Transcending the Nine Heavens

Should there be another life, we will dance under the Heavens

The Nine Heavens.
Amongst a sea of clouds.
The Wind and Thunder Platform.
A single piece of sky.

Here, was the Continent of The Nine Heavens.
The Three Higher Heavens.
An extremely perilous area, the Wind and Thunder Platform!

Whilst on it, one could reach for the winds and thunder, and its only exit was the single piece of sky!

However, at that moment, there was instead nothing but foul wind and a fog of misery on the Wind and Thunder Platform!

“Chu Yang, hand over the Nine Tribulations Sword! We will spare you from death!”

“Chu Yang, you are already on the verge of death, just hand over the Nine Tribulations Sword.
The others and I can leave you a complete corpse!”

“Chu Yang, the Nine Tribulations Sword, such a godly item that is ranked first under the Heavens, is completely wasted in your hands.
How many years has it been that you have shown no improvement? That heavenly item is absolutely wasted on you! Just hand it over.”

Shouts of clamouring voices came from all directions.

At the center of the Wind and Thunder Platform was a slightly protruding piece of large rock.
On that rock, Chu Yang was wearing a black piece of shirt.
His entire body was bathed in blood, and his hair loosely dishevelled.
However, his face appeared unconcerned, and his eyes remained cool and collected like a piece of rock! His body — Upright and straight like a spear!

Similar to the sword within his hand, he was filled with an unyielding intent!

Even though he was already mortally wounded!

Beneath his feet, within a radius of several hundred zhang, there were countless limbs and body pieces that were dripping with blood.

He looked at the surrounding group of experts who were only shouting, but were not rushing over.
Chu Yang’s face revealed the hint of a cynical smile, filled with arrogance and disdain!

Faced against that sea of experts, even though he was completely surrounded with no means of escape, his haughtiness still continued to soar!

Those people were all aware of the situation.
They knew that he was already on his last legs, but none dared to approach.
When faced against an attack that would cause them both to perish together, no one was willing to become that scapegoat.
They could only hope that someone who sought death would blindly charge in, but no one was stupid enough to do so.
That was why, at that moment, they had unanimously stopped their advance and stayed their hands.

That kind of people, with that kind of mentality, even if their levels of martial cultivation were higher, even if their numbers were to increase; Even if they could kill me ten thousand times, they were also not worthy of being my enemies!

Chu Yang continued to smile cynically, then slowly began to sit down.
The expression on his face remained indifferent, and his lips continued to remain silent.
However, instead, his mind was filled with doubt.

How did the matter regarding the Nine Tribulations Sword being in his possession got disclosed out?

He had clearly investigated for a total of three years before ascertaining that there was a fragment which belonged to the Ninth Tribulation Sword within the Wind and Thunder Platform at the Three Higher Heavens.
After spending untold hardships, he had finally found a chance and risked a gamble that had a one in ten chance of survival to arrive at the Three Higher Heavens.
However, why did he encounter such a massive ambush after his arrival there?

On that day, it was only the fifth day since he had entered the Three Higher Heavens! Moreover, he encountered that ambush at the moment when he had just found the Wind and Thunder Platform!

On that day, the only result would be the result of his death!

He was all along famous for his secretive whereabouts, so who knew his plans?

He had continuously charged forward for more than ten times, but he was blocked and pushed back every single time! Meanwhile, all of the places that he had chosen became dead ends! According to common sense, there was absolutely no reason for him to be unable to charge a path out!

Who was the person who understood his habits to such a degree? Who was that secret enemy?

That question had already puzzled Chu Yang for a long time.

The blade of the Nine Tribulations Sword flashed and reflected the sun’s rays from the sky above, painting a rainbow in the middle of the air.
Everyone who witnessed that scene felt their desires burning, and could not wait to have that godly item in their grasp.

Higher Ancient Godly Item! A godly item that was ranked first on the Continent of The Nine Heavens!

Whoever obtained the Nine Tribulations Sword would be invincible under the Heavens! That ‘being invincible under the Heavens’ was the huge secret within the Nine Tribulations Sword! According to legends, the power of the Nine Tribulations Sword was not only limited to that.

Nine Tribulations of The Nine Heavens, a single sword to destroy the world; To reign supreme for a thousand autumns until eternity, exceeding the Heavens beyond The Nine Heavens!

That was the only sentence of the ballad passed down throughout the world regarding the Nine Tribulations Sword.
Its origins could no longer be traced.
The Nine Tribulations Sword had always been only a legend.
No one expected that the Nine Tribulations Sword would one day actually appear right before them.

…………………………

Chu Yang also had a doubt.
The Nine Tribulations Sword.
Correct, he had obtained the Nine Tribulations Sword.
Moreover, step by step, he had found five fragments of the sword.
However, to his disappointment, he had also discovered that the power of the Nine Tribulations Sword was also not as great as he had imagined! Furthermore, there was always a clear gap between the Nine Tribulations Sword and him.
No matter if he had poured fresh blood over it, or how much he attempted to perceive it through sincerity, there was not even the slightest effect.
Why was that so?

Why? Why?!

His utmost emotions, the pinnacle sword! He had destroyed his emotions and immersed in the sword, then from the Way of the Sword immersed in the Way of Martial Arts, and from the Way of Martial Arts sought the Way of the Heavens.
The price he paid was a life of loneliness, and he led a life filled with killing as his believed way of life.
Unfortunately, in the end, he still did not manage to master the Nine Tribulations Sword, and therefore did not manage to master the Art of The Nine Heavens!!

Was the choice he made wrong? Or was that path definitely a mistake? Or could it be said…… that his lack of emotions was still insufficient to satisfy the Nine Tribulations Sword?

Emotionless swordsman, emotionless swordsman, if a swordsman had emotions, how could he still be considered a swordsman? The Way of the Sword, the Way of Martial Arts, the Way of the Heavens, they all lacked emotions in the end…… However, why were his emotions wavering at the current moment between life and death?

Nine Tribulations Sword, ah, Nine Tribulations Sword, what exactly is your secret?!

Looking at the surrounding stares of greediness towards the Nine Tribulations Sword, Chu Yang secretly gave a bitter laugh.
All of you only knew that obtaining this Nine Tribulations Sword would make you invincible under the Heavens, but do all of you know how much have I sacrificed for this Nine Tribulations Sword?

I have already nothing left.

The red and graceful figure of a person seemed to flash within his mind, and it became clearer and clearer.
Slowly, a pair of red sleeves were raised lightly and swayed.
From somewhere, a fleeting music seemed to begin playing, while that lithe and graceful figure slowly began to dance amidst the dreamlike surroundings……

The focus in Chu Yang’s eyes suddenly became distant with a sense of loss, filled with sorrow……

Fresh blood flowed, and Chu Yang clearly felt his own life quickly slipping away.
He had pursued Martial Arts all his life.
Going into a relationship, breaking a relationship, getting out of a relationship, as well as destroying his emotions after becoming emotionless.
At that very moment, on the verge of his death, he had originally thought that his only regret should be that he did not achieve the martial domain level of supremacy that he pursued all his life, while he was alive.
However, what he had never thought was, at that moment, that very point of time, a figure he originally thought that he had long since forgotten, had instead actually appeared within his mind’s consciousness.

Ah, that beautiful figure clad in luxurious and fluttering red clothes, that turning to look back, the curl of that body…… those were all excellent expressions.
Lightly, nimbly, and gracefully, his mind began to sing and dance.
Every single time the figure turned back to look at him, that gaze carried with it passion that was as deep as the sea.

Mo Qing Wu, the woman who had caused Chu Yang to enter into a relationship, as well as breaking that relationship!

“So, I never did really break that relationship……” Chu Yang muttered to himself, the edges of his mouth revealed the hint of a self-deprecating smile.

In his mind, a hint of remorse quietly began to diffuse.
Like smoke, it immediately engulfed his entire soul.

At that very moment, he could no longer control his mind, nor did he also want to control it……

Qing Wu! If I were to head to the netherworld now, would it be possible to meet up with you?

Qing Wu, did you know, when I had initially practised the Three Tribulations of Emotional Destruction Slash to leave you, how much had I regretted that……

Chu Yang’s mind was filled with a sour sense of loss……

“Everybody attack together! Completely chop him up! As for the Nine Tribulations Sword, it will not be too late for us to slowly negotiate later!” One man gave a loud shout.
“Otherwise, if he is given time to recover, it will become our turn to suffer a huge loss!”

From the surroundings, the large crowd of people gave loud shouts of agreement, then immediately raised their swords and sabres as one, and moved towards Chu Yang while surrounding him.

Chu Yang remained sitting in a trance, unmoving, the gaze of his eyes seemed to be looking at somewhere else ahead of him.
As if filled with a deep sense of bleakness that had remained unchanged since ancient times, the strands of hair that were stained with blood floated before his forehead……

The dance of that person within his mind’s consciousness became even more intense, and had already become a group of red shadows, indefinitely fleeting, but were instead weaving a boundless sky of red silk.
At the same time, a graceful and dreary voice slowly began singing from amidst the red shadows……

“A lifetime is not a gentle dance,

a dance is a lifetime of bitterness;

I will dance for you in this lifetime,

bitter or not I will dance a lifetime!”

……

That was her pledge of love, a little poem that Mo Qing Wu had created.
He could still remember that moment when Mo Qing Wu had tears in her eyes, her gaze filled with melancholy and resentment.
She…… had long knew that he had made use of her emotions to practise his martial skills.
However, like moths drawn to a flame, she had instead thrown herself into his arms, and had allowed him to burn as he pleased!

Ah, that girl of pure heart and spirit…… As Chu Yang wistfully thought of her, his heart could not help but feel sour.
At the very end of his life, did he only know the preciousness of true feelings…… but for himself, he could no longer turn back……

He could still remember, that final time when Mo Qing Wu was rejected by him.
With a wounded heart and broken spirit, in a distracted state of restlessness, there was an attack on her way back home, and the young woman of peerless beauty finally passed away like a diminishing fragrance.

When he received the news and had immediately rushed over, he was still a single step too late at the very end.
Although he had later killed the entire family of the people who had harmed Mo Qing Wu, not sparing even the nine generations of that clan’s chickens and dogs, the beautiful girl could not come back to life!

At the moment before her death, that woman of peerless beauty had gently laid in his arms.
She had said to him, “Chu Yang, should there be another life…… should I meet you once more, I hope that you will carefully…… take a look at me.
I look nicer than a sword!”

“Chu Yang, to be able to die in your arms, I am very satisfied……” Those were the last words of Mo Qing Wu……

Qing Wu, you were not satisfied.
You had regrets.
Otherwise, why would you have tears at the corners of your eyes? On the face of the beautiful girl who had already taken her last breath, two clear droplets of tears suddenly dropped…… She had forcibly pretended to put on a smile on her deathbed, afraid that he would be hurt…… that was how wretched……

Two droplets of clear tears, had instead at that very moment smashed and shattered his heart! From then on, his heart would be covered in dust!

Drifting lightly like a dream,

Demons danced in a sea of blood and on a mountain of bones;

A gentleman does not question the warring swords within a thousand Li,

Together forever through Life and Death unto the Highest Heaven!

That was a poem specially created by Xue Lei Han, the gifted scholar who was then ranked first under the Heavens, in response to the deep feelings Mo Qing Wu had for Chu Yang.

While at the moment, Qing Wu, you have already arrived at the Highest Heaven, yet I instead remain in the Mortal Realm…… but, I am soon able to be with you together forever through Life and Death…… through generations after generations!

Chu Yang was lost in his thoughts, and the usually cold and hardened edges of his lips displayed the hint of a warm and gentle, tragic smile.
The hair that was stained with blood began to float amongst the wind……

Qing Wu, wait for me!

Qing Wu, did you know, should there be another life, I’d rather not practise whatever Way of the Sword, rather not want to be at whatever pinnacle, rather not have revenge, and would rather be with you! In this world, was there anything worth that satisfied smile of yours? No!

The graceful dance and songs within his mind’s consciousness became increasingly distant, and Mo Qing Wu’s voice seemed to also become increasingly fleeting.
“I will dance for you in this lifetime…… I will dance for you through the generations…… Even if my heart is bent a thousand times, it will never change…… Even if I were to die ten thousand times, I will not feel bitter…… not feel bitter……”

*Shua* A golden blade cut through the wind and came towards him from the front.
Whilst still in a trance, Chu Yang casually blocked with his sword.
His mind was still listening to Mo Qing Wu’s voice from somewhere…… This life is already ending.
Ah, Qing Wu, before my death, let me hear more of your voice……

Not bitter…… Qing Wu, you were bitter, but instead did not feel bitter.
At this moment…… I am very bitter! Filled with regret!

The number of sabres and swords added to the bodies became more and more, fresh blood flew little by little, and bit by bit, pain began to focus on the various parts of his entire body.
Finally, the songs and dance within the mind’s consciousness had been broken!

Chu Yang furiously gave a long shout! He suddenly stood up, his long, black coloured hair rose and flew about intensely! His hair-band broke! He began to rage hysterically!

Even at the final moments of my life, all of you came to interrupt our reunion! You all deserve to die!

*Peng* A sword pierced through Chu Yang’s chest.
Chu Yang felt a momentary pain, and lowered his head to take a look.
*Pa* The piece of jade pendant that hung around his neck shattered before his eyes.
At the center of the jade pendant, a single “Wu” character quietly began to break into pieces……

Chu Yang blankly reached out a hand to touch, his hand grabbing fragments.
All of a sudden, he became extremely furious!

Ah, that was the only keepsake Qing Wu had left for him!

“Kill!” Chu Yang suddenly rose his head, the intent to kill wildly surged within his eyes.
With a crazed shout, the Nine Tribulations Sword within his hand suddenly wav