In the span of half a year, a worldly palace in the Northern Territory has descended into a purgatory on earth.
This kingdom, named "Beihan," was once a prosperous place in the mortal realm. Now, inside the grand hall of the palace, the air is thick with the scent of alcohol, intertwined with the eerie mix of blood and perfume.
Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder reclined lazily on the king's dragon throne, his left hand playing with an emerald green jade pendant—the Heirloom Seal of the Realm of Beihan—while his right arm was wrapped around a beautiful concubine, his hand wandering beneath her clothing, his eyes filled with lecherous intent.
Meanwhile, Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder leaned back within the trembling arms of several concubines. He used the tip of his sword to pick up a piece of golden roasted meat, a smudge of oil at the corner of his mouth as he smiled without restraint.
The King of Beihan, clad in a dragon robe, clutched the hem with his bony fingers. With only Foundation Establishment Cultivation, he dared not even entertain the thought of resisting against two Golden Core Great Cultivators.
Three days ago, the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends had stormed the palace, murdered his Crown Prince and Queen, and now they had turned the palace into their playground of revelry, forcing him to witness it all. Any resistance on his part meant the obliteration of his clan and country!
"Your Majesty, why aren't you drinking?" Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder suddenly lifted his gaze, his tone mocking, "Could it be you're still thinking about your precious son?"
Beihan trembled, bowing his head even lower, a suppressed whimper escaping his throat—he had seen with his own eyes as the Crown Prince had his Dantian shattered by Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder's Thunder Bamboo Staff, dying a horrific death, yet he didn't even have the right to collect his son's body.
Just then, a sharp sound reverberated from the sky, not the usual Escape Light, but carrying an aura fierce enough to tear through Divine Souls.
The candles in the grand hall suddenly extinguished, the doors and windows clattered, and the lecherous smiles on the faces of the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends froze, both of them standing abruptly, their mana surging wildly.
"Such powerful Sword Qi!"
Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder's face changed dramatically. He shoved the concubine aside, flipping his right hand to summon an all-black "Thunder Bamboo Staff," its surface etched with lightning patterns, through which visible currents flowed.
Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder also summoned the "Wind Bamboo Ring," with two green bamboo rings hovering above his head, spinning to stir a fierce gale.
They had just charged out of the hall when they saw a silver-white figure standing high above the palace square, Sword Qi swirling around him, the flagstones beneath etched with fine cracks from the pressure of the Sword Qi.
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Master Celestial Sword stood with hands behind his back, glancing at the two, his silver-white Sword Robe flapping vehemently under the influence of the Sword Qi. Though his longsword remained sheathed at his waist, it made the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends feel as though they had plunged into an icy abyss.
His gaze was disdainful, as if he were looking at ants; in his presence, they seemed like lambs awaiting slaughter.
"Fellow Daoist, is there some misunderstanding?"
Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder suppressed his inner terror and clasped his fists in a show of respect, his tone intentionally ingratiating. He could feel the overwhelming presence of his opponent, something they could not withstand.
Master Celestial Sword sneered coldly, his voice like ice striking the ground:
"Two rats, hiding and posturing within a mortal realm palace, yet dare to call yourselves Golden Core Cultivators?"
The Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends were about to speak further.
Master Celestial Sword merely uttered two words: "Noisy!"
Before the words fell, Master Celestial Sword flicked his finger, and the longsword at his waist let out a clear sword hum.
A threadlike golden Sword Gang suddenly condensed, fine as a hair yet accompanied by rolling thunder, splitting in midair into two strands like twin golden lightning bolts, slashing towards the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends.
The speed was so extreme, it even tore through the air, leaving faint golden trails.
The Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends reacted quickly. Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder swung the "Thunder Bamboo Staff," its lightning patterns swelling, and a purple lightning pillar surged towards the Sword Gang.
Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder manipulated the "Wind Bamboo Ring," spinning the rings into a shield, attempting to block the other Sword Gang.
"Clang!"
Firstly, the Thunder Bamboo Staff clashed with the golden Sword Gang, not resulting in a loud explosion, but a soft sound instead.
The staff, capable of withstanding the full power strike of a late-stage Golden Core, was cleaved neatly in two by the Sword Gang, its fracture as smooth as a mirror, with the lightning patterns extinguished in an instant.
Simultaneously, the Wind Bamboo Ring was struck by the Sword Gang, its wind patterns shattering instantly.
The entire ring flew off like a kite with a broken string, emitting a mournful clang as it shattered.
"Sword Intent! It's Sword Intent!"
Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder's face turned pale as he finally understood why their opponent was so formidable—a peerless sword cultivator who had comprehended Sword Intent!
He abruptly shouted to Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder, "Brother, quickly form an array!"
Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder dared not delay, swiftly forming seals with his hands and chanting the incantations of the "Celestial Bamboo Technique."
His body channeled Wood Element Magical Power wildly into the ground, countless green bamboo shadows emerging from the earth, quickly forming a "Celestial Net Bamboo Array" over the square.
Within the array, bamboo shadows swayed, each shadow bearing sharp wooden thorns as though ready to eviscerate intruders.
But as the Grand Array formed, Master Celestial Sword's eyes flickered—his Sword Heart precisely pinpointing the flaw as the array took shape.
With a slight turn of his wrist, the longsword at his waist finally unsheathed by three inches, and an even more condensed silver-white Sword Gang shot skyward, cleaving straight through to the array's hub like a meteor.
"Crack!"
The array shattered like glass, countless bamboo shadows dissipating in an instant. The Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends, suffering the backlash of the array, spewed blood violently, their bodies frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief.
Before they could react, the silver-white Sword Gang once again split into two in midair, like two life-threatening silver snakes, precisely slicing towards their necks.
"Pfft!"
Two quiet sounds almost simultaneously erupted, as the Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder and Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder's heads were severed and fell to the blue stone slabs of the square, their eyes wide open, unable to accept the reality of their instant demise.
Blood gushed from their necks, staining the ground, the intense smell of blood overwhelming.
Master Yun Xiao, hidden in the void, gradually revealed his form, a tempest of emotions raging in his heart as he witnessed the scene before him.
Though having long heard of the incisiveness of sword cultivators, this was his first time witnessing a Nascent Soul Grand Sect sword cultivator in action.
The Sword Heart perceives flaws, Sword Intent enhances Sword Gang, each move a kill sans superfluous techniques, under the sword, a flick of the finger can snuff out a life in an instant.
He quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands towards Master Celestial Sword, "One sword, two kills; Fellow Daoist, you are truly an unparalleled Sword Cultivator!"
Master Celestial Sword simply nodded lightly, his gaze sweeping over the bodies of the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends. With a swift motion of his right hand, the storage pouches of the two, along with the broken Thunder Bamboo Staff and the damaged Wind Bamboo Ring, flew into his hand:
"There's news from the Sword Sect. I must return immediately. These two heads, please trouble you to deliver them to Nine Cloud Peak."
Master Yun Xiao nodded with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, you may go; leave this matter to me."
Without saying more, Master Celestial Sword tapped the ground with his toes, and the Sword Qi around him surged explosively, transforming into a silver-white Escape Light that sped towards the sky, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.
At the entrance of the palace hall not far away, the King of Beihan Country witnessed everything with his own eyes. He was momentarily stunned.
Then his eyes flooded with endless joy and excitement, and he abruptly knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly towards the direction where Master Celestial Sword departed, muttering nonstop:
"Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal, for rid Beihan Country of harm! The kindness of the Immortal, Beihan Country will never forget!"
His voice carried a choking tone, tears mixed with the dust on his face, sliding down his cheeks, a release of long-held oppression.
Master Yun Xiao, watching this scene, chuckled softly, stepped forward to pick up the heads of the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends, turned, and transformed into a gray shadow, heading towards Nine Cloud Peak.
...
At Nine Cloud Peak, Chen Sheng stood on the White Jade Platform in front of the cave dwelling, seeing from afar a gray shadow speeding from the sky; as the Escape Light landed, it was Master Yun Xiao holding the heads of the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends.
"Fellow Daoist Yun Xiao, you've had a hard journey!"
Chen Sheng quickly approached, a smile on his face, his gaze falling on the Jade Box in Master Yun Xiao's hand— from the seam of the box, a faint bloody smell hinted that it contained the heads of the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends.
Master Yun Xiao laughed heartily, presenting the Jade Box to Chen Sheng: "I was fortunate to fulfill my mission! The Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends have been executed; Fellow Daoist, please verify these heads."
Chen Sheng accepted the Jade Box, infusing a wisp of Spiritual Power into his fingertips, slowly opening the lid of the box.
Inside, he saw the two heads perfectly preserved by the Spiritual Power, with the eyes of Celestial Bamboo Golden Elder still showing the horror before his death, and the corners of Celestial Bamboo Silver Elder's mouth frozen with lingering fear.
He nodded slightly, waving to store the Jade Box into his Storage Ring, speaking with a sense of ease:
"Good! Thank you, Fellow Daoist, and Fellow Daoist Celestial Sword for your efforts. With this fiend removed, the hostility in my heart is completely dispelled."
Saying so, he led Master Yun Xiao into the cave dwelling.
Inside the cave dwelling, a feast was already prepared. On the stone table was a jar of Spirit Wine sealed with a "Thousand-Year Intoxication" label. Beside it were delicacies crafted from Tier Three Spirit Fruits, with sandalwood incense rising, dispelling the lingering bloody smell in the air.
Chen Sheng personally poured a cup of Spirit Wine for Master Yun Xiao, the amber liquid bubbling with fine Spirit Light as it filled the cup, exuding a rich fragrance.
"Fellow Daoist, let's enjoy this drink together!" Chen Sheng raised his cup, his eyes filled with smiles.
Master Yun Xiao did not refuse, picking up the cup and drinking it in one go. As the Spirit Wine entered his throat, a warm Spiritual Power instantly spread through his limbs and bones, dispelling the fatigue of his journey by more than half.
He set down the cup, praising: "Fellow Daoist Micro-Image's 'Thousand-Year Intoxication' is indeed well-deserved, even more mellow than the last time I tasted it!"
Chen Sheng, smiling, filled the cup again: "I'm glad you like it, Fellow Daoist. This jar of wine is yours."
The two drank heartily while discussing the details of the pursuit and slaying.
Master Yun Xiao, putting down his cup, began to recount slowly:
"Following the aura of the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends, I chased all the way to Beihan Country, only to find these two hiding in the mortal royal palace, acting tyrannically. Truly, they were laden with sins."
He paused, his tone filled with admiration:
"The swordsmanship of Fellow Daoist Celestial Sword is truly the most remarkable I've ever seen in my life!"
"When we arrived above the palace, he directly revealed his form. The Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends tried to feign surrender, but he simply struck with a Sword Gang, slicing the Thunder Bamboo Staff into halves, even shattering the Wind Bamboo Ring."
"Later, the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends set up the 'Celestial Net Bamboo Array', thinking it could delay him for a while, but unexpectedly, Fellow Daoist Celestial Sword broke the array with one sword, and even decapitated the two of them in just three breaths' time, truly a swift kill!"
Chen Sheng listened quietly, without the slightest surprise in his eyes. He sipped his wine and spoke slowly:
"The way of the Sword Cultivator emphasizes 'speed, precision, and ruthlessness', and those who've grasped Sword Heart and Sword Intent excel at these three."
Of course, for a Sword Cultivator, if one can't decisively kill the enemy, and gets tangled up, with their frail body, they either have to maneuver swiftly to find an opening or flee thousands of miles away.
Master Yun Xiao nodded with deep agreement:
"Fellow Daoist's words ring true! I'd only heard of the sharpness of Sword Cultivators before, but seeing for myself now, the rumors are indeed true."
"Fellow Daoist Celestial Sword's strike was not only fast but absurdly precise, whether it was splitting Magical Artifacts, breaking arrays, or decapitating heads, all done with remarkable accuracy, without an extra move."
Chen Sheng set down his wine cup, nodding lightly:
"This is the wondrous utility of Sword Heart, enabling a Sword Cultivator to keenly perceive the enemy's weaknesses, the flaws in Magical Artifacts, and the hub of arrays. Coupling this with the Sword Gang blessed by Sword Intent allows for a sure-kill attack."
"Fellow Daoist Celestial Sword comprehended Sword Heart and Sword Intent early on, ranking among the top in the Inner Sect of the Myriad Swords Sect, second only to the True Sword Child. For dealing with evil loose cultivators like the Celestial Bamboo Double Fiends, it's naturally no difficulty."
The two lifted their cups again, their conversation shifting from Sword Cultivation to the situation in the Northern Territory, then to the development of the Chen Clan Commerce Association, laughter and the aroma of wine permeating the cave dwelling.
Unbeknownst to them, the sun had set, staining the horizon with shades of orange-red.
Master Yun Xiao stood to take his leave, and Chen Sheng handed him the jar of "Thousand-Year Intoxication" along with some Healing Elixirs:
"Fellow Daoist, this time you've endured much hardship, this little token is no great respect. If you ever need anything, just send me a message."
Master Yun Xiao accepted the storage pouch, bowing with a smile:
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist! If there are any tracing matters in the future, feel free to call on me." With that, he transformed into a gray shadow and vanished into the sky.