Chapter 9 — The Broken Sword Still Cuts

Rain fell across the ruined valley.

Thousands of broken swords stood buried beneath the earth.

Some were little more than rusted hilts.

Others had survived centuries with their edges intact.

Lightning flashed.

For a single instant, every blade reflected the same cold white light.

Jian Wuchen stood among them.

Blood ran from his left shoulder.

His right sleeve had been torn open from wrist to elbow.

One arm hung almost uselessly at his side.

Three ribs were cracked.

His meridians—

those were worse.

Much worse.

Every attempt to circulate spiritual Qi sent pain through his body.

Not ordinary pain.

The kind that felt as though someone had poured molten metal through the channels beneath his skin.

He ignored it.

Seven cultivators blocked the valley entrance.

The weakest was at the ninth stage of Qi Refining.

Three had reached Foundation Establishment.

The man standing at the front was Foundation Establishment, fifth stage.

Under normal circumstances—

Jian Wuchen would not have cared.

These were not normal circumstances.

"Jian Wuchen."

The leader stepped forward.

His sword remained inside its sheath.

Perhaps he thought drawing it unnecessary.

"You've run far enough."

Jian Wuchen lowered his gaze toward the broken sword in his hand.

Only half the blade remained.

The weapon had once been called Clear Wind.

A Spirit-grade sword.

His first real sword.

His master had given it to him when he entered Foundation Establishment.

Three months later—

his meridians were destroyed.

Six months after that—

his cultivation fell from Foundation Establishment to Qi Refining.

Then Body Tempering.

Then—

nothing.

Clear Wind broke on the same day his cultivation did.

He had kept it anyway.

The leader glanced at the weapon.

A faint smile appeared.

"Still carrying that?"

Jian Wuchen said nothing.

"Your meridians are ruined."

Silence.

"Your cultivation is gone."

Silence.

"Your clan abandoned you."

Jian Wuchen finally raised his eyes.

"They didn't."

The man smiled.

"Does the distinction matter?"

"To me."

Rain ran down Jian Wuchen's face.

The leader shook his head.

"You were easier to deal with when you were arrogant."

"I was never arrogant."

One of the men behind him laughed.

"You challenged every sword genius you met."

"Yes."

"You told Ye Feng his sword was slow."

"It was."

Another cultivator frowned.

"You challenged an elder."

"His sword was also slow."

For a moment—

nobody spoke.

The leader's smile disappeared.

Even crippled, Jian Wuchen remained irritating.

"Give us the Sword Tomb token."

Jian Wuchen's expression didn't change.

So that was what this was about.

Not revenge.

Not old grudges.

Not even humiliation.

The token.

His hand moved slightly toward his waist.

A small piece of black metal rested beneath his torn robes.

He had found it three days ago.

Here.

Inside the ruined valley.

The moment he touched it, every broken sword within a hundred meters had trembled.

Unfortunately—

he hadn't been the only one who noticed.

"You can't use it," the leader continued.

"Maybe."

"You can't enter the Sword Tomb."

"Maybe."

"You don't even possess cultivation anymore."

Jian Wuchen looked at him.

"Then why are seven of you here?"

The man's expression darkened.

Jian Wuchen tightened his grip around the broken sword.

"If I'm truly useless..."

He raised it.

"...come take it."

Sword intent erupted.

The rain changed direction.

Seven expressions shifted.

The leader finally drew his sword.

Hundreds of kilometers away—

space folded.

Shen Yuan stepped through.

Then stopped.

He looked around.

A forest.

Wrong place.

He looked at the system map.

The red point was farther north.

Shen Yuan frowned.

Apparently, knowing how to manipulate space and knowing the geography of every mountain range in the mortal world were different things.

"Again."

Space folded.

He disappeared.

Jian Wuchen moved first.

One step.

No spiritual Qi.

No movement technique.

Only physical strength.

The closest Qi Refining cultivator sneered.

Too slow.

His sword descended.

Jian Wuchen shifted half a step.

The blade missed his throat by less than a finger.

His broken sword moved.

No wasted motion.

No flourish.

No spiritual light.

Slash.

The Qi Refining cultivator froze.

A thin red line appeared across his wrist.

His sword fell.

Jian Wuchen caught it with his injured hand.

Pain exploded through his arm.

He ignored it.

Now he had two swords.

One broken.

One whole.

The second cultivator attacked.

Jian Wuchen turned.

Clang.

Their swords met.

The impact sent him backward.

His feet slid through mud.

Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The cultivator smiled.

"Weak."

Jian Wuchen looked at their crossed blades.

"Your wrist is too stiff."

"What?"

Jian Wuchen rotated his sword.

A tiny movement.

The opposing blade slipped aside.

His broken sword struck.

The cultivator barely avoided losing an eye.

He stumbled backward.

Jian Wuchen pursued.

One strike.

Two.

Three.

Each simple.

Each precise.

No Qi.

Yet the third cultivator suddenly realized something.

Jian Wuchen wasn't fighting like a cripple.

He was fighting like a swordsman who had spent every day since losing his cultivation thinking about nothing except the sword.

"Together!"

Three attacked.

Jian Wuchen exhaled.

His body moved.

Sword intent spread.

The broken swords throughout the valley trembled.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

Metal screamed.

One attacker lost his sword.

Another received a cut across his chest.

The third was kicked backward.

But Jian Wuchen paid for it.

A palm struck his side.

Crack.

Another rib.

He flew through the rain.

His back struck a stone pillar.

Blood sprayed from his mouth.

He fell to one knee.

The leader watched.

"Impressive."

Jian Wuchen stood.

Slowly.

"Your body is broken."

He raised his sword.

"Your cultivation is gone."

The blade steadied.

"And yet your sword intent is stronger than before."

Jian Wuchen said nothing.

That was the strange part.

When he had possessed cultivation—

he had relied on it.

Sword Qi.

Movement techniques.

Spiritual pressure.

Power.

After losing everything, only the sword remained.

At first, he hated it.

He hated waking every morning unable to circulate Qi.

Hated watching former juniors surpass him.

Hated hearing the same words.

What a pity.

Such talent.

If only his meridians hadn't been destroyed.

Then one day—

he stopped trying to recover his cultivation.

He picked up a wooden sword.

And swung.

Ten thousand times.

The next day—

again.

Then again.

No Qi.

No techniques.

No cultivation.

Just the sword.

And slowly—

something changed.

The sword became simpler.

His understanding became clearer.

His cultivation had vanished.

His sword intent had not.

It had sharpened.

The leader seemed to understand the same thing.

"That's why we can't let you leave."

Jian Wuchen's eyes narrowed.

"Someone like you..."

The man's sword began glowing.

Foundation Establishment pressure spread across the valley.

"...should have stayed crippled."

He disappeared.

Jian Wuchen's pupils contracted.

Fast.

Too fast.

He raised both swords.

Boom.

The impact shattered the sword he'd stolen.

Jian Wuchen flew backward.

Before he landed—

another figure appeared behind him.

Kick.

His body slammed into the ground.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Mud exploded.

Jian Wuchen rolled.

A sword stabbed down.

He twisted.

The blade pierced his robe and entered the earth beside his neck.

Jian Wuchen's broken sword moved.

Slash.

The attacker screamed.

Two fingers fell into the mud.

Jian Wuchen kicked him away.

Then coughed blood.

Too much.

His body was reaching its limit.

He knew it.

So did they.

The leader approached.

"No more running."

Jian Wuchen slowly stood.

His legs shook.

"No."

He wiped blood from his mouth.

"No more."

The leader frowned.

Jian Wuchen adjusted his grip.

Both hands around the broken sword.

He closed his eyes.

Rain struck his face.

The valley disappeared.

Enemies disappeared.

Pain disappeared.

There was only—

the sword.

One movement.

That was all he needed.

The leader sensed something.

His expression changed.

"Kill him!"

Six cultivators rushed forward.

Jian Wuchen opened his eyes.

Sword intent exploded.

Every broken sword in the valley—

rang.

Thousands of metallic cries merged into one.

The pursuing cultivators froze for half a heartbeat.

Jian Wuchen swung.

No spiritual Qi emerged.

No sword light crossed the valley.

Nothing visible happened.

Then—

the rain split.

A line appeared through the falling water.

Straight.

Perfect.

The nearest cultivator's sword snapped.

The second man's chest opened.

The third was thrown backward.

The leader raised his weapon.

Clang!

His sword shook violently.

His expression changed.

Sword intent.

Pure sword intent.

From a mortal.

Impossible.

Jian Wuchen took another step.

His vision blurred.

Still—

he raised the broken blade again.

The leader's face twisted.

"Enough!"

Foundation Establishment Qi erupted.

This time he stopped holding back.

A massive sword projection formed above him.

Jian Wuchen looked upward.

He couldn't block that.

He knew.

His body knew.

His broken meridians knew.

His sword knew.

Still—

he didn't lower it.

The projection descended.

Jian Wuchen swung.

Then someone appeared between them.

No sound.

No warning.

A white robe moved gently in the rain.

Shen Yuan looked up at the descending sword projection.

"Oh."

He raised one finger.

Tap.

The sword projection shattered.

Not exploded.

Not dispersed.

Shattered.

Like glass.

Spiritual fragments filled the sky.

Everyone froze.

Jian Wuchen stared at the man's back.

Shen Yuan looked around.

Broken swords.

Rain.

Seven hostile cultivators.

One severely injured potential disciple.

He checked the system map.

The red point was directly behind him.

Good.

Right place this time.

The leader stepped backward.

"Who are you?"

Shen Yuan ignored him.

He turned.

Jian Wuchen immediately raised his sword.

Shen Yuan stopped.

Good reflex.

"You Jian Wuchen?"

The young man's eyes narrowed.

"Who are you?"

"Shen Yuan."

Nothing.

Jian Wuchen clearly didn't recognize the name.

Shen Yuan found that refreshing.

Usually people reacted.

Peak Master.

Soul Transformation genius.

Future Sect Master candidate.

Apparently none of that mattered several hundred kilometers away.

"Why are you here?"

Jian Wuchen asked.

Shen Yuan considered the truthful answer.

My system told me you might become my disciple.

Probably not.

"I was passing by."

Jian Wuchen looked around the isolated ancient valley.

Then at the sky.

Then back at Shen Yuan.

"In the middle of a storm?"

"Yes."

"Through a sealed mountain range?"

Shen Yuan paused.

"Very scenic."

Jian Wuchen stared.

Behind them, the Foundation Establishment leader finally recovered.

"Senior."

His tone changed completely.

He couldn't sense Shen Yuan's cultivation.

That alone was enough.

"This matter concerns the Iron Sword Hall."

Shen Yuan looked over.

"I don't know what that is."

The man's face stiffened.

"Our Hall Master is a Core Formation cultivator."

"Congratulations."

"Senior—"

Shen Yuan sighed.

"You're interrupting."

The leader's expression changed.

Shen Yuan turned back toward Jian Wuchen.

"Can you stand?"

"Yes."

Jian Wuchen's legs nearly gave out.

Shen Yuan looked at them.

Jian Wuchen looked down.

Then back up.

"For a while."

"Good."

Shen Yuan activated Basic Candidate Evaluation.

The system appeared.

[Candidate detected.]

Name: Jian Wuchen

Age: 19

Cultivation: None

Former Cultivation: Foundation Establishment — Third Stage

Spiritual Root: Superior Metal Spiritual Root

Meridians: Destroyed — 87%

Dantian: Damaged — 61%

Sword Bone: Dormant

Innate Trait: Innate Sword Heart

Sword Intent: Exceptional

Comprehension: Extreme

Destiny: Gold-Purple

Current Condition: Severe blood loss / fractured ribs / damaged organs / spiritual exhaustion

Compatibility: 95%

Recommendation: Highly suitable disciple candidate.

Shen Yuan's eyes stopped.

Innate Sword Heart.

There it was.

He selected it.

[Innate Sword Heart.]

[A rare innate state in which the cultivator possesses exceptional comprehension toward Sword Dao.]

[Current Condition: Awakened.]

[Note:]

Destruction of conventional cultivation unexpectedly accelerated Sword Heart awakening.]

Shen Yuan almost laughed.

Of course.

Lin Yue's physique had destroyed her spiritual root.

Jian Wuchen losing his cultivation had strengthened his Sword Heart.

Apparently, the heavens enjoyed hiding treasures inside disasters.

He inspected the meridians.

[Repair possible.]

Expected.

Then—

another notification appeared.

[Warning.]

[Standard meridian restoration not recommended.]

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

[Candidate has unconsciously developed Sword Meridians through prolonged Sword Intent circulation.]

[Restoring former meridian structure may reduce future Sword Dao potential.]

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Jian Wuchen watched Shen Yuan staring at him.

"Senior?"

"Hm?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Shen Yuan considered.

"Your injuries are unusual."

Jian Wuchen's expression cooled.

There it was.

The pity.

He knew what came next.

Such a shame.

If only...

Shen Yuan spoke.

"Whoever treated you before was incompetent."

Jian Wuchen blinked.

That wasn't what he expected.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Your meridians aren't useless."

The broken sword in Jian Wuchen's hand shifted.

"What?"

"They're terrible."

Jian Wuchen's face darkened.

"But not useless."

Shen Yuan looked at the system again.

Sword Meridians.

If repaired correctly—

No.

Not repaired.

Completed.

"Actually..."

Shen Yuan smiled.

"You might be better off because they broke."

Jian Wuchen stared at him.

For the first time that night—

his composure cracked.

"Senior."

"Yes?"

"I think you may have been struck by lightning."

Shen Yuan looked toward the storm.

"Not recently."

Jian Wuchen had no response.

Behind them, the Iron Sword Hall cultivators exchanged glances.

The leader quietly began retreating.

Shen Yuan noticed.

He sighed.

"I haven't finished with you."

The man stopped.

"Senior, this is a misunderstanding."

"Is it?"

"Jian Wuchen stole an inheritance token belonging to our Iron Sword Hall."

Jian Wuchen's expression became cold.

"I found it."

"In territory controlled by our Hall."

"This valley isn't yours."

"Our Hall discovered it first."

"Three hundred years after everyone else?"

Shen Yuan looked between them.

He already regretted asking.

Cultivators could turn ownership disputes into generational wars.

He held out his hand.

"Token."

Jian Wuchen didn't move.

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"I'm not taking it."

After a moment, Jian Wuchen retrieved the black metal token.

Shen Yuan inspected it without touching it.

The system reacted.

[Ancient Sword Tomb Key Fragment.]

Grade: Unknown

Condition: 1 of 7 fragments

Contains: Residual Sword Dao resonance

Compatibility with Jian Wuchen: 98%

Shen Yuan looked at the seven pursuers.

Then at Jian Wuchen.

"Keep it."

The leader's face changed.

"Senior!"

Shen Yuan glanced at him.

"He found it."

"It belongs to—"

"Did your name appear on it?"

The man stopped.

"Your sect emblem?"

Silence.

"An ownership seal?"

Nothing.

"Then this seems uncomplicated."

The leader clenched his jaw.

"Senior may be powerful, but the Iron Sword Hall—"

Shen Yuan's expression changed slightly.

The rain stopped.

Not gradually.

Every drop within the valley froze in the air.

Thousands.

Tens of thousands.

Suspended.

The seven cultivators went pale.

Shen Yuan hadn't released an aura.

Hadn't moved.

Hadn't raised his hand.

The world had simply—

stopped raining.

His voice remained calm.

"I don't know your Iron Sword Hall."

A raindrop floated beside the leader's eye.

"But if you keep explaining it to me..."

The drop turned to ice.

"...I may remember it for the wrong reason."

Nobody spoke.

Shen Yuan looked toward the valley entrance.

"Leave."

They left.

Quickly.

No threats.

No promises of revenge.

No final insult.

Shen Yuan appreciated intelligent enemies.

They saved time.

The moment they disappeared—

rain resumed.

Jian Wuchen watched.

His broken sword slowly lowered.

He had seen Core Formation cultivators.

He had seen Nascent Soul cultivators fight.

Once, from a great distance, he had witnessed a Soul Transformation elder split a mountain ridge.

None of them had ever made the world obey so casually.

"Senior Shen."

"Hm?"

"What realm are you?"

Shen Yuan thought about it.

"Complicated."

Jian Wuchen frowned.

"That's not a realm."

"It is for me."

Again—

no useful response.

Shen Yuan reached into his storage.

Jian Wuchen immediately said:

"I don't need charity."

Shen Yuan stopped.

Then looked at the blood covering him.

"You are bleeding from at least four places."

"Five."

"That improves your argument."

Jian Wuchen remained serious.

"I can repay medicine."

"Good."

Shen Yuan tossed him a bottle.

Jian Wuchen caught it.

Then almost dropped it.

The medicinal aura escaping through the jade was overwhelming.

His expression changed.

"What grade?"

Shen Yuan paused.

Apparently this question followed him everywhere.

"Fourth."

Jian Wuchen stared.

"No."

Shen Yuan blinked.

"No?"

"I can't repay a fourth-grade healing pill."

"You just said you could repay medicine."

"I assumed normal medicine."

"This is normal."

"For whom?"

Shen Yuan considered.

"Cloudveil Peak."

Jian Wuchen looked suspicious.

"What is Cloudveil Peak?"

"My mountain."

That didn't help.

Shen Yuan sighed.

"Take the pill."

"No."

"You're stubborn."

"I've been told."

"Frequently?"

"Yes."

Shen Yuan believed it.

He looked at the system.

Jian Wuchen wasn't his disciple yet.

No cashback.

More importantly, his internal damage needed stabilization before anything else.

Shen Yuan could heal him directly.

But he wanted to see how the Sword Meridians reacted.

"Fine."

He put the bottle away.

Jian Wuchen seemed surprised that he'd given up so easily.

Then Shen Yuan raised one finger.

A strand of Immortal Qi entered Jian Wuchen's chest.

The young man's eyes widened.

"What—"

His injuries stopped bleeding.

Cracked ribs aligned.

Damaged organs stabilized.

Pain vanished.

Not healed completely.

Stabilized.

Jian Wuchen looked down at himself.

Then slowly raised his head.

"You said fine."

"I didn't give you medicine."

"That's..."

He stopped.

Technically true.

He hated that.

Shen Yuan smiled.

He liked this one.

Not as quiet as Lin Yue.

But amusing.

"Now."

Shen Yuan looked toward the broken swords around them.

"Show me your sword."

Jian Wuchen's expression changed.

"You saw it."

"I saw you fight while half-dead."

"That counts."

"Barely."

Jian Wuchen narrowed his eyes.

Shen Yuan pointed toward a stone pillar.

"Cut it."

"With no cultivation?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I want to see something."

Jian Wuchen looked at the pillar.

Then at Shen Yuan.

"Will you explain afterward?"

"Probably."

He disliked that word.

Still—

he raised Clear Wind.

The broken blade reflected lightning.

Jian Wuchen closed his eyes.

His breathing slowed.

Shen Yuan watched closely.

No spiritual Qi.

Yet something moved.

Sword intent.

It traveled not through conventional meridians—

but through damaged pathways formed by years of repeated sword practice.

The system highlighted them.

Thin golden lines appeared throughout Jian Wuchen's body.

Not twelve primary meridians.

Not eight extraordinary channels.

Something else.

Straight.

Sharp.

Purposeful.

Every pathway seemed designed for one thing.

The sword.

Jian Wuchen opened his eyes.

Slash.

The broken blade stopped several meters from the stone pillar.

Nothing happened.

Then—

a thin line appeared.

The upper half of the pillar slid sideways.

Boom.

It struck the ground.

Jian Wuchen staggered.

Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Shen Yuan caught his shoulder before he fell.

The system chimed.

[Sword Meridian structure confirmed.]

[Potential evolutionary path identified.]

[Conventional cultivation restoration: Not recommended.]

[Recommended Path:]

Reconstruct cultivation around Innate Sword Heart.

Create Sword Meridian Foundation.

Use Sword Intent as primary circulation medium before Qi integration.

Shen Yuan's interest grew.

This was exactly what he wanted.

Lin Yue had required an entirely new cultivation method.

Jian Wuchen might require an entirely new cultivation system.

Cloudveil Peak was becoming inconvenient.

Shen Yuan found himself enjoying it.

That was concerning.

Jian Wuchen pulled away once he could stand.

"Well?"

"Your meridians are destroyed."

His expression became flat.

"I know."

"Don't repair them."

Jian Wuchen froze.

"What?"

"At least not normally."

Shen Yuan pointed toward his chest.

"You've formed new pathways."

"Impossible."

"You just used them."

Jian Wuchen looked down.

"For years, you've been circulating Sword Intent through damaged meridians."

Silence.

"Your body adapted."

Jian Wuchen's eyes slowly widened.

"Those pathways can be completed."

"Completed?"

"Yes."

"Then I could cultivate again?"

Shen Yuan considered the question.

"Not the way you used to."

The light in Jian Wuchen's eyes dimmed slightly.

Shen Yuan continued.

"You'd have to start over."

Jian Wuchen looked up.

"From Body Tempering?"

"Probably."

"How long?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"How unreasonable you are."

Jian Wuchen stared.

Shen Yuan clarified.

"Talent. Comprehension. Resources. Whether your body survives the process."

"That last one sounds important."

"It usually is."

Jian Wuchen became quiet.

Rain continued falling.

For years—

every physician had said the same thing.

Impossible.

His meridians were destroyed.

Even if repaired, his foundation would never return to what it was.

His best outcome was to live as a mortal.

A few offered hope.

Rare treasures.

Legendary pills.

He had chased some of them.

All failed.

Eventually he stopped.

He accepted that cultivation was gone.

But the sword—

he refused to give that up.

Now this stranger had appeared.

Stopped a Foundation Establishment technique with one finger.

Frozen rain without releasing an aura.

Looked at the injuries that had ended Jian Wuchen's cultivation—

and told him not to repair them.

"Why?"

Jian Wuchen asked.

Shen Yuan tilted his head.

"Why what?"

"Why help me?"

There it was.

Shen Yuan thought about the system.

[Potential disciple detected.]

He could simply say:

Because you are talented.

True.

Because your compatibility is ninety-five percent.

Also true.

Because your Innate Sword Heart might produce ridiculous cashback.

Extremely true.

But—

Shen Yuan remembered Lin Yue standing in the pressure formation.

He remembered Jian Wuchen raising a broken sword against seven enemies despite having no cultivation.

Different people.

Same refusal.

Neither knew when to stop.

Perhaps that was what Cloudveil Peak was collecting.

"Because your sword isn't broken."

Jian Wuchen looked at the half-blade in his hand.

"It literally is."

Shen Yuan paused.

"That sounded better in my head."

Jian Wuchen stared.

Then—

unexpectedly—

laughed.

Only once.

Short.

Almost disbelieving.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Your weapon is broken."

He pointed toward Jian Wuchen's chest.

"Your sword isn't."

The laughter disappeared.

Jian Wuchen looked at him.

This time Shen Yuan continued seriously.

"Everyone who looked at you saw destroyed meridians."

"I see someone who continued practicing after cultivation became impossible."

"That is either admirable or extremely stupid."

Jian Wuchen's mouth twitched.

"Possibly both."

"Usually both."

Shen Yuan nodded toward the black token.

"You found that because your Sword Intent resonated with this valley."

Jian Wuchen's expression sharpened.

"You know what it is?"

"Part of a key."

"To what?"

"A Sword Tomb."

Jian Wuchen looked toward the thousands of broken blades.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Whatever is inside seems connected to your path."

"How do you know?"

"Profoundly."

Jian Wuchen stared.

Shen Yuan realized he had used that explanation too often recently.

He should invent another.

Later.

The system chimed.

[Candidate condition updated.]

[Destiny resonance increasing.]

[Ancient Sword Tomb inheritance may significantly affect candidate's future path.]

[Recommendation:]

Do not remove candidate from location before investigating Sword Tomb resonance.

Shen Yuan glanced toward the depths of the valley.

Interesting.

He had originally intended to grab Jian Wuchen and return to Cloudveil Peak.

Apparently—

not yet.

"Where did you find the token?"

Jian Wuchen pointed toward the valley's deepest section.

"Inside a cave."

"Show me."

"Why?"

"Because apparently we're not leaving yet."

"We?"

"Yes."

Jian Wuchen narrowed his eyes.

"I haven't agreed to anything."

"True."

Shen Yuan started walking.

Jian Wuchen remained still.

After several steps, Shen Yuan looked back.

"Coming?"

"Where?"

"Your cave."

"You don't know where it is."

"That's why you're coming."

Jian Wuchen stared at him.

Then at the valley entrance where his pursuers had disappeared.

Then at his broken sword.

He followed.

Back at Azure Origin Sect—

Lin Yue did not rest.

She tried.

For almost half an hour.

Then gave up.

Her master had disappeared after casually informing her that her future junior brother might be dying.

That was not conducive to sleep.

So she cultivated.

The Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture circulated quietly.

Moonlight gathered around her.

Her new spiritual root absorbed it naturally.

Everything felt effortless.

Almost too effortless.

Lin Yue opened her eyes.

A thought occurred.

Future junior brother.

She frowned.

Shen Yuan had refused disciples for six years.

Then accepted her.

Two days later—

another?

Was that normal?

Probably not.

Nothing on Cloudveil Peak appeared normal anymore.

An elderly woman approached carrying a tray.

One of the peak's cooks.

"Aren't you sleeping?"

Lin Yue shook her head.

"Master left."

"We noticed."

The old woman placed down a bowl of sweet rice soup.

"Eat."

Lin Yue accepted it.

"Thank you."

She hesitated.

"Has Master ever left this suddenly before?"

"Often."

Lin Yue looked hopeful.

"Really?"

"Usually because Sect Master Gu is trying to give him work."

Her hope disappeared.

The old woman smiled.

"Don't worry."

"Master isn't the one I'm worried about."

"Ah."

The cook understood immediately.

"The junior brother?"

Lin Yue nearly choked.

"How do you know?"

"You asked the attendants whether Cloudveil Peak had spare disciple rooms prepared."

Lin Yue looked away.

That had been research.

Nothing more.

The old woman laughed softly.

"Thirty-six rooms."

Lin Yue remembered.

All empty.

For now.

"Do you think Master will bring him back?"

The cook shrugged.

"Peak Master Shen spent six years avoiding disciples."

She looked toward the mountain path.

"Then you arrived."

Lin Yue waited.

The woman smiled.

"I think things are changing."

Lin Yue looked toward the night sky.

Somewhere far away—

Shen Yuan was apparently inspecting a potential junior brother.

She took another spoonful of rice soup.

Then paused.

"What if he's difficult?"

The cook laughed.

"You're already worrying like an eldest senior sister."

Lin Yue's spoon stopped.

She stared at the bowl.

Eldest senior sister.

That sounded—

strange.

Not bad.

Just strange.

She quietly continued eating.

The cave entrance was hidden behind a waterfall.

Shen Yuan stood before it.

Jian Wuchen stood beside him.

"This?"

"Yes."

Shen Yuan looked at the waterfall.

Then at Jian Wuchen.

"You climbed through that while injured?"

"I wasn't as injured then."

"Reasonable."

They entered.

The cave was narrow at first.

Then widened.

Broken sword marks covered the walls.

Not natural marks.

Sword techniques.

Hundreds of them.

Perhaps thousands.

Some shallow.

Some deep.

Some so old the stone had grown smooth around them.

Jian Wuchen slowed.

"When I came here before, I couldn't understand them."

Shen Yuan looked at the nearest mark.

His Immortal perception expanded.

A sword strike.

Approximately four thousand years old.

The cultivator who left it had probably been at least Body Integration.

Another.

Tribulation Transcendence.

Another—

Shen Yuan stopped.

The mark was tiny.

Almost invisible.

Yet when his perception touched it—

his consciousness briefly saw a sword cutting through a star.

He withdrew.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The mortal world possessed more secrets than Gu Tianhe's records suggested.

The system reacted.

[Ancient Sword Dao traces detected.]

[Era classification: Pre-Severance.]

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

Pre-Severance.

That term was new.

He selected it.

[Insufficient system authority.]

Of course.

Jian Wuchen noticed him stop.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You keep saying that when something is clearly something."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"You'll fit in well."

"Fit in where?"

"Cloudveil Peak."

"I haven't agreed to join."

"Not yet."

Jian Wuchen frowned.

They continued deeper.

Eventually—

the tunnel ended.

A massive stone door stood before them.

Seven circular depressions surrounded its center.

One was shaped exactly like Jian Wuchen's token.

Shen Yuan stared.

Seven fragments.

Seven depressions.

Jian Wuchen approached.

"When I found the token, it was embedded there."

He pointed toward the first slot.

"Then the door reacted."

"How?"

"The swords screamed."

Shen Yuan looked around.

"There are no swords here."

Jian Wuchen raised his broken blade.

"This one did."

He stepped forward.

The black token began vibrating.

The stone door trembled.

Then—

a voice filled the cave.

Ancient.

Weak.

Almost gone.

"Sword Heart..."

Jian Wuchen froze.

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

The voice continued.

"Broken meridians..."

The entire cave shook.

"Broken foundation..."

Sword marks across the walls lit up.

One after another.

Thousands.

Silver.

Gold.

Black.

Red.

The broken sword in Jian Wuchen's hand began humming.

The ancient voice spoke again.

This time—

almost amused.

"Good."

Jian Wuchen stared.

Shen Yuan smiled.

He was beginning to like whoever built this place.

The seven depressions on the stone door lit up.

Six remained empty.

One—

the slot matching Jian Wuchen's token—

turned gold.

Then the system appeared.

[Major Destiny Event detected.]

[Candidate Jian Wuchen has activated the Ancient Sword Tomb.]

[Hidden inheritance trial available.]

[Warning:]

[Opening the Sword Tomb may attract multiple karmically connected parties.]

Shen Yuan read the message.

Then another appeared.

[Potential high-value disciple investment opportunity detected.]

There it was.

Shen Yuan looked at Jian Wuchen.

Jian Wuchen looked at the stone door.

Neither spoke.

Then Jian Wuchen asked:

"Senior Shen."

"Hm?"

"You said my broken meridians might be useful."

"Yes."

"And whatever is behind this door..."

He tightened his grip around Clear Wind.

"...seems to agree."

Shen Yuan nodded.

"It does."

Jian Wuchen took a slow breath.

Then turned toward him.

"What would I have to do?"

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"To cultivate again."

The cave became quiet.

Jian Wuchen continued.

"If you're right."

"If these new meridians can become something."

"If I can walk the Sword Dao again..."

His voice remained calm.

But Shen Yuan could hear what sat beneath it.

Three years.

Three years of being told it was over.

Three years of watching a path he'd spent his entire childhood building disappear.

Three years of swinging a sword anyway.

"What would I have to give you?"

Shen Yuan understood.

Jian Wuchen thought there had to be a price.

There usually was.

Cultivation resources weren't free.

Rare medicines weren't free.

Inheritance wasn't free.

A master investing enough resources to reconstruct someone's entire cultivation foundation?

That was a debt most cultivators could spend a lifetime repaying.

Shen Yuan smiled faintly.

"Nothing."

Jian Wuchen's eyes narrowed.

"I don't believe you."

"Reasonable."

"Then what do you want?"

Shen Yuan looked at the system.

[Potential disciple: Jian Wuchen.]

[Compatibility: 95%.]

He thought about Lin Yue.

About Cloudveil Peak.

About the thirty-six empty residences.

Then he looked back at the young man holding a broken sword.

"I want a disciple."

Jian Wuchen went still.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Cloudveil Peak currently has one."

"My first disciple."

"Lin Yue."

"She's troublesome."

Hundreds of kilometers away, Lin Yue sneezed.

Shen Yuan paused.

Then continued.

"I suspect you'll be worse."

Jian Wuchen stared.

"Is that how you recruit disciples?"

"I've only done it once before."

"That explains a lot."

Shen Yuan smiled.

Jian Wuchen looked toward the stone door.

Then back.

"If I refuse?"

"I'll still make sure you don't die tonight."

Jian Wuchen's expression changed.

"And the meridians?"

Shen Yuan was quiet for a moment.

"I can tell you what I discovered."

"I won't force you to become my disciple because you're desperate."

That mattered.

Jian Wuchen studied him carefully.

No pressure.

No aura.

No threat.

Just a man standing casually inside an ancient Sword Tomb as though this were an ordinary conversation.

"Why me?"

Jian Wuchen asked.

Shen Yuan looked at the broken sword.

Then at him.

"Because after losing everything that made you a cultivator..."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"...you still became a better swordsman."

Jian Wuchen said nothing.

The ancient door hummed behind him.

The broken swords carved into the walls seemed to wait.

Shen Yuan extended one hand.

Not as an order.

An offer.

"Jian Wuchen."

"Would you like to become my second disciple?"

The cave fell silent.

Jian Wuchen stared at the hand.

Three years ago—

countless elders had wanted him.

Sword sects.

Great clans.

Peak Masters.

He had been a genius.

A prodigy.

Someone worth fighting over.

Then his meridians shattered.

The invitations disappeared.

The praise became pity.

The people who once asked him to join began telling him to accept reality.

Now—

at the lowest point of his life—

someone had come.

Not because his old cultivation could be restored.

Not because he had regained what he'd lost.

But because of what remained after losing it.

Jian Wuchen slowly lowered his broken sword.

Then—

he clasped his hands.

And bowed.

"Disciple Jian Wuchen..."

Shen Yuan's system erupted with golden light.

"...greets Master."

[Ding!]

[Second disciple successfully accepted.]

[Disciple registered: Jian Wuchen.]

[Compatibility: 95%.]

[Innate Sword Heart detected.]

[Abnormal Sword Meridian structure detected.]

[Ancient Sword Tomb resonance detected.]

Then—

one final notification appeared.

[Special Disciple Mission generated.]

[Forge a cultivation path worthy of the Innate Sword Heart.]

[Mission Reward: Unknown.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

Cloudveil Peak had its second disciple.

And judging by the ancient stone door beginning to open behind them—

his timing was excellent.

The ground shook.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

A gap appeared between the massive doors.

Sword intent poured through.

Not one sword intent.

Thousands.

Jian Wuchen straightened.

His face changed.

Beyond the opening—

there was no cave.

No chamber.

No ordinary inheritance hall.

There was a sky.

Black.

Endless.

And beneath that sky—

millions of swords stood buried in an endless plain.

At the center—

a single sword remained upright.

Unbroken.

The system flashed red.

[Warning.]

[Unknown Sword Dao entity detected.]

[Target has noticed Host.]

Shen Yuan's smile slowly disappeared.

From somewhere beyond the door—

a pair of ancient eyes opened.

And a voice that had not spoken for thousands of years whispered:

"An Immortal..."

A pause.

Then—

"...in the mortal world?"