Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2 Master Zhao
Chapter 3 The Blue Angel
Chapter 4 Magic
Chapter 5 On The Road
Chapter 6 A Harsh Lesson
Chapter 7 The Black Pill
Chapter 8 A Taste Of Magic
Chapter 9 Master Firehear
Chapter 10 Windsong
Chapter 11 Stages Of Magic
Chapter 12 The Wind Realm
Chapter 13 Opening A Realm
Chapter 14 A Breath Of Wind
Chapter 15 Drunken Masters
Chapter 16 The Valley
Chapter 17 An Unexpected Arrival
Chapter 18 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 19 The True Face Of Magic
Chapter 20 Aftermath
Chapter 21 Disguises
Chapter 22 Memories Of Murder
Chapter 23 A Difficult Choice
Chapter 24 Master Zhao’S Treasures
Chapter 25 The Journey Ahead
Chapter 26 Redwater
Chapter 27 Dinner With Enemies
Chapter 28 Unlikely Companions
Chapter 29 Stormleaf'S Gif
Chapter 30 Power Overwhelming
Chapter 31 Lord Jiang
Chapter 32 The Price Of Power
Chapter 33 The Estate
Chapter 34 Training With Lord Jiang
Chapter 35 Continued Training
Chapter 36 Body Refinemen
Chapter 37 Feast Of Treasures
Chapter 38 Faster, Higher, Stronger
Chapter 39 The Starmetal Sword
Chapter 40 The Magistrate
Chapter 41 Duel
Chapter 42 Revelations
Chapter 43 Breaking The Seals
Chapter 44 Newfound Power
Chapter 45 Lord Jiang'S Gifts
Chapter 46 Saying Goodbye
Chapter 47 Leaving Silvermere
Chapter 48 Ambush
Chapter 49 Wounds Of Battle
Chapter 50 The Bandit Fortress
Chapter 51 Senecio
Chapter 52 Looting Treasures
Chapter 53 Words Of Chaos
Chapter 54 The Old Man And The Trickster
Chapter 55 Panurge’S Punishmen
Chapter 56 Windblade
Chapter 57 A Way To Escape
Chapter 58 Prison Break
Chapter 59 The Prisoners
Chapter 60 A Clear Path
Chapter 61 A Change Of Plans
Chapter 62 Assaulting The Prison
Chapter 63 Resistance
Chapter 64 Facing The Archmage
Chapter 65 Birds And Dragons
Chapter 66 Leaving The Stronghold
Chapter 67 The Edge Of The Empire
Chapter 68 The Story So Far
Chapter 69 The Border City
Chapter 70 Darkfire
Chapter 71 A Small Figh
Chapter 72 Tournamen
Chapter 73 The Shadowblood Novice
Chapter 74 The Gray-Robed Lady
Chapter 75 Governor Eddarin
Chapter 76 Leaving The City
Chapter 77 Darkfire'S Ordeal
Chapter 78 A New Arrival
Chapter 79 Judgmen
Chapter 80 New Techniques
Chapter 81 The Arenas Of Hillfor
Chapter 82 The Victor'S Spoils
Chapter 83 An Unexpected Invitation
Chapter 84 Lunch With The Governor
Chapter 85 Amaya
Chapter 86 Searching For Answers
Chapter 87 Stoneheart'S Army
Chapter 88 Stonehear
Chapter 89 Zehava
Chapter 90 Unexpected News
Chapter 91 Darkfire’S Decision
Chapter 92 Before The Tournamen
Chapter 93 The Tournament Begins
Chapter 94 The Tournament Continues
Chapter 95 Defeated
Chapter 96 Snowcloud
Chapter 97 The Valley
Chapter 98 Oathbound
Chapter 99 Urgent Matters
Chapter 100 Running
Chapter 101 Questions
Chapter 102 Answers
Chapter 103 First Steps
Chapter 104 Crystals
Chapter 105 Blindsided
Chapter 106 Fighting Blind
Chapter 107 Shadowsigh
Chapter 108 Exposed
Chapter 109 The Bracele
Chapter 110 The Deserters' Fortress
Chapter 111 Fighting Dirty
Chapter 112 Assault On The Fortress
Chapter 113 Blood Magic
Chapter 114 A Debt Repaid
Chapter 115 Exchanging Knowledge
Chapter 116 Goldhaven
Chapter 117 Lord Sevaril
Chapter 118 The Formula
Chapter 119 Ingredients
Chapter 120 The Golden Hall
Chapter 121 Troublesome Treasures
Chapter 122 The Power Of Lies
Chapter 123 Truth Be Told
Chapter 124 Picking Treasures
Chapter 125 Windfall
Chapter 126 Rapid Training
Chapter 127 Leaving Goldhaven
Chapter 128 Injuries
Chapter 129 Smooth Travels
Chapter 130 A Familiar Face
Chapter 131 Stoneheart'S Misfortune
Chapter 132 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 133 Bloodlus
Chapter 134 Control
Chapter 135 Trus
Chapter 136 Forced March
Chapter 137 Contac
Chapter 138 Danger Illustrated
Chapter 139 Titan
Chapter 140 The Dragon
Chapter 141 The Tempering
Chapter 142 Destruction Realm
Chapter 143 The Tempering, Take Two
Chapter 144 Tempered
Chapter 145 Weakness
Chapter 146 At The Castle
Chapter 147 The Dragon'S Proposal
Chapter 148 A Decision
Chapter 149 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 150 Bai
Chapter 151 Fighting An Army
Chapter 152 Novices
Chapter 153 Hunting The Survivors
Chapter 154 Riverbend
Chapter 155 The Next Mission
Chapter 156 Leaving The Castle
Chapter 157 Hiding The Evidence
Chapter 158 Eidaran Ruins
Chapter 159 Parting Ways
Chapter 160 Into The Ruins
Chapter 161 A Long Wai
Chapter 162 Enemies
Chapter 163 Fear
Chapter 164 Spirit Crystals
Chapter 165 About Dragons
Chapter 166 Journey To The Dragon Lands
Chapter 167 Chasing Dragons
Chapter 168 Dumber Than Rocks
Chapter 169 Unexpected News
Chapter 170 The Dragon'S Lair
Chapter 171 The Enemy Appears
Chapter 172 Plan Of Attack
Chapter 173 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 174 To Fight A Dragon 1
Chapter 175 To Fight A Dragon 2
Chapter 176 To Fight A Dragon 3
Chapter 177 To Fight A Dragon 4
Chapter 178 The Best Way To Kill A Dragon...
Chapter 179 Dragon'S Blood
Chapter 180 Blood Crisis
Chapter 181 Blood Battle
Chapter 182 Leaving The Blood Pool
Chapter 183 Escape Plan
Chapter 184 Dragon'S Fligh
Chapter 185 Dragon'S Ruin
Chapter 186 The Way Back
Chapter 187 Unexpected Allies
Chapter 188 Iron Mountain Adepts
Chapter 189 A New Plan
Chapter 190 The Road To Uvar
Chapter 191 Setting The Trap
Chapter 192 Facing A Master
Chapter 193 Hunter
Chapter 194 The Way Back
Chapter 195 The Edge Of Victory
Chapter 196 A Final Deception
Chapter 197 The Iron Mountain Camp
Chapter 198 Toward The Valley
Chapter 199 The Valley'S Gate
Chapter 200 The Patriarch'S Palace
Chapter 201 Barrier
Chapter 202 The Patriarch
Chapter 203 The Patriarch'S Summons
Chapter 204 A New Path
Chapter 205 A Long Journey
Chapter 206 Into The Valley
Chapter 207 Alder'S Farm
Chapter 208 An Invitation
Chapter 209 Houses Of The Ninth Valley
Chapter 210 A Change For The Worse
Chapter 211 Unreasonable Demands
Chapter 212 A Small Demonstration
Chapter 213 Show Of Power
Chapter 214 Bad Teacher
Chapter 215 The Thousand Cuts
Chapter 216 Training Days
Chapter 217 The Road Ahead
Chapter 218 Hidden Estate
Chapter 219 A New Approach
Chapter 220 Insigh
Chapter 221 Recovery
Chapter 222 Reunion
Chapter 223 Snowcloud'S Potions
Chapter 224 Snowcloud'S Departure
Chapter 225 Return To The House Of Swords
Chapter 226 To The House Of Flames
Chapter 227 A New Teacher
Chapter 228 Forms
Chapter 229 Form And Function
Chapter 230 Brightblade'S Vow
Chapter 231 The House Of Shadows
Chapter 232 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 233 Shadow And Swords
Chapter 234 The House Of Seals
Chapter 235 A Small Bit Of Talen
Chapter 236 A New Teacher
Chapter 237 Reunion
Chapter 238 An Agreemen
Chapter 239 A Palace Of One'S Own
Chapter 240 Brightblade'S Background
Chapter 241 A Final Night Of Res
Chapter 242 The First Day Of Training
Chapter 243 Effor
Chapter 244 Destruction Essence
Chapter 245 A Brief Respite
Chapter 246 Shields
Chapter 247 Ambush
Chapter 248 After The Battle
Chapter 249 Questions Of Power
Chapter 250 Questionable Plans
Chapter 251 A Fruitless Search
Chapter 252 Facing The Elders
Chapter 253 Offending An Elder
Chapter 254 Brightblade'S Challenge
Chapter 255 The Dueling Grounds
Chapter 256 The Duel
Chapter 257 A Fight To The Death
Chapter 258 Aftermath
Chapter 259 The Matriarch'S Plans
Chapter 260 Treasures
Chapter 261 An Heir'S Estate
Chapter 262 Gifts
Chapter 263 Festivities
Chapter 264 Effor
Chapter 265 Brightblade'S Fortress
Chapter 266 A Small Wager
Chapter 267 Brightblade'S Orders
Chapter 268 Leaving The Valley
Chapter 269 Essence Remnants
Chapter 270 An Obstacle
Chapter 271 More Than Remnants
Chapter 272 Demons
Chapter 273 A Short Goodbye
Chapter 274 On The Road
Chapter 275 Hunter
Chapter 276 Amydon
Chapter 277 The Fall Of Amydon
Chapter 278 A Quiet Place
Chapter 279 A New Foundation
Chapter 280 The Final Stretch
Chapter 281 A Break
Chapter 282 The Caves Of Amydon
Chapter 283 The Hidden City
Chapter 284 Karanos
Chapter 285 The Mines
Chapter 286 Trash And Treasure
Chapter 287 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 288 Darkness
Chapter 289 The Shadow Realm
Chapter 290 Amid The Ruins
Chapter 291 Shards Of Living Shadow
Chapter 292 A Fitting Weapon
Chapter 293 A Small Bribe
Chapter 294 To Leave A Dying World
Chapter 295 Homecoming
Chapter 296 Hidden Treasure
Chapter 297 Waiting For A Sign
Chapter 298 Departure
Chapter 299 Into The Ligh
Chapter 300 Redhill
Chapter 301 Pursui
Chapter 302 Training Ground
Chapter 303 Hunters
Chapter 304 Recruits
Chapter 305 Pills
Chapter 306 Thieves And Robbers
Chapter 307 Facing A Hunter
Chapter 308 Into The Battlefield
Chapter 309 Suffering
Chapter 310 A Knight Of The Imperium
Chapter 311 A Choice
Chapter 312 Searching The Battlefield
Chapter 313 The Fores
Chapter 314 Studying The Forms
Chapter 315 Preparation
Chapter 316 The Road To Esran
Chapter 317 The City Of Esran
Chapter 318 A Steward'S Aid
Chapter 319 Leaving The Borderlands
Chapter 320 The Border
Chapter 321 Into The Imperium
Chapter 322 Advice
Chapter 323 The Fate Of Refugees
Chapter 324 A City Of Tents
Chapter 325 The Wolfsblood Company
Chapter 326 Arrival
Chapter 327 A New Deal
Chapter 328 Imperial Politics
Chapter 329 Battle Approaches
Chapter 330 A Taste Of Battle
Chapter 331 The Spoils Of Battle
Chapter 332 Lord Kadun
Chapter 333 To The Mines
Chapter 334 What Lurks Below
Chapter 335 Into Darkness
Chapter 336 Diggers
Chapter 337 Battle
Chapter 338 Three Monsters
Chapter 339 The Blood Ruin
Chapter 340 A Warm Welcome
Chapter 341 Studying Strategy
Chapter 342 Weapons And Training
Chapter 343 A New Tool
Chapter 344 Unwelcome Company
Chapter 345 Provocation
Chapter 346 Down Below
Chapter 347 A Small Disturbance
Chapter 348 A Lord'S Mercy
Chapter 349 Prison
Chapter 350 Prison Break
Chapter 351 Breaching The Defenses
Chapter 352 Defending The Gate
Chapter 353 A Knight'S Power
Chapter 354 Lord Rannoc
Chapter 355 Outrage
Chapter 356 The Strength Of Lords
Chapter 357 An Offer
Chapter 358 Revelations
Chapter 359 The Desolation
Chapter 360 Rannoc'S Orders
Chapter 361 Citizenship
Chapter 362 Sleepless Nights
Chapter 363 A Foundation
Chapter 364 The Road Back
Chapter 365 A Deb
Chapter 366 Settling Debts
Chapter 367 Broken Company
Chapter 368 An Exchange
Chapter 369 Preparations
Chapter 370 Breakthrough
Chapter 371 Delivery
Chapter 372 A New Journey
Chapter 373 An Unwelcome Invitation
Chapter 374 Challenge
Chapter 375 A Duel
Chapter 376 Facing A Knight, Again
Chapter 377 Words Of Warning
Chapter 378 What Lurks In The Bligh
Chapter 379 A Quiet Departure
Chapter 380 The Road To Sacrifice
Chapter 381 A Storm Of Blood
Chapter 382 Behind The Walls
Chapter 383 A Sea Of Shadow
Chapter 384 Reaver'S End
Chapter 385 Newcomers
Chapter 386 A New Plan
Chapter 387 An Old Friend
Chapter 388 An Imperial Knigh
Chapter 389 The Knight'S Apprentice
Chapter 390 Knight'S Watch
Chapter 391 Comprehension
Chapter 392 Master Of Shadow
Chapter 393 Finding Enemies
Chapter 394 The Missing Piece
Chapter 395 Reunion
Chapter 396 Decisions
Chapter 397 The Wolfsblood Army
Chapter 398 Enlightenmen
Chapter 399 An Unwelcome Gues
Chapter 400 The Oath
Chapter 401 An Invitation
Chapter 402 The Dangers Ahead
Chapter 403 Into The Desolation
Chapter 404 Suppression
Chapter 405 Confrontation
Chapter 406 Arrival
Chapter 407 The Archon'S Summons
Chapter 408 The Master'S Bloodline
Chapter 409 Bloodlines
Chapter 410 The Ruiner'S Temple
Chapter 411 Assassin
Chapter 412 The Citadel
Chapter 413 Fruits Of A Poisonous Tree
Chapter 414 The Strength Of Bloodlines
Chapter 415 A Path Forward
Chapter 416 - A Simple Task
Chapter 417 - Breakthrough
Chapter 418 - Final Preparations
Chapter 419 - Into Harm'S Way (1)
Categories Genre: Action, All, Fantasy, Ongoing, Xianxia, Xuanhuan Status: Ongoing ______
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 419 Page No. 418 Page No. 417 Page No. 416 Page No. 415 Page No. 414 Page No. 413 Page No. 412 Page No. 411 Page No. 410 Page No. 409 Chapter 298 Departure
Chapter 298 Departure
Arran's mind was filled with worry as he drew his sword and prepared to practice. While the portal was foremost among his concerns, it was far from the only one.
Whether or not the portal closed, he would soon leave the caverns. And when he did, he would finally set off to accomplish his original tasks — to retrieve the Forms and to infiltrate the Hunters.
The first of these things would rely more on luck than on skill.
Although Arran knew where to find the battlefield that had claimed the life of Elder Nikias, finding the Elder's writings would be no simple matter. Even assuming there were writings in the first place, decades had passed since the battle — plenty of time for the battlefield to be looted.
But that was just the beginning.
After he searched the battlefield, he would travel to the Hunters' lands and try to join their ranks, to find information that would help the Ninth Valley in the approaching war.
The plan bordered on madness, and Arran knew he would be risking his life. That Brightblade believed he could succeed was only a small comfort — it meant he could survive the task, but not that he would.
And if he somehow managed to not only infiltrate the Hunters but also escape with his life, he would find no safety back in the Ninth Valley. Instead, he would return just in time to join the Shadowflame Society's war against the Hunters.
Arran knew he would see little peace in the years that lay ahead, and the burden of his responsibilities felt like a heavy weight on his shoulders.
Yet when he began to practice with his sword, all those worries faded away almost instantly.
There had been no chance to test his weapon properly in the Shadow Realm — although the journey had taken months, they hadn't had even a single hour to spare for training.
But now that Arran finally wielded the weapon in earnest, he found that it surpassed his expectations.
Although the sword was still subdued after witnessing Arran's Destruction Realm, the bond they shared meant that he could feel the weapon as it cut through the air — almost as if it was part of his own body.
Moreover, as he used the weapon, it subtly adjusted itself to his needs. It grew slightly longer and much heavier, and its balance — already better than that of any normal weapon — improved further, reaching a level of perfection Arran had not thought possible.
And that was with only a few hours of free practice.
Excited at the results, Arran moved on to the styles he had learned in the House of Swords — the Stalwart Blade, the Floating Leaf, and the Thousand Cuts. Each of these focused on a different aspect of swordsmanship — defense, avoidance, and offense — and he was curious to see how his weapon would adjust to them.
With a few days of training, it became apparent that neither the Stalwart Blade nor the Floating Leaf suited the weapon's nature especially well.
Although it performed with all the effectiveness of a perfect blade — further encouraged by Arran constantly feeding it Essence — it was clear that defense and avoidance weren't its natural strengths.
Yet the Thousand Cuts style was a different matter.
When Arran began to execute the long series of attacks contained within the style — well over a thousand, despite the name — a feeling of familiarity came from his sword. And not just familiarity. There was enthusiasm, too, as if the weapon was keen to learn the style.
Perhaps the sword had little affinity for defense and avoidance, but attacks were evidently something it knew and valued.
Arran spent a week going through the Thousand Cuts many times, and he was pleased to discover that both he and his weapon seemed to benefit from his practice. Not only did the sword become more effective as it learned Arran's moves, the sensations and images that came through their bond also became more familiar to Arran.
But there was another step to take. Although the styles from the House of Swords were all treasures in their own right, none of them could compare to Arran's greatest achievement — his own sword style.
And when he set to work on introducing his sword to his style, it only took him moments to discover that the two were perfectly matched.
This was no surprise — his style was built around his true insight into severing, and its viciousness rivaled that of his sword. The weapon appeared to realize this as well, and it welcomed the style like a long-lost brother.
With both Arran and his weapon training zealously, their progress was rapid. After just two weeks, there was no doubt in Arran's mind that despite his still-weakened body, he had already surpassed his previous might.
There was more than just progress, however.
As Arran wielded his sword, faint images would sometimes come through their bond. Shreds of memories, he suspected. And if these were indeed memories, then the weapon's past was a bloody one.
Each of the faint images held the same thing — death.
Again and again, Arran witnessed his blade taking lives. With some shock, he realized that these were no enemies on a battlefield. Rather, they were prisoners — countless thousands, and all of them mages. And every time the weapon cut one down, it feasted upon its victim's Essence.
Arran had known from his weapon's original shape that it had been an executioner's blade, but witnessing its victims was still unsettling, even with the faintness of the images that came through the bond.
Yet the memories suggested something else, as well. If the sword held memories from before its world was ruined and filled with Shadow, then it must have gained its first sliver of consciousness long before it ever turned into Living Shadow.
Perhaps it was a result of absorbing the Essence of numerous mages. And if that was the case, it might explain why the weapon was stronger than the other pieces of Living Shadow in the armory — it had begun its journey to consciousness long before any of them.
But the weapon now belonged to Arran, and regardless of its bloody origins, he would make good use of its power.
When he finished his sword training, he turned his attention to his final task — studying Brightblade's wards.
It was the last thing he would do before leaving the caverns. And if the portal hadn't closed by the time he finished, he would have to return eventually to complete the task that Karanos had started.
The book of wards Brightblade had given Arran was much like he'd expected. It contained a variety of concealment wards more advanced than the ones he already knew, but with his keen Sense and the sword's help, learning most of them took only a few weeks.
There were two that stood out, however, both of them far more complex than the others. And as Arran studied them, it was obvious that Brightblade had included them specifically to help him in the Hunters' lands.
The first was an advanced Shadow ward that concealed small objects — a way to hide his void ring from even the most thorough examination.
His sword offered further improvements to the ward, and with a few weeks of study, Arran was able to hide his void ring so well that even his weapon could only barely Sense it.
The second ward posed a bigger challenge, however.
This was a concealment ward, too, but one intended to mask the Essence within one's body, which was a far more difficult task. Yet although the ward was hellishly complex, Arran knew he'd have to learn it — even without the Hunters, he suspected that this was what Brightblade had used to hide her Essence in the Ninth Valley's mountains, and a skill like that would be invaluable.
Arran struggled with the ward for over a month. But even with his sword's help and improvements, the result left him unsatisfied.
While the ward was good enough to hide his Essence from normal mages, he now knew that there were people and things whose Sense was far more accurate.
Even after a month of careful study, the only Essence Arran was truly confident in hiding was his Shadow Essence. That, he could conceal so well even his sword had difficulty Sensing it.
But the other kinds were a problem — anyone with a Sense not much stronger than Arran's own could detect them if he left his Realms unsealed.
He did not know whether the Hunters' lands held such people, but this wasn't something he could be careless about. Before he entered the Hunters' lands, he would have to seal his Realms.
Still, he spent another two weeks fiddling with the ward, using his sword's insights and Sense to make minor improvements to it. The work wasn't particularly useful, but he knew that once he finished, he would have to leave.
Yet the portal didn't close, and Arran knew he could wait no longer. It was time for him to depart.
He gave the portal a final look, and as he gazed at the black vortex, he thought of the man who was trapped behind it.
There was nothing he could do about the situation, however — he could not close the portal, and he certainly lacked the strength to save Karanos even if the man was still alive.
"When I return, I'll have the strength to close this damn thing."
No response came from the portal, but Arran knew he would make good on the threat. Once the war was won, he would find a way to destroy the portal once and for all.
But right now, there was nothing useful he could do. Of all the wards and seals he knew, only Master Zhao's seal might have a chance at stopping anything that emerged from the portal. And although he knew the seal well, he still lacked the strength to create a version large enough to seal away the black chasm.
With a sigh, he turned around and left.
There were other dangers that needed his attention. And if he let himself be distracted by this task, he might die before ever gaining the strength to accomplish it.
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
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