Chapter 043 - Drinks Without Me? That's a Paddlin' (1)
Sword Cloud Walk! Today, it buzzed with activity. During the Eight Swords Conclave, more than a hundred disciples from the First Sword Peak lost their lives, including Ye Tiance’s son, Ye Tianyuan. But tonight, there was a celebratory feast in the most luxurious private room on the top floor of Sword Cloud Walk.
The belle of this ball was none other than the first disciple of the First Sword Peak, Ye Tiance’s eldest daughter—Ye Ziyan!
Ye Tiance’s other three disciples, Hua Luo, Wei Ziyi, and Wang Xun, were naturally present. And the honored guests? There were two—Wu Yi, the current acting head of the Third Sword Peak; and Yao Lie, the Chief Law Enforcer of the Sixth Sword Peak. Many from the Seventh Sword Peak also attended, with Yu Xuanzhou among them.
“Elder Yu, today’s success was in part due to you. A toast to you!” Ye Ziyan, a little tipsy, hoisted a foot onto her chair, displaying a fiery attitude with flushed cheeks. Embark on a quest to the commencement at n0v#lbin★
Yu Xuanzhou, a stout man, discreetly ogled at Ye Ziyan’s slim waist, swallowing hard. Hastily lifting his cup, he responded, “To contribute to the first disciple's glory is an honor for me. Bottoms up!” And with that, he chugged his drink down in one go, gulping audibly.
Laughter erupted. “Elder Yu truly is a man of fairness!”
“Just a bit of fun!” Yu Xuanzhou wiped a stray drop from his lip, chuckling sheepishly.
“You should’ve seen it—the color Yun Xiao turned!” Wu Yi scoffed. Previously a Chief Law Enforcement Elder himself, Wu Yi's status was on par with Ye Tianzhao and Yao Lie. But Ye Tianzhao? He'd met his end outside the Sword Cloud Walk just last night.
In Azure Spirit, the position of Chief Law Enforcement Elder in a Sword Peak was second only to the Sword Venerable. They had great authority and were potential successors to the title of Sword Venerable.
“If Wu Wu remains missing, Wu Yi will undoubtedly become the official Third Sword Venerable.”
“Let them fume. They’re now like turtles trapped in a jar. They won’t dare leave the Sword Pavilion. All that's left is for Swordking Ye's return. He'll subdue the beauty, and slash the snakes!” Yao Lie, eyes aflame, remarked coldly. Being the Chief Law Enforcement Elder of the Sixth Sword Peak, he was the little brother of Yao Manxue and elder brother to Yao Qingqian. His words hung in the air, and sardonic smiles spread across the faces of those present.
Despite the Sword Pavilion reaping the most rewards from the Eight Swords Conclave, why was the Pavilion quiet tonight while they celebrated and strengthened their alliances here? All because of the might of Swordking Ye, whose prowess echoed across the Sea of Swords!
“With him here, Azure Spirit will be unified in no more than ten days! To that, cheers!” Yao Lie exclaimed.
“Cheers!”
Ye Ziyan, ever the energetic one, leaped onto the table, laughing heartily with her drink in hand. “Those with us will prosper, those against us will perish!”
“Yes!”
The room filled with uproarious laughter, the atmosphere reaching its zenith. But just as their glasses were about to clink—BANG! The door to the room was kicked open.
“Who's this blind buffoon?” Wang Xun, Ye Tiance’s fourth disciple, turned sharply, his piercing eyes scanning the entrance. Standing there was a young man in white, his gaze dripping with blood.
Behind the young man, hundreds had already gathered. They didn't dare come too close, instead pointing and whispering from a distance, gossiping among themselves.
"Yun Xiao??" Those at the banquet thought their eyes deceived them. Ye Ziyan even rubbed her eyes in disbelief. But, upon a second look, it was indeed Yun Xiao! Dressed in pristine white, wielding an azure sword. His ethereal beauty and unparalleled grace made him unmistakably unique.
"How do you have the nerve?" Wang Xun managed a disbelieving chuckle after his initial shock.
Everyone thought Yun Xiao would just wait for his end in the Sword Pavilion. Why would he dare step out? And not just step out, but come alone to the liveliest place in Azure Spirit Sword Sect: the Sword Cloud Walk?
"Enjoying your drinks, are we?" Yun Xiao's voice broke the tension as he confidently approached them. The sharp blade in his hand scraped the wooden floor, leaving behind a trail of decay, emanating a curl of green smoke.
"You all just keep drinking; I got this!" Wang Xun, in a haze of alcohol and brashness, stood up. With a fierce glint in his eyes, he unleashed his Late Divine Sea Realm power, a vast ocean of force that enveloped the entire hall, bearing down on Yun Xiao. Being Ye Tiance's fourth disciple, Wang Xun was naturally a bit stronger than Ye Tianyuan.
Her Sword Aura was two layers higher than Yun Xiao’s! Moreover, she hadn't fully integrated the thousand-year-old demon bone yet, its potent essence still lingering within her Sword Soul.
Coupled with the four Divine Seas of the Perfect Divine Sea Realm, this first disciple of the First Sword Peak might even surpass the combat power of typical law enforcement elders. She was almost on par with Zhao Xuanran. Today, Ye Ziyan was the protagonist.
"A genius? Do you have the lifespan to mature?" she sneered, leaping forward, channeling the power of the Perfect Divine Sea Realm. Holding the Violet Hawk Sword Soul, she soared like a hawk, charging towards Yun Xiao.
Comet grade Sword Technique, Golden Spiral!
The swirling shadows of the Violet Hawk Sword Soul danced with seventeen fierce layers of sword rays. The sword's silhouette spun fervently, casting an illusion of multiple violet blossoms descending upon Yun Xiao's head. A single strike meant certain death.
"She's formidable!" Outsiders watching gasped in unison. Even Wu Yi, Yao Lie, and Yu Xuanzhou, upon witnessing this, found their anxieties eased.
Someone had already informed Ye Tiance!
"That young fool dared to step out of the Sword Pavilion today? Well, he won't be returning!" Yu Xuanzhou remarked with a sardonic laugh.
No sooner had his words faded than Yun Xiao's piercing gaze met Ye Ziyan.
"You think you're strong?" Yun Xiao's eyes narrowed. He made his move. When still, he was a serene mountain. When in motion, he unleashed the force of an earth-shattering quake!
KLANG! His azure Sword Soul trembled, sweeping through the sky. Amidst its friction, multiple sword rays collided, erupting into an array of dense azure thunderbolts. Another tremor rocked the sword.
A whirlwind wrapped around its blade. From his Dantian, the power of the Primordial Void Technique meshed with the lifeforce, colliding with the deathly aura of the Sword Soul. Instead of countering each other, life and death fused, unleashing a terrifying destructive power.
WHOOSH! He moved like a storm of azure lightning, sword piercing through.
Azure Lightning Crane—Second form, Dragonfly!
Sure enough, while the first form mirrored the mayfly, the second emulated the dragonfly.
As the sword thrust forward, it skimmed the surface, causing ripples. It struck with a mesmerizing allure, capturing the essence of all creation.
Yun Xiao's strike was blistering in its speed, and fierce to the extreme. Embodying a fearless heart, his sword knew no regret. It only sought to annihilate, charging forward unyieldingly. His lightning-infused blade zipped forward, creating a deafening roar. The onlookers instinctively covered their ears.
Ye Ziyan's expression shifted dramatically. Her violet blade descended with grand strokes.
BOOM! The azure storm of electricity entwined with her Sword Soul like a venomous serpent, rapidly slithering toward her body.
"What?!" Ye Ziyan cried out in horror.
Suddenly, Yun Xiao appeared right before her. CRACK! His Heaven Burial Sword Soul pierced through her armor, striking her chest thrice. Each strike penetrated, but none were fatal.
"You truly are formidable, aren't you? I struck thrice, yet you couldn't even block a single blow?" Yun Xiao mocked.
"Ah—" Ye Ziyan's face contorted in pain as she screamed. Blood gushed from her chest, only to be instantly absorbed by Yun Xiao's azure Sword Soul.
"Yun Xiao!" In her terror, she glimpsed the cold, disdainful eyes of the young man in white before her. Her heart crumbled, fear spreading like venom within her soul. She was defeated! Had Yun Xiao not shown mercy, she would've been dead by now!
In that heart-stopping moment, her brain, heart, and hands were all trembling. Tears streamed down from her eyes, and her legs quaked so violently that she was on the brink of wetting herself. Well that, and she had drunk a bit too much!
"Darn...it! You've gone and spilled all the milk!" Red Moon sobbed into Yun Xiao's arms, "You've ruined everything!"