The third Sword Peak, where flames soared to the heavens!
Amid the smoldering autumn air, thick smoke rose, mingling with the clouds. Even the mountain forest was ablaze, visible from afar. Word spread quickly, and the crowd was drawn to the unusual activity tonight. The Scarlet Melt Pavilion fire had sparked intense discussion and concern among the Blue Soul sword cultivators.
Ye Tiance and Yao Manxue arrived as the blaze was finally contained by the cultivators of the third Sword Peak. However, the Scarlet Melt Pavilion was reduced to nothing but scorched earth.
Over a thousand sword cultivators gathered around the charred forest, their faces full of confusion and alarm.
"Wu Wu?" Ye Tiance demanded, his gaze steely as he addressed the elders and disciples of the third Sword Peak.
"Return to the Sword Master! We're not certain," one elder replied. "After the pavilion caught fire, we searched for him everywhere but found no trace."
"I remember that Wu Wu was last seen here in the Scarlet Melt Pavilion, preparing for the upcoming competition," another elder said.
"The entire Wu clan was here at the pavilion?" Yao Manxue asked, her brows knitted in concern. She exchanged a worried glance with Ye Tiance, who immediately felt a chilling sense of foreboding.
"Search everywhere!" Ye Tiance commanded. Over a hundred sword cultivators immediately spread out to scour the ruins.
"No sign of Bingjian!" one called out.
"What about bodies?" Ye Tiance asked sharply.
"None," came the reply.
Ye Tiance relaxed just a bit, muttering, "If anyone had perished, even if burned to ashes, we would still find traces of their sword bones."
"Where could the entire Wu clan have gone?" Yao Manxue wondered aloud.
"Continue searching the entire Blue Soul region!" Ye Tiance ordered.
Obeying, the cultivators took to the skies, their vibrant Sword Souls lighting up the night as they searched. Every major Sword Peak was notified, the entire Blue Soul was mobilized to find any trace of the missing clan.
"This is odd!" Ye Tiance surveyed the ruins, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. "The Wu family's mansion had golden lion statues at the gate and other furnishings inside that should have survived the fire, yet it's all gone. Everything has been looted!" he said, his face pale with suspicion.
"All their belongings stolen, and not a single person left behind," Yao Manxue replied, her voice trembling. "Are you suggesting that although we found no bodies, they may still be dead?"
"If we don't find any trace of the Wu clan within the next half hour, then they must have been completely eradicated," Ye Tiance replied, his voice frigid with conviction.
Tianyuan, his son, stood nearby, looking stunned and furious. "Father! Who could have done this?"
Ye Tiance's frown deepened, but he offered no answer.
"My sister also went missing a few days ago," Yao Manxue said, her voice as icy as her gaze.
"And my twelfth disciple, Wang Feng, who had not been seen since this morning…" Tianyuan added, his voice quivering with worry.
They looked to Ye Tiance for guidance.
"If an enemy as powerful as this could eliminate the Wu clan without leaving a trace, we're facing an adversary hidden in plain sight," Ye Tiance said gravely.
"It could be just one person," Tianyuan suggested.
"Perhaps. But for one individual to take out the Wu clan like this… they would need to be stronger than I am," Ye Tiance said, shaking his head, though he suspected it might be a group.
He turned to his followers. "Light the Blue Soul Cauldron fire! All sword cultivators, be on high alert!"
A massive, blue flame roared to life, illuminating the sect and signaling an imminent challenge.
"It's the Sword Pavilion," Ye Tiance muttered, his eyes cold as he looked toward the Blue Soul main peak.
"Do you think the Sword Pavilion has gained powerful allies?" Yao Manxue asked.
"It doesn't make sense. If they had strong allies, why not use them three years ago instead of waiting until now?" Ye Tiance replied, frowning deeply.
"True. Zhao Jianxing of the Sword Pavilion is a peculiar man, and he doesn't have many friends," Yao Manxue scoffed.
They waited, but no news of the Wu clan surfaced.
"They're almost certainly gone," Ye Tiance said, murder in his eyes as he surveyed the scorched earth.
"Inform Buddhist Old immediately. I need you to keep him calm," Ye Tiance instructed Yao Manxue.
"Yes," she replied, nodding.
"Also, discreetly investigate to see if any misunderstandings with other sects may have played a role in this," Ye Tiance added cautiously.
---
"You?"
Yao Manxue glanced over at Ye Tiance with a questioning look.
"So, Wu Wu sets a demon to eliminate that Sword Pavilion disciple, Yun Xiao, only for it to backfire and annihilate an entire family..." Ye Tiance's tone was frosty. "I'll head over to Sword Pavilion and investigate."
"You mean this could all trace back to Yun Xiao?" Yao Manxue's eyes narrowed as she considered it.
Ye Tiance seemed deep in thought, then turned to his son, Tianyuan. "Did Wang Feng and Yao Qingqian have any interactions with Yun Xiao?"
"Sister Yao oversees the Ascension Pathway. After you accepted Yun Xiao as a disciple, Junior Brother Wang Feng took her to acquaint herself with Blue Soul's members," Tianyuan explained.
"Really?" Ye Tiance's eyes grew colder.
"I'll consult with the old monk first, then seek out Jiang Yue to confirm," Yao Manxue replied.
"If that figure in the shadows is connected to the monk, there's no need to pursue it further. But he may not even be aware of them," Ye Tiance noted.
"Understood," Yao Manxue nodded.
The priority was clear: don't aggravate any honored guests.
"Just received news: the people over at Taboo Sea seem to be very invested in the shadow figure, treating it with high regard." Ye Tiance's eyes blazed with intensity.
Balancing the good news with the setbacks concerning Wu Wu's defeat, his mood steadied.
"It seems this situation has escalated beyond expectations." Yao Manxue's eyes also brightened with intrigue.
"Indeed. Good luck to him. His future... is beyond imagining." Ye Tiance gestured silently and vanished into the night. The others dispersed, leaving the third Jianfeng group to handle any lingering matters.
---
Shortly after, Ye Tiance arrived at Sword Pavilion. His Sword Soul shimmered faintly as he glided across the sky, his sharp gaze piercing the darkness. Ahead, he heard voices—a lively gathering of youths before an ornate palace. A young man in crisp white clothing sat at the center, his face flushed with wine, surrounded by laughter.
Several Sword Pavilion elders sat outside, observing the scene with warm smiles, offering silent protection. Yet, within that grand palace… something held a power that even Ye Tiance found unsettling. For a quarter-hour, he watched without moving, his fingers twitching as his sword aura surged, only to be restrained.
Finally, he let out a scornful laugh and turned to leave.
"He's gone," whispered Lanxing, nestled against Yun Xiao's chest.
Yun Xiao chuckled. "I knew I'd be suspected. But what of it?"
Ye Tiance could not have guessed that Yun Xiao's Heaven-Burying Sword Soul had the power to strengthen his "Sword Heart," enough to wipe out a clan in a single blow. Concepts like Divine Land's Heavenly Pillar, the Tao source boundary, or the world embryo would be beyond his understanding.
Late that night, Cai Maomao and the others returned to the grand palace, save for the quiet young woman in the black dress who sat by a cliff in silence. Unlike her usual self, she had refrained from drinking.
"Junior Brother Yun," a soft voice called.
Yun Xiao opened his eyes to see a beautiful figure standing before him, moonlight casting a glow over her.
"Senior Sister Zhao, what's the matter?" Yun Xiao asked, brushing dust from his robe as he stood.
"There's no more wine," she replied, her delicate skin glowing under the moonlight, her silky black hair falling like a waterfall and brushing against Yun Xiao's face with a tickling touch.
"Ah," Yun Xiao shook his head, feeling more alert.
"Let's go buy some," she said.
"Alright," he nodded, walking shoulder to shoulder with her.
Senior Sister Zhao had an elegant height and graceful figure—slender yet sturdy.
"Can you still control your sword after drinking that much?" she asked, a teasing glint in her eye.
"King Elder says that if I drink while sword-wielding, I'll end up in a mass grave tomorrow," Yun Xiao replied, chuckling in a slightly tipsy manner.
She sighed, summoning her black Sword Soul. Its appearance mirrored her own—like a black flower, elegant yet quietly powerful, concealing a fiery strength. She stepped lightly onto it, then beckoned to Yun Xiao with a slight smile. "Come up."
"Alright," Yun Xiao joined her on the sword, standing a bit unsteadily.
"If you lose focus, the sword will throw you off, and you'll plunge to your death," she warned.
"Maybe," he chuckled, letting out a small hiccup.
"Hold on!" she said, suddenly serious.
"Hold on?" Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow.
"My waist," she said naturally.
"You think I'm scared?" He placed his hand around her slender waist, soft and supple as a water snake.
The memory of a previous night flashed in his mind, heating his cheeks slightly.
"I'm only allowing this because of your Sword Heart. Don't get any ideas," she said, her voice soft with a hint of hesitation.
"You don't need to explain," he said, his eyes narrowing in a smile.
"What do you think you understand?" she asked.
"I may be young, but I can lead," he replied with a grin.
Her face flushed slightly, and she focused ahead as they ascended into the night sky. Wind whipped around them, and Yun Xiao clung tightly to her waist to stay steady.
Cold night air swept around them as they flew, the world below shrinking, becoming ghostly under the moonlight. High above, a sense of utter cold and isolation filled Yun Xiao.
The only warmth he felt came from her waist beneath his hands.
As her hair fluttered in the wind, brushing against his face and neck, he caught the soft fragrance it carried. Her gown billowed behind them like a spirit, a vision of beauty in the night.
"This… this is the immortal road," he whispered, his eyes misting over. Sword, wine, and blood—all mingled in his mind, an image of a desolate world.
Only her warmth grounded him, her presence making him feel the true essence of this path.
"Is this the immortal road?" Lanxing muttered from within him.
"This is the Dao, meant to chain mortals to life so they multiply," Chiyue agreed.
"And not just in the head," Lanxing added dryly.
Yun Xiao nearly choked. "You're killing the mood!"
Their serious discussion completely shattered the atmosphere, leaving him speechless.
After a time, Yun Xiao glanced below and saw the brilliantly lit Blue Soul hills, sparkling like a gem in the mountain's heart.
"That's Sword Cloud Pavilion. Blue Soul cultivators trade spiritual resources there, and other factions have shops, like Lingbao Pavilion," Zhao Xuanran said, guiding the sword down.
Her voice was quiet, a note of something unspoken in her tone.
"Are you thinking of riding my sword again when we go back?" she asked softly.
"Yes," he said.
"Hold on—and keep your hands in place!" she added sternly.
Yun Xiao's eyes widened slightly, but he held her gently, grinning as they descended into the lights below.