Tianyuan

Hongnong. Beneath a cloudless azure sky, an avian beast bearing a small pavilion flew north from the south, heading toward the mountains. Set against the vast, sea-like mists of the Tianyuan Mountain Range, the transport beast seemed like a lone skiff drifting across a boundless ocean. Seated beside the lattice window, Yuan Hao looked out into the distance toward the place that symbolized the paramount authority of the Sect Alliance. This was his first time in Hongnong, and his first time laying eyes upon the mountain gates of the Sect Alliance's leader, the Tianyuan Sword Sect. Even though he had long familiarized himself with the Tianyuan Mountain Range through internal intelligence briefs from the Prime Minister's Manor, what one gathered from paper was always shallow. Witnessing its sheer grandeur with his own eyes, his gaze—accustomed to great storms—could not help but fill with admiration. This mist array enshrouded the entire mountain range. And the Tianyuan Mountain Range stretched on for over a thousand li. "What are you looking at, Young Master Zhou?" A crisp female voice from within the pavilion suddenly interrupted Yuan Hao's lingering train of thought. Turning his head, he saw a woman clad in the exotic attire of the Southern Border. Her slender waist was bare as she lay supine upon a couch, an open picture book draped over her face for a nap, concealing her features. Her legs were slightly bent, one crossed casually over the other, while her toes swayed playfully in the air, exuding a mischievous charm. As she spoke, sunlight spilled down through the skylight. She pulled the picture book back just enough to reveal a single, magnificent, pale-green eye, regarding him with open curiosity. Locking eyes with her for an instant, Yuan Hao shifted his gaze slightly to the left. Besides this Miaojiang woman from the southern territory, a middle-aged man clad in a coir raincoat also occupied the pavilion. A scar cut downward across his entire face from the corner of his eye. At this moment, he sat quietly against the wall, clutching his sword with eyes closed to rest his mind. The three were strangers. Only a few days ago in Anfeng City, coordinated by the Sword Sect, had they been arranged to share a single transport beast bound for the Tianyuan Mountain Range to attend the upcoming Tianyuan Grand Tournament. Normally, based on the cultivation levels each had shown, all three should have been entitled to the Sword Sect's standard of "one guest per beast." But these were unusual times: the Prime Minister's Manor had forcefully passed that tax reform, and the Imperial Preceptor had gone missing. As leader of the sects, the Sword Sect naturally had to adjust accordingly. Whether gathering forces for war or transporting supplies, large numbers of transport beasts had to be requisitioned for logistics. Left with no choice, they had to have guests share rides. It ran counter to the Sword Sect's etiquette for hosting guests, but when faced with an existential war, all pleasantries took a back seat. Taking a sip of yellow wine that tasted bitter at first before lingering with sweetness, Yuan Hao reined in his thoughts and replied with a smile full of praise, "I was admiring this grand mist mountain array and marveling at the Sword Sect's foundation. After all, the Tianyuan Mountain Range stretches on for a full thousand li." The Miaojiang woman asked in surprise, "Is this your first time visiting the Tianyuan Mountain Range, Young Master?" Yuan Hao did not deny it. He asked in turn, "Is that strange?" At this, she arched a brow and propped herself up on the couch, long hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. "Judging by your cultivation and age," she said, looking puzzled, "you shouldn't have missed the previous two Tianyuan Grand Tournaments." How could Yuan Hao fail to recognize her probing? With a faint, insincere smile, he asked, "Could it be that you've participated, Miss Jin?" "Of course." "Did you step onto the stage, then?" "..." At his question, a shadow seemed to ripple across her pale-green eyes. Her beautiful eyes narrowed for a split second, and then she languidly reclined once more, covering her face with the picture book without another word. Seeing this, Yuan Hao cast an imperceptible glance at the scarred middle-aged man huddled in the corner and shook his head with a slight smile. Having shared quarters for three days, he had deduced quite a bit about them. Neither was ordinary—especially this Miaojiang woman. The scarred man cultivated a fiendish aura art, a rarity under heaven. In reality, fiendish arts differed from how evil cultivators were portrayed in pulp novels. They were not inherently wicked or evil, merely existing in a grey area under Great Yan law. While cultivating a fiendish art required fiendish energy that could warp one's sanity, it did not necessarily require slaughtering multitudes; one simply needed places where living beings had perished, such as battlefields or sites of natural disaster. In other words, those who practiced fiendish arts could sense the fiendish aura clinging to others—the blood of the lives they had slaughtered. From Yuan Hao's observations over the past few days, the reason the scarred man—whose mind was influenced by his fiendish art—was so quiet and docile was fear. Setting Yuan Hao himself aside—daring to come alone to the Tianyuan Sword Sect, which he would soon lead an army to destroy, meant he naturally possessed a secret treasure bestowed by the Chancellor to conceal his aura. Even if the murderous fiendish energy on him reached the heavens, the scarred man could not sense it. That being the case, the object of the man's fear was painfully obvious. It was that woman. How intriguing. It seemed the Third Young Master's tax reform memorial at court had truly lured many monsters to the Tianyuan Sword Sect. Thinking of this, Yuan Hao shook his head faintly. He took out a flask of cheap yellow wine from his Sumeru ring and took a drink before speaking again: "Miss Jin, you must have come here to compete in the tournament, haven't you?" Seeing him speak again, she sat up politely, her curved eyes flashing with a mischievous smile. "Naturally. But Young Master Zhou, we've traveled together for three days and you only mention it now. Could it be you're trying to pry into intelligence on our Gu Clan?" In a tournament, unless one possessed overwhelming, insurmountable power, gathering information was often the key to victory. The Gu Clan of the Southern Border lived in seclusion year-round and their methods were an enigma; probing them for information was hardly unusual. Understanding her implication, Yuan Hao was momentarily lost for words. "I am not as young as I look," he said. "I'm past the age limit and cannot participate." "You're actually that old?" "..." Yuan Hao was speechless. "..." She stepped off the couch, her bare, pale feet padding across the wooden floor as she came over to sit opposite Yuan Hao's desk. "Just a joke," she said softly. "I will indeed participate in the Tianyuan Grand Tournament, though mostly at the behest of my clan elders to vie for a high ranking." "I'd like to hear more," Yuan Hao replied. Resting her chin on her fingertips, she stared straight at the man across from her. "Before I left, the clan elders instructed me: they said you Central Plains people always love to dress simple jungle law in righteous pretense. If we wish to step into the world, we cannot act rashly; we must first demonstrate our strength within the established rules..." Yuan Hao let a well-measured hint of surprise show in his eyes. "So you wish to share a taste of the nine cauldrons with all the sects under heaven? But does Miss Jin know that while chaos is a ladder to the heavenly palace, it can also be a one-way ticket to hell?" "..." She only smiled sweetly, offering no reply. Seeing this, Yuan Hao changed tack: "Then allow me to wish you an early victory, Miss Jin. May you take the top prize." "That will be hard..." she murmured, warming up to the conversation. Glancing out the window, she sighed, "Seven years ago, I came to the Tianyuan Mountain Range once with my elders. Ran Qingmo, the Head Disciple of the Sword Sect, alone would likely be more than a handful for me. Not to mention that with this sudden shift in the general situation, who knows how many other monstrous talents will emerge across the realm." Yuan Hao raised a brow. "Other monstrous talents? What do you mean by that?" She cast a glance at the Sumeru ring on his finger. "Whenever chaotic times arrive, monsters are born into the world. To look far afield, rumor has it that the Third Young Master of the Prime Minister's Manor broke through to the Transcendent Realm in just three years—though surely he wouldn't have the guts to show his face in the Tianyuan Mountain Range. And closer to home, aren't you one of them, Young Master Zhou?" Noncommittal, Yuan Hao merely replied, "Miss Jin, as I've said, I am too old to enter the tournament." "Then that's one less competitor for me. Even so, as far as I know, there are no fewer than seven or eight people capable of contending with me." "So many?" "Right now, the Tianyuan Mountain Range is where heroes gather. Could it be you underestimate the talents of the realm, Young Master Zhou?" "..." Yuan Hao fell silent for a moment, then murmured, "I stand corrected, Miss Jin." With that, he looked away, turning his gaze back out the window. He was afraid that if they spoke any further, he wouldn't be able to suppress his laughter. Cultivation prodigies... Her words inexplicably reminded him of the "Sword Discussion in the Jianghu" talk springing up in common markets—terms originally coined by mud-footed martial apprentice sects, yet entirely fitting when applied to these aristocratic clans and sects. Competing in tournaments for fame and profit was normal enough. But the problem was: what did supreme talent matter? What did being invincible among peers matter? The moment the Black Scale Army of the Prime Minister's Manor bore down and iron hooves breached the stronghold, these "monsters" in the spotlight would all turn into ants waiting with bared necks for the slaughter. At this thought, Yuan Hao could almost picture the beauty before him reduced to a skeleton, feeling a stir of excitement. But a moment later, he realized that was improper. Her words were not without merit. Underestimating the enemy was unacceptable, and there were no trivial matters in war. Facing these noble clans and sects that were about to become enemies, he needed to accord them sufficient respect. As their mount drew closer, the surging mists of the distant mountain range expanded rapidly beyond the window, billowing into the clouds as though piercing the sky, scattering iridescent rainbows in the sunlight. Soon, the transport beast plunged headlong into the seemingly boundless wall of mist. The cabin began to vibrate with turbulence. The sea of mist around them was pitch-black, as though flying through storm clouds on a rainy night, and faint luminescent light lit up the cabin interior. With Yuan Hao's cultivation, he could clearly feel the pulse of the array lines in the mist. It was somewhat similar to the array the Fourth Miss had laid in Shengshan County, but expanded a thousandfold in scope. Its overall power was very weak, possessing only slight illusory properties. At most, it could keep out mortal commoners and scattered martial apprentices; an organized military formation of a mere hundred men could punch a hole right through it. As these thoughts flickered through his mind, the view outside opened up dramatically! The mist that had seemed endless from outside actually existed only on the outermost perimeter of the range. Once breached, as far as the eye could see, a thousand li of lush green mountains basked beneath a brilliant cascade of sunlight! *Screeeech—* The transport beast beneath them gave a piercing, skyward cry and began to descend, skimming low over the ground to showcase the heritage and grandeur befitting the Sect Alliance's paramount leader to outside visitors. Time ticked by in silence. Flying deeper along the undulating mountain forests, one could look down upon vast swathes of cleared woodlands where terraced fields—shaped through great cultivation power—nestled along the rolling peaks. Tianyuan mountain folk toiled within them. Orderly cottages lined the paths, curls of chimney smoke rose into the air, intersecting paths linked village to village, and the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking drifted across the fields. Countless mountain villages like this dotted the forested expanse like stars. Winding mountain roads stretched inward through the terrain until the transport beast glided over a ridge—and four towering mountain cities encircling the main peak burst into view! Looking down from the sky, carriage and foot traffic as dense as ants flowed before the city gate towers, channeling the intake and dispatch of supplies brought in from across the mountain range for these four gluttonous beasts. Inside, architectural clusters clung to the mountainsides, rising and falling without an end in sight. Looking down upon this unique mountain landscape, Yuan Hao suddenly noticed his body trembling slightly, beyond his control. Because he would soon lead an army to slaughter this beautiful earthly paradise down to the last soul. But just then, Yuan Hao felt a slender, warm hand rest upon the back of his hand. "Beautiful, isn't it?" "..." Yuan Hao. Composing his expression, Yuan Hao looked back with an odd gaze at her delicate hand. "Miss Jin, what are you doing?" She narrowed her eyes with a smile, her magnificent green pupils fixing on him. "You Central Plains folk are always so conservative. I'm not trying to take advantage of you. Meeting is fate, and I have a feeling we'll meet again. A small gift to commemorate our first encounter." As she spoke and the beast began to touch down, she drew her hand away, revealing an amber stone beneath it. Encased within the clear, amber-yellow crystal was a multi-legged Gu insect with four wings upon its back. Yet Yuan Hao sensed a fluctuation of source Qi. This amber seemed to have been birthed from within her body. "People of the Gu Clan nourish Gu with their own bodies. Is that so strange?" Noticing the strange look in his eyes, she waved her hand casually before him as she stood up. "A Four-Winged Centipede Jade. Keeping it on your person nourishes the divine soul. If you ever need me, Young Master Zhou, crush it, and follow the Gu inside to find me." Yuan Hao's eyes flickered for a moment. "This is rather valuable." She shook her head. "To be honest, besides entering the tournament, my journey to the Central Plains is to make friends with young talents like yourself. You surely know that for rustic Gu-folk like us to integrate into the Central Plains, strength alone is far from enough. So this gift is merely to forge a good bond in advance." Hearing this, Yuan Hao immediately smiled. "A good bond? Miss Jin's thoughts align with mine completely." Ever since taking command of an army, Yuan Hao had maintained a good habit. Just as a lowly thief would case a joint before striking, he would stroll through an area beforehand depending on the circumstances before leading an army to destroy it. First, personally scouting provided a better grasp of the local conditions—what one gathered from paper was always shallow, after all. Second, it was to form connections in advance. With connections came acquaintances, and when war arrived, slaughtering those he was acquainted with gave him an even greater thrill... Her eyes curved into crescents. "It seems your clan needs allies as well, Young Master Zhou. Then perhaps we'll have plenty to talk about." "Naturally. However, I have some sect business to attend to here at the Sword Sect's mountain gates." Yuan Hao did not deny it, smiling as he tucked the Gu amber into his robes. "I thank you for this gift. As for a return gift, we can settle that the next time we meet. How does that sound?" Finding him amusing, she smiled with curved eyes. "Then I shall look forward to it." "..." Yuan Hao half-squinted, staring at her for a couple of breaths. Showing a flash of white teeth, he chuckled, "Rest assured, when the time comes, my return gift will certainly satisfy you." "..." While they spoke, the transport beast arrived above a massive avian landing platform on the mountainside south of the main peak. This was an area designated by the Sword Sect specifically to receive visitors. Looking out through the window, bird cries filled the sky. Various transport beasts could be seen landing and taking off, and from time to time, cultivators of formidable aura emerged from the grounded beasts. After descending together, the scarred man fled like a spooked hare, leaving only Yuan Hao and the Jin woman walking together. Stepping out of the landing platform, the late-autumn red leaves covering the mountains were magnificent. Through the sea of trees, a flight of stone stairs was visible, leading upward toward the Sword Sect and downward toward the mountain cities. Stopping in his tracks, Yuan Hao glanced at her. "Miss Jin, will you accompany me down the mountain, or head directly to the Sword Sect to lodge?" Smoothing her long hair, she said, "My clan elders instructed me to pay respects to a few of their old friends once I arrived on Sword Sect territory." Yuan Hao feigned regret and smiled. "I happen to prefer the bustle of crowds, so let us part ways here for now." With that, he cupped his hands in a salute and turned to leave. "Jin Pingyue." "..." Yuan Hao paused slightly. He glanced back, meeting her eyes for an instant. Realizing she was offering her name and asking for his, he smiled and said, "Zhou Chen." With that, he leapt into the air and vanished into the sea of trees. Yuan Hao had not come to the Tianyuan Mountain Range merely to form connections; he had plenty of official business to attend to. As the gears of the behemoth war machine that was the Prime Minister's Manor began to turn, many sleeper agents planted by the Black Scale Guards decades ago were being activated. Arriving under the guise of an elder from a Jiangnan aristocratic family, besides his primary mission of scouting the Sword Sect's defenses, he also carried directives from the Black Scale Guards and tasks entrusted to him by the Third Young Master. Yet after he departed, Jin Pingyue remained standing gracefully where she was. Sunlight filtered through the red-leafed canopy, dappling the woods with light and shadow. A sickening, gnashing squelch broke the silence of the forest. Within the pupil of this woman, whose beauty rivaled a banished immortal, shadows wriggled. A dot of inky darkness spread and shifted rapidly, followed by a wet squelch as her entire left eye bulged hideously with a Gu insect. Staring intently in the direction where Yuan Hao had vanished, she murmured, "Such heavy fiendish energy... What fine material for refining a fiendish Gu. I hope you won't disappoint me..." Just then, soft footsteps landed behind Jin Pingyue, and a deep male voice sounded with an edge of reprimand: "To circulate a fiendish Gu in a place like this... you truly have guts, girl." Turning back, Jin Pingyue saw a handsome elder with graying temples. The Gu in her left eye swiftly retracted, returning her pupil to normal. "Don't be angry, Uncle Liu. Yue'er was merely excited at finding prey." He glanced in the direction Yuan Hao had left, frowning. "What do you mean?" She lowered her head and smoothed her hair, concealing the left eye that had just transformed. Smiling brilliantly, she said, "That man is an evil cultivator. The fiendish energy on him is even heavier than mine. He's perfect as bait-Gu for my breakthrough to the Transcendent Realm." The handsome elder scoffed softly. "That single tax reform from the Prime Minister's Manor has truly drawn every kind of demon and ghost to this Tianyuan Grand Tournament." His gaze softened as he looked at her. "Do you need this old man to lend a hand?" Jin Pingyue tilted her head. "Uncle Liu, as the Second Elder of the Sword Sect, if you rashly take action against a guest during the Tianyuan Grand Tournament and get exposed, wouldn't that cause unnecessary trouble?" "..." The elder fell silent for a moment. "My apologies." She waved her hand with a light smile. "Uncle Liu, are you still feeling guilty about what happened back then?" "..." the handsome elder. "The destruction of Burial Village was the Chancellor's doing, and Brother Mo's death was plotted by that Xu Changtian. The Prime Minister's Manor wields immense power, and your status prevented you from intervening. Yue'er understands." "That was because of Ran Jianli..." The handsome elder took a deep breath and sighed. "He practiced appeasement toward the imperial court at every turn. Otherwise, the Prime Minister's Manor's move to wipe out Burial Village could have been stopped." At this, he suddenly smiled. "However, times have changed. The court's blade has been fully unsheathed. Our Sect Alliance will not sit idly by and wait for death. Girl, your vengeance can soon be had." "..." A complicated look passed through Jin Pingyue's eyes. Then she suddenly asked, "Uncle Liu, on my way here I heard that your Sword Sect's Head Disciple is involved with Xu Changtian?" At the mention of this, a cloud immediately passed through his eyes. "This matter was just discussed at the council of elders. Qingmo's identity and stance have put our Sword Sect in an extremely awkward position." Jin Pingyue raised her delicate brows. "Because of those hidden sects?" Pointing toward the ascending stairs, he walked up while explaining, "Yes. The Sword Sect was originally the leader of the Sect Alliance, yet the Sect Master and this Head Disciple caused such a mess, prompting many sects to question our stance. In the past, those sects had no choice but to follow our lead, but now the Sect Alliance includes the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. If not for the Sect Master's disappearance during the Northern Hunt, our entire Sword Sect would likely be under scrutiny." Keeping pace with him through the red-leafed woods, she sighed in a quiet voice, "Xu Changtian's status is too high, and he personally submitted that tax reform memorial. It's hardly surprising that other sects would seize upon this to make trouble. Uncle Liu, do you have a solution?" The question silenced him for a moment. After walking several dozen paces, he slowly answered, "Two." "Care to share?" "Nothing more than actively clearing the air, or throwing mud." "What do you mean?" "The Sect Master's wife just claimed at the council of elders that the Saintess of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion is also involved with Xu Changtian." "..." "..." The woods fell silent. After a long pause: "Huh?" "You heard right. Luo Wei has already spread the word, intending for us to turn the tables and strike first at the Tianyuan Conference." He looked rather helpless. "And its credibility is actually quite high. The Saintess's movements largely overlap with Xu Changtian's. Furthermore, during the Western Desert incident, many people saw her protecting him." The corners of Jin Pingyue's slender eyes twitched. The heirs to the two greatest pillars of the Sect Alliance were both romantically involved with the direct son of the Prime Minister's Manor. Who on earth was supposed to lead this war? She had heard that during the Zhenxi incident, a Saint from the hidden sects appeared, capable of single-handedly engineering the subversion of Zhenxi Manor. Her faction was surely powerful, but would anyone truly accept and trust her? The Tianyuan Sword Sect and the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion—one was the guardian of the existing sect order, while the other was a presence that had dominated the mortal realm within the world of sects for countless years. The prestige and credibility they possessed were unmatched by any other sect. Her thoughts a bit tangled, Jin Pingyue asked quizzically, "Has the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion responded?" He paused slightly. "That is precisely what worries me. Yesterday, the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion made their stance clear: they will dispatch that Saintess to attend in person, and all rumors will then be brought to light." Confused by his words, she asked hesitantly, "But Uncle Liu, didn't you just say her relationship with Xu Changtian is practically confirmed?" He sighed. "Yue'er, the Heaven-Revolving Technique can completely purge a person's mortal desires and emotions." She voiced her doubt: "I've heard of this, but even so, that doesn't change what she did in the past..." "That's not how it works," he interrupted with a sigh. "Any ordinary person knows to choose the lesser of two evils. That Saintess can become emotionless due to her cultivation art; with one proper opportunity, she can cleanse herself of all mud. But can Ran Qingmo do that? Impossible. That girl is far too simple-minded—Xu Changtian can twist her around his little finger with a few sweet words. Yet Luo Wei is currently Acting Sect Master, and she fiercely protects Qingmo. We elders cannot overstep the rules." Jin Pingyue frowned. "So the Sword Sect will just let her indulge in romantic folly?" He fell silent for a moment, then looked up along the ascending path toward the jade palaces crowning the peak. "Naturally not, but the rules cannot be broken either. Right now, many peak masters and elders have reached the limits of their patience. If Luo Wei insists on this, her days as Acting Sect Master are numbered." At this, he glanced at her and said solemnly, "Still, don't be too hostile toward Ran Qingmo. You two are both the future of the sect. Deep down, that girl cares for the Sword Sect; it's just that the Sect Master and Luo Wei shielded her too well—so well she knows nothing of mortal realities. "Once she understands that in times of family vengeance and national ruin there is no room for maidenly longing, she will live up to her name as the Head Disciple of our Sword Sect!"