City of Jade Blades
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The City of Jade Blades rose like a fortress of elegance and quiet menace.
Towering green walls, roofs carved with ancient runes, and sect banners flapping in the wind. Every building shimmered with protective arrays. Every street had eyes watching.
The moment we stepped through the gates, we were judged.
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"Visitors must declare affiliation," said a bored disciple at the gate, robes perfectly folded, brows annoyingly perfect.
Lan Ruo stepped forward. "Lan Ruo of the Silver Vow Sect."
His eyes widened slightly. "You're supposed to be dead."
She smiled. "Aren't we all?"
He hesitated, then turned to me. "And you?"
I opened my mouth—
Qing'er beat me to it.
"He's the Flame-Bound Heir."
The gatekeeper blinked.
"Oh. That guy."
Zhao Feng waved. "And I'm Zhao. No sect. Still sexy."
They ignored him completely.
---
Inside, the city pulsed with spiritual energy.
Sects trained openly in courtyards. Market stalls sold spirit fruits, beast cores, and overpriced tea that claimed to "clear your karmic debt."
Zhao Feng bought two cups.
He burped thirty seconds later. "Still cursed."
---
As we entered the outer plaza, whispers followed us.
People had heard of the Flame-Bound Heir.
Rumors varied:
"He's Ashen Fang reborn."
"He burns everything he touches."
"He seduced the fox girl and the sword girl."
"He turned a scroll into a spirit. Then lost a fight to it."
That last one hurt.
---
An elder descended from one of the upper towers.
His robes shimmered with jade threads, and his spiritual pressure pressed on us like wet sand.
"Qing'er," he said, eyes fixed on her.
Qing'er stiffened.
"Elder Lei," she replied.
Lan Ruo's hand went to her sword.
Elder Lei ignored it.
"The White Flame has returned," he murmured. "And now... it burns from you."
He circled her.
"Return with me. The Verdant Sky Sect can refine the flame properly. Before it consumes you."
I stepped in front of her. "She's not going anywhere."
He looked at me, unimpressed. "And you are?"
"Her shield."
He smiled coldly.
"We'll see."
Then he turned to leave—but not before speaking one last sentence.
"Your enemies have heard you're here. And they remember who you were."
---
Later, as we found an inn near the lower rings, Lan Ruo sat alone on the balcony.
She didn't say anything until I joined her.
"You okay?"
She shook her head. "No."
Then she pointed to a group walking down the street below.
At their center: a woman in dark green armor, eyes sharp, hair braided in silver.
"My sister," Lan said quietly.
"I thought you said your clan—"
"Disowned me. Yeah. But she didn't."
"Then why are you afraid?"
She swallowed hard.
"Because the last time she saw me, I left her behind in a burning temple."
---
Back inside, Zhao Feng was trying to haggle over a room with the innkeeper.
"My scroll was ranked Class 2 Rude! I deserve a discount!"
"No scrolls. No discount."
"But—"
"Get out or pay."
He paid.
---
As we settled in, a scroll was slipped under our door.
A challenge notice.
Formal.
Unmistakable.
> "To the Flame-Bound Heir: You carry stolen flame. You walk under false names. Face me in the arena tomorrow—or be named coward and thief."
No signature.
But the seal at the bottom was made of crimson flame.
The Flame Echo.
---
That night, I stood on the roof alone.
Lan Ruo joined me, arms crossed.
"So. He's calling you out."
"Seems that way."
"You going?"
"I have to."
Qing'er appeared behind us. "We'll be there."
I turned. "You're both staying out of the fight."
They stared at me.
"Like hell," Lan muttered.
"You'd lose," Qing'er added.
"Wow. Thanks for the support."
---
Later, as everyone slept, I opened the challenge scroll again.
The crimson seal pulsed.
And a voice echoed in my mind.
> "The flame is slipping from your hands."
> "Let go... and I'll show you the truth."
I crushed the scroll.
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[SYSTEM UPDATE]
> Location: City of Jade Blades
Status: Watched
Qing'er Affinity: White Flame Stability – 61%
Lan Ruo: Emotional Flux Detected
Zhao Feng: Debating scroll retirement
Arena Match Locked: Chapter 27
Flame Echo Challenge: Accepted
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To be continued…
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✍️ Author's Note – by [Your Author Name from Shadows of the Last Light]
🔥 Chapter 26 brought:
Arrival at the City of Jade Blades, with high cultivation energy and even higher gossip
Elder
Lei targeting Qing'er and her awakened White Flame
Lan Ruo's hidden past revealed—and her sister watching from the shadows
A formal challenge from the Flame Echo himself, with unknown consequences
Everyone under spiritual surveillance now