Law of creation

Looking at the ball of gas contained by Li Chen's energy, Old Li became flustered. This was the first time he saw a daemon leave its host. 

Could it be because the woman was a mortal? Or has it never experienced such nonchalant brutality?

A screech came from the ball as it broke out of Li Chen's hold and re-entered its host. 

The woman's claws scraped the ground and her low growls frightened the big-eyed girl and the red-headed kid but Li Chen flickered. 

His phantom-like movement left a visible aura that matched his robe. Without making even a tiny sound, he arrived before the woman, grabbed her throat, and the metal fingers of the gauntlet sank into her neck.

BAM—! 

He slammed her against the wall and threw her limp body outside the inn. "It has taken hold of her consciousness and mutated her body. Death will be the only way to save her," Old Li sighed pitifully as he stared at the growling woman.

Despite all the slamming, she still struggled to stand, the urge to destroy and shed blood gnawing at her already broken consciousness.

"It's a daemon! Kill her!" A yell tore the air. The next moment, some villagers arrived with sticks, planks, and farming tools.

By the time Li Chen, Old Li, the innkeeper, and her children came out, the possessed woman had been set ablaze. 

Looking around, Li Chen saw the burning corpse of everyone that was possessed. His eyes trailed to those of a dead woman who leaned against a wall, her eyes dull.

Lowering his gaze to the wound in her abdomen, he closed his eyes for a brief moment. He approached her, closed her eyes, and turned back to Old Li, whose expression was covered with questions.

"Did you, perhaps...?"

[I don't know her.] 

"Really?" 

Ignoring the old man, Li Chen looked around, searching for horses. 

****

"Are you leaving?" The red-headed kid asked. 

[Yes.] Li Chen replied, caressing the Ferghana horse before him. The owner was deceased so it was free. 

Old Li had already mounted his horse. 

"Will you teach me to be a swordsman?" The kid asked, his eyes gleaming with expectation.

[No.] 

"Search for Li Chen when you eventually grow strong enough to enter the heaven realm. By then, the brat will be a powerful warrior and I'll be long dead." Old Li chortled. 

With great expectations, the red-headed kid grabbed Li Chen's forearm and said, "I'll grow strong and you'll be my teacher!" 

Shaking his head, Li Chen mounted the horse. [And how will I know you? Stay where you are, kid. The outside world is dangerous.] 

The red-headed kid's eyes kept growing dimmer until a flicker of hope emerged. His eyes suddenly burned like coals burning with crimson flames. 

"You will remember this, right?" 

[What are you doing?! Has anyone seen this?]

"Mother and Miao Miao." 

[Don't show it to anyone else if you want to live.] 

With that, Li Chen and Old Li rode away, leaving a red-headed kid at the gates of a small village. 

'Li Chen. Heaven realm.' The kid clenched his fist. Determination gleamed within his eyes, which returned to normal.

While riding, Li Chen turned to Old Li. "Why did you give him hope?" 

"Hehehe, he's a celestial beast. Not just any celestial beast but an elemental one. Even amongst creatures like the phoenix and vermilion bird, an elemental creature like the fire bird is feared. Everything about that kid was forged of celestial flames! He could be a great companion." 

[Because of his long lifespan?]

"Yes. The long life of a cultivator can be lonely. This is the reason we make sure not to harbor emotions for mortals." 

[I'm not as free as you think.] Xiu Ying's face appeared in Li Chen's mind but Old Li raised one brow.

[You won't understand. By the way, where are we going?]

"To a paradise for swordsmen."

Two days later,

He stood atop a rocky hill, staring at the stunning sight of a mountain cleaved into two.

The sharp cut reminded Li Chen of the smooth cut of the boulders he used to train. Seeing such a sight, his eyes trembled. 

There was no tree found in miles and the ground was black. 

"The rumors are this was the result of a spar between powerful cultivators in our realm." 

[Just a spar?!] 

"The energy in our realm is not potent enough to harden the environment to the same level as the heaven realm." 

Looking down, Li Chen sighted several tents away from the meditation ground. Countless cultivators garbed in different robes and from different small sects sat at different spots.

Some were deep within the valley, meditating. Only those who had attained comprehension could go deeper.

[So what is the Will of such a great swordsman?] 

"This is no longer a Will. It's a law. The swordsman cultivated the law of creation and his opponent cultivated the law of destruction."

[But the destruction law prevailed over creation.] Li Chen said, gesturing toward the dead environment.

"Then where do you think people find the Azure Blade grass?" 

[If I can't see it, that means it's found in the valley!] 

Old Li nodded, exhaled loudly, and sat down. "Go. You have two months to make considerable progress." 

Li Chen swiftly turned and walked down the hill. "Other disciples would have paid respect to their masters. What an untrained brat!" Old Li scowled yet wore a smile.

To people's shock, Li Chen walked straight towards the mountain and stared at the names emanating different Wills and varying levels of sword intent. 

"How's that possible?" A man whispered to his friend. They were about twenty meters away from the mountain—the overbearing aura kept them here yet Li Chen walked past them as if he were in his garden!

Some unserious ones began whispering, some taking notes of the man wearing a straw hat yet Li Chen paid no heed to their utterances.

Taking note to surely write his name before he leaves, Li Chen walked into the valley. Midway, someone saw him and tried moving forward, only to spit blood and slump.

Chuckling softly, he shook his head. After a few meters, he felt an invisible force weigh on his back. The further he went, the heavier it got. 

With narrowed eyes, he assumed a lotus posture and joined his fist. The moment he closed his eyes, Li Chen found himself in a different place.

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