First Immortal of the Sword-Chapter 2039 - Xu Xingke’s Saber

“Xu Xingke! I’m shocked that you’re still alive,” said Zhi Bei with deep dread. He’d planned to attack Su Yi, but now that Xu Xingke was here, he suppressed most of his imposing aura.

“So, not even an Epoch Tribulation was enough to kill you,” said Bi Nu, her voice suddenly icy.

Huang Zhankong, meanwhile, gazed down at the place where Nie Mo’s head floated on the water. “You killed Heavenly Maiden Guye’s subordinate. Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold you accountable?”

He, Zhi Bei, and Bi Nu all obviously knew who Xu Xingke was. It was equally obvious that they were afraid of him!

“I already killed him, didn’t I? Do you really think I’m afraid of reprisal?” Xu Xingke said expressionlessly. “I’m also not afraid to tell you that I encountered people from the Forbidden Demon Isle and Nine Li Mountain on my way here, but they knew what was good for them and gave up on this expedition. They’re already on their way to report back to their masters.”

He paused, then continued, “Only Nie Mo remained stubborn. He wanted to see whether my saber was still sharp, so I showed him it was.”

The crowd’s expressions shifted erratically. The Forbidden Demon Isle and Nine Li Mountain were also among the Eight Great Forbidden Zones, just like the Path of the Ancient Gods, the Ancient Upheaval Forbidden Zone, the Cloud Burial Forbidden Zone, the Guye Maiden Forbidden Zone, and the City of the Lost.

There was no doubt about it. The Forbidden Demon Isle, the Guye Maiden Forbidden Zone, and Nine Li Mountain had sent people to invite Su Yi to their territories too, only for Xu Xingke to intercept them.

“Now, it’s your turn to choose,” said Xu Xingke. He was calm, but his bearing was forceful and domineering. “What have you decided?”

Although his scabbard was empty, he himself was like an unparalleled divine saber hidden in a scabbard. The moment he emerged, his edge would glint with unparalleled sharpness.

Huang Zhankong suddenly took a step forward, his tall, powerful frame flowing with golden light as his imposing presence rose into the firmament. He said gravely, “According to ancient rumors, your Dao of the Saber is shocking and unparalleled. Might you show it to me?”

“To the death, then?” said Xu Xingke.

Huang Zhankong’s eyes flashed. “I just want to see it.”

Xu Xingke glanced at Huang Zhankong and was just about to say something when Su Yi said out of nowhere, “I want to see it too.”

Xu Xingke fell silent. After a moment, he patted his saber scabbard and said, “Since this isn’t to the death, there’s no need for my full strength, but if you want to see my abilities, I have no reason to refuse.”

He then looked at Huang Zhankong. “Attack me with your full strength.”

Huang Zhankong took a deep breath, and his eyes blazed with imposing light. “Many thanks for your guidance!”

Boom!

Intricate, fiery Dao Markings appeared all over his ten-foot frame, and a current of the power of the natural order swept forth like the tides.

The surrounding skies were instantly enveloped in endless firelight. It was like a divine sun rising out of the water, emanating endless light and heat. The surrounding river water evaporated, and mist filled the air.

The crowd’s eyes narrowed, while Zhi Bei and Bi Nu each took a step back. Both of them could tell that Huang Zhankong was fighting with all his might, holding nothing back!

Su Yi instantly analyzed his strength. Huang Zhankong has strength comparable to a Limit Realm Mid-Rank God. Moreover, he controls an ancient Divine Law of fire not of this era. Although his body is a mere manifestation of its soul, he’s still extraordinary.

If he had both a proper fleshly body and a soul, he’d naturally be even stronger.

This judgment was based on Li Fuyou’s memories and experiences. It had naturally become instinctual to Su Yi; he didn’t need to go out of his way to sense anything.

Meanwhile, Huang Zhankong attacked!

Boom!

He took a step forward, and searing divine flames transformed into a blazing saber. Then, he leaped and swung his weapon with all his might.

It was a simple slash, without artifice.

But when he attacked, it was as if heaven and earth had been plunged into a furnace. Divine flames ran rampant, burning the skies. Unstoppable, tyrannical saber qi manifested a grand, resplendent vision of a flock of golden crows leaving their perches on mulberry trees to soar into the heavens. As they rose, they produced a storm of flame that blanketed the firmament!

Before, Su Yi could never have understood the secrets hidden in this power of the Divine Dao, but things were different now. The moment he laid eyes on this slash, he grasped many of its profundities.

He could even tell that, at his current level, he’d have no hope of blocking such an attack unless he drew upon the Sword of the Nine Hells. Without it, he’d suffer badly!

When Su Yi realized this, he felt a bit strange. He’d first managed to kill a god in the Great Unity Stage.

Now, he was at the pinnacle of the Great Profound Stage, but there was still an insurmountable gap between him and a Mid-Rank God like Huang Zhankong.

Ultimately, the gap in their cultivations was just too great.

All of this took some time to describe, but little time passed in reality. These thoughts merely flashed through Su Yi’s head before he turned his attention to Xu Xingke.

In the face of Huang Zhankong’s supremely mighty saber, the beautifully handsome but unearthly man with braided hair maintained his steely, cold equanimity.

His expression didn’t so much as ripple, and he didn’t even budge. All he did was raise his right hand into the air and swing it as he might have a saber.

Boom!

The divine flames burning throughout heaven and earth instantly went out.

A heaven-shaking, explosive impact rang out, and the vision of golden crows soaring through the heavens split and vanished without a trace.

Everything quieted down. It was as if the blazing sun had been knocked out of the sky, and all of its light and fire had disappeared.

Immediately afterward, Huang Zhankong’s ten-foot frame was sent flying backward as if a divine mountain had slammed into him. Moreover, he had a new, startling slash wound. It extended from his shoulder at an angle, and it was perfectly straight.

He’d almost been cleaved in two!

Whoosh!

He fell into the water with a splash.

Zhi Bei and Bi Nu’s eyes widened. They felt chills in their hands and feet.

Huang Zhankong had lost, and in a single hit at that. Worse, he’d almost been completely destroyed!

From beginning to end, Xu Xingke’s attack seemed as ordinary as could be. All he did was use his hand and slash casually.

“What do you think of my saber?” Xu Xingke gazed calmly at Su Yi.

Su Yi mulled that over. “It’s a bit lacking compared to when you were at your peak.”

‘Lacking?’ Zhi Bei and Bi Nu found this absurd. How dare a Great Profound Stage young man disparage Xu Xingke’s saber? That slash just defeated Huang Zhankong; how insulted must he feel?

But to their shock, Xu Xingke nodded. “I really am weaker than before, but since I’m not fighting to kill, it’s enough.”

Su Yi laughed. “It’s far more than just ‘enough!’”

Meanwhile, off in the distance, Huang Zhankong pulled himself out of the water.

This was the man who’d just killed over a thousand experts with a single casual gesture, and he’d only just slain two gods, but now, he had a complicated mix of fear, astonishment, and admiration written all over his face.

“Xu Xingke, if my master learns that you’re still alive, I’m afraid he won’t let you off lightly. Farewell.”

With that, Huang Zhankong turned and left without another look.

After a moment’s silence, Zhi Bei said, “It won’t be long before the Path of the Ancient Gods opens. I’m afraid that you’ll struggle to protect Fellow Daoist Su without help.”

He paused, then looked at Su Yi. “Fellow Daoist Su, should you require assistance, the Ancient Upheaval Forbidden Zone will happily lend you its protection. Farewell!”

With that, he turned to leave.

Xu Xingke watched expressionlessly and made no attempt to interfere.

Meanwhile, Bi Nu solemnly scrutinized Su Yi and said, “Fellow Daoist Su, whether you believe it or not, our Cloud Burial Forbidden Zone is sincere about cooperating with you. They say actions speak louder than words, so I’ll naturally let you feel our sincerity firsthand.”

With that, she swayed on her feet, blurred into a rain of pink light, and floated away.

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“Do you think they’re sincere?” asked Su Yi.

“You’re valuable,” said Xu Xingke. “They wouldn’t express such sincerity otherwise.”

Su Yi laughed. “True.”

Xu Xingke looked at Su Yi. “But when your strengths aren’t evenly matched, sincerity can turn into malicious intent at a moment’s notice. I’m sure you could tell, but before I got here, although they were outwardly polite to you, deep within their hearts, none of them saw you as an equal. Otherwise, how could they disregard your opinion and invite you back to their territory by force?”

Su Yi nodded. “That’s indeed the case.”

Zhi Bei, Huang Zhankong, and Bi Nu were here on their masters' orders. Deep within their hearts, none of them saw him as an equal. It was obvious that if he'd accepted their invitations, their masters wouldn’t have treated him with true respect either!

It didn’t matter how much sincerity they expressed or how respectful they were. It was just as Xu Xingke said. If he refused to work with them, their “sincerity” could transform into malintent at a moment’s notice!

Ultimately, it came down to a difference in strength. If he wasn’t strong enough, he could forget about being treated like an equal.

“I wouldn’t have guessed you’d kill someone from the Guye Maiden Forbidden Zone.” Su Yi glanced at Nie Mo’s floating severed head.

Xu Xingke’s gaze shifted inscrutably. “The River Lord commanded that I was to kill anyone who stood in my way, no matter who they were, and that he’d take care of the consequences. With the River Lord’s assurance, I naturally had no reason to be polite.”

The River Lord!

The image of a certain dirty old man instantly rose to the forefront of Su Yi’s consciousness.