In the dim light of the solitary lamps within Sword Pavillion, a simple log house became a haven for camaraderie between Yun Xiao and Senior Brother Cai Maomao.
"Come, taste my roast chicken!" Cai Maomao called, proudly presenting a basin of delicacies he had prepared with much effort.
Yun Xiao picked at the food with his chopsticks, skepticism etched on his face. "But isn't this frog?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at the strange dish before him.
"Real chicken! I had eaten the actual chicken earlier in the day!" Cai Maomao replied with a sheepish grin.
"..." Yun Xiao suppressed a laugh. While it might not have been the typical chicken he expected, it was still appetizing enough to whet his appetite. The fragrant aroma wafted through the air, teasing his senses.
"Junior Brother Yun, even though we possess Longquan supernatural powers and will cultivate Inedia, we can't just abandon the human delicacies. If we do, we might forget the joys of spiritual cultivation!" Cai Maomao said earnestly.
"Are you just being greedy?" Yun Xiao teased, easily seeing through Cai Maomao's thinly veiled justification.
"Haha," Cai Maomao chuckled, clearly embarrassed. He quickly shifted the topic, "So, Junior Brother, what stage are you at in your Dragon Spring Realm?"
"I'm in the early period," Yun Xiao replied, trying to gauge where he stood.
"I'm at the late period, which means I'm two levels ahead of you!" Cai Maomao said with a proud smile.
"Late period?" Yun Xiao was intrigued, realizing that the blood monster he had slain earlier was close to the late strength of the Dragon Spring Realm.
Cai Maomao continued, "By the way, what's the grade of your Sword Soul?" He continued to munch, "Don't misunderstand. I just need the basic data to report to Senior Sister Zhao."
"Take a look." Yun Xiao summoned his Azure Heaven-Burying Sword Soul, allowing it to materialize from his fingertips.
"Blue Lotus Sword Soul? Low-grade Yaoguang? Along with Sword Gang?" Cai Maomao gasped, his surprise evident.
"What's wrong?" Yun Xiao asked, puzzled by his reaction.
"On the road, anyone who casually mentions having a Blue Lotus Sword Soul gets chased down by at least ten people!" Cai Maomao exclaimed.
"..." Yun Xiao didn't know how to respond.
"My Sword Soul is a high-grade Yaoguang, three Sword Gang," Cai Maomao boasted, puffing out his chest proudly.
"Showing off, huh?" Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow.
"I'm just trying to impress my Junior Brother!" Cai Maomao said, giving Yun Xiao a friendly pat on the shoulder. "But seriously, your aptitude is pretty average in the Blue Soul. You'll face many challenges on your path of cultivation."
"Isn't it a prerequisite to come to Sword Pavillion if your aptitude is good?" Yun Xiao asked, seeking clarification.
"... Well, that's also true!" Cai Maomao scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "But enough of that, let's eat the chicken!"
As they dug into the meal, Cai Maomao suddenly noticed something amiss. He looked down at the table, his expression shifting from enjoyment to horror.
"My chicken?" he exclaimed, shocked to find the table completely empty.
Yun Xiao, equally stunned, reached out to touch the space around him only to find it vacant. That's when they both saw the small black beast that had appeared out of nowhere.
Its tiny claws gripped a bowl three times its size, and it had managed to devour the whole basin of frog without hesitation.
"Hey! That little monster! Where did it come from? It just ate my chicken!" Cai Maomao shouted, his voice tinged with incredulity.
Before he could finish his complaint, Yun Xiao rushed to grab the small black beast, awkwardly holding it in his arms. "Senior Brother Cai, this is just my pet... the cat?" he said, trying to downplay the situation.
Cai Maomao blinked at the sight, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "A cat? You sure it's not some kind of monster in disguise? It's practically a glutton!"
Yun Xiao chuckled, his earlier concerns momentarily forgotten as they both watched the small beast continue to munch happily, blissfully unaware of the chaos it had caused in their dinner plans. The night continued, filled with laughter and the unexpected bonds that formed in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Cai Maomao stared at the small black beast in disbelief. "Does your cat have a horn on its head and a big mouth on its chest?" he exclaimed, completely shocked.
"Doesn't it just have a hybrid appearance? It has lived a pitiful life," Yun Xiao replied nonchalantly.
Cai Maomao could only stare in confusion. "What kind of interspecies love could possibly lead to this?" he wondered, shaking his head. The conversation shifted away from their earlier meal, and Yun Xiao began asking Cai Maomao about the Blue Soul.
"The entrance to the Qizuofen grave is..." Cai Maomao started, his expression turning somber. "Sword Pavillion Seven," he continued with a bitter smile. "They were the strongest generation in Sword Pavillion's history, guarding Blue Soul like nothing mattered. They were on another level entirely compared to Ye Guying! And the seventh child, Cai Lantian, is my brother."
"Stay strong," Yun Xiao encouraged, sensing the grief in his tone.
"Oh! Junior Brother Yun, I should throw you a welcoming dinner for your arrival. It's such a shame we don't have any chicken left," Cai Maomao said, trying to lighten the mood despite the earlier heaviness.
"It's fine; if they ate it, it's as if I had eaten it too," Yun Xiao smiled. "Thank you, Senior Brother Cai!"
"Don't mention it. Senior Brother is just being greedy. Before I prepared the food, 78 people had already eaten. Now I'm the only one left!" Cai Maomao lamented, his spirit somewhat deflated.
"After you, it'll be a different story," Yun Xiao said, still amused.
"What do you mean?" Cai Maomao looked at him curiously.
"It has an appetite that can rival 78 people," Yun Xiao joked, glancing at the small black beast.
Chiyue, the small black beast, grinned foolishly at him, her mouth twisting in a quirky way.
Cai Maomao stared, completely baffled. "This is a sin!" he exclaimed, incredulous.
The night deepened around them as Yun Xiao left the house and ventured to the pitch-dark backside of the mountain. The small black beast wriggled free from his arms, its blue eyes shimmering like jack-o'-lanterns in the darkness.
"Those things from Ye Guao..." Chiyue said, glancing at the remnants of what Yun Xiao had discarded, including a rather unusual item—a woman's belly band.
Yun Xiao pondered why he had such a thing at just 13 years old, but he quickly set that aside. In his hand remained 30 sparkling spirit crystals, which had absorbed Spirit Qi over the years, aiding in cultivation and enhancing Spirit Qi absorption.
"In this," he said, holding the crystals out to Chiyue.
Without hesitation, the small black beast leaped onto his palm, its chest opening wide.
Ka!
With a surprisingly loud crunch, it devoured the 30 spirit crystals in an instant.
"I can't believe it! You actually eat those?" Yun Xiao was astonished. Ordinary ascetics would risk their lives trying to consume spirit crystals; they could explode from the overload of energy!
"Flavor is absolutely divine! Everything else is just filler!" Chiyue declared earnestly.
Yun Xiao laughed, the absurdity of the situation lightening his heart. He didn't question why she consumed spirit crystals; what happened next was astonishing!
As the spirit crystals disappeared into her belly, boundless Spirit Qi surged within the small black beast.Yun Xiao felt a sudden rush of vitality, almost as if it were a boiling pot inside her.
The small black beast's abdomen glowed fiery red, the blood vessels visible beneath its skin, as if it were undergoing a transformation.
"Is it building up?" Yun Xiao wondered aloud, captivated by the spectacle.
The refining process didn't take long. The fiery glow in Chiyue's belly began to subside, returning her to her usual appearance. But then, suddenly, she clutched her throat, looking like she was about to vomit.
"Are you okay?" Yun Xiao asked, half-teasing.
To his surprise, Chiyue actually did spit something out! A small blood-colored bead, about the size of a fish eye, landed in his hand, radiating an obscure energy.
"What is this?" Yun Xiao asked, inspecting the tiny bead curiously.
"It's a Heavenly Dao Buddhist relic," Chiyue said, still looking somewhat queasy.
"Is it useful?" Yun Xiao inquired, intrigued by the potential of this mysterious item.
"It can be used as a component for drugs in your mortal world, similar to the Divine Sea pill," Chiyue replied, coughing slightly.
"???" Yun Xiao felt a bit lost. The implications of what he had just learned about the small black beast and the mysterious bead filled him with both curiosity and apprehension.
Yun Xiao furrowed his brow as he considered the implications of Chiyue eating 30 spirit crystals and transforming that energy into the Heavenly Dao Buddhist relic. "So if I take this orally for my cultivation, does it mean I'm ingesting your saliva as well?" he asked, shaking his head at the absurdity of the idea.
"Right! If we share our belly, we could help you refine it together!" Lanxing chimed in, her eyes bright with mischief.
"Ew! There's no way I'm eating anything with your saliva!" Yun Xiao protested, his face contorting in disgust.
Lanxing rolled her eyes. "Come on, this Heavenly Dao Buddhist relic could help you reach the middle stage of the Dragon Spring Realm tonight."
"What?" Yun Xiao stared at them incredulously. "This kind of thing? You think so little of me?"
Both Chiyue and Lanxing looked surprised.
"If you really can't handle the thought of Lanxing spitting, I could try to draw it instead," Chiyue said with a cheeky grin.
"Get lost!" Yun Xiao snapped, clutching the relic tightly in his hand and bringing it to his nose.
"Why does this Heavenly Dao Buddhist relic smell like burnt frog?" he asked, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
"It's not just the spirit crystals; it's everything we've eaten together," Lanxing explained, her expression serious.
"Ugh!" Yun Xiao groaned, realizing that might include the tree roots and stones from earlier. The copper coffin really was an antique, full of surprises.
"Fine, I'll take it," he said with a resigned sigh.
With a bang, they all shifted to the dark copper coffin, entering quietly as they prepared to cultivate.
Inside, Yun Xiao sat cross-legged, pinching his nose. With a determined heart, he swallowed the Heavenly Dao Buddhist relic, focusing on its taste reminiscent of roast chicken. He imagined it tumbling in his stomach, a mix of bitterness and astringency, but he had to remind himself of the potential benefits.
As expected, the effectiveness of the relic released immediately. "So it really is like the compounded drugs from legends?" he pondered. By this logic, Chiyue was like a mobile alchemical furnace, refining everything that came into contact with her.
The Heavenly Dao Buddhist relic seemed to contain the essence of myriad things, including the vitality of Yun Xiao, a Creator Immortal. The Dragon Spring Realm merely marked an increase in supernatural power; the deeper principles weren't vastly different. The effectiveness of the relics, however, would enhance his cultivation in ways he hadn't imagined.
Yun Xiao felt the vast efficacy flood through his limbs, and he grasped the basics of the method behind the Buddhist relics. This was not just a temporary boost; it felt like he was unlocking the ancient laws of the universe.
"Beginning of the universe, ruins law!" he exclaimed internally. Even with only superficial knowledge, the efficacy from the Buddhist relics was enough to transform his current state into what he called "A Yuan empty Longquan."
In his dantian, the nihility Divine Dragon gathered power, swelling with renewed strength and regenerating a claw.
"Now I'm at the middle stage of Dragon Spring Realm, with two claws!" he realized with exhilaration. "Senior Brother Cai is at the late stage with three claws Longquan, but my Sword Soul and the Yuan empty Longquan quality... they should be comparable to his."
Yun Xiao was revitalized by this surge of energy. He hadn't stopped there; he retrieved the 500-year-old monster bone he had brought with him, feeling its ominous aura.
"This blood monster is a source of resentment, thus classified as a 'dirty monster.' Its bones are worth less than those of a beast monster," he reflected.
Yet this particular monster bone emanated fierce energy, clearly from a tumultuous era.
"How does my Sword Soul refine the monster bone?" Yun Xiao wondered aloud.
He knew he would need to use his Sword Soul to rip open the bone and extract the marrow. Many Sword Souls lacked the quality needed to cut through the monster bone and draw out the vital essence, risking destruction instead of transformation. But Yun Xiao was confident.
"This Sword Soul is average at best, but it suits me perfectly," he concluded, brimming with determination.
With that, he focused his energy, ready to engage with the monster bone and push his limits even further.
Yun Xiao felt the pulse of power coursing through him, the weight of the five Sword Gangs sharpening his resolve. He had forged a connection with the monster bone, and now he was ready to confront whatever challenge lay ahead. His eyes narrowed as he sensed the tension in the air, the oppressive presence of the Sword Pavilion's elite surrounding him.
He felt the need to remind himself of his allies. Those who had helped him on this journey and who were now watching from the shadows, possibly sensing his determination.
With a swift motion, Yun Xiao pinched his Sword Soul, letting its sharp edge cut into the monster bone. The response was immediate; the bone trembled and screeched, its ominous energy echoing within his soul.
**Ding!**
The sound resonated in the silence, a powerful reminder of his growing strength. Blood-red marrow surged forth, feeding into his Sword Soul, layer upon layer of sword light condensing with fierce energy.
"Two, three... five!" he counted, exhilaration flooding through him as he realized the significance of the moment.
The 500-year-old monster bone had enhanced his Sword Soul dramatically, elevating it higher than even Jiang Yue and Cai Maomao.
"This level of Sword Gang is among the highest in the disciples," he thought, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. The Sword Gang was a crucial component of the Heaven-Burying Sword Soul, vital for its growth and evolution.
"Five Sword Gangs in the middle stage of the Dragon Spring Realm. This is progress!" he marveled, feeling the raw power surging within him.
Yun Xiao gripped his Sword Soul, thrusting the blade into the dense monster bone.
*Ding!*
The monster bone trembled violently, struggling like a captured beast, emitting an eerie, ominous cry that echoed in Yun Xiao's soul sea.
*Rip!*
As Sword Soul pierced deeper, a luminous blood-red light surged forth, infusing into the layers of his Sword Soul. Gradually, an intense sword glow began condensing, layer upon layer.
"Two… three… five!"
The five-hundred-year-old monster bone catalyzed Yun Xiao's Sword Gang, boosting it by an impressive five layers in one swift stroke. This newly fortified layer even surpassed the Sword Gang levels of Jiang Yue and Cai Maomao.
"Among the disciples, this Sword Gang is undeniably advanced," Yun Xiao thought with satisfaction.
Sword Gang was a crucial component of the Heaven-Burying Sword Soul. With each new layer, it matured beyond its nascent state, becoming more resilient, fierce, and saturated with lethal energy.
"Mid-Dragon Spring Realm… five Sword Gang layers. Solid progress!"
What set the Heaven-Burying Sword Soul apart was its sinister attribute—its ability to consume others' Sword Souls to enhance its own. Just as Yun Xiao was about to stabilize his newfound strength, Lanxing's voice echoed in his mind.
"Your Senior Brother Cai is taking a serious beating."
"What?" Yun Xiao leaped up, his gaze sharp as a sword's edge, fury swirling within.
"Seems like someone from the First Sword Peak came along," Lanxing said, ears pricked up as though listening intently.
Yun Xiao clenched his fists, feeling a thrill of battle rise within him. Without a word, he slipped silently into the shadows, his heart pounding.
The night within Sword Pavilion was pitch black, the perfect cover for what was to come.
---
**Sword Pavilion Night.**
In the dimly lit garden, flickering candlelight cast elongated shadows across the ground. The sharp glint of sword light slashed through the air, leaving jagged scars on the walls and roof.
*Bang!*
Cai Maomao crashed to the ground, his legs streaked with blood, wounds fresh and deep. Two shimmering Sword Souls hovered menacingly, their points leveled at his neck.
"Move!" barked one of the towering sword cultivators, shoving him before a young man dressed in an orange sword robe—Wang Feng, the 12th disciple revered in the Sword Pavilion.
Ten disciples from the First Sword Peak encircled the courtyard, their faces twisted with cold, mocking smiles.
"I'll say it once more. Sword Pavilion has no new disciple named Yun Xiao!" Cai Maomao spat, pain flickering in his eyes as he glared defiantly at them.
"No?" Wang Feng sneered, delivering a harsh slap across Cai Maomao's face, leaving a bloody welt. "What about now?"
"Even if you kill me, he doesn't exist!" Cai Maomao seethed, his stare unwavering. "You're too reckless. Sword Pavilion is the heart of Blue Soul; you won't be allowed to spread your corruption here!"
A derisive laugh echoed among the surrounding disciples.
"Blue Soul's heart?" someone taunted. "Just a handful of doomed pigs and dogs!"
"The world's different now," Wang Feng sneered, grabbing Cai Maomao by the hair and yanking him forward. "And you think you can protect him?"
Cai Maomao grit his teeth, remaining silent.
"Forest Yan! Take off his hand," Wang Feng ordered, casting a harsh look at a younger disciple beside him. "Let's see how well he wields a sword after that!"
Cai Maomao's face went pale. "You wouldn't dare!"
"What's a Sword Pavilion member worth? No one will even bury you, let alone mourn a missing hand!" Wang Feng smirked.
Cai Maomao's gaze burned with fury as he struggled in vain against the grip of his captors. The two holding him down—King Tiger and King Clear—were also late-stage Dragon Spring Realm cultivators. They had three-claw Longquan powers, matching his level but wielding the overwhelming advantage of numbers. He couldn't break free.
"Forest Yan!" Wang Feng's voice snapped through the garden.
"Yes!" Forest Yan's expression twisted with unease. This was his first day as a new recruit of First Sword Peak, freshly selected by Yao Qingqian herself.
"Show First Sword Peak's power! Remember, we are the embodiment of Blue Soul's sword cultivation." Wang Feng's tone was scornful, a twisted kind of mentorship.
Cai Maomao's voice trembled with barely controlled fury. "You're a disgrace to Blue Soul. Monsters in human form!"
The onlookers smirked, indifferent to his condemnation.
Forest Yan's expression hardened. Joining Blue Soul—and now, Wang Feng's circle of influence—was an opportunity he could not afford to waste.
In the dim garden, flickering candlelight danced, casting shadows that seemed to mirror the tense energy in the air. Forest Yan gripped his red Sword Soul, transforming it into a sword and advancing toward Cai Maomao, his blade poised with cruel intent.
Suddenly, the heavy gate was thrown open with a resounding *bang*! A young man in white robes entered calmly, his gaze sweeping over Cai Maomao's wounds and shackled form. The cold edge of something fierce flashed in his eyes as he said, "I'm here. Release him."
Wang Feng turned, signaling Forest Yan to halt. He laughed with a mocking smile. "Look, a frog has wandered in."
Yun Xiao raised a brow. "A frog?"
"Yes," Wang Feng sneered. "The art of peeling Sword Souls—perhaps you've heard of it? You look strong enough, though. Too bad your soul is wasted on you. Perhaps I'll fix that."
"Oh?" Yun Xiao replied, amused. "Peeling, you say? I'm familiar with the concept."
"What? Aren't you afraid?" Wang Feng taunted.
Cai Maomao called out, "Junior Brother Yun, leave quickly! They'll stop at nothing!"
Yun Xiao glanced at Cai Maomao, recognizing the sincerity in his worry.
"Senior Brother Cai," Yun Xiao asked quietly, "doesn't anyone manage this?"
"Only the wild can tame this hilltop," Cai Maomao muttered, his face pale with urgency.
Yun Xiao nodded but didn't move. Wang Feng, savoring his control over the scene, urged Forest Yan forward. "Didn't you say you were the strongest in the Ascending Road today, only held back by luck? Here's your chance."
Forest Yan's eyes gleamed. He raised his red Sword Soul and took a step toward Yun Xiao. "Yun Xiao," he spat, "you may have taken the lead on the Ascending Road, but—"
Before he could finish, a flash of azure light burst through the air.
**Thud!**
The sword sliced cleanly through his forehead. Forest Yan's eyes widened in surprise as his body slumped lifelessly to the ground.
The garden fell silent, everyone frozen with shock. Yun Xiao's Sword Soul spun back to his hand, his calm expression unwavering as he looked at Wang Feng. "This was the so-called 'strongest'?"
Wang Feng's expression turned dark, fury flashing in his eyes. He'd noticed the unmistakable glow of five Sword Gangs circling Yun Xiao's Sword Soul, marking his mastery over the 500-year monster bone.
"Did you really just kill a disciple in the first Jianfeng?" one of the onlookers gasped.
"Yeah, just like killing a chicken," Yun Xiao remarked nonchalantly, looking directly at Wang Feng, who stood rooted to the spot in shock.
Wang Feng's anger erupted. "How dare you? That was a 500-year-old monster bone he had—"
"Does it matter? It's all gone now," Yun Xiao replied, his voice steady.
As the weight of his actions sank in, Wang Feng's expression morphed from disbelief to fury.
The other disciples hesitated, sensing the shift in power dynamics, realizing that Yun Xiao had just claimed the upper hand.
With five Sword Gangs now behind him, Yun Xiao was no longer just another new disciple; he was a force to be reckoned with.