Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Prologue [A Glimpse into the Setting]
Chapter 1: Prologue [A Glimpse into the Setting]
A fleeting thought, an eternal moment, a turning of the tides.
In the blink of an eye, a myriad of years pass, and a fleeting moment becomes forever.
...
In the vast universe, countless lives strive for survival.
The birth and death of humans, the withering and flourishing of trees, the vicissitudes of mountains and seas, the rise and fall of planets, and the evolution of the cosmos—all are interconnected, yet incomprehensible to one another.
They lack the ability to compare, let alone understand each other's existence.
In the vast starry sky, numerous powerful beings vie for survival and seek paths to immortality.
Countless stars form a galaxy, and within its void, a fairy-like figure with fluttering sleeves gracefully floats, an ancient and ethereal presence.
As she wanders through the universe, her divine power radiates, illuminating the galaxy with bright and dazzling starlight.
With the fairy's growing strength, cosmic dust gathers around her, gradually forming into stars that join the galaxy, revolving around her, slowly spinning, and emitting a brilliant glow.
On these newly formed stars, life emerges over time, thriving and passing down through generations.
The fairy continues her celestial stroll, encountering other powerful beings, engaging in battles, fleeing, facing off, or forming alliances.
The countless lives on the planets dependent on her existence remain oblivious to all of this.
They strive to survive, reproduce, compete, and pass on their heritage, unaware of the fragile balance that sustains their existence.
They don't know that if the fairy were to fall, the entire galaxy would slowly turn to dust.
Their ignorance leads to a complex yet simple existence, where they calculate and scheme with purity.
Unaware of the vast span of their lives, they live in the blink of an eye for the fairy.
...
Surrounding the fairy, both near and far, are countless beings like her; to the west, a colossal wolf, to the east, a hideous scorpion, and to the south, a gigantic bear.
Further away, innumerable peculiar and powerful beings populate the universe.
Each of these beings has a powerful galaxy teeming with life in its vicinity.
They fight, form alliances, confront, chase, and depend on one another, playing out their survival rules in the vast cosmos.
Yet, to them, it's a world of the strong preying on the weak.
In the distant universe, countless stars form a vast ocean.
At the edge of this starry sea, a galaxy's radiance has dimmed to near darkness.
For the existence this galaxy relies upon has perished.
In the void, a colossal beast stands tall, motionless, with a lion's head, a scorpion's tail, a dragon's neck, a bear's limbs, and a pair of wings—one bright and the other dark—spanning the heavens.
This is a powerful flying bear.
Its eyes glare menacingly at the void, its hands poised to strike, and its body radiates heat, sustaining the galaxy.
But its formidable life force has vanished; it is dead.
Yet, the galaxy it supported still exists.
The lives within it are oblivious to the passing of their sustaining existence.
Unaware, they develop their planets, not knowing that without divine power, their homes will eventually disintegrate into cosmic dust.
They continue their fervent pursuits, fighting for dominance, learning, plotting, and deceiving one another...
Not far from the flying bear, a giant centipede stretches across the starry sky, its surroundings illuminated by a bright galaxy.
The centipede emanates an eerie blue light, slowly eroding the flying bear's galaxy...
It is clear that this centipede is the killer of the flying bear.
Its divine light completes the final plunder after slaying its opponent.
The flying bear stands silently, awaiting its disappearance, its total consumption by the centipede, or its replacement by a new deity, or its transcendence.
...
...
...
...
On a resource planet within the flying bear's galaxy.
Earth Star!
Two factions have been at war for over ten thousand years.
One side believes that goodness is fundamental, that all living beings inherently possess goodness, and that the world will be harmonious if goodness is nurtured.
The other side believes that evil is eternal, that all beings are inherently evil, and that the strong prey on the weak. Even plants compete for space, so why not living beings? The world is a battlefield, and who is more noble than whom?
Even ants crave life, and living beings constantly compete and kill. Who among us hasn't taken countless lives? Who dares claim sainthood? Thus, two opposing camps emerge.
Both sides hold steadfast beliefs and positions.
Good and evil cannot coexist.
Yet, goodness facilitates rule and social stability, so it gradually prevails. Evil, however, never truly disappears. It persists with powerful forces, infiltrating every corner of society.
One side claims orthodoxy, while the other is deemed the enemy, becoming natural adversaries.
One side considers the other a mortal threat, while the other views the enemy as a lifelong nemesis. Over countless years, their rivalry intensifies, leading to a fierce struggle to the death.
But at some point, the evil side changes its faith, embracing the worship of the Centipede God.
From this moment on, the balance slowly tilts...
...
In a dilapidated temple, an unidentifiable deity is worshipped.
Its form resembles a beast with a lion's head, a scorpion's tail, a dragon's neck, a bear's limbs, and a pair of wings.
According to the elders, this is the ancient Flying Bear God.
No one knows what the Flying Bear God does. In all the legends, numerous deities exist, but none are associated with specific responsibilities.
Thus, the Flying Bear God's worship has dwindled to near nonexistence.
Now, the Flying Bear God's wings are broken, its tail has been broken multiple times, and only a lump remains behind its buttocks.
Its front claws are severed, and its ears are gone.
One of its eyes has been gouged out.
Heavy rain pours outside.
Seven people take shelter in this dilapidated temple, trying to escape the downpour.
The temple, long neglected, lets in the rain, but they manage to find a dry spot.
Using their clothes for cover, they make do with what they have.
The rain that flowed from the backs of the seven people merged into the stream, carrying a vivid crimson.
All seven were severely injured.
No wonder they were curled up in this small temple, enduring the heavy rain and severe injuries. If they continued on in the downpour, they wouldn't last long before meeting their end.
The atmosphere was heavy with gloom.
"This mission made my heart feel stifled. I really want to wipe out all those bastards from the Sole Truth Sect..."
One person sighed, breaking the silence, "Seventeen thousand people! Two small towns, both martial artists and ordinary folks, not a single survivor. When I saw those corpses scattered everywhere, I broke down on the spot."
The others remained silent.
However, a suppressed atmosphere silently spread.
After a long while, someone spoke in a hushed tone, "The Sole Truth Sect has committed countless heinous acts, but this is the fourth time we've personally witnessed the aftermath of their massacres. There are also those bloodbaths we've only heard about, their debts of blood piling up. Yet, the Sole Truth Sect has existed for tens of thousands of years, and still, they remain unchecked."
"This time, it's said that our undercover agent was discovered, so they slaughtered the village and town in retaliation. Damn it! What does the exposure of an undercover agent have to do with ordinary people? These guys from the Sole Truth Sect are truly inhuman!"
"Sigh, every time they uncover our undercover, they massacre villages, towns, and civilians." The others sighed in response.
"This is their method. Once an undercover is exposed, the agent's hometown is inevitably razed to the ground. If they don't have a home, they'll randomly slaughter two towns to intimidate us. They've never cared about the innocent. The Sole Truth Sect only cares about ensuring their own safety. For this, they'd kill everyone in the world without a second thought."
"It's a pity we can't locate their headquarters, or else..."
A sigh echoed.
Everyone's spirits sank.
The headquarters of the Sole Truth Sect was beyond the reach of any mortal. The Wardens had sacrificed countless experts and years of effort, yet their endeavors remained fruitless.
And now, as the Sole Truth Sect's power grew, this hope became increasingly distant.
Everyone fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere akin to a stormy sky.
Several sighs filled the air.
Gloomy and oppressive.
After a long silence, someone spoke up, "Boss, after this mission, can we rest for a while... I'm in so much pain."
One of them, holding his chest, said, "I want a vacation."
"Haha... Single dog, you want a vacation? Are you thinking of going on a blind date? Heard your family sent you a letter a few days ago?"
The boss chuckled coldly, "Old Four, don't have too many illusions about life. Who knows, your blind date might be as fat as a pig, as stupid as a donkey, as short as a pot, and as ugly as you."
The other five twitched uncontrollably.
They laughed, but the laughter triggered their wounds, causing them to twitch in pain.
"Boss, your mouth is truly worthy of your nickname, the Drunken Sword!"
Old Four instantly crumbled, his face contorted in agony, and he wailed, "Damn it! I just want a vacation, and you have to be so harsh!?"
The boss leaned against the statue, his head resting on the statue's crotch, his upper body revealing a shocking penetrating wound on his right chest.
"Old Four, you need to stay alert. Life isn't just about blind dates with ugly women; the most crucial part is the present moment."
He struggled to steady his breathing, sprinkling medicinal powder on his wounds, and in a lazy tone, he said, "We're still wanted by the Sole Truth Sect, so forget about blind dates for now. We'll talk about it when we truly return."
"But now that you've said that, I suddenly don't feel like going back."
Old Four sighed in lament.
"Don't think too negatively, maybe it'll be a woman after all." The boss closed his eyes and offered a blessing.
But with those words, Old Four didn't even want to speak.
"I'm a man, and I'm looking for a wife, not just anyone! What do you mean by 'maybe it'll be a woman after all'? That's a damn sin!"
"This time when I go back, I'll take a vacation too. My daughter was born, and I haven't even seen her yet." Old Seven's face softened.
The others immediately smiled like doting aunts, "Do we need to help choose a name?"
"Thanks, but no need." Old Seven politely declined.
It was clear that these guys couldn't spit out anything decent.
This time, the boss didn't joke around. He closed his eyes, paused for a moment, and said softly, "Don't forget to bring my gift back to Nuannuan."
"Yes." Old Seven nodded slowly.
"And don't forget ours."
"But this time when we go back, our Ninth Squad will finally shine. At least, we can level up without any issues, right?" Old Five spoke dreamily.
"It should be possible. We have enough merit points. Over a hundred."
Old Two carefully calculated, "We can become Gold-tier Wardens. But it'll be for the entire squad. Individually, only the boss has enough points for Gold-tier. The rest of us can only achieve Silver-tier. On average, we each still need to complete tasks worth three to four hundred merit points. But it's not far off."
"Gold-tier is already very satisfying. Many Sovereign-level experts are usually just Gold-tier. How can we not be satisfied?"
Everyone was quite content.
"Boss, from now on, you'll officially be known as Gold-tier Drunken Sword, right?"
Old Five suddenly had a realization.
The others burst into laughter, "Yes, officially recognized, Gold-tier Drunken Sword!"
The boss rolled his eyes, shifted his position, and said, "Sigh, this Flying Bear God's crotch is so uncomfortable, is the statue also made of stone? I can't move, and I need help."
"Boss, this is not easy to handle, it's hard to make it soft."
Old Four sighed.
Still, he wanted to help the boss move.
Just then, a sudden gust of wind blew through the air.
Immediately after, as if two powerful beings were battling in mid-air, the entire earth began to tremble.
The seven people's bottoms were simultaneously shaken off the ground, and they looked at each other in shock and terror.
Pfft!
Old Four, who was sitting on the protruding part of the statue, opened his mouth in shock, his eyes bulging in anger, unable to make a sound.
His face turned pale, and cold sweat dripped like beans.
"What the hell is this?!"
He reached out to touch it.
But it seemed like a metal plate? He pulled it out from under his bottom, about to breathe a sigh of relief.
Then, he heard a swishing sound.
A figure descended from the sky.
A spear, illuminated by lightning, emitted a bone-chilling white color.
It seemed to be made of white bones.
The seven people were shocked, their hearts sinking into an icy abyss.
Such a spear, unique under the heavens, was one of a kind.
The Cloud Clans Weaponry Rankings, the Spear of Broken Dreams!
How could such a powerful being exist?
Chasing us?
This is like using an executioner's blade to slaughter a chicken.
As the figure descended before the temple, the torrential rain seemed to cease momentarily. Within a hundred zhang around where the person landed, not a single drop of rain remained.
But in the distance, the heavy downpour continued, with the raindrops forming continuous lines.
The person was tall and slender, but standing amidst the rain, he seemed to support the entire sky of rain.
The space behind him appeared to transform into a sea of darkness. He alone blocked out all the light!
Leaning on the white bone spear, he looked up and instantly discerned the expressions in the eyes of the seven people.
In an instant, he distinguished friends from foes.
"Die!"
The spear tip bounced and instantly thrust forward.
With a single spear strike, seven streaks of light shot out.
All seven people were severely injured, unable to dodge the attack.
Moreover, the newcomer's cultivation was far superior to the rest, and even though it was just a casual strike, even if the group was at their peak without injuries, they would still be unable to block it!
The gap was too vast!
A sigh escaped.
Carrying a hint of relief.
The old leader's body, with a gaping hole in his chest, suddenly flew up from the deity statue. This reaction was already instinctive.
He spread his arms, like a moth flying into the flame, and charged into the spear's shadow.
In his hand, he still held the iron shard covered in his blood.
It was the shard he had just pried off the deity statue.
But this was the only weapon he could hastily grab using his instincts in this urgent moment.
A crisp sound rang out.
Very faint.
Blood-red light exploded.
"Leader!"
The six people shouted in unison, their hearts filled with extreme sorrow.
The old leader's body instantly shattered into crimson fragments within the spear's shadow, unable to leave behind a single word as his last will.
But he had blocked all the attacks.
Because at the moment he sacrificed himself, a sword beam descended from the sky.
The sword beam shone brighter than lightning.
It intercepted the opponent's spear.
And it intercepted at the old leader's chest.
The sword beam clashed with the spear tip at the old leader's chest, but this was the Spear of Broken Dreams. Even this sword could only halt the opponent's subsequent attacks and couldn't save the old leader.
The sword beam's brilliance made people's hearts feel a peculiar sensation, as if this sword had severed all worldly attachments.
From then on, their hearts felt a vast emptiness.
The clash of sword and spear unleashed an unprecedented burst of energy, illuminating only the brows and eyes of the people, turning them all green!
Moreover, the light persisted without dispersing!
The old leader's body shattered into crimson fragments, as if the light had encircled him with a fresh red circle.
This wasn't the light that a sword and spear clash could emit.
Both the sword wielder and spear wielder revealed astonished expressions in their eyes.
...
The old leader's life had only managed to block the opponent's attack.
But even this brief moment was enough.
A slender figure, clad in white like snow, appeared amidst the pouring rain, untouched by the downpour.
In his hand, a long sword gleamed like snow.
"Duan Xiyang, your opponent is me!"
The Cloud Clans Weaponry Rankings, the Blade of Severed Emotions.
Another legend arrived.
The two faced off, one's back shrouded in darkness, the other's world unchanged, like light and darkness, existing simultaneously, distinct and clear, sharing the autumn sky.
This feeling was incredibly strange.
...
The old leader's body, shattered into pieces by the spear's shadow, filled their eyes, and they glared at the spear wielder.
Spear of Broken Dreams, Duan Xiyang!
They would remember this person's face forever.
In the clash of sword and spear, that burst of light still existed, and moreover, in this instant, the light suddenly intensified.
Both the sword wielder and spear wielder revealed shocked expressions.
Both took a step back.
Subsequently, the burst of light suddenly surged upwards, piercing the rain and void, and vanished in an instant.
A bolt of lightning split the sky.
A thunderous roar echoed, causing the mountains and rivers to tremble.
"An anomaly! Soul-stealing!"
The Spear of Broken Dreams and the Blade of Severed Emotions simultaneously shuddered, and then made the same move.
Their spiritual senses probed, but they didn't detect any shattered soul power.
It seemed no one had died here.
Only on the tip of the Spear of Broken Dreams, there was a faint trace.
Both reached out, their fingers pointing at the spear tip.
The trace vanished with the slightest touch.
The Blade of Severed Emotions furrowed his brows: "Did you sever his true self?"
The Spear of Broken Dreams frowned: "Not completely, less than three-tenths."
Both their faces changed.
"Who is this person?"
They asked the six people simultaneously.
Immediately, the Blade of Severed Emotions didn't hesitate and slashed thousands of strikes towards the Spear of Broken Dreams.
The sword beams converged into a sky-covering curtain of light.
"Go!"
But he himself spun, a whirlwind rising, and swept up the six people, turning into a rapid streak of light in the air.
In an instant, they disappeared into the horizon.
A loud sound.
The Spear of Broken Dreams, Duan Xiyang, rode the boundless darkness, soaring towards the white clouds, his eyes flashing.
...
"Investigate!"
"He definitely didn't die!"
...
After a long time, both sides began various secret investigations.
One side treated the old leader as a chosen one, their future hope, while the other side regarded him as an enemy, a thorn in their side.
Years of searching yielded no results.
But someone was always searching, never giving up.
It wasn't until a century later that they finally gave up, at least on the surface, with no further official requirements.
Whether someone was still secretly investigating was unknown.
The old leader's six brothers never forgot, always searching in secret.
They believed, the leader was still alive!
Time passed.
A hundred years, two hundred years...
In the end, they couldn't find him.
...
(Now, Qidian has launched a new reader feedback function. If you discover any errors, you can use this to notify me. I will see it immediately in the background.)
My hand healed, unharmed by the sword, and the curse of the book that slashes with each turn was broken, and my stats were fully restored.
(End of Chapter)
Continue reading
Español
Português
Italiano
Русский
Deutsch
Français
