Edict of the Blade Fiend

Chapter 2: Blade’s Essence

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The horizons glimmered dimly as the first signs of morning approached.

As the first light of dawn shone through the cracks of the horizons, that ray of light shone like the glint in Zhou Yan’s eyes from the tip of his blade.

Throughout a restless night, the Zhou Yan gained enlightenment via the way of the sword. He had achieved unity in his mind, body, and soul. Through this, he was reborn. His rebirth was the product of infusing the cloud of primal Blade’s Essence as an extension of his body.

As frail as his body was, he had a strength akin to casting a solid block of steel and explosive energy desperate to be unleashed.

He was no longer the same fifteen-year-old naive fool he once was. The glare in both his eyes were deepened and aged. His pitch black eyes were as dark as the night sky that stretched across the endless ocean of stars.

The instant the ray of light flashed, his body began to move sluggishly like an idle stone statue. It started with a crawl but his pace quickened soon after.

His hands danced with a strange sequence of movements. Unusual forms and shapes were presented in the form of his peculiar dance… This dance mimicked the peculiar shape. At this moment, the projection of a unique beast formed through his body.

“Dragon Form, rising blade!”

He growled. The sword in his grasp vibrated while a clear buzz resonated from the tip of his blade. The sound echoed a bright and gleeful tone.

All he could hear in front of him was a swift ‘swoosh’ of the blade while it pierced through a falling leaf, skewering it through the thin silvery blade.

However, since he was unaware of how much force he used to pierce the leaf, this sword that he had for three full years suddenly snapped into two pieces and with one end falling onto the ground by his feet.

Zhou Yan frowned at the sight of his broken blade, his forehead somewhat resembling flowing streams of water into several creeks. When he stared at the broken piece of his sword, he felt frustrated by the setback of him breaking his blade.

“My journey to mastering the Dragon Form had just begun, and there is indeed much to learn. However, how do I achieve such a feat when even the very basic act of controlling my strength trumps me. Perhaps, it’s true that enlightening a fool such as myself would be an impossible task,” Zhou Yan mumbled in a discouraged tone.

When he picked up the broken sword piece off the ground, that piece had instantly flown into his palm with a ‘swoosh.’

He decided not to brood any longer and chose to put training the Dragon Form on hold and forget about the texts in the Nine Folds Yin-Yang Manuscripts. After that, at this very moment, he decided to devote his full attention in mastering the sword art of his Zhou family bloodline. It was known as the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s Blade.

Zhou Yan refused to believe that his natural gift—the prime talent—handpicked by the Zhou family would amount to nothing; even if he failed to understand the intricacies of the Dragon Form which was a chapter in the Formless Fist Art, since this man was chosen by some form of higher being!

When the soul merged itself in his body, it began the painful process of metamorphosis which he had to endure. He felt the inner shackles that once held back his potential had been obliterated. As a result, he had grown much more confident than he ever was. He was sure that his intelligence was not as awful as what the Zhou Lingyi claimed.

Riding the waves of his confidence, he resumed training the sword art of his bloodline.

This sword art contained nine different forms.

Each form had its own set of complications.

Before the man began, he felt the first two forms were no challenge to him. However, each form after the third would be significantly harder. This task required all the physical energy he could muster. Every ounce of strength and will was a necessity for him to perform the latter forms.

In the perspective of a rank three swordsman, it seemed that he could only understand the first three forms, regardless, it was extremely simple. The fourth form, however, proved to be the most difficult for him to understand. The fifth form would be best described as a mortal man reading incomprehensible texts from heavenly scrolls..

However, after being flooded with knowledge and enlightened by a full night’s study of the first chapter of the Formless Fist and Dragon Form, learning the sword art of his bloodline would be as easy as streams of water flowing down a drain.

First form, second form.

Third form, fourth form.

He presented the fifth form in an unbroken series after repeating the fourth form once. The sixth came as naturally and uninterrupted as the fifth.

…

Then he proceeded to the seventh form…

After several repetitions of the seventh, the talented Zhou Yan was enlightened to perform the eighth form.

At this moment, he was fully absorbed in his swordplay, since his determined will had never left his mind. It was only when the gleaming rays of light reflected off the edge of his broken silvery blade could snap him out of his trancelike state.

At the same moment, a wave of energy coursed through his body. It was like several endless streams of water flowing inside him with violent waves raging in his body. The Blade’s Essence akin tiny silver scalpel flowed chaotically in the new paths forged internally by the combination of both the Void’s Inner Strength and the Nine Folds Yin-Yang Manuscripts.

He felt that his consciousness returned at this very moment.

In an instant, his cold expression morphed into pure glee and excitement.

“Blade’s Essence… It was the Blade’s Essence that was being infused in my body. This is a sign of reaching the very pinnacle in the realm governed by the Blade’s Essence! However, I have achieved nothing but the first rank of a Blade’s Cardinal…. This could mean…”

In a desperate attempt to calm his rapidly beating heart and growing anxiety, Zhou Yan took a deep breath.

In the realm governed by the sword’s way, three distinctions were made. These were swordsmen, Blade’s Cardinal, and finally the Blade’s Essence. Only people who had ascended into the realm of the Blade’s Essence would be granted access to any realms beyond it.

However, he had actually earned his right into the realm of the Blade’s Essence in one night!

This sudden advancement was beyond the comprehension of any mortal men! The progression from a mere third-ranking swordsman to the first rank in the realm of the Blade’s Essence would only be a fool’s wish since this feat alone would be similar to scaling a mountain that pierced the very heavens above. Each realm has its own distinct rank to complete, together with its own set of complications.

There were countless skilled and wise men across Canglan City. However, as skilled and as wise they were, they were halted when they had ascended to that realm!

This difficulty was not even comparable to anything Zhou Yan and his fellow swordsmen could imagine. As of the present moment, his body was infused with the most primal form of Blade’s Essence. How could Zhou Yan not be shocked in the wake of the sudden turn of events?

Drawn to understanding the very nature of his circumstances, Zhou Yan had also inherited the anxious nature of his ancestors. He could no longer contain his anxiety and his heart began to beat rapidly.

There were two things that were most important to anyone in the realm of the Blade’s Essence. The first would be one’s body’s physical limits and abilities, as true to the saying of ordinary folk; the strength of the body lies within the foundations of one’s bones. The second would be insight, as insight influenced one’s wisdom.

Though the man was unskilled in physical talents, he was extraordinarily gifted for his unparalleled insight since Zhou Yan had undergone the test of might years ago!

It did not matter that his mother was a lady without status and of unknown origin. Zhou Yan was still accepted as a pupil in his family’s sacred name.

However, waves of setbacks had saddened and disappointed his grandfather. It had hurt him deeply after staring at his grandfather’s distasteful eyes.

Currently, his body was reborn as his bones were rebuilt to a state of unimaginable invincibility. Paired with his unparalleled insight, this was indeed an extraordinary event.

This man will no longer be a disappointment and he will no longer bring shame to his father. He would no longer be called a fraud or unworthy of his glory, nor would he be looked down or judged by everyone!

As of his current state, he would finally be worthy of the title of a natural genius! He would finally have the ability to show everyone how talented he truly was!

Thus, Zhou Yan sheathed his sword and stretched out his fatigued body, then step by step, he walked in the direction of the morning sun.

Basking in the rays of the morning sun, his path was poetic as it symbolized the arduous journey of the sword’s way.

…

“Zhou Yan, are you aware that you are late? Your grandfather has already know the incident of you pushing your body’s physical limits! Did you know that you were made an example of insolence by the entire family? You were also heavily criticized by the elder sages of the family.”

Before Zhou Yan could set foot in the academy, a sharp and slightly hoarse voice echoed in his ears.

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The voice was from a preteen which had not fully matured to manhood.

This man was Zhou Yan’s cousin, Zhou Xian. Zhou Xian had proven himself to be a real genius, due to his perceptive insight. However, as talented as he was, his insight was nowhere close to Zhou Yan. Since many years ago, Zhou Yan had bested him in the test of insight. Ever since that defeat, Zhou Xian spent many days seeking guidance from Zhou Yan. However, after knowing the truth that Zhou Yan was nothing but a fool, the attitude toward his cousin changed in an instant.

Fueled by his arrogance solely on the fact that Zhou Xian demonstrated more potential than Zhou Yan, he refused to address Zhou Yan by his ‘upperclassman’ status. His ignorance extended to even refuse to address Zhou Yan as ‘cousin’!

The full extent of his disrespect would be Zhou Xian blatantly calling Zhou Yan by his name. This act was seen as extremely rude since addressing an elder by their names meant simply dismissing the fact that they were seemingly their equal or beneath them. Zhou Yan perceived this act of audacity as nothing but an insult to the highest degree!