Deep within the Blackwood Forest, countless beasts fled.
Something ancient had awoken from within.
The loud roar echoed throughout the gorge all the way to Heimu Village miles away.
The Patriarchs of the Zhang, Chen and Liu clans all rushed into the forest to investigate.
Yet before all of them, a wandering cultivator who was flying through the air atop a large flying sword turned to the gorge near him.
"What a terrifying sword intent, it's even mixed with an ancient bloodline.... In the Southern Wildlands?! How is this possible.... Investigate!"
He quickly changed his course and rushed into the gorge where he found a large crater with a young man inside a red hole in the ground.
Wu Tianmo who was lying in the hole, looked up at the flying cultivator, he was still exhausted from his breakthrough.
Who would have thought a simple breakthrough would blow away a mountain...
The Sword Cultivator smiled as he looked down at Wu Tianmo, he slowly descended on his sword before hopping onto the earth next to Wu Tianmo.
Wu Tianmo struggled but forced himself to sit forward, he felt a surge of power flowing within him. His blood flowed with a fierce vitality that he had never felt before.
He gripped his forearm feeling the sturdiness of his new bones.
Is this really the power of the organ tempering realm?
He looked back at the sword cultivator,
Who is that guy...
The sword cultivator smiled and looked down at this talented guy,
"Young man, my name is Han Yucheng. What is your name?"
Wu Tianmo used the earth to push himself up and finally stood.
He clasped his hands and bowed towards the man,
"Senior, this one is known as Wu Tianmo."
Han Yucheng paused for a moment, then began using an optical martial art. This allowed one to view the inner workings of whatever they were looking at.
His eyes glowed golden, and then he saw red smoke covering all of the young man's body. That smoke then manifested into the shape of a dragon.
Such violent qi... this isn't the aura of an ordinary sword cultivator.
*Dragon Roar*
Han Yucheng stumbled backwards coughing up a mouthful of blood which he spat to the side.
Wu Tianmo took a step forward,
"Senior Han, are you ok?"
Han Yucheng raised his hand signaling he was alright then looked around at the shattered mountain,
"Young man Wu, you have created quite the commotion."
Wu Tianmo scratched the back of his head nervously,
"Senior is correct.. I didn't know breaking through a realm could cause such damage."
Han Yucheng looked at this youth in disbelief,
"You broke through? Reveal your aura for me young one."
This was normally considered rude yet Han Yucheng was a dignified Core Formation Realm cultivator. This youth didn't look older than 20, there was no way he was above him in realm.
So while it was rude, it was also permissible.
Wu Tianmo was confused, could this senior not detect his realm? Even Manager Qiu could tell that he was weaker. Lots of questions flooded Wu Tianmo's mind but he simply did as asked.
A red aura pulsed from Wu Tianmo, Han Yucheng upon seeing this stood in disbelief,
"Young Wu, It's not polite to mess with your seniors! 6th Stage of Body Reforging? Blowing up this mountain? Tsk"
Wu Tianmo clasped his hands once again,
"Senior Han, I truly do not know what you mean. I have just broken through to the---"
Han Yucheng quickly took out a few tiny swords with flags on their handles, he grabbed Wu Tianmo and dashed deeper within the cave. On the way he swiped the corpses of the wolves into his storage ring.
This caused Wu Tianmo to grimace, those were his spoils!
Han Yucheng threw the swords down into the ground and a golden barrier erupted around them.
He chuckled seeing Wu Tianmo's distorted face,
"It seems we have visitors. Fear not, they can't hear us while within my barrier formation."
The three patriarchs of the Chen, Liu, and Zhang clan appeared at the base of the cave,
Zhang Guowei looked around with his saber drawn,
"This is the source of the commotion, someone blew this apart with their intent alone. Terrifying...."
The Chen Clan patriarch took out three peak rank one puppets and commanded them to scout the area,
"Brother Guowei, do you really believe such a terrifying intent did this? It would more likely be some beast that awoken from its slumber! You see that pool of dried blood? What martial intent could do that!"
The Zhang Patriarch shook his head and pointed at the red hole,
"A beast must have died here, pay it no mind."
The Chen Patriarch looked at the hole again,
"There is one more thing it could be..."
Zhang Guowei jumped to the dried red hole, he swiped his fingers across the blood and tasted.
"This is beast blood, not that of a human."
He spat to the side.
The Chen Patriarch breathed a sigh of relief.
The Liu Patriarch crouched nearby and grabbed a piece of the rubble which had been cleanly sliced through then quickly dropped it as if he had been shocked,
"Ouch!"
The two Patriarchs rushed to his side and saw his hand cut open as if a blade had sliced through it.
The Liu Patriarch sighed while holding his bloodied hand,
"Brother Guowei is correct, this must be the outcome of an intent. What terrifying talent could have caused this? Is one of the sects within Tieling county venturing into the woods?"
The Chen Clan Patriarch quickly recalled his puppets for protection,
"This old man isn't going to stick around to find out! Those youngsters with ample sect resources kill for no reason! Tsk"
Chen Baoliang quickly ran back towards his own estate within the village.
Zhang Guowei looked down at the chopped pieces of mountain with envy across his face.
He thought to himself,
For 40 years I have wielded the saber... yet I have never manifested saber intent. Perhaps...
The Zhang Patriarch stored a large piece of the rubble within his space ring.
The Liu Patriarch looked at him confused, as an alchemist he didn't know much of the martial ways.
"Brother Guowei why are you taking pieces of the rubble?"
Zhang Guowei sighed,
"These portions of sliced mountain contain the very essence of intent, if I can understand even a portion it would be invaluable for my future cultivation. I must return and go into seclusion, this is an opportunity I can't miss. Brother Changfeng will you return with me?"
The Liu Patriarch stored a few pieces into his storage ring as well, while he wasn't a martial cultivator he still had clan members who could benefit from this rubble.
The two nodded at one another and left quickly, before anyone could return.
Han Yucheng glanced at Wu Tianmo and pondered,
If any of the surrounding sects were to discover this kid he would surely be taken away for nurturing! I... I must recruit him. If that old ghost finds out I missed this opportunity he would skin me alive!
Han Yucheng and Wu Tianmo waited for half an hour before Han Yucheng removed his barrier,
"You're quite lucky I found you first Young Wu."
Wu Tianmo nodded reluctantly,
"Thank you Senior..."
Han Yucheng said shamelessly,
"Do not give me that disappointed look, I simply took the beasts after saving you from being discovered. It was an equal trade."
He cleared his throat,
"Let me reintroduce myself I'm a Dao Protector, Han Yucheng and I want to make you a deal"
Wu Tianmo hesitated then asked,
"Senior... Dao Protector Han.... what deal?"
Han Yucheng took out the beasts from his space ring yet conveniently kept the peak tier one beast,
"I'll give you these beasts back..."
Han Yucheng dusted his blue gold robes off and tapped the sheath of his sword with his fingers then smiled,
"If you join my Azure River Sword Sect"