A young man woke up in the dead of night, groggy from sleep. He stumbled to the edge of the bamboo grove, intending to relieve himself. It turned out he wasn't awakened by the awakening of a lake of embedded swords or by stepping into the realm of a sword cultivator, but rather by a full bladder.
"Huh?!"
Zhang Luobai was startled to see a crowd of people staring at him. His face paled with shock. "Master... you... why are you all here?"
"It's nothing."
Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Finish up and get back to sleep."
"Oh..."
The dazed and muddled boy didn't bother to think too much about it and indeed went back to sleep. Soon, faint snores could be heard.
...
Outside the bamboo grove.
Lin Zhao felt a sense of ambition. Zhang Liucheng had failed to become a sword immortal in his previous life. This life was much smoother. He had only been practicing swordsmanship with Fu Zhi for a short time and had already awakened a lake of embedded swords. He chuckled with delight, "The Sword Mountain will be closed for a month, and no one is allowed in. After a month of recuperation, Zhang Luobai will go up the mountain to choose two swords, one for carrying and one for flying."
"Mm."
Fu Zhi smiled and nodded, "Understood."
Chu Yu stepped forward and said, "Sir, actually, Zhang Luobai wasn't the only one to break through today. Besides Zhang Luobai becoming a first-realm sword cultivator, Zhuang Yirong also broke through in the evening. She is now a second-realm martial artist."
"Amazing!"
Lin Zhao said with genuine joy, "This is truly the legendary 'the younger generation is to be feared.' Our Mountain Summit Villa will have successors from now on!"
Fu Zhi and Chu Yu smiled sweetly. Mu Sha also shared in the joy. Old Huang, with his arms crossed, grinned. It would be wonderful if Commander Chu could see this scene today. Compared to their first generation, the second generation, including Lin Zhao, Fu Zhi, Chu Yu, and Mu Sha, had all grown up. Those in the upper five realms were everywhere. The third generation was also not to be underestimated. Tong Yu and Zhang Luobai were both embryo sword immortals, especially Tong Yu, whose progress was incredibly fast. It was highly likely he would reach the upper five realms before the age of sixteen. Furthermore, Zhuang Yirong's aptitude for martial arts was also excellent, and with proper training, her chances of entering the Heavenly Yuan realm were quite high.
...
Deep in the night, in the Netherworld.
A sword light vanished into the sky. Qin Hong, with his injured arm dragging, once again fled.
Lin Wanhua, holding her long sword, frowned as she looked at the sky, contemplating whether to continue the pursuit. Further pursuit might actually lead to the death of this thirteenth-realm Grand Sword Immortal. However, she hesitated. This was the Netherworld, and Qin Hong was a human thirteenth-realm sword cultivator. Killing Qin Hong here would scatter his sword dao destiny throughout the Netherworld, essentially benefiting the Netherworld.
Just then, Lin Wanhua looked down and saw an old man appear in the wild apricot grove ahead. He wore a grey robe, leaned on a scratched hiking staff, and had a green gourd hanging from his waist, looking frail and aged.
"..."
Lin Wanhua, at the peak of the thirteenth realm, could not be deceived by the old Daoist's concealed abilities.
"Senior."
Lin Wanhua cupped her fists gently and said, "May I ask if you come from the Daoist school or the School of Diplomacy?"
"They are all the same, the Great Dao returns to One!"
The old Daoist smiled, "Lin Wanhua, your edge is too sharp. It will not be good in the long run. You need more tempering between life and death. Moreover... you are in the Netherworld, and you are disrupting my grand plan. Alas, alas, since that is the case, I shall confine you for a period of time first."
As he spoke, the old Daoist suddenly opened his left sleeve. Within his sleeve, there was indeed a universe. A Dharma image descended from the sky, intending to draw Lin Wanhua into his sleeve.
"???"
Lin Wanhua, of course, would not surrender. A sword light shot into the sky, directly slitting a long opening in the old man's left sleeve. But the moment Lin Wanhua's sword struck, the old man gently patted the green gourd at his waist. Instantly, a series of clanging sounds echoed. Numerous seemingly pliable flying swords shot out from the gourd, wrapping around Lin Wanhua's sword intent like tender golden leaves.
"Ah?!"
Lin Wanhua's face turned ashen with shock. Before she could react, the old Daoist opened his right sleeve. Within it, there was still a universe. In a mere few breaths, Lin Wanhua was drawn into the sleeve, her presence abruptly vanishing from the mortal world.
The old Daoist leaned on his hiking staff, looked at the left sleeve that had been split open by a sword, and frowned. He smiled and said, "Alas... should I find a place to mend this?"
...
Early morning, Mountain Summit Villa.
Smoke curled from the kitchen beside the Natural Dwelling, where Dongcang was diligently preparing breakfast.
Down the mountain, an old Daoist ambled along the mountain path, holding his hiking staff and with the green gourd hanging at his waist. He looked frail and ancient, with rather unusual features – four fleshy moles on his forehead. As he reached the south gate of the small town, a dishevelled figure descended from the sky. It was Tang Guangjun. He raised his arm and said, "Daoist, why do you ascend the mountain!?"
"Ah?!"
The old Daoist was taken aback. "Who are you?"
"I am..."
Tang Guangjun straightened his body and said in a deep voice, "Tang Guangjun, Commander of the Southern Heavenly Gate Guard of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, and a non-chief enshrine of the Mountain Summit Villa. May I ask for the Daoist's name?"
"Oh..."
The old Daoist quickly bowed respectfully. "This humble one comes from the south, drifting about, making a living by wandering the martial world. I implore Commander, please do not make things difficult for this humble one..."
Tang Guangjun grinned. His expression was initially quite dismissive and teasing, but at a certain moment, upon seeing the old Daoist's true face, he was utterly shocked. The casualness on his face vanished, and he said respectfully, "Go on, go on. Old sir, be careful when you try to swindle people by telling fortunes in town. Our people in Tianchi Town are simple and upright, and full of martial virtue. If your trickery is exposed, you might lose your remaining teeth. Then you won't be able to eat meat anymore~~~"
The old Daoist smiled and nodded, "Thank you, fellow Daoist, for the reminder. Thank you for the reminder!"
The old Daoist ascended the mountain and passed through the town.
On a small bridge, a young man holding a wooden sword and carrying a satchel stood bathed in the morning light. A faint sword intent flowed from him as he meticulously practiced his stances and sword forms. From today onwards, he, Zhang Luobai, was no longer the Zhang Luobai of yesterday, but Zhang Luobai, a first-realm sword cultivator! Therefore, on his way to school, Zhang Luobai walked very quickly, wanting to show the townsfolk his splendor as a first-realm sword cultivator!
"Clap clap clap!"
On the other end of the stone bridge, an old Daoist clapped his hands gently and laughed, "Young friend, your sword energy soars to the heavens! To possess such swordsmanship and sword intent at such a young age is truly rare! May this humble one have the honor of telling your fortune?!"
"Huh?"
Zhang Luobai looked at the old Daoist and smiled, "So you're an old Daoist priest. You've actually seen through that I, this young master, possess peerless sword techniques. You must keep this secret and not spread it around!"
"Of course!"
The old Daoist patted his chest. "We who walk the martial world are men of our word. This opportunity of yours, this humble one will surely keep it secret. Please, young friend, give me a chance to tell your full fortune. It's free, I only need..."
He looked at Zhang Luobai's bulging satchel and, pretending to divine with his fingers, pondered for a long time before pointing at Zhang Luobai's satchel. "I only need the salted duck egg from your satchel!"
"!!!"
Zhang Luobai stood on the stone bridge as if struck by lightning. This was truly an immortal! He could actually divine that there was a salted duck egg in his satchel. Dongcang sister had packed it for him for lunch before he left. He narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Senior's discernment is indeed considerable. Alright, since that's the case, I'll allow you to tell my fortune. If you speak well of me, the salted duck egg is yours. If you don't, hmph, then it just means you and this egg are not destined!"
"Alright, alright!"
The old Daoist stepped forward, meticulously examining Zhang Luobai and palpating his bones. His expression grew increasingly astonished and exaggerated, shaking his head repeatedly, his brow furrowed. "No way... no way... it's a congenital sword immortal physique that only appears once in ten thousand years! My heavens, your talent for the sword is unparalleled! Even if you lay at home and never cultivated, you would at least be a thirteenth-realm Grand Sword Immortal in this life. Tsk, tsk, with a little effort, you'd start at the fourteenth realm. If you were diligent, you would undoubtedly be the sole fifteenth-realm Sword Immortal in heaven and earth! To annihilate those old turtles in the sea of the heavens like poking a salted duck egg with chopsticks would be as simple as doing so."
Zhang Luobai was astonished.
...
Not long after, Zhang Luobai cupped his fists and bid farewell to the old Daoist, promising to meet again in the martial world.
The old Daoist sat on the railing of the stone bridge and began to eat the salted duck egg, exclaiming, "Mom, it's delicious!" The yolk was oily, and the taste was pure. Leaning against the railing, the old Daoist smiled with satisfaction.
...
Evening.
As the eldest disciple, Tong Yu had the highest cultivation among the younger generation, so she was responsible for picking up Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong from school. In front of the Hefeng Academy, Tong Yu bowed to the young tutor who saw the children off. The young tutor returned the bow. They were all family, and the Hefeng Academy was considered a branch of the Mountain Summit Villa on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.
"Eldest Senior Sister!"
Zhang Luobai rushed out first, carrying his wooden sword. After smiling at Tong Yu, he began practicing his sword techniques on the roadside weeds, causing grass heads to fall. Zhuang Yirong walked alongside Tong Yu with a smile.
"Zhang Luobai!"
Tong Yu frowned. "You are now a first-realm sword cultivator. Do not swing your sword carelessly. What if the sword qi you release accidentally harms an innocent person? Have you not heard the saying that one who possesses strength should also possess restraint? The stronger a person is, the more they should be able to control their power."
"Huh?"
Zhang Luobai was taken aback. "Aren't the stronger people supposed to be less restrained?"
"I don't know."
Tong Yu said, "But this is what Brother Lin Zhao taught me. He told me that the stronger a person is, the more they should restrain their temper, otherwise this world will become very unpleasant."
"It was Master who said it!"
Zhang Luobai immediately stood up straight and said earnestly, "Understood, Eldest Senior Sister. I will do as you say!"
Tong Yu smiled and nodded.
...
On the stone bridge.
"Oh?!"
As Zhang Luobai and the old Daoist met each other's eyes, they both took several steps back, appearing quite surprised. Immediately, they both cupped their fists in salutation. "Fellow Daoist, I didn't expect the martial world to be so small!"
Tong Yu frowned. "Who is this old gentleman?"
"A friend from the martial world!"
Zhang Luobai thumped his chest. Since stepping into the first realm of sword cultivation, my, Zhang Luobai's, journey in the martial world has begun!