Chapter 16 — How Difficult Could That Be?

"How difficult could that be?"

Elder Xue Ming smiled as the mountains passed beneath him.

Blood-red clouds stretched across the northern sky.

Behind him flew more than two thousand cultivators of the Bloodriver Sect.

Their formation covered several kilometers.

Blood banners snapped in the wind.

Spirit beasts carried armored disciples.

Flying ships moved between crimson clouds.

Seventeen Core Formation cultivators formed the middle ranks.

Three Nascent Soul elders traveled near the front.

And above them all—

Xue Ming walked through the air.

Void Refining.

Third stage.

Enough strength to dominate most sects in the Northern Region.

Azure Origin Sect wasn't weak.

But neither was it strong enough to casually ignore him.

At least—

that was what his information said.

Xue Ming looked again at the message in his hand.

The First Key has awakened.

The Sword Heart lives.

Take Jian Wuchen alive.

Kill his master if necessary.

No signature.

That should have made him suspicious.

It did.

But the message had arrived with something else.

A black token.

Xue Ming turned it between his fingers.

One side showed seven swords surrounding a circle.

The other—

a single severed line.

He didn't know the symbol.

His Sect Master did.

Patriarch Bloodriver had looked at the token for a long time.

Then he'd given one order.

"Go."

No explanation.

No hesitation.

Xue Ming had obeyed.

That was three hours ago.

Now Azure Origin Sect was less than five hundred kilometers away.

A Nascent Soul elder approached.

"Elder Xue."

"Hm?"

"Scouts report Azure Origin Sect has activated its defensive formations."

"As expected."

"They haven't evacuated."

Xue Ming smiled.

"Also expected."

"What if they refuse?"

Xue Ming looked toward the distant horizon.

"Then we ask again."

The elder smiled.

"And after that?"

"We stop asking."

Laughter spread among the nearby Bloodriver cultivators.

Xue Ming folded the message.

One young Peak Master.

Soul Transformation.

Twenty-seven years old.

Talented.

Perhaps extraordinarily talented.

But talent wasn't cultivation.

Even if Shen Yuan had recently broken through—

how far could he have gone?

Void Refining?

Impossible.

Body Integration?

Ridiculous.

Tribulation Transcendence?

Xue Ming almost laughed.

Rumors had limits.

The message had said kill the master if necessary.

Fine.

He would.

Then he'd take Jian Wuchen.

Take the key.

Return.

Simple.

Azure Origin Sect was not calm.

Thousands of disciples moved through the Five Great Peaks.

Protective formations activated one after another.

Formation pillars rose from mountainsides.

Spirit beasts were recalled.

Outer disciples were moved behind inner defensive lines.

Treasury resources were distributed.

Healing halls filled with prepared medicines.

Weapons left storage.

The Sect Protection Formation covered the sky in pale blue light.

Everyone knew.

Bloodriver Sect was coming.

On Heavenly Sword Peak—

Qin Feng stood before hundreds of sword disciples.

Zhao Tianming was near the front.

His sword was already drawn.

"Remember," Qin Feng said.

"No heroics."

Several disciples looked disappointed.

Qin noticed.

He pointed at them.

"Especially you."

Then another.

"And you."

Then Zhao.

"And definitely you."

Zhao Tianming blinked.

"Master, I haven't done anything."

"Yet."

Fair.

Qin looked over his disciples.

"If the formation breaks, remain in your assigned groups."

"Core disciples protect inner disciples."

"Inner disciples protect outer disciples."

"Do not pursue retreating enemies."

"Do not leave formation range."

A disciple raised his hand.

"What if they insult Heavenly Sword Peak?"

Qin stared.

"Then endure it."

"What if they insult Master?"

"Endure it."

"What if they insult our swords?"

Qin paused.

"...Use judgment."

The disciples nodded solemnly.

Zhao closed his eyes.

This was why the Sect Master disliked leaving Qin in charge of speeches.

Jade Lotus Peak.

Mu Qinglan stood at the center of an enormous formation.

Thousands of lines spread beneath her feet.

Formation masters occupied eight surrounding platforms.

"Third defensive layer."

"Stable."

"Fourth?"

"Stable."

"Emergency teleportation formations?"

"Prepared."

"Healing formations?"

"Active."

Mu nodded.

"Cloudveil?"

A formation disciple checked.

Then frowned.

"Peak Master Mu."

"What?"

"Cloudveil Peak's defensive formation isn't connected to the sect network."

Mu's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"We don't know."

She extended her perception.

Then—

stopped.

Cloudveil Peak was surrounded by something.

Not a formation she recognized.

Space itself seemed slightly distorted around the mountain.

Mu stared.

"Shen Yuan."

Of course.

"Leave it."

The disciple blinked.

"Peak Master?"

"Cloudveil will manage."

She had learned that much.

Cloudveil Peak.

Lin Yue stood in the training grounds.

Jian Wuchen stood beside her.

Ye Feng stood several meters away.

All three looked toward the north.

The sky was red.

Even from this distance—

they could see it.

Jian Wuchen's expression was cold.

"They're here because of me."

Lin Yue shook her head.

"They chose to come."

"Because of my key."

"Still their choice."

Jian Wuchen looked at her.

She continued.

"Master told me something yesterday."

"What?"

"He said eventually everyone meets something talent can't solve."

Jian Wuchen waited.

Lin Yue smiled faintly.

"I think he was talking about problems."

Ye Feng looked toward the approaching blood clouds.

"That's a fairly large problem."

Lin Yue nodded.

"Master is larger."

Jian Wuchen looked at her.

"That sounded strange."

"You know what I mean."

"I do."

Chen An approached from behind.

"Both of you should return to the inner palace."

Jian Wuchen frowned.

"No."

Chen An stopped.

"Young Master Jian."

"They came for me."

"Yes."

"So I'm staying."

Chen An sighed.

"Peak Master Shen specifically said—"

Jian Wuchen looked over.

"What did he say?"

Chen An paused.

Technically—

Shen Yuan had said nothing.

He had left the Sect Hall before giving any instructions.

Chen An changed tactics.

"It would be sensible."

Jian Wuchen nodded.

"Probably."

He remained exactly where he was.

Chen An looked at Lin Yue.

She folded her arms.

"I'm eldest disciple."

"That doesn't answer anything."

"It means I'm staying too."

Chen An looked at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng raised both hands.

"I'm not even from Cloudveil Peak."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Then why are you still here?"

Ye Feng thought.

"Tea?"

Chen An stared.

Ye Feng looked away.

Fine.

Chen An had dealt with Shen Yuan for six years.

Two stubborn disciples and one visiting swordsman would not defeat him.

He took out a communication jade.

Jian Wuchen frowned.

"Who are you contacting?"

"Sect Master Gu."

"Why?"

"To inform him Cloudveil Peak's disciples are ignoring evacuation recommendations."

Lin Yue's expression changed.

"That's unnecessary."

"Good."

Chen An activated the jade.

Lin Yue sighed.

"Fine."

She turned toward the inner palace.

Jian Wuchen stared.

"You're leaving?"

"Temporarily."

"Senior Sister."

She looked at him.

"If Sect Master Gu comes personally, Master will hear about it."

Jian Wuchen understood.

That was dangerous.

He followed.

Ye Feng watched.

"That worked?"

Chen An stored the inactive communication jade.

"Usually."

Ye Feng stared.

"You didn't contact anyone."

"No."

Lin Yue stopped walking.

She turned slowly.

Chen An smiled.

"Inner palace."

Lin Yue narrowed her eyes.

Then continued.

Jian Wuchen almost laughed.

Cloudveil Peak's most dangerous person might not be Shen Yuan.

At the northern boundary of Azure Origin Sect—

Shen Yuan walked alone.

Not flew.

Walked.

Through the air.

Each step carried him kilometers.

Behind him—

Gu Tianhe followed.

Then Mo Qingfeng.

Qin Feng.

Mu Qinglan.

And several elders.

Shen Yuan looked back.

"Why are all of you coming?"

Qin Feng stared.

"There's an army."

"I noticed."

"You were planning to face them alone?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Shen Yuan thought.

"Efficient."

Qin's sword twitched.

Mu Qinglan smiled faintly.

Gu Tianhe spoke.

"This is still Azure Origin Sect's territory."

"I know."

"And I'm still Sect Master."

"Also aware."

"Then stop trying to handle every problem alone."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

Gu's expression was serious.

That mattered.

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Fine."

Qin Feng looked surprised.

"That easy?"

"What?"

"I expected an argument."

"I can start one."

"No."

They continued.

The sect's northern formation appeared ahead.

Beyond it—

red.

Thousands.

Blood Qi covered the sky.

Gu Tianhe's expression hardened.

Mo Qingfeng's aura began rising.

Body Integration.

The Grand Elder was Azure Origin Sect's public deterrent.

His presence alone had prevented many conflicts.

Today—

even he looked serious.

"Void Refining at the front," Mo said.

"Third stage."

Shen Yuan glanced at him.

"You can tell?"

Mo Qingfeng frowned.

"Of course."

Shen Yuan nodded.

Useful.

His own senses had become so absurd after reaching Immortal that distinguishing lower realms sometimes felt like identifying different depths of puddles.

He needed practice.

The Bloodriver army stopped.

Five kilometers from the formation.

Silence spread.

Then—

a voice crossed the distance.

"Azure Origin Sect."

Xue Ming stepped forward.

Blood-red robes moved around him.

His aura descended.

Boom!

Mountains trembled.

Outer disciples paled.

Several formation nodes shook.

Mu Qinglan's eyes sharpened.

Qin Feng drew his sword halfway.

Mo Qingfeng stepped forward.

His Body Integration aura rose.

The pressure disappeared.

Xue Ming's smile faded slightly.

"Grand Elder Mo."

"Elder Xue."

"You've grown old."

"So have you."

"I've grown stronger."

Mo Qingfeng smiled.

"Then perhaps age has not entirely been wasted."

Bloodriver cultivators shifted.

Sword disciples behind the formation straightened.

Xue Ming laughed.

"I didn't come to fight you."

"Then leave."

"I came for someone."

Mo Qingfeng's eyes became cold.

"We know."

Xue Ming looked past him.

Toward Shen Yuan.

"Peak Master Shen."

Shen Yuan waved.

Xue Ming paused.

That was not the greeting he'd expected.

"You're younger than the reports."

"Reports are usually old."

"True."

Xue Ming examined him.

Soul Transformation.

Exactly as intelligence claimed.

Perhaps ninth stage?

Hard to tell.

Nothing unusual.

He smiled.

"Then you understand why we're here."

"Jian Wuchen."

"Correct."

"No."

Xue Ming waited.

Shen Yuan didn't continue.

"That's your answer?"

"Yes."

"You haven't heard the terms."

"I read the message."

"Then you know Bloodriver Sect is willing to pass without incident."

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Very generous."

Xue Ming smiled.

"Then—"

"I said no."

The smile faded.

Blood Qi thickened.

Xue Ming looked toward Gu Tianhe.

"Sect Master Gu."

Gu stepped forward.

"Azure Origin Sect does not surrender its disciples."

"He's not your disciple."

Gu looked at Shen Yuan.

Then back.

"He's a disciple of an Azure Origin Peak Master."

"That makes him ours."

Shen Yuan glanced at Gu.

That was a good line.

He might borrow it later.

Xue Ming's expression darkened.

"You would risk thousands for one crippled swordsman?"

Shen Yuan's eyes changed.

The air became slightly colder.

Not from energy.

From intent.

Xue Ming noticed.

He smiled.

"Did I offend you?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Qin Feng sighed.

"Idiot."

Xue Ming looked at him.

"What?"

Qin shook his head.

"Nothing."

He had seen what happened when people underestimated Shen Yuan.

He had also personally been warned that sparring might kill him.

Xue Ming continued.

"Jian Wuchen belongs to no one."

"Correct," Shen Yuan said.

Xue Ming blinked.

"He isn't property."

Silence.

"He's my disciple because he chose to be."

"If he wants to leave Cloudveil Peak tomorrow, that's his decision."

Xue Ming smiled.

"Excellent."

"Then bring him."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because he doesn't want to go with you."

"You haven't asked."

Shen Yuan looked toward Cloudveil Peak.

Hundreds of kilometers away.

His divine sense reached it instantly.

Jian Wuchen was currently standing inside the palace.

Arguing with Chen An.

Shen Yuan's mouth twitched.

He sent a thread of divine sense.

Jian Wuchen froze.

A voice appeared inside his mind.

"Bloodriver Sect wants you."

Jian Wuchen looked around.

Lin Yue noticed.

"Master?"

He realized.

"Master?"

"Yes."

Jian Wuchen's eyes widened slightly.

Remote communication through divine sense across this distance?

He had questions.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Do you want to go with them?"

Jian Wuchen's answer came immediately.

"No."

"Good."

The connection ended.

At the northern boundary—

Shen Yuan looked at Xue Ming.

"I asked."

Xue Ming frowned.

"And?"

"No."

Silence.

Xue Ming's patience ended.

"Peak Master Shen."

His Void Refining aura erupted.

Blood Qi spread across the sky.

"Do you believe your Grand Elder can protect you?"

Mo Qingfeng's expression became strange.

Shen Yuan looked at him.

Mo looked back.

Neither spoke.

Xue Ming continued.

"Or perhaps you believe your talent makes you untouchable."

"No."

"Then what gives you confidence?"

Shen Yuan thought.

Immortal cultivation.

Primordial Autonomous Dao Body.

A system that rewarded him for giving absurd things to disciples.

Probably one of those.

Instead, he said:

"Experience."

Xue Ming laughed.

"You're twenty-seven."

"Yes."

"What experience could you possibly have?"

Shen Yuan considered.

"Recent."

Qin Feng turned away.

Mu Qinglan covered a smile.

Gu Tianhe remained dignified.

Barely.

Xue Ming's face hardened.

"Enough."

He raised one hand.

Behind him—

two thousand Bloodriver cultivators moved.

Formations activated.

Blood Qi gathered.

A massive crimson river formed in the sky.

Mu Qinglan immediately responded.

"Defensive formation!"

Azure light rose.

Thousands of formation lines connected.

Qin Feng drew his sword.

Mo Qingfeng's aura erupted.

Gu Tianhe prepared his technique.

Shen Yuan sighed.

He had hoped talking might work.

Apparently not.

Xue Ming pointed.

"Break the formation."

The crimson river descended.

Thousands of attacks merged.

Blood light covered the heavens.

Azure Origin disciples looked up.

Some trembled.

Some gripped weapons.

Some prayed.

The attack struck.

Or—

it should have.

Shen Yuan raised one hand.

The crimson river stopped.

Everything stopped.

Thousands of techniques.

Hundreds of weapons.

Blood Qi.

Spirit flames.

Sword lights.

All suspended in the sky.

Xue Ming's expression froze.

Mo Qingfeng's eyes widened.

Qin Feng slowly lowered his sword.

Mu Qinglan stared.

Gu Tianhe closed his eyes.

He had expected something like this.

That didn't make it normal.

Shen Yuan looked at the attack.

Too much energy.

Destroying it would create an explosion.

Returning it would kill thousands.

He didn't particularly want to massacre people who were following orders.

So—

he closed his hand.

The crimson river collapsed.

Not exploded.

Collapsed.

Thousands of attacks compressed.

Smaller.

Smaller.

Smaller.

Until—

a red sphere the size of a marble floated above Shen Yuan's palm.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Xue Ming stared.

His face slowly lost color.

"What..."

Shen Yuan inspected the sphere.

"Interesting."

Very dense.

He stored it.

Perhaps useful later.

The system chimed.

[Unrefined hostile energy stored.]

[Potential disciple training resource detected.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

Of course.

Xue Ming stepped backward.

"Who are you?"

"Shen Yuan."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know."

Xue Ming's divine sense exploded outward.

He examined Shen Yuan.

Soul Transformation.

Still Soul Transformation.

Impossible.

His expression twisted.

"Illusion."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"You think that was an illusion?"

Xue Ming roared.

"Blood Sea Domain!"

Boom!

The world turned red.

A Void Refining domain descended.

Blood filled the sky.

The mountains disappeared.

Everyone seemed to stand inside an endless crimson ocean.

Xue Ming's figure grew indistinct.

Thousands of blood shadows appeared.

"This domain has refined the souls of thirty thousand—"

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Thirty thousand?"

Xue Ming smiled.

"Now you understand fear."

"No."

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

"You killed thirty thousand people to make this?"

The smile remained.

"Mortals."

That word.

Shen Yuan became silent.

Gu Tianhe noticed first.

Something changed.

Not aura.

Shen Yuan still released nothing.

But—

the world became quiet.

Too quiet.

The blood sea stopped moving.

Xue Ming's smile faded.

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"Mortals."

Xue Ming swallowed.

"So?"

Shen Yuan remembered another world.

No cultivation.

No spiritual roots.

No sects.

No Immortals.

Just people.

Ordinary people.

Like he had once been.

"So nothing."

He raised one finger.

"I changed my mind."

Xue Ming's eyes widened.

"About what?"

"Sending you away."

Shen Yuan touched the air.

Crack.

The Blood Sea Domain split.

Xue Ming screamed.

Not because the domain broke.

Because it was connected to his soul.

One line crossed the crimson ocean.

Then another.

Then thousands.

The entire domain shattered like glass.

Xue Ming coughed blood.

He fell from the sky.

Shen Yuan appeared in front of him.

No one saw him move.

Xue Ming looked up.

Fear.

Real fear.

"You..."

Shen Yuan placed one finger against his forehead.

"Wait."

Xue Ming froze.

Shen Yuan searched.

Not memories.

He could.

But he didn't know enough about soul searching to guarantee he wouldn't destroy the man's mind.

Instead—

he looked for something else.

Karma.

The system had taught him to notice it.

Faint lines extended from Xue Ming.

Thousands.

Dark.

Bloody.

Then—

one black thread.

Different.

It extended upward.

Far away.

The same direction as Jian Wuchen's strange karmic connection.

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

There you are.

The system reacted.

[Karmic anomaly detected.]

[External influence confirmed.]

[Target received instruction through higher-order karmic medium.]

Xue Ming trembled.

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"Who gave you the message?"

"I don't know."

Truth.

"Who gave you the black token?"

"A disciple brought it."

"Which disciple?"

"Dead."

Of course.

"Who killed him?"

Xue Ming swallowed.

"I did."

Shen Yuan stared.

"He had seen the Sect Master's private chamber."

That was enough.

Shen Yuan removed his finger.

Xue Ming immediately tried to flee.

Space twisted.

He remained exactly where he was.

He tried again.

Nothing.

"Stop."

Xue Ming stopped.

Not willingly.

Shen Yuan looked at the Bloodriver army.

Two thousand cultivators.

Some murderous.

Some terrified.

Some young.

Some probably joined because they had nowhere else.

Killing all of them would be easy.

Too easy.

He didn't want easy to become normal.

"Sect Master Gu."

Gu Tianhe looked over.

"Yes?"

"Do we have somewhere to put two thousand prisoners?"

Gu stared.

"Two thousand?"

"Approximately."

Qin Feng laughed.

Mu Qinglan looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Gu rubbed his forehead.

"We do not have a prison for two thousand people."

"Formation?"

Mu Qinglan thought.

"I can create a temporary suppression field."

"How long?"

"Two days."

"Enough."

Xue Ming stared.

"You intend to imprison us?"

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"Yes."

"You think Bloodriver Sect will allow that?"

"No."

"Patriarch Bloodriver will come."

"Good."

Xue Ming froze.

Shen Yuan smiled faintly.

"That saves me the trip."

Cloudveil Peak.

Jian Wuchen felt the distant pressure vanish.

Lin Yue did too.

Ye Feng stared toward the north.

"What happened?"

Chen An continued arranging documents.

"Peak Master Shen."

Ye Feng looked at him.

"That's your explanation?"

"Usually sufficient."

Jian Wuchen walked toward the balcony.

The red sky was clearing.

Then—

the system voice reached Shen Yuan alone, far away.

[Protective Master-Disciple Event completed.]

[Disciple Jian Wuchen successfully protected.]

[Host intervention prevented forced disciple transfer.]

[Evaluating event.]

Shen Yuan stood above thousands of surrendering Bloodriver cultivators.

Xue Ming knelt nearby.

[Master-Disciple Bond increased.]

[Reward generated.]

Shen Yuan became interested.

[Obtained: Karmic Sword Thread.]

A thin silver thread appeared inside his system inventory.

[Karmic Sword Thread.]

Grade: Immortal — High.

A conceptual Sword Dao treasure formed from protective karma.

May be gifted to a Sword Dao disciple.

Functions:

— strengthens connection between Sword Heart and destiny.

— allows Sword Intent to perceive hostile karmic intent.

— improves resistance to curses, possession, destiny manipulation, and karmic interference.

— may evolve alongside Sword Dao cultivation.

Suitability for Jian Wuchen: 100%.

Shen Yuan stared.

Perfect.

Another gift.

Another potential cashback.

He smiled.

Xue Ming saw it.

The Void Refining elder became pale.

"Why are you smiling?"

Shen Yuan looked down.

"No reason."

That answer terrified him more than anything else.

Two hours later—

Bloodriver Sect's invasion had become an administrative problem.

Mu Qinglan erected a massive suppression formation in an empty valley.

Weapons were confiscated.

Storage rings sealed.

Cultivation suppressed.

Wounded treated.

Gu Tianhe organized interrogations.

Qin Feng complained he hadn't swung his sword once.

Mo Qingfeng spent a long time staring at Shen Yuan.

Eventually—

he approached.

"Immortal."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"Probably."

Mo Qingfeng's eye twitched.

"I am more than nine hundred years old."

"Congratulations."

"I have spent six hundred years pursuing the Dao."

"Also impressive."

"I reached Body Integration after nearly dying four times."

"Less impressive."

Mo Qingfeng stared.

Shen Yuan smiled.

The old man sighed.

"How?"

Shen Yuan knew what he meant.

How did a twenty-seven-year-old become an Immortal?

System.

Transmigration.

Late compensation.

None were explainable.

"I had an opportunity."

Mo laughed.

"An opportunity."

"Yes."

"What kind of opportunity turns Soul Transformation into Immortal?"

"A good one."

Mo stared.

Then—

surprisingly—

laughed.

"Fine."

He clasped his hands.

Not as Grand Elder to Peak Master.

As cultivator to cultivator.

"I won't ask."

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Thank you."

"But one thing."

"What?"

"Do not leave the sect."

Shen Yuan blinked.

Mo Qingfeng's expression became serious.

"Ever."

Shen Yuan stared.

The old man continued.

"I would like to die naturally."

Shen Yuan laughed.

"No promises."

Mo Qingfeng immediately regretted asking.

Cloudveil Peak.

Jian Wuchen was waiting when Shen Yuan returned.

So was Lin Yue.

Ye Feng.

Chen An.

And—

unexpectedly—

Zhao Tianming.

Qin Feng had apparently sent him ahead.

Zhao stood near the training grounds.

His gaze was fixed on Lin Yue.

Lin Yue looked at Shen Yuan.

"Master."

Shen Yuan remembered.

The spar.

Right.

Three days.

Except only—

he counted.

Two?

Everything had happened very quickly.

Zhao bowed.

"Peak Master Shen."

"Zhao Tianming."

Then Zhao looked at Lin Yue.

"Senior Sister Lin."

Lin Yue frowned.

"I'm not your senior sister."

"You're older."

"By four months."

"Still older."

Jian Wuchen watched.

"Is he always like this?"

Lin Yue sighed.

"I've spoken to him twice."

Zhao looked toward Jian Wuchen.

Their eyes met.

Zhao immediately noticed.

No conventional cultivation.

Broken sword.

Sword Intent.

Power.

"Jian Wuchen?"

Jian raised an eyebrow.

"You know me?"

Zhao nodded.

"Everyone who follows sword rankings knows you."

A pause.

"Knew you."

Jian Wuchen smiled.

"Fair."

Zhao's eyes moved toward Clear Wind.

"Are you cultivating again?"

"Something like that."

Zhao's eyes brightened.

Lin Yue immediately stepped between them.

"No."

Zhao blinked.

"What?"

"You're here to spar with me."

"I was only—"

"No."

Jian Wuchen looked amused.

Zhao looked disappointed.

Shen Yuan watched.

Apparently Cloudveil Peak had become a gathering place for people who wanted to fight.

Chen An approached.

"Peak Master."

"Hm?"

"Before anyone damages anything..."

He pointed toward the proper training grounds.

"...there."

Shen Yuan nodded.

Everyone moved.

The training arena sat near the edge of Cloudveil Peak.

Clouds drifted below.

Formation barriers activated.

Qin Feng arrived moments later.

Then Gu Tianhe.

Then Mu Qinglan.

Then several elders.

Then—

dozens of disciples.

Shen Yuan stared.

"Why are there so many people?"

Qin Feng shrugged.

"Word spread."

"How?"

Qin looked at the crowd.

"This is a sect."

That explained nothing.

And everything.

Zhao entered the arena.

Lin Yue followed.

Jian Wuchen stood near Shen Yuan.

Ye Feng beside him.

Chen An had already positioned two attendants near the formation controls.

Responsible.

Qin Feng called out:

"Rules."

"No killing."

"No deliberate crippling."

"No attacks after surrender."

"No external treasures above third grade."

"Victory by surrender, incapacitation, or leaving the arena."

Lin Yue nodded.

Zhao drew his sword.

A high-grade Spirit weapon.

His aura rose.

Qi Refining—

ninth stage.

Shen Yuan blinked.

Zhao had improved.

Qin Feng noticed.

"Proud?"

"He's your disciple."

"I know."

"You look proud."

Qin straightened.

"Naturally."

Jian Wuchen studied Zhao.

"Good foundation."

Qin looked over.

Then remembered who Jian Wuchen was.

Former Foundation Establishment genius.

Once one of the Northern Region's strongest young swordsmen.

"How good?"

Jian Wuchen considered.

"Better than most."

Qin smiled.

"Excellent."

"But his right shoulder rises before he thrusts."

Qin's smile disappeared.

Zhao heard.

His shoulder immediately lowered.

Jian Wuchen almost smiled.

The formation activated.

Lin Yue stood empty-handed.

Zhao frowned.

"No weapon?"

"I don't have one."

Shen Yuan became still.

Right.

He hadn't given her a sword.

That was embarrassing.

System.

The system immediately appeared.

[Disciple equipment deficiency detected.]

Shen Yuan stared.

"Don't."

[Investment opportunity available.]

"Later."

[Recommendation: provide disciple with suitable weapon.]

"I know."

Qin Feng looked at him.

"Talking to yourself?"

"No."

Lin Yue raised her hands.

Zhao readied his sword.

The arena became quiet.

Then—

Zhao moved.

Fast.

His sword became a silver line.

Qi Refining ninth stage erupted.

Lin Yue stepped sideways.

The blade missed by a hair.

She moved.

Palm.

Zhao blocked.

Boom!

His sword bent.

His entire body flew backward.

He twisted midair.

Landed.

Skidded.

Silence.

Qin Feng's mouth opened.

Then closed.

Zhao stared at Lin Yue.

Lin Yue stared at her hand.

"I held back."

Qin Feng looked at Shen Yuan.

"You said Body Tempering."

"She is."

"That's not Body Tempering."

"Technically it is."

"Technically?"

Zhao smiled.

Not angry.

Excited.

"Again."

He attacked.

Sword light multiplied.

Seven strikes.

Lin Yue moved through them.

Her Nine-Yin Lunar Root reacted.

Cold spread.

Frost appeared beneath her feet.

Zhao's sword slowed.

Only slightly.

Enough.

Lin Yue stepped inside his range.

Shoulder strike.

Zhao flew.

Again.

This time he recovered faster.

Sword Qi erupted.

Jian Wuchen's eyes sharpened.

"Better."

Qin Feng looked at him.

"Stop coaching him."

"I'm not."

Zhao heard anyway.

He changed his stance.

Lin Yue smiled.

Then—

the First Yin Channel opened.

Cold exploded.

The entire arena froze.

Zhao's eyes widened.

His sword became covered in frost.

Lin Yue disappeared.

He reacted.

Barely.

Sword met palm.

BOOM!

The formation barrier shook.

Mu Qinglan's eyes widened.

"That's Body Tempering?"

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Apparently."

Gu Tianhe looked at him.

"Stop saying apparently."

Zhao's feet left the ground.

He hit the barrier.

Hard.

Then fell.

Silence.

Lin Yue immediately stopped.

"Are you alright?"

Zhao lay there.

He stared at the sky.

Then laughed.

"Yes."

He sat up.

His sword was frozen.

His sleeve torn.

His pride—

damaged but alive.

"I surrender."

The formation deactivated.

Qin Feng walked in.

Zhao looked at him.

"Master."

Qin sighed.

"Your right shoulder."

Zhao closed his eyes.

Jian Wuchen turned away.

Lin Yue offered Zhao a hand.

He accepted.

"Again later?"

She smiled.

"When you stop showing your thrust."

Zhao stared.

Then looked at Jian Wuchen.

Jian Wuchen nodded.

"You do."

Zhao's expression became determined.

Good.

No bitterness.

No humiliation.

Just a new goal.

Shen Yuan approved.

The system appeared.

[Disciple Lin Yue has defeated a cultivator one major realm above conventional Body Tempering expectations.]

[Combat milestone achieved.]

[Disciple growth detected.]

[Cashback-related opportunity unlocked.]

Shen Yuan's eyes brightened.

Then—

another notification appeared.

[Disciple Destiny Resonance activated.]

He frowned.

Not Lin Yue.

The resonance shifted.

South.

Far away.

A new karmic thread appeared.

Weak.

Unstable.

Then information formed.

[Potential Disciple detected.]

Shen Yuan became still.

Already?

[Distance: 1,730 kilometers.]

[Cultivation: None.]

[Spiritual Root: Not detected.]

[Age: 15.]

[Current status: Attempting to enter a cultivation sect.]

[Repeated testing result: Mortal.]

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

No spiritual root.

Then—

[Hidden condition detected.]

Of course.

[Basic evaluation unable to identify.]

[Compatibility with Host: 96%.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

Lin Yue noticed.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"Why are you smiling?"

Jian Wuchen looked over.

He recognized that expression now.

It meant something strange was about to happen.

Shen Yuan looked south.

One thousand seven hundred thirty kilometers away.

A fifteen-year-old boy stood before a cracked testing stone.

An elder looked at him impatiently.

"No spiritual root."

The boy stared.

"Can I try again?"

"You've tried three times."

"Maybe the stone is wrong."

The disciples nearby laughed.

The elder sighed.

"Child."

"You cannot cultivate."

The boy looked at his hands.

Then back at the stone.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Completely?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely?"

"Yes."

The boy thought.

Then smiled.

"Alright."

The elder blinked.

The boy picked up his bag.

"I'll try another sect."

The elder stared.

"This is the fourth sect you've tested at."

"Fifth."

"That's worse."

"Probably."

He waved.

"Thank you!"

Then walked down the mountain.

The elder watched him go.

Shook his head.

And forgot him almost immediately.

Far away—

on Cloudveil Peak—

the system finally identified something.

The interface flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

[Hidden Spiritual Root analysis complete.]

[Chaos Spiritual Root detected.]

[Classification: Primordial.]

[Mortal testing artifacts incapable of detection.]

Shen Yuan's smile widened.

Jian Wuchen sighed.

"Another one?"

Lin Yue looked at him.

"Another what?"

Jian Wuchen watched their master.

He had known Shen Yuan for less than two days.

It was already enough.

"Junior disciple."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"How did you know?"

Jian Wuchen rested Clear Wind on his shoulder.

"Experience."

Lin Yue laughed.

And seventeen hundred kilometers away—

Lu Chen continued walking toward his sixth sect.