Edict of the Blade Fiend

Chapter 4: The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s Blade Had Finally Been Accomplished

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“The sword’s way of bond and despair. Am I not able to pick both sides?”

Zhou Yan frowned while holding the carving in his palm. After taking a good look for a brief moment, the young man glanced over to focus on his father..

“Have you made up your mind yet, child? Will you walk the same paths as I did? Heed my word, being a jack of all threads is never as good as being a master of one!”

Zhou Wangchen’s gaze was as calm as still water. It was an unfocused gaze while drifting over to Zhou Yan’s face and back onto a block of fresh, dark metal. It was unsure of when exactly this block had mysteriously manifested itself into his palm.

At this moment, he could only whisper with a soft tone.

In the presence of his own father, Zhou Yan felt tongue-tied.

Zhou Yan’s heart wrenched unpleasantly at the sight of his father’s speechlessness paired with the judgment due to the vicissitudes of his current progress.

Zhou Yan only had memories of how honorable and glorious his father was. He chose to remember his father as a man of pride. However, at this moment, the man was completely in shambles.

Zhou Yan did not know what happened to have caused his father to fall so far from grace.

His father was once known for his immeasurable perception as his ingenuity, and vast powers trumped the boundaries of the realm.

However, due to the current desperate state he was in, he had become the joke amongst the common folk in Canglan City.

Thus, Zhou Yan stood speechless as the only thing he could do was observe his father’s actions while he brooded and sighed at this heart-wrenching scene.

In Zhou Yan’s opinion, every motion that once posed a challenge to any common-folk or his peers would be a walk in the park to him. He seemingly felt that no matter he was shown, he would have no issues performing that task.

Perhaps, he could even perform that task better than anyone!

Zhou Yan could only keep that thought in his mind since he was unwilling to share thoughts with anyone…

However, as things seemed to be going smoothly, Zhou Yan felt slightly suffocated and he noticed that his father was not in control of his moments. As a result of losing focus, Zhou Yan had a precognitive vision of two conflicting sword’s way being set for a collision course with each other, thus reducing everything to dust.

At this very instant, the young man’s father ceased carving and spoke to him.

“Be wise about your choices in the path you choose. Whichever choice you make, see that you walk that path to the very end. Only then will your path be right. Hmm… It seems you have awakened your true potential as the shackles of your limitations had finally been broken.”

As the carving was in the process of being slowly chiseled, it was as what Zhou Yan had foreseen earlier. With a sudden ‘poof,’ the steel block was reduced to nothing but a pile of fine dust.

The scene was uncanny to the finest detail.

Watching the scene play out, Zhou Yan grew anxious as his heartbeat quickened. He was shocked by the accuracy of his precognitive visions; however, he was still tongue-tied. He replied with a soft, nervous mumble, and then the young man spoke, “Father, if I may speak, The way of the sword through both bond and despair was a desire you held on for a lifetime. As your sole heir, father, if I am unable to inherit your abilities, it would bring nothing but shame to your name for having an heir without skill!

“I have chosen to walk the sword’s way of both bond and despair as my honor to you. I have determined my path, and there is no need for further advice, father.”

“Your persistent determination will be merely an act of foolishness. Your naivety will make you lose track of your progress. As brilliant as I once was, I too had fallen to grave depravity of sorrow and failures. It’s wise to first obtain power as a testament to one’s might. Only then, you shall shift your focus to the pursuit of creation and the sword’s way. One must not differ from one’s priorities.”

Zhou Wangchen sighed as he reached for another jug of ale and drank from it.

It was from carving that caused his face to flush as red as blood, and now, from drowning himself with the jug of ale, his face was as pale as the dead. The combination of colors seemed to reflect his pale, ghastly soul as his flesh and bones were subjected to a fiery pyre.

“As many laws as there are, all will still diverge into the same destination. It mattered not if it were the way of the sword through bond, despair, blood, the reaping of life, great poison, alchemy, through water, or deception. What paths were walked were paths laid by the ways of the sword, and the sword is nigh. I choose only the great many paths of the sword. I’ll not be tied to shackles, bond, nor contract when I walk one path alone because nothing concerns me.”

The words rolled off Zhou Yan’s tongue so smoothly that they shocked Zhou Wangchen as those were words of wisdom. Those words were from the collective memories of the great ancient sage.

In an instant, the jug of ale in his father’s hand dropped and shattered on the ground into a thousand pieces with a loud ‘smash’.

Ale spilled all over the ground. The young man’s nose stung as the strong scent of ale filled the air. The burning smell of the ale reminded the man of being seared and burnt alive. He felt that his very soul and flesh were being set ablaze atop a pyre.

As blistering as his soul burned, his mind remained focused and clear. A cold, glacial wave washed over him, and it felt extremely chilly!

It was a unique and an odd situation for the young man. Zhou Yan was immediately worried about how pale his face could look.

It startled him to see that his father was able to chug a full jug of ale as if it was water. He wondered what herbs were used to brew the ale to such a degree of viscosity. However, one sure thing was the outstanding properties of these herbs that could quell the many ailments of the mind. The potency of these herbs was no laughing matter!

Zhou Yan suddenly felt nauseous and he found it difficult to hold down the contents of his stomach. Sensing the urgency of his declining health, Zhou Yan mustered every ounce of what remained of his will to infuse his primal blade’s essence in order to expel the potent gases from the spilled ale through every crack and crevice of his body.

The man’s father, Zhou Wangchen, failed to notice the events that transpired as his mind drifted to a strange trance-like state of enlightenment.

The young man, Zhou Yan, was clear and aware that his father was one with knowledge and experience that spanned his entire lifetime. Perhaps what he had said earlier had reminded his father of something since those words originated from an unknown ancient realm, simply known as ‘Earth.’ With the sage’s experience and through his many studies and was a master of ‘Spatial Destruction’, these feats were not a simple show.

His mind was focused on the deep thoughts of ‘the sword’s way of bond and despair’ for a brief moment and he felt how similar these ways were in comparison to the sword art of his own, ‘The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s Blade.’ Since he had mastered the eighth form, incorporating both ways in his pursuit of power would be no trouble at all.

However, as smooth sounding of a task it seems, he was not blessed to fully embrace the full understanding of the vast collection of knowledge in both distinct ways.

An unmolded and incomplete blade’s essence would only bring false knowledge to the blade.

Hence, the young man never persisted.

Zhou Wangchen had finally snapped out of his trance in about ten minutes. Within that period, Zhou Wangchen had recovered to a much more composed state of mind.

As Zhou Wangchen regained consciousness, he sighed softly when he noticed the mess by his feet. He simply frowned at the sight; and while his wrinkles were etched into the edges of his eyes, the collective strands were clumped into a straight line.

With a single wave of his hand, the potent cloud of ale was swept away instantly as the air around them cleared.

After clearing the room off the potent clouds, Zhou Wangchen looked at his son reluctantly and said, “It seems, your gifts were better than what I was once blessed with. With that, child, I am without worry.”

“The words you spoke were that with great wisdom. It was uncertain if you truly gained such wisdom, or they were just mere words in passing. Needless to say, as your father, I gained some insight through those words, and thus I will be leaving for an indefinite length of time,” whispered Zhou Wangchen.

As many conversations he had with Zhou Yan before, this was the only one that rekindled the dying flame of life and was visible through his dark pearly eyes.

 “Father, how are your injuries?”

Zhou Yan noticed the feats his father demonstrated moments ago were indeed no simple task, hence the label given to him by the common-folk, ‘Trash,’ held no truth. However, the claims of his father being a cripple by his own grandfather puzzled him.

“The occasional exertion of one’s physical prowess keeps one’s abilities sharp. Now that you have awakened your true potential, Cang Lan City will never be able to restrict you. If you could, however, set course to the Zhou household in the district of Chang Xiao. Focus on your training there. When you are there, search for the ‘Blade of Heaven’s Fiend.’ It is one of father’s greatest desires in life. Retrieve that blade for me, child.”

As Zhou Wangchen spoke, he already turned his back as he was ready to leave.

“Worry not father, for I shall see this task be done to its fullest! If I may father, there’s one thing that I wish to know. Can you tell me any news about mother?”

Zhou Yan could no longer contain the curiosity that troubled him, and he had to ask the question.

Zhou Yan saw how intense the love his father had for his mother.

“Until you understand the meaning of a blade’s heart, only then will you ask about her!”

His father’s speed was unprecedented, in a mere instant after his father stepped out without turning his back, all Zhou Yan perceived was a blurry mirage of his father leaving.

Zhou Yan never moved an inch because he knew there was nothing he could possibly do, even with all his might, he could never change this outcome. If only he understood the blade’s heart, perhaps the result of this event would end in a much different note.

Everything transpired the way it did all due to his weakness!

…

The young man still held on tight to the same carving. It was now warm to touch after being held onto so tightly. Carved on its back were the intricate teachings of both Sword’s Way. Every stroke that was chiseled was filled with great emotion, as was the intricate blade work. Staring at such a piece of art incited a wave of familiarity in his heart.

Zhou Yan understood the deeper meaning of the different Sword’s Ways that were carved into it with a single glance. These meanings were now deep in Zhou Yan’s mind. He could imagine every motion and maneuver. him practicing the sword skills over and over again, familiarizing his body to his imagination.

“The Sword’s Way of Bond and Despair. The sword art that balanced between life and death. Rooted deep within the nature of all life was the great attraction toward anything of Yang nature; thus, opposing anything of Yin nature. Peace and calm were the product of great opposition of both natures; thus, this law of nature bequeathed the origin of many great paths. These two distinctly different ways of the sword, were a symphony of balance, amplifying each strength, and complimenting each weakness. It truly is one of a kind sword art with none to match. Balance is the root of nature. Too much of anything will always bear fruits of misfortune, however, out of the depths of misfortune, comes bliss. A cycle of balance for life parallels death, and death would always parallel life in an endless cycle of nature… This sword art is quite a simple feat to master…” Zhou Yan muttered while staring at the carving.

…

Deep in his mind, Zhou Yan stood frozen for quite some time. He finally understood the deeper meaning of the foundation these two distinct ways were built upon. All the young man needed was the right moment to practice his newfound awakening.

This awakening meant that this young man had full mastery over both ways of the sword. In the process of mastery over any sword art, one must first understand the true meaning behind it, only then will one be ready to hone the skills to its full potential.

It was similar to his mastery of the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s Blade. It was only after his continuous practice of the techniques to this sword art that he was able to apply what he had understood from the principles he had learned. Since skills were continually evolving and changing, they only serve to complement the crude swordplay.

With his newfound awakening, he would finally be able to infuse the intricate knowledge that he was enlightened with, in the very skills of the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s blade. This young man would undoubtedly bring the ferocity of this sword art to heights previously unheard of.

Zhou Yan grew excited at the thought of practicing the Formless Sword Art since it only required such little effort for Zhou Yan to gain any form of enlightenment.

Zhou Yan was extremely excited, hence he had decided to try his luck again on the sword art that stumped him previously. Unfortunately, like before, it was an extremely difficult task for the young man.

Within an hour, he soon realized his efforts were extremely futile, since like before, he had hit a roadblock. Unwilling to throw in the towel, the young man went back to practice the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s blade.

Just as expected, the instant he went back to the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s blade, even though he was tired and fatigued, with the newfound enlightenment, somehow he was relaxed with the change of pace. .

Thus, with his current state, he picked up his broken sword and started practicing.

The only sound that echoed through the air was the sound of his blade swooshing.

Finally, the sounds of the ninth form emanated from the man’s blade, completing the sword art!

The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s blade, Form nine!

At this very moment, the blade essence of all nine forms was focused as one entity, and morphed into a hiltless blade of light, piercing the nearby walls with a sudden rush.

Upon closer inspection, the crack formed into the shape of a sword!

After doing so, Zhou Yan sheathed his blade, and he was unable to hide the shock and joy on his face!

Strangely enough, The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s Blade had finally been unexpectedly accomplished!

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It seemed, as tricky as it was for him to understand the intricacies of the Dragon and Formless Sword Art, it made learning and perfecting other lesser sword arts extremely easy to him, as they complimented the new heights of his skills!

The series of events was unprecedented, and he had to face a scary reality!

The young man took a deep breath to calm himself down.

At that very moment, a grey silhouette of a person glided over swiftly to where he was.