Across the provinces of the Great Yan Empire.
Everyone was talking about it.
Especially with the swordsmen fanning the flames, the details of this battle were being endlessly exaggerated. Storytellers carried the tale across the land, and even some county towns had heard of it.
"Thunderblade Master summoned a lightning dragon with a single slash, as if it was going to devour all life! But the Heavenly Sword Immortal was calm as ever—he merely pointed his finger, and in an instant, forty-nine Heavenly Swords tore through the sky!"
In an inn.
Countless people gathered around a storyteller, gasping in awe and urging him to keep going.
"The Heavenly Sword cleaved the Thunder Dragon in two. That scene was terrifying—the earth itself shattered…"
Descriptions like these were countless.
The news spread from Zhenwu City throughout Qingzhou, then from Qingzhou to other provinces. Though many had witnessed the battle firsthand that day, it was still but a drop in the ocean compared to the entire Great Yan Dynasty.
As word passed from one person to another, it inevitably changed a bit.
Those who had seen it with their own eyes would simply smile knowingly upon hearing the tales, though the shock in their hearts had yet to fade.
Anyone who had seen that battle knew—Heavenly Sword Immortal's strength far exceeded his current ranking on the Celestial List.
This had already become common consensus.
Almost all major forces simultaneously recognized that the Heavenly Sword Immortal possessed the strength to rank within the top twenty of the Celestial List—and not just the lower end. He might even be stronger than the Luofu Sword Master!
In this battle.
Thunderblade Master and Heavenly Sword Immortal were undoubtedly the stars, but the actions of the Luofu Sword Master were also being secretly spread around. Those who knew the inside story couldn't help but chuckle to themselves, though none dared to speak too loudly—after all, a peerless swordsman ranked twenty-first on the Celestial List was still a powerful deterrent.
Even so, just those secret rumors were enough to drive the Luofu Sword Master crazy.
After returning to Thunderblade Manor, Thunderblade Master immediately ordered that his "Thunderblade Secrets" be delivered as promised. He didn't dare go back on his word.
Some veteran blade masters came to offer their sympathies. No one blamed him for losing; on the contrary, some even offered him compensation. After all, it wasn't that he was lacking—it was just that his opponent was too strong.
A few renowned blade masters even shared their martial arts with him. In a way, this battle turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Though he lost an arm, the breakthrough he made during his fight with the Heavenly Sword Immortal pushed him past his limits. Now, if he absorbed the insights from those shared blade techniques, he would likely progress even further.
Returning to the Celestial List next year was all but guaranteed. He might even climb a few ranks.
During this time.
People couldn't stop talking about the Zhenwu Sword Stele, their eyes full of envy and amazement.
"I saw the Zhenwu Sword Stele from afar. It was just a regular stone at first, but it became something magical all because of the Heavenly Sword Immortal's sword intent. His sword intent…" The veteran blade master paused, his face complicated before he continued, "...is terrifying."
Just four words, but it left everyone speechless.
Someone couldn't help but suggest:
"Why don't we follow the example of the Zhenwu Sword Stele and create a Blade Stele for all the bladesmen of the world to study? Otherwise, at this rate, we'll be completely overshadowed by the swordsmen." 𝘙𝐀Ŋ𝘰ВΕS̈
Thunderblade Master's crushing defeat had unexpectedly united the bladesmen like never before.
Thunderblade Master gave a bitter smile and shook his head:
"I doubt we can pull it off. For a blade intent to endure and be comprehensible to others, only someone like the Blade Demon could achieve that. But he's elusive and probably wouldn't bother with something like this…"
"I really don't know how the Heavenly Sword Immortal managed to comprehend such extraordinary sword intent. Maybe it came to him in a moment of enlightenment… If his cultivation were just a bit stronger, he might one day even fight the Blade Demon."
At this, everyone couldn't help but feel a bit relieved. Thank goodness the Heavenly Sword Immortal was in poor health. If he became the peak of the sword world, they would truly have no hope left.
Right now, their only contender against the swordsmen was the Blade Demon, ranked third on the Celestial List.
Everyone shook their heads with wry smiles, then began discussing alternative ways to counterbalance the presence of the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
…
For the first time, the Zhenwu Sect came into the spotlight of numerous powerful factions. This stirred up even more noise than the previous two "Heavenly Sword vs. Demon" battles.
After all, both protagonists this time were Celestial List-level experts.
Don't be fooled by their lower rankings—there were only thirty-six such figures in all of Great Yan.
And it represented the eternal rivalry between blades and swords.
The imperial court of Great Yan, the Daoist sects, the Southern Alliance, the Great Awakening Temple, and the Sword Inquiry Pavilion… all the top-tier factions were quietly deliberating.
Meanwhile, in a grand hall somewhere.
The top brass of the Demonic Sect were also discussing the matter.
At the head of the hall sat not one, but three individuals. One wore a bronze ghost mask. Another was a middle-aged man with a stern face and silvery pupils that were unnerving. The third was a seductive, green-clad middle-aged woman whose every expression exuded allure.
These were the three Deputy Sect Masters of the Demonic Sect.
"So it seems that when Elder Wang and the others attacked Zhenwu Sect last time, that old Heavenly Sword Daoist was holding back? Otherwise, he alone could have repelled all five of them."
The ghost-masked man's voice was cold and sinister.
Though they had temporarily given up attacking Zhenwu Sect, that didn't mean he had forgotten the grudge.
But now, after this shocking battle, the Heavenly Sword Immortal's strength was beyond expectations. Even thinking about attacking him again felt like trying to bite through steel.
The silver-eyed man speculated:
"Maybe the Northern Suppression King happened to be on Zhenwu Mountain back then, so that old b*stard held back his strength?"
The green-clad woman nodded in agreement:
"Tianxing makes a good point. Ghostmask, I think we should put Zhenwu Sect on hold for now. That Heavenly Sword Daoist not only exists but now he's erected the Zhenwu Sword Stele, attracting swordsmen from everywhere. It won't be easy to take down Zhenwu Sect in the future—it's just not worth it. After all, we don't really have any deep feud with them."
A nearby elder immediately proposed:
"Deputy Sect Masters, perhaps we could try a different approach?"
He glanced at Ghostmask and smiled:
"I've heard that Ghostmask's subordinate, a peerless genius, has already entered the Blood Demon Pool and caused quite a stir. He has the bearing of a Holy Son—and he used to be from the Zhenwu Sect. Why don't we have him try to win them over?"
"If it works, we wouldn't just lose an enemy—we'd gain a powerful new ally."
The three looked thoughtful. They all knew the elder was talking about Qin Yun.
Qin Yun had gone through an unusually smooth transformation in the Blood Demon Pool. The commotion had even alarmed the Grand Elder, who granted him permission to go deeper and absorb more power.
Ghostmask slowly shook his head:
"That plan has little chance of success. Qin Yun defected from Zhenwu Sect..."
The green-clad woman casually examined her long fingers and said:
"He may have left, but the master-disciple bond runs deep—like father and son. I doubt Daoist Longshan would really be that heartless toward his old disciple. Once Qin Yun comes out of the Blood Demon Pool, there's no harm in trying."
Ghostmask stared at the woman without responding, but anyone could tell he wasn't pleased. After a few breaths, he suddenly said:
"Deputy Lin, I hear your niece Ruhua is now a stunning beauty with the bearing of a Saintess. Since you think so highly of Qin Yun, why not let the two of them pair up? It might become a legendary love story for our sect."
Lin Shuangshuang's eyes sharpened as she snorted coldly:
"That little troublemaker Ruhua is no Saintess. Who knows where she's run off to lately."
But then she seemed to consider the idea seriously.
"Still, once Qin Yun comes out, maybe we can let them meet and see what happens."
Ghostmask laughed heartily.
In the middle, Xiang Tianxing frowned and interrupted:
"There's something else important going on."
Everyone turned serious, realizing what he was referring to.
"The Southern Alliance has lost its mind. They've hit several of our bases recently, catching us off guard. One branch in southern Baizhou was completely wiped out—and we lost a Celestial List-level elder!"
In an instant.
Everyone was furious.
Though they'd heard about the incident before, they hadn't known a Celestial-ranked elder was killed.
Lin Shuangshuang's expression turned icy:
"Is the Southern Alliance trying to go to war with us? Those freaks of theirs think that forming an alliance gives them the right to challenge us? If they're not afraid of making it easier for the Great Yan, then let them come!"
Ghostmask fell into deep thought, puzzled:
"Could this be a misunderstanding? We've never had issues with the Southern Alliance. They also want to escape the Ten Thousand Mountain Range. I heard the environment there is getting worse. The beast hordes are becoming increasingly violent—even the outskirts aren't safe anymore."
"Who cares what the reason is? Even if it is a misunderstanding, we need to beat them down first! Only then can we talk!" Xiang Tianxing stood up, his silver eyes flashing with killing intent.
"Then let's fight!"
Everyone was fired up.
It was bad enough having the Great Yan looming over them—now even the Southern Alliance dared provoke them?
The sect leaders reached a consensus and began planning various counterattacks.
…
Quietly.
Amid the Heavenly Sword Immortal uproar, the Southern Alliance and the Demonic Sect were starting to clash behind the scenes.
The Great Yan court, noticing these signs, was puzzled by their sudden conflict. But to them, it was a welcome development. They were happy to watch the tigers fight, occasionally throwing in fuel to fan the flames.
And the one who started all this was currently enjoying a leisurely life at the Seeking Dao Courtyard.
After the big battle, Ning Qi finally had some peace and quiet.
No one disturbed him. All the sword-wielding disciples of Zhenwu were obsessed with studying the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
After Luo Wentian laid out the rules, the stele was gradually opened to non-Zhenwu cultivators as well. Swordsmen had priority, but other cultivators could apply for a limited number of slots.
Ning Qi lay on a rattan chair, a Dao Enlightenment Tea Tree growing vigorously beside him under the nourishment of Blood Jade Elixir, soon reaching the height of his thigh.
He was currently resonating with the sword intent within the Zhenwu Sword Stele, sensing the imprints left by those who had studied it in recent days.
Though he had gained a little already, it hadn't been long. Still, Ning Qi was full of anticipation.
It proved that this method worked.
One man's insight was limited, but the wisdom of countless people would surely elevate his sword path to unprecedented heights.
"This time, applying the Zhenwu legacy played a crucial role—that's why I won so cleanly."
Ning Qi recalled the sword that had defeated Thunderblade Master.
The Heavenly Sword split into nine—an immense inspiration.
"Maybe I can further refine the Heavenly Sword Technique by integrating it with sword formations."
A flash of insight lit up his mind. He had previously created several powerful sword formations, like the Heavenly Dipper and Earth Fiend Sword Formation, which had astonished several Celestial-level experts at the Celestial Ceremony.
Thanks to that formation, Zhenwu disciples had made a name for themselves throughout Qingzhou.
The Heavenly Dipper and Earth Fiend Sword Formation had already become one of Zhenwu Sect's signature techniques.
Back when Ning Qi developed the Heavenly Sword Technique, it was meant to explosively fuse his inner energy with the power of the world—strong but lacking finesse, due to his limited understanding of the world's force.
Now, as his foundation deepened, he could naturally take it to the next level.
This wasn't difficult for him anymore.
"But with my current inner energy at the Jade Elixir stage, I can handle Heavenly Sword Split into Nine fairly easily. With a bit more power, I might manage to merge it with the Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation. Any more than that, though, and I'll start to run out of steam."
"To fully evolve the Heavenly Sword Technique into the Heavenly Dipper and Earth Fiend Sword Formation, it won't be possible until after reaching the Core Formation Realm."
"As for the Myriad Swords Soaring, that's something for after reaching the Celestial Realm."
Ning Qi was actually looking forward to it.
He cultivated the Myriad Forms True Qi and had mastered many different paths, but right now, swordsmanship was at the forefront. With the Zhenwu Sword Stele providing constant feedback in the future, it would likely remain ahead.
"However, the Heavenly Sword Technique is essentially a fusion of sword intent, inner energy, and the power of heaven and earth. With my ability, transforming it into the Heavenly Blade Technique or the Heavenly Spear Technique wouldn't be a problem at all."
At this thought, a faint smile curled at Ning Qi's lips.
He reached out, and a domineering longsword with a violet aura shot out from the room and landed in his hand.
With a light stroke.
The Thunderblade he had just acquired let out a low hum. Thunder flickered along its blade, resonating with some form of lightning force high in the heavens.
"This blade… is quite special. It seems to be able to channel the power of heavenly lightning. Thunderblade Master once used it to build momentum, further enhancing his thunderblade intent, but he didn't fully develop the Thunderblade's potential. Fortunately, I know a bit about blade techniques, and after merging the Thunder Tiger's false core previously, I've gained some insight into the way of thunder as well."
Ning Qi chuckled softly.
With a swing of the Thunderblade in hand, a thunder-dragon blade aura burst out. Just as it was about to strike a peach tree, it suddenly dissipated.
If Thunderblade Master had witnessed this easy, relaxed display, he would've been utterly shocked. His signature technique was not only perfectly replicated in another's hands—it was even more powerful.
"Thunderblade Master is indeed a genius in the blade path. Once the Thunderblade Secrets arrive, I can take a closer look."
Ning Qi was still very interested in Celestial Realm manuals.
Building a strong foundation now would make things far smoother when he advanced to the Celestial Realm in the future.
Clearing his mind, Ning Qi turned his gaze toward the Thunderblade.
Just like with the Azure Profound Armor, he wasn't merely satisfied with obtaining a treasured blade or armor—he wanted to comprehend the essence behind them. He sought to understand the principle by which the Thunderblade channeled heavenly lightning.
He had a feeling.
If he could replicate the process, he might acquire a peerless secret technique.
With inner energy circulating, violet light flowed along the Thunderblade as Ning Qi entered a state of comprehension. He focused on the Thunderblade's changes, his mind sparking with inspiration like a gushing spring.
But after a while, he gently shook his head.
"To truly grasp it, I'll need to reach the high heavens—or wait for a thunderstorm."
Drawing in lightning required firsthand experience.
Ning Qi was still wary of true heavenly thunder. In this world, the skies above held terrifying lightning. Even Celestial-level experts could be reduced to ashes if they ventured too deep.
Many ancient records mentioned powerful cultivators attempting to explore the outer skies, but all ended in failure—with tragic fates.
"The Northern Suppression King is still on Zhenwu Mountain. I'll wait until he leaves before trying again—no rush."
Ning Qi had great patience. After studying the Thunderblade a bit longer, he settled into focused cultivation.
The roar of the Heaven-Earth Grand Mill Tempering Qi Method echoed in his ears, bringing a deep tranquility to his heart.
…
At the same time, in the Mingwu Pavilion.
The Northern Suppression King sat face-to-face with Daoist Longshan.
After the battle ended, the Northern Suppression King didn't leave immediately. Since Li Ling wanted to study the Zhenwu Sword Stele, the king let him be.
Coincidentally, he had a thought in his heart and chose to stay on Zhenwu Mountain.
Over these days, the Northern Suppression King had been observing in secret, and the more he saw, the more impressed he became with Zhenwu Sect.
The sect had many talented disciples, and some of the martial arts they displayed even astonished him. The foundation here was deep.
He made a mental note to research the origin of the Zhenwu legacy when he had time. Something about it didn't feel ordinary.
But what pleased him the most was Daoist Longshan's ability to teach.
Some people were naturally suited to be mentors.
The incident with Luofu Sword Master made the Northern Suppression King realize that being a teacher wasn't just about being powerful—it was about compatibility.
He had seen Daoist Longshan instructing Zhuang Chen and knew he couldn't match that level of teaching, which only made his intention today more resolute.
"Is the Northern Suppression King finding his stay on Zhenwu Mountain comfortable? If anything has been lacking, I beg your forgiveness."
Daoist Longshan was a bit puzzled why the king had come to visit today, but maintained a courteous demeanor.
He guessed the king might be preparing to leave, given how rarely he showed himself in recent days.
But the Northern Suppression King's first words left Daoist Longshan stunned.
With a gentle smile, the king said:
"Realman, you're too polite. I've come today with a request."
"Please speak, Your Highness. If it's something within Zhenwu Sect's power, we will spare no effort."
Daoist Longshan straightened his expression, always remembering the help the king had once provided.
With a solemn look, the Northern Suppression King said:
"I want Ling'er to become a disciple of the Zhenwu Sect."
Daoist Longshan was troubled. He had just made a bold promise—only to be instantly caught in a dilemma.
"It's not that I'm unwilling… but I'm afraid the Heavenly Sword Elder wouldn't be open to taking a disciple."
He instinctively assumed the king wanted Li Ling to become a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Immortal. That wouldn't do. Only he knew that the Heavenly Sword Immortal was actually his own little disciple—how could he take one of his own?
The Northern Suppression King shook his head with a smile.
"No, not under the Heavenly Sword Immortal. I'd like Ling'er to study under you, Realman. Please accept him. I will prepare a generous ceremony gift."
That day, after seeing the Heavenly Sword Immortal, the king felt that while powerful, he wasn't suitable to be a master—too cold, too indifferent.
Now Daoist Longshan was even more shocked.
He had never imagined that the Northern Suppression King wanted Li Ling to become his disciple.
"This… what virtue or ability do I have? I fear I'd hold the young lord back."
He knew himself well.
A prince of the Northern Suppression King's caliber seeking a teacher would have no shortage of top contenders—possibly even experts from the Celestial List.
Rumor had it the twenty-first-ranked Luofu Sword Master had once been invited to the palace but eventually left.
Though Daoist Longshan believed he would one day be listed on the Celestial List, he had only just broken through to the Celestial Realm and still needed time to grow.
The Northern Suppression King stood and bowed deeply with cupped fists:
"Realman, please don't be so modest. To be honest, I've observed your teachings, and I believe you could be called a master of masters. Ling'er lost his mother young and is a bit unruly, but here on Zhenwu Mountain, he's been truly happy. If he could study under you, it would be his great fortune. I mean no offense—I only wish to find him a good teacher. Please grant my request!"
His words were sincere, his posture humble.
In the past, when the Demonic Sect targeted Zhenwu Sect, he didn't want Li Ling involved.
But now that the Heavenly Sword Immortal had revealed his great power—and the Zhenwu Sword Stele had drawn many swordsmen—the security here had greatly increased.
If he stationed a few strong warriors in Zhenwu City, Li Ling would likely be even safer than in the palace, especially since the king himself couldn't always watch over him.
Daoist Longshan was moved.
A peerless expert ranked seventh on the Celestial List humbling himself like this—it spoke volumes.
He sighed inwardly. How deep a parent's love runs.
Daoist Longshan helped the king up and said emotionally:
"Please don't say that, Your Highness. To be honest, I also like this child Li Ling very much. He has great perception and potential. His passion for the sword is sincere. If he is trained well, he will surely achieve greatness."
"Since Your Highness thinks so highly of me, from now on, he shall be my eleventh official disciple."
Now understanding the king's intentions, he agreed without hesitation.
He wasn't flattering—Li Ling's aptitude truly was exceptional. Though a bit mischievous, his heart was kind.
Back when the Luofu Sword Master came to forcefully borrow a sword, Li Ling had even stepped forward to scold him.
Moreover.
Taking Li Ling as a disciple meant that Zhenwu Sect would gain a powerful backer—a solid one.
Anyone who wanted to challenge Zhenwu Sect in the future would have to think twice.
The Northern Suppression King's face lit up with joy.
A heavy burden had been lifted from his heart.
He smiled and said:
"Thank you, Realman! There's one more thing—Ling'er greatly admires the Heavenly Sword Immortal's swordsmanship. If he is willing to teach Ling'er, I would gladly exchange it with my Suppressing Heaven Fist Technique—or offer any other legacy that might interest him."
Daoist Longshan's heart stirred, and he nodded slowly:
"If I have the chance to see the Heavenly Sword Elder, I will relay the message truthfully."