2 Yun Ming

"Haaaaaaaaaaa"

A sorrowful sigh resounded in Yun Ming's ears. 'This—This sounds like Brother Zhong!', Yun Ming thought as he dashed through the Heaven-Splitting Sect's halls, guided by the occasional sighs.

Yun Ming, like his blood-sworn Brother, sported the blue Core Disciple robe. The Heaven-Splitting Swallow on his robe sped through the building with him, taking dives and swerving gracefully as his host went.

"Haaaaaaaaaaa"

The following sighs became louder and louder, but they also felt heavier and heavier. Noticing this, Yun Ming knew he was getting closer.

The wandering disciples could only see a streak of light zipping through the wide halls and bouncing off the walls as Yun Ming used the secret Heaven-Splitting Sect footwork, Soaring Swallow Steps!

'It—It's Senior Ming!', the disciples roared in their hearts.

'S-So fast!', thought the other disciples.

Yun Ming had made a name for himself and earned his spot as a Core Disciple through Soaring Swallow Steps. He had cultivated it to such a high level that he even beat the present Sect Master in a contest speed! Only after beating Sect Master Lao did Yun Ming get the right to wear the Heaven-Splitting Robe.

He was fast, lightning fast even, but believing he was "just fast" was a mistake that led many of his opponents to their defeat. If speed could be expressed in numbers of limbs, then Yun Ming didn't just have one thousand legs, he also had one thousand arms!

He continued to sprint; dashing toward his destination. He was just about to reach his friend, Baizhong, when a shrill shriek escaped his lips.

"Wha?!"

He felt a foreboding chill run down his spine as his lightning-like sprint came to a stop. What lay before him was an just one small feather yet to Yun Ming, it seemed like an overbearing mountain. The white plume seemed to blend in so well with the similarly white floor. But all the pretense of blending in vanished once a flurry of sword edges erupted from it.

"Whoosh Whoosh"

Whooshing sounds could be heard as the blade-feathers collided and flew, tearing the walls around them. The feathers seemed to multiply as the storm of wind and metal continued to grow and wreak havoc.

Seeing this, Yun Ming's face couldn't help but grow dignified. He knew what the swallow's feathers meant. The swallow's feathers were the symbol of the Sect Master. This meant that going past this point was as good as challenging the Sect's authority. This was their final reminder, their bottomline. This was an ultimatum; step no further or prepare for punishment.

This was how the Heaven-Splitting Sect worked. They rewarded the strong and promising. They were strict but they gave their disciples a choice, just like this one.

Yun Ming could only grit his teeth as he conjured his Soul Blade, Flying Frost. The swallow's projection behind him merged with his body. His eyes soon turned bright blue as the fresh Soul Qi enveloped him, forming an aura that resembled a dense, blue plumage. This was the Heaven-Splitting Robe's other function, apart from the ample defense and beautiful blue splendor.

The swallow insignia in the robe is what is known as a Qi Mark. They could be likened to circuits; the Soul Qi would change as it travelled through the silk and would produce something at the end of its journey. They could turn into swords to attack or into shields for defending. This technology was derived from the natural circuit in the human body from where the Soul Blades are formed.

Having activated the Swallow Mark, Yun Ming braved through the dense hurricane. Clanking sounds resounded as Flying Frost collided with the swallow feathers. The blade seemed to flash in and out of existence as Yun Ming slashed with immaculate speed and precision.

Flying Frost was an elegant sword. Its edge was thin and sharp, reflecting its owner's decisive temperament. It oozed chilling Ice Qi making it all the more ruthless yet beautiful. Its hilt was blue and shaped like a swallow with its wings curved upwards while its two jagged edges made it resemble a feather.