Chapter 302 - 206: Sword Peak

Chapter 302: Chapter 206: Sword Peak

’If I were to consume a potent tonic like the Blood Lingzhi now, Li Xingtuo would probably be able to tell with a single glance.’

Xie Yuan replayed his performance from today in his mind. Confirming he hadn’t given anything away in front of Li Xingtuo, he gave a slight nod.

’It shouldn’t be a problem.’

...

「Three days later.」

Cloud Mountain’s main peak, in the Back Hall.

Xie Yuan looked at the place where he had once toiled, feeling a surge of emotion.

’Looking back... well, it was only a few months ago that I was still here, repairing the ceiling.’

Now, he stood at the entrance to Sword Peak in the Back Hall, ready to enter. Finally, he wouldn’t be limited to just feeling the drafts that leaked out.

’I’ve been looking forward to seeing what’s inside since then. The day has finally come.’

He stood in a neat line with Lin Cheng and the others, waiting for their elders to arrive and give instructions. Suddenly, he felt a faint gaze upon him.

Xie Yuan’s head snapped around, only to see a handyman disciple in the outer corridor hastily lower his head.

’Tian Zhuang...?’

Xie Yuan froze for a moment, recognizing an old acquaintance from his time in the handyman courtyard.

’He’s still doing menial tasks here... I remember he was so diligent back then. He had a good chance of entering the Outer Sect.’

’But I think I took his spot...’

Xie Yuan had intended to go over and say hello, but seeing Tian Zhuang’s downcast head, he paused and decided against it.

They had both been handymen, and Xie Yuan had even arrived after him. Now, Xie Yuan was an Inner Sect Disciple who could enter Sword Peak for enlightenment, while Tian Zhuang was still here, doing menial chores.

’A well-intentioned greeting might not be received as a good thing.’

Xie Yuan shook his head slightly. Suddenly, the main peak disciple guarding the door in front of them asked kindly:

"Junior Brother Zhang, did you run into an acquaintance?"

Xie Yuan turned back, nodding with an honest expression.

"Senior Brother, as you know, I used to do chores here too. That was the senior brother who taught me the ropes."

The disciple said with a smile:

"Of course, we all remember you. You were diligent and did your work properly. Back then, we all thought you’d definitely make it into the Outer Sect. But to be promoted to the Inner Sect so quickly, and even get to enter Sword Peak..."

A trace of envy appeared on his face. Although he was a guard disciple here, he had never once been inside.

"You truly live up to your reputation, Junior Brother Zhang."

Xie Yuan offered a few humble words, then glanced back and said casually:

"Actually, it was Senior Brother Tian who taught me to be so meticulous and careful with my work back then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have picked things up so easily."

Hearing this, the disciple said thoughtfully:

"Now that you mention it, Tian Zhuang has been working here for quite a while, and he really does a good job. Hmm, by rights, shouldn’t he have entered the Outer Sect by now? I’ll ask the steward about it later."

Xie Yuan nodded silently.

’Tian Zhuang is a good person and a hard worker. He deserves a chance.’

The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect had never been stingy about promoting talented individuals and cultivating its disciples, but with so many disciples on the mountain, it was impossible to look after every single one.

A good reputation among the handymen might not reach the ears of those in charge, but a single word of praise from an Inner Sect Disciple would make everyone else take a second look.

Xie Yuan had worked here for a long time, and this guard disciple had seen him many times without ever paying him this much attention. But this was just human nature; it wasn’t a matter of good or bad. To make your voice heard, you had to stand in a high place.

And with a higher cultivation level, one naturally stood higher. Upon reaching the Grandmaster Realm, one could even fly through the sky.

But Xie Yuan already understood that he didn’t practice martial arts just to look down on others from the sky. He didn’t care whether others could hear his voice or not.

He just wanted to go up and see for himself.

The small interlude passed in a flash. After a short wait, Li Xingtuo arrived at the Back Hall.

The disciples all bowed in unison. Li Xingtuo waved his hand, his demeanor very easygoing.

"Everyone’s here? Are you ready?"

Huang Zifeng, leading the other four disciples, said in a solemn voice:

"Sect Leader, we are ready."

The four disciples had completed their trial with excellent results, which was largely thanks to Huang Zifeng’s leadership. Thus, he had also earned the opportunity to enter Sword Peak.

Li Xingtuo nodded with a smile. He then pointed to the spacious Back Hall and the heavily guarded gate leading to the back of the mountain.

"Zifeng, this is your first time here as well. You might know a bit more than them, but you should still listen carefully.

"Sword Peak is a lone peak that rises to the heavens. It is incredibly steep and perilous; you could even say it has no path at all. The founding ancestor discovered this wondrous peak, naturally shaped like a sword and wreathed in Sword Qi. It was here that he achieved enlightenment on the Dao and established our Cloud Mountain Sword Sect.

"The second-generation ancestor practiced his sword on Sword Peak for thirty years, finally reaching a state of unity between the internal and external. He is the one who brought great prosperity to our Cloud Mountain Sword Sect.

"Later, the sixth-generation ancestor also achieved enlightenment on Sword Peak, reaching the Grandmaster Realm in the Sword Dao. He forged ninety-nine platforms on the peak and laid a Forbidden Array around it. From that day on, this Back Hall became the only entrance to Sword Peak. And so, Sword Peak transformed from a wondrous treasure land and a sacred site into a forbidden ground.

"The ancestor did not forbid ordinary disciples from entering out of a selfish desire to keep the treasure for himself. Rather, it was because in the time between the sect’s founding and the sixth-generation ancestor, countless disciples went to Sword Peak to seek enlightenment on the sword. They often pushed themselves too hard. In mild cases, their foundations were damaged. In moderate cases, they suffered from cultivation deviation. And in severe cases, their hearts were pierced by Sword Qi, and they died on the spot.

"Sword Peak is a paradise for Sword Cultivators, but it is also their greatest trap. Many disciples clearly felt that they were out of their depth, but with the supreme Sword Intent right before them, they couldn’t bear to leave. In the end, many met a fate where they could never hold a sword again.

"Therefore, after long and painful consideration, the sixth-generation ancestor established the rule for comprehending the sword on Sword Peak: only those who have achieved a certain level of cultivation and have been approved by their elders may enter. This rule has been followed to this day.

"Sword Peak has ninety-nine stone platforms from base to summit. The closer you get to the peak, the stronger the Sword Intent becomes. Besides the Sword Intent itself, every platform holds the insights of our predecessors—the sword marks they left behind, and even their personal swords. These are the very essence of those past swordsmen’s lifelong efforts. Comprehending the insights on these platforms, whether from the Sword Intent or the sword marks, will be of immense benefit to your progress in the Sword Dao."