Chapter 53: First Sword of Azure Spirit!
Bathed in the glow of moonlight, a mist of pink hues all flowed into Jiang Yue's body. For a moment, the many wounds on her skin and face began to heal, even the traces of blood were absorbed back. Two chilling rays of pinkish-white light shot from her eyes, making her appearance in the dense forest exceptionally eerie.
"Hehe..." She hooked up the corners of her mouth slightly, her voice both sad and cold.
"Moon Fairy!" Suddenly, a deep and stern shout echoed. A man with a grim face and eyes like a hawk stepped into the forest, instantly locking onto the fog-enshrouded Jiang Yue.
"Ma... Master, save me." Jiang Yue's eyes were somewhat blank as she trembled, stretching her hand forward, her expression agonized, as if drowning in a sea of suffering. Upon seeing Ye Tiance, she struggled, wanting to move towards him.
However, Ye Tiance frowned at her, retreating a few steps backward! That kind of respectful yet distant look sent her plummeting into hell. In her despair, her face twisted, tears swelling in her eyes. But following that, the same cold light flowed from her eyes as she slightly hooked up her lips, looking at Ye Tiance with a charming smile.
"Moon Fairy, she is my disciple!" Ye Tiance stared at her, gritting his teeth.
"Do you care about her?" Jiang Yue asked with a tender laugh.
Ye Tiance fell silent.
"All your direct disciples are dead, it doesn't make a difference with this one." Jiang Yue lowered her head, looking at her own body and softly laughed, "Young people are really good, with robust vitality and strong resentment, they are the best for demon puppetry."
"Don’t be too arrogant, Moon Fairy, times have changed." Ye Tiance said in a deep voice."Hehe..." Jiang Yue slowly floated to Ye Tiance’s side, a refreshing, captivating fragrance emanated from her. Even without looking, one would feel dizzy in her presence, as though surrounded by a myriad of enchanting birds.
Ye Tiance gritted his teeth, decisively closing his eyes.
“Are you trying to scare me with Ye Guying?” Jiang Yue whispered in his ear, a haze of pink-white mist spreading towards Ye Tiance.
"Just a reminder." Ye Tiance’s voice was icy cold.
"Do I need it? Thanks to you all, if the deeds I've done across the thousand mortal nations are leaked, his reputation in the Sea of Swords will also be tarnished." Jiang Yue shrugged, “Those are many souls of infants fallen into the demon's mouth…”
“You!” Ye Tiance’s eyebrows shot up.
“We are both on the same path, mutual benefit. You use my clan’s Demon Core as a Sword Ring, and I don’t mind, why do you have to put on an act in front of me?” Jiang Yue softly laughed, “The path to becoming an Immortal is about seizing the creation of heaven and earth. Humans can become Human Immortals, demons can become Demon Immortals, different paths lead to the same goal, why the pretense of virtue?”
Ye Tiance fell silent, while Jiang Yue extended her jade-like hand, gently patting his chest, saying, “Rest assured and tell Ye Guying. Although I am a demon, I never betray friends. He can safely cultivate the great Dao with me, but if he wants to destroy me and clear his name... I have ways to make him lose both name and fame!”
“Given his current status, he probably can’t withstand your threats.” Ye Tiance coldly said.
“This isn’t a threat, but showing weakness.” Jiang Yue's smile was strange, “I heard tonight, your ancestor was doused in filth?”
“That’s what I want to talk about.” Ye Tiance stared at her, killing intent emerging in his eyes, “My ancestor was insulted, I can't wait ten days. There are too many strange things about Yun Xiao, even in ten days, I fear changes will occur, letting him bring out a method to break the situation.”
“Can’t wait even ten days? It seems this young man really scared you.” Jiang Yue sneered.
“Don’t say you're not interested, such a young and vigorous beauty is not exactly your favorite? If you do not want to get close to him, why occupy the body of my disciple?” Ye Tiance coldly smiled at her.
Jiang Yue rolled her eyes at him, filled with playful annoyance.
Ye Tiance had seen right through her!
"Fine, I’ll let them come." In Jiang Yue’s eyes, desire surged.
"Them?!" Ye Tiance gritted his teeth. "Azure Spirit is the realm of righteousness!"
"Do you consider yourself a man of righteousness?" Jiang Yue sneered.
Ye Tiance was taken aback! After a moment, he said, "Alright! Yun Xiao controls my family. Your kind excels in beguiling and bewildering, the first step is to save them. As long as my people are rescued, do as you please afterward. Just ensure two things… first, Yun Xiao must not die, and second, Zhao Xuanran must remain unharmed!"
"Unharmed?" Jiang Yue chuckled, "Ye Guying really is infatuated, still concerned?"
"Mind your own business," Ye Tiance said.
"Fine." Jiang Yue gazed towards the direction of Sword Pavilion, her eyes filled with desire. "That young man’s Dantian seems to possess a Dao Seed Talent.”
“A Dao Seed Talent? Like you and Guying?” Ye Tiance was slightly startled.
"The same kind, but far more inferior," Jiang Yue gently laughed. “But through the contour of his pants, his unique talent is visible! Stout as an ox or tiger, robust as a dragon or elephant! A true giant among men!”
'..." Ye Tiance was at a loss for words.
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Sword Pavilion, Grand Hall!
"Elder Brother."
"Sect Master."
Chen Dong, Li Chenlong, and Shangguan Yu, the three Sword Venerables, solemnly bowed.
“Tonight's incident was earth-shaking. The Sword Pavilion should have fallen into the abyss, our ancestors shamed. Fortunately, disciple Yun Xiao used his wit to avenge our humiliation," Shangguan Yu finished, glancing at the young man standing in white by the doorway.
The young man, calm and natural, looked ethereal. It was hard to believe that beneath that divine countenance, lay a brave and resolute desperado with a fiery temper.
The discrepancy between character and appearance was too great. Yet the three Sword Venerables could not deny, such a man held more charm, for he was a genuine mortal swordsman, with a sword and rage in his chest, plunged into the mortal world, greedy, wrathful, and foolish! Not some heavenly Immortal detached from the world.
"Yun Xiao is not weaker than Ye Guying." Shangguan Yu’s tone was serious, addressing the man sitting in azure robes in front of her.
The man in azure robes relaxed his face, a slight smile on his lips.
Seeing him this way, Shangguan Yu’s eyes reddened slightly.
"Elder Brother! Chen Dong is ashamed!"
"So am I!"
Chen Dong and Li Chenlong knelt before the man with a thud.
"Uncle Chen, Uncle Li, get up…." Zhao Xuanran hurriedly helped them up, saying, “He has never blamed you.”
“This is it!” Shangguan Yu’s eyes blazed. “Both of you, rather than holding guilt, should return to your Sword Peaks, admit the truth of three years ago, and expose Ye Tiance’s ugliness to the world!”
Before, it was secretly transmitted, but no one dared to speak publicly... The truth about who was at fault for the tragedy at Dark Abyss Mountain and the Bluedrop Flag? The Seven Prodigies of the Sword Pavilion, still shamed, unable to return home!
“Let’s go!” Chen Dong and Li Chenlong hesitated no more. They rose, determination painting their every movement, and left.
"Xuanran." At the doorway, Shangguan Yu turned back, addressing Zhao Xuanran, “Protect Yun Xiao well. With him, the Sword Pavilion will never fall!”
“Yes.” Zhao Xuanran gazed at the young man in white, nodding deeply.
“You may pass on to him the First Sword of Azure Spirit,” Shangguan Yu said.
“Mhm!” Zhao Xuanran nodded yet again.
Only then did the three Sword Venerables depart.
"The First Sword of Azure Spirit? Is it a sword technique?" Yun Xiao's heart fluttered as he turned to the lady in a black gown before him.
“Yes,” Zhao Xuanran confirmed.
“How high a level of technique is this?”
“Moon grade!”
"Wow." Yun Xiao had heard tales. Within the entire Azure Spirit Sword Sect, only one sword technique had reached the Moon grade, originating from the Sword Pavilion itself. This technique, passed down for hundreds of years, was practiced by consecutive Sect Masters and their disciples, slaying countless demons and achieving myriad merits. Ye Tiance had also coveted this sword technique!
“Rest for today. You are tired. Refill your spirit, and early tomorrow I will teach you,” Zhao Xuanran advised.
“I am not tired, robust as a dragon or tiger, still able to enjoy more,” Yun Xiao countered.
“Rest!” Zhao Xuanran glared at him.
“Yes...!” With Zhao Xuanran turning fierce, surely there would be no more Daughter's Red for him.
Yun Xiao's gaze shifted to the man in azure robes, asking, “Senior Sister Zhao, is there something in this world that can restore someone's Sword Soul?”
“The Sea of Swords might have it.” Sister Zhao paused slightly, then inquired, “Do you wish to contend for it?”
“I do!” Yun Xiao declared.
“Pardon my bluntness. Although you share a master-disciple title, he has never guided you. You owe him nothing. All that you have done today, he is already immensely grateful for.” Zhao Xuanran gently shook her head.
Yun Xiao grinned. “In my life, I act only on my desires. I do what I want and avoid what I don’t, never questioning the reason.” He spoke with such unburdened freedom!
“Besides, aren’t you passing on the First Sword of Azure Spirit to me tomorrow? With the Sect Master unavailable, you, my senior sister, stand in his stead. Your teaching is also a grace,” Yun Xiao noted.
Zhao Xuanran looked at him for a long while in silence. "Ye Tiance is in the Origin Core Realm!" she suddenly said.
Dragon Spring, Divine Sea, Origin Core—such were the realms of cultivation in this world. In other worlds, the counterparts might be Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation.
"Is he very strong?" Yun Xiao questioned.
“Stronger than me, stronger than the other Sword Venerables!” Zhao Xuanran slightly bowed her head.
“Anything else?” Yun Xiao asked.
“He has twenty-four layers of Sword Aura, an Upper Comet grade Sword Soul, and a Sword Ring!” Zhao Xuanran explained.
“Sword Ring? What is that?” Yun Xiao was confused.