Chapter 58: The Sword is the Path
Li Shuang stood victorious, his name echoing through the arena like the clash of steel. Ye Zhao Zhao watched from below, her heart heavy as thunder rolled in her ears. She tried to hide her hurt, yet the memory of public disgrace stung like a bitter wind.
[How could she be so humiliated by one she had always looked down upon?]
Every whisper and sneer in her mind seemed to mock her, as if all the onlookers believed her to be nothing but a fool.
But there was a deeper fear gnawing at her spirit. Her cultivation had fallen back to the early Nascent Soul Stage, and with one more defeat, she risked losing all she had fought for. The System’s wrath loomed—a punishment harsh and unyielding.
[She could not, would not, let that happen.]
A dark twist of emotion flashed across her face before she quickly masked it with calm.
“Eldest Senior Brother,” she said with a forced smile, addressing the one who had come near to comfort her. “I never thought that even after my concession, Senior Sister Li would strike. It startled me.” Her voice trembled like a leaf in the wind.
At that moment, Chang Le An’s anger surged like a raging river. He glared venomously at Li Shuang, accusing, “She did it on purpose! Junior Sister, you are too gentle. If you do not stand up to her, she will only press you further!”
Ye Zhao Zhao lowered her eyes and whispered, “I was only worried about Long Yan and wished for a quick end to the match. I never imagined Senior Sister Li would attack so suddenly.”
Chang Le An’s fury grew, his eyes burning with the desire for immediate justice. Before he could act, Ye Zhao Zhao clutched his sleeve to hold him back. At that moment, Shen Yue stepped forward, retrieving the Dragon’s Roar Sword from the arena and offering it to her in silent counsel.
Her heart pounded as she stammered, “Second Senior Brother, I did not mean to let go of Dragon’s Roar. I was just too nervous.”
A complex look passed through Shen Yue’s eyes as he replied calmly, “A Sword Cultivator must never release their sword, no matter the circumstance.” His words carried a deep wisdom, reminding her that her blade was not merely a tool, but an extension of her soul.
Shame colored her cheeks, and after a long pause she murmured, “I understand. It was never my intention.”
Shen Yue added, “And burning your spiritual essence is a desperate act. It should only be reserved for life or death, for it weakens the very foundation of your Sword Spirit.” His steady tone belied the storm of emotion within him.
Before he joined the Sword Sect, Shen Yue had been born into a noble family of the Sword Dao. From his first wooden sword to the treasured blades he later wielded, every sword had been a stepping stone on his journey. He had once been celebrated as a prodigy, yet true cultivation meant more than talent. It was the guidance of Eldest Senior Sister that rebuilt his spirit and helped him rise above his peers.
He had even believed himself to be a genius of the Sword Dao, perhaps even surpassing Li Shuang in pure skill. But now, all those thoughts had faded like mist, especially after witnessing that single bloom of the Ice Lotus. Chasing after Li Shuang had become an impossible dream. Still, Shen Yue held fast to his identity as a Sword Cultivator.
For every cultivator who walks the sword’s path, their blade is their soul. None would dare push their Sword Spirit to its breaking point for a mere contest, nor would they abandon the sword that shared in their life and death battles.
[Little Junior Sister has not yet become a true Sword Cultivator.]
“Second Senior Brother, are you blaming me?” Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes filled with tears. “I never ordered Long Yan to burn his spiritual form—he acted on his own!”
Before she could say more, Chang Le An stepped forward, shielding her from Shen Yue’s stern gaze. “Junior Sister, you are already upset from losing. Now is not the time for blame.”
Sheng Yuan, troubled by the scene, interjected, “Second Junior Brother did not mean it so harshly. We must return to Spirit Void Peak to help mend Long Yan’s damaged spirit.”
Shen Yue fell silent, and Chang Le An’s fierce glare urged him to relent as he guided the tearful Ye Zhao Zhao away.
Glancing at Shen Yue, Sheng Yuan sighed, “Second Junior Brother, let us return as well.”
Li Shuang had won—spectacularly so. Lingering longer would only invite more scandal.
As Shen Yue cast a distant look toward Li Shuang, his heart felt heavy. The disciples around them had gathered only for the spectacle. They whispered in awe about the True Dragon’s phantom and the blooming Ice Lotus. Yet high upon the platform, there was only silence.
Meng Yi Fei could not hold his emotion any longer. Rising to his feet, he stared at the spot where the Ice Lotus had blossomed, his eyes filled with deep emotion.
After a long moment, he turned to Lin Qing Ling, asking softly, “This… is…”
Lin Qing Ling remained calm, though a spark of pride danced in her eyes as she replied, “It is the Heartless Sword Art. I entrusted Li Shuang with the Jade Slip passed down by our Founding Ancestor. In a short time, she has grasped its first form.”
The Heartless Sword Art was truly a rare treasure. Meng Yi Fei’s lips trembled as he recalled the past.
Long ago, the Founding Ancestor first rose to fame on the Southern Mist Continent when he wielded the Azure Wood Sword. With one mighty strike, towering pines sprouted, their green waves echoing the endless force of his wood-element spirit.
Later, that very technique became known as the Heartless Sword Art. At a glance, the swordplay of the Founding Ancestor and that of Li Shuang seemed worlds apart. Yet both carried a deep understanding of the Dao.
To train with a sword was to walk upon the Dao, and only the Heartless Sword Art could truly reveal its essence.
At first, when Li Shuang turned to the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art, doubts had clouded the future. But now, she had already embraced the first form of the Heartless Sword Art. Even the Founding Ancestor had not reached such heights at her age.
Meng Yi Fei sensed that if Li Shuang broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage, the Sword Sect would finally enter an era of true glory.
The path of the sword is a journey of endless battles and eternal hope.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation