The Awakening Hall slowly dimmed, the last remnants of the Sword Saint's message fading into motes of drifting silver light. The air was thick with lingering Sword Intent, sharp enough that even a mortal passing through might be sliced open without Zhou Yu's careful control.
But outside the hall—the entire Heavenly Sword Sect had changed.
The mountain trembled.
The spiritual veins roared to life.
Sword qi howled through the air like vengeful spirits.
It was as if Tian Jian's will had ignited the mountain's long-dormant heart.
Ling, Zhou Yu's wolf companion, lifted his head and gave a short, excited bark. Even he could feel the transformation—his fur bristled with silver arcs of sword qi.
Zhou Yu turned to his disciples.
"Follow me," he said simply.
The four disciples exchanged quick glances—a mixture of fear, awe, determination, and amazement—before falling in behind him. Ling trotted at Zhou Yu's side as they exited the Awakening Hall into the dawn light.
What awaited them outside made all of them gasp.
Where before the sect grounds had been grey, barren, and half-ruined…now they pulsed with spiritual vitality.
Silver lines of light spiderwebbed across the mountain, forming a massive network of Sword Vein Nodes—natural points where Sword Qi condensed and amplified. Sword grass, translucent and sharp-edged, sprouted from the ground like a forest of pale blades. The thin, struggling spiritual vein from before had thickened into a luminous river of flowing qi.
Feng Lian clasped her hands over her mouth.
"Master… the spiritual vein—it's recovering!"
Liang Chen knelt to touch the ground. "The qi density is up by… twentyfold!"
Su Mei spun in a slow circle, eyes sparkling. "I can feel my core spinning faster just by breathing!"
Han Xiang stared blankly at the sky. "Heavens… the sect was really asleep this whole time…"
Zhou Yu nodded.
"The Sword Saint's voice shook the mountain. You witnessed only a fraction of what the Heavenly Sword Sect once was."
He stepped forward and pressed his palm to the ground.
A deep hum responded—like an old dragon stirring from slumber.
"From this moment onward," Zhou Yu said, "we rebuild."
Zhou Yu turned to the group.
"We have one month before the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect moves again."
The disciples straightened.
"We will not waste a single day."
His voice was neither harsh nor loud. But it was absolute.
Zhou Yu's Orders:
Liang Chen: "You will stabilize your Bronze Core (Sword Qi Variant) and refine your sword technique."
Liang Chen bowed deeply.
"Yes, Master!"
"You will also learn how to control the resonance between your core and Ling. If you two sync perfectly, your sword qi and his beast essence can merge."
Liang Chen paled. "Is that… safe?"
"No," Zhou Yu answered. "But it will make you terrifying."
Ling barked in approval.
Feng Lian: "You will begin comprehension of the Ice Sword Vein. Now that the mountain is active, you are ready."
Feng Lian blinked, stunned. "M-me? Master, such a vein is extremely difficult—"
Zhou Yu gave her a rare, faint smile.
"You have talent for it."
Her eyes reddened instantly, but she bowed.
"I will not fail you, Master!"
Su Mei: "You will cultivate the sect's lost movement technique:
'Star-Stepping Shattered Light.'
Your body type and Qi flow are perfect for it."
Su Mei lit up. "Truly?! That technique was once ranked top five even among sword sects!"
Zhou Yu nodded. "And if mastered, you will become untouchable."
She clenched her fists, excitement shaking her voice.
"I'll do it!"
Han Xiang: "You will oversee formation reconstruction."
Han Xiang's spine straightened instantly.
"I-I'll manage it, Master! Which formation should I prioritize?"
Zhou Yu looked toward the mountain's peak.
"The Grand Sword Formation."
Han Xiang nearly fainted.
"That—That thing can split mountains! I'm still only half-step Qi Condensation—!"
"You will not activate it," Zhou Yu said calmly. "You will restore the foundation. I will handle the rest."
Han Xiang's relief was visible… but short-lived.
"For this task, you will study the foundational array manual I provide. You have seven days."
"S-Seven—?!"
"Seven."
Han Xiang dropped into a bow.
"I'll do it! I promise I'll learn it!"
Zhou Yu led them toward the center of the sect.
Dust rose as long-forgotten stone doors slid open, revealing a descending staircase carved with ancient runes. The air inside was still, cold, and thick with suppressed power.
The disciples hesitated.
Zhou Yu didn't.
He walked into the depths, and the runes lit one by one as they recognized the Sect Master's aura.
The lowest chamber opened into an enormous vault shaped like a sword tip.
Inside were:
Hundreds of ancient scrolls
Fragments of sword manuals
Materials for weapon forging
Spirit ore infused with sword qi
Formation plates and lost schematics
The disciples gaped.
Su Mei whispered, "We… we're rich…"
Feng Lian wiped tears from her eyes. "This archive… scholars would kill for this…"
Liang Chen looked like he might cry too. "Master… the sect's future… it's…"
Zhou Yu raised a hand.
"These are not for hoarding. These are for rebuilding."
He went to a sealed jade chest and opened it.
Inside lay three crystal spheres—each containing a rotating sword rune.
The air shook.
Sword Intent flooded the chamber.
Even Zhou Yu felt it press against him.
"These," he said, "are the Sword Saint's incomplete techniques."
The disciples dropped to their knees instantly.
Zhou Yu lifted the first sphere.
1. Heaven-Splitting First Form — 'Silent Skyfall'
Zhou Yu lifted the crystal containing the first technique.
A quiet, oppressive weight filled the air. Su Mei clapped both hands over her mouth as invisible pressure crushed the ground around them.
"This technique," Zhou Yu said softly, "silences all sound within a radius before the strike."
Feng Lian stammered, "S-Silences sound… why…?"
"Because the strike itself moves faster than the echo of its own presence."
Liang Chen paled visibly.
"That's… that's impossible…"
"No," Zhou Yu said. "It's Sword."
2. Mythic Sword Sutra — 'Eternal Dao Edge'
The second crystal radiated deep, ethereal brilliance.
Han Xiang felt his soul tremble. "Master… this one… the Dao… it's resonating…"
"It should," Zhou Yu said.
"This technique condenses sword qi directly from heaven and earth, borrowing the Dao of Sharpness itself."
The disciples could barely breathe.
"Once mastered, every strike becomes a Dao strike."
Their knees nearly gave out.
3. Forbidden Sword Law — ???
The third crystal was pitch black.
No light escaped it.
No aura leaked.
It felt completely dead.
Zhou Yu stared at it.
The disciples held their breath.
"What… is this one?" Liang Chen whispered.
Zhou Yu shook his head slowly.
"I cannot open it."
Su Mei blinked. "You… can't?"
Zhou Yu nodded.
"This technique is sealed by the Sword Saint himself. Only someone who has reached beyond Immortal Ascension may attempt to comprehend even a fragment."
The hall fell silent.
Feng Lian whispered, "So… Master will someday…"
Zhou Yu placed the black crystal back into its case.
"Not now."
But the faint shimmer in his eyes said that he would one day try.
Zhou Yu stood before his disciples.
"The Heavenly Sword Sect has slept for ten thousand years. But we will awaken it faster than anyone expects."
He rolled up his sleeves.
The disciples braced themselves.
"Your training begins now."
Liang Chen's Training: The Resonance Path
Zhou Yu placed a hand on Liang Chen's chest—right over his Bronze Core.
A shock of sword qi blasted through Liang Chen's meridians.
He screamed, falling to one knee.
"Your variant core is built for one thing," Zhou Yu said, voice firm but not cruel.
"Synchronization."
Zhou Yu pointed at Ling.
"You two will train until your heartbeats align."
Liang Chen gasped. "Th—that means our qi flows will merge!"
"Yes."
"Master, that's insane!"
Zhou Yu didn't blink.
"Insanity is where swords are forged."
Ling barked once—as if agreeing.
Liang Chen looked between the wolf and Zhou Yu…
Then bowed.
"I'll do it."
Feng Lian's Training: Ice Sword Vein Activation
Zhou Yu led her to a frozen cavern newly opened by the mountain's awakening.
The air dropped to lethal temperatures immediately. Frost formed on Feng Lian's eyelashes.
Zhou Yu placed his hand on the ice wall.
Blue light spread.
A crystalline chamber opened, filled with ancient ice swords.
"This," Zhou Yu said, "is where the first generation of Ice Sword Elders trained."
Feng Lian trembled—not from cold, but awe.
Zhou Yu placed a crystal blade in her hand.
"You will awaken the Ice Sword Vein. Do not leave until the ice accepts you."
Her breath misted in the frigid air. "Master… will I survive this?"
"You will not die," Zhou Yu said.
"I will make sure of it."
She nodded, swallowed her fear, and stepped inside.
Su Mei's Training: Star-Stepping Shattered Light
Zhou Yu brought Su Mei to the cliffs overlooking the entire Eastern Sky Continent.
Silver sword qi wind blasted their robes, threatening to knock her off. Su Mei barely kept her footing.
Zhou Yu pointed at the sky.
"You will learn to step on starlight."
Su Mei blinked. "B-But there's no starlight in daytime—!"
Zhou Yu smiled faintly.
"Then learn to create it."
She exhaled sharply.
"Master… you're terrifying."
He nodded.
"I know."
Han Xiang's Training: The Grand Sword Formation
Zhou Yu led Han Xiang to the mountain's peak.
There, dozens of shattered formation plates and ancient runes lay buried in stone.
"This is the heart of the Grand Sword Formation," Zhou Yu said. "It once protected the entire Eastern Sky Continent."
Han Xiang choked.
"WHY am I here?!"
"You will study it," Zhou Yu said simply.
Han Xiang's soul nearly left his body.
"I—I'm not worthy—!"
"You are," Zhou Yu replied. "You have talent for formations that even you don't understand yet."
Han Xiang blinked.
Tears filled his eyes.
"Master… thank you… I won't… disappoint you…"
When the disciples were assigned their tasks, Zhou Yu returned to the main sword courtyard.
He unsheathed the Sword Saint's cracked jade blade—the last remnant of Tian Jian's weapon.
He held it up to the sky.
The mountain hummed. Sword qi swirled like a tornado.
Zhou Yu whispered:
"Silent Skyfall."
The world became quiet.
No birds.
No wind.
No heartbeats.
Even sound itself bowed to the technique.
Then Zhou Yu swung.
The sword didn't flash.
The air didn't explode.
Instead—
A clean, silent line carved across the sky.
The top of a distant mountain slid off silently, as if decapitated by an invisible blade.
Zhou Yu lowered the sword.
Not enough, he thought.
I am still too weak.
Night fell.
The disciples trained until midnight, each pushed to their limits.
And at the mountain's peak—
Zhou Yu stood alone, gazing into the distance.
Far away, in the direction of the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect…
A faint red glow appeared on the horizon.
Zhou Yu's eyes sharpened.
"One month," he murmured.
"Let them come."
His hand closed around the broken sword.
"The Heavenly Sword Sect is no longer dead."
The winds howled in agreement.
"And the world will soon remember our name."