The atmosphere in the hall was electric, every pair of eyes fixed on Yun Xiao. The four-pole Sword Stone hummed with a low resonance as if it could sense the anticipation. The moment Yun Xiao's azure Sword Soul touched the stone, the surrounding air seemed to ripple, charged with a strange and potent energy.
The stone began to glow faintly, its surface rippling like liquid light. At first, the hue was uncertain—a dull yellow, the lowest rank of the Yuheng level. A murmur of disappointment started to spread among the onlookers.
"Yuheng level," someone muttered from the jade Yang building, their tone laced with disdain. "As expected of someone who couldn't even withstand the Son of God's sword."
Ning Yan's beautiful face tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. Despite her earlier remarks, a flicker of doubt crossed her eyes.
But Yun Xiao remained unfazed. His posture was calm, his expression steady, as if he hadn't heard the sneers or seen the contemptuous looks. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused, the azure Sword Soul in his hand blazing with renewed intensity. The hum of the stone grew louder, its glow intensifying.
Then, something unexpected happened. The dull yellow began to shift, deepening into a rich green—the color of Tianquan level!
The hall gasped. The murmurs grew louder, turning from scornful to astonished.
"Tianquan level!" one of the Sword Cloud elders exclaimed. "This boy... his Sword Soul is far stronger than the rumors suggested!"
Even Ning Yan's eyes widened, her earlier confidence shaken. She instinctively stepped closer to the Sword Stone, as if to verify the result for herself.
But Yun Xiao wasn't finished. His palm pressed deeper into the Sword Soul's connection, and the green light of Tianquan began to swirl, taking on a faint sheen of blue—the sign of a Zhaoyao-level Sword Soul! The crowd erupted into chaos.
"Impossible!" Madame Desolate gasped, her haughty demeanor shattered. "A Zhaoyao Sword Soul at his age?!"
Lin Lin, who had been staring at Yun Xiao with a mix of awe and disbelief, whispered, "Brother Chu was never... this dazzling."
The jade Yang building fell silent once more as the Sword Stone reached its final verdict. The stone blazed with blue light, casting its brilliance across the hall. Above Yun Xiao's head, the projection of his Sword Soul appeared—a magnificent, intricate azure sword with an ethereal glow, two Sword Rings orbiting it like celestial bodies.
The elders of Sword Cloud were stunned. One of them, a stoic man who rarely spoke, finally murmured, "This is no ordinary Zhaoyao level... It may even have the potential to ascend further."
Ning Yan stared at Yun Xiao, her earlier smugness completely replaced by disbelief and... admiration? She quickly masked her emotions, but her clenched fists betrayed the turmoil within.
Yun Xiao withdrew his hand, his expression calm despite the shockwaves he had caused. He turned to face the Jade Yang building, his voice steady but cutting as he addressed the silent crowd.
"You judged me before seeing my strength. You sneered at me, mocked me, and spread baseless rumors. Yet now, here I stand, proven by the Sword Stone itself."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"Remember this moment, for it is only the beginning."
Without another word, Yun Xiao turned and walked back toward Ning Yan, his steps measured and confident. The crowd parted before him like the sea, their earlier scorn replaced with awe—and a hint of fear.
Ning Yan, still struggling to regain her composure, managed to speak. "Yun Xiao, you... you've exceeded expectations."
Yun Xiao glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Have I?"
The room was still as he stepped past her, leaving the elders, disciples, and Madame Desolate to grapple with what they had just witnessed.
The name Yun Xiao was no longer one to dismiss. It was a name that would soon echo across the cultivation world, striking awe—and terror—wherever it was heard.
The hall was a cacophony of emotions—shock, awe, disbelief. The residual dust from the explosion of the Second Sword Stone hung in the air, mingling with the stunned silence that followed.
Yun Xiao stood at the epicenter of the chaos, his white robes untouched by the debris that covered everyone else. His expression remained calm, almost serene, as if the destruction he had just caused was as natural as breathing. But within, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at the disarray he'd thrown these self-proclaimed elites into.
Ning Yan, usually poised and composed, was now anything but. Her face, streaked with the remnants of the exploded Sword Stone, betrayed a mixture of exhilaration and disbelief. She practically beamed as she declared in a voice loud enough to be heard by all:
"Yun Xiao, you have shattered every limit, broken every record! You are the first Tianji level Sword Soul bearer in Ten Thousand Swords Sea history! Truly, Sword Cloud's pride and my—*our*—honor!"
Her attempt to stake some personal claim on his success was not lost on Yun Xiao. He raised an eyebrow, thinking,"Auntie Ning? Really?" He glanced at her briefly but chose not to respond, the corners of his mouth twitching into the barest hint of a smirk.
On the Jade Yang building, the elite of Sword Cloud were frozen in shock. Madame Desolate, whose authority had never been questioned, now looked pale and shaken, her earlier arrogance evaporated. Her lips trembled as she muttered, "Impossible... how could this happen?"
The crowd, both disciples and elders, stared at Yun Xiao as if he were a celestial being descended from the heavens. The weight of his unprecedented achievement crushed any lingering doubts or scorn they might have held. The whispers began to ripple through the room:
"He's not just a prodigy—he's a legend in the making."
"To destroy two Four-Pole Sword Stones... that power is beyond anything we've ever seen!"
Lin Lin, standing beside her mother, had completely forgotten to breathe. Her earlier mockery now seemed like a distant memory, replaced by a deep sense of embarrassment and... awe. She glanced at Yun Xiao, her cheeks burning as she muttered, "So... perfect."
Her brother, Lin Chen, clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he processed the sight before him. The pride he'd once held in his own Sword Soul prowess now felt insignificant. "Tianji level..." he whispered, his voice tinged with envy and admiration. "He's in a realm we can't even dream of."
Yun Xiao turned his gaze back to the shattered remnants of the Sword Stones. Their destruction had sent shockwaves not just through Sword Cloud, but through the entire region. The explosion of the stones was more than physical; it was symbolic. He had broken the limits of what everyone believed possible.
With a deep breath, Yun Xiao addressed the room, his voice calm but resolute. "The Sword Cloud Sect prides itself on strength and vision. Yet, it seems your vision has been clouded by arrogance and petty judgments. Let this be a lesson: the heavens do not abide stagnation. Growth comes from breaking limits, not clinging to them."
The hall remained silent, his words sinking in like a blade piercing the heart.
Madame Desolate finally recovered enough to speak, her voice trembling with forced calm. "Yun Xiao, your talent is undeniable. From this day forward, you are a core disciple of Sword Cloud. We will give you every resource necessary to cultivate your unparalleled potential."
Yun Xiao broke the silence, his voice calm but laced with cold irony. "Madame Desolate, your generosity in offering the Sword Cloud disciple sign just now... truly commendable. But as Few Sword Lord, I believe I outrank such formalities, no?"
The veiled jab struck its mark, causing Madame Desolate's expression to tighten. The people murmured, shifting uncomfortably as Yun Xiao's pointed words hung in the air.
Ning Yan's grin widened, her eyes dancing with delight. "Indeed! As Few Sword Lord, Yun Xiao's status is supreme. Madame Desolate, perhaps you should be the first to offer congratulations. After all, history is being made."
Madame Desolate's nails dug into her palms, and her smile strained. "Of course. Congratulations, Few Sword Lord Yun Xiao." The words tasted bitter, but she spoke them nonetheless.
As the crowd began murmuring their support, a cold voice cut through the noise, carrying authority and dread.
"Taboo kills to make! Sword Cloud, meet the command!"
The announcement froze the room.
Yun Xiao narrowed his eyes. "Taboo kills?" he repeated under his breath, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face.
The building trembled slightly as a powerful, oppressive aura descended upon Sword Cloud. From the distance, figures clad in dark robes approached swiftly, their movements sharp and deliberate. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, recognizing the insignia of the Taboo Tower—an organization feared across Ten Thousand Swords Sea.
Ning Yan tensed, stepping protectively in front of Yun Xiao. "Taboo Tower? Here? What could they want?"
Madame Desolate's face betrayed a flicker of relief mixed with confusion. "What timing... but this might work in my favor," she thought darkly.
The leader of the Taboo Tower contingent stepped forward, their presence as chilling as the words they spoke. "Sword Cloud Sect, we come bearing judgment. A heretic artifact has been detected—its wielder must be detained."
The crowd gasped. Heretic artifact? Within Sword Cloud?
Ning Yan's grip tightened on Yun Xiao. "They're here for you," she whispered urgently.
Yun Xiao's expression remained impassive, but his mind worked quickly. He recalled the unique power of his Heaven-Burying Sword Soul—the same force that obliterated the Four-Pole Sword Stones. It was a power that transcended the boundaries of conventional sword cultivation, likely drawing the ire of the Taboo Tower.
"Heretic, you say?" Yun Xiao spoke, his voice steady. "And what is your evidence?"
The Taboo Tower leader's cold gaze locked onto him. "Your sword soul defies natural law. Its existence alone disrupts balance. You will come with us—voluntarily, or otherwise."
The room erupted into chaos. Some Sword Cloud elders looked alarmed, others furious. The Sect had just gained a legendary talent, only for the Taboo Tower to threaten to take him away.
Madame Desolate's lips curled into a faint smirk."If they remove him, my problem solves itself."
But Ning Yan's eyes burned with defiance. She stepped forward, her voice ringing out clear and unyielding. "You have no authority here! Yun Xiao is the Few Sword Lord of Sword Cloud, recognized by our laws and traditions. If you attempt to take him, you'll have to face all of us!"
The Taboo Tower leader remained unmoved. "Laws of Sword Cloud do not supersede the laws of balance. Stand aside."
The tension reached its breaking point as both sides prepared for a clash. Yun Xiao, however, raised a hand, silencing the room. His voice, though quiet, carried immense weight.
"If the Taboo Tower wishes to challenge me, they are welcome to try. But they should remember—balance is not dictated by fear, but by power. And my power... is absolute."
The aura of the Heaven-Burying Sword Soul surged around him, causing the air to tremble. The Taboo Tower envoys hesitated, their confidence shaken.
Yun Xiao's smirk returned. 'Let them come."
The tension in the hall escalated as Yun Xiao's Heaven-Burying Sword Soul manifested its presence, the overwhelming power causing a sharp, metallic hum to reverberate through the air.The crowd looked on in awe and trepidation. Sword Cloud's disciples and elders, though skeptical moments ago, now found themselves silently marveling at the raw force emanating from the Few Sword Lord.
The Taboo Tower leader's expression remained stoic, but a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes as the oppressive aura pressed against him. "Absolute power, you claim?" he said coldly. "Yet all power must answer to judgment. You may fool these sect followers, but the laws of balance are immutable."
Ning Yan took a step forward, her sharp gaze locking onto the leader. "And yet, for all your talk of balance, you trespass here without proof or warrant. Is the Taboo Tower so eager to tarnish its own reputation by meddling in Sword Cloud's sacred traditions?"
The leader's lips curled into a faint sneer. "Proof? Very well." He extended a hand, and a shimmering, rune-laden artifact materialized in the air before him. "This detection crystal resonates with heretic forces. Its glow near this boy is evidence enough."
The crystal began to pulse faintly, its glow intensifying as it pointed towards Yun Xiao.
The crowd murmured in shock, some elders exchanging worried glances. Madame Desolate's smirk widened imperceptibly.
Yun Xiao, however, remained unfazed. He stepped forward, the aura of his Sword Soul compressing around him like an invisible armor. With a flick of his hand, the glow of the detection crystal dimmed.
"Your artifact is flawed," Yun Xiao said coolly. "It cannot discern between power born of heresy and power born of transcending mortal limits. My Heaven-Burying Sword Soul is not heretic—it is unparalleled."
The Taboo Tower envoy stiffened, his hand clenching into a fist. "Such arrogance! A deviation from natural law cannot—"
"Enough." Yun Xiao's voice cut through the air, commanding and unyielding. "You come here, accusing me without understanding the essence of my strength. If you believe me to be heretic, prove it with your sword, not your tricks."
The crowd erupted into whispers. A duel? Here, in the heart of Sword Cloud?
Ning Yan's eyes widened briefly before narrowing with determination. "Yun Xiao," she murmured, "are you sure?"
He gave her a slight nod, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "The Taboo Tower respects only strength. I will give them what they want."
Madame Desolate's gaze turned sharp, her earlier relief now replaced by unease. If Yun Xiao proved himself here, not even the Taboo Tower could deny his legitimacy.
The leader of the Taboo Tower smirked. "Very well. A battle it is." He unsheathed a sleek black blade, its edge shimmering with eerie, otherworldly light. The crowd instinctively stepped back, making room for the confrontation.
The hall fell silent as Yun Xiao and the Taboo Tower envoy faced off. The atmosphere crackled with tension, every eye fixated on the clash about to unfold.
The envoy struck first, his blade slicing through the air with unnatural speed. A wave of dark energy surged toward Yun Xiao, distorting the very fabric of space.
Yun Xiao raised his hand, and his Heaven-Burying Sword Soul roared to life. A translucent, celestial blade formed in his grip, its brilliance illuminating the room. He slashed downward, meeting the dark energy head-on.
The collision of forces sent a shockwave rippling through the building, shattering nearby ornaments and rattling the foundation. The crowd shielded their eyes as the two powers clashed, the brilliance of Yun Xiao's Sword Soul swallowing the envoy's attack whole.
When the dust settled, Yun Xiao stood tall, his celestial blade gleaming. The envoy staggered back, his weapon cracked and his expression dark with disbelief.
"Anyone else?" he asked, his tone casual yet carrying a weight that sent chills through everyone.
No one stepped forward. Even Madame Desolate, her earlier smirk wiped away, retreated a step, realizing that this "disciple" was far more than he seemed.
For the first time, Taboo Tower's invincibility had been challenged, and the Sword Cloud Sect was left questioning its own honor. As Yun Xiao sheathed his blade, one thing became clear:
The age of fear was over. The age of defiance had begun.
"This... this is no heretic power," the envoy muttered. "This is..."
"Supremacy," Yun Xiao finished for him, his tone unwavering.
While Yun Xiao was talking Xiao He suddenly attacked him which seemed to be inevitable but was intercepted in the blink of an eye.A gray-robed figure appeared before Yun Xiao, his movements swift and precise, exuding the confidence of someone who had seen countless battles.
The strike he delivered to Xiao He was swift and brutal, a single open-handed slap that reverberated through the room like a thunderclap. Xiao He, one of Taboo Tower's feared enforcers, was sent hurtling backward, blood and teeth spraying into the air as he crashed through the front doors of the Sword Cloud Sect with a sickening thud.