428: Going Down the Mountain

The next morning, it was barely dawn.

Jun Li was already dressed in white robes, her 본명 (natal) sword, Li Jun, hanging at her waist.

It was a sword whose name was the reverse of her own.

It was said that when every sword was forged, heaven and earth would brand it with its own name.

However, after the great battle several millennia ago, this no longer happened.

This meant that swords with their own names would only decrease, not increase.

Of course, if you didn't say anything, no one would know that this was a sword "with its own name," as there was no difference apparent from just looking or sensing it.

Especially in the current state of "decline" in swordsmanship.

But if there were still people alive who had witnessed the former glory, they would naturally know that these swords "with their own names" were born with spirits!

Moreover, they would choose their own masters.

The former glory involved a Sword Mountain!

It was said that all artisans who forged swords would directly cast them onto the mountain.

The swords would "return to their places" on their own, awaiting the arrival of their destined owner.

In the past, when sword cultivators officially entered the path of cultivation, they would come to Sword Mountain to seek the sword that belonged to them.

Of course, all of that was in the past; it no longer exists now.

Time is indeed an extremely weak, yet invincible thing.

It is silent, omnipresent...

And carrying the sword on one's person, rather than storing it within the body (which could be done with a 본명 (natal) sword).

This was a method that had been "passed down"; sword cultivators always kept their swords close.

Storing it within the body was generally done during rest and when cultivating primal energy.

When stored within the body, sword essence was cultivated, constantly nurtured through its circulation.

When going out, the sword was basically always carried on one's person, which was also a way to increase "affinity."

After all, a 본명 (natal) sword accompanied a sword cultivator until death, and it was also the sword cultivator's "partner."

She walked step by step down Heaven Sword Mountain, and at the same time, she honored her promise and started a live broadcast.

"Group member 'Jun Li' has started a live broadcast! Everyone, come and watch!"

Bai Mo: "Here, here! The live broadcast has started!"

Chen Mu: "Jun Li, big sister, I'm here!"

Everyone flocked into the live stream room.

Jun Li didn't expect everyone to be waiting.

"You're all here!" Jun Li said, a little surprised.

Chen Mu: "Hi hi hi~ After all, when someone starts a broadcast, everyone in the group knows."

Bai Mo: "And everyone is idle!"

Ellie: "Indeed!"

Lin Zifeng: "Most importantly, if there's no battle, it's perfectly fine for everyone to multitask, even three tasks at once."

"Then let Jun Li take you to see how this world has changed..." Jun Li pursed her lips and smiled, then walked towards the outside of the mountain.

Finally, after several hours, Jun Li walked out of the range of the mountain protection array and exited the boundary of Heaven Sword Mountain.

The moment she stepped out, Jun Li couldn't help but look back at Heaven Sword Mountain.

This was the place where she had lived for 23 years...

And now, she was about to "leave her hometown," not knowing when she would return here again.

Although she wouldn't be gone forever, her purpose in going out this time was to hopefully bring back as many of the sect members as possible (referring to their relics, such as their swords).

If alive, see the person; if dead, see the corpse.

Even if the bones are gone, the relics should remain.

And this was destined to be a long journey, with no telling when it would be completed.

Jun Li herself, of course, knew this, but some things always had to be done by someone.

And for her, this matter was even more something she had to do!

Jun Li turned around and walked into the distance, heading towards a town recorded on the map.

However... fifteen years had passed, and she didn't know what the outside world looked like now.

Time is always like this, the world changes like the sea turning into mulberry fields.

Jun Li walked on foot, and whether by luck or something else, she didn't encounter any people or demonic beasts along the way.

Occasionally, she would come across some wild animals, such as rabbits, wild chickens, and of course, many medicinal herbs.

However, Jun Li didn't collect any of them; sitting on a treasure mountain, she didn't care for these and didn't even look down on them.

"It should be this way, right?" Jun Li walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down; in that plain, she didn't see the small town recorded on the map, and not only that, she felt that the terrain of this area was also a bit different.

It was about sixty to seventy percent similar to what was recorded on the map.

"It seems fifteen years... a lot has changed..." Jun Li sighed softly.

Although Jun Li had been walking on foot the entire way.

No one in the group asked if Jun Li could fly or if she had any abilities for traveling quickly.

They all knew that what Jun Li wanted was not to rush somewhere, but to witness and understand this world!

Jun Li didn't take a detour; instead, she jumped directly from the cliff.

She glided forward as if soaring.

As soon as Jun Li landed, she heard a startled cry from the side.

"Immortal!"

Jun Li turned her head and saw a Woodcutter.

He looked like an ordinary person; he was carrying a basket filled with firewood on his back and holding an axe in his hand.

The Woodcutter immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing, looking extremely terrified.

"What are you afraid of?" Jun Li frowned slightly at the sight.

"N-no... I'm not afraid! It's just... it's just that I, a lowly commoner, dare not look directly at the immortal's esteemed face!" The Woodcutter remained prostrate on the ground, his voice trembling as he spoke.

Jun Li could tell that the other party was genuinely afraid, and extremely cautious not to offend Jun Li in the slightest.

Jun Li didn't know why; it shouldn't be like this... because in her understanding, Liu Qingtian had told her that there was no distinction of status between immortals and mortals; everyone was born of heaven and earth, and immortals themselves originated from mortals, merely cultivating the Dao.

And mortals respecting immortals, yes, that would happen.

After all, the immortals of the past were as Liu Qingtian said: "Ascend the mountain to be an immortal, seeking longevity with the sword; descend the mountain to be human, protecting all beings with the sword."

There was no huge chasm between immortals and mortals; on the contrary, immortals were beings who protected all living things.

The chaos and danger of the past came from demonic beasts and evil cultivators, primarily demonic beasts.

But now, looking at this Woodcutter's appearance... so many years have passed...

Has the era changed so much that mortals only feel fear and panic towards immortals?

Jun Li's expression involuntarily darkened slightly.

The Woodcutter, seeing that the immortal remained silent for a long time, couldn't help but secretly raise his head to glance, only to see Jun Li's slightly furrowed brows, seemingly very displeased, and his face instantly stiffened.

My life is over! My children's mother, I can't go back, you two will suffer!

"Where is your village?" Jun Li asked.

"!!!" The Woodcutter's heart sank the moment he heard Jun Li's words.

Is she planning to not even spare the people of the entire village?!

He didn't expect such an angelic face to hide a poisoned heart!

The Woodcutter said nothing, but kept his head pressed to the ground.

"......" Jun Li, seeing this, also felt a bit helpless; it seemed the other party had misunderstood something.