Chapter 009 - Three Days (2)
The effect was contagious. Jiang Yue's side too felt the repercussions. The entire stone, both the black and white fish, was consumed in a tempestuous surge of blue mist.
A mournful wail erupted from the Sword Inheritance Stone, transitioning from a subdued black and white to a torrential outpour of blue mist. An overwhelming aura of impending doom swept over Yun Xiao, Jiang Yue, and Yao Qingqian, pressing down on them like an insurmountable weight.
A wave of force expelled them backward, feet scraping the ground as they tried to find their balance. Before Yao Qingqian could stabilize herself, her eyes widened in horror as the Sword Inheritance Stone developed wide cracks, fracturing from within.
"It's collapsing!" The elders around them exclaimed. And then, with a deafening explosion, the Sword Inheritance Stone disintegrated, not even leaving behind any debris. All that remained was a cloud of dust. The impact of this explosion caused not only the Sword Inheritance Platform but also the very earth to tremble violently. The sound was so loud that it reverberated across the Azure Spirit Mountains, causing leaves from the forest of the Heavenly Path to scatter in the wind.
"The Sword Inheritance Stone... It's destroyed!" The elders rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
"This is a catastrophe!" Elder Yu's forehead glistened with sweat, his voice shaky.
"Throughout the history of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, the Sword Inheritance Stone has never shattered. Do you know what this implies?" The elders turned their stunned gazes towards Yun Xiao and Jiang Yue.
"It means someone's Sword Soul might surpass the Comet grade!"
But what did surpassing the Comet grade mean?
"Today is truly an eye-opener," the elders gasped, the weight of realization making it hard to breathe.
"Have I been exposed?" Yun Xiao sighed. Holding talent was like being pregnant; it couldn't be hidden. From the expressions of the elders, he could gauge the magnitude of the situation.
Suddenly, the skies roared, clouds tumbled, and the air was filled with the echoing sound of swords. Looking up, Yun Xiao spotted over a dozen enormous swords breaking through the wind, piercing the clouds, and approaching rapidly. The aura emanating from them was overwhelming, reminiscent of thousands of swords slicing through the heavens. Near the Sword Inheritance Platform, trees and rocks were mysteriously marked with slashes as if touched by an invisible sword.
"Woah! Who's that?" Yun Xiao wondered. Almost immediately, brilliant sword rays descended from the sky, embedding themselves into the platform.
Yun Xiao's eyes narrowed, realizing that these newcomers were powerful beyond measure. They had to be from the higher echelons of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect.
Among them, one figure stood out. A middle-aged man, tall and aloof, with long eyebrows extending to his temples, a sharp nose, and an aura resembling that of a wandering eagle. His eyes seemed to hold an entire sea of swords.
The elders instantly bowed. "Greetings, Sword Venerable!"
Including Elder Yu, all of them bowed their heads in reverence. A few even took a step back, beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads.
"Sword Venerable?" Yun Xiao mused. He was undeniably a big shot in the Azure Spirit Sword Sect.
But it wasn't just the Sword Venerable. The young men and women following him were also exceptional. Dressed in sword robes, exuding an extraordinary aura, deep cultivation, and surrounded by swirling sword energy, they represented the elite young sword cultivators of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. In every regard, new disciples like Yun Xiao were dwarfed in comparison.
"The shattering of the Sword Inheritance Stone has even drawn the attention of the Sword Venerable from the First Peak..." a disciple murmured in hushed amazement.
"The Sword Venerable of the First Peak?" Yun Xiao mused. "Ye Guying is titled Swordking of the First Peak. He must have some significant connection with this Sword Venerable."
Sure enough, Yao Qingqian stepped forward to greet him, her face painted with reverence. "Qingqian pays her respects to the Sword Venerable."
The Sword Venerable didn't spare her a glance. His eyes, sharp and keen like those of a hawk, swept over the crowd and locked onto one individual—not Yun Xiao, but Jiang Yue beside him.
"Come here," the Sword Venerable's voice rang out, sounding like steel scraping against steel, inducing an involuntary shiver in those who heard.
"Yes, Sword Venerable." A tremor ran through Jiang Yue as she dutifully approached him.
"Kneel," the Sword Venerable commanded, his gaze unwavering.
Without hesitation, Jiang Yue sank to her knees, sweat glistening on her palms.
"Your name," his voice echoed from above.
"Jiang Yue."
"Lift your head."
Jiang Yue hesitated, her gaze only reaching his chest, unwilling to meet his eyes directly. But to her surprise, the Sword Venerable bent down slightly, a small smile playing on his lips, and his piercing gaze softened.
"Jiang Yue, would you be willing to become my direct disciple?"
Overwhelmed with elation, Jiang Yue realized that this was the important figure her Senior Brother Ye had mentioned to her. He wasn't present on the Sword Inheritance Platform, but he had been observing the Sword Inheritance Stone!
"To have the Sword Venerable as my guide on the path of an Immortal is the greatest fortune of my three lives," Jiang Yue exclaimed, bowing her head in deep reverence.
"Very well! From this day, you are my thirteenth disciple. I shall guide you to soar through the skies!" the Sword Venerable declared, satisfaction evident in his demeanor.
Several awe-inspiring young men and women behind the Sword Venerable looked at Jiang Yue with amazement in their eyes. "Greetings, little junior sister."
"Jiang Yue offers her greetings to all senior brothers and sisters." Jiang Yue gazed at them with admiration, seeing them as beings like Ye Guying, soaring through the heavens and beyond the mundane. She could see her future self among them. Her destiny had irrevocably changed.
"Jiang Yue," said the Sword Venerable, his mood buoyant. From his hand appeared a small blue jade vial. Even though it was tiny, it felt as if it contained an entire vast ocean. When shaken, the sound of waves could be heard. "This is the Divine Sea Pill, my gift to you as you begin your journey."
The appearance of this item caused the seven elders' eyes to widen in shock. Even the young Sword Cultivators behind the Sword Venerable paused for a moment, their eyes gleaming with intense envy.
"A Divine Sea Pill!" Elder Yu exclaimed, his eyes wide as saucers. "Such generosity from the Sword Venerable, gifting such a treasure upon their first meeting."
"This pill is worth at least ten times that of the five-hundred-year-old demonic bone!"
"Ten times? Are you joking? There's only one Divine Sea Pill in the entire Azure Spirit Sword Sect! This is a coveted item that allows a novice at the Dragon Spring stage to rapidly ascend to the 'Divine Sea Realm'!"
The elders started murmuring amongst themselves.
Such a welcoming gift was like a thunderbolt out of the blue. It was said that the Dragon Spring Realm was the only stage where one could rely on a pill to achieve rapid breakthroughs.
"Thank you, Master! I will certainly not let you down and will swiftly expand my Dragon Spring and step into the Divine Sea Realm!" Jiang Yue's heart raced, barely suppressing her overwhelming joy. A single Divine Sea Pill was enough to sweep away all her frustrations and suffocations from today!
Her obedient demeanor and reverent tone left Yun Xiao deeply impressed. At the very least, he wouldn't kneel and bow as she did. Still, he was a bit perplexed. "It was me who shattered the Sword Inheritance Stone. So, why did the Sword Venerable take her as a disciple and grant her the divine pill as soon as he arrived?"
All envious eyes were on Jiang Yue!
"Lil Yue, let me see your Sword Soul," the Sword Venerable smiled.
Jiang Yue presented her Sword Soul.
"Sword Venerable, it's this Ice Moon Sword Soul that exceeded the limits of the Sword Inheritance Stone and caused its explosion!" Yao Qingqian, standing behind the Swordmaster, exclaimed with admiration in her tone.
"Hmm." The Sword Venerable nodded, caressing the sword. A layer of frost formed on his fingers. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. But it dissipated quickly. He remarked, "In history, the highest grade of the Ice Moon Sword Soul was Upper Comet grade. I truly didn't expect that there would be an Ice Moon Sword Spirit in this world that surpasses that quality."
"Could it be Moon grade? In the history of Azure Spirit, we've never had a Moon grade Sword Soul prodigy!" Yao Qingqian was astounded. In her mind, she added, Not even Ye Guying possesses a Moon grade!
"It might be even more than that." The Sword Venerable's statement left Yao Qingqian stunned.
"Our Azure Spirit's stone is a Rank Two Sword Inheritance Stone. Logically speaking, even if her Sword Soul was of the Moon grade, it shouldn't have been shattered," the Sword Venerable commented, gazing intently at the Ice Moon Sword Soul.
"Could it be... Planet grade?" Yao Qingqian uttered, nearly breathless. It all made sense to her now. This was why the Sword Venerable took Jiang Yue as his disciple and granted her the Divine Sea Pill, a treasure yearned for by all his disciples, on their very first meeting! A talent of the Comet grade was one touched by the heavens. But if one reached the Planet grade, they'd step into the realm of legends.
A hint of a smile played on the Sword Venerable's lips at the mention of Planet grade.
"With the Sword Inheritance Stone destroyed, I must request a Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone from the Sea of Swords. Whether Lil Yue's Sword Soul is of Moon or Planet grade, the Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone will reveal it all," the Sword Venerable mused, affectionately ruffling Jiang Yue's hair. She reveled in his touch.
"How long until then?" Yao Qingqian's anticipation was palpable. She was eager to see the luminance of the Ice Moon Sword Soul illuminate the heavens.
"In three days, during the Seven Swords Conclave, It should arrive by then," the Sword Venerable replied nonchalantly.
"Why not unveil it on the day of the Seven Swords Conclave's final battle? The entire Azure Spirit Sword Sect will witness the birth of the first genius to surpass the Comet grade," Yao Qingqian proposed.
The next Swordking Ye? In her heart, Yao Qingqian believed that even Ye Guying might one day seek Jiang Yue's favor.
Moon grade, Planet grade—such concepts were incomprehensible!
The unveiling of the Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone would send shockwaves through the nations.
"Yao Qingqian, you have a knack for suspense and setting the mood," the Sword Venerable teased with a sidelong glance.
"Jiang Yue is your direct disciple, Master. Her triumphs reflect on you," Yao Qingqian retorted playfully with a coquettish smile.
"Very well! We'll test Lil Yue's Sword Soul on the day of the Seven Swords Conclave," he declared, his laughter deep and hearty.
"All of Azure Spirit will witness my ascent?" Overwhelmed with emotion, Jiang Yue felt as if her spirit might take flight.
The Seven Swords Conclave! That was a grand spectacle of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect that even common mortals heard tales of. And it was only in three days! Could it be that she, a mere daughter of a Prime Minister, had a Sword Soul beyond the esteemed Comet grade?
"What the hell...?!" When it finally dawned on Yun Xiao, he was a touch flabbergasted. Did his shattering of the Sword Stone inadvertently catapult Jiang Yue to stardom?
"Hold on a minute," Yun Xiao turned to Elder Yu beside him, "We both had our Sword Souls measured, so why am I being treated like a ghost?"
Elder Yu, already drenched in sweat from Jiang Yue's revelation, tried to regain some composure. "Show me your Sword Soul," he rasped, hand outstretched.
Yun Xiao presented his Sword Soul cautiously, "Careful there, wouldn’t want it to cut you." This Heaven Burial Sword Soul was harmless enough when held, but a slight cut could corrode flesh and blood.
Elder Yu barely gave it a second glance before waving Yun Xiao off dismissively.
"Well?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Nothing special," Elder Yu shrugged nonchalantly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yun Xiao said.
Elder Yu, massaging his forehead in exasperation, responded, "Isn't this just a Green Lotus Sword Soul? It's a common, low rarity Meteor grade Sword Soul. Over at my Seventh Sword Peak, I reckon I've got close to a hundred Sword Cultivators with the very same one."
Yun Xiao was rendered speechless. Green Lotus Sword Soul? Almost a hundred of them? That was indeed pretty commonplace. No wonder no one paid any mind. Just by its appearance, it surely paled in comparison to the frosty majesty of the Ice Moon Sword Soul.
"Three days until the Seven Swords Conclave!" Elder Yu said, his voice tinged with awe, not paying Yun Xiao any mind. He gazed at the young woman with a mixture of reverence and wonder. "Once tested with the Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone, whether she embodies the grace of the Moon or the terrifying might of the Planet, she'll etch her name into the annals of Azure Spirit's history!"
Yun Xiao pondered in the shadows. "Maybe they can test me again during the event?" He wondered if the Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone could withstand the intensity of his Sword Soul. After all, as long as he wasn’t juxtaposed with Jiang Yue, she would reveal her true mediocrity. By then, all these overconfident folks would be the joke of the town. Especially the ever-so-lofty Jiang Yue.
"The higher she soars now," Yun Xiao mused, a smirk playing on his lips, "the harder she'll crash in three days." He was unfazed by the day's events. Besides, the Sword Venerable and Ye Guying were peas in a pod. Thankfully, Jiang Yue took the heat today, or else he'd have had a bone to pick with them.
"There's just one issue," Blue Star whispered from his embrace. "Because of you, she now possesses an additional Divine Sea Pill."
"A crow can gobble up countless phoenix pills, but it'll always remain a crow." Yun Xiao chuckled. Then he said with a confident smile, "No matter how high she flies, a single swing of my blade will bring her plummeting down."
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