Chapter 31
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Chapter 31: The Sword Gall Acknowledges Its Master
As Mr. Fifth closed the distance between them, his green robe danced with the wind’s melody, Feng Yun Wuji watched with bated breath, his heart a fortress of tension. Mr. Fifth was no mere mortal but an entity of immortality, capable of reconstituting himself even from the humblest of remnants, all under the aegis of the Fifth Sword Gall.
This was no longer a duel but a confrontation with a sentient sword gall, a consciousness unto itself. Feng Yun Wuji was acutely aware that to wield such a blade, he must first conquer it.
Swords do not cultivate as humans do; their energies, once expended, cannot be hastily replenished. It was this insight that rooted Feng Yun Wuji’s feet to the ground, unwilling to retreat. The sword was a paragon of excellence, and despite the dread of its power, he could not quell the desire to claim such a prize.
“Left Path!” he bellowed, his left arm inflating as the blade intent within that solitary meridian reached its zenith. A silver-white blade aura, visible to the naked eye, cascaded down his arm, extending to the tips of his fingers.
Boom! A blinding incandescence erupted from his palm, and as this blade energy was unleashed, the heavens cracked with thunder, dark clouds spiraling above in a relentless whirlpool. In the next breath, a downpour unleashed its fury.
The Left Path emerged, its terrifying blade energy obliterating all raindrops in its path, colliding head-on with Mr. Fifth’s form. A crisp report rang out as Mr. Fifth’s body disintegrated into nothingness, his green robe fragmenting, scattering across the sky. Not only the garments but also the very skeleton beneath was pulverized into oblivion, leaving no trace behind.
Snap! Feng Yun Wuji’s left leg buckled, and he knelt on one knee, the torrential rain drenching him completely, the saturated raindrops tracing paths down his forehead, falling like beads of liquid silver. That single exertion had drained the meridian within him of all its blade energy, and for a time, the “Left Path” would be beyond his reach.
A sharp pang radiated from his left arm, and as Feng Yun Wuji’s consciousness cleared momentarily, he glanced down to see his arm enshrouded in a delicate lattice of blood, trickling from his fingertips. With a sigh, he flicked his wrist, sending a string of blood droplets arcing away… Using his hand as a blade had its costs, he ruminated, his yearning for the Fifth Sword Gall intensifying.
A peculiar aura wafted towards him, and as Feng Yun Wuji’s heart leaped, he gazed upward to see, amidst the rainy night, the Fifth Sword Gall suspended in the air, a thread of blood trailing from its hilt to its tip. Below the long sword, a hazy silhouette formed from the rainwater’s caress, gazing intently at him, an apparition that mirrored Mr. Fifth.
Two glimmers of red pierced the watery silhouette, growing ever brighter. Suddenly, the apparition opened its mouth in a soundless howl, and though no sound emerged, Feng Yun Wuji felt an excruciating pain in his skull, as if his ears would burst from the silent scream. The watery figure raised a hand to grasp the suspended Fifth Sword Gall, and with a stomp of its foot, charged towards Feng Yun Wuji.
Intent on retaliation, the soul-wrenching silent scream assailed his ears once more, and Feng Yun Wuji barely mustered the “Willow Catkin with the Wind” technique, his strength waning.
Amidst the downpour, the sword gall cleaved the void, aimed at Feng Yun Wuji’s heart, traversing the expanse in the blink of an eye, drawing within mere inches of him, the watery silhouette dissolving into a shower of rain as the sword traversed the void.
The wind shrieked, and from the side, the three-foot-long sword was a streak of lightning against the night, pushing Feng Yun Wuji backward, the sound of its onslaught ringing in his ears. Feng Yun Wuji, clinging to the sword’s tip, was shot backward, a trail of raindrops coalescing into a curtain that exploded into finer droplets, spraying in all directions, layer upon layer, blurring the boundaries of the world, a seamless integration. It seemed there was no end, a cylindrical torrent of rain stretching out endlessly.
Though the world was vast, with towering mountains reaching for the heavens, within seconds, the Fifth Sword Gall had carried Feng Yun Wuji across thousands of miles, until a towering peak loomed behind, a barrier to further retreat.
With a roar, Feng Yun Wuji thrust out his right hand and seized the blade of the Fifth Sword Gall, bringing man and sword to an abrupt halt, suspended in the void.
The sword intent of the Mind Sword Body Technique surged forth in full force, clashing with the potent sword intent contained within the Fifth Sword Gall, the contest now entirely on a spiritual plane.
The rain continued to pour, the gales unabated, but in the void, a colossal sphere enveloped the man and his sword, raindrops striking its surface and radiating ripples. Within the sphere, an eerie silence reigned, untouched by the rain.
Feng Yun Wuji fought valiantly against the formidable sword intent within the Fifth Sword Gall, unaware that as he clutched the blade, blood from his fingers trickled down, absorbed by the sword as if it were a sponge, leaving no trace.
After an eternity, the sword intent within the sword began to wane, until it was indiscernible. Feng Yun Wuji, with a deft motion, claimed the Fifth Sword Gall with ease, a sensation of unity coursing through him.
“The sword gall acknowledges its master, and I can finally rest in peace!” A sonorous voice echoed in his ear, and Feng Yun Wuji started, looking up to see a faint azure figure smiling down at him—Mr. Fifth.
“The Fifth Sword Gall has been my companion for a lifetime, not merely a weapon, but my dearest friend.” The circular protective film had vanished, and raindrops passed through Mr. Fifth’s form, splashing upon the ground.
“Eons ago, I fell to the Blade Emperor of the Blade Domain, slain by his hand! Though slain, my spirit lingered, dwelling within the sword gall in a haze. My sole desire was to find a master worthy of this sword.” Mr. Fifth gazed upward, his countenance pale, etched with reminiscence: “In this ancient world, sword bearers are few, and I perished by the blade. The sword gall was reluctant to find a new master, thus delaying until now. Now, I can finally find peace.”
Mr. Fifth turned to Feng Yun Wuji, smiled, and his form grew increasingly transparent until it vanished into the ether.
Hum! The Fifth Sword Gall quivered in Feng Yun Wuji’s grasp, as if bidding farewell to its former master…
Feng Yun Wuji heaved a sigh, gently caressing the sword with his palm, stilling its vibrations. With a thought, the long sword transformed into the size of a pebble, nestling within his palm.
Acquiring the sword filled Feng Yun Wuji with joy, yet it was a subdued elation, tinged with complex emotions, an indescribable sensation.
“Henceforth, we shall be bound by a lifetime together…” Feng Yun Wuji murmured to the Fifth Sword Gall, then with determination, he strode towards the Blade Domain.
The rain intensified…