Unsheathed

Without the sinister interference from the female ghost, Chen Ping’an and his companion’s trek through the mountain range became far smoother than before.

There was a path in the ravine that led all the way to the female ghost’s residence. This path should have been wide enough to allow two horse-drawn carriages to travel side-by-side, yet it was now already filled with wild grass and covered in chilly mists. Even so, this was still far better than the path that they had arrived on after using the Barrier Shattering Talisman to leave the “path to the underworld”. That was a path where Chen Ping’an had needed to use Auspicious Talisman to slowly clear the vegetation to clear a path forward.

The man who the female ghost had called a terrestrial sword immortal didn’t speak after suddenly joining their group. Instead, the sword immortal from Wind Snow Temple’s Divine Platform held the leash of his white donkey with one hand and held the hilt of his sword with his other hand as he walked with his eyes shut. Meanwhile, his mind wandered around in a distant place.

If there existed a gulf between the Lower Five Tiers and Middle Five Tiers, then there undoubtedly existed the distance between heaven and earth between the 10th tier and the 11th tier. Even though 10th tier Qi refiners were honored as esteemed pillars in mortal empires and nations, it was still necessary for them to cultivate in stillness and seclusion for dozens or even hundreds of years at a time. Only then could they somewhat enter the “Extreme Stillness Begets Movement”.

This was a state that would allow them to advance to the 11th tier. However, among the Qi refiners who left their clans and sects after entering this state, many would eventually fail to advance to the 11th tier. If this were the case, they would return to their clans and sects to continue cultivating in seclusion.

Wei Jin silently stopped practicing the unique breathing technique of Wind Snow Temple. He opened his eyes and turned around to observe the children who were familiar with A’Liang. However, most of his attention was still focused on the memorial service in Wind Snow Temple. He was still unable to break free. It had already been many years since he had last visited his master’s tomb and offered wine to him.

After hearing the so-called bullshit little stories from A’Liang, Wei Jin was now yearning to visit Stalactite Mountain, the mountain that lay on the border between the two worlds. He was even more eager to visit that city wall, the great wall atop which countless sword immortals stood.

Wei Jin heaved a sigh, feeling like he hadn’t fought to his heart’s content just then.

If his physical body had already stabilized and flawlessly fused together with his sword intent while he was standing under the “Beautiful Water Noble Wind” plaque just then, then his final sword strike at the sword immortal from the Mohist Sect wouldn’t have contained any imperfections. In other words, the young swordsman from the Mohist Sect would have needed to draw his sword by more than an inch. In fact, he would have needed to draw it at least halfway.

Li Huai was extremely curious as he looked at the drifting gaze of the immortal in white. At the same time, he also felt very disappointed. How great would it have been if A’Liang were present? Li Huai wanted to pat A’Liang’s shoulder and tell him that this was the definition of a powerful swordsman, and that he was still a small way off. He wanted to tell A’Liang to learn from Wei Jin.

After all, just look at how Wei Jin had arrived! His sword had arrived before his person, and sword qi had hovered around his white robes. Afterward, he had pummeled the evil ghost woman until she started crying for her mother. Just how astounding and impressive was this? Was this something that A’Liang — who liked to wear a bamboo hat and walk next to the river with the white donkey — could achieve?

Lin Shouyi noticed that Wei Jin was observing them. However, he also noticed that the swordsman from Wind Snow Temple was lost in some other thought. The aloof young boy quietly adjusted his bookcase and started to contemplate his own cultivation.

Lin Shouyi’s mind was heavy after experiencing the female ghost’s unfathomable mystical abilities and witnessing the godly exchange between the two powerful swordsmen. There was still a long and arduous path before him. His measly cultivation base right now was not even enough to warrant a casual attack from them.

Wei Jin retracted his drifting gaze before stopping and retrieving a smooth jade tablet from his sleeve. He smiled and said honestly, “I can’t accompany you children all the way to Yefu Pass. I need to immediately head to Jewel Small World and use the Dragon Slaying Platforms there to sharpen High Radiance and my bonded flying sword. I need to prepare for my journey to Stalactite Mountain in the future. A’Liang told me that the place lying beyond Stalactite Mountain is experiencing an intense one-in-100-year battle right now. This is something that I definitely can’t miss.”

When Wei Jin saw none of the children step forward to accept the jade tablet, he patiently explained, “Even though you children are being accompanied by a relatively powerful Yin god, I still want to give you this jade tablet to help prevent any unexpected incidents like the one today. This is a unique ‘Peace and Safety Tablet’ from Wind Snow Temple and True Martial Mountain. If you encounter any trouble, you can simply activate the jade tablet with your Qi and explain your situation to it. Once you release it, it will automatically fly to the sect and ask for assistance.”

Seeing that the children still refused to step forward to accept the important jade tablet, Wei Jin didn’t scold them for being foolish and naive. Instead, he smiled and said, “If you feel like it will be safer with me accompanying you rather than having this small jade tablet, then I naturally won’t turn down your request. I’m simply discussing the options with you. In terms of what you choose, this is completely up to you.”

“Senior sword immortal, you can head to Dragon Spring County to search for the Dragon Slaying Platforms to sharpen your blades. We’ll accept the jade tablet,” Chen Ping’an said. “Senior Yin god has always planned to accompany us to Yefu Pass. The imperial court of the Great Li Empire has also granted us permission to head there without any obstructions. This is why the three cultivators appeared in front of the female ghost just then. Even though they were a little late, this still proves that they intend to keep their word.”

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment before saying earnestly, “I’m sure that big incidents like the one today won’t crop up again and again.”

He accepted the jade tablet and handed it to Lin Shouyi, saying quietly, “Remember to keep it safe. Also, it’s best that you don’t put it in the bookcase. Otherwise, it will be difficult to retrieve in emergency situations if you put it too far away.”

Lin Shouyi nodded and replied, “I understand. I’ll place it in my sleeves next to the two remaining paper talismans.”

Wei Jin gave a knowing smile. He was slightly surprised by Chen Ping’an’s reasonable nature. In fact, Wei Jin had been slightly puzzled about his position as leader just then. While standing on the street in front of the female ghost’s residence, Wei Jin had already noticed that Lin Shouyi was someone who had set foot on the bridge to immortality.

His acupoints were filled with vitality, and they were not only magnificent but also stable. He was a rare cultivation talent. Moreover, the young boy was also an aloof and proud person, so how could he be willing to listen to others? Yet, it seemed like he didn’t have any problem with Chen Ping’an being their leader.

As for the youngest and most mischievous child among them, there was naturally no need to comment on his good fortune seeing that A’Liang had especially tasked him with looking after the white donkey. Because of this, Wei Jin would give him a parting gift no matter what. After traveling through so many nations unencumbered, Wei Jin had naturally come across all kinds of fated opportunities and obtained all manners of rare treasures. He had given most of them to fated individuals, so the only treasures he had right now were naturally the most precious ones.

Moreover, after observing Li Huai through his limpid sword heart, sweeping away the foggy barrier that someone had purposely erected, Wei Jin discovered that Li Huai’s innate aptitude was actually even better than Lin Shouyi’s. He was a top-notch piece of jade that the Militarian elders dreamed of obtaining.

Appearing wreathed in white mist in the sword immortal Wei Jin’s eyes, the little girl wearing the bright red jacket asked, “If this tablet encounters a situation like today, will it truly be able to fly away without being stopped? Will it be able to fly out of the ‘path to the underworld’ and the night-sky barrier that you shattered with your flying sword just then?”

Wei Jin laughed heartily and explained, “Rest assured, even the sagely barriers of 10th tier cultivators won’t be able to trap it. This jade tablet is extremely quick, much quicker than traveling atop a flying sword. As the jade tablet makes its way to Wind Snow Temple, the disciples of the sect who are traveling the world will summon it before them using a secret technique once they detect its presence. These disciples will often be willing to offer their assistance. Thus, most dangers are resolved without requiring any reinforcements from the sect.”

Li Baoping nodded and said, “I understand. The jade tablet itself is a kind of ‘passport’ and emblem. If even Senior Yin god can’t defeat them, then these people definitely have powerful backgrounds. With their experience and age, they’ll immediately recognize Wind Snow Temple’s Peace and Safety Tablet. As such, they’ll definitely feel apprehension toward Senior Sword Immortal and your sect. So even if the jade tablet is unable to reach Wind Snow Temple, just its presence alone is already a type of deterrence. Showing this jade tablet is equivalent to warning others not to provoke Wind Snow Temple.”

Wei Jin faltered upon hearing this, astonished at the intelligence and understanding of the little girl. He immediately developed a good impression of Li Baoping, who was wearing a serious expression. Thus, he naturally found her friendly and adorable as well.

In the end, Wei Jin unconsciously glanced at the young boy in straw sandals again. Perhaps he only became the leader because he’s the oldest?

Wei Jin shifted his gaze and looked at Li Huai, the little boy who had helped him look after the white donkey the entire time. After pondering for a moment, he flicked his wrists and summoned a row of small clay statues to his palm. They were only half a finger tall, with one being a swordsman with a sword by his waist, one being a Daoist holding a fly-whisk, one being an armored warrior, one being a crane-riding woman, and one being a gong-beating watchman. There were five clay statues in total.

“These five clay statues can be regarded as semi-inanimate objects that have combined the profound puppet knowledge of Naturalists and Mohists and the vast talisman knowledge of Daoists,” Wei Jin explained as he handed the clay statues to Li Huai.

“I don’t understand the intricacies behind them, and I simply know that they might come to life one day if you look after them properly and familiarize them with your aura. Afterward, you’ll need to continually feed them the essence of the Five Elements — fire spirit, water essence, and so on. Due to their small size and miniature acupoints, meridians, and so on, they can only reach a maximum cultivation base equivalent to seventh tier or eighth tier Qi refiners…”

When he said this, Wei Jin realized that he had perhaps spoken too much. He stopped speaking, and he simply looked at Li Huai with a smile.

The little boy didn’t forget to turn his head to look at Chen Ping’an. The latter hurriedly nodded, and only then did Li Huai grab the five clay statues, thinking that he now had six small minions if he counted the painted puppet in his bookcase!

Wei Jin jumped onto the white donkey and said, “Then farewell. I wish you all a safe and smooth-sailing journey.”

Even though Wei Jin was generous and chivalrous, he couldn’t be regarded as someone who would freely part with treasures and wealth. The path of cultivation was long, so who knew whether their brief and few encounters with others were positive fate or ill fate? With Wei Jin’s powerful karmic fate, and with the intangible and undetectable will of the heavens, who knew what would happen if a person accepted Wei Jin’s presents at an inappropriate time and without the necessary karmic fate? If they weren’t fated to receive such good fortune, perhaps these presents would instead bring them calamity and lead them to an early death?

Why were immortals so stringent when they recruited disciples? In fact, some tests would even last dozens of years.

Since these children had traveled with A’Liang before, Wei Jin believed that they were definitely no ordinary children.

As for who A’Liang cared about the most, regarded the most highly, and had the highest hopes for… It might have been Li Huai, the little boy with a powerful background who was blessed with fortune, or it could have been the extremely likable little girl wearing the red jacket. It could also have been Lin Shouyi, the young boy who stayed true to his Dao Heart. Any one of these options was possible. Or perhaps A’Liang had simply spread the love between the three children.

However, the most pressing matter for Wei Jin right now was to head to Stalactite Mountain. Otherwise, he would miss the opportunity to witness that grand and lofty battle. If this weren’t the case, he would have truly wanted to personally accompany these children to Yefu Pass.

As a swordsman who had ambitions of reaching the pinnacle of the Sword Dao, how could he let slip this one-in-100-year opportunity?

Chen Ping’an instinctively cupped his fists in respect. However, he habitually placed his left hand over his right hand due to his first experience on the ship traveling down the Embroidered Flower River. Now, however, it seemed like Wei Jin and the other young swordsman both cupped their fists with their right hand over their left hand. This left Chen Ping’an feeling a little awkward. Afraid that he was breaking some kind of rule, Chen Ping’an hurriedly changed the placement of his hands.

Wei Jin noticed this small detail, and after seeing the young boy’s embarrassed expression, he couldn’t help but chuckle. Bending down to pat his old companion’s back, he said, “Let’s go.”

The white donkey happily trotted forward. However, it suddenly turned around after taking a few steps, and it ran back to Chen Ping’an and nudged the young boy’s face. Only then did it set off on the long journey with its owner.

Even though Li Huai had been responsible for looking after the donkey, how could the little boy have the patience and determination to actually do so? Had it not been Chen Ping’an quietly feeding it, cleaning its nose, and shooing mosquitoes and flies away?

Chen Ping’an smiled and waved goodbye to the white donkey.

The swordsman in white chuckled in surprise. He leaned back and bounced up and down with the cadence of his donkey.

Okey-dokey, as it turns out, this terrestrial sword immortal’s relationship with others is even inferior to his old companion’s…

————

Heaven and earth were barren; bleakness and desolation pervaded.

It was as if only a single wall remained between the sky and the land. This was a wall that stretched for an unfathomable length and that towered to an inconceivable height.

Even when looking over from 50 kilometers to the south, one could still clearly see the 18 large characters that had seemingly been engraved using sword qi.

Judging from this fact, one could imagine just how colossal the characters were, and just how tall the great wall was.

Dao Power, Grand Majestic, Western Land.

Thunder Pool Restricted Land, Eternal Lasting Sword Qi.

Qi, Dong, Chen.

Fierce.

Several hundred kilometers south of the great wall, the sound of a horn suddenly blasted through the air as if it wanted to shatter the roof of heaven and earth.

Countless dark shadows gathered together in a dense crowd. Following the sound of the horn, specks of fire started to appear, eventually transforming into a sheet of flickering light. If one looked over from an elevated position far in the north, what they would witness would be a sea of dazzling flames.

Standing atop the city wall, an old voice rang out with dignity and might, “Swords, take flight!”

Above that great wall that stretched for tens of thousands of kilometers and had rested here for a millennium…

At this instant, hundreds of thousands of flying swords flew over the city wall in unison and dashed toward the south, carrying with them trails of brilliant sword qi.

It was as if flood water were crashing over a levee.

What could encapsulate the stunning scenes of the world better than this?