Paragon Sword King

Paragon Sword King . . . 

In the realm of existence where the very fabric of reality danced to the tunes of boundless possibilities, Surrealism reigned supreme. It wasn't merely a facet of the world; it was a law unto itself, a mysterious force that wove through the tapestry of existence alongside the laws of space. This enigmatic concept was reminiscent of Buddhist wisdom, which posited that an entire world could nestle snugly within a mustard seed.

Picture this: within the bounds of Surrealism's grasp, an entire world could shroud itself as a mere speck or a particle within the infinite expanse of the universe. It was as if the universe, when subjected to this law, became a canvas upon which the grandest illusions could be painted.

But Surrealism law was no mere parlor trick. Its depths concealed mystical capabilities of unimaginable proportions. Consider this scene: in the midst of a celestial clash, when a chosen warrior of the Skymist Immortal Empire launched their assault, minuscule motes of light could metamorphose into colossal, nightmarish elephants. These radiant behemoths exuded a palpable terror capable of rending the very world asunder.

Witnessing this astonishing display, the assembled experts of the Evergreen Immortal Empire could barely conceal their distress. Their collective gaze fixated upon the battle platform, where the Skymist Immortal Empire's adept commanded the field. Each minuscule mote of light had transformed into a gargantuan demonic elephant, an unstoppable force on a path of destruction. Even the noble descendants of the Evergreen Immortal Empire wielded formidable powers, launching mighty attacks to combat the oncoming onslaught. Yet, in this pivotal moment, the experts of the Skymist Immortal Empire seized the opportunity to strike while their adversaries were distracted. In the blink of an eye, several experts from the Evergreen Immortal Empire fell, injured and vulnerable.

Although the battle had only raged for a brief span of time, the scales of victory seemed heavily tilted. The outcome appeared almost predestined.

Qin Wentian, an astute observer of the proceedings, couldn't help but admire the eighth-level immortal-foundation expert leading the charge for the Skymist Immortal Empire. This formidable warrior possessed a flawless fifth-tier king-graded immortal foundation. Coupled with their mastery of Surrealism and the divine elephant, they wielded a formidable array of laws to bolster their attacks. Facing such an adversary was nothing short of a nightmare, a test of one's limits.

In this confrontation, the Evergreen Immortal Empire stood on the precipice of defeat. None among them could hope to rival a figure of such extraordinary prowess.

As expected, the unfolding battle was a one-sided affair. Under the relentless onslaught of the Skymist Immortal Empire's prodigious genius, the experts of the Evergreen Immortal Empire fell one by one. Victory swiftly slipped from their grasp, leaving them with no choice but to accept their impending defeat.

A hushed sense of astonishment fell upon the onlookers as they bore witness to the unfolding battle. None among them had anticipated that the Evergreen Immortal Empire, stalwarts of their realm, would crumble so swiftly and pitifully. The envoys of the Skymist Immortal Empire, their upper-tier immortal-foundation characters, had notched a resounding victory over the Evergreen Immortal Empire's noble descendants.

Skymist Jiang, wearing an almost impish grin, couldn't resist a playful remark. "Well, I must thank you all for being such splendid sports," he quipped. His voice resonated with a note of camaraderie, although beneath his jest lay a hint of something far more potent. "Prince Longhao, it appears that the Evergreen Immortal Empire's vitality, after the turmoil of past internal conflicts, has been considerably sapped, leaving the younger generation with somewhat inferior talents. One can't help but wonder, if history were to repeat itself and another internal strife were to erupt, could the Evergreen Immortal Emperor's dynasty withstand it?"

Skymist Jiang's words carried a not-so-subtle threat, akin to a veiled reminder to the Evergreen Immortal Empire.

Evergreen Longhao, undeterred, responded with a knowing smile. "Indeed, our younger generation may appear to be less formidable, but is it not a folly, Prince Jiang, to gauge the strength of my Evergreen Immortal Empire solely by the prowess of our juniors? Recall the skepticism your Skymist Immortal Empire once harbored toward my father's capabilities. Yet, who ultimately ascended to the throne of Evergreen Immortal Emperor, commanding this vast dominion so mightily that other empires dared not encroach upon it? The future shall mirror the past."

His words contained more than met the ear; they subtly conveyed that should the Skymist Immortal Empire dare to meddle and instigate another internal conflict, they too would find themselves vanquished.

Amidst this exchange, Skymist Jiang let out a hearty laugh. "Ah, but Prince Longhao, the strength of the younger generation often serves as a barometer for an empire's might."

A thunderous voice, emanating from a distant figure, shattered the verbal sparring. Countless figures soared through the skies, each one exuding an aura of exceptional prowess. As they converged around Evergreen Longhao, they revealed themselves to be the marquises and kings of the Evergreen Immortal Empire.

"Your grand preparations merely secured a victory among juniors, and now you seek to leverage that to dominate us?" The accusing words resounded, a firm rebuke from a distance.

Skymist Jiang remained unfazed, flashing a genial smile. The participants on the battlefield had already retreated, but elsewhere, toward the Paragon Sword Sect, a lead expert stepped forward, laughter ringing out. "Who would have thought that this exhibition of combat would be so utterly captivating? In light of this, my Paragon Sword Sect wishes to join in the revelry. We, too, would like to engage in a friendly exchange with the young talents of the Evergreen Immortal Empire."

As the resonant timbre of the immortal king's voice gradually faded into the ether, a remarkable spectacle unfolded. Nine extraordinary figures, each bearing the undeniable mark of seasoned prowess, stepped forth in unison, ascending the formidable battle platform. These nine experts occupied the middle-tier of immortal foundation, their ranks spanning from the fourth to the sixth level. Their presence was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

In that heart-pounding moment, every gaze in attendance became transfixed. The Paragon Sword Sect's calculated maneuver unfolded before their very eyes, executed with such synchrony and precision that it bordered on the supernatural. It was as if this meticulously orchestrated performance had been rehearsed to perfection. To chalk it up to mere happenstance would be a nigh-impossible stretch of credulity.

Upon witnessing this astonishing turn of events, Evergreen Longhao's countenance plummeted. This was a stark departure from their prior engagement with the Skymist Immortal Empire. In that encounter, animosity had bristled on both sides, a known antagonism driven by the Skymist Empire's audacious designs to wed their most illustrious princesses to the dissolute Skymist Hai.

However, the Paragon Sword Sect's unexpected entrance onto the stage was a twist that had eluded all predictions. The Evergreen Immortal Empire had never fathomed that, at this very juncture, the Paragon Sword Sect would extend a similar challenge, yearning for a duel. Such an overture seemed to insinuate a disconcerting possibility: an alliance had likely been forged between the Paragon Sword Sect and the Skymist Immortal Empire.

In the grand tapestry of powers that reigned supreme across the Eastern Regions, the Evergreen Immortal Empire occupied a pivotal position, nestled squarely between the Skymist Immortal Empire to the north and the Paragon Sword Sect to the south. The delicate equilibrium of power hinged upon this arrangement. If these two formidable forces were to synchronize their might and converge upon the Evergreen Immortal Empire in a united offensive, the outcome appeared bleak, fraught with perilous consequences for Evergreen.

The Paragon Sword Sect's action carried an enigmatic undercurrent, a subtle but unmistakable subtext that hinted at deeper machinations.

Even the astute experts from the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect couldn't escape the palpable tension that hung in the air. These individuals possessed keen intellects, finely tuned to the intricacies of power dynamics. Before this unexpected turn, Qin Wentian had observed the Paragon Sword Sect's diplomatic etiquette, treating all powers with the respect due to equals. Little did he anticipate this dramatic twist, wherein the Paragon Sword Sect revealed a startling alignment with the Skymist Immortal Empire.

An immortal king beside Qin Wentian communicated their concerns through a silent transmission of thought. "The Evergreen Immortal Empire finds itself sandwiched between the Skymist Immortal Empire and the Paragon Sword Sect. Were these two to join forces in their dealings with the Evergreen Immortal Empire, the consequences would be catastrophic. If our Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect intervenes, we might inadvertently become embroiled in this perilous strife."

Currently, the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect occupied a relatively nascent position within the hierarchy of peak-tier powers in the Eastern Regions. Their stature was modest compared to the titans surrounding them. Eager to forge alliances and foster amicable relations, they sought to leverage any potential affiliations to their advantage. For instance, Qin Wentian's connection with Qing'er hinted at the possibility of a budding alliance between the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect and the Evergreen Immortal Empire. But this strategic move also incurred the wrath of the Skymist Immortal Empire. It was a delicate dance of risk and reward, replete with both opportunities and pitfalls.

However, with the unexpected entry of the Paragon Sword Sect into the fray, the stakes and complexities of the situation escalated dramatically. For the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect, maintaining their position on the sidelines or aligning too closely with the Evergreen Immortal Empire now carried considerably more disadvantages.

"Mhm," responded Qin Wentian with a measured nod. He grasped the intricacies of the predicament unfolding before them.

In theory, as a neutral party, he could choose to disengage from this convoluted power play. Yet, there was one irrefutable affront that he simply couldn't let slide. Skymist Hai had invoked Qing'er's name as a pretext to heap insults upon her. This was a slight that gnawed at his core, an affront he could never countenance.

As the banquet unfolded, its once-joyous atmosphere gradually grew laden with a palpable tension. It became increasingly evident that a meticulously woven scheme was unfurling before their very eyes, one step at a time. The Skymist Immortal Empire had used the guise of a sparring session as a pretext, and the Paragon Sword Sect had seamlessly joined their cause, a public spectacle designed to tarnish the reputation and prestige of the Evergreen Immortal Empire.

Adding to the mounting pressure was the fact that the Paragon Sword Sect had behaved with utmost decorum from the outset of the banquet. Moreover, given that the platform had been expressly designed for sparring purposes, the Evergreen Immortal Empire found itself bereft of legitimate grounds to reject the Paragon Sword Sect's request for a duel.

A glint of icy resolve gleamed within Evergreen Longhao's eyes as he surveyed the gathering around him. The repercussions of the past internal strife were evident, a dark chapter in their history that had left their empire noticeably weakened. Many of their brightest talents had perished in the chaos. Presently, it was glaringly apparent that, as a peak-tier power, their strength paled in comparison to the Skymist Immortal Empire. In fact, they couldn't even be certain of their standing vis-à-vis the Paragon Sword Sect.

It was as though these two formidable forces were seizing this opportune moment to suppress the growth of the Evergreen Immortal Empire, creating an intricate web of geopolitical intrigue.

The battlefield came to life as the experts of the Paragon Sword Sect spoke, encouraging Evergreen Longhao to select their combatants. Eager to prove themselves, numerous middle-tier immortal-foundation individuals from the Evergreen Immortal Empire stepped forward, ready to face the challenge.

Ultimately, Evergreen Longhao chose nine experts to represent their cause, granting them the opportunity to ascend the battle platform.

In an instant, the nine Paragon Sword Sect representatives exuded an aura of boundless swordsmanship. Among them, the figure occupying the central position emanated an unparalleled dominance. This prodigious swordsman was a sixth-level immortal foundation practitioner, and the sword intent he radiated bore the undeniable aura of a true sword king. His eyes gleamed with incisive sharpness, and with a mere twitch of his finger, he seemed capable of effortlessly manipulating the sword energies generated by others.

Cries of amazement rippled through the crowd. This figure was none other than the legendary sword king of the Paragon Sword Sect. His innate talent allowed him to commandeer any form of sword qi and sword energy, even drawing upon the sword forces generated by others. He was truly a paragon of the sword.

"It seems the heaven-chosen disciples of the Evergreen Immortal Empire are in for a tough challenge. Their defeat appears almost inevitable," murmured many, their voices hushed with a sense of foreboding.

Qin Wentian directed his gaze toward the immortal king by his side, seeking insight into the enigmatic prowess of the Paragon Sword Sect. The immortal king's voice carried a hushed tone as he offered a revelation. "The Paragon Sword Sect possesses a unique inheritance. For the exceptional geniuses who reach the supreme demon-level, cultivating this inheritance grants them the ability to manifest a paragon sword soul. However, such individuals are exceedingly rare, with only one emerging among tens of thousands. Whenever such a prodigy arises within the Paragon Sword Sect, they are bestowed the title of Paragon Sword King and nurtured as the sect's future leader. These individuals wield a status equivalent to that of the Holy Successors in the Southern Phoenix Clan. But whereas a Holy Successor emerges every century, it can take thousands or even tens of thousands of years for a Paragon Sword King to arise in the Paragon Sword Sect."

As they conversed, the battle had already ignited. Qin Wentian's gaze fixed upon the Paragon Sword King as he unleashed his formidable might. The collective sword intent of the eight other swordsmen converged upon him, focusing like a laser beam of power. Each swing of his sword was imbued with crackling lightning, rending through the defenses of the Evergreen Immortal Empire's experts. Notably, however, his strikes stopped short of delivering fatal blows. This precision attested to his masterful control over his strength.

With a mere flick of his finger, he unleashed a barrage of sword light so swift that the naked eye could scarcely follow its trajectory. A shrill whistle sliced through the air as the body of his intended target was pierced cleanly through.

"There appears to be no room for suspense in this contest," mused Qin Wentian, sharing his observation with those around him. Indeed, the situation on the battle platform offered little ambiguity—the experts of the Evergreen Immortal Empire could only await their inevitable defeat, a fate that seemed destined to unfold one by one.