IS Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Li Yuan had a dream.

He dreamed that he was in the human realm.

–This was his first time in the human realm.

The water on the East Sea Shores was shallow, the water in the human realm was warm, even the waves were gentler than in the dragon realm. He swam slowly in the water, the coastline gradually unfolding before his eyes like a line.

Right there on the reef by the shore, he saw a person.

According to human realm age, it was a young man of fifteen or sixteen. He was wearing a handsome red robe with light silver constricted sleeves, the collar was a snow-white standing collar, his dark hair was casually tied up. Those colors crashed into his eyes all at once.

This was the most beautiful person Li Yuan had ever seen. Beside this person was a beautiful long sword like azure glazed porcelain. The sword was also very beautiful.

This person was meditating, comprehending heaven and sea. Li Yuan could feel that mysterious Dao rhythm. He liked this kind of aura very much.

He had seen other dragons cultivate, but at that time, the aura on their bodies was unremarkable, not as comfortable as this person made him feel.

Li Yuan felt that he should get to know this person and befriend him. But he didn’t want to disturb his meditation, so he decided to wait for him to wake up.

While waiting for his friend to wake up, he thought about it and tried hard to transform himself into a human shape.

At that time, he couldn’t completely transform into a human. His dragon tail was still a dragon tail, and the two dragon horns between his hair couldn’t be hidden either. However, he was quite satisfied with his human form, especially since his age looked similar to this person.

He waited in the water for this person to wake up.

When that mysterious Dao rhythm began to retract, he felt a burst of joy. He floated out of the water in front of that person, wanting to greet him.

They were very close. He saw that person open his eyes. Those eyes were as beautiful as he had imagined, but they looked a little empty.

Then, before his eyes–

There was only an ice-cold sword light stabbing straight towards him.

Later, he still remembered the pain of having his scale extracted, even after many years.

Many years…?

What time is it now?

Li Yuan suddenly saw Ye Zhuo’s appearance again.

Reddened corners of his eyes, continuous panting—in his arms, a crescent moon spreading out.

Long hair tangled and scattered in the crook of his arm, those eyebrows and eyes were like gently flowing water. He leaned down, but at the next moment, everything suddenly turned into a familiar, ice-cold sword blade.

That person looked at him expressionlessly, abruptly stabbing something straight into his chest.

This person, this person…!

Li Yuan had a premonition that this person was going to take something from him again.

Then, what was he going to do with it?

Li Yuan felt that he might still be in a dream. He wanted to wake up, but his consciousness sank infinitely downward, sinking into the darkness like the Hidden Abyss’s profound water.

–

Southern Border, Sword Casting Valley.

The earth here was hot. On the high mountains, red ravines crisscrossed, but in the deep valleys, dense forests were secluded, with cold springs gurgling out.

Walking slowly along the mountain road, there was a rare flat ground in a secluded place. On it was built a small hut, named “Sword Casting Shed”.

Under the sky where clouds rose and fell, there were two people sitting in the hut, one big and one small. The small one had a childish face, only about eleven or twelve years old. The big one had a handsome appearance, with a pair of gentle and calm phoenix eyes, but he was covered in snow-white hair.

“Master, what do those people want the terrain map of Sword Casting Valley for?”

“Although our Sword Casting Valley has no Aura Meridian, the fire used for forging swords is the naturally burning Heavenly Fire in the valley, and the water used for quenching swords is also a source-less cold spring. Those people may think that by following them to investigate, they can find a rare Ice-Fire Aura Meridian nearby.”

“Ah? Will they really be able to find an Aura Meridian?”

“It would be faster to look for it in a dream.” The white-haired man smiled slightly: “They only know that Sword Casting Valley is uniquely endowed by nature, with ice and fire complementing each other, so that many magical weapons can be forged, but they don’t know that the cold spring’s source was something I obtained many years ago by crossing the South Sea, risking death to get, and that the essence of the Heavenly Fire was also given by a close friend. It has nothing to do with the mountains and earth of this place at all. As for those magical weapons that others cannot forge, it is only because your master is the number one swordsmith in the world, past and present.”

“But Master, if you don’t open the furnace to forge swords again, they will all forget about you.”

“Forget? That’s a good thing. Then people won’t come to ask for swords every day. Not long ago, that Sword Sect First Disciple who came to ask for the terrain map for his sect… Tsk, tsk, that’s really a good seedling for cultivating the Sword Path. He asked me for a sword, and I really wanted to agree.”

“But in the end, you didn’t agree…”

“So I gave him that Great Yao Meteor Crystal. Using it to refine a sword will be suitable for him.”

“But that’s a meteor crystal! There’s only one piece in total…”

“What do you know.” His master said: “Which material should forge which sword, belongs to which person, does not belong to which person, it is all preordained. We sword casters are just completing this karma for the Heavenly Dao.”

Little Disciple: “But that’s a meteor crystal…”

“Dear disciple, don’t be too attached to external objects.”

“But that’s a meteor crystal—Ouch! Master, don’t hit me!”

Footsteps came from behind, someone was coming.

“A guest has arrived, why not say hello?” The swordsmith retracted his hand, acting like a sage, “Let’s make it clear first, I don’t forge swords anymore.”

After a moment of silence, a voice as clear as ice and snow rang out in the hut: “It’s me.”

Hearing that voice, the swordsmith was briefly stunned, and then suddenly turned his head.

A figure in red clothes came into view.

Ye Zhuo held the Reverse Scale Sword, looking at him: “I’m here to ask you to forge a sword.”

“The furnace in Sword Casting Valley has been extinguished for ten years.” The swordsmith said, “In the past ten years, many people have come to ask for swords, but they have all returned empty-handed.”

Ye Zhuo: “Even if it’s me?”

“If it’s you, of course, it’s possible.” The swordsmith lightly dusted his sleeves, “Sealing the shed for ten years, clearing the mind and soul, is to wait for the day to forge this sword for you again.”

“The heart blood of that dragon, I have brought it.”

“In this way, this sword can truly be forged. However, True Dragon heart blood is so rare, you will probably have trouble.”

“My troubles are always many.”

“Indeed, then bring it here. Let’s make it clear first, although the sword is forged by me, the troubles it brings are not related to me.”

“Naturally.”

“After ten years, you brought back the heart blood. It seems that you have seen that dragon again. How do you feel?”

Ye Zhuo pondered for a while.

“It’s a good dragon,” he said.

“Oh? I would like to hear the details.”

“It’s nothing,” Ye Zhuo said, “It’s very easy to deceive.”

“…”

The Heavenly Fire in Sword Casting Valley burned naturally every nine days. Today happened to be the 29th, just right to open the furnace.

The swordsmith examined the Reverse Scale Sword.

“In the blink of an eye, it’s been ten years,” the swordsmith said. “I’m afraid no one can see that this is a sword that has only been forged halfway.”

“Hmm?” He closed his eyes to comprehend the meaning in the sword, and then opened his eyes to look at Ye Zhuo repeatedly. “This sword can no longer bear your full spiritual energy? How long has it been? A month? Half a year?”

“A year,” Ye Zhuo said, “So I’m looking for you to re-forge this sword.”

The swordsmith was speechless.

A jade bottle appeared in Ye Zhuo’s hand. In the bottle, a dozen drops of bright red blood were burning inside.

The swordsmith took it and poured them drop by drop into the deep and narrow lines on the Reverse Scale Sword. The entire pattern instantly appeared. The blood glowed faintly in the sword, and the entire sword suddenly came alive, breathing out the boundless power like the vastness of the North Sea. The sword-serving little disciple was frightened at just one glance and could not get half a step closer.

True Dragon heart blood, how rare it was.

“Ten years ago, you obtained the reverse scale, but you lacked the flavor of heart blood.” The swordsmith stared deeply at the Reverse Scale Sword. “Now, the divine sword can finally be completed—Disciple, open the furnace.”

Ye Zhuo came to the back of the hut, facing a waterfall, and sat quietly to meditate.

The sun and moon revolved, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

On this day, the entire Sword Casting Valley suddenly shone with strange light. Thunder rumbled in the ten thousand zhang of rosy clouds. Anyone who stopped by could feel that a rare treasure with transformative power was about to be born.

But Ye Zhuo was still in front of the waterfall, motionless.

The little disciple looked at his back curiously. This person had been meditating here for a whole month.

Finally, he couldn’t help but say, “Your sword is ready, don’t you want to take a look?”

Those eyes slowly opened.

“Look.” Ye Zhuo said, “Haven’t I already come?”

The little disciple turned his head and saw that in the direction behind them, his master was holding a box and coming.

The swordsmith smiled: “Does he not know whether his sword is good or not? Does he need you to remind him?”

The little disciple pouted.

The sword box was handed to Ye Zhuo.

Inside the box lay quietly a long sword, as black as ink all over, and as jade-like in texture. An ancient baleful aura rushed towards his face.

Ye Zhuo’s gaze did not move away for a long time.

Swordsmith: “Did you hear the thunder? Eighty-one thunder tribulations fell from the sky. This is truly the number one unparalleled sword in the world.”

Ye Zhuo said, “I just want to know, is it the number one sword you have ever forged in your life?”

The swordsmith just smiled.

“Whether it is the number one sword I have ever forged, that depends on whether you are the number one swordsman I have ever seen in my life.” The swordsmith said, “Alright, give it a name. Before, it lacked a touch of True Dragon heart blood, so the divine sword had no heart. You said to temporarily name it ‘No Heart’. Now that the dragon’s eye has been dotted, you can name it. What do you want to call it?”

“I don’t know,” Ye Zhuo said.

“Then still call it ‘No Heart’?” The swordsmith said, “The sword casting furnace has not been extinguished yet, I will inscribe the sword name for you.”

“Don’t call it ‘No Heart’.” Ye Zhuo’s fingers stroked a blank area for the sword name, and he was silent for a long time.

Finally, he said, “Call it ‘No Self’.”

In front of the Sword Casting Shed, the sword name “No Self” was inscribed, and the divine sword was born.

Eighty-one thunder tribulations descended instantly, and did not stop for three days.

The world was shaken.

Three days later.

Ye Zhuo was still sitting quietly in front of the waterfall. This time, he was sitting with his sword in his arms.

Li Yuan quietly looked at the back of this person who was facing the wall to comprehend the sword. He only felt that the fire rising in his heart was bigger than the Heavenly Thunder fire of three days and three nights.

In less than a moment, Ye Zhuo opened his eyes.

Li Yuan sneered: “You can still sit still?”

“Why can’t I sit still?”

This person actually had the face to say such a thing!

“You!” Li Yuan suddenly drew his sword, “Using fake faith fragrance to deceive me, then poisoning me while I was unprepared, and taking my heart blood to forge a sword. Which of these three things didn’t you do? Aren’t you afraid that I will kill you now?”

To be able to make a dragon faint for a whole month, he couldn’t even imagine how much poison Ye Zhuo had given him!

Ye Zhuo raised his eyes: “Afraid or not, haven’t you already come?”

“Yes, I’ve come,” Li Yuan said almost with exasperation. “You are also a user of the sword, from a famous and orthodox sect, why do you want to use such…such despicable means to harm people?”

Ye Zhuo turned around and looked directly at Li Yuan: “When treasures of heaven and earth are in front of you, do you take them or not?”

Li Yuan never imagined that he would be compared to “treasures of heaven and earth” one day.

“If there are treasures of heaven and earth, I will naturally take them directly with my sword! How can I be like you–”

“The dragon race has so many body-protecting methods. Your reverse scale was extracted, so you are even more wary. If I didn’t do this, I couldn’t take it.” Ye Zhuo’s tone was flat and unremarkable.

“?”

He shouldn’t have said that. Recalling the matter of extracting the scale, Li Yuan’s heart was even more on fire.

Li Yuan laughed instead of being angry: “I am the True Dragon of the Hidden Abyss, so I don’t lack heart blood. If you had said directly that this sword had not reached its peak state and asked me for heart blood, I might not have given it to you. You are so unscrupulous, aren’t you afraid that your state of mind will be deficient?”

“My state of mind is like this, there’s nothing to be deficient about.” Ye Zhuo pondered for a while, “If I asked you for it, would you really give it?”

“My sword is a natural divine sword, but your sword has only been forged halfway. In this way, if you and I compare swords, my victory would be unjust. Why wouldn’t I give it?”

Ye Zhuo was speechless.

“Your Excellency is really magnanimous.” Finally, Ye Zhuo said.

Li Yuan didn’t understand what this person wanted to say. It sounded like he was praising him, but he vaguely felt that Ye Zhuo was scolding him.

Bastard, really a bastard.

No more talking!

“Come, let’s compete!” Li Yuan said.

Ye Zhuo: “Wait a moment.”

Still have to wait?

“A quarter of an hour,” Ye Zhuo said. “The thunder tribulation just passed, I haven’t recovered yet.”

Li Yuan felt that if he stayed here any longer, he would definitely become possessed.