Volume One, Chapter 1: The Sword Tower of the Desolate Realm

“Feng, I want you to promise me one thing,” the master said.

Qin Feng gazed at his stunningly beautiful master and nodded solemnly. “Your command is my duty; I will obey without fail.”

Yue Qinxian reached out her slender hand, gently caressing his face. “I want you to abandon your cultivation. After I am sealed in my coffin, you must guard my spirit for three years. Only after three years may you open the coffin. By then, you will possess unparalleled potential. Will you do this?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Feng abolished his cultivation on the spot. Yue Qinxian smiled approvingly, but soon after, her life faded away and she slept eternally within the coffin.

Tears fell from Qin Feng’s eyes. He built a humble hut nearby and began his vigil, keeping watch by her side for three long years. In these years, he fell from the sect’s proud genius to a cripple, his status plummeting, tasting the world’s fickleness and coldness.

Time passed swiftly. On this day, Qin Feng sat before the coffin.

“Master, the three years are almost up. I will restore the glory of Yuhua Peak and uncover the truth behind your passing.”

Qin Feng belonged to the Eternal Heaven Sect, one of the top sects in the Eastern Wilderness. The sect had seven peaks; Yuhua Peak was among them.

His master, Yue Qinxian, was the head of Yuhua Peak—a woman of unrivaled beauty and peerless cultivation, once lauded as the foremost beauty of the Eastern Wilderness. Yet, for reasons unknown, she returned to the sect gravely wounded and, after making her final arrangements, passed away.

Yuhua Peak had always been sparsely populated; now, it was utterly desolate.

“You are Qin Feng?”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice sounded from behind.

Qin Feng turned. Approaching him were a middle-aged woman in a black robe, her expression stern, with a faint aura of wind and thunder about her, and beside her, a young maiden. The girl’s features were cool and exquisite, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her skin fair as snow, her eyes as deep and cold as a mountain lake, and her bearing graceful and captivating.

Qin Feng remained composed. Though the girl was beautiful, having grown up alongside his master, he was long since immune to such appearances.

“Yes, that’s me. May I ask who you are?”

The young woman’s gaze was indifferent and condescending. “I am Ye Qingxue. Surely you’ve heard of me.”

Qin Feng started, then remembered—years ago, his master had arranged several marriage contracts for him, and this was one of the intended brides. She was exceptionally talented, only slightly less so than he had been three years prior. He recalled from his junior, Ru’er, that Ye Qingxue was now the sect’s chief disciple.

In the world of cultivation, the ranks, from lowest to highest, are: Gathering Spirit, Qi Sea, Four Symbols, Divine Altar, Transforming Dragon, The Other Shore, and the Great Dao…

Ye Qingxue had reached the peak of Gathering Spirit at nine, and the peak of Qi Sea at sixteen. After Qin Feng’s fall, she became the sect’s number one prodigy.

She was accepted by the sect leader as a true disciple, became the sect’s chief, and was poised to one day lead the Eternal Heaven Sect.

As Qin Feng was gathering his thoughts, Ye Qingxue glanced at him. Now a cripple, this man had inexplicably destroyed his cultivation—a fool, she thought. Had he remained the prodigy she once admired, their union would have been a celebrated tale. Now, he was nothing but a burden.

Sensing her gaze, Qin Feng was unmoved. Calmly, he said, “Junior Sister Ye, you must be here to dissolve the engagement. Did you bring the marriage contract?”

His tone left Ye Qingxue and her protector surprised. They had expected anger, but found only tranquility.

Ye Qingxue’s brows knitted in displeasure, feeling her dignity challenged. She replied coldly, “Indeed. It is a pity—Aunt Yue was so extraordinary, yet her disciple is a cripple. How pathetic.”

Qin Feng raised his eyes. He cared nothing for her mockery, but his master was like a mother to him—Ye Qingxue had crossed a line.

“If you’re here to break the engagement, spare me the needless words. Produce the contract, and let us part ways.”

Ye Qingxue clenched her sleeves, her voice icy. “A useless cripple, yet still so arrogant. I came to end the engagement, but now I’ve changed my mind.”

Qin Feng frowned. “What do you mean?”

She sneered, “Many in and out of the sect wish to become my Dao companion, but in my eyes, only a true genius from the holy lands would be worthy. Keeping this engagement lets me fend off those unwanted suitors. When I finally wed the true genius of the Eastern Wilderness, I’ll tear it up myself.”

What a venomous woman! Qin Feng’s anger flared. She meant to use him as a shield; once her admirers found out, they would surely make his life difficult.

“If you won’t break the engagement, then I will,” he said.

He produced a bundle of marriage contracts left by his master, found the one with Ye Qingxue’s name, and, before the two women’s eyes, tore it to shreds with a single motion.

“You!”

Ye Qingxue was stunned and furious. “A cripple like you should consider it an honor to be engaged to me. How dare you destroy the contract yourself!”

She was beside herself, unable to fathom where Qin Feng’s confidence came from. Forcing herself to calm, she sneered, “There are two copies—mine remains. As long as I keep it, everyone will believe you are my future Dao companion.”

Qin Feng replied indifferently, “Wait and see. Soon, I will come for it myself, and you will hand it over with your own hands, watching as I tear it apart.”

She scoffed, “Empty boasts. I’d like to see how a cripple like you could possibly achieve that.”

She believed he was only posturing for dignity’s sake. She had no interest in further argument, and departed with her protector, flying off into the sky.

Qin Feng’s gaze darkened. This was not an idle threat; his dignity and his master’s honor were at stake. He would reclaim that contract and destroy it with his own hands.

“Senior Brother!”

A clear, cheerful voice called out. Hearing the familiar sound, a gentle smile appeared on Qin Feng’s face.

A lively, spirited girl appeared before him—his master’s registered disciple, Liu Hanyan. They’d grown up together, close as siblings. In these three years since his cultivation was lost, while others mocked and scorned him, only Ru’er remained by his side, caring for his daily needs.

She was the warmth in Qin Feng’s heart.

“Ru’er, what brings you here? I’ll be coming down shortly.”

She glanced at the coffin and quipped, “I wanted to visit Master too. The time Master mentioned has come, right? Has your cultivation recovered?”

Qin Feng shook his head. “Not yet. Perhaps I need to wait a little longer.”

She pondered, “Senior Brother, could it be Master deceived you, and there’s no opportunity at all?”

Qin Feng lightly tapped her forehead. “Nonsense. Master would never lie to me.”

She stuck out her tongue, giggling. “Then, has your Sword Bone reached perfection? I heard that once it’s complete, you can rebuild your foundation and restore your cultivation.”

Qin Feng nodded. “It was perfected just a few days ago.”

Years ago, he awakened the innate Sword Body, capable of nurturing a Sword Bone within. Once perfected, he would become the future sovereign of the sword path, his talent rivaling that of ancient emperors’ descendants. This secret had been kept by his master, and only once did Qin Feng mention it to his junior.

However, upon hearing this, a cold light flashed in Liu Hanyan’s eyes. The next instant, a sharp blade pierced Qin Feng’s chest.

Agonizing pain surged through him. Staring at her in disbelief, he realized he had neither anticipated nor reacted to her attack.

“W-why?”

She sneered, “If not for your Sword Bone, why would I care for a cripple like you for three years? Now with the Sword Bone, Brother Xiao Yun will become a supreme genius. He is the kind of man I can rely on.”

Xiao Yun… Qin Feng vaguely recalled the name—a genius of the sect. For the sake of another, she had turned on him so ruthlessly?

Even when humiliated by Ye Qingxue, Qin Feng had not shown anger. Now, his eyes were bloodshot. He had regarded Liu Hanyan as family, yet suffered this betrayal—he could not accept it.

Seeing the hatred in his eyes, Liu Hanyan shivered inwardly. She used her weapon to dig out the Sword Bone, then pushed Qin Feng to the ground.

“Blame yourself for believing Master’s foolish words and making yourself a cripple!”

With that, she left without looking back.

Qin Feng lay in a pool of blood, his Sword Bone ripped from his body, leaving him dying and barely conscious. As his mind grew hazy, his blood seeped to the coffin’s base. A dim light flickered—and in the next moment, Qin Feng’s body vanished.

A gentle, sighing voice sounded.

“Feng, you have suffered enough.”

“This is the opportunity your master left for you in this vast world. With it, you will one day become someone even your master must look up to.”

“Great Desolation Sword Tower, awaken!”