Veloria City was a stronghold for the White Tiger sect, with their Grand Elder serving as the City Lord. Despite this, it was also home to two other major powers: The Valdorian Clan and the Eldric Clan. These three titans coexisted in a precarious equilibrium and always seemed as though they were at the brink of war.

Caelum entered through the grand South Gate, taking in the bustling scenes of the marketplace and the shouts of vendors selling exotic treasures. His mind, however, was a whirlwind of thoughts. Eight...I've eliminated eight demonic cultivators at the Core Formation realm while restricting my cultivation to the Foundation Establishment.

But Caelum knew that he needed a final battle, a life-and-death confrontation with a Peak Core Formation expert. He could feel it, a breakthrough to the Sword Soul realm was imminent.

The majority of Caelum’s generation were still struggling in the Sword Qi realm, while a select few had just tasted the early stages of the Sword Aura realm. But Caelum was different. He stood at the cusp of entering the Sword Soul realm.

Achieving the Sword Soul realm within just ten years of cultivation would not only be a personal triumph but would also mark him as one of the most prodigious swordsmen of his generation, a feat he hoped would make his master proud.

I need to find him. Caelum’s eyes narrowed with determination.

His previous victim was…kind enough to give the whereabouts of a suitable target that met his master’s requirements. However, whether he would find his target was a different matter, finding one individual in a sprawling city of over a hundred thousand souls was no trivial task.

If only I had his Qi signature, Caelum sighed.

Every cultivator had a unique Qi signature, a distinctive energetic imprint shaped by their cultivation techniques and the elements they harnessed. It was as unique to each person as fingerprints were to mortals.

With a Qi signature and an appropriate treasure to amplify its traces, locating his target would be effortless. But without such aids, Caelum was facing a scenario akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

As Caelum looked around, the familiar structures and sounds brought a wave of nostalgia. His village was only a few miles from here, and memories of visiting this city all those years ago with his parents flooded back.

It all seemed so simple then, he mused.

His trip down memory lane was suddenly interrupted by a frantic shout. "Move! Outta the way!"

Whirling around, Caelum's gaze landed on a boy, not older than twelve, dashing toward him. The boy's clothes were tattered, his straw hat perched precariously atop a mop of unruly hair. Clutched in his hands were various food items. Caelum sidestepped smoothly, allowing the child to hurtle past and hide behind a large merchant cart.

Their eyes met for a brief second. The boy, eyes wide with desperation, pressed a finger to his lips.

A street rat, Caelum thought.

As shouts grew louder, Caelum turned to face the oncoming commotion. A group of burly men emerged, muscles rippling beneath their grubby shirts. Halting in front of Caelum, the leader, with a scar running down his cheek, demanded, "Did ya see a brat runnin' this way with some food?"

Caelum raised an eyebrow but before he could answer, the aggressive man lunged forward, but another man yanked his comrade back by the wrist. "Look at him, you fool!" The second man hissed, nodding toward Caelum.

Caelum wore a green robe but what caught their attention the most was the insignia on his chest — a beautifully embroidered Black Rose.

Recognition flashed in the aggressive man's eyes, and a cold sweat formed on his forehead. "I-immortal!" he stammered, dropping into a deep bow. "Forgive me! I didn’t know-"

Caelum, slightly amused, raised a hand, motioning him to stop. "The child you're looking for went that way." With a nonchalant gesture, he pointed them in the opposite direction.

Gratitude filled the men's faces. They bowed profusely, "Thank you, Immortal!" they repeated, before hastily retreating in the direction Caelum had indicated.

"You can come out now," Caelum called out a few moments later, his voice steady yet gentle.

After a moment's hesitation, the boy emerged from his hiding spot, eyes wary but curious. Caelum sighed softly. He understood all too well the life this kid was leading; it wasn't so long ago he'd been in a similar situation, before his master had found him.

"Thank you, mister," the boy said, bowing quickly before turning to scamper off.

However, just as the boy thought he was free, a blur moved in front of him. Stopping dead in his tracks, he stared wide-eyed at Caelum, who had reappeared with an almost imperceptible swiftness. Falling onto his backside, the boy stammered, "M-mister?" Fear evident in his eyes.

Caelum’s gaze softened. They often know more than they let on. He thought. He knew the value of information that these city children could provide, often being overlooked by the cultivators who saw them as nothing but ants.

"I've helped you," Caelum began, "Now it’s your turn to help me."

The boy's eyes darted around warily, his face shadowing with apprehension. He had heard stories from other kids of men with strange requests seeking out street kids.

Reading the fear in the boy's eyes, Caelum quickly added, "I need your help finding someone."

The boy relaxed ever so slightly, "Who?" he asked, drawing himself up a bit.

"A group of demonic cultivators," Caelum replied.

The boy shrugged dismissively. "Demonic cultivators come and go in Veloria all the time."

Caelum nodded, then described, "These are different. They each bear a specific mark on their face." He traced the shape of the tattoo with his fingers.

Recognition flickered in the kid’s eyes. "I’ve seen 'em," he said, his voice a whisper.

Caelum's lips curled up into a faint smile. "Help me find them, and I’ll reward you." As he spoke, he twirled a golden coin between his fingers. It was unusual for cultivators to carry coins as their currency was spirit stones, but Caelum’s past made him an exception, so he always kept some coins in his storage ring.

The boy's eyes fixed on the coin, and a goofy grin spread across his face. He nodded eagerly. "Deal."

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In a cramped corner of a small tavern, a group of four men drank as their crude laughter and banter filled the air. They were a rough-looking bunch, with leathery skin and cold eyes, the kind who a law-abiding citizen would try to stay clear of.

"If he doesn't want to give up his daughter, he can forfeit his life," one jeered, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

The apparent boss, a burly man with a tattoo tracing down his cheek, laughed heartily and slapped his subordinate on the back. "Either way, she'll be our plaything by nightfall," he declared.

The tavern owner couldn’t help but shoot nervous glances at the group, regretting ever letting them inside.

The door creaked open, revealing Caelum and the young boy. Scanning the room, Caelum's gaze landed on the boss. The distinctive mark on his face was unmistakable. Without a word, he flipped a few golden coins towards the boy, who caught them with ease.

"Thanks, mister!" the boy grinned, dashing out, knowing better than to stay for what was to come.

Suspicion flitted across the eyes of the four men, especially upon noting Caelum’s Black Heart Sect insignia. The rat-faced man sneered, "What you looking at?"

But Caelum didn't respond, his gaze locked onto the boss.

The boss, sensing Caelum's profound spiritual energy, felt a hint of unease. Though he was at the Peak Core Formation realm, he was acutely aware that sect cultivators were often not to be trifled with. Could this kid be one of those prodigies? he wondered.

"Get out of here, kid, while you still can," the boss growled, trying to mask his uncertainty with bravado.

The tall man laughed boisterously. "You heard the boss!" Rising from his chair, he swaggered towards Caelum, a cruel glint in his eyes. But in a heartbeat, the man’s head separated from his body, dropping with a grim thud, his eyes reflecting sheer disbelief.

One of the other men stammered, voice trembling, "I... I didn't even see him move."

Caelum's expression remained impassive, his sword sheathed as quickly as it had been drawn. He turned his attention back to the boss. "Face me in a duel," he stated calmly.

The boss cursed his luck under his breath. Had he been alone, he would have fled without a second thought. But with his men watching, he had to maintain a facade of confidence. He gulped down his drink, the jug hitting the table with a thud as he stood up. Wiping his mouth, he sneered, "Next year today will be your death anniversary, kid."

The tavern owner, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead, nervously interjected, "Could you please take this outside?"

A deadly glare from the boss made him regret his words, but Caelum smoothly intervened, "He's right. Let's not dirty the tavern floors," he said, already heading for the door.

Scoffing, the boss followed, his remaining two men trailed behind, leaving behind their comrade’s corpse.

Once outside, under the moon's ghostly glow, Caelum and the boss faced each other. The boss unleashed his aura, the oppressive might of a Peak Core Formation cultivator pressing down. "I am Dravon," he introduced himself with a wicked grin.

Restraining his power to the Peak Foundation Establishment level, Caelum clapped his hands together in a formal greeting. "I am Caelum," he responded. But as he bowed slightly, Dravon lunged forward, his right hand enveloped in roaring flames.

Sword Aura, Caelum thought, activating the technique. The third realm of sword cultivation, Sword Aura, allowed practitioners to envelop themselves in an invisible aura, enhancing their speed, agility, and reflexes.

With heightened senses, Caelum dodged the fiery strike with ease and counterattacked. Their attacks clashed, but the force from Dravon's blow drove Caelum back several steps.

This will be a difficult battle, he acknowledged silently, his eyes narrowing.

Dravon laughed maniacally, growing in confidence. "Restricting your cultivation as a training exercise? You're just guaranteeing your death, kid!" He then sent a wave of fire towards Caelum.

Caelum's sword, infused with both his sword qi and aura, swung forward, shattering the oncoming inferno and scattering flames into the night. He realized, with his cultivation restricted, Dravon's attacks were faster and stronger. Even with Sword Aura, he had to be alert at all times and maintain a tight defense to even survive this duel.

One of the followers yelled, "That's right, boss! Show that brat his place!"

The boss charged forward, his fists engulfed in flames, launching a mixture of martial arts and fiery attacks. Caelum found himself retreating, each clash leaving him with bruises and burns. His back brushed against the cool night air as he narrowly evaded a particularly vicious strike.

Realizing the need for a different approach, Caelum initiated the "Nine Shadows Mirage" technique. In an instant, eight other images of him flickered into existence, each grasping their own version of the Bloodthorn sword.

"A mere mirage technique won't save you, boy!" the boss scoffed, undeterred.

Yet, to his surprise, all nine Caelums lunged into action, each capable of launching its own attack. The boss found himself fighting off multiple adversaries, grunting as he dispelled one image after another with powerful strikes. However, the effort cost him; he sustained several cuts, his own blood now dripping onto the ground.

When he finally struck the real Caelum, the impact was massive. Caelum went flying, crashing painfully into a tree before slumping to the ground.

"You seem to enjoy taking a beating, boy," the boss remarked, walking toward the fallen Caelum but remaining cautious. He knew better than to underestimate a sect cultivator's resilience.

Caelum, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, wondered whether he should release his cultivation's restrictions to gain an upper hand. No, he quickly chided himself, I have to push my limits. I have to trust in Bloodthorn.

Gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, Caelum poured his emotions, his grievances, his resolve, into Bloodthorn.

In response, a peculiar sensation enveloped him, as though a monumental shift had just occurred within his very being. As he gazed at the advancing bandit, a phrase emerged from the depths of his heart, echoing in his soul; "Awaken the Sanguine Nightmare, Bloodthorn."

Whispering the phrase like a sacred vow, he clutched his sword as it began to glow with a sinister red hue. A low growl, almost inaudible, resonated from the blade.

Without warning, Bloodthorn stretched out, bridging the distance between Caelum and Dravon in an instant. The blade pierced through Dravon's chest, its tip emerging from his back.

Dravon's eyes widened in disbelief, blood bubbling from his mouth. He could accept not being able to handle Caelum's true cultivation, but he never imagined he'd be killed even with the kid’s self-imposed limitations.

"Impossible," he choked out, his body swaying before toppling over, lifeless.

Upon witnessing the death of their leader, the two remaining followers exchanged a terrified glance. Without hesitation, they activated their respective escape techniques, vanishing into opposite directions, hoping that Caelum would pursue the other.

Lost in thought, Caelum barely registered their escape. He felt a profound connection with Bloodthorn that he'd never experienced before.

I've finally reached the Sword Soul Realm…

In this realm, his consciousness and Bloodthorn had fused, enabling him to communicate with the weapon on a deeper level and harness some of its abilities.

The technique that had dispatched Dravon so effortlessly was the Thorned Lash, it allowed Bloodthorn to elongate and contort its blade, striking from a distance with deadly precision.

Gently wiping the blade, he mused, Bloodthorn is now an extension of my soul. We're linked in a manner deeper than ever before. But this bond is a double-edged sword. He knew that the destruction of Bloodthorn would reverberate within his very soul, causing potentially irreparable damage.

We will be together till the end…I promise.

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Far from the city, in his secluded cultivation quarters, Slifer received a System notification.

Ding! Congratulations! Your Disciple Caelum has broken through to the Sword Soul Realm Reward: 500 Karmic Credits

Engrossed in his meditation, the message went unnoticed.

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Back in the city, as Caelum walked away from the scene of the battle, an intense pressure heavily weighed down on him. His body instinctively tensed, and he raised his eyes to see a young woman descending gracefully from the heavens. Her robes bore the symbol of the White Tiger, and her pretty face was twisted into an ugly scowl.

"You think you can walk away after causing such a ruckus?" she demanded, her voice as sharp as the blade at Caelum's waist.

Caelum arched an eyebrow, meeting her gaze. "Who might you be?"

"Typical of demonic scum to wreak havoc and then play ignorant." She shook her head, disgust evident on her face. "You have two choices: accompany me to the dungeons for your crimes, or face your death here and now."

Can we handle a Nascent Soul cultivator, Bloodthorn? Caelum pondered, his gaze dropping to the sword in his hand.

In response, Bloodthorn let out a low growl in agreement.