Chapter 249 - Death and Glory by the Blade
"Zhaoyu, believe in yourself!" Bai Qingxue cheered on from below.
For the Sword Baptism Ceremony, one needed more than just skill; one needed heart.
"Yes..." Zhaoyu glanced at her companions, Bai Wuque and herself, feeling a tad more relaxed. Her Sword Soul was of a high grade, her cultivation realm no joke, but as for the talent in Sword Intent, that was a whole different kettle of fish. So, it was all up to fate now!
She took a deep breath and summoned an orange Sword Soul, lifting it high above her head. At that moment, her delicate frame was completely bathed in the colorful divine radiance of the Eternal Sword.
This was the Sword Baptism Ceremony!
And then, as the divine brilliance of the Eternal Sword descended, it collided with her orange Sword Soul. It was like an ant crashing into an army!
Sword Soul and Sword Intent, in that instant, fused as one. The task of the one undergoing the ritual was to leverage the intent of a million swords with their own. To awaken the resonating hum of the Eternal Sword with a talent for world-altering insight.
"She's a descendant of two Sword Judges; she should get at least two or three resonances to enter the Sword Ruins!" whispered many in the crowd.
In the Eternal Sword Prison, even the offspring of the Sword Warden had to undergo this ritual. Without it, even if one trained in the Sword Ruins, they'd lack official status! It was a kind of fairness in the way of the sword.
"Ah!" Just as people began to murmur, the girl on the altar let out a painful scream and collapsed to the ground, her Sword Soul retracting into her body.
The Eternal Sword, meanwhile, ascended into the sky, its brilliance illuminating the heavens and the earth, but pointedly not shining upon the fallen girl.
"Zhaoyu!" Bai Wuque's face changed at this sight.
"That poor child..." Bai Qingxue bit her red lip, sighing. "From now on, you should keep your distance from her."
This scene meant one thing. Zhao Yu's talent for Sword Intent was abysmal—not even a single resonance from the Eternal Sword. It was a judgment of fate. Despite being a descendant of a Sword Judge, she couldn't even become a disciple in the Sword Ruins! The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.
The buzz of whispers from hundreds of thousands of Sword Cultivators filled the air.
"What a waste, right?"
"She's brought shame to her parents."
"Her life is ruined now."
"That girl... she's always been so arrogant because of her Sword Judge parents. Now she can't even become the lowliest of disciples in the Sword Ruins. That's karma, I tell ya!" Many young cultivators secretly reveled in the downfall of someone born so high, now humbled. The Eternal Sword was a harsh reality check.
BOOM! Zhaoyu felt as if she'd been struck by lightning. Her mind went blank, and she stood there, stupefied, gazing at the multitude of faces showing schadenfreude, disdain, and mockery.
"Senior Brother Bai..." Zhaoyu called out. Like a wooden puppet, she turned her head, searching the crowd for the man she admired. He had been kind to her, sweet-talking her into surrendering her chastity, a secret she dared not tell her parents. But at this heart-shattering moment, Bai Wuque turned his back, pretending not to know her.
Out of ten thousand, those who could evoke five resonances of the sword, becoming True Disciples of the 999 Peak Masters, were incredibly rare.
Only eighteen had achieved this so far! As soon as they triggered five resonances, they were whisked away to the Sword Ruins, directly initiated into the fold.
True Disciples, these were the future elites of the Eternal Sword Prison, destined to be the upper echelons of the Sword Ruins. As for six hums? That was still unseen.
"Bai Wuque!" When the spotlight hit the young man in white, it signaled his turn.
Countless scrutinizing eyes were upon him.
"He's the grandson of Bai Xiaofeng, one of the Peak Masters of the Sword Ruins!"
Among all the participants, this was an exceptionally high status.
"Wuque, may you soar to the heavens," Bai Qingxue said, praying for the success of her son.
"Yes!" Bai Wuque, teeth clenched, took a few steps and mounted the blood-stained altar. Better a short pain than a long one! He closed his eyes and offered his Sword Soul to the heavens.
"Ancestors, please inspect!" Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, the Eternal Sword descended, mingling with his Sword Soul in a dance of light!
DONG! The first tremble of the Eternal Sword sounded a cold resonance. Hearing this first hum, Bai Wuque's heart relaxed slightly; it meant he wouldn't die!
DONG DONG DONG DONG! Four more resonances followed in quick succession. Bai Wuque's eyes snapped open, red with intensity. Five resonances in total—he was destined to be a True Disciple. Among his clan, this was the highest of talents!
Below, Bai Qingxue covered her mouth, tears brimming in her eyes. Her son had survived this ordeal! The Sword Baptism Ceremony, in many eyes, was a trial of life and death!
"Is it over?" Bai Wuque wondered, a wild thought blossoming in his heart. Just then, amidst the sea of contenders, a momentous event unfolded!
DONG! For the first time after ten thousand participants, the Eternal Sword erupted with six resonances.
"Six resonances of the sword, opening the path to the supreme!" chorused the hundreds of thousands of Sword Cultivators, their eyes shimmering with awe and envy.
"I'm a Supreme Disciple?" Bai Wuque was momentarily stunned, then delirious with joy. Following this, the Eternal Sword ascended, marking the end of the Sword Baptism Ceremony.
"Mother!" Bai Wuque rushed down from the altar, embracing the woman who looked more like his big sister.
"Wuque, well done! Well done!" Bai Qingxue cried tears of joy, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Mother, what does this mean?" Bai Wuque asked excitedly.
"It means you'll surpass your grandfather! It means you'll lead our Bai Family to a new echelon. One day, you could become a Supreme Adjudicator of the Sword Ruins!" Bai Qingxue said, her voice trembling with emotion.
It was a true triumph! Inside and outside the Sword Ruins, countless eyes watched them with envy.
BOOM! From the direction of the Sword Ruins, a sword light shot forth. A middle-aged man in a violet robe and luxurious attire appeared before them. Eyebrows sharp as swords and hair black as ink, he radiated an overwhelming sword aura. He was the most powerful person Yun Xiao had ever seen, even more intimidating than Old Bai.