Gate: Sword 1st trial
Xueqin woke up the next morning, going to the living room, Mucheng was already waiting for him "Quickly eat. We must go." He said coldly.
Somehow Xueqin sensed Mucheng's aura different, it was much colder and serious than usual. After all this time together, Xueqin had started learning about Mucheng and even was able to joke sometimes as long as he kept some banned matters. However, Xueqin was sure, today it wasn't a good time to piss him. Mucheng was ready to explode at any moment.
Xueqin quickly nodded. Instead of the bland cubes, today there was rice with fish. While it wasn't very tasty, it was a good improvement respect the food cubes.
"Follow me" Mucheng left the manor, Xueqin following him.
They left the manor and started walking towards the sword mountains "The true Sword Valley is just ahead. The city can only be considered a place to rest and communicate with other while all the secrets lay there" Mucheng explained as they were approaching.
Approaching the sword mountains, their presence started to grow. A great sword qi surged from them, it was like they were lumps of it, each one with a different intent. Even with the glasses over, Xueqin could see the great shine from each of them, sensing the great comprehension behind each one.
"The legend said that each mountain is the manifestation of the intents of the Sword God. The Sword God himself creating them and piercing to the ground, creating a domain to keep them for eternity. All of it to share his knowledge and pass it to future generations" Mucheng explained "You can see the Sword God comprehension over each intent simply looking at the size of the sword mountains."
Xueqin lifted his gaze. They were certainly high, especially a group of over 10 bigger swords that surrounded ar the center the two biggest swords of all of them, 2 towering mountains over 10 kilometers tall, one black and the other white. Even at their distance, the Death and Life aura from them could be sensed.
Just before arriving, a towering man about 2,4 meters tall, appeared in front of them. He had long black hair and powerful muscles, exuding strength all around him. A greatsword was over his hands "What are your issues here? Is your first time here? I don't remember seeing your faces." He said arrogantly "You need to pay the quote if you want to pass."
Mucheng's gaze turned sharp towards the man, a gray aura surged from his hand. At a speed that the tall man couldn't react, he threw him a punch. It directly hit his face, deforming it and breaking over half of his teeth while throwing the man over 10 meters away.
(I knew it! He is really pissed today) Xueqin thought.
Mucheng quietly stood there gazing at the man trying to stand up. The man's arrogance had completely disappeared, replaced by full terror, all his body was trembling in fright "E-evil God!!" The man shouted full of fear, crawling away, running away from Mucheng at an incredible speed.
Xueqin looked confused at Mucheng,
"Ignore it" Mucheng answered "To start the trial is normal to pay. Is one of the ways that this city makes money. Of course, you can always dare to pay with strength." Mucheng started walking again "Let's go."
As they arrived at the feet of the mountainous range, a great gate stood behind. It didn't have doors, instead, a gray layer of constantly flowing energy formed it, impossible to see anything through it. It seemed some sort of portal to someway. Over there, similar as at the entrance of the city, there were some words carved "ALL FOR THE SWORD". However, it was completely different, the words were gray and were carved over the air, cutting space and any element over them. Their aura was incredibly strong, to completely new level respect the city. Xueqin could feel threatened by them. He was sure that it didn't matter what someone were to throw to them, it would be cut.
Xueqin's heartbeat increased, all his body reacting to them. The words sipping over his mind.
"All for the sword." Mucheng said with a serious tone, breaking a little Xueqin's trance "These words had more than 20.000 years old, never disappearing. They were directly carved by the Sword God. However" He turned to Xueqin "Don't let them influence you. These words had guided a lot of people to ruin. You must follow your own path."
Xuequin shook his head, breaking the enchanting effect of the carved word, cold sweet falling from his back "They are truly powerful, even after 20.000 years, they keep this strength" Xueqin said a little fearful.
Mucheng stepped forward, stopping just before the gate "This is your trial. To truly experiment the Sword Valley's secret, to enter the inner and core areas, you must first past the trial."
Xueqin walked forward slowly, he was nervous but at the same time excited. Somehow, he seemed to feel some kind of force guiding him inside.
"The Gate Trial is extremely important and it would certainly mark your future. Is no much different from your spirit awakening" Mucheng explained.
"In what consists?" Xueqin asked, his gaze never leaving the gate.
"It proves your talent, being different to every person." Mucheng answered "It's also called the First Step into the sword arts. You must be younger than 12 years old and you have 3 tries to pass it." Mucheng explained "Pass it in the first."
Xueqin breathed loudly trying to calm his nerves and excitement and stepped forward. "Don't try to hide your strength, there's nothing you can hide there. Use everything" Were the last words that Xueqin listened as he crossed the gate.
Xueqin felt his body floating, twisting and disappearing. It was incredibly dizzy, making him want to puke as a gray whirlpool swallowed him.
After some time that seemed an eternity, his feet finally landed on the ground, Xueqin's headache instantly vanishing. He looked around finding himself over a limitless plain with multiples swords pierced over the ground.
"So this is the place of the trial?" He said curiously. As he stepped forward, his body flinched "BA-DUMP" A energy surged from his body, his heart doing a loud beat while an intense pain crossed his head, forcing him to close his eyes and lift his hands covering his head. Luckily it was only an instant.
Opening his eyes, he found that a boy had appeared 50 meters in front of him. He seemed to be around his age. He had pure white hair like snow that it was clear it wasn't from old age, with shining golden eyes that lacked something comparing with Xueqin's. He had a warm and smiling expression in his face as he lazily rested a sword over his shoulders.
That sword Xueqin had seen it before. It was incredibly similar to the Treasure Pagoda at Ning Maya's mural, but with sword form.
"Who are you?" Xueqin asked, he invoked his spirit, the Golden Dragon Greatsword appearing over his hand as he warily looked at the cute boy in front of him, never lowering his attention.
"Woaw!" The white-haired boy shouted with astonishment "You are really young and strong. It's not every day that I can meet a strong rival, especially of the age" the boy said "Let's make a little spar!"
Completely ignoring Xueqin's question, the boy dashed towards Xueqin. His lazy stance disappeared, replaced by a polished stance without opening as he swung his sword towards Xueqin.
Xueqin didn't stay quiet, he lifted his greatsword, golden aura surging from it. It was his Sword Intent, Pure Strength!
Xueqin swung his greatsword to the boy. Seeing the enormous greatsword about to clash against the seemingly fragile glass sword, it was clear what would be the outcome. However, the boy twisted his sword, changing to a defensive stance as white aura surged from his sword.
"Clank!" The greatsword hit the glassy sword, the expected outcome didn't occur. The white-haired boy easily stopped the powerful blow, not moving even a centimeter of his place.
A grin appeared in the boys face "You trust too much your strength" He twisted his body, kicking at Xueqin's stomach.
"Buag!" Xueqin was unable to move his greatsword in time, the kick directly hitting and being throw over 5 meters. He rolled over the ground, quickly recovering and standing up.
"You are not used to fighting, eh?" the white-haired boy grinned "Your kind of lucky. Remembering all that spar with mama" The boy trembled in fright "Truly scared."
Xueqin clenched his greatsword "I underestimated you, I will show my true strength!" More golden aura surged from Xueqin's sword.
"I'm looking forward to it" the boy grinned, lowering his body, crossing his sword into a defensive style.
Xueqin kicked the ground, dashing towards the boy with great momentum, swinging his greatsword with his greatest strength.
The boy's sword was covered by a thick white aura "
"Ahhh!" Xueqin shouted, focusing his strength on his sword, changing the direction of his greatsword, pushing it towards the boy.
"Not bad!" the boy said smiling as he jumped backward, letting himself being pushed by Xueqin's greatsword, dissipating most of the momentum. He elegantly landed 10 meters away.
Xueqin didn't stop, he quickly dashed again, swinging his sword at him. However, it didn't matter how many times he swung his sword, he couldn't break the boy's defense. Even with his seemingly fragile sword, he was able to stop every of Xueqin's attacks rather easily. His stance was perfect, not letting any opening for a counter-attack.
The boy was seemingly playing with Xueqin, waiting for him to tire himself out and he was accomplishing it. The boy was perfectly fine while Xueqin was panting tiredly. Swinging his greatsword and using his Sword Intent it was much exhausting the defense style of the boy.
Xueqin calmed down and stayed quiet, recovering his breath.
"You stop attacking me. Are you already exhausted? Boring!" the boy complained. He dashed forward, white aura surrounded his sword. He thrust his sword towards Xueqin.
Xueqin's gaze turned sharp, he lightly tilted his greatsword, stopping the boy's sword with the side of his greatsword "As I expected" At the same time, Xueqin leaned his body to the left. Xueqin's sword shined brightly as 2 spirit rings appearing around it, the second one shining brightly.
"Impossible!" The boy's face contorted seeing the impossible appearance of spirit rings in this place.
Xueqin's greatsword became a slender saber. The change in form, caused the boy's sword to continue thrusting forward, barely grazing Xueqin's side.
"Your defense is perfect, but your attack is full of openings!"Xueqin swung his saber towards the boy, Holy Sword Intent surging from it. However, just as he was about to hit, he jumped back, the saber not connecting.
A black blade formed by sword qi was shot towards where Xueqin stood before, grazing him. If he had been ant slower, Xueqin would have been bisected by it!
Xueqin turned towards where the attack had come. There another boy stood. He was an exact copy of the white-haired boy, but his hair and eyes were pitch black.
"Bai, you are too naive" The black-haired boy grinned at the white-haired boy "It's my time to shine!" He turned towards Xueqin, his sword exploded with strong black sword intent.
Xueqin gulped. From the black-haired, a strong death aura could be felt and it was several times stronger than him or the white-haired boy.
"It's time to die, kid" the black-haired boy grinned.