Chapter 031 - Swords, Blood, Fleeting Life!
At the Third Sword Peak, flames reached sky high, heralding a night of autumnal carnage that caught the attention of every Sword Cultivator for miles. The sky was marred with plumes of thick smoke, stretching far and wide, a visual testament to the forest that was now engulfed in the fierce blaze. This was the night sandwiched between the Sword Debate and the Grand Conclave, a night that was expected to be vibrant given the explosive events of the daytime contest.
However, the fire that ravaged the Red Molten Pavilion had spiked the fervor to unforeseen levels, becoming the hot topic among all members of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect.
When Ye Tiance and Yao Manxue arrived at the scene, the disciples and elders from the Third Sword Peak had managed to put out the raging fire. But the vibrant Red Molten Pavilion had been reduced to nothing but charred earth, leaving the thousands gathered around it wearing expressions of puzzlement and shock.
"Where is Wu Wu?" Ye Tiance bellowed, his eyes as cold as steel, addressing a crowd of elders and disciples gathered at the base of the peak.
The crowd responded with a chorus of uncertainty, "We have no idea, Sword Venerable!"
"After the fire started at the Red Molten Pavilion, we searched everywhere for him, but to no avail," another disciple added.
An elder chimed in, bringing a grim note to the proceedings, "Before the fire, the entire family of the Sword Venerable were supposed to be in the Pavilion. We were waiting for them to join us, to mobilize the final preparations for tomorrow's Grand Conclave."
"The entire family was inside the Red Molten Pavilion?" Yao Manxue’s eyebrows knitted together tightly. She exchanged a glance with Ye Tiance, both sensing a foreboding undertow pulling at the edges of their consciousness.
"Search for them, now!" Ye Tiance ordered. At his command, hundreds of Sword Cultivators scoured the charred remnants, leaving no stone unturned. Soon, one of them reported, "Sword Venerable, there's no one here!"
"What about the bodies?" Ye Tiance shouted, his voice echoing ominously.
"There are none."
"No one?" Ye Tiance exhaled slightly, his voice softening, "If there were casualties, even the fierce fire would have left behind some bones."
Then, Yao Manxue voiced the question hanging heavily in the night air, her voice tinged with disbelief, "Where could the entire Wu Family have gone? Their home has been reduced to ashes, yet there's no sign of them?"
"We continue the search, scour all of Azure Spirit!" Ye Tiance commanded, his voice resounding like thunder in the night sky.
"Yes, Sword Venerable!"
And just like that, thousands of Sword Cultivators took to the sky, their Sword Souls painting brilliant strokes of color across the dark canvas of the night sky. The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. A frantic search for the entire Wu Family was underway.
"Something is amiss here," Ye Tiance muttered, his hawk-like eyes scanning the ruins meticulously. "At the entrance of Wu Wu's residence stood a pair of golden lions, and inside, numerous invaluable items. All of which were impervious to fire. Yet now, everything is gone, plundered clean." His face contorted with rage as he spoke.
Yao Manxue's voice shook as she pieced together the implications, "Their home is burnt, looted. Over a dozen members of the family, all missing. And considering they were likely all in the Red Molten Pavilion before the incident... are you suggesting they might have met a tragic end, even though no bodies have been found?"
Ye Tiance's eyes swirled with a cold fury that seemed to freeze the very air around them. "If in half an hour, we find no trace of Wu Wu and his family, it's almost certain someone annihilated them, erasing every trace down to their bones."
"Father! Who could have done this?" Ye Tianyuan, the Top Sword of the First Sword Peak, voiced the question on everyone's minds, his face a mask of shock and anger.
Ye Tiance frowned deeply, offering no answer.
Adding another layer to the unfolding mystery, Yao Manxue said with chilling calmness, "My younger sister, Qingqian, has also been missing for several days, with no leads on her whereabouts."
"There's also my Twelfth Junior Brother, Wang Feng. He didn't even participate in the Sword Debate today..." Ye Tianyuan's eyes quivered, an unsettling feeling creeping over him.
They all turned their gaze towards Ye Tiance.
"If Wu Wu and his family really met with disaster, it implies there's a power lurking in the shadows, opposing us," Ye Tiance stated, his voice carrying a hint of deep contemplation.
"Could it possibly be the work of a single individual...?" Ye Tianyuan interjected, his voice edged with a cold tremble.
"It could be, but if it's a single person who managed to annihilate Wu Wu and his family without drawing any attention, their strength might surpass even mine..." Ye Tiance paused before shaking his head, more inclined to believe in the involvement of an entire faction.
"Issue the order. Ignite the Azure Spirit Cauldron Flame and alert all the Sword Cultivators!" Ye Tiance commanded the group behind him.
"Yes, Sword Venerable!" Immediately, a group dispersed to carry out the order.
The Azure Spirit Cauldron Flame! This was a signal for full sect alert, ready for battle at any moment. The moment the flame blazed, an azure fire soared into the sky, visible throughout the sect.
"Our only enemy is the Sword Pavilion!" Ye Tiance's eyes flickered with a cold light as he looked towards the direction of the main peak of Azure Spirit.
"You mean to say, the Sword Pavilion has reinforcements?" Yao Manxue asked.
"That's the strange part! If the Sword Pavilion had top-notch allies, they would have gone all out against us three years ago, why wait until now?" Ye Tiance furrowed his brows deeply.
"Exactly! Zhao Jianxing is a loner and stubborn, lacking social grace and finesse, barely having any friends," Yao Manxue added with a sarcastic smile. If it wasn't so, they wouldn't dare to manipulate and toy with the Sword Pavilion as they were doing.
Everyone waited around the Red Molten Pavilion for a while. But there was still no news about Wu Wu and his family..
"It's almost certain, their family has perished," Ye Tiance said, his eyes simmering with an intense murderous intent as he surveyed the ruins.
Yao Manxue's expression mirrored his, becoming increasingly stern.
"Manxue, Elder Fan must already be aware of this incident. You should go and reassure him," Ye Tiance suggested.
"Alright."
"Subtly inquire about his stance, and try to ascertain whether we might have had a misunderstanding with someone," Ye Tiance added. He was a cautious man, meticulously distinguishing friend from foe, never intending to provoke someone they couldn't afford to antagonize.
"Understood." Compared to the burly Wu Wu, Yao Manxue, being a woman, naturally needed to be more diplomatic and so enjoyed a deeper trust from Ye Tiance.
"What about you?" Yao Manxue asked, turning her gaze back to Ye Tiance.
"Tonight, Wu Wu arranged for a Demonic Cultivator to kill the Sword Pavilion's disciple, Yun Xiao, but ended up having him and his family face annihilation instead... I'm going to the Sword Pavilion to take a look," Ye Tiance declared, his voice cold and stern.
"You suspect it might involve Yun Xiao?" Yao Manxue narrowed her eyes in inquiry.
A thought flickered in Ye Tiance's mind as he turned to his son, Ye Tianyuan, asking, "Did Wang Feng and Yao Qingqian have any interactions with Yun Xiao?"
"Sister Yao was overseeing the Heavenly Path Trial. After you took in Junior Sister Jiang that day, it was Junior Brother Wang Feng that accompanied her and gave her a tour of Azure Spirit..." Ye Tianyuan shared.
"Is that so?" Ye Tiance's gaze turned even colder.
"I'll first go to Elder Fan, then find Jiang Yue to get a clear picture," Yao Manxue said, preparing to leave.
"With Ye Guying on our side, Elder Fan will undoubtedly align with us. If he doesn't know anything, there's no need to probe too deeply," Ye Tiance advised.
"Got it!" Yao Manxue nodded. They couldn't afford to irritate their esteemed guest, could they?
"I just received news that the Sea of Swords has shown great interest in Ye Guying, holding him in high regard," Ye Tiance remarked, his eyes burning fiercely. Receiving this good news before the bad had managed to keep his spirits from plunging too deep into dismay.
"Do you believe something unforeseen has cropped up?" Yao Manxue's eyes began to gleam with an unexpected sparkle.
"Mhm, let's wish him good luck! His future... it's beyond imagination." With a wave of his hand, dismissing any further discussion, Ye Tiance melded into the cloak of night, leaving the scene with an air of gravity.
One by one, the others also retreated, each engulfed by the dark embrace of the night, leaving the occupants of the Third Sword Peak to manage the affairs that lay ahead.
Before long, Ye Tiance arrived at the Sword Pavilion. He sheathed his Sword Soul and soared through the night sky, his figure darting gracefully over the dimly lit forest below. As he approached his destination, the distant chatter and laughter of young voices reached his ears, creating a harmonious symphony that danced with the whispers of the night wind.
With eagle-like sharpness, his eyes pierced through the darkness, casting a gaze upon the jovial scene unfolding before him. In front of the grand edifice, a group of young people were engaged in song and dance, their laughter resounding like melodious tunes under the moonlit sky. At the center of it all, a youth dressed in immaculate white robes was surrounded, his face flushed from the spirited festivities and copious amount of wine.
Further in, at the entrance of the Grand Hall, several elders of the Sword Pavilion sat under the canopy of the night sky, watching over the younger generation with protective smiles. Yet inside the Pavilion, there lingered a presence that made Ye Tiance hesitant, even fearful to approach; a forbidding shadow that seemed to hold a fierce power within its grasp.
Everything seemed so... normal. As if the solemnity that had descended upon Azure Spirit earlier that night had nothing to do with the merry-makers before him.
Standing there, hands clasped behind his back, Ye Tiance remained motionless, absorbing the scene for a good quarter of an hour. His fingers twitched, giving rise to flares of sword rays several times, yet each time, he managed to forcefully suppress the urge that threatened to overtake him.
Finally, with a cold and somewhat morbid chuckle, he turned on his heel and retreated into the shadows from whence he came.
"He's gone," Blue Star squeaked from Yun Xiao's arms, who held it in his embrace..
"Heh," Yun Xiao replied with a cool yet knowing smile, his face bathed in the moon's glow. He knew that suspicions would naturally gravitate towards him. But did it matter? Ye Tiance lacked the imagination to conceive that Yun Xiao's Heaven Burial Sword Soul could amplify the power of Sword Heart twofold, capable of exterminating a whole clan.
The Divine Pillar, the Dao Source, the World Embryo—these concepts were far beyond Ye Tiance's grasp, weren't they?
As the night progressed, the gathering finally succumbed to the lullaby of the moon, leaving them in slumber's embrace. Except for a young woman in a black gown, who sat quietly at the cliff's edge, her demeanor much more subdued compared to the others. She had not touched a drop of wine that night.
For her and the elders, this night was fraught with unseen dangers.. Even as the Third Sword Peak became engulfed in flames, and the Azure Spirit Cauldron Flame was ignited, they refrained from joining the spectacle.
"Junior Brother Yun." Suddenly, a voice called out to him. Yun Xiao opened his eyes to find a graceful figure standing before him in the dim moonlight.
"Senior Sister Zhao, what brings you here?" Yun Xiao asked, rising to his feet and brushing off the dust that clung to his robes.
"We're out of wine," the woman said, her voice carrying a hint of humor, tinged with the underlying seriousness of the night's events. Under the gentle embrace of the moonlight, her skin appeared softer and fairer than the driven snow, her long, glossy hair cascading like a waterfall in the tranquil night. Unintentionally, a few strands brushed against Yun Xiao's face, tickling him slightly.
"Eh?" Yun Xiao shook his head, gaining some semblance of sobriety.
"Go buy some more," the lady in the black gown said.
"Alright," Yun Xiao nodded. He stepped forward, matching his pace with hers. Senior Sister Zhao was tall and beautifully proportioned, with a figure that was rightfully admired.
"Drinking so much, can you still fly with your sword?" Zhao Xuanran asked, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with a cool intensity.
"Elder Wang once said, 'Flying with a sword while drunk brings momentary joy, but tomorrow you might end up buried in a disorderly grave,'" Yun Xiao replied with a drunken grin.
"..." Zhao Xuanran didn't know how to retort, flabbergasted by the young man's carefree reply. Taking a deep breath, she transformed her black Sword Soul into a Sovereign Sword that floated just beneath her. The sword mirrored her—dark like a black flower, mysterious, coldly beautiful, and tranquil, yet with a power simmering within it akin to a fierce fire burning in her heart.
With a graceful leap, she landed on the sword, and turned to wink at Yun Xiao, inviting him, "Come on."
"Yes." Yun Xiao stepped onto the sword, his movements slightly unsteady, maintaining a half-step distance from Zhao Xuanran.
"Before even taking off, you're already unstable. If we were to fly now, you'd probably fall to your death tonight," Zhao Xuanran remarked calmly, her eyes focused on the path ahead.
"Seems like it, hehe." Yun Xiao belched, a silly smile spreading across his face.
"Hold on to something!" she commanded sternly.
"Where?" Yun Xiao asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"My waist," she said, unabashed.
"R-really?" Yun Xiao reached out, placing his hand around her slender waist. Her softness and the delicate contour of her waist reminded him of a water snake, supple and graceful... For a moment, Yun Xiao felt a rush of blood to his head, as memories of a similar embrace from another night flooded back.
"I'm only letting you come with me because the Sword Heart is with you, and I don't want to die," Zhao Xuanran said, her voice wavering slightly as she glanced down at Yun Xiao's hand on her waist.
"No need to explain, I understand," Yun Xiao said, his eyes squinting in a teasing smile.
"What do you understand?" she questioned.
"That I'm younger and more handsome," he replied cheekily.
"..." Zhao Xuanran glanced at him, a nerve popping on her forehead. VROOM! The sword lifted off, soaring into the sky. A gust of wind rushed towards them, filling Yun Xiao's mouth and nearly blowing him off the sword. Thankfully, his grip was firm enough.
The night air was icy, its cold tendrils caressing their faces sharply, gradually bringing Yun Xiao to full sobriety. He stood dutifully on the black Sword Soul, accompanying Zhao Xuanran as they rode the wind.
Looking out across the landscape, under the veil of night, the distant mountains and rivers resembled an enormous mass of ghostly figures moving stealthily. As they soared skywards on the Sovereign Sword, the vista beneath them transformed dramatically. The majestic Immortal pavilions and the serpentine rivers seemed to have shrunk to mere models in a display. The piercing cold winds raced past them like mischievous spirits, leaving an icy touch on everything it encountered. A deafening silence enveloped the land and sky; a kind of cold that penetrated deep into the bones, leaving a chilling hush in its wake.
Yet, amidst this biting cold, a warm current flowed from the willowy waist under Yun Xiao's hand, granting him a sliver of warmth and connection. The night wind frolicked with her long hair, brushing it against Yun Xiao's face, neck, and chest. The sweet fragrance of her hair invaded his senses, igniting a flicker of warmth within him. Her garments fluttered gracefully in the night sky, resembling dancing sprites captivating him under the moon's tender glow.
"Is this... the path of Immortals?" Yun Xiao found himself muttering, a peculiar moistness clinging to his eyes, leaving his mind somewhat hollow and echoing. A whirlpool of memories, filled with swords, wine, and blood, seemed to twine together in a melancholy dance.
The world felt vast and desolate, yet the warmth seeping from the strands of her hair held a comforting heat, making his heart flutter in a sweet, uneven rhythm. A tangible hint of the warmth found on the perilous path of cultivation. The path to immortality was fraught with deceit, battles, and bloodshed, yet also held moments of deep camaraderie and unwavering loyalty unto death.
In this lifetime, to find someone willing to sail against the biting wind under the sprawling night sky, sharing the bond of a single sword, was a moment to cherish. Words were unnecessary, for the beauty of this moment would be etched in his heart, lingering for a lo—
"Is this what the Immortal Path is about? Seems like nothing more than a primal urge to me," Blue Star muttered in a philosophical tone.
"It's merely a reproductive shackle that Creator has bestowed on living beings to increase their population. And look, it's come back to bite him in the ass now!" Red Moon chimed in, nodding sagely at Blue Star's words.
"Plus, it's not his own ass that he's thinking about right now," Blue Star remarked with a click of its tongue, insinuating something rather inappropriate.
"I... I can't even...!" Yun Xiao felt his patience rapidly dwindling. He could hardly hold back an expletive. Such a perfect atmosphere, utterly ruined! Their ceaseless banter had shattered the serene and slightly romantic ambiance he felt was developing between him and Zhao Xuanran. He was completely speechless.
The most infuriating part was that the little two-headed beast was engaged in this self-conversation with such grave seriousness, as if discussing the deepest philosophies of life! Just like that, his mojo was ruined and any desire to spice up the mood was thrown to the wind. So, the journey continued on in silence.
Soon, the destination came into view, nestled between the mountains of Azure Spirit. The valley below was aglow with myriad lights, resembling a dazzling pearl set amidst the mountainous canvas.
"This is the Sword Cloud Walk," Zhao Xuanran remarked, breaking the silence. The bustling place was a haven for the Sword Cultivators of Azure Spirit, a marketplace to trade and acquire various cultivation resources. It housed many shops, including the famed Spirit Treasure Pavilion, making it the vibrant heart of the Azure Spirit community.
They had arrived to buy wine, the primary motive of their journey, and as the bustling activity of the Sword Cloud Walk enveloped them, Yun Xiao's intoxication seemed to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of clarity.
Peering below, Yun Xiao remarked, "There are quite a lot of people here, Senior Sister Zhao."
Zhao Xuanran's eyes remained fixed ahead as she responded, a hint of nervous tension discernible in her voice, "Tomorrow is the Grand Conclave, and the Spirit Treasure Pavilion has set up a betting ring, making it even livelier."
As two began their descent, the biting cold of the night seemed to relent, giving way to a more tolerable chill. Zhao Xuanran's voice, now slightly hoarse, rang out, "Junior Brother Yun, do you wish to return on my sword?"
A grin spread across Yun Xiao's face as he answered without hesitation, "Yes!"
"Then keep your grubby hands still and stop wandering up!" Zhao Xuanran reprimanded sternly, her face blushing a vibrant hue.
Caught in the act, Yun Xiao could only muster an awkward silence, a sheepish grin plastered on his face.
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