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Chapter 007 - First Place

"Just a regular face," Elder Yu chuckled.

The rest of the elders were speechless. Is he blind!? In what world was that just a regular face?

Ding! Back on the Sword Stage, Yun Xiao manifested his azure Sword Soul into a three-foot-long blade for the first time, its gleaming edges dancing in his grasp.

"That Sword Soul of yours..." Jiang Yue glanced at it and shook her head.

"And?" Yun Xiao prodded.

"It\'s not even worth half my sword in comparison," Jiang Yue replied with a disdainful smirk. Her icy-blue Sword Soul radiated three layers of frosty Sword Aura. It was fierce and cold, its design far more impressive than Yun Xiao\'s fledgling Heaven Burial Sword Soul.

"Half your sword?" There Yun Xiao stood, facing the girl who shined like cold light, a piercing azure glint in his eyes. Whoosh! All at once, he struck with his blade! In his white attire, holding his azure sword, he took a step mid-air. Sure, his Heaven Burial Sword Soul was a bit lackluster compared to the Ice Moon Sword Soul in terms of Sword Aura. But its nature, oozing death and stealing life force...? Well, that gave Yun Xiao a solid upper hand, overshadowing Jiang Yue entirely.

When I was out on the battlefield, slashing down enemies at the age of twelve, you were probably stitchin’ up daisies in the Prime Minister’s manor. Now tell me, what exactly are you gonna bring to this dance?

Yun Xiao mused. Whoosh! Like a flash of lightning in white, his blade advanced, aiming right for Jiang Yue\'s lovely visage. Heaven Burial was overwhelming. It was as if the weight of the whole world were pressing down on her!

While Jiang Yue was still conjuring up whatever sword spell she learned from Ye Guying, Yun Xiao\'s blade had already drawn a scratch across her cheek. Swift, accurate, ruthless! With just one stroke, he dominated! The tip of his sword threateningly pointed at Jiang Yue’s throat.

"Good heavens, that’s fast!" Jiang Yue\'s eyes widened, her heart gave a start. In that split second, she saw a real desperado before her! In her surprise, she reacted instinctively, choosing not to face Yun Xiao head on. The once aloof and regal Jiang Yue quickly moved to parry with her Ice Moon Sword Soul.

Clang, clang, clang! Swords clashed, sparks flew! The shrill sound made Jiang Yue wince in discomfort. Azure sword rays zipped by, turning a strand of Jiang Yue\'s hair instantly to ash.

"You\'re pushing your luck!" Eyes wide, Jiang Yue narrowly dodged the attack, a torrent of stifled fury bubbling within her. It was hard to swallow the fact that she\'d been startled so easily. But as she spat out those words, a dark shadow lunged at her.

Crack! With a crisp sound, a scream escaped her lips as her body soared backward, crashing onto the stone steps behind. She tumbled at least eight times, her hair in disarray, dress smeared with dirt. When she finally scrambled to her feet, anger and shock etched on her face, a vivid red handprint marred her left cheek.

It was Yun Xiao\'s doing. The impact had skewed her once pretty face, likely fracturing her brow, with blood steadily oozing from her wounds. Having missed her with his sword, Yun Xiao decided to follow up with a hearty slap, aiming to wreck her lofty, aloof facade.

"Where\'s your counter, eh?" Yun Xiao sneered. With a leap, he descended the stone steps, the deadly aura of his Heaven Burial in hand. The gleam in his eyes mirrored the blade\'s intensity as he charged at Jiang Yue again.

Jiang Yue, still recovering, felt the searing pain on her face. "You—" Before she could finish, she met Yun Xiao\'s gaze. Those eyes, cold and detached, seemed to be assessing humanity from a lofty position.

"Draw your sword!" But before Jiang Yue could react, a kick landed on her chest, sending her flying backward. Her head collided hard with a rock. Stars danced before her eyes, the world spinning. Blood matted her hair and pain lanced through her from every direction. Could she even manage to draw her sword? She felt completely overwhelmed.

"Is this all the famed prodigy has?" Yun Xiao\'s voice dripped with disdain, like a reaper approaching his prey. Jiang Yue\'s pride shattered in that moment. She couldn\'t find her voice. Every attempt at a scream choked in her throat as she stumbled back, terror evident in her eyes.

"Help... help..." Her voice was barely audible, her desperate gaze fixed on the platform in the distance.

The spectacle had already caused an uproar among the spectators.

"Damn, that kid\'s a natural!" Elder Yu exclaimed.

Elder Wu\'s face paled, quickly addressing Yao Qingqian, "His murderous intent... It\'s particularly dangerous for someone like Jiang Yue, gifted, but inexperienced."

"Don\'t even say it!" Yao Qingqian\'s rage bubbled beneath the surface. She had effortlessly gained the favor of Swordking Ye, and now this upstart threatened her carefully laid plans. "If Jiang Yue and Ye Guao don\'t secure the top spots, how will I ever face him?"

The sound of the slap still echoed in her ears. When she looked at Jiang Yue, her face swollen and red, it made her own face ache in sympathy. BANG! Blinded by fury, Yao Qingqian slapped the stone chair she sat on. The entire arena trembled under her might. The heads of the elders whipped around to stare at her.

"What are you gawking at?" Yao Qingqian snapped. The council was baffled, but Elder Wu understood the source of her wrath. The atmosphere shifted ominously.

Yun Xiao, sensing the change, lifted his gaze and met the scrutinizing stares of the Azure Spirit elders perched at the end of the Heavenly Path. Among them, Yao Qingqian\'s eyes were cold as an ice cavern, clearly issuing a silent threat.

"You trying to intimidate me?" Yun Xiao, ignoring her clear warning, lunged at Jiang Yue, hand raised to deliver another blow. Then, a chilling, sinister aura enveloped him from behind. He felt as though a sea of blood threatened to engulf him. "What in the heavens...?"

Turning, Yun Xiao was met with a fog of blood. The thick metallic scent filled the air as the mist congealed, forming a grotesque creature of tainted blood. This monstrosity, with multiple arms, sharp claws, and a head resembling a bat, bore bloodthirsty eyes.

"A blood demon?!" It was a creature Yun Xiao only knew from tales, the embodiment of countless souls lost in battle. Places where these demons roamed were akin to living hells. He recalled a town in Cloud Nation that was once plagued by such a creature. When he had arrived there, all 8,000 inhabitants were drained of every drop of blood.

"The Azure Spirit Sword Sect uses these heartless creatures to test disciples instead of burning their bodies and refining their souls?" For the first time, Yun Xiao doubted the integrity of this esteemed sect. The blood demon, lured by Yun Xiao\'s scent, raised a gust of demon wind and charged, shrieking.

"Blood demon!" Gasps of disbelief resonated from the observation platform.

"It\'s Elder Yao\'s doing," Jiang Yue realized, her eyes finding the woman responsible. Quickly regaining her composure, she thought, "Never mind that. I\'ll claim the top spot first."

In pursuit of a five-hundred-year-old demon bone, Jiang Yue no longer cared for her pride. Swiftly she ascended the stairway, sprinting towards the end of the Heavenly Path. The sting on her face served as a bitter reminder of her humiliation.

"That\'s at least a two-century-old blood demon. Elder Yao\'s skills are legendary," Jiang Yue\'s gaze turned cold. Behind her, a storm of demonic winds and blood raged. "He\'s a goner. In three breaths, he\'ll be nothing but a husk."

As Jiang Yue hastened her steps, the exit of the path seemed tantalizingly close.

"One!"

Suddenly, she heard the icy voice of the young man. What was he counting? His last moments? Roars and clashes resonated from behind, with the demonic blood almost reaching her, sending chills down her spine.

"Two!"

Just as Jiang Yue was certain of his demise, his voice rang out again, sharp and piercing, like a blade grazing her ear.

"What the devil are you counting?" Infuriated, Jiang Yue whipped around. Her eyes widened in shock. Before her stood the young swordsman in white, brandishing a radiant azure blade. Crackling resonated as the blood demon screeched in terror under his blade. With one swing, multiple arms of the demon were severed, blood spewing forth. Another swing, and the demon was bisected, its blood showering down like rain.

And at this very moment, it was precisely when Yun Xiao had counted to two. Merely two breaths had passed. The demon was vanquished. Drenched in blood, the young man in white holding the azure blade turned his gaze to Jiang Yue.

"Such strength?" Overwhelmed, Jiang Yue\'s knees buckled, and her voice faded. With a scream filled with abject fear, her only instinct was to flee. She was only five steps from the end of the Heavenly Path. Yet, those five steps felt like an eternal journey. Standing before this stairway, once full of confidence and disdain for the world, she had never imagined that these last steps would be fraught with such peril.

\'Three!"

In that moment, a nightmarish voice sounded behind her. Jiang Yue\'s strength failed her entirely. With a forceful thud, a blow landed on her back. She stumbled, falling face-first onto the ground in a most undignified manner. Of the last five steps, she slid for four while on the ground. Her face, arms, and legs scraped against the stone, leaving startling bloody marks in their wake. Blood smeared her features from every orifice.

"Damn!" The impact left JIang Yue disoriented, hair wild as a madwoman\'s, chest heaving. Blood sprayed from her mouth, landing on the final step of the heavenly path. What had stepped on her back? She knew. It was Yun Xiao\'s boot!

Yun Xiao had called out the third count, rushed forward, stepping over Jiang Yue\'s back, the back of her head, and her fingers to ascend the Heavenly Path. He was the first to reach the Sword Inheritance Platform.

"My demon bone relic is gone," Jiang Yue mumbled, bloodied and bruised, her face pressed into the dirt. Tears streamed down her face, her entire being consumed by humiliation. Was this the triumphant ascent she had longed for? It was a sight too pitiable!

Jiang Yue, Yun Xiao mused coldly without looking back. The day Ye Guying dies, I\'ll bring both of your treacherous heads back to Cloud Nation and hang them in the imperial city as a tribute to my people.

Yun Xiao strode ahead. Think I\'d give you an easy death? Dream on! He owed the people justice. While she might be easy to kill, Ye Guying... was a challenge. In his heart, he never considered this heartless woman a worthy adversary on his Immortal Path. She was worthless. She didn\'t deserve it.

"Yun Xiao, you\'ve got some balls!" a shout rang out. From the Sword Inheritance Platform, seven pairs of intense eyes now bore into him, with Yao Qingqian\'s gaze seeming to pierce through Yun Xiao.

Red Moon blinked in confusion, whispering to Blue Star, "Balls? Why\'s she talking about his balls?"

"Not his actual balls! It\'s just a saying! She meant his nerve!" Blue Star corrected, rolling his eyes.