"To wield a sword without form," the old man began narrating. "One must be willing to abandon all the mortal senses. Sight, sound, touch—these are the shackles that bind a swordsman to the physical realm."
Dao Wei's body tensed as the memories of his childhood played. The Old Man had once made mention of the Void Sword Concept—a technique so profound that mere understanding of it would make a mortal able to stand before the gods. It wasn't just a technique or illusion—but a real and tangible extension of the material world.
The Old Man mentioned that once a swordsman mastered this technique, he or she could strike without existing, move without stepping, and kill without being seen—and now, Dao Wei was at the mercy of the very technique.
Outside the attacks had not seized, dozens of formless, soundless swords struck the shield simultaneously. They had no shadow, no intent—just pure death.
The shield had been protecting him all this while but signs of weakening appeared as a the entire shield turned into a spiderweb, a sharp pain carved across Dao Wei's shoulder.
Then his thigh.
His forearm.
Blood sprayed into the void and Dao Wei clenched his jaw. He had managed to repel most of the attacks—but not all.
"If you can't see… then feel it." Dao Wei closed his eyes, shutting off everything else but his instincts and sense of feeling.
The surroundings were empty, but Dao Wei began noticing something—it wasn't spiritual, material, or sword intent, but a presence.
A ripple in space, a distortion in the void occurred every time the attack existed. Even without form, it left a minute trace—honestly, an absence within an absence.
Swoosh!
The next sword came hurling towards his neck.
Dao Wei didn't see it, he didn't hear. But he felt the ripple, his hand moving instinctively before his brain could even register.
Clang!
Two swords moving at blinding speed clashed, sending a ripple across the void. Somehow he'd blocked the first attack.
Then, without a warning, a storm of invisible slashes followed. Dao Wei leaped head-on, his sword dancing in an elegant and royal like manner within the void, intercepting and diverting every single blade with precision, an effortless counter.
Dao Wei's body moved fluidly, it moved and reacted solely on pure instinct. Not just reacting—but acting even before the swords could manifest.
Bang!
Right then, he moved.
With a single step forward, Dao Wei slashed into the empty space, his attack howling as it went through nothingness.
All went silent, till a moment later, a deep crack carved into the void. Dao Wei had managed to land an attack on nothing.
Dao Wei didn't hold back.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He lifted his sword. And as he swung, the air around him trembled, distorted. His sword no longer just cut the seen and the physical—but also what was unseen, formless, and soundless. This was the simplest manifestation of Void Perception—Sword beyond Form. "That which exists not, I will kill it!" Dao Wei spoke up.
Creek!
A large deafening sound penetrated the void and a blinding light flashed so bright that Dao Wei had to cover his eyes.
Outside, the tranquil and serene environment was shattered by the sudden resounding chime.
DOOOOOONG!
The entire Sword God Sect trembled. Disciples—no matter the realm, felt a vibration within their souls. The ancient formations lining the sect hummed with a power so great as spiritual Qi surged unnaturally.
Disciples gasped, elders freezing mid-step. Even those collected and reserved Supreme Elders shifted. For centuries now, the Ancient Bell had been dormant—only but a legend whispered among the disciples, recorded within the annals of the sect's history, yet none had ever confirmed it.
Some believed it was but just a symbolic, metaphorical image meant for the rise of a sword genius. While others, mainly the elders knew and believed otherwise.
The Bell was real.
And in all the recorded history, it had only rang but once—100,000 years ago. This was the time when the first Sword Sovereign raised, shattering the heavens and breaking the restrictions on sword way. Since then, the Bell had been silent—almost as if it was never there.
As the sound tore throughout the Sword God Sect, it wasn't just a resounding chime, but like a divine decree.
In an instant, the entire sect grounds were in an uproar.
Hundreds of disciples turned towards the Ghost Peak, their faces pale with a mixture of awe and terror.
"It rang again?"
"This can't be real!" another chimed in, "The bell hasn't rang in 100 000 years! How is it that it had already rang twice in one day?"
"No way! The Ghost Peak must be broken!" another questioned, "who is this strong to even make it ring?"
"Broken? Impossible! It has to be Senior Brother Lu Shen! He's the strongest among the young generation and the strongest in the tower right now." A young female disciple answered with so much conviction.
Most nodded in agreement. Lu Shen was indeed the most logical choice. He'd been an inner core disciple for years, already an elite among the young prodigies. If anyone was to break the Ghost Peak, it had to be him.
However, doubt still lingered within their hearts. There's one anomaly who'd been challenging all the logical and sensible things since he arrived—Sword Childe.
The mere thought of the Sword Childe sent chills down their spines.
Lu Shen was a natural-born leader, the eldest. While Wei Jun was an exceptional genius. But Sword Childe? He was a wild card, too untamed, too reckless…in simple, misfit—if it was indeed him, then the heavens would have acknowledged a monster.
Meanwhile, deep within the sect's forbidden chambers, the Grand Elders sat in a tense hall.
"Lu Shen. It has to be him. He is the most prepared, the most disciplined." Elder Ji spoke up with little or no conviction in his tone at all.
"I want to believe that… but, we all know this feeling we are getting… this has that demon written all over." The second Grand Elder sighed, his brows furrowed.
Silence engulfed the chamber—a truth they all felt but did not wish to accept.
Third Grand Elder sipped his tea, "The last time the Ancient Bell rang, it only rang once—and a Sovereign was born. Now it has rung twice…"
The elders looked at each other with uncertainty written all over their faces,
Within the secluded courtyard, away from the turmoil of the younger generations, the two Supreme Elders sat in silence, sipping tea.
Jiang Feng exhaled slowly, "Fate indeed has a twisted sense of humor."
Second Supreme Elder chuckled softly, "It does. We have all known for some time now that it's only a matter of time time before someone would receive the Tower's recognition. But I'll have to admit, I didn't expect it to be so soon."
Jiang Feng sighed, narrowing his eyes. "And if truly it is the Divine Prince?"
His question was followed by a loud silence.
Then the Second Supreme Elder exhaled. "Then the world must prepare itself. For either a savior or calamity… things just won't remain the same."
The two elders turned their gazes towards the distant sky as if anticipating something.
While the sect is in an uproar, within a regal yet elegant garden, three figures sit beneath a cherry blossom tree.
The sect's three most beautiful female disciples—each was a star on their own. And they discussed nothing but the Ancient Bell.
"It has to be Lu Shen," Zhang Ruolan spoke first. "This is honestly too much to be a coincidence. The Bell rang when they first entered the tower, and now again?"
"What about Wei Jun?" Qing Yao asked. "He's nearly as talented as Lu Shen. I wouldn't be surprised if it were him."
Huang Ling remained silent, staring at the Ghost Peak. "What if… what if it's the Young Elder?" she finally asked.
A hush fell over them for a brief moment as if they were acknowledging him.
Zhang Ruolan scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous, Ling'er. That idiot is too reckless. He acts without thinking. There is no way the Heavens would choose someone like that."
Qing Yao hesitated before finally speaking, "But… haven't you guys noticed? Nothing had been normal since the day that wild beast came to our sect. It's like his whole being only exists to defy logic."
The girls didn't want it to be him. They were afraid for it to be him. But deep down, in the very depth of their hearts, they knew and couldn't deny the fact. A part of them wanted it to be him.
Zhang Ruolan shook her head, "impossible. After all, it is still his first time. If anyone, it has to be Lu Shen or Wei Jun. After all, it's still his first time entering the tower."
Huang Ling remained silent before whispering, "But… wouldn't it be amazing if it was him?"
Zhang Ruolan and Qing Yao both turned towards her in a surprised shock.