“Spirit Convergence,” Yin Ruochu shouted softly.

At once, a thin film of spirit power enveloped his entire body.

That aura swirled around him, fusing with the sword in his hand.

In that instant, sword and heart became one, the blade moved as he willed.

“Sword of Demon Subjugation,” Yin Ruochu called again.

The long sword shot into the air, bursting forth with dazzling sword light as it slashed toward Chaos.

“This sword is called Demon Slayer. I forged it over several years, using celestial wood as its guide and Profound-Heaven Heavy-Iron as its core.”

Clang, clang, clang!

A few sharp metallic sounds rang out as the blade struck Chaos, sending up a shower of sparks.

Flames filled the heavens, burning wildly across the void.

Chaos swung down a massive claw to crush the sword.

But the sword moved with extraordinary agility, darting through the void, crossing the sky.

Chaos roared in anger, unleashing a surge of overwhelming force.

That power descended, pressing the sword down from the air.

“Myriad Swords Formation!” Yin Ruochu cried again.

The sword in midair began to tremble, splitting apart into countless fragments of sword intent.

The entire sky was suddenly filled with countless blades, tens of thousands, stretching endlessly.

As Yin Ruochu waved his right hand, the swords moved with his mind, their intent shining pure.

Every single blade turned toward Chaos, erupting with a brilliance that pierced the heavens.

A rain of swords fell from the sky, each one slashing into Chaos’s body.

Behind it, the creature’s massive blood-red wings began to flap furiously, stirring up sand and storm as it took flight.

That monstrous body swooped down toward Yin Ruochu.

He did not flinch. With a cry of “Heavenly Sword!”, the Demon Slayer Divine Sword returned to his hand.

Stepping through the air, he thrust the blade into one of the beast’s wings.

But Chaos’s defenses were astonishing. It spat thunder, wore fire like armor, and its eyes burned like meteors.

It charged again, more violently than before.

“The Five Forms of Forgotten Sword,” Yin Ruochu said, his sword drawing a half circle and spinning a flower of light in his palm.

“First Form, The Pine that Defies the Cliff.”

He stood firm, sword raised, like a pine rooted in the depths of the earth, or a lone tree clinging to a cliff, unshaken by storm or fear.

Small as he was before the beast’s colossal frame, each of his movements rang with unyielding strength.

When the two collided, his sword intent blazed forth, yet he did not move an inch.

“Second Form, The Dance of Luan and Phoenix!” Yin Ruochu shouted again.

His stance became fluid, like the celestial luan bird gliding through the void, or a phoenix spreading its wings in vivid life.

Balancing on one foot, the other raised, his robe billowed in the wind.

His black-and-white hair flew loose.

The sound of his sword was like a phoenix cry, and from its tip, a fiery phantom bird soared out.

The fire phoenix illuminated half the sky, striking Chaos square in the abdomen.

Yet Yin Ruochu did not stop.

“Third Form, Riding the Wind, Carrying the Moon.”

His body turned faint and illusory. The wind of heaven seemed to gain awareness, flowing along unseen paths.

He followed the wind, felt the wind, became the wind, everywhere and nowhere at once.

From the tip of his sword, gentle breezes gathered into violent gales, carrying with them the soft glow of moonlight.

That strike sliced through the horizon, cutting across Chaos’s surroundings.

At that moment, the creature could not resist at all.

It was utterly suppressed by Yin Ruochu’s sword forms, unable to counterattack.

“Master Yin, well done!”

“Capture this monster! Let Ancient Moon City’s might be known!”

From atop the city walls, the watching crowd cheered with joy.

“Fourth Form, The Sword that Crosses the Abyss.”

The long sword erupted again, its might soaring like a rainbow. It became a dragon of the underworld, summoning thunder and storm.

That dark dragon coiled around Chaos’s huge body, binding it tight in a torrent of draconic power.

“Now, all four forms as one. Fifth Form, The Crane Among Ancient Branches!”

At that moment, Yin Ruochu’s figure multiplied into countless copies.

It was as though innumerable Yin Ruochus stood across the heavens.

Each stood with precision, in the poses of soaring cranes, aligned to the eight directions, the Six Strategems, the Two Principles, and the Four Symbols.

Chaos was trapped at the center, surrounded by a sea of Yin Ruochus.

Thousands of sword tips gleamed, all pointing toward it.

A single command resounded, “Strike!”

And in that instant, all Yin Ruochus thrust their blades toward the center.

All swords returned to one, all rivers to the sea, everything dissolved into stillness at the center of that circle.

The void… collapsed.

The heavens shuddered, the air warped, and endless sword intent filled all of creation.

Countless streaks of sword light slashed across the firmament.

When the sword intent finally exploded through the void, all of Yin Ruochu’s phantom bodies vanished within it.

Only one true figure remained, walking calmly across the air, sword sheathed, back turned to Chaos.

Behind him, the space where Chaos stood shattered. Its massive body fell.

Boom! It hit the ground, carving a vast, bottomless crater.

…

Yin Ruochu slowly turned and gave a faint smile.

“This beast was powerful, yes, but too heavy, too slow. Its attacks were far too simple. The sword arts of Sword Heaven prize clarity of heart, only with deep inner strength can one truly command the sword to subdue demons. That is our foundation.”

He was about to leave when suddenly, from the depths of the crater, a deafening roar echoed.

A surge of celestial energy burst upward.

Thick, black spirit power poured out of the pit as a massive claw gripped the earth’s edge.

Chaos hauled itself up once more.

Its fur had turned a dark purple-brown.

On its swollen belly, a black vortex split open, bottomless, swirling with deep crimson light.

Within that vortex brewed an immense, terrifying power.

When the energy peaked, a flood of red light burst forth.

Yin Ruochu’s face changed in shock. He raised his sword to block, but the crimson torrent devoured him whole.

“Master Yin!”

Cries rose from the city. Countless figures rushed toward the red surge.

But it was too late.

When the flood subsided, Yin Ruochu’s frail body fell from the sky.

…

“Do not kill him, just instill fear,” said a calm voice.

Chaos, ready to strike again, halted midair.

Xu Zimo stood in the void, blocking its path.

Yin Ruochu, after all, was one of the few true prodigies left on the God World.

If he died, it would be a loss.

Xu Zimo sought only the Grand Pivot God-Sword, not the destruction of the God World.

From within the city, several cultivators flew out to catch Yin Ruochu’s falling body.

He was gravely injured, his breath faint.

“Do not fight it head-on… do not…” he managed to whisper before fainting.

Chaos rose to its full height, its massive head looming over Ancient Moon City.

It spoke coldly, “From this day forth, this city belongs to me. You are all my slaves.”

In the sky, Xu Zimo looked on and said evenly, “The Western Mountains are enough for now. Next time, we move on the Northern Frontier, the Southern Sea, and the Eastern Tombs.”