First Immortal of the Sword

action

Chapter 938 - Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer’s Whereabouts

Su Yi gazed directly at the simply dressed man. “All I want is to ask about a certain secret.”1

A secret? The Night Watchman fell silent.0

A secret that even Su Xuanjun was so invested in was sure to be extraordinary.0

Su Yi sipped his wine and didn’t push.0

As the Night Watchman, the simply-dressed man had witnessed countless years of history, and he’d inherited all manner of ancient secrets.0

Alas, obtaining these secrets from him truly wasn’t easy.0

“Tell me what you want to know,” said the Night Watchman.0

Su Yi tapped the table, then said seriously, “I’ve wondered about this for a long time: just what was Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer’s connection to the Infernal Palace? Might we perhaps discuss it?”0

The Night Watchman’s eyelids twitched imperceptibly. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Fellow Daoist, why concern yourself with that all of a sudden?”0

Su Yi said frankly, “Back when I first explored the Netherworld, Old Ghost Coffin Bearer and I once got to know each other. The old-timer might seem disreputable, but in truth, he hides a bellyful of secrets. He even knows quite a bit about reincarnation.0

“He’s the one who told me that the tombstone safeguarding the City of the Wrongfully Dead likely hid some of the secrets of rebirth.0

“And I heard that the old-timer inexplicably disappeared a long time ago. Not even my eldest disciple, Pi Mo, has been able to locate him.0

“That aside, he and I once gambled before the Pool of Rebirth, and he still owes me the Coffin of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. It’s only natural that I’d be curious about the old man’s origins, as well as his current whereabouts,” said Su Yi. Here, he looked directly at the Night Watchman. “And I’m certain that you have answers, Fellow Daoist.”0

The simply-dressed man drank a glass of wine with a conflicted look on his face. “Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer really does have an unusual connection with the Infernal Palace, but the details involve ancient secrets. Forgive me, but I cannot share them.”0

“Oh,” said Su Yi. “Then what can you tell me?”0

The simply-dressed man pondered, then revealed a shocking secret. “The Disc of the Six Paths, the divine artifact once controlled by the Bureau of the Six Paths, and the Coffin of the Six Paths of Reincarnation that Old Ghost Coffin Bearer lost to you are one and the same.”0

“Really?” exclaimed Su Yi.0

The simply-dressed man subtly inclined his head. “It was first under the control of the Bureau of the Six Paths. Later on, it fell into Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer’s hands. However, something happened, and he had no choice but to leave it in a certain ancient ruin in the far reaches of the Sea of Bitterness.”0

“Which ancient ruin?”0

“The Burial Ground of the Dao.”0

Su Yi couldn’t help but feel stunned.0

When he visited the Six Paths Royal Territory’s Ziluo City, he heard a rumor that quite a bit had changed in the far reaches of the Sea of Bitterness.0

The most attention-grabbing of these developments was the re-emergence of the Battleground of Immortals and Demons.0

Although they called it that now, in ancient times, it was known as the Burial Ground of the Dao!0

It was an extremely mysterious continent, like a world in its own right. Over the years, it had lain dormant deep within the waters of the Sea of Bitterness. Never mind ordinary cultivators; even Emperors struggled to locate it.0

Yet recently, this ancient ruin had re-entered the world, drawing attention from every faction beneath the heavens!0

And now, the simply-dressed man was telling him that Old Ghost Coffin Bearer had left the Disc of the Six Paths in the Burial Ground of the Dao a long time ago. Of course Su Yi was surprised!0

“Why did Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer leave the treasure in the ruins?” asked Su Yi.0

The simply-dressed man shook his head. “Only he knows the answer to that.”0

“Then do you know where Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer went?” asked Su Yi.0

The simply-dressed man drank another cup of wine. “I already told you, Fellow Daoist.”0

After a brief daze, Su Yi understood. “The Burial Ground of the Dao?”0

“That’s right.” The simply-dressed man nodded.0

Su Yi mulled that over, then said thoughtfully, “So, you’re saying the old-timer went to retrieve the Disc of the Six Paths to fulfill the terms of our bet?”0

The simply-dressed man’s gaze turned a bit strange. “That’s most likely the case.”0

“I’m afraid something happened to him in the Burial Grounds of the Dao. Otherwise, he would have returned by now,” muttered Su Yi.0

“He might be trapped somewhere, but it’s unlikely anything happened to him,” said the simply-dressed man calmly. “I’m afraid no one beneath the heavens understands the Burial Ground of the Dao better than him.”0

Su Yi rubbed his forehead. “I just knew that old-timer’s origins weren’t simple. Right, why do they call the Disc of the Six Paths the Coffin of the Six Paths of Reincarnation?”0

This question left the simply-dressed man in a brief daze. Then, an uncharacteristic bitter laugh escaped his lips. “You’d best ask Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer that, should the opportunity arise.”0

Su Yi pointed at him and complained, “The most irritating thing about you is how secretive and mysterious you are. No kindness or sincerity at all.”4

The simply-dressed man refilled Su Yi’s cup with a perfectly natural expression on his face. “There’s nothing for it; these are the rules of the Night Watchmen. What I can speak of, I’ll share without reservation. What I cannot speak of, I’ll take with me to the grave.”0

Su Yi naturally understood the simply dressed man’s character, so he asked no further questions. 0

Instead, he sloshed the wine in his cup and sank into thought.0

He hadn't just asked about Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer because he was bored. 0

In his past life, Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer played a critical role in helping him uncover the secrets of reincarnation!0

Even in his past life, Su Yi couldn’t get a sense of the old ghost’s bottom line. He was simply too mysterious, and he hid his past extremely well.0

But there was another reason for Su Yi’s interest.0

A few hundred years ago, Pi Mo ventured into the Netherworld to investigate whether or not he was alive or dead, and he went so far as to kill Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer’s disciple, the Master of the Blood Coffin. Even his grand-disciple, the old blind man, was implicated.0

Su Yi felt deep-seated guilt over this.0

Should the opportunity arise, he naturally wanted to help the old blind man locate the founder of his lineage.0

After a little while, Su Yi let out a deep breath and muttered, “That old fox Cui Longxiang went to the Sea of Bitterness. So did Peach Haven Mountain’s Old Rooster. Now, it seems even Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer went to the Sea of Bitterness long ago. It’s truly interesting….”0

The simply-dressed man said with an inscrutable look in his eyes, “Perhaps you’ll be able to get some of the answers you’re after if you go there yourself, Fellow Daoist.”0

Su Yi nodded. “I’ve long since planned to take a trip there.”0

He’d promised Cui Chang’an to look for Cui Longxiang in the Sea of Bitterness.0

And he had begun began preparing for the expedition a while ago, when he went to Peach Haven Mountain to look for the old rooster. He planned to use the piece of Peach Haven Divine Wood to craft an Unsinkable Boat.0

But a moment later, Su Yi realized that something was amiss. He looked at the simply-dressed man and said, “It almost seems like you want me to go there.”0

The simply-dressed man couldn’t help but smile. “I knew I couldn’t hide it from you. To tell the truth, I’m quite worried about Old Ghost Coffin-Bearer.”0

He paused, then said, “Furthermore, your cultivation has already reached the late-stage Spiritual Revolution Realm. It won’t be long before you can attempt to break into the Imperial Realm, and the depths of the Sea of Bitterness have no shortage of opportunities to prove your Dao.”0

A strange light shone in the depths of Su Yi’s gaze.0

The simply-dressed man had just voiced exactly what Su Yi was thinking!0

The depths of the Sea of Bitterness held countless perils, but they were similarly full of opportunities to prove one’s Dao and become an Emperor!0

Once they’d consumed the entire jug of wine, Su Yi rose and bade farewell.0

It was already late at night. All he wanted was to find a place to rest.0

The Night Watchman got up to see him off.0

When Su Yi, You Xue, and Ye Yu left the smithy, the Night Watchman hesitated, then handed Su Yi a sealed bronze box.0

“Fellow Daoist, if you pass through the City of Eternal Night during your time in the Sea of Bitterness, please give this box to the Timekeeper. He’ll give you another treasure in return, which might be useful to you when you reach the Burial Ground of the Dao.”0

The simply-dressed man said softly, “But bear this in mind: you must not open the box. If you do, the Timekeeper will hold a grudge against you, and he’ll ruin your plans.”0

The City of Eternal Night!0

This was the only safe place in the far reaches of the Sea of Bitterness, a haven to the cultivators that explored it.0

The Timekeeper was the strange, stubborn, bad-tempered old-timer who’d watched over the city since antiquity.0

Su Yi naturally understood this. He asked with great interest, “What’s sealed inside the box?”0

The simply-dressed man didn’t hide it. “A token the last monarch of the Infernal Palace left behind a long time ago.”0

Su Yi couldn’t help but feel stunned, and he asked curiously, “Might you tell me just how many treasures you have that I don’t know about?”0

The simply-dressed man said, “They’re just a bunch of items with attached karmic ties, many of which are quite troublesome. With your personality, there’s no way you’d want to touch them.”0

He paused, then said, “Take the token in this box. It’s nothing precious, but if you give it to the Timekeeper, he’ll give you a treasure that might well come in handy.”0

“What treasure?”0

“You’ll know when the time comes, Fellow Daoist,” said the simply-dressed man.0

Su Yi let out a self-deprecating sigh. “I finally understand why Cui Jingyan always complains about me acting mysterious and refusing to explain anything clearly.”5

He was that way, but wasn’t the simply dressed man that way, too?0

Without any further delays, he put the bronze box away and waved. “Farewell.”0

Then, he proceeded into the distance. Ye Yu and You Xue accompanied him, one to his left, the other to his right.0

The apprentice, A’Cheng, stood there and looked at Su Yi's back enviously. “His Excellency Su really is fortunate.”0

The simply-dressed man said, “Few beneath the heavens are capable of enjoying such good fortune.”0

Ye Yu was a Profound Serenity Empress famous throughout the Netherworld, while You Xue was the treasure spirit generations of Ghost Serpents worshiped like a deity!0

Never mind ordinary cultivations; even Emperors couldn’t enjoy such good fortune!0

“Argh, I don’t need to be as lucky as him. One sweetheart would be good enough for me,” sighed A’Cheng. “Of course, if the heavens were compassionate enough to let me take on an extra concubine or two, that would be even better.”0

Whap! 0

He’d only just said this when he took a blow to the head.0

The Night Watchman said expressionlessly, “You good-for-nothing! What inheritor of the Night Watchman lineage needs a woman’s companionship?”0

With that, he turned and re-entered the smithy.0

A’Cheng clutched his head, visibly grief-stricken.0

It was only after becoming an inheritor of the Night Watchman lineage that he learned of one of their rules: Night Watchmen could never be with women.3

This rule was simply sick and inhumane!