Chaotic Sword God Chapter 1: Jian Chen

Chapter 1: Jian Chen

In the heart of a boundless mountain range, two peaks shaped like massive blades rose over a thousand feet into the sky. Separated by a mere hundred meters, these twin summits towered majestically above a swirling ocean of clouds.

The slopes of these sword-shaped mountains were incredibly steep, appearing as though two celestial deities had plunged their weapons into the earth. To any observer, the sheer precipices seemed entirely impossible to scale.

At the highest point of these summits, the gap between the peaks narrowed to less than a hundred meters. A thin veil of mist clung to the air, obscuring the view and creating a disorienting haze. Despite the poor visibility, two figures could be discerned standing atop the peaks. They remained as motionless as stone statues, their presence undisturbed by the fierce gales. Only their garments and hair whipped violently in the high-altitude winds.

One of these figures was a youth who appeared no older than twenty. He possessed an extraordinary, flawless handsomeness that could be considered unrivaled under heaven—a true lady killer. Though his eyes seemed ordinary at first glance, they held a magnetic charm and a depth of fascination that felt as if they could ensnare the soul of anyone who looked into them.

The young man’s long black hair reached down to his waist, unbound and flowing freely like a dancing shadow in the howling wind. Strapped to his back was a single long sword, its length obscured by a thick wrapping of white cloth. From the hilt, which was crafted with exquisite detail, the characters for "Light Wind" were visible. Curiously, no straps or ropes held the weapon to his body; it remained fixed to his back as if by magic, defying all logical explanation.

This youth was Jian Chen, a supreme expert whose reputation as the "Sword God" shook both the Heavens and the Jianghu. His lightning-fast sword techniques had long reached the pinnacle of perfection, marking him as the preeminent sword master of his era. Despite his mere twenty years of age, he had already ascended to a realm of incredible power.

The Jianghu knew very little of Jian Chen’s origins. Beyond the fact that he was an orphan unaffiliated with any school or Sect, his past remained a complete enigma. His history was a riddle, and the source of his formidable martial arts and sophisticated sword style was a mystery to all.

On the opposing peak, a hundred meters away, stood a large man draped in black robes. He was an Elder, appearing to be between fifty and sixty years old, with his hair tied back in a crane-neck style. His aged eyes burned with a vibrant, piercing light that seemed to illuminate the surroundings. His gaze was as sharp as a blade, making it difficult for anyone to look him in the eye. He gripped a thick, black long sword that was notably missing a sharpened edge.

This elderly man was none other than Dugu Qiubai, a legendary figure who had vanished from the Jianghu over a century ago. That name was merely a moniker, as his true identity had been lost to time. He earned his fame a hundred years prior by defeating every "unparalleled" expert of that age. While few who personally witnessed his glory remain alive today, his legendary feats have been whispered through the generations. After a century of seclusion, his strength had undoubtedly reached terrifying new heights; no one truly knew the extent of Dugu Qiubai’s current power.

Dugu Qiubai stared silently at the twenty-year-old Jian Chen across the hundred-meter void. His terrifying eyes held a razor-sharp glint that felt cold enough to freeze the blood.

“Jian Chen, despite your youth, your strength rivals my own. Your mastery of the way of the sword is an achievement even I can only aspire to. Unfortunately, you took the life of my only beloved disciple, leaving me no choice but to seek retribution. Today, I shall deliver justice on his behalf,” Dugu Qiubai declared grimly. His voice, initially steady, began to ripple with a murderous intent so thick it would make any man tremble.

Jian Chen’s expression remained as tranquil as a still lake as he met Dugu Qiubai’s gaze. His white robes snapped in the wind, and his waist-length hair danced wildly behind him.

“I am not to blame. It was your disciple who chose to provoke me first. His death by my blade was simply the result of his own lack of skill,” Jian Chen replied calmly, his voice flowing smoothly as his lips moved slightly.

Dugu Qiubai let out a cold, angry laugh. “A lack of skill? Fine! Today I shall test your own experience. Let this old man see if you can truly slay me with your Light Wind sword.”

With those words, Dugu Qiubai swung his Heavy Iron Sword. A massive surge of Sword Qi erupted from the blade, streaking toward Jian Chen like a bolt of lightning across the hundred-meter gap.

With a stoic face, Jian Chen drew the long sword from his back in a blur of motion. The double-edged blade was roughly 1.3 meters long and two fingers wide, shimmering with a white radiance. With a swift thrust, an even more violent burst of Sword Qi manifested, flying toward Dugu Qiubai’s attack at a speed the eye could barely track.

“Bang!”

The two waves of Sword Qi clashed with a thunderous boom that shook the air. A massive shockwave of Qi radiated from the point of impact, instantly clearing the surrounding mist and clouds.

Without hesitation, Jian Chen and Dugu Qiubai leaped from their respective peaks. They met in the empty space between the mountains, engaging in a savage mid-air duel.

Both men struck with incredible velocity, the sound of their clashing steel creating a continuous, metallic melody. Sharp fragments of Sword Qi sprayed in every direction, gouging deep holes into the mountain faces and sending a cascade of boulders tumbling thousands of feet into the abyss below.

In the span of just a few breaths, Jian Chen and Dugu Qiubai traded several hundred blows at blinding speeds. Finally, they retreated, leaping back to their original positions on the mountain tops. Both appeared battered, their once-pristine clothes now torn in several places.

Dugu Qiubai’s expression grew increasingly somber. “What a rapid sword. It’s no wonder no one in the Jianghu can overcome your blade. However, it will not suffice against me.” He paused briefly before adding, “If we continue this way, a winner will never be decided. We should settle this with our final strikes.” Suddenly, Dugu Qiubai’s aura exploded, manifesting as a colossal sword of light that seemed to pierce the heavens.

Becoming equally serious, Jian Chen also released a surge of power that was every bit as formidable as Dugu Qiubai’s.

The pressure exerted by the two men intensified, filling the area with an earth-shattering force. Their combined auras soon enveloped the mountain peaks entirely. Even the heavy cloud cover was torn apart by the sheer intensity of their power. A violent gale began to howl with a shrill, ear-piercing sound like a wailing ghost. In the forests far below, animals fled in terror, driven by instinct to get as far away as possible. The two masters continued to gather their strength, preparing for their ultimate techniques.

“Kacha! Kacha!”

Nearby, several small trees succumbed to the overwhelming pressure, snapping into pieces and being swept away by the turbulent winds.

As Jian Chen and Dugu Qiubai reached the peak of their power, a vortex of Qi began to swirl around them. Every blade of grass and small plant was flattened against the earth, and even the sturdiest trees began to sway violently.

Simultaneously, a brilliant white glow enveloped Jian Chen’s Light Wind sword, while a pitch-black radiance consumed Dugu Qiubai’s Heavy Iron Sword.

The Qi surrounding them grew more concentrated until Jian Chen was completely hidden within a sphere of radiant white light, while Dugu Qiubai was encased in a sphere of deep black. The two men vanished from sight, leaving only two orbs of opposing colors shining brightly against one another.

“Yin!”

Jian Chen’s Light Wind sword vibrated with a dazzling brilliance, emitting a terrifying Sword Qi that would strike fear into anyone’s heart. His black hair and white robes whipped frantically in the wind as his body hovered in the air. He looked like an indomitable god of war, radiating unstoppable power.

When their strength reached its absolute zenith, both men let out a simultaneous roar that echoed like a thunderclap, piercing the eardrums. In an instant, the brilliant white light and the abyssal black light collided at staggering speeds. In the moment of impact...

There was no sound. As the dust settled, it became clear that Jian Chen and Dugu Qiubai had traded places. Each stood on the opposite peak, their faces equally bloodless. A thick stream of blood began to soak into Jian Chen’s chest, staining his white robes a deep crimson. In that split second of their crossing, Dugu Qiubai’s sword had pierced Jian Chen’s heart.

Dugu Qiubai, however, had lost his entire right arm, rendering him unable to ever hold a sword again. His Heavy Iron Sword had already fallen into the thousand-meter deep canyon below. To strike Jian Chen’s heart, he had sacrificed his sword arm.

Jian Chen stood silently atop the peak as blood began to trickle from his lips. His face transitioned from pale to a deathly white, like parchment. With his heart pierced by Dugu Qiubai’s blade, he was caught in a fatal impasse; death was now unavoidable.

“Hahaha...” Dugu Qiubai suddenly broke into laughter from his position. “Jian Chen, with your gifts, you likely would have surpassed me in a few years. But it is your misfortune that your current strength falls just short of mine. In the end, you fall by my hand.” He let out a short, weary sigh. “Ai... for an old man like me to witness the end of such a genius is a tragedy. Yet, I had to avenge my disciple.”

Feeling the spark of life fading away, Jian Chen slowly closed his eyes. He felt a strange sense of peace. To him, death was not a heavy burden. After years of wandering the Jianghu and taking many lives, he had become desensitized to his own mortality. His only regret was that he would never reach the ultimate pinnacle of the way of the sword.

As Jian Chen embraced the stillness, a peculiar sensation washed over his mind. In that final, critical moment, his spirit seemed to merge with his long sword. He was the sword, and the sword was him; the boundary between them vanished. It was as if the weapon had become an extension of his very soul.

At that same moment, a vast and pure torrent of world energy descended from the heavens, flowing into his mind in waves. This energy harmonized perfectly with his soul, and as the world energy poured in, Jian Chen felt his "spirit" expanding at an incredible speed. His soul seemed to drift out of his body, soaring over the endless mountains and valleys. In this state, everything within a five-thousand-meter radius became crystal clear in his mind. He could even perceive a tiny mosquito on the ground, living its simple life.

On the very brink of death, he had somehow achieved a breakthrough....