Immortal of the Ages

"Let go of me you shameless woman!" Ancestor Ning's veins bulged at his temples, his fury a tangible thing in the air as his glare landed on Ning Yan. A scandal, that's what she was. It was widely known that she had been the one to usher Yun Xiao back to these grounds. "You… you're at fault for the destruction of the Azure Kite Sea too!" His voice shook with rage, yet Ning Yan offered nothing but silence in return.

The Sword Lord, uninterested in the burgeoning drama, interjected coldly, “Anyone else have grievances to voice? I’ve not yet had my fill of this petty bickering. Come, bring your complaints to the fore!”

The ancestors sealed their lips, locking away any further objections within them.

“Let’s proceed!” With a nonchalant air, the Sword Lord, flanked by Ning Yan and Yun Xiao, sauntered into the Sword Heaven, his every step languid yet purposeful, utterly unaffected by the stunned onlookers.

“Lin Qingfeng, your position of Sword Lord is but a hollow title,” the ancestor in red robes hissed through clenched teeth, blood lingering on his lips. “No one in Sword Heaven stands with you! What worth does your reign hold? When the Forbidden Tower Lord leads the Ten Great Families here to exact their vengeance, will anyone stand in your defense?”

Before the echoes of his defiance could fade, the Sword Lord reappeared before the red-robed ancestor.

The ancestor recoiled, eyes wide with a mixture of defiance and dread. “What more do you want?”

“You’ve still got a bone to pick, Second Uncle?” Without warning, the Sword Lord’s hand flicked forward, sending the ancestor tumbling to the ground, a stream of blood trickling from his nose.

The crowd, hundreds of Sword Heaven’s residents, could only watch, eyes reddening but tongues held, anger simmering beneath a forced calm.

Outside the entrance to the Wind Listening Pavilion, a seemingly casual conversation unfolded.

“Yun Xiao, take these vials of Sword Heart Spring,” The Sword Lord said, extending three jade vials with an easy grace.

“Sword Heart Spring? What might that be?” Yun Xiao’s voice held a note of curiosity.

“An expired Sword Heart, no longer lethal. Ground down and refined with herbs into a liquid. It has the power to nurture a Sword Soul. Yours surged quite substantially today; I worry it might have caused some foundational damage. Let the Sword Heart Springs rejuvenate your Sword Soul and nourish your physical sword bone,” the Sword Lord explained, a chuckle vibrating deep in his throat.

“Got it. That Sword Aura did burrow into the bone; left my flesh aching quite a bit,” Yun Xiao, accepting the vials, offered a nod of gratitude, “Thank you, Sword Lord.”

“No need for thanks between fellow men on the path of the sword.” A gentle pat on Yun Xiao's shoulder accompanied the Sword Lord's sigh, “So many in this world, yet so few true confidantes. It's a weary thing, indeed.”

Yun Xiao, holding the vials of Sword Heart Spring, reassured with a gentle smile, “One true ally is sufficient. Fear not, Sword Lord. Your gamble on me will not be in vain. Sword Heaven will have a future, and so shall our people.”

Hearty laughter spilled from the Sword Lord, mingling with another swig of his wine.

“Tell me, Sword Lord, whose Sword Heart was used for this?” asked Yun Xiao, slightly curious. He understood that only those with great daring could leave a Sword Heart behind as they faced death.

“My father’s!” the Sword Lord replied.

“Admirable!” Yun Xiao exclaimed.

“Eh, it’s adequate, a tradition of Sword Heaven. When it's my turn, I’ll endure the pain and leave one for the descendants. Gives them something to remember, though it need not necessarily be used,” the Sword Lord explained casually.

Yun Xiao, gazing at the Sword Heart Spring in his hand, noticed its power had indeed ebbed away, leaving only its medicinal properties.

“Three vials, to be used over three days; you can use the first today,” the Sword Lord said, his voice carrying a paternal undertone.

“Three days? That's precisely when Ye Guying will emerge from his seclusion,” noted Yun Xiao, his voice barely above a whisper.

“No matter, I’ll guard you. You have ample time to spar leisurely with him,” the Sword Lord declared, a grandiose air about him.

Spar leisurely, indeed.

A gentle smile brushed Yun Xiao’s lips, a quiet serenity nestling in the curve of his restraint.

The Sword Lord, a man who whispered wisdom through the echoes of a sharp wind, spoke with earnest. “Yun Xiao, your Sword Soul, your instinct with the sword, they defy the heavens themselves. Yet, your Dao Seed Talent and your cultivation, lacks behind. So, train at your own pace, my boy. Your potential is lofty, and impatience casts a shadow upon such heights.”

“I understand,” Yun Xiao nodded with composed humility.

With a practiced ease, the Sword Lord unveiled a parchment, its pages worn yet imbued with an ageless dignity. “This is a Star grade sword technique, gifted through the millennia by Sword Heaven itself. Peruse it tonight, and tomorrow, we delve into its depths together.”

A flicker of recollection danced in Yun Xiao’s eyes at the mention of the Star grade technique, memories of the Sword Lord’s single stroke, which swept aside myriad blades in cascading defeat.

This technique, which soared majestically above the Azure Dragon Squall, boasted an undeniable potency, the sheer thickness of the sword manual dwarfing that of the First Sword of Azure Spirit fivefold!

Upon accepting it, Yun Xiao marveled at the unexpected weight in his grasp.

“Stay in the Wind Listening Pavilion. Stifle your wandering and immerse yourself in the sword,” counseled the Sword Lord, lifting his wine flask, eyebrow quirked whimsically. “Fancy a sip?”

“No more wine for me. The sword beckons!” Yun Xiao chuckled.

With a mirthful twinkle, the Sword Lord admonished, “Ensure you absorb the Sword Heart Spring, lad. Its healing properties wane with time.”

“Will do!” Yun Xiao cast a glance at the Sword Heart Spring. “Tell me, Sword Lord, safeguarding me... Does it burden you?”

“Oh, the weight is quite formidable!” the Sword Lord conceded with a light-heartedness that belied the sincerity of his words.

“Can you bear it?” Yun Xiao asked.

“Bear it I must, for the sake of Sword Heaven’s tomorrow… No more words for now, I take my leave!” the Sword Lord replied. After speaking, he called out Ning Yan and departed.

Yun Xiao retreated into the embrace of the Wind Listening Pavilion, navigating toward the eastern chamber, where settled and centered, he opened the vial of Sword Heart Spring.

A small, shadowy creature sprang from his embrace, nosing curiously at the vials.

“Ugh!” Blue Star gagged, disdain warping his voice. “It stinks.”

“It's just the Sword Soul absorbing it, not us. We’re fine,” Yun Xiao, with the Heaven Burial Sword Soul in hand, leaned forward, seeking reassurance from his dark companion. “It's useful, isn't it?”

“Oh, it is. You’ll feel somewhat eased. Your Sword Aura’s so potent now, even your bones tremble beneath its might,” Blue Star offered.

“So, I can absorb it!” Yun Xiao said.

“But,” a mischievous gleam lit Blue Star’s eyes, “it harbors tiny insects.”

“Insects?” A single brow of Yun Xiao arched in intrigue.

“Gu,” Blue Star revealed with a sly chuckle.

Yun Xiao, after a measured glance at the Heaven Burial Sword Soul, asked, “Will it affect us?”

“Not at all,” laughed Blue Star.

“Then what’s the worry?” Yun Xiao, a casual shrug rippling through him, plunged the Heaven Burial Sword Soul into the vial, absorbing the Sword Heart Spring with a satisfied exhale.

“Ahhh, relief!” Genuine pleasure warmed his words.

Indeed, this was something splendid. Yun Xiao, with a swift disregard for caution, opened two more jade bottles, absorbing their contents without preamble.

“Weren’t you supposed to absorb it over three days?” Blue Star questioned, amusement coloring his words.

“When I act, I prefer the path of efficiency. I’m not partial to stages,” Yun Xiao replied with cool ease.

“Then, why did you battle ten separate times under the osmanthus tree that night, each skirmish a varied dance?” Blue Star queried with a feigned disdain.

"..." Yun Xiao, a glare etching into his expression, snapped, “That was the wine’s doing!”

"Who are you kidding? That little bit of wine, you two were sober after the second round, pretending for the other eight!" Blue Star, merciless in its reveal, mocked openly.

"Was Senior Sister Zhao sober in the latter part of the night too?" Yun Xiao froze, his cheeks blossoming into a subtle red.

"No shit! Both of you were wide awake and going at it like rabbits!" Blue Star dipped its head, letting loose a raucous cackle. "Still, even though you guys split it into ten rounds, looks like you hit the mark on the first go."

Silence settled on Yun Xiao like a cumbersome coat.

Abruptly, he seized Blue Star, shaking it with fervor. "Change of subject! Cough up the goods now!”

Guttural heaves emanated from Blue Star, and Heavenly Dao Sariras scattered like jewels upon the ground. Yun Xiao, whose coffers had seen a consistent surge, ensured their bellies were perennially amidst a state of refining, their labor uninterrupted.

In short, Yun Xiao was in no short supply of Heavenly Dao Sariras!

“My breakthrough speed hinges on how fast the resources rolls in. They're all assuming my progress is slow? Jokes on them, but that's where I shine!” His laugh, cool and sardonic, slithered through the air.

Half an hour later, he shouted. “I’m in the MId Origin Core Realm now!”

Within his Dantian, the Primordial Void Core expanded, burgeoning to twice its size. The Golden Dantian trembled, struggling to contain the explosively increasing power, even for just a moment.

“A hundred layers of Sword Aura!”

Accompanied by the unprecedented boost to his Sword Soul in the Azure Kite Sea, curiosity wound itself tightly around Yun Xiao. Just how much had his combat power improved?

“Though the Mid Origin Core Realm is modest, this Sword Soul will ensure whoever dares to draw a sword against me will meet their shattering demise!” Yun Xiao declared.

Though Yun Xiao was lagging in cultivation, his Sword Soul was peerless. It was practically a divine weapon, a single strike meant certain demise!

“The Sword Soul resides in the sword bone. The Sword Soul and Sword Aura loom high, the sword bone similarly sharp. My flesh, bathed in magic power, struggles to keep up. Lucky for me, there’s the vials of Sword Heart Spring!”

It was a temporary alleviation for Yun Xiao.

“However, the Nine Dragons Dantian, the Seed of Creation Talent… I'm going to have to face Ye Guying soon!” A sudden spark flickered within Yun Xiao’s eyes, as he sprung upright.

Extracting his Pouch of Holding, he counted, softly muttering, “About 200,000 Spirit Stones remaining.”

“Spirit Stones!” Red Moon mouth gaped wide, in eager anticipation of a feast.

“Dream on.” Yun Xiao pressed its maw shut, an image of a woman, clothed in black, dancing into his thoughts, “Though the Sea of Swords presented its fair share of noble beauties in recent days, Senior Sister Zhao… she's still the most beautiful of all!”

It was no wonder Ye Guying lingered on her so.

“What are you planning with those Spirit Stones?” Red Moon asked, an incredulous gaze affixed on Yun Xiao.

“She crafted me a white robe. Next time we meet, I plan to give her something. Gazing down at his white robe, Yun Xiao's eyes softened into a tender gleam, “I heard that the Spirit Treasure Walk in the Sea of Swords has plenty of different wares. I’m thinking of purchasing a treasure armor for Senior Sister Zhao. The Immortal Dao is a treacherous one; perhaps it’ll grant her a moment's solace on her demon-slaying ventures.””

A sum of 200,000 Spirit Stones was a sizable fortune, one certainly capable of procuring a respectable piece of treasure armor.

“You’ve just eradicated the lineage of this Sea of Swords, and now you intend to wander into the Spirit Treasure Walk?” Blue Star cackled.

“Of course! Since when did fear ever stop me?!” Yun Xiao stood, his gaze firm towards the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, pronouncing, “Though a thousand swords may seek to impede my path, they shall not quench my resolve to purchase a gift for Senior Sister Zhao! I long to see her smile when we next converse. Heh heh...”

“You know, she is merely mortal, and your paths shall inevitably diverge,” Blue Star remarked somberly.

“Hold your tongue!” Yun Xiao’s glare silenced it instantly.

Blue Star stared, somewhat astonished. It was his first glimpse of the Creator Immortal being displeased due to his words. But rather than being annoyed, he chuckled, "Is this the new Creator Immortal? Intriguing…"

“Hell, you’re annoying!” Yun Xiao scolded, scooping Blue Star into an affectionate grasp. He ambled toward the door, navigated through the dwelling, and landed at the east tower of the Wind Listening Pavillion. A gentle rapping followed. “Lin Lin, open up!”

"Who’s that?" queried a voice, fragile and startled, from within.

"Who else?" Yun Xiao murmured, rolling his eyes.

A resounding bang punctuated Lin Lin fiercely swinging the door open. Her eyes, alive with indignation, drilled into Yun Xiao. “My father's risking war with the whole Sea of Swords for you. And this is how you speak?”

Yun Xiao waived away her words, his demeanor as steady as stone. "Take me to the Spirit Treasure Walk."

“Spirit Treasure Walk? It's on Azure Kite Street, as plain as the nose on your face,” she retorted, a brow arching skeptically.

He nodded solemnly. "I know, but I'm buying a lady some clothes. You’d know best, being a woman and all. Help me choose a style."

Lin Lin chuckled, a note of ice present in the sound. "If you think I’m going to fall for some ill-thought ruse of affection, think again. You’ll say the clothes are for me, won’t you?”

Yun Xiao replied with silence, punctuated by a stern slap to Lin Lin’s cheek. "Would you stop fantasizing, Lin Lin? You two aren't even remotely the same size!"

And with that, a third slap reverberated through the space.

Lin Lin’s anger erupted, an inferno building in her eyes. Yet, after a pause, she steeled herself and hissed, “Fine, I’ll take you!”

▬ι══🪦✧⚰️✧🪦══ι▬

Meanwhile, the Forbidden Tower loomed, a pulsing heart of hushed whispers and grave exchanges, resonating an aura of grim determination.

“Finally I've broken through to the Late Origin Core Realm!” Holy Son Chu’s declaration, swathed in a veil of subdued joy, filtered through as he exited the cultivation room, two figures awaiting him outside.

Xiao He, his protector, and another—a green-robed man in his fourties, donning a goatee and a somewhat lecherous air—received him.

“My brilliant son, you’ve advanced?” The green-robed man’s eyes shimmered, a barely-contained excitement infusing his words.

“Father,” Holy Son Chu’s response was an emotionless murmur. He casually repelled the advancing man, approaching Xiao He instead. “Master Xiao, Yun Xiao still breathes, doesn’t he? I intend to rectify that.”

“Your hands won’t be needed,” Xiao He’s reply was an icy whisper.

Holy Son Chu paused, eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?”

Patriarch Chu hurried forward, unfolding the recent happenings at the Azure Kite Sea, relating every detail to Holy Son Chu. The Holy Son absorbed the narrative, a numbing shock permeating his being.

“The Azure Kite Sea... is no more?” He hadn’t even challenged the Rank Six Azure Kite!

A solid half-hour passed, a time during which Holy Son Chu wrestled with a tempest of anguish and acceptance.

“Fortunately, Yun Xiao lacks a Dao Seed Talent and his cultivation is slightly beneath the Sword Princelings and Heaven Chosen. Not like Ye Guying, who possesses no discernable weak points!” Patriarch Chu consoled his son, “Child, your swordplay far surpassed his, even more so now. A mere half-stroke could obliterate him.”

“One hundred layers of Sword Aura?” Holy Son Chu's voice wavered, a shadow crossing his visage.

“No matter!” Patriarch Chu assured. “Without the cultivation to back it up, a sturdy Sword Soul is of no use. Avoid clashing swords with him, and a single, vigorous strike to his head shall suffice for his demise.” After speaking, he glanced appeasingly towards Xiao He, “Isn’t that right, Master Xiao?”

"Seven to three odds, I say! Chu Yan at seven, Yun Xiao at three. As long as one avoids clashing Sword Souls, it's an easy kill," Xiao He analyzed, nodding solemnly.

Yet, panic bubbled within Holy Son Chu. He recognized that Xiao He's analysis still rested upon his own prior assertion—that Yun Xiao couldn’t even parry a single one of his strikes! Everyone placed their belief in him. What was he to do?

“This man must die swiftly, or my cover’s blown and I’ll lose it all!” Holy Son Chu found himself riding a tiger, difficult to dismount.

“My son! I knew you'd break through today, so I've already set up a celebratory feast at the Spirit Treasure Walk. I've invited Patriarch Fan, Ning Que from the Ning family, and other noteworthy figures, of course, including your Master Xiao and his daughter Xiao Xing'er, to butter you up a bit,” Patriarch Chu said, beaming.

“Didn’t you say Fan Jian and Xiao Xing'er had their Sword Souls cracked today?” Holy Son Chu asked.

“The Tower Lord personally used two Sword Tempering Pills to assist them in their recovery. It was fortunate that the damage wasn’t severe,” Patriarch Chu's expression darkened, “That Yun Xiao actually ambushed them while they were absorbing the Azure Kite; his conduct is simply disgraceful, nothing like you my son!”

Before he could finish, Chu Yan snapped, “Would you shut it already!”

“Go, relax a bit. It’s a good opportunity to chat with Ning Que,” Xiao He stated icily, “I've heard that the Sword Lord went back and gave all five elders a good thrashing. There’s now universal dissatisfaction over in Sword Heaven; this might be a good time to probe Ning Que’s stance.”

“Is Lin Lin going?” Holy Son Chu asked.

“She fears the Sword Lord, of course, she dares not come,” Xiao He replied.

Even with some unease coiling within him, since Yun Xiao had already stirred up such trouble, what more was there to fear? And so, Holy Son Chu steeled himself, declaring firmly, “Let’s go! Let's all celebrate together!”

JustLivingJL's Thoughts

Heya folks,

JL, here, just battling the urge to crawl into a blanket burrow and hibernate for the rest of the winter. Inflation, the post-COVID world sucks, right? All these businesses came up with excuses to raise their prices, and then when the pandemic was over, the prices stayed high. And when you ask, "Why don't you just bring the prices back down?", they just give you this look—

Today, I think I encountered the most brazen act of post pandemic bullshit to date. Picture this, a cozy local cafe I used to frequent for my breakfast fix. Pre-pandemic, this was my go-to spot for a wallet-friendly, belly-filling start to the day. You could buy a tuna melt bagel or a classic club sandwich for 3.49, all fresh and handmade right in front of you. Sounds great; what's not to like, right?

Fast forward to today. I'm back in the area, thinking, "Hey, let's indulge a bit." First thing I noticed, the old menu on the backboard vanished, replaced by a pamphlet with the new inflated prices—5.49 for my usual favorites! A bit of a shocker, but hey, treat yourself, support local businesses, yadda yadda.

Doing the mental math, I'm expecting to shell out around 11.00. I approach the counter, order my comfort duo. And the girl at the register goes, "Alright, your total comes out to 15.00"

I pause, do a double-take on the pamphlet, and ask if the prices have changed.

She responds with a casual yeah, "Ooh yeaahh. They changed a few months ago."

A line is forming behind me, the social anxiety is kicking in, and at this point I'm committed. Reluctantly, I tell her, "Okay, I'll pay by card."

She presents the machine to me and says, "There's an option to tip. So, enter any number you like."

I'm being asked to tip. For a takeaway order. In the UK, where tipping isn't even a fucking thing! I skip the tip at the speed of light, leaving the girl at the register slightly taken aback.

Now, here I am, back home with my overpriced bagel and sandwich, feeling a little buyer's remorse. Not just for the unexpected dent in my wallet, but for the audacity to ask for a tip on a to-go order!

So, farewell to my once-favorite cafe. And welcome to the new post-COVID normal. Sucks, doesn't it?