It had been over two thousand years since Li Yi left Penglai Island. I wonder if Azure Flood Dragon is sleeping on Penglai Island right now. That guy's gotten lazier and lazier since he started following me. The thought made Li Yi chuckle.
Li Yi glanced at the collapsed hill and thought for a moment. Then he reached down with his right hand and made a grabbing motion. "Rumble..." A massive stone stele rose from the ground.
His eyes narrowed. He swung his sword several times with his right hand. "Clang, clang..." A black lotus and a line of small characters appeared on the stele.
The inscription read: "I, Li Yi, known as Sword Maniac, have attained the Golden Immortal rank here. I carve a sword lotus here, within which a strand of my sword intent is hidden, for a worthy successor."
"Hahaha..." Li Yi burst into laughter. "I never thought I'd become a senior cultivator myself. I wonder who'll comprehend this sword intent in the future." He felt a little anticipation.
He didn't know that, not long after, the stele would be caught in the crossfire of a battle between cultivators and sink to the bottom of a lake. Millions of years later, after the terrain had changed, a down-and-out scholar would find it and comprehend a trace of sword intent from it. With a three-foot blue blade, he would sweep across the entire cultivation world before finally ascending in a radiant glow. His tale would be celebrated for a time.
After attaining the Golden Immortal rank, Li Yi roamed the Primordial World. He was searching for defensive Innate Spiritual Treasures, but also hoped to make friends with other cultivators and discuss the Dao with them. That would broaden his experience, help him learn from others, and perfect his swordsmanship.
One day, Li Yi was traveling through the southern part of the Primordial World when a radiant glow suddenly rose from a distant volcano, accompanied by waves of Immortal Music. "A spiritual treasure has appeared, and it's no ordinary one!" Li Yi didn't dare waste time. "Thump!" Two pairs of gleaming black wings appeared on his back. "Whoosh!" He shot toward the volcano like a streak of light.
When Li Yi arrived at the volcano, he saw that several people had already gotten there. They clearly showed hostility when they saw him arrive.
Li Yi didn't mind. After all, they were all competitors, and before long, they might be drawing their blades against one another. Why should they expect him to be courteous?
Li Yi went to a relatively secluded spot, sat cross-legged, and quietly waited for the spiritual treasure to appear.
Unexpectedly, several days passed, and the spiritual treasure still hadn't appeared. The commotion grew louder and louder. By then, the radiant glow had dyed the whole sky in colorful hues, and Immortal Music rang out without pause.
Such a commotion could hardly go unnoticed. Over the past few days, more than a thousand people had arrived, including dozens of Golden Immortals and three Grand Unity Golden Immortals.
The strange phenomena grew more and more spectacular. At last, a fiery cloud spanning ten thousand miles appeared over the volcano, and the area around it grew hotter and hotter.
Everyone knew this had to be an extraordinary Innate Spiritual Treasure, possibly even a top-grade one. They didn't dare dream of an Innate Supreme Treasure; the odds were far too low. The cultivators' eyes gleamed red as they waited for the treasure to appear. The three Grand Unity Golden Immortals exchanged glances and gave one another a slight nod.
"I am Venerable Blazing Fire, an elder of the Fire Worship Sacred Dynasty. This spiritual treasure is destined for me. I hope you'll all understand." After speaking, Venerable Blazing Fire, his hair a fiery red, looked toward the surrounding Golden Immortals. He completely ignored the Mystic Immortals and Heavenly Immortals.
The Grand Unity Golden Immortal holding a small mountain-shaped treasure also spoke up. "This spiritual treasure summoned me from a thousand miles away. It must be destined for me as well. I hope you fellow Daoists will graciously step aside."
The old Grand Unity Golden Immortal carrying a greatsword swung it once. "Rumble..." Mountains crumbled one after another. After sheathing his sword, he gave everyone a cold, glittering look.
By now, everyone understood what the three Grand Unity Golden Immortals meant: they were clearing the area. The others wouldn't get a chance at the spiritual treasure.
The crowd erupted in indignation. Any Innate Spiritual Treasure could choose its own master. Though they were no match for Grand Unity Golden Immortals, they still had a chance. Now the three Grand Unity Golden Immortals had snuffed out that hope. How could they not be furious? But intimidated by their power, no one dared speak up.
The crowd could only curse the three Grand Unity Golden Immortals inwardly. Still, they obeyed and retreated beyond the volcano's perimeter. Li Yi withdrew with them, his eyes gleaming.
There may still be a chance. As long as I can get my hands on the spiritual treasure, even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal won't be able to catch me with my speed. Li Yi kept calculating his moves.
"Boom..." The entire volcano began to shake, and the lava churned. Tongues of flame stretched out from the crater, while cracks appeared across the mountainside.
"Boom..." A red light shaped like armor flew out from a crack. As soon as it appeared, it tried to fly away.
"Venerable Blazing Fire, how dare you!" Seeing Venerable Blazing Fire rush toward the treasure, the Grand Unity Golden Immortal holding the small mountain flew into a rage. Without another word, he hurled the mountain. It transformed into a massive peak wreathed in azure light and came crashing down on Venerable Blazing Fire.
The old man carrying the greatsword was anxious too. He sent a sword beam that soared to the heavens toward Venerable Blazing Fire.
Venerable Blazing Fire was furious. The spiritual treasure had nearly been in his hands—and defensive treasures like this were rare in the Primordial World. But when he saw the massive peak and the towering sword beam bearing down on him, he had no choice but to temporarily give up on the treasure and dodge the attacks first.
"Bang, bang..."
"Rumble..."
"Boom, boom..."
Everyone gazed up at the three Grand Unity Golden Immortals battling for the spiritual treasure. Three dazzling spheres of light crashed into each other, their figures impossible to make out. One powerful technique after another followed, shattering the clouds overhead and shaking the volcano below until it began to collapse. Scalding lava poured through the cracks.
"Old Blazing Fire, die!" The Grand Unity Golden Immortal holding the small mountain continuously formed hand seals, his hands moving so fast they became a blur. Hazy azure light rippled over the mountain. With a shake, it became a hundred thousand towering peaks in the sky, all pressing down on Venerable Blazing Fire.
The sight terrified the spectators below, who trembled in fear. This was the power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Some cultivators remembered how they'd wanted to protest earlier and felt relieved they hadn't dared to speak up. Otherwise, they'd have been dead without a trace.
"Hmph, you're underestimating me." As he spoke, Venerable Blazing Fire transformed into a Flame Giant Snake over a hundred thousand zhang long. It opened its mouth and spewed a vast sea of fire that spread toward the small mountain...
The two fought fiercely.
"Not good!"
"Not good!"
Venerable Blazing Fire and the Grand Unity Golden Immortal holding the small mountain cried out at the same time. Seeing the old man with the greatsword approach the spiritual treasure, they immediately exchanged a glance and joined forces to attack him.
The three kept fighting in the sky. Whenever one of them approached the spiritual treasure, the other two teamed up against him. The battle raged for three days and nights, and all three were seriously injured and caught in a strange stalemate. None of them could claim the treasure.
The dozens of mountains below had long since been flattened by the shock waves. Deep trenches, each a hundred meters deep, scarred the ground, and directly beneath the battle, the force of the shock waves had carved out a massive lake.
"Do you think the two Grand Unity Golden Immortals who don't get the treasure will take their anger out on us when the battle's over?" asked a slightly simple-looking Mystic Immortal cautiously.
Everyone froze. After a moment of silence, most of them transformed into streaks of light and fled. They didn't dare gamble on something like that; their lives were at stake.
Only a few remained, unwilling to give up and convinced they had some means of protecting themselves.
Li Yi naturally wasn't going to leave. He'd finally encountered a defensive Innate Spiritual Treasure, and he didn't want to give it up so easily.
The three fought for another two days and nights. They were all exhausted, and their attacks were no longer as fierce as before. They glared at one another. It was no longer just about the spiritual treasure; if any of them backed down now, people would say he was inferior. Without realizing it, the three had let their guard over the treasure slip.
While the three were glaring at one another, "Thump!" A strange vine appeared beside the spiritual treasure, coiled around it, and snatched it away.
The three Grand Unity Golden Immortals flew into a rage. They saw the treasure in the hands of a grinning Golden Immortal. How could they stand for that? They'd nearly killed one another over it, only for a Golden Immortal to swoop in and steal it. If the other Grand Unity Golden Immortals found out, they'd laugh themselves silly.
They were just about to strike down the audacious Golden Immortal when they suddenly noticed black lotuses filling the sky, blotting out the sun.
Each black lotus was made up of countless fierce black sword auras. The three Grand Unity Golden Immortals hurriedly formed defensive barriers.
These sword-aura lotuses caused the three Grand Unity Golden Immortals a great deal of trouble. By the time they finally managed to break free, they saw Li Yi fleeing with two pairs of wings beating behind him. Even they couldn't match his speed.
The three Grand Unity Golden Immortals stared at one another, their faces livid. Then they all looked toward the few people still below who hadn't left.
"Senior, spare us! We had nothing to do with it!" The few who remained were horrified. They ran for their lives, shouting for mercy.
Unfortunately, they were doomed. The three Grand Unity Golden Immortals were consumed with rage and wouldn't listen to their explanations. They struck together, turning them all to ash.
Before you continue