Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword Maniac

The Sect That Once Saved Me Is About to Arrive

The Blackwood Estate was finally quiet. The assassins had been captured or killed. The wounded were being treated. The destroyed walls were being repaired. Yet nobody was celebrating. Everyone was still thinking about what they had witnessed.

Alexander Blackwood—the useless young master, the boy who had never been able to cultivate properly—had defeated a Spirit Core expert. And he had done it with a sword. Not a powerful treasure. Not a divine technique. A sword.

William stood at the edge of the courtyard and stared at his son. Alexander was sitting beneath a tree, eating an apple. Apparently, after nearly dying twice, he had become hungry.

William walked toward him. “Alexander.”

Alexander looked up. “Father.”

William sat beside him. For several seconds, neither spoke. Finally, William asked, “Where did you learn that sword technique?”

Alexander took another bite. “Which one?”

“The technique you used against Leonard.”

Alexander thought about it. “Oh.” He swallowed. “I invented it.”

William stared at him. “You invented it?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

Alexander paused. “Recently.”

That wasn’t exactly a lie. It was merely a lie separated from the truth by three hundred years.

William narrowed his eyes. “You’ve never trained seriously with a sword.”

Alexander looked at the wooden sword beside him. “I have now.”

William sighed. His son had always been difficult to understand. But today he couldn’t shake the feeling that the boy sitting beside him wasn’t the same Alexander he had known yesterday.

He looked toward the battlefield. “You saved Emily.”

Alexander’s smile disappeared. “Yes.”

“You saved me too.”

Alexander looked at his father. “I should have done it sooner.”

William frowned. “What?”

Alexander realized his mistake and quickly shook his head. “Nothing.”

William continued staring at him. Alexander lowered his eyes. There were things he couldn’t explain. Not yet. If he told his father about reincarnation, William would probably think he had gone insane. And Alexander couldn’t blame him. Even he thought it sounded insane.

*I died after three hundred years and returned to sixteen. Who would believe that?*

He took another bite of the apple. “Father.”

“Hm?”

“I want to join a sect.”

William looked surprised. “A sect?”

“Yes.”

“Which one?”

Alexander smiled. “The Azure Sky Sword Sect.”

William’s expression changed. “You want to become a sword cultivator?”

Alexander nodded. “I’ve always wanted to.”

William stared at him. “You know their entrance examination is difficult.”

Alexander shrugged. “I’ll pass.”

“The sect only accepts disciples with decent spiritual talent.”

“I’ll pass.”

“You may be rejected.”

“I won’t.”

William smiled helplessly. “You’re very confident.”

Alexander looked at him. “I have my reasons.”

William laughed. “Fine.” He stood. “If you really want to go, I’ll arrange it.”

Alexander nodded. “Thank you.”

William started walking away, then stopped. “Alexander.”

“Yes?”

William looked over his shoulder. “Whatever happened to you…” He paused. “…I’m glad.”

Alexander smiled. “Me too.”

William left. Alexander’s smile slowly disappeared.

The Azure Sky Sword Sect. He had not thought about that place in a very long time. In his previous life, it had been the first sect to accept him. It had given him shelter. It had taught him how to cultivate. It had introduced him to the sword. For a time, Alexander considered the sect his home.

Until they betrayed him.

The memories were still vivid—the elders surrounding him, the accusation, the blood, the moment he realized the sect had been infiltrated, the moment he killed his way out. Alexander’s fingers tightened.

But this time was different. The betrayal wouldn’t happen for another thirteen years. And the people responsible hadn’t even entered the sect yet.

Alexander smiled. *This time, I’ll find them first.*

---

Three days later, Alexander stood outside the Blackwood Estate. A carriage waited nearby. Emily stood beside him, looking unhappy.

“You’re really leaving?”

Alexander nodded. “Only for the entrance examination.”

“But the sect is far away.”

“It’s not that far.”

“It’s three days.”

“Exactly.”

“That’s far.”

Alexander smiled. “You’ll survive.”

Emily crossed her arms. “I’m worried about you.”

Alexander looked at her. “Why?”

“Because you’re strange.”

Alexander laughed. “That’s not new.”

Emily stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Brother.”

“Hm?”

“Are you hiding something?”

Alexander’s smile faded. Emily stared into his eyes. “You changed after that dream.”

Alexander remained silent.

She continued. “Before, you were always frustrated about your cultivation.”

Alexander looked away. “That was the old me.”

“Old you?”

Alexander immediately realized his mistake. Emily blinked. He coughed. “I mean… I’m trying to become a new person.”

Emily narrowed her eyes. “You talk strangely.”

“I’ve been told.”

She sighed, then hugged him. Alexander froze. Emily whispered, “Come back safely.”

Alexander slowly hugged her back. “I will.”

This time, he meant it.

---

The carriage began moving. Alexander looked back at the Blackwood Estate. His family stood outside—his father, his mother, Emily. They were all alive.

Alexander smiled. *This time, nobody dies.*

---

The Azure Sky Sword Sect was located three hundred kilometers from Blackwood territory. For ordinary people, that distance was enormous. For cultivators, it was manageable. But the sect itself was something completely different.

It occupied an enormous mountain range. Seven giant peaks pierced the clouds. Each peak belonged to a different branch. The surrounding mountains were covered with sword formations. Countless disciples cultivated beneath waterfalls. Sword auras could be seen everywhere—some disciples practiced alone, some fought each other, others meditated beneath ancient trees.

At the center of the mountain range stood the main peak: the Azure Sword Peak. At its summit was the sect’s most important building, the Sword Hall.

Alexander looked at it from the carriage. A complicated feeling appeared in his eyes. He remembered this place. He remembered the first time he had entered the sect. He had been sixteen. He had been weak. He had been laughed at. He had failed the first sword trial.

Then a lazy old man had found him sleeping beneath a tree. That old man had thrown a wooden sword at him and said, “If you can’t cultivate, then swing this until you can.”

That old man had become his first master—Arthur Black, the current Sect Master.

Alexander smiled. *Master…*

In his previous life, Arthur had died protecting the sect. Alexander had arrived too late. Again. That was a mistake he wouldn’t repeat.

The carriage stopped. A disciple guarding the entrance approached. “State your name and purpose.”

Alexander stepped down. “Alexander Blackwood.”

The disciple looked at him. “Blackwood?” He immediately became respectful. “The Blackwood Family?”

Alexander nodded. “I’m here for the entrance examination.”

The disciple looked at the carriage, then back at Alexander. “You’ll need to register.”

Alexander followed him.

---

The entrance examination had already attracted hundreds of young cultivators. Most were between fifteen and twenty years old. Some were nervous. Some were arrogant. Some were clearly talented.

Alexander glanced around. He recognized several people. Some would become famous. Some would become powerful. Some would die. And some…

Alexander frowned. He saw a young woman standing near the registration area. Long silver hair. Pale blue eyes. Elegant white robes. A faint phoenix-shaped mark was visible near her collarbone.

Alexander stopped. *No.*

He stared at her. The girl turned. Their eyes met. For a brief moment, Alexander felt something strange. His Origin Sword Seed trembled.

Thump.

Alexander’s heart skipped. The girl frowned slightly. She seemed to feel it too.

A young man beside her spoke. “Elena, what’s wrong?”

The silver-haired girl looked away. “Nothing.”

Alexander stared. Elena Silverheart. In his previous life, she had been the woman he loved. The woman he had failed to protect. The woman whose death had haunted him for centuries. And now she was standing right in front of him—alive, sixteen years old.

Alexander’s hand slowly tightened. He had prepared himself to see his family again. He had prepared himself to face his enemies. He had prepared himself to rebuild his cultivation. But he hadn’t prepared himself for this.

Elena looked at him again. Their eyes met. Alexander’s expression softened. He whispered, “You’re alive too.”

Elena frowned. “What?”

Alexander realized she had heard him. He smiled. “I said nothing.”

She stared at him suspiciously, then turned away.

Alexander couldn’t stop smiling. For the first time since his reincarnation, his second life felt truly real.

But then a loud voice interrupted the moment. “Move aside!”

A group of young men approached. At the front was a handsome young man wearing expensive robes. The disciples around him immediately stepped aside.

Someone whispered, “That’s Ethan Valerian.” “The Valerian Clan’s young master.” “He’s already at Meridian Opening Level Seven.” “He’s one of the strongest candidates this year.”

Ethan walked directly toward the registration area. His eyes swept across the crowd, then stopped on Alexander. He looked at Alexander’s simple clothing, then at the ordinary sword hanging from his waist, and smirked. “You’re blocking the way.”

Alexander looked at him. “No.”

Ethan frowned. “What?”

Alexander stepped aside. “I’ve moved.”

Ethan’s expression became awkward. A few people nearby laughed. His face darkened. “You…”

Alexander smiled politely. “Was there something else?”

Ethan stared at him, then snorted. “Forget it.” He walked away.

Alexander watched him leave. He remembered Ethan. In his previous life, Ethan had become one of his closest friends. But that happened much later. Apparently, their friendship was starting early.

Alexander smiled. *This life is already different.*

A bell suddenly rang across the mountain.

Dong!

The entire entrance examination area became silent. A majestic voice echoed from the mountain peak. “All candidates, prepare for the first trial.”

Alexander looked toward the enormous stone platform. The first trial of the Azure Sky Sword Sect—the Sword Heart Trial.

His lips curled upward. He had taken this trial once before. He had failed. This time, he wondered how the ancient sword monument would react when it encountered the soul of the man who had once reached the peak of swordsmanship.

A white-haired elder stepped onto the platform and looked across the candidates. “Those who cannot withstand the sword intent will be eliminated.”

Several young cultivators swallowed nervously. The elder raised his hand. The ancient sword monument behind him began glowing. A terrifying sword intent slowly spread across the mountain.

One candidate immediately fell to his knees. Another began trembling.

Alexander looked at the monument and smiled. “Still the same.”

The elder shouted, “First candidate!”

A young man stepped forward. The sword monument released its pressure. The young man gritted his teeth. His knees trembled. The crowd watched nervously.

Alexander yawned.

Elena glanced at him. “You don’t seem nervous.”

Alexander looked at her. “Should I be?”

“Everyone else is.”

Alexander looked around, then shrugged. “They haven’t seen a real sword yet.”

Elena frowned. “What does that mean?”

Alexander smiled. “You’ll find out.”

The elder suddenly looked toward the registration list. “Next…” His eyes stopped. “Alexander Blackwood.”

The entire crowd became quiet.

Alexander stepped forward and walked toward the ancient sword monument. Nobody knew it yet, but the moment Alexander placed his hand on it, the ancient sword monument was about to remember something it had forgotten for three hundred years.

The name of the man who once stood above all swords.

Alexander Blackwood.