Martial Cultivator

As that saber light drew near, the South Heaven Sect Master’s expression became very complicated. In the mountains, peals of bell chimes resounded, countless qi refiners moved about within, and strands of subtle auras continuously rose from all over the South Heaven Sect, slowly forming into a barrier to block that saber light outside the mountain pass gates.

The sect protecting grand array began operating, with qi refiners already stationed at each formation eye, and many important magical artifacts were already in place. Though the South Heaven Sect was not large, and there were not many Nepenthe cultivators within, it was absolutely impossible for them to simply give up before this saber light.

“After exterminating the Three Streams Manor, now he has come to destroy us. This Lord Warden Commander truly holds grudges.”

The South Heaven Sect Master let out a sigh. This was the sight he least wished to see, and the outcome he least wished to accept. The South Heaven Sect’s foundation was far inferior to that of the Three Streams Manor. At this moment, even the Three Streams Manor had already been destroyed, so what would become of the South Heaven Sect was all too foreseeable.

At the thought that the South Heaven Sect’s heritage of so many years might be ruined in his hands, the South Heaven Sect Master trembled all over, unable to stop.

A deep sense of helplessness enveloped his entire body.

He took a deep breath and said softly, “I wonder if there is still room for negotiation.”

The gray-haired old man glanced at the South Heaven Sect Master. He originally wanted to say a few words of comfort, but after opening his mouth, he still could not speak. At this moment, what meaning was there in preserving so-called dignity?

The sect was on the verge of no longer existing. To bow one’s head was to bow one’s head. In truth, it was not such a big deal.

While they pondered, that saber light had already arrived at the foot of the mountain.

Heaven and earth suddenly fell silent, as if at this moment all sound had dissipated, and only that saber light could be seen advancing unceasingly.

In front of the South Heaven Sect’s mountain pass gates stood a small hill, which was a transfer point for the sect in the mundane world. Qi refiners believed that being tainted by the mundane would distance them further from the Great Dao of heaven and earth, so they would undergo purification here before returning to the mountain pass gates.

But now this small hill became the first target.

When that saber light came, the hill began to shatter. Wherever the saber light passed, nothing could hinder it in the slightest. As if slicing through tofu, the small hill before the saber light was instantly cut apart. Rumbling sounds echoed continuously, and countless fragments of stone rolled down.

As the South Heaven Sect’s gate barrier, the hill could not withstand even half a moment before that saber light and was split apart. The saber light’s power did not lessen and quickly reached the South Heaven Sect itself.

The saber light halted here, for it had encountered the South Heaven Sect’s sect protecting grand array. Ripples spread across the sky, colliding with that peerless saber light and sparking fire, endless radiance pouring down as though dyeing the heavens blood red.

The faces of the qi refiners stationed at each formation eye of the South Heaven Sect all looked grim. When that saber light pressed upon them, as they presided over their formation eyes, it felt as though a great mountain bore down upon them. That pressure made them immediately lose their footing, nearly forcing them to kneel.

Ripples spread more and more across the sky, as if someone were continuously throwing one stone after another into a lake.

The South Heaven Sect Master painfully closed his eyes. As the sect master, he naturally sensed that the sect protecting grand array was already at the brink of collapse and would not last much longer before being shattered by that saber light.

Facing such a sight, the South Heaven Sect Master only reached into his robe, took out a copper bell, and handed it to the gray-haired old man at his side, softly saying, “Martial Uncle, go invite the secluded seniors of each peak to come forth. Today, the South Heaven Sect will likely find it hard to survive this calamity.”

The gray-haired old man looked sorrowfully at the South Heaven Sect Master before him, wishing to utter a few words of comfort, yet at this moment, he too could not speak.

The South Heaven Sect Master shook his head and sighed. “Some things are just so. Back then, what was done did not seem wrong, but only when retribution comes do we regret it beyond measure. Let us hope the outcome will not be too terrible.”

After saying this, the South Heaven Sect Master no longer hesitated. He began to walk slowly down the mountain. When that saber light shattered the South Heaven Sect, likely that young martial artist would have arrived at the foot of the mountain.

By then, perhaps it would be the South Heaven Sect’s final chance.

Just as the South Heaven Sect Master descended, the sect protecting grand array had already begun to break apart, like shards of shattered glass falling from the heavens.

If one disregarded the feelings of the South Heaven Sect’s disciples, then this scene was actually rather beautiful.

Only, who could be in the mood to admire such a sight now?

......

......

At the foot of the mountain.

The South Heaven Sect Master had already arrived at the mountain gate, looking at the figure approaching from afar.

A black robe with a saber, this was the standard attire of many martial artists in the world today, but those martial artists were all only trying to learn from one person.

The one they wanted to learn from was the young martial artist in front of them.

When the young man reached the mountain gate, the South Heaven Sect Master cupped his hands and said, “Greetings, Lord Warden Commander.”

His words were polite, his demeanor even more so. He bent his waist, showing none of the bearing of a sect master, instead resembling an ordinary official of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Chen Chao looked at him and said, “I thought you might try to do something else.”

The South Heaven Sect Master shook his head and said, “The Three Streams Manor has already fallen at Your Excellency’s hand. I, of a small South Heaven Sect, am no match for you, Lord Warden Commander.”

Chen Chao looked at the South Heaven Sect Master and said, “You should know that this official might be seriously injured and might not even be able to leave the South Heaven Sect alive.”

The South Heaven Sect Master shook his head. “Wasn’t that saber light earlier your proclamation, Lord Warden Commander?”

Chen Chao did not rush to speak. He was silent for a moment before saying, “You are much more sensible than that Tu Beihai.”

The South Heaven Sect Master said mocking, “The sect is not large. Orders must be followed from above, and there are people to manage below. It is unavoidable to overthink and to bow more easily. I just do not know if bowing our heads at this moment will still be in time.”

At that time, the South Heaven Sect was not the mastermind, but it was indeed a participant. Now being held accountable was reasonable; he could not find any excuse to avoid it.

To put it in the most common terms: if you do something, you must eventually pay for what you’ve done.

Chen Chao smiled, “You and I both understand one principle: you will never truly admit your mistakes. But the circumstances are different now. If the Great Liang had always been in a low position, you would never have had a day to bow your head.”

Chen Chao spoke plainly but truthfully. The South Heaven Sect Master could not find any reason to refute him, nor did he want to, because this was a glaring fact.

“Whether willing or not, the South Heaven Sect has already bowed our heads. Lord Warden Commander, do you intend to wipe us out completely, or leave the South Heaven Sect to serve Great Liang?”

This was the only solution the South Heaven Sect Master could think of. For the survival of the sect, he was willing to be a dog of Great Liang. As long as the sect could preserve its legacy, there would be infinite possibilities. One could foresee a hundred years ahead, though perhaps not a thousand.

“Then you must convince me why I would spare such a calamity.”

Chen Chao stared at the South Heaven Sect Master. Compared with the chief offender, the Three Streams Manor, the South Heaven Sect was indeed not as important. After exterminating the Three Streams Manor, whether the South Heaven Sect survived mattered little.

“Perhaps the Great Liang’s Imperial Astronomers will need some capable qi refiners. To be honest, your Great Liang is not even at the entry-level in this path. With or without the Imperial Astronomers, it seems to make no difference.”

The South Heaven Sect Master looked at Chen Chao and said seriously, “If the South Heaven Sect is spared, it will cultivate a batch of very capable qi refiners for Great Liang. From then on, Great Liang will no longer be constrained in this area.”

Chen Chao asked curiously, “Aren’t you worried that the qi refiner lineage will bend your spine with their scolding?”

“The Three Streams Manor was afraid, so it is gone now. My South Heaven Sect’s pride is not so heavy. Living and preserving the sect’s legacy is more important than anything else.”

The South Heaven Sect Master said, “Moreover, if the South Heaven Sect follows behind Great Liang, judging by Great Liang as it stands today, anyone who moves against the South Heaven Sect would have to think twice. After all, Your Excellency is still here.”

Chen Chao said self-mockingly, “This official isn’t that formidable.”

The South Heaven Sect Master did not speak, only smiled bitterly in his heart. You are not that formidable? Then why am I speaking to you so humbly at this moment?

“Besides that, what else does the South Heaven Sect intend to offer to move this official?”

Chen Chao looked at the South Heaven Sect Master. Dealing with intelligent people was never troublesome. The only potential difficulty was that intelligent people often were not wholehearted—they required absolute incentives or binding benefits.

Or absolute strength.

“The South Heaven Sect’s hidden treasures can all be taken by Lord Warden Commander. The same applies to the sect’s mountain texts; the South Heaven Sect will only leave copies behind.”

The South Heaven Sect Master hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, “Regarding the past, the South Heaven Sect can also provide explanations. A few related individuals can be taken by Lord Warden Commander. Even I can go too.”

The South Heaven Sect Master might not have been a perfect person, but to the South Heaven Sect, perhaps he truly was a good sect master.

Chen Chao looked at him and was not in a hurry to speak.

The South Heaven Sect Master looked at Chen Chao with some concern. He truly feared that the negotiations would fail, leaving the South Heaven Sect erased from the world.

“In that case, wouldn’t this official have gained a ‘King of Southern Yue’ by my side?”

Many years ago, before the world was unified, there were many countries. Among them were Southern Yue and Jiangwu. The ruler of Jiangwu defeated Southern Yue but did not destroy its country. Instead, he made the ruler of Southern Yue his subordinate. The Southern Yue ruler endured humiliation, even personally tasting excrement for the Jiangwu ruler, earning his trust, and eventually returned to his homeland to raise an army and destroy Jiangwu.

Chen Chao knew that history. Though it was not exactly the same now, there were similarities.

The South Heaven Sect Master did not know much history but roughly understood Chen Chao’s meaning. He sighed, “With Lord Warden Commander in Great Liang, how could it be so easy to deal with?”

Chen Chao was still very young and could live many more years. Unless the South Heaven Sect produced an extraordinary prodigy and allowed them to grow unharmed, it was unlikely to pose any threat to Great Liang.

“That is a high compliment, placing it on this official’s head feels quite pleasant.”

Chen Chao smiled, “If this official overlooks what you did before and is willing to help the South Heaven Sect become the leading qi refiner faction in the south, would the resentment in your hearts lessen?”

The South Heaven Sect Master did not immediately answer. After much hesitation, he finally said calmly, “Things have come to this point. It is impossible for the South Heaven Sect to hold no grudges at all.”

Chen Chao nodded, “You are quite honest.”

“But if I remain sect master, I will never betray Great Liang. I can swear an oath in blood.”

The South Heaven Sect Master looked at Chen Chao, his eyes firm.

Chen Chao said, “This official won’t promise to treat you as friends. Can you accept that?”

The South Heaven Sect Master smiled bitterly, “It seems I have no choice.”

“Then the South Heaven Sect will remain for now. As for when to destroy the sect, or to spare it, that decision will fall on this official.”

Chen Chao clapped his hands, having made his decision.

The South Heaven Sect Master exhaled deeply. Having originally prepared for total destruction, the weight in his heart was finally lifted.

Chen Chao rubbed his brow and said with feeling, “Before coming, this official truly thought I would have to kill a lot. Didn’t expect that in the end, this official didn’t even draw my saber.”

The South Heaven Sect Master praised, “Lord Warden Commander is magnanimous.”

Chen Chao glanced at him and shook his head, “People misunderstand this official too much. This official has never been one to kill indiscriminately.”

Hearing this, the South Heaven Sect Master was at a loss whether to cry or laugh.

“But one thing is one thing. Those who plotted this matter at the time, Sect Master should handle it personally. As the Warden Commander of Great Liang, this official must report to the common people what must be reported.”

Having said this, Chen Chao walked up the mountain.

The South Heaven Sect Master stood in place, watching that back view, his expression complicated.

Perhaps the world only knew Chen Chao as a martial artist with unparalleled talent, but in the conversation just now, he realized this person’s cunning and strategy exceeded even his martial talent.

Facing such a person as an opponent?

The South Heaven Sect Master felt a chill run through his entire body.

At this moment, six words filled his mind:

The young are to be feared.