Bai Di City.
The Mountain Sea Division, the Governor's Office.
Prince Jìnán, Zhao Qiyang, in a python robe, sat wearily in a grand tutor's chair, enjoying fresh grapes from Furong Prefecture provided by a maid. These grapes were personally picked by cultivators of the Mountain Sea Division and delivered back by imperial sword; only Zhao Qiyang in the entire capital enjoyed such privilege, not even the Human Emperor Zhao Jingheng.
"How is it going?"
Zhao Qiyang frowned, "The legendary Seeker Deer Sword, is it truly that powerful?"
"It is."
Huang Qingning, in a purple robe, said respectfully, "The Ten Swords of the World are all divine swords. Your Highness should still remember the incident with Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi a hundred years ago. How could Lin Zhao, a mere eighth-realm martial artist, have killed Bai Lan, a thirteenth-realm sword cultivator of the demon race, with a single sword? It was none other than the pure sword intent contained within the Dragon Slaying Sword. As for the Seeker Deer Sword, though it ranks tenth among the Ten Swords, it is ultimately a renowned sword equal to the Dragon Slaying Sword. Once it appears, it will inevitably bring catastrophe and turmoil to the human martial world."
"Hmph!"
Zhao Qiyang said indifferently, "I don't wish to meddle in the affairs of the martial world, but if this Seeker Deer Sword truly threatens the imperial court, then it becomes the responsibility of your Mountain Sea Division."
"Yes."
Huang Qingning bowed respectfully, but his heart was filled with dismay. What did he mean by 'it becomes the responsibility of your Mountain Sea Division'? The Prince greatly overestimated the capabilities of the Mountain Sea Division. It could be said that for the changes occurring in the entirety of Shuzhou, the Mountain Sea Division could not do much. It still depended on what the Confucian, Daoist, Military, and Mohist schools did. As for the court, it was best to observe the situation.
At this moment, a crimson figure flashed into the pavilion. It was Cao Ying, the Pavilion Master of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a twelfth-realm sword cultivator.
Cao Ying's cultivation had become ever deeper, shrouded in dense sword intent, seemingly approaching the peak of the twelfth realm. Yet, she remained very respectful to Zhao Qiyang, cupping her fists, "Your Highness, news has just arrived from Shuzhou."
"Oh?"
Zhao Qiyang picked up a grape and smiled, "What news? Good or bad?"
"Bad news."
Cao Ying frowned, "Not long ago, the demon race's five upper realms launched a surprise attack on the Eastern Mountain Range. Ning Hao Shou, the Lord of Eastern Mountain, was killed. The Qinling Mountains have now lost the protection of the heavenly decree and are slowly sinking. At this rate, within a hundred years, the human realm may develop a situation where the west is higher than the east, and it might even collapse entirely, submerging into the sea."
"..."
Zhao Qiyang's eyes turned cold. He slammed his palm onto the tea table, pointing east, and roared, "What was Ning Hao Shou doing? The dignified Lord of Eastern Mountain, appointed by heavenly decree, a twelfth-realm cultivator himself, who was said to be at the peak of the thirteenth realm within the Qinling territory? Was our human race's esteemed Eastern Mountain killed so easily on its own land?"
"Your Highness."
Cao Ying frowned, "The demon race may have deployed more than one thirteenth-realm cultivator. The current situation in Shuzhou is likely more complicated than we imagined."
"Insolence!"
Zhao Qiyang was furious, "What are those people from the Confucian Academy, the Ancestral Court of the Military School, and the Ancestral Court of the Mohist school thinking? What are their plans? Why did they stand by and watch our Lord of Eastern Mountain be killed?!"
"..."
Cao Ying felt a headache coming on. How could she explain? Did the sages of the Confucian, Military, and Mohist schools need to inform a mere regent of a secular dynasty? Was there such a principle in the world? However, she also knew that Zhao Qiyang was a mortal without cultivation, so his inability to understand was understandable.
Just then, a wisp of golden radiance appeared in the distant sky, flashing and disappearing. The Confucian aura in the entire Bai Di City seemed to have intensified for a moment.
"What's going on?"
Zhao Qiyang asked.
Cao Ying replied, "A thirteenth-realm sage of the Confucian school has descended upon Bai Di City."
"Ah?!"
Zhao Qiyang frowned, "Cao Ying, Huang Qingning, why aren't you two going to welcome him?"
"Yes!"
The two figures dashed away, and in a blink, they appeared within the palace of the Great Shang Dynasty. Ahead lay the Imperial Archives of the Great Shang Dynasty, containing all sorts of treasures of the world, as well as handwritten scrolls and books from the sages. This place was heavily guarded, but it seemed unable to stop the thirteenth-realm sage from the Confucian Academy.
He was an old man, dressed in a white robe, exuding an aura of scholarship.
Mr. Zihua, a disciple of the lineage of the Most Holy Ancestor, the senior disciple brother of Gu Zixi and Wen Liang, and the junior disciple nephew of Qin Suihan.
"Old sir."
Cao Ying cupped her fists respectfully from a distance, "Are you visiting Bai Di City, sir?"
"To see a junior disciple nephew of mine."
Mr. Zihua bowed to the female Pavilion Master and smiled, "Some things must be done by someone. My junior disciple nephew has always considered himself unaccomplished, but that's not the case at all. He is full of learning. He passed the imperial examination and served in the court. Many disciples in our sect would envy him. However, this time... he will likely have to do things that a Confucian disciple should do."
"Understood."
Cao Ying smiled and nodded, and along with Huang Qingning, she respectfully watched the old gentleman enter the Imperial Archives.
A thirteenth-realm sage of the Confucian school, who would dare to provoke him? Would they be seeking death?
...
Following behind Mr. Zihua was a young scholar, carrying a long sword, a sword cultivator. His face was quite youthful, and he looked at the Imperial Archives with great curiosity.
Imperial Archives, the repository of books.
Liu Xingshu, in a gray Confucian robe, emerged from the library, looking overwhelmed. He, a mere fifth-rank Secretary, spent his days doing leisurely tasks like organizing archives and transcribing secrets. He never expected his senior martial uncle from the Confucian Academy to come and visit.
"Liu Xingshu pays his respects to Senior Martial Uncle!"
He performed a grand Confucian salute and smiled, "Senior Martial Uncle has traveled a long way, please come in. Xingshu will brew tea for you."
"Hahaha~~~"
Mr. Zihua looked at the capable young man and chuckled, "Xingshu, there's no need to be so formal. This trip is rather urgent, let's get straight to the point."
"Mm!"
In the next moment, Mr. Zihua's walking stick lightly tapped the ground, and a Confucian sage's realm emerged, enveloping Liu Xingshu, himself, and the young sword cultivator behind him. He introduced, "This is a sword cultivator trained in our Confucian Academy, named Xiao Cong. His swordsmanship is quite impressive. Xiao Cong, this is Liu Xingshu, a disciple of my junior disciple Zixi."
"Oh!"
Xiao Cong quickly cupped his fists, "Greetings, Senior Brother!"
Liu Xingshu felt a little awkward, "As your Senior Brother, I am only at the ninth realm, yet you, Xiao Cong, are already an eleventh-realm sword immortal. To speak of it, I am truly ashamed!"
Xiao Cong smiled gently, "In our Confucian school, we only value learning and seniority, not cultivation realms. Senior Brother is Senior Brother!"
These words were very pleasant to hear!
Liu Xingshu looked at Mr. Zihua, "Senior Martial Uncle, what exactly is the matter?"
"The matter of Shuzhou."
Mr. Zihua took a deep breath and said, "Not long ago, the demon race dispatched several thirteenth-realm cultivators to infiltrate Shuzhou within the territory of the Great Shang Dynasty and killed Ning Hao Shou, the Lord of Eastern Mountain. This has caused the land of our human race's eastern border to begin sinking. The demon race's scheme is clearly to create a sinking land situation, overthrowing the mountains and rivers of the human race, and by means of taking the firewood from under the cauldron, scatter the destiny of our southern human realm. As for the Confucian Academy, I have already made arrangements to deal with it. We will join forces with the Ancestral Court of the Mohist school to set up a formation to counter the sinking land. This will require someone skilled in astrology and divination. Xingshu, you have been well-versed in this art since childhood, so our sect needs you to make a trip. Xiao Cong will accompany you to the Qinling area to rendezvous with Xu Shuo and others."
"Yes!"
Liu Xingshu cupped his hands, "Xingshu awaits your command!"
"By the way,"
Mr. Zihua added, "Lin Zhao is also heading there with Su Qingjiu, Huang Tingyu, and Lu Zhi, three sword immortals from the Mountain Peak Villa. Perhaps you will meet them in Shuzhou."
"Really!?"
Liu Xingshu exclaimed with joy, "It's been a long time since I last saw Lin Zhao."
"You will see him when you go this time."
"Yes!"
Liu Xingshu said with excitement, "I will pack my things immediately and depart with Junior Brother Xiao Cong!"
Shortly after, Xiao Cong and Liu Xingshu left Bai Di City together, heading east.
In the cold wind, Mr. Zihua watched their receding figures. He then counted on his fingers and performed a brief divination. Instantly, tears welled up in the eyes of this thirteenth-realm Confucian sage. The fate of the Confucian disciples seemed to have always been like this: they would shoulder the responsibility without hesitation, but it was a pity for these two children.
...
Deep within the Qinling Mountains, early morning.
Yu Wanning, dressed in a short shirt, woke up on the branch of an ancient tree. After leaping down, her stomach rumbled. She was hungry again. The most troublesome thing for a martial artist was the great expenditure of energy during practice. She would be hungry again soon after eating. Fortunately, as a Sea-Treading realm martial artist, she didn't need to worry about food.
She went to a stream, set up a pot, and began to cook. She took out a deer leg from her storage bag, shaved fresh deer meat into the pot with a short dagger, and then added various seasonings according to Lin Zhao's method. Afterward, she took out several flatbreads from her storage bag and placed them by the fire to bake slowly.
After finishing everything, she began to practice her boxing in the morning mist. She went through the movements and routines of her martial arts again and again.
After an unknown amount of time, when Yu Wanning looked back, she saw an aged figure practicing boxing under a tree in the morning light. However, the old man's boxing intent was even deeper and more ancient, captivating Yu Wanning from the moment she saw it. The old man's boxing method was incredibly refined, unlike any she had ever seen.
"..."
She frowned, intrigued by the old man's boxing technique. She stepped forward and cupped her fists respectfully, "Junior Yu Wanning, may I ask, senior..."
The moment she introduced herself, the old man's figure vanished into the morning breeze.
"Ah?!"
Yu Wanning slightly tensed. It seemed... it was just a faint wisp of boxing intent?
However, this wisp of boxing intent deeply moved Yu Wanning. Since it was a manifestation of boxing intent left in the Great Wilderness, and she had encountered it, she should strive for it!
Therefore, Yu Wanning immediately used her true qi to draw water from the stream to extinguish the fire, packed the half-cooked utensils into her storage bag, and then took to the sky, soaring on the wind in pursuit of that incredibly profound boxing intent.
She was very confident that if she could obtain this wisp of boxing intent, she would be one step closer to becoming an eleventh-realm martial artist, and a big step at that!