Volume One, Chapter 13: I Have Avenge This Grudge For You
The Third Sword of the Great Sun and Universe, the Nine-Three: “The noble man toils ceaselessly by day, vigilant as if facing peril at night—Be wary, Dragon Sword!”
With this third sword, the sword intent shifted completely, unlike the second sword at all.
“Excellent! The unparalleled brilliance of the Great Sun and Universe sword technique deserves my utmost respect. Heavenly Sword!”
Ren Yanyu’s eyes brimmed with admiration. Her jade-like hand swept gently, as if the wind stirred willow catkins. The divine sword, Tianwen, emitted a trembling sound—like a serpent or dragon, as if it had come alive, possessing its own spirit.
“Follow the natural way, the sword points to the cosmos. Man can conquer heaven. Heavenly Sword!”
Ren Yanyu merged with her sword once more, thrusting forward.
Yet, to Mu Yi’s eyes, he could see neither Ren Yanyu herself nor her sword.
Because the instant she launched that thrust, the entire world Mu Yi perceived suddenly vanished.
No sky, no earth.
His eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and mind—all five aggregates—were sealed shut.
This sword embodied the vast Way of Heaven, utterly beyond mortal resistance.
Mu Yi was already on the brink of certain defeat.
“No! I, Mu Yi, shall never lose! I am the eternal undefeated god!”
At the critical moment, Mu Yi’s mind erupted with an unprecedented, eternal faith!
The world was chaotic, pitch black.
Yet as he opened his eyes, infinite beauty revealed itself.
The Third Sword of the Great Sun and Universe—the Dragon Sword—was finally unleashed.
He could not see his target at all.
But none of that mattered.
Because this sword was not aimed at a person—it was aimed at Heaven itself!
Boom!
A flash of lightning and thunder.
Mu Yi and Ren Yanyu’s bodies brushed past each other and each returned to their original positions, backs turned.
The score remained even—no victor could be declared.
Yet the entire arena lay in ruins, shattered beyond recognition, with swirling storms and rampant energies.
The onlookers retreated step by step, fearful of being caught in the crossfire, wary of collateral damage.
Mu Yi and Ren Yanyu remained silent for a time.
But the unresolved turmoil symbolized the unfinished battle to come.
Soon, Yanyu disappeared, and the blazing sun vanished as well.
Everything returned to normal, as if none of it had ever happened.
“Brother Mu, I look forward to the day when our cultivation reaches the same realm, so we may unleash our full strength and fight without restraint.”
Ren Yanyu smiled faintly and turned away. With a wave of her jade hand, a jade pendant fell into Mu Yi’s palm.
“This is my jade pendant. Holding it, you may enter the Hidden Spirit Academy. The dean, Shen Yushu, will surely accept you as a disciple. Moreover, your maid Xuanhan’s poison can be treated there. I hope our second battle will come soon—but not too soon.”
“No need for thanks,” Mu Yi said, deeply moved, clasping his fists in salute.
This jade pendant was of utmost importance to him.
“Farewell.”
Ren Yanyu waved her hand, and above the misty sky, the azure ox reappeared.
The exquisitely beautiful young woman reclined upon the ox’s back, took out a wine flask, and drank deeply. A rosy flush bloomed on her delicate face, enhancing her ethereal beauty.
The azure ox bore her slowly away, gradually vanishing into the blue misty rain.
“A lone cloak in the misty rain, indifferent to wind or clear skies—truly carefree, coming swiftly and leaving just as fast.”
Mu Yi watched Ren Yanyu’s figure disappear, a smile playing upon his lips.
---
Amidst the vast sea of people, true confidants are rare.
At this moment, Mu Yi had found his soulmate.
The great path is never lonely!
The beauty had gone, and the azure mist had ceased.
“Yuwei, let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“To the Hidden Spirit Academy.”
“And the Mu family?”
“From now on, I, Mu Yi, am no longer of the Mu family! I have no desire to set foot there again.”
After the fierce battle, the crowd gradually regained their senses.
Those who vanished into the mist were not just Ren Yanyu.
Mu Yi and Ye Yuwei had vanished as well.
Night descended, deep and soul-stirring.
The wind was biting cold.
In the silent mountains, the howl of the cold wind mingled with the sound of an approaching carriage.
The man driving the carriage had sword-like brows and a firm jaw, but worry shadowed his eyes.
“Yuwei’s Absolute Cold poison worsens by the day. It has only been two days since Ren Yanyu’s treatment, but symptoms are flaring again. Yet the Nine Sun Pills in my possession no longer cure her.”
Mu Yi glanced at the carriage behind him. Behind the curtain lay Ye Yuwei, sleeping soundly.
Two days ago, after the earth-shattering battle in Lieshan City, Mu Yi had taken Ye Yuwei directly to the Hidden Spirit Academy.
The Great Qian Dynasty boasted four grand academies: Great Qian Academy, Hidden Spirit Academy, Spring and Autumn Academy, and Jade Pool Academy.
Among them, Great Qian Academy was the strongest, Spring and Autumn Academy second, Jade Pool Academy third, and Hidden Spirit Academy the weakest.
Jade Pool Academy was special, accepting only female students.
Previously, Mu Yi had been an outer disciple of Great Qian Academy, ranked top of his class. But after that rainy night, he was expelled.
With his current strength, entering Spring and Autumn Academy would be easy.
Yet he never considered it.
His goal was singular—Hidden Spirit Academy.
Though weakest, it was Ren Yanyu’s recommendation, and Mu Yi had no hesitation.
He trusted Ren Yanyu’s advice would not lead him astray.
“Yuwei, you must be hungry. Let’s eat something.”
As Mu Yi momentarily lost himself in thought, Ye Yuwei behind the curtain finally awoke.
They entered an abandoned, dilapidated temple.
“Huh? There are others here.”
Mu Yi noticed a campfire lit to the left, where a young man and woman roasted two chickens.
They were surprised to see Mu Yi and Ye Yuwei but smiled warmly.
“Tonight is bitterly cold. This young lady is heavy with cold. Come over and warm yourselves.”
The young woman’s features were delicate and refined, her round face tinged with a hint of shyness.
Beside her stood a broad-shouldered man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, radiating confidence.
“Thank you.”
Mu Yi accepted graciously and helped Ye Yuwei sit by the fire.
“An abandoned mountain temple—our meeting here is fate. I am Han Feng, and this is my sister Han Jing. We came to the Qingling Mountains to take the Spring and Autumn Academy’s entrance exam. Are you two also—”
“Heh heh, I am Mu Yi. We’re here to take the Hidden Spirit Academy entrance exam.”
“Hidden Spirit Academy?”
The man laughed heartily. “Brother Mu, amidst the vast sea of people, meeting is destiny. Take these roasted chickens as our gift.”
Han Feng was very generous.
“Well, I won’t refuse.”
Mu Yi chuckled, taking the chickens. Though strangers, their easy-going nature quickly brought familiarity.
Boom!
Suddenly, outside the ruined temple, the rapid sound of horse hooves thundered.
“Trouble!”
Han Feng and Han Jing’s faces changed sharply as they stood.
“Hahaha! Han Feng, Han Jing, you two want to join Spring and Autumn Academy, hoping to return and avenge your dead father. Too bad—you won’t get that chance.”
Over thirty assailants surrounded the temple.
Two men stepped forward.
“Han Meng! We have given up everything. Why do you keep forcing us?”
Han Feng glared at the man with rage.
“Hmph, not forcing you—taking your lives! You two will join your father in the underworld!”
Han Meng’s eyes gleamed with cruelty. With a step forward, his power surged, throwing a punch at Han Feng.
Han Feng could only block, but the blow sent him flying backward, crashing through the temple wall.
“Brother!”
Han Jing wept bitterly.
“Accept your fate. You cannot escape. Your parents are dead. Once you two are killed, my father and I will fully control the Han family.”
Han Meng laughed wildly.
His strength was at the fifth rank of Heavenly Gang Realm, whereas Han Feng was only at the first rank—far outmatched.
“Han Feng, you want only our lives. Don’t harm the innocent. Let these friends leave.”
Han Feng struggled to his feet. Seeing Han Meng’s arrival, he knew revenge for his father was impossible, and so was entering Spring and Autumn Academy.
“Brother Han, what’s really going on? I want to know.”
At that moment, Mu Yi handed the roasted chicken to Ye Yuwei and stood.
“Don’t ask him. I’ll explain.”
Han Meng laughed: “His father was the Han family head, but was killed by my father during an outing. Now the entire Han family is under my father’s control. They fled Biyu City overnight, trying to join Spring and Autumn Academy, hoping to make a comeback. Do you think I’ll let that happen?”
“You say—if you were me, would you not wipe them out completely?”
Han Meng was unaware of Mu Yi’s true identity.
He saw Mu Yi’s cultivation was only first rank Heavenly Gang Realm, same as Han Feng.
The sickly girl beside Mu Yi had no cultivation at all.
He took Mu Yi for an ordinary passerby.
Such people posed no threat; they were already dead men in his eyes.
“Biyu City, the Han family? I see now.”
Mu Yi finally understood the situation.
Biyu City was neighboring Lieshan City, home to three great families, one of which was the Han family.
“So it’s a family feud.”
Mu Yi’s gaze turned to Han Feng.
“Brother Han, though we meet by chance, since you shared your roasted chickens with my sister and me, today I’ll also help you settle this blood feud.”
“What? You say you’ll avenge him?”
Han Meng laughed uproariously, as if hearing the world’s funniest joke.