In a world where attention was a currency, Ling Chen was a millionaire, but Yun Xiao... well, he was more like a penny in a fountain.1

It was already dark by the time it was his turn. The crowd had dwindled to a handful of stragglers and a bored janitor sweeping up. Yun Xiao was last on the list because he'd shown up late, and in the Sword Baptism Ceremony, there was no such thing as saving the best for last. The latecomers were usually nobodies.0

"Go on," the elder in charge of the ceremony said, his voice as tired as a marathon runner. He was just waiting for Yun Xiao to finish so he could clock out.1

"Right," Yun Xiao agreed. He stepped onto the black altar, his feet squishing in a thick layer of dried blood. He stood under the dazzling, multi-colored Eternal Sword, suspended above.0

The night was a quiet companion, and the breeze carried a hint of coolness. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the lingering enthusiasm for the Sword Judge.0

"Ah, the path to immortality, crawling with demons and devils, swarming with gods and Immortals from every corner. It's a regular circus," Yun Xiao mused to himself, intrigued. Was this chaos because the Creator Immortal had fallen, throwing the cosmic order into disarray?1

Breathing out a murky breath, Yun Xiao felt a strange calm settle in his heart. "Come on!" he called, alone, standing between heaven and earth. He drew his three-foot azure blade, gazing at the Eternal Sword, glowing a thousand...0