A few hundred meters at sea, not far from a fishing village bordering Sword King Mountain.
An elderly fisherman, absorbed in his quiet pastime on the waters of Serenity Lake, was surprised when he suddenly lost the fish he had been struggling with. His disappointment, however, was short-lived as a calm voice reached out to him.
"Here, your fish." Turning around, the old man was greeted by an unexpected sight – a tall black man accompanied by a young woman. The man, seemingly no more than 30 years old, exuded an air characteristic of someone much older, a presence imbued with wisdom and maturity. Remarkably, a wooden branch grew from the man's body and dangled the large, meter-long fish the elder had just lost.
The sight was nothing short of extraordinary. The fish, suspended gracefully from the branch, clearly indicated the man's unique abilities. The elder's realization deepened as he noticed the man and his companion casually standing on the water's surface, a feat that unequivocally marked them as powerful cultivators.
Recognizing the magnitude of the situation and the presence of such formidable individuals, the old fisherman responded with the utmost respect. He immediately bowed. "Thank you, elders, for your kindness!"
After dropping the fish off in the boat, the man and woman duo walked off in the distance. Their destination: Sword King Mountain.
Lin Jian was immersed in deep meditation at the highest point of the mountain, within the hallowed halls of the Eternal Palace. His tranquil state, however, was disrupted by the detection of an unfamiliar presence on his mountain – a cultivator in the early stages of Soul Shattering.
This unexpected intrusion into his domain caused Lin Jian to furrow his brow in concern, as it wasn't every day that an unknown Soul Shattering cultivator so casually wandered into his mountain.
Seeking to understand the nature and intent of this intruder, Lin Jian extended his divine sense. However, to his surprise, his probing was met with a forceful rebuff, a barrier that prevented his investigation and felt strangely familiar.
This mysterious power, which shielded the intruder from being investigated, reminded Lin Jian of his encounters with Tyler. He recalled how Tyler, with his unique divine sense and inner world, had successfully redirected Lin Jian’s attempts to discern his cultivation levels multiple times when he was meditating.
Such feats were highly unusual; it was nearly impossible for someone to conceal their cultivation from a cultivator an entire stage higher, except for those with extraordinary capabilities like Tyler.
This realization brought a sense of intrigue and caution to Lin Jian. The presence of a Soul Shattering cultivator who could resist his divine sense suggested someone with significant power and possibly unique abilities. The familiarity of the shielding technique raised questions about the intruder’s identity.
As Lin Jian contemplated his next move, a startling phenomenon occurred. A ripple of power, enigmatic and potent, spread across the entire mountain. Its origin was peculiar – seemingly emanating from the woman, the Soul Shattering cultivator he had sensed, yet not precisely from her. It was as if the source of this power was adjacent to her, an invisible yet immensely powerful presence.
This ripple was not immediately destructive or overtly aggressive, but it carried an air of oppression and... life? It was a wave of energy that seemed to resonate with the very essence of every plant and herb on the mountain, a silent yet profound declaration of presence, making every single tree quiver with joy.
For Lin Jian, this event was deeply unsettling. The ability to generate such a ripple that could permeate the entire mountain and the source to remain undetected suggested a level of power and mastery beyond anything he had ever experienced.
The sudden ripple in the surroundings raised numerous questions among the gathered powers on the mountain. Over half a dozen Soul Shattering cultivators had taken positions across the various sects and foreign powers, their expressions filled with curiosity and apprehension.
What was the purpose behind this ripple? Was it meant to display power, issue a warning, or convey some form of communication? The thought left them all on edge, leaving the task of diplomacy to the Sword King himself as every single one of them was scared shitless.
Maintaining a respectful distance from the newcomer, he watched as she strolled leisurely up the mountain, her presence seemingly unremarkable to those around her. She moved with an air of nonchalance, never pausing to engage with anyone or drawing attention to herself.
Occasionally, she would stop at a shop, loitering as if merely accompanying someone else. However, her ultimate destination became apparent as she reached the gates to the Eternal Palace.
Despite guards and protective measures, no one had detected or stopped her, underscoring her extraordinary abilities and the power of the one accompanying her.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Lin Jian promptly teleported to the plaza facing the gate of the Eternal Palace. Upon his arrival, he greeted the woman with respect and acknowledged her formidable presence. "Welcome to my humble mountain, fellow cultivator."
The woman, Leticia Freeman, was an intriguing figure in her casual green attire, her deep purple eyes and dark skin adding to her distinct appearance. It was her interaction with the unseen presence, however, that revealed the true nature of the situation. Addressing her unseen companion, she said. "Father, you can stop now. It's a bit awkward now..."
Maximus Freeman, Leticia's father, emerged from the void with a laugh that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. His reappearance into the mortal world was now official. Maximus was a figure of monumental importance in this budding world of cultivation, his presence alone commanding attention and awe.
The ripple of power emanating from Maximus again swept across the mountain. This time, its effect was even more profound. Every plant and herb on the mountain responded to his presence, their movements joyful and upward-reaching, as if recognizing and celebrating the arrival of an entity deeply connected to the essence of nature and life itself.
The emergence of Maximus Freeman, a pre-shattering ancestor and a figure of extraordinary significance, immediately altered the dynamics at the Eternal Palace. Lin Jian, the Sword King and Emperor of Veridian Peaks, recognized the magnitude of this encounter. He knelt on one knee in a display of deep respect and acknowledgment of Maximus’s unparalleled status. Infusing his voice with True Essence to ensure his message echoed throughout the mountain, he declared,
“Lin Jian, Emperor of Veridian Peaks, pays homage to the one known as Freedom Incarnate!”
A scene that oddly resembled an occurrence dating back to half a year ago.
However, Maximus intervened before Lin Jian’s proclamation could fully resonate across the mountain. With a simple wave of his hand, he erected a soundproofing barrier that suppressed all True Essence and severed all connections with Divine Sense.
This act of effortlessly creating a private, enclosed space was a profound demonstration of Maximus's power, as the message did not even have time to leave the 20-meter area between the Sword King and Freedom Incarnate.
Lin Jian felt a chill run down his spine as he experienced the sudden isolation. The sensation of being completely cut off from the outside world, unable to extend his senses beyond the barrier, shed some light on the man's capabilities. This moment was humbling and disconcerting for Lin Jian, who had not felt such a restriction in a thousand years.
Without wasted words, Maximus spoke directly. "I'm not one to beat around the bush, so I'll get straight to it. I have already scanned this mountain and most of this country and couldn't find the person I'm looking for. Take me to the person who helped you break through recently."
Stricken by the request, he was unsure how to respond, given his and Tyler's relationship. "This is... A bit.."
Before he could even come up with an excuse, the ancestor before him pressed his hand down, and Lin Jian instantly felt like the whole mountain was trying to crush him into pieces and instantly fell face-first into the ground, coughing up blood. "If it wasn't that you upheld my only two rules across your tiny little kingdom, I would have already killed you and searched your soul. You wicked puppet of Slaughter, don't you want to be rid of the curse? I could free you from that curse if you cooperate."
The moment Maximus lifted his hand, the oppressive pressure enveloping Lin Jian vanished, giving rise to a flicker of hope in the Sword King’s eyes. This subtle change did not go unnoticed by Maximus, whose keen perception caught even the slightest shift in Lin Jian's demeanor.
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Lin Jian trembled uncontrollably, his thoughts racing at breakneck speed. Does he possess the capability to break the slave contract? Overwhelmed by a sudden surge of emotions – centuries of pent-up anger, frustration, and oppression – he found himself unable to contain his words.
In a moment of recklessness, driven by the desperate desire for freedom and liberation from the confines of this small country, he betrayed everything and everyone. It was a gamble, a last-ditch effort to have a genuine chance at escaping the unyielding grasp of the curse.
After all, if even a Pre-Shattering Ancestor couldn't sever this contract, then no one could. Because honestly, if even a Pre-Shattering Ancestor couldn't sever this contract, no one could, and his carefully built relationship with Tyler would be for naught.
He shared Tyler's latest known whereabouts, obtained earlier that day from Lo Shen, who had recounted the incident involving 12 cultivators, including Lo Xin and a member of the Jeok family, without hesitation.
With unwavering transparency, he divulged the details of his current mission, along with every ability and technique known to the Sword King, including the modified One Finger, One Sword technique.
Furthermore, he disclosed Tyler's interactions and relationships with everyone he had encountered during his daily life, as well as his overarching goal in befriending Tyler – to aid him in achieving the power necessary to potentially break the very curse that Maximus had offered to sever so casually.
Maximus waved his hand once more, but this time, hundreds of tiny roots sprouted from the ground, shattering the stones of the plaza and ensnaring the Sword King in an inescapable net. In his voice, tinged with disappointment and regret, he spoke, "To so easily betray a friend and ally, all to rid yourself of a mere cursed weapon spirit... It appears that even during my absence, nothing has truly changed in the world."
From a distance, another Soul Shattering cultivator had appeared, witnessing the spectacle with awe. He watched as the Sword King was forcefully slammed into the ground, like a puppet with its strings severed, before being encased in a cocoon of thorny roots. The newcomer observed the events with a mix of shock and curiosity.
Then, the dark-skinned man extended his hand towards the new arrival, and the world seemed to constrict around him. An ethereal illusion of a sprouting tree enveloped the second cultivator, dragging him closer to the Sword King. He felt powerless to resist, forced to submit to this mysterious force.
Maximus addressed both men, his voice resolute and solemn. "As you're the one with the second-highest cultivation on this mountain, bear witness to this." With another wave of his hand, the Lo Family Head, Lo Tang, observed as the Sword King began to wither and die within the confines of the thorny roots that ensnared him, serving as nourishment for the plant.
The skies above transformed into a blood-dripping red as the Sword Spirit of the Slaughter Sword materialized in the mortal realm. Fueled by rage and seeking vengeance for the death of its enslaved host, it charged forth with malevolent intent.
However, life surged across the mountain, more potent than in all previous instances, as a colossal tree emerged from the very sword monument that stood at the peak. This towering tree dwarfed the Sword Spirit and struck its core with tremendous force. In its wake, the tree obliterated the sword monument, shattering the core of the Slaughter Sword and dispersing the formation that had gathered blood and slaughter origin energy for thousands of years.
This momentous event marked a significant victory for the righteous factions, as they succeeded in ridding the world of one of the remaining treasures associated with Earth's arch-nemesis, Slaughter Incarnate.
While the mountain's inhabitants were unaware of the sinister and macabre nature of the Slaughter Sword, they were nonetheless freed from its subtle malevolent influence.
As a result of the sword's destruction, a subtle ripple spread across the mountain, removing all of the invisible effects it had on the populace. Many individuals found their minds becoming clearer, and they ceased to be driven by feelings of hatred and anger. The mountain experienced a palpable shift towards a more harmonious and peaceful state, a shift only a few people had even felt.
As the central figure in this event, Maximus understood the full extent of what had transpired. He initiated the confrontation and ended the curse, but it came at the cost of the Sword King's life. The weight of this decision and its consequences were of no concern to him. Anyone willing to sell their friends to eliminate such a paltry little curse sword deserved death.
Madame Elaine, the Keepers of the Red Dust representative within Veridian Peaks, was deeply sensitive to shifts in energy and power. Specifically those that affected the masses, as knowing when those were in play was an intricate part of her path.
Having observed the entire sequence of events, she couldn't help but sense the transformative nature of this clash. It was a rare occurrence, and she knew it would have far-reaching effects on the kingdom and the world. Pulling out her life-bound treasure, she noted down the events of today.
The last one to feel any of these changes was the most unexpected. Sakura awakened from her guided meditation. She looked at her grandfather with questioning eyes. She couldn't contain her curiosity about the unusual sensations she had experienced.
"Grandpa, did you just feel anything?" she inquired, her voice tinged with awe and uncertainty. Her grandfather, who had been meditating and guiding her along the way, was initially taken aback by her question but quickly understood that something extraordinary had occurred as moments later, a massive surge of power exploded out of all of his granddaughter's orifices.
Basked in this incredible power, Sakura received another unexpected notification just a few days after shedding the rest of her mortal impurities. The words that appeared before her were both mystifying and intriguing.
System Functionality Unlocked: Soul Forging.
But before she could voice her concerns or even adapt to the ever-increasing powers coursing through her, she passed out.
At the top of the Eternal Palace, Maximus, with his extraordinary divine sense, detected Sakura's awakening. After hearing Tyler’s entire list of acquaintances on Sword King Mountain, he understood that her time spent with Tyler had somehow left a profound impact on her.
He was genuinely intrigued as to what had happened. The Architect's incarnations in the tutorial were clear. Anyone who emerged from the liminal places between realms was bound to have an exciting path. Both for themselves and the ones they interacted with.
Deciding to deal with the young girl later, he turned to Lo Tang. "Your emperor is dead. Selling out his friends and being a slave puppet to Slaughter, only death could release him and this mountain from this curse." He paused and asked, unaware of who this Soul Shattering cultivator was. "Who are you, and do you know a man named Tyler Reed?"
Lo Tang shook from head to toe with rage as he heard the man's name. "My name is Lo Tang, and yes, Your Excellency! I know the little demon!"
Indeed, the depth of a parent's love for their child transcended reason and rationality. With his profound senses and intimate knowledge of the situation, Maximus understood the intense rage and grief that now consumed the man named Lo Tang.
Losing a child was a pain that no one should ever have to endure, and it was natural for a parent to seek justice or vengeance, no matter the circumstances.
While justified, Tyler's act of self-defense had set in motion a chain of events that would have far-reaching consequences. Lo Tang's pursuit of Tyler was driven by an overwhelming need for retribution and closure, and he would stop at nothing to achieve it.
Recalling the message conveyed by the Architect's incarnations in the Tutorial, which called upon Earth's cultivators to either provide challenges to individuals like Tyler or extend their assistance, Maximus promptly opted for the challenging path when it came to Tyler.
With unwavering determination, Maximus declared, "You are now the new ruler of Veridian Peaks and the Sect Master of the Sword Sect. Your primary mission, for now, is to locate Tyler Reed and deliver him to me."
After a brief pause, he provided further instructions, "I could undertake this task myself, but it would go against the mission I've been entrusted with. You will not employ anyone above the Sea Formation level for this mission. Should you disregard this directive, you will meet the same fate as Lin Jian here." He gestured towards the lifeless body of the Sword King entwined with thorny roots.
With that, he dispelled his technique, and Lo Tang felt a tremendous oppressive burden lifted from him. He knelt down and prostrated himself before the immensely powerful cultivator who had granted his deepest desires with a single wave of his hand. "Thank you, senior! I will definitely bring that little demon here!!!"
Maximus made a dismissive wave, allowing Lo Tang to depart with a clear directive. "I shall be residing at the peak of the mountain. You are the only person authorized to approach me or my daughter. Any disturbance unrelated to Tyler Reed's capture will have severe consequences." With that, for the foreseeable future, every single herbalist and alchemist on Sword King Mountain became overjoyed with their progress and the quality of their products.
For the following three days, Lo Tang tirelessly probed for any clues regarding Tyler's whereabouts, employing every resource at his disposal. He even dispatched several Sea Formation cultivators to investigate the location of his son's demise.
Additionally, he gathered comprehensive information on the members of the raid Tyler had decimated and personally notified their respective families. He confiscated their communication crystals, including looting the ones off Tyler’s servants' cold corpses. Lo Shen was incarcerated to prevent information leakage, given his vocal opposition to the Sword Sect's new orders and his father's actions.
However, Lo Tang faced a formidable obstacle when attempting to interrogate the master of the Radiant Fist Dojo. He was met with unexpected resistance, culminating in an Aperture Strengthening cultivator sending him hurtling back to the Eternal Palace with a single life-saving treasure before disappearing from Sword King Mountain with his son and grand-daughter, leaving Lo Tang frustrated and stymied.
He had wanted to give chase, but a single telepathic message sent a chilling wave coursing through his body. "Your mission is Tyler Reed, not some Aperture Strengthening Cultivator and his family. Deviate again from this, and another one of your sons dies."
***
In the depths of Veridian Peak's forests, inside the domain of the Soul Shattering panther duo and halfway through his objective of reaching the little village known as Soul Refuge, Tyler had just awoken, and he was overwhelmed with uncertainty and fear.
He had fucked around, and he was pretty sure he was about to find out.