In the hall of the Crimson Demon Gate, a martial artist clad in crimson robes knelt before the Gate Master, Adrian, delivering grim news.
"Ashen is dead."
Adrian stared down at his subordinate with a look of disbelief.
"Dead? Are you telling that a martial artist who had reached the Peak Realm's Entry Stage is dead? And not in an honorable duel, but during a skirmish?"
"Yes, Gate Master. He was… killed."
"By whom?"
The subordinate shifted uneasily, his eyes darting. To hesitate so much in giving a report—just who could have been responsible?
"Did the Sword Sovereign appear?"
"No… quite the opposite, actually."
"Opposite? What do you an?"
In Eastern Mountain, only a handful of martial artists could have killed Ashen. Perhaps the heads of the Fiery Blade clan or Golden Peak Clan, both renowned clans. But beyond them?
This wasn't a region with powerhouses like the Nine Great Sects or the Five Noble Families. Golden Peak and Fiery Blade didn't even rank among the Five Nobles.
"It was… a young girl from Mount Suncrest."
"A girl? And a young one at that?"
Adrian's brow furrowed.
He vaguely recalled hearing that three young disciples from Mount Suncrest had recently visited the Fiery Blade clan, but he had dismissed it as inconsequential.
Not even the Unityof the Martial World concerned him, thanks to his Unity with the Sword Ghost, a direct disciple of the Sword Demon.
Never did he think he would lose his right-hand man.
Ashen had been his subordinate for over twenty years. Loyal beyond reproach, with a strength Adrian had co to rely on.
A warrior at the Peak Realm's Entry Stage, ard with the demonic arts of Crimson demon Spear and Red Shadow Blade Arts, capable of unleashing Blade energy.
"Tell more. What do you know about this girl?"
"She's no ordinary disciple, Gate Master."
"She's from the Nine Great Sects—of course, she wouldn't be. But even so, this doesn't make sense."
No matter how talented she was, her opponent had been a veteran martial artist with decades of experience.
This wasn't a re spar—it had been a battle of life and death. The odds should have been overwhelmingly in Ashen's favor.
"She's confird to be one of their third-generation disciples, only fourteen years old."
"Fourteen? You're certain?"
"Yes, Gate Master."
"Madness."
A fourteen-year-old killing soone at the Peak Realm's Entry Stage?
Even taking the life of an ordinary farr can be difficult for soone so young.
A first kill was a harrowing experience for most. The trembling of their victim's final monts, the visceral sight of life leaving the body—it was enough to make even seasoned warriors falter.
And yet, this young disciple of Mount Suncrest, nurtured in a ti of peace, had slain a veteran warrior radiating murderous intent?
"I want more information about this girl. Find out who she is."
"Yes, Gate Master. There's also a rumor circulating from Silver Crest…"
"A rumor?"
"It's said that this girl defeated the Young Master of the Akrest clan."
The Akrest clan?
If this rumor involved the Young Master, there was no chance it was baseless. No one would dare spread falsehoods involving such a prominent na.
"Akrest's heir? The one said to have reached the Peak Realm?"
"Yes, Gate Master. And they say she defeated him with ease."
She had bested the Young Master of Akrest, who wielded the Boundless Sky Sword and the King's Sword Technique, and then killed Ashen, a user of the Red Shadow Blade Arts?
The conclusion was clear.
"A girl barely fourteen has already reached the Peak Realm…"
The Fiery Blade clan Estate
The expedition had been delayed by a day.
Beneath the moonlight, Vera sat once again on the foundation stone where she had faced Ashen the previous night.
Marcus had been summoned by the elders of the Fiery Blade clan to explain the situation.
Vera had proven her strength beyond doubt, single-handedly defeating the Leader of the Blood Sword Corps.
Though the Fiery Blade clan Head, Regis, had struck down the fleeing enemy, it had been Vera who had secured the decisive victory.
If the enemy had not retreated, if they had launched a full-scale assault instead, it would have been Vera's blade that ensured survival.
This journey was Vera's path, but she had to gain her senior brother's understanding. She was no longer a re disciple but a warrior to be relied upon, even in the gravest of battles.
For today, Ethan was the one watching over her.
She sat silently, her gaze fixed on the moon.
The cold, serene light touched her sharp nose and spilled over her small, black eyes, which seed to shimr faintly under its glow.
Dressed in the childhood clothes of Clara, the late second daughter of the Fiery Blade clan Head, she looked delicate.
Her own martial robes from Mount Suncrest had yet to dry, lending her an uncharacteristic fragility.
"Hey. What are you doing? Moon-gazing?"
"Sothing like that," replied Vera.
"Want so company?"
"Please, sit here."
Vera scooted over slightly, leaving room on the foundation stone.
The stone was large enough that the two could sit comfortably, aided by Vera's petite fra.
A Fifteen Minutes passed in silence, the moonlight casting its serene glow.
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Vera turned to glare at Ethan.
"You said you'd watch the moon. Why are you staring at instead?"
"It's fascinating."
"...What is?"
Ethan chuckled softly.
It was indeed fascinating.
How could soone so small wield a sword with such power? How could hands so delicate hold so much strength?
But more than anything, what truly captivated him was sothing else entirely—the strength of Vera's unwavering heart, her ability to resist the fate she was born with.
"I heard sothing," Ethan began.
"I'm listening."
"They say the Celestial Blade Star is a star born of the Heavenly Demon."
The Heavenly Demon.
For so reason, Vera thought of the massive black serpent in her inner world.
That place was supposed to be hers alone.
Yet the essence of the Celestial Blade Star had invaded it.
It was no dream, no illusion, no fignt of her imagination.
Though it was her ntal realm, even her Black Dragon and her internal energy existed there.
"The Heavenly Demon..."
"I don't an to suggest that you'll beco one," Ethan clarified quickly.
"I know. That's not what you ant."
Vera's voice softened, but her dark eyes carried a quiet sorrow as she looked at the moonlight scattering across the ground.
The Heavenly Demon is chosen.
Chosen by what?
By sothing vast, sothing boundless that exists between the stars.
One would think such a grand existence would carry virtue and wisdom, treating humanity with compassion.
And yet, it spreads demonic energy, creating Heavenly Demons to bring chaos to the world.
The saying "the higher the virtue, the stronger the demon" ca to mind.
Perhaps this was what it ant.
"Vera, what are you thinking about this ti?"
"Ah."
Pulled from her thoughts by Ethan, who waved a hand in front of her face, Vera blinked and smiled faintly.
"What were you thinking about?"
"I was just wondering… what if I truly am the foundation for a Heavenly Demon?"
"Then don't be one."
Vera looked up at him quietly.
The cheerful boy shrugged, his tone light but defiant.
"If you don't want to be, then don't."
"...Is it that simple?"
"You've already flipped your destiny the bird, haven't you?"
Ethan laughed, rising to crouch in front of her and looking up into her eyes.
"Senior Brother… have you ever entered a state of complete concentration?"
"A few tis, yeah."
"Have you ever looked into your inner world?"
The inner world—a reflection of a martial artist's soul and essence. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire
It was the landscape of the mind, where the spirit resided.
"Of course."
Anyone who reached the level of a first-class martial artist would have experienced it at least once.
Sword resonance, sword light, sword energy, and even sword intent—all of them drew from the inner world as their foundation.
"In my inner world… I encountered the Celestial Blade Star."
"You t the star?"
"It… might as well have been a star. It appeared as a massive black serpent."
Yes, a star.
The serpent was a star that had descended to earth, an incomprehensible existence that defied all explanations.
"And?"
"My strength was weak compared to it. The serpent… told its na."
"A na, huh? Do you rember it?"
"...I don't."
"Then forget it."
"What?"
Ethan shrugged again, a mischievous smile spreading across his face as he reached out to poke Vera's nose.
"It's probably not that important. Forget about it. You've got more pressing things to worry about, don't you?"
"...Oh."
He was telling her to focus on what was in front of her.
Vera nodded.
Whatever she carried within her, whatever sought her out, could be dealt with later.
What mattered now was…
"Get so rest and let's take care of things tomorrow, okay?"
"Yes, Senior Brother."
What mattered was breaking the malicious plans of Infernal Blade Corps and the Crimson Demon Gate that surrounded the Fiery Blade clan.
What mattered was assisting Regis in his quest for vengeance.
And above all…
What mattered was her own revenge.
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