"I've tasted the wine brewed by Miss Han Yurou, its flavor is mellow and rich, so I wish to use one of your lives to repay a favor."
Although Yan Beichen spoke with his fist clasped in a gesture of utmost respect, the words sounded like a death knell to the ears of the eleventh-realm water demon. What kind of logic was this? Repay your favor, what does it have to do with me?!
"You..."
Before the eleventh-realm water demon could speak, a sword qi descended from the heavens, directly turning it into a bloody mist. Amidst the blazing sword qi, even the blood mist evaporated, leaving not a single trace behind.
Yan Beichen passed through Copper Mirror Lake and turned north towards Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.
Before leaving, he raised his clasped fist in a distant salute to Han Yurou, who was sweeping snow in the peach blossom forest. Since she was a friend of Lin Zhao, she must be a most exceptional peach blossom demon!
Han Yurou was momentarily stunned, and simply nodded in return to Yan Beichen.
After Yan Beichen turned and departed, Han Yurou parted her red lips and said, "That person... is so strange..."
Lu Hua chuckled, "The martial world is filled with all sorts of people. As long as they mean no harm, that's all that matters."
"Mm."
...
Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, Mountain Lord's Shrine.
Yan Beichen, carrying his sword, passed by and cupped his fist in a respectful salute towards the Mountain Lord's Shrine. It was proper and formal.
"Aiya..."
Su Shanjun couldn't sit still. His golden Dharmakaya quickly emerged from the Mountain Lord's Shrine, covering his face and laughing, "He's such a great Sword Immortal, yet still so courteous! How can I possibly accept such a greeting!"
Yan Beichen chuckled, "Su Shanjun has reached the fourteenth realm and has wielded his sword for humanity against demons in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. He has also shielded Mr. Qin from heavenly tribulations. If Su Shanjun cannot accept it, who can?"
"You say so."
Su Shanjun puffed up with pride and cupped his fist, smiling, "Then I shall accept it with peace of mind."
Yan Beichen replied, "It is only right!"
"Come in for a drink?"
Su Shanjun chuckled, "This Mountain Lord's Shrine may not have much else, but the offerings are endless. What can I do? As the Mountain Lord, I bless the common folk. The villagers in the small town adore me so much."
Yan Beichen wrinkled his nose but didn't expose him, laughing, "I'll pass on the wine. I met Old Mr. Yan of the Confucian school on my way. Mr. Yan's wine is truly excellent. Su Shanjun's wine... smelling it is enough, I won't drink it..."
Su Shanjun waved his hand, "Go on, then. Now that you've reached the fourteenth realm, when you draw your sword for humanity, be fiercer and more decisive. Don't hesitate any longer, or you'll be letting down all those who died in battle. Qin Suihan, Wen Liang, Gu Zixi, they are all watching from the heavens. Oh, and Old Sword Immortal Han from the heavens too."
"Oh dear..."
Old Sword Immortal Han stumbled and fell from the clouds. Originally, Han Buyu had no intention of meeting Yan Beichen; the gap was too vast. He had stumbled and struggled, only reaching the eleventh realm of sword cultivation with Lin Zhao's help. But before him stood a genuine fourteenth-realm cultivator, possessing an unblemished sword heart and profound foundation. Meeting him would be too awkward.
"Yan Beichen!"
The young fourteenth-realm cultivator quickly clasped his fist and said solemnly, "Greetings, Old Sword Immortal Han. I've heard that years ago, Old Sword Immortal Han slew countless demons with his sword at the northern entrance of the small town. Though Yan Beichen did not witness it personally, I can imagine the old Sword Immortal's demeanor back then. Now, as a deity of wind and rain, you bless the people with your benevolence, your merit is immeasurable."
Han Buyu hastily returned the salute, "Aiya, aiya, Sword Immortal Yan, you are too kind. You humble this old man..."
"Not at all, not at all."
Yan Beichen smiled, "Old Sword Immortal deserves Yan Beichen's bow."
After a brief exchange, Yan Beichen ascended the mountain.
At the mountain gate.
Tang Guangjun, the disheveled man who normally would have blocked the path of anyone ascending the mountain with his sword, almost didn't dare to appear. Normally, even if a fly flew up the mountain, he, Tang Guangjun, would have drawn his sword and severed a leg, claiming it as a "tribute." He would even chase after flying geese in the sky and pluck a pile of feathers. As the gatekeeper of the small town, he was full of authority. But now, with Yan Beichen ascending, Tang Guangjun crouched on a rock not far from the mountain gate, his sleeves pulled in, turning his back and not daring to look.
How could he look?
The aura of the fourteenth-realm sword cultivator was too intense. He had only felt such concentrated sword intent from his sect leader. And his own state of mind wasn't good; both the sect leader and the elder felt he was too filled with hostility. But he, Tang Guangjun, couldn't control this hostility! So it was better not to meet. The sect leader had been gracious enough to spare his life. What if this human fourteenth-realm sword cultivator had a bad temper and, at the slightest disagreement, drew his sword and cut him down? Who would he seek redress from?
"..."
Yan Beichen looked at Tang Guangjun's back and still smiled, cupping his fist, "Yan Beichen of the East Sea, greetings to the Military School sword cultivator, Lord Tang Guangjun!"
"Ah?"
Tang Guangjun's body trembled. He could no longer pretend. He immediately turned around, a smile plastered on his face, and clasped his fist, "Tang Guangjun of the Military School, greetings to Sword Immortal Yan. Sword Immortal, you've come a long way. Are you looking for our Mountain Master's junior brother?"
"Mountain Master's junior brother?"
"Yes, the master of the Villa on the Summit, Lin Zhao."
"Mm, yes."
Yan Beichen chuckled, "This trip is indeed partly for Lin Zhao, and incidentally to see the young Jiu'er from back then."
"Since that's the case, shall Tang Guangjun lead the way for the Sword Immortal?"
"Good."
Yan Beichen smiled, "Just pass through the small town, no need to be ostentatious with your sword."
"Alright, I'll listen to the Sword Immortal."
...
Tang Guangjun led the way, and Yan Beichen followed, entering the small town side by side.
The small town's population had become prosperous again. After all, there was food, drink, and land to cultivate. Therefore, many people from the surrounding wilderness had gathered. Now, the town's population far exceeded that of a hundred years ago, and some houses and fields had even been expanded.
On the street.
Yan Beichen's posture was straight and tall, completely different from Tang Guangjun's appearance. Many young women in the small town smiled, and a girl even laughed from not far away, "Wow, what a handsome young man! He looks like a scholar-sword cultivator. That posture... it's simply comparable to Lord Lin Zhao. If only I could marry such an ideal husband!"
Her sister playfully scoffed, "You shameless girl, to say such embarrassing things. Oh, the Sword Immortal can hear you, apologize quickly!"
Yan Beichen felt a bit awkward, simply cupping his fist and smiling at the women.
By the roadside, a waiter from an inn called out, "Young master, have you just arrived in Snow Domain Heavenly Pool? Are you looking for lodging? Our inn's rooms are large and comfortable, guaranteed to satisfy you. Would you like a room, young master?"
Yan Beichen simply cupped his fist and nodded with a smile. Anyone who spoke to him was met with a response.
Tang Guangjun, walking ahead, rolled his eyes. He didn't know how this fellow had cultivated to the fourteenth realm. Lin Xingchu had integrated with the Dao and refined the Jian River, becoming a thirteenth-realm cultivator. Liu Bai had integrated with the Dao and refined the Kusong River, becoming a thirteenth-realm demon. What had Yan Beichen integrated with when he broke through the thirteenth realm? Was it courtesy?
...
Villa on the Summit.
After Tang Guangjun brought Yan Beichen to the Villa on the Summit, he went down to guard the gate. Everyone from Tianranju came out. Lin Zhao stared intently at Yan Beichen for a long time before finally recognizing him. At that moment, he was completely stunned, as if petrified. "So... the fourteenth-realm that humanity has planned for so long is Sword Immortal Yan..."
"Hahaha~~~"
Yan Beichen chuckled awkwardly and clasped his fist, "Lin Zhao, it's been a long time!"
"Mm, Sword Immortal Yan, it's been a long time!"
"Call me Brother Yan... you calling me Sword Immortal Yan feels a bit strange and distant," Yan Beichen said.
Behind Lin Zhao, Wu Zhi looked speechless. Does my lord have some special talent? He's already gained another "brother"? And a fourteenth-realm human sword cultivator at that! If we're talking about popularity, I wouldn't be convinced if my lord wasn't number one in the world.
"Wu Zhi, come and greet Brother Yan," Lin Zhao said.
"Greetings, Sword Immortal Yan!"
Wu Zhi condensed another arm with his sword intent, forming a virtual fist in the wind as a salute.
Yan Beichen also smiled and returned the salute. Wu Zhi, the eleventh-realm peak sword immortal, with his left-hand sword. He could accept her calling him Sword Immortal Yan, so he didn't say anything. When he looked up, a woman gracefully descended from the second-floor guest room of Tianranju. She wore a red dress and white top; it was Su Qingjiu, now grown up. At that moment, Yan Beichen smiled, "Little Jiu'er, do you remember me?"
"Of course, I remember!"
Su Qingjiu lightly clasped her fist, imitating the manner of those in the martial world, and smiled, "Su Qingjiu, greetings to Sword Immortal Yan!"
Yan Beichen returned the salute.
Lin Zhao watched this. They were all being too polite. If this continued, they wouldn't be able to talk. So, he shouted with a thunderous voice, "Dongcang, Tongyu, Wang Yue, prepare lunch. We'll be hosting Sword Immortal Yan at Tianranju!"
...
At noon, after a rich lunch, Yan Beichen finally understood the true flavor of Lin Zhao's cooking. It really didn't seem to have been passed down from Old Mr. Yan!
In the afternoon, Lin Zhao was fishing by the lake, preparing a fishing rod for both Yan Beichen and Su Qingjiu. Since they had things to discuss, it was better to talk while fishing.
"Little Jiu'er."
Yan Beichen looked at Su Qingjiu and asked, "Are you refining your natal flying sword in the first sword-containing lake?"
"Mm."
Su Qingjiu replied, "I've already reached the intermediate refinement stage and plan to perform a major refinement in the next few days."
"Don't refine it for now."
Yan Beichen said, "Although your current sword embryo is considered an immortal sword, its foundation is insufficient, and its quality is much inferior. I will give you a sword embryo that is close to your previous flying sword's White Fish sword intent and Dao, but its quality will be much superior."
Saying that, he raised his hand and sent it forward. A flying sword embryo appeared before Su Qingjiu, emitting a faint white light and surrounded by a dark blue sheen.
"This is a sword embryo found in a deep-sea ruin, extremely rare."
Yan Beichen smiled, "Take it and examine it first. If you find it suitable, refine it into your natal flying sword. If not, refining it as a minor or intermediate one is also fine."
"Mm!"
Su Qingjiu was overjoyed. A gift from a fourteenth-realm great sword immortal must be precious. The spirituality and quality of this flying sword embryo were indeed much stronger than the previous White Fish flying sword. However, Su Qingjiu loved the big white fish in White Fish Creek so much that after refining this sword, she would still call it White Fish!
Lin Zhao looked up, a smile on his lips. He was naturally happy to see Little Jiu'er receive such a treasure.
"Lin Zhao."
Yan Beichen said, "I've come here after a great battle. Regardless of the outcome, I won't be able to remain in the human world. So, I've also prepared some gifts for you. I hope you don't find them lacking."
With that, he waved his sleeve, and a total of five flying sword embryos were arranged before Lin Zhao.
"Don't guess."
Yan Beichen smiled slightly, "All five sword embryos are of immortal sword grade, and all of them are prepared for you."
"..."
Lin Zhao was dumbfounded. If other players knew about this, would they want to kill him?