Chapter Five: The Seal

“Frostbane?”

“Yes, Frostbane, the ancient divine sword. In the distant north there was once a block of mystical ice that was born together with heaven and earth itself. That ice drew in the essence of extreme cold each day, and, over countless years, it gave birth to a monstrous scorpion. This creature called itself the Frost Soul Emperor Scorpion. Wherever it went, the land was sealed in ice for a thousand miles. Fortunately, a peerless hero subdued it—extracting its tail stinger and forging it together with the mystical ice, thus creating Frostbane. Since then, Frostbane changed hands many times and eventually disappeared. Who would have thought we’d encounter it here today?”

“But I already have Infinity. What use is Frostbane to me?”

“Are you a fool? You possess the Sword Body, and even more, the Celestial Sword Bone. The more divine swords you own, the stronger you become!” Xiaoyuan looked at Chi Yuan with an expression of helpless exasperation. “Besides, if this sword remains here much longer, this place might become nothing more than a frozen wasteland.” Xiaoyuan glanced at the cold mist spreading around them, lost in thought.

“Hm? What’s happening?”

“A divine weapon nurtures itself with the world’s energy, expanding its own domain and accelerating the gathering of spiritual power. But once the surrounding energy is exhausted, it turns the land into a dead zone.”

“So what should we do?”

“We must find it and subdue it. But you’d best hurry! The spiritual energy here is vibrant—its sword soul may soon become sentient!”

Hearing this, Chi Yuan hesitated no more. In a flash, he melded into the frozen city.

“To the left!” Xiaoyuan’s voice rang in Chi Yuan’s ear. He darted forward, leaping ahead. The surrounding buildings grew sparse until, at last, the expanse was open and barren.

“Stop!” At Xiaoyuan’s command, Chi Yuan halted in the center of the plain. “This is where the spiritual energy is densest. Frostbane should be here! But the energy here is chaotic—I can’t pinpoint its exact location.”

No sooner had Xiaoyuan finished speaking than the ground surged. Just as something was about to emerge, Chi Yuan struck the earth with a mighty punch. A thunderous boom sent the snow—half a foot deep—exploding outward, revealing a slightly raised plaza where mist swirled.

Suddenly, a flash of red pierced the mist. A massive pincer lunged at Chi Yuan. With his fingers forming a sword, he unleashed a blade of sword energy, then curled his hand into a fist and struck forward with all his might. The impact sent him rebounding, and he leapt onto the roof of a distant building. Looking at his hand, he saw a layer of frost forming.

As the mist dissipated, the creature in its depths was revealed: an enormous scorpion, its entire body a ghostly blue. Its twin pincers glinted with biting cold, its tail arched high, though the stinger was missing. On the left pincer, a crack ran down its length—no doubt the wound just dealt by Infinity.

“The Frost Soul Emperor Scorpion!” Xiaoyuan emerged from Infinity. Staring at the monstrous beast, Chi Yuan was taken aback, and his face grew grave.

“The crack on its pincer is healing,” Chi Yuan said in a low voice. Xiaoyuan looked to the wound; it was indeed slowly mending. Yet, rather than gathering energy from the air, the spiritual power around it seemed to shun the creature, keeping its distance.

Xiaoyuan looked up and saw thread-like wisps of energy spilling down from the thundercloud above, flowing directly into the Frost Soul Emperor Scorpion. That, it seemed, was the source of its regeneration. After a moment’s thought, Xiaoyuan turned to Chi Yuan. “Hold off the beast. There’s something strange about that thundercloud—I’ll investigate.”

Chi Yuan nodded. With a thought, Infinity returned to its true form, hovering beside him. Xiaoyuan entered the sword, and with a flash of light, soared toward the thundercloud above the plaza.

The Emperor Scorpion lunged upward but was struck back by a powerful punch from Chi Yuan, slamming it into the ground and leaving a crater. Perched on the rim, Chi Yuan watched the furious scorpion below with a taunting gaze, then leapt into the pit to engage it in close combat.

Meanwhile, Xiaoyuan entered the thundercloud.

Before her, lightning coiled around a long, ghostly blue sword, its precise shape obscured by the flashing light.

“Frostbane, so here you are!” Xiaoyuan tried to approach, but a surge of electricity repelled her.

“What a powerful seal!” Shaking her numbed hand, Xiaoyuan sneered. “Let’s see if I can’t break it!” With a wave, Infinity slashed toward the sword.

“Wait, young lady!” An ancient voice sounded from within the thundercloud.

“Who are you?” Xiaoyuan halted, alert.

“I am the consciousness of the mystical ice within Frostbane. Thousands of years ago, when my old master subdued me, I was meant to become Frostbane’s sword spirit. But the Emperor Scorpion hid a remnant of its soul within its tail stinger. After a fierce struggle, I managed to subdue it, but was unable to become the sword’s spirit. Later, a demon sorcerer from Mount Shu sealed me here, forcing me to absorb the spiritual energy of this place and binding my true soul to the seal. Left with no choice, I controlled the monster, driving away all life from this land, while I hid in the thunderclouds. The lightning here concealed Frostbane’s aura, preventing it from being discovered.”

“Oh? Then I should simply break the seal.”

“I have no wish to remain like this. Collecting the energy of living beings defies the natural order. But if you break the seal now, both my soul and Frostbane’s spirit will dissipate.”

“Why would that happen?” Xiaoyuan’s expression darkened.

“My soul is bound to the heart of the array. If the seal is broken, my soul will be scattered. Frostbane’s spirit, not yet fully awakened, will be lost to the thunderclouds.”

“Is there any way to resolve this?”

“There is. Find the Soul-Capturing Bell of the Demon Sect to weaken the seal, and use the Celestial Sword Bone to withstand the thunderclouds. Then all will be well.”

“Very well. I’ll find these things. You’d better not be deceiving me!” With those words, Xiaoyuan wasted no time and flew back down.

“With Infinity in the world, the Celestial Sword Bone must have returned as well. Three thousand years have passed—what will become of it all this time?” The ancient voice drifted after Xiaoyuan, as if muttering to an old friend.

On the ground, Chi Yuan and the scorpion had been locked in battle for some time. He was covered in frost, while the monster’s body was shattered, unable to recover. As Infinity returned, Chi Yuan leapt into the air, caught the sword, and with a backward slash sent a blade of sword energy at the scorpion. The beast, barely regaining form, was shattered once more and dispersed into the air.

“You little fool, withdraw for now!”

At the command, Chi Yuan channeled his energy, leapt several times, and in an instant was beyond the frozen city.

“What happened?” Chi Yuan asked.

Xiaoyuan relayed the words of the mystical ice. After a moment’s thought, Chi Yuan said, “In your estimation, how long can this place endure without harm to its very foundation?”

“Only three days.”

Hearing this, Chi Yuan sat cross-legged. “Then let’s wait here for two days. That young woman had the map before; she’ll surely come. But if she doesn’t show herself in two days, I’ll break the seal myself.”

“Are you mad? That’s Frostbane—a divine sword for which countless have fought to the death!”

“So what? If the source of this place is damaged, it may take a thousand years to recover. To seize the spirit of creation by force is to defy the natural order, bringing calamity to all life here. If I cannot break the seal, it means I am not fated for this sword. Why cling to it?” With that, Chi Yuan began to work his energy, dissolving the frostbite on his body.

“You little fool—truly hopeless.” Though Xiaoyuan said this, there was a trace of what seemed like a gratified smile in her tone.