Chapter 006 - Yun Xiao, Who Will Meet You at the Summit?
Yun Xiao couldn't help but silently lament, "All I am is a mere mortal, brought back from the dead. How do I go about this?" He was left to figure it out on his own. He closed his eyes, reaching out with his hand, placing his palm against Ye Guao's abdomen. "Seed of Creation, the Golden Dantian."
This bestowed Dantian gift was a single droplet of the Rain of Creation that had descended from the heavens, absorbed by Ye Guao. It came from the Creator Immortal, who had been refined for countless eons!
"Is this a part of what once belonged to my Creator Immortal body?" Yun Xiao remarked with a quizzical expression. Soon after, he sensed the presence of the Rain of Creation. It had already melded into Ye Guao's Dantian, manifesting as a golden mist. "Come forth!" After Ye Guao's demise, his life force had crumbled, and all was fading away.
Sure enough, that Droplet of Creation was drawn by Yun Xiao's beckoning, reassembling and flying towards him. A hissing sound resonated. It was as if Ye Guao had met death once again. His rigid corpse convulsed violently. As the Rain of Creation left his body, blood flowed from every pore. His body shriveled, completely devoid of any semblance of life.
A deep humming sound vibrated through the air. The Droplet of Creation fused into Yun Xiao's body, momentarily appearing atop his Dantian. The droplet dispersed into mist, blending into his Dantian like veins of blood. A golden aura began to rise.
"It feels amazing!" Yun Xiao exclaimed, eyes gleaming. He distinctly felt that his body, parched like drought-stricken land, had just experienced a refreshing downpour. As the droplet integrated into his Dantian and vital essence, surges of immense vigor pulsated through every blood vessel and bone. He had succeeded in obtaining the Golden Dantian!
"Though it's the most basic Seed of Creation, it'll still set you on your journey from humble beginnings," Blue Star uttered in a raspy voice.
"Such a profound transformation from the most basic Seed of Creation?" Yun Xiao queried in astonishment.
"Enough talk!" Blue Star's eyes vanished from the coffin lid, replaced by four vast, awe-inspiring characters that seemed to depict the primordial chaos and the birth of the universe.
"Primordial Void Technique? What is this?" Yun Xiao felt as though he wasn't merely observing four characters but was beholding the grand expanse of the cosmos, myriad mists rising, endless turbid auras sinking, with the sun and moon birthed amidst it, and the tumult of wind, thunder, and lightning.
"Your Dao Technique," Blue Star replied tersely.
"Dao Technique? By practicing it, will I cultivate a Dragon Spring in my Dantian, transform my vital essence into magic power, and officially embark on the path of cultivation?" Yun Xiao eagerly asked..
Blue Star chuckled mercilessly, "That's hilarious."
"What do you mean?"
"You have the foundational technique to navigate through chaos and derive Dao Realms, yet you're preoccupied with merely forming a Dragon Spring in your Dantian?" Blue Star laughed heartily.
Yun Xiao was left speechless. Using the Creator Immortal's world-shaping technique to form a Dragon Spring? He admitted it was a bit narrow-minded.
After a bout of laughter, Blue Star mused, “Truthfully, the Primordial Void Technique is renowned, but not within the land of the Divine Continent. It’s famous high above the heavens.”
“Oh?” Yun Xiao responded nonchalantly.
“It's the premier Dao Cultivation Method, the hallmark of the Primordial Immortal Ancestor. Many believe them to be the progenitor of the Immortal Dao, all because this ancient god derived the Primordial Void Technique for myriad paths for mortals to become Immortals and transmitted it across the Dao Realms.” Blue Star’s voice held a chilling reverence when speaking of this entity.
“Is the Primordial Immortal Ancestor one of the Six Ancestral Gods?” Yun Xiao queried, furrowing his brow.
“Indeed. They're the sole progenitor of the human race among the Six Ancestral Gods. They're credited with founding the cultivation system for human Immortals. Even the Dragon Spring realm you're currently cultivating is the beginning of the ascension path they established.” Blue Star laughed scornfully, expressing utter disdain.
“I presume… whether it's the Primordial Void Technique or the human Immortal cultivation system, the true creator was the Creator Immortal?” Yun Xiao hypothesized, narrowing his eyes.
“Of course! Apart from having milk, how can that Primordial Immortal Ancestor even compare to Creator?” Red Moon interjected vehemently, quite disgruntled, licking its lips afterward.
Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao could only surmise that the Creator Immortal was truly formidable. Regrettably, he had vanished without a trace! Those Six Ancestral Gods not only seized everything from him but also robbed him of the merit of creating the world and passing on the Dao.
“Creator!” Blue Star exclaimed fervently, “Once you reclaim the Seeds of Creation gifts like blood, flesh, and bone, you'll be able to unlock all systems of the Six Ancestral Gods!”
“It's not just the Primordial Void Technique?” Yun Xiao questioned.
“Of course not, you are the source of myriad paths! The Primordial Void Technique refines only the Dantian. There's still the blood, bone, flesh, and soul!” Blue Star declared.
“I understand.” Yun Xiao nodded.
“Whether you cultivate the Primordial Void Technique or anything else, if you get a chance to ascend to the pinnacle again, you'll undoubtedly surpass the Six Ancestral Gods!” Blue Star assured.
“Are you certain?” Yun Xiao probed.
"Of course! Speaking of the Primordial Void Technique, you're cultivating the Yang Void, while the Primordial Immortal Ancestor practiced the Yin Void. The Yang Void is above, the Yin Void below. When Yang Void reaches completion, the Yin Void will become your furnace!" Blue Star explained.
"No way..." Yun Xiao recalled what Red Moon had mentioned earlier and smirked, "You mean to say, the Primordial Immortal Ancestor... is a woman?"
"Exactly. A warm-blooded woman!" Both Blue Star and Red Moon chimed in unison.
Yun Xiao was taken aback. "I, a mere mortal, am expected to use the progenitor of the human Immortal Dao as my furnace?" Imagining such a scene sent shivers down his spine. He whispered to himself, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves with grand ambitions. Stay grounded and focus on cultivating the Dragon Spring."
Primordial Void Technique! In Yun Xiao's vision, it was represented by only these four characters.
"Let me lead you onto the Dao." Blue Star decisively announced.
From the coffin lid, the four characters resembling the chaos of the universe dropped and entered Yun Xiao's body, transforming into tumultuous waves, crashing into his Dantian.
A gentle hum resounded. Even though it was just the beginning, Yun Xiao could sense that this Dao Technique initiated a genesis transformation within his Golden Dantian. The dawn of chaos! The inception of all life. A strand of primordial energy transformed into magical power, producing a dragon-shaped spring in the center of his Dantian.
"This is the Dragon Spring!" A vast amount of spiritual energy surged into Yun Xiao's body from the ancient bronze coffin. It seemed this ancient bronze coffin had the ability to gather spiritual energy.
"It looks like from now on, I'll need to practice lying inside this coffin," Yun Xiao mused.
Blue Star and Red Moon, they were not only partners but also a mobile cultivation base! It was said that cultivators, due to their constitution and Dao Technique, would cultivate different kinds of Dragon Springs. For instance, Ye Guao cultivated a Golden Dragon, and its magical power was incomparably fierce.
Although Yun Xiao had seized that same Golden Dantian, he practiced the Primordial Void Technique and birthed an ethereal, mysterious Dragon Spring. It resided within his Dantian, swallowing clouds and exhaling mist, its majestic energy soaring.
"What kind of dragon is this?" Yun Xiao asked.
"It's a Primordial Void Dragon." Blue Star praised.
Yun Xiao was shocked, "This dragon… sounds peculiar. It's not related to some kind of kidney disease, right?"
"Your mother's a kidney disease!" Blue Star was left speechless, "The Primordial Void Dragon signifies infinite possibilities! Coupled with your Golden Dantian. At the very least, even though you're currently at the early stage of the Dragon Spring Realm, your magical power surpasses those in the same realm by more than just a step!"
"Really?" Yun Xiao's heart warmed up. The Dragon Spring Realm! Similar to the Mortal Martial Realm, it was divided into five sub-stages. Early, Mid, Late, Perfect, and Establishment. The first four were self-explanatory, whereas the fifth sub-stage, Establishment, signified transcending perfection to firmly establish oneself in the realm.
Reaching the Establishment stage of the Dragon Spring Realm was much harder than the previous four stages. To determine which stage of the Dragon Spring Realm one was in was easy. Based on the Dragon Spring in the Dantian, one claw signified the Early, two claws for Mid, three for Late, four for Perfect, and five for Establishment!
Yun Xiao, who had just entered the Dragon Spring Realm, with his one-claw Primordial Void Dragon Spring, was at the Early stage of the realm.
"With magical power and a Sword Soul, from this moment on, I am a true sword cultivator." This had once been Yun Xiao's dream.
"Starting off is merely the beginning. Ye Guao's Golden Dantian only has limited use and serves merely as a transitional phase. His older brother's Twin Dantians is a truly effective Seed of Creation. If you manage to acquire it, only then can you genuinely cultivate the formal mantra of the Primordial Void Technique." Blue Star's expression was a mask of sternness. "Your current Dantian isn't robust enough to handle potent techniques."
"So this profound technique I'm currently practicing isn't even the final version? That implies that the other systems Creator Immortal devised require the Seed of Creation to unlock," mused Yun Xiao. "My journey seems endless, the present realities constraining. The road ahead will be long and fraught with challenges!
"Ye Guying..." Yun Xiao muttered. "Forget about the Seed of Creation. From the day of the duel at the imperial Capital, it's become a matter of life and death!
"By the way, do you two still have any fighting capabilities left?" Yun Xiao asked curiously.
These entities originated from the ancient bronze coffin. A boundless entity.
"Reviving you and getting you back to Cloud Nation took a heavy toll. It's irreversible. We're almost drained, almost like we've been reborn ourselves," Blue Star explained nonchalantly. No wonder they had slumbered for three months before waking.
"Still…" Blue Star grinned. "It's not like anything's changed. While you pave the path ahead, we've always got your back during critical moments."
"That reliable?" Yun Xiao pondered inwardly.
"Of course! For a brother, I'd even take a stab in my kidneys!" Blue Star declared with a booming voice.
"And I'd take two stabs in my stomach!" Red Moon chimed in fervently. Always there to cover him! It meant entrusting his very life to them.
"Damn impressive!" Yun Xiao gave them a big thumbs-up. "To have you both by my side in this new life, I promise I'll have your backs first!" In this world, he no longer had any family. Their sudden presence warmed Yun Xiao's once frozen heart.
Whoosh! Under Yun Xiao's Heaven Burial Sword Soul, Ye Guao's body was reduced to ashes.
The moment Yun Xiao emerged from the bronze coffin, the massive structure as large as a house once more transformed into a small black creature, jumping into Yun Xiao's embrace.
"Holy crap! Watch the bite!" Yun Xiao's face turned a shade of purple in shock.
"Heh, my bad," Red Moon admitted with a sheepish grin, revealing its massive jaws.
Yun Xiao was speechless. The creature was akin to a burly man wearing a pink bra! Glancing up at the sky, he remarked, "Lost a bit of time there. Need to make haste.
"My Heaven Burial Sword Soul might be of terrifying quality, but it's still in its infancy, like a newborn sword. There's a possibility it could be destroyed. So, it's crucial to enhance its Sword Aura." Yun Xiao looked towards the mountain's peak. "And that five-century-old demon bone... if I miss this opportunity, it might be challenging to obtain again."
Yun Xiao transformed into a white silhouette, darting into the dense forest.
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Jiang Yue in her pristine white sword robe stood alone high up on the Heavenly Path. She felt a sudden unease and glanced back. The forest behind her whispered with a chilling wind, as if a malevolent demon was slowly approaching. A frosty look filled her eyes.
"Senior Brother Ye personally provided the five-hundred-year-old demon bone for this trial as a gift for me. If I falter now, it will surely leave a terrible impression on him," Jiang Yue mused. "Furthermore... he mentioned that an important person will be observing my performance on the Sword Inheritance Platform today. This could be my golden opportunity to soar!"
Her gaze turned upwards to the peak. Below the Heavenly Path, there was a man named Yun Xiao. His name reminded her of a departed soul with the same name. Thinking of that lost soul from her hometown, she frowned slightly.
"Yun Xiao, who do you think you'll be meeting atop the summit?" Jiang Yue whispered coldly. "You, a mere mortal, are only fit to look up from beneath a mountain of bones, while I ascend to the pinnacle of immortality!"
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Above the clouds stood the Sword Inheritance Platform! On the platform were eight stone seats. Seven of them were occupied by the elders of the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. These seven stone seats had inscriptions denoting the Sword Peaks. For instance, Elder Yao Qingqian's seat bore the inscription First Sword.
In addition to these seven, there was another, more massive stone seat in the center. However, no one occupied that most central seat. From a distance, one could clearly discern two powerful characters carved into the backrest of this seat—Sword Pavilion. The Azure Spirit Sword Sect was structured with one Sword Pavilion and seven Sword Peaks.
"Elder Yao, is everything in order?" a middle-aged Sword Cultivator asked. Dressed in a blue robe with a beard that split into two ends, his keen eyes frequently drifted to the tantalizing slit of Yao Qingqian's dress. His name was Wu Yu, one of the elders of the Third Sword Peak.
"Why does it concern you?" Yao Qingqian retorted. Her graceful figure emphasized by her high-slit dress allowed glimpses of her fair legs, exuding an elusive charm amidst the gentle breeze.
"After all, this is an arrangement by Swordking Ye. We shouldn't take it lightly," Elder Wu replied with a sheepish grin.
Casting a glance at the other elders who seemed engrossed in the view below, Elder Yao whispered, "The main event is on the Stone Path."
From their vantage point atop the Sword Inheritance Platform, they had a clear view of a rocky path below. This path was the final segment of the Heavenly Path. Those who could pass through the Stone Path could enter the revered Azure Spirit. No disciples had yet to set foot on this path. But once someone did, the elders would undoubtedly notice.
"Did you plant some tricks on the Stone Path?" Elder Wu inquired in a hushed tone.
"Not exactly tricks. The Stone Path has always been the final test, where disciples face off against demons," Yao Qingqian replied with a cold, playful smile. "I've unleashed a two-century-old Blood Demon there. Any disciple other than Jiang Yue and Ye Guao who dares to step up, shall meet their doom."
"A two-century-old Blood Demon!" Wu Yu exclaimed in shock, taking a wary glance at the other elders, "The Stone Path usually hosts demons with only a century's worth of cultivation. A two-century-old, especially a vicious creature like a Blood Demon... Aren't you afraid the other elders might suspect something?"
"What's there to suspect?" Yao Qingqian shot back, rolling her eyes, "When it comes to Swordking Ye's affairs, who would dare to interfere?"
"I suppose you're right," Wu Yu replied, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"In cultivation, are we truly pursuing the Dao? Or perhaps, it's the intricate tapestry of human emotions and worldly affairs, understand?" Yao Qingqian uttered with a soft huff, her hands gracefully folded atop her lap, exuding a serene allure.
"Indeed!" Elder Wu glanced briefly at the Stone Path, jesting, "Let's see if any unlucky souls have dared to step onto it first."
"There likely aren't any. Ye Guao, at just thirteen, is already remarkable. As for that Jiang Yue... she's a true prodigy. She might very well be the next Swordking Ye!" Yao Qingqian's brows betrayed a hint of envy as she spoke of the young girl. She was envious of her innate talent and her youth.
"The next Swordking Ye?" Elder Wu felt his heart skip a beat.
"Yes! Within merely three months under Swordking Ye's tutelage, she advanced from the Mortal Martial Realm to the Dragon Spring Realm, reaching the Mid stage with two claws on her Dragon Spring. Moreover, Swordking Ye probably gifted her numerous demon bones in private. Her Sword Soul should already harbor three layers of Sword Aura," Yao Qingqian praised.
"Gifting her demon bones, and potentially awarding her the honor of being first on the Heavenly Path with that five-century-old demon bone? Swordking Ye must truly favor her," Elder Wu remarked, then whispered, "Elder Yao, any insider info on what quality Jiang Yue's Sword Soul is within the Comet grade?"
The majority of Sword Souls were deemed mediocre. But once they reached the Meteor or Comet grade, they were further categorized as Lower, Mid, or Upper. The difference between Lower Comet and Upper Comet was vast.
If Jiang Yue's Ice Moon Sword Soul was of Lower Comet grade, it would only be considered top-tier within Azure Spirit. But if it was Upper Comet grade, then she'd be the absolute pinnacle of Azure Spirit.
"I don't have the eyes of the Sword Inheritance Stone. How would I know?" Yao Qingqian replied in irritation. She shot him a glare, "Once we select the ten new disciples, we can test them all on the Sword Inheritance Stone. Won't we then know the exact quality of her Sword Soul?"
"Right, right!" Elder Wu nodded hurriedly, pecking like a hen. "I've heard Swordking Ye intends to venture to the Sea of Swords to inherit the Azure Kite?"
"It'll soon be the talk of the entire Azure Spirit," Yao Qingqian murmured, her heart racing at the thought of the young man.
"By that account, he's surpassed the dead from the Sword Pavilion," Elder Wu commented, casting a peculiar glance towards the empty greenstone chair in the middle.
"Let's not bring up those who have passed," Yao Qingqian retorted, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
Just as her words came to an end, an elder cried out. "There's a disciple entering the Stone Path!"
The previously disinterested seven elders suddenly perked up. Once ten disciples had passed the demon slaying challenge and reached the end, the Heavenly Path Trial would conclude.
"It seems to be a charming young girl." an elder observed keenly.
"Isn't that the Ice Moon Sword Soul? Its cold frost is surely of the Comet grade! But is it Lower, Mid, or Upper-grade?"
"Usually, they're of the Lower-grade."
"Even the Lower-grade is considered a prodigy! What a talent!"
Hearing the murmurs, Yao Qingqian looked down at the Stone Path and chuckled softly.
"Jiang Yue?" Elder Wu's eyes brightened.
"Mhm, it's her. Currently in the lead," Yao Qingqian nodded.
"She truly is remarkable. Seems like your Blood Demon won't be needed after all," remarked Elder Wu.
"It's to be expected." Yao Qingqian shrugged.
For a moment, all seven elders fixed their gazes on the Stone Path.
"Jiang Yue..." Higher up on the Heavenly Path, Yun Xiao had just passed through a turbulent and stormy section. At a glance, he saw a figure ahead, a young woman who had taken the lead and stepped onto the Stone Path.
"The Stone Path is the final challenge. Rumor has it that it's guarded by demons, specially caught by the Azure Spirit Sword Sect to test and hone a disciple's courage. These demons are said to be the most oppressive and brutal," Yun Xiao mused, a storm swirling in his eyes as he pursued the fading white silhouette.
Though Yun Xiao's breakthrough to the Dragon Spring Realm delayed him slightly, he'd managed to make up for lost time, now surpassing all other disciples. Ahead, there stood none but Jiang Yue.
As Yun Xiao approached the stone pathway, the clashing of combat echoed forth.
Yun Xiao leapt forward, ascending the pathway in a single bound. Before him lay a stairway, crafted from massive boulders. These steps, as though designed for giants, had a drop of over ten feet between each.
No sooner had Yun Xiao alighted on the first step did he lift his gaze to witness a spectacle. A young woman wielding a frosty-blue Sword Soul, clashing with a monstrous beast that had lived a century.
A serpent demon! Its upper body resembled that of a human, while its lower half slithered like a snake. Half-human in form and boasting over a century's worth of cultivation, it exuded a menacing aura, wreathed in a sinister mist. It was palpably stronger than the serpent demon Yun Xiao had faced in the Cloud Nation's Imperial Capital.
Even more shocking, though, was Jiang Yue's performance. Yun Xiao had always remembered her for being less skilled in combat, but she now unveiled a ferocious icy demeanor. With every swing of her Ice Moon Sword Soul, chilling winds howled, and frost permeated the air.
Thwack! In a decisive stroke, Jiang beheaded the serpent demon.
"If I were still at the Mortal Martial Realm without awakening my Dragon Spring, she'd beat me for sure," Yun Xiao mused. It appeared she'd also pushed herself to astonishing limits in these past three months.
"Stop!" Yun Xiao, with a piercing cold gaze, pursued.
"You?" Jiang Yue turned to face him. Amidst the crimson-black bewitching mist, a strikingly handsome youth was looking up at her from below the path, eyes storming as he settled his gaze on her. His charm made her heart flutter. Yet, his name itself was repugnant to her.
JIang Yue parted her lips slightly, looking unenthused. "Did you just tell me to stop?"
"Is there anyone else here? Of course, I meant you. I noticed your rapport with Elder Yao earlier. I just want to know… Did they guarantee you the first spot?" Yun Xiao's lips curved upwards, teasingly.
"You..." On hearing this, Jiang Yue's delicate brows began to furrow. His words felt like a blade, piercing the heart of her pride.
"Make your move. I will only draw my sword once," Jiang Yue proclaimed. Instead of continuing her ascent, anger flashing in her eyes, she descended from the high ground.
Yun Xiao, upon hearing her, smirked inwardly. In the past, she had always portrayed herself as docile and frail before him. It all turned out to be an act! And she appeared to be truly good at acting!
Sadly, Jiang Yue couldn't have possibly dreamt that Yun Xiao had returned from the dead and annihilated her entire Jiang Family.
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