The Merciless sword felt heavy yet alive in Chen Xin's hand. It was not a perfect blade —
jagged edges glinted with raw energy, scars marking every fracture, every battle it had endured.
But it was his sword.
Around him, the Trial Realm seemed to pulse with new light. The mist receded, revealing craggy
cliffs and rivers of molten spirit energy flowing through the broken landscape. This was the place
where swords were reforged, and souls tempered.
Chen Xin's mind raced. He had survived the God-Killer, resisted the temptation of the Asura
Sword, but the path ahead was still shadowed by uncertainty. He was no god, no divine heir. He
had only his will and this crude blade.
He remembered the words of the sword spirit:
"The blade follows the soul."
Closing his eyes, Chen Xin focused on the pulse within his chest — the rhythm of his heartbeat,
the lingering fire of his spirit. Slowly, he poured his will into the sword, willing it to become more
than a broken fragment.
The blade responded, glowing faintly with a blue aura — the first bloom of Sword Intent.
Chen Xin opened his eyes, feeling a surge of energy flood his limbs. For the first time since
death, he felt alive — truly alive.
But with life came the burden of growth.
The Trial Realm was vast, filled with ancient secrets and dangers yet unseen. To survive, Chen
Xin would need to train harder than ever before, mastering new techniques and uncovering the
mysteries of sword intent.
He rose, gripping the Merciless sword tightly.
"I will forge my own path," he vowed. "Not as a shadow of another, but as a sword of my own
making."
And so, beneath the ghostly light of the Trial Realm, Chen Xin began his long journey toward
becoming a true Sword God.