Heaven Trampling Severance

The air in the Black Mist Auction hall still felt heavy with gasps of astonishment and wonder, whispers accompanying Chen Tian's perceived foolishness, and cynical laughter dismissing him as a rustic bumpkin. Yet, for Chen Tian, all those sounds were merely meaningless gusts of wind.

He returned to his seat in the dark corner, seemingly unfazed, holding the dull fragment of the Eternal Blazing Yin-Yang Sword in one hand, and the faintly gleaming Light Wind Flying Sword in the other. Behind his flat, almost expressionless face, a storm of calculation churned, and the pulse in his wrist, where his Martial Soul resided, throbbed with dark anticipation.

"Fool! Don't waste your time here!"

Hei Xuan's voice thundered within Chen Tian's mind, his tone urgent yet filled with brutal satisfaction.

"They may think you're an idiot, but some have already sniffed something out. Especially that old Zhao. You've traded one danger for a greater one. That Gold Grade Beast Essence Bead will be a powerful magnet. The Iron Dragon Sect will surely track its original owner. This auction is just the beginning, boy. And you, you've just declared war without realizing it."

Chen Tian could feel the suspicious Qi waves, the sharp, piercing gazes from various directions—eyes watching him more intently than before, trying to uncover the secret behind his actions. He didn't turn his head, didn't show the slightest reaction. He simply absorbed all the information, observing the equally cunning predators around him.

Elder Zhao, who had previously merely watched him coldly, now radiated a deeper, more calculating aura, like a snake that had just caught the scent of fresh blood. He had seen something others hadn't, a dangerous potential, or at least, an anomaly that needed to be investigated by any means necessary.

The auction continued, the auctioneer swiftly announcing the next item, a much more conventional high-grade Cultivation Pill, diverting the attention of most of the crowd. Yet, Chen Tian knew, for him, the game in this place was about to end. It was time to move.

As soon as the auctioneer announced a short break before the final main item, the crowd in the hall loosened slightly, creating an opening for movement. This was Chen Tian's chance.

He rose from his seat, moving silently through the crowd, like a shadow detaching from the darkness. His unassuming posture, dull black robe, and disguised Martial Initiate aura made him blend in perfectly, ignored by bidders too busy whispering or stretching their legs. No one stopped him or looked at him suspiciously. In that organized chaos, he was just one of many participants moving towards the exit.

He headed towards the same passage he had entered, a damp, cold stone tunnel. The guards at the entrance, the old beggar and the sickly cultivator, still stood there, their cold eyes scanning everyone who passed with robotic precision.

"Where are you going, Young Master?"

The old beggar asked, his voice flat and emotionless, yet with a faint tremor of his underlying Martial Master Qi.

"The air in here is too stale," Chen Tian replied, his voice hoarse, mimicking an indifferent and slightly annoyed tone. He didn't even stop, as if this was a meaningless conversation. "I need some fresh air."

The two guards observed Chen Tian for a moment, their icy eyes trying to penetrate his Martial Initiate disguise, but finding nothing suspicious. His low, concealed aura was his main asset, a perfect curtain hiding the storm beneath. "Be careful out there," the sickly cultivator said, his tone emotionless, like the sound of grinding stone. "The nights in Stone-Gloom City are full of danger."

Chen Tian merely gave a slight nod and stepped out, back into the dark passage that twisted and ascended towards the temple ruins above. The cold night air hit him, feeling like Hei Xuan's whispered warning, a wind carrying the scent of freedom, yet also the danger lurking in every shadow. He didn't delay. His steps were swift, efficient, and silent, like a creeping shadow.

Within minutes, he was among the crumbling stone pillars above ground, breathing cleaner air. In the distance, the lights of Stone-Gloom City twinkled like stars in a sea of darkness, a beautiful yet intricately dangerous sight.

"Now, boy! Don't waste time! Use that flying sword!" Hei Xuan urged, his urgency undeniable. "They'll deploy their people in minutes!"

Chen Tian drew the Light Wind Flying Sword from beneath his robe. Its blade gleamed faintly under the dim moonlight, reflecting the night's silence. He channeled his spiritual Qi into the sword, feeling a seamless resonance, as if the sword were an extension of his own body. A surge of Qi lifted him, and he leapt onto the sword's blade. It was a strange sensation, awkward at first, but soon transformed into an intoxicating freedom—a dizzying lightness, as if the bonds of gravity had released him. He felt his instincts guide him, adapting quickly to the narrow balance of the blade. The cold wind whipped against his face, sweeping back his blood-red hair, making him a blurred silhouette beneath the moon.

He flew over the dark rooftops of Stone-Gloom City, hurtling northward, away from the dangerous city center. Below him, he could see the city lights shrinking, turning into faint dots, along with the dangers lurking in every corner. Occasionally, Chen Tian felt strong Qi waves sweep the sky below him, like unseen hands trying to grope for his presence. He would dive quickly, using thin clouds or gaps between tall buildings, holding his Qi breath until the searching aura passed. He knew they weren't playing games. This wasn't just a search; it was a hunt, and he was the quarry.

"Hah! They're too slow! Fools!" Hei Xuan scoffed triumphantly. "Look, boy! This is true freedom! Faster than the wind, higher than an eagle! But don't fly too high, or you'll attract unwanted attention from flying creatures in the sky, or even Martial Lord cultivators who can detect Qi fluctuations in the air. And they are deadlier than the Iron Dragon Sect."

Chen Tian obeyed. He maintained a moderate altitude, high enough to avoid ground detection, but not so high as to become a dot on the horizon. He sped on, leaving the dangerous Stone-Gloom City behind him, along with the shadows that stalked him. His primary goal was to find a secluded environment where he could cultivate safely and fully understand the potential of his new sword fragment.

The journey took several relentless days and nights. Chen Tian flew over rugged mountains that loomed like dragon teeth piercing the sky, traversed turbulent rivers that carved deep gorges into the earth's heart, and crossed dense, nearly untouched forests, where ancient trees towered like giant guardians. He avoided small villages and trade routes, relying on his danger-honed instincts and Hei Xuan's guidance to find the perfect spot. He felt exhaustion creeping into his bones, yet his resolve remained unshaken.

He occasionally stopped in deeply hidden places, in cliff crevices or behind waterfalls, to rest and restore his Qi, eating the rations he carried, and keeping his energy optimal. Each pause was an opportunity to feel the pulsation of Qi within him, a sign that he was growing stronger.

Finally, after passing through a seemingly endless series of mountains shrouded in eternal mist, Hei Xuan gave instructions.

"There, boy! In that mountain crevice! There's a hidden cave!" Hei Xuan's voice thundered, filled with deep anticipation. "I can sense a natural spiritual formation within, a formation that conceals auras. It's the perfect place for you. Secluded, safe, and rich in natural spiritual energy—exactly what you need to grow your fangs."

Chen Tian guided his flying sword towards the narrow mountain crevice, barely visible from a distance, covered by dense vegetation. He swooped down with precision, gliding smoothly into the dark fissure.

Inside, after a few dozen meters of flight, he found a vast cave, expanding like an ancient belly of the earth. The air within felt cold and pure, filled with natural spiritual Qi far richer than in Stone-Gloom City. Its walls were covered with faintly glowing crystals that emitted a dim light, illuminating the vast, multi-layered cave chambers. The natural spiritual formation Hei Xuan mentioned was indeed present, an invisible net that made the Qi aura within difficult to detect from outside, granting him rare and precious tranquility.

This was the perfect hiding place.

Chen Tian landed, his flying sword dimming and shrinking in his grasp. He immediately stepped deeper into the cave, finding a more hidden chamber, where there was a clear, flat pool of water reflecting the crystal light, creating a reflection of stars on the calm water's surface.

He sat cross-legged beside the pool, his eyes closed, and immediately began his cultivation.

The Golden Qi from the Beast Essence he had absorbed at the Black Mist Auction continued to merge with his Qi, making it purer, denser, and stronger. He felt every meridian expand, every cell pulsate with abundant new energy. The foundation of Martial Adept Stage 1 he had just achieved was now consolidated, becoming firm and unshakeable, as if carved from stone. He felt his body, his mind, and his Martial Soul merging in perfect harmony.

He circulated Qi throughout his body, feeling better control over every aspect of his power, from every muscle to every pulse of his Martial Soul. Every meditation felt deeper, every technique practiced felt smoother and more effective. He was a vessel growing more perfect.

After several hours of Qi consolidation, Chen Tian shifted his attention to the sword fragment. He drew the dull blade from beneath his robe. The blade looked unappealing, a worthless piece of dead metal in the eyes of the world. Yet, he knew the truth.

"Now, boy," Hei Xuan whispered in his mind, his voice filled with deep anticipation. "Focus your Qi into that blade. It's part of you now. Feel its essence, its nature. It is the Eternal Blazing Yin-Yang Sword. It has opposing yet harmonized fire and ice properties. Awaken that essence. This blade, boy, is a vessel of emptiness. It will absorb not just Qi, but the essence of what you conquer. Every drop of monster blood, every soul of a cultivator you consume, will be nourishment for it. It will become a reflection of your power, and also your darkness."

Chen Tian held the sword fragment in his hand. He closed his eyes and channeled his spiritual Qi into it. At first, nothing happened. The blade remained cold and silent, like dead stone. A faint frustration began to creep into his mind, a small doubt trying to slip in. Is this just junk, Hei Xuan? Did I make a mistake? However, the steely determination he had forged amidst danger once again took hold. No. Hei Xuan could not be wrong. He focused more Qi, trying to feel the blade's 'soul,' searching for its deepest resonance.

Slowly, the dull blade began to vibrate. The tremor grew, not from violence, but from new life stirring. A faint orange-red flicker of fire appeared on one side of the blade, like embers rising from ashes. Then, a piercing blue-white flash of ice appeared on the other side, dancing with each other, opposing yet harmonious, a fractured dance of Yin and Yang. Contrasting hot and cold auras emanated from the fragment, raising goosebumps on Chen Tian's skin and condensing his breath. It was a manifestation of its powerful elemental properties, a hidden promise beginning to unfold.

"Good! Feel it! That's its true nature!" Hei Xuan exclaimed, his voice filled with brutal delight.

"This blade, like your Martial Soul, thirsts for Essence! It needs food! It needs energy to awaken! Give it your Qi, give it your blood if necessary! Let it know its master, let it know who will wield it on the field of slaughter!"

Chen Tian bit his lip, ignoring the pain and the metallic aroma of fresh blood. A drop of his Qi-rich blood fell onto the surface of the damaged blade. As the blood touched the sword, a stronger and deeper resonance occurred, like thunder rumbling in the depths of the earth. His blood was absorbed with astonishing speed, and the blade pulsed, as if it had just been given life, a heart beating again after thousands of years. Faint ancient runes, hidden beneath the rust and scorch marks, now began to glow faintly, as if 'waking' from a long slumber. A powerful yet fragmented ancient aura emanated from the fragment, filling the cave with shattered grandeur.

This was only the beginning. Chen Tian knew he would have to spend time, perhaps weeks, months, or even years, to fully understand and awaken the full potential of this fragment of the Eternal Blazing Yin-Yang Sword. This was not merely a weapon; it was a fragment of destiny, a key to greater power, a promise of a symphony of destruction he would create.

Within the safe cave, far from the eyes of the Iron Dragon Sect, Chen Tian began a new phase of his cultivation.

He was no longer a boy merely seeking revenge. He was a cunning predator, now carving his own path to power, carrying with him the fragments of destiny and the symphony of steel waiting to be sung on the battlefield. The real journey had just begun, and this time, he would hold his own fate.