Azure Cloud City was a bustling sight, alive with both the extraordinary and the ordinary. High above, immortal cultivators flew through the sky, vibrant and full of vitality. On the ground below, mortals carried on with their daily lives, going about their routines as they always did. Yet today, a jovial mood filled the entire city.
The outer city was especially busy, buzzing with all kinds of activity. And how could it not be? It was a grand day for all the city's denizens. After all, the beloved daughter of the City Lord was to be married today.
In the inner city, the Fang, Wang, and Liu clans, along with other major cultivating powers, were all making their way toward the City Lord's residence at the heart of the city. A union between two great cultivation families was no small matter—it was an event worthy of celebration across the entire city.
Bai Xun stood at the entrance of his manor, personally greeting every cultivator who arrived. Whether they were wandering rogue cultivators or members of well-known families, he welcomed them all with the same dignified courtesy.
As the City Lord of Azure Cloud City, Bai Xun was one of the most powerful cultivators in the region. At just two hundred years old, he had already reached the peak of Core Formation. If he managed to break through, he would become the first Nascent Soul cultivator the city had ever seen.
Because of this, cultivators from all walks of life treated him with the utmost respect—none wished to miss the chance to forge a connection with such a powerhouse.
Yet deep down, Bai Xun was hoping for something more.
He covertly scanned the arriving guests, hoping to spot an envoy from one of the Six Great Immortal Sects—especially the Azure Cloud Sect. Azure Cloud City had long held that sect in the highest regard. If even a single representative attended the wedding, it would bring great honor to the city.
If possible, he hoped for something even more—that his daughter, Bai Shuo, would come.
But alas…
Not a single representative from any of the Six Great Immortal Sects appeared.
Still, Bai Xun continued the ritual of greeting his guests, his face carrying nothing but warmth and joy. Yet beneath that composed exterior, the truth could not have been further from it.
Bai Xun had two daughters—Bai Yue and Bai Shuo—both still in their teenage years and deeply cherished by him. His eldest, Bai Yue, was the one to be wed to the Liu Clan today.
Though the arrangement did not sit well with Bai Xun, it was the only way he could think of to protect her.
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Bai Yue sat before a bronze mirror as her maid carefully refined her already breathtaking appearance. From the delicate hairpins woven into her snow-white hair to the finely drawn dai that shaped her brows and framed her deep ash-gray eyes, every detail was attended to with care. The huadian painted upon her forehead and the soft touch of rouge on her lips completed the look. Each element blended in perfect harmony, enhancing a beauty that hardly needed embellishment.
In all of Azure Cloud City, who could rival her? She was known as the number one beauty. Her pale, jade-like skin was often spoken of in hushed admiration, and her appearance had inspired countless poems among the city's scholars and young cultivators alike.
Yet for all her beauty, there was a chilling distance about her.
Her expression remained as still as carved stone—cold, composed, and unreadable. No one could truly tell what she was feeling or thinking.
She was not one for many words either. Her speech was usually short and curt, offered only when necessary—unless she was speaking with her younger sister or her father, Bai Xun. Only with them did the frost around her seem to soften, if only slightly.
She looked into the mirror, carefully inspecting her reflection. Her eyes then fell on a simple hairpin she had always cherished. She lingered on it for a moment before gently placing it into a box.
Next, she reached for the sword that never left her side—glass-like and jade-hued, its surface etched with intricate designs. Holding it firmly, she stepped out of the room, poised and composed, escorted by Xiuhui her maid ready to meet her soon-to-be husband.
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Liu Yu glanced out his window, taking in the numerous cultivators soaring on their swords and the celebrating immortals. A wave of disgust and contempt stirred within him, but he swallowed it, drawing the curtain closed.
"At least she is a beauty," he thought, though the fleeting comfort quickly faded.
Irritation gnawed at him. Not only did he have to become a live-in son-in-law, but he was also to be treated like a ceremonial figure, performing rituals meant for women. Still, he had no choice. As a member of a branch family, this was the only path to changing his situation.
"After today, my life will change. Every humiliation I've suffered will be repaid," he vowed quietly.
Soon, his entourage arrived. He stepped out of the flying chariot, hoisted by a magnificent spirit beast, and adjusted his well-tailored, vibrant red robes, standing tall despite the weight of his circumstances.
The hall quickly filled with cultivators of all kinds—from family members to representatives of prestigious cultivation families. Yet, conspicuously absent were any from the Six Immortal Sects, which troubled Bai Xun deeply. After all, his grand-aunt was a renowned cultivator of the Azure Cloud Sect, instrumental in helping him establish Azure Cloud City and extend its influence. She had always done her best to provide him with cultivation resources, sparing nothing she could, even if some manuals were off-limits. It was thanks to her guidance that he had risen from a mortal to a Core Formation expert.
The ceremony began smoothly. Bai Yue and Liu Yu went through the rites, and just as it drew to a close, Bai Yue's eyes fell on a familiar figure. She thought he wouldn't be here for her wedding—after all, he was the one supposed to participate in the rites with her. Yet there he stood.
A silent tension lingered in the air, each guest wary that his adopted brother, Bai Xing, might intervene. But Bai Xing remained seated, watching as the ceremony unfolded. Despite this, instead of relief, Bai Yue felt something else—an inexplicable stirring she could not name.
It was as if a part of her wished he had done something. She never imagined herself as falling for him, even though it was clear since childhood that her father adopted him as both her future husband and caretaker. Still, if marriage was unavoidable, she would have preferred a familiar figure like Bai Xing—someone she'd known all her life—over Liu Yu, whom she had only just met.
Soon, the guests ate and drank, enjoying the music and dance. The gifting session soon came next.
The sheer number of gift boxes felt overwhelming. The steward grew fatigued, yet it remained his duty to acknowledge each gift and its presenter with courtesy.
He began with a steady voice.
"Mr. Wen of the Heavenly Pavilion presents a set of rare foundation establishment elixirs."
"Mr. Zhou of the Treasure Hall offers a collection of the nine jade talismans and spirit-gathering rods."
"Miss Yu of the Jade Hall presents an ancient scroll containing advanced sword techniques."
"The Third Elder of the Lu Clan brings a finely carved stabilization spirit jade statue, said to stabilize spiritual energy flow during meditation."
"And the First Elder of the Liu Clan… presents the Nine Revolution Six Pill, Grade Seven."
A murmur rippled through the hall. Every eye turned toward the Liu Clan's gift, its legendary reputation spreading through the room.
Bai Yue released a quiet sigh of relief. At least now she could continue her cultivation journey. If nothing else, the pill would finally ease the cold attacks that plagued her.
"Daoist Mao presents a set of rare medicinal herbs from the spiritual mountains."
"The First Elder Wang offers a hand-embroidered mystical banner, imbued with protective formations."
"Daoist Mo brings daoist ritual artifacts, incense burners, and minor talismans."
"And the Second Elder of the Fang Clan presents a bound manual on elemental manipulation techniques."
As the gifting session continued so did the jovial mode of the area. Everyone was glitttering everyone apart from the ones who should be celebrating that is the Bai's.
Bai Xun could not shake the feeling that the cultivators around him saw him the same way he had begun to see himself—a failure. His recent attempt to ascend was no secret; everyone within a thousand-mile radius knew of it. How could they not? The moment his spectral form, so pure and ethereal, collapsed like a bursting balloon, the news spread everywhere, leaving his cultivation foundation in ruins.
Only one thing kept the more greedy cultivators in check—the defensive formation that spread across both the outer and inner city: the Heaven-Locking Golden Array. With its support, Bai Xun could still maintain the strength of a peak Core Formation cultivator despite the disaster.
If only it could repair a ruined foundation, he thought bitterly.
Bai Xun slowly swept his gaze across the hall. Not a single representative from the Six Great Immortal Sects appeared. There was no envoy from the Azure Cloud Sect either.
The absence confirmed the worst possibility.
After his failed breakthrough, the prestige he built over the years seemed to crumble overnight. If the Azure Cloud Sect truly distanced itself from him, how would he protect the city? What if the other great sects decided to attack? Each of them possessed at least three Nascent Soul cultivators. How could he possibly stand against such power? And beyond them lay countless other factions, all watching for weakness. With his lifespan slowly dwindling, the future grew increasingly uncertain.
His thoughts churned restlessly. He only wished his grand aunt would spare him a glance. Even if Azure Cloud City no longer enjoyed the sect's protection, her presence alone could deter many dangers. Yet doubt lingered. She was the one who urged him to break through quickly. Perhaps, after his failure, she already gave up on him.
Bai Xun slowly drew in a breath, then exhaled, forcing his racing thoughts to settle.
Today was supposed to be a happy occasion.
All the other problems could be dealt with later, he told himself. Slowly.
Bai Xing, on the other hand, felt a quiet sense of guilt and pain settle in his heart. He knew that the actions planned for today were necessary, yet they did not feel right. This day was meant to be joyful, but it had become something else entirely.
"It can wait," he murmured softly.
Bai Yue continued through the motions of the ceremony, but she felt strangely numb and distant. Her mind remained detached from the celebrations around her.
She understood why this marriage had to happen. It was the only way for her to continue her path of cultivation, and at the same time it would secure a powerful ally for the Bai family. Her father, Bai Xun, and Liu Jun, the First Elder of the Liu Clan, shared a long relationship of mutual cause and effect that stretched back to their youth. Though Liu Jun was fifty years older than Bai Xun, the two had maintained a strong bond for decades.
Now, that bond was being firmly sealed through this marriage.
She turned her head toward Bai Xing for a brief moment, quietly gauging his demeanor. He seemed restless and uneasy.
Was he regretting not acting sooner to prevent the marriage?
"Too late," Bai Yue muttered softly under her breath before taking a slow sip of wine. The wine carried a unique flavor—one she had never tasted before. She savored it briefly before turning to look at her new husband.
Liu Yu was not an unattractive man, yet it was clear he held little interest in her as well.
Soon, the gifting session came to a close. Just as it ended, Bai Xing suddenly rose from his seat.
Was he finally making his move? Bai Yue wondered.
But again, the thought came too late.
"Fellow Daoists, thank you for taking the time to come and celebrate this wonderful union between my sister, Bai Yue, and Brother Liu Yu. A strong bond has now been firmly forged between the Liu Clan and the Bai Clan, and I cannot express how happy I am today."
Bai Xing raised the cup of wine in his hand.
"Let me offer a toast to the newlyweds."
He drained the cup in one smooth motion before calmly pouring himself another.
"City Lord—my dear adoptive father—I cannot thank you enough for taking me in when I had nothing. You gave me a name, a home, and…" Bai Xing paused slightly, "…a lovely sister."
At that very moment, Bai Xun suddenly began to cough.
"For this, I would like to offer you a gift to repay your kindness."
A strange glint suddenly flashed in Bai Xing's eyes. In the next instant, his body blurred into motion. Before anyone could react, his sword lunged forward and pierced straight into Bai Xun's heart.
The hall fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Then chaos erupted.
"Traitor!"
"Protect the city lord!"
"Activate the formation!"
The Liu, Wang and Fang clan elders moved almost instantly, their sleeves flaring as spirit qi erupted from their meridians. Dozens of jade talismans shattered in their hands and streams of crimson light shot toward the massive Heaven Slaughter Demon Banner that had already been planted in the center of the hall.
The banner snapped open violently.
A wave of blood-red light burst outward.
Screams followed immediately.
The Heaven Slaughter Demon Banner trembled as it devoured the spiritual energy in the hall. The ground beneath the manor lit up as golden lines from the Heaven Locking Golden Array awakened, but instead of protecting the guests the formation was twisted, bending under the control of the demon banner.
Dark symbols crawled across the floor.
A Shura field began to form.
Cultivators suddenly felt their energy being dragged out of their bodies.
"No, my cultivation!"
"My meridians!"
Some of the weaker rogue cultivators collapsed instantly, their bodies shriveling as their qi was forcefully refined by the banner. Their life essence rose like thin strands of smoke absorbed by the banner.
The air quickly filled with dense killing intent. The banner pulsed and howled violently, its dark energy surging through the hall.
At the same time, several figures suddenly burst forward, moving swiftly into action.
The Liu clan's First Elder Liu Jun slammed his palm forward, a massive tiger-shaped projection of spiritual energy roaring toward Bai Xun.
"Bai Xun! Your Reign ends today!"
But Bai Xun moved even faster. Despite the sword buried in his chest, his eyes burst with a terrifying light.
He summoned his natal weapon—a radiant golden blade—and forcefully pushed the embedded sword out of his body. The gaping wound on his chest poured with blood for a brief moment before it quickly began to close.
BOOM!
The clash between the two experts erupted like thunder.
Sword light split the hall in half while Liu Jun's tiger qi tore through the pillars like paper. The entire manor shook violently as powerful shockwaves blasted the weaker cultivators off their feet.
Soon, the two Core Formation cultivators shot out of the hall and took the battle into the skies.
Moments later, another Core Formation elder from the Wang Clan joined the fight. He thrust his palm forward, releasing a wave of black shadows that slithered swiftly toward Bai Xun.
Bai Xun parried the attack while continuing to clash fiercely with Liu Jun.
For several breaths, the skies blazed with brilliant light and thunderous clashes.
Then the banner shrieked louder, a piercing wail that echoed across the manor.
More cultivators collapsed. Their bodies crumpled as their qi was violently drained, feeding the Heavenly Shura Formation.
The red light thickened. Everyone felt their movements slow—including the three cultivators battling in the sky.
Bai Xun's sword slashed downward with terrifying force, cutting through Liu Jun's tiger projection and sending him crashing through two walls.
But in that moment, the demon banner absorbed another surge of life essence. The Shura field solidified, its power growing even more formidable.
"Something's not right!" the elder from the Fang family screamed, struggling to stabilize the roaring banner.
Liu Jun broke into a menacing grin as he drew the banner toward himself.
The banner, still siphoning life force, shot upward and settled firmly in his grasp.
"Liu Jun! What have you done?" Elder Fang shouted, soaring into the sky. "This isn't a power-suppression array, is it?"
"Power belongs to those who seize it," Liu Jun said simply, his voice calm and confident.
Immediately, the other two cultivators realized the truth—they had been deceived.
The battlefield shifted as Bai Xun, Fang Wei, and Wang Hao adjusted their stances, preparing to confront the rapidly growing power of Liu Jun.
Beneath the storm of the Core cultivator's battle, chaos reigned. Everyone fought relentlessly, clashing with one another in a frenzy.
Bai Yue's eyes locked onto a single figure, her anger radiating visibly.
"BAI XING!"
Her chair shattered behind her as she lunged forward. Her glass-like sword leapt from its sheath, moving with a raw, chaotic force.
Pure energy erupted from her body, wild and unrefined, lacking form or discipline.
Bai Xing had just recovered his sword when he sensed the attack. He let out a soft, weary sigh.
"Yue jie… don't."
CLANG!
Their swords collided.
"Don't call me that."
The difference in skill was immediately evident.
Bai Xing's movements were polished and refined, each strike flowing with clear form and purpose. Even without unleashing his Tier 10 Qi Refining cultivation, he could easily control the storm of raw, directionless attacks that Bai Yue hurled at him.
His sword slid effortlessly along hers, redirecting her force rather than confronting it head-on.
Bai Yue's qi erupted wildly around her blade, crashing forward again and again.
"You betrayed us," she shouted, her eyes blazing with fury.
Her strikes were messy—wide, uncontrolled, and fueled by rage lacking any technique.
Bai Xing stepped back with each assault, deflecting her strikes with minimal effort.
"I ca… It had to be done," he said, his voice wistful.
"What had to be done?" Bai Yue pressed down harder, her fury thick and palpable.
"You are too blinded by rage right now… Once you calm, you will understand that this was the best choice."
"The best choice?… For what?"
"You won't understand."
"Indeed."
"…You are nothing more than a doll now, Bai Yue. You once held the title of prodigy, and if that were still the case, perhaps we could have chosen another path. But… you are only Qi Refining Tier 5. This was the only way to protect you."
"I don't want your protection," she spat.
Their swords continued to clash violently when, suddenly, another figure moved into the fray.
It was Liu Yu.
"This woman is useless," he spat, lunging forward with his sword. "I will make sure to repay all the humiliation today."
Bai Xing's eyes narrowed as the attack registered. He immediately pulled Bai Yue toward himself, but it was too late. The sword grazed her shoulder, slicing down to her arm. Blood trickled onto her blade, marking the strike.
Liu Yu turned for another attack, but Bai Xing immediately met him in a clash.
Bai Yue was left clutching her bleeding hand, crimson dripping onto her sword. A wave of anger and despair washed over her as she realized how powerless she truly was.
HUMMMM—
Her sword began to vibrate, as if awakening a will of its own. A voice echoed suddenly in Bai Yue's mind.
"Power."
At first, she was confused, glancing around, trying to determine its source.
"Do you… wish… to… gain power?" the female voice asked again, clearer this time, though the words remained disjointed.
The world around Bai Yue seemed to slow—the sounds of battle, the ominous red glow of the array—all fading. The only thing that felt alive was the pulsating sword before her, and then the surrounding darkness folded inward.
Bai Yue's consciousness was pulled into her inner world—a frozen landscape, dominated by a single, vibrant tree at its center.
"Do you wish to obtain power?" the female voice reverberated through her mind.
"Who… are you?" she asked, uncertain.
A howling wind swept across the icy expanse before a female figure gradually materialized.
"This…" Bai Yue thought, the image seemed familiar, but before she could take in her full form, an instinctive urge forced her to look away. It was well known that gazing upon cultivators far above one's level without permission could be dangerous.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Bai Yue asked, instinctively kneeling and lowering her gaze to the ground.
"Are you sure that's what you want to know right now?... My name and my desires are they important?... What matters now is what you want."
"What I want?"
"Yes. So… what do you want?"
Bai Yue's body tensed, her knuckles tightening. "I want... revenge."
"I see. You want revenge. To achieve that, you will need power. Do you want power?"
"Yes. I want power... Enough power to punish my enemies."
"Good. But what are you willing to pay in exchange for it?"
For a moment, Bai Yue went limp at the question. Then her resolve hardened, washing over her like a tide.
"Anything, as long as I can protect my father and make all my enemies pay."
"Good. Then, if you wish to receive my power, plunge your sword into your chest," the woman said.
Before Bai Yue fully registered the words, she was back in the hall, the glass-like sword in her hands. Chaos raged around her—cultivators clashing violently in every direction.
In front of her, Bai Xing and Liu Yu were locked in combat, their swords flashing with deadly intent. The sight stirred something within her.
Hypocritical.
She looked down at the sword hesitant.
A sudden whoosh from outside drew her attention to her father, fighting desperately barely hanging on. Her resolve hardened instantly. Without hesitation, she plunged the sword into her chest. Blood gushed freely, staining her pale skin and white hair a vivid crimson.
Unbearable pain surged through her body, her strength failing from blood loss and the open wound. Yet, beneath the agony, she felt a strange, comforting warmth.
Her vision blurred. Her consciousness began to fade.
Then blackness.