Chapter 283: Chapter 281: Master of the Sword Pavilion

Past the Shushan Sword Sect was the Qingcheng Alchemy Dao.

The Qingcheng Alchemy Dao was famous for its Alchemy. Although its disciples were not skilled in combat, their attainments in the Alchemy Dao were exceptionally high.

Zhu Ge still had a few stalks of Spirit Grass he’d obtained from Hongmi Immortal’s Self Realm. It was the perfect opportunity to find a Pill Master from the Qingcheng Alchemy Dao to refine them into medicinal pills.

While he was at it, he also wanted to witness the "Pill Aura" of the Qingcheng Alchemy Dao.

When Alchemy reached its peak, one could also touch the threshold of "Aura."

After that was Shujiang’s last major city—Brocade Official City.

Brocade Official City was the Prefecture City of Shujiang. Its City Lord was also the Lord of Shujiang, a Fusion Realm Great Power who cultivated the Immortal Dao.

Zhu Ge wanted to pay him a visit and ask for guidance on some cultivation matters.

Beyond Brocade Official City, one would leave Shujiang and enter Qinjiang.

Qinjiang was also a Martial Arts Holy Land, filled with Martial Arts Halls and Sects. Geniuses were as common as clouds, and experts as frequent as rain.

Once in Qinjiang, there would likely be no shortage of challenges.

"I’m afraid there will be a lot of fighting along this road," Zhu Ge murmured.

"Fighting is great!" Liu Jianjian said excitedly. "I love watching you fight, Master."

Zhu Ge was speechless. "You don’t love watching me fight. You love watching a spectacle."

Liu Jianjian scratched her head and didn’t argue.

The carriage traveled for about an hour, and the sky gradually brightened. A sliver of white appeared in the east, and the mountains, veiled in the morning mist, looked like an ink wash painting.

On the distant mountain peaks, one could faintly make out palace-like structures with upturned eaves, magnificent and imposing. They shimmered with a golden light in the morning sun, like celestial palaces in the heavens.

"Master, is that the Shushan Sword Sect?" Liu Jianjian asked, pointing at the distant buildings. "Is it also called the Sword Pavilion?"

"It should be." Zhu Ge squinted. "How impressive."

Liu Jianjian squinted too, but her Cultivation was not as high as Zhu Ge’s. She could only see a blurry golden glow. "It really is impressive."

The carriage continued up the mountain path, the road growing narrower and steeper.

Mazhu panted heavily, beads of sweat forming on its brow, but it gritted its teeth and pressed onward, step by step.

It was clearly an ordinary road, yet it felt as if some kind of Array had been laid upon it.

"Mazhu, rest if you’re tired," Zhu Ge said.

"I’m not tired!" Mazhu gritted its teeth. "I’m an ancient variant! What’s a little mountain path to me?"

Zhu Ge smiled and didn’t call its bluff.

After another half-hour, a memorial archway appeared on the path ahead.

The archway was built of bluestone, about thirty feet high. Carved upon it were the four large characters for "Shushan Sword Sect," the strokes sharp and fierce, like an unsheathed sword.

Two disciples in white robes stood beneath the archway, longswords hanging at their waists. Their postures were ramrod straight, their expressions cold.

"Who goes there?" the disciple on the left asked, raising a hand to stop the carriage.

"I am Zhu Ge. I am passing through Shujiang and have come to pay a visit," Zhu Ge said, stepping out of the carriage and cupping his fist.

The two disciples exchanged a look, a flicker of surprise in their eyes.

"You’re Zhu Ge?" the disciple on the right asked.

"I am."

"The Zhu Ge who created the New Confucian Dao?"

"That should be me."

The disciples exchanged another look. Then, the one on the left cupped his fist and said, "Mr. Zhu, please wait a moment while I go report your arrival."

After speaking, he turned, rose on his sword, and transformed into a streak of white light, flying toward the mountain peak.

Zhu Ge watched him go, sighing inwardly.

’Sword Flight. One of the hallmarks of the Three Realms of the Immortal Dao.’

’I can fly too, but it’s not the Immortal Dao’s Sword Flight. It’s an instinct from [Fallen Scale].’

’When will I truly be able to use Sword Flight?’

’The Third Realm...’

’Soon,’ he told himself.

Before long, the streak of white light flew back from the peak and landed in front of the archway.

"Mr. Zhu, the Sect Leader requests your presence," the disciple said, stepping aside to make way. "Please, follow me."

Zhu Ge followed the two disciples up the mountain path. Liu Jianjian followed behind on Mazhu, with Zhu Sisi perched on her shoulder.

The path was lined with green bamboo, its leaves rustling in the morning breeze like soft whispers.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, a great hall appeared ahead.

The hall was built of bluestone and stood about fifty feet high. A plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with the three words "Sword Heart Hall."

The hall’s doors were wide open, and a person stood within.

It was an old man with a head of white hair, a gaunt face, and a white Daoist robe. A longsword hung at his waist.

His aura was as deep as an abyss. Zhu Ge couldn’t perceive his specific realm, but he could sense that he was stronger than Hongmi Immortal.

"Junior Zhu Ge pays his respects, Senior," Zhu Ge said with a cupped fist salute.

The old man smiled faintly. "This old man is Jian Wuxin, Sect Leader of the Shushan Sword Sect. Mr. Zhu has come from afar. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

"You’re too kind, Senior," Zhu Ge replied, neither servile nor overbearing. "This junior is passing through Shujiang and came to pay a visit. I apologize for the disturbance."

"No disturbance at all." Jian Wuxin waved his hand.

"Your creation of the New Confucian Dao shook the world."

"This old man also wished to meet you and discuss the Dao. Please."

"I would be deeply honored." Zhu Ge followed Jian Wuxin into the great hall.

The hall was sparsely furnished, with only a stone table and a few stone stools.

A piece of calligraphy hung on the wall, displaying four large characters: "Sword Dao Without Limits."

On the stone table sat a pot of tea and two cups, the fragrant steam curling into the air.

"Please, have a seat, Mr. Zhu." Jian Wuxin sat down and poured two cups of tea.

"Thank you." Zhu Ge sat down without ceremony, raised his cup, and took a sip.

The tea was bitter at first, but left a sweet aftertaste. Faint Sword Qi flowed between his lips and teeth.

"This is the Shushan Sword Sect’s Sword Tea," Jian Wuxin said with a smile. "The tea trees are nurtured with Sword Intent. The resulting tea carries a trace of Sword Qi, which can temper one’s meridians."

"Excellent tea," Zhu Ge said, setting down his cup.

Jian Wuxin smiled. "Mr. Zhu, you didn’t come all the way to the Shushan Sword Sect just to pass by, did you?"

"To be honest," Zhu Ge said frankly, "this junior wishes to challenge your sect’s Third Realm disciples."

"All of them?" Jian Wuxin raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

"Because I want to become stronger," Zhu Ge stated plainly. "You can’t build a great carriage by closing your doors to the world. I need real combat to temper my Martial Dao."

Jian Wuxin was silent for a moment, then he laughed. "You are quite frank, Mr. Zhu."

He paused, then said thoughtfully, "However, the disciples of my Shushan Sword Sect cultivate the Sword Dao. Their killing power is immense. I am afraid you will be injured, Mr. Zhu, and suffer a loss."

"To suffer a loss is a blessing in disguise," Zhu Ge said with a smile.

"HAHAHA! Excellent, excellent." Jian Wuxin nodded. "In that case, this old man shall summon all disciples of the Third Realm and above to see if any have the courage to compete with you, Mr. Zhu!"

As his voice fell, a green, illusory image suddenly materialized behind Jian Wuxin. It then stretched across the sky, boundlessly majestic.

It was a green leaf-sword, as verdant as a branch’s new leaves in spring.

Then, the leaf-sword let out nine soft chimes that resonated throughout the entire Shushan Sword Sect.

Everyone heard it.

"Nine chimes of the sword! The Pavilion Master is summoning us!"

"Everyone, assemble!"

"Move out! Something big is happening!"

"Quick, quick, quick! Get the junior brothers and sisters!"

The elders emerged from their residences, and countless disciples, hearing the call, stirred into action.

The commotion was immense!

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