Chapter 043 - Drinks Without Me? That's a Paddlin' (1)

Sword Cloud Walk! Today, it buzzed with activity. During the Eight Swords Conclave, more than a hundred disciples from the First Sword Peak lost their lives, including Ye Tiance’s son, Ye Tianyuan. But tonight, there was a celebratory feast in the most luxurious private room on the top floor of Sword Cloud Walk.

The belle of this ball was none other than the first disciple of the First Sword Peak, Ye Tiance’s eldest daughter—Ye Ziyan!

Ye Tiance’s other three disciples, Hua Luo, Wei Ziyi, and Wang Xun, were naturally present. And the honored guests? There were two—Wu Yi, the current acting head of the Third Sword Peak; and Yao Lie, the Chief Law Enforcer of the Sixth Sword Peak. Many from the Seventh Sword Peak also attended, with Yu Xuanzhou among them.

“Elder Yu, today’s success was in part due to you. A toast to you!” Ye Ziyan, a little tipsy, hoisted a foot onto her chair, displaying a fiery attitude with flushed cheeks.

Yu Xuanzhou, a stout man, discreetly ogled at Ye Ziyan’s slim waist, swallowing hard. Hastily lifting his cup, he responded, “To contribute to the first disciple's glory is an honor for me. Bottoms up!” And with that, he chugged his drink down in one go, gulping audibly.

Laughter erupted. “Elder Yu truly is a man of fairness!”

“Just a bit of fun!” Yu Xuanzhou wiped a stray drop from his lip, chuckling sheepishly.

“You should’ve seen it—the color Yun Xiao turned!” Wu Yi scoffed. Previously a Chief Law Enforcement Elder himself, Wu Yi's status was on par with Ye Tianzhao and Yao Lie. But Ye Tianzhao? He'd met his end outside the Sword Cloud Walk just last night.

In Azure Spirit, the position of Chief Law Enforcement Elder in a Sword Peak was second only to the Sword Venerable. They had great authority and were potential successors to the title of Sword Venerable.

“If Wu Wu remains missing, Wu Yi will undoubtedly become the official Third Sword Venerable.”

“Let them fume. They’re now like turtles trapped in a jar. They won’t dare leave the Sword Pavilion. All that's left is for Swordking Ye's return. He'll subdue the beauty, and slash the snakes!” Yao Lie, eyes aflame, remarked coldly. Being the Chief Law Enforcement Elder of the Sixth Sword Peak, he was the little brother of Yao Manxue and elder brother to Yao Qingqian. His words hung in the air, and sardonic smiles spread across the faces of those present.

Despite the Sword Pavilion reaping the most rewards from the Eight Swords Conclave, why was the Pavilion quiet tonight while they celebrated and strengthened their alliances here? All because of the might of Swordking Ye, whose prowess echoed across the Sea of Swords!

“With him here, Azure Spirit will be unified in no more than ten days! To that, cheers!” Yao Lie exclaimed.

“Cheers!”

Ye Ziyan, ever the energetic one, leaped onto the table, laughing heartily with her drink in hand. “Those with us will prosper, those against us will perish!”

“Yes!”

The room filled with uproarious laughter, the atmosphere reaching its zenith. But just as their glasses were about to clink—BANG! The door to the room was kicked open.

“Who's this blind buffoon?” Wang Xun, Ye Tiance’s fourth disciple, turned sharply, his piercing eyes scanning the entrance. Standing there was a young man in white, his gaze dripping with blood.

Behind the young man, hundreds had already gathered. They didn't dare come too close, instead pointing and whispering from a distance, gossiping among themselves.

"Yun Xiao??" Those at the banquet thought their eyes deceived them. Ye Ziyan even rubbed her eyes in disbelief. But, upon a second look, it was indeed Yun Xiao! Dressed in pristine white, wielding an azure sword. His ethereal beauty and unparalleled grace made him unmistakably unique.

"How do you have the nerve?" Wang Xun managed a disbelieving chuckle after his initial shock.

Everyone thought Yun Xiao would just wait for his end in the Sword Pavilion. Why would he dare step out? And not just step out, but come alone to the liveliest place in Azure Spirit Sword Sect: the Sword Cloud Walk?

"Enjoying your drinks, are we?" Yun Xiao's voice broke the tension as he confidently approached them. The sharp blade in his hand scraped the wooden floor, leaving behind a trail of decay, emanating a curl of green smoke.

"You all just keep drinking; I got this!" Wang Xun, in a haze of alcohol and brashness, stood up. With a fierce glint in his eyes, he unleashed his Late Divine Sea Realm power, a vast ocean of force that enveloped the entire hall, bearing down on Yun Xiao. Being Ye Tiance's fourth disciple, Wang Xun was naturally a bit stronger than Ye Tianyuan.

Ye Tiance's other two disciples, Hua Luo and Wei Ziyi, also stepped forward. Being of the younger generation at the table, they were seated closest to the entrance, as mere drinking companions.

"Both of you, just keep drinking. I can handle him myself!" Wang Xun roared, a Sword Soul forming in the palm of his hand. With a swift move, like a fierce tiger pouncing, he lunged at Yun Xiao.

WHOOSH!

Yun Xiao, with icy detachment, quickened his pace. He became a flash of white as he dodged the attacks!

"So fast!" Wang Xun let out a low growl, slashing his sword horizontally. But in the blink of an eye, that flash of white was right in front of him. A gleam of azure clashed with Wang Xun's sword soul.

KLANG!

Wang Xun's sword soul shattered. The azure sword ray sped forward like a bolt of lightning, swiping across Wang Xun's face.

Crack!

Wang Xun froze. Half of his head was cleanly sliced off. The severed half of his head spun and landed in the center of the banquet table, spinning like a dish on display.

THUD!

Wang Xun's body crumpled to the ground.

The young man in white, unblemished by a single drop of blood, stared around with bloodshot eyes. He scoffed, "Having a drink without inviting me?" He seemed enraged. But was it just because they didn't invite him for a drink? Everyone knew that couldn't be the only reason. He was angry about the thousand year old demon bone.

Eyes darted to the macabre

dish

on the table, then back to Yun Xiao.

"Ugh!" Many in the room, their stomachs filled with the evening's delicacies, couldn't hold back and vomited.

Bending down, Yun Xiao pulled out Wang Xun's Pouch of Holding and peeked inside. "Ah, the ten Dragon Spring Pills are still here!" He remarked, "He borrowed them and I charged him five hundred Spirit Stones as interest. Fair, right?" With that, he pocketed the pouch.

"And as for the rest of you, it's time to settle your debts, with interest!" His piercing gaze settled on Hua Luo and Wei Ziyi, the second and third disciples of the First Sword Venerable.

Both in their mid-twenties, they wielded Mid Comet grade Sword Souls and had followed Ye Tiance for over a decade, gaining renown on the battlefield. Hua Luo, tall and handsome, wore an imposing demeanor, while Wei Ziyi was smaller in stature, his eyes gleaming with intelligence.

Before they could react, Yun Xiao lunged, accelerating with ferocity!

Swallow Tail Flash!

Just as Wei Ziyi unsheathed his sword, a piercing sound rang out as blood splattered everywhere. The sheer force threw his body against the wall, painting it a gruesome red.

"Yun Xiao, you...!" Hua Luo's voice trailed, his body chilled.

"Your turn," Yun Xiao said coldly, catching his returning Sword Soul. Without hesitation, his blade moved again. The azure blade, swift as a lightning crane, circled Hua Luo's sword and stabbed straight into his mouth, emerging from the back of his head. Hua Luo's eyes bulged, his body trembled, and then... nothing. He fell dead on the floor.

Outside the elegant room, hundreds of Sword Cultivators trembled in fear, unable to utter a sound. Earlier that day, on Yu Xuanzhou's suggestion, Yun Xiao's award for being the top contender in the Sword Debate had been revoked.

And now, mere hours into the night, he had brazenly killed three in front of a gathering of elders, collecting a hefty interest for his troubles. What kind of fiend was he? And why was he so powerful? The hundreds of Sword Cultivators outside were utterly dumbfounded.

Ye Ziyan, Yao Lie, Wu Yi, Yu Xuanzhou, and the others watched in shock as three of the First Sword Venerable’s disciples were mercilessly slaughtered. Their minds were in chaos. What was happening? Of the thirteen disciples of Ye Tian Ce, only the first and the last remained in just a few days.

"Yun Xiao!" Ye Ziyan's eyes were blazing with rage. She drew her Sword Soul and pointed it straight at him. "Do you really think that just because the Swordking mentioned you, you have ten days of immunity from death?"

During the day, she had relished in shaming Yun Xiao, believing he was headed towards a dead end. She could have never dreamed that he would audaciously come to the most bustling part of town and commit murder in broad daylight!

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Isn't that the case?" Yun Xiao quipped, picking up a jug of wine, only to find it empty. His anger intensified. "Damn, all out of wine. You guys sure can eat," he remarked sarcastically, his cold gaze sliding over the bellies of all present.

"Fine, you have immunity from death! But some tortures are worse than death," Ye Ziyan snarled, her foot smashing the feast on the table, unleashing her Perfect Divine Sea Realm power, obliterating everything between her and Yun Xiao.

"Oh? I'd like to see you try," Yun Xiao taunted, brandishing his sword.

"As you wish!" Ye Ziyan's eyes seemed to emit smoke.

Hum!

Her Sword Soul materialized, instantly morphing into a palm-sized sword. The Mid Comet grade Sword Soul was named Violet Hawk and was adorned with intricate feather patterns, shimmering in radiant hues. Seventeen layers of golden Sword Aura gleamed coldly from it, accompanied by a blinding violet luster.

Her Sword Aura was two layers higher than Yun Xiao’s! Moreover, she hadn't fully integrated the thousand-year-old demon bone yet, its potent essence still lingering within her Sword Soul.

Coupled with the four Divine Seas of the Perfect Divine Sea Realm, this first disciple of the First Sword Peak might even surpass the combat power of typical law enforcement elders. She was almost on par with Zhao Xuanran. Today, Ye Ziyan was the protagonist.

"A genius? Do you have the lifespan to mature?" she sneered, leaping forward, channeling the power of the Perfect Divine Sea Realm. Holding the Violet Hawk Sword Soul, she soared like a hawk, charging towards Yun Xiao.

Comet grade Sword Technique, Golden Spiral!

The swirling shadows of the Violet Hawk Sword Soul danced with seventeen fierce layers of sword rays. The sword's silhouette spun fervently, casting an illusion of multiple violet blossoms descending upon Yun Xiao's head. A single strike meant certain death.

"She's formidable!" Outsiders watching gasped in unison. Even Wu Yi, Yao Lie, and Yu Xuanzhou, upon witnessing this, found their anxieties eased.

Someone had already informed Ye Tiance!

"That young fool dared to step out of the Sword Pavilion today? Well, he won't be returning!" Yu Xuanzhou remarked with a sardonic laugh.

No sooner had his words faded than Yun Xiao's piercing gaze met Ye Ziyan.

"You think you're strong?" Yun Xiao's eyes narrowed. He made his move. When still, he was a serene mountain. When in motion, he unleashed the force of an earth-shattering quake!

KLANG!

His azure Sword Soul trembled, sweeping through the sky. Amidst its friction, multiple sword rays collided, erupting into an array of dense azure thunderbolts. Another tremor rocked the sword.

A whirlwind wrapped around its blade. From his Dantian, the power of the Primordial Void Technique meshed with the lifeforce, colliding with the deathly aura of the Sword Soul. Instead of countering each other, life and death fused, unleashing a terrifying destructive power.

WHOOSH!

He moved like a storm of azure lightning, sword piercing through.

Azure Lightning Crane—Second form, Dragonfly!

Sure enough, while the first form mirrored the mayfly, the second emulated the dragonfly.

As the sword thrust forward, it skimmed the surface, causing ripples. It struck with a mesmerizing allure, capturing the essence of all creation.

Yun Xiao's strike was blistering in its speed, and fierce to the extreme. Embodying a fearless heart, his sword knew no regret. It only sought to annihilate, charging forward unyieldingly. His lightning-infused blade zipped forward, creating a deafening roar. The onlookers instinctively covered their ears.

Ye Ziyan's expression shifted dramatically. Her violet blade descended with grand strokes.

BOOM!

The azure storm of electricity entwined with her Sword Soul like a venomous serpent, rapidly slithering toward her body.

"What?!" Ye Ziyan cried out in horror.

Suddenly, Yun Xiao appeared right before her.

CRACK!

His Heaven Burial Sword Soul pierced through her armor, striking her chest thrice. Each strike penetrated, but none were fatal.

"You truly are formidable, aren't you? I struck thrice, yet you couldn't even block a single blow?" Yun Xiao mocked.

"Ah—" Ye Ziyan's face contorted in pain as she screamed. Blood gushed from her chest, only to be instantly absorbed by Yun Xiao's azure Sword Soul.

"Yun Xiao!" In her terror, she glimpsed the cold, disdainful eyes of the young man in white before her. Her heart crumbled, fear spreading like venom within her soul. She was defeated! Had Yun Xiao not shown mercy, she would've been dead by now!

In that heart-stopping moment, her brain, heart, and hands were all trembling. Tears streamed down from her eyes, and her legs quaked so violently that she was on the brink of wetting herself. Well that, and she had drunk a bit too much!

"Darn...it! You've gone and spilled all the milk!" Red Moon sobbed into Yun Xiao's arms, "You've ruined everything!"