The Might of Divine Blood

The broken mountain peak floated halfway in the air, barren and desolate, save for a single blade of grass growing upon it that pierced the sky like a long sword. Its sword qi soared into the heavens, and its sword intent was astonishing; a single blade of grass possessed the momentum to cleave the world and defy the firmament.

"Azure Heaven Sword Seed."

Someone exclaimed, knowing they had encountered a great fortune.

Legend has it that when the Sword God attained divinity, the Azure Heaven cracked. Within a hundred paces, all grass and trees transformed into swords, shattering the void together and leaving behind the Azure Heaven Sword Seed to carry the sword intent. A single blade of grass could split the Azure Heaven, containing the supreme sword intent of the Sword God.

This Azure Heaven Sword Seed was a supreme treasure for every practitioner of the sword.

But soon, the man calmed down, his gaze turning sharp as he looked around; indeed, many others had been attracted by this Azure Heaven Sword Seed.

"Second Senior Brother, it really is the Azure Heaven Sword Seed. We've struck gold."

Hao Renjie wore a grave expression. Ignoring his junior brother's words, he drew his Blazing Fire Divine Sword and said, "Be careful. Treasures stir the hearts of men; there is going to be a brutal battle."

No sooner had Hao Renjie finished speaking than someone, unable to contain their greed, lunged forward toward the Azure Heaven Sword Seed.

"You're courting death!"

"Leave the Azure Heaven Sword Seed behind!"

Divine light tore through the sky as everyone attacked at once, shaking the earth. The person who had jumped out was also a genius, using a technique to split into three thousand illusory shadows. The shadows darted about and shattered, but one figure managed to leap onto the peak, reaching out to grab the Azure Heaven Sword Seed.

Clang!

With a resonant hum, the Azure Heaven Sword Seed swayed gently. Sword light soared into the sky, striking out for three thousand feet, cleaving the firmament and blasting that figure into dust.

With a scream, the man stumbled back and fell to the ground, his face deathly pale, his chest pierced through in a gruesome sight.

"This Azure Heaven Sword Seed truly lives up to its reputation. The sword qi it releases is enough to challenge even a King-level expert."

"Hmph! The stronger it is, the more interested I become."

"Treasures of heaven and earth belong to those destined to possess them. I am that destined person. Whoever tries to snatch it from me, I will kill!"

Killing intent permeated the air. Finally, people began to attack, though not at the Azure Heaven Sword Seed, but at those around them, clearly intending to stir up chaos and fish in troubled waters.

Screams rang out one after another, and blood stained the sky as people were blasted to death. Hao Renjie broke through an opponent's defense with a single strike, turned his blade to unleash a sky-shaking flame, and carved out a path. With a tap of his foot, he lunged toward the Azure Heaven Sword Seed.

Boom, boom, boom!

Sword intent soared and killing intent filled the air. Hao Renjie's face turned pale as he fell back to the ground. He exchanged glances with the others who had charged with him, all of them feeling deeply wary.

"This Azure Heaven Sword Seed, I am determined to have it."

Hao Renjie sneered, raising his Blazing Fire Divine Sword, ready to charge forward once more.

Suddenly, from far away, a war chariot rumbled through the air. Standing at the front of the chariot were four arrogant-looking prodigies with handsome, pale faces. While still a thousand feet away, one of them shouted, "My master wants this blade of grass. Those who don't want to die, get out of here immediately!"

The voice sounded like a thunderclap, causing the fighting crowd to tremble and stop in their tracks, their vigilance spiking.

"After three counts, leave nothing behind!"

The chariot arrived in the blink of an eye, not slowing down as it headed straight for the Azure Heaven Sword Seed.

"Those on the chariot are Descendants of Divine Blood."

"Those four attendants are also peerless geniuses."

Someone whispered, recognizing the origin of the chariot.

"So what if they are Descendants of Divine Blood! Everyone, let's attack together and slaughter these Descendants of Divine Blood first!"

Someone refused to submit and shouted, unleashing a powerful blade strike toward the chariot.

Others followed suit, shouting as well; in the face of such a peerless treasure as the Azure Heaven Sword Seed, even Descendants of Divine Blood had to be contested.

"You don't know what's good for you!"

The chariot did not stop. Two cold and arrogant attendants stepped off, lotus flowers blooming with every step they took. One wielded a blade, the other used his fists.

The blade was a tyrannical weapon, one strike capable of splitting the world.

The fist was heavy and solid, one blow capable of shattering mountains and rivers.

With one blade and one fist, they blocked everyone, their momentum overwhelming. They showed no mercy, killing one person with every blade strike and another with every punch.

After only two or three rounds, the crowd was terrified, finally realizing that there are always others better than oneself. They were all geniuses, yet even by joining forces, they couldn't defeat two attendants, let alone the Descendant of Divine Blood inside the chariot.

The more they thought about it, the more terrifying it became, and people immediately began to flee.

"Second Senior Brother, what do we do? Are we still going to fight for it?"

Hao Renjie gripped his sword tightly, his expression shifting between anger and hesitation. After a long while, he let out a heavy breath. "The Descendant of Divine Blood hasn't even made a move yet, but those two attendants alone are on par with me. The situation is impossible; forget it, let's go."

"Want to leave? It's too late!"

"My master said, those who attacked shall die. As for the rest, leave one hand behind and get out!"

Another attendant stepped off the chariot, his expression cold and arrogant. He waved the long sword in his hand, tearing through the sky and arriving in an instant, striking down those who had already fled a thousand feet away.

"This is too much bullying!"

Someone yelled, their blood boiling. Unwilling to be humiliated, they swung their blade and charged forward.

"Courting death!"

With a cold pronouncement, the three retainers took their positions, their gazes icy and their expressions arrogant. They didn't even spare a glance for the geniuses present, and whenever they saw resistance, they would indifferently swing their blades to slaughter them on the spot.

The crowd was terrified. After a long while, someone gritted their teeth, severed their own arm, and with a livid face, turned and fled.

The three retainers nodded in satisfaction, their expressions growing even more haughty.

"Second Senior Brother, what should we do? They are going too far!"

Hao Renjie gripped the Blazing Fire Divine Sword in his hand, his expression cold as he let out a sneer, "They really think they are gods."

"Let's go!"

Hao Renjie suddenly raised his sword, merging his body with the blade, and grabbed his fellow junior apprentice, transforming into a streak of light as he charged outward.

"Trying to escape! Stay here!"

The three retainers were furious. They attacked in unison, their light illuminating the heavens and tearing through the void, surrounding Hao Renjie completely.

"I use the Blazing Fire to bear witness to my heart!"

With a loud shout, Hao Renjie swung the Blazing Fire Divine Sword, stirring up a thousand piles of fire. Wherever the sword light passed, nine volcanoes rose, gathering power to erupt with earth-shattering force. He instantly tore open a gap and charged out of the encirclement, but just as he was about to leave, he saw a fourth retainer blocking his path.

With a cold tone tinged with faint mockery, the retainer said, "The master has ordered: you are to pluck the Azure Heaven Sword Seed, kowtow three times and bow nine times, and present it with both hands. Otherwise, die!"

Hao Renjie's expression was icy. He gripped the Blazing Fire Divine Sword tightly, pointed his long sword forward, and laughed loudly, "What joy is there in life, and what bitterness is there in death?"

"Raging fire, burn my broken body!"

"I use the Blazing Fire to bear witness to eternal life!"

Singing with righteous indignation, Hao Renjie ferociously swung his sword. The fire ignited by this strike was not heavenly fire or earthly fire, but the fire within his heart. Once the fire of the heart is ignited, even gods shall be burned along with it!

The retainer's pupils constricted as he threw a punch, "So you have already achieved minor success in sword intent; no wonder you are so arrogant! But let me tell you, this level of strength is still not worth a single blow!"

"King Blood!"

As the punch was thrown, blood-colored light spread. This strike was heaven-shaking, capable of making kings bleed.

At the same time, the other three retainers also attacked simultaneously.

"Blood Blade!"

"Blood Sword!"

"Blood Handprint!"

With three loud shouts, the world seemed to turn into a sea of blood, with blood waves surging to the heavens, drowning all living things.

Hao Renjie let out a muffled groan. The Blazing Fire Divine Sword was tainted, its divine light extinguished. He stumbled, retreating three steps, and with a thud, he knelt on one knee. His entire body felt weak, and he could only barely keep himself from falling by thrusting his sword into the ground.