Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

They had three rounds of toasting.

They put down their glasses and Li Yu’s voice sounded.

He was the owner of the carriage, so it was inevitable that he would have to be the one striking a conversation and doing the talking.

“Master, what are you going to the Qingzhou Ancient City for?”

Li Yu seemed a little curious about what Ye Ping was going to the Qingzhou Ancient City for.

“To participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet.”

Ye Ping answered truthfully without hiding.

However, as soon as he said that, the people in the carriage couldn’t help but seem shocked, but they didn’t say much.

“To participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet?”

Li Yu was even more surprised.

To him, Ye Ping was an impressive literati, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was a star of the literature world. However, he didn’t expect to hear Ye Ping saying that he was going to participate in the Sword Dao Meet.

“Yeah, I joined an immortal sect a few months ago, and I’m pursuing immortality now. The sect leader has sent me to participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet to train.”

Ye Ping said.

On the other hand, Su Changyu got somehow nervous.

He was extremely nervous, for fear that Ye Ping would say the wrong thing and end up letting them sense something fishy. However, he did not dare to interrupt or make things worse.

‘Immortal sect? Pursuing immortality?’

At this moment, the atmosphere in the carriage began to get strange.

Li Yu was fine because he knew what Ye Ping was like and also knew that Ye Ping was smart enough not to get duped by others.

“Master, will you consider joining the imperial court as an official?”

Ever since Li Yu knew Ye Ping, he had been trying to coerce Ye Ping into joining the imperial court as an official so as to assist him. He even thought that when he ascended to the throne of the King of Jin Nation, he would make Ye Ping the imperial tutor.

However, he discovered that Ye Ping wasn’t competitive by nature, although he was talented. Li Yu was conflicted because he was afraid that Ye Ping would end up being taken advantage of in the imperial courts because of his personality. Hence, he hadn’t mentioned it earlier.

“Join the court as an official?”

Ye Ping was curious. He sized Li Yu up, and to be frank, Ye Ping also guessed that Li Yu was a wealthy figure of status, but he never expected that he would let him join the court as an official through the back door.

However, if Li Yu had said this to him a year ago, Ye Ping might have agreed. However, now that he had joined a hidden immortal sect, joining the imperial courts as an official had become insignificant to him.

“I have a carefree heart and I can’t be confined to one place.”

Ye Ping said coldly, revealing his intentions and tactfully turning down Li Yu’s offer

Hearing this, Li Yu could not help but sigh.

Although he had already expected it, Li Yu still felt a little upset when he heard Ye Ping’s answer.

However, just at that moment, Ye Ping took the initiative to speak.

“What are you guys going to the Qingzhou Ancient City for?”

Ye Ping asked curiously.

“Teacher, we’re going there for some trivial matters. Gaozhan is my companion this time, but Nie Xin is heading there for military recruitment while Qiubai is going to watch the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet.”

“As for the fairies Shuang’er and Ning’er, they are going to the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet for the purpose of designing new clothes for the Sword Immortal series.”

Li Yu answered on behalf of everyone.

“Military recruitment? Is there going to be a war in Jin Nation?”

Ye Ping’s eyes were filled with some curiosity.

“No. It’s mainly because there have been some abnormalities in Jin Nation lately so His Majesty intends to make some arrangements in advance to prevent unexpected situations.”

“However, those are just trivial matters. Fairy Shuang’er and Ning’er’s matters are more important. I heard that there are a few incredible geniuses who are going to attend the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet this time, and we must watch it.” Nie Xin answered.

He obviously didn’t want to comment much about this matter. After all, it was a national event and it was not to be discussed indiscriminately. In the end, Nie Xin brought the focus of the conversation back to the Sword Dao Meet.

At the mention of this, Xu Qiubai couldn’t help but nod.

“The Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet has indeed attracted a lot of geniuses. In the previous years, the first three winners of the Sword Dao Meet were basically all from the Four Thunder Swordsmanship Sect.”

“However, it seems that the disciples of the Four Thunder Swordsmanship Sect, which is the best in Qingzhou, probably will not be able to enter the top ten.”

As soon as he said that, he immediately attracted the curiosity of Ye Ping and Su Changyu.

However, Su Changyu did not dare to say anything.

On the other hand, Ye Ping couldn’t help but ask, “Are there a lot of geniuses coming?”

He was a little curious. After all, as a contestant, he naturally had to pay attention to the Sword Dao Meet.

“Yes, Teacher, you might not know, but the top three winners of the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet are all going to enter the Jin Nation Academy.”

“If nothing goes wrong, the Jin Nation Academy will be opened, and during spring next year, the Ten Nations Academy will appear again and the top ten disciples of the Ten Nations Academy will definitely be picked from the various academies.”

“The Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet happens to be the last Sword Dao Meet so there are many cultivators who will be participating. Their goal is to enter the Ten Nations Academy.”

Li Yu explained patiently to Ye Ping.

“How competent are they?”

Ye Ping somehow felt a little pressurized, but he just asked a simple question.

“In terms of the Sword Dao, I’m not very sure but Brother Xu knows a lot about it. Brother Xu, what kind of conditions do you think the winner of this championship should have?”

Li Yu did not know much about the Sword Dao, so he could only ask Xu Qubai.

The latter was the young master of Lijian Villa, which was one of the 3,000 Dao sects which was an existence that surpassed the first-grade sects. He naturally knew the Sword Dao better.

Xu Qiubai thought for a moment and then spoke.

“The most famous sword move in Qingzhou is the Four Thunder Sword Technique. In the past, the winner of the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet only needed to comprehend two sword moves and they would probably win. However, this time, I think the winner would have to at least comprehend the Four Thunder sword momentum.”

“However, due to the Ten Nations Academy, there may be stronger geniuses appearing.”

Xu Qiubai made his own judgment.

After saying that, Ye Ping couldn’t help but feel slightly pressured.

He had long comprehended the Four Thunder sword momentum but the Sword-Breaking Technique.

Even the Heavenly River sword momentum was several times stronger than the Four Thunder Swordsmanship, but after hearing Xu Qiubai’s words, he reckoned that there were hidden talents in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet.

At this point, Xu Qiubai could not help but think of one thing.

He looked at Ye Ping and said, “I heard that Householder Qing Lian seems to have joined the immortal sect only a few months ago, but you’re already attending the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet now. How many types of sword momentum have you comprehended?”

It was purely a casual question from Xu Qiubai.

Ye Ping also answered truthfully.

“I’m a little silly in immortal cultivation. Eldest Senior Brother has been teaching me for several months, but so far, I’ve only comprehended the Four Thunder sword momentum and the Heavenly River sword momentum. I wonder if I can get a good place in the Sword Dao Meet this time.”

Speaking of this, Ye Ping was somewhat displeased.

‘He managed to comprehend those sword momentums only in a few months. My aptitude is really poor.’

However, when he said that, everyone in the carriage fell silent.

Xu Qiubai was speechless.

‘Damn it.’

‘Will it kill you not to brag?’

‘You only took a few months to comprehend the Four Thunder sword momentum and Heavenly River sword momentum?’

‘I may not know what kind of sword technique the Heavenly River Swordsmanship is.’

‘But do you take me for a fool? I’m the young master of the Lijian Villa.’

‘The Four Thunder Sword Technique is the number one sword technique in Qingzhou, and I have studied it, okay?’

‘A few months… say three months.’

‘If you can comprehend a sword technique in three months, you’d already be considered a genius, what more the Four Thunder sword momentum.”

‘Comprehending the Four Thunder sword momentum in three months?’

‘Even I don’t dare to brag about that.’

Xu Qiubai was silent.

He really did not know what to say.

He was a Sword Dao talent who was superior to all.

Besides, Xu Qiubai had studied the Four Thunder Swordsmanship before. If he had to comprehend it, he’d take one to three years to completely comprehend the Four Thunder Swordsmanship.

He would only manage to do it after hearing it everyday.

‘Comprehending the Four Thunder sword momentum in a few months?’

‘You even comprehended the sword momentum of something called the Heavenly River Swordsmanship?’

‘If you can do that, I will swallow all the swords of the Lijian Villa.’

‘I’ll swallow every single one.’

‘The most infuriating thing is that you called yourself dull.’

‘You call that dull?’

‘Are our brains fried then?’

‘Are we not worthy of practicing swordsmanship then?’

‘Householder Qing Lian.’

‘Do you take us for fools?’

Xu Qiubai was not the only one.

Changsun Gaozhan, Nie Xin, Shuang’er, and Ning’er were all silent.

Although they were not practicing the Sword Dao, they also had attainments in the Sword Dao, so they naturally knew how arrogant Ye Ping sounded.

‘Even the best Sword Dao expert of the Jin Nation dared not be such a braggart, right?’

‘Even the best Sword Dao sect of the Ten Nations would have to consider before bragging.’

However, Ye Ping looked calm and nonchalant, making everyone feel awkward.

Only two people on the carriage seemed extremely calm.

One was Su Changyu.

He knew that Ye Ping was telling the truth.

The other was Li Yu.

Even Li Yu looked at Xu Qiubai with a curious expression.

“Brother Xu, can my master win the championship?”

Xu Qiubai was speechless.

‘Duh.’

‘He only took a few months to comprehend the Four Thunder sword momentum and the Heavenly River sword momentum.’

‘Obviously he’d emerge as the champion.’

‘Even if he doesn’t, he’ll be invincible and unparalleled in one year.’

‘Okay.’

‘Okay.’

‘You like to pretend, right? I shall stay in Qingzhou and see if your master is pretending or not.’

‘And.’

‘How can you ask such a question?’

‘I don’t want to answer.’

Xu Qiubai was upset.

“It shouldn’t be difficult.”

However, in the end, Xu Qiubai still gave a polite answer.

After all, Li Yu was the prince of Jin Nation and he had to show him some respect.

Hence, they chatted with each other.

Li Yu was the most excited and kept chatting with Ye Ping.

Ye Ping reciprocated since he had nothing else to do.

The content of the conversation spanned across various topics.

They even talked about the universe and the stars.

Ye Ping was trying to break down modern cosmology into layman terms for him.

He talked about lightyears, the universe, lower civilization, and higher civilization.

Li Yu was not the only one who was attracted by that theory.

The rest of the people have never heard of such things, and their understanding of the universe and the stars was only a fantasy.

However, Ye Ping’s words sounded plausible, and all of a sudden, they were all mesmerized. Even Su Changyu was amazed.

Manly, it was because Ye Ping’s theories were so realistic that they couldn’t help but have fantasies.

In fact, they even deliberately became more respectful towards Ye Ping.

In the blink of an eye, three more days passed.

The speed of the ancient beast warhorse was obviously faster than walking.

On this day, the carriage arrived outside the Qingzhou Ancient City.

Everyone alighted one after another.

However, as soon as Su Changyu did, several figures scurried over.

“Senior Su, it’s really Senior Su.”

“It really is.”

“Senior Su, you actually came too. Hurry and save us. Qingzhou is almost gone.”