Three days later.
...
Snow Domain Celestial Lake, Summit Villa.
The scruffy man Tang Guangjun, having completed the task assigned by Lin Zhao, arrived at Natural Residence with a sword on his back. He clasped his fists and said in a deep voice, "The grand ceremony of Guiyuan Sword Sect was held this afternoon. Many people attended to offer their congratulations, including the Demon race’s Lord Shi Jun Gang and Bai Ye, who personally came to offer their respects. The Demon race sent a Divine Cavalry Captain, and many sects from the Northern Plains’ Enchanted Mountains also attended."
"Get to the point."
Lin Zhao asked, "Were there any human sects present?"
"Yes."
Tang Guangjun frowned and said, "The ancestor of Qingliang Sect, Zhao Jingyu, personally led the Sect Master Zhao Sui Guang to offer congratulations. They brought a treasure, rumored to be worth at least a thousand Golden Eel Coins, along with many magical artifacts and flying swords. In short, Qingliang Sect’s intention to curry favor with Guiyuan Sword Sect was quite evident. At the banquet, Zhao Jingyu kept toasting Qing Nan. Furthermore, the head of the former Sect Master of Xuanhuang Sect, Ning Ran, was placed in the most prominent position among the offerings at Guiyuan Sword Sect. Zhao Jingyu, however, acted as if he saw nothing, still chatting and laughing with Qing Nan, Bai Ye, Shi Jun Gang, and others."
"That old dog Zhao Jingyu!"
Mu Ya frowned and said, "He's always been despicable, profiting from the human realm's fortune yet willingly serving as a dog to the four Northern races. Qingliang Sect should have been leveled long ago!"
"My lord?"
Xuan Zhi rose from the bamboo chair and said, "I can go and challenge Qingliang Sect right now. Although Zhao Jingyu is at the Thirteenth Realm, I have a seventy percent chance of killing him this time."
"Don't rush, sit down."
Lin Zhao stepped forward, placed his hands on Xuan Zhi's fragrant shoulders, and pressed her back into the chair. "This matter must be carefully considered. After all, Qingliang Sect has more than just the Thirteenth Realm Zhao Jingyu. The reason he is so diligently trying to befriend the four Northern races is to seek their protection. If we were to challenge Qingliang Sect, Guiyuan Sword Sect would not stand by idly. It's possible that the Twelfth Realm Sword Cultivator Qing Nan might even directly intervene to help Qingliang Sect."
Xuan Zhi's pretty face flushed slightly, and she remained silent.
"That is indeed a possibility."
Chu Yu said, "If that happens, it will be troublesome."
"Yes."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Let's wait a bit longer. The account of Qingliang Sect congratulating Guiyuan Sword Sect has been noted."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze south, wondering how Chen Ben was doing. He also didn't know if Chen Ben had broken through his cultivation. If Chen Ben had broken through, his Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist would likely replace Chen Xi as the strongest Heavenly Origin Realm expert in the world, becoming a trump card for him. Then he could send a message to Xiao Jiuer to head north.
...Great Wind Novel Network
Winter Spring Valley.
Caravans laden with supplies entered Winter Spring Valley and stopped at a mountainside location by a stream. Countless artisans began quarrying stone and felling trees on-site to build the Ancestral Hall, mountain gate, and residences for the Sect Master and Vice Sect Master of Winter Spring Sword Sect. Leng Yan had gone to great lengths to invite this team of at least 500 artisans, almost wearing down his tongue in Heavenly Secrets City before finally persuading them to travel north. He had also spent 300 Golden Eel Coins, a considerable investment.
Lu Guiyi, as the Sect Master, had been diligently working during this period. She had traveled through the wilderness, towns, and regions of Yunzhou, Ningzhou, and Yanzhou, finding over 30 female disciples. The youngest was only six years old, and the oldest was seventeen, all at an age suitable for sword cultivation. The group of disciples, calling her "Sect Master Revered Master" and Leng Yan "Vice Sect Master Sister" affectionately every day, made Lu Guiyi smile from ear to ear. After pursuing the Great Dao for many years, these were the most comfortable days she had experienced.
As a rogue cultivator, the moment she decided to establish a sect and create Winter Spring Sword Sect, her heart found its anchor. However, Lu Guiyi felt a pang of guilt. Her own sword cultivation was not high; she was merely at the Star River Realm, not even among the Upper Five Realms. According to the rules of the human realm's mountains, not just anyone could establish a "Sword Sect." First, the Sect Master's realm had to be high, starting from the Eleventh Realm Sword Immortal. Second, their reputation had to be sufficient. Lu Guiyi possessed neither. Fortunately, this was the Northern Plains, where rules were not so strict. If she, Lu Guiyi, insisted on establishing a sword sect, no one could truly object.
Therefore, when Lu Guiyi looked at Leng Yan, her eyes were filled with affection. This junior sister was like a gift from heaven, changing the course of her pursuit of the Great Dao! Moreover, Lu Guiyi could see that Leng Yan had considerable talent in sword cultivation. Perhaps her senior sister might never reach the Upper Five Realms in her lifetime, but her junior sister might. It didn't matter who entered the Upper Five Realms; what mattered was that Winter Spring Sword Sect must have an Upper Five Realm Sword Immortal.
Evening.
The artisans stopped their work and returned to their tents to start fires and cook meals. Inside the tents on the mountainside lived Lu Guiyi, Leng Yan, and a group of female disciples.
As the evening sun cast its rays on the mountain gate, a man in a yellow robe ascended the mountain, sword in hand. He possessed a handsome appearance, but his brows held a hint of wickedness, and his eyes emanated ill will. Upon reaching the mountain gate and seeing the four characters "Winter Spring Sword Sect" inscribed on it, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Tsk tsk, anyone dares to call themselves a Sword Sect now. Have the cultivators of the Northern Plains forgotten that whether one can be called a Sword Sect must be approved by our Qingliang Sect!"
Saying this, he raised his hand, drew his sword, and split the giant rock of the mountain gate in two. The entire Winter Spring Mountain trembled slightly.
This person was none other than Zhao Yichuan, the chief disciple of Qingliang Sect, who had recently broken through to the Upper Five Realms.
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, the mountain gate shattered. The artisans were so startled that they dropped their bowls and retreated in haste.
On the mountainside, Lu Guiyi and Leng Yan, accompanied by a group of older female disciples, hurried over. The moment she saw Zhao Yichuan, a trace of hatred flickered in Lu Guiyi's eyes. She recognized him. When Lu Guiyi was still a rogue cultivator, Zhao Yichuan had harassed her for some time. However, despite being a rogue cultivator, Lu Guiyi disdained cultivators like Zhao Yichuan, who had an improper moral code and were low-class. But Zhao Yichuan was backed by Qingliang Sect, and Lu Guiyi couldn't afford to provoke him, so she could only flee.
But now, things were different. Lu Guiyi had established Winter Spring Sword Sect, and her foundation was here. Now that Zhao Yichuan had come knocking, it was unlikely to be good news. More importantly, the current Zhao Yichuan was at the Eleventh Realm. The aura of his cultivation pressing down was intense. Furthermore, Zhao Yichuan possessed several magical artifacts, and although he was not a sword cultivator, he had a profound sword technique. Lu Guiyi, a Tenth Realm sword cultivator, was by no means his match.
"Zhao Yichuan."
Lu Guiyi held her sword horizontally in front of her chest, frowning. "What do you want?"
"Nothing much?"
Zhao Yichuan chuckled. "Lu Guiyi, why bother with this charade of establishing a sect? Wouldn't it be better if you married into Qingliang Sect and became my Dao companion? Perhaps you could even become a Peak Master or Hall Master in Qingliang Sect. Isn't that better than establishing a sect in this dilapidated Winter Spring Valley?"
"You wish."
Lu Guiyi said calmly, "I would rather die than become your Dao companion."
"If that's the case, then your Winter Spring Sword Sect will not be established."
Zhao Yichuan said with a smile, "Our Qingliang Sect will not agree."
"Does your Qingliang Sect have any shame?"
Lu Guiyi gritted her teeth. "Guiyuan Sword Sect had barely annihilated the human sect Xuanhuang Sect when you rushed to congratulate them. You've completely disgraced the human realm on the mountains. Now you come to our Winter Spring Sword Sect to show off? Are all the people of Qingliang Sect born from cesspools, with their faces inherently smeared with excrement?"
"What did you say?!"
Zhao Yichuan was furious. He lunged forward, and as his sword tip was about to strike, four magical artifacts attacked Lu Guiyi from different directions simultaneously. The disparity in their cultivation realms directly sent Lu Guiyi staggering backward. She couldn't even block one sword. Logically, a sword cultivator should be able to defeat a spirit cultivator who was one realm higher, but a Tenth Realm sword cultivator could not defeat an Eleventh Realm spirit cultivator, especially considering the dividing line between the Middle Five Realms and Upper Five Realms.
Zhao Yichuan's figure flickered, and he brought down a heavy foot from the air, directly stomping on Lu Guiyi's shoulder and forcing her into the mountain rock. Simultaneously, he waved his sleeve, and two magical artifacts flew out, severely injuring Leng Yan and sending her flying backward. He increased the pressure of his foot, directly stepping on Lu Guiyi's slender, snow-white neck, and sneered, "For a mere rogue cultivator like you to catch my eye is a blessing from your ancestors. You refuse a toast and insist on a beating. Lu Guiyi, how can there be such a foolish cultivator in this world?!"
Lu Guiyi's mouth bled. Her sword qi surged, as she desperately resisted his foot. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I, Lu Guiyi, have truly had eight lifetimes of bad luck to be caught by a beast like you!"
"Courting death!"
Zhao Yichuan was enraged. With a kick, he sent Lu Guiyi's body flying backward, crashing through several large trees before she landed on the mountain wilderness, coughing up blood. She had already sustained internal injuries.
"Listen carefully."
Zhao Yichuan's gaze was cold. "Our Qingliang Sect is a righteous sect of the human race, so I will not kill you. However, this Winter Spring Valley falls within the jurisdiction of our Qingliang Sect's mountains and waters. As long as I do not give my approval for a day, I will shatter your Winter Spring Sword Sect's mountain gate every time you build it. If you dare to erect an Ancestral Hall, I will destroy it. If you don't believe me, just wait and see!"
He turned around and flew away on the wind.
"Senior Sister..."
Leng Yan, with her health severely depleted, stumbled to Lu Guiyi's side and helped her up. "Are you alright?"
"I'm mostly fine..."
Lu Guiyi's expression was pale. "It's just that our Winter Spring Sword Sect..."
"It'll be fine, it'll be fine."
Leng Yan gritted her teeth. "I have friends in the North. I'll go ask him to help our Winter Spring Sword Sect seek justice!"
"Ah?!"
Lu Guiyi's expression was pained. "Junior Sister, don't go. You have no idea who we're facing. It's Qingliang Sect! The foremost sect in the Northern human realm, with a Thirteenth Realm and a Twelfth Realm expert. No matter how powerful your friend is, he will never be a match for Qingliang Sect..."
"It's okay, I'll try."
Leng Yan rose, summoned her flying sword, and flew straight towards the direction of Snow Domain Celestial Lake.
...Southern Region, Hibiscus State.
Late at night, a young martial artist descended the mountain with agile steps. As he passed through a small town, he saw many delicious things: twists, sugar figurines, and some wild fruits. So, he stopped. He was about to return to Snow Domain Celestial Lake and wanted to buy something for everyone. He'd buy some twists and sugar figurines for Tong Yu, and some fruits for Brother Lin Zhao, Sister Xuan Zhi, and Master to try!
He took a deep breath. Well, he should buy a bit more, after all, his cultivation realm was different now!