Chapter 076 - One Sword Shrouds the Heavens!
HUM! Yun Xiao's eyes flashed an icy glint, and the Heaven Burial Sword Soul in his hand transformed into a three-foot azure blade, pointing sharply towards Holy Son Chu.
"You dare point your sword at me?" Holy Son Chu's face darkened immeasurably. With a stretch of his hand, a dazzling Sword Soul abruptly appeared! Astonishingly, it was a dual-colored Sword Soul, with violet on the left and crimson on the right! The left part was engulfed in a sinister, rolling wind, while the right part blazed with intense fire!
Yun Xiao was witnessing such a Sword Soul for the first time. Atop the Sword Soul were clearly two Sword Rings, one violet and one crimson, embodying both flame and icy enchantments!
This was unmistakably a genuine Sword Soul above the Comet grade! Whether it was Moon or Planet grade, Yun Xiao did not know. Nor did he have any interest in knowing! In fact, he would've been a little disappointed if the Holy Son of the Forbidden Tower didn't at least have this bit of skill.
"Point it at you? I'll do a lot more than that" Yun Xiao let out a cold chuckle. WHOOSH! With a sudden stomp, the white robed youth soared, daringly sending a sword strike towards Holy Son Chu! That azure sword resembling a coiled dragon threatened to swallow him whole!
As the sword emerged, the crowd was completely shocked. "How dare you! On death’s doorstep, and yet you still dare to challenge me?" Holy Son Chu’s eyes were stern, his teeth gritted.
HUM! Holy Son Chu gripped his violet-crimson Sword Soul, his sword pointing at Yun Xiao, a murderous aura catapulting from his eyes. "Slay!" With a fierce shout, wind sprung beneath his feet, his robe tumultuously rolling, magical power bursting forth!
"The might of a Holy Son, and yet an insignificant mortal like you dares to contend with me?" Holy Son Chu scoffed.
"A Holy Son? More like a spoiled son?" Yun Xiao laughed. Not slaying demons, but killing those who did? This was called a Holy Son? A flash of icy light in his eyes, the three-foot azure blade in his hand violently erupted forth.
Azure Dragon Squall! The Third Move, Ask the Dao!
This was the strongest sword of the Azure Dragon Squall, one's heart asking the dao! The strongest strike!
Shouldn't a Holy Son show compassion to the people? Why was he showing off and flaunting his power instead? These were the questions Yun Xiao wanted to ask, to seek clarity!
Yun Xiao's sword and the fiery will within him fused together. As his sword intent and thought reached a deeper comprehension, the momentum behind his sword increased exponentially!
Yun Xiao had once elevated the Ten-Step Scale to new heights, a frightening achievement to outsiders. However, wasn't this Palm Sword Technique, Azure Dragon Squall, in his hand also exceeding levels and soaring to new heights?
A sword like a dragon burst forth. The sword energy resembled an azure tempest shaped like a dragon. This one sword strike kicked up a sky full of dust, erupting with a deafening roar, as it charged straight toward Holy Son Chu!
"You dare flaunt your petty tricks in front of the Forbidden Tower?" Holy Son Chu sneered. His dual coloured Sword Soul thrust forward, conjuring whirlpools of both water and fire, akin to twin behemoths enveloping Yun Xiao.
Sure enough, the Forbidden Tower's Holy Son did have some skills up his sleeve!
"Petty tricks? It's still enough to obliterate you!" Yun Xiao's sword technique morphed once again, the Azure Dragon Squall splitting into three, ferociously biting towards Holy Son Chu.
Two of the dragon squalls immediately tore through Holy Son Chu’s sword technique, and the final dragon squall pierced menacingly towards Holy Son Chu’s face!
"Damn it!!!" Holy Son Chu’s world went dark, his body erupting in goosebumps; he rolled hastily on the spot.
WHOOSH! Yun Xiao’s sword whizzed past, merely inches from his head!
RIP! Blood sprayed the air as one of Holy Son Chu's ears was sliced off courtesy of Yun Xiao’s sword tip!
"Ah!!" Holy Son Chu rolled onto the ground, half his face awash with blood, his whole body smeared with filth. His ear had been severed by Yun Xiao! The sharp pain on his face confirmed that all of this was too real!
BAM! Yun Xiao's leg violently connected with Holy Son Chu's abdomen, eliciting a scream, as he crumpled to the ground, curling like a cooked shrimp.
"I was defeated?" His face contorted, a buzzing filling his head. The mighty Holy Son Chu had been defeated!
"Holy Son Chu, you really know how to put on a show. You’re merely at the Mid Origin Core Realm. And here I thought you were at the Establishment Origin Core Realm!" Yun Xiao stood firm, plucking a bloodied ear from his sword tip. "Is this the ear of the Forbidden Tower's Holy Son? Pretty weak. It can't even take a little slash, can it?"
SPUTTER! Holy Son Chu spat out a mouthful of blood. He'd never suffered such humiliation and disgrace before! It was! unbearable!
"Look at you, you even gave me three years, and set a three-year promise?" Yun Xiao's expression was mocking. "Are you worthy? You can’t even beat me now, yet you have the face to talk about three years later?"
Holy Son Chu felt a sweetness in his throat, the regurgitated blood assaulting his heart again.
The onlookers were collectively taken aback.
"Junior Brother Yun, did he just beat the Forbidden Tower's Holy Son?" Cai Maomao was flabbergasted.
"He's too awesome!" Qin Tong couldn't help but exclaim.
"That was too satisfying!" the crowd muttered internally.
Although how the consequences would unfold was uncertain, who wished to be oppressed by this scoundrel? Not even for a day! All eyes turned to Ning Yan.
This black-dressed beauty stood with her lips slightly parted, her expression somewhat stunned. "A prodigy of Azure Spirit, defeating the Forbidden Tower's Holy Son of the same age, even before cultivating in my Sword Heaven?"
What did this suggest? It was as clear as day! Yun Xiao's talent surpassed that of the Forbidden Tower's Holy Son!
"I just tried to force him to kneel in front of Holy Son Chu... What was I thinking?" Ning Yan's expression wilted with embarrassment. Heat crept up her back, surely many from the Azure Spirit Sword Sect were snickering at her!
"Yun Xiao, you are doomed!" Holy Son Chu sprang up, his eyes flooded with malicious intent.
"Me, doomed?" Yun Xiao snorted coldly. He abruptly moved, his sword intent surged again, slaying forth!
"You?!" Holy Son Chu, struck by his murderous aura and momentum, froze. He understood. This lad truly dared to kill him!
A shudder traveled through Holy Son Chu's core, turning to flee while shouting, "Ning Yan, won’t you save me?!" His words barely escaped when Yun Xiao's Ten-Step Scale sword technique, a lethal Flying Sword, lunged towards the back of Holy Son Chu's head!
"AAHHH! NOI" Sensing the sword behind him, Holy Son Chu turned pale as a ghost and wet his pants in a panic.
KLANG! Fortunately, at that moment, a black flying sword soared through the air, parrying Yun Xiao's deathly strike!
Ning Yan had acted! Had she hesitated, Holy Son Chu’s head would have been burst open!
WHOOSH! She blinked in front of Holy Son Chu, shielding him and bellowed, "Yun Xiao, I command you to stop!" She glared at Yun Xiao, her expression stern.
Meanwhile, Holy Son Chu, letting out a panicky yelp, collapsed, then hurriedly scrambled up, hiding behind Ning Yan, his body quaking uncontrollably!
The spectators from the Azure Spirit Sword Sect couldn't help but laugh. This was the Forbidden Tower’s Holy Son? He'd arrived with such authority, acting domineering as he looked down upon all. Now, he was getting toyed with by Yun Xiao. This Holy Son was nothing more than a cowering pig!
"Yun Xiao, don't you forget the name Chu Yan. I swear I'll have you torn to a thousand pieces in five days!" Holy Son Chu snarled. He'd suddenly regrown a backbone after receiving Ning Yan's protection.
"What? You're still talking?" Yun Xiao sent forth his Flying Sword! This time, Ning Yan did not block the Twelve-Step Scale.
PUFF! The Flying Sword lunged forth, returning with yet another ear from Holy Son Chu!
"Keep talking, Holy Son Chu?" Yun Xiao grinned.
"AHHH!!" Clutching his mouth, Holy Son Chu dared not utter another word!
"Yun Xiao, if you truly kill him, you’ll stir up a colossal calamity!" Ning Yan spoke, her chest heaving with indignation. Even after she had intervened, this lad still dared to strike fiercely? He hadn’t even regarded her with importance!
"So what if I kill him? What'll happen then?" Yun Xiao sheathed his Flying Sword, his face a tranquil mask.
"The entire Forbidden Tower will hunt you! You might escape, but can your family, your loved ones?" Ning Yan was lost for words.
"My apologies, I have no family, no ties. Naturally, I slay whom I wish!" Yun Xiao responded evenly.
Ning Yan was visibly irate. No family, really? "What about your sect! Don’t you fear they’ll be dragged into your mess?" She turned around, gesturing towards the members of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect.
"My sect?" Yun Xiao paused for a moment.
"In this life, without power, without a backing, often you have no choice but to bow your head! Do you understand now?" Ning Yan scoffed.
Suddenly, Yun Xiao chuckled, "Oh, Great Sword Venerable Ning, you worry too much. After slaughtering the Northern Wastelands' demons, we Sword Cultivators from the Azure Spirit Sword Sect are departing today to hunt demons across the thousand mortal nations. Who has time to bother with the Forbidden Tower?"
"Can they hunt demons forever?" Ning Yan retorted with a cold laugh.
"Why not ask how long the Forbidden Tower can last under my hand instead!" Yun Xiao countered.
Not allowed to kill Holy Son Chu? With his three-foot-long azure blade, there was no one in this world beyond Yun Xiao's reach!
If it weren’t for Ning Yan stubbornly shielding him, he would have obliterated Holy Son Chu right there and then. Such was his unyielding spirit.
In this second life as the Creator Immortal, how could he tolerate such insolence?
"And you dare to utter such arrogance against the entire Forbidden Tower?" Ning Yan was utterly speechless. She realized, she and this lad simply could not communicate.
"Holy Son Chu, I'll take you back to the Forbidden Tower," Ning Yan declared.
"Yes! Please quickly!" Holy Son Chu hurriedly agreed. He didn't dare to mount his Sovereign Sword, fearing Yun Xiao might strike him down with a single blade.
"Great Sword Venerable Ning!" Yun Xiao watched their retreating figures, "So will you still test my Sword Soul at Sword Heaven tomorrow?"
Ning Yan paused, gritting her teeth, and uttered a single word. "Yes!"
With that, she shielded Holy Son Chu and took to the skies.
"Fine." Yun Xiao gave a chilling smile. He disliked Ning Yan. As for Sword Heaven, he'd reserve his judgment since he hadn't visited yet.
Nevertheless, now that the demons of the Northern Wastelands were annihilated, all of Azure Spirit's Sword Cultivators would fulfill their duty by diving into the mortal realm to save the common folk...
Yun Xiao also had a vital mission! He was determined to keep Zhao Jianxing alive! He had to confront Ye Guying, who would emerge from seclusion in five days! For that, he had to go to the Sea of Swords; he had to go to Sword Heaven! He was going to test his Sword Soul tomorrow!
"There's no way everyone in Sword Heaven is like Ning Yan, right? I refuse to believe everyone there is as blind as she is!" Yun Xiao muttered. If that were the case, he'd rather just stay in Azure Spirit.
"Yun Xiao..." The three thousand Azure Spirit Sword Cultivators gazed at him, their eyes a mix of heaviness and complexity.
"Everyone, relax a bit! As long as I have my sword, there's nothing I fear in the world!." Yun Xiao suddenly smiled, a radiant, sunlit grin lighting up his face. At that moment, the gloomy clouds of the Northern Wastelands finally scattered entirely, allowing a long-absent light to gently caress the blighted world below.
Yun Xiao's Heaven Burial Sword Soul, clutched tightly in hand, shimmered gloriously under the newly emerging sunlight, emanating a power that pulsated through every observer's heart.
"We believe in you, Yun Xiao!" A chorus arose, fierce and hopeful, "Let those pretentious fools at the Sea of Swords witness what a true Sword Immortal is!"
The spirits of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect were set alight, anticipation fervent in their eyes, hearts ablaze with an unspoken, collective longing.
Among the crowd, Zhao Xuanran’s black gown swayed subtly in the wind, its tranquil flow reflecting a faint, ghostly luminescence under the scrutinizing gaze of the sunlight. Beneath the serene exterior, a passionate fervor brewed silently.
"If only Father knew of the good news here... He would surely be overjoyed..." Her thoughts, a bittersweet concoction, kindled a warmth that welled in the hearts of those around her.
“May the Sect Master be rewarded for his kindness!” All eyes converged upon Yun Xiao. He had become the solitary beacon of hope for Zhao Jianxing's safe return.
“Yun Xiao will surely retrieve the Sword Tempering Pill!” Elder Wang declared with unwavering conviction.
In just one day, the Northern Wastelands had been pierced through with lethal resolve. And in five days’ time, the Sea of Swords would surely be eclipsed by a veil of swords.
With a whistling sound that seemed to slice through the very heavens, three thousand Sword Cultivators from the Azure Spirit Sword Sect soared, riding their swords and tearing through the clouds.
"Homebound!"
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