Chapter 003 - On a Warpath to the Azure Spirit Sword Sect

"Run!" Jiang Shang, in a desperate panic, didn't wait for his guards. He turned and fled with a mighty bellow. Screams echoed. The young and old of the Jiang Family, once lords and ladies, now scuttled like frightened rabbits. Where they once danced on the graves of the common folk, now they scrambled in terror, wailing in despair.

But no matter how fast they tried to escape, Yun Xiao's ghostly blade always found its mark.

Swish, swish!

With every thrust of his blade, another of the Jiangs met their doom.

"Brother! My son!" Jiang Shang turned back just in time to see the end of his dreams. His envisioned Jiang Dynasty reduced to mere remnants in mere moments. Bodies sprawled everywhere.

In the heat of the moment, Jiang Shang cried, "Hold him off! I'll find my daughter!" But without thinking twice, he shoved his wife into the path of the oncoming Yun Xiao. He hadn't taken two steps before he saw his wife's severed head land in front of him. The horror of it left him pale and gasping.

Jiang Shang fell to his knees, pleading, "Spare me! I'll offer up all the wealth of the Jiang Nation!" But mercy was not on the menu that day. A swift slash left him incapacitated, wailing in agony.

Yun Xiao seized him by the throat, lifting the former Prime Minister dressed in royal robes as if he were a mere child. The sheer terror in Jiang Shang's eyes was palpable when they locked gazes.

"Jiang Shang," Yun Xiao smirked, "Your daughter has a Sword Soul, does she? Well, look at this." From Yun Xiao's right hand manifested a shimmering blade of ethereal energy.

"A Sword Soul! You're one of those geniuses! A Sword Immortal!" Jiang Shang cried out, eyes swollen with tears, "Why? Why are you doing this? What did my family ever do to you?"

Yun Xiao simply chuckled. Pointing to his face, he smirked, "Jiang Shang, you've forgotten me already? You're wearing my robes, after all."

Recognition dawned on Jiang Shang. The horror was palpable, akin to witnessing a nightmare come to life. "Yun Xiao! It's you!" Blood oozed from his every orifice, his tongue quivering as he spoke.

"You know what? I think I'll test the might of my Sword Soul on you," Yun Xiao said. Holding his ethereal blade that shimmered a ghostly blue, he pierced it just half an inch into Jiang Shang's flesh. A sizzling sound was heard. To his fascination, the flesh at Jiang Shang's neck vaporized into a bloody mist, being sucked into the blade, leaving a deep festering wound.

"Interesting... Heaven Burial looks pretty unassuming with its greenish glow. But it's quite the deadly thing. It exists to drain the very essence of life. Be it beast or tree, all wither before its might," Yun Xiao said, recalling tales similar to the fabled Divine Pillar.

"Yun Xiao! It doesn't matter if you've been reborn. With my daughter's Sword Soul, she'll destroy you again!" Jiang Shang cried out, his voice filled with agony and dread, reminiscent of a soul being dragged into the darkest depths of the underworld.

"Destroy me?" Yun Xiao leaned close, whispering coldly, "After I'm finished with you, I'll head to the Azure Spirit Sword Sect and gift them the same fate as yours." With a swift motion, Heaven Burial pierced through Jiang Shang's throat.

"Aagggh!" Jiang Shang wailed his last, and his body disintegrated into a dark mist, being devoured by Yun Xiao's blade until there was nothing left. And so, the Jiang lineage was extinguished.

"Cloud Nation. My nation..." Yun Xiao murmured from atop the citadel walls. He gazed at the city that stood for half a millennium. Today, he had eradicated the Jiangs, but he had no intention of staying. "This land, now under the protection of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, should offer peace to its people even in the absence of the Jiangs.

"To those who once called me the bane of Yun for disrespecting the spirits, know that it's not your fault. A ruler must take responsibility for the ignorance of his subjects.

"But remember," Yun Xiao solemnly declared, "Soon, I will return with the heads of Jiang Yue and Ye Guying. And on that day, you'll understand that I had nothing to do with nurturing that serpent demon!

"I'll never back down! I'll deliver death to the scum who deserve it. And no innocents will ever come in harm's way!" With that, he descended from the walls and vanished towards the north.

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Three months later, amidst the vast sky, Yun Xiao arrived at the grand gates of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. "So, this is the Immortal Sect, loftily standing above the mortal realm like the heavens."

A distant shout reached his ears, "To ascend the Heavenly Path is to join the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. All newcomers line up."

Ascending the Heavenly Path!

Yun Xiao, having gathered information on his journey, knew that the path was a challenging trial. Only those gifted and powerful enough would be able to climb it and be accepted as a disciple of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. As he ventured further, something caught his attention. Among the crowd of those being tested, he thought he saw a familiar figure—Jiang Yue.

"She's here trying for the Heavenly Path too?" With a sarcastic grin, Yun Xiao observed, "Hoping to astound everyone on the Heavenly Path with that Comet grade Sword Soul of yours? Dreaming of entering the Azure Spirit Sword Sect with your head held high?"

In the midst of it all, Yun Xiao had changed his appearance, a secret he harbored. Both of them, just like Jiang Shang, would only recognize his true identity moments before their own demise. Jiang Yue remained oblivious to the fact that her very nightmare was standing right beside her.

"Listen up!" Ahead of Yun Xiao, a woman dressed in red gracefully took her stand. Her skin was fair, her face rosy like peach blossoms. She moved with a grace that commanded attention. Even though she radiated an air of elegance, she looked icy cold, particularly intimidating. "The test is simple and fair. The first ten to ascend the Heavenly Path will be inducted into the Azure Spirit Sword Sect and experience the freedom of the skies," she declared with chilling detachment. "The rest can leave."

As she spoke, she swept her gaze over the crowd. Hundreds of the realm's so-called martial prodigies dared not meet her icy stare. "This generation is one in a century's luck!" she continued.

"Why do you say so, Elder Yao?" A youth asked. Dressed in golden robes and adorned with a plethora of jewels, his appearance clearly pointed towards nobility.

At the sight of him, the stern face of the beautiful woman softened into a gentle smile. "Because, the top three who ascend will be rewarded handsomely! The third place gets a hundred-year-old demon bone. Second place, a two hundred-year-old demon bone. And the first..." She paused for dramatic effect, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes. Then, she raised her voice and said, "will be rewarded with a five-hundred-year-old demon bone!"

The crowd erupted in excitement at her revelation.

"Wasn't it said before that only the first would get a reward, and even then, it was just a hundred-year-old demon bone?" Whispers spread like wildfire among the eager young hopefuls.

The allure of the five-hundred-year-old demon bone was undeniably strong, being worth dozens of times that of a hundred-year-old demon bone. Why the sudden increase in the reward?

"Five hundred years... Are we talking about the bones of a Demon King here?" Yun Xiao, taken aback by the revelation, felt an undeniable allure himself. "It's said that demons spend their lives absorbing spiritual energy to forge their bones. Sword Immortals who can meld these demon bones into their Sword Souls can produce Sword Aura."

The grade of a Sword Soul, like Jiang Yue's Ice Moon Sword Soul, determined the Sword Soul's bloodline, an aspect nearly immutable. But the Sword Aura of a Sword Soul could be enhanced by refining demon bones!

The greater the layers of Sword Aura, the tougher and fiercer the Sword Soul becomes. For Sword Cultivators, their spirit resided in their bodies, but their soul lay within their swords. If the Sword Soul shattered, the person's soul would disperse, essentially rendering them half-dead. This was why the layers of Sword Aura were of paramount importance.

"A lower-grade Sword Soul, if it possesses enough layers of Sword Aura, might just shatter a higher-grade Sword Soul with fewer layers," murmured Yun Xiao. He was unsure about the origins and functionality of his own Heaven Burial Sword Soul. "Maybe, in this Sword Cultivator sect, I might just find the key to understanding it."

This was his motive to approach Azure Spirit.

"Silence! The Heavenly Path opens in a quarter hour!" The crowd's animated chatter continued until Elder Yao's frosty gaze swept over them, silencing the excited whispers instantly. The palpable tension made many a heart race.

The path to cultivation, the five-hundred-year-old demon bone... their futures, their fates, all lay right beneath their feet. Who would ascend to the heavens, and who would plunge into the abyss?

After making the announcement, Elder Yao, with a graceful twist of her waist, turned and entered a maple grove. From the crowd, two figures followed her—the youth who had previously asked a question and Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue looked striking, donning a snow-white robe embroidered with images of mist and clouds. Her hair was neatly tied up, adding a touch of elegance to her appearance. Over the last three months, her skills had improved exponentially, hinting at the guidance of a great master to prepare her for the Heavenly Path.

The trio had barely walked a few steps when they noticed a man standing under a maple tree ahead of them. With raven-black hair and stark white eyebrows, he stood with an air of indifference. It was Ye Guying.

"Swordking," greeted Elder Yao. Her usually icy demeanor melted away, replaced by a warm, beautiful smile upon seeing him.

Turning to face them, Ye Guying said, "Thank you for making the arrangements for the demon bone, Elder Yao."

"It's an honor to be of service to the Swordking," she replied, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Ye Guying, accustomed to such flattery, merely nodded in acknowledgment.

"By the way..." Elder Yao asked with a sycophantic tone, "Would you prefer your younger brother to claim the top position, or this young lady?"

"Her, first place," Ye GuYing responded, pointing towards Jiang Yue.

Elder Yao's eyes widened in disbelief. The young boy, known as Ye Guao, was Ye Guying's own younger brother. Born with a Meteor grade Sword Soul, he began his cultivation at the age of ten and had broken through the Mortal Martial Realm by thirteen.

It was baffling to Elder Yao that Ye Guying, despite personally offering the coveted five-hundred-year-old demon bone as a reward, would not prioritize his own brother but instead an unfamiliar young girl.

"Her name is Jiang Yue, born with a Comet grade Sword Soul," Ye Guying stated, his usually stern gaze softening slightly as he looked at Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue met his gaze, her eyes lowered modestly, cheeks faintly blushing.

Elder Yao looked at Jiang Yue in astonishment, her red lips quivering, words failing her. A Comet grade Sword Soul!

For a mortal to naturally possess a Sword Soul was already a rarity in itself. Most among the hundred participants possessed Sword Souls that weren't rare enough to be graded, but they were still eligible to embark on the path of cultivation.

Someone like Ye Guao, with his Meteor grade Sword Soul, was considered a rare talent with boundless potential. But a higher-ranked Comet grade? Elder Yao could only describe it with one term. A gift from the heavens!

"Miss Jiang, your potential is boundless, truly enviable," she remarked. Previously, she'd been indifferent towards Jiang Yue, but now, her eyes were warm with admiration.

"In the days to come, I'll need your guidance, Elder Yao," Jiang Yue replied courteously.

Mountains, clouds, mastering the heavens with the sword—this was the Immortal path she dreamt of. Today was her most significant day, the culmination of three months of rigorous training under Ye Guying's guidance. Today, she aimed to astonish the world.

"I will do everything in my power to secure first place, Senior Brother Ye," she promised.

Clearly, her exceptional talents had given her a hint of pride. Having initiated her path with a Comet grade Sword Soul, these three months had allowed her to surpass all expectations.

"For you, my brother gave up a five-hundred-year-old demon bone to the sect. He truly favors you," the young boy, Ye Guao, commented with a hint of jealousy.

"Silence," Ye Guying shot him a sharp glance.

Ye Guao immediately recoiled.

"I am deeply grateful for your generosity, Senior Brother Ye," Jiang Yue said, her eyes brimming with gratitude. She understood that the demon bone was initially a gift for Ye Guying from the sect. However, he couldn't simply hand it over; it had to be offered as a reward for the Heavenly Path trial.

If she managed to secure the demon bone and claim the glory of the first position, it would be a double win for her. With her pure royal lineage, she was well-poised for success. As for Elder Yao, she was but a safety net.

"I'll settle for second, if she gets first. Elder Yao, I don't need your favor," Ye Guao declared defiantly, living up to his name's meaning. Proud and aloof.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself. There are eighteen others who have opened a Dragon Spring stage like you. If you embarrass me, never set foot in the Azure Spirit Sword Sect again," Ye Guying warned sternly.

"I understand," Ye Guao responded, clenching his fists, even more determined.

The Dragon Spring Realm marked the beginning of one's cultivation journey. Ye Guao had his brother's guidance, breaking through to this stage at the age of thirteen. However, Jiang Yue had also achieved this stage in three months thanks to the resources bestowed to her by Ye Guying.

As the conversation unfolded, it was almost time for the trial to begin.

"Swordking, are you planning to venture into the Sea of Swords to inherit the Azure Kite?" Elder Yao asked, her voice quivering as she looked up at him.

"Yes," Ye Guying nodded, his eyes stormy with a longing he'd harbored for two decades.

"If you succeed, all sword cultivators in the Azure Spirit Sword Sect will look up to you with pride," Elder Yao declared, breathing deeply, her eyes filled with reverence and admiration.

The Swordking crowned at just twenty! To the disciples of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, Ye Guying was regarded with god-like reverence. And now, he was poised to challenge the vast Sea of Swords, pushing the boundaries of possibility. Yao Qingqian found herself with no option but to show him respect.

"Prepare for the Heavenly Path trial." She led both Jiang Yue and Ye Guao back into the crowd.

By the time the group rejoined their party, over a hundred young cultivators were already assembled, prepared for the trial ahead. They all knew of Ye Guao's influential connections and treated him with a mix of respect and apprehension. No one dared to approach or provoke him.

On returning, Jiang Yue stood aloof, her gaze cold and indifferent. To her, none of these so-called martial prodigies were worth her attention. Then, suddenly, she noticed a young man in white standing behind her. "Can there truly be someone so extraordinarily handsome in this world?" A rare flutter stirred in Jiang Yue's heart.

The youth's presence was magnetic. Although he was in a corner, his radiance made the others seem dull by comparison. Clad in white, he didn't look like an ordinary being but rather a celestial from ancient tales.

Compelled by an inexplicable impulse, Jiang Yue approached him and couldn't help but ask, "What is your name?"