Leaving the Secret Realm

"You... you guys..."

His finger trembled as he pointed at Su Ye's trio, his lips quivering so much he couldn't finish a single sentence.

Shame, indignation, humiliation, bewilderment, despair... a tapestry of emotions intertwined, causing this usually cold and hardened Sword Cultivator's eyes to actually turn red.

Su Ye walked over and looked down at him from above. There was no mockery on his face; instead, he wore an expression of deadpan seriousness.

"Junior Brother Li, don't look at Senior Brother like that," Su Ye said with earnest concern. "Senior Brother is doing this for your own good."

"The Dao of the Sword Cultivator prioritizes the state of mind above all else. Your mind is filled with too many stray thoughts and attachments, which is why your Sword Intent has never reached Perfection."

He pointed at Li Changfeng's naked body. "It's better now. You have no external possessions and no attachments in your heart. As the saying goes, 'one comes and goes stark naked without any worries.' This is the true state of mind a Sword Cultivator should possess."

"Only when you have nothing can you truly embrace your sword."

As he spoke, Su Ye casually pulled out the heavy sword stuck in the ground.

Then, he did something that almost made Li Changfeng faint—

He extended his index finger and gave the blade a light flick.

Clang—!

Amidst the crisp metallic vibration, the blade of that Profound Iron Heavy Sword actually bent at a speed visible to the naked eye!

It didn't snap, and it didn't shatter. Instead, it bent like a noodle into a thirty-degree arc!

"See?" Su Ye tossed the bent giant sword in front of Li Changfeng. "This is called a Soft Sword."

"If even a sword can be soft, why can't a person be a little softer?"

"Contemplate it well. Once you understand this, your Heartless Sword Intent will reach Major Achievement."

Having finished his piece, Su Ye turned around and flicked his sleeve.

"The wind is picking up, let's bolt!"

Three streaks of light shot into the sky, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Within the Narrow Sky, only a Sword Cultivator wearing nothing but white boxers, a bent heavy sword, and an empty rock crevice remained.

The cold wind howled.

Li Changfeng stared blankly at everything before him, then looked down at his own naked body.

After a long while, two lines of clear tears finally fell uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.

"Su Ye..."

"Give me back my sword nurturing grass..."

"Give me back my Spirit Stones..."

"That was... that was my wife-fund I saved up for ten years..."

His cries echoed through the Narrow Sky, mixing with the howling of the astral winds, sounding so miserable it was heartbreaking.

4. Taichu Square, The Elder's Fury

Taichu Holy Land, Central Square.

Before the water mirror, there was a deathly silence.

If everyone had found it somewhat comical when Ye Yan was robbed earlier, then Li Changfeng's current encounter left them with nothing but pure shock and horror.

Catching a heavy sword with two fingers.

Slapping away the sword maniac with one hand.

Bending a profound iron sword with a flick of a finger.

And finally, stripping the man down to his boxers.

This series of actions was smooth as flowing water, arrogant and overbearing, yet it possessed a natural sense of dominance.

*Gulp.*

Someone swallowed their saliva, the sound exceptionally clear in the silence.

Immediately following that, the sound of people gasping for air rose one after another.

"Two fingers... that was Li Changfeng's full-strength strike!"

"The Heartless Sword Intent, claimed to be able to slay a Nascent Soul, couldn't even scratch Senior Brother Su's skin?"

"That golden light... is that the power of the Supreme Bone? It's too terrifying..."

The Disciples discussed fervently, their gazes toward Su Ye's figure in the water mirror shifting from initial surprise to awe.

And upon the high platform, the atmosphere was heavy to the extreme.

Crack!

The teacup in the hand of Elder Juejian, the Peak Master of Divine Sword Peak, finally succumbed to the pressure and disintegrated into powder. Scalding tea mixed with porcelain dust flowed down between his fingers, dripping onto the white jade floor with a faint sizzling sound.

But he was completely oblivious.

On that face, which was usually as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice, muscles were now twitching and veins were bulging. Fire seemed ready to erupt from his eyes.

"Good... what a fine 'Soft Sword'!"

Elder Juejian spoke each word deliberately, his voice squeezed through his teeth, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

"What a fine 'no external possessions'!"

"What a fine 'for your own good'!"

With every sentence, the Sword Qi on his body grew stronger. By the end, the entire high platform was enveloped in sharp Sword Intent. The air hissed as it was sliced, and countless fine sword marks appeared on the ground.

Several surrounding Elders were forced to circulate their cultivation to resist, while Deacons with weaker cultivation turned pale and retreated repeatedly.

"Yun! Yu! Zhen!"

Elder Juejian snapped his head around, his eyes—which seemed to contain endless Sword Intent—locking onto the Peak Master of Purple Bamboo Peak, who was currently pretending to admire the scenery.

"Is this the 'good Disciple' you taught?!"

His voice was like thunder, making the eardrums of the Disciples in the square ache.

In her heart, Yun Yuzhen had already cursed Su Ye eight hundred times.

This little brat! If you're going to cause trouble, don't pick a hard target! Is Divine Sword Peak something you can just provoke? That old ghost Juejian is famous for being protective and short-tempered; back in the day, he chased an enemy for three thousand miles with his sword!

But on the surface, she couldn't show any weakness.

As his Revered Master, if the Disciple caused trouble, she had to cover for him; if the Disciple was wronged, she had to protect him—though currently, it seemed her Disciple was the only one making others feel wronged.

"Senior Brother Juejian, please calm down."

Yun Yuzhen gave a light cough, trying her best to put on a serious expression, though the hint of amusement in her peach-blossom eyes betrayed her true thoughts.

"The path of cultivation is filled with bumps and hardships, all of which are tempering experiences. Though Su Ye's methods were... a bit direct, it might not necessarily be without good intentions."

"Good intentions?!" Elder Juejian's beard trembled with rage. "He seriously injured my Disciple, stole his sword nurturing grass, stripped him naked, and you call that good intentions?!"

"Senior Brother, you are mistaken."

Yun Yuzhen began to spout nonsense with a straight face:

"Firstly, Martial Nephew Li only has superficial injuries that haven't touched his Foundation. He'll recover after a few days of rest. Isn't this much safer than a real life-and-death struggle?"

"Secondly, the sword nurturing grass was originally an ownerless object. Seeking treasures in a Secret Realm depends on one's own ability. If Su Ye could take it, that's his skill."

"Furthermore, clothing is but an external possession, hardly worth mentioning. A Sword Cultivator should be single-mindedly devoted to the sword and discard all external distractions. Su Ye was helping Martial Nephew Li sever his worldly ties to focus on the Dao of the sword!"

She spoke more and more fluently, eventually summarizing a complete theory:

"The Heartless Sword Intent emphasizes being heartless and devoid of nature. The fact that Martial Nephew Li still feels shame and anger proves his Sword Intent isn't pure enough!"

"Su Ye's humiliation was precisely to stimulate the strongest emotions in his heart, so that he could then sever them himself! This is the method of 'Breaking Then Establishing'!"

"Who knows, after this ordeal, Martial Nephew Li might even break through his Bottleneck in one go and reach the Realm of 'Heart and Sword as One'!"

After she finished this speech, not only was Elder Juejian stunned, but all the surrounding Elders were also dazed.

It could be explained like that?!

She could talk black into white?!

"You... you're using twisted logic!" Elder Juejian pointed at Yun Yuzhen, his finger trembling. "It was clearly robbery and humiliation, yet in your mouth, it becomes tempering and cultivation?!"

Yun Yuzhen puffed out her chest, acting perfectly justified. "What else could it be? With Su Ye's strength, if he really struck ruthlessly, would Martial Nephew Li still be there crying? He would have been beaten out of the Secret Realm long ago!"

She paused, then added another line: "Besides, it's just kids playing around. It would be inappropriate for us Elders to intervene. Didn't we all go through the same thing back then?"

These words did indeed stir up some memories for the Elders.

It was true that throughout the generations of Taichu Holy Land Disciples, fighting for opportunities and sparring with each other was common. It was just that someone as... arrogant as Su Ye was quite rare.

"Enough."

Holy Lord Holy Master, who had not spoken until now, finally made her voice heard.

She leaned lazily against her Phoenix chair, her delicate hand supporting her cheek. Her soul-stealing peach-blossom eyes were full of smiles, as if she quite appreciated what had just happened.

"It's just the younger generation playing around, why be angry?"

Holy Master's voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

"Taichu Holy Land has been silent for too long. The Disciples of each peak are working behind closed doors and lack competition. If this continues, how can we compete with other Holy Lands?"

Her gaze swept across the Elders present as she said slowly:

"This boy Su Ye, though his actions are arrogant and overbearing, happens to be able to break this stagnant pool of water. He is like a catfish thrown into a school of sardines; although he will make some sardines uncomfortable, he can stimulate the vitality of the entire school."

"This Seat feels that this is very good."

With the Holy Lord setting the tone, even if Elder Juejian had ten thousand grievances, he could only suppress them.

However, the look in his eyes as he watched Su Ye's figure in the water mirror remained as cold as a blade.

"However—" Holy Master's tone shifted, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "Su Ye's actions do indeed lack a sense of propriety. Junior Sister Yun, after he returns, you must discipline him well and not let him go too far."

"Yes, Holy Lord," Yun Yuzhen quickly complied, though she grumbled in her heart: Discipline? That kid's wings are strong now, I can't even beat him anymore, how am I supposed to discipline him?

Holy Master nodded in satisfaction and turned her gaze back to the water mirror, landing on the three figures currently speeding across the sky.

The corners of his mouth curled into a playful arc.

"The next target... who will it be?"

"I'm suddenly looking forward to it."

5. High-Altitude Inventory, Setting the Next Target

Taichu Secret Realm, ten thousand feet in the sky.

Gale winds howled beneath their feet, and a sea of clouds flowed beside them. Three streaks of light pierced through the long sky, moving so fast they trailed long tails of light behind them.

"Senior Brother, Senior Brother! Quick, let's see what good stuff there is!"

Just as they flew out of the Narrow Sky's range, Lin Waner impatiently pulled out the Storage Pouch she had swiped from Li Changfeng, her eyes sparkling.

Su Ye gave her an amused look, took the Storage Pouch, and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Then, his expression became somewhat strange.

"How is it, how is it?" Lin Waner leaned in. "Are there lots of Spirit Stones? Lots of treasures?"

Su Ye remained silent for a moment, turned the Storage Pouch upside down, and gave it a gentle shake.

*Clatter—*

A few items fell out:

Three bottles of the most ordinary Qi Recovery Pills; the bottles were even somewhat worn, showing they had been used for a long time.

A dozen or so pitch-black whetstones with pitted surfaces—auxiliary items used by Sword Cultivators to polish their Sword Intent.

Two sets of coarse linen clothes for changing, washed until they were white, with patches on the cuffs.

Finally, a small pile of Low-Grade Spirit Stones; counting them up, there were eighty-seven in total.

That was it.

The dignified first Disciple of Divine Sword Peak, a sword Dao Genius at the sixth level of the Golden Core Realm—this was his entire net worth.

Forget Heaven And Earth Treasures, he didn't even have a decent Magic Treasure.

Lin Waner was stunned, her small mouth forming an 'O' shape.

"This... so poor?"

She picked up those eighty-seven Low-Grade Spirit Stones in disbelief, looked at those few bottles of low-quality Qi Recovery Pills, and finally landed her gaze on those whetstones.

"Senior Brother, is he really the first Disciple of Divine Sword Peak?" Lin Waner was full of suspicion. "Even an Outer Sect Disciple would have more goods than him, right?"

Su Ye was also caught between laughter and tears.

He knew Sword Cultivators were poor, but he hadn't expected it to reach this level.

"The path of a Sword Cultivator emphasizes 'one sword to break ten thousand laws,' and has the least reliance on Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills," Su Ye explained. "Li Changfeng is of the ascetic school, throwing his whole heart into the sword Dao and never placing importance on external things. These Spirit Stones were likely saved up from the monthly allowance issued by the Sect."

"But..." Lin Waner still didn't understand. "No matter how much you practice asceticism, you still need resources to support it. Without Spirit Stones, how do you buy Medicinal Pills to heal? Without Magic Treasures, how do you increase combat power?"

"That's why Sword Cultivators are so few," Su Ye sighed. "This road is too difficult to walk. It relies entirely on one's own Comprehension Ability and a surge of sharp Qi. Once that sharp Qi is frustrated and the sword heart is clouded, one's cultivation will stagnate."

He looked toward Lin Qianxue: "This is also why Sword Cultivators either soar to the heavens in one bound or fade into the crowd."

Lin Qianxue nodded thoughtfully.

She was also a Sword Cultivator and naturally understood the hardships involved. It was just that she had Su Ye as a Senior Brother to protect her and the resources of Purple Bamboo Peak to support her, making her much luckier than Li Changfeng.

"But then again," Su Ye rubbed his chin, "Li Changfeng's poverty is a bit excessive. He didn't even have a decent scabbard, just used a piece of ragged cloth to wrap it..."

He suddenly remembered something and took out that sword nurturing grass from his storage ring.

The jade box opened, and the small green grass lay quietly inside. Its nine sword-shaped leaves were spread out, and a faint golden light flowed within the leaf veins, emitting a pure Geng-Gold Qi.

"Shallow Snow, keep this sword nurturing grass safe." Su Ye handed the jade box to Lin Qianxue. "After we return, I will teach you a secret technique. By refining this grass in coordination with your icy Spiritual Qi, you can make your sword heart even more transparent and may even have a chance to comprehend 'Sword Intent Manifestation'."

Lin Qianxue took the jade box, and as she felt the majestic Sword Intent within, a warm current surged in her heart.

"Thank you, Senior Brother," she said softly, her beautiful eyes shimmering. "Shallow Snow will keep this kindness engraved in her heart."

Su Ye waved his hand and smiled: "We're family, no need for such talk."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his two Junior Sisters, and suddenly remembered something, asking: "Right, Waner, did you secure Ye Yan's crimson flame sword earlier?"

"Secured it, secured it!" Lin Waner hurriedly pulled that crimson longsword out of her Storage Pouch, holding it up to Su Ye like presenting a treasure. "Look, Senior Brother, this is a High Grade Profound Rank Magic Treasure! Although I can't use it, selling it could get us many, many Spirit Stones!"

Su Ye took the crimson flame sword and examined it carefully.

The sword was three feet three inches long, entirely crimson, with faint flame patterns on the blade. Holding it, one could feel a scorching breath. It was indeed a good sword, but unfortunately, its attributes didn't match Waner or Shallow Snow.

"This sword is not bad, but you can't use it." Su Ye pondered for a moment. "I'll take it to the Weapon Peak later and see if it can be reforged into a Magic Treasure suitable for you."

"Great, great!" Lin Waner nodded repeatedly. "I want a light one, preferably a dagger or short sword type, it's more convenient for sneak attacks!"

Su Ye broke into a laugh; this girl was thinking about how to plot against people all day long.

He put away the crimson flame sword and cast his gaze into the distance.

The Taichu Secret Realm was vast and boundless; they were currently at the junction of the Northwest Sword Domain and the central region. Mountains and rivers undulated below, shrouded in spiritual mist, and many powerful auras could be felt lurking in various places.

Those were Disciples from various peaks searching for opportunities and competing with each other.

"Senior Brother, where are we going next?" Lin Waner leaned in, an excited light flashing in her eyes. "Are we going to rob... ah no, are we going to visit another Senior Brother or Senior Sister?"

Su Ye flicked her forehead in annoyance: "What do you mean rob? Your Senior Brother is providing guidance in cultivation; it's helping others for pleasure."

"Yes, yes, yes, guidance in cultivation!" Lin Waner clutched her forehead, responding with a giggle.

Su Ye looked toward the southeast.

There was a mountain peak shrouded in dense Spiritual Qi, covered year-round by five-colored auspicious light. Even from a thousand miles away, one could smell a faint medicinal fragrance.

Hundred Herbs Peak.

A lineage of the Taichu Holy Land specializing in the Dao of Alchemy. Most of the Disciples in the peak were not good at fighting, but their Alchemy skills were the best in the Eastern Wasteland. Every year, they provided a massive amount of Medicinal Pills for the Sect, holding a transcendent status.

And the first Disciple of this generation of Hundred Herbs Peak was a female Disciple named Liu Qingyan.

This woman's Alchemy talent was extremely high; it was said she could already refine Earth Rank Medicinal Pills, and her cultivation had reached the seventh level of the Golden Core Realm. But she had one characteristic—she was obsessed with Alchemy, ignorant of the ways of the world, and her personality was as simple as a child's.

A smile curled at the corner of Su Ye's mouth.

"I heard Junior Sister Liu recently refined a batch of 'youth-retaining pills'?" He seemed to be talking to himself, yet also asking a question.

Lin Waner's ears perked up: "youth-retaining pills? You mean those Spirit Pills that can grant eternal youth and keep one's appearance from aging?"

"Exactly." Su Ye nodded. "This pill is ranked Low Grade Earth Rank, and the refining difficulty is extremely high. It requires eighty-one types of Spirit Medicines and must be tempered with Samadhi True Fire for eighty-one days to be completed. One batch produces at most three pills; they are incredibly precious."

Upon hearing this, a glint of light also flashed in Lin Qianxue's beautiful eyes.

Women love beauty; it is their nature. Even someone as cold and detached as her could not completely escape such common desires.

"Senior Brother is thinking..." Lin Qianxue said hesitantly.

Su Ye said with a face full of righteousness: "Revered Master has worked hard day and night for the Sect and for us Disciples, her appearance becoming haggard. As Disciples, we should naturally share Revered Master's burdens."

"It just so happens that Junior Sister Liu refined youth-retaining pills. We'll go ask for a few to nourish Revered Master's body. That's not too much, right?"

Lin Waner blinked: "But Senior Brother, will Senior Sister Liu give them to us? I heard her personality is a bit... stubborn."

"That's why we have to go 'enlighten' her." Su Ye's smile was brilliant. "Helping and progressing together between fellow Disciples, isn't that very normal?"

As he spoke, he waved his hand:

"Let's go! To Hundred Herbs Peak!"

"Let's 'ask' for a few sugar beans for Revered Master to taste!"

"Hooray! I want to see Senior Brother enlighten Senior Sister Liu!" Lin Waner cheered and jumped for joy.

Lin Qianxue shook her head helplessly, but there was a smile in her eyes.

The three streaks of light turned and sped toward Hundred Herbs Peak in the southeast.

And behind them, on the Taichu Square, the Elder of Hundred Herbs Peak had already slumped into his chair, his face devoid of color.

"Quick... quickly send a message to Qingyan..."

"Have her open the mountain protection array fully! Hide all the Medicinal Pills in the cellar! Activate the highest alert!"

"That disaster Su Ye... is heading for Hundred Herbs Peak!!!"

The shrill cry echoed across the square.

The eyes of all the Elders and Disciples looking at that white-clothed figure in the water mirror were filled with complex emotions.

There was awe, fear, expectation, and also helplessness.

The Taichu Secret Realm had become completely lively.

And the storm triggered by this 'catfish effect' had only just begun.