Chapter 15: Wooden Sword Shatters the Heavenly Gate; The Human Realm Does Not Kneel

The Sword Vein awakens, and the entire Northern Border trembles.

In Hanzhou City, the bamboo branch in a child's hand suddenly emits a sword's cry.

On White Bone Pass, the Zhenbei Flag unfurls fully in the wind.

Inside Burying Sword Valley, countless broken swords reignite.

Sword Cultivators across the world raise their heads at the same moment, gazing north.

They feel that the Luck of the Sword Dao, suppressed for a hundred years, has returned.

Above Tian Duan Cliff, the Heavenly Gate swings wide open.

The figures behind the gate are no longer indifferent.

They are furious.

For the ants of the Human Realm have severed the hands reaching for the Sword Vein.

The foremost figure speaks coldly: "Jiang Che, do you know the crime of defying Heaven?"

Jiang Che stands upon the green Sword Vein, holding the Green Bamboo Sword, with half a Wooden Sword floating beside him.

He retorts: "Do you know the sin of being too oppressive?"

The Heavenly Gate trembles.

Golden chains extend from behind the gate; this time, they do not bind the Sword Vein, but bind Jiang Che.

Xie Tingxue struggles to rise and stands by his side.

The old man Jiang Ling also props himself up with a Rusty Sword, barely standing straight.

Though the three hundred elite cavalry bleed from seven orifices, they still draw their blades.

Jiang Che turns to look at the crowd once.

"After this sword strike, perhaps we will die."

Xie Tingxue says: "I said, Sword Cultivators fear not death."

Jiang Ling smiles: "I have guarded this cliff for thirty years; I was waiting for this day."

The three hundred elite cavalry shout in unison: "We are willing to follow the Young Master to death!"

Jiang Che smiles.

He drives the Green Bamboo Sword into the Sword Vein.

Then, he picks up that half Wooden Sword.

The Sword Spirit is stunned: "Boy, what are you doing?"

Jiang Che says: "Borrowing a sword."

The Sword Spirit laughs and curses: "Only now do you remember me?"

Jiang Che shakes his head: "I am not borrowing your sword."

"Then whose do you borrow?"

Jiang Che raises his head, his voice spreading across the Northern Border.

"Borrowing a sword from the people of Han Zhou."

Inside Hanzhou City, countless commoners raise their heads.

"Borrowing a sword from the Zhenbei Old Soldiers."

On White Bone Pass, Chen Shanhe raises his blade and roars.

"Borrowing a sword from the Jiang Family ancestors."

The stone swords of Tian Duan Cliff ring out together.

"Borrowing a sword from all who refuse to kneel in the Human Realm."

Boom!

Between Heaven and Earth, countless Sword Qi streams converge on Tian Duan Cliff.

Some are strong, some weak.

Some come from Sword Cultivators of famous mountains and great sects.

Others come from the broken blades and severed swords of old border soldiers.

Some come from wooden branches in children's hands.

Others come from that rusted kitchen knife before a widow's door.

The Sword Qi distinguishes no high or low status.

It asks only if one is willing to bow one's head.

The Sword Spirit falls silent for a long time, then suddenly laughs loudly.

"What a fine 'Borrowing a Sword from the Human Realm'!"

"Jiang Che, this sword is stronger than mine!"

The half Wooden Sword begins to burn.

The figure of the Sword Spirit appears beside Jiang Che for the first time.

It is a man in a green robe, a wine gourd hanging at his waist, his smile free and easy.

Jiang Che's heart tightens: "Senior..."

The green-robed swordsman waves his hand.

"Stop being so sentimental."

"I am but a wisp of a lingering Soul; to witness this sword strike, it is no loss."

He raises his head to look at the Heavenly Gate.

"I did not smash you a hundred years ago; today, I make up for it."

Jiang Che gripped the wooden sword tightly.

The green-robed sword cultivator reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

The vitality of the Green Bamboo Sword, Jiang Xuan's protection, Xie Tingxue's Clear Snow Sword Intent, the obsession of the Jiang Family ancestors, the blood-courage of the Northern Garrison Army, the wish-power of Hanzhou City's common people, and finally the wild abandon of the Sword Spirit.

All these powers converged into a single sword strike.

Behind the Heavenly Gate, those figures finally felt fear.

"Stop him!"

Countless Golden Locks fell.

Jiang Che thrust his sword toward Heaven.

This sword strike had no name.

Or rather, its name was Human Realm.

Sword light rose from Tian Duan Cliff, swept across the Northern Border Snow Plains, illuminated White Bone Pass, lit up Hanzhou City, and finally surged straight into the Nine Heavens.

The Golden Locks shattered inch by inch.

The Heavenly Gate shook violently.

God-like figures behind the Gate roared, bellowed, and struck out, yet all were drowned by the sword light.

Jiang Che's skin split all over his body, blood misting like fog.

But his hand remained steady.

He recalled his father's words.

The Jiang Family's sword was always meant to be thrust toward Heaven.

He recalled his mother's letter.

"If you have entered the game, then draw your sword."

He recalled the fire from three years ago.

He recalled the wooden sword on that rainy night at the Broken Temple.

He recalled those old soldiers who died on the charge.

So he smiled.

"Heavenly Gate?"

"It is nothing special."

The sword light fell.

Crack!

Deep within the sky, that ancient Heavenly Gate which had suppressed the Human Realm for a thousand years split open with a fissure.

Immediately after came a second, then a third.

Finally, it shattered with a boom.

The wooden sword also turned to flying ash in Jiang Che's hand.

The figure of the green-robed sword cultivator scattered with the wind.

Before vanishing, he took one last sip of wine and smiled:

"Kid, walk the road ahead on your own."

Jiang Che reached out to grab him, but caught only a wisp of green light.

Fragments of the Heavenly Gate fell like meteors.

The oppressive weight pressing down on the Human Realm disappeared.

Below Tian Duan Cliff, the Sword Vein surged like a great river.

Jiang Che fell to his knees, gasping heavily.

Xie Tingxue supported him: "Is it over?"

Jiang Che gazed at the shattered sky and remained silent for a moment.

"No."

"It is only the beginning."

In the distance, morning light broke through the clouds.

The wind and snow stopped.

From the direction of Hanzhou City, the sound of bells arrived.

On White Bone Pass, Chen Shanhe gazed toward Tian Duan Cliff, tears streaming down his aged face, leading all the Zhenbei Old Soldiers to kneel.

"We respectfully welcome the Young Master to shatter the Heavenly Gate!"

Inside Hanzhou City, countless common people walked onto the long streets; seeing the green light in the north had not yet dispersed, they all knelt in worship.

They did not kneel to Heaven.

They paid respect to the one who drew his sword for the Human Realm.

Jiang Che stood up, leaning on the Green Bamboo Sword.

His body was covered in scars, yet his eyes were bright.

The Heavenly Gate was shattered.

But behind the Gate lay an even greater world and deeper darkness.

He knew those so-called immortals and gods would not let matters rest.

But he was not afraid.

Because from this day forward, the Human Realm's Sword Dao had awakened.

Jiang Che looked at Xie Tingxue, then at the three hundred elite cavalrymen who had survived.

"Back to Han Zhou."

Xie Tingxue asked, "And then?"

Jiang Che smiled.

"Heal my injuries."

"Practice the sword."

"Wait for them to come again."

He lifted his head, gazing at the shattered heavens.

His voice was soft, yet sounded like a sword's ring.

"Next time,"

"I will kill my way up there myself."