Volume 1, Chapter 10: The Sword of the Heavens, The Betrayal of the Prince of Qi

The news of the Chen family’s annihilation spread throughout the city of Jinling. In the taverns, diners discussed the tragedy.

"Chen Xuanting is truly deranged, leading the Qi army to wipe out his own kin."

"After committing such an unfilial and treacherous act as harming his own brother and defecting, it is no surprise that he would conspire with an enemy nation to destroy his family."

"I heard the Patriarch of the Chen family died by his own hand. Parricide and clan-slaughter—it is an abomination against heaven."

"Hush! If the patrolling Qi soldiers hear you, they might wipe out your entire clan as well."

Chen Xuanting had become notorious in Jinling. Even passersby could not stomach his atrocities, cursing him in secret as a cold-blooded monster. Chen Xuanting, however, was in seclusion breaking through to a new cultivation realm and remained oblivious to these insults; had he known, his ruthless nature would likely have led him to order the massacre of the entire city.

The next day, the heavens suddenly shifted. Clouds surged, and a rift tore open in the void.

"Look! The sky is splitting!"

The people of Jinling stared upward in terror as a massive, horrifying phantom of a giant sword manifested in the sky. An oppressive divine pressure descended, forcing the citizens to their knees; the higher one's cultivation, the more crushing the weight. King Qi struggled to resist, his face strained as he gazed at the sword in the sky, his heart filled with shock.

A celestial phenomenon. King Qi knew this was caused by Chen Xuanting’s breakthrough. Only peerless geniuses with special physiques could trigger such wonders, proving Chen Xuanting’s extraordinary aptitude. The sparse spiritual energy of Jinling surged into the Chen estate and into Chen Xuanting’s body. He had broken through the Divine Gate into the God-Communication Realm. His internal energy had transformed into innate energy, and he had awakened his innate talent: the Sword of Heaven, capable of borrowing the power of the firmament to judge all living things.

A flying ship arrived in the State of Chu. The cultivators aboard noticed the terrifying sword shadow in the sky.

"A celestial phenomenon."

"To think such a peerless genius would emerge in the mortal realm. We must find him."

The flying ship veered toward the sword shadow.

***

The Prince of Zhennan led an army of five hundred thousand to the gates of Jinling, and King Qi led his own forces out to meet them. The disparity in numbers left King Qi with no hope of victory.

"King Qi," the Prince of Zhennan sneered, "did you think you could run rampant in Chu without the Prince of Zhenbei? Jinling shall be your graveyard."

"You are old, Prince of Zhennan. I shall send you on your way myself. Attack!"

***

Facing the half-million-strong army, King Qi showed no fear. He charged ahead, and his troops followed, their morale bolstered. The two armies clashed, and the leaders engaged in a fierce duel.

"Avatar of the Overlord!"

A phantom of an ancient conqueror materialized. With a single punch, the ground shattered, and a terrifying shockwave rippled outward. The Prince of Zhennan used his internal energy as a shield, but was pushed back, while nearby soldiers were caught in the wake, blasted away and killed instantly. The Overlord’s phantom stomped down toward the Prince.

"Ocean of Boundless Might!"

A vast, ethereal ocean appeared, and the Prince of Zhennan pushed outward with his palm. The surging waves crashed into the Overlord’s phantom, nearly toppling it. Another wave struck, and the Overlord’s phantom punched through the water, but the relentless pressure eventually shattered the avatar. King Qi was sent flying, severely wounded and vomiting blood.

"Die, you brat!" The Prince of Zhennan struck out, intent on the kill.

Is this the end? King Qi was unwilling to accept it; his grand ambitions were yet to be realized.

At that critical moment, an unparalleled sword aura tore through the air, slicing the ocean apart and shattering the Prince of Zhennan’s technique. The Prince gasped in horror and scrambled to evade the attack. A figure stepped through the air: it was Chen Xuanting, having achieved the God-Communication Realm.

"Heaven-Devouring Demon Art."

A terrifying suction force gripped the Prince of Zhennan. As his energy and vitality were drained, his expression changed wildly. "You are a demon cultivator!"

Unable to break free, the Prince of Zhennan was withered to death in an instant. Having consumed him, Chen Xuanting condensed several strands of innate energy. He looked at the hundreds of thousands of soldiers slaughtering each other with icy indifference, as if observing mere ants. Using the Sword Intent of Non-Life, he drew upon the carnage of the battlefield, condensing the aura of slaughter into countless sword beams that rained down upon the soldiers of both Chu and Xia.

Cries of agony filled the air as the troops were butchered. King Qi’s heart bled; he had not expected Chen Xuanting to kill his own men, and his hatred for him grew deeper. The aura of slaughter coalesced within Chen Xuanting, and the innate sword intent in his eyes evolved, reaching twenty percent of its potential—then thirty.

***

Just as the sword intent reached fifty percent, a cold shout rang out: "Audacious demon! How dare you slaughter mortals here. You must not be allowed to live."

A flying sword pierced the air, striking at Chen Xuanting. A spiritual artifact. Chen Xuanting recognized it immediately and tried to parry, but his own blade was instantly shattered. He dodged, but the flying sword grazed his arm, rendering his protective energy useless.

The flying ship descended, and the sword returned to the hand of Qi Haoran. The sect disciples had arrived. King Qi realized Chen Xuanting was doomed; once he was dead, he could finally be free of his control.

Looking at the countless corpses, a man in white grew furious. "Die, demon!"

"I am no demon!" Chen Xuanting knew these were righteous sect disciples. With his current strength, he was no match for them; he could not admit to being a demon, or he would certainly die.

"You slaughter wantonly here and dare to claim you are not a demon?"

"I am the son-in-law of King Qi of Xia. Casualties are inevitable in the war between Chu and Xia."

Qi Haoran frowned. If this man was indeed a royal son-in-law, he might not be a "demon," but his slaughter was no different from one.

Xiao Xuan, standing nearby, spoke up: "He broke through to the God-Communication Realm at such a young age; his aptitude is exceptional. Why not take him back to the sect?"

Qi Haoran refused flatly. "No. His killing intent is too heavy. He is not fit for our Taixuan Sect."

Taixuan Sect. Upon hearing the name, Chen Xuanting recalled the Taixuan Holy Land of the future, which had risen to prominence thanks to the Sword God. This sect was likely its predecessor. He rejoiced that he had preemptively stolen the Sword Pupil from Chen Fuyao; otherwise, these disciples would have recruited him instead, and he would have missed this heaven-defying opportunity. There must be treasures meant for Chen Fuyao within the sect, and he had to join. If he revealed his Sword Pupil, these people would be begging him to join.

"I am King Qi!" the King shouted, stepping forward. "He is not my son-in-law! He is a cold-blooded demon who has slaughtered the soldiers of both Chu and Xia and wiped out his own family! You must kill him!"

The surviving Chu soldiers also began to shout, "He is no son-in-law! He is a demon! Kill him!"

Chen Xuanting’s face darkened. He had not expected King Qi to stab him in the back. He turned to glare coldly at the King. King Qi trembled, but as a ruler, he did not falter; he knew that if Chen Xuanting dared to attack him, the sect disciples would finish him off.