Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 948: A Commander of the Zone

The chaotic aftermath of the strike left the sparring courtyard in a state of disarray.Healers from the Blazing Edge Empire swarmed the elevated platform as they frantically applied sealing powders and healing salves to Yan Lie. The young cultivator was still in a state of shock. He stared at the empty space where his right arm used to be with the pain finally beginning to register and he let out a guttural scream that echoed into the night.

Li Yu walked back to his seat within the Li Clan pavilion. He sat down at the heavy wooden table and poured himself a fresh cup of tea. He ignored the terrified stares of his own clan members. He did not care about the whispers or the pale faces surrounding him. He had defended his father that was the only thing that mattered to him, regardless of the outcome.

A group of elders from the Heavenly Sword Sect descended upon the Li Clan pavilion a moment later. The Sovereign realm referee led the group. His face was a mixture of fury and lingering disbelief. He stopped directly in front of Li Yu's table.

"That was entirely too heavy handed." The elder stated sharply. "This is a venue for learning and the exchange of ideas. We explicitly forbade lethal intent and fatal injuries. You intentionally maimed that boy with a malicious strike."

Li Yu took a slow sip of his tea and he set the cup down while looking up at the angry elder.

"I did not use a single sword technique." Li Yu countered calmly. "I merely sent my sword forward in a simple move. He was the one who challenged me to a spar. He was the one who could not dodge or block a basic forward movement of my blade."

The elder opened his mouth to argue but the words died in his throat. He looked back at the shattered remnants of his own Sovereign level Qi barrier as the remaining proof of what had happened.

No one in the courtyard could deny the logic present. Li Yu had not used a complex sword art or a secret clan technique. He had simply commanded the blade to move in a straight line. But everyone knew the truth of the situation. With a sword like that, could it really be called a simple move? The weapon itself was a nightmare that completely should not be here.

Before the elder could formulate a proper response, the space above the courtyard violently tore open.

A suffocating wave of heavy pressure crashed down upon the gathered cultivators. An older man plummeted from the void and landed squarely in the center of the black stone arena. The impact cracked the reinforced floor.

He wore a full set of heavy battle armor. The thick iron plates were deeply scarred and pitted from countless wars. He gripped a massive blade in his right hand. His eyes were wide with frantic energy and he scanned the silent crowd like a trapped beast.

"Where did that aura go!?" The older man roared. His voice shook the floating light orbs above them. "Is everyone okay?"

The elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect immediately paled. They quickly bowed their heads in reverence. They were confused as to why this specific man had suddenly appeared as if he was about to fight everyone here. He was one of their most powerful and reclusive senior elders.

"Elder Huo Zheng." The referee spoke up nervously. "We are safe. There is no external threat. That kid over there simply lost his temper after being provoked. Li Yu unleashed that level of killing intent during a spar."

The referee pointed a finger toward Li Yu. Huo Zheng gripped his heavy blade tighter. He shook his head violently.

"Not the killing intent." Huo Zheng snapped back. "I felt the killing intent. I am talking about the other aura. That aura could only mean the enemy has entered our domain. We have failed to stop its approach and have become sinners of the Myriad Realms."

The surrounding elders exchanged confused glances but then realized it must have been the aura of that sword. It was indeed terrifying but for it to alert Elder Huo Zheng confused them.

"The same kid took out a bone sword." The referee explained quietly. "He cut off that person's arm and then the sword disappeared back into him."

Huo Zheng froze at the information being revealed. He slowly turned his head and locked his eyes on Li Yu. The frantic energy in the older man began to recede and it was replaced by a deep and heavy exhaustion. He took a deep breath and slowly lowered his weapon.

"Show it to me." Huo Zheng asked. His voice was no longer a roar but was a quiet and serious request. "I need to see the blade."

Li Yu remained seated at the table as he evaluated the older man standing in the arena. Elder Huo Zheng was clearly someone with authority in the Heavenly Sword Sect. He also did not radiate greed or malice. He was not trying to steal the weapon or punish Li Yu for the incident. He was simply a man searching for confirmation. Li Yu stood up and nodded slowly.

Pale Extinction drifted out of the void as it materialized in the air beside the table. The jagged bone sword released its suffocating aura of rot and slaughter into the courtyard once again.

Huo Zheng stared at the floating weapon and he was stunned. His weathered face seemed to age another hundred years in a single second. He took a few slow steps forward and stopped just outside the Li Clan pavilion.

"I never thought I would see this accursed blade again." Huo Zheng whispered. A sadness filled his eyes. "It killed so many of my friends. It slaughtered so many of my comrades."

The Heavenly Sword Sect elders exchanged surprised looks to one another. They did not know the history of the weapon but they understood the weight of Huo Zheng's words.

"There is only one way you could possibly possess this sword." Huo Zheng continued. He looked away from the blade and met Li Yu's eyes. "You could only get it from Zhan Tian. He was the one that took it after the final battle."

Li Yu remained silent as he still didn’t know who this person was. He did not confirm or deny the statement.

"It is alright boy." Huo Zheng sighed deeply while he waved his empty hand. "You can put it away. The sight of it brings back terrible memories for me."

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Li Yu willed the weapon away. Pale Extinction vanished back into his Koi Sanctuary and the oppressive aura lifted from the courtyard.

Huo Zheng closed his eyes and composed himself as a bright flash of light engulfed his body. His heavy battle armor vanished into his spatial storage. His massive blade disappeared as well. He stood before the crowd in a simple set of grey linen robes and he looked like an ordinary man once again.

"I was meditating when I felt the aura." Huo Zheng explained to the confused elders around him. "I thought someone from that dark lineage had made it through that zone. I thought an enemy had bypassed the frontlines and came here to slaughter us so I came in a hurry to fight."

He turned his attention back to Li Yu as the heavy sadness in his eyes vanished. It was replaced by a look of warmth and amusement. He walked directly up to Li Yu's table and offered a respectful nod.

"You really are your grandfather's grandson." Huo Zheng greeted Li Yu warmly. "Having that level of killing intent buried inside such a young body is terrifying. But it is perfectly normal for his bloodline."

Li Yu stood up and returned the respectful bow. "You know my grandfather?"

"I was a commander under Zhan Tian in the Zone for a very long time." Huo Zheng smiled. He laughed loudly and the sound was incredibly warm. "I fought alongside his forces for centuries. As you know, we recently were able to come back. You seem to have far more of the nature from your mother's side than your father's side."

The Li Clan disciples nearby were listening intently and they were completely baffled by the interaction. The powerful elder of a rival was treating Li Yu like a cherished nephew.

"Your father’s path is different from ours." Huo Zheng continued to laugh. "He is all flowing forms and precise strikes. But your grandfather’s family? They are monsters. They hit hard and they do not care about looking pretty while doing it."

Li Yu smiled faintly and he appreciated the older man's blunt honesty.

"I will not take up any more of your evening." Huo Zheng said as he reached into his grey robes. He pulled out a small piece of dark jade and handed it to Li Yu. "I will visit you again before you leave the conference. You won’t need it with your own ancestor around but if you run into any issues or if these rigid fools try to punish, you come find me. I owe you grandfather at least this much."

"Thank you, Elder Huo Zheng." Li Yu accepted the token, stored it away carefully and gave the elder a bow. "I appreciate the kindness."

Huo Zheng offered one final warm smile and turned around. He did not speak to the referee or the other elders. He simply stepped into the air and vanished as quickly as he had arrived. He nearly had a heart attack earlier that the enemy had broken through so he needed to calm his mind back down. The courtyard remained silent for a long time after his departure.

The referee elder cleared his throat awkwardly as he looked at Li Yu and then looked down at the blood stain on the arena floor. He realized he could not punish the boy now as it was indeed a simple sword move and also Elder Huo Zheng had just publicly extended his protection over Li Yu.

"Clean the arena." The referee ordered the nearby disciples. "The spars will continue as scheduled."

The injured Yan Lie was carried away by the Blazing Edge healers. A few disciples scrubbed the stone floor and the designated matches resumed. However, the atmosphere was completely ruined.

The spars that followed were lackluster and entirely not noteworthy compared to what had just happened. The cultivators went through the motions of their techniques. They exchanged polite blows and yielded at the proper times. But no one was paying attention to the arenas anymore.

Everyone in the courtyard was busy reevaluating Li Yu.

The quiet gossip spread like wildfire through the pavilions. The cultivators from the minor empires whispered about the impossible speed of the bone sword. They debated how a Paragon realm junior could effortlessly shatter a Sovereign realm barrier like that.

"He did not even touch the sword, is that how he uses swords?" A Violet Gale disciple whispered to his peers. "He controlled it purely with his Qi and mind. His soul strength must be monstrous to command a spirit like that."

"He is completely ruthless." A Frostmoon disciple added quietly. "He sat there for five days looking like a scholar. Then he took an arm in the blink of an eye. The Li Clan is hiding a terrifying weapon in their ranks."

The Li Clan delegation was having their own internal crisis. They were known across the Myriad Realms for their elegance and their flowing sword arts. They prided themselves on their graceful but effective approach to combat. Li Yu was the opposite of what they represented. He utilized malice and overwhelming force.

Li Mei sat at the head of the table and she still remained perfectly silent while sipping her tea. Her calculating eyes never left Li Yu though. The cold blade of suspicion in her mind had evolved into genuine wariness. She realized that the hidden son of Canghai was far more dangerous than she had ever anticipated, in more ways than one.

While the Li Clan struggled to understand him, a different group found him entirely refreshing.

A large shadow fell over Li Yu's table. Lead Envoy Ren of the Freeblade Alliance strolled over with a wide grin on his face. Several other rugged mercenaries followed close behind him. They carried large clay jugs of spirit wine.

"Move over." Ren laughed loudly as he nudged a shocked Li Clan disciple out of the way. He took a seat directly across from Li Yu. "You fight like a mercenary, a real warrior."

Li Yu looked at the mercenary and raised an eyebrow. "I merely defended my family."

"And you did it perfectly." Ren slammed a jug of wine onto the table. "These orthodox fools spend decades practicing how to hold their wrists at the perfect angle. They forget that the only goal of a sword is to stop the enemy from breathing. You did not waste energy on a flashy stance or move. You just took his arm and ended the threat. We respect that."

The other Freeblade members nodded in agreement. They were a mercenary group that valued survival above all else. They saw a kindred spirit in Li Yu's brutal efficiency. He was nothing like the Li Clan in his approach to violence. They also loved his killing intent and ruthlessness once unleashed.

"I am Lead Envoy Ren." The tall man introduced himself properly to Li Yu for the first time. He extended a calloused hand across the table. "You have earned a drink with us."

Li Yu looked at the offered hand as he smiled genuinely and reached out to shake it. While the Li Clan was his father’s home, he definitely felt more familiar with the style of the Freeblade alliance. It was more in tune with how he experienced this life up till now and the people within it shared similar thoughts to his own.

"I am Li Yu." He replied. "And I would gladly accept a drink."

The Freeblade members cheered loudly as they poured generous cups of strong spirit wine and began chatting with Li Yu as if they had known him for years. They did not care about his bloodline or the political tension surrounding him. They only cared that he possessed a killer instinct they could relate with.

Li Yu found the mercenaries incredibly easy to get along with the longer they interacted. They were loud and brash but they were honest. They did not hide behind polite smiles or calculated political moves. They spent the rest of the evening discussing practical combat scenarios and sharing stories from their journey. The gong finally sounded at midnight.

"The fifth day has concluded." An elder announced wearily from the front of the courtyard. "Return to your quarters."

The cultivators slowly dispersed into the cold mountain air. The conversations were still centered around the brutal incident. The Blazing Edge Empire delegation walked away with dark and furious expressions. The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples looked deeply troubled by the existence of the bone sword.

Li Yu walked back to his room. The day had been incredibly long and entirely exhausting. He had broken his promise to keep a low profile but he did not regret his actions for a single second. He closed his eyes and circulated his Qi to calm his mind a bit.

He needed to rest and prepare for whatever the next day would bring.