Chapter 020 - Swallow Tail Flash, Azure Lightning Crane, Leisurely Wander! (1)
Mountains stretched out in a seamless chain, amidst which clouds flowed like a boundless sea, harboring secrets and legends as old as time itself.
At the heart of this magnificent scenery, the First Sword Peak soared into the heavens, standing tall like a gargantuan sword piercing through the sky, a testament to its unparalleled blade's sharpness.
With a cacophony akin to a dragon's roar, over a hundred figures whisked across the sky, cleaving the looming clouds and heading towards a palace nestled amidst the clouds near the First Sword Peak—the abode of young Sword Cultivators of the revered Azure Spirit Sword Sect.
Their robes fluttered wildly in the wind, their emblems—a swirling, dancing one—stitched with utmost grandeur on their backs, signifying their proud origin from the First Sword Peak. These young individuals, with flowing hair and eyes glittering with an unruly, fierce light, radiated confidence, their smiles both suave and self-assured. They moved gracefully across the sky, evoking awe and admiration from onlookers.
Beneath their steady feet were Sword Souls, each one extending over six feet in length and at least as wide as a palm, offering stability as they traversed through the skies. A masterful representation of the Sovereign Sword form, a pinnacle of sword cultivation, where the sword and the cultivator merged into one.
Zing! As they approached a celestial palace amidst the clouds, they effortlessly retracted their Sword Souls, shrinking them to a mere three inches before they returned to their masters' palms. The young Sword Cultivators descended gracefully, their hands behind their backs, displaying a demeanor that could only be described as dashing.
"Junior Sister Jiang!" A group of leading cultivators, both dignified and handsome, shouted with welcoming smiles towards the palace amidst the clouds.
Boom! Before the echoes of their greeting could fade, the palace resonated with a thunderous sound, releasing a surge of overwhelming energy that scattered the surrounding clouds, revealing an awe-inspiring sight that held them all in rapt attention.
Startled, everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"Our little sister has broken through to the Divine Sea Realm!"
"She surged past five stages in one go!"
Their faces were painted with thick hues of admiration as they beheld the marvel unfolding before them.
"Oh, the Divine Sea Realm! There are still a few among us brothers who haven't reached it yet!" A young man adorned in cloud-patterned robes exclaimed.
"It's truly deserving of the sole Divine Sea Pill available in the entire Azure Spirit Sword Sect. Such a lavish initiation gift!" Another young woman in a blue skirt remarked, her eyes twinkling with amazement.
The Divine Sea Pill, an absolute treasure for cultivators in the Dragon Spring Realm. It expanded the Dragon Spring, allowing one to bypass years, even decades of arduous cultivation, reaching the Divine Sea Realm in a single day.
Someone sighed deeply, "Only those in the Dragon Spring Realm, who have amassed sufficient spiritual energy, can withstand such a rapid ascent in cultivation stages. Attempting this in the Divine Sea Realm could lead to instability."
"It's a top-tier Comet grade pill, after all! What could possibly surpass that?" another chimed in. In the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, whether it was pills, Sword Souls, Sword Techniques or Daoist Spells, anything labeled top-tier Comet grade was regarded as the epitome of excellence.
Even the most talented disciples of the First Sword Venerable would find themselves fortunate to possess a low-tier Comet grade pill during their initiation.
"The strongest sword talent truly deserves this unprecedented grand initiation ceremony," the young man in cloud-patterned robes remarked, a hint of envy lacing his words.
"I'm already anticipating the terrifying prowess Junior Sister Jiang will display at the competition..." The lady in the blue skirt chuckled, her smile a blooming flower amidst the celestial scenery.
At that moment, the palace doors swung open, revealing a young woman dressed in a white sword robe. Her long hair was tied back in a simple yet elegant style, and her demeanor was calm and aloof, akin to the misty clouds that adorned the sky.
With eyes deep as the ocean, harboring whirlpools of profound thoughts and wisdom, she stepped forward, an aura of unparalleled grandeur emanating from her. A single Divine Sea Pill had given her wings to soar to celestial heights, heralding the advent of a new legend within the ranks of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect.
"Congratulations on reaching the Divine Sea Realm, Junior Sister Jiang!"
A crowd of more than a hundred Sword Cultivators spoke in unison, showering Jiang Yue with a regard that suddenly filled her with a sensation of standing tall, surveying all that was beneath her. This was the path of the Immortals she had dreamed of. She had done it once more.
"Thank you, senior brothers and sisters," Jiang Yue replied, her lips pursed in a slight smile. Though her response was courteous, a newfound aloofness lingered in her demeanor, as if she had ascended to a higher plane of existence.
A group of seven familiar faces, all premier disciples of the Sword Venerable, gathered around her.
"Who are they?" Jiang Yue asked, gesturing towards the large group of individuals.
"They are the strongest disciples, meticulously selected from the First Sword Peak. Including us and you, there are a total of one hundred and twenty Sword Cultivators!" a youth clad in a cloud-patterned robe declared, his words tinged with a sense of pride.
"They are here for the Seven Swords Conclave?" Jiang Yue asked, her tone tinged with indifference.
"Sister Jiang, there has been an official change. The tournament this year is actually the Eight Swords Conclave," the cloud-robed youth said with an awkward smile.
"Eight swords? Is there an Eighth Sword Peak?" Jiang Yue asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"No, but there is a Sword Pavilion," a woman in a blue skirt chimed in, a mocking smile playing at her lips, eyes sparkling with a hint of derision.
"The Sword Pavilion, what's its purpose?" Jiang Yue asked, her tone carrying a hint of superiority that had developed over the past few days, fueled by the flattering remarks and reverence she had received even from her senior brothers and sisters.
"A dying branch of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect," the youth in the cloud robe explained.
"I see. Is it a place to nurture laborers, sword slaves, and the like?" Jiang Yue ventured, a spark of realization igniting in her mind. In her mortal days, her enthusiasm for the path of cultivation hadn't matched Yun Xiao's, leaving her with limited knowledge about the intricacies of the Azure Spirit lineage.
"Pretty much," the group of disciples responded, their laughter echoing harmoniously.
"Speaking of which…" the woman in the blue skirt said, leaning closer to Jiang Yue and speaking in hushed tones, "That fool who stole your five-hundred-year-old demon bone is at the Sword Pavilion. I heard he became the Top Sword there, which granted them the qualifications to participate in the tournament."
"The Top Sword of the Sword Pavilion is just a chief among laborers, right?" Jiang Yue's expression turned icy as she recalled the young man.
"He's said to be at the Establishment Dragon Spring Realm," the cloud-robed youth remarked nonchalantly.
"The Establishment Dragon Spring Realm? You mean, he concealed his true power during the Heavenly Path Trial?" Jiang Yue asked, her eyebrows arching in surprise.
"Exactly," the youth affirmed, his tone growing colder. "But fear not, Sister Jiang. The gap between the Establishment Dragon Spring and the Divine Sea is vast, as different as a small spring is from a vast ocean!"
"Fine. If there's a chance to face him..." Jiang Yue said with a chilly smile, her voice trailing off. She didn't want to utter harsh words. Yet, in her heart, she understood clearly that for someone of her Comet grade caliber, the only stain on her life needed to be wiped clean. She feared Yun Xiao might not participate in the Eight Swords Conclave, denying her the chance to publically redeem her previous disgrace.
"Rest assured, Junior Sister. That Sword Pavilion is nothing but a collection of misfits. With over a hundred Sword Cultivators from our First Sword Peak, and the robust support from the Third and Sixth Sword Peaks, adding up to two hundred and forty staunch allies, the Sword Pavilion is merely a starter course for us. Our true aim isn't just to defend our championship but to dominate utterly and rule supreme!" the cloud-robed youth declared passionately.
"That's enough, no need to emphasize so much. It's as if I care deeply about it," Jiang Yue said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Indeed!" The youth chuckled, his demeanor more submissive than what one would expect from a senior brother, especially in the presence of the Azure Spirit's newly minted superstar, Jiang Yue.
Jiang Yue glanced over the crowd. "By the way, where is Twelfth Senior Brother Wang Feng?" she asked.
"He's also among the competitors, probably preparing for the battle. He should return before the commencement tomorrow," the youth replied.
"What about Sister Yao? She said she would come to see me, but there has been no news?" Jiang Yue said, her tone laced with a hint of puzzlement.
"I've heard that Swordking Ye's younger brother met his end on the Heavenly Path. She must be busy investigating to provide an explanation to Swordking Ye, right?" The woman in the blue skirt explained with tender concern.
"Ye Guao?" Jiang Yue's voice carried a hint of surprise. Only after her arrival at the First Sword Peak did she learn of the child's unfortunate demise on the Heavenly Path.. "The perpetrator hasn't been found yet?"
"It seems not," came a reluctant reply.
"Oh." Jiang Yue cast her gaze towards the fog-laced horizon, thoughts drifting towards Ye Guying, her eyes a mix of anticipation and bitterness. "During the Eight Swords Conclave, will Senior Brother Ye return to witness my performance?" She bit her crimson lip, a slight grievance flickering in her eyes.
"Senior Brother Ye is currently at the Sea of Swords, carving history for Azure Spirit. Even the death of his brother hasn't brought him back..." The young man in the cloud robe paused, interrupted by the blue skirt maiden hastily reassuring, "Rest assured, Junior Sister Jiang. Swordking Ye is thinking of you. Perhaps he will soon retrieve the Azure Kite and rush back to witness your splendid performance at the crucial moment."
"Yes, yes," the young man in cloud robe chimed in with a smile that carried a note of agreement.
"Really?" Jiang Yue wasn't entirely appeased.
"Err..." A brief moment of awkwardness spread among the brothers and sisters, leaving them at a loss for words.
"I heard that Senior Brother Ye has a Dao Partner?" Jiang Yue suddenly dropped a bombshell, her gaze sweeping across the group, carrying a swirling undertow of emotions.
"This..." A shared look of bewilderment passed among the group.
The woman in the blue skirt gave a dry laugh before rushing to clarify, "Don't worry, Junior Sister Jiang. It was just a mere engagement promise, nothing formal. Moreover... it's already ended."
"Is that so?" Jiang Yue pursed her lips, her gaze settling on the blue skirt woman. "I meant no offense. I just think that a person as lofty as Senior Brother Ye wouldn't suit the ordinary riffraff."
"Exactly!" Laughter rippled through the group.
Jiang Yue, with her status in the Divine Sea Realm, exerted a certain pressure on them, making their presence feel somewhat overpowering. The girl blessed by the heavens, who wouldn't tread carefully around her? Her future seemed even more promising than Ye Guying's.
"Junior Sister Jiang, I heard that the Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone has arrived. Would you like to test it first to have a better sense of what's to come?" the young man in the cloud robe ventured, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.
"Will it cause a big commotion?" Jiang Yue asked nonchalantly.
"With your Sword Soul, it's bound to shake the Azure Spirit again, illuminating the world with its brilliance," he exclaimed with genuine admiration.
"Oh?" Jiang Yue shot him a playful glance. "Test it now, and what suspense will be left for the Eight Sword Conclave tomorrow?"
The young man in the cloud robe was momentarily stunned, realization dawning upon him. It seemed this woman knew even better how to play her cards right!
"I've heard that Master has invited strong Cultivators from various paths. There's even a bigwig from the Sea of Swords attending the Eight Swords Conclave. Imagine the spectacle when you ascend the First Sword Peak once again and test your Sword Soul with the Rank Four Sword Inheritance Stone at that time..."
The collective imagination of the group buzzed with excitement.
All they could feel was envy, nothing but envy!
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