puppet they feared most.

They’d analyzed the battle with the utmost seriousness, then reached the conclusion that the Combat Soul Puppet could kill mid-stage Miracle Realm Immortal Kings… at the very least!

It seemed entirely possible that it could threaten late-stage Immortal Kings too!

The only thing worth celebrating was that after that grand battle, it would have been obvious to anyone that the Combat Soul Puppet was severely depleted. It no longer presented much of a threat.

They’d also analyzed Shen Mu’s combat skills, like his attainments in the Dao of the Sword and secret arts.

It was precisely because they had such detailed information that they’d prepared this deathtrap so meticulously. They were convinced that a trap of this level could threaten even mid-stage Immortal Kings!

Who’d have thought that they’d fail even after preparing so thoroughly? How could anyone possibly accuse them of getting complacent?

“Ultimately, the issue is that we don’t fully understand Shen Mu’s origins or abilities,” sighed the middle-aged man in beast skins.

Shen Mu was just too mysterious. He was thoroughly shrouded in mystery. No one knew just how many wondrous abilities he had up his sleeves.

This was what led to unexpected variables in their assassination attempt!

“If he weren’t such high-level prey, he wouldn’t have been worthy of all five of us joining forces to target him, don’t you think?” The red-robed Daoist stroked his jaw and said softly, “Besides, we aren’t the only ones after him. The Church of the Pure One, the Church of Supreme Oneness, and numerous other top factions have sent their experts too. All of us are chasing him with all our might.”

He stretched languidly and muttered, “We’ve got to hurry. The sect leader said that capturing Shen Mu alive will lead to inestimably enormous benefits!

“Shen Mu is indeed of the utmost importance, and his origins are extraordinary. I’m sure he has enormous secrets, and that he carries enormous good fortune. Even disregarding whatever else he has on him, that Combat Soul Puppet is an extraordinary treasure!

“That aside, Shen Mu acquired a suspected Great Realm treasure in the Divine Hunt Demon Mountains. If we capture him, that treasure alone is worthy of our personal intervention!”

“We’d best be cautious,” said one of his companions. “We absolutely cannot lower our guard. Better to return empty-handed than to risk our lives.”

“Indeed.”

As the group conversed, they got to work. Before long, all five disappeared into the surrounding area.

Shortly after, two new figures emerged.

The first was an amiable old man in Daoist robes. His hair and beard were as white as snow. The other was a woman in a plain dress. She was a slender beauty, and she carried a bamboo flute.

“The Church of Divine Flame actually sent out five Immortal King experts, including the master assassin Meng Zhe. It seems they’re dead set on taking Shen Mu down,” said a woman in a plain dress.

“We’re dead set on taking him down too, aren’t we?” said the old man in Daoist robes. “Shen Mu has only himself to blame for causing such an enormous incident. None of the Immortal Realm’s top factions will let him off.”

“But Shen Mu isn’t so easily killed,” said the woman in the plain dress. “We both saw that battle clearly. Meng Zhe made thorough, meticulous arrangements, but Shen Mu still gave him the slip. I can also say with certainty that if Meng Zhe had fought Shen Mu alone, he would have been killed.”

The old man in Daoist robes was instantly solemn. “That’s indeed the case. The most terrifying part is that the boy is one hundred percent alert. He obviously sensed an ambush lying in wait, which is why he decisively retreated. He didn’t linger on the battlefield in the slightest.”

The woman in the plain dress asked suddenly, “Then do you think he realized that we’re hiding nearby?”

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

The five Immortal Kings of the Church of Divine Flame attacked Su YI first, while the two of them hid themselves even deeper. Not even Meng Zhe, the Immortal King assassin, noticed them.

“Impossible,” the old man in Daoist robes said firmly. “We’re each carrying a Heaven-Deceiving Chess Piece. It’s enough to elude the notice of the Laws. A Great Realm powerhouse might sense us, but no Immortal King could, let alone someone beneath that level.”

A Heaven-Deceiving Chess Piece!

These were treasures the founder of the Church of the Pure One, the Blood Firmament Immortal Emperor, refined personally. They could completely obscure your presence, and so long as you held still, you could elude even the notice of the Laws!

“Impossible?” The woman in the plain dress fell briefly silent. “Elder Mo, don’t get complacent. Shen Mu is shrouded in mysteries, and he has countless abilities up his sleeves. Perhaps he really hasn’t sensed our presence, but when we strike, we have to be as cautious as can be. If the right opportunity doesn’t arise, better to give up than to risk ourselves.”

The old man in Daoist robes frowned, then laughed. “Very well. Let’s just hide, watch tigers do battle, then swoop in to reap the benefits.”

The woman inclined her head. “That’s our best shot. Shen Mu might be crafty as a fox, but I’m afraid that not even he realized that others captured a trace of his aura after the Divine Hunt. On the road ahead, no matter how he disguises himself or what identity he adopts, there’ll be no escaping pursuit.”

Immortal Kings and Queens could easily piece together numerous worthwhile leads just by examining a battlefield. This was how they’d managed to lock onto Shen Mu!

“Even if he knows, it’s already too late,” laughed the old man in Daoist robes.

As they conversed, their figures faded back into their surroundings. Before long, they’d disappeared completely. They didn’t cause the slightest disturbance, nor did they leave even the slightest trace.

...

Beneath the night sky.

A stream burbled through the mountain wilderness, glinting beneath the moonlight.

Su Yi sat on the ground beside it, his white robes catching the light. They were entirely unmarred by dust.

Just as I thought. The moment I revealed my presence, my enemies came running. Very well. I’ll just have to play with them. At least the journey won’t be boring this way.

Su Yi leisurely picked up a jug of wine, threw back his head, and drank. The will to fight ignited in his chest.

Although tonight’s assassination attempt came out of nowhere, he’d anticipated that something like this would happen!

Rather, you could say he’d invited it on purpose.

As the former Eternal Night Immortal Sovereign, the man who’d once dominated the entire Immortal Realm, he naturally knew the strength of Immortal Kings like the back of his hand.

He knew that after the curtains fell on the Divine Hunt, the factions involved would do everything they could to hunt him down.

He’d left traces of his aura on the battlefield deliberately. With that lead, his enemies would be able to find him!

Of course, if Su Yi really wanted to hide himself, it wouldn’t matter that they’d captured traces of his presence. There’d be no way for them to find him.

He’d only just spent a month in seclusion in the Underground Palace of Seeking the Profound. None of his enemies could find him there because he’d hidden all traces of his presence.

It was only after parting ways with Qing Wei and setting off for the Dark Province’s Abyss of Dark Fog that Su Yi deliberately let a hint of his aura slip.

He wanted to see whether or not his enemies were still looking for him even now, a month after the Divine Hunt.

Who’d have thought that he’d lure over so many big fish at once?

Su Yi wasn’t scared. On the contrary, he was delighted.

One more step, and he’d break into the mid-stage Void Realm. Furthermore, he’d reforged the Sword of the Human Realm and reformed his powers of the Grand Dao into Void Realm Laws. All he needed now was opponents to test himself with.

Now, so many powerful Immortal Kings had shown up at his door. Su Yi couldn’t help but be as delighted as a predator spotting its favorite prey.

Furthermore, this most recent assassination attempt was incredibly meticulous. Each of his opponents was more ruthless and capable than the one before. Even Su Yi caught a whiff of danger.

But all of this just served to ignite Su Yi’s long-dormant will to fight!

That man in black used the Church of Divine Flame’s Great Formlessness Escape Incantation, and he was a master assassin. He’s a peak expert among early-stage Immortal Kings. The four Immortal Kings with him hid themselves well, and I doubt they’re weak, thought Su Yi. He was inwardly replaying the battle he’d just fought.

Just as he prepared to kill the man in black, his instincts alerted him to the danger, and he retreated without hesitation.

Afterward, he used a secret soul art and discovered the four Immortal King experts hidden further away.

It was immediately obvious to him that, had he reacted even the slightest bit slower, they would have encircled him, which would have meant trouble.

Of course, whatever trouble they could cause wasn\'t enough to make Su Yi flee. What really convinced him to retreat was that he sensed two others hidden in the area!

Even after using his secret soul art, he could only just barely sense them, so he figured they had to be from the Church of the Pure One!

He knew this because they were using the Blood Firmament Immortal Sovereign’s Heaven-Deceiving Chess Pieces to obscure their presences.

Others might not be able to sense these treasures, but Su Yi was far, far too familiar with them. During the Battle of Eternal Night, the Blood Firmament Immortal Sovereign used Heaven-Deceiving Chessboards to lead a group of Great Realm experts to ambush Wang Ye!

And the Heaven-Deceiving Chess Pieces were far inferior to the Heaven-Deceiving Chessboards! Of course Su Yi recognized them. How could he not?

The situation was so complicated, and there were so many enemies lying in wait, that Su Yi knew it wasn’t the right time for an all-out battle. Thus, he retreated at the first opportunity.

Seven Immortal Kings have appeared already. They’re from the Church of Divine Flame and the Church of the Pure One. What about the other top factions? Will they send Immortal Kings after me too?

Su Yi couldn’t help but be eager.