The morning sun barely pierced the dense clouds hovering over Jade Sword Mountain. The Heavenly Sword Sect, still scarred from centuries of neglect, now pulsed with a renewed aura. Sword Qi drifted through the air like silver mist, catching in the trees, swirling along the mountain paths. Even the faintest touch of wind carried a sharp edge, as if the mountain itself had learned the Sword Dao.
Three days.
Zhou Yu's mind returned again and again to the message written in blood at the sect gate. "Three days. Hand over the fragments. If you don't—We will take your heads instead."
He walked through the central courtyard, his boots clicking against the stone floor. His eyes were calm, almost serene, but the aura around him hinted at the power he could unleash at a moment's notice. Behind him, the disciples moved like soldiers preparing for a battle that had already begun.
Liang Chen was already awake, practicing his Sword Qi circulation. The Bronze Sword Core in his dantian gleamed faintly, sharper than ever after the rigorous midnight training with Zhou Yu. Each swing of his sword drew arcs of silver light, slicing the air with deadly precision.
Feng Lian stood nearby, her white robes shimmering faintly as frost gathered at her feet. She observed Liang Chen quietly, her sharp eyes noting every slight misstep, every imperfection in the flow of Sword Qi.
"Your focus falters when your mind wanders," she said coldly, though not unkindly. "You need to anticipate the enemy before he strikes, not react after he appears."
Liang Chen swallowed, nodding. "Yes, Senior Sister. I'll correct it."
Before more could be said, a sudden hum of energy resonated through the courtyard. A figure appeared atop the mountain's edge, standing upon a cliff that overlooked the sect. Her presence was unmistakable.
She was tall, elegant, her robes of azure blue embroidered with cloud motifs—the unmistakable mark of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect. But what made her aura so overwhelming was the power radiating beneath her composed exterior: Sword Immortal level. The sharpness of her gaze could cut through mountains; her mere presence demanded both reverence and caution.
The disciples stopped mid-action. Even Feng Lian's icy expression showed the slightest flicker of respect.
Zhou Yu's gaze sharpened, but he remained calm.
"She has come," he murmured.
The woman stepped forward, and the wind seemed to part for her. Her long hair flowed like a river of ink, and her eyes gleamed with intelligence and authority. Sword Qi rippled gently around her, creating faint arcs of light across the courtyard.
"Zhou Yu," she said, her voice soft but clear, "I am Mistress Yun Xiang of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect. I have come with a warning."
Zhou Yu inclined his head slightly. "Mistress Yun Xiang. You honor us with your presence. Please, speak freely."
Liang Chen's mouth went dry. The rumors were true—she was Sword Immortal-level. To even sense her intent directly required careful cultivation.
Mistress Yun Xiang's gaze swept over the courtyard, finally resting on Liang Chen. A faint smile played across her lips. "The young disciple… he carries potential. But he is not yet ready for what is coming."
Liang Chen felt a shiver run down his spine. Ready for what?
She turned her gaze toward Zhou Yu again. "The Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect is not acting alone. Their movements are coordinated with forces from the Western Desolation Steppe. They intend to strike multiple sects simultaneously. Your Heavenly Sword Sect is their primary target."
Feng Lian's frost aura surged slightly. "And you came to tell us this… why? Azure Cloud is a separate sect. Why involve yourself?"
Mistress Yun Xiang's eyes softened slightly, though her tone remained formal. "Because if your sect falls, the balance of the Eastern Sky Continent will be disrupted. The Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect will gain too much power. And… because your Master has awakened fragments of the Heavenly Sword Saint's legacy."
Zhou Yu nodded slowly. "So you come as a messenger, and perhaps… an observer."
"I come as both," she admitted. "But know this: I have my own reasons to prevent Scarlet Moon from gaining the Heavenly Sword fragments. My sect would prefer a stable Heavenly Sword Sect on the Eastern Sky Continent, not a fallen one overrun by demonic power."
Liang Chen swallowed hard. "Master… she's Sword Immortal-level?"
Zhou Yu glanced at him, expression neutral. "Yes. And she is not here to fight you. But she will not hesitate to act if the sect is threatened."
Han Xiang, who had been frantically reassembling array plates, nearly fainted. "S-Sword Immortal?! And she's standing here like it's a normal morning…"
Mistress Yun Xiang's gaze swept across the courtyard once more. "Time is short. You have three days before the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect strikes. Your sect is still weak. You must strengthen defenses, train your disciples, and—" She hesitated slightly, glancing at Zhou Yu with a rare hint of concern. "—refine your Sword Core further. If the Core falters, your sect cannot withstand them."
Zhou Yu's lips curved in the slightest smile. "You underestimate our resolve, Mistress Yun Xiang."
She inclined her head gracefully. "I do not underestimate. I merely warn. You may have strength, but you are still rebuilding. You are still a sect in its infancy."
Liang Chen's heart raced. His mind flooded with questions: Three days? Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect? Sword Immortal-level presence? And… what does 'refine the Sword Core further' even mean?
Zhou Yu turned to him. "Liang Chen, come."
Liang Chen followed cautiously as Zhou Yu led him to the central training ground. Mistress Yun Xiang watched silently from the cliff's edge. The night was dark, but the Sword Qi within the courtyard shimmered like silver fire.
"Tonight," Zhou Yu said, "you will learn the Second Stance of the Dawn Break Technique. It is far more complex than the first. You will need complete focus, or the Sword Qi will harm you instead of help you."
Liang Chen nodded, swallowing his fear. The First Stance had pushed him to his limits. The Second Stance promised to be worse.
He positioned himself, recalling the mental image of the sword arcs Zhou Yu had shown him. The air thickened around him as he focused, drawing upon every ounce of energy within his Bronze Sword Core.
Zhou Yu's presence was close—intensely close—and yet he did not interfere. His sword floated beside him in silent support, resonating with the latent Sword Qi in Liang Chen's body.
Mistress Yun Xiang's voice carried softly from the distance, almost like a whisper in the wind: "Master Zhou is teaching him the path of the sword… but he must also survive the path of the world. The Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect will test him."
Liang Chen felt the weight of her words but pushed it aside. The sword arcs took shape in his mind, then in reality. Each swing formed glowing silver streaks in the night air.
Mistress Yun Xiang nodded ever so slightly. "The Core is solid. He may yet survive what is coming."
Hours passed. Liang Chen's movements became more confident, more fluid. His Bronze Sword Core pulsed with a newfound clarity. He felt the Second Stance merging with his body, as if it were always a part of him.
Zhou Yu observed silently. Ling sat nearby, tail curling, eyes alert to the faintest disturbance.
Finally, Liang Chen collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. His sword lay at his side, glowing faintly with residual Sword Qi.
"You've done well," Zhou Yu said simply. "Tomorrow, we will integrate the Third Stance. And the day after, your training will culminate in a combined form capable of defending the sect."
Liang Chen's chest heaved. "I… I'll do my best, Master."
Zhou Yu's gaze shifted to Mistress Yun Xiang, who had descended the cliff slightly, still maintaining her composed demeanor.
"Three days," she reminded, voice calm, almost gentle. "Your sect's survival depends on what you do in that time. I will leave now, but I will watch."
She stepped back into the shadows, and a swirl of azure clouds lifted her silently into the sky. Within moments, she had vanished from sight.
Liang Chen stared after her. "She… she's incredible."
Zhou Yu's expression softened just slightly. "She is a Sword Immortal. One of the few in our continent. But remember—strength alone does not win wars. Preparation, foresight, and the will of the sword matter just as much."
Han Xiang muttered from the side, almost under his breath: "I think my will just fled…"
Feng Lian smiled faintly. "Better get used to it. That is the world of Sword Dao."
The three days had begun. The Heavenly Sword Sect, though rising from ruin, now faced a countdown of blood and fire. Every step, every breath, every swing of a sword could mean survival—or death.
And somewhere, hidden in the shadows, the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect was preparing their strike.