Myriad Rivers to the Sea

The dust settled over the outer ridge while the towering obelisk continued to radiate a suffocating yellow light across the sacred ground. Elder Kuang Shan stood near the glowing treasure and crossed his arms over his broad chest with a cheerful expression on his face. He looked down at the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples with a mocking grin while the elders of the sword faction gripped their hilts with white knuckles. They waited for Sect Master Ling Wuji to give the order to attack and cleanse the insult with blood.

Ling Wuji lowered his raised hand and dispersed the sword projection hovering in the sky. He recognized the political trap Kuang Shan had laid just outside the boundary of the graves. Not only was it a political trap, if the experts engaged in a destructive battle here, the resulting shockwaves would level the Canyon of Sleeping Echoes and destroy hundreds of thousands of ancestral resting places. The Sundered Peak Sect knew the sword cultivators valued their history and they were exploiting that devotion to shield themselves from immediate retaliation.

"You bring a heavy rock to a graveyard and call it an offering," Ling Wuji spoke with a voice as cold as winter ice. "You hide behind the graves of our ancestors because you know we will not risk destroying their rest to punish your insolence. That is not the behavior of a proud orthodox faction. That is the tactic of a coward who fears a fair fight."

Kuang Shan let out a booming laugh that echoed off the steep canyon walls. He did not seem offended by the insult and simply patted the side of his giant double bladed axe before taking a heavy step forward.

"Call it what you will," Kuang Shan replied while waving his thick hand dismissively. "We simply wanted to see if the fabled Heavenly Sword Sect still possessed any real spine. The Myriad Realms are entering a chaotic era and the weak will be consumed in the chaos. We heard that this sect took on a holy son that does not even follow the sword path. It seems the rumors were true because your disciples look soft and weak. They lack the edge required to survive the real wars to come."

Elder Huo Zheng stepped up beside his Sect Master and his eyes burned with fury. "Our disciples hold the line all over the Myriad Realms while your brutes hide in your mountains. Do not lecture us on war, Kuang Shan."

"Then prove me wrong," Kuang Shan challenged with a sly glint in his eye as he got to the real reason why he was here. Their sect did not want a full blown out war but it did not mean they didn’t want to humiliate the Heavenly Sword Sect. "Words are cheap and empty. If your disciples are truly as sharp as you claim, let them cross weapons with ours. We will hold a friendly exchange right here on this plateau to spice up this dreary memorial. Let the ancestors see if their descendants are still worthy of carrying their blades by letting them see your skills."

Ling Wuji narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. He knew refusing a formal challenge between the younger generations would bring shame to the sect and hurt the overall morale of the sect for years to come. It was a matter of martial pride that could not be ignored in front of the entire assembly. The Sect Master looked back at Feng Tianyi and the other juniors standing in their defensive formation. The disciples nodded firmly as their eyes burned with a fierce desire to defend their honor and prove their strength against the invaders.

"We accept your challenge," Ling Wuji stated clearly. "But a true test of martial skill requires an even playing field. If we are to test the foundation of our teachings rather than raw cultivation time, all fighters must be suppressed to the exact same boundary. We will lock the stage to the peak of the Karma Severing Realm so most can take part."

"A fair condition," Kuang Shan agreed without hesitation and his arrogant smirk only grew wider. "A superior Dao will always crush a weaker one regardless of the Qi involved. Let us set the boundaries and begin."

Ling Wuji and Kuang Shan raised their hands simultaneously and channeled their power toward the elevated plateau. A lattice of glowing silver and heavy brown runes formed a shimmering dome over the stone floor. The suppression array was established by both leaders to ensure neither side could cheat the other. Anyone stepping into the ring would have their cultivation restricted to the peak of the Karma Severing Realm.

Kuang Shan turned to the group of heavily armored youths standing behind him and gestured to a towering figure near the back. "Tuoba Leng, step forward and show these gardeners what a real weapon looks like."

A young man pushed his way to the front of the Sundered Peak group. Tuoba Leng stood a full head taller than his peers and possessed a physique forged from solid iron. He wore thick leather armor reinforced with dark metal plating and he carried a single bladed battle axe that looked heavy enough to crush a boulder from just its weight.

Tuoba Leng was one of their prodigies and had never lost to anyone with the same realm. That was where their confidence in him stemmed from and why he was leading this offensive to embarrass the Heavenly Sword Sect. He jumped down from the upper ridge and landed heavily within the glowing suppression dome.

As Tuoba Leng entered the ring, his Tribulation Realm aura was forcefully compressed by the array. His energy settled at the peak of the Karma Severing Realm but his physical density and his crushing martial intent remained as fierce as ever. He rested the heavy axe on his shoulder and pointed a thick finger at the sword disciples.

"Who wants to be the first to break?" Tuoba Leng taunted with a raspy voice. "Do not waste my time with your weak techniques. Bring your best and let us see if it can scratch my armor."

Zhou Ming stepped out from the defensive circle before anyone else could move. He drew his unadorned straight sword and his expression was calm. He remembered the debate around the campfire and he wanted to test the yielding philosophy against this brutal opponent on equal footing. He walked into the suppression dome and offered a brief formal bow.

"I am Zhou Ming of the Heavenly Sword Sect," the young swordsman announced and he was in the Karma Severing Realm already. "I will teach you respect."

"You will teach me how to bleed," Tuoba Leng laughed and charged forward without delay.

The axe wielder did not bother with intricate footwork or probing strikes. He closed the distance in three heavy strides that were extremely quick and swung his battle axe in a devastating horizontal arc. The force of the swing compressed the air and formed a phantom projection of a collapsing mountain behind him.

Zhou Ming kept his eyes locked on the incoming axe and did not plant his feet to block the strike. Instead, he utilized his water style sword art known as the Flowing River Deflection. He stepped lightly to the side and angled his sword to guide the heavy axe past his body instead of taking it head on. His blade glowed with a soft blue Qi as he attempted to let Tuoba Leng's own momentum pull the brute off balance before striking him.

The strategy was sound in theory but the reality of the Axe Dao and Tuoba’s physical strength proved too oppressive even at an equal cultivation level. The heavy pressure radiating from the nearby World Anchor Stele enhanced the crushing nature of the attack as well.

It was technically a form of cheating but the impact was small enough that the sect leader allowed it. He saw it as a form of extra training for his disciples to overcome such challenges. While their presence here was a great insult to the sect, Ling Wuji was also looking at this as an opportunity for the disciples of his sect. Win or lose this event will drive his sect forward either with pride or from the shame of losing. Either way, it will be an overall positive effect for his sect and he was not concerned with them feeling ‘down’ with losing as that wasn’t in the sect’s nature.

When Zhou Ming's slender blade made contact with the thick iron shaft of the weapon, the yielding force was wholly overwhelmed by raw physical strength. The heavy axe shattered Zhou Ming's blue sword intent with a loud crack. The impact snapped the straight sword in half and sent a violent shockwave through Zhou Ming's arms. He coughed up a mouthful of blood as the blunt force of the follow through struck his chest and sent him flying backward in defeat. He crashed into the gravel outside the dome and struggled to breathe.

"Too soft!" Tuoba Leng roared with laughter as he rested the axe back on his shoulder. "Water cannot yield to a collapsing mountain. Who is next?!"

Lin Xue gripped her hilt and her eyes burned with hot anger. She saw her friend lying injured in the dirt and she could not hold herself back. She drew her weapon and vaulted into the arena in a blur of motion. She did not bother with a formal greeting as she unleashed her piercing wind intent.

‘Piercing Gale Phantoms!’ Lin Xue thought internally as her figure dissolved into a dozen afterimages woven from pure wind Qi. She utilized her extreme speed to dart around Tuoba Leng's heavy frame and made him look like a turtle in comparison. She launched rapid thrusts aimed at the weak points in his armor while her blade moved like a phantom breeze.

She managed to land three quick strikes on his ribs and shoulders. The attacks drew thin lines of blood but Tuoba Leng did not flinch. His bodily tempering was incredibly profound and his thick muscles clamped down on the shallow wounds to prevent any real damage. He allowed her to strike him while he gathered his own heavy Qi.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"You are fast," Tuoba Leng sneered as a heavy earthy aura erupted from his body. "But you hit like a gentle breeze! You need to eat more meat!"

He slammed the butt of his axe into the stone floor and activated a localized gravity skill known as the Sundered Earth Cleave. A shockwave of dense yellow energy rippled outward and turned the air around Lin Xue into a thick mud like consistency. Her speed dropped drastically as she tried to retreat but her legs felt anchored in place. Tuoba Leng seized the opening and swung the flat side of his axe blade in a brutal upward motion.

The heavy iron struck Lin Xue in the ribs and produced a sickening crunch. She cried out in pain as she was launched into the air and landed heavily near Zhou Ming. She was okay but clutched her side and tried to stand but the pain forced her to remain on the ground. As before even though Tuoba could have easily used the edge of his axe, he reframed from doing so. The elders would prevent any deaths from occurring but this was the way the two sides treated each other, aggressive but still within the limits of acceptability.

The Sundered Peak disciples cheered wildly from the ridge while Kuang Shan stroked his gray beard with deep satisfaction. The Heavenly Sword Sect elders looked on with grim expressions but had to admit that Tuoba was quite impressive. Their juniors were fighting at the same cultivation level but they were facing a champion who possessed a physical body built for endurance and a martial path that naturally countered the techniques he was facing.

Feng Tianyi stepped forward and the remaining junior disciples parted to let him pass. The top genius of their respective generation walked into the suppression dome with a cold and calculating gaze. His pristine white robes fluttered in the heavy wind generated by the rival's aura.

"You rely on brute force and the passive suppression of your treasure," Feng Tianyi spoke evenly as he drew his straight sword. "You have no understanding of true martial intent or skills. I will show you the edge of our path!"

"Big words from a man wearing a dress," Tuoba Leng mocked while tightening his grip on his weapon. "Let us see if your bones are harder than your friends."

Feng Tianyi did not rise to the taunt. He settled into a grounded stance and remembered the lecture he had shared by the campfire. He closed his eyes for a brief second and blocked out the cheering crowds and the oppressive yellow light. Feng Tianyi focused his mind into a single defined thread and compressed his entire sword intent into the very tip of his blade.

When Feng Tianyi opened his eyes, his ambient aura had vanished. He did not radiate any excess Qi because all of his power was concentrated into a pristine and unyielding edge. He executed his ultimate technique known as the Singular Severing Thread.

Tuoba Leng felt a sudden spike of danger but he charged forward with a furious roar. He swung his battle axe in a devastating overhead cleave designed to split Feng Tianyi in two. The heavy blade descended with the force of a falling meteor and carried a crushing intent that sought to dominate the space around them.

Feng Tianyi did not yield and he did not evade. He thrust his straight sword upward to meet the falling axe in a direct clash of ideologies and abilities.

The compressed thread of sword intent pierced directly into the thick iron of the axe blade. A sharp metallic screech echoed across the canyon as the two opposing forces collided. The heavy breaking intent of the earth fought bitterly against the sharp piercing intent of the sword. For a fleeting moment, Feng Tianyi held his ground and the tip of his sword began to cut a shallow groove into the rival's dense weapon.

Tuoba Leng widened his eyes in surprise as he felt the sharp intent threatening to bypass his defense and pierce his chest. The axe wielder roared again and drew upon his hidden bloodline power to bolster his strength. A phantom image of a roaring bear materialized behind him and his muscles bulged with explosive force.

The new overwhelming weight finally broke the stalemate. The raw physical density combined with the ambient suppression of the stele shattered Feng Tianyi's compressed intent. The heavy axe knocked the straight sword aside and the blunt shaft slammed into Feng Tianyi's shoulder.

Bones cracked loudly as Feng Tianyi was driven to his knees. He gritted his teeth and refused to cry out while gripping his sword with his good hand to launch a desperate counterattack. Tuoba Leng simply kicked him squarely in the chest and sent the top genius rolling across the stone floor. Feng Tianyi came to a halt near the edge of the plateau and coughed up a pool of blood. He tried to force himself back up but his body simply would not respond to his commands.

"Is this the best the Heavenly Sword Sect has to offer?!" Tuoba Leng shouted as he raised his arms in victory but within his mind he knew how close that actually was. It had all happened within an instant and without that additional power, he would have lost just now. "Your sharpest edge cannot even dent my armor at the same cultivation level! This generation has grown soft and pathetic. You are nothing but gardeners!"

The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples fell into a heavy and devastated silence while the seniors and elders watched on. This was not their battlefield given the circumstances and they could only watch on as the younger generation fought. The strongest of that generation had been defeated in a fight whether it was completely fair or not. The battlefield was never a fair place either and this provided a great teaching moment and reminder for those present.

The others within that generation felt the sting of humiliation burning in their chests but they knew none of them could match the brutal strength of the axe champion. Their desire for growth and strength skyrocketed with everyone giving internal vows to train and work that much harder so such an event could not occur again.

Li Yu stood near his gray rock and watched the entire sequence unfold. He saw Zhou Ming holding his bruised chest and he saw Lin Xue gritting in frustration. He looked at Feng Tianyi who was still trying to crawl back onto his feet despite his broken bones. Li Yu witnessed their passion and their dedication being mocked by an arrogant brute who cared nothing for the legacy they honored. In a strange twist of humor, that very brute resembled his cousins from the Zhan Clan and Li Yu couldn’t help but think pretty well of Touba’s skills.

Even with that being the case, inside his soul space, his Human Soul pulsed with a fierce and protective light. The dark killing intent swirling around it grew thicker and more focused as his desire to fight increased. The Fisherman Soul watched the transformation with a satisfied grin as the desire to protect but more importantly the desire to destroy, merged into a single unified will.

'These people opened their home to me and shared their hospitality,' Li Yu thought as his dark eyes grew cold. 'They lowered their rigid masks and treated me as a friend even though I am an outsider who does not even walk their path. I will not let this brute who reminds me so much of my own clan humiliate them in their own sacred ground. Brutes are to be admired, not disdained like this fool before me.'

Li Yu looked at Tuoba Leng and analyzed the champion with clinical precision. The axe wielder possessed a highly durable body, relied on defense to absorb impacts and had the strength to back it all up. He was a walking fortress of thick armor and dense muscle that thrived on crushing and destroying.

'My fine tune control is untested in a real duel against stronger opponents,' Li Yu planned his next move while stepping out from the defensive circle. 'If I use too much force, I might cause unwanted collateral damage to the canyon. I need to calibrate my strength so I can fight effectively. This axe wielder is sturdy, strong and should act as a good test subject for me fighting at this level. He is the perfect target for me to practice while defending the honor of my hosts.'

The junior disciples parted to let him through and their eyes filled with sudden hope. Sect Master Ling Wuji and Elder Huo Zheng watched him approach the suppression dome with curious expressions.

Li Yu walked onto the cracked stone floor and stepped through the shimmering barrier of the array. He felt the heavy suppression lock his vast Creation Lord Qi down to the peak of the Karma Severing Realm. He did not resist the restriction because he wanted to test his skills on equal footing. Li Yu stopped a few paces away from Tuoba Leng and stood there in his dark robes with a calm and easygoing posture.

Tuoba Leng looked down at the newcomer and let out a derisive snort. He had no idea who this person was but it was clear from how he dressed and demeanor that he was not part of the Heavenly Sword Sect. "Who are you supposed to be? You do not even carry a blade. Did the gardeners send their butler to fight me?"

"I am a guest of this sect," Li Yu spoke with a steady voice that carried clearly across the silent canyon. "These people welcomed me with open arms and protected me. You interrupted my peaceful time here and you hurt my friends. You also bring great shame upon all of those that use overwhelming might to defeat his opponents as well. Let me show you how someone from the Zhan Clan really does it."

Kuang Shan was stunned to learn that the person before him was from the Zhan Clan full of brutes. He looked nothing like someone from the Zhan Clan either but few would dare to use the Zhan Clan name if they weren’t actually from there. He leaned over the edge of the high ridge and studied Li Yu with narrowed eyes. Even with the array suppressing the boy to the Karma Severing realm, Kuang Shan felt a strange sense of unease looking at the relaxed posture.

"Ahh, the new Holy Son of the Heavenly Sword Sect." Kuang Shan mocked with a loud chuckle to hide his suspicion. "How tragic. The Heavenly Sword Sect must rely on outsiders to fight their battles now. Let the boy fight, Tuoba. It will be an amusing end to this display today."

Ling Wuji frowned and prepared to intervene. Not because he thought that Li Yu was going to lose, it was because he felt Li Yu wouldn’t hold back enough and end up killing Touba. Li Yu has not had the history with this sect as the others did and did not know how their relationship actually was. Ling Wuji was afraid that Li Yu wouldn’t practice enough restraint and end up causing a larger political issue. Before the Sect Master could speak, Li Yu raised his hand and offered a reassuring nod to the elders.

"I volunteer for this exchange," Li Yu declared while rolling up the wide sleeves of his dark robes. "I want to test my skills against such a… durable target. Their champion seems sturdy enough to take a few hits from me without breaking in half so this is a rare opportunity for me."

Tuoba Leng's face flushed with hot anger at the casual insult that Li Yu threw at him. While he sensed something was off about the person before him, he did not seem like someone that he could not take down within the same realm. Holy Son or not, a title is but a title and a fish is a fist within the battlefield. Tuoba gripped his battle axe and his aura flared violently within the confines of the suppression dome.

"You think I am just a target to practice on?!" Tuoba Leng roared as he stepped forward with heavy intent. "I will crush your arrogant mouth and break every bone in your pathetic body. Draw your sword and prepare to beg for mercy."

Li Yu smiled and his dark eyes grew incredibly sharp. The peace of the memorial was gone but he was more than happy to provide the entertainment to everyone watching. He planted his feet on the stone plateau and prepared to show the Sundered Peak Sect exactly what happens when you ruin his good mood.