Chapter 160 - Protection of Three Aunts!

In the Heavenly Realm, on a night steeped in eeriness, a malevolent wind ran rampant. Bathed in the intertwining glow of lanterns and the eerie mist, the Sword Dao Monument, resembling a giant drenched in blood, stood tall and imposing at the gates of the realm. Countless blood-streaked sword scars, silent and eternal, all pointed menacingly towards the Demon Continent.

After breaking through to the Immortal Meridian Realm, Yun Xiao no longer needed a sword to fly. With the magic power coursing through his Immortal Meridians, he effortlessly hovered in the air.

With his back to the Demon Continent and facing those countless sword scars, the tempest raged above, making his white robe and raven-black hair dance wildly. His pitch-black eyes radiated a chilling brilliance as they swept across the crimson scars.

The nocturnal breeze brushed past his eyes, blood-red veins emerging within them. Memories surged, and a volcanic fury bubbled within him, scalding his very flesh, bones, and innards.

The sorrow and desolation he felt upon his first sight of the Sword Dao Monument now multiplied tenfold. It was as if the monument reached out with a billion hands, dragging him into an ocean of blood. Countless ancient faces appeared before him, silently watching. Despite the countless deaths, their eyes remained open, restless.

"To master this sword, one must bear the vengeance of a billion ancestors and shoulder the immense resentment of countless fallen generations," Yun Xiao whispered. In the midst of the tempest, he exhaled deeply, a breath tainted with bitterness. A boundless rage had filled his heart, now burning every fiber of his being.

"Facing formidable foes, willing to battle for the masses, yet they met their end through betrayal, sacrifice, and surrender."

A timeless grudge that refused to fade! Their anger was so profound they'd forsaken the cycle of reincarnation. They lived on through the Sword Dao Monument. The resentment emanating from it was far more potent than the hatred Yun Xiao felt for his wrongful death. Every drop of blood, every gaze, they were all real and present.

As the myriad sword scars began to shift and merge, forming sword shadows that danced upon the monument, it heralded the arrival of Humanity's Supreme Sword. It also signified an unspoken pact between Yun Xiao and the souls bound to those sword scars.

In the embrace of the night wind, Yun Xiao took another deep breath. "Inheriting the undying will of our predecessors, I wield this sword of life and death, striving for eternal peace in the mortal realm. I am not alone in my quest!" He was human. A mere mortal. Forever unchanged, forever remembered.

HUM!

Sword shadows surged and transformed on the monument, their aura commanding, their killing intent vast and boundless.

"Constellation Slaying Sword! Composed of seven deadly swords! These are swords of malevolence and slaughter, forged by our ancient ancestors during their countless battles against demons and fiends! They are demon-slaying swords, swords of extermination!"

While Azure Spirit and the Sword Heaven's sword techniques belonged to the same lineage, emphasizing righteousness, Humanity's Supreme Sword combined unwavering justice with thoughts of slaughter and vengeance. This sword truly encapsulated the Sword Cultivator's deadly nature, amplifying its destructive power to the extreme.

"The best defense is a swift, precise, and ruthless offense! It's a forward thrust, exterminating foes with an unwavering will to die!" Yun Xiao's ascent to the Heavenly Realm had been bloody and fierce. His mindset resonated perfectly with the Constellation Slaying Sword.

The reason the hundred thousand Sword Cultivators from the Three Great Sword Tombs couldn't master this sword technique wasn't just due to their lacking Sword Souls, but also because they lived oppressed, unable to wield their swords openly.

To draw their swords meant death. You couldn't blame them! Walking this deadly path, yet harboring unresolved hatred... they were certainly more desperate than Yun Xiao.

"Seven swords in total!" Observing, Yun Xiao used his finger as a sword, piercing the night. "Flying Sword, Meteor Shower. Palm Sword, Comet Slash. Sovereign Sword, Moon Fleeting..."

The Constellation Slaying Sword comprised two Flying Swords, two Sovereign Swords, and three Palm Swords!

Indeed, even the Sovereign Swords were swords of slaughter! The Sovereign Sword involved transforming one's Sword Soul into a six-foot-long giant sword, standing atop it and controlling it with the feet rather than hands, a technique combining both movement and skill. How could it not kill?

These seven swords were comprehensive, and their destructive power was unmatched.

Yun Xiao became entirely engrossed in the seven swords. Compared to the daoist spells, these seven swords resonated with his will and suited his interest. He learned with fervent enthusiasm, wildly unrestrained.

"With the seven swords drenched in blood, driven by vengeance and fueled by anger, they can pierce the heavens and crack the earth!"

Amidst the chaotic wind, at sixteen, he already looked like a god of swordsmanship. Moments later, with closed eyes, Yun Xiao gripped an azure Flying Sword between his slender fingers and flicked it backward.

A single Flying Sword radiated ten streaks of light. It seemed as though ten swords were present, a blend of illusion and reality, swirling unpredictably. They swiftly darted forward, slicing through the night sky.

HUM!

In just a heartbeat, nine of the gleaming streaks dissipated, leaving behind only the ultimate sword, which halted between the eyes of a dark, shadowy figure.

"Of the seven swords of the Constellation Slaying Sword, old texts mention that Meteor Shower produces seven rays of light, with only one being the genuine killer. Why does your Meteor Shower give birth to ten illusionary swords?" The shadowy figure, dressed in black, hovered in the air, her voice echoing with bewilderment. As Yun Xiao had launched his attack, she hadn't flinched in the slightest.

Turning amidst the breeze, Yun Xiao spotted a woman dressed in a tight black outfit. Her long hair was tied back, her face veiled with black cloth. Splatters of demon blood stained her attire, and only her fierce, beastly eyes were visible.

"Who are you?" Yun Xiao inquired.

"Your second aunt, You Yue," the shadowy figure responded.

Recognition dawned on Yun Xiao. Among the three Tomb Masters of the Three Great Sword Tombs, he had met only his eldest aunt Nangong Xi and his youngest aunt Su Lianlian.

An ally! Yun Xiao then sheathed his Flying Sword, descending gracefully alongside the mysterious figure. His gaze lingered on You Yue's alluring form.

"What are you looking at?" You Yue shot him a mildly threatening glance.

"You've got demon blood on you... Have you been slaying demons?" Yun Xiao questioned.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Exactly," You Yue admitted, realizing she had perhaps misjudged him.

Earlier, in broad daylight, when dozens of dark-furred monkey demons caused chaos, their entire group of Sword Cultivators had hesitated to act. Yun Xiao had been somewhat disappointed then. But now, realizing they hunted demons covertly by night, his heart swelled with pride. They were kindred spirits!

"Is it tough?" Yun Xiao probed.

"Challenging. Not a single error can be made! Every strike must be lethal, ensuring no living soul, be it man or demon, witnesses our Sword Soul," You Yue solemnly declared. Indeed, it was tough! But that was the life of a Sword Cultivator! Should they ever slip up, they'd be seen as instigators of conflict, even war criminals.

Glancing at the horizon, Yun Xiao's eyes gleamed with passion. "There's still time before dawn. I'll join you in this demon hunt. A perfect chance to hone my swordsmanship."

"But you haven't answered me. Why can your Meteor Shower produce ten illusionary swords?" You Yue pressed.

"Hush," Yun Xiao replied with a sly grin, "Some mysteries are best left unsolved."

"You cheeky lad. You really like to show off, huh?" You Yue rolled her eyes.

"Showing off is a sign of confidence. That's the only way I can get a great beauty like you to rely on me," Blue Star said, masterfully imitating Yun Xiao's tone and pitch. Its impersonation was so lifelike, it even replicated his voice's timbre.

You Yue initially thought it was the words of Yun Xiao. She looked at him with surprise, "You're just sixteen, do you dare even flirt with your aunt?"

"I dare not only flirt with one, but three," Blue Star snickered playfully. No sooner had it finished speaking than two figures, one white and one pink, landed behind You Yue. The two figures were none other than the veiled Nangong Xi and Su Lianlian.

"Damn!" Red Moon stole a glance from afar, excitedly commenting, "Six big lanterns."

"Very imposing!!" Blue Star praised, laughing triumphantly.

Beneath the night sky, Su Lianlian had already heard You Yue's words. She raised her beautiful brows, took a few steps towards Yun Xiao, and softly teased, "Well, well, did I hear right? You dare to flirt with your second aunt?"

"He said he's going to flirt with all three of us," You Yue declared.

"Oh?" Su Lianlian reached out her jade-like finger, poking his chest, "That petite body of yours, can it withstand that?"

"Three, I can even take on ten!!" Blue Star, feeling a sharp jab from the poke, shouted indignantly.

"What kind of creature is this?" Su Lianlian jumped in surprise, and then swiftly plucked the small dark creature from Yun Xiao's clothing.

"It's a pet cat," Yun Xiao informed her.

"Wow!" Su Lianlian cradled Blue Star in her arms, her eyes immediately lighting up with excitement, "So cute!"

"Hey!?" Blue Star was immediately on the defensive, baring its teeth angrily, "What nonsense? Let me go! I keep my distance from females!"

"I don't!" Red Moon didn't dare to utter a word, but it thought secretly, squinting its eyes as it observed from the side.

Su Lianlian, upon hearing this, felt her excitement intensifying. "You're just too darn cute!" She grabbed Blue Star, and strutted off to show him to You Yue.

"Serves you right for running your mouth!" Yun Xiao, seeing Blue Star's pitiful struggle, nearly died laughing. Trying to mimic him, was he?

"Yun Xiao." Now, only Nangong Xi stood by his side. She was a dignified and composed elder, probably about the same age as Ning Yan.

"You've learned it?" Her gaze was warm with expectation.

"Yep." Yun Xiao nodded.

"How many swords?"

"All of them."

"..." Nangong Xi raised an eyebrow.

"All of them?!" Su Lianlian and You Yue were so startled they let go of the little black creature, who tumbled to the ground. He scrambled and rolled, darting back into Yun Xiao's embrace in a flash.

Yun Xiao almost doubled over laughing. These two tough guys, so full of bravado, were suddenly as timid as mice in front of the ladies! In a jiffy, the three lady Sword Cultivators circled him, eyes wide in disbelief.

"You're sure?" Su Lianlian inquired.

"Positive!" Yun Xiao confirmed, speaking with conviction, "As our esteemed elders are out slaying demons in the night with their swords, I wish to join your ranks and hone Humanity's Supreme Sword with the blood of those demons."

"Alright!" Nangong Xi immediately agreed. They all wanted to witness the grandeur of the Constellation Slaying Sword firsthand.

"Sword Saint has already slain 130,000. We can't lag behind. There's no time to waste. Let's move!" You Yue declared with urgency.

"Yun Xiao, think you can keep up?" Su Lianlian batted her eyes, teasing, "If you can't, aunty can carry you."

"I can keep up." Yun Xiao quickly nodded.

"Let's go!"

With those words, Nangong Xi's white silhouette vanished into the darkness. Soon after, one shadow, then a pink light, followed suit.

"With Third Aunt leading the charge, it's gonna be a wild ride," Red Moon exclaimed excitedly.

ι══????????══ι?

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

In the dimly lit alleys of the bustling Heavenly Realm markets, Flying Swords darted, crisscrossing for miles. Wherever Yun Xiao's shadow passed, any lurking demons—whether they were actively in the middle of harming humans or not—lost their heads.

And then? Not a bone or corpse of those demons was wasted.

Even if Yun Xiao himself couldn't use them, he would collect and refine them into Blood Crystal sword rings, leaving them for other Sword Cultivators.

It was a wild night of slaughter. He moved through a sea of demons, blood never staining his garments. Despite being only at the Immortal Meridian Realm, Yun Xiao matched the killing efficiency of his three aunts, each at the Saint Realm. It was clear the level of his swordsmanship had reached a peak.

"To say without exaggeration, Yun Xiao's mastery of the sword can now be compared to that of Sword Saint Sun, who devoted his life to the sword," Nangong Xi remarked, her eyes following the fleeting white silhouette in the darkness.

"Sadly, Old Man Sun never learned the Constellation Slaying Sword," Su Lianlian said softly.

The three exchanged glances.

"This is, without a doubt, the greatest sword prodigy since ancient times!" Intensity filled You Yue's eyes.

Without further words, the three continued to protect Yun Xiao from the left, right, and rear as he slew the demons. Their actions spoke volumes; they would guard this young man until the very end.