First Immortal of the Sword

The Spirit Firmament Divine Continent, atop a beautifully lit mountain.

Lu Qingmei knelt before the palace built on the peak.

"Senior Apprentice Sister, don't tell me you still have feelings for Yi Daoxuan?" asked the beautifully handsome man standing beside her.

He was tall and elegant, with ornate robes, broad shoulders, and a thin waist. His sleeves billowed around him, and he stood out of the crowd.

But when he gazed at Lu Qingmei, his eyes burned with desire, and he repeatedly looked her up and down.

The kneeling Lu Qingmei's back created an elegant, sultry curve. She was dressed in white raiment, but it did little to obscure her squeezable waist or ample, round buttocks.

She was an extraordinary beauty to begin, with long, dark hair tied into a bun, and fair, jade-like skin. She looked young, and her bright eyes sparkled like stars.

But now, the famous Blue Rose Demon Master was kneeling. That came with its own bewitching charms.

"Why do you say that, Junior Apprentice Brother?" asked Lu Qingmei. She didn't even look up. Her bright eyes remained focused on the ground.

"If you didn't still have feelings for Yi Daoxuan, why would you threaten to kill yourself to stop Master from going to Skybright Mountain?" said the handsome man in ornate robes, his voice suddenly icy. "You completely ruined Master's plans, and you wounded her deeply!"

Their Master, Gu Huaxian, was allied with the old hunchback and Jiao Mu. A few days prior, she'd planned to set course for Skybright Mountain and help Di E defeat Su Yi.

However, her disciple, Lu Qingmei, staunchly objected, even going so far as to threaten to kill herself.

This was why Gu Huaxian didn't go to Skybright Mountain.

"If I still had feelings for Yi Daoxuan, someone as perceptive as our master would have noticed a long time ago, so why question me like this?" Lu Qingmei said icily. "I said it already: going to Skybright Mountain would have only hurt Master! She would most likely have encountered grave peril. That's why I put my life on the line to keep her from going."

"Hah." The elegantly dressed man laughed coldly; he obviously didn't believe a word of it. "And what makes you say that? This is a plan His Excellency Di E personally put into place. Why were you so certain that something would go wrong?"

"I understand Yi Daoxuan better than anyone," said Lu Qingmei. "My intuition told me that he wouldn't come to the Family's aid without cards sufficient to turn the tables!"

"Ridiculous. He's just a Lesser God. How could he possibly turn the tables?" the ornately dressed man said with a sneer.

As he spoke, he walked up to Lu Qingmei, then cupped her jaw in his hand and lifted her head. "I've always suspected that you failed to kill Yi Daoxuan, not because you lacked the opportunity, but because... your heart softened when it came time to strike the killing blow!"

The ornately dressed man gazed intently at Lu Qingmei's youthful face, then said slowly, "And now that you've learned that Yi Daoxuan has returned through the cycle of reincarnation, you've threatened suicide just to keep Master from fighting him. That's... far too out of the ordinary."

Whap!

Lu Qingmei knocked the man's hand away, her eyes flashing with murderous intent. "Yu Xun, touch me like that again, and I'll kill you!"

The ornately dressed man stiffened, and his pupils silently constricted.

But then, he laughed and rose to his feet. "In any event, no matter how Master sees you, I've never believed that you didn't have feelings for Yi Daoxuan.

"I haven't forgotten that, in order to earn Yi Daoxuan's trust, you really put your heart into your relationship. You didn't just fake becoming his Dao Partner. That's how you really managed to lower his guard."

Yu Xun stretched languidly. "I've never believed that you really severed your bond with Yi Daoxuan. Senior Apprentice Sister, whatever you do, don't let me find any evidence. If you do, I'll be angry, and worse, Master will be very upset."

Lu Qingmei said flatly, "Are you done talking?"

Yu Xun furrowed his brow. "Senior Apprentice Sister, please, take this time to think about how you'll face master when we receive word from Skybright Mountain!"

Earlier, in a bid to keep Gu Huaxian from getting involved, Lu Qingmei had vowed to accept punishment so long as Su Yi lost.

The enraged Gu Huaxian said directly that if Su Yi was defeated, she'd punish Lu Qingmei severely, and teach her the price of defying one's master's orders.

"That's my business, and it has nothing to do with you, so you needn't worry yourself about it," Lu Qingmei said indifferently.

Yu Xun was just about to say something when someone walked into the hall.

She was dressed in colorful rainbow raiment, and she was tall and thin. Her whole body was swathed in the dreamlike, resplendent power of Laws of the natural order.

This was none other than Gu Huaxian! Someone of the same era as Jiao Mu and the old hunchback, as well as a top, unparalleled expert who'd touched the threshold of the River of Destiny!"

"Master, is there news?" Yu Xun's spirits soared, and he asked eagerly.

Gu Huaxian just glanced at the kneeling Lu Qingmei. "Get up."

Lu Qingmei didn't. She just kept kneeling and said, "Might this disciple be so bold as to ask what happened at the battle of Skybright Mountain?"

Gu Huaxian had a complicated look on her face. She sighed, walked over, and personally helped Lu Qingmei to her feet. "Your intuition was right on the mark. Su Yi... won!"

Yu Xun reacted as if struck by lightning. He couldn't help but blurt, "He won? How is that possible!? Di E was personally there to oversee things. How could a Lesser God possibly have defeated him?"

Lu Qingmei had a strange look in her eyes, too; she was obviously relieved.

"Look for yourselves," said Gu Huaxian. She passed a jade slip to Lu Qingmei, only for Yu Xun to seize it first and read its contents at lightning speed.

After a while, he gasped, his eyes full of astonishment. "The old hunchback is dead! And His Excellency Di E was beaten to a pulp!? Where on earth did Su Yi find so many helpers!?"

The jade slip contained a record of the battle at Skybright Mountain, but reading it left Yu Xun completely gobsmacked.

Whap!

Lu Qingmei smacked Yu Xun in the face, seemingly out of nowhere, sending him staggering on his feet. His beautifully handsome face instantly reddened and swelled.

Meanwhile, Lu Qingmei seized the jade slip from his hands.

"That's for not respecting your seniors and not knowing your place!" Lu Qingmei said coldly. "Do you have any objections?"

Yu Xun's expression was unsightly. He instinctively glanced at their master.

Gu Huaxian just said expressionlessly, "You really were over the line. Your senior apprentice sister was right to strike you."

Yu Xun's expression shifted, and he lowered his head.

Meanwhile, Lu Qingmei finally started reading the jade slip. By the time she'd finished, waves of emotion coursed through her heart.

Suddenly, Gu Huaxian asked, "Don't tell me that you anticipated this result?"

Lu Qingmei shook her head. "Your disciple doesn't have precognition. How could I possibly have known? I stopped you from going simply because I understand how Yi Daoxuan does things."

Gu Huaxian inclined her head. "If I sent you back to Yi Daoxuan's side, would you... be able to gain his trust?"

Lu Qingmei froze, briefly stunned, then shook her head. "It would be difficult."

Gu Huaxian sighed. "That's true. Last time, you almost killed him. I'm afraid... he's unlikely to fall for that again."

Yu Xun said, "Master, since Senior Apprentice Sister knows Yi Daoxuan so well, why not send her to hunt Su Yi down?"

Lu Qingmei's brow furrowed. "Even His Excellency Di E was defeated at Skybright Mountain. Are you trying to send me to my death?"

"I just want you to figure out his whereabouts," said Yu Xun. "I'm not asking you to kill him, so what's there to worry about?"

Gu Huaxian looked at Lu Qingmei. "What do you think?"

Lu Qingmei pursed her lips. "Master, if you agree with my junior apprentice brother's suggestion, I'll naturally follow orders."

Gu Huaxian smiled in satisfaction. "I have faith in your abilities. I'm sure you can do this. It would be even better if you could win Yi Daoxuan's trust, like you did last time."

"I'll do my utmost, Master," said Lu Qingmei.

"Let's go." Gu Huaxian turned to leave.

After a moment's silence, she turned and left, too.

"See, Senior Apprentice Sister? I just gave you an opportunity to rekindle your bond with Yi Daoxuan. Shouldn't you thank me?" Yu Xun laughed and chased after her.

Lu Qingmei stopped in place and smiled. "Junior Apprentice Brother, why not come with me to the Southern Flame Divine Continent?"

Yu Xun laughed. "Don't joke around, Senior Apprentice Sister. Surely you know that I have to stay here and serve our master?"

Lu Qingmei drew closer to him, a charming smile on her face as she transmitted, "Don't give me the chance to teach you a lesson, or I'll gouge out your eyes and refine you into lamp oil while you're still alive!"

Chills coursed down Yu Xun's eyes. He instantly looked stricken, as he understood his senior apprentice sister far too well. She was crafty, ruthless, unpredictable, and heartless!

Countless powerful foes had died by her hand!

"Rest assured, Senior Apprentice Sister. I won't give you the opportunity." Yu Xun took a deep breath, then transmitted, "You'd best not let me find any dirt on you either. If you do, I'll train obedience into you, and I'll have you kneel beneath my crotch day in and day out!"

With that, he burst into uproarious laughter, turned, and left.

Lu Qingmei maintained her smile, but her bright eyes surged with murderous intent bordering on madness.

She'd wanted to kill her covetous junior apprentice brother for a long, long time. Alas, he had their master's protection, so she couldn't find an opportunity.

If only Yi Daoxuan and I could join forces. It's a pity...Lu Qingmei sighed.

She knew that her master had sent her to find Su Yi, both as a mission and as a test! Gu Huaxian wanted to see whether or not she'd obediently follow orders.

Unfortunately for Gu Huaxian, she had no idea that her disciple had changed a long, long time ago.

Along the way, Lu Qingmei's thoughts raced.I wonder if Yi Daoxuan's reincarnation will return to Qingwu Divine Court... I'll have to send someone to probe for further information when I get back to the Southern Flame Divine Continent.

It would be perfect if he stayed in Qingwu Divine Court under the guise of 'Xiao Jian.'

......

The Southern Flame Divine Continent, Spring and Autumn City.

Su Yi and Grand Elder Wei Zhong emerged from the ancient transmission formation. Without any delays, the two of them boarded a treasure ship and set course for Qingwu Divine Court.

Along the way, Su Yi asked between sips of wine, "Grand Elder, how do you plan to explain Ku Zhen and High Elder Yuan Shan's deaths to the sect?"

Wei Zhong laughed. "Simple! We'll just pin all the blame for this on Su Yi."

Su Yi: "...."