Chapter 3

Switching his current skill, “Eight-Eyes”, for “Phoenix Elixir of Regression”, he finished his chant.

Then, his Mythical ability “Universal Addition” activated.

There shall be Judgement, Order, and Exchange.

These seven words echo across the ever expanding universe, rippling subtly across the vast empty space and the immaterial. The foundation and fundamental rules of the universe shudder with a wave of change, of something new.

Something that made the very fabric of the cosmos twist and bend unnaturally, an attempt to fabricate a new commandment in its place. The space around Spark started to warp in distortion, the by-product of his skill, and it wasn’t left unnoticed amidst the battlefield as they gape in surprise. Most were shocked and confused, while he, Spark, focused on something else entirely, ignoring the imposed ceasefire.

His main concern was the creation of Judgment, Order, and Exchange.

The three beings, he calls it.

Three figures with immense power, able to alter and bend reality according to their judgment. A universal platform for any sentient creature to barter and trade. And this… was his plan to success.

To do this, he takes a deep breath and gathers information about what he has set upon the universe, considering what he is going to say and deciding his next course of action. Because… they were three entities with rules and laws he had to unconditionally abide by.

One of them being Judgement, the one who decides the trade’s integrity and fairness, giving the assessment if the exchange would follow through or not.

Heavens Vow, the oathkeeper, the one who promises to see the transaction through, conducting any necessary actions to stay aligned with the trade and its pre-made agreement.

World Class Trade, the one who gives and takes, can provide anything–power, money, information, or dreams–to creatures across the material plane, with an equal price varying in form, including sentimental, physical, economic, or capability values.

Each of them has the ability to be omnipotent as long as the person knows what to exchange and what to sacrifice. And he, with a fiery determination, definitely knew what he’s going to sacrifice. His system. The object that’s obstructing his way to the Sword Saint, unable to interfere in the battle nor even act to change the situation. He was pissed, and he desired a trade.

(A black silhouette of a woman looks down in interest, feeling the new change in her body.)

Then, suddenly, with an electric sensation flowing through his spine, he magically received the confirmation of his skill’s completed activation. With this news, he began to chant their summoning, causing the rippling of spacetime to cease as if the world was listening to his very words.

(Sol, the universe made manifest, shook in ecstasy and amusement.)

– … I call upon thee, Judgement, Heavens Vow, and World Class. I exchange-

Before he could even finish, in his astonishment, three sisters with ethereal, abstract form slowly materialize beside him, answering his summoning. The space-time anomalies and distortions cease to be once they arrive, as if their presences soothe the chaotic energies of the universe. They gaze upon him with eyes that hold the wisdom of ages, their very presence exuding a calm that settles the turbulent forces around them.

“Our greatest gratitude to be meeting you, creator,” the three sisters spoke in perfect unison.

Their first interaction with the world was marked by their greeting to Spark, transitioning from their immaterial state to the material.

– Hello… daughters?

A gentle giggled escaped them, and they replied, “You may call us as you please, but the trade must commence, won’t you say? What is it that you desire of us, father?”

– … exchanging. Exchanging my system for full access and speaking terms to Yang Xial.

“That can be done,” they agreed with chuckles, embracing their new roles with genuine joy as they granted his wish.

[Host, an external entity has bypass-]

Then, with a mere snap of their fingers, the barrier and system that was blocking him suddenly disappeared into the aether, leaving him free to move around. He turns his head left and right in surprise, no longer sensing the barrier that was obstructing him, and enjoys his newly found freedom, floating across the wide grassy plain.

– Woah, that was unexpectedly easy.

His voice was laced by confusion due to the ease of the transaction, roaming around the battlefield with nonchalant. He remembered designing them as strict and non-exploitable/foolproof, yet accessible through chanting their names to maintain universal balance and harmony. He created them for the ease of use and not majorly disrupting the intended fate of the universe.

(Sol thanks the foreigner mentally. Looking around one last time, she says goodbye, then leaves to observe a new interesting development elsewhere.)

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Noticing his bewilderment adorn across his face, the sisters swiftly said in soft voices, “Fear not, we will receive fair compensation in the near future. In precisely ten minutes, to be exact.”

With this statement, surprisingly, a new voice entered the fray, tinged with wariness and fatigue. “Hello? Who’s there? Who are you? Identify yourselves. Are you friends or foes? Were you the one who caused the distortions?” the Sword Saint exhaustively whispered, hearing new individuals chatting among themselves.

Upon listening to Yang Xial’s weakened voice directly talking to them, the three sisters smiled knowingly. They understood perfectly what was unfolding and were fully prepared to leverage the situation. Of course, they didn’t mean any ill intent nor nefarious conducts. In fact, it’s actually the opposite as they do wish to be of assistance to their father, enjoying the new emotions of warmth and freedom that were gifted to them by the person in question. Then, Xial started to talk once again, “What is your purpose here? What is your intent? Are you here to help them?” He points his majestic sword at one of the Nascent Soul elders.

Perplexed with the strange behavior on the silent battlefield, the five cultivators raised their eyebrows in question, enveloping them in a thick air of uncertainty. Then, their expressions morphed from confusion to caution as they gradually assumed defensive positions, understanding and suspecting an intruder might be present, possibly complicating their intended ambush. Expecting there to be trouble, they quietly investigate and scan their surroundings for any sign of the unexpected guest, their Divine Senses stretched to their limits, hoping to spot the mystery man. They were, indeed, surprised by the developing situation.

The realization that someone had detected the presence of an outsider even before they could was not only shocking but spoke volume to the martial prowess of the Sword Saint. Despite his relatively junior status as an early-stage Core Formation expert, the Sword Saint's prowess was undeniable. In the world of cultivation, where strength was paramount, the hierarchy of power was crystal clear. At the pinnacle were the Nascent Soul cultivators, formidable beings capable of annihilating cities with minimal effort, likened to living incarnations of nuclear bombs.

Below them, the cultivation path was called by three major stages: Core Formation, Foundation Establishment, and Qi Refinement Stage, each with its distinct level of strength. While the Qi Refinement Stage scaled near to, and sometimes beyond, superhuman strength, Foundation Establishment cultivators had the power to destroy cities through spells and diagram formations with startling ease. Yet, they stand weak against a true Core Formation expert, as only a select few could achieve that ascension level.

And then, there were the Nascent Soul experts… Monsters in their own league. Powerhouses that defy the norms and rules set upon the land. They could easily obliterate hundreds to thousands of Core Formations with nothing but a wave of their hand. And yet, he, the Sword Saint, in all odds, defended against all five of them.

Not to mention, each new stage of cultivation can extend a person’s life span, causing them to live for hundreds to thousands of years old through the mystic art of qi refinement, and netting them even more mastery over qi, but it also takes hundreds of years to make minuscule progress in advancement, making most elders in the later stages of cultivation. And yet, he was only 14.

These were the exact reasons why they had to get rid of him. He was a disturbance in their power dynamic and sectoral group. Thus, they continuously watch for this ‘outsider’, unwilling for a tip in scale toward the Sword Saint’s favor. Or perhaps it was all a lie. A ruse. A red herring to get them distracted. Either way, they took no chances as they remained vigilant, intently observing his every move and waiting for his next plan.

Suddenly, the enigmatic voice that had caught Yang Xial's attention earlier resurfaced, this time distinctly targeting him.

–... Hello, Yang Xial, Sword Saint of Jade Iperios Province. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Spark.

“... wait, what? Why can I only hear you?” he quietly inquired with a whisper as he noticed the questioning looks on their faces, unable to wrap his head around the idea of an individual that can hide away from Nascent Soul experts.

Letting out a voice trang with exhaustion, from the long fights and tragic deaths, his eyes abruptly flutter in shock as he rapidly glances over to a certain spot. A spot where something shouldn’t be there. A spot where the five Nascent Soul cultivators currently preside with a foreign entity roaming among them. A pair of eyes, piercing through his soul, staring at him, was floating amidst the group of ambushers.

Then, the Nascent Soul experts, reacting to Xial’s expression, hastily hop and dash away from the spot, instantly scattering. They moved with swift, qi imbued leaps, anticipating an expansive attack or an ambush they had failed to detect.

Then, the voice spoke again. No mouth, no nose, no ears. Only eyes, staring intently at him.

– Greetings. Guess you found me, huh?

The two of them, now isolated on the battlefield of the grassy plain, with winds blowing across their feets, stood face to face staring at each other as Spark began directly communicating to him.

– So, guessing from what I gathered, your friend was the prince, yes? A person with great virtue who chose to face death, all to shield you from harm. Yet, this burden of war hasn't reached its end, has it? Despite his sacrifice, a problem remains… for there are five more hearts, five more lives, you've to protect.

He points at the five of them, still hesitating about whether or not to accept their inevitable ends as the selfless prince did. They acknowledge their lives aren’t worth as much as the Sword Saint, yet it’s in human nature to fear death.

Upon seeing his vague gesture toward them, the Sword Saint remains silent, unable to refute his words, yet... the dying words of the imperial prince haunted him, kindling a some sort of selfish desire inside of his heart–of something new. A selfish desire to be a person, a human being. With feelings for hunger, freedom, and… the most important, warmth.

He can’t let his sacrifice go to waste… his dying will was intended to save him…

Right?

He can leave, right?

…

… Please, anyone. I’m so, so scared. I can't carry this burden by myself anymore. Mother… father, where are you? Brother… save me, I missed your warm hug and security so, so much. I wished you were with me.

I just want to go back.

…

No. He can’t. He can’t leave, can he? Just as always.

With this new found resolve, he pushes back the natural emotion of his survival instinct of fear… and the desire for security of his comforting family.

Then, with the new found determination, he gripped his family sword tightly in his hand and intently glared at the two amber eyes. But then, his gazes quickly morphed into surprise and doubt as he listened to the two next statements. Two sentences were spoken that changed the course of history for Xial and the world as he knows it. Two significant lines of words that alter the path of fate throughout history. And this was:

– Well, what if I said I have the power to reverse everything. Going into the past, changing what was done.

“What…?” He asked slowly, his voice heavy and laden with disbelief. This single word echoes across the empty world around him as if time has stopped in the sink of his desperation.