Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 1008: The Temporary Blade

The seventh and final day of the knowledge convention arrived with a bright sky over the sprawling estate. The formal lectures in the grand halls were finished and the vast courtyards were broken into scattered question and answer sessions. Senior masters and esteemed speakers stood in various pavilions while eager cultivators crowded around them to pick their brains.Li Yu walked through the vibrant gardens and noticed the largest groups had formed around his father and two other prominent elders. Canghai sat on a carved stone bench under a blooming cherry tree while dozens of young swordsmen hung onto his every spoken word.

"Senior Canghai," a young cultivator from a minor sect asked while bowing deeply. "When transitioning from a defensive posture to an offensive strike, my Qi often stutters in my meridians. How do I maintain the flow without leaving a gap in my guard?"

"You are treating defense and offense as two isolated concepts," Canghai answered smoothly and his voice carried across the quiet crowd. "They are two sides of the same coin. Do not halt your defensive rotation to begin an attack. Let the parry carry your momentum directly into the thrust. Your Qi should flow in a continuous circle rather than stopping and starting. The ideal state is that every attack is also a defensive move and every defensive move is an attack."

Li Yu listened from the back of the crowd and smiled. His father always knew how to make complex theories sound simple and accessible.

A few paces away an elder from the Ethereal Lotus Sect was answering inquiries about blending elemental arts with physical strikes. Cultivators from all walks of life eagerly took mental notes and engaged in deep discussions. The rigid barriers between some of the more rival factions had softened significantly over the past week.

Lead Envoy Ren walked up beside Li Yu and handed him a warm cup of tea. "Your father is a very patient teacher. He does not hoard secrets like some of the other orthodox masters tend to do."

"He believes that raising the overall strength of the realms is better than sitting alone at the peak," Li Yu replied as he took a sip of the fragrant tea. "Have you and Suo found what you were looking for today?"

Suo stepped out from behind the tall mercenary and nodded his head rapidly. "I have learned more in these seven days than I have in my entire life. The elder from the Elderwood Valley gave me direct advice just now, something I never thought I would be able to receive in my lifetime. It will save my life on my next contract."

After a few hours of ongoing questions, the deep resonance of a brass gong echoed across the plaza. Patriarch Li Muchen stepped onto the central stage to deliver the closing remarks. He thanked the diverse factions for maintaining the peace and fostering a week of genuine unity. He spoke of the bonds formed and the wisdom shared before making one final announcement.

The Li Clan enforcement elders stepped forward carrying large wooden crates. They distributed a sword to every single guest in attendance as a parting gift. The weapons were not legendary artifacts but the quality and craftsmanship remained extremely high. They were forged from durable steel and etched with runes to aid in combat.

Suo held his new blade with trembling hands and tears welled up in the eyes of the young cultivator. "I have never held anything so amazing before," Suo whispered while running his thumb over the wrapped hilt. "This alone makes the journey worth the risk."

Other cultivators from poorer backgrounds reacted with similar levels of shock and excitement. They swung the blades through the air and marveled at the sharp edges. Meanwhile, the disciples from more powerful backgrounds accepted the gifts gracefully. The Violet Gale Clan and the Frostmoon Empire members possessed much better weapons in their own armories but they appreciated the political gesture and the fine forging technique.

"We will see you in the southern expanse," Ren said as he clapped Li Yu on the shoulder. "The Freeblade Alliance is heading out to set up a forward camp near the Sunfire Sovereign legacy. Suo, you can come with us."

Li Yu nodded and bid them farewell. Once everything was done, his father had to stay longer so Li Yu returned to the quiet sanctuary of the Five Star Lakes later that evening and resumed his training. A full month passed in a blur of sweat and dedicated cultivation. He spent his days cycling his Yin Yang mantra and his Boundless Source Scripture while his evenings were spent fighting the unyielding weight of Star Abyss.

He stood in the garden one night and initiated his five soul resonance. Li Yu gripped the dark staff and pulled with every ounce of his being. His muscles coiled tight and his Qi roared through his veins. The staff groaned and shifted upward by a good six inches now. The starry speckles glowed brightly under the strain.

The number was the same but the task itself had changed. Ever since his grandfather made it harder, it had to work back from just lifting it an inch after returning from the convention.

He held the weapon there for a dozen heartbeats before his stamina shattered. The staff sank back into the dirt and left Li Yu gasping for air on the grass once again. The dual restrictions placed by Khaos and his grandfather proved to be a stubborn puzzle. He was growing stronger every day but he knew he would not be able to wield the weapon in time for the upcoming expedition.

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He sat by the lake the next morning and contemplated his weapon situation. Two figures stepped out of the swirling void and walked toward the pavilion. It was his cousin Zhan Chen and his sister Zhan Ling. Zhan Chen stood tall with a straight back while Zhan Ling walked a half step behind him.

"Li Yu," Zhan Chen called out with a bright smile. "It is good to see you again, cousin. I see you are still enjoying the quiet life by the water."

"It is peaceful here," Li Yu replied as he stood up to greet them. "What brings the heir of the Zhan Clan to my humble garden?"

"The Sunfire Sovereign legacy," Zhan Ling answered before her brother could speak. Her voice was crisp and efficient. "The spatial seals are finally opening in the next week or so. Our clan is sending an expedition to claim the resources and test our younger generation. We wanted to know if you were joining."

"I was planning to head there soon," Li Yu confirmed while offering them seats at the wooden table. "I need fire aspected resources to help temper my physical body. Perhaps the extreme heat will push my elemental laws forward as well."

"Then you should travel with us," Zhan Chen offered warmly. "There is strength in numbers and the southern expanse will be crawling with rival factions."

Zhan Ling crossed her arms and elaborated on the threats. "The Blazing Edge Empire is bringing a veritable army because the legacy suits their arts perfectly. The Frostmoon Empire is sending their ice specialists to counter the heat and disrupt the fire cultivators. There will also be countless others and possibly enemies as well."

"I would be honored to join you," Li Yu agreed. "I just need to find a suitable stand-in weapon. My current staff is a bit indisposed."

He gestured toward Star Abyss resting stubbornly in the dirt. The staff would just have to wait for him here until he was strong enough to conquer the restrictions.

Zhan Chen looked at the dark staff and chuckled. "Do you want to visit the clan armory to pick out a temporary replacement before we leave?"

"That was my plan," Li Yu said as he turned toward the main pagoda to gather his belongings.

A booming laugh echoed across the valley before he could take another step. The air grew heavy and Zhan Tian materialized on the wooden porch of the pavilion. The old Worldkeeper looked refreshed from his travels and his eyes twinkled with mischief.

"There is no need to scavenge through the armory like a beggar," Zhan Tian announced as he walked down the steps. "I heard the fire realm is opening soon and I knew you were still too weak to pull up the staff."

Li Yu glared at his grandfather and crossed his arms. "It is only stuck because you drove it into the core of the realm. Who can lift it out."

"Minor details," Zhan Tian waved his hand dismissively while chuckling. "Since you cannot take your staff, I brought you a gift."

The old man reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a stunning weapon. It was a long glaive with a thick dark haft and a curved blade that shimmered with a dangerous silver light. The weapon radiated a heavy aura. It was similar to a staff in its balance and reach but it offered the lethal cutting edge.

"Take it," Zhan Tian said as he tossed the heavy weapon through the air.

Li Yu caught the haft and felt his arms sink slightly under the impressive weight. The weapon hummed in his grasp and resonated with his physical strength. He could feel the quality of the forging in his bones. Since his grandfather had bothered to keep this glaive around, it was surely a treasure.

"This is an incredible blade," Li Yu said while giving the glaive a test swing. The curved blade sliced through the air and left a faint silver trail behind it. The weight felt familiar and comfortable in his grip. "Thank you grandfather."

"Do not thank me yet," Zhan Tian grinned broadly and loved the idea that they were now using matching weapons. "Just make sure you do not embarrass the Zhan name when we get there."

The group finalized their preparations and left. The designated meeting spot was a fortified encampment situated on a rocky plateau overlooking a sea of red dunes. The ambient temperature was already uncomfortably high and the sky glowed with an unnatural orange hue.

Li Yu arrived alongside his grandfather and his two cousins. They walked into the main courtyard and found the rest of the Zhan Clan expedition waiting for them. Fifty elite warriors were there waiting for them. They were seasoned fighters ready to face the unknown dangers of the trial ground.

Five elders stood at the front of the ranks to oversee the deployment. They bowed respectfully when Zhan Chen approached but their eyes widened in shock when they saw the towering figure walking behind the young heir.

"Lord Tian," the lead elder gasped while dropping to one knee. "We did not expect you to grace this expedition with your presence. The clan records indicated you were traveling."

"I decided to take a detour," Zhan Tian replied casually while resting his own large glaive over his broad shoulder and then began to chuckle loudly. "I cannot let my grandson wander into a blazing inferno without proper supervision. He is but a child you know, can’t even pull a stick from the ground."

The elders exchanged bewildered glances but they did not dare question the Worldkeeper. The Sunfire Sovereign legacy was a significant event but it was typically a testing ground for the younger generation. Having a warrior of his caliber join the ranks shifted the entire dynamic of the expedition. It was clear to everyone present that the legendary warrior was only going because of his grandson or else he wouldn’t care enough to.

Zhan Ling leaned close to her brother and whispered with a sly smile. "The other factions are going to panic when they see him."

Zhan Chen smiled and patted his sister on the shoulder. "Let them panic. Our priority is gathering the resources and returning safely. Having him here just ensures our path will be clear."

Li Yu stood among his family and rested the butt of his new glaive against the stone floor. He felt a sense of security surrounded by the heavy armor of the Zhan Clan and more importantly his grandfather.

He had spent the convention making friends and learning about different paths but the upcoming trial would require power and unyielding determination. The air in the southern expanse was sweltering and he was ready to face whatever challenges the ancient fire realm had to offer.