Volume One: The Emperor’s Sword Chapter Two: Carefree in the Mortal World

Tales of gods and demons abound, with endless speculation.
This is a world steeped in mystery and marvel.
There are mighty figures who soar through the heavens and vanish into the earth, great scholars whose brushstrokes shape mountains and rivers, warriors who move mountains and shift ridges, and fiends capable of myriad transformations.
Since cultivators can ride swords through the skies and monstrous spirits swallow cities and obliterate towns, perhaps words of gods and ghosts are not mere legend.
Yun Que fixed his gaze, staring intently at the short man crouched in the corner.
He could not discern whether the figure was human or ghost, but the ability to slip into the Sword Trial Tower under the very noses of the Sword Palace envoys was certainly no ordinary feat.
“What happened in Cold Water City that year? How did my father really die? Where did the hundred thousand soldiers go?”
Bloodshot eyes, Yun Que demanded fiercely.
Even a hundred thousand ants, before being trapped to death, would struggle to their last breath—how much more so for a hundred thousand elite troops led by the man known as Yan Kingdom’s foremost military god!
There was surely a hidden truth, unknown to the world.
Since the tragic news reached him, Yun Que’s heart had been haunted by the empty city standing beside the Cold Water River.
He swore to uncover the truth, to clear his father’s name!
“They’re all dead... all dead...”
The short man uttered a strange sound—half laugh, half sob—as his figure slowly faded away.
If not for the Nine Tribulations Sword before him, Yun Que would have thought himself lost in a nightmare.
He gently stroked the sword’s body, eyes rimmed red.
He had never seen his mother since childhood, relying only on his father.
As a boy, he often perched on his father’s shoulders, asking after his mother.
“Father, other children have mothers. Why don’t I?”
“Who says you don’t have a mother? Your father can’t bear children, so of course you were born to your mother.”
“Then where is my mother? Why doesn’t she come find us?”
“Because your father is too handsome and charming, left too many romantic debts outside, and can’t remember which woman gave birth to you.”
“Father, you’re lying!”
At such moments, young Yun Que would see his father gazing wistfully at the clouds, murmuring,
“Don’t say immortals are good—human life has its own freedom. One day, I’ll bring your mother back, and our family will be reunited.”
A sharp sword cry echoed outside the door; the third sword aura trial was about to begin.
“Human life has its own freedom...”
Yun Que seized the Nine Tribulations Sword and strode out.
Only six remained to the end.
Besides Chu Xi and Han Jiao, whose middle-grade magical weapons were utterly unscathed, the others’ swords were all cracked to varying degrees.
None wished to give up this opportunity; they were determined for one last fight.

When Yun Que appeared, Chu Xi was shocked, then delighted.
“You didn’t run? Ha! Excellent! Your broken sword won’t last through the third sword aura trial—I’ll see how you die!”
Several wealthy youths with magical weapons joined in,
“You deserve it, Yun! Always meddling—just for beating us when we grabbed a girl on the street, are all the town’s girls part of your marquis household?”
“I’ve disliked you since childhood. Not only did you bully us, you wouldn’t let anyone insult your father. Well, today we’ll curse him—what of it? Your father’s a coward and a disgrace to the Yan Kingdom!”
They cursed and jeered without restraint.
After this Sword Trial, their statuses would diverge greatly.
They would become exalted disciples of the Sword Palace, while Yun Que would continue to bear the title of shame, wasting his years in Yanmen Town.
Han Jiao frowned, unable to help herself,
“Don’t underestimate the poor youth. Failing to enter the Sword Palace doesn’t mean one cannot cultivate—perhaps he has another opportunity.”
Chu Xi sneered, “Another opportunity? Even he doesn’t believe that—a coward’s son deserves divine punishment! Let him be a worthless coward forever!”
Buzz...
The sword’s vibration grew louder.
“Shut your filthy mouths. My father’s merits and faults are not for ignorant trash to judge.”
Yun Que raised his sword overhead, eyes suddenly sharp. “You haven’t suffered enough these years—since that’s so, let me help you taste more!”
Crack!!
With a single stroke, wood chips flew as Yun Que hacked a gaping hole in the floor of the Sword Trial Tower!
Earlier, Chu Xi had only managed a small pit, which had already tripled the sword aura within the tower. Yun Que’s blow was tantamount to tearing up the entire floor.
Chu Xi and his companions were struck dumb with fear.
Outside the wooden tower, two Sword Palace envoys chatted idly.
“The seedlings in Yanmen Town are quite decent—especially that girl Han Jiao, she must be a Spirit Root body. The elders will squabble over her again when we return.”
“The Marquis of Cold Water is truly brave—five consecutive years of sword trials. Since the Sword Palace was founded, I doubt we’ve ever seen that before.”
“The sword trial is meant to be a test of momentum, weakening with each round—three tries at most, then one should know when to quit. What use is thick skin? Can he climb the Ten-Thousand-Fathom Tower by sheer stubbornness?”
“Heroes emerge in every generation. To truly test one’s sword, one must ascend the Ten-Thousand-Fathom Tower.”
“Come to think of it, this Sword Trial Tower was designed after the Sword Palace’s Ten-Thousand-Fathom Tower—aside from its smaller size, they’re nearly identical.”
“Now that you mention it, it really is... hey, the tower’s leaning!”
The two envoys stared in astonishment as the Sword Trial Tower slowly tilted.
Inside, sword winds raged!
The damaged floor triggered the array’s full power, and the entire tower groaned under the strain, on the verge of collapse.
Above each person’s head, a vortex of sword aura ten times stronger than before appeared!
Sword aura whirled like a scythe, descending with a deafening howl.

The youths wielding low-grade magical weapons were immediately hurled out, their swords shattered and bodies covered in blood—whether they lived or died was unknown.
Only Yun Que, Chu Xi, and Han Jiao endured.
Yun Que was the most at ease.
The Nine Tribulations Sword fit him like a fish in water; though it could not unleash sword aura, its rank far surpassed the others’ middle-grade magical weapons, easily deflecting the surging trial sword aura!
Chu Xi was struggling.
His constitution was the weakest, and he was already at his limit.
At the brink of defeat, Chu Xi gritted his teeth and charged at Yun Que with the Blue Magpie Sword.
“If I can’t reach the Sword Palace, neither can you!”
Fighting was not forbidden in the Sword Trial Tower, but no one ever tried—it took every ounce of strength to withstand the sword aura trial, who had energy to trouble others?
Chu Xi intended to drag Yun Que down with him.
Yun Que neither dodged nor avoided him, simply raised his sword and struck. The sound of clashing metal exploded in the air.
After the sword flashed, the Blue Magpie Sword snapped in two.
“My sword! My middle-grade Blue Magpie Sword!”
Chu Xi was utterly distraught.
Before he could pick up the broken blade, he was blasted out by the trial sword aura.
Han Jiao witnessed the entire scene, astonished beyond words.
The trial sword aura pressing down on her was so dense she could barely breathe, yet Yun Que stood there as calmly and easily as ever.
As Han Jiao was about to collapse, she saw Yun Que raise his sword toward her.
“Don’t underestimate the poor youth. If one has ambition, fortune will follow.”
With the youth’s gentle words, the trial sword aura above Han Jiao’s head was cleaved in half.
He wasn’t attacking her, but helping her!
Han Jiao, like a drowning person grasping a lifeline, summoned her strength and managed to endure.
For the first time, she saw the Marquis of Cold Water, the town’s notorious troublemaker, reveal such carefree grace.
A thunderous roar sounded as the wooden tower finally gave way and collapsed.
Spectators cried out, scattering in panic.
Amid flying planks and debris, the white-robed youth stood with head held high!
But his hands were empty.
The Nine Tribulations Sword—was gone.