"Hmm?" Ethan paused, gazing gravely at the black-clad youth blocking his path less than thirty feet ahead. What was with these Swords Sect disciples barring the exit?There were twenty Meridian Training experts here, all bearing the Swords Sect name. The Swords Sect was one of the nine supreme powers in the Primordial Chaos, boasting a heritage spanning hundreds of thousands of years. In the Western Realms, they were absolute overlords!This was evident from the twenty Meridian Training experts guarding the mountain gate here - ordinary Meridian Training masters able to establish a sect in a small county would be nothing but gatekeepers in the Swords Sect.A hint of strangeness flickered in the cold youth's eyes. His nose twitched slightly, yet his face remained impassive as he calmly stated, "Leave half your medicinal herbs behind, then you may leave."Leave half the herbs behind?Ethan frowned, his expression immediately darkening.The audacity of the Swords Sect truly knew no bound
"Be careful!" Over a dozen yards away, Jasmine cried out, worry flickering in her beautiful eyes. She bit her lip, stopping herself from intervening several times.Whoosh!Ethan's eyes flashed coldly. He decisively abandoned the burly tough opponent, rushing instead towards a lean, charcoal-skinned youth to the west.Spurt!All three blades pierced Ethan's body - one in his thigh, one chopping into his left shoulder nearly severing it, and the last from the dark youth stabbing straight into Ethan's lower abdomen."Heh..." Ethan licked his lips, blood gushing wildly, yet he completely ignored the three impaling blades. His body seemed unfazed by the pain as he flashed forward a step...Spurt!With Ethan's stride, the blade originally only two inches deep in his abdomen pierced right through! The bloody tip emerged from his back, intestines still speared on it.Yet Ethan didn't even frown. Moon-Slashing struck precisely, stabbing the dark youth's heart!The dark youth's expression chang
Ethan's expression was blank, but his hand imperceptibly grasped a small black bottle.It contained Fountain of Time diluted a hundredfold.He hadn't used it in the bloody battle with the Swords Sect disciples since it wasn't yet the final moment. Not because he was reluctant, but because Ethan wasn't confident he could wipe them all out in one go. If even one Swords Sect disciple escaped, it would bring endless trouble.But now?If Jasmine made a move, so would he!Ethan was very reluctant to see this happen. In truth, he still held Jasmine in high regard. After all, she had saved him at Ruoshui River. And through their time together, her personality had proven quite simple and guileless, their interactions smooth.However! If Jasmine attacked, Ethan would decisively hurl the black bottle at her. Even if it might not injure Jasmine given her Bone Sacrifice strength and their vast disparity, plus the many secrets of the blue bloods, Ethan had no absolute confidence of killing her!Yet
"Just as bold as always." Jasmine's mother laughed at Amelia's maturity, patting her head."Be careful gathering firewood tomorrow. I've heard there are big cats on the mountain lately. Don't wander far, you hear?"...In the blink of an eye, spring faded into autumn and Jasmine and Amelia turned ten.The thatched hut never collapsed. Another cycle of seasons passed and the moon was full again.Dusk, the setting sun like blood."Mother, I'm back!" Jasmine called ahead while walking the mountain path back from gathering firewood.But as she neared the hut, she heard the sounds of fierce arguing and scuffling."Let me go! Freckles! Bullying us orphans, are you?" Her mother's anxious voice, mingled with the crashing of pots and pans."Hehe, Charlotte, be good and come with me. A widow like you with two kids, haven't you been lonely all these years? Follow me and Old Freckles will give you company. Have someone to rely on in this big village, eh?" A lecherous voice followed, interspersed
The mountain village paths were rugged and overgrown. Amelia dragged her sister away at full speed, not daring to stop for a moment.Soon, some villagers below also noticed the disturbance up the mountain, gradually hurrying over."Sister, let's split up and run! Don't go back no matter what." Amelia gritted her teeth and said.Jasmine silently nodded.With many small paths in the deep mountains, they couldn't match the stamina or speed of pursuers. Running together made them too conspicuous a target. If caught together, it would truly be over.Amelia anxiously said, "Sister, if we get separated, let's meet here every year. No show means no go!"Seeing people surging up the mountain less than three hundred yards below, Amelia didn't dare hesitate. With a wave, she hurried away.Jasmine watched her sister leave, then shrank down and crawled into the roadside bushes.Heavy footsteps passed less than seven yards from Jasmine. She held her breath without a sound.For seven days, enduring
"Hmm?" The refined middle-aged man raised an eyebrow but did not turn around, still waving his brush to paint. After a while, the refined middle-aged man said lightly: "What is it? Don't tell me it's about the Extreme North Icefield...""No, it's not," the white-bearded elder said quickly. "All the dozens of Meridian Training disciples we sent to stand guard at the Extreme North Icefield have died in battle.""Slap!"The refined middle-aged man flicked his wolf-hair brush in irritation and turned around to scold: "You're bothering me with such trivial matters? Do you think I'm not busy enough? Go find the Third Elder.""Yes, yes..." The white-bearded elder smiled wryly and exited the room.The position of Swords Sect's sect master rotates, and only those of the Swords Sect's direct bloodline are eligible. Each Swords Sect sect master reigns for ten thousand years before being promoted to First Elder.The First Elders are few in number and represent the absolute power center of Swords
The next day, Jasmine built a thatched hut here, planning to stay for a while.Ever since the night Jasmine spoke of her origins, she seemed to have grown even more silent, occasionally spacing out in contemplation. Ethan did not disturb her, mostly cultivating silently to the side or practicing his Blade Technique.By now, the Swift Shadow Blade Technique had fully matured, with his speed even surpassing the technique's benchmark of thirteen blades in a single breath, reaching fifteen blades per breath. In terms of swift bladework, Ethan was probably unmatched amongst his peers in the entire Western Realms.Yet Ethan was focused more on integrating footwork with Blade Technique, as speed alone was insufficient. After all, Meridian Training cultivators were no match for those at the Strong Blood Realm, let alone the Bone Sacrifice Realm, who could fly by propelling qi. Traversing a hundred yards in a breath, no matter how swift the Blade Technique, it would still fall short!To advanc
"Scram! Brat, don't disturb my cultivation," Michael indifferently glanced at Ethan.Ethan was not bothered at all. He casually approached with a smile. "Greetings, Senior Michael."The brat seems quite respectful. Michael's expression softened slightly, but then immediately changed. How does this brat know my name?Michael was very clear that he kept a low profile in County of Summons River, quite mysterious. Many may know his name, but few have seen him before."Who are you?"Ethan licked his lips and smiled. "Junior has come to pay respects to you, sir.""Pay respects to me?" Michael was taken aback.Suddenly, a pitch-black saber glow as if emerging from the depths of hell streaked across the night sky. Its speed was so swift even the naked eye could not capture it."Hm? Such fast speed!" Michael's eyelid twitched as he quickly closed his eyes and sensed with his Spiritual Awareness.Spiritual Awareness was like a mystical eye, allowing one to perceive what naked eyes could not. F