[Book II Chapter 14] Dylan: Soul Skyfell

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“Who do you think will win?” Lin asked. They were in the stands of a boisterous coliseum with two saints facing off below. Dylan studied the fighters.

The first was young, barely sixteen. Taller than most in Sanwue, he wore a suit of ice armor and wielded a gigantic two-handed sword. Opposite him was an swordmaster of the Radiant Sight Sect in enchanted white robes.

> Dowart advised, floating above him.

Dylan closed his eyes and let his spiritual sense sweep the arena. He faintly sensed light affinity energy leaking from the Radiant Sight disciple. From the silver-haired youth, he felt nothing.

“The foreigner practices a supreme martial arts perfectly suited to him.” Dylan said. “That sword is also not ordinary.”

The force field crackled over the ring, and the two combatants ran forwards. The sword of the Radiant Sight disciple had a fiery aura and singed through ice armor in a glancing blow. However, there were no further strikes as the silver-haired youth effortless swung his weapon in quick succession, forcing the cultivator back with his reach. He’s using his ice armor as a counterweight.

As white robes were shredded in several places, it became obvious who was winning. The Radiant Sight disciple knew it too and jumped back to disengage, shouting, “Shimmering Phantoms.” Ten copies of his weapons appeared and began circling in a defensive formation.

Dylan’s eyes widened. Was that an illusionary grace? Does he cherish victory that badly? Sure, this was a prestigious occasion with many major sects watching. However, publicly revealing your trump card was the height of foolishness. He shook his head.

The flow of the battle changed. The cultivator easily blocked blows with the levitating swords while sending them shooting out with waves of his hands. If he could control all ten perfectly, he’d have already won. Overwhelmed, the silver-haired youth suddenly shattered his armor, creating a thick ice cloud.

“He’s using mist.” Lin declared excitedly, having chosen her favorite.

Out of the haze, armored figures dashed forwards one after the other, each collapsing when struck. Really skillful use of clones. The blades around the Radiant Sight disciple were slowly depleted, and, when the real threat finally emerged, he was sent flying after an awkwardly parry. Immediately, the silver-haired youth spun and released a rising slash, yelling, “Heaven Splitter.”

An icy shockwave sliced the arena in two, smashing into the force field. Dylan felt a breeze. A fraction of the force had penetrated the barrier.

The crowd exploded. It was a rare treat for them to witness supreme techniques like these, as imaginary graces were normally reserved for real battles. Well, for that weapon ——Diamonds Edge was it?——, it’s so well known there’s probably no point.

Dylan had overheard bystanders speak of this foreigner. The young man was the son of Astra Skyfell, a hero from two thousand years ago, and he wielded the sword of her brother, another legend. The common folk were revering him as royalty.

“That was amazing…” Lin exclaimed. “Can I have a sword like that?”

“Would you even be able swing it?” Dylan laughed. She was half the size of the silver-haired youth. I’m glad she had fun.

“Eventually, I am sure I could.” Lin protested. The two got up and exited the coliseum, stopping at a nearby fountain.

New Vale was the nearest major city to the Morning Dew Sect. While Dylan had made frequent visits, it was Lin’s first time to the surface. She’d taken some time to adjust to the open sky. Today, it was the atmosphere around them that captured her attention, with good reason.

Dylan had never seen the place more lively. It’s to be expected. The Godly Herb Garden opened once every twenty years, drawing eager participants from the entire region. It was a bonanza for commerce and cause for celebration. Festival stands littered the streets, and catchy beats echoed from far off taverns.

Dylan watched the common folk mill about, laughing and dancing. Occasionally the sea of people would part, wisely giving wide berth to elaborately dressed cultivators. They belonged to a different world, their brief lives so fleeting.

“Do you see that man over there? In the blue robes?” Lin pointed.

Dylan turned and tensed. “That’s Teng Ling, disciple of the Water Dragon Sect. He’s one of those who murdered your parents.” he spoke coldly, shielding their conversation.

He’d been expecting this. Saints from all over were gathering. There would be an opportunity, he was sure of it.

“So he’s one of the people you’re going kill…” Lin mumbled.

Dylan looked to his small charge. She was too young to remember… “What made you pick him out?” He asked.

“He just felt off. Not sure why.”

This is dangerous. Dylan knelt, “From now on, if someone feels strange to you, pretend not to notice. Tell only me. Promise.”

“Alright.” Lin agreed, intimidated at his intensity.

Dylan watched Teng walked away. What did Lin sense? And how? Does it have something to do with Heavenly Mist she practices? If so, it might be his first clue why the Sacred Cloud sect was wiped out. He took a deep breath. More of the eight would be arriving. If Lin could pick them out, it’d confirm this wasn’t just a coincidence.

“Sorry, we’re late. Some shopping sprung up.” Kailen said.

“I had to convince him to buy me a pair of earrings.” Added a voice behind him. Yanfei, a bright young woman, joined them. “A man should treat his wife every once and a while.”

Kailen had also come for the Godly Herb Garden, and they would be teaming up to face the challenges. Not only were there demonic beasts, but killing others for the rewards was a common occurrence. It’s more for his sake than mine. While both saints, they were miles apart in strength. Kailen was painfully average. It’s the quality of our martial arts and our inherit talent. Dylan suspected the man would be more burden than boon.

It can’t be helped. While Dylan instinctively wanted to drop dead weight, he owed the Morning Mist Sect, so he’d do what he could to keep the man alive. Plus the little mistress would be sad if he died.

“So, are you ready to taste some sweets?” Yanfei asked.

Lin’s eyes widened, she turned to Dylan, “Really?”

He smiled and nodded, handing over a bag of coins. He normally discourage such shallow activities, but this was a special occasion. And it would allow him to tend to some business. He watched the three disappeared into the crowd, Lin leading the way happily.

Yanfei would care for the little mistress while they were gone. Dylan was nervous about the prospect, but it wouldn’t be for long. A month inside the Godly Herb Garden was day outside. They’d return in less than a week.

He strode off with purpose. After weeks of refining the cave lilies, it was time to sell his labor and obtain rarer ingredients. New Vale was home to a decent sized auction house, and there was bound to be treasures on offer.

“Did Lin’s father also notice strangeness in some cultivators?” Dylan whispered.

“I remember him staring hard on some occasions.” Dowart responded pensively.

“But he never made a comment?”

“I don’t recall any,” Dowart answered, “but Han Xiao made several trips to the Ghost Corrosion Sect before the… incident. He may have reported to the elder there.”

“May have?”

“When around immortals, especially ones with extremely keen spiritual sense, I cut myself off from the outside and go dormant in the ring.”

Dylan absorbed these words. The Ghost Corrosion Sect was one of the great sects and its elder one of Sanwue’s first immortals. It won’t be easy to speak with the man, yet it might be necessary.

“That damned obelisk again.” Dowart cursed, looking ahead.

A long reddish rock stood upright in the plaza ahead, its surface covered in worn inscriptions of forgotten history. A pledge stone. Two thousand years ago, the Great Assembly had decreed Sanwue would adopt the common tongue, distributing these monuments throughout the land. With a simple ritual and a drop of blood, the enchantments within would confer knowledge of basic sentence structure and a vocabulary of a few thousand words. Unable to benefit from this magic, Dowart had been forced to learn the hard way, and he held a grudge for that frustration.

The Auction House was on the far side of the plaza. Dylan was navigating the stalls when he witness a tragedy. Two young boys were chasing each other when one ran straight into a woman, causing her to trip and collide with a man with a drink. The cup’s entire content went flying and landed on the head of petite, black-haired beauty, drenching her extravagant red robes. The plaza went silent.

There will be blood, Dylan thought sadly. He recognized her as Sulai Chen, a saint and prodigy from the Red Sky Sect. There was no way she’d let this go unpunished.

Sulai froze, her face going ugly. She stared between the four culprits of her humiliation, as if deciding where to direct her fury. The man took the opportunity to step forward, “This… this is my fault——”

“Then it will be you!” Sulai declared as blinding fire roared from her hand. Dylan watched impassively. Mortal lives are like nothing before cultivators. He should’ve been more cautious.

The man screamed as the flames engulfed him, yet once they faded the crowd gasped. A barrier of ice had blocked the attack.

“Who dares?” Sulai demanded angrily.

“That would be me.“ The silvered haired youth from the arena pushed through the crowd, stopping in front of the man. “No one here committed a crime worthy of death.”

“Those who slight me will burn by my flame.” Sulai snarled. “Move aside or share his fate.”

She stepped forwards, an inferno raging in her hands. With solemn resolve, the foreign boy readied his sword. The crowd scurried away, the less curious running.

“Wait, wait,” A brown-haired woman in green rushed out, interjecting herself between the two. “Please wait!”

“And you are?” Sulai could barely contain her fury over another interruption.

“I’m Yingtai Qiao from the Rippling Tempest Sect.” Yingtai spoke quickly. “I’ve been assigned to guide this young man, Soul Skyfell, during his journey through Sanwue.” She glanced back, a trace of despair in her eyes. “What happened this time?”

“I prevented her from burning a man for spilling a drink.” Soul answered calmly.

Dylan wanted to sneak away, but noticed cultivators emerging from the auction house. Among them was Mingzhu Su, one of his targets. It’s not worth the attention of pushing through.

Sulai also noted her peers gathering, and this only strengthened her resolve. “These robes are worth more than you could comprehend, and they have been sullied with cheap liquor.” She announced loudly. Dylan agreed they were splendid. “Remove your charge or I will reduce you both to ash.”

“It’s not that easy…” Yingtai protested, gloomily preparing for a fight she didn’t want.

“Why don’t we save the excitement for the Godly Herb Garden?” A confident man in white walked down from the auction house, holding a talisman between his fingers. “Scatter.” As the paper disintegrated, a gale swept the plaza, centered on Sulai. The liquor stain disappeared.

“Gen Jiang.” Sulai stated coldly. “Why are you interfering?”

“As you know, the Fate Pavillion maintains Sanwue’s hidden realms. Resolving petty disputes on the eve of one opening could be considered part of that duty. Besides, I sense this young man has powerful backers. It won’t end well if you harm him so publicly.”

Her robes restored, reason returned to Sulai, at least enough to subdued her anger. Without a further word, she walked over to a group of her colleagues. It’s over then.

Dylan looked over at the cause of this confrontation. The foreign boy, Soul, was humoring Yingtai as she lectured him. Likely a plead to rein in his heroic impulses, one which will be ignored… What a fool. He’d earned the ire of a prominent disciple of a leading sect, and for what? To save a nobody who would be dead within four decades. He wouldn’t last long in Sanwue.

> Dowart offered. When Dylan turned in dismay, the ghost continued. <>

> Dowart didn’t bother keeping the disdain from his voice. <>

Dylan mulled the unappealing prospect. Those are reasonable points, but… He glanced at Sulai angrily whispering to a fellow disciple. She’s holding a grudge and will definitely go after the boy. It isn’t worth the… Behind Sulai stood Mingzhu Su. Wait, are they teammates? It wasn’t uncommon for disciples of the same sects to challenge hidden realms together. This changes everything.

Taking a deep breath, Dylan prepared to approach the altruistic chump.