First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1253 - The Rising Mist Ascension Diagrams

Outside the palace gates, Su Yi glanced at the red-robed man in the lotus crown, then walked inside.

“Have a seat.” The red-robed man in the lotus crown was the first to sit down. He took out a jug of wine and poured both himself and Su Yi a glass.

The refreshing, mellow fragrance of wine rose into the air, soothing the heart.

Su Yi disregarded him and walked over to the side of the hall, where he started examining the paintings.

This left the red-robed man stunned, but a moment later, he laughed, not at all concerned. He then rose from his chair and walked over to Su Yi.

“The walls of this palace are carved with the secret markings of the Immortal Dao. They contain thirty-six Cloud Soaring Ascension Diagrams. All of them are carefully constructed, but it's a pity... They’re in terrible condition, and they’ve lost their charm and spirituality,” the red-robed man said softly. “Take the diagram you’re looking at. It’s indistinct, but after years of divination, I realized that the vicious bird the diagram depicts is a divine Bifang bathed in tribulation lightning as it assails the gates of heaven. In the end, the bird rose through the mists and transcended, becoming an immortal.”

There really was an indistinct, incomplete image of a sacred bird on the walls. It beat its wings as it soared through the air, and it was bathed in immortal tribulation light.

An indistinct path hovered in the skies above it, with a mysterious gateway floating at the path’s far end.

The image was incomplete and indistinct, damaged in numerous places.

But upon closer inspection, it was just as the red-robed man said. It seemed the bird really was a Bifang, a sacred beast!

Su Yi examined it briefly, then shifted over to the second diagram.

“This Cloud Soaring Ascension Diagram depicts a Daoist cultivator. I cannot determine his cultivation, but he’s bathed in the immortal light of a lightning tribulation, and he stands above the moon, stars, and sun. An illusory manifestation of his will is reflected behind him, like a divine sovereign. From this, I can infer that his cultivation has already brushed up against the threshold of immortality!” said the red-robed man. “Look! There’s an indistinct path above him too, with heaven’s gate at the far end!

“Actually, if you look closely, all thirty-six diagrams have numerous commonalities. All include a lightning tribulation, immortal light, and the path to heaven’s gates.”

“That these diagrams were carved in this hall is unquestionable proof that the thirty-six experts depicted all rose through the mists and transcended, successfully becoming immortals.”

Here, the red-robed man sighed softly. “Those who failed weren’t qualified to have their likenesses carved here. In other words, the thirty-six images before you are all records of thirty-six experts sublimating and becoming immortals.”

The words flowed out of him, as if he were a tour guide.

From beginning to end, Su Yi said nothing. He simply examined the diagrams in silence.

He had to admit that the red-robed man’s analysis seemed logical.

But Su Yi didn’t fully believe him.

The images were far too old, too damaged, and indistinct. Although numerous details remained, who would dare say with certainty that these thirty-six experts had truly become immortals?

And who would dare say with certainty that that mysterious doorway truly led to the Immortal Realm?

It was only after taking a full circle around the room that Su Yi murmured to himself, “Now I can say with some assurance that this is not a kingdom the Divine Realm left behind, but rather, the ruins of an ancient orthodoxy.”

The red-robed man in the lotus crown asked with great interest, “What makes you say that? You saw the Jade Sea and the old turtle guide, too. A long time ago, both truly existed. The Jade Seas were once home to orthodoxies founded by immortals, as well as the mysterious immortal blessed ground of Mount Penglai.”

Su Yi didn’t even pause to think. “Throughout history, has there ever been any shortage of factions proclaiming themselves immortals?”

He then gestured to the palace walls. “Look at the Cloud Soaring Ascension Diagrams. If this was truly a faction of immortals, why would they leave images of immortal ascension? Would true immortals care about such a thing?”

The red-robed man thought for a moment. “Seems to me that the Cloud Soaring Ascension Diagrams are records of thirty-six experts’ paths to immortality. They’re a guide the immortals left for future transcendants.”

Su Yi smiled. “Does that mean you think the ‘Divine Kingdom of Illusions’ is truly a nation the Divine Realm left behind?”

The red-robed man smiled too. “The answer to that question isn’t important. What’s important is that the Path of Transcendence and the Immortal Dao truly exist, right?”

Su Yi looked at him. “You call yourself a descendant of immortals. Supposedly, their blood runs through your veins, and you’ve mastered their secret arts. Might you show me?”

The red-robed man laughed. “Don’t be in such a rush. Once we’re done talking, we’ll naturally have time to spar.”

“Oh?” said Su Yi. “What would you like to chat about?”

The red-robed man turned his head. His distant gaze locked onto Su Yi, and the vicissitudes of countless years flowed through the depths of his gaze.

A little while later, he looked away, leisurely sat down in the room’s centermost seat, raised his cup, and drained it.

Only then did he respond. “The moment you entered this place, I felt a familiar sensation, as if... I’d seen you somewhere before.”

The red-robed man pressed his lips into a grin. “Now, I finally remember. Fate... truly is too wondrous for words.”

Su Yi turned to look at him. “When was this?”

The red-robed man’s eyes shone with reminiscence. “It was here in this very hall, beneath these dim lights. A man much like you visited in search of sublimation and immortality.”

Here, he looked at Su Yi, his gaze rife with meaning. “Then and now, both the man and the occasion were much the same.”

Su Yi’s eyebrows rose. “Were we really that similar?”

The red-robed man said firmly, “Yes! You were!”

Su Yi laughed. “Did we look identical?”

The red-robed man shook his head. “No, of course now. Your appearance, cultivation, and your dispositions were different. Even your gestures and natural grace were starkly different, but at the same time... You gave me the exact same feeling. It’s as if you’re the same person.”

Su Yi’s brow furrowed. “What was his name?”

The red-robed man didn’t so much as pause to think. “Shen Mu!”

Su Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly. Although his expression barely wavered, waves of emotion coursed through him.

I actually visited this place in my sixth lifetime?

“You... Don’t tell me you’ve recalled something?” the red-robed man probed.

Su Yi fell briefly silent, then laughed, “You can consider me Shen Mu.”

This declaration left the red-robed man stunned. He gazed intently at Su Yi, then said, “You obviously aren’t Shen Mu, but I can feel that the two of you are somehow connected.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but be surprised. This guy’s powers of perception are quite something!

“Speaking of Shen Mu, it’s quite a coincidence,” the red-robed man said playfully. “The pawnshop owner you speak of said she came to reclaim a treasure Shen Mu left here.”

Su Yi was unwittingly stunned.

Several hundred years ago, that madwoman came to the Divine Kingdom of Illusions on account of Shen Mu?

This was truly beyond his expectations.

But when he gave the matter further thought, ripples coursed through his heart.

That madwoman’s origins were mysterious, and she owned the unbelievable Pawnshop of the Heavens. With it, she could wander the stars freely, shuttling between different worlds and planes.

If she knew Shen Mu, does that imply that she first appeared in the Dark and Gold Star Realm because she suspected I was his reincarnation?

It’s entirely possible!

Su Yi was already well aware that even as the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force, his cultivation base would have been no match for that madwoman’s!

And he once burned her pawnshop to the ground!

Given her tyrannical, fiery temper, that madwoman would have killed anyone else who’d tried such a thing many times over.

But back then, although she was furious, she never turned on him....

Looking back on it now, throughout the years they’d known each other, that madwoman had obviously hidden a lot from him!

“What treasure did Shen Mu leave here back then?” asked Su Yi.

The red-robed man raised his jug of wine and poured himself a glass. “It’s no treasure, really. It’s just a comb that once belonged to a woman.”

Su Yi was stunned. “He came here in pursuit of immortality. Why leave a comb behind?”

The red-robed man shook his head and sighed. “I’m not sure. I asked him the same question, but he didn’t answer me. Looking back on it now, it seems that although the comb is no treasure, it’s extraordinarily meaningful to Shen Mu. It’s also possible that it hides as-of-yet unknown mysteries.”

Su Yi’s brow furrowed. “Where is it?”

The red-robed man laughed, his gaze leaving ample room for thought. “Why are you so concerned about Shen Mu’s affairs? Is it as I thought? Is there really some unusual connection between you and him?”

Before waiting for Su Yi’s response, he said to himself, “It’s interesting. Shen Mu drew that mysterious pawnshop owner here, and now, someone so strikingly similar to him, too. It seems Shen Mu’s origins aren’t simple.

Here, he suddenly rose and smiled at Su Yi. “I know your heart is full of questions, but I guarantee that so long as you do me a favor, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“What favor?”

The red-robed man didn’t even pause to think. “Simple. I want you to destroy the ritual ground outside the palace.”

His eyes lit up, and he stared intently at Su Yi. “I’m certain you can manage it. So long as you help me, I’ll clear up your doubts, and I’ll even teach you immortal magic!”

He paused, then said, “Although I’ve been trapped here for countless years, I’ve used various secret arts to discover numerous leads regarding the pursuit of immortality. It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve mastered all of the secrets of the Divine Kingdom of Illusions!”

He flipped his palm, and a jade slip hovered in the air. “Everything I’ve learned, I’ve recorded in this jade slip. I call it ‘the Guide to Immortality.’”

“So long as you help me, the Guide to Immortality is yours!”

With that, he looked at Su Yi, silently awaiting his response.

Against all expectations, Su Yi looked entirely disinterested, as if he couldn’t even be bothered to discuss this. He asked directly, “All I want to know is, where is the pawnshop owner now?”

“........”