First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 944 - Those Are My Rules

Cui Longxiang was already dead…1

Weng Xuanshan sank into silence.1

He was actually well aware that the Adjudicator of the Netherworld had inexplicably disappeared after an encounter with the Netherworld Vessel in the far reaches of the Sea of Bitterness, and that the ancient Cui Family had faced upheaval ever since.0

They weren’t exactly doomed, but they no longer had the confidence to intimidate everyone around them.0

They’d faced potential disaster not long ago, on the night of the Lantern Festival.0

Although they avoided calamity in the end, everyone knew that without Cui Longxiang to hold down the fort, it would be difficult to maintain their status as a peak faction much longer. They were no longer threatening.0

Second Elder Wei Jingkui’s words were unquestionable proof of that.0

“That’s still Cui Chang’an’s daughter. If you take this too far, you’ll still bring trouble upon Night Demon Mountain,” Weng Xuanshan said thoughtfully. “Besides, fish and dragons intermingle in the City of Safe Returns. This is a gathering point for experts of too many factions to count. Even if you seal off the arena, there’s no way to keep this under wraps.”0

Wei Jingkui smiled. “You needn’t worry, Fellow Daoist. We wouldn’t be doing this if we were afraid of incurring the Cui Family’s wrath.”0

He paused, then said, “All I ask is that you serve as a witness to prove that this duel was indeed conducted fairly.”0

Weng Xuanshan nodded.0

Meanwhile, on the distant stage, Cui Jingyan’s predicament was increasingly dire.0

The ripple-like layers of the Black Demon Spirit Chains were like incomparably insidious whips. They tore open her defenses, leaving bloody gashes all over her body. Her delicate, beautiful face paled, and her qi showed signs of disarray.0

Irrepressible, frantic agitation appeared in her expression.0

Xue He’s power was a level above hers, and the whip-like chains of his secret art bore down on her relentlessly. She was completely trapped.0

And now, a densely layered cage enveloped her on all sides. Before long, she wouldn’t be able to fight back at all.0

But if she were captured, it would mean a complete and utter defeat. There’d be no room left to turn this around!0

“Miss Cui, so long as you admit defeat, I can stop here and let you lose with dignity,” Xue He said with a smile.0

Although he said this, his movements weren’t the least bit slow. His attacks fell like rain, and he filled the sky with black chains of the Grand Dao that swept forth like layered tidal waves.0

There was no doubt about it: he planned to suppress Cui Jingyan in one fell swoop.0

“Even if I die, I won’t lower my head!” Cui Jingyan gnashed her teeth. Her eyes blazed with determination.0

It was as if her entire body were on fire. Dazzling, misty light surged around her. Although she was already covered with wounds, her aura and momentum soared.0

Xue He’s eyelids twitched. Is she really planning to fight to the death?0

Over in the spectator seats, Wei Jingkui shouted, “Quickly, capture her! I most certainly don’t wish to see the girl die here!”0

“Got it!” Xue He’s eyes flashed with cold light, and he broke into a hideous grin. “Miss Cui, do you know why I’ve restrained myself this entire time? It’s because I wanted to prevent you from doing anything reckless!”0

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, his hands formed seals, and he raised his right hand into the air.0

Boom!0

The layers of Black Demon Spirit Chains filling the sky rumbled and swept through the air, like a dark cage blanketing the skies and blotting out the sun. It ruthlessly descended upon Cui Jingyan.0

Cui Jingyan was just about to go all out when a terrifying suppression bore down on her, disrupting the secret art she was just about to use.0

The look on her beautiful face shifted, and her heart filled with grief and helplessness.0

I’m fighting with my life on the line… Don’t tell me even that isn’t enough?0

But it was then that a cold voice rang out. “Break!”0

It was just one word, but resounded throughout the massive Dragon Cloud Arena like a thunderclap from the nine heavens.0

Wei Jingkui and Weng Jiu frowned. Both of them looked over and saw a streak of dazzling sword qi appear on stage, seemingly out of nowhere, like an unblockable beam of light.0

The Black Demon Spirit Chains Xue He had put his full power into building broke, offering no more resistance than damp paper. A single streak of sword qi shattered them with a bang, filling the sky with a rain of light.0

Xue He let out a low grunt, then swayed on his feet. 0

When his secret technique broke, he suffered a backlash. His expression instantly turned dark and unsightly.0

And Cui Jingyan, who just moments prior was on the verge of giving into despair, was unwittingly stunned. Her bright eyes filled with disbelief. 0

It was then that a tall, calm figure appeared beside her and whispered, “Leave the rest up to me.”0

He made no attempt to comfort her, nor did he ask about the reason behind this duel.0

But this calm, casual sentence nonetheless made Cui Jingyan’s heart shake.0

She looked up and saw a familiar, handsome face. A warm current coursed through her, and the rims of her eyes reddened.1

When someone was in dire straits, they didn’t need comfort. They needed immediate assistance!0

Similarly, who wanted to explain why they were being targeted after being bullied to the point of utter helplessness?0

Thus, Su Yi’s sudden appearance and calm words were like a light illuminating Cui Jingyan’s heart just as she was enveloped in darkness!0

“Brother Su…” Cui Jingyan started to speak, then hesitated. It seemed she had a lot to say, but she couldn’t quite form the words.0

“Just step aside and watch. Here’s some recovery medicine.” Su Yi took out a bottle of pills and passed it to Cui Jingyan. “Once I’ve vented on your behalf, I’ll get you out of here.”0

“Mm!” Cui Jingyan accepted the jade bottle. Her hands clenched it tightly as she turned and left the stage. No trace of her earlier helplessness, resentment, or despair remained.0

It seemed that so long as Su Yi was there, it wouldn’t matter if the heavens crumbled around her: there’d be nothing for her to worry about.0

This was a trust too great to describe in words.0

“Miss Jingyan, quick! Over here!” Xing Yue had come in with Su Yi, and he hurriedly waved her over.0

Xing Tianfeng and the others stood beside him. When they saw that Cui Jingyan was covered in wounds, and that her dress was stained with blood, they couldn’t help but frown.0

And when they saw Su Yi, Xing Yue, and the others arrive, Wei Jingkui and Weng Xuanshan frowned from the spectator seats.0

Especially when they saw that a certain young Spiritual Revolution cultivator had just trampled all over the arena’s rules and barged onto the stage. Worse, he’d even proclaimed his intentions to vent on Cui Jingyan’s half! This made Wei Jingkui so angry that he couldn’t help but laugh.1

Aren’t young people a bit too brazen nowadays?0

“Stop right there!” Xue He’s expression darkened. “Miss Cui, according to the rules of our duel, you can’t leave until we’ve determined a victor!”0

“That’s right. Families and sects all have their rules. Here at Dragon Cloud Arena, no combatant is permitted to leave a duel before a victor is determined,” Wei Jingkui said icily, his voice full of dignity. “If you leave now, you’ll have to be punished!”0

He then glanced at Weng Xuanshan. “Fellow Daoist, someone has violated the arena’s rules and impudently intervened in a duel. How should we punish him?”0

A few words, and he’d pointed his spear at Su Yi.0

Weng Xuanshan said gravely, “According to the rules of Dragon Cloud Arena, a minor infraction is punishable by whipping, while those who commit major infractions have their cultivation bases crippled and their lives extinguished.”0

Xing Tianfeng’s expression shifted. “Sir, Young Lord Su doesn’t understand the situation. They say that the ignorant are without sin. Might you give the Xing Family face and show him some leniency?”0

He was well aware that according to the arena’s rules, not even higher-ups of the Cui Family could have interfered in this duel.0

After all, this was supposed to be a fair match. How could they just let people ruin it?0

Night Demon Mountain had chosen Dragon Cloud Arena as a venue intentionally. They must have already known that, no matter who showed up, they’d provoke Weng Xuanshan if they tried to violate the rules. That meant provoking his backer, the lord of the City of Safe Returns, by extension!0

Wei Jingkui snickered coldly, then said without the slightest politeness, “‘The ignorant are without sin’? That’s nothing but dog farts! The boy’s already in the Spiritual Revolution Realm. How could he possibly fail to understand what a rule is?”’0

As he spoke, he rose from his seat and said coldly, “Never mind your Xing Family. Even if the king of heaven himself arrived, there’s no way Night Demon Mountain would let this impudent rule-breaker go!”1

He spoke with firm conviction, and his voice brimmed over with killing intent.0

Xing Tianfeng’s expression turned unsightly. The experts accompanying him were furious too.0

“Do you feel the same, Proprietor Weng?” Xing Tianfeng said gravely.0

After a moment’s silence, Weng Xuanshan said, “The rules are the rules. If I simply let people trample them, what will become of my dignity? And of His Excellency the city lord’s prestige? How will the Netherworld’s cultivators view us?”0

Xing Tianfeng, Xing Yue, and the other Xing Family experts’ hearts sank.0

Up on the stage, Xue He laughed coldly, then looked at Su Yi. “You lost your temper and charged in to save a damsel in distress, but it seems all you’ve done is throw your life away!”0

His words were rife with mockery. 0

Su Yi calmly took all of this in, then said, “Are you done talking?”0

Everyone froze. They found it difficult to understand what Su Yi meant by this.0

“What, don’t tell me you still plan to struggle?” Xue He said coldly. “Let me give you some advice: even if you have a backer as grand as the heavens themselves, those who break the rules of Dragon Could Arena must be punished. Of course, if you kneel and repent, I wouldn’t mind asking for mercy on your behalf…”0

Before he could say any more, Su Yi reached out and grabbed him from a distance.0

A moment later, and Xue He dangled in the air like a chicken. Su Yi’s invisible grip pulled him over, then slammed him ruthlessly to the ground.0

Bang!0

The hard surface of the stage let out a low boom.0

Xue He’s kneecaps shattered, reduced to a meaty pulp, and he shrieked in agony, like a pig being slaughtered.0

The entire venue fell silent.0

Xing Tianfeng and the others’ eyelids twitched. All of them gasped.0 action

None of them had anticipated that Su Yi would be so domineering even at a time like this. Furthermore, his strength was terrifying! He’d forced Xue He to his knees in a flash!0

Wei Jingkui was stunned too. He found this difficult to believe. Xue He was the leading disciple of Night Demon Mountain’s younger generation, as well as the strongest Spirit Dao cultivator in the entire Night Demon Realm! He was a peak Spiritual Revolution expert even by the standards of the Netherworld as a whole!0

Who’d have thought that Su Yi would suppress him in a single attack, as if he were some kind of small fry?0

A moment later, Wei Jingkui’s expression turned ashen, and he bellowed in fury, “Bastard! How dare you commit acts of violence here?”0

His voice boomed like thunder, shaking everything around him.0

Everyone watching reacted to his terrifying momentum.0

Except for Su Yi, who didn’t even seem to notice. He just looked down at the kneeling, shrieking Xue He and said coldly, “The strong make the rules, while the weak follow them. In my eyes, you deserve to die. That’s my rule.”10

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, he waved his sleeves, and…0

Bang!0

Xue He exploded0

Fragments of flesh scattered, and his soul was reduced to ash.0

He was destroyed, body and soul!