Chapter 032 - A Life Ended With One Sword Strike
Inside Sword Cloud Walk, the melodic buzz of conversation swirled amidst the fragrance of fine wine emanating from a corner tavern. The shelves were generously adorned with an array of exquisite liquors, their aroma permeating the very air and igniting the senses.
"Yun Xiao, your pick." Zhao Xuanran's luminous eyes twinkled like the morning stars as she stood aside, gracefully gesturing towards the array of choices before them.
With a casual ease, Yun Xiao requested, "Innkeeper, give me some Daughter's Red, please."
SMACK! Before he knew it, a swift tap landed on his forehead. Grimacing, he looked up to find Zhao Xuanran bathed in the soft glow of a white jade lantern. Her lips, lightly bitten, adorned a slightly flushed face that radiated a mischievous charm.
"Lad, no one sells that here," the innkeeper chimed in with a grin that danced across his robust face, a face that bore the markings of many tales spun in the bosom of this vibrant world.
Brushing off the innkeeper's comments with a wave of her hand, Zhao Xuanran chimed in, "Never mind his nonsense, bring us thirty jars of Monkey Wine instead."
"At your service!" The bustling tavern was brimming with patrons, yet the innkeeper personally attended to Zhao Xuanran, a testament to her regular patronage.
Zhao Xuanran retrieved her Pouch of Holding, a quaint little bag embroidered with delicate flowers of her own making, radiating a certain youthful charm. Despite its petite appearance, the pouch swallowed all thirty jars without a hint of bulging.
Just as they were about to depart, the innkeeper called out, halting Zhao Xuanran in her tracks. "Lil Ran, a moment?"
She turned back, curiosity alight in her eyes. "Yes?"
"I'm really sorry about Ye Tiance, his cozying up to the Sea of Swords and scheming to snatch power in Azure Spirit. Your Aunt Yu couldn't stop them," the innkeeper said, laden with a deep and genuine regret.
With a graceful nod, she assured, "It's alright. It's the thought that counts."
"You take care," the innkeeper said, to which she responded with a gentle affirmation.
Turning towards Yun Xiao, the innkeeper let out a sigh. "Fortunately, the Sword Pavilion has produced a brave young lad like him. Protect him well, and for at least the next six years, the Sword Pavilion will stand strong."
The innkeeper then raised his thumb in a gesture of admiration towards Yun Xiao, his voice reverberating with sincerity, "A young hero with an extraordinary demeanor. Your performance today was remarkable. Even we, the disciples of the Second Sword Peak, hold great respect for you!"
With a modest smile gracing his face, Yun Xiao responded, "Thank you."
Gazing at Yun Xiao with envious eyes, the innkeeper exclaimed, "With twenty Dragon Spring Pills and a thousand-year-old demon bone in your possession, the sky's the limit for you!" This statement stood as a beacon of hope amidst a society reluctantly bowing to authoritative power, hinting that not all had surrendered their spirit to the iron-fisted decree led by Ye Tiance and his followers.
A sudden uproar from within the grand hall of Sword Cloud Walk interrupted their conversation. "The Spirit Treasure Pavilion lottery has started!" The hall transformed into a buzzing hive of excitement as numerous disciples jostled forward in eager anticipation.
"Place your bets, everyone!"
Yun Xiao glanced towards the source of the commotion, spotting a big bellied man enveloped in a gleaming aura of wealth and opulence. He stood aloft on a platform, twiddling his petite beard between his fingers, a grand smile spread across his face, revealing none other than Qian Kun, the Chief Steward of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.
"Betting?" Yun Xiao murmured, slightly confused. This seemed to be a favored pastime among the ordinary populace. Did cultivators engage in this as well? And on an even grander scale?
"What's the betting about?" Yun Xiao inquired nonchalantly, his curiosity piqued amidst the vibrant chaos unraveling before him.
"The Spirit Treasure Pavilion runs many different operations. But the simplest and most popular are the outcomes of matches. For example, something like who'll come out on top between the Sword Pavilion and First Sword Peak in the Sword Debate. Anyone can add to the pool of the side they think will win. The stake can be anything, Spirit Stones, pills, treasures, and more. When the results are unveiled, the winning divides up the losing pool according to the proportion of the bets," Zhao Xuanran explained, a tinge of anger in her voice.
Her ire stemmed from the fact that even though the betting had just commenced, scores of Sword Cultivators were already fervently pouring Spirit Stones, pills, and various hard currencies into the First Sword Peak's pool, leaving the Sword Pavilion's pool deserted. This stark contrast reflected the grim reality of their current situation—a harsh reversal of their status from three years ago.
"I don't understand," Yun Xiao interjected, brow furrowed in confusion. "Given these rules, if no one is placing bets in our Sword Pavilion's pool, what is there for those betting on the First Sword Peak to gain?"
Zhao Xuanran sighed. "That fatass at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion baited the pool by placing some valuables in the Sword Pavilion's pool to start."
"Really?" Yun Xiao stepped forward to inspect, and to his surprise, found a substantial number of Spirit Stones already in the Sword Pavilion's pool. "But Senior Zhao Xuanran, if we aren't participating in the Grand Conclave, isn't adding to our pool the same as giving them away for free?"
Zhao Xuanran shook her head. "During the payout, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion will take a certain percentage from all the pools. Besides, they've devised over a dozen gambling methods that ensure they won't incur losses."
Yun Xiao paused, then muttered with a begrudging nod, "True, the house never loses. The Spirit Treasure Pavilion wouldn't have orchestrated this gamble without a foolproof strategy to guarantee their profits." He then added with a more thoughtful expression, "The betting between our Sword Pavilion and the First Sword Peak also serves as a public announcement of sorts. The freebie demonstrates the Spirit Treasure Pavilion's sincerity, making betters even more enthusiastic."
In simpler terms, it was akin to offering a sweetener to stir up the excitement. No matter who it was, they would be enticed to throw something into the First Sword Peak's pool for good luck, despite the small gains to be had from the baited pool.
The sheer volume of assets already in the First Sword Peak's pool was testament to the strategy's effectiveness, with over 100,000 Spirit Stones accumulated, dwarfing the other pools. The Spirit Treasure Pavilion disciple in charge of registrations was nearly smoking from the ears, buried under the chaotic rush of transactions. Making money, it seemed, wasn't as easy as it looked.
"Damn fatass..." Yun Xiao muttered, patting his pockets for something to wager. Sadly, all the valuable items he had scavenged from the Third Sword Venerable had been gobbled up by the small black creature he harbored, who was still in the middle of digesting its feast.
"Let's head home," Zhao Xuanran suggested, her demeanor ice-cold. This betting charade was nothing short of a humiliating spectacle for them, and the further they stayed, the more it grated on their nerves.
However, as luck would have it, at their most vexed moment, they attracted unwanted attention, like flies to rotting meat.
"Zhao Xuanran?" a taunting voice echoed from behind them.
Yun Xiao and Zhao Xuanran spun around, finding themselves face to face with a group of young men and women radiating an aura of grandeur, their features sharp and attractive. Leading the group was a hawk-nosed individual with piercing eyes and a sinister gaze, bearing a striking resemblance to the First Sword Venerable, Ye Tiance. It was none other than his son and fifth disciple, Ye Tianyuan.
Surrounding Ye Tianyuan were his fellow First Sword Venerable disciples—the sixth, eighth, tenth, and eleventh—Xia Huai, Tao Liang, Xu Qian, and Qi Yuxuan. In the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, these five wielded renowned reputations as prodigious Sword Cultivators, each possessing a Sword Soul of at least Comet grade.
Furthermore, for tomorrow's Grand Conclave, these five would be the leading force of the First Sword Peak. Had Yun Tianyi and Lan Xiao not met their ends, the First Sword Peak would be even more formidable. And the man responsible for their demise? None other than Yun Xiao.
So, when enemies met, the atmosphere was thick with tension and red-hot animosity.
The audacity of Yun Xiao, who was supposed to face a gruesome fate this very night, to strut so boldly into the bustling Sword Cloud Walk was almost beyond belief. The Sword Venerable disciples' eyes flickered with murderous intent.
If not for the presence of Zhao Xuanran, regardless of Yun Xiao's superior status as the Sect Master's disciple, they would've leaped into action.
Upon recognizing this group, Zhao Xuanran barely spared them a glance.
"Halt!" Ye Tianyuan's voice was as piercing as a shard of ice. "Zhao Xuanran, do you remember the Sword Sealing Formation from a year ago?" he taunted. The Sword Venerable disciples around him snickered, their faces dripping with mockery. But to their astonishment, before the words fully left his lips, a black flying sword surged towards them!
CLINK! The black Sword Soul came to an abrupt halt just above Ye Tianyuan's lips. A chilling wind ruffled his hair, and the palpable intent to kill climbed down his spine, chilling him to the bone. Had the sword moved just a hair's breadth further, he would have been a goner. At that perilous moment, Ye Tianyuan was paralyzed, frozen to the spot. Fury mixed with humiliation boiled within him.
"How dare you!" Emerging from the group was a middle-aged man clad in a black robe. He swiftly pulled Ye Tianyuan and the others behind him, placing himself as a protective barrier. With a face contorted in rage, he bellowed at the woman in the black gown before him. "Zhao Xuanran! How dare you raise a hand against the core members of my First Sword Peak in front of everyone? They are the linchpins for tomorrow's Grand Conclave! Are you looking to violate the Azure Spirit Laws and face the collective wrath of the Seven Sword Venerables?"
It had been his idea for Ye Tianyuan and the others to provoke Zhao Xuanran and Yun Xiao, using words as weapons, hoping to pressure Yun Xiao into joining the Grand Conclave. He hadn't anticipated that Zhao Xuanran's retaliation would be so swift and nearly fatal.
Everyone around was visibly shaken, cold sweat trickling down their spines.
"Ye Tianzhao?" Zhao Xuanran's brows furrowed as she looked at the man in the black robe. Just hearing the name, one could tell he was closely related to the First Sword Venerable.
"Jumping straight to murder over a few words? Do you think Azure Spirit is your personal playground?" Ye Tianzhao boomed, his voice echoing across the hall, intentionally drawing attention.
Yun Xiao caught on quickly. This man wanted to make a scene, attract a crowd, and then shame, goad, and mock him, pressuring a greenhorn like him into repeating Zhao Xuanran's past of facing a horde of opponents alone.
True enough, the cultivators who had come to place their bets were now turning their heads, their attention captured.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Zhao Xuanran stepped in front of Yun Xiao, mirroring what Cai Maomao had described as a hen protecting its chick. The feeling of safety was palpable, but so was the feeling of scrutiny.
"The First Sword Peak bunch has the gall to show their faces again," someone muttered, barely suppressing their disdain.
"Do they actually find pride in the fact that over a hundred of them managed to beat Zhao Xuanran last year? It's embarrassing if you ask me."
"Bringing up the Sword Sealing Formation again... what shamelessness."
The gathering crowd wasn't exactly painting the picture Ye Tianzhao had envisioned. Still, it did nothing to deter their plans of pressuring Zhao Xuanran.
Insult Zhao Xuanran, provoke Yun Xiao! Ye Tianzhao had orchestrated it all meticulously, a sinister grin etched on his face as he prepared to strike verbally.
But fate had different plans! Zhao Xuanran, with her characteristic icy demeanor, interrupted, "Ye Tianzhao, you just mentioned they're participating in tomorrow's Grand Conclave, and so shouldn't be killed, correct?"
"Of course you aren't allowed to kill them! What kind of nonsense question is that? The Azure Spirit Sword Sect has its own rules. You b—" Before Ye Tianzhao could finish his mocking statement, a deadly shadow abruptly silenced him, darting straight to his mouth. In an instant, a black Flying Sword penetrated through his mouth and emerged from the back of his head, bringing a horrifying mix of crimson and white matter with it.
He hit the ground, rigid and lifeless, without even a final twitch. A sickening stillness pervaded the area, every pair of eyes fixed on Zhao Xuanran as she coolly retrieved her dark Sword Soul, her voice echoing ominously in the hushed surroundings, "Well, he can die in their stead!"
It was only after her declaration that a ghastly rush of black blood began to pour from both ends of the sword's exit wound, painting a grotesque scene that left the crowd paralyzed with shock.
"Third Uncle!" Ye Tianyuan's face turned ashen, his voice barely more than a strangled cry. Fear rooted him to the spot, his trembling figure withdrawing three steps into the crowd, unable to take his eyes off Zhao Xuanran.
"You've reached the Establishment Divine Sea Realm!" he exclaimed in disbelief.
Whispers and gasps erupted within the crowd, all eyes fixed on the young woman in black, awe, and fear reflecting in their gazes.
"At twenty-two, she's surpassed the older generation, even overtaking her seven senior brothers and sisters," murmured a disciple, referencing the esteemed disciples of the Sword Pavilion.
Of the Sword Pavilion Seven, she was the eighth, Yun Xiao the ninth. And clearly, none had expected that Zhao Xuanran, after lying low for a year, had ascended to such an astonishing level of cultivation. The bitterness from her defeat last year had forged her into a formidable force.
"Pity she can't participate this year. Otherwise, a hundred and twenty of the First Sword Peak disciples wouldn't stand a chance against her!"
"Breaking through to the Establishment Divine Sea Realm isn't as easy as reaching the Establishment Dragon Spring Realm..."
"That Ye Tianzhao deserved his fate, taunting Zhao Xuanran about last year's Sword Sealing Formation on the eve of the Grand Conclave."
"His smug, petty demeanor was truly laughable."
The piercing discussions swirling around them fuelled both fear and rage in the remaining disciples of the First Sword Venerable, their faces contorting with an ugly blend of emotions.
However, fear outweighed the anger. Even Ye Tianzhao, their protector, had been eliminated with a single stroke of the sword. Now, as they gazed at the woman in the black gown, their hearts couldn't stop trembling violently.
"You murdered an elder of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, Zhao Xuanran! According to the rules of our sect, you should be executed!" Ye Tianyuan, with teeth gritted, managed to maintain his stance, showing a semblance of courage.
"Oh, really? You plan to execute me?" Zhao Xuanran's gaze was as cold and unforgiving as a winter wasteland.
"You—" Ye Tianyuan was at a loss for words.
Everyone knew the truth behind the incident three years ago, deep down in their hearts.
If the First Sword Venerable's power wasn't so immense, there would be more than just Ye Tianzhao on Senior Sister Zhao's kill list! The murmurs echoed in the hearts of the crowd, even though no one dared to voice it out loud.
"My father will hear about this soon!" Ye Tianyuan stuttered, his voice quaking.
"Well, he knows where to find me. I'd hate to waste the dwindling lifespan of this Sword Heart I hold," Zhao Xuanran retorted, her voice tinged with an icy mockery.
"You...!" Ye Tianyuan wanted to curse, to let loose the torrent of anger bubbling within him, but the look in the eyes of the woman before him instilled a fear of death that silenced him.
"What a waste of space!" Zhao Xuanran's contemptuous remark felt like a slap across Ye Tianyuan's face, an unbearable insult. Ironically, their group who had initially intended to humiliate her were now the ones being shamed, their reputations in tatters.
Ye Tianyuan cast a glance around and noticed several people shaking their heads at him, disdain apparent in their eyes. As the son of the first Sword Venerable, he had never endured such treatment before. However, dare he retaliate? No, he didn't dare! The chilling realization of Ye Tianzhao's death made him swallow any words that threatened to spill, his throat feeling icy.
Dammit! What's the point of the Azure Spirit Laws? They're nothing but a sheet of blank paper! With this thought, he could only glare fiercely at Yun Xiao. "If you don't show up at Conclave Mountain tomorrow, then all the people who have died in Sword Pavilion in the last three years would have died in vain!" With a cold smile, he turned to leave, followed by his junior brothers and sisters.
His departure might have been full of bravado, but it only incited a wave of laughter from the crowd.
"What a disgrace!"
"I can't stop laughing."
"He had a mouthful of insults ready to throw at Senior Sister Zhao yet before he could even open his mouth, he was silenced by a single strike from her."
"I must say, our Senior Sister Zhao is as fiery as ever!"
...
Most of these comments came from disciples of the Second and Fourth Sword Peaks.
With Ye Tianyuan's ignominious exit, the commotion finally came to an end.
"What a thrilling night. First, the disappearance of the entire family of the Third Sword Venerable, and now, the Chief Law Enforcer of the First Sword Peak being killed by a disciple of the Sect Master..."
"It's a pity, though. There's no suspense for the Grand Conclave tomorrow. The Azure Spirit Cauldron will continue to favor the First Sword Peak."
Despite the exhilaration of the moment, the crowd couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation towards the future.
"Let's go home," Zhao Xuanran turned to Yun Xiao and said softly. In contrast to her previous aloof demeanor, she now exuded a gentleness that felt like a warm spring breeze, caressing the soul.
"Senior Sister Zhao," Yun Xiao pursed his lips, his eyes locking onto hers.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice tender yet filled with an unspoken strength.
"What's the Sword Sealing Formation?" Yun Xiao asked, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
Zhao Xuanran hesitated before finally admitting, her teeth gritted with a sort of resentment that seemed to seep deep into her bones, "It's nothing special, really. Just a way to seal off the battlefield on Conclave Mountain. No matter how the fight turns out, the elders are forbidden to intervene."
Understanding dawned on Yun Xiao. Just last year, she had faced a grueling battle within that very formation, pitted against a staggering one hundred and twenty disciples from the First Sword Peak. The odds had been horribly against her and, unsurprisingly, she'd been defeated. He knew all too well the extent of the injuries she'd sustained, a testament to a vicious and unfair fight.
"It's utterly disgraceful of them! One hundred and twenty of them against a single woman, and they have the gall to use it to insult you," Yun Xiao's eyes flashed dangerously, a storm brewing within them.
Zhao Xuanran's gaze, however, held an abyssal depth, a mingling of profound understanding and grim acceptance. "Let's not dwell on it. In the cutthroat world of the Immortals, only victory matters. Whether you lose or die, it's all deserved."
Their eyes met, sharing a heavy silence laden with mutual understanding. Yun Xiao could feel the weight of her words, and bit his lip in a gesture of frustrated agreement.
"Right," he murmured.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted towards the direction of the Sword Pavilion betting pool. "Do you have any Spirit Stones?" he asked, an impish twinkle appearing in his eyes.
She raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. "What do you want to buy? I'll get it for you."
"I was thinking of borrowing some," Yun Xiao replied, attempting to sound nonchalant.
"You don't need to borrow. Just tell me how much you need, I'll give it to you," she offered generously.
His face lit up with a grin that was a tad too mischievous. "In that case, how about 100,000?"
Her eyes widened and she gave him a flabbergasted stare before scoffing, "Why don't you just go rob someone at this rate?" The number was preposterous, even as a joke. A hundred thousand Spirit Stones wasn't something to be asked for lightly.
Feeling slightly sheepish, Yun Xiao backtracked, "Maybe borrowing is better after all. How much do you have?"
"You..." Zhao Xuanran rolled her eyes. Why were all her junior brothers such little gremlins? She sighed and fished out a delicately embroidered Pouch of Holding. After a quick inventory, she said, "After buying the wine, I have a total of 6,969 Spirit Stones left."
Both of them paused for a moment, the coincidence of the number striking them both. Yun Xiao couldn't help but chuckle, "Nice!"
"It's really just a coincidence, god dammit!" Zhao Xuanran said, a vein popping on her forehead.
Yun Xiao blinked in surprise, "Should girls be cursing like that?"
Zhao Xuanran's face turned stern and she pinched his cheek hard, her voice firm, "Are you looking down on girls? And for your information, I am a woman, not a girl!"
Yun Xiao could only offer a sheepish smile in response, the pinch leaving a lingering sting.
Seizing the moment, Yun Xiao snatched the Pouch of Holding from her hands, his grin returning in full force. "I'll be borrowing this, okay?" And before she could react, he turned and sprinted towards the Sword Pavilion's betting pool.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" Zhao Xuanran shouted, a sudden sense of foreboding settling in her stomach as she watched him dash away. "Wait up!" she yelled, chasing after him with a mix of amusement and exasperation coloring her face, unable to shake off the uneasy feeling that Yun Xiao was about to stir up some serious trouble.
"What on earth is Yun Xiao up to?"
"Holy smokes!"
"Wow, flirting in public already."
...
The crowd erupted in chaos in an instant, their voices blending into a symphony of disbelief and awe.
They stood rooted to the spot, a collective gasp hanging in the air, their eyes wide as saucers as they watched Yun Xiao approach the Sword Pavilion's betting pool. With the swagger of a seasoned gambler, he started shoveling out Spirit Stones from the Pouch of Holding, a handful at a time, and casually tossing them into the pool like a man sowing seeds in a field.
"Just so we're clear, these belong to Zhao Xuanran. She's wagering a grand total of 6,969 Spirit Stones on the Sword Pavilion!" Yun Xiao announced to the spectators, his voice carrying across the space with unapologetic clarity.
"Yun Xiao!" Zhao Xuanran felt as if she'd been struck by lightning, a paralysis of disbelief seizing her in its icy grip. "My booze money! Ah! You...you cutthroat scoundrel, I'll chop you into pieces, you little shit!" She seemed to have lost all sense of composure, her face a canvas of rage and betrayal. In a flash, a figure of grace and fury launched towards Yun Xiao.
"Hold on, hold on!" A rotund figure burst forth, positioning himself valiantly before Zhao Xuanran, his voice a booming proclamation of justice, "Miss Zhao, please adhere to the rules of our Spirit Treasure Pavilion! A deal is a deal, no take-backs!"
As his words echoed in the space, Yun Xiao had already emptied the pouch of its last Spirit Stone. He peeked inside for a good moment, ensuring that besides the alcohol, it was now as empty as a politician's promises. Then, turning towards Zhao Xuanran with a grin that radiated innocence and youthful charm, he greeted her fiery gaze.
"Aaah!" Zhao Xuanran's eyes seemed to spit flames as she pursued Yun Xiao, her resolve forged in the fires of indignation.
"Crap!" Without missing a beat, Yun Xiao summoned his Sovereign Sword and soared towards the Sword Pavilion, his flight as graceful as it was frantic.
"You little fiend, taste my sword!" Zhao Xuanran was hot on his trail, her determination echoing in her battle cry.
The onlookers, a crowd that had grown to encompass a thousand individuals, were left dumbfounded by the unfolding drama, their faces a mosaic of shock and amusement.
Three breaths later...
"What are you all gawking at? Hurry up and claim a share of Senior Sister Zhao's secret stash!"
"Senior Sister Zhao's Spirit Stones surely carry her fragrance, a true collector's item!"
"Brothers, let's make it rain! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
In the blink of an eye, the betting pool at the First Sword Peak was overflowing, a mountain of Spirit Stones emerging, a testament to spontaneous wealth distribution.
"Everyone, let's give a big thanks to Yun Xiao!"
"Junior Brother Yun is such a good man."
"A good man, may you have a lifetime of peace!"
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