Dealing With the Black Blade
Dealing With the Black Blade
Having witnessed it, Ming Yue stopped in front of the Black Blade, keeping her distance unless she wanted to end up like the Dragon of Swords. Despite standing in front of it, the sword didn't seem to make any attempts to reach her.
"Zhen Wu's Sword, that was its name wasn't it? To think that I would end up finding the Lunatic Sword's weapon. I wonder what Elder Xiang would think if I returned with this."
She couldn't help but smile, thinking back to the Sword Elder's excitement when it came to this mysterious figure, Yan Yi, the Lunatic Sword, the Lunar Executioner, the Heavenly Slayer, member of the Astral Order.
"I've come across so many traces of you and now I've found your sword. It wants to be free and I can free it, after that, perhaps I'll use it."
Ming Yue muttered it out loud only to reveal a strange face.
"I talk as if that man is beside me, what's the point, either it comes with me or I leave it here."
Putting these choices before herself, it was clear what she chose.
But there wasn't time, the sound of crumbling stone continued to echo out loud. With every second, cracks formed as the structure slowly decayed. The battle between Ming Yue and the Dragon of Swords proved far too much for these ruins and if she lingered any longer, she might not be able to leave.
"Xue Yue, do you think you can contain that sword for just a while, at least until we reach the spires?" she quickly asked.
"If you bring it with the chains and the talismans, I can keep it under control for a day at most."
Her counterpart answered with confidence.
"Alright."
Hearing this, the young cultivator made her move, removing the chains from the walls and wrapping them tightly over the sword like a cocoon. She jumped forward and grabbed it before it fell, wrapping her arm around it. Little black sparks sneaked out from the gaps of the chains, striking at her armor, damaging it.
Blood Moon glowed with power, forcing the sparks back into its temporary prison.
"Nevermind... I can only hold it back for half a day!"
Xue Yue's voice came out strained as she changed her answer from before
"It's alright, that's plenty of time!"
Carrying the Black Blade, Ming Yue flew out and charged towards the tenth level. As she climbed higher, the cracking and crumbling of stone grew louder as larger pieces fell from their place. The spiral stairs had already begun to disintegrate because of that little chase from before.
The ruins continued to tremble and shake even more as she made it to the little room, reaching for the stacked stones and vanishing as everything suddenly collapsed on itself!
On the other side, the cultivator reappeared, falling out of the air along with a few pebbles and rocks. Coughing a bit, she stood up, looking at her dusty clothes before glancing at the stacked stones.
At first, there was no change but then one of the stones split before falling out, leading to the collapse of this little formation.
"Hah, so I made it in time."
Sighing in relief, Ming Yue turned around and walked out of the cave in the dark of the night. Getting close to the house, she heard sniffling within as well as the purring of her three beasts, all of whom were trying their best to comfort a very scared child.
Ming Yue sighed once more, this time it seemed more tired than relieved.
Putting down both Blood Moon and the Black Blade, she walked stepped into the house, seeing exactly what she had heard.
Hongyu hugged her knees in the corner of the room whilst Liang Wei and Hei Yue curled around her. Xiao Yin perched on top of one of the chairs, cooing. But as soon as Ming Yue entered, the Star Owl flew up, landing on her shoulder.
Ming Yue felt her heart sink looking at this, she quickly walked towards the little girl and knelt down.
"Hongyu, I told you that it was dangerous and you still went. If I was just a few seconds late, you along with these three would've died to that thing."
She spoke very softly but firmly.
"Do you understand how I would feel if this happened?" she asked.
Hongyu peeked up from her knees, looking at Ming Yue with teary eyes.
"If you're going to apologize, then apologize to these three. They risked their lives for you."
Ming Yue held her arm up for Xiao Yin to perch on top, placing the Star Owl in front of the little girl. All three beasts looked at her, whimpering and mewing until Hongyu went to hug them all, crying in the process.
And with all of that the exhaustion came and washed over Hongyu as she quickly fell asleep, holding onto the trio. Soundly asleep, Ming Yue then turned her attention towards them.
"You three, how did she even get past all of you?" she asked but she just shook her head, "Forget it, at least you're all safe."
Leaning forward, she petted them all, scratching their heads and chins gently before caressing Hongyu's cheek, wiping off a tear.
"Keep her safe this time, I'm serious."
The trio nodded their heads, curling tighter against Hongyu.
"Good."
Standing up, she walked out of the house, grabbed both swords, and flew off towards the spires.
"About time, If you decided to wait until the last minute to deal with this damn sword, I think you would've killed us all," said Xue Yue.
Her voice was somewhat strained but it seemed that she still had the Black Blade under control.
"I just needed to make sure that she was fine, that they were all safe. Besides, this shouldn't take too long, I'm pretty sure I just have to bring it to the spires, leave and then come back when it's all done."
"Yeah, the quicker the better, this damn thing is a pain to hold back."
After a quick exchange, Ming Yue sped up, flying through the night sky.
"Nearly there."
With the spires coming into view, she gradually lowered, gracefully landing at the center of this massive formation. As always, it was quiet as the young cultivator looked around before dropping the cocooned sword on the ground.
"That should do it, I think."
Ming Yue looked at it, narrowing her eyes as she noticed that something was wrong.
"It's not absorbing any of the energy... Is it because of the chains?" she asked herself.
Picking it back up, Ming Yue studied it even closer before looking at the spires. Her eyes seemed to flash when she looked at the very tops of each spire watching them slowly siphon the energy from the skies.
"Don't tell me I have to put it up there? That's dangerous, especially if I bring the sword close to the origin of the Calamity. There should be a better way."
After a moment, she looked down at the very point she stood.
"If all the energy that it siphons gathers at this point, perhaps I could just plant it in the middle. But I would have to unwrap it first and then stab it in. It's... doable. Xue Yue, do you think you can keep it under control if I free it from the chains?" she asked.
Xue Yue was silent for a few seconds before answering.
"Maybe just a minute at most, it could be less."
"That's more than enough. I'm going to free it now."
Satisfied with her answer, Ming Yue struck without hesitation, slicing through the chains and grabbing the Blade Blade by the hilt. Wincing the moment she touched it, the corrupting energy flooded into her body but she was quick, stabbing the sword right into the middle of the formation!
And without a warning, the skies darkened.