Chapter 12: The Voidwave Realm

Zora did not open her eyes until daybreak.

By the time she rose from bed, the person on the floor had long since awakened and stepped out half an hour prior. Back then, before the sky was even light, the tall youth had bitten down on his blue-black hair ribbon, tying his hair into a high ponytail with a few quick movements as he walked.

He had specifically returned to his own quarters.

The group from last night must have hit his place first; the room had been turned into a complete mess, and the few items originally provided in the room had been stolen.

Vane had confirmed that Shu Liang was a paper tiger. "Shu family" indeed—even if there were truly cultivators with the surname Shu in the December Sect, they were either low-level or didn't recognize Shu Liang’s family at all. After all, the boy lacked even basic spiritual tools and had to climb the stairway like any other mortal after failing the talent test, escorted by commoners instead of powerful cultivators.

Vane expressionlessly kicked open Shu Liang’s door. The man, covered in purple bruises from the previous night's beating, was lying in bed. He had kept a candle burning all night and had only just fallen asleep in the early hours, only to be jolted awake by the thunderous bang of the door hitting the wall.

Shu Liang woke up to see Vane standing at the doorway with his arms crossed. He didn't enter, seemingly finding the room filthy, but stood silhouetted against the dark, pre-dawn sky.

Facing the warm light from inside the room, the youth lifted his long lashes and cast a distant, icy glance at him. The flickering shadows on his face made him look like a vengeful god to Shu Liang, who couldn't stop himself from trembling.

Shu Liang: "You... you..."

Vane smiled: "You made a mess of my room. I'm quite troubled by that."

Shu Liang shivered, his arrogance punctured the moment he met a real threat. "Sor—Sorry, I’ll have the others help me clean your room right away..."

Before he could finish, Vane refused.

"No need. It's not clean."

"..."

Shu Liang’s face twisted for a moment. He knew this person was no saint; he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. For an immortal sect to accept someone like him was simply inviting disaster!

In the end, Vane took back the ointments and fasting pills that originally belonged to him and collected a significant amount of money as "compensation" for the damaged furniture.

Before turning to leave, he paused, tilting his head slightly so his dark pupils turned toward Shu Liang. "By the way, I am not her lover. Don't get it wrong next time."

The way his eyes shifted to the corners was unnerving. Shu Liang had long forgotten his own casual remark, but he could only nod frantically in terror.

Returning to his room to tidy up, Vane checked the sky, then set out for Zora's residence.

Zora got out of bed and had barely taken a step when Vane opened the door. He was covered in the cool morning dew, bringing a hint of chill with him.

Zora didn't care where he had been. Still groggy from sleep, she sat down at the dressing table in a daze.

The youth naturally stood behind her. He pulled a wooden comb, kept warm against his chest, and began combing from the roots to the tips of her hair. He hit a small knot near the ends. Having encountered this in Brookside Town, he set the comb down and used his fingertips to patiently untangle and tease apart the soft, messy strands until they were separated.

The window was right next to the dressing table. Zora stared outside. More and more people were arriving—mostly young, their faces full of hope. They crowded around He Songning, trying to strike up a conversation with respectful and worshipful tones. He Songning simply shook his head, said "My apologies," and flew off on his sword.

The group wasn't discouraged; they sighed and hurried into their rooms, then came back out to chat with others. Zora also saw Yiling Ke. Initially excited, the girl soon fell silent, clearly annoyed by the endless barrage of questions from others.

The path Yiling Ke had to take led right past Zora's cottage. A moment later, she finally spotted Zora through the window and waved enthusiastically. As she got closer, Yiling Ke also saw Vane behind Zora, his eyes downcast as he meticulously combed her hair.

Zora paused for a second, then waved back. Yiling Ke didn't disturb her and walked straight past.

The noise outside gradually grew. With the girl's hair tied into beautiful ox-horn buns, Vane asked, "Shall we go to Manshan Hall to eat?"

Zora: "Bring the food back here."

Vane nodded.

They finished breakfast in the room. Zora wandered around using the simple map Vane had drawn, but found nothing fun. Aside from the pleasant scenery, there was nothing here; they seemed to be isolated from the rest of the December Sect's pavilions and courtyards.

Several days passed peacefully until the fifteenth day of the third month.

Everyone received word and gathered in the open space outside Manshan Hall at dawn, excitedly discussing the upcoming Sword Gate recruitment. Zora was nodding off; Vane knew that waking at dawn was early for her.

While waiting for the immortals, every time she slowly closed her eyes, Vane would glance at her from the side. Seeing her struggle to open her eyes wide after being startled by the noise, he would look away with a neutral expression, only for Zora to repeat the cycle. He was perfectly fulfilling his duty as a servant, keeping a close eye on her to ensure she didn't topple over.

Nearby, Yiling Ke was even deeper in sleep than Zora. Standing on the flat ground with her head bowed and eyes shut, she had mastered the skill of sleeping while standing—a talent honed through many punishments at home.

Only when an unnatural gust of air swept through did Zora finally wake up.

The arrival wasn't a person or a sword, but a massive wooden vessel carried by clouds. It came from the east as the sun rose, splitting the surging mists. The outer hull was equipped with four oar-like objects that moved up and down—a majestic sight.

Gasps filled the air as the crowd's hearts hammered like drums, their eyes burning with fervor. The vessel landed with a thud, yet its sheer size stirred no dust. A wooden ramp was slowly lowered.

"Everyone, please follow me." A figure stood at the top of the vessel, face obscured, his voice amplified by spiritual power to echo clearly in everyone's ears.

The crowd immediately swarmed forward, everyone wanting to board first. The clamor grew louder. Having glimpsed the wonders of the immortal world, their hearts were filled with endless longing.

Zora stayed at the very back, boarding the ramp at a leisurely pace with Vane behind her. The area on the vessel was enormous, more than enough to hold hundreds of people.

"Everyone," the cultivator said, "We will reach the entrance of the Sword Gate recruitment's Voidwave Realm in fifteen minutes."

The crowd went silent instantly, then erupted into whispers.

"What is the Voidwave Realm?" "It's a secret realm—must be some kind of trial ground!" "I brought some buns and water." "This ship is so huge—look over there!"

Someone pointed toward the horizon. It was the moment the sun crested the clouds. From the ground, one could only see the pale dawn, but from the vessel, floating amidst the clouds, they saw the mist surging in the distance. An endless line reflected a beautiful orange-pink glow, gilded with gold.

Zora was watching the cultivator at the top. It seemed to be He Songning. He gazed forward, his hand resting on the hull.

Suddenly, a vibration came from beneath their feet, followed by a long, low hum. The front of the vessel tilted upward, and a gap opened—the interior was clearly living flesh, complete with tongue and teeth. Although they couldn't see the full maw, the crowd realized the vessel wasn't a ship, but a living creature.

Someone stomped their foot, and the wooden plank beneath them popped up an inch to strike their sole. The person hurriedly bowed and apologized in terror.

Zora: "It's alive."

Vane gave a small "Mhm."

She touched the hull, and the four oar-like objects beat even faster. She touched it again, and they accelerated further. Vane shielded her from the side, using his arm to block anyone accidentally pushing against her. He had no interest in the sun or the living ship; instead, he discreetly observed the crowd they were traveling with.

Fifteen minutes later, the vessel landed. They were in a forest clearing where two giant stone pillars stood opposite each other, the ground covered in dense formation runes. He Songning was nowhere to be seen. Another cultivator arrived on a crane—a white-bearded old man who looked every bit the immortal, followed by a disciple.

The old man’s voice was as loud as a temple bell: "I am Elder Xia Xu of the December Sect's Medicine Gate. Congratulations to all for passing the Cloud Stairway to reach this place."

His disciple took over to explain the rules. The Sword Gate cultivators, at their core, focused on the bond between weapon and wielder. Thus, the recruitment involved entering a secret realm to choose a weapon.

The Voidwave Realm was the premier weapon realm in the world, filled with countless famous swords. Of course, it wasn't just swords—all kinds of weapons were available; one could even bring out a nail if they wished. The prerequisite was that one could actually retrieve it. Everyone possessed an inherent 'Dao Fortune,' and it was this fortune along with one's roots that determined if one could lift a weapon.

It wasn't the weapon choosing the person, but whether the fortune and roots behind the person were capable of bearing it. Once you could lift it, only then would the weapon choose you. For swords that had never had a master, simply being able to lift them was enough. But for famous swords that had been wielded by powerful masters throughout history, they possessed spirits—they were like people, with likes and dislikes. One had to gain their recognition to truly exit the realm.

Finally, the disciple recited the standard warning established by the founder, Immortal Xi Qu, thousands of years ago:

"Famous swords used by renowned cultivators possess immense spiritual power, and some even house sword spirits. Like living people, they have tempers and preferences, and they can aid your cultivation to progress by leaps and bounds."

"However, those obscure, nameless swords that have never been used since their forging can also decide the fate of the world with a single strike. There is no distinction of rank or status among the objects within the Voidwave Realm. There is no so-called shortcut in cultivation; all future achievements depend solely on the cultivator's own efforts. Remember this."

But everyone knew that a famous sword was famous because its previous wielder had achieved greatness. Having been tempered by the spiritual power of the strong day after day, they had birthed human-like spirits. For a beginner, obtaining one was like finding a priceless treasure. Everyone knew that the current Sword Sovereign’s weapon was the Frostless Sword, which had become famous in a battle thousands of years ago. After he obtained it, he flourished as if aided by gods, and combined with his innate sword bones, he pushed the Frostless Sword to a new peak.

Of course, obtaining the recognition of a divine sword was quite troublesome.

As the crowd prepared themselves and the realm opened, Zora was holding Vane’s arm, while Yiling Ke whispered that she was just here to go through the motions as a formation master.

However, the moment they entered the realm, the three were separated. Zora found herself alone in the realm, surrounded by lush trees and a bubbling brook. It was peaceful and serene. She looked around and walked toward the sound of the water. The plants here were different from those in the mortal world—strange and vibrant with life.

She reached the brook, and nearby was a small waterfall and pool. Zora only looked twice before she felt a pull in her heart, a force luring her forward. The force had no malice; it was very friendly.

—"Come here quickly."

A child's voice exploded in her mind. Zora tapped her head and called out in her heart: "Oracle?"

The Oracle woke up: [It’s not me. I wouldn't change my voice... It must be some divine sword. Looks like you're naturally gifted! Not bad, your survival rate just went up!]

Zora reached the edge of the waterfall. The child shouted again in her head: "Come into the waterfall! Into the waterfall!"

In the Hall of Immortal Pursuit:

The elders hadn't intended to watch the water-mirror, discussing other matters instead. Past experience told them that those from the Cloud Stairway rarely possessed exceptional talent, and those who could take a divine sword were even fewer.

Turi Qi suddenly spoke: "Elders, it seems someone has formed a resonance with a divine sword."

"What?" "Let me see—a little girl. Not bad. The Sword Gate will add another gifted cultivator this year." "Her eyes hold no malice or ripples; her heart and nature are steady. A good prospect."

There was one more person in the hall than last time, sitting at the end with a lazy posture and a wine flask resting on her lap. She had a youthful face, proud brow bones, and an air of nonchalance. The other elders didn't mind her silence or disrespect. Aside from the Sword Sovereign, the highest authority in the Sword Gate was Zhou Shijin, who had been known as one of the "Twin Swords" alongside him. Unfortunately, she had been sabotaged ten years ago while slaying monsters, damaging her roots; she was rumored to have only a few decades of life left. Thus, the sect indulged her, giving her whatever she asked for.

The elderly Shu Ning winked at her, and Zhou Shijin tossed a cup of wine through the air. Shu Ning caught it without spilling a drop and drained it in one go.

The other elders were still happily discussing the new talent when they saw the girl in the water-mirror enter the cave behind the waterfall. She easily pulled the divine sword from the soil. The blade was slender and thin, as white as snow. The elders smiled.

The girl seemed to be listening to something, then gave it a shake, dusting off the dirt from the blade. After that, she frowned, looking at the sword with a look of extreme reluctance.

"What else do you want once we go out?"

the divine sword hummed loudly as if it had a thousand things to say. The girl stared at it. The immense spiritual power on the blade surged, filling the entire cave and joyfully overflowing.

A few heartbeats later, the girl unhesitatingly thrust the sword back into the soil and walked away quickly.

The elders: "???"

Zora felt annoyed.

She had followed the sword's voice into the waterfall and even pulled it from the earth. The sword couldn't speak fluently, only expressing vague meanings through resonance.

—"Clean me up."

Zora gave it a shake. The sword hummed in dissatisfaction. Its past generations of masters had pampered and coaxed it; it had never met someone so perfunctory! If it weren't for her exceptional talent and her pure yet strange nature—as if she were naturally different from the rest of the world, making her exceptionally attractive... to a sword—it wouldn't have called her over.

—"Use tools. Water."

Zora frowned and asked, "What else do you want once we go out?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, her mind was bombarded with terms like soul-stone fusion, spiritual power cleansing, and various other ways to temper and decorate the hilt. It must be a top-tier divine sword to express such complex meanings.

Zora felt reluctant. A weapon was going to be this much trouble? She polished her own blade for her own comfort; why would she serve a weapon for the weapon's sake? Be a weapon's servant?

[A divine sword can aid your cultivation. Think of it as an equal exchange.]

Zora repeated the closing words from before they entered the realm: "But that person also said things in the realm have no rank or status; anything will do."

[...Oh, that was probably just flavor text; the original author probably forgot it themselves.]

She turned a deaf ear, stubbornly believing that cultivation didn't require flattering a weapon. She immediately cut off the resonance with the sword and thrust it back into the soil. As she let go of the hilt, she could feel the sword's shock through its trembling.

Zora left the waterfall without looking back.

The elders in front of the water-mirror: "..."

Oracle: [...]