Birth of the Demonic Sword

The aura radiated by Sword Saint was terrifying. It was sharper than before but also peaceful. He existed to cut because it was in his nature. He was a living blade that the sword path had accepted into that field.

Camille didn't know what to think in front of that scene. The whiteness around her dimmed, but those effects didn't come from Noah's existence. Her connection with the rulers even made her aware of the astonishing truth. Heaven and Earth had actually grown weaker during that breakthrough.

That event wasn't only astonishing. It also felt terrifying, especially for a cultivator who belonged to Heaven and Earth's system. The rulers represented the peak of the journey in that world, but those who had managed to witness the scene could vaguely understand that something above them existed.

That understanding wasn't even the end. That stronger power had forced the sky to separate from some of its laws. Even the mighty Heaven and Earth couldn't oppose that urge. The awe and innate fear that cultivators, magical beasts, and hybrids resisting the rulers started to wane as soon as a weakness appeared.

The rulers weren't unbeatable. They could bleed in the form of white tears. Noah didn't know how many experts had managed to take a glance at that incredible event, but he exploded into a laugh anyway. It felt hilarious how such a blatant show of weakness had appeared when Heaven and Earth were so close to taking control of the world.

"Even existences belonging to the ranks that you can't reach have started to hurt you," Noah mocked as he lay on the brown alloy to enjoy the dim whiteness seeping through the storms past the range of his consciousness. "Maybe I will lose, but you won't win. There is no victory in your path."

Both Camille and Sword Saint heard Noah's relaxed insult toward the rulers, but the sky didn't react. Heaven and Earth had stopped screaming, but the entire world could study the consequences of that event. That dimness wasn't something that they could fix without sacrifices.

"All of you, hear my words!" Noah laughed. "The breakthrough of a rank 8 cultivator has managed to hurt the rulers of the world!"

His laughs were hammers that made Camille's mental sphere shake. Each insult that Heaven and Earth failed to address only worsened her condition. Leaders weren't flawless, and she knew that far too well. Even beings that could almost approach the tenth rank couldn't avoid those features. However, the rulers had suffered due to the actions of a rank 8 cultivator. That would make everyone question their actual power.

"Shut up!" Camille shouted as denial took control of her mind and tried not to make her go over those thoughts now.

"Are you for real?" Noah revealed his cold smile as he returned to a sitting position and fixed his reptilian eyes on her. "You would probably switch sides right away if I were to invite you into my organization."

Camille's eyes widened before she diverted her gaze. Still, the proofs of Heaven and Earth's weakness were everywhere now. She could see the dimmer whiteness that filled the world.

"Would you really invite me?" Camille asked with a tinge of hesitation in her voice.

"I wouldn't care too much," Noah shrugged his shoulders, "But you have another role already. Maybe in your next life."

"Role?" Camille questioned before Sword Saint's sharp aura expanded and shattered storms that even Noah's consciousness couldn't reach.

Camille slowly turned her head toward her previous opponent. She could see Sword Saint's seemingly empty gaze shining from behind his long eyebrows. Even he wasn't able to hide the piercing eyes that the breakthrough had given him.

"I need to test a few things," Sword Saint announced, and his words shattered Camille's eardrums when they reached her ears.

Blood flowed from Camille's ears as she started at the newly advanced rank 9 cultivator. His might didn't make any sense. Sword Saint had just stepped into the gaseous stage, but her body was unable to endure the power that he generated with his simplest gestures. She couldn't even dare to imagine what would happen to her once he launched a proper attack.

Moreover, there was something off with Sword Saint's cultivation level. Eventually, every existence gave birth to a personal version of the "Breath" that would further transform into a personal law. The ninth rank would improve that fuel further. However, everything still carried the world's vibe.

Noah's existence wasn't an exception. He defied every logic and had multiple features, but Camille could still somewhat feel that it had come to life in her same world. That wasn't a matter connected to Heaven and Earth. It was similar to a scent that everyone born under the unique environment illuminated by the whiteness carried.

Sword Saint didn't carry that scent. Actually, Camille wasn't sure how to describe him at all. He had a foreign aura around him that clearly stated how the world under the sky wasn't his home.

"Is everything alright?" Noah asked as he resumed to eat the piece of brown alloy in his grasp.

"I've never been better," Sword Saint laughed. "The sword has chosen me as one of its avatars."

Sword Saint's laughs opened cracks connected to the void in the area. Cuts also appeared on Camille's body. Large red spots immediately tainted her white robe, but she didn't move. She remained in a daze as she tried to understand how strong her opponent was.

"Is that even fine with you?" Noah questioned his friend without hiding the doubts in his voice.

The sword path didn't belong to Sword Saint. He had become one of its embodiments, but that meant depending on a higher power. Noah could never accept that due to the nature of his existence.

"This is what I've always desired to achieve," Sword Saint exclaimed while spreading his arms and lifting his gaze toward the sky. "I can live my life perfecting, improving, and discovering fields connected to the sword path."

"Isn't that the same as before?" Noah continued.

"I am connected to the path now," Sword Saint revealed. "I'm not a single existence wandering in the dark anymore."

Noah scratched the side of his head in confusion. It was hard for him to understand what Sword Saint meant since he didn't have access to the connection with the higher form of power.

Noah guessed that Sword Saint had established a healthier and freer version of the relationship that Heaven and Earth had with their followers. Still, he noted to question his friend properly once he was over with Camille and his tests.

"Why don't you kill me already?" Camille asked. "I'm not a training dummy. I have the pride of a cultivator who has lived following her beliefs."

Camille had suffered more injuries after Sword Saint's past movements, but nothing too series had happened. Yet, she didn't like to be locked in that situation. Death was better than listening to two existences ready to advance in the cultivation journey while waiting for them to kill her.

"Don't hurry it!" Sword Saint snorted. "I've retained my foundation, but my understanding is far deeper. I see things in ways that I can't even describe. I don't think words could exist to explain them. For example, look at this."

Sword Saint was excited beyond reason. He lifted his arm to prepare one of his techniques, but that gesture generated a silver slash that shot ahead at high speed. Camille happened to be in its trajectory, and her figure ended up severed into two parts.

"Oh," Sword Saint uttered in a slightly disappointed tone before shooting a vague, hopeful glance toward Noah.

"Don't even think about it," Noah dismissed that silent request. "Let's go back to the others. Maybe Elbas has a puppet that suits you."

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Author's notes: One hour or so for the third chapter.