I. The Ancient Temple of Cloud Ridge
Before dawn, a sliver of cold moon still hung above the ancient path winding through Cloud Ridge. Shen Qingyuan, master of the Soul-Severing Blade, returned from the Snow Valley with the cold aura of ten thousand miles still clinging to him. This morning, he walked side by side with Night Butterfly and Bai Zhou, treading the winding mountain trail that led to the ancient temple hidden in the clouds. The path was rugged, veiled in shifting mists, as if countless spirits whispered amidst the peaks. The three, clad in plain robes, moved with silent grace, their steps cutting through the chill of a thousand sorrows.
After several miles, the mist parted to reveal a soaring pavilion with layered eaves, rising majestically from a sea of clouds. Beneath the pavilion stood a ten-zhang-tall crimson stone stele, inscribed with four bold characters: "Beyond Law, Still Law." On either side of the stele, stone statues of brown wolves stood guard, seemingly ready to leap down and hunt. Shen Qingyuan arched a brow, slowly drawing the Soul-Severing Blade from his side, his mind sharpening into focus.
Night Butterfly whispered, "This is the domain of the Jade-Faced Judge. Legend says he wears a jade mask, sees through the human heart, and judges cases using sacred artifacts. The defeated are condemned to the Yellow Springs."
Bai Zhou gently touched his wind chime, his voice steady, "Years ago, he ruled on the 'Shadow Sect Annihilation Case', declaring the rightful lineage destroyed. His verdict enraged many sects. If we can pass his first judgment today, we may obtain his hidden 'Soul Judging Manuscript'—which contains crucial clues to the truth behind the Shadow Sect's downfall."
The three exchanged glances but remained silent. Shen Qingyuan inhaled a breath of mist, then stepped forward. As they passed the stone stele, the mountain gate slowly opened, revealing a corridor that led straight into the ancient temple. The lanterns in the corridor were all extinguished; only the left wall was inlaid with several jade masks, each reflecting faint human smiles. Amid the mist, the Judge's figure flickered in and out of view.
II. The First Judgment in the Hall of Law
Entering the grand hall, they saw over a dozen long desks arranged in rows. Beside each lay a jade mask. At the center of the hall stood a raised platform, atop which two peachwood chairs faced each other—one for the Judge, the other for the defendant. A magical boundary at the ceiling separated the hall from the surrounding clouds, creating a pocket of clarity within.
Suddenly, a chime echoed from the ceiling like frozen steel: "Summon the Master of the Soul-Severing Blade for judgment!" The voice was deep and resonant, yet carried an icy sharpness. Shen Qingyuan, Night Butterfly, and Bai Zhou stepped onto the high platform. A jade mask suddenly spun through the air and settled on the chair before them. Its surface gleamed like a mirror, without eyes or mouth, but vaguely etched were "brows like blades, cheeks like bone."
The Jade-Faced Judge sat still upon the chair. A voice emerged from within the mask, "Shen Qingyuan, wielder of the Soul-Severing Blade. You come seeking the truth behind the Shadow Sect's fall? Today is the first trial. Each of you shall present a case involving the sect. You may each recount three events. If any lie is spoken, your souls shall be sentenced to the Eternal Infernal Tower, and the Soul-Severing Blade shall be forfeited!"
Night Butterfly and Bai Zhou each stepped forward, bowing slightly to the jade mask. Shen Qingyuan's heart stirred as he approached the desk and laid out the "Vermilion Contract" and "Fragmented Blood Letter" brought by his companions.
The Judge's voice rang out, "First, the origin of the Shadow Sect. Name its founder, and explain the cause of its division."
Shen Qingyuan looked straight at the mask, his tone calm, "The sect's founder was Yu Xuanling. Later, fierce internal strife erupted over succession. Ye Xiaohun and Yu Qingshuang split the sect into factions. My father, Yu Jinghan, stood as the pillar of the Yu clan, aiding Yu Qingshuang in her escape, but was betrayed by Ye Xiaohun. Yu Xuanling lost his blade and perished atop Cloud Ridge. The sect collapsed thereafter."
The jade mask seemed to ponder this, and below it, golden script began to float in mid-air:
"Yu Xuanling, soul lost at the peak;
Yu Jinghan, scarred the ridge;
Yu Qingshuang, soul trapped in mirror;
Ye Xiaohun, became Lord of the Underworld."
Bai Zhou asked softly, "Judge, is there more to be revealed?"
The jade mask gently swayed, responding with a distant echo, "The second trial—'The Judge's Inquiry'—awaits below. To know more, you must enter the lower hall of 'Shadow and Heart'. The final three trials concern the Golden Corpse Prophecy and the Blade's Bond. You may withdraw and rest. We shall reconvene at the Heart Trial."
With that, the light in the hall dimmed, and the three were swept away by an invisible force, carried back to the outer corridor.
Night Butterfly looked to Shen Qingyuan, "This was but the preliminary trial. Though it did not test truth or falsehood directly, the Judge now knows the general outline of the Yu clan. The Heart Trial may unearth deeper secrets—perhaps even the demons within."
Bai Zhou nodded, "If this part fails, there can be no absolution beyond. But if passed, the Judge's buried truths may be revealed in full."
Shen Qingyuan agreed with resolve, "Let's continue. The place of heart-trialing shall be our crucible."
III. The Rise of Past Cases
At the end of the corridor, eight layers of cloud gates slowly opened, revealing a sealed stone chamber. Above the entrance, four characters were engraved: "Shadow and Heart Trial." The three stepped inside, where the floor shone like a mirror and the four walls bore blood-red reliefs. These carvings depicted the Yu clan's ancestors, oaths of life and death, the origin of the Soul-Severing Blade, and the mystery of the Golden Corpse—each figure carved so vividly they seemed to breathe.
Shen Qingyuan stepped forward and saw at the center a statue of Yu Qingshuang holding the Soul-Severing Blade, her eyes filled with resolve, blood rain pouring behind her. To the right stood Yu Jinghan alone atop a cliff, blade raised in fury. Beneath each relief was a line of poetry:
"Blade severs love, blood seals oath;
Soul split in brilliance, life tied to fate."
Night Butterfly pointed to a narrow inscription at the edge, "These verses seem to be left by Yu Qingshuang. 'Soul split in brilliance, life tied to fate'—it may imply the blade can preserve the Yu bloodline."
Bai Zhou nodded, "This temple was once the Yu clan's sacred ground for cultivation. The Judge uses it to test one's heart. Only those with truth within may speak it without."
Shen Qingyuan took a deep breath and activated the "Return Breath" technique, centering himself. He reached to touch the pedestal of the carving. A formless force struck back, thrusting him into the relief's center. The images began to spin, forming a vortex that engulfed all three.
In an instant, they each fell into their own illusion.
(1) Shen Qingyuan's Vision
He returned to the Lantern Alley of ten years past. The young Shen pushed open the window of Shen's Apothecary and saw his dying master, Shen Buyu, coughing blood in bed. The old man whispered, "Qingyuan… your destiny harbors… the soul of the Soul-Severing Blade… Never… draw its edge lightly…" Before he could finish, a shadow flashed. A sword pierced from behind. The master collapsed, murmuring, "The blade must not drink blood… nor be stained by it… Qingyuan… remember…" Shen cried out, but a force yanked him back to the carving.
(2) Night Butterfly's Dream
She stood in a crimson manor filled with weeping girls, dressed in rags, kneeling. Their faces blank, tears staining their cheeks. A white-robed master stood before them—face like jade, yet eyes empty. Night Butterfly muttered, "I am a remnant of the Shadow Sect. I drink poison, offer my soul. Ye Xiaohun forces us to offer living souls…" She raised her blade in one hand and the Soul Order in the other, whispering, "If the order remains, the soul slaves may be freed…" But the girl's figure twisted into poisonous mist. Night Butterfly struck with her sword, shattering the illusion, returning to the carving.
(3) Bai Zhou's Realm
He wandered into a quiet monastery. An old monk chanted softly, but suddenly the scripture turned into blood-red script:
"From outer ways, the heart is born,
Bone gives rise to bleeding blades,
One from beyond the heavens,
Will bring ruin to the Shadow Sect."
The monk opened his eyes—now a skeleton—and asked, "Why have you come?" Wind chimes shattered, thunder boomed. He snapped back to the carving pedestal.
Shaken, the three emerged from their trials to find cracks forming in the carvings. From the center of the chamber emerged a half-human, half-spectral shadow of Ye Xiaohun—his features part Yu Jinghan, part mirror image of the blade's essence. With a twisted smile, he said:
"You've passed the trial of true hearts. You may now face the Judge's true face.
If you wish to learn the truth behind the Shadow Sect's fall,
fear not the blood pact and soul binding—follow me to the Final Hall—Judgment of the Soul's End!"
As the carvings sealed shut behind them, the three were expelled from the chamber. Outside, the Jade-Faced Judge stood waiting, having observed all in silence. The jade mask stirred as a clear voice rang out:
"Heart trial complete. Soul-Severing Chapter continues.
Final judgment awaits—in the Hall of Soul's End. Proceed."
The three exchanged solemn nods, then silently stepped forward once more, advancing toward the Hall of Soul's End.
IV. Night Howl Soul Appears
The grand gates of the "Soul-Judging Hall" creaked open. The hall lay in dim shadow, save for a single glass lantern suspended in the central courtyard, casting crystalline reflections upon the snow. The floor was lined with black brocade, embroidered with patterns of interwoven feathers and blade marks—like a massive soul-trapping web. Shen Qingyuan, Night Butterfly, and Bai Zhou stepped inside. At the heart of the hall stood over ten guards clad in black robes and silver masks, forming a circle. Each one bore a ghost-faced mask in their hands, their expressions blank, like phantoms ready to emerge from the shadows.
The Jade-faced Judge wore a deep blue ceremonial robe. Beneath his jade mask, his eyes were as cold and clear as water. Holding a gavel made of jade and maple, he struck the case table gently. The sound was sharp, as if ice struck against stone.
"Now that Night Howl Soul has summoned you to this court, do you know the purpose of the final trial?"
Shen Qingyuan raised his gaze, his eyes sharp as blades. "This Final Judgment Hall exists to unveil the truth. The matter of the Yu family, the Soul-Severing Blade, the fall of the Shadow Sect, and the entanglements with the Celestial Tower—all must be brought to justice!"
The Jade-faced Judge nodded slightly and waved the gavel. "Very well. You three shall preside. Now that Night Howl Soul has appeared, he stands as the accused in this hall. If you can reveal his crimes with evidence, sincerity, and the blade's truth, then the mystery of the Soul-Severing Blade shall be unraveled. Otherwise, your souls shall remain here, shackled by this court for eternity!"
As his voice faded, black mist surged within the hall. A tall figure descended slowly from the dome, his steps falling upon the dark brocade with a whisper like cracking threads. Draped in a black feathered robe, he held a half-folded fan. At his waist hung the broken scabbard of the Soul-Severing Blade. His face was covered with a mottled silver mask, with the word "Nether" engraved upon the brow—a mirror image of the phantom Shen Qingyuan once saw within his blade.
This was—
Night Howl Soul.
He walked slowly, and with each step, the mist beneath him stirred. At last, he stood calmly in the hall's center. From beneath the silver mask, only a pair of deep, abyssal eyes were visible. He looked down on the trio, and his voice poured forth like a cold spring:
"Shen Qingyuan, Night Butterfly, Bai Zhou. You have passed the wine of death, the Judges, and the trials of the heart, yet you still lack true intent. The destruction of the Shadow Sect and the fate of the Soul-Severing Blade are not matters you can resolve with a single claim. Now I, Night Howl Soul, shall reveal the truth!"
With a sweep of his fan, countless illusions shimmered into being in the hall:
The entangled battles of the Shadow Sect with the Celestial Tower and Blood Shadow Tower;
The oath of life and death between Yu Qingshuang and Yu Jinghan;
The schemes of the Mirror Elder, the Tomb of the Golden Corpse, the Tavern of the Dead, and the Cloud Ridge Monastery—all threads in a grand web of blood and betrayal.
Pointing at the illusions, Night Howl Soul declared:
"The Shadow Sect was once a righteous guardian of the realm, but its master, Yu Xuanling, was obsessed with martial power, drawing conflict from all sides.
Yu Jinghan, in protecting his wife, fled and was mistakenly seen as a traitor by the Celestial Tower, who sought to use the Soul-Severing Blade to eliminate him.
Bai Jingyi of the Celestial Tower, following secret orders, sowed discord between the Shadow Sect and Blood Shadow Tower.
Blood Crow, master of the Blood Shadow Tower, seized this chaos to destroy the Flying Swan Escort Agency and used the Tavern of the Dead to gather sinful souls, attempting to forge the 'Blood God of the Nether' to revive demonic arts.
Only I, Night Howl Soul, received a final mission—to judge the Yu family's injustice with the 'Lunar Tribunal.' But caught in endless plots, I was framed and branded a traitor. Thus began the tragedy of the sect's fall."
His words were firm and detailed, and every image in the illusions was backed by artifacts and written contracts. Bai Zhou gave a slight nod and tossed forth the "Cinnabar Contract" and "Blood Letter," merging them with the illusions.
Night Butterfly whispered, "The Soul-Severing Blade is not merely a weapon—it is a blade of judgment. If we do not use it now to cut through lies, how can we prove the truth behind its legacy?"
V. Strike of the Mind-Linked Blade
As her voice fell, the Jade-faced Judge rose slowly and waved the gavel. The dozen or so black-robed guards stepped back in unison, revealing a blood-colored corridor. His voice echoed:
"You wish to judge by the blade—then do so here. Face Night Howl Soul in combat. If your combined soul and blade can shatter the illusion he weaves, you shall be freed. Fail, and you shall become part of the Soul-Severing Court, forever wandering the tavern, monastery, and tomb!"
Shen Qingyuan's expression turned grave. With a flick of his sleeve, the Soul-Severing Blade flashed from its scabbard. The five segments of the blade shimmered with golden patterns, resonating with the hall's name—Soul-Judging. Its tip blazed red, pointing at Night Howl Soul.
Night Howl Soul snapped his fan closed. The fan's ribs dissolved into cold shimmering threads, spinning into a vortex that enveloped the trio.
In an instant, the hall transformed into an endless abyss. Above it danced the Soul-Severing Blade in a blazing red arc, striking straight at Night Howl Soul's chest.
Night Howl Soul responded with his "Shadow Fan Technique," his illusions countering blade strikes in a storm of cold and heat, shaking the heavens.
Shen Qingyuan activated the twin techniques of "Soul Lock" and "Soul Break." The Soul-Severing Blade burst into dozens of crimson shadows, breaking apart the vortex around them. He invoked "Phoenix Rebirth," launching a beam of golden light that pierced the clouds and struck toward Night Howl Soul.
With a cold laugh, Night Howl Soul deployed the "Mirror Phantom Technique," surrounding himself with countless mirrored images. His silver fan deflected the golden blade among a thousand illusions.
At that moment, Night Butterfly and Bai Zhou joined the fray—Night Butterfly's "Thirteen Petal Shadow" cut through the phantoms, and Bai Zhou's "Warm Wind Spiral" scattered the metallic shards.
With their support, the illusions crumbled. Shen Qingyuan seized the moment, striking Night Howl Soul's shoulder with the blade's scabbard. With a forceful twist, he sent the silver mask and fan crashing to the floor.
The broken silver mask looked like shattered glass. Beneath it was revealed a face identical to Yu Xuanling, intertwined with Yu Jinghan's fragmented soul.
Night Howl Soul's expression changed. The broken fan glowed with soft white runes, quickly concealing his features once more.
"I am of the Shadow Sect's bloodline," he roared. "Protector of the Yu family's soul! You, wielders of the Soul-Severing Blade, would falsely brand me criminal?"
Shen Qingyuan's gaze was like a honed blade. Holding the sword aloft, he proclaimed:
"The bloodshed of the Shadow Sect was not mere misunderstanding; the deaths of Yu's kin weigh heavy upon us; the blade was forged to seek truth! With it, I sever souls and lies alike—to end this chain of deceit!"
Without waiting, he surged through the endless abyss, his blade like a flurry of arrows, breaking not only Night Howl Soul's illusions, but also the fog and vortex surrounding them.
Seeing his illusions collapse, Night Howl Soul turned into a wisp of soul light—and vanished.
VI. Truth Unveiled
Light flickered and the abyss faded. The trio found themselves back in the judgment hall. The Soul-Severing Blade was now stained with dust and blood. The Jade-faced Judge and his silver-masked guards stood solemn.
The Judge brought his hands together and struck the gavel upon the case table. A clear chime echoed.
"With blade and truth, you have shattered the falsehood of Night Howl Soul. This court may now lay to rest the resentment of the Shadow Sect."
With a wave of his gavel, the case table vanished, replaced by a glowing ancient scroll bearing the words:
"The Soul-Severing Blade, originally forged by Yu Jinghan and reforged by Yu Qingshuang, stands as the strongest soul weapon under heaven. The fall of the Shadow Sect was a conspiracy between the Celestial Tower and the Blood Shadow Tower, who sought to use the blade's soul to determine right and wrong. But their machinations engulfed the Yu family, leading to their deaths. Shen Qingyuan now bears the blade. Bound by Yu blood, he may wield it as a sword of justice against the wicked."
As the Judge ceased speaking, the guards all knelt, their cries echoing through the hall like an army mourning its fallen. Night Butterfly and Bai Zhou, moved beyond words, also knelt.
Shen Qingyuan raised his eyes, speaking with calm resolve:
"The Yu family's injustice is now revealed. This blade shall fulfill my master's wish—to strike down the Blood Shadow Tower and Celestial Tower's evil, and bring peace to the world."
The Judge nodded slowly and suddenly handed over a scroll from the table, the jade-edged imperial decree glimmering faintly. "This is the Soul Judgment Edict, an ancient relic of the Shadow Sect. Within lies the path to restore the true legacy of the Sect. With this, you may forge a new order—the Heavenly Shadow Sect. Rally the heroes of the realm, purge the likes of Blood Shadow and the Outsiders, and restore righteousness to the martial world."
The three received the jade scroll with hearts surging. Shen Qingyuan placed a firm hand on the Soul-Severing Blade and declared with unwavering resolve,"The Heavenly Shadow Sect is hereby founded! We shall brave fire and blood, confront our hearts with the blade, bring peace to the world, and defend the martial realm for generations to come!"
End of Chapter Thirteen