Together through their chains, they gathered their strength to resist the strike, but the terrifyingly calm figure's sword stroke was steady and precise, only rivaled by his own conviction to throw it all away in a single stroke.
Guoo!
Boom!!
Whoosh.
Click.
Silence.
The Undying Soldiers which had surrounded him, were directly cut apart by the precise sword strokes which had broken through their defense.
Catching his sword in his fall his foot tapped against it, flipping to offset the angle at which he would fall, his hair fluttering like a serene river as he did so.
He landed upon the ground lightly, the sword falling directly into his sheath.
A new energy, stronger than before seemed to emerge in his body, seeking to be set free and rise.
Sword Aura.
"Sword Aura, Mortal Physique and Mortal Chain." The young man calmly turned his head, looking around and with a flick of his wrist, gathering the cores from the Undying Soldiers.
Setting them aside in a small pouch at his side, he then turned up at the sky thinking it was time to head back.
It had already been a month.
It took far longer than expected to increase his strength this time, the Sword Aura taking the longest by far, his comprehension abilities below average and thus needing far greater challenges to improve.
In this place where Seventh Chain or Refinement Undying Soldiers were not uncommon, it would not be strange to encounter Ninth level Undying Soldier.
Knowing this, he did not hesitate, and took off at a comfortable land speed that would put a horse to shame.
In mere moments, he'd left the area of the battle, however, his gaze encountered something strange.
A village.
"This deep inside Baylen's Rest?" His pupils shrank slightly, a rippl running through his starry gaze as though a lake reflecting the night sky.
Placing his hand on the pouch of Blood Stones, he quietly absorbed much of the killing intent, filtering it into Qi quickly to replenish his strength before advancing.
The main road, if one could call it such, had been destroyed. Cracks ran through the homes that were demolished already and the vague signs of tile flooring could be found as well.
"A battlefield," He did not find it strange considering this entire canyon was one the scene of a slaughter, "A tragedy."
As he continued forward, he found that there was nothing attacking this place.
It was empty, devoid of Undying Soldiers or living things save for himself.
Sensing the surroundings, he couldn't find anything out of the ordinary, but as he took the next step forward, he flinched.
Opening his other eye and activating it, he focused on what was infront of him.
"It's the canyon wall, but," He dragged his hand along the course rock feeling slight grooves and bumps, a map appearing in his mind, "A gate."
His careful hand turned into a fist, and with a short strike, the old doors burst open!
The canyon walls had grown over the doors, concealing them away from the world. As it would seem, the canyon itself was created out of a great amount of miasma, and if accumulated too much it could turn into rock.
Keeping note of that in his mind, he wondered how old this place could be to accumulate enough to have rocks of miasma on it.
Shaking the thought away, he looked past the gates into the darkness, a large hall before him, however it was different than his own.
This was not shabby, nor freshly built by unskilled hands.
This place was a beautiful hall, which wreaked of age yet also had that scent of character.
The walls told stories upon their murals.
"A battle," He said aloud as he felt some strange sensation from the images almost as though they were moving, "Countless lives lost in a vain war. This place wasn't any battlefield…"
His pupils shrank, and he kicked the ground towards the great doors, but they closed!
He did not attempt to slam into them, sensing a strange sort of unfathomable energy blocking his way out.
The massive hall began to stretch and collapse, turn and fall until several tunnels appeared in front of him.
"...This place is the tomb of an expert." The serenity within his gaze deepened as his bloodline devoured any sort of panic or other emotion that tried to bubble, "It's a trial for that expert's treasures."
Sensing the surroundings, he knew whatever expert had died here was not a simple character.
The murals had changed now.
"Dragons dying. Humans shedding blood. Demons fighting away in the background. A chaotic war where everyone cared for no one but themselves, and those beings above watching," His gaze rippled, "This expert, who was he?"
He looked at the three tunnel pathways and tried to sense what was within, but his senses were rebuffed and he suffered a mild backlash, though he felt that if he tried again, he would certainly die.
A thought suddenly appeared in his mind, as he looked up at the ceiling of the hall, finding more stories, his mind suddenly being dragged in!
-----
"...Heavenly Thunder God, Mikazu. Your people are nothing but villains and now you come to attack this place, seeking some sort of prize? Do you believe I will allow it?" A strange person, wearing strange clothing similar to a leather armour with his robes beneath stood coldly before the Heavenly Thunder God Mikazu.
"You Shou are all the same. In the end, there is nothing you can do to defeat the Great Path's punishment for your crimes against the Endless Dao. Surrender to us, and we will allow your descendants life." Heavenly Thunder God Mikazu slowly began to lift his hand, the skies lighting up with thunder dragons!
"How could I face my descendants, if I were to simply give in now?" The man smiled and raised his hand a terrifying ball of power arising within it, "To my descendants. We did not betray the Endless Dao, nor the Great Path. They were deceived by the-!"
"Kill him!"
Guaa!!!
His mind was ejected from the mural as soon as the battle took place, only a white space left behind as the Heavenly Thunder God Mikazu vanished just barely in time.
Looking to the spot where it happened, he found some sort of clothing fragment. The mark of thunder upon it, something he was quite familiar with considering he had grown up in Sea Spring, where the Heavenly Thunder God Mikazu was worshipped predominantly.
Feeling a bitter taste in his mouth, he knew what had happened to his ancestor.
Turning to the three tunnels, he felt himself called to one in the center, and without hesitation went to the one on the righthand side, where he sensed the most danger and least pull.
As soon as he stepped through, a small smile curved his lips.
"My ancestors were stingy bastards, all right." He said with a stroke of humor as he chuckled.
Looking through the walls to see what was in the other tunnels, he saw the one which called him the most was filled with beasts of strength he could not understand and the other was connected there.
Yet, in this room which his instincts said was the most dangerous and called him least, more so tried to get him to go away, was completely safe.
Though, it seemed to have been looted but he knew now that his instincts weren't being baited.
He went to the center of the room, where an empty chest lay opened and cracked down the middle, destroyed.
Reaching down into the crack, he grabbed around until he found a small hole which one would not easily find if not looking for it, and pressed on it.
In a moment, the room began to shift as the hall had, and the walls opened up, revealing nothing but empty shelves which had also been looted.
But he did not stop.
Checking the shelves, he soon found a hidden little array underneath a bit of dust, bleeding on it, it activated and directly moved him away from the treasure room.
"...Crafty and stingy, my ancestors, I respect you." With narrowed eyes, he looked around at the immense wealth of a single rack of armour, and a grindstone as well as a ring and some scrolls.
As he entered the room, the armour began to shine and directly flew off.
Flicking his wrist, the sword on his waist danced to fight off the armour, shattering the spirits which had possessed it so deep underground within the miasma ridden environment.
Once that spirit was shattered, his pupils shrank.
"Artifact armour." He wasn't sure of the grade however he knew it was tough.
As he touched it, it began to move on it's own onto his body, adjusting to his clothing and body, soon directly shredding his robes and taking their form as their own, comfortably fitting on his body.
Sensing it's strength, he wasn't sure how powerful it was, but he knew it was stronger than himself.
As for the ring, as he touched it, he sensed an enormous space within!
Yet, there was only a single note which read.
"Dear descendant, don't be too upset. It is for your morals that I didn't put anything amazing here. If you've found this place, you're likely the type to understand without too many words."
"Hmm…" He wasn't sure how to feel about that, not that such half-assed emotions would arise, but, he was certain that his ancestor likely put away all of the other treasures that once adorned this ring above to deter those who sought to defile the tomb.
Touching the grindstone, he felt the sword on his hip resonate and quietly took it out and began grinding, yet, contrary to what he expected it wasn't some sort of amazing power, since rather than refining the sword, it seemed to refine the spirit of the sword.
The next level after Artifact.
Spirit Artifact.
An artifact that had gained a spirit was a destructive weapon which could allow one to fight above their stature!
For a long time, he sat there grinding continuously.
It was only after an unknown amount of time that he stopped, removing the sword from the grindstone and watching the grindstone directly shattered into fine dust.
The sword rang quietly and a weak spiritual presence seemed to envelope it, a creature similar to the Flood Dragon, but different.
The illusory image of a Yong hid within the sword's reflective edge.
Sensing the burgeoning consciousness, he stretched out a hand with his own soul, establishing a connection.
Sensing his Sword Aura, the little Yong Sword Spirit seemed to be feel comfortable and he sensed a happy emotion through the connection he had established.
He felt something like kinship from the Yong Sword Spirit.
"Fukkatsu." He said gently.
The sword replied with a happy emotion, but also a fearsome sensation like a cold blade pressed up against his throat.
He felt something tugging within his Inner Sea, and when he entered to take a look, he found that the little Yong Sword Spirit had entered his Inner Sea and was directly bathing in the center of his Sword Aura causing his comprehension to sky rocket.
Swiftly opening his eyes, he put the scrolls and everything which could possibly burn away into the ring he had just acquired.
The moment everything in that room was taken, he was teleported back to the main room of the tomb where many formations had laid themselves one on top of the other above his head, immense amounts of Qi flowing towards him all at once!
His pupils shrank.
The Qi didn't seem malicious, in fact, it appeared to be a boon of sorts given to the descendant who finds the secret of this tomb, however, to him who has a small soul and little talent, such a grand gesture would mean death!
His serene look rippled and shook until he grit his teeth and began breaking through.
The Tribulation Clouds appeared high in the sky, however appeared to be holding off, as though watching happily at him suffering due to his own ancestors good will.
But, he could not care about that at all.
Looking within, he called forth the tribulation of the Seventh Chain.
The Seventh Chain Golden Flood Dragon.
Roar!!!
His inner Sea shook!
Wiiiiing!
The little Yong Sword Spirit rose up in it's tiny body, turning into a starlit sword!
Shou Xin jumped up, picking it out of the air and swung heavily at the Seventh Chain Golden Flood Dragon which was charging towards him, the immense amount of Qi entering his body allowing him to send forth terrifying moves one after the other!
In the sky, the tribulation finally fell once the chain had been activated, however!
As the Lightning Thunder Dragon clashed with the formations, it's body grew weaker and weaker until it was like a kite with it's strings cut, landing softly against his body, allowing him to directly absorb the purest, and best parts, his body strength increasing to the Seventh Refinement!
At the same time, the little Yong Sword Spirits push made it impossible for him to avoid increasing his comprehension of the Sanguine Sword Law causing his Sword Aura to skyrocket, quickly arriving at the Seventh Stage!
The massive golden flood dragon had intellect deep within it's eyes and after being attacked, did not immediately charge at him, but instead opted to attack the walls of his Inner Sea, trying to cause his body to explode!
"Seal!"
His fingers creating the sword sign, the countless golden scales of it's fallen brethren peeled off the Inner Sea's walls, shooting towards it, however!
Reeling back it's head, it's claws sent out immensely powerful and sharp claw swipes which if not dealt with would obliterate the walls of his Inner Sea!
Sword Field!
Fukkatsu Koka Kiru!
In a moment of desperation, his bloodline cooled his blood to a freezing temperature entering a state of enlightenment as he combined those two moves.
The countless swords of the Fukkatsu Koka Kiru merged with the emerging presence of the Sword Field forcefully creating a hail of blades which knocked at the claw swiped, shattering them with the hidden stroke, Kiru!
The flames burning within his Inner Sea and the Lightning within the muscles of his body gathered together and were directly brought into the Yong Sword Spirit causing it to mutate!
It's scales shimmered with blue arcs of lighting, and it's eyes were a deep, cracked golden color like that of an emperors crown!
In the center of it's forehead was a single reverse scale bearing the mark of flaming lightning coming up from the ground.
His Sword Aura continued to skyrocket, and soon he arrived at the peak of the Seventh Stage!
The constant qi within his body also shot up until it was almost impossible to restrain even with his techniques!
Gathering every last drop of Qi within his ocean, his soul creaked but did not crack! Constantly refining it over time and making it dense as an ocean despite being a drop, it held on!
"Shatter, Fukkatsu!"
ROARR!!!
A mighty roar shattered the air and scattered the oceans as the horrifying sword stroke which carried the properties of lightning and fire struck the Seventh Chain Golden Flood Dragon!
It's arrogance grew and in a moment sixty four immensely powerful whiskers backed up by the golden breath of fire shot out like a tide attempting to swallow the world!
Yet.
Shliick.
Like paper, the all out attack was destroyed, the tide which saught to swallow the world was cut in half, alongside the Flood Dragon.
Yet, that was not the end.
The stroke which was still immensely powerful curved, aiming for the Eighth Chain.
At the same time, the Yong Sword Spirit devoured the flames of the fallen Seventh Golden Flood Dragon balancing the strength of fire and lightning within it.
In the moment leading to just before the stroke would strike the Eighth, the Yong Sword Spirit shot upwards into his body!
The refining forces of the fire and lightning burned through his body, causing his cultivation to skyrocket whilst not making it sloppy!
Normally, one could only refine their body with natural energies, or in his case for the Primeval Body Art, with Primeval Qi, however, these powers which had no affinity, only taking up the properties of refinement, were the little exception that burned his flesh and boiled his bones!
By the time the Eighth was struck by the sword stroke and awoke, peeling off the Sanguine Sword Law, he had already broken through to the Eighth Stage of Sword Aura and the tribulation for the Eight Refinement had begun to fall into the formation!
Yet, the strength of the Qi was slowly beginning to give out all of a sudden!
It was almost as though his ancestors were telling him that nothing in life is easy, and a boon is in the end, a boon!
His Inner Sea which had replenished, gathered once more, this time his soul almost breaking apart due to the immense stress of the first stroke on top of the second.
At the same time, the formations above the tomb shuddered beneath the might of the angered Great Path which had been cheated out of a tribulation just moments ago.
Yet, just as the Thunder Flood Dragon was about to hit, a hidden formation appeared and directly destroyed it, leaving once again only the purest allowing him to directly advance to the Eighth Refinement without a problem, and strengthening the Yong Sword Spirit which devoured the core of lightning.
The Golden Flood Dragon which had just awoken managed to survive the left over of the previous stroke, however it was crippled!
With the second stroke already there, it's eyes filled with despair as it wasn't even allowed to fight back or show off it's immense power, turning directly into a corpse, it's flaming core devoured by the Yong Sword Spirit which looked joyful as it showed it off.
Just as this occurred, the tomb began to crumble.
Swiftly kicking the ground, he shot out of the tombs gate, rushing into the village outside!
Above him, he could feel the presence of the Great Path prying, however there was another energy hiding him away until it's scrying gaze had gone.
He was not targeted by the divine punishment of the Great Path for deceiving it, and cheating out two stages.
Yet, just as he began to feel the slightest relief, he realized his blood was boiling!
The emotions of love, and hatred which swirled just above the sea of monstrous apathy his bloodline created, were slowly being swallowed up!
His curse was acting up!
Without a second thought, he rushed back.
His hatred remained powerful against the Great Path which would, at every turn, attempt to kill him, even daring to hold back tribulations in order to make him explode!
"I will devour you." Rippled turned into waves within his serene gaze as his hatred threatened to rise and perhaps even devour his love as he repeated the same words over and over again.
Yet, with his newfound speed and his mind clouded, he didn't realize how fast he was moving and soon enough within two days of mindless travel, he arrived at the Shou Clan.
"Xin!" Just as he arrived, the first person to greet him was precisely Feng Wuqing in her red dress, the scars on her body visible in some places, his hatred raising even further as his mind fell further and further!
Feng Wuqing knew of his cursed blood, and knew what it did to him.
Sensing his increase in strength, she knew what was wrong instantly.
She rushed forward, not caring about how sweaty he was, nor the blood dripping him his lips as he had viciously bit himself to keep his mind sane, or even the long scathing cuts he had hurt himself with to keep himself awake.
"I will… devour… you…!" His eyes were burning with intense hatred, his blood boiling!
Yet...