Chapter 297 - 44: Dark Clouds Veil the Moon, a Madman Hones His Blade

Chapter 297: Chapter 44: Dark Clouds Veil the Moon, a Madman Hones His Blade

Elder Jian paid it no mind, turning and exiting the Practice Room.

A gust of night wind blew past, carrying a slight chill.

Elder Jian looked up at the night sky, intending to check the hour, but what he saw made his brow furrow involuntarily.

Because something was wrong with the sky tonight.

A bright moon hung high in the sky, yet it was ensnared by thick, black clouds that resembled chains. The Moonlight was hazy, suffused with an indescribable sense of oppression.

Looming clouds and a darkened moon—a celestial warning.

An inexplicable sense of dread rose in Elder Jian’s heart without warning, making him feel uneasy all over.

’What’s going on?’

Elder Jian stopped in his tracks, standing in the courtyard to carefully examine this sudden premonition.

At his Realm, despite having only managed a breakthrough with a Fake Core thanks to Elixir Pills, he had still touched the threshold of the Core Formation Realm. His perception of celestial secrets was far more acute than that of an ordinary Cultivator.

Therefore, a sudden premonition like this was by no means baseless; it often signaled that a major event was about to occur.

’What could it be?’

Elder Jian’s mind raced.

’Could there be trouble at the Immortal Ascension Ceremony tomorrow?’

He dismissed the thought as soon as it arose.

’What a joke.’

Tomorrow, the Central Square wouldn’t just have him—a Core Formation Realm expert—presiding over it. There would also be the Young Manor Master, Jian Wuchen, a top-tier master of the Inner Realm, as well as powerful figures sent by Qingzhou Prefecture and other Major Sects.

All the prominent figures in Qingzhou Prefecture City would be there. It would be a gathering of masters under strict security.

’Who would have the guts and the power to cause trouble right under the nose of Celestial Sword Manor? That would be a death wish, wouldn’t it?’

’But if not that, then where is this ominous feeling coming from?’

After wracking his brain, Elder Jian still couldn’t come up with an answer.

Still, he decided it was best to be cautious, just in case.

"Men!" Elder Jian called out in a low voice.

A disciple from Celestial Sword Manor appeared silently behind him.

"Relay my orders. For tomorrow’s Immortal Ascension Ceremony, double the guards at the Central Square. Scrutinize everyone at the entrances and exits. Keep a close watch on anyone suspicious!"

"Yes, Elder!" The disciple accepted the command, and with a flicker of his silhouette, vanished into the night.

Only after arranging all this did the unease in Elder Jian’s heart subside slightly.

’Whether this premonition is real or not, it can’t hurt to be prepared.’

...

「In a small alley in the southern part of Qingzhou City.」

Yun Heqing stumbled out of an inconspicuous little tavern, hiccuping drunkenly.

His luck had been good today. He’d earned over ten taels of silver selling Talismans and telling fortunes, so he’d come here to treat himself to a good drink.

"HIC... This stuff... has a kick!"

He shook his head and was about to find a corner to relieve himself when he, too, looked up and saw the celestial anomaly.

The sight of the moon, shackled by dark clouds, instantly sobered him up.

"Holy shit, is this... the Cloud-Shrouded Dark Moon?"

Yun Heqing’s drunkenness vanished in an instant, because he remembered a line of poetry clearly recorded in his divination manual.

When clouds descend and darken the moon, madmen sharpen their blades by night.

This was not a good omen. It prophesied slaughter and bloodshed!

’Damn it... The Immortal Ascension Ceremony is tomorrow, and all the bigwigs in the city will be gathered in one place. For a celestial sign like this to appear at such a critical moment...’

Yun Heqing’s heart pounded.

He had a strong premonition. ’Something big is going to happen tomorrow!’

’No, I can’t go get involved in this mess!’

And yet... an itch of curiosity plagued him.

’Something this big is happening... if I don’t see it with my own eyes, wouldn’t my entire trip to Qingzhou have been for nothing?’

"Ah, this is torture..."

Yun Heqing agonized for a long time before finally gritting his teeth. He decided he still had to go and watch tomorrow—but from a distance, from a safe place. The moment things looked dicey, he would run.

Having made up his mind, he hunched his shoulders, tugged at his washed-out Daoist Robe, and then turned and slipped into a nearby alley, disappearing from sight.

In his inn room, Chen Ye remained completely oblivious to the strange celestial phenomenon outside.

When he felt that the Jingzhe Saber in his hands had been honed to its optimal state, he stopped. He then took out a clean cloth and meticulously wiped the blade, not stopping until not a single trace of moisture remained.

In the hazy Moonlight, the Jingzhe Saber now gleamed with a cold, eerie light. Its edge was so sharp it seemed to exude a palpable chill, as if it could slice through the very air.

Chen Ye reached out and flicked the flat of the blade with his finger.

HUMMM—

A clear, lingering ring emanated from the saber, like the cry of a dragon, echoing long throughout the room.

At that moment, Chen Ye could feel it: through the long hours of honing, his will had completely merged with the Jingzhe Saber.

He withdrew his hand and gazed quietly at the long saber. The last traces of nervousness and excitement he’d felt about the impending battle had vanished completely.

His heart was now like the freshly honed blade: cold, and perfectly clear.

Chen Ye then sheathed the saber, placed it by his pillow, and lay down fully clothed.

He fell into a deep sleep almost the instant his head touched the pillow.

Chen Ye slept soundly and dreamlessly.

When the first rays of morning sun streamed through the window, Chen Ye’s eyes opened right on schedule.

After a good night’s sleep, Chen Ye felt better than ever. Both his body and his mind were at their Peak.

He got out of bed, washed his face, and then walked over to the slightly tarnished Copper Mirror in the room.