Chapter 85: Red-Hot

How should one put it? The Suitian Sword Sect had a history of this, and more than once.

This martial-minded, sword-revering sect adhered to the philosophy that “sword cultivation is the best in the world” from top to bottom. Whether it was Sect Master Tang Ji or the renowned Sword Venerable Meixi, every single one of them treated their natal sword as a Dao companion.

A disciple of the Tianji Pavilion who had far too much time on his hands once compiled a statistic on the ratio of Dao companions across the major sects of the cultivation world. Unsurprisingly, the Suitian Sword Sect was dead last, a position they had maintained to this day, never wavering from their original path.

Sharing equal fame with this unwavering path was the Suitian Sword Sect’s covetous eye for promising sword cultivation talents from other sects.

To put it simply, compared to talisman or spell cultivators, sword cultivation demanded far too much innate talent. It was a path of cultivation that could only be truly understood by those gifted with talent. Consequently, the Suitian Sword Sect had the fewest inner disciples among the Five Great Sects, but in return, their average combat power was the most ferocious.

Furthermore, they lacked any sense of sportsmanship and were particularly fond of poaching talent from other sects.

Wen Xu did not carry a sword. To be blunt, he considered himself merely someone who practiced swordplay rather than a pure sword cultivator. Thus, after entering the Suitian Sword Sect, he walked alongside his two friends. Since he was pretending to be blind, his friends guided him from the front and back. Free from the worry of taking a wrong turn, he was able to focus more of his attention on his surroundings.

People were naturally curious about the new and unknown, and Wen Xu was no exception.

The Suitian Sword Sect was named after the semi-immortal artifact, the Sutian Sword, which stood openly at the mountain gate. Wen Xu did not dare open his eyes to look at this magnificent sword, but as he raised his head along with his two friends, the wind brushing past him naturally stirred the spiritual energy around his body.

The wind was his best set of eyes.

Although it was the height of summer, the Suitian Sword Sect remained as cold as winter. However, Wen Xu had long since grown accustomed to the eternal snow and wind of Guochun Peak. Standing beneath the Sutian Sword now, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

This place gave him a sense of peace. Despite the sharp, metallic chill of weapons, it was unexpectedly comforting.

Right at that moment, a sharp, metallic sword qi locked onto him. With Wen Xu’s cultivation level, he had nowhere to hide and no way to break free.

He was pinned to the spot. Even though his eyes were closed, he still “witnessed” a breathtaking display of swordplay.

Yes, there was only a sword, and no person. The sword techniques moved with the body, with the wind, and with all things in heaven and earth, but never with a cultivator. This was…

Wen Xu’s breathing grew shallow. He could not hear any other sounds at this moment. He could only see the brilliant, almost bizarre sword techniques before him. This was simply too much of a challenge to a cultivator’s limits. If one relied solely on instinct to swing a spiritual sword, it would be impossible… even for a cultivator.

But if it were executed by the wind, then…

It would be effortless.

Wen Xu realized instantly that this was a sword art tailored specifically for a Wind Spiritual Root. Its forms were complex and its strikes tricky. Mastering it would undoubtedly require immense effort. Yet, his hands were trembling. He could not stop himself from wanting to pick up a sword and move along with it!

And so, he did.

The Wind-Folding Fan transformed into the Zhefeng Sword at his command. This sword style could actually snap the wind itself, let alone an enemy’s attack! For the first time, Wen Xu realized how fitting the name he had chosen was. Panting heavily as he barely managed to follow the entire sequence of the sword art to the end, he finally learned its name: 《Jianfeng Sword Art》.

Simmering the endless wind, using the wind as a sword; this was the core essence of this sword art.

The moment Wen Xu realized this, his mind finally snapped back to reality. Only then did he discover that he seemed to have become… a monkey at the mountain gate^[1] of the Suitian Sword Sect?!

Wen Xu was only a cultivator in the Qi Refining Stage. When his mind returned, most of the people present noticed it. But since no one wanted to make the first move, a long, heavy silence fell over the area.

Finally, a thick-skinned elder of the Suitian Sword Sect spoke up without blushing or skipping a beat. “This young friend looks very familiar to me. Perhaps we met in a past life.”

Right at that moment, Zhao Qi finally squeezed his way through. As luck would have it, he knew this fellow. He immediately snapped without standing on ceremony, “Cut the act, Yao! This is our Yonglu Mountain’s Little Grand-Uncle Master. He is the disciple of that Divine Venerable who hasn’t left seclusion in ages. Do you still think he looks familiar now?”

To put it simply, as the public-facing stern face of the Discipline Hall, Zhao Qi possessed rich diplomatic experience. With stubborn blockheads like those of the Suitian Sword Sect, beating around the bush was useless; they simply wouldn’t understand. One had to get straight to the point and show no politeness.

Sure enough, Elder Yao of the Suitian Sword Sect froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. What was that? Had he grown so old that his hearing was failing him? What Divine Venerable?

Ah, right. This young friend’s eyes were covered with a ribbon, clearly indicating some visual impairment. A few days ago, he had indeed heard that the Dragon Venerable of Yonglu Mountain had taken in a disciple with a peerless Wind Spiritual Root. What had he thought at the time? Oh, right. The Hehe Sect had been searching for a compatible Wind Spiritual Root disciple for Divine Venerable Jun. When one finally appeared after so much difficulty, Yonglu Mountain had actually beaten them to the punch. He had been looking forward to watching the two sects bicker over it.

And then he looked down. Oh, wow. The clown was actually himself!

Before the fire could even reach the Hehe Sect, they had been stabbed first. This was clearly… Sigh, Yonglu Mountain harbored wild ambitions! Their designs were utterly detestable!

How were they supposed to poach him now? Who in their right mind would want to cross the Dragon Venerable? Elder Yao calculated the odds. Even if Sword Venerable Meixi stepped in, it wouldn’t work. They would need Divine Venerable Wushan himself to make a move. But then, Elder Yao looked at the elegant and outstanding talent before him. If Divine Venerable Wushan found out that the Dragon Venerable’s disciple had come to the Suitian Sword Sect, then…

The diplomatic relations between the two sects would probably be severed on the spot.

Elder Yao’s mind spun rapidly. No one should think that sword cultivators were just a bunch of brainless brawlers; that was merely a stereotype the world forced upon them. Everyone was human. Who didn’t know how to use their brain?

Why not wait for the Hehe Sect and Yonglu Mountain to start fighting first, and then they could fan the flames? Wouldn’t they be able to reap the benefits as a third party then?

Bian Chunzhou looked at his friend, then at the gazes of the surrounding Suitian disciples. He felt that… things were looking a bit dangerous. What on earth had Wen Xuxu just gone through? Why did it suddenly feel like he had become a piece of Tang Sanzang’s flesh^[2]?

What’s more, it seemed they wanted to move the entire thing back to the Suitian Sword Sect! No! He would not allow it! He would protect the disciple of the Divine Dragon Venerable!

Wen Xu keenly sensed his friend’s suddenly heightened emotions, and his own excitement at having a fortuitous opportunity suddenly thrust upon him miraculously calmed down.

Whatever comes, I’ll deal with it, he thought. Worst-case scenario, I can always complain to Master, though it might be a bit difficult to clean up the mess afterward.

Yonglu Mountain was the last to arrive at the Suitian Sword Sect. With countless eyes watching, the events at the mountain gate quickly spread to the ears of everyone who was paying attention.

The heads of the four sects, who had been engaged in warm consultations and friendly conversation, all changed color at once. Oh, wait, that was not quite right. Master Yicheng of Kudu Temple had the corners of his mouth permanently turned down in a grimace, looking so sorrowful and bitter as if he had been digging up wild vegetables for eight hundred years^[3]; his expression did not change at all.

Gu Wufang covered his mouth, desperately trying to suppress the wild upward curve of his lips. “Oh my, how could we accept this? You of the Suitian Sword Sect are far too polite. One of these days, I will definitely ask the Divine Venerable to visit in person to express his thanks.”

Damn it, this was infuriating. Tang Ji stood up in a fit of rage. “Don’t hold me back! I, Tang Ji, am going to rip his mouth apart today!”

Master Yicheng instantly slid back several meters, chair and all. “Amitabha. After you, Sect Master Tang.”

The sect master of the Hehe Sect was named Ding Jieyou. Everyone in the cultivation world knew he was the most loyal follower of the Hehe Sect’s Grand Elder, Jun Zhaoying. Before Wen Xu, this Mutated Wind Spiritual Root, had even made his mark, Ding Jieyou had been the one organizing apprentice-selection assemblies for the Grand Elder. Now that a prime candidate had been snatched away by someone else, it was easy to imagine he had arrived today with a personal grudge.

In short, there was no way in hell he would stop Tang Ji. He even fanned the flames. “Rip it! If you rip it, I’ll pay for the healing pills!”

Gu Wufang thought to himself that this was just bullying. Fortunately, he had come prepared. “A gentleman uses his words, not his fists! Our Little Martial Uncle used to be a proper scholar. Before we set off, he even went out of his way to the Sect Master Peak to handle official business for me. If he finds out you ripped my mouth apart, he definitely won’t… Hey, you’re actually doing it for real?!”

An outer disciple guarding the gate held his sword, looking a bit worried. “Senior Brother, is everything really alright in there?”

“No need. It’s a minor incident, very common. Is this your first time?”

…Was this really a minor incident? It felt to him like the roof of the main hall was about to be blown right off!

“Don’t worry. Our Suitian Sword Sect is very friendly; no one is going to die.”

The guard disciple: …

While the battle raged “hotly” inside, the commotion at the mountain gate finally ended after a battle of words. A few people did ask what kind of opportunity Wen Xu had just received, but Zhao Qi and Venerable Morong deflected all their questions. By the time they settled down at Guest Peak, the evening glow had already quietly climbed the treetops.

The Guest Peak area was vast. The Five Sects Conference was a grand event in the cultivation world. Aside from the Five Great Sects, there were naturally other small and medium-sized sects, as well as rogue cultivators, attending the gathering. The Hehe Sect, Kudu Temple, and Yonglu Mountain each occupied a peak, while the rest were allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. In any case, the Suitian Sword Sect was not particularly enthusiastic about setting up defensive arrays, so the spiritual energy on every peak was roughly the same.

“Whew, that display earlier was terrifying. I actually wanted to join the Suitian Sword Sect back then. Thinking about it now, I really overestimated myself.” Bian Chunzhou thought of his own negligible sword skills, then of the swords of the Sword Sect disciples he had seen along the way. It felt like… a hot-blooded military academy.

Chen Zui gave him an odd look. “Why join the Suitian Sword Sect? My mother said Yonglu Mountain is the top choice.”

Bian Chunzhou reached out and patted his friend’s shoulder. “How should I put this… just make sure to be extra filial to your mother in the future.”

“As if I need you to tell me that.” He had always been very filial to his mother, even if she was always exasperated by him.

The lodgings on Guest Peak were built to a uniform standard, with nothing fancy about them. Yet Bian Chunzhou began selecting one with great interest. He was just that kind of person; even in a boring place, his presence brought a bit of fun. “Ah, I like this one! It has a perfect, panoramic view of the distant mountains dyed by the setting sun. I want to stay here!”

Of course, he also knew his two friends had no preferences regarding food or lodging, so he dragged them along to choose. In the end, Chen Zui got the room closest to the saber-practice field, while Wen Xu got the room with the best light and ventilation, yet the quietest.

Wen Xu indeed did not care about his lodgings, but he did prefer quiet. However, ever since he began cultivating, he had generally replaced sleep with cultivation, so he had almost forgotten this preference himself.

“How did you know I like quiet?”

Bian Chunzhou shook his head. “I didn’t. But you look like a quiet, handsome guy. Well, now I know, so I’ll make sure to get you the quietest room next time too.”

As they were chatting, the array outside the courtyard was triggered. Someone had actually come to visit.

The surrounding cultivators who were still watching closely tensed up. Who is it? Moving so fast? They looked closer and saw that it was actually a little bald monk from Kudu Temple… wait, he wasn’t bald. That was quite rare.

Who was the last one who wasn’t bald? Oh, that troublesome monk named Siren, who was fourth on the Heaven’s Pride List.