Immortal of the Ages

Taking credit that wasn't true to deceive others and oneself. That was the favored trick of Jiang Yue.

“Such games… they tend to end poorly, wouldn’t you agree?” Yun Xiao mused, his Sword Soul lightly caressing Holy Son Chu’s cheek. “Now, Holy Son Chu, considering the substantial dent you’ve put in my reputation these past days, what shall be my compensation?”

The raw truth revealed itself. If Yun Xiao hadn’t proven himself, he might have indeed fallen victim to Holy Son Chu's insidious ploy.

As the Sword Cultivators amidst the crowd gawked, lost for words, the scene unfurled in vicious irony. The humiliation of Holy Son Chu, Yun Xiao’s profound cultivation, and his fierce swordsmanship were laid bare for all to see.

The infamy surrounding Yun Xiao had reached a crescendo, shaking the foundations of public perception. His back-to-back slaying of two being at the Establishment Origin Core Realm had already validated all there was to prove.

In the crowd, Fan Jian and Xiao Xing'er, Heaven Chosen of the Forbidden Tower, had already stealthily retreated into the shadows, their eyes sharing an unspoken conversation.

“We need to get out of here.”

“Find help!”

Their thoughts, simultaneously born from mutual dread, turned to fleeing. Slipping into the Spirit Treasure Walk, they aimed to vanish through a rear window.

Fan Jian, on the brink of propelling himself with his Sovereign Sword, froze as a chilling voice invaded the space behind him.

“Yun Xiao, we can talk through this, right? We’ve no quarrel—” His words were cut short, an azure Flying Sword silencing his plea as it pierced through his mouth.

Swift, decisive, and exact, Fan Jian fell from the rear window, his bulky form a lifeless mass upon the cold ground below.

As the crowd disseminated in startled awe, staring at Fan Jian's corpse, their limbs trembled in fear.

Sword Princeling Ning Jing, witnessing Fan Jian's demise, held tightly to her father Ning Que, startling him with her grip.

“I killed your father, and you say we have no quarrel? You must have a screw loose in your head.” Yun Xiao's cold laughter resonated in the tense air. Suddenly, he sent his azure Flying Sword soaring into the dimming night sky.

STAB! High above, a certain figure attempting to flee away on a Sovereign Sword was abruptly pierced through the back by a sword!

THUD! She plummeted from the heavens, crash-landing in a bloody, unrecognizable heap on the ground. This was Xiao Xing’er, the fiancée of the Sword Lord's son, Lin Chen!

"Sister-in-law..." Lin Lin, upon witnessing the horrific state of Xiao Xing'er, released an agonized wail, her breathing hitched with overwhelming sorrow. Another one lost!

"Are these the Heaven Chosen of the Forbidden Tower? Not even worth killing! What a waste of two Sword Tempering Pills," Yun Xiao declared nonchalantly, wiping out the two as effortlessly as snuffing out ants.

His ease and ruthlessness etched a deep, unforgettable impression upon the Sword Cultivators of the Sea of Swords. Did they perceive him as an easy target? Sadly for them, he was the sharpest of thorns!

"Ah! Ah…!" Holy Son Chu, eyes bulging psyche shattering as he wailed. He gazed at the two Heaven Chosen. They had always been stronger than him, but they fell like dust at Yun Xiao’s hands.

As for Holy Son Chu's family… Patriarch Chu, Li Xian'er, Chu Yun, Chu Feng, Chu Yu, witnessing the gruesome fates of Fan Jian and Xiao Xing'er, where could they possibly flee? Their expressions were ashen, huddling together, they all knelt before Yun Xiao.

"Young Sword Lord! We were blind, not recognizing that you are the foremost genius of the Sea of Swords! Please, Young Sword Lord, spare us!" Patriarch Chu, tears and snot flowing unbridled, knocked his forehead to the ground in plea.

"Please spare us, Young Sword Lord!" Li Xian'er, leading her children, also kowtowed. A woman, once famed for her beauty across the Sea of Swords, now trembled, her eyes constantly darting afar, silently pleading for a savior.

"No need for such theatrics. Surely, you're all thinking that once your Forbidden Tower experts arrive, they'll disassemble me, right?" Yun Xiao inquired coolly.

"No, no, no! We sincerely admit our wrongdoing!" Patriarch Chu begged, presenting a Pouch of Holding, “Young Sword Lord, here are 2,000,000 Spirit Stones, the entirety of my Chu Family’s wealth, offered to you as reparation!"

A sum of 2,000,000 Spirit Stones! The crowd inhaled sharply, their bodies trembling for this was no small sum.

Patriarch Chu offered the Spirit Stones, having observed Yun Xiao murder Fan Jian and Xiao He, then effortlessly loot their possessions.

"2,000,000 Spirit Stones, huh?" Yun Xiao eyed Patriarch Chu, "If I kill you, the Spirit Stones would still be mine. Basically, this is already my money! Patriarch Chu, how can you use my money to purchase your life?"

"W-what…?" Patriarch Chu’s body recoiled as if struck by lightning!

"Holy Son Chu!" Yun Xiao, turning toward Chu Yan, offered a frigid smile, "You just suggested I commit suicide, did you not?"

"I dare not! I dare not!" Holy Son Chu sobbed and kowtowed.

"Today, only one of you has to die to protect your entire family. How about it?" Yun Xiao suddenly proposed.

"What?" Holy Son Chu stared blankly.

"I have no desire to dirty my sword with your death today. If you take your own life, I will spare your family," Yun Xiao stated indifferently.

A chill ran down the spines of the onlookers! This youth in white, in spite of his celestial looks, harbored a vengefulness that left souls trembling!

Indeed, Yun Xiao put on this display for them all! He desired the entire Sea of Swords to understand the consequences of crossing him. Any affront, no matter how minor, would be repaid manifold!

"Bow one head to spare a hundred swords!" The phrase held a grim weight in the air.

"I should kill myself? To save my family?" Holy Son Chu's response was as explosive as a strike of five thunderbolts. His face ripped apart with horror, tears streaming unchecked.

"Exactly! You commit suicide!" Yun Xiao answered without a trace of doubt.

"No, no..." Holy Son Chu whimpered, pounding his head on the floor with panic-laden force. "Young Sword Lord, please, spare me! Treat me as a dog if you must! I'll serve you!"

Yun Xiao didn't hesitate. He dragged Chu Yu, the sister of the Holy Son, and lobbed her on the ground before him. A swift thrust of his sword, and it was over. Chu Yu's life ended with a morbid scream and shaking limbs.

"Holy Son Chu! Stop buying time. Your death to save your family. Kill yourself!" Yun Xiao's command was frosty and severe.

"Chu Yan!" The pleas came pouring out. Patriarch Chu, Li Xian'er, Chu Feng, and Chu Yun each whimpered in desperation.

"My son, for the sake of your parents and siblings, please, take your own life!" Patriarch Chu sobbed uncontrollably.

"Son, I gave birth to you and raised you. Please, spare your mother's life," Li Xian'er pleaded.

Chu Yun chimed in, "Little Brother, we've always favored you, given you everything you wanted. You're bound to die today anyway, why not end it and give your older brother a chance to live?!"

"It's you who offended the Young Sword Lord; we had no part in it. Kill yourself, Chu Yan!" Chu Feng's eyes were a bloodshot crimson. They all were practically begging.

'Y-you… you all! Holy Son Chu muttered. Each desperate plea was as if a sword was pierced right through his heart. He felt completely shattered.

"Son, you're already a dead man! But we all still have a life!" Patriarch Chu pleaded desperately. "Kill yourself! Spare your family and wipe away your sins!"

"Wasting time again, huh?" Yun Xiao uttered before firing his Flying Sword, nailing Chu Feng to the wall of the Spirit Treasure Walk.

"Ahhhh!" The whole Chu Family was sent into chaos.

"Chu Yan, just kill yourself!"

Upon hearing that, Holy Son Chu collapsed onto the floor. He held the Sword Soul in his hands but couldn't muster the courage to plunge it into his own heart.

"Father! Mother! Brother!" Holy Son Chu's grief echoed through the Spirit Treasure Walk.

"Brother Chu…" Lin Lin, Holy Son Chu's apparent lover, couldn't bear it anymore. She had cried herself nearly blind.

Without uttering another word, Yun Xiao stood, aiming his Flying Sword every five breaths to claim yet another life. Chu Yun, dead. Li Xianer, dead!

Seeing Holy Son Chu still didn't dare to kill himself after the final five breaths, Yun Xiao put an end to Patriarch Chu too.

"Just one death, you could've saved them all. You're such a filial son!" Yun Xiao delivered a cold remark. And with one swift movement, he stabbed his Sword Soul right through Holy Son Chu's Dantian, disabling him.

"Do you want to die, Holy Son Chu? Sorry, but I won't let you!" Yun Xiao taunted, "I want you to exist in the Sea of Swords for everyone to see and remember you for your lying mouth."

Who between the two of them couldn't take a single sword stroke? The question no longer needed to be asked.

Holy Son Chu lay on the ground. He could barely string two thoughts together. "I'm... I'm alive..." He muttered bitterly. There was a certain darkness in his gaze when he finally turned towards Lin Lin by his side. "Lin Lin, out of everyone in this world, I only have you left now…"

These words sent Lin Lin into a series of broken sobs, unable to tolerate it any longer. Her wail echoed through the still air, and with a clumsy hustle that involved more rolling than running, she bulldozed her way through the crowd, leaving in her wake a vision of utter disarray. It was over!

Yun Xiao scanned the surroundings. Thousands of Sword Cultivators stared blankly at him, their fingers quivering concealed within their sleeves, their eyes forever etching into memory the image of this white-robed youth and his current greed, wrath, and foolishness.

"Well then…" Yun Xiao scooped up the Spirit Stones of the fallen, tucking them all into his Pouch of Holding. A sum of over 5,000,000 Spirit Stones!

"Ladies and gentlemen," Yun Xiao declared. "Sometimes hearing is doubting, while seeing is believing! Next time, I hope you’ll observe before drawing your conclusions!" He trusted they grasped his meaning.

"Young Sword Lord is remarkable!" For a moment, hundreds subconsciously cupsed their hands and bowed in response.

After this night, the Sea of Swords would naturally not lean entirely toward Ye Guying!

"Kindness and forbearance can’t snatch respect on the path to immortality!" Yun Xiao uttered firmly. "Only strength and means can genuinely make one surrender!"

When it was time to act, act! From the gazes of these people, Yun Xiao knew that he'd subdued the Sea of Swords!

After the day, he'd swallowed the Azure Kite Sea, and thousands screamed for his death! Why? In the end, it was still because they thought his Sword Soul was strong, but his cultivation was weak!

Now, a new consensus had formed...

"Let the sword fly a bit longer!"

"The sword just came out. Why preemptively decide who loses and who wins?"

As Yun Xiao spoke, he turned to Ning Que, saying, "Right, Patriarch Ning?"

Ning Que, bracing himself against the large door of the Spirit Treasure Walk to stand firmly, spoke with a raspy, trembling voice, "Correct! My sister... she really does have a good eye!"

"So, does Sword Heaven think highly of me now?" Yun Xiao asked, a hint of nonchalance in his voice.

"Yes!" Ning Que gritted his teeth to respond.

"But I think nothing of Sword Heaven." Yun Xiao cracked a grin.

"..." Ning Que froze, silent for a long time.

At this moment, the white-robed youth turned back, returning to the shop of Madam Qian!

Madam Qian, puffing on her pipe and propping up her legs over each other, had been squinting and smiling from start to finish, watching the youth's every move with the might of a tiger.

Without a word, Yun Xiao counted out 500,000 Spirit Stones from his Pouch of Holding and placed them before Madam Qian, then softly smiled, "Shopkeeper, I'll take that large-size Dao Companion magic treasure armor!"

"Hehe, young man, you sure have good taste! Gifting this, won’t your lady be so moved she'd just about make a puddle!?" Madam Qian hastily set down her pipe, with a whoosh she accepted the 500,000 Spirit Stones..

"Yup, Senior Sister Zhao should be happy with this!" Yun Xiao nodded with a smile.

"Do you know what I mean by making a puddle, boy?" Madam Qian raised an eyebrow, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

"..." Yun Xiao was struck speechless.

"Here, it's all packed!" Madam Qian handed the armor to Yun Xiao with a beaming smile, leaning closer to whisper in his ear, "I have a little brother named Qian Kun, he mentioned you and your deeds at the Azure Spirit Sword Sect to me! Breaking through a sect in six days? To us, you’re somewhat of a deity. Funny how they all pamper Ye Guying like a precious gem."

"Qian Kun? The Chief Steward of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion?" Yun Xiao knew that the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was the Spirit Treasure Walk's branch in the mortal world.

"Yes!" Madam Qian pinched Yun Xiao's face, sighed at how tender it was, then spoke, "Little brother, if Sword Heaven doesn’t treat you well, come find your sister anytime, I’ll have your back!"

"With just your Spirit Treasure Walk, you talk big, huh?" Yun Xiao quirked an eyebrow.

“Oh, absolutely! Us merchants, we've all got a little muscle behind us. Imagine trying to run a business on the path to immortality without some backup. It would be pure philanthropy, wouldn’t it?” Madam Qian declared with a charmed smile.

“And where might your muscle be flexing from?” Yun Xiao inquired with a teasing grin.

In response, Madam Qian playfully pointed skyward, chuckling heartily.

A flash of understanding sparked in Yun Xiao’s eyes. After a moment's contemplation, he erupted into cheerful laughter, “Many thanks for the kind sentiment. I'll keep it in mind. However, with the Sword Lord of Sword Heaven showing such favor and protection toward me, I must afford him some face!”

“Suit yourself! I won't see you off then.” Madam Qian waved dismissively.

“Oh, by the way, do you have any Sword Tempering Pills here?” Yun Xiao asked before departing.

“We do!” Madam Qian replied.

“Are they free?” Yun Xiao teased.

“Free, your auntie!” Madam Qian jabbed a finger toward the plaque above. “Our Spirit Treasure Walk's pills are all freshly baked, no stale pills sold here!”

“How much then?” Yun Xiao asked.

“Two million apiece!”

Yun Xiao hesitated, momentarily stunned. Then he sighed. "Ahh, sadly I'm from a humble home, I must decline!”