AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword

There is a gasp of surprise from the crowd because it truly did seem like things would return to normal when one of the contestants surrendered, only to be thwarted by what might be considered a sneak attack.

It is no surprise when the sword maiden of the Frozen Peak Palace descends gently onto the podium and walks toward her defeated sister, gently lifting her off the floor on a cloud of soft snow.

“Thank you for holding back, brother Lei,” the sword maiden says, after checking her sister’s vitals, and then sends the cloud toward her waiting sect members.

“It is only fair; she also held back,” the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion disciple, ranked first whose surname is Lei, replies with a helpless shrug. “Will you challenge me?”

The sword maiden nods. “We have come this far, Lei Yangming. At the very least, we can put it to an end the way it was meant to be.”

Lei Yangming smiles darkly and then sighs. “If only it didn’t come to this; this was most certainly our fault and our mistake. Though it is not from the person you wanted, on behalf of my sect, I still offer you my sincerest apology.” With that, Lei Yangming inclines his head to the Frozen Peak Palace disciples, and every one of them lowers their head.

It’s not just them, but even the disciples of the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion realize, far too late, the embarrassment they caused, and the rather pointless and fruitless drama that ensued. Half a dozen disciples were injured on both sides and with barely any points to show for it.

“Thank you, brother Lei,” the sword maiden says. “On behalf of my sect, I, Mu Jingyu, also offer an apology to the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion and hope that with this match, I can rekindle the spirit of showmanship and friendship, and put grudges behind us.”

Many of the disciples, of all sects present, nod at the words and praise the demeanor of the two first-rankers.

“Ha, ha, it truly was as you said, Elder Mo,” one of the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion elders says, rather loudly. “The youth is very passionate and eager to prove themselves.”

Elder Mo nods. “Yes, that is very true, Elder Wei. But, lessons were learned this time, and in the end, things are back to how they should be.”

Many of the elders, even those from the Frozen Peak Palace, nod in agreement. Especially those of the Frozen Peak Palace, since, in the end, they got what they wanted.  Xu Tian certainly should have been punished for his reckless and antagonistic use of force, and the grudge match that followed was certainly a slap in the face to the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.

Even though they managed to hold on against the onslaught, and score their own points, they still had to accept that, at their own Conference where they were supposed to flaunt their own power, they were humbled. A costly mistake started by one of their own disciples and perpetuated by all those who followed.

More importantly, it was a reminder of why the Sky Dragon Alliance was so important to everyone; what happened in those matches was but a small indicator of what a full-scale war would look like — something no one involved wanted.

As for the points, both sides lost. The Frozen Peak Pavilion had forty-three points and eight victories, and the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion had forty-eight and ten victories. This match between the first-rankers would, quite literally, decide which one of them would have a finish worthy of being not embarrassed about.

On the other hand, the ones most benefiting from this situation were the Seven Killing Swords upstarts, who had eleven victories, fifty-two points, and five more disciples to send out.

The Galaxy Sword only had seven points and three victories — the most disgraceful run in the competition they have ever had — a fact that does not go unnoticed by all the disciples, who hang their heads low out of embarrassment when the situation cools and the aftermath of the grudge match is made most obvious.

“Let’s bring this to an end,” Lei Yangming says and drops into a fighting stance. “Soaring Thunder Spear,”

“Sword of Dancing Snow,” Mu Jingyu replies.

In a swirl of snow and flash of golden light, the spear thrust meets the sword slash, rocking the entire podium as crystals of ice form, plunging the entire arena into ice again, with the tip of each spire struck by wayward lightning.

The boom of the spear is deep and thundering, while the jingle of Mu Jingyu’s sword — seemingly made entirely of cold blue ice — is high-pitched and melodic, almost like a crystal bell.

Arcs and crackles of lightning follow the tip of Lei Yangming’s spear as he sweeps and circles, thrusting in between the space-gaining maneuvers, but none of his attacks find their mark, only parting snow and haze of water vapor beneath which the silhouette of the snowy sword maiden is concealed.

On the other hand, Mu Jingyu’s thrusts and slashes all find their mark, inflicting shallow blows against Lei Yangming who, seemingly, ignores the minor scratches and injuries, not realizing the infiltration of frost energy coursing through his veins.

Lei Yangming strikes out with the lower end of the haft, pummeling Mu Jingyu’s guard, who is forced several steps back, and then into evading several Dragon-Killing Thrusts, though she quickly retaliates with her own winter and frost techniques.

“Lu Long was also a spear user, and his name has a similar meaning to that technique Lei Yangming called Dragon-Killing Thrust. Do you think it is possible that Lu Long is from…” Lan Xiaohui whispers quietly, eyes following the match, but mostly the sword maiden.

“Lu Long? Isn’t that the hero who defeated the Fire Empress?” Tian Li says to my owner.

“Nevermind me, brother Tian. I was just thinking out loud,” Lan Xiaohui says, though her words were clearly intended for me.

I consider the possibility and find it awfully coincidental, though there is merit to this line of thinking. At the very least, there weren’t many other spear-focused sects on the continent, and Lu Long, at the very least, if he is from a sect and not a wanderer, would most likely come from one of the three major powers.

“Rising Winter Moon!” Mu Jingyu exclaims, and slashes her ice sword upward, truly forming the image of a rising, winter moon, and Lei Yangming’s spear goes flying out of his hands, which are, by now, paralyzed by frost.

When Lei Yangming breathes out, his breath turns to vapor and he chuckles. “As expected of the Frozen Peak Palace’s sword maiden. You are on a completely different level from me. I forfeit.”

Mu Jingyu smiles, but her state is a little better than Lei Yangming's. After being chased across the arena for so long, and driven to the brink on so many occasions, it is uncertain how long she would’ve lasted against Lei Yangming, something that doesn’t go unnoticed by the elders of the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.

“You did well, Lei Yangming! You almost defeated her; there is nothing to be ashamed of!”

“Brother Lei, you were so amazing!” some of the disciples add, causing Lei Yangming to take his defeat gracefully by also politely bowing to the Frozen Peak Palace disciples in a show of respect and this endeavor to mend fresh wounds.

While everyone is congratulating Lei Yangming — even the Seven Killing Swords disciples — Tian Li jumps onto the podium. “I am sorry, fairy sword maiden, but I have to challenge you! For the sake of my sect’s glory!”

Mu Jingyu, who didn’t even get a moment’s rest, turns around toward Tian Li, and her smile remains frozen on her features. “I understand, and do not mind,” she says, with a glance to the score board that explains Tian Li’s intentions better than any words he could say ever could. Even though it was extremely unlikely, if he won here, and the next few fights, he could, perhaps, recover the Galaxy Sword sect’s score.

“Thank you for being so understanding!” Tian Li exclaims.

“However, if I win, I want to challenge that person,” Mu Jingyu says, her cold, green eyes focused on my owner.

“Zhu Xuelian?” Tian Li asks, following Mu Jingyu’s gaze.

“Is that her name?” Mu Jingyu asks, smiling.

At this point, Lan Xiaohui stands up and smiles. “Sister Mu, if you win, it would be my honor to cross swords with you. I had wanted to since the first time I saw you! Good luck!”

Mu Jingyu chuckles, while Tian Li makes an expression of feigned disappointment. “Aren’t you supposed to wish me luck, Sister Zhu?”

My owner, ever the direct and honest one, sucks her lips in between her teeth for a moment, at her blunder, and then proceeds with wishing Tian Li luck in the match also, though judging by her tone, just a slight bit less luck than she wished for Mu Jingyu.