First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2508 – The Promise of an Eternal Throne

Inside the hall, everything was silent, save for Lu Qiu’s voice still echoing through the air.

Against all expectations, Heavenly Sovereign Wen’s decree didn’t include any conditions Su Yi had to fulfil.

Lu Qiu put away the golden talisman. “His Excellency the Heavenly Sovereign said that this is but a trivial greeting gift, and that when you proceed to the River of Destiny, he’ll arrange a gift far more generous.”

Everyone exchanged glances. All of them were astonished. All of these gifts are no more than an unconditional greeting gift? This Heavenly Sovereign Wen sure is generous!

Su Yi said calmly, “I made no contributions, so I cannot accept undue rewards. If these are trivial gifts not worth mentioning, your Limitless Palace should just hold onto them.”

Uproar followed this statement. It seemed no one had anticipated that Su Yi would refuse these gifts so directly.

After all, Heavenly Sovereign Wen had sent emissaries here just to deliver this generous greeting gift. It was immediately obvious how highly he valued Su Yi.

But it was also obvious that Su Yi didn’t care a bit!

Lu Qiu was obviously stunned. His brow furrowed. “You dare defy the Heavenly Sovereign’s decree?”

Defy.

It was just two syllables, but the implications were clear. This was a word a superior used to express anger at his inferior.

The experts of the Qilin Race were all inwardly uncomfortable. Lu Qiu is a mere disciple of the Limitless Palace, so why is he putting on such airs?

Su Yi laughed. “I’m defying a decree, huh? I’m not a servant of the Limitless Palace, so why should I have to follow its orders?”

Lu Qiu’s expression darkened, but before he could say anything, Su Yi continued, “This… is why you wanted to see me? If that’s the case, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you.”

Lu Qiu’s eyes flashed with cold light. “Su Yi, do you have any idea what defying His Excellency the Heavenly Sovereign’s decrees means?”

The crowd’s hearts clenched. All of them sensed the hostility in the air.

The Qilin Ancient coughed dryly. He was just about to try to play peacemaker when Su Yi stopped him.

Su Yi took out a jug of wine, had a sip, and said calmly, “I’m being threatened for refusing someone’s good intentions? It’s my first time hearing of such a thing. Very well, then. Tell me: what kind of price will I pay for this?”

The atmosphere was stifled and tense, as if hostilities might break out at a moment’s notice.

Lu Qiu’s expression darkened, and he was just about to say something when Huo Yunhu, who’d remained silent as Lu Qiu announced their decree, suddenly laughed.

“Lu Qiu, take a step back. Fellow Daoist Su is no ordinary person. He’s an unparalleled figure whom the His Excellency the Heavenly Sovereign values highly. Whatever you do, you must not forget your manners.” Huo Yunhu smiled and clasped his fist at Su Yi. “Please, don’t be angry, Fellow Daoist Su. I humbly request your understanding.”

Lu Qiu put away the golden talisman, then stepped to the side. However, when he looked at Su Yi, his gaze was just as cold and sharp as before.

Su Yi looked at Huo Yunhu, then at Lu Qiu. “One coaxes, the other coerces. You two actually work quite well together.”

He casually sat back down in his chair. “But I’m in no mood for this sort of probing. If you have anything to say, say it directly. Why did Heavenly Sovereign Wen send you? If it was just to argue with me, well, that comes across as rather petty.”

He spoke openly and directly, but Huo Yunhu and Lu Qiu found his words extraordinarily grating to the ears.

Huo Yunhu narrowed his eyes and laughed. “Fellow Daoist Su, you’re quite straightforward. Very well. I won’t hide anything, either.”

He slowly sat back down in the seat of honor. “In addition to giving you these greeting gifts, His Excellency the Heavenly Sovereign said that so long as you were willing, he’d help you defeat the Malevolent Sword Venerate!”

Everyone was stunned.

“On what condition?” asked Su Yi.

Huo Yunhu shook his head slightly. “You’d simply be working together. There’s no need to discuss conditions.”

Su Yi corrected, “Reaching an agreement to cooperate is a discussion of conditions, isn’t it?”

Lu Qiu finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Don’t you realize that you’re thinking too highly of yourself?”

This wasn’t the least bit polite, and his words dripped with disdain. A stifled silence descended over the room.

Su Yi looked at Huo Yunhu and said calmly, “Is this the Limitless Palace’s stance on the matter?”

Huo Yunhu’s expression darkened. He whipped around to chastise Lu Qiu. “From this moment forth, you’re not to say another word out of turn!”

Lu Qiu clamped his jaw shut.

Huo Yunhu said apologetically, “Lu Qiu has always been direct, and he speaks without a filter. I humbly request that you don’t take offense.”

Su Yi said, “My patience is limited. If you have something to say, please, speak directly.”

“Very well. Huo Yunhu inclined his head. “The Heavenly Sovereign says that, so long as you’re willing to work with the Limitless Palace, you’ll be one of us. We won’t just help you defeat the Malevolent Sword Venerate. We’ll help resolve your difficulties, assuage your worries, and help you bring order during the Dark Days of Legend!”

A proud look appeared upon his face. “The Limitless Palace understands your predicament. Forgive me for speaking shamelessly, but both here in the God Domain and on the River of Destiny, your ‘powerful enemies’… are nothing to us at all!”

His voice boomed throughout the hall. The gathered Qilin higher-ups’ hearts shook. Just what kind of terrifying faction is the Limitless Palace? Where does Huo Yunhu get the confidence to talk like that?

“Fellow Daoist, if you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to ask the Qilin Ancient,” said Huo Yunhu. Then, having said his piece, he raised his teacup to his lips and had a sip.

The Qilin Ancient pondered briefly, then said, “The Limitless Palace really is one of the ruling factions of the Eternal Heavens Domain. If you work with them, you really will be able to resolve numerous latent threats and difficulties. However…”

Here, the Qilin Ancient sharply changed tacks. “You must decide for yourself, Fellow Daoist.”

Su Yi subtly inclined his head, then said directly, “What are the conditions of cooperating with you?”

Huo Yunhu laughed. “I wouldn’t call it a ‘condition.’ The Heavenly Sovereign said that during our first meeting, it’s enough that you understand our sincerity and choose to work with us.”

No conditions? He just wants to work with Su Yi? Everyone was flummoxed. Isn’t that too good to be true?

But Su Yi wasn’t at all moved. “And if I refuse?”

Huo Yunhu was stunned. Lu Qiu, who now stood there in silence, frowned.

The Qilin higher-ups exchanged glances, but none of them said anything.

“It seems you still have yet to fully understand the Limitless Palace’s sincerity,” Huo Yunhu said with a laugh. “But the Heavenly Sovereign anticipated this, so he made a promise just for this occasion.”

Everyone was flabbergasted.

A moment later, everyone silently cursed Huo Yunhu for his dishonesty. If Heavenly Sovereign Wen made a promise a long time ago, why not mention it earlier?

If Su Yi had agreed right from the get-go, he’d have missed out on something as great as the Heavenly Sovereign’s promise!

But Su Yi wasn’t bothered. This was just how negotiations were; there was always haggling and probing involved. Only then could you figure out the other party’s bottom line. If you agreed to their terms right from the start, you’d be the one getting ripped off.

“Alright, let’s hear it,” said Su Yi.

Huo Yunhu took a deep breath, suppressed his smile, and said solemnly, “His Excellency the Heavenly Sovereign promised that if you agree to work with Limitless Palace, he’ll personally pave your path. He’ll help you rise to the pinnacle of the Eternal Heavens Domain, and he’ll even arrange an Eternal Throne just for you.”

The Qilin experts’ hearts shook. The pinnacle of the Eternal Heavens Domain? Just how confident must Heavenly Sovereign Wen be to dare make such a promise?

An Eternal Throne!? The Qilin Ancient’s pupils constricted. He could no longer remain calm.

Even Lu Qiu’s expression shifted. He couldn’t help but blurt, “Martial Uncle, did the Heavenly Sovereign really promise that?”

“Yes,” said Huo Yunhu. The depths of his gaze shone with a nigh imperceptible hint of envy. He sighed. “It’s absolutely true. How could I dare to lie about something like that?”

Su Yi found this reaction a bit strange. What is an Eternal Throne, anyway?

He’d only just thought this when the Qilin Ancient’s voice transmitted directly into his ears. “In the Eternal Heavens Domain, only those with Eternal Thrones are qualified to call themselves Heavenly Sovereigns.

“But their number is extremely limited. Throughout the ages, only thirteen have ever existed.

“Each Eternal Throne represents a position, power, and authority, but more importantly, they each correspond to an Eternal, limitless, secret chaos land free of cataclysms and catastrophes!

“These secret chaos lands can be used to create ritual grounds or blessed lands for cultivation. So long as you cultivate within them, you have no need to fear the Karmic Tribulations of the Path of Eternity!

“That’s what they mean when they say they’re ‘free of cataclysms and catastrophes.’

“Sitting on an Eternal Throne requires controlling one of these Eternal, limitless secret chaos lands, but there are only thirteen such secret chaos lands in the entire Eternal Heavens Domain.”

Su Yi finally understood what an Eternal Throne represented. It was a symbol of authority, much like the wooden folding chairs used by leaders of gangs of the mundane world.

It ultimately came down to whether or not one could occupy and control one of the Eternal Heavens Domain’s thirteen secret chaos lands!

Only then could someone call themselves a Heavenly Sovereign!

Heavenly Sovereign Wen was promising him so much simply for cooperating with him. He was obviously going to extreme lengths.

“How is this possible? What… what on earth has Su Yi done to deserve this?” Lu Qiu completely lost his composure. He was too shocked to even speak coherently.

One look at him, and everyone else realized how precious this promise was.

Huo Yunhu sighed. “To tell the truth, even I’m deeply envious, and I find it hard to understand, but that just makes it increasingly obvious how much His Excellency the Heavenly Sovereign values Fellow Daoist Su.”

Even before meeting Su Yi or giving him his greeting gift, he’d promised to help Su Yi defeat the Malevolent Sword Venerate, resolve his problems, pave his path, and help him reach the pinnacle of the Eternal Heavens Domain!

Such generous terms were absolutely shocking and unprecedented!

At the very least, Yun Hu had never heard of the Heavenly Sovereign valuing someone so highly.

But then, against all expectations, Su Yi shook his head. “I appreciate the Heavenly Sovereign’s good intentions, but I still want to know what the consequences of refusing his offer are.”

Everyone was unwittingly stunned. For a moment, they almost suspected they were hearing things.

Even limitless Dao Lords of the River of Destiny would find it hard to refuse such generous terms.

Who could have imagined that Su Yi wouldn’t be the least bit interested?