The 3,000+ demonic cavalry were reduced to piles of flesh and bone within the time it took to brew a cup of tea. In the stables, the Cloud Xi warhorses, still tethered and unsaddled, neighed incessantly. The air was thick with the scent of blood – a vengeance for the Xia tribal remnants and a triumphant return for the Fusu Great Wall's forces.
Chi Zhongyu, clad in a long, flowing gown that swayed gently in the wind, flicked his wrist. The bloodstains on his sword blade scattered and evaporated. This sword cultivator from the Hundred Flowers Domain was the pinnacle of sword dao in his realm. After ten years of tempering his heart, Chi Zhongyu's resolve had grown even stronger, making his twelfth realm cultivation remarkably stable.
From afar, a beam of sword light streaked towards the city wall and landed. Clad in a gray-white long gown, it was Qin Yu.
After a decade, Qin Yu had finally seen through his inner turmoil and broken through to become a twelfth realm Great Sword Immortal. Although his foundation as a Great Sword Immortal was still slightly weaker than Chi Zhongyu's, it was exceptional. He was roughly equivalent to Han Fang’s former strength. For Qin Yu, who had been stuck in the eleventh realm for years, this twelfth realm arrival, though late, was all the more precious.
"City Lord."
Qin Yu bowed respectfully. "The demons guarding the Fusu Great Wall have all been eliminated. Our casualties were minimal. I've sent Ran'er, Ye Lin, and Liu Xilong back with everyone."
"Hmm, do not pursue a cornered enemy."
Chi Zhongyu smiled faintly and turned to face Qin Yu. He cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "Sword Immortal Qin, to be frank, I am not truly from the Fusu Great Wall. Please do not forget that my identity is as a first-rank honored guest of the Summit Villa. Furthermore, I only took on the role of acting City Lord at the request of the former City Lord, Lin Wanhua. With the world's situation nearing stability, the position of Fusu Great Wall's Lord should rightfully belong to you, Sword Immortal Qin."
Qin Yu hesitated, unsure of what to say. If he were to accept the position of City Lord now, it would essentially be a polite dismissal of Chi Zhongyu, which felt somewhat impolite.
After all, over the past ten years, within the Eastern Yi Sea of Forests, Chi Zhongyu's combat prowess had advanced the fastest. Moreover, Chi Zhongyu's naturally cautious nature meant he never acted rashly. He had led the younger generation of the Fusu Great Wall in expanding their territory and fostering their rapid growth in the Eastern Yi Sea of Forests. Without Chi Zhongyu, the younger generation of the Fusu Great Wall would undoubtedly not be in the position they were today.
At that moment, three figures arrived from afar.
The one whose sword light trailed the furthest was a young sword cultivator in his early twenties, an eleventh realm practitioner. With sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, he exuded a heroic aura. It was none other than Qin Ran, who used to pester Lin Wanhua incessantly, calling her "Auntie." Now grown into adulthood, he had also made significant strides in his sword dao, becoming an eleventh realm peak cultivator, with an aura that hinted at surpassing his father, Qin Yu.
Beside him was another young man, clad in wide, flowing sleeves and possessing an extremely refined appearance. He was Ye Lin, known throughout the Fusu Great Wall as the "natural love seed." Ye Lin seemed ageless, remaining as handsome and elegant as ever. However, he had also broken through in the past decade, now a bona fide twelfth realm Great Cultivator. Coupled with the profound family heritage of the Ye clan, his twelfth realm combat strength was not to be underestimated.
The last of the trio was a middle-aged martial artist, Liu Xilong. His progress was less ideal; after ten years, he remained a Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist, having not broken through, his face etched with the weariness of time.
"The city has been reclaimed!"
Ye Lin raised an eyebrow lightly. "City Lord, what are the next arrangements?"
"Now that the Fusu Great Wall has returned, I am no longer the City Lord."
Chi Zhongyu withdrew a bronze token from his怀. He offered it with both hands. "Before City Lord Lin Wanhua ascended, she entrusted this City Lord's token to me. At the same time, she informed me that upon the return to the Fusu Great Wall, the token could be entrusted to Qin Yu. Therefore, the current Lord of the Fusu Great Wall is Sword Immortal Qin, not I, Chi Zhongyu."
He then said with a meaningful smile, "Ten years of tempering your heart in the Eastern Yi Sea of Forests also forged your twelfth realm, Sword Immortal Qin. Lin Wanhua's intentions were indeed profound. Please accept this legacy."
Qin Yu's expression was calm, but his heart was stirred. He should have guessed this. Lin Wanhua had not passed the City Lord position to him earlier precisely to hone his sword heart. By letting the authority slip from his grasp, creating a sense of loss, Qin Yu would be motivated to break through. Otherwise, perpetually treating it like a fragile egg, he would never be able to reach the twelfth realm.
"Thank you."
Qin Yu accepted the City Lord's token. "Sword Immortal Chi, since you are relinquishing the position of City Lord, please issue one final command. In this situation, what do you believe the Fusu Great Wall should do?"
"Since we have returned, we have returned."
Chi Zhongyu turned to look at the city within, at the Xia tribal remnants, young and old, many pushing carts laden with their belongings. Their eyes shone with hope. Ten years had passed, and many had not thought they would ever see their homeland again. He then smiled faintly. "Post guards at the north and south gates, and organize men to repair the damaged city walls. The situation is different now. The demon race and the demon realm are no longer as formidable. If they dare to attack the Fusu Great Wall again, we can attempt to confront them head-on."
"Good!"
Qin Yu smiled and nodded. "Guards, act according to Sword Immortal Chi's instructions!"
"Alright then."
Chi Zhongyu said, "The mission entrusted to me by Sword Immortal Lin has been completed. I bid farewell now, and I must return to see what has become of things."
Qin Yu asked, "I heard that Lin Zhao did not die and returned to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool with Fu Zhi and Yu Wanning?"
"Rumors of the martial world; no one knows if they are true."
Chi Zhongyu said solemnly, "That is why I wish to return to the Fusu Great Wall to verify this matter. If my Mountain Lord is truly still alive, perhaps he will make arrangements for the Fusu Great Wall."
"Good!"
Qin Yu nodded. "Go and return soon!"
"Father."
Qin Ran frowned. "If my brother Lin Zhao is still alive, I also wish to..."
"Ran'er!"
Qin Yu's expression was grave. "You are an eleventh realm sword cultivator now, and the elders of the Fusu Great Wall need your strength. How can you leave without permission? Do not be willful. If Lin Zhao is well, there will be opportunities to meet again in the future."
"Mm..."
Though Qin Ran was reluctant, he still heeded his father's words.
...
Snow Region Heavenly Pool, Lotus Wind Academy.
Lin Zhao carefully transplanted a peach tree into the academy grounds. In a corner of the academy, he personally wove a bamboo fence around it to protect the tree, ensuring that mischievous young students would not accidentally damage its roots.
Gu Lingyu, dressed in a scholarly robe, watched Lin Zhao finish his task with a gentle smile.
Once the peach tree was fully planted, Gu Lingyu, guided by the fate of Shi Hanyin's soul, began to fuse it with the peach tree's destiny. For a moment, heaven and earth subtly trembled. An inconspicuous heavenly decree descended, officially enfeoffing Shi Hanyin as a Peach Blossom Spirit. With proper cultivation, she might one day break through into the Upper Five Realms and ascend to become the legendary Peach Blossom Fairy. Such possibilities were within reach.
"It's done."
Gu Lingyu smiled. "Little Uncle-Master, from now on, you just need to nurture it daily by placing a Fei Yu coin at the root of the peach tree."
"Is a Fei Yu coin enough?"
Lin Zhao frowned. "Do we need a Jin Zi coin?"
"No, no need."
Gu Lingyu chuckled. "Too much is as bad as too little. A Fei Yu coin is sufficient."
"Good, thank you, Lingyu!"
Lin Zhao cupped his hands and smiled. In truth, he knew very well that although a Peach Blossom Spirit was an inconspicuous spirit in the world, obtaining a heavenly decree would not be so easy. Gu Lingyu had clearly used her own merit to exchange for a heavenly decree for Shi Hanyin, thus enabling her rebirth as a stunningly beautiful Peach Blossom Spirit.
Nurtured by the academy's literary energy, the peach tree glowed with increasing radiance.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Shi Hanyin's figure emerged from the peach tree. Her originally crimson gown, from her time as the courtesan of Yunxiang Tower, had transformed into a soft pink. Her complexion appeared even more radiant and ethereal, and her figure seemed to have become more curvaceous. Having absorbed much spiritual energy and literary fortune, she was already a third-realm Peach Blossom Spirit upon emerging from the tree. She bowed gracefully to Lin Zhao and Gu Lingyu, then softly said, "Hanyin thanks Young Master, thanks Director Gu!"
Gu Lingyu smiled. "Miss Shi, you are too kind."
Lin Zhao said, "Hanyin, since Lingyu saved you, from now on, you will remain at the academy and become Lingyu's disciple. Follow Lingyu to cultivate literary energy. This way, you will be different from ordinary Peach Blossom Spirits. Those from our Summit Villa, even spirits and deities, must be extraordinary."
"Yes!"
Shi Hanyin smiled and nodded, bowing to Gu Lingyu again. "Hanyin greets Teacher!"
Gu Lingyu smiled. She had been teaching for her entire life but had never taken such a beautiful female disciple. Little Uncle-Master had certainly given her a significant challenge.
"Alright."
Lin Zhao said solemnly, "It is time for us to return to the Summit Villa."
"Okay."
Gu Lingyu nodded.
Shi Hanyin blinked her beautiful eyes. "Teacher, I am a person of the Summit Villa, but I have never been there. I would like to... go home with Young Master to see it first, and then return to the academy."
"Ah?"
Gu Lingyu laughed. "It's alright. The academy and the Summit Villa are both your homes. You are free to come and go as you please. It's up to you."
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao found it difficult to refuse, so he decided to take her along to the mountain.
...
Summit Villa, Natural Dwelling.
At noon, Lin Zhao finally decided to cook. After tidying up the kitchen, he brewed a pot of the long-missed White Jade Soup. For lunch, there wasn't much else: just flatbread with white fish soup. Fu Zhi, Yu Wanning, and Shi Hanyin sat down, their faces alight with anticipation, ready to enjoy their meal, when suddenly, a beam of sword light streaked from afar, carrying faint rumblings of thunder.
It was a Great Sword Immortal.
"Hmph~~~"
Yu Wanning's lips curved into a smile. "He's back."
Lin Zhao also guessed who it was and smiled. "Indeed, it's better to arrive at the right time. Chi Zhongyu, come and eat."
A beam of sword light broke through the dimensional barrier. Chi Zhongyu, trailing wisps of sword intent, landed gracefully before the Natural Dwelling. Filled with emotion, he knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in a solemn salute. "Chi Zhongyu pays respects to the Mountain Lord... Chi Zhongyu requests to return to the Summit Villa and await deployment!"
Lin Zhao picked up an empty bowl and served him fish soup, smiling. "Eat first, and we'll discuss matters afterward."
"Yes, Mountain Lord!"
Chi Zhongyu rose, tears welling in his eyes, but he did not cry, fearing that Fu Zhi, Yu Wanning, and the unfamiliar woman might laugh at his weakness. A twelfth realm Great Sword Immortal, weeping uncontrollably upon reunion after parting. What kind of bearing was that? In reality, Chi Zhongyu did not understand; the higher the cultivation realm of a true sword immortal, the more intensely they wept.
Which of the world's peak sword cultivators was not a person of deep sentiment and loyalty?