Time is a strange thing. It moves slowly, but it passes very quickly. Beneath the melting snow, the earth stirred, awakening from its long slumber as spring's delicate blossoms of pink and white pushed through the thawing ground. The barren trees were now showing the first signs of life, their branches adorned with tender green buds.
The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers wafted through the village, mingling with the chirping of birds and the distant hum of insects awakening from their winter slumber.
Li An stood at the entrance of the public courtyard with a basket of bread, lamb meat and fruits tucked under her arm. She turned to the two female servants waving their hands from afar.
"Thank you for the food," she said, her voice gentle. "Take care of yourselves."
The servants bowed deeply. It was rare for a cultivator to treat them so well. Mortals were often no different from cattle, merely used for giving birth to more cultivators. "Thank you for your kindness, Lady Li An. Have a wonderful day!"
Li An nodded, watching them leave with a soft smile. She had been feeling a deep sense of satisfaction for the last two months. There were no more interruptions to her cultivation, and she hadn't seen You Mei again since that snowy day.
Recently, her collection of hexanodes had grown substantially; she now possessed close to 800 of them. Rumors had spread throughout the sect about Elder Jiang's desperate attempts to sell her assets and purchase Spirit pills. The price of these pills had inflated dramatically, surprising many with the sheer amount of money Elder Jiang had at her disposal. But Li An knew better. The funds came from the other three sects, which were all sharing the burden of supporting Elder Jiang.
As she stepped into the courtyard, the warm sun kissed her skin. Li An closed her eyes, letting the nostalgia wash over her. A distant memory, perhaps.
A young girl walked through a carpet of wildflowers stretched out as far as the eye could see, swaying gently in the breeze. Her skin tingled under the sun's embrace, and her eyes carried the naive light of youth.
She could smell the sweet scent of flowers, and the sound of laughter—her own, pure and innocent.
"It really feels like a different person."
Reality tugged her back. Li An opened her eyes and the memory vanished as if it were a lie. The sun's warmth was still there, but it no longer felt comforting. It was a reminder of who she once was, and who she could never afford to be again.
With a final glance at the blossoming trees, Li An turned and walked back towards her quarters. Spring had come, but for Li An, it was just another season.
"The three sects should make their move soon. They can't afford this continuous buying of Spirit pills." Li An narrowed her eyes.
"Mhmm, what's this?"
As she walked, a strange, flickering blue light caught her attention from the corner of her eye. "It's daytime, so it cannot be a star. Why does it seem like-"
Li An's eyes widened as the light closed in faster, growing larger and more intense with each passing second. Soon, she could already vaguely see it: a glowing orb crackling with blue lightning, severing the skies in two like a harbinger of doom.
"This is not good." Li An felt her heart racing, but remained calm.
She swiftly moved to the back of a nearby house, pressing herself against the wall. She suppressed all signs of her spiritual energy, making herself as small and insignificant as possible.
The blue light hurled towards the sect grounds, and winds of erratic spiritual energy began to leak out.
The whole world seemed like it was shaking as a guttural laugh rang out from above Yi Jian Valley.
Li An's eyes drained of all color.
The skies shattered, and a thundering sound boomed out as a myriad of giant lightning serpents covered the sun. The air around Li An seemed to vibrate with the otherworldly pressure coming from the serpents above.
They dropped down suddenly and exploded with a deafening roar.
As if the end of the world was near, blue lightning bolts shot out in all directions, striking down countless mortal servants and obliterating houses and trees. Whoever and whatever touched the lightning, it was utterly decimated until no ashes remained.
Wails and shrieks rang out from every corner of the village, as if a scene from hell was playing itself out. In the spot where the two previous servants were supposed to be, there were only two black, smoking craters now.
Li An had beads of sweat on her forehead. Although the attack was only for less than three seconds, it felt like a lifetime. "Am I going to die?" She gritted her teeth and tried to remain as quiet as humanly possible.
Yet, despite the apocalyptic event, not a single cultivator was hit by the lightning. It was as if the destructive force was selectively targeting only those without significant spiritual energy.
Everyone stood frozen and turned their gaze towards the sky. There was only fear and awe in their eyes.
Hovering above the semi-devastated landscape was a man in his forties with long silver hair and a well-trimmed beard glistening in the blue lightning qi. The pressure he emitted was crushing, utterly suffocating.
"Who the hell is that monster?" Li An instinctively knew she was a mere insect in his presence. The man in the skies didn't even have to move in order to kill her.
His cold eyes surveyed the chaos below, and his azure robes billowed around him, crackling with residual spiritual energy from the blue lightning. There was a palpable force in his figure that pressed down on everyone who dared stare at him for too long.
"I am Zhen Wu, the Azure Sword sect leader. I came to inform that my disciples and elders are staying above the cliffs of Yi Jian Valley," the man shouted arrogantly. "We challenge the Gentle Sword sect to a martial contest between disciples in ten days. Let your strongest face mine, or face my wrath!"
The declaration hung in the air. Everyone could feel their knees trembling from his voice due to the spiritual energy imbued in his words. But the silence that followed was abruptly shattered by a voice filled with righteous fury.
"How dare you kill the people of our village!" the voice roared, resonating with the force of an earthquake.
From the main residence of the sect leader, a gigantic holy sword burst forth, its blade glowing with an intense, divine light. The sheer size and power of the sword were overwhelming, casting long, wide shadows across the courtyard.
Disciples and elders alike turned their eyes to the magnificent sight, their expressions shifting from fear to awe. The might of the Gentle Sword sect leader was not at all lacking compared to Zhen Wu.
The ground trembled under the giant sword's weight, and the air buzzed with its pure sword qi.
The disciples cheered from below. "A mere outsider wants to be arrogant in the territory of the Gentle Sword sect? Kill him, sect leader!"
"The ignorant are really foolish. What gave him the courage to challenge our sect?"
Li An watched the scene unfold with an excited glint in her eyes, her heart pounding like a drumbeat in her chest. That holy sword and those lightning serpents were unlike anything she had ever witnessed.
Her heart pounded not because of fear, but because of greed. She could not help but wonder how it felt to be a monster without relying on weapons or technology.
"So this is the true power of a Nascent Soul cultivator," she thought with a huge grin on her lips. "They are far scarier than I ever imagined."
The sect leader was flying above the holy sword. His wrinkled eyes were burning like a volcano about to erupt as he glared at Zhen Wu. "Zhen Wu! You dare to spill innocent blood on our sacred grounds? Looks like I didn't beat you up enough ten years ago!"
"Old man Song, only you are a worthy opponent. I will redeem myself for my loss last time," Zhen Wu sneered, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of apprehension at the sight of the holy sword.
There were no more words necessary.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
The sect leader raised his hand and the holy sword surged forward, its blade slicing through the air with rumbling as loud as thunder. Opposite it, Zhen Wu drew his blue sword, from which emerged a colossal lightning dragon crackling with electric fury.
The dragon made out of lightning qi roared and charged towards the holy sword. The ground beneath it scorched and cracked, sending waves of heat and electricity through the wind. The sky darkened and clouds swirled ominously as the roar of the dragon drew them in.
"Fuck!" Li An had sharp instincts and began running towards a sturdier building some dozens of li in front of her.
The radiant sword qi met the lightning dragon head-on. The collision released a blinding flash and a deafening bang that shook the earth beneath their feet. Shockwaves rippled outwards, uprooting the few remaining trees and shattering windows in a hundred-li radius.
Li An was lucky enough to be in the safety of the towering outer sect library together with some other disciples and two or three lower elders.
Disciples standing too close were thrown to the ground and their bodies convulsed as the residual energy coursed through their meridians. Some screamed in pain as the electricity seared their skin, leaving sizzling burns and blisters.
Not even the ground was spared. It seemed to writhe, the force of the clash creating deep fissures that radiated outward from the point of impact.
However, there was indeed a gap between the two sect leaders.
The holy sword remained firm and steady. The divine light slashed through the dragon's lightning qi as if it were nothing. With a last desperate roar, the dragon's body began to fragment, dissipating into countless arcs of wild electricity that scorched everything they touched.
Yet, the holy sword continued its relentless advance toward Zhen Wu without losing even a tiny bit of its radiance.
Li An, watching from her hidden vantage point, could feel the massive waves of chaotic spiritual energy from the clash resonating in her bones.
Nearby, one of the older lower elders was explaining the battle to the other disciples, "This is why the Gentle Sword sect is the strongest in the region. Our leader is a middle stage Nascent Soul cultivator, far surpassing the other sect leaders who are only at the low stage."
Zhen Wu's face contorted from frustration. He poured more of his spiritual energy into his blue sword, trying to reinforce the lightning dragon, but it was futile. The holy sword pressed on, and its divine light grew even more intense as it bore down on him.
"Are you still not making your move?" Zhen Wu asked fearfully while glancing at the sky behind him.
Just as the sword was about to strike him, a massive, poisonous viper erupted from the high cliffs, its purple scales glistening with liquid venom. At the same time, hundreds of white phantom fists rained down upon the holy sword.
The combined force of the viper and the phantom fists created a maelstrom of spiritual energy that finally halted the sword's advance, expending all its remaining momentum.
The ground shook violently again as the holy sword disintegrated and the brilliant sword qi scattered into the wind. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the battlefield in a thick haze.
When the dust settled, the members of the Gentle Sword sect could see two more figures standing beside Zhen Wu with very solemn expressions.
The first was the abbot of the White Temple, a tall, muscular buddha-like man whose bald head shone like a white lantern. His white tunic flowed gently in the spring breeze, and his eyes looked kind.
The one on his right was the leader of the Hidden Valley sect, the righteous organization that was only second to the Gentle Sword sect. The man looked like the oldest among all of the leaders; his back was hunched and his skin had purple veins bulging outwards due to the poison inserted inside his body throughout his life. His mere presence exuded a sense of danger, like a coiled serpent ready to strike.
The sight of these two mighty cultivators standing with Zhen Wu sent a chill down Li An's spine. She was just like a tiny bug caught in the midst of a battle between Gods. Only now did she realize the terror of the people she was extorting.
The sect leader of the Gentle Sword sect stepped forward, but his face was calmer than before.
"So, the White Temple and Hidden Valley sect have decided to join forces with the Azure Sword sect?" It felt more like he was stating a fact than asking a question.
The White Temple abbot bowed his head solemnly. "Sect leader Song, we are only here for the martial contest between our disciples. I promise I wish you no harm."
"In that case, I welcome you to the Yi Jian Valley." Old man Song was now much more relaxed. The White Temple buddhists were known for never lying in their lives. "You can come in to discuss the details of the contest at my residence. I will make sure to make your stay comfortable."
Li An's gaze narrowed. While everyone was staring at the two Nascent Soul cultivators dressed in white, she could see the frowning faces of the leaders from the Azure Sword and Hidden Valley sects. "There seems to be a rift between their alliances. The White Temple doesn't want to shift the balance of power in the region."
It was actually a sensible decision. The Azure Sword and Gentle Sword sects are the only two sword sects in a range of several thousand li, so they are naturally enemies. The Hidden Valley sect has the disciple Tong Zi with talent that has not been seen in hundreds of years; they were growing ambitious for the top seat in the region.
On the other hand, the White Temple had no grudge against the Gentle Sword sect, and they were in fact very stable right now due to their friendly nature. Why would they poke the hornet's nest?
Li An had studied international relations her whole life, and after collecting some information about the situation in the region from her 'dear' friend Xu Wen in the outer sect library, her knowledge of the sect politics was not small.
"There are five parties involved in the secret of the northern forest: The Gentle Sword sect, the alliance of the two sects, the White Temple, me and the unknown high-level cultivator." Li An was the most worried about the latter.
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you shall never be defeated." She frowned. "I know nothing about this cultivator except that his means are terrifying."
Now that everyone had arrived for the party, it was about time she went out to explore the northern forest.
· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
The meeting hall of the Gentle Sword sect leader's residence was an extravagant room, unlike the rest of the village. There were rich tapestries depicting the legendary battles of the sect's ancestors and smooth wooden carvings were framed in the ceilings. Although they were considered to be ascetics, the Gentle Sword sect had to make sure they showed the other organizations how wealthy they really were. It was a question of image and intimidation.
The table in the center of the room was itself a masterpiece, carved from a single piece of thousand-year-old wood, its surface polished to a mirror-like finish. Four golden chairs surrounded it, each occupied by one of the most powerful figures in the region
The Gentle Sword sect leader, Song Weixin, sat at the head. To his left was Zhen Wu of the Azure Sword sect, still a bit battered from the experience of almost dying. Across from him, the White Temple abbot, Yun Xiang, exuded a calm aura and offered a small smile to everyone. Next to Yun Xiang was the leader of the Hidden Valley sect, old man He Jian.
Song Weixin broke the heavy silence. "We are gathered here to determine the location of the martial contest happening ten days from now."
Zhen Wu leaned forward, a sly smile playing on his lips. "I propose the western forest. Its terrain is challenging and will test the true mettle of our disciples."
"The western forest is indeed a formidable place." Yun Xiang nodded thoughtfully, his expression neutral. "However, I suggest the northern forest. It is smaller and has weaker wild beasts, meaning there will be fewer probabilities of disciples dying."
"I agree with abbot Yun Xiang. The northern forest provides a better location for the disciples to showcase their skills," He Jian said calmly.
Song Weixin's eyes narrowed as he considered the suggestions. He knew there were layers to these proposals, with each leader playing their own game.
Finally, he spoke. "I, too, choose the northern forest. I think the western forest is too dangerous for the great majority of the disciples. Only Core Formation cultivators should have the right to enter its outskirts."
He Jian's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.
"Old man Song fell for it, as expected." Inwardly, he marveled at the simplicity and effectiveness of their scheme. "By making Zhen Wu choose a different location first, then having Yun Xiang, known for his fairness, choose the northern forest, it made my choice seem inevitable rather than premeditated."
In other words, from beginning to end there was only one choice possible.
"It is settled, then," Yun Xiang spoke up.
Zhen Wu smashed his hand against the table with a slight grin on his lips. "Since we have agreed on the northern forest, I propose we deploy Essence Condensation cultivators from all our sects. We do not want the disciples to stray beyond the pre-established borders or venture into the fog within the forest depths."
Song Weixin's expression darkened immediately.
"I refuse," he said with a firm voice. "The safety of the disciples is the responsibility of the host sect. Involving cultivators from multiple sects will only complicate matters and create opportunities for interference."
Zhen Wu's eyes narrowed, his tone becoming more insistent. "This is not about interference, old man Song. It is about ensuring fairness and safety. The northern forest is vast and treacherous. Having cultivators from all sects present will guarantee that no unfair advantages are taken."
Song Weixin's face hardened, his voice rising. "You speak of fairness, Zhen Wu, yet your suggestion reeks of ulterior motives. I will not allow outsiders to meddle in the internal affairs of my sect."
The atmosphere grew more charged. The two leaders stared each other down and their spiritual energies began to flare subtly, causing the very air inside the room to hum with tension.
Yun Xiang, sensing the imminent fight, tried to interject. "Gentlemen, let us not forget the purpose of this gathering—"
But his words were drowned out by the sudden explosion of their auras. Zhen Wu stood, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword. "If you refuse to see reason, Song Weixin, then perhaps we should settle this matter in a more direct manner."
Song Weixin also stood.
"Must I remind you of what happened some minutes ago? If it is a fight you seek, Zhen Wu, then you shall have it."
The room seemed to hold its breath, the walls themselves creaking under the terrifying concentration of spiritual energy inside.
Just as the two leaders were about to draw their weapons, He Jian stood too, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Enough! This is not the time or place for this."
"We must think of the disciples." He Jian sounded like a kind old man, which was creepy for the others considering his disfigured appearance. "Song Weixin, if you believe it is best for your sect to handle the safety measures, then let it be so."
He then turned to Zhen Wu. "Trust in his ability to ensure the well-being of all participants. After all, it is his territory."
Song Weixin hesitated and his eyes flicked to He Jian with a mix of suspicion and gratitude. Slowly, he lowered his hand and sat back down. "Very well. The Gentle Sword Sect will take full responsibility for the safety of the disciples."
Zhen Wu scoffed, but he too, took his seat. "This had better be handled with the utmost integrity, old man Song. I will be watching."
However, Song Weixin wasn't even paying attention to him anymore. He kept his guard up as he thought about He Jian agreeing with him so easily.
"What is He Jian's angle in this?" Song Weixin wondered. "He did not take the side of his ally. Could it be that they also have their own disagreements?"
Yun Xiang resumed his role as mediator. "Now that we have settled the matter of safety, let us focus on the preparations for the contest. It is important that everything is in order."
While the leaders discussed logistics, the tension gradually eased but never fully dissipated. Each of them knew that there was something more than met the eye in this martial contest.