In front of Zhenwu Mountain Gate.
Silence.
Only Tang Qiu's wailing echoed through the air. The former high and mighty Sect Master of Wenjian Pavilion now cried like a helpless child. Before him were the corpses of several Wenjian Pavilion members. He trembled as he reached out his hand, only to jerk it back like he'd been shocked.
He was terrified.
He didn't know why the Heavenly Sword Immortal had spared his life, but right now he didn't dare make a single unnecessary move.
But none of the Zhenwu Sect members felt sympathy for Tang Qiu.
Especially the many gatekeeping disciples who had previously witnessed the arrogance of Wenjian Pavilion. In their hearts, only two words surfaced:
Serves him right!
Everyone simply looked in reverence at the gradually silencing Zhenwu Sword Stele, their eyes brimming with awe and wonder, almost tangible.
What they'd just witnessed was simply astonishing.
Thirty-six Heavenly Swords formed a sword formation and forcefully killed Gu Changhe, sweeping everything away without a shred of suspense.
Some Zhenwu disciples had already discerned the profound mystery within it.
"Heavenly Sword Elder used… the Heaven-Qi Sword Formation? Could it be the Heaven-Qi Earth-Fiend Sword Formation was created by the elder himself?"
While marveling in their hearts, they also felt a surge of unprecedented enthusiasm. The Heaven-Qi Earth-Fiend Sword Formation had already become a hallmark of the Zhenwu Sect. Many disciples had exchanged for the formation and practiced it together.
They had always trained hard, but never with such longing and urgency as now.
They felt a connection to the Heavenly Sword Immortal, and deep within, a buried ambition stirred—what if, one day, they too could independently master the Heaven-Qi Earth-Fiend Sword Formation?
The three hundred new seedlings who had just joined the sect stared wide-eyed, utterly shaken.
Rumors could never match what they had just seen.
The Heavenly Sword Immortal was destined to become the target they would strive toward for the rest of their lives.
Gou Dan clenched his fists, his gaze unshakable.
"One day, I'll be just as strong as Heavenly Sword Elder and protect our Zhenwu Sect!"
In these past days,
He had finally felt what it was like to have a home again.
There was enough food, clean clothes, a place to stay that didn't leak wind, no one looked down on him, he could train in martial arts—and even his little sister had been allowed to stay with him on Zhenwu Mountain. His heart was full of gratitude.
Luo Wentian sensed the disciples' shifting spirit and couldn't help but smile.
This was a good thing.
In truth, even though he had mentally prepared himself, he'd still been startled, inwardly clicking his tongue.
He had originally thought it would be like last time—Ning Qi showing up and having an intense duel with the Heart-Seeking Sword. But unexpectedly, Ning Qi hadn't even appeared. He'd simply activated the Sword Stele and crushed Gu Changhe like dead wood.
There wasn't time to marvel at Ning Qi's strength. Smiling, he walked over to Tang Qiu and said calmly:
"Sect Master Tang, can we now properly discuss the matter of the spy?"
Tang Qiu shuddered.
The calm Luo Wentian looked like a devil in his eyes—like the embodiment of the Heavenly Sword Immortal. He trembled all over and finally understood why he'd been spared. He didn't dare look Luo Wentian in the eye and just replied:
"Okay… okay… Sect Master Luo, whatever you say."
Luo Wentian smiled brightly and ushered Tang Qiu in as if there had never been any conflict.
…
At the foot of Zhenwu Mountain.
Not a sound.
All the martial artists who had rushed over were frozen like statues, mouths agape, staring at the corpse that had fallen from the sky, hardly daring to believe it.
They had expected a battle for the ages.
But to think—it had ended like this.
The Heart-Seeking Sword had just been dealt with, and the Heavenly Sword Immortal hadn't even shown himself. It was beyond everyone's imagination.
Chen Xing hissed sharply, glaring at Chen Yue:
"Why'd you pinch me?"
Chen Yue murmured:
"It's real. The Heart-Seeking Sword was slain by the Heavenly Sword Immortal!"
Blue veins bulged on Chen Xing's forehead, but her anger soon turned into a long sigh. The shock in her eyes was no less than Chen Yue's.
"This Heavenly Sword Immortal… really is terrifying. I used to think Zhenwu Sect got lucky by allying with the Prince. I thought the sect was too small to hold someone like the heir. But now… I was shallow. The Prince is the Prince—he must've seen this coming."
Chen Yue nodded in agreement, then yelped as Chen Xing pinched her back when she wasn't looking.
The sisters were just one example.
Countless martial artists were shaken.
Once all the phenomena disappeared and Tang Qiu vanished into the mountain gate with Luo Wentian and the others, murmurs of shock erupted.
"The strength of the Heavenly Sword Immortal… it's unfathomable! Ranked thirty-six on the Heaven-Man List? That's the biggest joke of the decade!"
"Even number fourteen lost so miserably. The Heavenly Sword Immortal definitely has top-ten, even top-five strength!"
"Who said his lifespan was running out? He might just be a late-blooming old Sword God, rising at full speed. He could reach the Sword Saint realm before his time is up and extend his life another thousand years!"
Excited voices rose one after another.
Everyone vented their astonishment without holding back.
They tried their best to elevate the Heavenly Sword Immortal's power—they didn't want to get "slapped in the face" again.
If the top of the Heaven-Man List weren't filled with monstrous old freaks, they might've risked ridicule and ranked the Heavenly Sword Immortal in an absurd position.
But even so,
He had already touched the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Some swordsmen couldn't help but compare him to the fifth-ranked Daychaser Sword King.
The Daychaser Sword King—now there was a true legend, reigning as the "Number One Swordsman in the World" for two centuries. No one could shake him. Any one of his battle records was earth-shattering. No swordsman dared consider themselves his equal.
But now,
The Heavenly Sword Immortal's display made them start to imagine—
No one knew what his limit truly was.
Qin Yun stared deeply at the Zhenwu Mountain gate. A place that had once felt so familiar now seemed like a distant dream, even a little foreign.
He sighed softly.
He thought of that strange Daoist he'd met years ago while sneaking into the Seeking Dao Courtyard.
Back when the Heavenly Sword Immortal had yet to show himself, Qin Yun had believed that man was him. But after seeing the Heavenly Sword Immortal fight the Thunderblade Master, he'd changed his mind.
Yet now, for some unknown reason, he felt that it really might've been him.
Maybe because the Heavenly Sword Immortal's rise had been just too fast.
So fast it gave him an illusion—
"That he didn't hide his strength… he really did become this powerful in just a few short years!"
The moment this strange thought arose, it startled him, and he shook his head with a wry smile.
Impossible.
He had burned away four hundred years of lifespan in the Blood Demon Pool just to barely reach the Heaven-Man Realm. How could anyone gain such frightening power in mere years? Even burning all four hundred bonus years post-breakthrough wouldn't be enough.
He realized—maybe it was the psychological shadow from that Daoist all those years ago.
"He's probably just in the Qi Origin Realm. If I ran into him now, I could crush him easily." Random thoughts stirred in Qin Yun's mind.
Unknowingly, he turned to glance at the Southern Alliance Saintess beside him. A breeze lifted the corner of her black veil, revealing a snowy, sharp chin. The owner of that chin was silent, no longer her usual lively self. Qin Yun subconsciously asked:
"Saintess, what are you thinking about?"
The two of them had already quietly left and were walking through a forest. The wind rustled through the leaves.
The Southern Alliance Saintess sighed softly:
"I'm thinking—if the Heavenly Sword Immortal went crazy, how much damage would he cause us?"
Qin Yun was startled. He'd nearly forgotten the main objective.
This trip was to assess the Heavenly Sword Immortal's strength to determine what action to take against Zhenwu Sect. They had originally planned to secretly capture some key figures to interrogate.
But now,
The Heavenly Sword Immortal had delivered quite the surprise.
Qin Yun remained composed, replying flatly:
"Top ten or top five on the Heaven-Man List… impressive, but our Sacred Sect and your Southern Alliance have those too. No need to panic."
Now that he knew the man's strength, he wasn't as hasty. He understood the ways of the Demonic Sect and the Southern Alliance. Before such a powerful opponent, they'd be more cautious—not afraid, but no need to make enemies needlessly.
The Southern Alliance Saintess gave Qin Yun a sidelong glance and said:
"You're so sure this is all the Heavenly Sword Immortal's strength? What if he's on par with the Blade Demon? Or catching up to Old Man Listening Wind?"
"People like that—even if we can handle them, we'd have to kill them in one blow. Otherwise, if they hold a grudge and hide in the shadows… it'll be endless trouble."
She looked back toward the Zhenwu Sect and sighed again:
"Looks like we'll have to take it slow. No more brute force. Let's start from the Blood King Gu incident. I've recently discovered something interesting. And it just so happens to be connected to you, Qin Yun."
Qin Yun froze.
The Southern Alliance Saintess chuckled:
"Ten years ago, Daoist Longshan brought back a baby named Ning Qi—your ninth junior brother. He may not have been found in the wilderness after all. He could be from the Snowplum Villa that was wiped out that same year. Of course, maybe you've never even heard of that name. If I hadn't dug through old records, I wouldn't know either."
She had studied Qin Yun and the Zhenwu Sect and had a rough idea of why Qin Yun had left.
Qin Yun's pupils shrank violently.
The Southern Alliance Saintess continued:
"Back then, the Villa Master of Snowplum Villa uncovered the truth about the Blood King Gu. One of our small branches in Qingzhou wiped them out. But unexpectedly, one fool let someone escape, who was then rescued by Daoist Longshan."
"Of course, he did take notice. He suspected that child might be a survivor. But at the time, Bloodrain Pavilion was being founded and merits were being tallied. That guy kept silent and didn't report it. No one ever snuck into Zhenwu Mountain to investigate."
In fact,
Back then, Lord Feng was shocked when he learned that Daoist Longshan had brought back a baby named Ning Qi.
But after thinking it over, he chose to hide it.
First, he was up for promotion and didn't want to stir up trouble. If he pushed the matter and dragged a Qi Origin Realm expert like Daoist Longshan into it, it'd be a mess.
Second, he suspected Daoist Longshan was setting bait—naming the baby "Ning" to lure enemies out. After all, how could a baby survive that kind of fire?
Worst-case scenario—even if the child was really Ning Ye's son, he'd need decades or even centuries to take revenge. By then, Lord Feng might already be in the Heaven-Man Realm. No need to worry.
A sliver of killing intent flickered in Qin Yun's heart toward the Southern Alliance, but his voice remained calm:
"What does this have to do with the destruction of the Qingzhou stronghold?"
The Southern Alliance Saintess stopped walking and said:
"Daoist Longshan had already been secretly investigating the matter of Bloodrain Pavilion a few years ago. Though he did it quietly, there were still traces. The Zhenwu Sect had far more motive. That alone makes them suspicious.
But look at the Northern Suppression King's side.
All the manpower and resources our two sides have spent during this time yielded nothing.
Isn't that proof enough?"
Qin Yun said:"So what the Saintess means is… we should wipe out Zhenwu Sect entirely?"
A sigh echoed through the forest:"If it were before today, that would have been simple."
"But now, we wait.
Before either of our sides gives birth to a Martial Saint, provoking such a troublesome enemy isn't wise.
Once a Martial Saint is born, the Heavenly Sword Immortal will be nothing more than a large ant."
"At that time… we'll use Zhenwu Sect as the sacrificial flag."
A chill settled in Qin Yun's heart.
A shadow crept into his eyes.
Not just because of Zhenwu Sect's situation, but also because of the veiled reminder in the Southern Alliance Saintess's words.
Clearly,
The Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance had already gathered a lot of intelligence and even formed a strategy toward Zhenwu Sect, all without his knowledge.
He had been completely left out.
That meant he had lost the Demonic Sect's trust. If the Southern Alliance Saintess hadn't subtly pointed it out, he might've still thought the two factions were slowly investigating, planning to abduct key Zhenwu Sect figures for interrogation.
If not for the Heavenly Sword Immortal's terrifying power shown today,
Zhenwu Sect might've been wiped out by elite forces in just a few days—while he remained in the dark.
"When did they start suspecting me?"
"Was it at the first meeting with the Southern Alliance? Or when we sent the spy into the entrance trial?"
Qin Yun lowered his head.
He realized he had severely underestimated the Demonic Sect.
He had thought his act was flawless.
But now that seemed laughable.
They kept him around because he still had value.
But one day, he might become a disposable pawn.
Qin Yun sobered up.
All his pride since emerging from the Blood Demon Pool and becoming the Saint Heir Candidate evaporated.
The Southern Alliance Saintess didn't look back. She walked faster and faster, her silhouette vanishing into the forest. Only a soft voice drifted back:
"Saint Heir Qin, wavering is not a good habit."
Qin Yun's eyes flickered darkly.
He realized—he was at a crossroads.
…
The Heart-Seeking Sword has fallen!
This news swept through the Great Yan Dynasty with terrifying speed.
The Heaven-Man List only ranks thirty-six.
Gu Changhe, ranked fourteenth, was already among the top.
For such a peerless expert to fall—this was an earth-shaking event.
And if you added one more detail—
The Heart-Seeking Sword was effortlessly slain by the Heavenly Sword Immortal in one strike.
Then the news became an earthquake.
Everyone who heard it had the same first reaction: disbelief.
Recently, the conflict between Wenjian Pavilion and Zhenwu Sect had drawn much attention.
But for it to end with the Heart-Seeking Sword's death? No one could've imagined that.
But when witnesses from that day stepped forward,
There was no room left for doubt.
After all, many Heaven-Man Realm experts had been there to watch.
There was no reason to lie about something so easily debunked.
In an instant,
The Heavenly Sword Immortal's name spread across the world.
All thirteen provinces of the Great Yan were abuzz.
Especially once the details of the duel between Gu Changhe and the Heavenly Sword Immortal were revealed,
Swordsmen everywhere were thrilled.
Almost everyone believed the Heavenly Sword Immortal already possessed the strength to contend for the title of the world's number one swordsman.
The fame of the Zhenwu Sword Stele grew rapidly.
The Heavenly Sword Immortal never even appeared—he simply used the Sword Stele to summon thunder and form Heavenly Swords that slew Gu Changhe.
This filled every swordsman with longing.
Many had already begun making their way toward Zhenwu Mountain.
The Thunderblade Master remained silent for a long time after hearing the details of the battle.
Shock and confusion filled his eyes.
"Summoning heavenly thunder with the Sword Stele? Why does that sound… just like the Thunderblade?"
He recalled giving the Thunderblade Secrets and the Thunderblade itself to Zhenwu as compensation. His body trembled, cold sweat poured out.
Then he announced:
He was going into seclusion—twenty years to start!
Discussion exploded everywhere.
Martial artists marveled, and sects across the land raised Zhenwu Sect's status even higher.
The Wuxiang Sect members broke into cold sweat.
Their emotional journey had been complicated.
At first, they feared the Heavenly Sword Immortal and offered generous compensation.
But after watching Wenjian Pavilion resist for two months, they regretted yielding so quickly, thinking their reputation had taken a hit.
But now, after seeing Wenjian Pavilion's end—they were only thankful.
Thankful they'd chickened out fast enough.
The Northern Suppression King read a letter delivered by Chen Xing and Chen Yue.
Besides detailed descriptions of the battle, it was filled with praise for his "keen judgment."
He felt a little dazed.
"Do I really have that kind of foresight?"
Chen Xing and Chen Yue believed he had known of the Heavenly Sword Immortal's strength all along and thus sent Li Ling to Zhenwu.
But in reality, that wasn't the case at all.
He'd simply been doing Daoist Longshan a favor by sending Li Ling.
The Northern Suppression King gave a rare bitter smile.
He had witnessed the battle between the Thunderblade Master and the Heavenly Sword Immortal.
Back then, he'd thought the Immortal's sword intent was unparalleled, but his cultivation couldn't back it up—so he couldn't truly stand at the peak of the Heaven-Man Realm.
But now, that judgment no longer applied.
This was clearly a late-stage Sword God—undoubtedly on his level.
After reading Chen Xing and Chen Yue's account, he faintly felt… this still might not be the Heavenly Sword Immortal's limit.
The Northern Suppression King had deeper thoughts.
"I should've realized—he was trying to uncover knowledge about Martial Saints. That means his spirit, essence, and soul are already perfected. He's seeking the Martial Saint path."
Desire flickered in his eyes.
"The path to Martial Saint is unimaginably hard. Having a fellow traveler is a good thing."
"But this time… some old monsters might be stirred from slumber."
After a moment of hesitation,
He decided to write to Zhenwu Mountain.
This matter was far from over.
He wanted to advise Zhenwu Sect—
Don't go too far with Wenjian Pavilion.
Too many eyes are watching.
Sometimes, leaving no survivors can backfire.
But Luo Wentian clearly hadn't planned to exterminate them anyway.
He wasn't the type to commit such vile acts.
All that mattered was making sure Wenjian Pavilion could no longer pose a threat.
After a friendly negotiation with Tang Qiu,
Wenjian Pavilion agreed to the following terms:
First, Wenjian Pavilion would close its gates for two hundred years, forbidden from emerging.
Second, the Sword Inheritance Tower would be gifted to Zhenwu Sect.
Third, all martial arts techniques and manuals of the sect would be copied and handed over.
Fourth, compensation in the form of spiritual herbs, treasured materials, swords, and other valuables.
Tang Qiu stumbled back, unsure how he'd returned to Wenjian Pavilion.
Once the terms were announced,
Some people exploded with rage.
"We'll fight them to the death!"
But Tang Qiu's quiet words cooled them down:
"And be slaughtered like pigs and dogs by the Heavenly Sword Immortal?
Agree to the terms.
Survive two hundred years, and Wenjian Pavilion still has hope."
Everyone was filled with regret.
One wrong step had led to another.
They never should've coveted the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
Now even their own Sword Inheritance Tower had to be given away.
Everyone ground their teeth.
In a fleeting moment, the last two Heaven-Man Realm elders actually wished Zhenwu would be more ruthless—wipe them out completely.
Then they could flee into hiding and strike back from the shadows.
But now,
As long as Wenjian Pavilion remained, it was their weakness.
Striking at Zhenwu in secret?
They didn't dare.
"When are they coming to take the Sword Tower?" a Heaven-Man Realm elder asked with a sigh.
Tang Qiu didn't dare meet their eyes. He only whispered:"They said… you two should personally deliver it."
Another elder spat blood and collapsed to the ground.
"Outrageous!"
Wenjian Pavilion was thrown into chaos.
A sense of helplessness weighed down on everyone.
That night,
Someone vaguely saw two Heaven-Man Realm cultivators dragging a sword tower hundreds of feet tall through the night.