The morning sun bathed Moonriver City in a golden glow.
Inside the Jian Clan's abandoned courtyard, Jian Chen stood silently before a cracked bronze mirror.
The face reflected in it was unfamiliar.
He appeared no older than sixteen.
His features were handsome, but his eyes lacked the arrogance that had once made the original Jian Chen infamous throughout Moonriver City.
Instead...
They were deep.
Calm.
As if they had witnessed countless lifetimes.
He slowly clenched his fist.
A wave of weakness spread through his body.
"So this body's meridians are blocked..."
He closed his eyes and carefully examined himself with his spiritual sense.
His dantian was damaged.
Nearly seventy percent of his meridians were clogged with dark impurities.
No wonder the original owner couldn't cultivate.
Everyone believed he had been born a waste.
But Jian Chen's lips curved into a faint smile.
"They were all wrong."
"This isn't a crippled body."
"It's the legendary Nine Heavenly Sword Veins."
"They've merely been sealed."
A thousand years ago, he had once read about this physique in an ancient scripture.
The Nine Heavenly Sword Veins were among the rarest constitutions in existence.
Before awakening, they appeared completely useless.
Unable to absorb spiritual energy.
Unable to cultivate.
Mocked by everyone.
Yet once awakened...
Their cultivation speed would shake the heavens.
Unfortunately, no one in this era seemed to recognize it.
Just then
Bang!
The wooden door was kicked open.
Three young men strode into the courtyard with mocking smiles.
Leading them was a burly youth wearing luxurious robes.
He was Jian Hu, the Third Elder's grandson.
"Cousin Jian Chen," Jian Hu sneered, "I heard you survived."
"What a pity."
The other two burst into laughter.
"I thought the trash had finally died."
"Looks like Heaven doesn't even want him."
Jian Chen calmly looked at them.
His expression remained indifferent.
Seeing no fear in Jian Chen's eyes, Jian Hu frowned.
"Are you deaf?"
"Kneel and greet me!"
Silence.
Jian Chen simply stood there.
His cold gaze made Jian Hu strangely uncomfortable.
"Hmph!"
"It seems that beating you once wasn't enough."
Jian Hu raised his hand and slapped toward Jian Chen's face.
The slap was fast.
To the original Jian Chen...
It would have been impossible to dodge.
But to the former Sword Emperor...
It moved as slowly as drifting leaves.
With a slight tilt of his head
Whoosh!
The slap missed completely.
"What?"
Jian Hu's eyes widened.
Before he could react
Jian Chen took one step forward.
Then...
His palm lightly struck Jian Hu's chest.
Bang!
A muffled sound echoed through the courtyard.
Jian Hu was sent flying several meters before crashing into the stone wall.
"Cough!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
The other two youths froze in horror.
"Impossible!"
"He's... he's a cripple!"
Jian Chen slowly lowered his hand.
Although this body possessed almost no spiritual energy, his battle experience from his previous life remained.
A single strike aimed at the opponent's weakest point was enough.
Jian Hu struggled to his feet, his face twisted with rage.
"You dare hit me?"
"I'll kill you!"
He drew his sword.
At that moment
A terrifying killing intent swept across the courtyard.
Jian Chen's eyes turned icy.
For an instant...
Jian Hu felt as though he were standing before a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
His legs trembled uncontrollably.
His sword slipped from his hand.
Clang!
The sound echoed through the silent courtyard.
Jian Hu's face turned pale.
"W-What was that?"
He couldn't understand why.
The pressure had disappeared as quickly as it came.
Jian Chen spoke calmly.
"Get out."
His voice carried no anger.
Yet it was that calmness that frightened them the most.
Jian Hu gritted his teeth.
"You... just wait!"
"My grandfather will make you wish you were dead!"
The three fled in panic.
The courtyard fell silent once more.
Jian Chen looked toward the distant mountains beyond Moonriver City.
"Strength..."
"I need strength."
"My enemies are no ordinary cultivators."
"If Lin Xue'er is still alive after a thousand years..."
"Then she has undoubtedly reached a realm beyond my previous life."
His fists slowly tightened.
"I don't have the luxury of wasting time."
Suddenly, a fragment of memory from the original Jian Chen surfaced.
A forbidden place behind the Jian Clan...
The Sword Burial valley
It was said that countless ancient swords had been buried there over thousands of years.
No disciple dared enter.
Those who did...
Never returned.
Jian Chen's eyes shone with anticipation.
"Sword Burial Valley..."
"If the legends are true..."
"Then my first opportunity awaits me there."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the forbidden valley.
Far above the clouds...
An ancient black sword buried deep beneath the earth suddenly trembled.
As though it had sensed the return...
Of its true master.