The Last Immortal's Blade

chapter 12

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and crimson, as the Trial of Strength came to an end. The summit of the cliff was bathed in the warm, fading light, the air crisp and filled with the faint scent of pine and earth. The clouds below swirled like an endless ocean, their edges glowing with the last rays of daylight. The participants stood scattered across the rocky plateau, some celebrating their victory, others nursing their wounds, and a few, like Chen Wei and Wu Ling, brooding in silence.

Su Xuan stood at the edge of the summit, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The Blade of Eternal Requiem rested at his side, its glow subdued but still pulsing faintly, as if in tune with his thoughts. He felt a strange mix of triumph and unease—the trial was over, but the path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty. Despite being at the lowest level among the competitors—only at the 7th level of the Qi Gathering Realm—he had proven himself against cultivators far stronger. Zhou Yin, at the 3rd level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Liu Chen at the 7th, Wu Ling at the 6th, and Chen Wei, the most formidable of them all, at the 8th level of the Foundation Establishment Realm. The rest of the competitors were also in the Foundation Establishment Realm, making Su Xuan’s victory all the more remarkable.

Liu Chen approached him, his usual calm demeanor softened by a rare grin. He clasped Su Xuan’s shoulder firmly, his grip warm and reassuring. "You’re not so bad, Su Xuan," he said, his voice carrying a note of genuine respect. "I’ll admit, I had my doubts about you at first. A Qi Gathering cultivator standing among Foundation Establishment elites? It’s unheard of. But you’ve proven yourself today. ‘No discord, no concord.’ Sometimes it takes a challenge to truly understand someone. I think we’ll make a great team."

Su Xuan turned to him, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I couldn’t have done it without your support, Liu Chen. ‘In the same boat, we help each other.’ I’m glad to have you by my side."

Zhou Yin joined them, her steps light and graceful despite the exhaustion etched on her face. Her brown eyes sparkled with warmth as she looked at Su Xuan. "You were incredible out there," she said, her voice soft but filled with admiration. "I’ve never seen anyone wield a blade like that. It’s like the weapon was made for you. And to think, you’re only at the Qi Gathering Realm… it’s astonishing."

Su Xuan’s smile widened, though there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "The blade chose me, Zhou Yin. I don’t fully understand why, but I know it’s tied to my destiny. ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’ This trial was just the beginning. My cultivation level may be low, but I won’t let that define me."

Zhou Yin nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I look forward to seeing where your journey takes you, Su Xuan. And I hope… I hope I can be a part of it."

Su Xuan met her gaze, his voice steady. "You already are, Zhou Yin. Your kindness and strength have been a light in this darkness. I won’t forget that."

As they spoke, the atmosphere around them shifted. The camaraderie among the three was palpable, a bond forged through shared struggle and triumph. But not far away, Chen Wei stood with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed as he watched them. His lips curled into a sneer, and he muttered under his breath, "Don’t get too comfortable, Su Xuan. This isn’t over. A Qi Gathering ant like you has no place among us. You got lucky today, but luck won’t save you forever."

Wu Ling stood apart from the others, her emerald-green eyes cold and calculating. She observed the scene with a detached air, her expression unreadable. When her gaze met Su Xuan’s, she gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod—a silent acknowledgment of his strength, but also a warning. Her voice, when she spoke, was low and icy. "You’ve made it this far, Su Xuan. But the road ahead is paved with blood. ‘The weak are meat, the strong eat.’ Don’t think your victory today means anything in the grand scheme of things. A Qi Gathering cultivator is still a Qi Gathering cultivator, no matter how special your blade is."

Su Xuan’s expression hardened, but he said nothing. He knew Wu Ling’s words held a kernel of truth, but he also knew that her path was one of cruelty and isolation—a path he refused to follow. He might be at the lowest level among them, but he had something they didn’t: the Blade of Eternal Requiem, and the unyielding will to wield it.

The environment around them seemed to echo the tension in the air. The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint scent of rain and the distant rumble of thunder. The clouds below churned ominously, their once-golden edges now tinged with gray. The summit, once a place of triumph, now felt like a battleground waiting to erupt.

Liu Chen glanced at the gathering storm, his expression thoughtful. "The heavens seem restless tonight," he remarked. "It’s as if they’re warning us of what’s to come. Su Xuan, you’ve defied expectations today, but the challenges ahead will only grow more dangerous. You’ll need to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm soon if you want to keep up."

Zhou Yin shivered slightly, pulling her robes tighter around her. "I can feel it too. Something’s coming… something big. Su Xuan, you’ve already shown that cultivation level isn’t everything, but you can’t rely on the blade alone. You’ll need to grow stronger."

Su Xuan’s grip tightened on the Blade of Eternal Requiem, its glow flickering in response to his unease. "Whatever it is, we’ll face it together," he said, his voice firm. "But you’re right. I can’t stay at the Qi Gathering Realm forever. I’ll need to break through soon. The enemies we’ve made today—Chen Wei, Wu Ling, and others—won’t rest until they see us fall. ‘It’s easy to dodge a spear in the light, but hard to avoid an arrow in the dark.’ We must stay vigilant."

Liu Chen nodded, his expression serious. "You’re right. We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what’s out there. The Trial of Strength was just a test—a taste of what’s to come. And Su Xuan, don’t let Chen Wei’s words get to you. You’ve already proven that cultivation level isn’t everything. But you’ll need to keep pushing yourself."

Zhou Yin placed a hand on Su Xuan’s arm, her touch gentle but firm. "No matter what happens, we’ll stand by you, Su Xuan. ‘True friendship is revealed in adversity.’ We’re in this together. And when you break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, I know you’ll surpass even Chen Wei."

Su Xuan looked at his companions, a sense of gratitude swelling in his chest. Despite the challenges ahead, he knew he wasn’t alone. The bonds he had forged with Liu Chen and Zhou Yin were strong, and together, they would face whatever lay ahead.

As the first drops of rain began to fall, the group made their way down from the summit, their steps steady and their resolve unshaken. The Trial of Strength was over, but the true journey was just beginning. Su Xuan knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but he was no ordinary cultivator. He was a man with a mission, a wielder of the Blade of Eternal Requiem, and a harbinger of vengeance. And he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.