54. Known Throughout the World

Chapter 54: Known Throughout the World

In the southern Nine Peaks Mountain Range, at the Sword Hut.

This mountain range was famous across the land, with many swordsmen dreaming of ascending to its summit to see its majestic peaks. However, this imagined holy land was actually quite humble.

At the grassy, verdant mountaintop, inside a simple hut that resembled a cattle shed, sat Jian Wudao. The interior of the hut was also quite basic: a crude desk and several stacks of books.

The desk was rough, appearing as if it had been hastily carved from a tree stump.

Its only redeeming feature was its flatness—remarkably flat.

At this moment, incense smoke curled up from the censer on the desk. Jian Wudao, who looked like an eighty-year-old man with white hair and beard but a face as youthful as a child's, sat silently with his eyes closed.

He held a scroll of swordsmanship in one hand, titled "Detailed Explanation of Basic Swordsmanship."

His other hand gently tapped his knee, seemingly in contemplation.

"Master."

Suddenly, a voice came from outside the hut.

Jian Wudao opened his eyes to see a white-robed young man leap into the hut, holding a piece of golden paper that glowed and floated.

"Master, there's a new Grandmaster on the Merit Board!"

He pointed to the last name on the golden paper: "Chong Er. What a strange name. I wonder which sect's Grandmaster this is. They destroyed a Netherworld-level Mie River, and this alias doesn't seem like someone from the Mie River Division."

Jian Wudao's expression remained indifferent as he replied, "What does that have to do with you?"

"Just curious."

The young man, knowing his master's temper, grinned. "Those old Grandmasters either stay in their sects and avoid danger or quietly cultivate to extend their lives. They wouldn't do something so thankless. It must be a newly-promoted Grandmaster. I'd like to spar with them."

"Thinking of going down the mountain again?"

Jian Wudao's expression was blank as he saw through the young man's true intentions. "Practicing swordsmanship requires enduring loneliness. There are millions of swordsmen in the world. Do you think you can stand out among them without putting in a thousand or ten thousand times the effort they do? If you focused more on your swordsmanship, you would have reached the Three Immaterial Realms by now."

You really dare to say that; I don't even dare to listen... the young man thought, muttering to himself. Reaching the Three Immaterial Realms is extremely difficult.

He muttered, "Master, if I could spar more with other Grandmasters, I would definitely improve..."

"Hmph, when I reached the Grandmaster realm, I secluded myself for three years to comprehend swordsmanship. When I emerged, I had reached the Three Immaterial Realms. There was no need for sparring with others."

Jian Wudao snorted coldly, knowing that his third disciple had scattered thoughts. He couldn't help but think of another disciple, his gaze softening slightly. "How is your task of teaching your junior sister going?"

"Junior Sister is almost at the Spirit Wanderer Realm, having condensed her soul 180 times. She's much stronger than I was at that age. Master, you really favor her!" The young man said with a smile, though his tone was teasing.

Jian Wudao rolled his eyes. "If you had understood the Sword Heart within a year of entering the sect, I would have gone to Qiandao Palace to get you a Realman's Spirit Continuation."

"I wouldn't want Master to have to ask for favors."

"Besides, Junior Sister is passionate about the sword and will eventually comprehend the Sword Spirit, something I can't compare to."

The young man said with a grin, "Speaking of which, Junior Sister should really thank Master. If you hadn't brought her out of the Divine General's Mansion, she would have been stuck with the Li family spirit. Eighty soul condensations are impressive, but it's only at our level. Reaching her current top-tier status, comparable to the royal family, would have been difficult."

"Besides, I hear the spirit continuation at the Divine General's Mansion has many restrictions..."

"Shut up!" Jian Wudao snapped.

The young man was startled and quickly fell silent.

"The Li family holds the border, slaying countless demons. How dare you speak ill of them behind their backs?" Jian Wudao scolded.

The young man scratched his head. "My mistake, Master. I do respect the Li family."

"Hmph, if you don't perfect 'Moonless Night' within three months, you'll be training on Sword Cliff."

Jian Wudao said coldly, "And stop looking at the Mie River Household Register. The Mie River isn't your concern. It's the business of the Tianzhao Divine General's Mansion. When you reach the Three Immaterial Realms, I'll let you descend the mountain. Otherwise, with your current level, if you were to start your own sect and someone challenged you, it would be my reputation at stake!"

The young man left reluctantly, not daring to delay.

...

...

"There's a newcomer on the Merit Board?"

In a certain sect, someone noticed the new name on the Merit Board.

"A full hundred merit points. That means they destroyed a Netherworld-level Mie River. Which Grandmaster is this?"

...

"Chong Er, what a strange name. Find out which sect this Grandmaster belongs to. See if we can recruit them."

In a high tower in a certain city, someone gave orders.

...

In the Tianzhao Divine General's Mansion in Yongzhou, in a certain courtyard.

"Miss, there's a new name on the Merit Board, Chong Er. What a strange name."

"Mind your words. Anyone willing to tackle the Mie River disaster is a brave soul."

"I understand, Miss. But the name really is a bit odd..."

The girl in silk and gauze gave her maid a glare. "What do you know? Go listen outside my father's study and see if you can find out where this person is from. If possible, offer them a minor inspector position."

"Yes, I'll go now."

As the maid ran off, the girl looked towards the courtyard, a smile slowly spreading across her face. She picked up a branch and gently traced two words on the ground: Wind and Moon.

"Interesting..."

...

...

At the main hall of the Black and White Palace in Tanguo Academy.

Song Yufeng secretly pulled out a small tea packet from his sleeve. Just as he was about to pour it into his cup, he saw several elders rushing in, causing his heart to skip a beat:

"Lao Huang? No way, did he find me so quickly? And bring others?"

He hurriedly covered his cup, maintaining a calm and composed expression.

"Palace Lord!"

The elder at the front, Huang Licai, was visibly excited.

Song Yufeng's face twitched slightly as he coughed, "Lao Huang, there's no need to get so excited over just a little..."

"Palace Lord, the Fengshan Mie River has disappeared!"

Huang Licai exclaimed, "Elder Ni discovered the disturbance and went to investigate. The temple disappeared, which only happens with a permanent clearance. Otherwise, the temple would crumble to dust on the spot."

"What?"

Song Yufeng was stunned, immediately relieved that they weren't here to confront him... Wait, the Fengshan Mie River was cleared? By whom?

"What happened? Explain clearly, who did this?" Song Yufeng asked quickly.

"We don't know. We couldn't find anyone."

Huang Licai shook his head. "But your granddaughter seems to have seen it."

"Yueyao?"

Song Yufeng was surprised. "Bring her here immediately."

"She's already waiting outside." Huang Licai turned and beckoned, soon bringing in the two girls from the mossy platform, Song Yueyao and Lin Feifei.

The two had heard the commotion and rushed to the temple, witnessing its disappearance.

"Who cleared it?" Song Yufeng asked immediately.

Lin Feifei glanced at her friend, and Song Yueyao calmly replied, "Palace Lord, it seemed to be an Outer Court disciple. Feifei and I were practicing nearby and only saw the person's profile. It's not someone I know."

"How many people do you know? You spend all your time practicing..." Song Yufeng muttered, then turned to Lin Feifei. "What about you? Did you see clearly?"

"Palace Lord, I only saw a profile too."

Lin Feifei said quickly, "But if I see them again, I'll recognize them."

Song Yufeng nodded slightly. "Alright, go identify who did this. It's a good deed and deserves a reward."

"Should we inform the Mie River Division?" Huang Licai asked.

"The Mie River Division is already stretched thin. Let's not burden them with this. Eliminating the Mie River is everyone's responsibility, and it's also our duty. That area used to be a rural countryside before the Mie River invaded, wiping out the entire village and enslaving its people..."

As he spoke, Song Yufeng sighed and shook his head.

Huang Licai nodded, "Then I'll take them to identify the person now and announce it, so they can come forward to receive their reward."

"Yes." Song Yufeng nodded.

Huang Licai was about to leave with the two girls but suddenly remembered something. He turned and asked, "Palace Lord, what were you about to say earlier?"

"Hmm?" Song Yufeng was puzzled. "What did I want to say?"

Huang Licai, seeing his confusion, thought he might have misheard. He bowed slightly and left.

...

...

The academy's announcement stirred not only the Outer Four Courts but also the disciples of the Black and White Palace.

Especially the Black and White Palace disciples who had all faced the challenges of the Fengshan Mie River. Now, someone had cleared it?

"Who? Was it one of the elders?"

"Elders wouldn't have the time, and even for them, clearing a Mie River is difficult. I hear the requirements for clearing each Mie River are incredibly complex and hard to find."

"The reward is the Crimson Sky Sword? It's forged from meteoric iron and said to be indestructible, even able to harm spirits!"

The Black and White Palace disciples buzzed with discussion.

The Outer Four Courts were equally noisy, especially the Alpha Court. The students competing on the martial arts board were dumbfounded by the news.

The Mie River was gone?

Wasn't that supposed to be the testing ground for their entrance into the Black and White Palace in a year?

How could it be gone? How would they enter the Black and White Palace now?

Compared to the Alpha Court, the other courts were bewildered.

Mie River? What's that?

Clearly, their primary task was to first enter the Alpha Court.

Mie River didn't concern them; they weren't qualified anyway.

"Yueyao, are you sure that person was an Outer Court disciple? Judging by the number of floral prints on their clothing, I think so, but..."

In the forest, Lin Feifei and Song Yueyao walked side by side towards the Outer Court.

Lin Feifei looked uncertain. She had once challenged the Fengshan Mie River and found it extremely difficult. Once inside the village, all the villagers would be alerted—hundreds of Zhoutian Realm warriors!

Moreover, if the battle dragged on, the black-robed scholar would intervene. Even with initial Spirit Continuation Realm strength, it was a perilous challenge.