STOP!
Zara's voice shattered the charged silence of the arena like a blade slicing through air. Her hand trembled as she raised it high, her scream echoing against the shattered stone walls.
"I have summoned members of my family," she warned, voice steady despite the quiver in her limbs. "If any of you dare touch him again, they will wipe your clan from existence."
The entire crowd froze.
A heavy silence fell, thick and suffocating, as if the very air had hardened into stone. Every gaze, every breath, hung suspended in fragile stillness.
Two imposing figures stepped forward into the ruined arena. The first was Zara's grandfather—tall and commanding, draped in flowing robes of silver and gold that shimmered faintly even in the dim light. His face was carved with years of experience, stern and unyielding.
The second was her father, clad in deep blue armor that gleamed with the insignia of the Imperial Seal, his presence radiating an unmistakable aura of authority. Behind them marched several elite royal guards, their footsteps thunderous as they moved with precise coordination.
Their eyes immediately locked onto Zara's battered form.
Her once-elegant dress was torn, revealing bruised skin beneath. Her face was marred by fresh welts and dried blood. Her breath came uneven, ragged from exertion and pain. Fury sparked in her father's dark eyes.
Without hesitation, he strode forward and stood protectively in front of her.
"Who did this to you?" His voice was low, edged with menace.
Zara hesitated, then slowly lifted her hand, trembling as she pointed toward Jin.
Her father's expression twisted into something fierce and furious.
He turned to face Jin, blazing eyes narrowing.
"Who are you? How dare you harm my daughter?!"
Before Jin could utter a word, a calm, authoritative voice interrupted the tense atmosphere.
"He is from my clan."
The voice belonged to Jin's grandfather, Xing Tian, who had appeared quietly at the arena's edge. Until now, no one had noticed his presence.
But as soon as Zara's family recognized him, they bowed deeply, respect overtaking their earlier hostility.
"Greetings, Elder Xing," they intoned together, voices tinged with reverence.
Zara's grandfather stepped forward, eyes fixed intently on Xing Tian.
"Elder Xing, what brings you here at such a critical moment?"
Zara cut in before anyone else could answer.
"He's the one who defeated our shadow guard."
Her grandfather's eyes widened in surprise.
He turned his gaze toward Jin, studying him carefully. The flicker of disbelief flashed through his expression as he gauged Jin's cultivation level.
"Golden Core Realm, First Stage..." he murmured. "So the rumors were true. I didn't believe them until now."
Zara's father, still caught in shock, muttered under his breath, "So he is Jin."
The elder turned to Xing Tian with a questioning look.
"Can you explain what exactly happened here?"
Xing Tian smiled faintly and replied, "It was merely a friendly match between the juniors."
"Friendly?" Zara's grandfather echoed skeptically, his eyes narrowing sharply.
He surveyed the arena—the cracked stone tiles, shattered walls, and several unconscious disciples groaning softly as they tried to regain their footing. This was no ordinary sparring session; the scene resembled a battlefield.
Could Xing Tian be downplaying the severity of what had happened? Or was he trying to conceal the full extent of Jin's power?
If this was considered 'friendly', then what force could one expect in an actual conflict?
Suspicion clouded his mind, and the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him.
He couldn't ignore the rising threat Jin represented—not just to Zara, but to the entire power structure of the Central Dynasty.
Zara's father let out a slow, steadying breath.
"The match is over. May I take my daughter home now?"
"Of course," Xing Tian replied with a nod.
The royal guards stepped forward carefully, helping Zara and Xiao Yan to their feet.
Healers quickly moved in to tend to their wounds, applying salves and chanting healing incantations.
Other clan members began descending from the stands, gathering their family geniuses to escort them safely away from the scene.
As Zara's grandfather turned to leave, he paused for a moment and sent a mental message to Xing Tian.
There is something important I need to discuss with you. Let us meet soon.
Xing Tian replied silently, Where?
At our estate, came the response.
I am currently staying with the Nangoum Clan, Xing Tian communicated back. Jin is with me, so I cannot travel freely with him. If you wish to talk, we can meet at the Nangoum Clan estate. The three of us—old friends—can catch up there.
Very well, came the answer. But this matter is serious. I shall bring my son as well. He has something to say.
Agreed. Let us meet tomorrow.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed inside Jin's mind,
[System Notification: Congratulations, Host. Quest Completed.]
[Reward: 10 Attribute Points and Sword Intent.]
[Update: Due to increased difficulty, rewards have been upgraded.]
[New Reward: 20 Attribute Points + Sword Heart.]
[Do you wish to accept the reward?]
Jin nodded silently within.
Yes.
[System: Sword Heart is being implanted.]
Jin seated himself cross-legged in the center of the arena and activated his skill: Circle Cultivation.
A shimmering golden circle blossomed beneath him, glowing with vibrant spiritual energy that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Eyes turned toward him, confusion rippling through the crowd.
"What is he doing now?" someone whispered.
Then, something impossible occurred.
Everyone inside the golden circle suddenly felt their cultivation speed and recovery rate surge—multiplied tenfold.
A wave of astonished gasps erupted around the arena.
"What is this?!"
"My injuries… they're healing so fast!"
"I feel like I'm about to break through to the next level!"
The geniuses seated nearby seized the moment, focusing with renewed vigor.
Within minutes, several of them shattered their previous cultivation barriers, ascending to higher realms.
Golden light enveloped Jin as the Sword Heart merged deeply into his being.
Above the arena, the sky darkened ominously. Thunder rolled like a drum, and a colossal sword-shaped cloud formed in the heavens, pointing downwards with undeniable power.
Sword cultivators in the crowd stared in reverent awe.
"Is that... the Sword Heart?" one whispered breathlessly.
Xiao Yan's master paled, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Impossible… that's the Sword Heart!"
Xiao Yan, confused, glanced up at his master.
"What's so important about that?"
The master took a deep breath, steadying his voice.
"You're a fire cultivator, so you may not understand. The Sword Heart is the ultimate aspiration of all sword cultivators."
He continued, voice filled with reverence,
"When I was young, I trained in the Sword and Fire Sect. In our entire sect, only one person ever achieved the Sword Heart—and he did so at the age of thirty. Jin is doing it at five."
Zara, still weak but recovering, stared upward at the golden sword cloud with trembling lips.
"How… how is this possible?" she whispered, disbelief and fear mingling in her voice. "Did he truly awaken the Sword Heart? That's the pinnacle of sword talent."
Xing Tian watched silently beside her, nodding with a hint of pride.
"That boy," he murmured, "he actually awakened it. I wasn't expecting this so soon."
He gazed skyward.
"The Sword Heart is not merely raw power. It is a spiritual harmony between the cultivator and their sword. It represents perfect understanding—true mastery where every swing, every thrust flows like instinct. You cannot simply increase your cultivation to achieve it. You must form a deep connection with your blade, meditate on its essence, and synchronize your will with the sword's. Only when your heart beats as one with your weapon does the Sword Heart awaken."
Turning to Zara's grandfather, he said quietly,
"Many sword cultivators spend their entire lives chasing it. Most never reach it. But those who do become unmatched warriors. Their techniques become effortless, and their swordsmanship nearly flawless."
Back inside the circle, Jin slowly opened his eyes. The golden light faded into the arena's dim atmosphere.
He glanced around, surprised by the intense gazes fixed upon him.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.
Jin's grandfather approached with a steady stride.
"Was that... the Sword Heart?"
Jin nodded.
"Yes."
The crowd erupted into whispers—some filled with envy, others with fear and admiration.
A few family elders looked grim, their faces hardening with unease. Others exchanged hushed words filled with worry.
"He's already too strong," one elder muttered. "Every day, he grows more powerful. The balance of power is tipping further in their favor. The Demon Clan, once feared and pushed to the edge, is becoming dominant once again."
Another elder's eyes darkened.
"If this boy continues on this path, he will surpass every genius in this generation. We must act quickly. If we do not, our clans will never be able to challenge the Demon Clan again. We must stop this child before he becomes truly unstoppable."
One by one, the families began to leave the arena, their heads bowed, heavy with thought and dread.
Only two families remained—the Emperor's lineage and the Nangoum Clan. They approached Jin together.
Zara's grandfather looked Jin in the eyes, searching for answers.
"Tell me... how did you awaken it?"