Chaotic Sword God Chapter 3: Refining the Body

Chapter 3: Refining the Body

Looking down at his small, fragile frame, Xiang Tian let out a sharp breath, his expression shifting through a complex array of emotions. Over the past year, fragments of his former life had frequently flickered across his mind. These memories remained so vivid that it felt as though everything had occurred just yesterday, permanently etched into the very core of his soul. No matter how much he tried, forgetting was impossible. He understood his situation now; in his previous life, his name was Jian Chen. After meeting his end, he had been reincarnated, carrying the profound mysteries of his soul and memory into this new existence.

Because he had retained his full memory through the process of reincarnation, he possessed the ability to speak from the moment of his birth. By listening to the conversations of those attending to him, he gained a general understanding of the household he had been born into. More crucially, he realized he was no longer inhabiting the world he once knew. This was an entirely different realm, one that Jian Chen had never heard of before.

The estate where Jian Chen resided was known as Changyang Mansion. It served as the seat of power for one of the four major families of Luo’er City, each of which held significant local authority. His father, Changyang Ba, was the leader of the Changyang clan. His mother, Bi Yuntian, served as the clan leader's fourth concubine. Though she was not the primary wife, she commanded immense respect and power within the family due to her prestigious status as a Radiant Saint Master.

While the exact nature of a Radiant Saint Master remained a mystery to Jian Chen, he recognized that his mother’s high standing and the reverence others showed her were direct results of this title.

As for Jian Chen, he held the title of the fourth young lord of the Changyang clan, a position of noble status. He was joined by two older brothers and one older sister. The eldest was Changyang Hu, followed by his sister Changyang Mingyue and his second brother Changyang Ke. While they all shared the same father, each had a different mother. Aside from Changyang Hu, he had met Changyang Mingyue and Changyang Ke several times; they were only a few years his senior. The eldest sibling present was Changyang Mingyue at four years old, making her three years older than Jian Chen, while Changyang Ke was two years older. Beyond these four, the family was filled with many other children.

Suddenly, an elderly housekeeper approached from behind and whispered, “4th young lord, the hour is growing late. Your mother is searching for you.”

Jian Chen was snapped out of his deep thoughts. Glancing toward the horizon, he realized the light was fading, signaling the arrival of dusk. He had been standing there lost in contemplation for the entire afternoon without noticing. “I understand, Chang Bai. I shall return shortly.”

Chang Bai served as the head housekeeper of the Changyang clan, overseeing nearly every internal affair. Consequently, his position was quite elevated. Despite being a servant, he commanded a level of respect almost equal to that of the clan leader himself.

A faint smile touched Chang Bai’s lips as he looked at Jian Chen with great pride. By the age of six months, Jian Chen was already walking unaided, and he had mastered speech within eight months. His ability to not only talk but engage in meaningful communication was extraordinary. These feats had earned Jian Chen the reputation of a genius, leaving many people eager to see what his future would hold.

That evening, Jian Chen joined his mother, Bi Yuntian, for dinner in the dining hall. This particular hall was reserved exclusively for the head of the house, his concubines, and his direct offspring.

Upon their arrival, they found three beautiful women already seated at the large round table. Each appeared to be in her twenties. Two of them were accompanied by children; one was a boy of about three or four who looked sturdy and well-fed. This was Changyang Ke, the third young lord and son of Changyang Ba.

The moment his eyes landed on Jian Chen, Changyang Ke’s gaze filled with visible resentment and hostility. It was obvious that he was looking for an excuse to cause trouble, harboring a clear grudge against his younger brother.

The four women noticed the animosity Changyang Ke directed toward Jian Chen, but they paid it little mind. To them, this was nothing more than typical childhood rivalry, hardly worth their concern.

The second child was a girl of four or five with her hair tied in two ponytails. She watched the glowering Changyang Ke and giggled, her bright eyes twinkling. Her laughter revealed two charming dimples, making her look incredibly precious. Even at such a young age, it was clear she would grow into a divine beauty. This was Changyang Mingyue, the second child and only daughter of Changyang Ba.

“Fourth brother, you’ve arrived! Come, sit by me!” Seeing Jian Chen, her smile widened as she gestured for him to join them.

Jian Chen gave a polite nod to Changyang Mingyue and took his seat beside his mother.

Bi Yuntian leaned in and spoke dotingly, “Xiang’er, greet your aunts and your siblings.”

Resigning himself to the social requirements, Jian Chen looked toward the elegant women and said, “Greetings, eldest aunt, second aunt, third aunt, second sister, and third brother.” Since realizing he could talk, his mother had been enthusiastically drilling him on proper etiquette. Jian Chen chose to cooperate with her teachings, knowing that adapting to the norms of this new world would be beneficial in the long run.

Initially, he had struggled with the transition into this new body. With the memories of his previous life intact, he still identified as Jian Chen. A part of him felt like an outsider in this life, but as time passed, he slowly began to embrace his new identity. Regardless of his past, Bi Yuntian was his mother now. Though the reason for his retained memories remained a mystery, they belonged to a world far away. They had no place here, so Jian Chen decided to lock them away in the depths of his mind. It was time to fully commit to this new life.

The women offered him warm smiles. One lady, dressed in shimmering golden robes, chuckled, “Sister Yun Er, Xiang Tian seems to grow more brilliant every day. Truly... it is hard to believe he is only a year old. I am quite jealous that you have such a gifted son.” This was Bai Yushuang, the second wife and mother of Changyang Mingyue.

“Indeed, younger sister Yun Er, I agree with second sister. My fondness for Xiang Tian grows with every passing day.” Another woman, the third wife Yu Feng Yan, spoke with a calm and serene expression from her seat nearby.

“Xiang Tian is undoubtedly a prodigy. Walking at six months and speaking at eight are achievements no ordinary child could hope to match. I am quite eager to see the results of his Saint Energy test in two years. I truly hope he provides us with a magnificent surprise when that day arrives.” This speaker was Ling Long, the first wife. She was older than the others and carried a more commanding, stern aura.

Just as Ling Long finished speaking, a deep, masculine voice resonated through the room. “I concur. I am also looking forward to the surprise Xiang Tian will bring us when he turns three.” A man in his thirties entered the hall, radiating the presence of a true master. Clad in a white chang pao with gold embroidery and sporting shoulder-length black hair, he exuded an air of easy confidence.

“Husband!”

“Father!”

The seven people at the table rose immediately to greet him. Jian Chen followed suit, adding his soft voice to the chorus.

This man was the patriarch of the clan, Changyang Ba.

Changyang Ba walked to the table and sat down, a kind smile on his face. He looked at Jian Chen and asked, “Xiang’er, are you still enjoying your life here?”

Jian Chen gave a firm nod. “I am!”

The smile on Changyang Ba’s face grew wider. “Xiang’er, if you ever find this old mansion too restrictive, you are welcome to go out and see the world for yourself.”

“I understand, father!” Jian Chen answered.

Changyang Ba was immensely pleased by Jian Chen’s intelligence, which far surpassed that of any normal one-year-old.

The family dinner was a pleasant affair and concluded quickly. Afterward, Jian Chen retired to his private quarters. Given his age, he would normally sleep with his mother, but he had insisted on having his own room. He had been so unyielding on this point that Bi Yuntian eventually gave in to his request.

That night, Jian Chen sat in a cross-legged position on his bed, hands resting on his knees. With his palms turned upward and his face tilted toward the ceiling, he began to practice the fundamental principles of the Azulet Sword Law.

The Azulet Sword Law was the very foundation of his strength, something he had mastered over twenty years in his former world. It was a rare and terrifyingly powerful form of Cultivation, containing profound truths and devastating techniques.

Jian Chen had discovered the Azulet Sword Law by chance as a child. After a fall from a mountain cliff, he had miraculously survived by landing in a deep pool. Trapped in a secluded cave and surviving only on fish, he found the manual and spent a decade in isolation mastering its secrets. Only after his breakthrough was he able to leap from the cavern and return to civilization.

As a war orphan, he had been raised by his great-grandparents. However, by the time he escaped the cave ten years later, they had long since passed away. After paying his final respects at their graves, the solitary Jian Chen set out to wander the world alone.

Just as he had accepted his fate in his previous life, he now embraced his new reality. With this resolve, he began the process of Cultivation and refining his body, a journey he had already been pursuing for half a year, determined to reclaim his former power.