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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nThe old man in black stopped and turned around to face Jing Jiu, a startled expression forming on his face. “Haven’t used it for a long time, so I’m not sure,” he said.

n“May I have a crack at it?” Jing Jiu said.

nUpon hearing this, Li Wuzhi’s changed slightly, and all the caretakers and disciples on Yunxing Peak all stared at him.

n“Okay then; let’s see what you’ve got,” said the old man in black after a long silence, his eyes locked on Jing Jiu the entire time.

nHe then continued trekking toward Sword Peak.

nLin Wuzhi glanced at Jing Jiu once, and the disciples felt somewhat odd about what happened.

n–You didn’t answer when the Master Uncle asked you a question before; now you all of a sudden speak just as he is about to leave? What on earth are you trying to do?

nThe old man in black lifted his head and looked up toward cloud-enshrouded Sword Peak.

nWhizz!!!

nA sharp sound from a sword could be heard everywhere.

nThe cliffs below the peak were illuminated by the light radiating from the sword.

nThe old man in black rode his sword, rising up from the ground and flowing upward with the wind; his figure was no longer hunched, instead being straight as a pencil, as if he were still a youth who had just come to the Green Mountain Sect.

nSoon he disappeared into the clouds, nowhere to be found.

n…

n…

nNumerous sword sounds bellowed among the peaks.

nThe disciples didn’t know what had just happened, too shocked to express themselves.

n“Senior Master Mo, returning the sword to Green Mountain!” the caretakers chanted in unison.

nAll nine peaks echoed: “to the sword returns to Green Mountain. The disciples of Green Mountain chanted together as well: “Congratulations to you, Grandmaster Mo!”

nThe whizzing sound of a sword could be heard at Tianguang Peak for a long time.

nDong!!!

nNow the ancient bell on Shangde Peak was echoing among the peaks.

nThe Qingrong Peak was veiled by the transparent clouds.

n…

n…

n“Senior Master Mo has collected and edited books and scriptures on the Shiyue Peak for over one hundred years, but today…”

nLin Wuzhi didn’t finish the sentence, his eyes filled with tears as he looked up at the Sword Peak.

nIt is said that the practitioners must cut off the relationships and suppress emotions, but how many people can achieve this? In fact, the cultivation pursued by the Green Mountain Sect is not the Dao, but rather the Sword.

nThe swordsmen meet and then never meet again; how can someone not feel sad?

nThe disciples now realized what had just happened; that mild-mannered and nice Senior Master who had just talked to them was actually …dead.

nHis purpose for coming to the Sword Peak was to return his sword to the Green Mountain.

nHe hoped that someone from the disciples from coming generations would inherit his sword.

nLooking at Sword Peak, the disciples felt somewhat heavy-hearted, feeling a mixture of emotions and sentiments that they couldn’t even describe.

nThis was the first lesson of the Great Green Mountain.

nThey turned their heads toward Jing Jiu again.

nWhat did he mean when he said to Senior Master Mo that he might try his sword? Did it mean that?

nLin Wuzhi fixed a firm stare on Jing Jiu and said, “I don’t know how you guessed Senior Master Mo was about to return his sword to the Green Mountain, and I don’t know if what you said was intended to soothe him or convince him to put the sword somewhere lower and easier to get to, but you awoke his last bit of pride, and he put the sword somewhere closer to the top.”

n“So what?” Jing Jiu asked.

n“You must carry this out since you gave your word; otherwise I won’t let you participate in the Inherited Sword Competition no matter which peak should pick you as their disciple.”

nThe disciples were surprised to hear this, and the eyes looking at Jing Jiu were full of sympathy.

nThe fearsome will of swords was felt everywhere on Sword Peak; the will of swords was getting stronger with the elevation, and the top of the peak was far away in the deep end of the thick clouds. How could they get there at their current state?

n“Too much talking, too much emotion, and too much stuff. These things are no good.”

nLin Wuzhi started his flying sword and flew away upon saying this.

nWhat he had just said was for the benefit of Jing Jiu of course, as well as for his behavior toward Senior Master Mo of Shiyue Peak before he died.

nBy now the disciples realized that Lin Wuzhi didn’t really loathe Jing Jiu, but rather saw a great deal of value in him.

nA caretaker of Yunxing Peak distributed a Sword Card to each of the dozen disciples, saying, “The swords in Sword Peak are passed down by the masters of previous generations; you have to watch your behavior when searching for swords, and don’t horse around and make noise. Of course, there are many swords here not owned by anybody. As long as you can call to it and make it respond to your calling, it will be a success; and if one of you is lost or injured, or suffer from an accident, just break this Sword Card and someone will come to your rescue.”

n“That’s all?” one disciple asked suspiciously while watching those awesome cliffs.

nAfter severe and rigorous training in the outer sect, these inner sect disciples had bodies that were much stronger than those of regular folks, able to jump over ten yards easily, possessing good stamina.

nThat disciple thought he could manage to climb the Sword Peak, even though it was steep, using his own will to overcome the will of swords, regardless of their strength. As long as he didn’t climb to the area covered by the thick layer of clouds, he had the confidence to go up and come down.

nLooking at the disciple, the caretaker didn’t say a word while eyeing that disciple, the corners of his mouth rising slightly to form a smile that was hard to understand.

nThe disciples who could enter the inner sect were a bunch of smart youngsters, and he could read that smile on the caretaker’s face.

n“Please tell me what to do, Big Brother,” pleaded that disciple, bowing and showing a pale color on his face.

nThe caretakers at the Green Mountain outer sect were those who could not pass into the State of Spiritual Stability; and the caretakers at the inner sect of the nine peaks were those who could not be chosen at the Inherited Sword Competition. So to be called Big Brother was appropriate.

n“You are still in the State of Spiritual Stability, and so have no hope of finding a sword; try to only after passing the State of Knowledge Integration.”

nThe caretaker of Yunxing Peak continued, “Even if you find a sword, do you think that sword will follow you? Why rely so much on empty hopes?”

n“How long does it take to successfully obtain the sword?” one of the disciples asked.

n“Regular disciples need three years to acquire their own swords; but it’s sooner for those disciples who have a gifted comprehensive ability and some luck.”

n“Sister Zhao used took months to do it; you have to think for yourself about how long it will take you.

nAfter the talk, he returned to the small building by the cliffside of the peak, leaving the dozen young disciples here on their own.

nThe disciples watched each other without a word, thinking about what to do next.

nZhao Layue was the most talented among the second generation of disciples, idolized by these new inner sect disciples; if it took her three months, then we stand no chance.

nMoreover, caretaker was quite clear that it was meaningless to get to the Sword Peak when one was still in a State of Spiritual Stability.

n“As it’s the first lesson given to us by the sect, we can’t just give up.”

nOne disciple, from the Zhu family, looked at others with a courageous air, and said determinedly, “Even if we can’t perceive where the swords are, we can at least become familiar with the environment around the Sword Peak, making it easier to do this in the future.”

n“You are right. This should be the Yunxing caretaker’s reason for giving us the sword card.”

n“Master Lin said that Sword Peak can strengthen our willpower; maybe he and other masters are observing us secretly, so how could we not go?”

nAll the other disciples were convinced and determined to go together, feeling kind of excited.

nJing Jiu didn’t say anything, standing there quietly but attracting more attention nonetheless.

nMany of them threw their gaze toward Jing simultaneously.

nThese disciples knew he was famous for being lazy, but figured he might have changed somewhat since he entered the inner sect successfully.

nWhat Master Lin had said to him sounded very stern, but also contained a strong sense of hope for him.

nJing Jiu nodded to the others and turned around to walk toward the opposite side of the peak.

nThe disciples now realized that he was actually about to leave.

n“Didn’t you say you are going to get Master Mo’s sword,” blurted out the disciple Zhu full of surprise.

nThe other disciples were startled as well, wondering if he was truly as rumored to be.

nAt that moment, a passerby appeared out of the woods from the west side of the peak.

nThat young man, wearing a plain sword robe, was quite handsome, his eyebrows were like two swords, his indifferent expression like the icy snow, an unusual aura surrounding him.

nWhen the caretakers of Yunxing Peak approached him and talked with him briefly, the disciples learned he was the other Master Teacher at the Sword Washing Hall, named Gu Han.

nGu Han had another important position.

nHe was the Third Brother of Liangwang Peak.

nLiangwang Peak had gathered the most talented young disciples, and Gu Han was ranked third among them; one could imagine how powerful his sword cultivation was.

nThe disciples gazed up at Gu Han in full admiration and awe.

nBut Jing Jiu didn’t pay attention to Gu Han at all, quietly staring at something beside him.

nA young man stood next Gu Han.

nSince their meeting at the entrance of the village, it had been three years, and Shisui was already thirteen.

nHe was a young man now, but his eyebrows were still so straight, his eyes still looked so pure and innocent, and his face was still so blackish.

nAfter one year’s cultivation at the nine peaks, Liu Shisui had matured a little, appearing calm and peaceful.

nHe stared a bit, and soon his eyes, once filled with suspicion, were suddenly full of happiness and excitement.

n“AH!” Liu Shisui shouted out, running toward Jing Jiu.

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