War God's Rebirth: A Thousand Blades of Destiny

A Warrior's Resolve

The scent of blood still lingered in the cold night air. The bodies of the bandits lay motionless, their lifeless eyes staring at the sky as if they hadn’t even understood how they died. Bai Tian wiped the blade clean against one of the corpses, his movements calm and methodical.

Xiao Yue, however, remained frozen, her delicate hands gripping the hem of her robe as she watched him. The young master she had known before was timid, hesitant, easily bullied. But this man… this Bai Tian was different.

Stronger. Colder.

A war god reborn.

"Young Master…" she whispered, her voice unsure.

Bai Tian turned to her, his sharp gaze meeting hers. He didn’t need to speak. His silence alone was enough to remind her—he had changed.

She swallowed hard before nodding. “What now?”

Bai Tian slid the newly acquired longsword into his belt. "Now? We move. I need to rebuild my strength. And the Bai Clan… they need to know I’m coming."

Xiao Yue bit her lip. "You can’t take them on like this. Your dantian is still crippled."

Bai Tian’s expression didn’t change. "Cultivation is just one path to power. A warrior’s true strength comes from experience, from skill."

"But they have cultivators," she pressed. "True disciples, elders—"

"And I have this." He tapped the hilt of his sword. "A blade in the hands of a master is worth more than a thousand years of cultivation in the hands of a fool."

Xiao Yue still looked worried, but she said nothing more. Deep down, she knew there was no stopping him.

---

A New Way to Cultivate

As they moved deeper into the forest, Bai Tian’s thoughts drifted. His body was still weak. He could fight, yes, but without his former strength, taking on high-level cultivators was suicide.

He needed more than just a weapon. He needed a way to regain his lost power.

But my dantian is shattered...

He frowned, flexing his fingers as he recalled the battle against the bandits. Even without spiritual energy, his movements had been precise, his instincts sharper than ever.

The Dao of Weapons.

Even if his meridians were crippled, his understanding of battle remained. Perhaps… cultivation wasn’t the only way to power.

What if I don’t cultivate Qi?

A wild thought entered his mind. If he couldn’t channel spiritual energy through his dantian, what if he could channel something else?

The weapon itself.

Cultivators relied on Qi to strengthen their bodies and techniques. But a true warrior… a war god… became the weapon.

His grip tightened around his sword as he focused. He visualized the blade as an extension of himself, not just something he wielded, but something he was.

A faint vibration ran through the metal.

Bai Tian’s eyes widened slightly.

It’s possible.

Xiao Yue noticed his change in expression. "Young Master?"

He exhaled slowly, releasing the blade. The connection faded, but the knowledge remained. He didn’t need to cultivate Qi. He needed to cultivate his weapons.

This… this was the key to his rebirth.

And he would forge himself into the greatest weapon of all.

---

The Merchant's Caravan

The sun was just beginning to rise when they reached the edge of the forest. In the distance, the dusty road leading to the nearest town stretched before them.

Xiao Yue tugged at Bai Tian’s sleeve. "We should find a place to rest. You haven’t slept since…" She hesitated, glancing back toward the forest.

Since he had killed.

Bai Tian didn’t respond. He was too focused on what lay ahead. He needed information. He needed resources. And most importantly, he needed a way to make the Bai Clan suffer.

As they walked, the sound of wooden wheels creaking against the dirt road caught his attention. A caravan approached, guarded by men in simple armor, their hands resting on their weapons.

A merchant?

Bai Tian stepped forward. "We’ll travel with them."

Xiao Yue blinked. "What? But—"

"Information. Protection. Supplies," he said simply. "This is the fastest way."

She hesitated, then nodded.

As they neared the caravan, one of the guards stepped forward, eyeing them warily. "Who are you?"

Bai Tian met his gaze without fear. "Travelers. We’re heading toward the city."

The guard frowned, his eyes scanning Bai Tian’s tattered clothes and Xiao Yue’s anxious face. "Got money?"

Bai Tian’s grip tightened slightly on his sword.

The merchant, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, leaned out of his carriage. "Now, now, no need to be rude," he said with a smile. "You two look like you’ve had a rough night."

Bai Tian didn’t answer.

The merchant studied him for a moment before smirking. "Tell you what—if you’ve got a strong arm, you can work for your passage. We always need extra hands."

Bai Tian nodded once. "Fine."

And just like that, they had their way forward.

---

The First Step Toward Revenge

As the caravan rolled forward, Bai Tian sat near the back, sharpening his new sword with a whetstone the merchant had provided. The rhythmic scraping sound filled the air.

Xiao Yue sat beside him, watching quietly. She knew he wasn’t just preparing his weapon.

He was preparing for war.

"Young Master," she said hesitantly. "When we reach the city… what will you do?"

Bai Tian didn’t stop sharpening the blade. His voice was calm, steady.

"First, I’ll gather information." I need to know who my true enemies are.

"Then, I’ll find a way to rebuild my strength." I will make this body stronger, no matter what it takes.

"And after that…" He paused, his eyes cold. "I’ll return to the Bai Clan."

Xiao Yue shivered. "And then?"

Bai Tian finally looked up, his smirk filled with quiet fury.

"Then, they will kneel."

The blade in his hands gleamed in the morning light, sharp and unforgiving. Just like him.

His road to revenge had begun.

And he would not stop until the Bai Clan was in ruins.