(prologue)The fall of a hero

(Lower realms- Sapphire)

On a distant planet in the lower realms of the universe, a fierce war raged between the forces of light and darkness. On one side stood the legions of the devil king, while on the other was the united army determined to oppose him.

The devil king army consisted of 'devilized' creatures, demons and even human cultivators who had strayed from the righteous path. On the other side stood the united army, an alliance of imperial armies, righteous cultivators from various sects and even elemental creatures who had come together to resist the growing shadow of the devil king's tyranny.

The sound of sword clashes and crackle of elemental energy resonated around the battlefield and filled the air. Demonic roars echoed as darkened beasts surged forward, their body surging with malevolent intent.

The opposing alliance stood firm, their spiritual auras blazing with determination. Explosive attacks and terrain altering martial techniques were unleashed, colliding with swirling torrents of darkness as both sides unleashed their might.

The earth trembled beneath the weight of a thousand footsteps, and the sky seemed to split as divine light met infernal shadow in a relentless dance of life and death.

Leading the coalition against the devil king was Lin Jie, a seasoned army veteran and celebrated war hero known for his exceptional battle achievements. As the last surviving member of the Azure sword a renowned sword sect, Lin Jie was revered for his vast knowledge and mastery of swordsmanship, earning him the title of Sword Grandmaster.

With his trusty sword, which had accompanied him through countless battles and was imbued with a vast amount of spiritual energy, he delivered a swift vertical strike. The blow carved out a path on the battlefield, clearing the way for the final charge against the Devil King.

With his enhanced peripheral vision and heightened spiritual senses, he easily spotted the Devil king, standing calmly atop a flying demonic beast, concealed behind his legions.

"Devil King!"

Lin Jie shouted, his voice filled with rage and channeling a surge of spiritual energy into his legs, he launched himself into the air leaving a massive crater where he had stood.

"[Limitless Sword Arts: Clear Sky!]"

As he called out the activation phrase for his signature martial technique while midair, he executed a powerful downward sword strike, unleashing a massive sword beam that hurtled toward the Devil King at incredible speed.

Finally striking its target, the sword beam erupted into a brilliant burst of spiritual energy. Although the Devil king had reacted quickly enough to raise a barrier, the residual force was still strong enough to completely obliterate the demonic beast beneath him, along with any surrounding creatures or dark cultivators unfortunate enough to be tasked with guarding their lord. 

"Sword Grandmaster, did you truly believe an attack like that could kill me?"

The devil king unscathed spoke with an amused expression as he twirled a lock of his silky black hair while levitating in midair.

"No not really, but I hoped it'll be enough to irritate you." Lin Jie retorted, also levitating midair as he brandished his sword, his gaze burning with genuine hatred.

"This battlefield will be your grave. I swear on the innocent lives you've taken that I will put an end to your tyranny." He added his gaze fierce.

"Your futile attempts only courts death…" 

The Devil King replied before launching an attack of his own. The two powerful figures clashed each strike capable of destroying kingdoms multiple times over. Explosive martial techniques and abilities were unleashed by both party as the battle between good and evil reached its climax.

The combined pressure from their clashes caused both allies and enemies on the battlefield to look at their direction with both awe and trepidation. After a final, destructive clash as a result of both sides using the greatest techniques in their arsenal, Lin Jie emerged victorious standing over the defeated figure of the Devil king.

"… …."

Muttering words incomprehensible to all but Lin Jie, the final remnants of the evil overlord's life force faded away.

'With this, the Azure sword sect is avenged.' He thought solemnly, a feeling of profound relief emanating from him.

"The imperial army congratulates the Sword grandmaster on his victory!"

Not long after his apparent victory, a dozen soldiers clad in silver armor stained with blood and some riddled with various injuries, spoke in unison as they performed a fist-and-palm salute and proceeded to bow despite their exhausted and pitiful state.

Lin Jie gaze lingered on the devil king's corpse, his expression dazed perhaps from what the evil overlord had told him with his dying breath. He remained silent for a full minute without any reaction whatsoever, despite the soldiers presence. 

"I see, congratulate me… makes me wonder why you have me surrounded?" Lin Jie finally spoke, his voice calm and weary from his injuries.

He was indeed surrounded as other than himself and the lifeless body of the Devil King that lay in the crater made as a result of their battle, more than fifty imperial soldiers surrounded him away from the prying eyes of the remnant participants of this war who were busy getting rid of what remained of the Devil King's forces 

At his words, the soldiers though hesitant, drew their weapons preparing to strike. The commanding officer stepped forward from the group, weapon in hand, and approached Lin Jie.

"Tch… Sword Grandmaster Lin Jie, you are charged with treason against the empire for suspected collusion with the Devil king."

The commanding officer revealed though his voice unsteady and his hand wielding his weapon at Lin Jie trembled, he continued nevertheless.

"It has come to light that the Devil King possesses deep origins tracing to the now destroyed Azure Sword sect."

"I see, but that still doesn't prove my collusion with the Devil king." Lin Jie spoke his voice seemingly steady despite his dire situation.

"That's true but the Empire cannot risk the possibility of a new Devil King arising, hence you are to be apprehended, if you resist we have others to execute you on the spot!" The commander declared, as the soldiers behind him quickly assumed their battle stance ready to attack at moment's notice.

"Oh, that's how it is… the emperor grew wary of my growing power. It does seem like the most logical approach…"

Lin Jie muttered to himself, a faint smile crossing his face though it was tinged with a look of defeat and disappointment. Despite the quietness of his words, the highly cultivated imperial soldiers easily overheard him, deepening the guilt and hesitation that weighed on them.

But to the soldier's utter surprise and dismay, Lin Jie didn't give them the time to consolidate their resolve as he immediately sprung forward at breakneck speeds before cleanly slicing the head off the soldier closest to him and then kicking the lifeless body to the crowd, disorientating them further. 

Everything happened too fast and sudden that it took them a few seconds to process what had just transpired. But, the Sword Grandmaster was counting on just that.

'[Limitless sword arts: Twenty-four movements of the Sword Asura!]'

Using another sword technique, his sword glowed with the incandescent light of his spiritual energy his already inhuman speed increasing multiple times over as he hacked his way through the small army, too fast for them to react.

Just as he would reap the life of what would have been his twenty fourth victim, his sword was stopped by the blade of the commander's guandao as a powerful wave of energy pulsed from the point of impact.

"…Still doesn't mean I'll make it easy to get rid of me." He sated with a slightly mad glint in his eyes causing the soldier to shiver.

Seeing the lifeless bodies of more than a dozen of his men, the commander commanded with gritted teeth. "Fight to the death, any who flees will be killed by my blade!"

Compelled by their commander's words, the soldiers charged at the lone figure of the Sword Grandmaster as a dance of blades, blood and death ensued.

*****

Several hours after the deadly clash, the Sword Grandmaster was finally subdued after he had succumbed to the terrible external and internal injuries he had attained from the Devil king. Although this achievement had not come without a cost as more than half of the forces aiming for his life now lay lifeless on the cold ground.

"I guess this is as far I can go, ahh… I really wanted to experience a life without war." Lin Jie who was now using his sword to prop himself stated not without coughing out frighteningly large amount of blood. 

Seeing Lin Jie's resignation to death, the commanding officer acted swiftly, launching an aura powered piercing attack, knowing that any further hesitation might prove dire.

Before the blade connected, Lin Jie whispered.

"I'm coming to join you, Little Mei and the others…"

And then the blade struck him with precision, embedding itself in Lin Jie's chest right where his heart was. The attack completely obliterated the organ, leaving a bloody hole in its place.

As the last embers of life faded from him, Lin Jie couldn't help but feel a deep sense of betrayal, despite his unwavering dedication to their cause.

With his final breath, the soldiers began to close in to retrieve his body. But before they could reach him, a massive powerful bolt of purplish lightning struck, destroying what remained of the Sword Grandmaster. In an instant, rain poured down from the cloud covered skies, almost as if the heavens itself mourned the loss of the hero who had reached the pinnacle of the martial way.