Holy Sword

"What happened at the trial, Star sis?" Xueqin asked curiously looking at Stargod.

"I faced a very strong boy that called himself a knight" Stargod explained the fight "He was too strong, I couldn't even pierce through his armor. But in the end, he never attacked me and gave up fighting, letting me pass the trial." She looked a little pissed "I know that I couldn't have won against him but it let me a bad taste passing without fighting."

"Don't think too much!" Xueqin slapped her back "The important is that you passed. And if you truly are worried about it, become stronger. You surely will be able to face him another time over the Past Sword, get your revenge there."

Stargod was a little anxious "The truth is that I know who it was and I don't think I will be able to never reach him."

"You know him?" Xueqin asked "Who it was?"

"I'm not really sure, but he might have been the pope of the Dawn Church, Qian Qingming"

Stargod was really obsessed with the sword, having studied all the famous great swordmasters over the continent, how could she not know the great sword and shield user, peak of Protection and Holy Intent, Qian Qingming? One of the most powerful and famous people over the world.

"I'm not sure if I would be able to never face him" She said a little sad.

"Why are you worried?" Xueqin blinked his eyes "What if he is stronger? You only need to push yourself even more. It's only one fight, you have time and more opportunities. Don't be so down! I had won against you and you continued striving, don't look down at me" Xueqin said "Wasn't your dream to reach the peak of the sword. A strong opponent is a greater mountain to climb, it didn't change your objective, you only need to continue forward, becoming stronger and someday you will even be able to face the real one!" Xueqin said smiling.

Stargod made a thoughtful look and nodded with a new determination "Of course, I aim to the peak. It's only natural to face strong enemies. I am lucky to have faced someone so strong"

"Of course!" Xueqin nodded "Now let's go!"

"Where?" Stargod tilted her head confused.

"To the Holy Mountain of course" Xueqin smiled "I want to try my luck and also fight against the pope."

"You shouldn't waste your try like that" Stargod reprimanded "Seeing past intent is very helpful, you should use is at the Strength Sword to gain enlightenment to your own intent. And you didn't even know if it would be the same person against you."

"It's only one time." Xueqin ignored Stargod's advice "And fighting other people with different intents could also be enlightening. It really didn't matter much if it's not him."

Xueqin started walking towards the center of the Sword Valley followed by Stargod. The Holy Sword was a mountain just next to the center. It was of the tallest one, only falling short against the Life and Death Swords.

Reaching it, Xueqin could finally see it closely. It didn't seem to be made of metal, the truth was that it didn't seem to be even solid. It was like pure energy condensed together in the form of a sword, a calm and warm unapproachable noble aura exuded from it. It seemed to clean the heart and mind, cleaning bad feelings. It was truly Holy.

Xueqin turned to Stargod who was panting exhaustedly. It was normal. It was the first time that Stargod entered the Inner Valley, the first time experimenting with the new cultivation technique, a completely different method to flow the energy of her body.

"Star sis, you don't need to wait for me. If you can't last more, leave before it hurts you" Xueqin said with concern "Don't overexert yourself."

Stargod wanted to rebuke but she knew that he was right. In the end, she opted to stay quiet, nodding at him.

Trusting her, Xueqin sighed in relief. He didn't want her to overexert. Xueqin stepped forward lightly touching the Holy Mountain.

"Shing!" A blindly light surged from the Holy Sword, Xueqin finding himself being pulled by it without being able to even resist.

Xueqin found himself over a pure golden space. It was completely different than the Inner Valley or the grounds at the trial. The air around exuded great holiness, it was so dense that almost it was possible to grasp it.

Xueqin lifted his right hand, two spirit rings appearing, the second one shining brightly. In his hand appeared his Angelic Saber.

Xueqin hadn't lied to Stargod, but he had hidden some of the truth. He was really curious for the opponent that she had faced, wanting to fight against him. But it wasn't only curiosity. Experimenting a Holy Sword Intent would help to improve his own Holy Sword Intent. Even if Mucheng had advised him to not show it around, limiting his training into it, he didn't really want to completely abandon it.

Xueqin gripped the saber with both hands, preparing for the enemy to come. He really wanted to experiment with a strong person, maybe it would help him giving form to his Holy Intent.

"Thump, thump!" Xueqin felt his heart beating strongly, strange energy flowing across his body and leaving it. Then, the air in front of her started contorting and taking form.

A girl about 12 years old appeared in front of Xueqin. She had bright golden long hair up to her hips with beautiful golden eyes that Xueqin thought that somehow they resembled his own eyes. She had an emotionless face and she was wearing a long pure white dress.

"It's not him" Xueqin said with a little down face, not having faced against the same opponent as Stargod. However, he quickly recovered. It didn't matter, he would try to gain the maximum with his new rival "You seem strong. But there's something strange with you" He sharpened his gaze at her.

She wasn't like the boys over the gate trial. She seemed like a doll without emotion or even the capacity to talk. She didn't feel alive, she was more like a projection.

"Let's see how strong you are." Xueqin prepared his sword, dashing towards her.

The girl lifted her head, looking straight at Xueqin, her eyes shining brightly. She lifted her hands, a saber identical to Xueqin appearing over them, pointing over the sky.

Suddenly, 12 golden wings sprouted over the girls' back, the Holy aura of the space tripling its strength and quality.

Seeing her with her fluttering wings, Xueqin was stopped still, looking at her in awe. Her pressure was too strong, Xueqin was unable to move even an inch of his place.

The girl's wings hugged her saber that started shining with a strong light "Purification" She lowered her sword, a pillar of Holy Energy shooting towards Xueqin.

There was no possible defense, it was simply too overwhelming! The Holy torrent completely swallowed Xueqin.

"Boom!" Xueqin was shot over 30 meters, rebounding a lot of times on the hard ground before he stopped.

"Gold brother!" Stargod ran towards Xueqin who had been shot out of the Holy Sword. "Gold brother resist!" Stargod was very anxious and frightened as she didn't dare to even touch Xueqin. He was very injured, burns all over his body, with a golden aura clinging over him that seemed to continuously burn him, externally and internally.

"Too strong" Xueqin said with his last strength before falling unconscious.

(It hadn't passed even 5 seconds since Gold brother entered the Holy Mountain. Records over the Holy Mountain were usually mild and rarely injured their rivals. What kind of monster had he faced?) Stargod thought worried.

"What should I do?" tears were falling over her eyes. She was frightened about making his wounds worse if she touched him and she didn't know anyone to ask for help. The only person that she knew here was her escort who was useless as he was unable to even enter the Inner Valley.

"Help, help me! " She started crying. it didn't matter who it was, she needed any help. "Resist, Gold brother."

"Make space, little girl" A powerful voice sounded, Stargod turning towards it to find a tall and suspicious man with only one arm.

Stargod's body reacted unconsciously. She jumped to the man and clung over his leg, hugging it tightly "Please, please. Help Gold brother" She said desperately.

"I will help him, I am his master" The man who in truth was Mucheng said "Let me go now".

Stargod nodded, releasing him, cleaning her tears as she saw Mucheng taking out a black greatsword. A gray intent surrounded it as he swung his greatsword towards Xueqin, the golden aura over him, completely being erased.

Stargod eyes opened widely "Y-you are...!"

"Let's go" Mucheng ordered as he carefully took Xueqin.

They left the Inner Valley, going towards Mucheng's manor. There, Mucheng healed Xueqin, bandaging all his body and letting him rest over his room as his breath had stabilized.

Mucheng went towards the living room where Stargod was waiting sat over a seat. "Is Gold brother okay?" she stood up and asked anxiously.

"He is. Holy is not very offensive of nature, once the purification is extracted, the wounds weren't that dangerous."

"Thank god" Stargod sighed in relief.

"Now, Stargod. That's your name, no?" Stargod nodded "You know about me?"

"Of course!" she quickly said a little excited "Sir is Shi Mucheng. You were a great swordmaster and one of Shrek Eight Devils. I learned about you at the academy."

"To think that even now there are documents about me. Ming didn't do it in the end" Mucheng said in low voice sighing.

"I didn't know that Gold brother had such a great master. It's normal that he is so strong!" Stargod said.

"Stargod, my disciple doesn't know my identity. And I want to keep it like this" Mucheng said.

"Why?" asked with curiosity Stargod.

"It's none of your business" Mucheng said coldly, letting a little of killing intent and causing Stargod to flinch in fright. "If someday you met him outside of the Valley, you can say it. But since that moment, I want all to continue like this.

Mucheng stood up, preparing to leave "One more thing, make up some story about who treated him. I don't want him to know that it was me."

"Why?" asked confused.

"Sometimes, hate strive you further," Mucheng said before disappearing.

Once alone, Stargod quickly went towards Xueqin, making sure that he was truly fine. He was calmy sleeping, most of the burns already healed.

Stargod fell to the ground in relief, knowing that Xueqin was truly fine. Then, her body started trembling, a smile appearing over her face "Facing Qian Qingming, passing the trial and meeting Shi Mucheng. What a day!" She turned to Xueqin "We must reach them someday, brother Gold. I will strive to not fall behind" She said with determination.