C1 Sevenstar Sword Spell

The Martial Training Field of the Profound Heaven Sect's Outer Sect was bustling with people, each with a different expression etched on their face. Some were indifferent, others scornful, some looked down with contempt, a few showed pity, but the majority wore mocking smiles.

At the center of it all stood a young man in green, his face a picture of bewilderment, swaying as if he might collapse at any moment. Clearly, he was at a loss amidst the unfolding scene. Before him on the ground lay a bouquet of roses that had been vibrant and alive, now trampled and reduced to nothing but wilted petals and leaves.

"Humph, just look at him. Nothing but Outer Sect trash. Where did he muster the audacity to confess to Mo Yunxi from the Inner Sect? Does he even stand a chance?"

"Exactly. Mo Yunxi may not be a Heavenly Ranking expert, but she's the Third Elder's favored disciple, wielding considerable influence within the Inner Sect. We wouldn't dare to entertain thoughts about her, yet Lin Yu, this waste, has the gall. Tsk, it's truly pitiful. His love, crushed underfoot, and her words, 'What makes you think you're worthy of me?' should have taught him his place. If I were him, I'd have taken my own life out of sheer embarrassment. His delusion is beyond foolish."

"You're not entirely right, though. Lin Yu is the dregs of our Outer Sect disciples. At fifteen, he's only reached the third level of the Yellow Rank. And with the triennial Outer Sect Assessment looming next month, those who fail are sure to be expelled, not even fit to stay on as menial workers."

"Lin Yu's cousin, Lin Lieh, may be a Heavenly Ranking expert, but when has someone of his stature ever concerned himself with the fate of such a nobody? Lin Yu's desperate gamble was to confess to Mo Yunxi of the Inner Sect before his inevitable end. Had he succeeded, he might have gained her protection. In such a case, the examiners in next month's assessment might have been inclined to look the other way for Mo Yunxi's sake. Quite the calculated move..."

"Humph, to think he'd stoop to relying on a woman's shelter to secure his place. How is that any different from mooching off her? He's a disgrace to all men. Lin Yu, why even bother living? Better to end it all now..."

"What makes you think you're worthy of the Inner Sect's prodigious young lady?"

"And what makes you believe you're a match for Mo Yunxi?"

...

A chorus of jeers swirled around Lin Yu, who stood bewildered at the heart of the crowd. The world seemed to spin, leaving him gasping for air, unable to catch his breath.

"Trash Lin Yu? Are they referring to me?"

Lin Yu whispered to himself, straining to piece together the events that led to this moment. He couldn't fathom why these strangers looked down on him with such disdain. Dizziness overwhelmed him, and suddenly, a mouthful of blood sprayed out as he collapsed under the watchful eyes of all.

"What in the world is happening to me?"

...

Time was lost on Lin Yu, and when he finally regained consciousness, he was greeted by the sight of dilapidated ceiling beams. Desperate to rise, he found himself utterly drained of strength. He writhed in agony, his body searing with pain, teetering on the brink of death.

"Water..."

He croaked the word, but in the desolate room, there was no one to hear his plea, no one to bring him water. His passing would likely go unnoticed.

Could mere words ever capture the depth of his desolation? Lin Yu shook his head and managed a wry smile amidst the torment. Clarity slowly returned to his mind, along with a flood of memories.

He was once the paramount swordsman of the Twin Moons Continent, a master of both the one-hand and two-hand swords, hailed as the Young Sword Saint. At eighteen, he had discovered the long-lost 'Seven-star Sword Spell' in an ancient relic. His innate talent for swordsmanship had earned him the reputation as one of the three great geniuses of his generation.

With the Seven-star Sword Spell in his possession, Lin Yu's cultivation soared, his swordsmanship and power reaching heights never before seen. It was then that he ascended Sky Mountain alone, vanquishing the champions of sixteen nations and securing his legendary status. But as the saying goes, the tallest tree catches the most wind. Somehow, word of his acquisition of the Seven-star Sword Spell spread, and a multitude of formidable adversaries laid a trap in God-down Valley, seeking to end his life and claim the coveted spell for themselves.

Lin Yu's memory of that battle was vivid and brutal; the bloodshed had turned the canyon crimson. Despite his strength, he ultimately fell, drained of his energy. Yet, in his dying breath, he made the choice to self-destruct, taking his enemies with him. He was certain of his death, but against all odds, he found himself with the opportunity to open his eyes once more.

He awoke to an unfamiliar world teeming with strangers.

Rebirth through another's body!

The thought struck Lin Yu with a mix of astonishment and boldness. Pushing through his immense pain, he struggled to piece together his memories. The wide Martial Training Field came into view, along with the many who had judged and scorned him.

Lin Yu hailed from the Lin family of the Red Lotus Empire. His father, Lin Yuan, had died when Lin Yu was just a boy, leaving him and his mother to fend for themselves. Despite his lineage, his status within the family was low, and mistreatment from his cousins was a daily occurrence. His martial arts talent was notably lacking; it wasn't until the age of twelve that he barely reached the Yellow Rank. Thanks to his family's influence, he joined the Outer Sect of the Profound Heaven Sect. Now fifteen, his cultivation had only reached the third level of the Yellow Rank. Over three years, he had advanced a mere three minor realms—a pace too slow to be simply called 'slow'.

As a result, Lin Yu was labeled as useless by his peers in the Outer Sect. On the Xuan Yue Continent, where martial prowess was revered and cultivators were numerous, the hierarchy of cultivation levels was well-defined.

The martial path was split into two: the Martial and the Tao. Initially, one would focus on the Martial before advancing to the Tao. Early-stage cultivators were known as Martial Cultivators and were categorized into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Heaven Rank stood at the pinnacle, each rank consisting of nine levels. Surpassing the Heaven Rank and enduring the Tribulation of Thunder would lead one to the Tao—a legendary realm said to possess the power to reshape the earth itself. Such individuals were a rarity, even within the Profound Heaven Sect, which was among the Five Great Sects of Cangxi Province.

In a world where only the strong survive, power, prestige, wealth, and beauty are easily within grasp for those who possess them. Conversely, those without are doomed to be crushed underfoot, reduced to mere ants. Lin Yu, despite his innate talent and fortune, found himself among these downtrodden, barely clinging to his place in the Outer Sect of the Profound Heaven Sect.

Should he be expelled and sent shamefully scurrying back to the Lin family, the disgrace would be unbearable. He risked being disowned entirely. Desperate for sanctuary, Lin Yu took a gamble and confessed his feelings to Mo Yunxi of the Inner Sect, hoping for her protection. Yet, her response shattered him completely.

"Why do you think you are worthy of me?"

Her words were blunt and piercing, striking Lin Yu to his core. Overwhelmed by shame and fury, he perished. This tragic end, however, presented the current Lin Yu with a chance to take over the body and assimilate all its memories. He now fully comprehended the sequence of events that led to this moment and let out a quiet sigh.

A powerful resentment still swirled in his mind, the remnants of the previous soul's unwillingness to pass on after such a humiliating death. "Rest easy now... From this point forward, I am you. I will settle all your scores," Lin Yu whispered, closing his eyes to concentrate on purging the lingering bitterness. Soon, it was gone. With that, the former Lin Yu, once considered worthless, vanished. A new journey lay ahead, one that would be entirely his own.

Lin Yu silently channeled his spiritual energy, guiding it along a precise path. His goal was to master the Seven-star Sword Spell. Though his strength had all but vanished, he was intimately familiar with the technique and its pathways. Given enough time, he was confident he could reclaim the power he had lost.

The night had fallen, and starlight gently rained down, unnoticed by all but drawn by an unseen force to a quiet courtyard. Lin Yu lay in bed, bathed in the ethereal glow, his once pallid complexion now tinged with a healthy flush. This miraculous recovery was thanks to the Seven-star Sword Spell, which harnessed the celestial light, endowing Lin Yu with a healing prowess far surpassing that of his fellow cultivators.

Six hours had slipped by, and Lin Yu's complexion was steadily improving. He finally managed to sit up under his own power, continuing to harness the power of starlight to nurture his body. But soon enough, his previously eased brows furrowed tightly—his spiritual energy was meeting resistance within his meridians.

"The incomplete tempering of my body is causing the blockages. No wonder the original Lin Yu had such low combat strength; it all makes sense now," Lin Yu murmured. He attempted to break through the obstruction using the Seven-star Sword Spell, but the Third Level Yellow Rank spiritual energy was too weak, insufficient to overcome the barrier. The backlash was excruciating.

"I've oversimplified things," Lin Yu sighed softly, pondering his next move. Since his own power wasn't enough, he would need to seek external help.

One option was to use a Medicine Pill, but Marrow Cleansing Pills were a rarity. Even on the rare occasions they surfaced in the Outer Sect, the cost was prohibitive, far beyond Lin Yu's means.

The alternative was the perilous Bone Crushing and Rebirth Technique, relying on sheer brute force to break down and rebuild from scratch. The risk was high; a single misstep could be fatal. Yet, the martial path is fraught with life-or-death challenges. If he couldn't surmount this minor hurdle, how could he ever aspire to dominate the world?

With resolve hardening in his heart, Lin Yu persisted in circulating the Seven-star Sword Spell to heal his body. The night sped by, and as dawn broke, he rose with difficulty. Despite lingering pain, he felt considerably better. He poured himself a glass of water, soothing his parched throat.

"The journey must be walked anew," Lin Yu whispered to himself, just as the door was abruptly kicked open with a resounding crash.