Immortal of the Ages

Yun Xiao hoisted Ye Xuanying to his feet, prying open the old man's bleary eyes. "Take a good look at yourself!" he declared with a triumphant smirk. "Congratulations! Every Dantian in the Ye Family is shattered. All utterly useless now!"

"Y-you fiend…!" Tears flowed like rivers down Ye Xuanying's aged cheeks.

“You know the saying, don't you? Don’t underestimate the youth. Also, from all the stories I've read in my childhood, a shattered Dantian is just the first step for all supreme experts to rise. From today on, your entire Ye Family can strut around and slap faces. Aren't you happy?" Yun Xiao laughed again.

With a pained gasp, Ye Xuanying spat out even more blood.

Everything was over. What was Ye Tiance's whole scheme for? The slandering of Zhao Jianxing, the usurping of power at the First Sword Peak? It was all for the sake of unifying the Azure Spirit Sword Sect under the Ye Family for generations!!

And now? Ye Tiance was still waiting for the arrival of the filthy blood, defiled corpses, and demon feces from Zhang Jian! But here was Yun Xiao, having ruined the Ye Family's future generations. What was left to pass down now? Nothing but feathers!

“Yun Xiao, my son knows of your whereabouts. You are undoubtedly dead!” Ye Xuanying roared with desperate fury.

“Oh, really? Then who is that?” Yun Xiao pointed into the distance. With a loud thump, a headless corpse flew from the dark forest, landing before Ye Xuanying’s eyes. A fearsome beast's shadow flashed and vanished within the dark canopy.

Stunned, Ye Xuanying lowered his gaze and spat another mouthful of blood. It was his daughter-in-law, Fan Shi, Ye Tiance’s wife. She had gone to report the situation. Now, she was headless.

All those who supported the Ye Family were now dead. The remaining First Sword Peak Sword Cultivators, unable to move forward, took several steps back, watching Yun Xiao with wide eyes and open mouths. Ye Tiance had no idea his family had been devastated by Yun Xiao.

Ye Xuanying's mind buzzed. What on earth was this young man planning next?

“Anyone here got chains? Lend them to me!” Yun Xiao called to the remaining First Sword Peak disciples. The crowd, stunned and terrified, retreated.

"Fear not. I’m clear about debts and gratitude. A favor of a drop of water will be repaid tenfold, a spark of enmity avenged a hundredfold!” Yun Xiao announced solemnly.

The crowd exchanged glances.

“I have! I'll lend it to you!”

“Me too!”

"I've got some as well!"

…

Chains landed one by one in Yun Xiao’s hands. Then, he linked them all together. "Thanks. I hope that one day, I can travel the world with all of you, no more infighting, with the swords of Sword Cultivators only pointing at demons!”

After saying this, Yun Xiao turned and used the chains to bind the wailing members of the Ye Family together, wrapping the chains around their necks.

“Dare you take us captive?” Ye Xuanying's heart thudded with dread.

“I dare capture your ancestors too!”

Striding into their ancestral hall, Yun Xiao tore down a curtain from above and, with a fierce flick, enveloped all the spirit plaques of the Ye Family, bundling them up and tying them to the chain as well!

“What on earth do you want to do?” Ye Xuanying's voice trembled with despair.

“Taking them to meet their unworthy descendants,” Yun Xiao said indifferently.

Ye Xuanying fell silent. A premonition crept over him. His son, Ye Tiance, was going to spit blood next! All the Ye Family Divine Sea Realm Sword Cultivators around him were going to spit blood!

Finally, Yun Xiao approached the crowd at the First Sword Peak again.

“Everyone, do me a favor. If one day I can slay the demons and return justice to the Sword Pavilion, I will be immensely grateful to you all!” he said.

“Please, speak!” someone responded.

Yun Xiao whispered a few words in the crowd. On hearing his words, they all wore peculiar expressions.

“Rest assured! Anyway, they won’t know who released them!” someone said.

“Thank you!”

Yun Xiao bowed his hands to them.

BUZZ With one hand dragging a bundle of the Ye Family ancestral spirit plaque and the other pulling a chain of Ye Family members, he took to the sky on his Sovereign Sword. The hundred useless Ye Family members were dragged into the air, howling in terror, leaving behind a group of Sword Cultivators, exchanging glances.

“After today’s events, I think Yun Xiao may not be inferior to Sword King Ye! Who will win this contest is still uncertain, everyone, be cautious where you stand!” someone reminded.

“Right!”

“We actually have a preference…”

Just, they dared not say more.

Who was the true sword cultivator, full of heroic bravery and valour? People’s hearts flashed with a white shadow.

Who colluded with demons, distorting right and wrong, framing the loyal and good? People's hearts also had a count.

“Three years!”

“All of Azure Spirit really owes the Sword Pavilion justice!”

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Sword Cloud Walk! Apart from the Second Sword Peak, elders and some top disciples from the other six major Sword Peaks, all in the Divine Sea Realm, gathered here. Over a thousand people!

In fact, even from the Second Sword Peak, many snuck over to join the grand event. This was the great army of Sword Cultivators from Azure Spirit!

Should northern demons descend, their first duty as Divine Sea Sword Cultivators was to forge a great wall with their Sword Souls, guarding the mortal world’s thousands of nations!

However, today their task was… to throw filth at the Sword Pavilion and the Sect Master!

A group of Sword Cultivators stood in the cold sky, murderous aura chilling the air. Among the crowd, Ye Tiance and Yao Manxue stood as if bathed in glorious light, their faces full of divine power. Under the support of the strong, they stood on the side of justice, their beings filled with righteousness! In contrast, Chen Dong and Li Chenlong, two Sword Venerables, were pushed to the edges, their resentment swallowed down.

“The world is cold, and the petty are in power, leaving the common folk to suffer!” Chen Dong sighed, eyes filled with desolation.

“Ye Guying is talented. What a shame Ye Xuanying crafted him a selfish character, seeking only the strength of the Immortal Dao, severing worldly connections!” Li Chenlong, eyes filled with confusion, turned to look at Chen Dong. “Brother Chen, what, do you say, is the true meaning of cultivation? Is it to become an Immortal at the expense of countless lives, with the world's calamities none of our concern? Or is it to wield a sword to soar, securing heaven and protecting the Dao?”

“I know not! Some adhere to the former, holding themselves in high regard, using any means, yet often they live well. Some follow the latter, their conscience clear, yet meet a fate of shattered swords and ruined bodies, soon to face total defeat and infamy!” Chen Dong, looking towards the Sword Pavilion, was filled with regret.

“Heaven's Dao is unfair! Who will wield justice?” Li Chenlong exhaled a breath. In his mind’s eye, an image of a young man in white appeared.

“Today I thought Yun Xiao was the last banner of Azure Spirit, but I did not expect Ye Guying to still overshadow him! Now Yun Xiao has caused a great disaster…” Li Chenlong's voice was hoarse.

"I’m filled with guilt, not leaving with the backbone like Sister Yu! I’ve failed Senior Brother, failed the Master, and failed this sword!" The eyes of Chen Dong were filled with desolation.

They were from the Sword Pavilion! As the Fourth and Fifth Sword Venerables, they watched as thousands threatened to trample the Sword Pavilion, helpless to intervene.

"Has it been two hours?" Chen Dong asked.

"Yes! Has Zhang Jian arrived yet?" Li Chenlong looked around.

It didn't take this long for the six great Sword Peaks to gather the elders! The reason they waited two hours in the Sword Cloud Walk was certainly for the filth that would defile the Sword Pavilion for a decade, a stain impossible to cleanse!

"Apologies for the wait!" Just as the thousands of Divine Sea Sword Cultivators were growing impatient, the Seventh Sword Venerable, Zhang Jian, finally arrived. He jogged over, coming to a halt before Ye Tiance, a smile plastered across his face.

"Why so late? Everyone's been anxiously waiting," Ye Tiance says with some irritation.

For some unknown reason, waiting had left him uneasy, as though he’d missed out on some big event.

"Can't help it. I was short on time, and we didn't have enough on hand. I had to slaughter some more small demons," Zhang Jian said with an embarrassed smile.

"Are they fresh?" Yao Manxue asked.

"Yes!" Zhang Jian grinned widely.

"Fresh is better!" Yao Manxue noded.

"Bring them here to check," Ye Tiance ordered.

At Zhang Jian's call, numerous elders from the Seventh Sword Peak arrived, each holding a gigantic cauldron, all sealed shut!

Boom boom boom! Over a hundred cauldrons are placed before everyone's eyes!

Ye Tiance raised an eyebrow, "Open one and let’s see."

"No problem." Zhang Jian personally opens a cauldron. The instant it’s opened, a flood of stench violently surges out, sweeping across the Sword Cloud Walk in a blink.

"It stinks!" One by one, the Sword Cultivators frowned, their long sleeves covering their noses, retreating a few steps unwillingly.

"This is too disgusting," Yao Manxue hurriedly formed a shield with her powers, fearing the foul air would taint her.

"It's not just the smell!" From within the cauldron, waves of black and red smoke spread out, turning into black demonic miasma, accompanied by the chilling sounds of ghosts howling and wolves wailing, making everyone’s scalp tingle. Looking into the cauldron, it was filled with polluted blood, demon corpses, bones, and souls.

"It's mainly made of polluted demons, they are the dirtiest, their resentment the strongest. Years after their death, their wicked souls remain, potentially becoming demons again!"

"There are over a hundred and thirty cauldrons. If poured on the Sword Pavilion, it should cover all the spiritual energy there. By then, the underground dragon veins might move, likely shifting towards other Sword Peaks!" Zhang Jian's eyes were filled with anticipation.

"Not bad!" Hearing this, Ye Tiance finally smiled.

"These two hours were not wasted," Yao Manxue also said with a charming smile.

"With this, the Sword Pavilion will stink for more than a decade!" Liu Xuan laughs.

"Haha!"

"Sword Venerable, in that case, there’s no need to move our First Sword Peak ancestral spirit plaques to the Hall of Heroes. We can build our own Hall of Heroes!" a Ye Family member from the First Sword Peak suggested.

"Right! The ancestors of Sword Pavilion, to actually raise a beast like Yun Xiao, how could they rest in peace in the so-called Hall of Heroes? Later, let’s directly pour this filthy blood and corpses on the Hall of Heroes" Another Ye Family member expectedly said.

"Before that, let’s demolish their Hall of Heroes. There are quite a few spirit crystal-forged plaques, beams, steps, and stone pillars inside. Let's move them all to our Hall of Heroes to honor our Ye Family ancestors!”

“Our Ye Family ancestral’ spirit plaques must shine brightly!”

Upon hearing this, Ye Tiance laughed, "My father, on the other side, must have already notified the ancestors."

“We, the disciples of the Sixth Sword Peak, are also ready to display our Sword Souls to the sky," Yao Manxue said.

"Starting tonight, the Sword Pavilion will be a foul and stinking dead land!" Zhang Jian declared.

“Zhao Jianxing is unjust and unvirtuous, and should be infamously remembered for eternity!" Liu Xuan announced.

Two hours! Everyone couldn’t wait any longer.

"Demolish the Grand Hall, peel off the Hall of Heroes, dig up the graves of the Seven Prodigies, and sprinkle down the filthy demon blood!”

"Depose the Sect Master, raise a new Venerable!”

“Let the name Ye Guying shine in the Azure Spirit night sky, renowned across a thousand earthly nations!”

Ye Tiance looked in the direction of Sword Pavilion, his gaze intense. “My Ye Family's Sword Cultivators will unify Azure Spirit for thousands of generations in this move!”

These words stirred their hearts. Ye Guying hadn’t returned yet, Zhao Jianxing hadn’t died yet, so he held steady, not in a hurry to shout it out.

"Guying will sooner or later dominate the Sea of Swords. Azure Spirit is ultimately just his backing, these matters here will naturally be managed by me... It seems I need to have more children with my lovely Fan while I’m still young!” Thinking of this, Ye Tiance’s ambition surged, already boundless.

"Depart!" With a whoosh, thousands of Divine Sea Sword Cultivators soared majestically into the sky! The target was the Sword Pavilion!

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Night fell on the Sword Pavilion!

"I'm sorry!" With these words, Shangguan Yu, dressed in a cool blue robe, bowed her head in apology, her eyes dim with sorrow. Before her lay the vast Grand Hall! Within the hall, a shadow sat in silence, eyes wide open, unmoving. He had never closed his eyes. For he couldn't bear to..

Shangguan Yu knew he must have heard everything she said.

Within the desolate hall, an aura of stern death hung. His azure robes fluttered without wind, a few strands of white hair at his temples danced like swords, surging with sharp edges. In those shattered eyes, a trace of boundless rage flashed. And hatred. Hatred for himself, for being unable to stand, to slay the villains!

"Father..." Beside Shangguan Yu stands a woman in a black gown. Under the moonlight, her skin was as cold and white as snow, her delicate figure casting a beautiful silhouette. Yet now, her face was veiled with a deep shadow of sorrow and anger, like two immense dragons, surging in the depths of her eyes.

Beside her, Grandpa Qin, three elders, and disciples from the Sword Pavilion, were all present! Each face was pale, their hearts filled with intense fury and overwhelming grief.

"Junior Brother Yun—" Cai Maomao's voice was hoarse.

"Do not blame him!" the woman in the black gown suddenly shouts, cutting off Cai Maomao's words.

Cai Maomao shook his head. How could he blame him? Brother Yun, to vent his anger, had killed Ye Ziyan, Wu Yi, Yao Lie, Yu Xuanzhou… What a ruthless person!

"But now, as the Sword Pavilion is trapped, where is he who has caused this?" Shangguan Yu gritted her teeth, “It is because he could not keep his calm that those villains found an opportunity to tarnish Jianxing's lifetime reputation!"

“I said, do not blame him!” Zhao Xuanran grits her teeth as well.

"Lil Ran..." Shangguan Yu’s eyes are red, "I just think it’s not worth it for your father! Such an upright person should not have fallen like this! The ancestors of the Sword Pavilion should not be trampled upon!"

“I know, I know it all,” Zhao Xuanran’s eyes were equally red.

“Then tell me, what should we do?” Shangguan Yu asked.

Zhao Xuanran closes her eyes, sighs, and says, "I want to let him go, never to return again!"

"He’s a genius. If he manages to find enlightenment one day, I hope he'll return to the Azure Spirit Sword Sect and restore my father's honor..." Zhao Xuanran said, her voice trailed off, lost in bittersweet hope.

"And what of you?" Shangguan Yu asked, her voice steeped in worry.

"I..." Zhao Xuanran cast her gaze toward the Sword Cloud Walk, moistening her lips before a carefree smile bloomed on her face. "Tonight, I seek only death."

Seeking only death! All who dared to step into the Sword Pavilion would face her blade! Despite her tender age, she alone bore the burden of the Sword Pavilion's last shreds of dignity.

"I am willing to die!" Grandpa Qin stepped forward. Although his eyes were blind, his face was filled with resolved determination.

"I'm ready to die!"

"Count me in!"

Zhou, Zheng, Wang—the remaining three elders of the Sword Pavilion—all stepped forward. They had held their ground till this day, knowing this moment was inevitable. What did they have to fear about death?

"Our only regret tonight is that there might not be enough enemies to slay in honor of our fallen comrades," Grandpa Qin exclaimed with unwavering passion.

"What about us..." Cai Maomao spoke with a dreadful tone.

"I plead to the Second Sword Venerable, please ensure these children have a chance at life," Grandpa Qin immediately sank to his knees.

"No!" Shangguanyu swiftly intervened.

"Grandpa, I don't want to live either. There's no joy in this world! I wish to join my father in the underworld," Qin Tong whimpered. Her father, Qin Qingcheng, was the eldest disciple of the Sword Pavilion.

"Your father's soul resides on the Bluedrop Flag over the Dark Abyss Mountain. Even if you died, you can't join him," Grandpa Qin replied, his voice quivering as tears streamed down his face.

The strength in Cai Maomao's heart crumbled. All he ever wanted was to wait for his brother to come home...

"Please, take them away," Zhao Xuanran implored Shangguan Yu. "If you get a chance, tell Junior Brother Yun...” Her words hung in the silence without completion.

"Tell him what?" Shangguan Yu prodded.

"Nothing," Zhao Xuanran replied with a bitter smile and a shake of her head, "He's a lone traveler in this world. He owes no one."

"Said who?" A youthful voice rang out from nowhere.

A young man, his white clothing stained with fresh blood, sauntered out of the inky darkness of the woods, his gaze locked on the lady in black. He enunciated each word carefully, saying, "Senior Sister Zhao, Junior Brother Yun owes you a... joyous occasion for celebration."

"Shut up!" Zhao Xuanran blurted out, feeling a prickling sensation on her scalp.

"Yes, ma’am!" Yun Xiao obediently nodded.

"Why did you come back? You should hurry on." Zhao Xuanran voice was gruff, but her tightly clenched fists hidden in her sleeves betrayed her true feelings.

"I came back to give Senior Sister Zhao a grand gift!" Yun Xiao looked up, his eyes sparkling like a constellation.

"What kind of gift..." Zhao Xuanran trailed off.

Before Yun Xiao could spill the beans, the horizon behind him was ablaze with the flashes of a thousand Sword Souls illuminating the night sky, their furious power approaching!