Alright, my little one, a day has passed since I last saw you.
She approached me again, but this time with an avatar… I think her clothing was something like Greek style — a traditional Greek robe, white in color. But I'm in the Murim… what does this woman have to do with me? Could she be one of the higher beings?
She touched my cheek and pinched me. I asked, "Why are you pinching my cheek? And where is this place?"
She said, "You will know everything in time. Right now, you are too weak to know. But I will tell you this — those vile beings are after you. Also, do not try to die, because last time I broke the causality of this world, consuming part of my divinity. If it wasn't for my healing and your damaged body being restored, you would have died, little one. Take care of yourself, and never trust any of those strange beings, nor their offers.
There is still a long road before we meet again, but because of how important you are to me, I wanted to give you direct advice. In any case, take care of yourself, and don't forget to develop your awareness in case one of those cursed beings attacks you. And since you lack proper enlightenment, I will give you something to help."
She pulled me close with my clothes still on, and kissed me for the second time. Just like last time, a large amount of that light entered my body. She hugged me, saying, "Farewell, little one. Our next meeting will be after a long time, so take care of your health."
She began to fade before my eyes, gave me a kiss on the forehead, and then vanished. I woke up immediately after it happened.
Who are these beings she spoke of? Could they be responsible for creating these worlds? Or are they the ones responsible for placing the laws of causality? And when she mentioned "divinity," I realized she was probably a high being sitting at the top, capable of ignoring the principle of causality.
Could those beings be connected to my presence in the Jianghu or Murim? Is there a possibility that something rules over the Murim, or even exists in higher dimensions above us? My entry into this world might be related to higher beings… but what's the purpose? Was my arrival here part of their plan from the start?
The matter is too complicated. Thinking about it alone makes my head hurt. So, let's leave it at that.
In any case, my body had regained its health. I could walk again, and my physical condition was much better. I had to start preparations for the day and train that little one, Xing Xue. As for Xing Yan and Xing Jin, both had reached the Peak of Perfection realm. They needed to cross the Sword Silk threshold and achieve enlightenment — I would think later about crossing it myself and understanding what that old man meant when he spoke about "motivation." It seems that motivation is a crucial condition for achieving enlightenment if one lacks talent.
Now I had to go. The servants entered and placed food on my bed. I ate, put on my clothes, took my sword, and set out.
Early in the morning, I found the young Xing Xue training with Xing Yan. His performance was good — with his talent, I could call him a genius. His ability to spot openings was impressive. Xing Yan suddenly attacked him with a surprise waist strike, but Xing Xue imitated a move I had used in battle — he jumped into the air, spun, and placed his sword at Xing Yan's neck. However, Xing Yan shattered his sword the moment he released his aura, causing it to crumble, and Xing Xue lost the match.
I then spoke to Xing Yan, Xing Jin, and Xing Xue:
"All of you will fight me. If you can scratch me, I'll teach you how to truly find a reason for enlightenment and reach the Realm of Unity with the Sword."
I announced the start of the challenge, and the auras flared in the arena.
Xing Jin rushed first, his steps quick and his aura surging from his body. He raised his heavy sword to strike at my head, but I stepped back and threw him off balance before countering with a side strike, which I stopped with a sword spin. Xing Yan came from the other side, leaping high to strike from above, but I cut through his path midway and forced him to retreat.
At that moment, Xing Xue advanced forward. I lowered my body, bypassed him, and struck his arm with a quick hit.
The attacks kept coming without pause. The three surrounded me from all directions. I avoided Xing Jin's heavy blows and countered them with my own strikes, cut off Xing Yan's advances before he could get close, and spoiled Xing Xue's plans each time he moved. My steps cornered them, giving them no chance to approach.
I knocked Xing Yan's sword away with a swift strike, then pushed Xing Jin back with a strong blow, forcing him several meters away.
When fatigue began to show on them, I focused my attacks to scatter the two. I pushed Xing Yan toward the left, then pressured Xing Jin with a flurry of strikes until he was too occupied defending and retreating. At that moment, Xing Xue slipped from behind with surprising speed and scratched the edge of my robe with his sword.
I stopped, realizing the scratch had been made. I lowered my sword and admitted defeat.
They were overjoyed, but their auras had completely run out, and their muscles were utterly exhausted. I could see the tearing in their bodies from the flow of energy I sensed. They couldn't stand, and all three fainted. I called the servants to carry them to their rooms.
I then went to the training yard to watch the Tang family warriors practice. I saw the corps commander — I remembered him as the one who made my first assassination attempt on the young master of the Tang family difficult. Our eyes met, and I greeted him with a handshake. He gripped my hand firmly, releasing his aura, and I did the same. It seemed he had grown stronger than before, almost as if he had reached the peak of Sword Unity.
His aura was stronger than anyone else in his realm, and I saw the Thread of Fate (which appears to those with talent beyond genius, capable of overturning the Murim). I also sensed the Fragrance of the Sword (which reflects one's mastery of the blade — the purer and more fragrant, the greater the mastery).
His Thread of Fate resembled a pure tree, likely meaning he was a just and noble man. The purer the thread, the clearer the person's intent; the darker it becomes, the greater the evil they can bring.
After our meeting, he asked for a duel. Of course, I accepted — I had nothing to lose.
Before the fight began, I asked his name. He said, "My name is Shang Ji. And yours?"
I replied, surprised, "My name is Tian Shi. It's an honor to meet you."
The fight began with cautious steps from both sides. Shang Ji stood firmly, watching every move I made, anticipating each strike before I launched it. I advanced with a direct attack, but he deflected it with a slight parry, then countered with a side slash that forced me back a step.
I tried to maneuver from the right, but he quickly turned to block my path. His strikes were precise, leaving no room for reckless charges. Every attempt I made to break through was calmly countered.
I realized his composure was his greatest weapon. To break it, I increased the tempo — pushing my sword forward in a chain of powerful strikes, forcing him to retreat little by little. Each blow was closer than the last until I struck his shoulder, slowing his movements. I shifted left and stabbed his side before he retreated again. He tried a high strike, but I cut his advance with a blow to his leg, making him stagger.
I seized the chance, hitting his chest with a strong push that sent him to his knees, clutching his wounds.
But in an instant, he released his aura, gathering it to heal himself. I thought the fight was over, but suddenly his aura surged to immense levels — the ground beneath me felt like it trembled. His wounds closed before my eyes. Before I could move, he lunged with a single strike that sent me flying several meters back. My bones shook, and my chest burned with pain. Half my aura was gone in an instant, and my body bled from several wounds.
But with the pain came a strange calm… a state that swept over me. The world slowed down. Every movement of his became clear — every shift in his weight, every pulse of his aura.
When he attacked, I moved before his blow landed. When he tried to block my strike, I was already somewhere else.
I began striking and moving beside him at the same time. My steps vanished from his sight, and every time I appeared, I left a new wound on his body. His injuries multiplied, his breathing grew heavy, and his movements slowed.
Then came the end… I launched forward with a speed that left him no time to think. Passing by his side, my sword left a massive X-shaped scar across his body, from his shoulders down to his waist. I stopped behind him as my aura faded, and he fell to his knees — defeated, but alive.
The fight was over, and I finally won. His fighting style reminded me of the old man's, but this time it was easier. The problem was that he regenerated every time I attacked, so I hit him with a mix of aura and mental power, injuring him in a way that would likely leave that scar for life.
After his defeat, Shang Ji tried to speak, but I struck his neck, knocking him unconscious. I carried him to the young master, who told me to lay him down, and then I left.
By then, the three youths had awoken, but they were too exhausted to move for days. Before I could finish speaking, they asked for advice on enlightenment in the way of the sword.
I said, "As you wish. You have already reached the peak of aura manipulation, but you must now focus on merging with the sword as one spirit, able to cut anything. You must also find a suitable motivation that represents you. Once you find that motivation, you will ascend instantly to the realm you desire.
For example…" I lifted my sword. "I have developed my awareness to the point that any scratch on my sword feels like a wound to my own body. Do you understand?"
They said, "Yes. We will not fail you — we will rise."
They left, and now it was up to me to raise my own level — but not yet. For now, I would look into matters concerning that strange woman