She was actually Hidden Sword Mountain’s current sect master. She revealed a somewhat worried smile, the fine lines at her eyes making her seem all the more amiable. “When our Hidden Sword Mountain disciples were out training, they also encountered a demonic cultivator. To be frank, the Sword Venerable told us that after this opening, we need to heighten vigilance and intensify training to prepare for Demon Domain incursions.”
At her words, the high-level cultivators all looked toward the head seat, where the black-robed Sword Venerable Yun Jian sat.
No one knew when, but he had changed back into plain black robes, removing the gold ornaments and tying on a simple black hair ribbon. He sat there with eyes closed, resting.
Seeing the Sword Venerable remain silent, tacitly agreeing with his sect’s elder, the other sects’ elders nodded slightly in understanding.
“A sound point. We’ll discuss it with our sect masters upon return.”
With matters settled and the mood unsettled, Hidden Sword Mountain’s sect master smiled and shifted her gaze back to the secret realm. “This opening is actually a bit different from past ones. There’s unusual activity in the spiritual qi and sword qi inside the Sword Tomb. I wonder if these young disciples can handle it.”
Sect Master Wei waved it off politely. “You’re too kind, Sect Master Wei. Sword Sect disciples’ diligence is plain for all to see, and with the Chief Disciple who has an innate sword heart present, they’ll likely notice soon enough.”
“Not at all.” Hidden Sword Mountain’s sect master looked at the speaker, an Azure Profound Sect elder. Her smile was gentle. “I recall Azure Profound’s Chief Disciple is here too? That child has quite the personality and sharp senses. She’ll probably react before long.”
After another round of pleasantries and politeness, perhaps having said enough, the cultivators fell quiet for a bit and silently watched the disciples’ performances in the secret realm.
Suddenly, one elder spoke up again, but this time he looked toward the rear corner, where a man in fragrant pink robes sat silently.
He hadn’t removed his face veil, still concealing his features, quietly staying out of any discussions.
The elder addressed him. “Elder Xiao, you’ve brought quite a few disciples this time. Lately, I’ve seen Joyous Union disciples heading to the Martial Field often, mingling and building rapport with our sword cultivator disciples.”
“Our sect’s disciples focus mostly on martial training. Joyous Union cultivation methods nourish the meridians. If it leads to something good and mutual advancement, it would strengthen ties between our sects.”
The man behind the face veil seemed to be resting with eyes closed. At the words, he opened his eyes. The light gauze swayed as he looked toward the speaker.
As he moved, the elders watching him averted their gazes as if to avoid suspicion.
Rumors about Elder Xiao abounded. Some said he had fled to Joyous Union Sect for refuge; others claimed Joyous Union had forcibly taken him.
The point that intrigued and puzzled outsiders most was that no one knew for whom he was keeping his chastity.
The world was unpredictable, especially over centuries—few knew the truth of past events.
Still, people had their theories, and they sounded reasonable—
Because Elder Xiao had a Pure Yang Physique, in a sect like Joyous Union that cultivated the Joyous Union Dao, if he didn’t find some excuse for seclusion, he could hardly preserve his primal yang.
Meeting those veiled scrutinizing looks, a clear, melodious voice came from behind the face veil. “Elder Li speaks truly. But it depends on the disciples’ own wishes.”
Elder Xiao added softly, “If it’s mutual affection, then nothing could be better.”
His enunciation was clear and measured, especially those widely known four words: “mutual affection.”
His words steered the topic, carrying a hint of implication. Besides him, there was another keeping chastity here—Sword Venerable Yun Jian.
Unwittingly touching on their own Sword Venerable, the scene fell silent for a moment.
The Sword Venerable Yun Jian at the head suddenly opened his eyes. His dark gaze shifted as he glanced toward the Joyous Union Sect elder in the corner.
The man behind the light gauze was also looking at him.
Both keepers of chastity—one in somber black robes, the other in fragrant pink.
The two exchanged a look, then silently withdrew their gazes.
With no one else speaking or probing old matters, the light gauze swayed gently. The person behind the face veil lifted a corner.
He revealed a pair of jade-like, moist hands—unlike a sword cultivator’s calluses, these were impeccably maintained. Though both kept chastity, their habits differed entirely.
Slender fingers lifted the thin gauze. He picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a sip behind the veil.
Sitting at the back, he showed no concern for the secret realm, no interest in glancing at it. The black-robed Sword Venerable at the head was different.
Yun Jian lowered his gaze to the secret realm. His dark eyes swept over and settled quietly on the girl in the ink-green magic robe.
He seemed to suspect something off about her, paying her particular attention—as if unable to help it, his gaze landed squarely on her without deviation.
The girl flew forward, her toes lightly touching down as she glided silently far ahead. Her footwork was proficient, graceful as a butterfly. Occasionally, she slowed to fiddle repeatedly with the jade token in her hand or to look up at a nearby sword.
Wherever she passed, swords still retaining spiritual awareness buzzed even when stuck in the soil, as if greeting her.
Li Yin hurried along a stretch of road, but the jade token in her hand wasn’t fully fixed—it flickered on and off.
Of course, what concerned her more were the swords by the roadside.
Those long swords were stuck in the ground. As Li Yin passed by, some remained utterly silent while others buzzed and trembled, allowing her to discern whether they possessed intelligence.
Li Yin wondered if she should wave at them and say hello.
Hello, friends in the soil.
She was still undecided when the jade token suddenly acted up, causing her to halt in her tracks.
Unexpectedly, the sword hums all around her fell silent in an instant, vanishing completely.
Her enthusiastic friends had abruptly gone quiet. Li Yin was utterly baffled. She glanced back and jumped in fright.
A sword hovered in midair, extremely close to her.
Unclear of the situation or whether it was friend or foe, she swiftly retreated a step to put some distance between them.
The long sword hovering in the air was dull gray, without the slightest spiritual glow. It was utterly unremarkable, yet its speed was incredibly fast as it charged straight at her.
Li Yin sparred briefly with this inexplicable sword. The flying sword circled her once, as if appraising her, before coming to a stop right in front of her. It showed no hostility.
“What are you doing?” the girl asked warily.
The Dull Gray Sword hovered in place, inexplicably giving her the sense that it was pondering something.
After a few more breaths, the Dull Gray Sword suddenly trembled. Mimicking the swords on the ground, it buzzed at her twice to express goodwill.
If sword intelligences had levels, this sword’s was probably a cut above.
Li Yin slightly lowered her guard.
Unclear what this sword wanted, she continued on her way. The Dull Gray Sword followed alongside her, sometimes rising high and sometimes swooping low.
It suddenly drew too close. Li Yin reached out to grab its hilt, and the sword abruptly flew farther away.
As soon as she withdrew her hand, the sword zipped right back to the same distance, as if tempting her to try again.
Playing with a child.
The child refused.
Li Yin wasn’t playing its game.
The sword suddenly flew even lower, radiating an inexplicable air of sadness and dejection.
How strange.
Li Yin said, “You’re all dull gray, so I’ll call you Dull Gray.”
“Dull Gray,” she called out.
The sword probably didn’t approve of the name and made no response, contenting itself with low flight.
This sword’s intelligence was clearly exceptional. Li Yin guessed it might be some great cultivator’s lifebound sword.
She wanted to say more but got distracted. A sharp strand of sword qi came flying diagonally at her from the front.
Li Yin barely dodged it, though a lock of her hair was still sliced off.
Only then did she notice that the sword qi in the area had suddenly multiplied. These strands of sword qi lacked intelligence and were flying chaotically everywhere. Passing through without detouring would likely take considerable effort.
There were far too many strange occurrences. While Li Yin plotted her route, someone burst out of a cluster of sword qi in the distance. Spotting her, the person shouted, “Help, fellow Daoist!”
The disturbed sword qi cluster grew even swifter and fiercer. The person calling for help must have been wearing a magical treasure—sparks of spiritual light erupted with each grazing blow from the sword qi.
The Dull Gray Sword watched quietly. The girl beside it heard the cry for help and, without much hesitation, flew forward and scooped up the rescuer in one motion.
With the person in her arms, Li Yin executed a footwork technique. She dodged the diving sword qi, retreated backward, and swiftly carried her away from the sword qi cluster.
A few strands of sword qi were drawn by the spiritual energy currents and pursued relentlessly. The female cultivator Li Yin had rescued seemed quite timid by nature. Terrified, she huddled against Li Yin’s side, clutching at her clothes and letting out small, hysterical screams.
“It’s fine now.” Li Yin patted her hand and dodged another strand of sword qi while carrying her.
Protected behind her, the female cultivator in the pale yellow disciple robe gradually calmed down. Once she regained her senses, she suddenly realized a problem.
No, this kind fellow Daoist’s cultivation was even lower than hers. How could she hide behind some sect’s junior sister?
The female cultivator behind her suddenly tugged at her clothes. Li Yin paused in her movements and heard the woman say in a trembling voice,
“How about… how about I stand in front instead?” The female cultivator in the pale yellow disciple robe looked utterly sincere—and terrified.
Li Yin: “……”
The Player said nothing and continued shielding the timid little senior sister in front of her.