The Jade Sword Mountains were bathed in the pale light of dawn, a soft mist swirling among the crumbling towers and training grounds of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Birds with faint spiritual auras glided between the remaining pavilions, their cries echoing through the valley. The sect had begun to feel alive again, the courtyard buzzing with the footsteps and chatter of disciples training and cultivating.
Zhou Yu stood atop the Main Sect Hall, his hands folded behind his back, the sword fragment from the Outer Ruins resting on a carved stone pedestal before him. Its faint pulse of Sword Qi synchronized with the rhythm of his own cultivation, whispering long-forgotten techniques of the Primordial Immortal Sword Saint, Tian Jian.
"Step by step," Zhou Yu murmured to himself. "Each fragment will awaken the Flying Sword Formation, and one day, the sect will rise to its former glory."
Feng Lian approached silently, her steps measured. "The fragment is strong, Master Zhou Yu. But incomplete. Without full understanding, attempting to awaken it fully could be dangerous."
Zhou Yu nodded. "I am aware. That is why I will begin with controlled integration into the formation. Liang Chen, come."
Liang Chen hurried over, eyes wide with anticipation. He had trained hard since their expedition, absorbing lessons from Feng Lian and Zhou Yu alike. Today, he would participate in the first attempt to awaken the sword fragment.
The Forge Hall glowed with faint golden light as Zhou Yu and Feng Lian began the process. The Flying Sword Formation hovered above, three blades spinning in tight arcs, their energy resonating with the fragments of ancient Sword Dao techniques. Zhou Yu placed the sword fragment at the center, the runes on its surface beginning to glow faintly.
"Focus your Qi," Zhou Yu instructed Liang Chen. "The fragment will respond to intention and synchronization, not raw power. Understand its rhythm, and it will obey."
Liang Chen nodded, extending his dantian's energy into the formation. The fragment pulsed, reacting faintly to his Qi. Feng Lian demonstrated, guiding him with precise movements and Sword Qi flow.
"Feel the fragment," Feng Lian said. "It is not a tool; it is an extension of your soul. Merge your intent with its energy, not your strength."
Hours passed as Zhou Yu, Feng Lian, and Liang Chen adjusted the formation, calibrating the fragment's resonance with the spinning swords. Slowly, a faint silver aura spread across the formation, arcs of Sword Qi flowing smoothly and extending beyond the courtyard.
"It's… working," Liang Chen whispered, eyes wide. A faint hum filled the air as the swords' energy became sharper, keener, and more responsive.
Zhou Yu's eyes glimmered. "This is only the beginning. Once fully awakened, this fragment will allow the Flying Sword Formation to perform advanced Sword Dao techniques — attacks, defenses, and movements beyond ordinary cultivators."
With the Flying Sword Formation strengthened, Zhou Yu turned his attention to the Spirit Fields and discipleship recruitment. Word of the Heavenly Sword Sect's revival was spreading, and those attuned to the Sword Dao began arriving at the sect's gates.
Some were young cultivators seeking guidance, others seasoned warriors intrigued by the legend of Tian Jian's sword legacy. Zhou Yu personally oversaw the intake, testing each recruit's Sword Qi affinity, Body Refining stability, and temperament.
One particularly skilled young swordsman, Han Xiang, displayed an innate mastery of Sword Qi, his movements precise and fluid even under observation. Zhou Yu allowed him to train alongside Liang Chen and Feng Lian, noting that this synergy could strengthen the core of the sect's disciples.
The sect also repaired and reinforced several facilities:
Inner Sect Trial Tower: recalibrated with the newly awakened fragment to test Sword Qi control.
Forge Hall: enhanced with formation integration to forge swords attuned to the Flying Sword Formation.
Beast Taming Ridge: new pens constructed to house tamed spiritual beasts, preparing for future expansions.
Zhou Yu's meticulous planning ensured that every new disciple and every facility contributed to the sect's strength, preparing them for the inevitable retaliation from rival powers.
As night fell, the courtyard quieted. Only the hum of the Flying Sword Formation and the soft whispers of spiritual energy filled the air. Zhou Yu stood atop the Main Sect Hall, sensing faint disturbances along the Azure River Basin.
"They are coming," Zhou Yu murmured, eyes narrowing. "The Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect has surely noticed our progress, and other rival powers will follow. The Outer Ruins expedition, the sword fragment… they cannot ignore us now."
Feng Lian approached, her expression serious. "How many do you anticipate?"
Zhou Yu traced his finger over the fragment, the runes glowing faintly. "At least three high-level cultivators from their sect, likely scouts at first, testing our defenses. If they fail, the next wave will be much larger. We must be ready."
Liang Chen's eyes widened. "Master… do we fight them now, or wait?"
Zhou Yu placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "We wait and prepare. The sect must not be caught off guard. Strength without strategy is meaningless."
The first signs appeared before dawn. Faint ripples of chaotic Sword Qi, unlike anything from the Heavenly Sword Sect, approached the courtyard. Zhou Yu immediately activated the Flying Sword Formation, three swords spinning in synchronized arcs, cutting the air with sharp precision.
Three cloaked figures emerged from the mists — Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect scouts, their presence radiating malicious energy. Each wielded a unique weapon, infused with demonic Sword Qi, and their movements were coordinated, testing the sect's defenses.
"Liang Chen, Feng Lian — stay close!" Zhou Yu commanded, his Qi flaring.
The battle was fierce and precise. Zhou Yu coordinated the formation while defending key entry points, guiding Liang Chen to anticipate attacks and respond with both body and sword. Feng Lian moved with lethal elegance, her sword slicing arcs through the air, cutting down demonic Sword Qi projections before they reached the courtyard.
The scouts were skilled, but the integration of the sword fragment into the Flying Sword Formation gave the sect a decisive edge. One by one, the invaders were repelled, leaving faint scorch marks and traces of dark energy etched into the stones.
Zhou Yu allowed Liang Chen to land a finishing strike, boosting his confidence and demonstrating the importance of precise coordination.
"They underestimated us," Zhou Yu said, eyes scanning the retreating figures. "This is only the beginning. They will return stronger — and next time, more of them will come."
Feng Lian sheathed her sword, a faint smile of approval. "You have improved the Flying Sword Formation remarkably, Master Zhou Yu. It is now more than a defensive tool — it can be a weapon of annihilation if fully mastered."
After the clash, Zhou Yu returned to the Forge Hall, placing the sword fragment before the formation again. With the scouts repelled, he could focus entirely on unlocking the fragment's latent technique.
He extended his Sword Qi into the fragment, aligning his intent with the ancient whispers of Tian Jian. Slowly, faint images of sword forms and combat flows appeared in his mind — a sequence of strikes that seemed to split reality itself, slicing through space with precision and speed.
"This… this is the first lost technique," Zhou Yu murmured. "The Heavenly Slash of Tian Jian. One strike could pierce through multiple layers of defense, slicing Sword Qi and formations alike."
He carefully traced the movements, practicing slowly. Liang Chen and Feng Lian observed, learning from the technique, absorbing the essence of the Sword Dao embedded within the fragment.
The formation responded, arcs of silver light extending and tracing the movements of the Heavenly Slash. Even at a preliminary stage, the technique increased both offensive and defensive capabilities of the Flying Sword Formation dramatically.