First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2617 – The Eternal Barrier, a Mouse Takes a Wife, Strange Spirits

“They left not long ago,” said Su Yi. “I sent them on their way personally.”

Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran froze, briefly stunned before she realized the implications. Her beautiful eyes silently widened. “You… killed them?”

Su Yi nodded.

“…” Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran didn’t know what to say.

It was quite an interesting scene. Su Yi had only just been stunned by Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran’s connections in the River of Destiny. Now, she was stunned by his most recent victory.

The two of them looked at each other, stunned, before bursting into laughter.

“I really didn’t expect your strength to have reached such heights already,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran, her voice like the burbling of spring water, a feast for the ears.

“Not long ago, I ran into an old-timer from the River of Destiny, or rather, his soul clone. It was all I could do to defeat him without external treasures.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but take another look at her. “I’m sure that you could count those in the God Domain capable of such a feat on your fingers.”

“A soul clone, that’s all,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran. “Wait until I can kill true Eternals. Then I might be worthy of your praise.”

Su Yi smiled and nodded. “Well said. Your words resonate with me deeply.”

Now that they’d met again, Su Yi discovered that he still couldn’t see through this woman of mysterious origins. Her whole body seemed shrouded in riddles.

Her cultivation base, origins, identity, and strength… all seemed utterly unfathomable.

“Fellow Daoist, if you have the free time, might you walk with me for a bit?” Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran suddenly extended an invitation.

“Where are you going?” asked Su Yi.

“I’m just walking. Anywhere is fine,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran. As she spoke, she turned and walked into the distance.

Su Yi could tell that something was weighing on the unparalleled ruler of the Age of Supreme Simplicity. He pondered briefly, then followed her.

The Goddess of Silent Darkness had told him that she’d faced three Eternal Tribulations without dying. It was an unbelievable miracle.

Su Yi wanted to seize this opportunity to ask about what she’d experienced during her tribulations.

“I’ll be leaving soon,” Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran said suddenly. “Not long ago, I received a message from a certain senior. He told me to prepare, as he’d soon be sending someone to bring me to the River of Destiny.”

“Wait, now?” asked Su Yi.

It was no wonder he was surprised; it was all but impossible to proceed to the River of Destiny without first stepping into Eternity.

This was an ironclad rule!

Yet now, Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran was telling him that someone was planning to guide her there. How could Su Yi not be surprised?

“That’s right,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran. “I don’t know who exactly he’ll be sending to lead me to the River of Destiny, but I’m certain that that senior will keep his word.”

She sighed with regret. “I’d planned to duke it out with you during the Battle for Order, but now, it seems I can only give up on the idea.”

Su Yi said, “We could just fight now.”

Sovereign Venerate Ling Rain froze, then shook her head. “I’m no longer in the mood.”

Su Yi took out a jug of wine and had a drink. “Didn’t you always long to uncover the mysteries of that pendant of yours? If you go to the River of Destiny, you might well be able to uncover its secrets. In that sense, leaving early is a good thing.”

The two of them walked side by side, strolling throughout heaven and earth like old friends baring their hearts to each other.

“It isn’t the same,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran, shaking her head. “I have a strong premonition that after leaving for the River of Destiny, I’ll have to face numerous unforeseen circumstances that I… am not yet prepared for now.”

Su Yi instantly understood. It must be because she’s predicted these difficulties that she’s concerned and somewhat resistant to heading to the River of Destiny.

“Some things cannot be avoided,” said Su Yi, thinking back to the endless enmities left over from his past lives. He spoke straight from the heart. “Some things cannot be avoided or hidden from, so it’s best to face them head-on. Otherwise, the longer you drag things out, the more it’ll weigh on your heart, and the worse it’ll be for you.”

“Mm,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran. “I’m not afraid of all that. I’m resistant to leaving early because it will ruin my plans.”

“What plans?”

“I survived three Eternal Tribulations,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran. “Although I failed them all, I’ve always planned to prove my Dao and enter Eternity here in the God Domain, then proceed to the River of Destiny with my own strength. I didn’t want someone else to usher me in.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but feel stunned. He sighed to himself, This legendary figure of the Age of Supreme Simplicity sure is bold!

Su Yi then seized the opportunity to ask her about her experiences with her three Eternal Tribulations. She didn’t hide anything, either. Instead, she laid everything out in full detail.

Su Yi couldn’t help but fall into a trance listening to her. He was fully immersed.

Even at their peaks, neither Li Fuyou nor Yi Daoxuan had ever faced Eternal Tribulations. It wasn’t that they weren’t strong enough, but that opportunities to achieve Eternity simply didn’t exist when they were alive. For all their power, they had no hope of pointing their swords at Eternity.

Yi Daoxuan and Li Fuyou ultimately perished at their enemies’ hands, their lives ending prematurely in the Undying Realm.

Thus, despite having fused with both of their Dao Imprints, Su Yi still didn’t know anything about Eternal Tribulations.

It was only now that he listened to Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran’s account that he realized that Eternal Tribulations were so full of mysteries.

It was no wonder that some people only made it halfway across the threshold, and that others made it across but could advance no further.

Half-Step and False Eternals existed because Eternal Tribulations were far too extraordinary. Those who wished to face them had to first overcome nine terrifying adversities, then face the Eternal Barrier!

The Eternal Barrier referred to the spatial barrier separating the River of Destiny and the God Domain!

One could only reach the River of Destiny, change their fate, condense the power of destiny, and establish Eternal foundations after breaking through it!

That was the most dangerous part.

According to Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran, she’d failed all three of her tribulations during this last stage.

In her bid to pass through the Eternal Barrier, she faced unbelievable trials. Some targeted the soul, others the heart, and still others the cultivation base…

She’d even run into strange, inauspicious circumstances where a moment’s incaution led to death or failure.

For example, during her third attempt to overcome the Eternal Barrier, she initially overcame every obstacle in her path and saw the current of the River of Destiny in the distance when a strange, inauspicious vision halted her progress.

It was a worn-out, rotting coffin containing a lifelike female corpse. A parade of strange, hideous mice dressed for a wedding struck gongs, beat drums, or played the suona as they marched into the coffin.

As if preparing to welcome a bride.

When she saw this strange vision, she sensed the danger and moved further away. She tried to continue her challenge from a different angle when a sigh reached her ears. “Today is my wedding day. Why not drink with me to celebrate, friend?”

The question contained a strange power. It effortlessly shook Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran’s Dao Heart!

When Su Yi heard that, he couldn’t help but be surprised. A woman’s lifelike corpse in a rotting coffin, and a procession of mice preparing to welcome a bride…

It really does sound utterly bizarre and unsettling.

That voice sounds even stranger. The corpse was actually upset that Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran didn’t want to stick around and attend her wedding!?

“My Dao Heart shook, and a vision appeared in my mind. In it, the lifelike corpse opened her eyes and glared at me hatefully…” Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran sighed. “Strangely, her sockets were hollow and gushing tears of blood. A mouse was crawling around in her skull, occasionally sticking its head out of the sockets…”

Su Yi couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “What happened then?”

Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran shook her head. “My Dao Heart was in turmoil, and my awareness was muddled. Just as it was about to slip away completely, I decisively activated a secret treasure, escaping that strange vision.

“But because of it, my third attempt ended in yet another failure.”

Her voice contained a hint of frustration.

“Was that strange vision a manifestation of your Eternal Tribulation?” asked Su Yi.

“It wasn’t!” said Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran. “The coffin, the mysterious corpse, and the mice were all real. None were illusions!”

She paused, then added, “Afterward, I contacted that senior on the River of Destiny. He told me that I most likely encountered Phantoms banished from the River of Destiny. They’re incomparably terrifying; he said that once targeted, even Eternals’ hearts and souls are at risk of being devoured. In the end, those devoured are transformed into similar monstrosities.”

Phantoms!

Su Yi finally understood. So, there’s a risk of running into malevolent entities like that during one’s Eternal Tribulation.

“But that senior also said that it’s extremely rare for Phantoms to appear during someone’s Eternal Tribulation; it happens to less than one in a million would-be Eternals,” said Sovereign Venerate Ling ran. “That senior suspects that one of the treasures I was carrying drew their attention.”

Su Yi was stunned. “Might you explain in detail?”

Sovereign Venerate Ling Ran looked a bit exasperated. “I carry numerous treasures on my person, over a hundred different kinds, and most are from the River of Destiny. They’re items my seniors gave me.

“All of them have mysterious origins. It’s to the point that… I have no way of knowing precisely which article drew the Phantoms’ attention.”

Su Yi didn’t know what to say to that. Just how many mysterious and mystical treasures does she have? She seriously can’t even begin to guess which one drew the Phantoms’ attention?

Contrary to appearances, she’s… rich beyond imagination!

Even his gaze was a bit strange.