Xianxia Online

- The Next Morning -

Before the sun had even fully rose, Xuan was awakened by the sound of his alarm, set in advance through his System. It was just barely dawnbreak, and the time was approaching 6 AM. An early rise for sure, but due to the circumstances of this day, it wasn't all that surprising. After all, the Flaming Sands Field was set to open, and everybody wanted to be the first to enter.

The only problem was… no one knew where it would be. Not until they could identify the powerful Space force of a small world opening, anyway. But those times are in the past—now with the System integrated into the functionality of this world, finding such events had never been easier.

Opening up his Director, Xuan navigated to the Flaming Sands Field Quest, and tapped on the 'Track' button right below the <Event Beginning Soon!> message. Instantly, the screen switched over to the Map tab, and pinpointed the location of where the Flaming Sands Field was due to open—a barren land in the northeastern parts of Lower Asphodel. No cities or sects were nearby there, which wasn't surprising given how the past few openings had went.

However… this location was very peculiar, and it reminded Xuan of something.

"Wait a minute…"

Opening his inventory, Xuan retrieved the Myriad Swords True God's Inheritance Map, and expanded it to look at the location—and yep, without a doubt, there it was. The exact same place as where the Flaming Sands Field was set to open, perfectly overlapping with one another.

Every year, the Flaming Sands Field would open in a random desolate place in Lower Asphodel. But to think this time, it landed straight on a True God's inheritance… no, wait. Could it be… this map changes every year according to the Flaming Sands Field?

Could Myriad Swords True God's inheritance actually be inside the Flaming Sands Field?

If that was the case, then… this was the perfect opportunity.

'Hm… I wonder if Elder Shuang is ready yet…'

Xuan's question was soon answered by the sound of his door suddenly sliding open—the work of the huntress Ye Yuxin, who was already ready and stood there with one hand on her waist.

"… I believe I told you to knock."

"Oh, sorry. But when are we leaving? Elder Shuang's already waiting for us downstairs."

"…"

Sighing, Xuan got off from his bed and headed downstairs, brushing past the huntress as he did so. With a smug expression on her face—perhaps glad that she was able to annoy him—Yuxin followed.

*****

"Are the two of you ready? You should already know where the Flaming Sands Field is set to open at, correct?"

Such a question was asked by Elder Shuang, and without hesitation, both of them nodded. By now, the System's usage was already widespread amongst the population, and it became common sense/terminology.

"Good. In that case, follow me."

Saying that, she waltzed out of Open Sky Alchemist Guild, and carried on further outside Cloud Catcher City. Once the trio were somewhere open and safe, Elder Shuang snapped her fingers in the air, and instantly, a massive and wide sword appeared, hovering inches above the floor.

"Woah…" Yuxin's eyes widened in surprise as she observed the item all over, wondering how it was levitating like that, but on the contrary, Xuan's face wasn't surprised at all. Instead, he simply climbed on, sat down crossed-legged, and waited patiently for the ride to begin.

"T-This sword, it can fly?" Yuxin asked excitedly, and Elder Shuang smiled at the sight.

"Yes, my dear child… you haven't seen a flying sword before?"

"Er… no," Yuxin replied, before shooting Xuan a look. "I, uh, come from a very backwater place…"

"Is that so…"

Elder Shuang lifted an eyebrow of suspicion due to how bad at lying this girl was, but she didn't question it any further out of respect. Instead, she simply got onto the flying sword in front of Xuan, and gestured towards the spot behind Xuan.

"You can sit behind him. Flying swords are the norm of transportation in general, so it's best you get used to it."

"Okay!"

Excited, Yuxin climbed onto the back of the sword, right behind Xuan. Her eyes were dazzling in anticipation, but very soon, that would not be the case. Xuan, seeing this, let out a soft chuckle, and thought back to the first time he used a flying sword. It was like Earth's worst roller coaster, except the terror is amplified a thousand times worse.

'… Well, it'll serve as a good lesson. Leaves an impression.'

The moment Elder Shuang hit the pedals (meaning, poured her Qi into the sword—there weren't actually any pedals), Yuxin realized her fatal mistake. Eyes widening, her throat let out an uncontrollable scream of terror as the sword lifted off the ground, and she suddenly wrapped her arms around Xuan's waist for dear life.

Accelerating further, the sword shot towards the air like a rocket, before finally balancing out at a good height. But that didn't mean the speed lessened—not even a bit, and the flying sword continued to soar across the sky accompanied by the terrified screams of Ye Yuxin.

*****

While this was all happening, the rest of Asphodel weren't just lying low, either. The Flaming Sands Field was an annual event that every young aspiring cultivator wanted to attend, but only those from the major families and sects had the privilege to. From lone cultivators such as Nine Heavens who bought his way in using Credits to the powerful heirs of the Eight Great Families of the Central Capital, every powerful cultivator Origin Transformation stage and below were eager to enter the small world.

And that was just for a normal opening.

This year, things were different.

As a Mutated Quest, the rewards—and dangers—were elevated to a completely new level. The reason was something no one knew, but the saying risk equals reward was something everyone in this world understood.

This year's Flaming Sands Field was going to a bloody fight—not just between fellow cultivators, but against something far, far worse…