Chapter 1: Spirit Hall

Volume One: Sword and Rebirth Chapter One: Spirit Hall

Spirit Hall.

A green bronze coffin lay horizontally within, engraved with ancient patterns of birds, beasts, insects, fish, sun, moon, and stars.

A young girl dressed in a pure white gown knelt in front of the coffin, exuding a rare and ethereal beauty.

Outside the Spirit Hall was a realm akin to a pure land, filled with terrifying figures resembling gods and buddhas engaged in fierce battles.

Roars echoed through the air.

Blood of gods flowed abundantly.

Inside the Spirit Hall, however, there was tranquility.

The girl remained prostrated on the ground, her expression devoid of sorrow or joy, as calm as a still lake.

"Heh, so this is how it is after my 'death'..."

Su Yi chuckled, his eyes filled with a chilling intent.

Only when he occasionally looked at the girl did a barely perceptible gentleness appear in his gaze.

In his lifetime, he had traversed the myriad realms, wielding his sword across the starry sky, unrivaled in his dominance.

He had conquered the universe, reigning supreme in an era.

He was revered as the only "Master of Myriad Paths" in the vast land of the Nine Provinces.

In the eyes of the sword giants of the Nine Provinces, he was the unparalleled "Xuanjun Sword Master" on the path of swordsmanship.

But everything changed when news of his death spread.

"Hahahaha, Rong Qingming, refine the grand dao, from now on, Su Xuanjun, this 'Melting Heaven Furnace,' belongs to this seat!"

A boisterous laughter resounded in the realm outside the Spirit Hall, filled with delight and joy.

Su Yi raised his eyes to look.

That was a Golden-winged Peng, its feathers cascading like clouds that touched the heavens, its color resembling golden liquid poured out, radiating an unmatched brilliance that overwhelmed mountains and rivers.

Clutched within its tearing claws was a crimson, burning furnace.

"This little bird has betrayed me as well..." Su Yi sighed.

He still remembered eighty thousand years ago when the Golden-winged Peng prostrated itself outside the mountain gate, bowing for ten days and ten nights, just to serve under his command and listen to his profound teachings.

Considering its sincere heart, he allowed it to stay by his side for cultivation.

But now, it dared to call his name and snatch away his Melting Heaven Furnace.

A complete traitor!

"Su Xuanjun owes me the lives of 893 disciples of my Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion, and he has stolen our highest heritage, the 'Tenfold Sword Scripture.' Today, we've come to collect the debt, and whoever dares to obstruct us will be killed!" Under the thunderous sky, a robed cultivator shouted with a fierce voice, emanating an overwhelming killing intent.

Su Yi was stunned.

The Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion was originally an obscure small sect, and its founder was merely one of the 36 named disciples by his side.

It was only with the power and protection of Su Xuanjun that the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion gradually rose, becoming one of the six major sects in the vast land of the Nine Provinces, shaking the universe.

But now, the people from the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion had also arrived.

The claim of owing 893 lives was pure nonsense.

Not to mention that the "Tenfold Sword Scripture" was a gift he personally bestowed upon the founder of the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion!

Clearly, upon learning of his death, the Feather Transmutation Sword Pavilion fabricated a reason and used the pretext of collecting debts to seize the opportunity for robbery.

"People's hearts have become corrupted, nothing more." Su Yi couldn't help but shake his head, his mood inevitably turning somewhat gloomy.

Throughout those years when I was alive, I never mistreated those close to me.

"Listen up, all of you! Su Xuanjun is the 'Master of the Myriad Paths' we all revered together. Today, with us here, we will not tolerate you taking advantage of the situation and robbing his belongings!"

Amidst the torrential rain of blood, numerous majestic figures shouted with divine authority.

"Enough with the nonsense! It's just an excuse to come and plunder treasures after hearing the news of Su's death!"

"How hypocritical!"

Someone sneered and retorted.

"Take a look at what you have in your hands: the Green Vine Immortal Tree, the Great As-You-Wish, the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Lamp, the Myriad Purple Jade Flask... Aren't these all 'Peerless Dao Treasures' left by Su Xuanjun?"

"If you truly had good intentions, why not put those treasures into Su Xuanjun's coffin and bury them with him?"

...Many horrifying figures burst into cold laughter.

The world trembled, and the battle raged on fiercely.

The figures engaged in the battle were all the top powerhouses in the vast land of the Nine Provinces, fighting fiercely against each other. The scene was truly boundlessly terrifying.

In Su Yi's eyes, all of this was ridiculous and absurd!

These scoundrels were respectful and obedient to him during his lifetime.

But after his "death," they revealed their true faces!

"Things are indeed different in life and death."

Su Yi withdrew his gaze and looked at the girl kneeling in front of the bronze coffin in the spirit hall. A gentle expression appeared on his face. "Fortunately, Qingtang has always been here..."

When Qingtang was thirteen years old, she followed him in cultivation. It has been eighteen thousand nine hundred years since then. In the land of the Nine Provinces, she was known as the "Qingtang Empress."

In the eyes of outsiders, Qingtang was a lofty ruler, commanding the masses and dominating the Nine Provinces. Even those of the same cultivation realm would show three points of respect.