Sword God City

Just before stepping on the city. Mucheng gave to Xueqin a mask. It was a simple black mask that covered the upper half of his face. At the same time, Mucheng wore a similar mask over his face. "In the Sword Valley you outside identity is not important, your sword is what defines you. Wearing a mask is a kind of tradition, like forgetting you from outside, focusing on the sword."

Before entering the city, a big stone arc like gate stood. Over it carved by cuts "Sword God City" was drawn. Every slash contained a great profundity and comprehension behind, the words exuding a mysterious feeling.

The city even when it was a big one, it seemed more of a village. Wide street without pavement, mostly being composed of little houses made up of cheap materials, buildings being extremely weird. It seemed like they had stepped into the past, like a village 20.000 years ago.

As Xueqin and Mucheng were walking across, Xueqin was curious observing everything around, not wanting to left anything to see. He was surprised by the people walking around, most of them wearing masks, but there was also a great number without. All of them had sharp auras around them, with a great number of them carrying some kind of sword.

As they continued walking, the streets and houses changed. That classic design didn't change but the quality was increasing, the houses becoming bigger and the streets being paved. This continued until big manors stood around, 6 of them at the end standing up as the biggest, more refined and luxurious.

Finally, Mucheng stopped in front of a big manor, it wasn't one of the 6 but it was big nevertheless. Mucheng put his hand over the door, sword qi surging from it. The door instantly opened revealing the inside. It was all cleaned and minimally decorated with only the essential, but it was completely empty.

Xueqin turned to Mucheng. Mucheng had a sad expression over his face, one of sadness and yearning "Come" Mucheng walked over, Xueqin following him.

They entered a big room that seemed to be a living room with some cushions on the ground. Both sat over the cushions.

"Do you want to ask something about the city? I saw your face while walking" Mucheng asked.

Xueqin nodded "Why is the city so old? It lacks light or any energy."

"You really didn't detect it" Mucheng sighed "There's a domain covering all the Sword Valley, keeping the sword aura inside and avoiding its to disperse. However, it has more uses. Inside this domain, no normal type of spirit energy could be used. This affects any soul technology, from mechas to simple lights."

"This is the main reason that this place was never invaded by outer forces for 20.000 years. How could exterior spirit masters whose spirit skills are blocked to use, be able to win against swordmaster in their perfect terrain? The condensation here of sword aura and intent is so hight that it didn't matter your intent, its power would be increased a lot" Mucheng "It didn't matter how much humanity evolves, no external forces would be able to take this place."

"Spirit skills can't be used?" Xueqin tilted his head. Over his hands, his sword appeared, two yellow rings around it. The first shined brightly and Xueqin's sword changed becoming the Golden Dragon Greatsword.

Mucheng had the mouth opened shocked for a second, but he quickly closed it "Whatever. Another thing to put over the prohibitions. It's not like you needed, but don't use spirit skills here. Keep always your sword with the Golden Dragon Greatsword form."

Xueqin nodded "Master, you said that external forces can invade this place, putting special emphasis over external. What about internal?"

"This place is controlled by strength. At the top of the power being the 5 Sword Monarchs, especially the two Upper Sword Monarchs. They decided how to rule this place, deciding to a peaceful front, with cooperation between people to improve overall." Mucheng explained "However, should an evil swordmaster take the power, this land could easily become a land of blood and massacre. During his 20.000 years of history, it not really strange when it became an unlawful land, a place where killing was the normal, refining souls and blood to increase their strength. A paradise for criminals."

Xueqin nodded. In a place where only the strong mattered and a single individual could have enough power, the changes could be massive instantly. Fortunately, nowadays was peaceful.

"The actual form of the Sword Valley created by Wu Jian, the Sword Douluo 10.000 years ago and you might know him as Ning Maya's husband. He defeated the evil spirit masters who had controlled the place, making it a hell, shaping it like he wanted. Wu Jian wanted to for this place to be shared between everyone that loved swords, being open to everyone and making swords much more prominent than before" Mucheng said. "Of course, even if his groundwork had helped to create the actual state, it is not like it hadn't been destroyed some times" He clenched his hand "Like 60 years ago."

"The sword popularity of today had 4 great reasons. Mainly the Sword Valley that guides swordmasters to the peak. The publicity made by Wu Jian. The appearance of spirit souls with the increase of the spiritual power's importance, training the sword arts, being very effective to increase it. Finally, the lost connection with the Divine Realm, being impossible to ascend to god without it."

"Lost of the Divine Realm?" Xueqin asked curiously, never hearing it before.

"You are too young to be affected. It's a very big problem for the people at the top, a lot of people trying to find a solution. Forget about it until you have enough strength" Mucheng said. "Do you have any other questions related with the city?" Mucheng changed the topic.

"One last. There was a lot of people without masks. Are they people that did not want to completely focus on the sword?"

Mucheng shook his head "Completely the opposite. While there are people that prefer to not wear mask without much of a reason, most of the unmasked are the people that had completely abandoned their outside life, deciding to eternally living here for the sword, never leaving this place." Mucheng finished "Now that your questions had finished, ate some cube and go to sleep. You can use any room on the first floor. Under no circumstance enter the second floor."

Xueqin nodded and left the living room. He chose a random room and entered. It was equipped with a single bed, a desk, a chair and a wardrobe. He jumped on the bed and fell asleep.

Over the living room, Mucheng stood up, he approached at a door opening it sideways, revealing a big garden with a little pond.

Just as he stepped over the balcony, two figures fell from the sky. They effortlessly landed on the ground without making any sound. They didn't wear masks and there was an incredible pressure surrounding them, showing that they were no ordinary people.

One of them was a handsome man over 30 years with black hair and red eyes. A great killing intent and death aura surged from him. Looking at his eyes was enough to sense your life disappearing.

The other was an incredible beauty with fair skin. She had long deep blue hair with shining blue eyes. Her aura was like the opposite of the man. It was like a breath of life, plants growing wherever she stepped. However, her facial feautures were cold, completely emotionless, like she hadn't shown any in a long time. Her ice beauty really contrasted with her Life aura.

"Third brother" The woman made a rare but beautiful smile, flowers growing around her. She jumped at Mucheng's arms "I'm very glad that you finally had decided to come here with us."

"You took the mourning to the next level, third brother" The man said grinning "I missed you. Take out your mask and come to my place. We have a lot to talk and drink!" he said cheerily.

Their actions and faces caused a big contrast. If any other at the city would see these two reactions, they would surely think that they are dreaming or death.

Mucheng broke up the hug, carefully pushing the woman away. e looked at the man "Second brother" He turned to the woman "Seventh sister" He made a smile that contained a trace of sadness and nostalgia "I really missed you. But" He looked down "I will keep up my mask. My stay here would be only momentary."

"Why you keep hurting yourself?" The woman said with some tears threatening to fall in her eyes.

"It had been 60 years since fourth sister d-" The man said, but was shoot silent by the woman's cold gaze "Incident. It's long enough to move forward."

"I promised her" Mucheng answered "I have some things to do."

"A better world without pain where children can play happily" The woman said looking down with a low voice.

"What a joke dream!" The man shouted angrily "I would have preferred thousands time the world to be destroyed. If only she hadn't been so stubborn."

"I had long since accepted. I am happy for your feeling, but I won't stay here" Mucheng said.

"Always the fucking same, that man!" The man spatted "I don't mind at all. I will keep this place, I won't let the history repeat again. You can die in a corner for all that matters to me!" He shouted furiously, disappearing with black light.

The woman recovered her icy looks, but her eyes continued reflecting sadness as she looked at Mucheng "There will always be a place for you here, third brother" She said before disappearing with a green flash, leaving a blue flower in her place.

Mucheng let his body fell, his back hitting the floor, he laying over it. Mucheng lifted his arm, covering his eyes full of tears with his forearm, tears uncontrollably falling from his eyes.

He turned his gaze back, towards where Xueqin was sleeping "What should I do? What would have you done, Zuyin?" He asked crying, never being able to receive a answer.