Chapter 1: The Young Man Practices Swordsmanship

　　Lǐ Prefecture, one of the five provinces of the Yun Empire. Although Yunsen City is not the capital of Lǐ Prefecture, it sits on a major route to the great desert, bustling and brilliant, with a constant stream of merchants and travelers coming and going through its gates.

　　Even more so because of the renowned Moonlight Sword Sect, established twenty kilometers outside the city, it is common to see martial artists carrying swords and sabers.

　　The Carter Family.

　　Located three kilometers outside Yunsen City, occupying a vast estate with ten thousand acres of fertile land.

　　The family has been merchants for generations, and it is said they wield considerable influence in the Shenlong Chamber of Commerce.

　　At this moment, a man appearing to be around twenty years old is holding a sword, seemingly about to leave the courtyard.

　　This is the third young master of the The Carter Family, Liam Carter.

　　Compared to the eldest, who is in government, and the second, who helps their father with business, the third young master Liam Carter's courtyard is rather simple.

　　The reason is that this third young master neither goes into politics, nor business, nor studies literature, but loves martial arts.

　　All the hustle and bustle in the world is for profit.

　　A martial artist?

　　As long as there is enough money, even the elders of the Moonlight Sword Sect can be hired by the The Carter Family as bodyguards.

　　"Tap tap!"

　　"Third brother, third brother, I want to hear your story, I want to hear your story."

　　Sword in hand, Liam Carter had just reached the courtyard gate when a crisp, sweet voice rang out. A rosy-cheeked girl with two little braids, as cute as a porcelain doll—Julia Carter—came skipping to his courtyard entrance.

　　"I'm just rambling, you don't need to take it seriously."

　　Liam Carter paused slightly, about to head out.

　　"I think it's great! Ten years later, the Demon Emperor descends and destroys the world—it sounds so exciting."

　　Julia Carter looked curious and bold, clearly not destined to be a demure lady when she grows up.

　　"Sounds exciting..."

　　Liam Carter fell silent...

　　"Third brother, then what? Did you defeat the Demon Emperor? Did you save the world?"

　　"I already told you the ending."

　　Liam Carter said calmly.

　　"But you haven't defeated the Demon Emperor yet, so how can it be the ending?"

　　Julia Carter said, a bit frustrated.

　　"Not every story ends with defeating the Demon Emperor. Sometimes... the world is destroyed..."

　　Liam Carter replied.

　　"Ah..."

　　Julia Carter cried out, "The world is destroyed?"

　　"The world is destroyed."

　　Liam Carter nodded silently.

　　"No, no, how can the world be destroyed? What will happen to us if it's destroyed? We have to defeat the Demon Emperor! Third brother, didn't you say you were summoned from another world by the wise and great Elder Grant, the leader of the survivors, to defeat the Demon Emperor? Will you defeat the Demon Emperor?"

　　Julia Carter pouted, a little aggrieved.

　　"......"

　　Liam Carter couldn't answer.

　　Scenes flashed through his mind.

　　Withered trees, decaying buildings, collapsed beams; in the distance, boiling volcanoes, flowing lava, gloomy skies, ruined earth...

　　Even farther away, massive figures radiating powerful demonic energy—demon knights, demon warlocks, summoners, scorpion demons, illusion demons—roamed about, occasionally letting out bone-chilling howls.

　　These were the scenes he saw while traveling between worlds.

　　But that sense of reality, that cruelty, that bloodshed, that... utter collapse and despair from the heart...

　　"Hmph, you must be lying to me. I’m not playing with you anymore."

　　Julia Carter pouted, her pretty little face full of grievance, as if she couldn't accept this outcome, and turned to run away.

　　Liam Carter stood at the courtyard gate, watching Julia Carter disappear around the corner, silent.

　　"Time... is running out..."

　　After a moment, he set off again, heading toward a small grove not far from the The Carter Family.

　　The grove wasn’t large, about two hundred meters across, but at its center was a clearing over ten meters in diameter.

　　This...

　　Was his place to practice swordsmanship.

　　"In another year, the four great sects of the capital will unite with many smaller factions to form an alliance and elect a leader... That will be the first step... And to seize the position of leader... with this level of strength, it’s still not enough."

　　Liam Carter slowly leveled his sword and thrust it forward.

　　He quietly felt the sword slicing through the air, the resistance of the wind against the blade, and the force expended in that moment.

　　Subtlety.

　　This was the realm of subtlety in swordsmanship.

　　But...

　　Mere subtlety was clearly not enough.

　　Or rather, Liam Carter felt it was not enough.

　　Practicing swordsmanship.

　　He had to break through in his sword skills. Only then, at the alliance a year from now, could he make a difference.