All Chapters of Dark Ruler’s Blade: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
47 chapters
The Strange Body
Elder Phi An and Lin Jiang were startled by the thunderous voice that crashed down upon them, infused with inner energy that pressed against their chests like a heavy weight. The sound reverberated through the mountain air, shaking the trees and scattering birds into the sky. “What should we do, Master?” Lin Jiang asked, his grip tightening on the hilt of the White Flame Sword. His heart pounded, the heat of the blade seeping into his palm. “We have reached this mountain. There is no turning back now,” Elder Phi An said firmly, his eyes fixed on the looming peak. “So we climb to the summit, Master?” Lin Jiang asked, his voice steady despite the tension. “Yes. We must meet Elder So Un,” Elder Phi An declared, his tone resolute. “Understood,” Lin Jiang replied. He stood behind his master, the sword gleaming faintly in his hand. If the White Flame Sword failed him, he was prepared to summon the demonic spear from his Spatial Ring. “Stay behind me, Lin Jiang,” Elder Phi An i
Accepting Lin Jiang
“Hahaha, train him?” Elder So Un’s voice carried a mocking edge, echoing through the grand hall of the mountain palace. His eyes narrowed, studying Lin Jiang with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. “Yes, Elder,” Elder Phi An replied firmly. “Why not train him yourself? I can sense your strength. It is not lacking,” Elder So Un said, his tone sharp. “I have trained him, Elder. But there are things I cannot do,” Elder Phi An admitted, his voice heavy with frustration. “What things?” Elder So Un pressed. “I cannot perfect the foundations of this boy’s body,” Elder Phi An said gravely. “The foundations?” Elder So Un’s brows furrowed. “His bones, his pure blood, and his dantian remain incomplete,” Elder Phi An explained. “How is that possible?” Elder So Un muttered, seizing Lin Jiang’s wrist once more. His eyes widened as he felt the truth in Elder Phi An’s words. “How could he reach such heights with such flawed foundations?” Elder So Un said, disbelief etched across
The All-Knowing One
Hahaha! Do not reject so quickly, Lin Jiang!” Elder So Un’s laughter rang through the palace hall, echoing against the marble walls. His eyes gleamed with mischief, though his tone carried a weight of authority. “But Master, I cannot remain here forever. There is still much I must accomplish,” Lin Jiang replied, his voice firm yet tinged with unease. “I know. I am not asking you to stay now. You may take my place only after you have fulfilled your goals. When you have no more purpose to chase, you may return here and inherit my mantle,” Elder So Un explained, his words deliberate. Lin Jiang bowed his head, reflecting deeply. The flickering torchlight painted shadows across his youthful face. “If that is what you say, Master… then I agree.” “Hahaha! At last, I have a successor,” Elder So Un declared, his laughter booming through the chamber. “So what training must I begin, Master?” Lin Jiang asked eagerly. “For now, we wait. Elder Shu, the All-Knowing, will arrive soon. Unt
The Five Demon Crystals
At once, Elder So Un and Elder Shu turned their gazes upon Lin Jiang, their eyes sharp and expectant, demanding the truth from him. The air inside the palace grew heavy, the flickering torches casting long shadows across the marble floor. “I am indeed only a spirit,” Lin Jiang said quietly, his voice trembling yet resolute. “My body was left behind in the Middle World.” “That is enough to answer our questions, So Un,” Elder Shu said firmly. “So Lin Jiang’s foundations cannot be perfected, Shu?” Elder So Un asked, his tone filled with concern. “Hahaha! I am the All-Knowing One. Of course I know what must be done for Lin Jiang,” Elder Shu declared proudly, his voice echoing through the hall. Lin Jiang’s eyes brightened with hope. “So my foundations can be perfected, Uncle Shu?” “They can,” Elder Shu replied, his tone grave. “But you must work harder than anyone else.” “I will endure whatever it takes. Tell me, what must I do?” Lin Jiang asked, his voice steady though his h
The Two Masters
Lin Jiang awoke from the torment that had dragged him into unconsciousness, his breath ragged, his body trembling. When his vision cleared, he saw his new teacher—Elder So Un—watching him with a gaze that was both stern and protective. The flickering lamplight painted long shadows across the stone walls, and the faint scent of burning incense lingered in the air, mingling with the salt carried from the sea below the mountain. “Rest now,” Elder So Un commanded, his voice deep and steady, echoing against the marble pillars. “Tomorrow, your training begins.” Lin Jiang’s lips parted in surprise. “Training, Master?” His voice was hoarse, yet tinged with anticipation. “Yes,” Elder So Un replied, his tone firm but not unkind. A smile spread across Lin Jiang’s face, wide and unrestrained. He had come to this mountain by the sea for one purpose—to train, to grow stronger—and now the day had been set. His heart surged with gratitude and determination. With light steps, he left the chamb
Lin Jiang’s First Trial
Meanwhile, Lin Jiang descended the mountain by the sea without the slightest hesitation, determined to reach its base. The path was steep and jagged, the air thick with the briny scent of waves crashing against the cliffs below. His small feet pressed against the rough stones, and the cries of seabirds echoed overhead, mingling with the distant roar of the ocean. When he finally reached the foot of the mountain, his eyes widened at the sight before him. Countless stones lay scattered across the ground, some small and jagged, others massive and immovable like fragments of the earth itself. The sunlight glinted off their rough surfaces, casting sharp reflections that made them appear like sleeping beasts. “My master said I must carry the largest,” Lin Jiang muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief. “But surely he does not mean one the size of a hill!” His gaze lingered on a boulder so immense it seemed fused with the mountain itself, and he shook his head, sweat already forming
The Defeated Body
Step after step, Lin Jiang pressed onward, the massive stone still weighing down his shoulder. His first day of training had drained him to the core, his body aching, his spirit flickering between determination and despair. The mountain path stretched endlessly before him, jagged and steep, while the salty wind from the sea below lashed against his sweat-soaked skin. By the time the sun dipped toward the western horizon, his small figure had managed three-quarters of the climb. Yet the summit still loomed above, a quarter of the journey remaining, its peak shrouded in fading light. “I can still go on! I can still endure!” Lin Jiang muttered, his voice hoarse, forcing courage into his weary heart. His legs trembled, but he pushed forward, each step echoing with stubborn defiance. The sky darkened, shadows swallowing the path. Night fell swiftly upon the mountain, and Lin Jiang’s vision blurred. The world dissolved into blackness, the trail vanishing beneath his feet. His eyes clo
Bone Quality
Lin Jiang lingered in silence, his gaze fixed upon Elder So Un, waiting for the promised explanation about the mysterious “bone quality” that had just been mentioned. The air in the training hall was heavy, filled with the faint scent of burning incense and the distant echo of wind brushing against the wooden beams. Shadows flickered across the walls as the lanterns swayed, casting long silhouettes that seemed to whisper secrets of the martial world.“Listen carefully to your master’s words,” Elder Shun commanded, his voice carrying the weight of authority that reverberated through the chamber.“Yes, Master,” Lin Jiang replied, bowing his head with solemn respect, though his heart throbbed with anticipation.*****The martial world, vast and unyielding, was a realm where countless warriors sought ascension to its highest peaks. Paths to greatness were many: some devoted themselves to perfecting techniques, their movements honed until they resembled flowing rivers or crashing storms; o
Toward the Demon Forest
Six months had slipped by almost unnoticed, months in which Lin Jiang trained relentlessly under the watchful eyes of two of the finest masters in the Lower World. The days blurred into nights, each filled with sweat, aching muscles, and the echo of shouted commands. His progress was undeniable—his strength and skill had grown, his body reshaped by discipline and hardship. The transformation was most evident in his bones. Once marked by the fragile stage of White Wolf Bones, his marrow now gleamed with the resilience of Golden Wolf Bones, two levels higher than before. His cultivation had soared as well: from the first stage of the Sky Realm to the fourth, a leap that left even his masters quietly impressed. Every change fueled his determination. His body hardened, his muscles thickened, and his spirit burned brighter. Though only twelve years old, Lin Jiang’s frame carried the maturity of a youth four years older, his eyes sharp with resolve, his presence commanding. “Lin Jiang
Entering the Demon Forest
“What is that boy doing?” Elder Shun muttered, his face twisted with irritation, his voice sharp enough to cut through the night air. “I cannot fathom what goes through his mind,” Elder So Un replied, his tone heavy with frustration. Their annoyance was clear. Half a month had passed, and Lin Jiang still lingered at the edge of the Demon Forest, refusing to step deeper inside. Instead, he devoted himself to practicing the Skull Sword techniques, his movements relentless, his sweat soaking the earth beneath him. What the two elders did not realize was that Lin Jiang had been perfecting every form taught to him by Elder Phi An, polishing them until they gleamed like steel under fire. “Haaaaa!” Lin Jiang’s cry rang out, his breath sharp as he channeled inner energy into the White Flame Sword. The blade pulsed with light, humming faintly as though alive. He launched into a new technique, one that demanded precision and strength beyond his current limits. This was no ordinary form