Chapter 010 - Skin Him Alive!

After accepting Jiang Yue as a new disciple and bestowing her with a Divine Sea Pill, the Sword Venerable and his entourage seemed to have urgent matters to attend to and took their leave. The Sword Cultivators soared into the sky, leaving behind a trail of light. Left in their wake was a disciple of the Sword Venerable named Wang Feng. He was tasked with escorting Jiang Yue to the First Sword Peak and helping her adjust to the lifestyle of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect.

"Twelfth Brother, wait up a moment for me," Jiang Yue called out to a young man in an orange sword robe.

The youth, graceful as a dandy, radiated warmth. He smiled and nodded at Jiang Yue, his eyes filled with admiration.

Without missing a beat, Jiang Yue strode forward, her movements like the sweep of frost, and stopped before Yun Xiao. "Regretting your choice?" she asked, chin lifted with an air of indifference.

"Regret? Never imagined your Sword Soul to be this terrifying. It's like watching a young calf learn swordsmanship—utterly astonishing," Yun Xiao replied with a grin and a thumbs-up.

"Crude!" Jiang Yue shot back, her teeth clenched. "You might not fear me now, but for the insult you gave, I promise... a tenfold return."

"And how will that be?" Yun Xiao sneered inwardly.

"Figure out a way to participate in the Seven Swords Conclave. Unlike you, I'll play fair and square. I won't resort to cheap tactics to take you down," Jiang Yue declared proudly.

"The Seven Swords Conclave, another stage for you to steal the spotlight?" Yun Xiao teased.

A vein popped up on her forehead. Jiang Yue presented him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and shot back, "Sparrows might chirp, but they'll never understand the song of the swan." She then turned around and said no more. In her eyes, this white-robed youth was but a minor blemish on her path of cultivation. Once she soared higher, he would be easily wiped away.

As Jiang Yue spoke with Yun Xiao, the disciple named Wang Feng was having a whispered conversation with Yao Qingqian. "Sister Yao, what's the history between those two?" he asked, squinting at Yun Xiao.

"That young man stole Jiang Yue's top spot in the Heavenly Path and injured her," Yao Qingqian replied with a cold huff and smirk.

"Really?" A sharp gleam danced in Wang Feng's eyes. "He's quite rough for his looks!"

"These arrogant upstarts are a dime a dozen in the mortal world," Yao Qingqian said with disdain.

"Very true," Wang Feng's eyes lit up. "Speaking of which, I've been practicing a new technique called the Skin Peeling Art. It allows precise control of the Sword Soul to strip off the entire human skin, just like skinning a frog... And I've been lamenting that I couldn't find a

frog

."

"Will the person die once their skin's peeled?" Yao Qingqian asked, her interest piqued.

"Of course not! They'll still be hopping around, wailing in agony," Wang Feng replied with a gleeful chuckle.

"Oh?" Yao Qingqian giggled, "What a waste for the boy, he has such good-looking skin. To think he'd come to Azure Spirit without first learning about the path of Immortals."

"For every Immortal made, ten thousand bones wither! The unskilled ones? A single mistake, and they perish," Wang Feng added with a menacing grin. He knew these rules all too well. But newcomers often didn't. Underestimating the Azure Spirit Sword Sect right from the start? A misstep could result in a horrific end.

"Sister Yao, once he picks a Sword Peak, let me know. I'll pay him a little night time visit for some

frog-catching

'" Wang Feng said, his sunny smile in stark contrast to his words.

"Keep it down, will you?" Yao Qingqian scolded lightly.

"Of course. Consider it a welcome gift for our little junior sister," Wang Feng promised.

But as Yao Qingqian heard this, her smile faded. Seeing Jiang Yue approaching, she whispered, "Just a heads-up, Jiang Yue was brought back by Swordking Ye."

"Him?" Wang Feng's face changed instantly, a trace of fear evident in his eyes. "Didn't he already have a partner? He's really that greedy?"

"Just keep that in mind," Yao Qingqian cautioned.

"Fine!" Wang Feng's mood sank, his eyes growing even colder.

However, the moment Wang Feng reunited with Jiang Yue, he instantly transformed back into that sunny young man. Together, they soared away, flying on their swords through the clouds, resembling a pair of ethereal lovebirds.

Of course, Jiang Yue wasn't adept at sword flying yet. So, it was Wang Feng who held her slim waist, letting her stand on his Sword Soul, as they soared together through the sky. Indeed, it was as if they were flying straight to the heavens.

With Wang Feng's departure, the remaining new disciples of Azure Spirit heaved a sigh of relief. The oppressive aura from a disciple of Wang Feng's stature was truly overwhelming for these newcomers.

"You nine, each of you choose a Sword Peak," Yao Qingqian said, one hand on her waist. Pointing to a young man in the crowd, she commanded, "Lin Yan, you can go to the First Sword Peak. The rest of you, don't even think about it."

The young man she chose was the third on the Heavenly Path and possessed an Upper Meteor grade Sword Soul. From her proud words, it was clear that the First Sword Peak was a place where every disciple wanted to be, holding the privilege of priority choice. The other Sword Peaks were probably roughly equal to each other in status.

After Yao Qingqian finished speaking, the rest of the new disciples quickly chose their future affiliations. All but Yun Xiao. When Yun Xiao looked at the seven elders, they coughed awkwardly and gazed up at the sky.

"Yun Xiao, I want to discuss something with you," Elder Yu stepped forward, taking Yun Xiao by the arm and leading him to the edge of the Sword Inheritance Platform.

"Please speak, Elder Yu." Yun Xiao had a decent impression of this Seventh Sword Peak elder.

"What do you think of me, old Yu?" Elder Yu asked him seriously.

"Elder Yu is fair and just," Yun Xiao replied.

"When you first arrived and Yao Qingqian targeted you, I spoke up for you, right?" It seemed that this was what Elder Yu wanted to hear.

Yun Xiao was momentarily taken aback before slowly nodding in agreement. "In light of that favor, help me out with something," Elder Yu said.

"Tell me."

"Don't choose my Seventh Sword Peak," Elder Yu gritted his teeth.

He was about to elaborate when Yun Xiao simply responded, "Alright."

Elder Yu shot Yun Xiao with a conflicted look. "Young man, I'm truly sorry. I appreciate you, truly. Even if Jiang Yue had a Mid Comet grade Sword Soul, I would've had your back. But the thing is..." The thing was, she exceeded the Comet grade. She shattered the Sword Inheritance Stone, breaking Azure Spirit Sword Sect's long-standing record.

Yun Xiao chuckled softly, "There's no need, Elder Yu. It's human nature."

Elder Yu sighed deeply. "I can't bring a calamity to the Seventh Sword Peak. Do you understand me?"

"I do." Yun Xiao nodded.

"Thank you," Elder Yu bowed slightly.

"It's nothing," Yun Xiao replied. A calamity? To linger on the topic would be pointless. As Elder Yu turned around, expecting to see the other Sword Peak Elders standing by, he found them gone, save for him and Yao Qingqian. They had slipped away, fearing Yun Xiao might choose them.

"What the--?" Elder Yu was flabbergasted.

Yun Xiao couldn't help but laugh.

Cultivators, though they fight against destiny, can be even more selfish and pragmatic than ordinary folk.

He gazed up at the cloud shrouded peaks of the sect with a wistful look on his face.

I once had an illusion about the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. I thought cultivators were these saintly figures, traveling across the world, ridding it of monsters. I thought Ye Guying was an anomaly, a rotten apple. Turns out, here, he's just run of the mill.

Even so, Yun Xiao was determined to join the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. After all, he didn’t come here to champion justice. He came to kill and to hone his killing skills.

The issue is, with the Seventh Sword Peak off-limits and the other peaks having bolted, who do I choose?

Yun Xiao's gaze inevitably landed on the central, most majestic of the eight stone chairs. The Sword Pavilion! Today, no one from the Sword Pavilion was present.

The Azure Spirit Sword Sect has one Sword Pavilion and seven Sword Peaks. The Sword Pavilion should be the most powerful lineage, right?

Yun Xiao recalled. During his reign over the Cloud Nation, he was quite fond of gathering information about the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. But sadly, he lacked a Sword Soul. So, he asked, "Elder Yu, why is there no one from the Sword Pavilion?"

"The Sword Pavilion?" Elder Yu seemed taken aback by the question. "There aren't many left alive in the Sword Pavilion."

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Not alive? They died?" Yun Xiao asked, puzzled.

"You want to choose the Sword Pavilion?" Elder Yu inquired anxiously. With the other elders having skedaddled, and Yun Xiao still uncommitted, the old man feared an unforeseen twist.

"I choose the Sword Pavilion," Yun Xiao declared.

Upon hearing this, both Elder Yu and Yao Qingqian visibly relaxed. Neither voiced it, but both seemingly wished for Yun Xiao to pick the Sword Pavilion.

"I've heard that the Sword Pavilion is the foremost lineage of Azure Spirit," Yun Xiao remarked, eyeing the stone chair, its surface scarred with marks, emanating an aura of a sharp sword.

"Three years ago, an incident in the Sword Pavilion shocked thousands of nations. You haven't heard?" Elder Yu asked.

Yun Xiao shook his head.

"You'll find out once you’re there," Elder Yu replied, his lips pressed tightly.

"Alright." Yun Xiao nodded.

Elder Yu gave Yun Xiao's shoulder a light pat, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Once you become a disciple of the Sword Pavilion and enter the mountain... Start by paying respects at the graves."

"Graves?" Yun Xiao was taken aback.

"Yes. They're all gone," a trace of sorrow flashed in Elder Yu's eyes.

"Gone?" Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Elder Yu replied.

Yun Xiao's curiosity was piqued. What kind of place was he getting into? Why was Elder Yu being so cryptic?

"Can you find your way to the Sword Pavilion on your own?" Elder Yu asked.

Yun Xiao understood. Given today’s peculiar situation, the amount Elder Yu had already shared was more than generous.

"No problem," Yun Xiao replied, sensing Elder Yu’s urgency. The old man probably wanted to apologize to Yao Qingqian.

"One last question. What is the Seven Swords Conclave?" Yun Xiao asked.

"In simple terms, it’s where Sword Cultivators compete for resources, vying for dominance in Azure Spirit. The Sword Venerable giving Jiang Xue the Divine Sea Pill? It’s all to ensure her meteoric rise during the Seven Swords Conclave, cementing the First Sword Peak’s unrivaled position," Elder Yu replied. He sighed. "With such a pill, who could possibly rival such a favored daughter of the heavens?"

Elder Yu cast one last glance at him, "Lad, be realistic. Your one defeat over her in this lifetime? Consider it a blessing of three lifetimes."

Yun Xiao burst into laughter.

"Goodbye, Elder Yu." He gave a respectful bow, and then, without hesitation, leaped off the Sword Inheritance Platform, heading toward the Azure Spirit Mountains, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Before long, he vanished into the sea of trees, not once looking back.

Yao Qingqian lightly rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with irony. "Off he goes to the Sword Pavilion, like a moth to a flame."

?ι══????????══ι?

A few hours later, Yun Xiao managed to navigate the sprawling, magnificent expanse of the Azure Spirit Mountains. And after making some inquiries, he finally arrived at the base of the Sword Pavilion.

The Sword Pavilion stood tall on Azure Spirit's main peak, a place of unique significance within the sect. The mountain before him was like a gargantuan blade, piercing the sky. The trees that crowned it were straight and tall as pines, their postures reminiscent of upright swords, exuding an aura of righteousness.

"This truly befits a main peak, impressive," Yun Xiao murmured, as he made his way through the trees, beginning his ascent. Taking a deep breath, he felt a rush of immense spiritual energy flood his being. The Dragon Spring in his Dantian churned, invigorating and refreshing his senses.

"Such a blessed land, brimming with boundless spiritual energy. Cultivation here would surely yield twice the results with half the effort," Yun Xiao mused. It was incomparably better than the mundane world.

By dusk, Yun Xiao reached the summit. Looking ahead, through a thick mist of white clouds, he saw elegant pavilions that seemed to float in the air, much like the heavenly palaces described in mortal tales. That was the renowned Sword Pavilion!

"Almost there," Yun Xiao murmured to himself as he followed a pathway made of bluish stone steps. The refreshing breeze, delicate clouds, the fresh scent of forest flora, the crisp chirping of birds, and the mist that wetted his long hair and white robes made him feel right at home. It was peaceful, profound, and ethereal—precisely the ambiance he dreamt of in his younger days when he envisioned the path of an Immortal.

"But the journey..." Yun Xiao sighed. "It's far bloodier and more ferocious than I ever imagined." He shook his head, determination in his eyes. “I am but a lone traveler, free of attachments. I've stared death in the face. If someone opposes me, I'll slay one to gain another. Why should I fear?"

After having tasted death once, Yun Xiao no longer yearned for the mortal realm. "For the rest of my life, all I seek is enlightenment, all I desire is exhilaration!" To him, Jiang Yue, the Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone, the Divine Sea Pill... all of it felt as fragile as paper, ready to be pierced at any moment. His white robes fluttered, casting a shadow over the green mountains.

"What's that?" Yun Xiao suddenly paused, his gaze sharp. Before him, on a barren plot, stood seven graves. Mounds of earth, grave markers, and ceremonial offerings were laid out in a line. Atop each mound was a sword sheath. Inside each sheath, it seemed as though a demonic spirit was imprisoned. Ferocious faces emerged, snarling at Yun Xiao.

Looking closer, the inscriptions on the grave markers caught his attention. A melancholy and majestic atmosphere emanated from those words, resonating deeply within him. Each marker was inscribed with blood, every stroke depicting profound sorrow.

From left to right they read:

"Beloved disciple, Grave of Qin Qingcheng."

"Beloved disciple, Grave of Li Qingwei."

"Beloved disciple, Grave of Du Qinghai."

...

"Beloved disciple, Grave of Cai Qingyun."

There were seven graves in total. Seven beloved disciples whose first names started with Qing. The same

Qing

that represented

Azure

in the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. Each of the grave markers had inscriptions deeply etched, symbolizing the forty-nine strokes of pain and sorrow.

Every stroke was a testament to the unimaginable grief and fury of the one who had written them. In those blood-red characters, Yun Xiao felt as though he saw a vision of an elder with white hair bidding farewell to seven youths with raven-black hair.

To join the Sword Pavilion, one must first pay respects at the graves,

Yun Xiao

recalled the words of Elder Yu. He stepped forward, paying homage to each grave. He noticed that the wine cups in front of the graves were full. Clearly, there were still those who came regularly to pay their respects.

"Who are you?" A languid voice echoed from behind him.

Turning around, Yun Xiao saw a man in a yellow sword robe. His hair was unkempt, looking like a bird’s nest, and his beard was messy. His gaze was somewhat dull and he seemed disheveled. The man was munching on a juicy chicken leg, dripping its grease onto his beard.

Inside Yun Xiao's robes, the little black creature started to stir, its stomach rumbling audibly. “I am a new disciple of the Sword Pavilion, my name is Yun Xiao,” he replied respectfully.

"New disciple?" The man excitedly bit into his chicken leg, "Finally! After three years, the Sword Pavilion welcomes a new disciple. Such joyous news!" The man with a big grin sidled up to Yun Xiao. His greasy hand slapped Yun Xiao on the shoulder, "Wow, look at you! So handsome! From today onwards, you'll be the fresh grass of the Sword Pavilion."

Staring at the grease stain on his robe, Yun Xiao chuckled. It seemed that the Azure Spirit Sword Sect still had its fair share of interesting characters.

“May I ask for your name, Uncle?” Yun Xiao inquired politely.

“How old are you?” The man inquired, pushing his bangs out of the way.

“Sixteen,” Yun Xiao replied.

“What?! I'm only a year older than you! Still, I'm your Martial Uncle! So, you should call me Chicken Feather Uncle!” he blurted out.

Chicken Feather...? Bush, snatch hair, pubes...?

Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow. Then, he presented him with a polite smile and replied dutifully, "... Yes, Chicken Feather Uncle."

"Nonono, wait! I got it wrong!" The man shouted, waving his chicken leg aggressively. "I meant, you should call me Bro, not Uncle!"

Realizing the misunderstanding, Yun Xiao quickly corrected himself, "I apologize for the oversight. Greetings, Chicken Feather Bro..."

The man almost choked on his food, pointing to himself indignantly, "I am NOT named Chicken Feather! It's just a nickname. Got it?"

Yun Xiao was taken aback. “Oh, I see. May I know your actual name, senior brother?” he asked with a smile.

Puffing out his chest proudly, the man responded, “My surname is Cai, but you can call me Maomao.”

Yun Xiao was left speechless.

Cai Maomao as in... Bushy Patch...? That's basically the same as Chicken Feather!

“Yun Xiao, from now on, you’re under Brother Cai’s protection,” Cai Maomao declared, wrapping an arm around Yun Xiao, "It’s been so lonely. Three years without seeing a new face in the Sword Pavilion!”

Both of them, with their unique personalities, seemed set for a memorable journey in the Sword Pavilion.

"Alright." Yun Xiao nodded.

"Given that it's getting late and Sister Zhao never shows up at night..." Cai Maomao trailed off, pondering. "Here's the plan. You can bunk with me tonight, and I'll introduce you to her tomorrow. Once you get your disciple token and your name added to the Sword Sect's records, you'll officially be part of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect for the rest of your life."

"Sister Zhao?"

"Yes." Cai Maomao glanced warily around them before leaning in to whisper, "You're new here, and as your senior, let me pass on the number one rule of survival in the Sword Sect."

"Survival rule? What is it?" Yun Xiao asked, puzzled.

"Never, ever get on Sister Zhao's bad side!"

"Got it," Yun Xiao replied, noting the reverence in his words. He couldn't help but think that Sister Zhao was probably another cultivator like Ye Guying, the haughty, aloof type. Such people were usually a drag.

"Come on! Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll treat you to a hot meal! You'll love my meat! It's roast chicken!."

"Your meat, huh...? I'm assuming that means the meat you've cooked. Guess I'm having roast cock tonight," Yun Xiao said, trying to suppress a chuckle.

Cai Maomao laughed heartily. "You're something else, Yun Xiao! But I like your style."

Yun Xiao could only shake his head in amusement.

As night enveloped the surroundings, the silence was profound. For the first time in the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, Yun Xiao felt a hint of warmth.

?ι══????????══ι?

"Ye Guao?" Yao Qingqian, lifting the cloth, let out a horrified scream at the sight of the bloody mess in front of her. Any ordinary severed head that wouldn't have made her scream like this. It was Ye Guao! The younger brother of the legendary Swordking Ye, found dead on the Heavenly Path. Who would bear the responsibility for this?

Her heart raced. "Who did this?" Yao Qingqian demanded coldly.

"No idea," someone replied.

"What? Listen up!" Her face contorted with rage. "Close off all routes! Everyone who took part in this year's Heavenly Path Trial is not to leave! Except those who've already become disciples of Azure Spirit. All others will be detained in the Sword Prison immediately!"

Sword cultivators from the First Peak moved swiftly to carry out her orders.

"Get me some ice blocks," Yao Qingqian ordered.

"Why do you need ice blocks?" someone asked, puzzled.

"To preserve Ye Guao's remains. When the Swordking returns from the Sea of Swords, he'll expect to see the corpse." Yao Qingqian sighed, weariness evident on her face. Though Jiang Yue had ascended, the death of Ye Guying's own brother cast a heavy shadow on her heart. She dreaded imagining the rage Ye Guying would unleash on his return. "No matter who did this, I will find them. If not, the Swordking will never forgive me."

?ι══????????══ι?

At the First Sword Peak. The night deepened. The Azure Spirit Sword Sect by day was like a fairyland, bathed in ethereal light. But when night fell, shadowy figures roamed freely.

Inside a finely decorated hall. Sword Venerable disciple Wang Feng stretched his limbs and turned to face the nine disciples from the First Sword Peak. "On nights as dark and windy as this, it's perfect for a bit of mischief. Let's vent some anger on behalf of our junior sister, Jiang Yue," he said, his voice cold.

"Did Elder Yao send a message?"

"Which Sword Peak was brave enough to take in that unlucky fellow?"

"Haha, they really picked up a time bomb!"

...

The group laughed curiously.

"The Sword Pavilion," Wang Feng said, chuckling as he touched his nose.

Hearing this, the others couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"I heard he managed to get his hands on the five-hundred-year-old demon bone. You know, the one Jiang Yue was meant to get?" Wang Feng said, his eyes filled with greed. It was clear the demon bone was his actual objective.