Chapter 24: Entering the Sword Academy for the First Time

Leaving Easy Garden, Master Xuan Yu led the six disciples towards Tai Xuan Mountain. Along the way, Master Xuan Yu walked on foot without using any Dao techniques, proceeding in the manner of an ordinary person. Although the others found it strange, they dared not act unruly and silently followed behind.

After an hour, the group covered more than twenty miles. At this point, Master Xuan Yu suddenly stopped and turned to look at the four disciples from Easy Garden, asking, "Does anyone understand why I chose to walk on foot just now? Feel free to speak your thoughts; there's no need to hold back."

Master Zi Yang smiled, and Master Jing Yue remained expressionless, while the other four wore confused expressions. Lin Yun Feng looked at Master Xuan Yu, pondered for a moment, and said with a smile, "Senior, I'll take a guess. You did this to make us experience the feelings of ordinary people, reminding us to cherish our cultivation and not waste the hard-earned progress. How am I doing?"

Master Xuan Yu nodded with a smile, saying, "Next one, if anyone has a different perspective, feel free to share. I won't blame you regardless of right or wrong." Glancing at the remaining three, Master Xuan Yu's eyes revealed a peculiar light.

Li Hong Fei spoke softly, "Senior's actions, I believe, are a reminder for us to be prepared, to calmly advance. This way, when facing opponents, we can maintain a calm mindset, unleash our maximum strength, and overcome them with ease."

Zhang Ao Xue glanced at Lin Yun and calmly said, "I think Senior's approach is a reminder that cultivators should not forget their origins. Despite understanding Dao techniques and mastering the art of flying with a sword, our roots lie in our ordinary bodies. No matter how profound our cultivation becomes, we all start as ordinary people."

Looking at Master and then at Master Xuan Yu, Lin Yun said softly, "Walking quietly on foot not only helps calm our emotions but also conceals many things. In this upcoming competition, our opponents are formidable. Learning how to hide our strength, understanding our opponents' situations, and delivering a decisive blow at the critical moment are crucial for success. We're here to bring glory to Easy Garden, so to secure victory, we must make every effort to conceal our strength and avoid letting our opponents see through us. This increases our chances of success."

At this statement, Master Zi Yang and Master Jing Yue both showed subtle changes in their expressions, casting astonished glances at Lin Yun. Master Xuan Yu displayed a slight, almost imperceptible, expression of admiration. Lin Yun, Zhang Ao Xue, and Li Hong Fei stared at Lin Yun with a mix of surprise and admiration. They hadn't expected Lin Yun to articulate such insights.

Master Xuan Yu glanced at Lin Yun and said softly, "I'll leave this question for you to ponder further. I'll explain it to you later. Different people have different perspectives, which is normal. The crucial part is how you choose and stick to your path. Life is constantly changing, and individuals evolve. Maintaining the purity of your heart amid these changes depends on your cultivation. Now, let's continue our journey. It only takes half a day to fly with a sword from here to the Sword Academy. We don't need to rush; as long as we arrive before nightfall, it's sufficient. I brought you here early to allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the Sword Academy. This trip is not only for the competition but also for learning from others and broadening your knowledge. Understand?"

With that, Master Xuan Yu resumed leading the way.

The Sword Academy, the foremost among the six academies, was situated atop Tai Xuan Mountain. Located not far from the Misty Mountain and bordered by the Yellow River, it held a magnificent and mystical presence. Being close to the Yellow River, it occupied a dragon vein between heaven and earth. For nearly five hundred years, the Sword Academy had maintained its position as the leading sect in the cultivation world. In the last five centuries, numerous outstanding cultivators had emerged from the academy, including two who attained immortality. One was the founder of the academy, Ling Tian, and the other was the former head of the academy, Swordmaster Tian Jian.

Legend had it that over two thousand years ago, a young hero named Ling Tian, gifted with extraordinary intelligence, learned everything effortlessly and had an impeccable memory. At the age of twenty-seven, he heard of man-eating demons terrorizing the area near Helan Mountain. Outraged, he single-handedly ventured into the mountains, seeking the demons.

After three days, he found the demon and engaged in numerous battles. Although Ling Tian severely wounded the demon, he himself was exhausted, on the brink of death. At the critical moment, a radiant light appeared in the sky, and an enormous phoenix suddenly descended. According to the tale, the phoenix carried a divine sword radiating five-colored brilliance. It arrived at Ling Tian's side, presented him with the divine sword, and assisted him in defeating the demon. Finally, the phoenix carried Ling Tian into the sky, disappearing into the clouds. From then on, Ling Tian was never seen again.

It wasn't until ten years later that Ling Tian suddenly reappeared. Holding a five-colored divine sword, he arrived at the peak of Tai Xuan Mountain, establishing the Sword Academy. Since then, the Sword Academy emerged, slowly growing stronger. After a few centuries, it gradually became a significant force. Later, it was said that Ling Tian, at the age of one hundred, ascended to immortality. His ascension greatly influenced the academy's development and laid the foundation for future discoveries.

The only thing he left behind was the divine sword. This divine sword was said to be the legendary Heavenly Spirit Sword, ranking fifth on the list of divine weapons and standing alongside the Twin Swords of Shadow Moon as one of the three great divine swords. Some even said that the mythical phoenix, which had accompanied Ling Tian, continued to reside at the peak of Tai Xuan Mountain, guarding the Sword Academy. The academy's name, "Sword Academy," was given by Ling Tian in gratitude for the divine phoenix's protection.

Over a thousand years, the Sword Academy had not produced many outstanding figures. However, five hundred years ago, a young man named Jian Qiu, accidentally saved by the academy's then headmaster from bandits, was brought to the Sword Academy. From that moment, the young man named Jian Qiu changed everything.

His appearance was like a dazzling meteor, instantly breaking the balance in the cultivation world. Achieving Foundation Establishment in ten years and reaching the realm of Immortality in thirty years, he became a legend in the cultivation world. At the age of a hundred, he attained the supreme realm of Ascension to Immortality, earning him the title of Swordmaster. Since then, under his leadership, the Sword Academy became one of the six academies and, within a short thirty years, rose to the position of the leading academy. From then on, it became renowned across the cultivation world.

In the last two hundred years, the Sword Academy produced numerous outstanding individuals. Currently, the six lords of the Sword Academy were all disciples of Jian Qiu. Among the seven disciples Jian Qiu accepted, the most outstanding one was Li Chang Chun, known as Sword Soul, who now served as the head of the Sword Academy. The other

 six disciples managed the six major sects, focusing on nurturing talents for the Sword Academy. This time, the most outstanding disciple of the Sword Academy, Jian Wu Chen, came from the first sect—Tian Xuan Sect.

So let's talk about the Sword Academy. Although it's named as an academy, it is primarily organized into six caves. These six caves are Tian Xuan Cave, Tian Jian Cave, Tian Ying Cave, Tian Peng Cave, Tian Feng Cave, and Tian Huo Cave. While only three outstanding disciples were officially revealed by the Sword Academy this time, there are actually six truly outstanding individuals, with one from each cave. Among them, Jian Wu Chen from Tian Xuan Cave has the highest cultivation level. Among the six caves, Tian Xuan Cave, Tian Jian Cave, and Tian Peng Cave are the most powerful, and they produce the most outstanding disciples. In each session of the Six Academy Martial Arts Conference, the final champion consistently comes from these three caves. This is also the reason why the Sword Academy has been consistently successful.

In two days, the day of the Six Academy Martial Arts Conference will arrive. To ensure the success of this conference, two days ago, the Sword Academy sent people to the foot of the mountain to specifically receive distinguished guests from the other five academies. So far, except for the representatives from the closest Confucian Garden who have arrived, the others are still on their way.

This time, Confucian Garden has a total of ten participants, with six of them being competitors. Leading the group is the head of Confucian Garden, Master Hao Yun, along with his junior brother, Daoqing Swordmaster. This time, the person sent by the Sword Academy to welcome them is none other than the chief of Tian Jian Cave, Liu Xinghun. Liu Xinghun is a well-known figure in the cultivation world and the second strongest in the Sword Academy. He has been a dominant force in the cultivation world for many years, and almost every cultivator has heard of his name. Confucian Garden arrived in the afternoon, and by now, Liu Xinghun had personally arranged for them to rest in Tian Feng Cave.

As the sun sets, the sky darkens. Liu Xinghun glanced into the distance, his expression changing slightly, muttering to himself, "Another group has arrived. This year seems to be different from previous ones. They all came so early; I wonder what their purpose is. Strange!" After speaking, he looked down the mountain, lost in contemplation.

At the foot of Tai Xuan Mountain, a winding ancient path, Xuan Yu True Person and six others were walking up. Looking at the majestic Tai Xuan Mountain, Lin Yun Feng asked, "Senior, this mountain is truly magnificent, worthy of being the number one Tai Xuan Mountain in the cultivation world. But there's one thing disciples don't understand. Why aren't we directly flying up with our swords? Why do we have to walk like this?" Not only did he not understand, but also the three other disciples, Lu Yun, Zhang Ao Xue, and Li Hong Fei, all looked at Xuan Yu True Person.

Xuan Yu True Person smiled calmly and whispered, "This is your first time here, so you don't know the rules. The Sword Academy is known as the leader of the Six Academies, the Mount Tai and the North Star of the cultivation world. For centuries, as a sign of respect to the Sword Academy, the other five academies unanimously made a request. That is, regardless of which academy's people come to Tai Xuan Mountain, they must not fly up with their swords. They must stop and walk up on foot to show respect."

The four disciples' faces changed slightly upon hearing this, revealing a hint of shock. Lin Yun Feng said, "So that's it. It's truly magnificent. If one day Easy Garden becomes the leader of the Six Academies, will everyone else have to stop far away and walk to us when they come? That would be fantastic. By then, we'll have a lot of face. Hehe, I really want to experience that feeling."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yu True Person and the other two, Zi Yang True Person and Jing Yue Master, exchanged sighs. Xuan Yu True Person whispered, "To realize such dreams, you must work hard. If you can achieve good results in this competition, there may be hope. Back in the day, the Sword Academy was always at the bottom among the six academies. But the head of the academy in the last session, Master Tian Jian Ke, made the Sword Academy the leader in just thirty years. It's a myth in the cultivation world. Whether Easy Garden can create a myth depends on your performance."

Zi Yang True Person added, "Actually, there's another reason we walk with swords down. This Tai Xuan Mountain is a vital place for the Sword Academy. When the founder of the academy, Ling Tian, established the Sword Academy, he set up an extraordinary Xuan Tian Sword Formation on Tai Xuan Mountain to prevent external invasions. Anyone who flies over Tai Xuan Mountain from the sky with a sword will be injured by that formation. If severe, they will undoubtedly die. So, since that incident, everyone in the cultivation world has always remembered this and is extra careful when passing Tai Xuan Mountain. Most people detour and avoid this place. Our decision not to fly with swords is mainly because of this. And because of this sword formation, the Sword Academy has gained a reputation across the Seven Realms."

Lin Yun Feng and the other three disciples looked at Zi Yang True Person with shock and disbelief in their eyes. It was only now that they realized that there were reasons behind the Sword Academy's position as the leader among the six academies, and it was not just comparable to Easy Garden in the Western Shu.

Continuing their journey up the mountain, the group of seven quickly reached the mountainside. From a distance, Liu Xinghun of the Sword Academy came forward to greet them, wearing a smiling face and showing great enthusiasm. Upon the first meeting, Liu Xinghun said with a smile, "Senior Xuan Yu has traveled a long way. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar. Please forgive me. I am here on behalf of our headmaster to welcome everyone. Senior Xuan Yu has arrived one day earlier than usual; it seems you have taken the lead this time. It looks like Easy Garden has produced many outstanding disciples again. Allow me to congratulate Senior Xuan Yu in advance. Are Senior Zi Yang and Master Jing Yue well?" Liu Xinghun's gaze swept over Lu Yun and the others, and the four of them felt as if they were being seen through, greatly astonished.

Xuan Yu smiled and said, "Unexpectedly, this time we are honored to be received by Senior Liu. I wonder if the other academies have made any movements. Are we the first to arrive?" Zi Yang True Person and Jing Yue Master, who were on the side, exchanged pleasantries with Liu Xinghun.

Zi Yang True Person looked at the four disciples and said, "You four, come and greet Senior Liu. He is the second strongest in the entire Sword Academy. He is a well-known hero in the cultivation world, and you should seek guidance from Senior Liu in the future. You will surely benefit greatly." Lu Yun, Lin Yun Feng, Zhang Ao Xue, and Li Hong Fei quickly paid their respects to Liu Xinghun. Liu Xinghun carefully examined the four of them, revealing a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Looking at Xuan Yu True Person, Liu Xinghun exclaimed, "Senior Xuan Yu, it seems that Easy Garden is well-prepared this time. These four disciples are all extraordinary talents, full of vitality and brilliance. This time, the competition among the Six Academies will probably focus on Easy Garden. As for who arrived first, you are indeed not the first, but you are in second place. The first to arrive was Confucian Garden from Luoyang. They came in the afternoon, led by Confucian Garden's head, Master Hao Yun, with a total of ten people, including six competitors—two more than you. But from what I see, there might be a slight difference between them and you."

Xuan Yu True Person modestly smiled and said softly, "Friend Liu's words are too kind. We don't need to compare ourselves to you. There's also Bodhi Academy, Dao Garden, and Phoenix Academy above us. This time, as long as we don't end up last, I will be satisfied. I wonder where the people from Confucian Garden are staying this time?"

Accompanying Xuan Yu True Person up the mountain, Liu Xinghun smiled and said, "They are staying in Tian Feng Cave this time. As for you, I was planning to have you rest in Tian Huo Cave. What do you think, Senior Xuan Yu?"

Xuan Yu heard this, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. He smiled lightly and said naturally, "Friend Liu's arrangement is naturally correct. Let's go and rest there." Behind him, Zi Yang True Person and Jing Yue Master had slightly darkened expressions but followed silently.

Lin Yun Feng, Zhang Ao Xue, and Li Hong Fei carefully observed the scenery of Tai Xuan Mountain, not noticing the change in Xuan Yu True Person's expression. Lu Yun's gaze wandered around, but he kept an eye on the headmaster's expression. Seeing the expressions of Zi Yang True Person and Jing Yue Master, Lu Yun faintly sensed something.

Arriving at the residence of Tian Huo Cave, Lu Yun carefully looked around. It was a massive cave with a spacious area in front, where numerous Sword Academy disciples were practicing swordsmanship. Upon entering the cave, they found it to be quite large, with numerous branching paths inside. Each cave had beds and chairs, suitable for accommodation.

Leading the group of seven into a particularly large cave, Liu Xinghun smiled and said softly, "Senior Xuan Yu, please bear with us for a few days and stay here temporarily. This cave has eight smaller caves, one for each person to rest properly. If you need anything, you can instruct the disciples outside freely; they will assist you with whatever you need. Tonight, Senior Xuan Yu, Senior Zi Yang, and Master Jing Yue, please come to Tian Xuan Cave. The headmaster will personally host a banquet to welcome you. Now, you must be tired. I won't disturb you any longer. Rest well, and I'll come to personally escort you later. Goodbye!" After saying that, he exited the cave and quickly disappeared.

Lin Yun Feng looked at the cave and whispered, "It's strange. The Sword Academy claims to be the number one sect in the cultivation world, yet they all live in caves, living like hermits. I really can't understand it. Looking at those disciples outside, there are so many people here. Could it be that they've been living in these caves all along? That would drive people crazy."

Xuan Yu True Person sighed lightly, "The Sword Academy does this to inspire their disciples to work hard and strive for improvement. In fact, not all members of the Sword Academy live in caves; they also have houses, and their accommodations are much more luxurious than ours in Easy Garden. However, only exceptional individuals can stay there. You'll understand later."

Zi Yang True Person snorted, "They are truly despicable. When Senior Qian Yuan mentioned it before, I didn't believe it much. Today, seeing it in person, I found out that they actually look down on people. In their eyes, our Easy Garden has always been at the bottom, so even the place they allocate for us is the worst, Tian Huo Cave. It's really infuriating." As these words came out, Lu Yun and the other three disciples changed their expressions, looking shocked.

Xuan Yu True Person sighed lightly, "Forget it. It's because we've always been at the bottom. If we can't change that this time, then we may never have much hope. So, here, I hope that you four will give your all this time. Let everyone know that Easy Garden is not always at the bottom. You must strive to bring glory to Easy Garden, or else you will be looked down upon. Now, each of you chooses a cave, and rest for a while. This time, we'll probably be here for almost ten days, so be prepared and maintain good rest."

Li Hong Fei's face turned cold as he said, "Senior, rest assured, this time, I will make everyone know that Easy Garden is not so easy to bully. I will use my sword to tell the entire cultivation world that Easy Garden is also extremely powerful."

Lin Yun Feng said, "They are too arrogant. Even if we can't beat them this time, we must fiercely compete with them to avoid being looked down upon. Hmph, I don't believe they are that formidable. We must see for ourselves when the time comes." Lu Yun and Zhang Ao Xue did not speak, but their expressions were serious and solemn.