Chapter 151: Sky Sword Sect Chronicles

Li Ran was born into a wealthy family in Tian Gu City. He was just six years old when tragedy struck.

On a snowy night, the Li residence buzzed with warmth and joy as everyone gathered to celebrate Li Ran’s birthday.

Li Ran thought his life would always be this blissful, but that very moment turned into a lifelong nightmare and a haunting demon in his heart.

A gang of ruthless bandits passing through the area stormed in, burning, killing, and looting. They slaughtered anyone in sight, seized treasures, and violated women before ending their lives.

Li Ran’s Mother risked everything to hide him in a cellar, sparing him from the carnage. Yet, right before his eyes, the bandits brutally violated and killed her.

In that moment, Li Ran wanted to scream and stop them, but his mother turned her head with a faint smile, placing a finger on her lips to silence him.

He clamped his mouth shut with all his might, forcing himself not to make a sound. His eyes burned red as he watched helplessly, searing their faces into his memory.

After half an incense stick’s time, the bandits, satisfied and laughing, pulled up their pants, grabbed all the treasures, and left the Li residence behind.

When the outside fell silent, Li Ran scrambled out of the cellar in a frenzy. Seeing his mother’s disheveled clothes and tangled hair, he let out a heart-wrenching wail.

From that day, every soul in the Li residence—ten in total—was slaughtered, save for Li Ran himself.

In that moment, his young heart twisted. He realized that in this world, even longing for a simple, peaceful life was a sin.

With his small, frail body, Li Ran spent a day and night burying all ten members of his family together.

Before his parents’ and relatives’ tombstones, he kowtowed three times and swore a venomous oath: if he couldn’t carve up those bandits, strip their flesh, and use their heads to honor his kin, he would forsake his humanity.

After completing this grim task, Li Ran dragged his exhausted body away from the place, limping through the heavy snow.

Barely a few dozen meters out, his weary frame could no longer hold up.

With a thud, he collapsed into a snowdrift, soon buried by the falling flakes. Just as it seemed his story would end there, a figure appeared.

The man who changed Li Ran’s life emerged—a refined, elegant gentleman who happened to pass by.

This man was none other than Li Xun.

Li Xun paused at the sight, letting out a sigh. Believing fate had decreed this boy shouldn’t die, he decisively intervened.

He snatched Li Ran back from the jaws of death.

When Li Ran awoke, he learned that his savior, Li Xun, was a cultivator. Without hesitation, he humbly begged to be taught the path of cultivation.

At first, Li Xun was reluctant, but Li Ran’s persistent pleas and tragic story softened his heart. In the end, he agreed.

In the years that followed, Li Xun poured all his knowledge into Li Ran. For decades, Li Ran stayed by his side.

After those decades, Li Ran achieved the Sword Emperor Realm, becoming a renowned prodigy across the continent—a sixteen-year-old monstrous talent of the blade.

From then on, Li Ran stood unrivaled in the world. His first act upon mastering his skills was to hunt down the culprits who harmed his family ten years prior.

Through relentless effort, he located the bandits’ hideout—a group of eighteen hundred strong. Li Ran cut them down without mercy, severing their heads and stuffing them into sacks.

He set the stronghold ablaze with a single torch, then carried the heads to his family’s graves to pay his respects.

From that moment, he veiled his eyes and wandered the martial world, vowing to eradicate all evil and slice through every injustice.

Later, learning of Li Xun’s dream to establish the Sky Sword Sect, Li Ran eagerly volunteered to be the first to join, becoming the sect’s Grand Elder.

In the days that followed, the two roamed the martial world together, recruiting others to strengthen their sect.

To Li Ran, Li Xun was both mentor and friend—the person he respected most in this life. Without Li Xun that day, there would be no Li Ran today.

………………

An Peisheng, at just sixteen, had already reached the Sword King Realm. He was a bright, righteous youth with a pure heart.

Living by his code of swift justice, he roamed the martial world. One day, he stopped at an inn to rest for a moment.

A commotion from a nearby room caught his ear. Inside, the Official’s Son was forcing himself on an innocent young woman.

The girl’s clothes were already torn. Fueled by youthful recklessness and righteous fury, An Peisheng kicked down the door with a single blow.

The Official’s Son sneered at him with mocking words. Rage boiling over, An Peisheng drew his blade and struck the man down in one swift motion.

He saved the young woman, but little did he know that this impulsive act would bring unimaginable disaster to his family.

When the High Official learned his precious son had been brutally slain by An Peisheng, fury consumed him. He hired a band of vicious assassins.

While An Peisheng was away, the High Official seized the chance. His hired killers massacred An Peisheng’s entire family, young and old.

Later, under fabricated charges, An Peisheng was arrested and thrown into prison. The High Official used his influence to pressure the authorities below.

The very next day, An Peisheng was sentenced to execution. Overwhelmed by guilt for causing his family’s senseless deaths, he sank into despair.

Numb and broken, the fiery spirit of his youth vanished from his eyes as he was dragged to the execution platform.

The High Official sat at the judgment seat, pinning countless false crimes on An Peisheng. The clueless crowd jeered and pointed fingers.

Just then, Li Xun and Li Ran passed by and witnessed the scene. Li Ran saw through the so-called charges as mere excuses to kill An Peisheng.

With a command from the High Official, an execution token dropped beside An Peisheng. The Headsman gripped his blade, ready to strike.

Li Ran, heedless of the consequences, leaped forward. With a single kick, he sent the Headsman sprawling, defiantly rescuing An Peisheng in broad daylight.

The High Official fumed with rage but was powerless to act. Later, with Li Xun and Li Ran’s help, An Peisheng tracked down the true killers.

The mastermind behind it all was none other than the High Official himself.

In a fit of vengeance, An Peisheng slaughtered the assassins and the High Official’s entire household, leaving none alive.

From that day, An Peisheng had no place to call home in that region, with wanted posters plastered everywhere.

At Li Ran’s earnest invitation, he gratefully accepted the offer to join the sect, becoming the Second Elder of the Sky Sword Sect. Together with Li Ran and Li Xun, he ventured through the martial world.

………………

Li Zai’an was born in a remote village. Orphaned early, he grew up alone, often bullied and scorned by others.

Since childhood, Li Zai’an dreamed of being a hero, always repaying malice with kindness and meeting cruelty with a smile.

But endless concessions only made things worse. The villagers saw him as a weakling, someone they could push around at will.

This village had long lost its humanity. Selfish and greedy, they brawled over trivial matters and coveted each other’s possessions.

In this man-eating village, Li Zai’an starved, reduced to fighting dogs for scraps. Yet, in such a brutal place, he slowly grew up.

Eight years later, the village buzzed with unusual excitement one day. As usual, Li Zai’an shuffled closer to see what was happening.

The villagers spotted him and recoiled in disgust, covering their noses and shooing him away.

It turned out the Village Chief’s Son had kidnapped a wealthy young lady from the foothills, forcing her to marry him. That’s why the fuss was so grand.

This young lady was none other than Qiao Ling’er.

Knowing this was wrong, Li Zai’an stepped forward to plead with the heartless villagers to release Qiao Ling’er.

The villagers found his words laughable. They beat him black and blue, warning him to mind his own business.

They planned to use Qiao Ling’er’s family wealth to catapult the village to prosperity, dreaming of riches for all. Anyone who opposed them was an enemy of the entire village.

In that moment, Li Zai’an realized reasoning with these inhuman beasts was futile.

He made up his mind to sneak into the wedding chamber on the night of the ceremony and spirit Qiao Ling’er away.

The villagers, drunk on joy and wine, paid no attention to their surroundings. Li Zai’an succeeded with ease.

Slipping into the wedding chamber, he found Qiao Ling’er holding a pair of scissors to her throat, resolute in her defiance.

Li Zai’an explained his intentions and assured her he was there to help her escape down the mountain. Only then did Qiao Ling’er lower her guard.

Under the cover of night, the two bolted, racing toward the mountain’s base.

A Nosy Woman in the village spotted them and let out a piercing scream, alerting everyone.

The entire village was soon aware of their escape.

The Village Chief’s Son, furious beyond measure, sobered up instantly. He stormed back to his room, grabbed a Sickle, and led a mob of villagers down the mountain in pursuit.

He swore Li Zai’an would pay with his life.

As the two carefully descended the dark mountain, Qiao Ling’er misstepped, unable to see the path ahead.

She twisted her ankle and couldn’t walk.

Behind them, angry roars and flickering torches closed in as shadowy figures swarmed down the slope.

Li Zai’an knew there was no time to hesitate.

Ignoring Qiao Ling’er’s protests, he scooped her delicate frame into his arms and sprinted down the mountain.

He ran until they reached the foothills, but his strength began to wane. Soon, the pursuing villagers surrounded them tightly.

Li Zai’an shielded Qiao Ling’er with his body, determined to keep these monstrous villagers from harming her.

In silent agreement, the villagers struck him mercilessly with their farm tools.

They showed no mercy to the one who shattered their dreams of wealth.

Their sticks and rods battered Li Zai’an relentlessly. His malnourished body couldn’t hold out for long.

Soon, he was beaten to the brink of death. As he teetered on the edge of life, Qiao Ling’er clung to him protectively. Only then did the villagers pause.

The Village Chief’s Son, seething at the sight, gnashed his teeth. He couldn’t stand seeing his supposed bride defend an outsider.

To him, this was a blow to his pride as a man. Barely containing his rage, he yanked Qiao Ling’er aside with a rough tug.

Gripping his Sickle tightly, he prepared to end Li Zai’an—the sinner of their entire village—once and for all.

Just as the Sickle was about to slash through Li Zai’an’s neck, a stroke of fate intervened.

Li Xun and his two companions happened upon the scene. Without hesitation, they stepped in to save Li Zai’an and Qiao Ling’er.

With casual ease, the trio reduced the villagers to ash in the blink of an eye, sending them back into the cycle of reincarnation.

When Li Zai’an awoke, he was a man with no home to return to. He pleaded with the trio to guide him onto the path of cultivation, to fulfill his dream of becoming a hero.

He also sought to repay their life-saving kindness. Qiao Ling’er joined in the plea, and Li Xun readily agreed.

From then on, the group roamed the world with Li Xun, seeking like-minded companions to join their cause.