Chapter 122: My Name is Su Mo

Recent times have seen many significant events unfold across the Linghuang Continent.

The Academy’s Third Floor suddenly announced a three-year delay, a major development that has gripped the entire cultivation world. Yet, to this day, the Academy has offered no reasonable explanation.

Another matter is the assassination campaign launched by the Thousand Valleys region, targeting young cultivators throughout Linghuang. The scale and meticulousness of the operation are staggering. Beginning months ago with the ambush of Li Yi from the Azure Emperor City at the Returning Cloud Immortal Sect, the campaign has systematically hunted down every young disciple of notable reputation across the continent.

Major sacred grounds like Kunlun, Yaochi, and Lingyin Temple, along with various top-tier sects, have all been affected. The casualties are catastrophic, inciting the fury and indignation of the sacred grounds. In an unprecedented move, reclusive high-level cultivators and the notoriously low-profile Yaochi Sacred Ground have emerged to join forces, scouring the Thousand Valleys in a desperate bid to eradicate the threat. It is rumored that this collective rage stems from the secret poisoning of a young disciple within Yaochi who possessed heaven-defying talent, leaving their fate unknown.

Monstrous talents are appearing, and heroes are rising in succession. The Shan-Hai Linghuang Continent is showing faint signs of impending chaos.

Beyond these major upheavals, there are smaller, localized affairs. Li Moran, the "Sword Immortal of the Broken Blade Mountain" and a practitioner of the Upper Three Realms, arrived in Thousand Willow City and entered the Qingxu Sect. No one knows what she did there; they only know that the city has become disturbingly silent.

...

Several miles outside the city, within the desolate mountains at the Yang family estate, a tall woman stood in a waterside pavilion, gazing blankly at the emerald pond. Behind her stood a young girl carrying a heavy broadsword.

The courtyard, usually solitary, was now crowded. The elderly elders of the Qingxu Sect, the heads of the city's four great families and their children, and Yang Pan'er and her father were all present.

Eerily, behind them, a mature woman whose true form had been shattered—revealing several snowy-white tails—was suspended in mid-air, bound to a stone pillar. The fox spirit was covered in bloody lacerations, hovering on the brink of death.

The tall, indifferent woman seemed to grow tired of the scenery. She turned and sat on a chair, staring straight ahead, and said calmly, "He used to live here."

No one dared to answer. Yang Pan'er, eyes red with fury, spat, "Let Zhao... let her go!"

The woman rested her chin on one hand, tilting her head slightly with a faint smirk. "A mere fox spirit, hiding in a human city and daring to kill at will—are you all her accomplices?"

Tears streaming down her face, Yang Pan'er cried, "You ugly hag! You wicked old witch, you're talking nonsense!"

Yang Yuanhao’s face went pale. He quickly covered his daughter’s mouth and whispered, "Immortal, please have mercy; my daughter is ignorant."

The tall woman let out an "oh," her expression blank. "So, this demon has nothing to do with you?"

Yang Yuanhao froze, his expression complex. He lowered his head and spoke with great difficulty, "My Yang family... has no connection to her whatsoever."

Yang Pan'er’s mouth fell open in disbelief. "Father..."

The tall woman curled her lips and looked at the fox demon with a mocking glint in her eyes. "This is the man you were willing to die to save. Tsk tsk, just like that fool Yan Nantian. That is why, as soon as I entered the city, I simply slaughtered him—out of sight, out of mind. It seems that whether human or demon, men are always such heartless, worthless trash."

The fox demon, who had not made a sound despite the countless tortures she had endured, suddenly displayed an irrepressible sorrow and loss on her face. The word "love" has always been the sharpest blade.

"But! But if you must kill her, then please kill me along with her."

The resolute words echoed, leaving everyone stunned. Ignoring the crowd, Yang Yuanhao looked at the fox demon bound high above, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Actually, I knew many years ago. This is what I owe you. I am sorry."

Zhao Ji covered her lips, crystalline tears shimmering in her eyes. Love may be the cruellest weapon, but it is also the deepest source of emotion.

The Sword Immortal watched this scene in silence. Suddenly remembering something, her expression turned icy, and she let out a cold snort.

In an instant, one of the tails behind Zhao Ji exploded, spraying blood across the ground. For the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, every tail is connected to the soul; a piercing wail of agony echoed throughout the courtyard.

Yang Yuanhao looked on with a grief-stricken face, whispering, "On the road to the Yellow Springs, I shall accompany you."

Yang Pan'er flew into a rage. "What are you doing, you old hag!"

Among the four great families, the Dongfang and Gu families kept their heads bowed. Dongfang Duan and Gu Ming were deathly pale, not daring to utter a single word.

The girl carrying the heavy blade behind the Sword Immortal rolled her eyes, thinking these people were utter fools. Her master clearly intended to kill them all after capturing Shen You, so why fret now? They would be better off cursing alongside the silly Yang girl and meeting their end with peace of mind.

The Sword Immortal, appearing bored, said faintly, "Do not fear. Tomorrow, you will all be buried with the father and son of the Qingxu Sect. If you have any grievances, curse away today. The uglier, the better. I shall listen quietly and will not lift a finger."

As she finished speaking, a sense of total despair washed over everyone present.

"Is it... is it really possible for a True Immortal to be so unreasonable?"

A voice filled with bewilderment and questioning rang out. Nangong Rou’s face was pale, yet she stepped forward bravely.

The tall woman looked at her and suddenly smiled. "That's right. When your cultivation is high enough, you really can be this unreasonable. What of it?"

Nangong Rou looked helpless, seemingly wanting to say more, but she was instantly pulled back by the elder behind her.

A scoff suddenly echoed.

Zhao Ji, having just lost a tail, gritted her teeth and said coldly, "The eldest miss of the Yang family is currently cultivating at the Dao Sect. Furthermore, I do not believe you are unaware of Shen You’s status within the Dao Sect. You are only deceiving yourself. Kill me? Do you truly believe you can escape the Dao Sect’s vengeance?"

The Sword Immortal tapped her fingers lightly on the chair arm, eyes narrowing as she said leisurely, "The Yang family of Thousand Willow City colluded with a fox demon, harming the Qingxu Sect and many innocent citizens. I have come to suppress this evil. Where is the error in that?"

"Moreover, collusion between humans and demons is a grave sin. If this reaches the Academy, who do you think could possibly protect you?"

"Besides... is the Dao Sect really that formidable?"

...

"Miss, I cannot answer your first two questions, but I can certainly answer the last one."

A gentle voice resonated from the doorway.

The Sword Immortal narrowed her eyes, murderous intent flickering across her face.

"Miss?"

In all the world, how many dared to address her by such a title?

The next moment, a young man who had stepped out after changing into a clean, long robe appeared in their sight. Across his back was a thick bundle of cloth, and it seemed to contain something inside.

Li Moran said coldly, "Who are you?"

Su Mo replied with a smile, "Dao Sect, Su Mo. 'Su' as in the tassels of a robe, 'Mo' as in the paths between fields."