In the depths of the southern wilderness, amidst dense forests.
Here, tents were connected, flags fluttered, and the barbarian tribes living in the south were holding an "Autumn Hunt" ceremony. A middle-aged man clad in animal skins was surrounded by the crowd. He was strong and powerful, exuding a wild aura. Despite being a barbarian from the southern wilderness, he possessed the martial artist realm of the Sky Origin realm.
Meng Rong, the leader of the largest tribe in the southern wilderness, the legendary Barbarian King.
For many years, Meng Rong had waged war in the south, relentlessly annexing other barbarian tribes. His power grew steadily, eventually making him the acknowledged overlord of the south, the sole Barbarian King.
At this moment, Meng Rong took a war bow from his subordinate, drew an arrow, and aimed it straight ahead. In the distance, several men dressed in peculiar attire were tied to stakes. They were leaders of other tribes, their territories now conquered by Meng Rong, and they themselves reduced to playthings. With the whistling sound of the arrow leaving the bowstring, one tribal leader was struck through the heart and died instantly. His daughter, now Meng Rong's "favorite concubine," wept and screamed tearfully.
"Again."
Meng Rong took another arrow from his subordinate, and then another tribal leader was shot dead. This continued one after another until all the leaders were killed. Only then did Meng Rong raise his bow high.
"Mighty! Mighty!"
A group of generals, each hailed as capable of fighting ten thousand enemies, raised their curved sabers in unison, their faces filled with defiance.
The southern barbarians were naturally warlike. It was precisely because of these barbarians that the Great Shang Dynasty had to station heavy troops at the Jade Gate Pass in the south. Even a large portion of the Cang Nan Iron Cavalry, renowned as the strongest cavalry in the world, was stationed in the south, guarding against these barbarian armies. Over the years, the Barbarian King Meng Rong had caused no small amount of trouble for the Great Shang Dynasty.
...
"Your Majesty!"
A messenger cavalryman galloped in, dismounted, and knelt respectfully. "A prophet from the depths of the forest wishes to visit Your Majesty, stating that he is willing to serve as your Imperial Advisor."
"Oh?"
Meng Rong narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Bring him here. If he has the ability, becoming an Imperial Advisor is no problem. If he lacks the skill, he will perish by my blade."
A group of generals, each capable of fighting ten thousand enemies, laughed heartily, drinking mare's milk wine and embracing the maids whom the Barbarian King Meng Rong had recently bestowed upon them.
Outside the autumn hunt grounds, an old man in a gray-white robe was escorted by a group of guards to meet Meng Rong.
"Who goes there?"
Meng Rong sat on his tiger-skin throne, two maids on either side, and smiled. "Why do you come to see me?"
The old man narrowed his eyes, looking at the unrestrained barbarian king, and chuckled. "My name is Patriarch Wu Yue. I have come to see Your Majesty for no other reason than to make you submit to me, and from this day forward, obey my command."
"Seeking death?!"
A barbarian general rose, drawing his sword from his waist with a clang. He too was a martial artist, in the ninth realm, the Wandering realm. Such a person was already considered a match for ten thousand enemies among the barbarians. He had followed Meng Rong in conquering other tribes, and the number of heads he had beheaded with this sword was countless. Adding one more old man's head now seemed not excessive.
Unfortunately, as the barbarian general's long sword sliced towards the old man's head like a cold gleam, it suddenly froze in mid-air, unable to advance an inch further. It was Patriarch Wu Yue who had clasped the blade between his index finger and thumb. Then, with a "clang," he actually snapped off the fine steel tip. With a "swish" that cut through the air, the general, renowned for fighting ten thousand enemies, clutched his throat, retreated several steps, and blood gushed from his fingers.
"Bastard!"
The generals all realized that something was amiss and drew their swords in unison.
"All of you seeking death?!"
Patriarch Wu Yue let out a cold laugh, flicked his sleeve, and immediately a surge of powerful spiritual energy erupted. In the next moment, the sword tips of all the generals were snapped. Simultaneously, Patriarch Wu Yue darted forward, and with a "splintering" sound, his five fingers were thrust straight into a general's chest, crushing his heart. He then spun his body, violently twisting off the head of another general from his neck, his killing methods exceptionally brutal.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"
Behind Patriarch Wu Yue, strands of undefeated demonic heart energy rose and surged. This energy was so terrifying that even the Barbarian King Meng Rong, with his Sky Origin realm cultivation, felt as though his heart was about to be crushed. At this moment, he realized that the combat power of this Patriarch Wu Yue must be extremely formidable, possibly not just a matter of the twelfth or thirteenth realm.
"Submit to me, and you shall live."
Patriarch Wu Yue narrowed his eyes and looked at the Barbarian King indifferently. "Meng Rong, you are an intelligent man. Surely you understand the principle of a wise bird choosing its tree?"
"Yes... Yes..."
Meng Rong, his expression filled with dread, slowly drew his sword, pointed its tip at the ground, and knelt on one knee. With his left hand placed across his chest, he said in a deep voice, "Meng Rong is willing to lead my people and pledge allegiance to the Immortal Master..."
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Patriarch Wu Yue burst into laughter. "From now on, follow my lead, and you will not be mistreated!"
"Yes, Immortal Master..."
...
Deep within the southern wilderness.
Under the moonlight, a stream flowed, shimmering. After nightfall, the scenery in the depths of the southern wilderness became increasingly tranquil. Near a mountain spring and stream, a group of female cultivators paused. Leading them was a Sword Immortal in a white dress, none other than Xie Yi Ying, the Sect Master of the Ling Yan Sword Sect. Beside her was Chen Meng Jun, clad in a green dress, and a group of female disciples from the Ling Yan Sword Sect.
Exploring ancient sites in the mountains was something Xie Yi Ying did with her disciples every year.
In the mountains, Chen Meng Jun ascended step by step. Her jade-like legs were long and slender, her delicate face exceptionally beautiful, possessing an incomparable charm.
"Master."
She looked at the babbling mountain spring and smiled. "The scenery here is quite remarkable."
"Hmm."
Xie Yi Ying nodded with a smile, looking at her most beloved disciple. "This mountain was once the resting place of an ancient Sword Immortal. This journey of taking you disciples on a southern tour also makes this place an important destination. Let's go. After ascending the mountain, we will pay respects to the Sword Immortal. If fate allows, you might receive a wisp of her sword intent as a boon."
"Yes, Master!"
The group followed the mountain path upward. Soon, they arrived at the summit. Indeed, under a tree on the peak was a tomb that had long been unvisited. Under Xie Yi Ying's guidance, the female disciples of the Ling Yan Sword Sect meticulously cleared away the weeds around the tomb, then added fresh soil. Afterward, Xie Yi Ying took out fruits, incense, and other offerings, and they paid their respects one by one.
"Meng Jun, come and pay respects to the Sword Immortal."
"Yes, Master!"
Chen Meng Jun knelt, her posture proper and full of respect.
The other disciples also paid their respects. Finally, everyone built a bonfire on a nearby hilltop and cooked their meals.
Chen Meng Jun, carrying her long sword, stood at the edge of a cliff, bathed in the evening breeze. Suddenly, she turned her head and glanced in the direction of the Sword Immortal's tomb. She perceived a wisp of profound sword intent lingering in the wind. Oddly, among so many disciples, only she sensed it, and even Xie Yi Ying remained completely unaware.
"What is it?"
Xie Yi Ying asked with a smile. "Have you captured a wisp of sword intent?"
"Yes."
Chen Meng Jun said with surprise. "It seems I have indeed sensed that wisp of sword intent."
"This is fate unfolding," Xie Yi Ying said with a smile. "From now on, you need do nothing but capture that wisp of sword intent here until you have refined it and made it your own."
"Yes, Master!"
Thus, Chen Meng Jun sat down on the ground and quietly began to meditate.
...
By late night, the group of fellow disciples had fallen asleep.
Chen Meng Jun finally let out a sigh of relief. The wisp of sword intent had finally settled within her spiritual void, becoming a part of her own foundation. She felt a slight joy and stood up with her sword. She noticed that her fellow disciples were all asleep, while her Master, Xie Yi Ying, sat cross-legged beside them, her eyes closed in cultivation.
Chen Meng Jun did not disturb them. She merely walked to the spring with her sword, listening to the sound of the stream and feeling the tranquility in her heart. After a while, she heard a rustling sound from beneath the fallen leaves in the mountains. Chen Meng Jun smiled slightly and stamped one foot on the ground, saying, "Earth God?"
"Indeed, Immortal!"
An old man in a gray tunic emerged from the ground, knelt, and chuckled. "This humble god greets the Sword Immortal, Immortal..."
"Do not be afraid."
Chen Meng Jun covered her mouth and smiled. "Earth God, I have been traveling with my Master to visit ancient sites for many days, and my access to news is limited. Do you have any of the latest mountain and water gazettes here? If so, I would like to buy one."
"Yes, yes."
The Earth God lowered himself and, from somewhere, produced a stack of mountain and water gazettes. He pulled out the latest one and said, "Esteemed Immortal, one mountain and water gazette costs ten Azure Cicada Coins."
"Alright."
Chen Meng Jun gave him ten Azure Cicada Coins and then, under the moonlight, looked at the gazette. Spirit energy flowed through the paper. Where Chen Meng Jun's gaze fell, faint golden characters appeared. After scanning through it, she finally saw something in the corner about the Mountain Summit Villa. It was about Lin Zhao recently getting revenge for the Fan Goddess Liu Li Ying and Tong Yu, killing Yu Rang, a scourge within the Great Shang Dynasty's army.
Looking at the news about Lin Zhao, Chen Meng Jun's lips curved into a smile. She truly wished she could be by her side. However, her Master also needed her. Chen Meng Jun knew her responsibility was great; her Master was grooming her to be the future Sect Master, and in reality, Chen Meng Jun's cultivation was indeed the strongest among her fellow disciples.
"Does the Immortal know that Lin Bai Yi?" The Earth God was extremely adept at reading people.
"Hmm."
Chen Meng Jun smiled. "He is my friend. Does the elder also know him?"
"Lin Bai Yi of Xueyu Tianchi, who wouldn't know him?"
The Earth God said, "But a talent like the Immortal is worthy of being Lin Bai Yi's friend. Let alone if the Immortal claims to be his friend; even if the Immortal claimed to be Lin Bai Yi's Dao Companion, this old man would still believe it wholeheartedly!"
Chen Meng Jun's pear-like dimples appeared as she smiled. This Earth God was so eloquent; she almost wanted to reward him with a few more Azure Cicada Coins. However, the Ling Yan Sword Sect was not wealthy. Her Master, in order to save money for the disciples' sword practice, had endured great hardship. Therefore, Chen Meng Jun had never had extravagant habits; she always tried to save wherever possible.
She stood up and looked towards the Northern Region.
She wondered when they would meet again.