Funeral Hall.

In the middle laid a bronze coffin, its surface engraved with myriad figures of birds, beasts, insects, fishes, sun, moon, and stars, all depicting vast and ancient patterns.

A girl dressed in simple white robes, extraordinarily beautiful, knelt in front of the coffin.

Outside the funeral hall existed a pure, enchanted world

where horrifying figures resembling gods and buddhas were fiercely battling to the death.

Roars filled the sky.

Blood spattered.

Yet, within the hall, was an indescribable calm.

The girl remained prostrated in salute, her face expressionless, devoid of sorrow or joy, a serene surface without a single ripple.

"Heh, so this is what 'death' is like after me..."

Su Yi laughed, but his eyes were brimming with coldness.

Only when he occasionally glanced at the girl could a hint of gentleness, subtle and almost unnoticeable, be observed in his eyes.

Before his death, he wandered around the various heavens, pressing the stars with his sword, single-handedly controlling the universe.

He had fought across the universe, dominating an entire era.

He was also once known as the only "Master of Ten Thousand Paths" in the history of the Great Wilderness of the Nine Provinces.

In the eyes of the great sword masters of the wild Jiuzhou, he was even more unparalleled on the path of swordsmanship, the "Mysterious Lord of the Sword".

But after the news of his death was released,

Everything changed!

"Hahaha, Melt the Qingming, Refine the Way, from now on, this 'Molten Sky Furnace' of Su Xuanjun is mine!"

A burst of laughter sounded in the secret world outside the spirit hall, filled with joy and happiness.

Su Yi looked up.

It was a golden-winged Roc, its wings like clouds that touch the sky, its color as if cast by liquid gold, exuding an unparalleled dazzling light. Its prestige was so grand that it could compress a mountain and river.

In its giant claws that could tear the sky, it held a furnace tripod burning bright red.

"This little bird has also betrayed me..."

Su Yi sighed.

He still remembered eighty thousand years ago when the golden-winged Roc laid outside the mountain gate, bowing down day and night, just to serve under him and listen to the Way.

Considering its sincerity, he let it stay by his side for cultivation.

But the bird now, shouted his name directly, seizing his Molten Sky Furnace.

A downright traitor!

"Su Xuanjun owes me 'Featherization Sword Court' eight hundred and ninety-three lives, and more so he stole my sect's highest legacy 'Ten Directions Sword Sutra', today, we came to collect the debt, those who dare to stop us, will be killed!"

Under the dome of the sky, amidst the rolling thunder, a man in red robe howled menacingly, his murderous aura overwhelming.

Su Yi was taken aback.

Feather Sword Court, at its inception, was merely a small and obscure sect.

Its founder was just one of the thirty-six disciples under his wing.

But it was under his, Su Xuanjun's, authority and protection that the Feather Sword Court managed to rise to power, step by step, becoming one of the six great Daoist factions in the vast wilderness of Nine Provinces, its might resonating across the universe.

But now, people from the Feather Sword Court had arrived.

The claim of owed lives - 893 to be exact - was downright nonsensical.

And not to mention, it was him who had gifted the "Ten Sides Sword Scripture" to the founder of the Feather Sword Court!

Clearly, upon hearing of his death, the Feather Sword Court had fabricated a reason to come robbing under the pretext of debt collection.

"Humans have changed, and so it goes."

Su Yi could not help but shake his head, his mood inevitably becoming somber.

During his lifetime, he certainly did not mistreat those close to him.

"Listen up, Su Xuanjun is our 'Master of Ten Thousand Dao'. As long as we're here, we absolutely won't tolerate you seizing the opportunity to rob and snatch his relics!"

Amid the pouring blood rain, a group of divine figures with awe-inspiring dignity roared.

"Nonsense, aren't you here to snatch treasures after hearing of old thief Su's death too, despite your high sounding words?"

"Such bloody hypocrisy!"

Someone sneered, a retort on their lips.

"Look at what you're holding in your hands - the Green Vine Immortal Tree, the Great Rejuvenating Scepter, the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Lamp, the Ten Thousand Purple Jade Vial... Which one isn't a 'peerless treasure' left by Su Xuanjun?"

"If you're so sincere, why not put these treasures into Su Xuanjun's coffin and bury them with him?"

...Many terrifying figures started to sneer.

The universe trembled, and the battle was fierce.

The figures engaged in the battle were the most formidable powers in the vast Nine States, clashing and slaying, creating an endlessly terrifying scene.

Yet, all of this was comical and ridiculous in Su Yi's eyes!

These bastards were respectful and obedient during his lifetime.

But after he 'died', their true natures revealed!

"Indeed, life and death do bring out different responses."

Su Yi withdrew his gaze, looking towards the young girl kneeling in front of the ceremonial bronze coffin, his features soft, "Thankfully, Qingtang, this little girl, is still by my side..."

At the young age of thirteen, Qingtang started following him in spiritual cultivation. After 18,900 years, she was known as the "Empress Qingtang" in the wide Nine States.

To outsiders, Qingtang was an exalted Empress, ruling everywhere, a powerful figure intimidating the Nine States. Even those of the same stature offered her a degree of reverence.

But in front of Su Yi, she always remained a little girl at heart. Apart from cultivation, she devoted all her time attending to Su Yi, ever gentle and humble.

"Junior Sister, you have already spent seven days mourning for our late Master. If we do not leave now, we will surely collapse!"

Suddenly, a towering figure walked into the mourning hall. His white war robe was already torn and bloody, the result of a harsh bloody battle he had just come through, his presence exuding a horrendous aura.

Pimo!

He is the head of the nine closed-door disciples under Su Yi's teachings, nicknamed the "War Emperor Pimo", accompanying Su Yi in his cultivation for thirty-nine thousand years.

Qingtang, who had been kneeling before the coffin, slowly rose to her feet. Her voice was clear and indifferent, "Senior Brother, Master had instructed us nine successors to leave. Why....have you returned?"

Pimo's brow furrowed slightly, righteous fury in his voice, "How could I just stand by and watch those traitors and enemies destroy everything that Master left behind? Moreover, you aren't willing to leave and are here mourning. As the eldest brother, how could I possibly leave?"

Qingtang turned around, her beautiful eyes glacial, staring daggers at Pimo, "Even at this time, Senior Brother is still unwilling to speak the truth?"

Pimo's pupils tightened, "Junior Sister, what do you mean by this?"

"What do I mean?"

A trace of scorn rose at the corners of Qingtang's mouth, "Others may not know, but I'm very clear that Senior Brother, you've always remembered Master's 'Nine Nether Sword'."

Pimo's facial expression slightly changed. After a moment's pause, he laughed darkly, "Junior Sister, dare you say that you are keeping vigil here, isn't for this sword?"

Qingtang did not deny but instead, her beautiful pale face always calm and steady, said, "Senior brother, you are mistaken. Staying here isn't just about the Nine Nether Sword for me."

"What else then?" Pimo couldn't help but ask.

Qingtang's gaze drifted towards the outside of the mourning hall, looking at the world where gods and demons were fighting fiercely, her voice undisturbed: "Something else our Master left behind before he passed…"

"I want them all!"

Each word in the statement was uttered so casually and calmly; however, when Qingtang, with her tall and beautiful figure, finished her sentence, she added a compelling majesty.

"All of them..."

Pimo was stunned for a moment, then couldn't resist laughing heartily. His face was full of mockery as he said:

"I never would've thought that among the nine of us heirs, the person with the biggest appetite would be our little junior sister! If our venerable teacher were still alive, he'd be surprised to find his favorite and most trusted Qingtang so greedy."

In fact, Su Yi had been calmly observing everything.

He didn't care about the betrayal by the Golden Winged Roc and the Feather Sword Court.

Even if those formidable enemies came to his door, he wasn't bothered.

But when he saw his favorite student, Pimo, and his cherished Qingtang had their own schemes and intentions, he fell silent.

All this fuss over some treasures that turned the two students against each other, how tragically pathetic!

Clang!

Suddenly, Qingtang unexpectedly made her move, heavily injuring Pimo with a single sword stroke.

"I can't believe how deeply you kept your true self-hidden!"

In the nick of time, Pimo managed to grasp a lifeline and escape form the spiritual hall, his voice laden with anger and panic.

He never expected that his disciple, who was also his younger sister in their sect, had a far more powerful spiritual cultivation than he had imagined.

Even Su Yi was taken aback. This girl had already broken through.

Vimol did not delay and escaped immediately.

Qing Tang didn't go after him. She stood alone in front of the bronze coffin in the spiritual hall. A mocking smile formed on her lips, and she muttered:

"If our master knew that his eldest disciple was the first to collude with the six major sects, how heartbroken would he be?"

"Moreover, our third disciple Huo Yao, although he did not join in, stole the 'Primal God's Mirror' when he left. This treasure alone would be enough for him to advance to the 'Imperial' realm."

"Unfortunately, our master is no longer with us, and he will no longer be able to see all of this."

Qing Tang let out a soft sigh.

Meanwhile, Su Yi's face gradually darkened.

Only now did he know that his most trusted senior disciple had committed the act of betrayal, leading the wolf into the house!

He also found out that Huo Yao, his third disciple, had stolen the "Primal God's Mirror" that suppressed the secrets of this realm!

No wonder those traitors and enemies could easily invade his territory...

With this realization, Su Yi was filled with both anger and regret.

At this moment, Qing Tang suddenly stepped out of the spiritual hall.

Her graceful figure seemed to stand tall and alone, as her beautiful, indifferent eyes scanned the world, and she coldly began to speak:

"From this day forward, I, Qingtang, will rule the wilderness alone!"

Whooosh!

A sudden surge of profound sword intent emanated from her and soared into the sky, filling the heaven and earth. The green misty sword intent rained down like the blades of heaven's executioner, effortlessly slaying one terrifying figure after another.

In just a blink of an eye—

The heaven and earth turned into a painting, dyed completely by divine blood!

The remaining terrifying beings were all horrified, as if fallen into an ice cave, shivering all over.

"Surrender or die."

Amidst the terrifying bloody atmosphere, Qingtang spoke indifferently, her voice reverberating throughout the nine heavens and ten earths.

"We are willing to serve the Empress as our supreme!"

"We are willing to serve the Empress as our supreme!"

At this moment, under the influence of Qingtang's might, these great powers of all heavens all bowed their heads!

"This girl..."

Su Yi's pupils slightly narrowed, his heart could not calm down either. He had not expected Qingtang's cultivation to reach this extent.

Originally, as her teacher, he should be delighted.

But now, all he felt was an indescribable sense of loneliness and desolation.

At this moment, how could he not understand that his most beloved disciple had been hiding something during the past years?

Not long after, Qingtang turned and walked into the ancestral hall.

She looked again at the bronze coffin, bowed in respect, and said calmly,

"Master, your disciple Qingtang has guarded your spirit for seven days and suppressed those traitors and enemies for you. I have done my best to fulfill our master-disciple relationship."

"From now on, everything you left behind will be inherited by me alone."

As she spoke, she stepped forward and laid her hand on the bronze coffin, whispered,

"The Nine Hells Sword cannot be buried with you just like that. Once your disciple deciphers the secret within the sword, I will return it. Master, do not blame me for disturbing your rest..."

Bang!

The lid of the bronze coffin was lifted.

But just in this moment, the always calm and composed Qingtang, exceptionally showed a change in her color.

"How could..."

The bronze coffin was empty.

Not to mention the Nine Hells Sword, even the master's body was gone!

Taking in all of this, Su Yi, whose pupils burned with rage.

Even though he had prepared for all of this before deciding to reincarnate and restructure his life.

At this moment, though, it was still difficult to suppress the anger within.

But gradually, the fury in Su Yi's eyes faded bit by bit, until all that remained was endless indifference and coldness.

"When I return, I hope you scoundrels are still alive..."

Su Yi's unnoticed illusory figure, at this point, vanished into oblivion, completely gone.

...

After a century of eighty thousand years, Su Xuanjun, the "Mysterious Sovereign of Swords", who dominated the nine provinces of the Great Wasteland for an era, dies, causing an upheaval in the nine provinces.

Seven days later,

The Mysterious Sovereign's disciple, Empress Qingtang, sweeps through the Six Realms, pacifying the gods of Shen State, and rules the world.

...

Five hundred years later.

In the Great Zhou Kingdom, Yunhe County, Guangling City.

At dusk, the sunset was like fire.

Outside of Songyun Sword Academy.

Su Yi stood alone, waiting for his niece Wen Lingxue to finish school.