The Sword That Devours

After hours of relentless training, Xian Yu finally executed Ember Slash successfully. The blazing energy cut through the air, leaving a scorched mark on the ground. He exhaled, his muscles aching from exhaustion, but a sense of accomplishment filled him.

Just as he was about to rest, a sudden rustling in the bushes caught his attention. A massive tiger burst out, its golden eyes locked onto him, fangs bared in hunger. Without hesitation, Xian Yu tightened his grip on his sword. The beast lunged at him, claws aiming for his throat.

"Ember Slash!"

With a swift motion, his blade cut through the air, igniting with fiery energy. The slash struck the tiger mid-air, slicing it cleanly in half. The remains of the beast fell to the ground, smoldering.

His stomach growled. Training for so long had drained his energy. Seeing the fresh kill before him, he decided to make a meal out of it. He skinned the tiger, built a fire, and began roasting the meat. The rich scent of cooked flesh spread through the forest.

Suddenly, the distant sound of hooves echoed through the trees. Xian Yu narrowed his eyes, sensing an approaching group. Moments later, a gang of bandits emerged from the shadows, mounted on horses. Their leader, a burly man with a scarred face, gazed down at Xian Yu with an arrogant smirk.

"You dare kill our prey?" the bandit leader sneered. "That tiger was ours. You owe us compensation!"

Xian Yu, still seated by the fire, didn't even look up. "The tiger attacked me. I killed it. If you couldn't claim it before it got here, that's your failure."

The leader's smirk turned into a scowl. But then, his gaze landed on Xian Yu's sword—a perfectly crafted weapon, exuding an intimidating aura. His eyes gleamed with greed.

"That's a perfect-grade sword!" he exclaimed. "Fine, if you can't pay in gold, leave the sword behind, and I might let you walk away with your life."

Xian Yu's grip tightened around the hilt. He suddenly recalled how the sword had swallowed the corpses of the two Azure Sect disciples. A chilling thought crossed his mind. He looked up at the bandits, a faint smirk on his lips.

"Try and take it, if you dare," he said coldly. "But if you draw your swords against me, be prepared to die."

The bandits erupted into laughter.

"You're crazy!" one of them barked.

"Kill him! We'll feed him to the beasts!" the leader roared.

Ten bandits on horseback charged toward Xian Yu, their weapons raised.

Xian Yu remained still. His eyes were calm, his blade unwavering.

"Ember Slash."

With one decisive motion, his sword ignited, and a crimson arc of energy erupted from the blade. The air crackled with power as the attack swept through all ten bandits at once. Their bodies burst into flames, and in mere seconds, they collapsed—lifeless.

Silence filled the forest.

The bandit leader's face turned pale. He could feel it now. The aura of a perfected Peak Martial Warrior.

He fell to his knees, his arrogance replaced by terror.

"Spare me!" he begged. "You… you can take everything from our stronghold! We have gold, treasures… even women! Just let me live!"

Xian Yu wasn't interested in their filthy business, but he did need money to survive. Strength alone wasn't enough in this world. He looked at the groveling bandit and made his decision.

"Fine," he said. "Lead the way."

But before they left, curiosity struck him. He unsheathed his sword once more, watching carefully.

Just as before, a black mist seeped from the blade, coiling around the fallen bandits. The corpses vanished, devoured by the sword.

The bandit leader's eyes widened in horror.

"W-what kind of monster sword is that…?" he muttered, his voice shaking.

Xian Yu smirked. "That's none of your concern. Now, move."

And with that, he followed the trembling bandit toward their stronghold.