Rebirth of the Celestial Swordmaster

Chapter 5: Shadows of the Blood Moon

The night wind carried the faint scent of blood as Lin Xiao rested under the thick canopy of trees. His battle with the masked assassin had confirmed what he suspected—the Blood Moon Sect was watching him.

They wouldn’t let him leave unscathed.

He tightened his grip on his bandaged shoulder. The wound wasn’t deep, but it was a reminder. His Qi Condensation Realm – First Layer was far from enough to contend with true cultivators.

“If I don’t grow stronger, I’ll be nothing but prey.”

Lin Xiao exhaled, his mind sharpening. He had only two choices: flee or fight.

Fleeing would only delay the inevitable.

That left one option.

He had to hunt them first.

Dawn broke over the forest, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. Lin Xiao moved with precision, his senses heightened after his breakthrough.

Ahead, in a clearing by a shallow stream, a lone figure sat cross-legged. A Blood Moon Sect disciple—likely a scout. His black robe bore the crimson crescent emblem, and faint waves of Qi radiated from him.

Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes. Qi Condensation – Second Layer.

Stronger than him. But not by much.

He crouched, steadying his breath. This would be his first true hunt.

With a burst of speed, he lunged.

The scout barely had time to react before Lin Xiao’s fist drove into his side. A sickening crack echoed as ribs shattered.

The disciple gasped, stumbling backward.

Lin Xiao didn’t give him a chance. He twisted, delivering a brutal palm strike to the man’s throat. The Blood Moon cultivator choked, eyes widening in shock as his body collapsed.

A second later, he was dead.

Lin Xiao stood over the body, his chest rising and falling. His first kill.

He felt… nothing. No guilt, no hesitation.

Only determination.

He searched the corpse, finding a spirit stone and a small jade slip containing the Blood Moon Sect’s scouting routes.

He smirked. "This will be useful."

With the spirit stone in hand, Lin Xiao didn’t waste time. He found a secluded cave, sat cross-legged, and began his next cultivation session.

The spirit stone pulsed with energy, its essence flowing into his meridians. His body trembled as he absorbed the refined Qi, his cells drinking in the power like a starving beast.

The pain came next—his meridians stretching, expanding. But he endured, forcing his body to adapt.

Hours passed. Then—

BOOM!

A surge of energy erupted within him. His Qi pulsed, stabilizing into something stronger, sharper.

Lin Xiao opened his eyes, feeling the change.

"Second Layer of Qi Condensation."

The progress was slow, but steady.

And now? He was ready for bigger prey.

Elsewhere, within a dark temple hidden in the mountains, a figure in black robes knelt before a towering man.

His voice was cold. “One of our scouts is dead.”

The man standing before him was dressed in regal crimson robes, his aura suffocating. His face, half-masked, bore the insignia of the Blood Moon Sect’s Inner Elders.

He tapped his fingers on the armrest of his throne.

“Who?”

The kneeling figure hesitated. “We suspect an outsider. A mere Qi Condensation cultivator.”

The elder’s lips curled. “A mere insect… yet he dares challenge us?”

He turned to another masked disciple.

“Send the hunting party.”

A dozen masked figures bowed before vanishing into the darkness.

The hunt for Lin Xiao had begun.