CHAPTER 57: SWORD

Kyrian’s courtyard was silent.

He sat in the center, his legs crossed, and several spirit stones lay before him.

He picked one up, resting it in his hand, and then raised it before his eyes.

The blue glow of his eyes reflected on the stone. And then, the stone touched his pupil. Immediately, the stone was sucked in entirely in an instant. Through his eyes.

It was fast and practical. It was not a gradual absorption, nor did he lose part of the Qi like others. The Qi of the stone, which was absorbed roughly as it passed through the infinite channels inside his eyes, was refined in an instant until it became pure.

Only then did it flow into his dantians.

The condensed energy spread. Expanding each of the cores. The internal pressure increased, each layer growing slowly.

Kyrian then opened his eyes. Feeling his new strength.

"3° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm."

After absorbing the stones without stopping, Kyrian quickly broke through to another stage. The limit appeared again. He realized it would take at least five days before he could absorb again.

He closed his hand into a fist. The Qi gathered, and he felt it. His strength at each stage increased exponentially. Mainly quantitatively. Which was perfect, what he needed most was fuel for his eyes.

At the end of that morning, Yanyu appeared in his courtyard.

"You... already broke through again?!" she said, remembering that Kyrian had only been at the first stage when they first met.

"You also advanced. Didn’t you? Why the surprise?" Kyrian said, noticing that Yanyu was now at the 6° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm.

He immediately realized she was there to fight him again.

"Come." He said as he calmly stood up.

Yanyu unsheathed her sword without hesitation.

The metallic clash echoed at the very first move. She attacked with speed, with feints, while searching for any opening.

Kyrian, in turn, blocked each strike at the exact instant. His strength now was not so distant from hers, so he always responded with short and precise movements that forced her to retreat.

He was not just fighting. He was also guiding. His spear strikes showed the right path, his deflections pointed out her flaws.

Yanyu sometimes puffed, but she wore a smile. Her strength and technique had increased exponentially. Kyrian had to admit that she, besides determination, did indeed have good talent.

The battle between them lasted longer and longer.

In the past few days, the tension between them had disappeared. She began to speak with Kyrian again during training. To ask about things, to comment on techniques and rumors that happened in the city.

Kyrian answered her, Practically everything. The atmosphere between them no longer fell into complete silence again.

The days followed like this.

The two spent their time training.

Kyrian knew that the remaining stones would most likely already be enough to break through to the 4° stage. He only had to wait for the right time, when the blockage disappeared.

Yanyu, in turn, had to consolidate her cultivation. The two fought for most of the day, Kyrian taught her during the other part. And at night, the two dined in one of the restaurants Kyrian had memorized the way to by their smell.

That was how a week passed. And then Kyrian went alone to the forge.

The interior was silent. Old Wang awaited him, seated behind the counter. His eyes were closed. Waiting for Kyrian’s arrival.

"You came. Follow me." Said the old man before turning away.

Kyrian followed in silence.

In the back, upon a table, lay a blue sheath. The old man carefully picked it up and placed it in Kyrian’s hands.

"Test it."

Kyrian slowly drew the blade. As soon as he held it, he felt something different. The sword seemed to connect with him. His Qi descended into the blade.

A blue glow took shape.

The energy that flowed seemed to have been amplified. Kyrian’s eyes widened slightly.

"It is a low-level treasure. Forged with icy metal. It fits your physique better than any other."

Kyrian ran his fingers along the blade. The reflection showed the snowflake in his eyes.

"Thank you." Kyrian said sincerely.

The old man snorted.

"I only did it because I thought I should. Take care of it."

He turned and entered the hut without saying anything else.

Kyrian looked again at the closed door for a few moments. Before fastening the sheath at his waist and leaving.

Everyone did that, he was the only one who stored the spear in his ring. So he decided to leave the sword at his waist this time.

In truth, even if he did not want to admit it, he thought it looked stylish.

On the way back, he stopped at a restaurant. Ordered meat, bread, and wine. Ate as if he had not tasted anything in days. Then he paid and returned to his courtyard.

Now, he only had to wait. Wait to cultivate again. And wait to depart for the Verdant Sword Sect.

The sword he already possessed. He then stood up.

In the courtyard, under the moonlight, he drew the sword.

The movements flowed naturally. Quick cuts, precise thrusts, firm spins, and feints.

It was the technique he copied from Yanyu. But now molded to his own style. He felt he could improve even further now that he held a sword instead of a spear.

The blade cut the air with a constant whistle. Each strike was marked by firmness and coldness, unlike Yanyu, who seemed smooth and flexible. But the origin of the strikes was the same.

When Yanyu arrived later, she found him training.

"So... that old man really did make a sword..." she said, looking with a trace of envy. She sighed.

Kyrian only looked at her and replied.

"Come. Let’s train."

This time, both had swords.

The metallic clash rang through the courtyard. The blades crossed in sparks, each of Yanyu’s strikes being answered with precision. Yanyu tried to hold on with effort, but deep down, she knew. He had already surpassed her movements long ago.

She was only delaying defeat.

...

Thus, more days passed.

Kyrian only trained with the sword during this time. Five days later, when the limit disappeared. His eyes absorbed the last of the spirit stones, each one vanishing into his eyes like blue dust.

The Qi passed through his infinite channels, refined, until his dantians expanded. And then his eyes reached the limit again.

The condensed and accumulated pressure was enough.

"4° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm."

Kyrian slowly opened his eyes. The deep blue seemed to shine, reflecting a new strength.

But at that moment, Kyrian noticed. He heard screams and hurried footsteps all around the Mu family residence.

He frowned in confusion, it was already nighttime. What was happening to cause such agitation?

Suddenly, the door to his courtyard was flung open by Yanyu without even knocking.

"Kyrian! Come quickly!"

He stood up, quickly seeing her expression.

"What is happening?"

"A beast tide! It is suddenly attacking the city. Everyone who can fight has been called to help immediately, or the city will fall."

Kyrian frowned even more, but he wasted no time. He fastened the sword to his waist and followed beside her.

The two ran toward the city gates, where they saw a crowd below and atop the city wall.

The air, once calm, now vibrated with a distant and threatening sound.

Kyrian smelled the metallic scent of blood mixed with smoke and the sound of thousands of beasts.

The city was suddenly at war.