“Not everyone in this world wants to see you do well—how many people can’t stand your success? Even among Emei’s few celestial swords, who would want to be overshadowed by you? Those seven Invisible Swords, the Southern Chi, Northern Li, the Five Fires and Seven Birds Sword, the Nine Fierce Dragon-Capturing Sword, Biyuan, Jinjing, Taibai, Queyuan, and the four Thunderbolt Swords... all want to be the top sword of Emei. Who would like to see another sword surpass them? If you keep calling out, someone will come. First, they’ll seal you with talismans, then they’ll begin the sacrificial refining. If you don’t submit, there are even harsher methods to deal with you, until you finally give in...” Richard King was getting anxious, rambling nonsense to the Yuanyang Sword hidden in his sleeve, just hoping to persuade this celestial sword to stop making such a fuss.

The Yuanyang Sword, whether it understood or not, gradually ceased its ringing cries.

Richard King finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the Yuanyang Sword had finally quieted down, when he suddenly felt movement in his sleeve—the Yuanyang Sword broke through the twelve talismans and reappeared in the cave chamber.

This sword light, like a crimson-scaled dragon, was as mischievous as a child, circling left and right, soaring up and down, showing off all sorts of tricks, even twisting itself into a particularly infuriating braid.

Richard King tried several times to activate the twelve Yuanyang talismans, but none could restrain this celestial sword, nor could he retrieve it. He could only watch as it flaunted itself at will.

At this point, the young man finally despaired. He even suspected that the Yuanyang Sword knew he wasn’t an Emei disciple and was deliberately toying with him.

At this thought, Richard King felt as if he’d fallen into an ice cave—a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head. Even as he tried to suppress it, his whole body trembled. He had impersonated Jason Turner to infiltrate Emei, fully aware of the extreme danger. Even the slightest slip would mean certain death.

Earlier, he’d inexplicably acquired a Yantian Pearl and thought himself lucky, but who could have guessed that even with such a mysterious treasure, he would still end up exposed? He might soon taste Emei’s infamous punishment of a hundred swords through the heart, with no hope of survival.

The sword light blazed fiercely, his brows and hair seemed aflame, his clothes all crimson, yet Richard King’s face was as pale as snow.

Richard King faintly heard the sound of robes fluttering in the wind outside the cave. He sighed, ready to accept his fate.

But the Yuanyang Sword suddenly withdrew its light and shot toward Richard King. He raised his hand to block, his heart sinking, certain he’d be sliced into seventeen or eighteen pieces by the sword light. Given how mischievous the Yuanyang Sword was, it might even arrange the pieces for show. But after a moment, Richard King didn’t feel the sword light wrapping around him; instead, something appeared on his wrist.

A crimson bracelet spun wildly around his wrist, faintly flickering with firelight—clearly, it was the transformed Yuanyang Sword.

Richard King stood dumbfounded for a while, not understanding what this celestial sword meant.

With the Yuanyang Sword no longer causing trouble, Richard King’s mind became active again. He steeled himself and thought, “Looks like I have to put on a show.” Gritting his teeth, he gently twisted the Yuanyang Sword, shattering his own dagger and tossing the fragments to the ground, then channeled his Yuanyang true energy into the Heaven and Earth Aperture.

He didn’t transfer all his true energy into the Heaven and Earth Aperture, leaving a bit of strength behind. Gritting his teeth, he forcefully dispersed this last bit of energy, feigning the signs of having lost all his power.

But Yuanyang true energy was not the demonic power Richard King had originally cultivated—it was domineering and unparalleled. Since he wasn’t refining it slowly, but instead forcefully dispersing it in one go, the backlash caused blood to seep from all his facial orifices.

Richard King then raised his fist and smashed his forehead several times, covering his face in blood. With a wild cry, he collapsed to the ground.

Half a stick of incense later, several streams of light descended outside the stone cave where Richard King was staying. Leading them was one of the four great disciples, James Young.

James Young glanced at the stone cave where Richard King was, frowned slightly, and shouted, “Jason Turner! What are you doing in there? Why all this commotion?”

Richard King struggled to call out, “Help me! Help me...”

James Young formed a protective hand seal and rushed into the cave. Seeing Richard King’s face deathly pale, blood all over his face, and a shattered dagger in pieces beside him, he couldn’t help but be surprised and took a few steps forward.

Chapter One: Apprenticeship at Mount Emei (Ten)

At this moment, Richard King truly lost consciousness. He had used his power to disperse the last trace of Yuanyang true energy, and the backlash caused blood to seep from all his facial orifices. To make himself look even more pitiful, he had beaten himself severely. Having lost too much blood and suffering serious internal injuries, he was now on the brink of life and death.

James Young was a cautious person, afraid that an enemy had come to Emei. After a brief inspection, he exited the cave and released a firework. In no time, all the third-generation disciples of Emei had rushed over.

With just a few words, James Young explained the situation clearly. All the Emei disciples were shocked, not understanding how Richard King could have suddenly been injured.

Irene Key frowned slightly—the only female among the four great disciples—and said, “This matter will probably alarm Senior Master Xuanhe. David Hill, go and invite Senior Master Xuanhe here.”

David Hill nodded, raised his hand, and a stream of white energy appeared out of thin air, swirling around him. His feet left the ground as he flew toward the cave where Daoist Xuanhe was cultivating in seclusion, making many Emei disciples look on with envy.

It’s well known, even among ordinary people, that the Daoist and Demonic sects have nine great realms of cultivation: Qi Refining, Embryonic Origin, Heavenly Gang, Great Evolution, Golden Core, Yang True, Taiyi, Dao Transformation, and Calamity Immortal!