Gritting his teeth, Shou Xin threw himself further in, instead of letting himself be thrown out by the immense strike which felt as though it was not his own, but someone strangers.
But he knew in his hear of hearts, it was no the strength of the clone that defeated him time and time again.
It was the technique.
The giving in to savagness.
The primal nature.
But he refused to copy it, to mimic it and win.
He would never give up his style.
The style which earned him his first complement.
Elder Yu's words still rang in his head till this very day, even after everything that had happened.
"...you are a genius of your own style."
His teeth cracked under the pressure.
He would rather die than give up his way of the sword!
The river flows through the land so long as I deem it so, death is my will, Dragon River Stroke.
In response to the devastating strike, the Reflection twisted it's body beautifully through the air, uncaring of it's own injuries as it charged forward once more, healed by the time it arrived before him.
Kiru!
The hidden strike from earlier arrived just at the stomach of the Reflection, yet it saw through it and directly dodged, a sword's edge reflecting in Shou Xin's eyes!
He leaned back, but the sword was faster and his eyes were cut!
The world became dark, yet he didn't falter, his Sanguine Sword Qi fired everywhere creating a Sword Domain.
Using the instant that the Reflection may feel weakness and attack again, Shou Xin delivered a near fatal blow, landing a slash on it's back.
But it was not deep enough!
In a moment, it vanished from the Sword Domain, it's speed and understanding over his techniques just that good such to find the opening in an instant.
Blinded, he knew it was soon.
The final moves.
He knew what was to come, and refused.
"My way of the sword… is eternal!" Letting loose a tyrannical cry, he stabbed Fukkatsu into the earth and the dragon hiding in the river in the sky rushed out!
Just then, his qi bounced back, revealing the placement of the Reflection.
Yet, his instincts screamed.
He smiled.
BOOM!
—
Dust settled, the land stopped it's quaking.
Fukkatsu's mouth was filled with blood and broken bits of Shou Xin's Reflection.
"If my style is that of instincts, then yours was but a crude imitation." Slowly standing up, Shou Xin sheathed the sword and slowly sensed his surroundings.
He knew that he had been moved once again, but he could not see a thing.
Instead, he felt it.
The Endless Dao.
It was dark, and didn't respond to him.
Taking out a red cloth, he tied it around his eyes and then held his hands behind his back as he walked forward.
Death was never a fearful thing for him, and he was sure that Feng Wuqing would understand.
Sensing the surrounding void, he knew that no law would respond to his call.
Afterall, breaking through was not just about strength, but also luck.
As he continued forward, his head turned.
A faint cluster of laws.
Abandoned Laws.
Those which were never quite used, or looked after or thought of at all.
They did not ring in the heavens nor were looked at by the earth.
He smiled hollowly as he approached.
Those Abandoned Laws trembled.
"We are both abandoned, aren't we?"
Yet.
Reaching out a little hand, he touched them gently with a sad smile.
Feeling their tremble, he shook his head slowly and stopped, continuing to press forward.
"Even the abandoned don't want anything to do with a person such as myself." His steps caused rippled beneath him, his chance to breakthrough would soon be over.
One could not linger in the Endless Dao for long.
Yet, as he was about vanish, those Abandoned Laws began to shine as best they could.
Flying around him, it was as though they were dancing, trying to give him their services.
"Are you sure?" He was not one to take advantage of those who'd done nothing wrong, "You will be assimilated, you know?"
Laws could not die.
They would simply change forms.
They danced happily around him.
For centuries, waiting in a desolate corner of the Endless Dao, these Abandoned Laws sought something, anything… anyone.
Even an evil person, however now Shou Xin had appeared, and was kind to them who were shunned.
How could they not respond?
Knowing in his heart their answer, he reached out for two random laws out of the few there, his mind touching the others however to leave a small mark.
"Next time I come… I will bring the rest of you with me," He smiled lightly, "Hopefully you will not need to wait too long."
The process of assimilating them was simple and smooth.
He didn't need to shatter them and absorb their essence, he didn't even need to full assimilate them either.
As they appeared within his Inner Sea around the Furnace as runes, they were weak enough that his soul could bear it, connecting their very essences to his Sanguine Sword Law, they were technically absorbed but also separate.
Like a rock tied to another rock, it was not the same rock, but it was very, very close and with time and pressure, they would slowly fuse.
Opening his eyes, he had been moved away to a different place once again.
It was not the void of the Endless Dao, nor the fog of the forbidden place of the Jiyue Sect.
Rather than all of that, it was the room he had arrived in here at the end of the first day, and before him, the love of his life which he would be lying if he said he did not miss.
—
"It's been seven days." He called out to her with a slight smile, "I was lonely."
"Lonely, you?" She turned around with an enticing gaze begging one to dare take a step, "All the girls of the sects must be blind… speaking of blind, again?"
"...Well." He scratched his head with an awkward smile, "I guess so?"
"It should heal though," She looked him over as though seeing his everything, to which he quickly covered his chest.
She rolled her eyes.
"As if there is anything I haven't seen," Appearing before him, she peeked beneath his blindfold, "Really blind this time. Don't worry! I, your senior, will teach you!"
"Senior?" He raised a brow, "I am the senior."
"Hoh? I was born in the month of War!" Feng Wuqing raised her head, though he couldn't see it exactly.
"Hehehehe…" His low laugh made her start to doubt, "...damn it. Month of Wind."
She let out a secret breath and then spoke with a pumped chest, "I am the Senior!"
"Yes yes, you are old and wizened beyond years, now," He swept her into his arms whispering a breath into her ear, "Where are your clothes?"
"What?!" Her widened gaze turned down, but there was nothing missing.
Nom. He bit her carelessly exposed ear and ran away.
"You!" Laughingly, she chased him through the halls.
—
Corpses littered the field as though trash in a dump, mountains of them making the ground unreachable.
"...Lady Mu. It is my pleasure to see you once again."
Amid the tragedy, a large fleet calmly floated in the sky as though a looming storm, the cannons prepared.
"Sword Attendant Xiao, or perhaps Little Xiao. Maybe even by your new moniker, Sword Freak? Slayer of a thousand demons." Lady Mu covered her mouth as she teased.
He smiled sadly, a dim light in his eyes.
"I am not worthy of any honorable titles. Little Xiao fits best." Xiao Wun's heart trembled as he looked down, the reality of the slaughter he committed weighing heavily on him.
Lady Mu's eyes flickered.
"Is that so?" Her lips were slick and shiny as they moved, "The Mythic Mountain will take you in, if you wish. You've enough talent and fame to be taken under my wing."
"I will not." Her persuasive words did nothing to sway him, "I am the one left behind, alongside my brothers and sisters to protect the clan. My sword lays here, rises here and will break here."
Brother's and sister's?
"Since when did you start thinking of them as family?" Maqi interjected with a stern look, "Weren't you the one cursing your Senior Brother and Sister when they left you to us?"
He shook his head, looking at her as though looking at a child.
"They did so out of love. I cannot hate them for the hardship. If not for it… I would likely be dead," His words were shockingly solemn, carrying a touch of regality, "I am grateful to Senior Brother and Sister, no matter what. I will not abandon this task."
"And what makes you so sure they will return?" Lady Mu raised a brow, "Haven't they gone exploring the realms?"
"They will return." His resolve was air-tight, "No one loves this place, these people, more than my Seniors. I would die for this place, but they live for it."
"Hm…" Pausing for a moment, Lady Mu's eyes widened and she suddenly started to laugh.
Xiao Wun looked confused at the sudden change, he had never seen her laugh or even really smile much.
"...Even after untold years, this arrogant, noisy, unbecoming, uncouth and stupidly nosy clan is still the same."
He wanted to protest, but something told him that she did not mean it as an insult, but rather… something else.
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"The legacy of fools continues," Her smile faded and she become terribly rigid, "The Mythic Mountain will not protect the Shou Clan. However, the Dragon Woman does invite the Little Protector of the Shou to train here for a while."
Naturally, Xiao Wun understood what was happening.
She would not explicitly give assistance to the Shou Clan, but by parking her fleet here above the skies of Shoai, and training with her Ex-Sword Attendant, it would be clear.
No one would step foot upon Shoai with bad intentions, lest the Dragon Woman of Mythic Mountain be angered into attacking.
Such was the way of things.
Grateful, he cupped his fists and lowered his head, "This Xiao Wun accepts Lady Mu's offer."
—
Above the skies of the ruined Sea Spring, three fleets met.
A fleshy warship, the Nightmare Ship of Vienna, the Sword Deity of the Shou Clan which was seen across the South wreaking havoc against all sects both Just and Evil the same.
A fleet bearing the sigil of the Southern Hallmaster whose presence was like that of a lion, and whose roar should destroy a mountain range, the Lion's Sigil.
And lastly, the smallest ships, but the largest fleet made up of strange and different races, their flag empty and the lead ship nothing but an improvised frigate, Wo Yiyu and Guo Long.
As they looked at one another tensely save for Vienna who opened his mouth, the fleets spread out for battle.
"I am the Sword Deity, Vienna. Or as your people have taken to calling myself, the Chaotic Sword Deity Vienna. Tell me what you are all here right now, or die." Vienna's words were piercing.
Of the many names which rang through the Exiled Court in the recent years, his name was one which stung quite well.
The Nine Chaos Swordsmen under him were terrifying cultivators who took whatever they wanted, killing, pillaging, raping and every other sin under the sky to get stronger, ripping yin from yang and vice-versa.
There was no evil that was too low nor any crime to heinous in pursuit of power.
"Venerable Evil Vienna. We are from the Hallmaster's Estate. We have come in search of the Sword Devil and Bewitching Fist, they have done a great service for the Exiled Court." A man stepped forward, his aura beyond even the Unchained Realm!
Dao Establishment Expert!
Vienna frowned.
Such a being was not beyond him, but after Unchained, the territory was thick with different and creative methods to kill those even a thousand times stronger.
It was a dangerous world.
"Oh? My little disciple seems to be doing quite well," Vienna's words were like a thunderbolt, "He was always such a contrarian."
The Sword Devil is the disciple of the Chaotic Sword Deity?
"Ha, disciple? Didn't he abandon you when he was just a second chain expert? Do you really expect us to believe you've done anything to help him besides the first steps?" Wo Yiyu interjected with a cold laugh, "You aren't anything special, picking on the weak."
"Bold words coming from a fearful girl. I can smell it on you, you know?" Ichi took a half step forward, his eyes undressing her making her feel incredibly enraged, "Fear is contagious, watch out."
"Bastard." Her sword was let loose from the sheath, horrifying waves of energy rolling through the skies!
Unchained Expert!
Ichi's eyes drew in on themselves, revealing an even more ecstatic look, like a hunter who found exotic prey!
"I've never tasted an Unchained before," He stepped forward gracefully, his steps well restrained and measured despite his unrestrained personality, "Come, give yourself to me and I will be sure to not let my brothers touch."
"Barbaric little bastard. Die." Waving her sword, Wo Yiyu's aura which had been well restrained turned into a waterfall!
Show the vain the valley, show the humble the heights, Venerated Crucible!
Between you and I, a gap, a sin, a terrible little secret, Reverse Cloud Split!
In the sky, a massive Crucible of fire appeared trying to drag Ichi into it's embrace and burn him to death! Such a fire could even burn away the soul, destroying the chances to enter reincarnation!
Yet, the Reverse Cloud Split gathered the earth below into a single massive earthen sword, which moved with surprising agility, seeking to crush the crucible!
Magma spilled out in a huge wave, falling towards the warship seeking to burn it all to ash, the earthen sword swung upwards, crashing into it!
BOOOM!
WHOOSH!
SWOOSH!
Steam and fallen rock splattered everywhere with enough head and speed to melt flesh and tear a hole through a mountain! The earth looked like a meteor had struck it!
Wo Yiyu's sword drew the blood from Ichi's throat, and his own sword had cut open her cheek, albeit barely.
As the two locked eyes, about to continue, a subtle wave of power washed over them, stripping them of their power to resist.
"That is enough," It was a stern voice.
"Brother! You heard what this bastard said!" Wo Yiyu turned her head in a flick, her eyes rife with rage.
"We have other's to look after. If we fight here to kill him for his insolence, will it benefit us? It will just cost us life. There will be time to take the skin from his bones." Her brother shook his head, "Besides, look at him. With all those techniques he is using to get stronger, he will be dead within the year."
"What?" Ichi's eyes widened and he turned to Vienna, "Master!"
"Hm?" Vienna turned back to him, "If you do not reach Dao Establishment within the year, you will die. All of you will if you don't. You said you wanted to become strong at all costs, didn't you?"
Vienna's eldrich form was revealed in his shadow alongside a demonic smile.
"Don't regret now, trash."
Ichi's face paled alongside those of his juniors.
"Chaotic Sword Deity. I, Wo Hie, would like to propose a deal. As the deity contracted to the Sword Devil, you will know of his location. Tell us that, and I will forget what happened today." Wo Hie smiled like a true gentleman.
Wo Yiyu kept her silence as she sneered at Ichi who was taken back on board the Nightmare Warship.
"That works well. My little disciple will be most glad at the present's I've brought." Vienna smiled back, his air stale and unmoving like a corpse, "He is quite the greedy boy, after all."
—
Starlight lit the room through the curtains, gentle breeze rustling them and revealing those two laying upon the single bed, fog pierced.
Gently toying with his hair, a female voice lingered for a moment, "I'm worried."
Her lips were pursed, a tense look in her eye.
"It'll be fine," His arm, which she used as a pillow, moved a bit to wrap around, "I may not be worthy but… no one else is worthier."
"Yeah…" She got closer to him, the gentle cold of the nighttime breeze accompanied by the starlight.
Tracing her fingers around, she found scar after scar. Even now, he was still struggling forward every step despite the interference of the great path.
His vision was even robbed.
She knew of that darkness intimately.
Her breath was quick as she felt a brush of his senses light over her body and affixing itself on her face, his empty eyes locked upon her alongside a sweetened smile.
Words landed like hot chocolate on this cold night, warming her heart, "Even in the dark, you shine just as brightly as the day I met you, bleeding and broken as I was."
Drawing closer, her body pressed against his.
Her breath travelled up his neck, curling in his ear for a brief moment a slight shiver running through him, "When everything was dark and everyone cruel, you didn't hesitate despite knowing nothing. You're gentility even cursed, still unyielding."
As the two looked at one another, their true selves exposed, the door knocked.
In a moment, she separated from him, leaving a rather empty sensation from where she had once been as the cold breeze awoke him entirely from his ethereal haze.
Watching her put on her clothes, slipping on that dress which had seen enough blood to create an army from it alone, he sighed at her beauty.
Though he could not truly see, he did not need to.
She was gorgeous, even in the dark.
Standing from the bed, his clothing which was like armor slipped on easily, taking his shape swiftly.