Chapter 54: Renowned Across the World

South of the realm, within the Nine Peaks Mountain Range—the famed Sword Pavilion.

This mountain range was legendary across the land. Countless Sword Saints had dreamed their entire lives of reaching its summit, yearning to gaze upon the towering peaks, to witness the true majesty of the heavens. Yet the long-cherished sanctuary they dreamed of was shockingly humble.

Atop the grass-covered summit stood a thatched hut, simple as a cowshed. Inside, Jian Wudao sat cross-legged in stillness, his white beard and hair flowing like snow, his face, however, as rosy and youthful as a child’s. Before him lay a rough-hewn wooden board—no more than a tree stump carved unevenly by hand—except for one thing: it was astonishingly flat.

On the board, a fragrant incense burner released a gentle wisp of smoke. In Jian Wudao’s hand rested a scroll titled Fundamentals of the Sword Dao, its name written plainly, almost dismissively.

His other hand lightly tapped his knee, as if counting steps in silent contemplation.

“Master,” came a voice from outside.

Jian Wudao opened his eyes.

A young man in white robes and green sash leapt into the pavilion with youthful energy. In his palm glowed a golden light, which coalesced into a floating golden scroll.

“Master, a new Master has appeared on the Merit Ranking!”

He pointed to the last name on the scroll: Chong Er.

“What a strange name. I don’t recognize it. Who’s this Master from? He destroyed a Mingyu-Level Mehé! This isn’t the style of the Meh River Bureau. The name’s too fake.”

Jian Wudao’s expression remained blank. Cold. “What does it matter to you?”

“I’m just curious,” the youth chuckled, knowing his master’s temperament well. “The old sect masters either stay behind their gates, too cautious to risk their lives, or retreat into silence, chasing the Three Immortalities to extend their lifespan. They wouldn’t waste time on such a reckless act. This must be some new Master. I’d love to spar with him.”

“Still itching to leave the mountain?” Jian Wudao’s voice was flat, cutting straight to the truth. “To master the sword, you must endure solitude. There are billions of Sword Saints across the world. You think you can stand above them all with just three feet of steel, without training a thousand times harder than anyone else? If you’d poured even half your energy into your sword, you’d have already reached the Three Immortalities.”

You’re really bold, saying things like that… I can’t even bear to hear it, the youth thought, sighing inwardly. The Three Immortalities? Just thinking about it made his heart sink.

He muttered under his breath: “Master, if I could spar with a few other Masters, I’d definitely advance further…”

“Hmph,” Jian Wudao sneered. “When I first ascended to Master, I locked myself in seclusion for three years, meditating on the sword. When I emerged, I had already forged the Three Immortalities. I didn’t need to spar with anyone.”

Jian Wudao’s gaze softened slightly as he thought of another disciple—his true pride.

“Now, how are things going with your little sister? How’s your teaching?”

The youth grinned. “She’s already half in the Divine Travel Realm! One hundred and eighty soul consolidations—impressive, right? Better than I was at her age. You really favor her, Master!”

He said it with a smile, not a hint of bitterness.

Jian Wudao rolled his eyes. “If you’d领悟 the Sword Heart in your first year of training, I’d even travel to Qian Dao Palace and beg for a true Soul Inheritance for you.”

“Master, I’d rather you didn’t beg anyone,” the youth laughed. “Besides, my little sister is truly devoted to the sword. She’ll surely awaken her Sword Spirit one day. I can’t compare.”

He paused, then added, “Speaking of which, she should thank you. If it weren’t for you pulling her out of the Divine General’s Residence, she’d have only inherited the Li Clan Heroic Soul. Eighty soul consolidations? Not bad, but still just average. To reach her current level—on par with royal-grade masters—would’ve been impossible.”

“Besides, I heard the Soul Inheritance there comes with strict limitations…”

“Silence!” Jian Wudao snapped.

The youth froze, immediately shutting his mouth.

“The Li Clan has long held the borderlands, slaying countless Spirit Beasts. How dare you speak ill of them behind their backs?” Jian Wudao’s voice was icy.

The youth scratched his head, sheepish. “My apologies, Master. I respect the Li Clan deeply.”

“Hmph. In three months, if you haven’t perfected Moonless Sleep to Supreme Perfection, you’ll be sent to the Sword Cliff to meditate.”

Jian Wudao’s tone was final. “And stop browsing that Meh Household Registry. This has nothing to do with you. The Meh River affairs are the business of the Heavenly Zhao Divine General’s Residence. Only when you reach the Three Immortalities will I allow you to descend. Until then, if you go out and establish a sect, and someone challenges you, it won’t be your failure—it’ll be mine.”

The youth slunk away, grumbling, too afraid to linger.

…

…

“A new name on the Merit Ranking?”

In a distant sect, someone happened to glance at the ranking list and immediately noticed the addition.

“One hundred merit points? That’s one hundred points for destroying a Mingyu-Level Mehé. Who’s this Master stepping forward?”

…

“Chong Er? Odd name. Find out which sect he’s from—see if we can recruit him.”

In a high-rise tower within a city, a voice ordered.

…

In Yongzhou, within a courtyard of the Heavenly Zhao Divine General’s Residence.

“Miss,” said a maid in fine silk, “a new name has appeared on the Merit Ranking—Chong Er. What a strange name…”

“Don’t speak lightly,” the noblewoman snapped. “Anyone willing to take on the Meh River calamity is a true hero.”

“Xiao Tao understands… it’s just… the name is so odd…”

The woman gave her maid a withering look. “You know nothing. Go to Father’s room and eavesdrop. See if you can find out where he’s from. If we can invite him, give him a position as junior supervisor.”

“Yes, Xiao Tao will go at once.”

Once the maid darted off, the woman turned toward the courtyard, her lips curling into a faint smile. She plucked a branch from the tree and lightly traced two characters onto the ground:

Feng Yue.

“Interesting…”

…

…

At Tan Palace Academy, in the main hall of the Black and White Hall.

Song Yufeng quietly slipped a small tea pouch from his sleeve, about to pour it into his cup—when suddenly, a group of elders rushed in, breathless.

His heart skipped a beat.

Old Huang? Not already? And he brought others?

He quickly covered the cup, forcing his face into calm.

“Palace Master!” Elder Huang Lichai burst in, eyes alight with excitement.

Song Yufeng’s face twitched slightly. He cleared his throat. “Old Huang… really? Must you be so worked up? It’s just… you know…”

“The Fengshan Meh River is gone!” Huang Lichai announced, nearly shouting. “Nai Elder just detected a disturbance and rushed to check. The Fangzhu Shrine is completely vanished—only Permanent Clearance can make a shrine disappear instantly. Otherwise, it would shatter into dust.”

“What?” Song Yufeng blinked. His tension eased. So they’re not here to blame me… Wait—Fengshan Meh River was completely sealed? Who did it?

“Who did it?” Song Yufeng pressed. “Explain clearly!”

“No one was found,” Huang Lichai shook his head. “But… your granddaughter might have seen something.”

“Yueyao?” Song Yufeng’s eyes widened. “Bring her here at once!”

“She’s already waiting outside,” Huang Lichai replied, turning to wave. Moments later, two girls entered, escorted by a senior elder—Song Yueyao and Lin Feifei.

The two had rushed to the shrine when they heard the commotion, and witnessed the horrifying sight: the shrine simply vanished, as if erased from existence.

“Who sealed the realm?” Song Yufeng asked immediately.

Lin Feifei glanced at her friend. Song Yueyao remained calm.

“Palace Master,” she said, “it seemed to be an Outer Courtyard Disciple. Myself and Feifei were training nearby. We only caught a glimpse of his profile. Not someone I know.”

“You know so few people,” Song Yufeng muttered to himself. “All you ever do is train…”

Then he turned to Lin Feifei. “And you? Did you see anything?”

“I only saw his profile too,” Lin Feifei hurried to say. “But if I see him again, I’ll recognize him instantly.”

Song Yufeng nodded. “Good. Go identify him. This is a great achievement—there will be a generous reward!”

“Should we inform the Meh River Bureau?” Huang Lichai asked.

“The Bureau’s poor enough already,” Song Yufeng waved dismissively. “No need to take royal rewards from them. Cleansing the Meh River is everyone’s duty—our own responsibility. That Fengshan region was once a peaceful village. But it was consumed by the Meh River—entire families slaughtered, villagers enslaved…”

He sighed, shaking his head.

Huang Lichai nodded. “Then I’ll take them to identify the person. And notify the public. Let the one who sealed it come forward to claim his reward.”

“Do it,” Song Yufeng said.

Huang Lichai turned to leave—then paused.

“Ah, Palace Master… you were about to say something?”

“Hmm?” Song Yufeng looked up, puzzled. “Say what?”

Huang Lichai blinked. Maybe he’d misheard. He bowed slightly and withdrew.

…

…

The announcement spread through the academy, shaking even the inner disciples of the Black and White Hall.

Especially those within the Hall—each had endured the brutal trials of the Fengshan Meh River. Now, it was gone? Sealed?

“Who could it be? Some elder?”

“Elders don’t have time for this. And even if they did, sealing a Meh River requires impossible conditions. No one’s ever found a way.”

“Reward: Chi Xiao Sword? That’s forged from Meteor Iron—unbreakable, capable of piercing the Spirit Soul!”

Disciples whispered in awe.

Outside the halls, the noise was even louder.

Especially in Class A Academy, where students were locked in fierce competition for the Martial Dao Ranking. Upon hearing the news, they were stunned.

The Meh River is gone?

But that was supposed to be their trial ground for entering the Black and White Hall—next year!

How could it be gone now? How would they enter?

Meanwhile, the other halls were utterly confused.

“The Meh River? What’s that?”

Their only goal was to break into Class A Academy. The Meh River? Irrelevant. If they didn’t make it into Class A, they had no right to care.

“Yueyao,” Lin Feifei murmured as they walked through the forest toward the Outer Courtyard, “are you sure it was an Outer Courtyard Disciple? The number of floral marks on his robe… I remember it being that pattern… but…”

She hesitated, her expression uncertain.

She had once challenged the Fengshan Meh River herself. It was brutal. Step into the village, and every resident—over a hundred in the Circulation Realm—would awaken. And if the fight dragged on, that black-robed scholar would intervene. Even with the power of Initial Soul Succession, it had been a perilous ordeal.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end