First Immortal of the Sword
Chapter 2909 - Ages Have Passed. The Places Remain, but the People Have Changed
The portrait had vanished from the last page of the Book of Legends, but Su Yi vividly recalled that it depicted a seemingly youthful Daoist who carried a sun and moon on his shoulders.
The heart devil inclined his head. “Yes, that’s the guy who kept challenging me and losing.”
Su Yi’s heart clenched.
According to the heart devil, Zhi Wuzhong was an extraordinary expert of the Far Shore of Destiny, someone who’d repeatedly challenged the Big Boss of Sword Sovereign City! Never mind the rest. The mere fact that Zhi Wuzhong had fought his first incarnation was proof of his strength. How could someone like that appear on the last page of the Book of Legends, and how was he connected to Wang Zhiwu?
Here, something occurred to Su Yi. Zhi Wuzhong, Wang Zhiwu. Zhi Wu, Zhiwu...? Even their names have two syllables in common. Could this really be a coincidence? Don’t tell me...
The heart devil seemed to realize what Su Yi was thinking. “No need to guess. Wang Zhiwu is really Zhi Wuzhong’s clone.”
“???” Su Yi’s eyes widened. With that temperament? How could Wang Zhiwu possibly be a leading expert of the Far Shore of Destiny?
It was truly unbelievable.
Su Yi thought back to his time in the God Domain, where he and Wang Zhiwu fought, then bonded through conflict. Later, much to his surprise, he learned that Wang Zhiwu was the Master of Legends, a famed expert of the River of Destiny.
Don’t tell me that Wang Zhiwu really has another shocking identity?
“I... I really wouldn’t have guessed it...” Su Yi murmured.
“The name ‘Wang Zhiwu’ sounds like the phrase ‘forgetting Zhiwu.’ It’s just the sort of clever trick that Zhi Wuzhong likes,” said the heart devil. “You couldn’t see through him, not because your cultivation base is too weak, but because he sealed his vital source energy. There’s no trace of his presence on this clone of his at all. Simply put, Wang Zhiwu is like you.”
“Me?” Su Yi blinked.
“That’s right. You’re my reincarnation, but you’ve yet to regain your memories of your past life. Similarly, Wang Zhiwu is Zhi Wuzhong’s clone, but he’s yet to awaken. He knows nothing of his true nature,” said the heart devil. “Of course, it’s not exactly the same. Wang Zhiwu is ultimately a clone, so when he reawakens, he’ll simply become Zhi Wuzhong. He cannot possess a life independent of the original.”
Su Yi finally understood. “So, the final page of the Book of Legends is actually a backup measure intended to reawaken Wang Zhiwu?”
“That’s right,” said the heart devil. “That’s why I stopped Wang Zhiwu from using the last page. If Wang Zhiwu had become Zhi Wuzhong... there’s no telling what would have happened.”
The heart devil was suddenly uncharacteristically solemn. “There’s no telling how many years have passed since I entered the cycle of reincarnation. If Zhi Wuzhong is exactly how I remember him, it’d be one thing, but I highly doubt it. I suspect that he’s no longer the man I remember.”
The thought had a deep impact on Su Yi. It was true. Countless years had passed over the course of his nine lifetimes. There was no understating how much the world had changed in that time.
Zhi Wuzhong was his first incarnation’s enemy, but there was no way he’d remained idle and unchanging all this time. Of course he’d changed!
Su Yi took a moment to calm himself, then asked a question he’d kept buried for a while now. “Earlier, you said that one of Zhi Wuzhong’s clones appeared when Lu Hongpao was surrounding. How did you know that?”
“Err....” The heart devil froze, then mumbled indistinctly, “When I want to know something, I naturally have means of finding out about it.”
Su Yi took a deep breath. “I’m not interested in what happened then. I just want to know if Lu Hongpao is still alive or not.”
The heart devil knew he couldn’t keep it a secret anymore, so he just nodded. He couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. After all that talk about refusing to help Su Yi, here I am, forced to admit I helped him in secret.
He couldn’t help but feel that he’d lost face, so he added, “I didn’t do that to help you! I just...”
Su Yi smiled and interrupted him. “I’m just glad she’s still alive. No need to explain.”
Inwardly, he chuckled. Why so taciturn? You were helping me out in secret. What’s so embarrassing about that? Is your dignity really that important?
Of course, he didn’t say any of that out loud. He didn’t want to provoke the heart devil. If he did, his shame might well turn into rage.
“I’ll repay what I owe you one day,” Su Yi said solemnly.
He’d heard that after his first incarnation entered the cycle of reincarnation, his territory, Sword Sovereign City, was laid to ruin. Su Yi naturally had to settle these debts. He had to hunt down the traitors of Sword Sovereign City, people like Hei Ya, too!
“Tch. At least you’ve got a bit of a conscience.” The heart devil laughed and sighed.
Then, he gazed intently at Su Yi. “Still, you’d best be careful. No matter how good I am to you now, one day, we’ll have to settle things between us once and for all. Get complacent, and you’ll find yourself on the passive.”
Su Yi was instantly solemn, but then, he laughed. “You ought to be careful, too. Otherwise, ending things will be far too dull.”
The heart devil couldn’t help but burst into laughter. He seemed delighted and gratified.
He thought for a moment, then said, “I suggest that you find a chance to chat with Xiao Jian. He was once Destiny’s Chosen, and he understands the Book of Destiny’s secrets better than anyone else in this world.”
The heart devil hesitated, but in the end, he couldn’t help but add, “The power of his imprint is severely depleted. He’s highly likely to fuse fully into the Book of Destiny.”
Su Yi’s heart shook. He nodded.
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence led River Ancestor Lu Shu and River Empress Peacock to Su Yi, who immediately used the power of Destiny’s Wrath. It took a while, but in the end, he successfully freed them both of their Tribulations of Destiny.
“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!” River Ancestor Lu Shu bowed in greeting.
He was now just a soul body lacking physical form, but given his capabilities, restoring his fleshly body wouldn’t be difficult. Most wondrous of all, going forward, he could refine and control the power of Tribulations of Destiny just as he had before, but he’d no longer need to fear calamitous power shackling his life source. In short, he’d profited from this disaster.
“Had I known you were this incredible, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.” River Empress Peacock sighed.
She’d warned Su Yi repeatedly, urging him not to risk himself. Looking back on it now, she realized that she’d severely underestimated him.
Even fighting together, the Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence couldn’t stop Su Yi!
Her perception of Su Yi had undergone a heart-shaking shift. When she expressed her gratitude, it came straight from the heart. He’d completely won her over.
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence both visibly relaxed.
“Su Yi has upheld his end of the agreement, so you two had best cooperate, too,” said the heart devil.
The Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence exchanged glances, then nodded.
......
Shortly after, Su Yi, River Ancestor Lu Shu, and River Empress Peacock returned to the ground below.
When Wang Zhiwu, River Ancestor Shen Xiao, and the others saw this, they were unwittingly stunned. What’s going on? Who won in the end, and who lost? What happened to the Monarch of Endless Tribulations and the Buddha of Non-Existence? And what about Lu Shi? Is he alive or dead?
The boundless sword intent blanketing the dome of heaven had obscured their vision to the point that none of them knew what had happened up there.
“Brother Su, did you beat the crap out of those two old-timers?” Wang Zhiwu said with a laugh. Su Yi had come back alive, while there was no sign of the Monarch of Endless Tribulations or the Buddha of Non-Existence. The results of their duel thus seemed obvious. Clearly, Su Yi had won!
They’re still alive,” said Su Yi.
Wang Zhiwu’s expression shifted. He looked around nervously. “Really?”
Su Yi laughed. “Relax. The problem is solved.”
Wang Zhiwu smacked Su Yi in the shoulder and roared, “Here I thought you were my good brother. Just now, I was ready to pull out my greatest killer weapon the moment you needed help, yet here you are now, teasing me!”
Something suddenly occurred to him. “Right, did you see which bastard stole my Book of Legends earlier? Whoever it was, they must have been sick of living. Only I can control that treasure. How could someone else even think of getting their grubby hands on it?”
He suddenly broke into a smug grin. “Fortunately, whoever it was must have come to their senses. They returned the Book of Legends of their own accord. I guess that bastard knows what’s good for them after all!”
Su Yi couldn’t help but sink into silence. Is this guy really a sect leader from the Far Shore of Destiny? And if my first incarnation's heart devil finds out that Wang Zhiwu called him a bastard, will he hunt Zhi Wuzhong down to settle the score?
Su Yi shook his head and put those thoughts aside.
“What’s the situation, my worthy younger brother?” River Ancestor Shen Xiao asked urgently. “Are you alright?”
River Ancestor Lu Shu’s gaze was strange. Worthy younger brother? If Ol’ Shen Xiao knew how terrifying Su Yi’s first incarnation was, he wouldn’t dare address him like that, even if he was one hundred times as bold.
River Empress Peacock pursed her lips in silence. Earlier, her master, the Buddha of Non-Existence, told her nothing of Su Yi’s identity. She just assumed that his first incarnation’s heart devil was his backer. Still, she found it a bit strange that River Ancestor Shen Xiao would address Su Yi like that.
Most people would consider it an absolute honor for a River Ancestor to call them their brother, but in Su Yi’s case... It seemed that River Ancestor Shen Xiao was overstepping!
But Su Yi naturally didn’t care about that. He just smiled and said, “Rest assured, Daoist Brother. All of this is settled.”
He didn’t explain, nor did he describe their battle, but River Ancestor Shen Xiao knew better than to ask.
He smiled in obvious relief. “Good! No matter what, I have you to thank for turning the tide and saving our lives. Your old brother will remember this act of benevolence for the rest of his life!”
Su Yi smiled, then pointed to River Ancestor Shen Xiao. “We’ve set aside our enmity and become friends. Senior Lu Shu will be leaving with us.”
River Ancestor Lu Shu was instantly flattered—and startled. He hurriedly waved. “Senior? What senior? I’m in no way worthy of the title. Fellow Daoist Su, you’re my benefactor! Please just call me directly by name.”
Wang Zhiwu, River Ancestor Shen Xiao, and the others were surprised, even stunned. How did River Ancestor Lu Shu, a supreme expert of the Primordial Era, become so polite and respectful in the blink of an eye? Judging by the look on his face, his respect and gratitude are the real deal, too! There’s no way he’s faking it!