The First Sword God of Northern Chu

My name is Jiang Xiaobai. I am the number one swordmaster of North Chu Country.

When I was first called a swordmaster, I felt very nervous and ashamed, because I knew there were countless sword cultivators in North Chu Country more powerful than me. I was just an ordinary sword cultivator.

But after being called that more and more, I gradually got used to it. After blocking assassins from the North Chu imperial family many times, they were convinced by my peerless swordmaster style, and the Emperor of North Chu named me the number one swordmaster of North Chu.

Gradually, I realized that among the small sect disciples and rogue cultivators, none were a match for me in swordsmanship. I seemed quite suitable for the title of swordmaster.

Once, a disciple of the Boundless Sword Sect came to Danyang to challenge me and lost in three sword strikes from my Void Sword. So I realized even disciples from major sects were nothing special. I was indeed the number one swordmaster of North Chu Country.

My name is Jiang Xiaobai. I am the number one swordmaster of North Chu Country.

That winter, the Emperor of North Chu came looking for me. He said the Li family had an amazing new sword cultivator with excellent aptitude and strength. She would definitely become someone important in the future. He hoped I could defeat her, give her some pointers, and make her stay in North Chu Country to serve them.

At first I was unwilling. There were too many talented sword cultivators in this world. If I had to teach every one, what face would I, a swordmaster, have left?

But they offered a lot—500 spirit stones to take action just once!

...Actually I really enjoy mentoring juniors. As a swordmaster, it's my duty to ensure sword cultivators worldwide can safely walk the sword path.

The first time I met her was on a cold rainy day. The sky was gloomy. Rain mixed with snow fell. The whole world was freezing and damp, very uncomfortable.

The Emperor arranged for us to meet in a pavilion in the Imperial Gardens. To match my status as a swordmaster, I lit some fine incense in the pavilion, brewed some fine tea, opened a jar of fine wine, hung an exceptional sword, and stood with my back to the stairs to add an air of mystery.

The Emperor and general brought her up to the pavilion to meet me. Though my back was turned, I still sensed her appraising me. Her faint, sharp sword qi made my spine tingle.

Sword qi? Indeed a good seedling.

So when she called me "swordmaster," I turned to face her...

I... Swordmaster above! Was there ever such a beautiful woman in this world?

No, I mean, how can there be a sword prodigy with excellent aptitude, looks, and talent!

I decided I would seriously guide her... If possible, give her a chance to become my disciple.

For a sword cultivator, having the swordmaster as master is such an honor...

Hey! What's with that sneaky smile?

I noticed the young woman was smiling to herself as she bowed to me. Though very cute when smiling, my keen senses told me her smile held ridicule aimed at me.

I didn't see what was so funny. To be honest, I was a bit angry. If not for her excellent aptitude, I would have left already.

I suppressed my anger and had them sit after bowing.

I brewed them tea myself. Seeing her sitting there composedly drinking tea, I asked, "What's your name?"

"Li Shiyin, 17 years old," her father, the North Chu general Li Zhan, answered for her.

I had seen General Li Zhan a few times, but didn't have much impression of him... Few cultivators take notice of mortals.

I was unhappy Li Shiyin didn't answer me herself, and glanced at Li Zhan hoping he would catch my meaning.

I asked the girl called Li Shiyin again, "What's your cultivation level?"

Perhaps Li Zhan didn't know or was clever enough not to speak again. Li Shiyin put down her teacup demurely—so cute—and answered, "Mid Foundation Establishment."

Her voice was clear and melodic like the ring of an exceptional sword leaving its sheath. I was enchanted.

Mid Foundation at 17. I nodded. Her aptitude was indeed impressive, not far from me at that age. I was preparing to form my gold core at 17. But she seemed to have gained insight into sword qi already, quite rare.

"Not bad..." I drank some tea and commented, "You seem to have gained insight into sword qi already?"

"Yes," Li Shiyin nodded to me.

The way she nodded was also cute. Smiling, each nod struck my heart.

I panicked a little and hurriedly lowered my eyes to drink tea, silent for a good while... They probably thought I was pondering deeply.

After some time, seeing me stay silent for so long, Li Shiyin asked me, "What's Your cultivation level, Swordmaster?"

The corners of her lips curled up as if mocking me, but I was distracted by those alluring, plump, red lips and didn't see what she was smiling about exactly.

"Late Gold Core," I answered.

I formed my gold core at 20 years old, and reached late Gold Core stage at 207. My cultivation advanced quite smoothly with excellent aptitude. And I was still quite young—in human terms I was in my prime, young and vigorous.

"Wow, so impressive!" said Li Shiyin.

I had heard too much flattery in North Chu, but felt all of it combined didn't compare to this one line that set my heart aflutter. I definitely smiled unconsciously and asked her again, "What swordplay do you cultivate? Flying sword or sword in hand?"

"Sword in hand," she replied.

"No good..." I shook my head. "Sword in hand is amateur swordsmanship. Only flying swords represent the true sword path."

"Oh, I see, I see..." She nodded, agreeing with my viewpoint.

"You can switch and join my tutelage. I'll teach you authentic flying sword arts," I encouraged her. "You're only in Mid Foundation Establishment. There's still time to change your cultivation."

"No need, no need. It would be too much trouble for you," she kindly took me into consideration.

Seeing her lovely appearance, I still couldn't bear her straying down the wrong path. I figured that if I demonstrated flying swords' power, she would realize sword in hand couldn't compare. With her talent, still only 16 or 17, if she discovered hand sword inferiority herself, she would definitely beg me to accept her as a disciple to teach her flying swords... A girl should cultivate flying swords really.

With this in mind, I waved my hand and drew the flying sword hanging under the pavilion eaves. Then I manipulated it to swim and fly within the pavilion like fish and birds according to my will.

I looked to her. She watched wide-eyed, continuously nodding and pondering deeply, clearly fascinated by me. Pleased with myself, I decided to show off a bit more for her benefit. I sent the flying sword out of the pavilion and, with a sudden shake, transformed it into an enormous sword over 100 yards long suspended in midair.

It wasn't an insubstantial sword qi construct, but solid steel.

Surely she had never seen anything like this. Her eyes opened wide, astonished by my display.

"The so-called 'flying sword taking heads thousands of miles away.' On a battlefield stretching hundreds of miles holding ten thousand mile rivers and mountains, the flying sword goes forth and millions yield. Lopping heads invisibly, deterring petty villains," I boasted, taking the chance to expound to her, "How about that for Void Flying Sword arts?"

She clicked her tongue in wonder, shaking her head. "So powerful, incredible, just incredible!"

Very happy, I urged her again, "I'm willing to instruct you. Will you learn or not?"

She pondered briefly before suddenly saying, "You are quite skilled and powerful indeed. Why don't we find a place to exchange pointers and spar?"

I quickly realized something was off. She must have some background. But it was too late to back down now.

"Please go ahead whenever you like," I stated coolly, retracting the sword. "No need to go elsewhere."

"Here?" She looked around the pavilion and shook her head. "Too unfair to you."

She probably didn't realize the vast disparity between late Gold Core stage and mid Foundation Establishment. I chuckled lightly to reassure her. "No matter. Go ahead and attack me with everything you have. I'll take it."

"Let's just try it out first then. If it doesn't work, we'll find another place," she said, taking out a sword from her cosmic bag.

A cosmic bag and precious sword... I suddenly sensed something wrong. She might have some background. But it was too late to back out now.

"Go ahead," I repeated. However strong she was, she was still just a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Get ready!" she warned me.

I heard the ring of a sword leaving its sheath. Then my vision blurred. The charming girl before my eyes disappeared. I reacted quickly, already manipulating my sword to defend, but still, too late.

"You lose," her voice rang in my ears. I looked over and saw frost in her eyes, as sharp as a sword's edge, with a sword blade pressed against my neck.

Lose...I lost too quickly, I didn't even have time to react in my heart, I don't know what it feels like, I couldn't get any words out.

"It's too cramped here, and we're too close. You practice flying sword techniques, which is very unfair to you," she said, putting away her sword and going to the attic window. "Shall we fight again outside?"

I don't know when I got put in a passive position. I looked over at the North Chu Emperor and Li Zhan. Although their faces were expressionless, there was ridicule hidden deep in their eyes... She said to go outside and fight again, so let's go outside and fight again.

"Okay," I nodded woodenly.

She displayed her ghostly movement technique, and suddenly disappeared from the window ledge. I summoned another flying sword, enlarged it, and rode it outside.

I saw her standing in the rain and snow in the imperial gardens. Although it was cold, she really looked so beautiful.

"I'm ready!" She's so nice, even giving me a reminder.

I saw her gathering starlight, with every bit of power in her body lighting up. She was like a star in the darkness, her whole body bright. I knew she was unleashing her most powerful move...

She called out the name of the technique out loud. I heard it clearly: "Hea...ven... Soar...ing... Fairy..." What a nice name, just like her.

I also used my strongest move, merging my six void swords into one hundred-zhang tall physical sword.

Her sword qi flew over — I saw clearly that she had not just initially comprehended sword qi, her sword qi realm was already extremely terrifying — I used my sword to defend against it.

My flying sword collided with her sword qi in midair, persisting for a long time before I barely prevailed.

But...

I knew I lost.

If this were a life or death battle on the battlefield, she could easily have used her ghostly movement to make it so I wouldn't be able to find her at all, then approached me with her sword.

She was still one whole realm lower than me in sword cultivation, yet she collided with my flying sword using only her sword qi. She was purely comparing the power of our moves.

I won, but I lost.

I stood in the rain and snow for a long, long time. I don't even know when they left. All I know is that today's rain and snow was very cold.

"Puh!" I suddenly couldn't stand it anymore and spit out a huge mouthful of blood, then lost my balance in midair and fell down.

Some people shouted "Sword God! Sword God!" and came over to help me up.

I'm sick, gravely ill...

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