IS Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Snow-white and agile messenger hawks fluttered through the immortal mountains and spiritual valleys.

In the immortal cultivation market, shopkeepers, while taking stock, simultaneously noticed that the sales of Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talismans had greatly increased recently, and Image Retention Pearls were even more in short supply.

A strange, tense atmosphere permeated all sword cultivator sects in the cultivation world.

Some renowned Sword Saints were shaken awake from their seclusion by their disciples.

Some legendary swordsmen lit a candle late at night, carefully studying a long scroll. On the scroll was written:

“Pu Xuan Hui, one thousand three hundred and fifty-four.

Zhou Jingchuan, one thousand three hundred and thirty-one.

……”

Some kind sect leaders summoned their beloved young disciples to their seats, earnestly teaching: “My disciple, suppose that Ye Zhuo does something to you…”

Some filial young disciples paid their respects to their respected masters, speaking earnestly: “Master, suppose that Ye Zhuo does something to you…”

For a time, even the incense offered to the deceased sword ancestor was more than usual.

Red Dust Mountain, Red Dust Sword Sect.

Although it was already autumn, the Red Dust Sword Sect used some method to force the peach blossoms all over the mountain to bloom, creating a scene of pink and green mist.

Under the peach blossom tree, a handsome and charming Immortal Ruler leaned lazily on a glazed couch, surrounded by a dozen young disciples.

“Sect Leader, Sect Leader, isn’t the peach blossom that I opened with one sword beautiful?”

“Beautiful.”

“Then can the Sect Leader tell me, where is Second Palace Master Ye now?”

“He’s already at Penglai.”

The disciples cheered: “Then he’s almost here!”

“Disgraceful,” the Sect Leader tapped each of their foreheads. “Is there any other Immortal Dao sect like you, eagerly awaiting Second Palace Master Ye’s arrival?”

“Isn’t Sect Leader waiting for him?”

“This Sect Leader… Is this Sect Leader hoping to be slashed by him? This Sword Immortal, with his Tribulation Transcending cultivation, actually… Humph.”

“Then why did Sect Leader make all the peach blossoms bloom?”

“…I’ll beat you all to death.”

“Sect Leader, do you think you can last four thousand moves this time?”

“How would this Sect Leader know?”

“Then Sect Leader, if you really last four thousand moves, try to keep Second Palace Master Ye on Red Dust Mountain for a day of Dao discussion, how about that?”

“Do you think I can keep him here if I want to?”

“Sect Leader, try your best!”

“Sect Leader, you have to work hard in the sword fight too!”

“Get out, get out, get out,” the Sect Leader said, supporting his forehead and getting up. “All of you go practice your swordsmanship! If anyone’s Dao Heart is broken again this year, don’t go out and say you’re a disciple of my Red Dust Sword Sect!”

The disciples scattered like birds and beasts.

–

“If that’s the story the honored guest wants to hear, speaking of which, Second Palace Master Ye has been traveling among the immortal sects, seeking enlightenment in the sword dao, for three years now…”

A conscientious Jack-of-all-trades finished telling a long story to a guest, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and glanced at the guest’s expression.

Leisurely and at ease, with great interest.

Those who work as a Jack-of-all-trades are naturally best at observing words and expressions, and this expression clearly meant that he should continue speaking.

“As for the Second Palace Master and the Red Dust Sword Sect, there is an even more interesting anecdote.”

“It was three years ago, when Second Palace Master Ye first came to seek enlightenment, he not only defeated their Sect Leader, the Red Dust Sword Immortal, with his swordsmanship, but also took the time to ‘guide’ several disciples in their swordsmanship. Of course, Second Palace Master Ye’s ‘guidance’…”

The Jack-of-all-trades gesticulated wildly, vividly describing: “In short, after that day, half of the disciples of the Red Dust Sword Sect were kneeling before the Sect Leader, wanting to abandon their Red Dust Sword Dao cultivation and switch to Emotionless Sword Dao, which truly made the Red Dust Sword Immortal gasp in anger!”

“Honored guest, you think, the Red Dust Sword Dao is the Dao of Affection, and Second Palace Master Ye’s Emotionless Sword Dao is the Dao of Ruthlessness. The disciples of the Red Dust Sword Dao actually want to switch to Emotionless Sword Dao, isn’t that turning things upside down?”

Li Yuan deeply agreed: “Indeed. What happened afterwards?”

“Afterwards, the Red Dust Sword Immortal had no choice but to find Second Palace Master Ye again. I don’t know what method he used, but he invited Ye Zhuo to Red Dust Mountain to discuss the Dao.”

“The Red Dust Sect Leader and Ye Zhuo sat opposite each other, with the other disciples below. The flowers were in full bloom, and they discussed the Dao under the moon, how elegant. In the end, I don’t know what the Red Dust Sword Immortal said, but he actually made Second Palace Master Ye smile. Of course, the disciples all saw it.”

“From then on, the disciples of the Red Dust Sword Sect never mentioned cultivating the Emotionless Dao again.”

Li Yuan: “…”

The Jack-of-all-trades quietly sized up the honored guest’s indescribable expression, and couldn’t decide which direction to go next.

“Honored guest…”

“You’ve been talking for so long,” Li Yuan interrupted him, “Why haven’t I heard you say where Ye Zhuo comes from, and who his teacher is?”

“To be honest, even my Hundred Enquiries Pavilion doesn’t know much about this matter. I can only try my best to pick out the rumors from the Jianghu and tell you about them.”

“What do the Jianghu rumors say?”

“Micro-Snow Palace Master Wei Sheng Xian, the honored guest must know him. Jianghu rumors say that Ye Zhuo and Wei Sheng Xian appeared in the Jianghu together many years ago, and have since advanced and retreated together. They all say that the two are high-achieving disciples under a reclusive immortal master – since he is a reclusive immortal master, naturally his name is unknown, and his origins are also unknown.”

“However, Second Palace Master Ye’s other lineage is well known.”

“Oh?”

“It is the perilous Spirit Mountain from which there is no return.” Speaking of this, even the Jack-of-all-trades’ eyes revealed a longing look: “In the extreme west, the Spirit Mountain stretches for tens of thousands of miles, and the top has a Heavenly Gate, connecting to the three thousand Po Suo of the Sumeru Upper Realm. For thousands of years, many people have wanted to ascend the perilous Spirit Mountain and reach the Upper Realm, but they have all failed to pass the numerous trials, either returning without success or perishing within.”

“Second Palace Master Ye went up there at the age of thirteen. Two years later, he came down the mountain. Three years later, he defeated the famous swordsmen at the Ullambana Assembly and became the ‘Number One Sword Under Heaven’.”

“They all say that above the Spirit Mountain, there is the supreme secret inheritance of the Sumeru Great Realm – presumably this is where Second Palace Master Ye’s world-class swordsmanship comes from.”

Li Yuan pondered slightly: “That seems reasonable.”

“Then what else does the honored guest want to hear?”

The honored guest placed the first top-grade spirit stone on the table.

The Jack-of-all-trades’ pupils shook.

He saw the honored guest stand up and say: “I’ve heard everything. Thank you.”

The Jack-of-all-trades trembled as he held up the top-grade spirit stone.

Such… such a generous customer…

Li Yuan looked at the moon outside the window.

“Then, in your opinion, which sect will Ye Zhuo go to next?”

“Well… Second Palace Master Ye’s questioning of the Dao often starts from the Great Mountain Sect and ends with the Wen Hai Sect. According to the current location, the next one should be the Sword Washing Pavilion in the southwest, or the Red Dust Sword Sect in the southeast.”

Li Yuan closed his eyes, as if sensing something.

After a few breaths, he said with certainty: “It’s the southeast.”

Jack-of-all-trades: “Huh?”

His gaze shifted from the spirit stone, but he only saw a bright moon outside the window, and there was no one in the pavilion.

The bright moon set in the west, and the morning sun rose in the east.

In the blink of an eye, nearly a month had passed.

After the last sword fight, Clan Master Xiao Zhenzong of the Wenhai Sect invited Ye Zhuo to a small gathering.

The Wenhai Sect had quite a friendship with the Micro-Snow Palace.

Clan Master Xiao Zhenzong was generous by nature and highly respected. He met Ye Zhuo in a secret realm in his early years. Ye Zhuo had no sect at that time, and the invitation to the Ullambana Assembly was given by Clan Master Xiao.

Later, when Wei Sheng Xian established a sect in the Green Mountains, Clan Master Xiao also provided a lot of help.

“Traveling the path of enlightenment, have you gained anything?” Clan Master Xiao asked.

Ye Zhuo: “Not much.”

Clan Master Xiao smiled helplessly: “You really do speak your mind.”

Ye Zhuo did not speak, but Clan Master Xiao was used to his unresponsive appearance.

“Will you ask next year?” Xiao Zhenzong said.

Traveling the path of enlightenment, the insights gained were not more than that fight with Li Yuan.

“It’s good not to ask.” Xiao Zhenzong sighed, “The Immortal Dao is not peaceful… Secluding oneself for cultivation may be a good thing.”

But he saw Ye Zhuo raise his eyes.

“What’s wrong with the Spirit Meridian of Wen Hai Sect?” He said.

Xiao Zhenzong didn’t expect that Ye Zhuo would notice the abnormality of the spiritual energy just by sitting for a while.

“The Spirit Meridian is about to run out, an unavoidable event.” Clan Master Xiao said.

Ye Zhuo: “And after?”

“The spiritual energy hasn’t dissipated yet, and the disciples in the sect can still cultivate as usual. As for what happens after that… we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Ye Zhuo felt the spiritual energy, not knowing what he was thinking. After a while, he said: “If you have any difficulties, you can ask Micro-Snow Palace.”

Xiao Zhenzong laughed loudly: “Your Micro-Snow Palace hasn’t even established itself yet, how can I let the younger generation worry? It’s okay, I’ve been searching for ways to continue the spirit meridian.”

Ye Zhuo nodded, and didn’t say anything more. Then Xiao Zhenzong talked to him about some Immortal Dao rumors, and he occasionally responded.

“The First Disciple of the Sword Sect of the Supreme Purity Mountain, has left seclusion this year, do you know about it?”

“I’ve heard something about it.”

“Have you seen him?”

“Not yet.”

“That First Disciple is named Su Yizhen, with a natural Sword Soul. Since childhood, he has been placed in the Sword Mound by the Sword Sect to temper and train. It is said that he is a rare sword dao genius in thousands of years, and has been cultivated with the full strength of the sect. I heard that he is forging One’s Own Life Sword. When the sword is completed, you and him may meet.”

Ye Zhuo: “Naturally.”

“Haha, but I’m overthinking it. Although I’m not a sword cultivator, I understand the temperament of sword cultivators. I think even if you don’t go to see him, he will naturally come to see you.”

After saying that, he changed the topic: “Besides him, I also heard that a Sword Saint who has been secluded for many years in Sichuan has come out of the mountain.”

“Who is it?”

“A reclusive person, with no name. I just heard that his realm is extremely high, and may be comparable to you.”

Ye Zhuo looked at Clan Master Xiao.

At this time, the moon was in the middle of the sky, and everything was silent. A pair of eyes as cold as frost and snow seemed to see straight into the bottom of people’s hearts.

“Really?”

“Sichuan, Silver Moon Slope.” Xiao Zhenzong said.