132: Senior Brother, you become a legend the moment you leave the mountain!

Xuantian Immortal Domain, Eastern Region.

Heavenly Sword City.

This city is named after the sword and is the Holy Land in the hearts of all Sword Cultivators within a radius of a hundred million miles.

Markets lined the city, sword pavilions were as numerous as clouds, and even the air was permeated with a faint, sharp Qi.

In the south of the city, inside a restaurant named "Tingyu," the noise was deafening.

Ye Chenfeng found a seat by the window and ordered a jar of the most ordinary immortal brew.

Dressed in green with his long hair tied up, his aura was restrained to the extreme, making him look like a fledgling young Cultivator.

He had been away from the Qingming Mountain Range for three months.

During these three months, he was in no hurry to travel, but instead flew on his sword, gaining insights along the way.

The Laws of heaven and earth in the Immortal Realm were far more complete and heavier than those in the Lower Realm.

He could feel that his Earth Immortal Perfection cultivation was but a drop in the ocean in this vast world.

"Have you heard? The Young Sect Master of the Setting Sun Sword Sect left a three-inch deep sword mark on the Sword Testing Stone in the city center yesterday! It's said that it triggered a resonance from the 'Sword Stone' that hasn't happened in three hundred years!"

"Hiss! Three inches deep? That's 'Star Iron Essence' that even a High Grade Immortal Artifact can hardly shake! This Young Lord of the Setting Sun Sword Sect is probably going to soar to the heavens!"

"More than that! I heard that even the City Lord's Mansion sent people with congratulatory gifts, and their words seemed to imply an intention to recruit him!"

The discussions of several Sword Cultivators at the neighboring table reached Ye Chenfeng's ears.

He poured himself a cup of wine, his gaze calm.

The Sword Testing Stone?

He had come to Heavenly Sword City specifically for this object.

It was said to be transformed from the personal sword of an ancient Sword Dao expert, containing a trace of immortal Sword Intent, making it the best choice for all Sword Cultivators to verify their own Sword Dao.

"Humph, a bunch of country bumpkins who haven't seen the world."

A discordant voice, filled with a strong sense of superiority, rang out from the neighboring table.

A young man dressed in luxurious clothes with a jade sword at his waist was looking at those Loose Cultivators with a face full of disdain.

"A three-inch sword mark, and you're all shocked like this?"

"Our Young Lord has already Cultivated the 'Setting Sun Molten Gold Sword Art' to Major Achievement and will be able to strike for the True Immortal Realm in a few days! Let alone three inches, even five inches is not a problem!"

Beside him, several young men also dressed extraordinarily chimed in.

"Exactly! The Young Lord is a natural genius, how can commoners like you fathom him?"

"When the Young Lord goes to test his sword again today, he will surely break the record and shake the entire Heavenly Sword City!"

The Loose Cultivators' faces turned red from their words, but they didn't dare to talk back.

Because these people were Inner Sect Disciples of the Setting Sun Sword Sect.

In Heavenly Sword City, the Setting Sun Sword Sect was the Law.

Ye Chenfeng drained the wine in his cup, stood up, left a few pieces of immortal jade, and prepared to leave.

He only wanted to see that stone and had zero interest in these people's boasting.

But just as he turned around, the young man in luxurious clothes blocked his path.

"Stop."

The young man's gaze carried a hint of scrutiny as it fell on the long sword on Ye Chenfeng's back.

"Are you also a Sword Cultivator?" The young man raised an eyebrow, his tone arrogant.

"You look very unfamiliar. You must be an Ascender who just came from some remote backwater, right?"

Ye Chenfeng's footsteps stopped.

He didn't look back, his voice flat.

"Is something the matter?"

"Heh, quite the poser." The young man sneered.

"Looking at your pathetic appearance, do you even deserve to come to Heavenly Sword City? Do you even deserve to use a sword?"

"Our Young Lord is going to make a name for himself at 'Sword Heart Plaza' today, and he's just missing a stepping stone."

"How about this, you, come with us."

"Later, in front of the whole city, kowtow to our Young Lord and bark like a dog three times."

"If I'm happy, I might give you a chance to enter my Setting Sun Sword Sect as a servant."

As soon as he said this, the entire restaurant instantly went silent.

Everyone's gaze converged on Ye Chenfeng, filled with sympathy.

Anyone could see that these Setting Sun Sword Sect Disciples were using this outsider to amuse themselves and establish their authority.

Ye Chenfeng finally turned around slowly.

There was no expression on his face.

Those eyes were as calm as a ten-thousand-year-old well, without a single ripple.

"Are you finished?"

"What? Not convinced?" The young man in luxurious clothes was a bit annoyed by his calm gaze.

"I'm telling you, in Heavenly Sword City, the words of my Setting Sun Sword Sect are the rules!"

"An ant like you who crawled up from the Lower Realm being a stepping stone for our Young Lord is a blessing you've earned over eight lifetimes!"

Ye Chenfeng nodded.

He held up one finger.

"One."

"What 'one'?" The young man was taken aback.

"Two."

Ye Chenfeng's voice remained flat.

"You're fucking playing tricks!" The young man was furious.

He felt he was being toyed with, and with his immortal essence surging, he was about to strike.

"Three."

Ye Chenfeng's third word fell.

He moved.

No one saw when he made his move.

No one even saw when he drew his sword.

Everyone only saw an imperceptible, grey sword light flash and vanish.

Fast.

Fast to the extreme.

So fast that even time seemed to be severed.

*Clack.*

A soft sound.

The ornate jade sword at the young man's waist, which symbolized his status, snapped in two and fell to the ground.

Immediately after.

*Puff puff puff puff—!*

The clothes on the other Setting Sun Sword Sect Disciples who were still shouting instantly turned into strips of cloth flying in the air.

Their storage treasures, belts, hair crowns... everything was sliced into the finest powder in that instant.

Only their bodies remained completely unharmed.

The entire restaurant was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

The Setting Sun Sword Sect Disciples stood frozen on the spot, like statues stripped of their clothes.

They lowered their heads, looking at their naked bodies, their minds completely blank.

The young man in luxurious clothes began to tremble violently.

He looked at the broken jade sword on the ground and felt the cold, shallow bloodstain on his neck.

Fear, like a cold tide, instantly submerged his Divine Soul.

He knew the other party had shown mercy.

If that sword had gone one inch further.

His head would no longer be on his neck.

"You... you..." He pointed at Ye Chenfeng, his lips trembling, unable to say a single word.

Ye Chenfeng withdrew his finger.

He didn't even bother to look at these people again, turned around, and walked downstairs.

"Sword Heart Plaza, is it?"

"I'll be waiting."

His flat voice remained in the silent restaurant.

Until his figure completely disappeared at the entrance.

"Ah—!"

Only then did the young man in luxurious clothes let out a scream mixed with fear and malice.

"Kill him! I must kill him!"

...Meanwhile.

Xuantian Immortal Domain, Central Region.

Xuantian Immortal Dynasty, Imperial Capital.

A teahouse named "Xuanji Tower" changed owners today.

Su Linger, dressed in white, sat in an elegant room on the second floor, brewing tea with her delicate hands.

Opposite her, the original owner of Xuanji Tower—a True Immortal Realm old man who had operated in the Imperial Capital for thousands of years and had vast connections—was sweating profusely as he stamped his Divine Soul mark on a contract.

He didn't dare not to.

Because just half an hour ago, this incredibly beautiful woman had completely paralyzed the intelligence network he had built for thousands of years with just one sentence.

In front of him, she had revealed his three deepest secrets.

Including his secret funding of rebel forces, his involvement with the Demonic Path, and... the fact that he had three illegitimate sons.

Every single secret was enough to leave him without a place to be buried.

"Senior... no, Tower Master." The old man tremblingly handed over the contract.

"From now on, this old man is a dog under your command."

Su Linger took the contract, glanced at it, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good."

With a flick of her finger, a Medicinal Pill emitting a dense aura of vitality landed in front of the old man.

"Eat it."

The old man was stunned, and then a look of wild joy erupted in his eyes!

That was... a High Grade Immortal-rank [Longevity Dao Pill]!

It was enough to extend his life by ten thousand years and even give him a chance to strike for the Profound Immortal Realm!

He swallowed the pill without hesitation.

"Thank you, Tower Master, for the grace of rebirth!" He knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Rise." Su Linger's voice was cold but carried an unquestionable authority.

"From today onwards, Xuanji Tower is renamed 'Myriad Dao Pavilion'."

"I want you to use all your power to collect information on three things."

"First, ruins of ancient experts."

"Second, news regarding the Innate Dao Embryo."

"Third, all negative news regarding the 'Purple Cloud Sacred Land'."

"The more, the better; the darker, the better."

The old man's heart shivered, and he quickly complied.

"Yes, Tower Master!"

...Eastern Region, Purple Cloud Sacred Land.

Inside the Thunder Punishment Divine Hall, space distorted.

A figure slowly stepped out from the distorted void.

It was a young man wearing purple battle armor, with an arrogant face and eyes filled with tyranny and slaughterous aura.

His aura was even more powerful than that of Immortal King Lei Yuan!

He was actually already in the Middle Stage of the Immortal Lord realm!

He was the legend of the previous generation of the Purple Cloud Sacred Land, the younger brother of Immortal King Lei Yuan—the Purple Lightning Lord!

"Brother."

Purple Lightning Lord nodded slightly toward Immortal King Lei Yuan on the throne, which counted as a salutation.

"What matter has caused you to call me back from the 'Sea of Thunder Prison'?"

Immortal King Lei Yuan didn't speak, but simply waved his hand.

The [purple cloud heavenly mirror] surfaced once again.

On the mirror's surface, it clearly reflected the "human mountain" at the entrance of the Qingming Mountain Range, starring his own nephew.

Purple Lightning Lord's gaze fell upon the mirror.

At first, he was somewhat confused.

Then, his brow furrowed.

When he clearly saw the wooden sign that read "Announced by the Property Management Department."

His arrogant face instantly froze.

The temperature inside the divine hall suddenly dropped to the freezing point.

A violent killing intent, colder than the icy winds of the Nine Nether, erupted from within his body!

"Boom—!"

The entire Thunder Punishment Divine Hall shook violently under this killing intent!

"Myriad... Dao... Divine... Sect!"

Purple Lightning Lord squeezed these words out through gritted teeth.

His eyes instantly turned a deep crimson!

"What a 'Property Management Department'!"

"This Lord will go and meet them right now!"

As his voice fell, his figure was about to turn into a bolt of lightning and rush out of the divine hall.

"Stop."

Immortal King Lei Yuan finally spoke.

"This person is strange."

"He was able to make Qianjun fall into a deep sleep silently. If you go, you might not be able to gain any advantage."

"Is elder brother looking down on me?" Purple Lightning Lord turned around, his eyes filled with arrogance.

"A mere scoundrel who hides his head and shows his tail! I, Purple Lightning, can crush his Divine Soul into ashes with a single move!"

"I have already investigated," Immortal King Lei Yuan said calmly, ignoring his arrogance.

"This person and his Sect are all Ascenders from the Lower Realm."

"A year ago, they took control of a second-rate Sect in the Hundred Thousand Barren Mountains, the Qingmu Sect."

"Since then, they have been entrenched in the Qingming Mountain Range and have never ventured out."

"Ascenders?" A trace of extreme contempt flashed in Purple Lightning Lord's eyes.

"A group of ants from the Lower Realm dare to act wildly on the territory of my Purple Cloud Sacred Land?"

"This makes them even more deserving of death!"

"I already have a plan." Immortal King Lei Yuan slowly stood up.

A cold, ruthless look like that of a formidable hegemon flashed in his eyes.

"Doesn't he like to sleep?"

"Then let him sleep forever."

"Pass down my decree."

"Three days from now, in the name of this King, the 'Eastern Region Prodigy Dao Discussion Meet' will be held at the Imperial Capital's 'Purple Cloud Divine Palace'."

"Invite all the top forces of the Eastern Region, their Saints and Saintesses, to attend."

"The prize for the Dao Discussion Meet..."

He paused, his voice turning cold and eerie.

"Will be a wisp of immortal emperor origin source."

immortal emperor origin source!

Hearing those four words, even the arrogant and wild Purple Lightning Lord's pupils shrank suddenly!

"Elder brother! You're crazy!"

"That is the Foundation of our Purple Cloud Sacred Land, passed down for a million years!"

"Is it worth it for a single Ascender?"

"No." Immortal King Lei Yuan shook his head.

The corners of his mouth curled into a grim arc.

"It's to make him have no choice but to crawl out of that turtle shell."

"And also to tell the entire Eastern Region..."

"Who is the true master here."

...Heavenly Sword City, Sword Heart Plaza.

It was a sea of people, crowded shoulder to shoulder.

In the center of the square stood a massive stone a hundred feet high, pitch black all over, its surface as smooth as a mirror.

This was the Sword Testing Stone.

At this moment, in front of the Sword Testing Stone, a young man in a golden robe with an extraordinary aura was slowly sheathing his sword.

It was the Young Lord of the Setting Sun Sword Sect, Duan Tianya.

Behind him, on that indestructible Sword Testing Stone, a brand new sword mark four and a half inches deep was clearly left!

"Hiss—! Four and a half inches! Another record broken!"

"Young Lord Duan is truly a rare genius of Heavenly Sword City!"

"With such talent, he will surely lead the Setting Sun Sword Sect to greater heights in the future!"

Bursts of amazement and flattery erupted from the crowd.

Listening to these voices, a reserved and proud smile appeared on Duan Tianya's face.

His gaze swept across the crowd, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.

Just then, the youth in luxurious robes who had been humiliated in the restaurant earlier squeezed through to his side with a group of Sect Disciples and whispered a few words in his ear.

Duan Tianya's face instantly darkened.

His gaze, like an unsheathed sharp sword, instantly locked onto the figure in green standing quietly alone outside the crowd.

"It's you?"

Duan Tianya's voice was cold.

"An Ascender from the Lower Realm dares to injure someone from my Setting Sun Sword Sect?"

He took a step forward, and a terrifying pressure of an Early-stage True Immortal crushed toward Ye Chenfeng!

The crowd instantly became restless and automatically made a path.

Everyone's eyes, filled with schadenfreude, fell upon Ye Chenfeng.

"Who is this kid? He actually dares to provoke Young Lord Duan?"

"Looking at him, he's probably an Ascender who doesn't know the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth."

"He's finished. Young Lord Duan just set a record and is in a good mood; this kid ran right into the line of fire. He'll be lucky to escape with his life."

Ye Chenfeng seemed as if he didn't feel the pressure at all.

He just raised his eyes and looked calmly at Duan Tianya.

"You want to stand up for him?"

"Kneel." Duan Tianya was concise, his words filled with an unquestionable command.

"Break one of your own arms and cripple your cultivation."

"Then, get out of Heavenly Sword City."

"If you do this, I can spare your dog life."

He spoke these words with overbearing arrogance.

Yet everyone present felt it was only natural.

Because he was Duan Tianya.

The Young Lord of the Setting Sun Sword Sect.

Ye Chenfeng smiled.

He shook his head.

"I will only strike once."

"If you can take it..."

"I will cripple my own cultivation and leave this place."

As soon as he said this, the entire place fell into an uproar.

Everyone looked at Ye Chenfeng as if they were looking at a fool.

"Is he crazy? He wants to challenge Young Lord Duan?"

"An Earth Immortal Perfection challenging a True Immortal? Who does he think he is?"

"Hahaha! This is the funniest joke I've heard all year!"

Duan Tianya also laughed.

His laughter was incredibly grim.

"Good."

"Very good."

"I want to see what kind of earth-shattering strike an ant like you can produce!"

He decided to use the most cruel method to completely crush this fellow who didn't know the meaning of death!

Ye Chenfeng spoke no more.

He slowly raised his hand.

He gripped the ancient longsword on his back.

"Qiang—!"

A slight sword hum that seemed to penetrate the Nine Heavens rang out.

The sword was unsheathed.

There was no brilliant sword light, no terrifying pressure.

There was only a faint gray glimmer, as if it came from the beginning of Chaos.

That glimmer appeared at the tip of the sword.

Then, Ye Chenfeng made a casual stroke toward the hundred-foot-high Sword Testing Stone.

The movement was effortless.

Like a scholar making the first brushstroke on rice paper.

Everyone was stunned.

That's it?

This is his so-called 'one strike'?

There wasn't even a trace of immortal essence fluctuation; was he joking?

The sneer on Duan Tianya's face grew even deeper.

But in the next second...

The smile on his face completely froze.

The faint gray glimmer landed on the Sword Testing Stone.

There was no sound.

There was no collision.

That Star Iron Essence, which had stood for countless millennia and endured the strikes of innumerable Sword Cultivators—on which even High Grade Immortal Artifacts could only leave a shallow mark—

Split open silently from the middle.

The cut was as smooth as a mirror.

Immediately following that.

"Crack... crack crack..."

Countless fine cracks, like a spider web, instantly spread across the entire massive stone from that cut!

"Boom—!"

A loud explosion!

The hundred-foot-high Sword Testing Stone burst apart!

Turning into a cloud of fine dust that filled the sky.

---

Last night, the Silver River in the heavens must have been exceptionally lively; the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, meeting once a year, could finally pour out their hearts on the Magpie Bridge. The infatuated men and women of the mortal world were likely also paired up under the moon and among the flowers, with endless sweet talk and honeyed words. Such a beautiful night only makes it seem colder here by my window, where even the few thin bamboos in the courtyard look more lonely than usual.

I had thought that even if both heaven and earth had their own festivities, there would still be a few confidants who would remember the joys and sorrows in my book, who would come to see the characters in this story, what new sorrows they added today, and what grievances they gained tomorrow. But I waited and waited, from sunset until the moon was high in the sky, and these pages remained motionless. I suppose it is my fault for being so tactless as to disturb everyone's elegant mood on such a day.

Indeed, your hearts are all occupied by your beloveds; how could you have the leisure to look at the romance on these pages? The manuscript on my desk is probably like the moss before the steps, neglected and unnoticed, having gathered a night's worth of autumn dew in vain until the ink has blurred. Your eyes must be filled with the lights of the city and the smiles of your loved ones; the black of my ink naturally cannot enter your sight.

I dare not ask how the story should proceed or what the characters said before; I fear you have long forgotten it all beyond the Nine Heavens. If your hearts were ever moved even a fraction for the people in the book, then come and urge me, and tell me with your voices that this thread of the story has not yet been forgotten and left to gather dust.

Forget it, forget it, it was my wishful thinking after all. If any reader still harbors a shred of thought and feels this lonely word-weaver is somewhat pitiable, then perhaps bestow some small toy to relieve the boredom. Even a half-bloomed begonia or a shiny bead would be better than facing these four walls and weeping alone.

That is all for today; you go on with your business. Just consider me here, imitating the autumn cicada, using my last bit of strength to make a few mournful cries that no one heeds.