Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Fuyiao Sword Sect’s Li Xingyao, Questioning the Sword at Qingyang Mountain

Inside the Reflection Cave, Xiao Yang was completely focused on his cultivation.

Days went by, one after another.

No one came to visit him anymore.

Before he knew it, he had been wall-facing in the Reflection Cave for a month.

His junior sister, Jiang Ting, had followed him closely since childhood, always the first to seek him out whenever something came up.

But ever since Qin Fei joined the Qingyang Sword Sect ten years ago, everything gradually changed.

His junior sister had come to see him less and less.

In the past one or two years, she hadn’t actively sought him out at all.

Xiao Yang realized that after his rebirth, he had thought less and less about his junior sister, Jiang Ting.

He learned from his third junior brother, Song Qiang, who brought him meals, what Jiang Ting had been up to in the last month.

His junior sister Jiang Ting had been taking care of Qin Fei the whole time.

Under her meticulous care, not only had Qin Fei healed, but his cultivation had also progressed significantly.

According to Song Qiang, Qin Fei was currently cultivating and might break through to the Heavenly Martial Realm at any moment.

During this month, their parents had also visited their precious adopted son, Qin Fei, several times, directly ignoring their biological son who was wall-facing on the Back Mountain.

The Transmission Elder was busy planning for disciples to descend the mountain for training.

The Law Enforcement Elder had gone to find the Sect Leader.

Then there were some trivial matters within the sect.

Whose cultivation had reached a new level?

Who had hunted a rare fierce beast?

However, Xiao Yang knew that a major event was about to happen soon.

And he was at a critical point in cultivating the Futian Sword Technique.

He instructed his third junior brother, Song Qiang, to simply place his meal box at the cave entrance for the next few days.

Surprised and delighted, Song Qiang immediately guessed that his senior brother was about to enhance his cultivation again.

Xiao Yang specifically told Song Qiang to keep it a secret, even from their master.

Song Qiang repeatedly agreed.

Among all the fellow disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect, only the third junior brother, Song Qiang, truly treated him well.

He had always seen Xiao Yang as a role model and regarded him as an elder brother.

But after the Grand Tournament, when the disciples were ordered down the mountain for training, Song Qiang ended up being framed and killed by Qin Fei.

It was because Song Qiang had always stood by him and supported him that he fell into Qin Fei’s trap.

In this lifetime, he absolutely could not sit idly by and watch his third junior brother be killed by Qin Fei.

After Song Qiang left with the meal box, Xiao Yang returned to the cave to continue his cultivation.

He activated the Futian Sword Technique, and a powerful sword qi immediately spread from him.

A sword pellet in his abdomen began to dissolve, transforming into countless threads of sword qi that coursed through his meridians.

The powerful sword qi started to gather at his brow, crashing into the god’s aperture.

The god’s aperture is where thoughts are stored; thoughts can transform into divine consciousness, and divine consciousness can evolve into the divine soul, known as the primordial spirit.

He didn’t know how long it had passed.

Suddenly, Xiao Yang’s entire body shook; in the next moment, he abruptly opened his eyes, and a bottomless black hole seemed to appear on his forehead, continuously swallowing sword qi.

“God’s aperture opens, thoughts arise, sword intent forms…”

“I… succeeded!”

Xiao Yang was immensely thrilled as an invisible sword intent radiated from him.

Looking inward, he saw a small golden sword shadow appearing within his brow’s god’s aperture, with strands of chilling sword qi emanating from it.

At the same time, within the Qingyang Sect, countless disciples’ weapons suddenly trembled.

In the Qingyang Secret Realm, the Qingyang Sword planted on the sword platform emitted bursts of sword cries.

The entire Qingyang Secret Realm began to tremble.

“What’s going on?”

The Sword Guardian, startled, immediately leaped onto the sword platform, placing his right hand on the sword’s hilt, exerting all his strength to suppress the Qingyang Sword, which seemed ready to take off at any moment.

“Today I step into the Heavenly Martial Realm…”

At that moment, an angry roar erupted from Qin Fei’s training ground.

A tremendous wave of sword qi surged forth from his training area.

In the next instant, the spiritual energy of the surrounding world was drawn in, and above, nine divine suns appeared—such a rare phenomenon caused an uproar.

Everyone looked up at this astonishing sight in the sky.

“My junior brother has finally broken through to the Heavenly Martial Realm…”

His junior sister, Jiang Ting, rushed out, looking up at the celestial occurrence with great excitement.

“Nine suns illuminating the sky, myriad swords harmonizing—a true testament to the chosen one with an Innate Dao Body! Just after the breakthrough, and already so many swords are paying homage!”

Inside the Reflection Cave, Xiao Yang remained absorbed in his cultivation.

Days passed with no visitors.

He had inadvertently wall-faced for a month.

His junior sister Jiang Ting, who had always been by his side, had decreased her visits.

But things had gradually changed and hardly anything was the same since Qin Fei’s arrival.

Xiao Yang had little thought of Jiang Ting after his rebirth.

He learned from Song Qiang that Jiang Ting had spent all her time caring for Qin Fei through the month.

Based on Song Qiang’s words, he heard that Qin Fei was also diligently cultivating, seemingly poised to breakthrough into the Heavenly Martial Realm at any moment.

Meanwhile, their parents had paid several visits to Qin Fei, ignoring their flesh-and-blood son, lamenting in front of the wall on the Back Mountain.

The Transmission Elder was organizing the disciples’ cultivation journeys.

The Law Enforcement Elder had gone to consult the Sect Leader.

And then, riveting little affairs within the sect.

People were gabbing about who had broken through to what cultivation.

Who had taken down a rare monster.

Xiao Yang, however, sensed something major was on the horizon.

And his practice of the Futian Sword Technique reached a critical point.

He instructed Song Qiang to simply place his meals at the cave entrance for the next few days.

Song Qiang, both shocked and pleased, immediately figured out that his senior brother was upping his cultivation game.

Xiao Yang stressed that Song Qiang must not tell a soul, not even their master.

Song Qiang nodded enthusiastically.

Among all the other disciples of Qingyang Sword Sect, only Song Qiang had been genuinely supportive of him.

Song Qiang looked up to him as a true brother.

But after the cosmic showdown, when the disciples underwent training, Song Qiang had been killed by Qin Fei’s schemes.

Just because Song Qiang was loyal to him did he meet that disaster.

This time around, he vowed not to losely witness Song Qiang falling prey to Qin Fei again.

When Song Qiang departed, Xiao Yang dived back into his practice.

He initiated the Futian Sword Technique, and a formidable sword qi radiated from him instantly.

A sword pellet in his belly started to disintegrate, transforming into intricately woven sword qi flowing through his meridians.

A surge of powerful sword qi began gathering at his brow, striking the god’s aperture.

The god’s aperture serves as a sanctuary for thought—thoughts might metamorphose into divine consciousness, and divine consciousness could evolve into a soul, the so-called primordial spirit.

Time flitted by.

Suddenly, Xiao Yang quivered all over; with a snap, he widened his eyes, as if a yawning black hole had formed at his forehead, voraciously gulping in sword qi.

“God’s aperture opens, thoughts emerge, sword intent manifests…”

“I… have succeeded!”

Xiao Yang couldn’t contain his excitement, and an intangible sword intent burst forth from him.

When examining internally, he noticed a small golden sword shadow emerging within the aperture at his brow, emanating eerie threads of sword qi.

Simultaneously, every sword in the hands of the many disciples within the Qingyang Sect began to vibrate.

In the Qingyang Secret Realm, the Qingyang Sword embedded in the sword platform let out resounding sword cries.

The entire Qingyang Secret Realm, in turn, began to stir.

“What on earth is happening?”

The Sword Guardian exclaimed, leaping onto the sword platform, pushing his hand onto the hilt, experiencing all his might to rein in the Qingyang Sword.

“Today I ascend into the Heavenly Martial Realm…”

In tandem, an indignant yell erupted from Qin Fei’s training domain.

A powerful wave of sword qi swept out from his training ground like a tidal force.

In a heartbeat, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was set in motion, and miraculously, nine divine suns appeared in the sky, such a rare spectacle creating a massive stir.

Everyone looked skyward, enveloped in awe at the magnificent display.

“My junior brother has truly stepped into the Heavenly Martial Realm…”

His junior sister Jiang Ting propelled forward, utterly astounded, watching the celestial occurrences above.

“Nine suns brightening the horizon, myriad swords synchronizing—undoubtedly a marvel befitting the chosen son with an Innate Dao Body; only moments after breaking through, and already such displays of homage from all swords!”

Meanwhile, the Sect Leader, Jiang Qitian, exited the grand hall and raised his head to marvel at the phenomena above, astonished.

“Our sect has gained another extraordinary genius in the Heavenly Martial Realm; we will prosper, divine favor is upon us!”

The Transmission Elder stroked his beard with a deep sigh.

“This child possesses astonishing talent; it won’t be long before he soars to unimaginable heights, leading our sect back to its glorious past!”

The Law Enforcement Elder shared in the sentiment.

At that moment, the entire Qingyang Sword Sect erupted in excitement.

“Qin Fei only joined the sect ten years ago and then broke into the Heavenly Martial Realm; what terrifying progress!”

“The Holy Son toiled for fifteen years to enter the Heavenly Martial Realm; given time, Qin Fei will surpass him, becoming the leader of the younger generation!”

“I recall when the Holy Son broke through to the Heavenly Martial Realm, heavenly phenomena occurred, too—but it was just one divine sun adorning the world.”

“When the Holy Son took that leap to the Heavenly Martial Realm, it did incite heavenly anomalies, but only a single divine sun, and it couldn’t hold a candle to the nine suns illuminating the heavens for Qin Fei!”

Qin Fei’s breakthrough into the Heavenly Martial Realm evoked a display of nine suns overhead, accompanied by the harmonious symphony of countless swords—this spectacle lasted for over half the day before it gradually disappeared.

Yet at this moment, no one cast their attention toward Xiao Yang.

Even less did anyone care about him.

But did the myriad swords’ homage genuinely emanate from Qin Fei?

Many began comparing Xiao Yang with Qin Fei, concluding that Qin Fei was far more formidable, likened to a celestial dragon while Xiao Yang seemed merely an ant on the ground.

All the sect members began to favor Qin Fei.

“Were it Qin Fei who incited the Qingyang Sword’s movements?”

News reached the Qingyang Secret Realm, shocking the Sword Guardian.

The Qingyang Sword was the sect’s treasured artifact; aside from the founding ancestor of the Qingyang Sword Sect, no one could resonate with the Qingyang Sword.

Not even the Sect Leader could.

“The Innate Dao Body is genuinely extraordinary!”

The Sword Guardian barely managed to calm down the Qingyang Sword.

At this point, the Qingyang Sword had fallen completely silent.

The Sword Guardian deemed Qin Fei’s breakthrough into the Heavenly Martial Realm had instigated the heavenly phenomenon, thus causing the Qingyang Sword to react.

Meanwhile, back on the Back Mountain in the Reflection Cave…

Xiao Yang remained blissfully unaware of it all, still engrossed in his practice.

At present, he had successfully stepped into the realm of Using Intent to Control the Sword.

The sword realm of the Futian Sword Technique can be described with five words: Qi, Intent, Spirit, Soul, Dao.

These are the five major realms of swordsmanship.

Using Qi to control the sword is merely foundational, while using Intent signifies entry into the practice.

Using Spirit to control the sword signifies unity with all swords; using Soul to transcend life and death; and using Dao to slash through worlds, reigning supreme!

With a flick of his right hand and a mental command, a golden sword shadow instantly appeared in his palm.

He waved it, and the sword shadow pierced through the massive rock before him.

In a flash, the sword light flickered, and an echoing tunnel formed silently through the hard rock.

Xiao Yang discovered that his cultivation realm had advanced from the mid-Heavenly Martial Realm to Complete Heavenly Martial Arts.

“Sword Intent… This sword technique, established by the great ancient emperors, is indeed extraordinary!”

Xiao Yang was elated; this was a swordsmanship level only possible in the Divine Martial Realm.

Yet here he was, grasping it while still in the Heavenly Martial Realm.

In five months, during the Grand Tournament, he would surely clinch first place and leave the Qingyang Sword Sect.

With these thoughts, Xiao Yang felt his confidence swell.

Meanwhile, on the bustling Qingyang Sword Sect—so different from the stagnant Back Mountain—it was alive with revelry.

Celebrations raged for three days in honor of Qin Fei’s breakthrough into the Heavenly Martial Realm.

Receiving the news, the head of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhenshan, along with his wife and beloved daughter, Xiao Yue, carrying an abundance of gifts, climbed the mountain to congratulate their adoptive son, Qin Fei, on his remarkable advancement.

The breakthrough of their adopted son to the Heavenly Martial Realm filled Xiao Zhenshan with pride and delight.

In these days, Song Qiang had been bringing more dishes than usual.

Xiao Yang couldn’t help but think how fortunate it was that thanks to Qin Fei, he got to enjoy extra meals.

However, the arrival of two unexpected guests landed like a bucket of ice water on everyone’s heads.

“Li Daozhen from the Fuyiao Sword Sect, accompanied by his disciple Li Xingyao, seeks an audience at Qingyang Mountain!”

The voice was not loud, but it echoed throughout Qingyang Mountain, reaching every single ear.

The Qingyang Sword Sect was set ablaze.

“Oh Qin Fei, right after your breakthrough to the Heavenly Martial Realm, and now someone’s knocking on your door! Let’s see how you handle this.”

In the Reflection Cave on the Back Mountain, Xiao Yang opened his eyes, a subtle smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Li Xingyao—one of his greatest rivals in his past life!