Chapter 12 — Someone Wanted His Sword Broken

"Someone crippled him deliberately."

The cave became very quiet.

Shen Yuan looked at the old swordsman.

Gray robes.

Wooden sandals.

Wooden sword.

No visible cultivation.

And somehow, the man had walked within ten meters of an Immortal without Shen Yuan noticing his arrival.

That alone made him interesting.

The system still hovered beside him.

[Target detected.]

[Analyzing...]

[Cultivation: ???]

[Sword Intent: ???]

[Identity: ???]

Not particularly helpful.

Shen Yuan dismissed it.

"Explain."

The old man glanced toward the sealed Sword Tomb.

"Three years ago, Jian Wuchen was one of the most promising sword cultivators of his generation."

"I know."

"You've investigated him?"

"No."

The old man frowned.

"Then how—"

"Profoundly."

Silence.

Shen Yuan regretted the word immediately.

He really needed another explanation.

The old swordsman studied him for a moment.

Then continued.

"At sixteen, Jian Wuchen reached Foundation Establishment."

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Third stage before his meridians were destroyed."

This time, the old man's expression changed.

"You know more than you claim."

Shen Yuan didn't respond.

The system knew more than Shen Yuan claimed.

That was different.

"Continue."

The old man sighed.

"Jian Wuchen was born in the Jian Clan."

"A sword cultivation clan?"

"Once."

Once.

Interesting word.

"The Jian Clan's strongest cultivator today is only Nascent Soul," the old man continued. "But their ancestry is older than most sects in the Northern Region."

His gaze shifted toward the stone door.

"Older than the Profound Sword Sect."

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

"And connected to this place."

The old man smiled.

"You understand quickly."

"Usually."

"Modest too."

"Occasionally."

The old man laughed.

Then his expression became serious again.

"The Jian Clan descends from one of the seven lineages entrusted with the Sword Tomb Keys."

Shen Yuan looked toward the circular depressions carved into the ancient doors.

Seven.

Jian Wuchen possessed one fragment.

That explained something.

Not everything.

"The token wasn't random."

"No."

"He didn't simply find it."

"Not exactly."

Shen Yuan waited.

The old man continued.

"The key recognizes bloodline."

That made more sense.

Jian Wuchen had believed he discovered the fragment by chance.

Perhaps it had been waiting for him.

"Three years ago," the old swordsman said, "Jian Wuchen's Sword Heart began awakening."

Shen Yuan's expression sharpened.

"Before his meridians broke?"

"Shortly before."

The system had said the destruction of Jian Wuchen's conventional cultivation accelerated the awakening.

Not caused it.

The old man looked at the Sword Tomb.

"The Profound Sword Sect noticed."

"How?"

"A sword bell."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"One of our ancestral artifacts. It reacts when certain Sword Dao constitutions appear within the Northern Region."

"Convenient."

"It used to be."

Used to be.

Again.

Interesting wording.

"The bell rang nine times for Jian Wuchen."

"Is that unusual?"

The old swordsman looked at him.

"It had not rung nine times in eleven thousand years."

Shen Yuan considered.

"Fairly unusual."

The old man laughed once.

Then shook his head.

"I was in seclusion when it happened."

"So someone else went."

"Yes."

"Who?"

The smile disappeared.

"An elder of the Profound Sword Sect."

Shen Yuan waited.

The man didn't immediately continue.

That usually meant the next part was unpleasant.

"We offered Jian Wuchen a place in the sect."

"He refused."

The old swordsman looked surprised.

"You know?"

"I've met him."

That explained enough.

Jian Wuchen didn't seem like someone who changed paths simply because a stronger sect asked nicely.

"Why did he refuse?"

"He already had a master."

That answer improved Shen Yuan's opinion of him.

"What happened to that master?"

The old man became silent.

Then:

"Dead."

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

"When?"

"Three days before Jian Wuchen's meridians were destroyed."

The cave felt colder.

Not because of Yin energy.

Because a pattern was forming.

Master dies.

Three days later—

disciple crippled.

"What was the official cause?"

"His master died while hunting a fifth-grade spirit beast."

"And Jian Wuchen?"

"Attacked while returning from the funeral."

"By?"

"Unknown cultivators."

Shen Yuan stared.

The old man gave a bitter smile.

"Yes."

"That's terrible."

"I know."

"I meant the story."

The old man paused.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Whoever created the official explanation lacked imagination."

For the first time, the old swordsman's expression looked almost embarrassed.

"The investigation found no evidence."

"Was there an investigation?"

Silence.

Shen Yuan had his answer.

He looked toward the sealed doors.

Jian Wuchen was currently being repeatedly beaten by an ancient sword.

Probably.

And outside—

the story of his ruined cultivation was becoming much uglier.

"Name."

The old swordsman looked at him.

"Whose?"

"Yours."

A brief pause.

Then he clasped his hands.

"Li Cangwu."

Shen Yuan waited.

That was apparently supposed to mean something.

It didn't.

Li Cangwu noticed.

"You don't recognize me."

"No."

The old man looked almost offended.

Shen Yuan added:

"Should I?"

Li Cangwu sighed.

"Perhaps I really have been in seclusion too long."

He touched the wooden sword at his waist.

"Profound Sword Sect."

Shen Yuan nodded.

"You mentioned that."

"Grand Elder."

Ah.

That helped.

Shen Yuan looked at him again.

The system couldn't read his cultivation.

Which meant either Li Cangwu possessed a powerful concealment method—

or he was stronger than expected.

"Realm?"

Li Cangwu smiled.

"Complicated."

Shen Yuan stared.

The old man smiled wider.

"Annoying, isn't it?"

Shen Yuan suddenly understood Jian Wuchen's suffering.

"Very."

Li Cangwu laughed.

"Late-stage Body Integration."

The system immediately updated.

[Additional information obtained.]

[Cultivation: Body Integration — Ninth Stage.]

Shen Yuan frowned at it.

"So you knew."

[Host did not.]

That seemed unnecessarily technical.

He dismissed the interface again.

"Why come now?"

Li Cangwu's amusement vanished.

"Because the Sword Bell rang again."

"When the Tomb opened."

"Yes."

"Then your sect sent the ship to Cloudveil Peak."

"Yes."

"And you came here."

"Yes."

Shen Yuan studied him.

"You said Jian Wuchen was supposed to become your disciple."

Li Cangwu nodded.

"After the bell first rang, I left seclusion."

"Too late."

"By seventeen days."

Shen Yuan's expression changed slightly.

Jian Wuchen had already been crippled.

"I found him."

"And?"

"He refused me."

That—

Shen Yuan hadn't expected.

"Why?"

Li Cangwu looked toward the stone doors.

"He asked where the Profound Sword Sect had been when his master died."

Shen Yuan became silent.

"He asked why an elder from our sect had visited his clan weeks before the attack."

Another pause.

"He asked how his attackers knew the exact route he would take home from his master's funeral."

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"And you couldn't answer."

"No."

"Can you now?"

Li Cangwu's face became grim.

"Partly."

That was better than nothing.

Shen Yuan waited.

Li Cangwu slowly drew his wooden sword.

Shen Yuan's eyes sharpened.

The old man held it horizontally.

Not threatening.

Showing him something.

Near the guard was a tiny carved symbol.

Seven swords surrounding a circle.

"The Profound Sword Sect has seven primary lineages."

Li Cangwu pointed toward one of the carved swords.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Three years ago, the elder sent to recruit Jian Wuchen belonged to the Seventh Sword Lineage."

"Name."

"Zhou Xuanji."

"Alive?"

"Yes."

"Realm?"

"Void Refining."

Shen Yuan nodded.

Manageable.

Li Cangwu stared.

"You asked that very calmly."

"Should I have reacted differently?"

"Most Soul Transformation cultivators would."

Right.

Public cultivation.

Shen Yuan almost forgot.

"Continue."

Li Cangwu gave him another long look.

Then did.

"Zhou Xuanji reported that Jian Wuchen refused recruitment. Seventeen days later, I left seclusion and learned what happened."

"You investigated him."

"Personally."

"And?"

"The attackers were dead."

"All of them?"

"Every one."

"Convenient."

"Very."

"Cause?"

"One sword wound each."

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"Sword cultivator."

"An exceptional one."

"Zhou Xuanji?"

"I couldn't prove it."

"Could it have been him?"

Li Cangwu was silent.

Then:

"Yes."

Good.

At least the man wasn't blindly defending his sect.

"Why would he cripple Jian Wuchen?"

"That is the question I've spent three years trying to answer."

Shen Yuan looked toward the Sword Tomb.

He suspected the answer was behind those doors.

Or connected to them.

"Seven lineages."

Li Cangwu nodded.

"Seven keys."

Another nod.

"How many does the Profound Sword Sect possess?"

Li Cangwu's expression changed.

"Two."

There it was.

"And the others?"

"Lost."

"Jian Wuchen's?"

"Believed lost."

Until now.

Shen Yuan understood.

"Someone knew his bloodline could activate it."

"Possibly."

"And wanted him unable to do so."

Li Cangwu slowly nodded.

Shen Yuan's expression became calm.

Too calm.

"Then whoever crippled him failed."

Li Cangwu looked toward the sealed Sword Tomb.

From behind the doors—

BOOM.

The entire cave shook.

Dust fell.

Li Cangwu's eyes widened.

"What was that?"

Shen Yuan checked the system.

[Second Sword Meridian formation: 82%.]

"Teaching."

Li Cangwu stared.

"That is not what teaching sounds like."

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Depends on the teacher."

Somewhere in the distance, Qin Feng would have appreciated the theft.

Jian Wuchen hit the ground.

Again.

His body bounced once.

Then stopped.

The broken sword floated above him.

Clear Wind lay several meters away.

His right arm refused to move.

His left leg had gone numb.

His ribs—

he no longer knew.

The ancient voice spoke.

"Rise."

Jian Wuchen stared at the black sky.

"No."

Silence.

Perhaps nobody had told the Sword Tomb that before.

"Rise."

"I heard you."

"Then rise."

Jian Wuchen closed his eyes.

"I'll do it shortly."

The broken sword hovered.

Waiting.

Jian Wuchen breathed.

His First Sword Meridian pulsed inside his chest.

Heart.

That one felt natural now.

Sword Intent traveled through it without resistance.

The Second—

Bone—

was different.

The trial wasn't merely hitting him.

It was forcing Sword Intent into his skeleton.

Every impact drove the intent deeper.

Bones cracked.

Reformed.

Cracked again.

His body was learning to endure the sword from within.

It was awful.

Jian Wuchen smiled faintly.

He had spent three years unable to cultivate.

Awful was acceptable.

He sat up.

The ancient voice spoke.

"You smile."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because it hurts."

Silence.

The Sword Tomb seemed uncertain how to respond.

Jian Wuchen reached for Clear Wind.

His fingers closed around the hilt.

"For three years, cultivating did nothing."

He stood.

"Swinging my sword made me stronger as a swordsman."

"But my body remained the same."

He raised Clear Wind.

"Now it hurts."

Sword Intent entered his bones.

His entire body trembled.

Jian Wuchen's smile widened.

"Which means it's working."

The ancient presence became silent.

Then—

laughter.

Old.

Faint.

But unmistakable.

"Good."

The broken sword attacked.

Jian Wuchen stepped forward.

This time—

he didn't block.

Boom!

The blade struck his shoulder.

Crack.

His collarbone broke.

Jian Wuchen swung Clear Wind.

Slash.

The broken sword flew backward.

His collarbone began reforming.

Sword Intent filled the fracture.

Jian Wuchen advanced.

Again.

The ancient sword struck his ribs.

Crack.

He struck back.

Leg.

Crack.

Counter.

Arm.

Crack.

Slash.

Every injury became a pathway.

Every pathway became stronger.

The golden light inside his skeleton spread.

Shoulder.

Ribs.

Spine.

Arms.

Legs.

Then—

the Sword Intent reached his skull.

Jian Wuchen froze.

The ancient voice spoke.

"Final strike."

The broken sword rose.

Jian Wuchen looked at it.

"Head?"

"Yes."

"Could kill me."

"Yes."

"Actually?"

"Yes."

Jian Wuchen frowned.

The Sword Tomb had become considerably less metaphorical.

"How reassuring."

The blade vanished.

Jian Wuchen closed his eyes.

Heart Meridian.

Feel the intent.

Bone Meridian.

Endure the sword.

He sensed it.

Above.

Fast.

Terrifying.

Every instinct told him to dodge.

He didn't.

Clear Wind lowered.

The sword struck.

BOOM.

White.

For a moment—

Jian Wuchen saw nothing.

He heard nothing.

He felt nothing.

Then—

a heartbeat.

Thump.

Sword Intent erupted through every bone in his body.

His eyes opened.

Golden lines spread beneath his skin.

The broken sword rested against his forehead.

It could go no farther.

Crack.

A fracture appeared along its blade.

Then another.

The ancient weapon shattered.

Light flooded Jian Wuchen's body.

He roared.

The entire Sword Tomb trembled.

Millions of buried swords rang.

The golden pathways in his skeleton connected to the Heart Meridian.

One system.

One foundation.

One sword.

The ancient voice spoke.

"Second Sword Meridian."

"Bone Gate complete."

Jian Wuchen stood.

His cultivation remained nonexistent.

But when he tightened his fist—

the air popped.

His physical strength had increased dramatically.

Clear Wind hummed.

Jian Wuchen looked toward the remaining seven swords.

The third was black.

Darkness seemed to leak from its edge.

The ancient voice spoke.

"Rest."

Jian Wuchen blinked.

"What?"

"Rest."

He stared.

"You know that word?"

The black sky became very quiet.

Jian Wuchen decided not to push his luck.

He sat.

Outside—

Shen Yuan's system updated.

[Second Sword Meridian complete.]

[Sword Meridians: 2/9.]

[Disciple Jian Wuchen's physical foundation has undergone transformation.]

[Combat Assessment recalculating...]

[Foundation Establishment — Lower.]

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Li Cangwu noticed.

"What happened?"

"My disciple completed something."

"What?"

"Second Sword Meridian."

The old man's face changed.

"Second?"

"You know them?"

Li Cangwu stepped forward.

"How many?"

"Nine."

The wooden sword at his waist trembled.

Shen Yuan noticed.

Li Cangwu's expression became completely serious.

"Nine Sword Meridians?"

"Yes."

"You're certain?"

"Very."

Li Cangwu looked at the ancient doors.

Then—

he laughed.

Not happily.

Disbelievingly.

"Of course."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"What?"

The old man shook his head.

"Peak Master Shen, do you know why the Profound Sword Sect has seven lineages?"

"Seven founders?"

"No."

"Seven swords?"

"Closer."

Li Cangwu looked toward the seven circular keyholes.

"Because our sect was built by descendants of seven Sword Tomb guardians."

Shen Yuan listened.

"The guardians weren't the owners of this place."

"They protected it."

"From whom?"

Li Cangwu looked at him.

"Everyone."

Fair.

"And the Nine Sword Meridians?"

Li Cangwu took a slow breath.

"A legend."

"What kind?"

"The kind most people stopped believing."

Shen Yuan waited.

"The Sword Tomb did not originally exist to store swords."

"What was it for?"

"To choose someone."

Shen Yuan's expression sharpened.

"A successor?"

"Perhaps."

"To whom?"

Li Cangwu shook his head.

"That part was lost."

Conveniently.

"But according to the oldest surviving records, the chosen swordsman would forge nine meridians without relying on conventional spiritual pathways."

Exactly what Jian Wuchen was doing.

"The first two were Heart and Bone."

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Li Cangwu continued.

"The third was Blood."

The black sword.

"The fourth, Soul."

White.

"The fifth, Void."

Transparent.

Shen Yuan remembered the nine swords from the system resonance.

"The sixth?"

"Will."

"The seventh?"

"Tribulation."

"The eighth?"

Li Cangwu hesitated.

"Nothing."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Nothing?"

"The records call it the Swordless Meridian."

That explained the sword with no blade.

"And the ninth?"

Li Cangwu became silent.

Shen Yuan waited.

Finally:

"No one knows."

Interesting.

"The record was deliberately erased."

"By whom?"

"We don't know."

"Why?"

"We don't know."

Shen Yuan sighed.

Ancient people had a terrible habit of leaving mysteries instead of documentation.

Li Cangwu looked toward the doors.

"If Jian Wuchen truly began forging the Nine Sword Meridians..."

He stopped.

"What?"

Li Cangwu's face became grim.

"Then whoever crippled him may not have been trying to destroy his future."

Shen Yuan understood immediately.

"They may have been trying to prevent this future."

"Yes."

That changed things.

Jian Wuchen's ruined meridians weren't merely an attack against a genius.

Someone may have known exactly what he could become.

And feared it.

The system chimed.

[New information detected.]

[Updating Disciple Destiny Resonance.]

Golden threads appeared before Shen Yuan.

Most stretched toward the Sword Tomb.

One extended far away.

North.

Toward Cloudveil Peak.

Another—

much farther.

Beyond the Northern Region.

And one—

upward.

Shen Yuan looked toward the cave ceiling.

No.

Not the ceiling.

Higher.

Far higher.

The system flickered.

[Karmic interference detected.]

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

[Source location: Unknown.]

[Distance: Unable to calculate.]

[Interference contains traces of higher-order spiritual energy.]

Higher-order.

Immortal?

The system didn't say.

Shen Yuan looked at Li Cangwu.

"Who knows about the Nine Sword Meridians?"

"Within the Profound Sword Sect?"

"Anywhere."

Li Cangwu thought.

"The Sect Master."

"Others?"

"Myself."

"Zhou Xuanji?"

The old man's expression hardened.

"He had access to fragments of the record."

There it was.

Not proof.

But enough to become interesting.

"Where is he?"

Li Cangwu didn't answer immediately.

Shen Yuan noticed.

"Where?"

"Missing."

"Since when?"

"Yesterday."

Of course.

Shen Yuan closed his eyes briefly.

The timing was almost insulting.

Sword Tomb opens.

Jian Wuchen accepts him as master.

Profound Sword Sect learns about it.

And the elder connected to Jian Wuchen's crippling disappears.

Very subtle.

"When did he leave?"

"We don't know."

"How does a Void Refining elder disappear without anyone noticing?"

Li Cangwu's expression became cold.

"That is why I came personally."

Good answer.

Shen Yuan turned toward the cave entrance.

"I need to return to Cloudveil Peak."

Li Cangwu frowned.

"Jian Wuchen is still inside."

"I know."

"You would leave him?"

Shen Yuan looked at the sealed doors.

"No."

He raised one hand.

Space folded.

Li Cangwu's eyes widened.

The cave entrance twisted.

For a moment—

the old man saw two places at once.

The Sword Tomb cave.

And Cloudveil Peak.

Hundreds of kilometers away.

A spatial passage stabilized.

Li Cangwu stared.

Body Integration cultivators could manipulate space to a degree.

Short-distance movement.

Spatial storage.

Breaking weak barriers.

This—

was not that.

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"Watch the door."

Li Cangwu slowly turned.

"You're asking me?"

"You're already here."

"What if someone attacks?"

"Stop them."

"What if the Sword Tomb opens?"

"Call me."

"What if Jian Wuchen comes out?"

"Tell him I went home."

Li Cangwu stared.

Shen Yuan stepped toward the spatial passage.

"Peak Master Shen."

Shen Yuan stopped.

Li Cangwu looked at him seriously.

"You trust me with your disciple?"

"No."

The old man blinked.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"I trust that you know what will happen if you harm him."

Li Cangwu became silent.

Then laughed.

"Fair."

Shen Yuan stepped through.

Space closed.

Li Cangwu stood alone.

He looked toward the Sword Tomb.

Then toward where Shen Yuan had disappeared.

The old man slowly drew his wooden sword.

He examined it.

After several seconds—

he sighed.

"Soul Transformation."

He shook his head.

"Who believes that?"

Cloudveil Peak.

The white-and-gold flying ship remained above the clouds.

Chen An stood before the mountain formation.

Lin Yue beside him.

Behind them were several Cloudveil attendants.

Before them—

six Profound Sword Sect cultivators stood in the air.

Their leader was a middle-aged woman.

White robes.

Golden sword embroidery.

Core Formation.

She had been patient.

For approximately one hour.

Her patience was now deteriorating.

"Peak Master Shen has still not returned?"

Chen An smiled politely.

"No."

"Do you know when he will?"

"No."

"Can you contact him?"

"Yes."

The woman waited.

Chen An did not move.

Her eyebrow twitched.

"Will you?"

"Peak Master Shen is occupied."

Lin Yue looked away.

Chen An had contacted him less than half an hour ago.

Technically—

he wasn't lying.

Shen Yuan was always occupied with something.

Usually avoiding whatever wanted him.

The woman looked toward Lin Yue.

"You are his first disciple?"

Lin Yue nodded.

"Lin Yue."

The woman's eyes sharpened.

"The girl with the damaged spiritual root."

Chen An's expression changed.

Lin Yue remained calm.

"Formerly."

The woman studied her.

Rumors had already spread.

Damaged spiritual root.

Failed recruitment candidate.

Accepted personally by Shen Yuan.

Then—

a lunar phenomenon.

Cultivation restored.

Strength exceeding her realm.

No one knew what had happened.

The woman's gaze became more intense.

"May I inspect your cultivation?"

"No."

The answer came from Chen An.

The woman looked at him.

"I asked her."

Chen An smiled.

"Cloudveil Peak disciples are not required to submit to unsolicited inspection."

"You're an attendant."

"Correct."

"Then let the disciple answer."

Lin Yue spoke.

"No."

The woman stared.

Chen An remained perfectly polite.

Six years serving Shen Yuan had taught him something important.

You could refuse almost anything if your tone was calm enough.

The woman's expression cooled.

"We are representatives of the Profound Sword Sect."

Chen An nodded.

"I noticed the ship."

Lin Yue coughed.

The woman looked between them.

"Your Peak Master recently accepted a sword cultivator named Jian Wuchen."

Lin Yue's expression changed.

Chen An's smile disappeared.

That information had not been publicly announced.

"Where did you hear that?"

The woman realized her mistake.

Too late.

Chen An continued.

"Peak Master Shen accepted his second disciple only today."

Silence.

"Cloudveil Peak has not announced it."

The woman's eyes narrowed.

Lin Yue stepped forward.

Cold Yin energy gathered faintly around her.

"How do you know my junior brother's name?"

The Profound Sword Sect disciples reached toward their weapons.

Chen An sighed.

This was becoming inconvenient.

Then—

space behind him opened.

Everyone froze.

Shen Yuan stepped through.

"Peak Master."

Chen An relaxed immediately.

Lin Yue turned.

"Master."

The Profound Sword Sect cultivators stared.

The spatial passage closed.

Shen Yuan looked around.

Flying ship.

Sword cultivators.

Lin Yue preparing to fight.

Chen An preparing to stop everyone from fighting.

Apparently he'd returned at a good time.

"What's happening?"

Chen An pointed toward the visitors.

"They know Jian Wuchen's name."

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

The middle-aged woman clasped her hands.

"Profound Sword Sect, Seventh Lineage Elder Song Yao greets Peak Master Shen."

Seventh Lineage.

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Zhou Xuanji's lineage.

Interesting.

"Why are you here?"

Song Yao hesitated.

"To invite Peak Master Shen and Jian Wuchen to the Profound Sword Sect."

"Why?"

"Our Sect Master wishes to meet him."

"Why?"

She paused again.

"Because of his talent."

Shen Yuan smiled.

"No."

Song Yao frowned.

"Peak Master Shen hasn't heard the offer."

"Don't need to."

"Profound Sword Sect can provide Jian Wuchen with the greatest Sword Dao resources in the Northern Region."

"Good for you."

"Peak Master Shen."

Her tone hardened.

"Jian Wuchen was originally destined to enter our sect."

There it was again.

Destined.

Shen Yuan disliked that word.

"He chose Cloudveil Peak."

"He may not understand what he's giving up."

Shen Yuan looked toward Lin Yue.

"Do you understand everything you're doing?"

Lin Yue thought.

"No."

"Neither do I."

Chen An nodded.

That was unfortunately accurate.

Shen Yuan looked back at Song Yao.

"We manage."

Her face darkened.

"You would obstruct his future?"

"No."

"Then allow him to choose after hearing our offer."

Shen Yuan considered.

That—

was reasonable.

Annoyingly.

"Fine."

Song Yao blinked.

She hadn't expected agreement.

"When he returns, you can ask him."

Her expression relaxed.

"But."

There it was.

"You will not enter Cloudveil Peak until then."

"Why?"

Shen Yuan smiled faintly.

"Because your Seventh Lineage elder Zhou Xuanji disappeared yesterday."

Song Yao's face changed.

Very slightly.

But Shen Yuan saw it.

Lin Yue saw Shen Yuan notice.

Chen An noticed both.

Interesting.

Song Yao recovered quickly.

"I don't know what Peak Master Shen means."

"Then I'll explain."

Shen Yuan stepped closer.

"Three years ago, Zhou Xuanji visited Jian Wuchen."

Song Yao became still.

"Shortly afterward, Jian Wuchen's master died."

No one moved.

"Three days later, Jian Wuchen was attacked."

The Profound Sword Sect disciples exchanged glances.

"His meridians were destroyed."

Song Yao's hand tightened.

Shen Yuan watched.

"And now Zhou Xuanji is missing."

Silence.

The mountain wind passed between them.

Finally, Song Yao spoke.

"Who told you this?"

"Li Cangwu."

Her face lost color.

Only briefly.

But enough.

"Grand Elder Li is here?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Watching my disciple."

Song Yao's expression became complicated.

Fear.

Surprise.

Something else.

Shen Yuan noticed.

"Do you know where Zhou Xuanji went?"

"No."

Too fast.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Try again."

"I don't."

This time slower.

Still wrong.

Shen Yuan didn't need a system to see that.

He could force the truth.

Immortal cultivation made many things easy.

But—

he didn't.

Not yet.

Song Yao was a representative of a righteous sect.

No evidence had proven her involvement.

And Shen Yuan had no intention of becoming the kind of cultivator who treated suspicion as guilt simply because nobody could stop him.

"Fine."

He turned.

"Chen An."

"Peak Master."

"Give them somewhere to wait outside the formation."

Song Yao frowned.

"Outside?"

"Yes."

"We are guests."

"Uninvited guests."

Chen An nodded.

"There's a pavilion near the eastern bridge."

Shen Yuan remembered.

Small.

Exposed to wind.

Almost never used.

Perfect.

Song Yao looked as though she wanted to argue.

Then reconsidered.

"We'll wait."

The Profound Sword Sect cultivators withdrew.

Their ship descended toward the eastern side of the mountain.

Shen Yuan watched them.

Lin Yue stepped beside him.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"Is Junior Brother in danger?"

Shen Yuan looked at her.

"Currently?"

"Yes."

He checked the system.

[Third Sword Meridian Trial has not begun.]

"No."

She relaxed slightly.

"Later?"

"Probably."

Her expression immediately tightened again.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"He's inside an ancient inheritance. Danger is expected."

"That's not reassuring."

"You're both saying that a lot."

"Maybe you should become more reassuring."

Shen Yuan considered.

"No."

Lin Yue sighed.

Chen An approached.

"Peak Master."

"Yes?"

"The second disciple residence is ready."

"Good."

"Clothing?"

Shen Yuan paused.

Right.

Jian Wuchen's robes were currently mostly blood and holes.

"Prepare several sets."

"Measurements?"

Shen Yuan thought.

Approximately—

No.

Better not.

"Average."

Chen An stared.

"Average what?"

"Young man."

"That isn't a measurement."

Shen Yuan looked at Lin Yue.

She shook her head.

"Don't involve me."

Chen An sighed.

"I'll prepare adjustable robes."

Excellent.

Problem solved.

He turned to leave.

"Chen An."

The attendant stopped.

Shen Yuan remembered his promise.

"Your monthly allowance."

Chen An immediately turned back.

"Yes, Peak Master?"

"Double it."

Silence.

Chen An stared.

"Truly?"

"You've been managing all of this alone."

Shen Yuan gestured toward Cloudveil Peak.

The visitors.

The letters.

The new disciple residences.

The recruitment aftermath.

Six years of everything before that.

"Seems overdue."

Chen An became quiet.

For once—

he didn't have a quick answer.

He bowed.

"Thank you, Peak Master."

Shen Yuan waved.

"Don't make it dramatic."

Chen An straightened.

Then:

"Should I calculate the missed increase from the previous six years?"

Shen Yuan stared.

Lin Yue looked away to hide a smile.

"You recovered quickly."

"I manage finances, Peak Master."

"Go prepare the robes."

"Yes."

Chen An left.

Shen Yuan watched him.

Six years.

He really had taken the man for granted.

That thought stayed with him longer than expected.

Then the system chimed.

Shen Yuan expected an update about Jian Wuchen.

Instead—

[Nearby cultivator detected.]

He frowned.

[Name: Chen An.]

Shen Yuan looked toward the departing attendant.

Why was the system inspecting him?

[Relationship with Host: Long-term subordinate.]

[Service duration: 6 years, 2 months.]

[Spiritual Root: Mid-grade.]

[Talent: Average.]

[Destiny: Yellow.]

[Special Physique: None.]

[Hidden Bloodline: None.]

[Unique Constitution: None.]

Shen Yuan waited.

Nothing.

He continued waiting.

Still nothing.

"...That's it?"

[Yes.]

Shen Yuan stared at Chen An's back.

Average.

Completely, genuinely average.

After Lin Yue and Jian Wuchen—

it almost felt rare.

The system continued.

[Individual does not qualify for Disciple Cashback.]

Shen Yuan rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't asking."

[Clarification provided.]

"Unnecessary."

The interface disappeared.

Shen Yuan looked toward Chen An again.

The attendant was already instructing two servants to prepare Jian Wuchen's residence.

Ordinary talent.

Mid-grade root.

No hidden physique.

No ancient bloodline.

No crimson-gold destiny.

Six years of service.

Shen Yuan smiled faintly.

Good.

Cloudveil Peak needed at least one normal person.

He had no idea how temporary that statement would eventually become.

Night fell.

The Profound Sword Sect remained outside the formation.

Lin Yue cultivated beneath the moon.

Chen An continued organizing Cloudveil Peak.

Shen Yuan sat in the viewing pavilion.

His divine sense remained partly focused on the Sword Tomb.

Hundreds of kilometers away—

Li Cangwu sat before the stone doors.

Waiting.

Then—

the doors shook.

Once.

Li Cangwu opened his eyes.

Again.

Boom.

A crack appeared between them.

The old swordsman stood.

"Already?"

Sword Intent poured through.

Then Jian Wuchen stumbled out.

His clothes were torn.

Blood covered his body.

Clear Wind remained in his hand.

His cultivation—

still appeared nonexistent.

Li Cangwu stared.

Then his eyes widened.

Two invisible Sword Meridians pulsed inside Jian Wuchen.

Heart.

Bone.

The young man looked at him.

Not Shen Yuan.

His expression immediately became guarded.

"Who are you?"

Li Cangwu stood.

For three years—

he had imagined this meeting.

He had thought about explanations.

Apologies.

Offers.

He had once intended to make this young man his personal disciple.

Now Jian Wuchen already had a master.

Li Cangwu smiled bitterly.

"Someone who arrived late."

Jian Wuchen frowned.

Then the Sword Tomb doors moved again.

The ancient voice spoke.

"Bearer of the First Key."

Jian Wuchen turned.

"Two gates opened."

"Seven remain."

The black token flew from the door and returned to his hand.

"Find the remaining keys."

Jian Wuchen's expression changed.

The voice continued.

"Only when all seven return..."

The cave trembled.

"...may the Ninth Gate be opened."

Li Cangwu went completely still.

Ninth Gate.

So the old records were true.

The doors began closing.

Then—

the ancient voice spoke one final time.

Not to Jian Wuchen.

To Li Cangwu.

"Guardian descendant."

The old man's face changed.

"Your lineage failed."

Li Cangwu lowered his head.

The voice became colder.

"The traitor still lives."

Jian Wuchen's eyes narrowed.

Li Cangwu looked up sharply.

"Who?"

The doors slammed shut.

Boom.

Silence.

Jian Wuchen looked at him.

"Traitor?"

Li Cangwu said nothing.

Then Shen Yuan appeared between them.

No spatial ripple.

No warning.

He simply arrived.

Jian Wuchen relaxed slightly.

"Master."

Shen Yuan looked him over.

Blood.

Cuts.

Broken robes.

Still alive.

Good.

"How was it?"

Jian Wuchen thought.

"Painful."

"Productive?"

He looked inward at the two Sword Meridians.

"Very."

"Good."

Shen Yuan turned toward Li Cangwu.

The old man's expression was grim.

"I heard."

Li Cangwu stared at the sealed doors.

"The traitor still lives."

"Apparently."

"If that means what I think..."

He stopped.

Shen Yuan waited.

Li Cangwu slowly looked toward Jian Wuchen.

Then toward Shen Yuan.

"The Seven Guardian Lineages didn't lose the Sword Tomb Keys by accident."

Jian Wuchen's grip tightened around Clear Wind.

Li Cangwu continued.

"Someone betrayed the guardians."

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"And?"

The old man swallowed.

"The betrayal happened..."

He looked at the ancient stone door.

"...eight thousand years ago."

Silence.

Jian Wuchen frowned.

"If the traitor still lives..."

Li Cangwu finished the thought.

"Then whoever destroyed your meridians may be serving someone who has been waiting eight thousand years for the Sword Tomb to open again."

The system flashed before Shen Yuan.

[Major Disciple Destiny Chain detected.]

[Hidden Quest generated.]

[The Seven Lost Keys.]

[Objective: Assist disciple Jian Wuchen in uncovering the truth of the Sword Tomb.]

[Current Keys: 1/7.]

[Warning.]

[Unknown higher-order entity has entered the karmic chain.]

Shen Yuan stared at the final line.

Higher-order.

Again.

The mortal world was becoming increasingly crowded with things that should not be here.

He looked at Jian Wuchen.

His second disciple had joined Cloudveil Peak only hours ago.

Already—

there was an eight-thousand-year conspiracy attached to him.

Shen Yuan sighed.

Jian Wuchen looked over.

"Master?"

"Nothing."

Shen Yuan opened a spatial passage.

Cloudveil Peak appeared beyond it.

"Let's go home."

Jian Wuchen looked through.

A mountain floated above the cloud sea.

Palaces rested beneath moonlight.

Spirit gardens glowed along the slopes.

For the first time in years—

someone had said that word to him.

Home.

He tightened his grip around Clear Wind.

Then stepped through.

Li Cangwu remained behind.

Shen Yuan looked back.

"Aren't you coming?"

The old man blinked.

"To Cloudveil Peak?"

"Your sect is already there."

Li Cangwu's expression changed.

"What?"

"Flying ship."

"Which lineage?"

"Seventh."

Silence.

Then—

Li Cangwu entered the spatial passage so quickly that even Jian Wuchen raised an eyebrow.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Apparently that was important.

The passage closed.

The cave became empty.

For several seconds—

nothing happened.

Then the Sword Tomb doors trembled.

Deep behind them—

far beyond the nine gates—

something opened its eyes.

Not the ancient guardian.

Something else.

A thin black thread emerged from beneath the stone.

It crawled across the floor.

Then stopped.

A voice whispered from somewhere impossibly far away.

"So..."

A pause.

"The Sword Heart survived."

The black thread dissolved.

And high above the mortal world—

somewhere beyond the barrier separating realms—

a man in dark robes slowly opened his eyes.

In front of him floated a broken sword emblem.

For eight thousand years, it had remained dark.

Now—

the first of nine markings had begun to glow.