Chapter 3

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A disciple of the grandmaster from two generations ago?

The recent grandmasters of the Tianyuan Sect have all been the chief disciples of Lingxiao Peak, passing down the lineage master to disciple, so she immediately understood the seniority of this elder.

There were over twenty direct disciples of the grandmaster Jingyang from two generations ago; most had perished advancing their cultivation, but several remained unaccounted for.

But whoever they were—

Such a scenario never occurred in her previous life.

Suppressing the doubts swirling in her mind, Su Zhen flew toward the mountaintop with the others.

The cultivator who stopped her was Chen Jin, the direct disciple of Elder Ji. Elder Ji was the junior sister of Immortal Yuchen, both having been disciples of the former chief of Weiyun Peak.

Chen Jin was lively and talkative along the way, unabashedly praising her. “I heard that Senior Brother Jiang, at your age, is still stuck at the Nascent Soul realm with no breakthrough in sight.”

Su Zhen thought to herself, Jiang Wang was insignificant; if she were at her peak strength from before death, Jiang Wang wouldn’t have lasted an hour against her.

Still, at this moment, as the top disciple of Weiyun Peak’s chief, Jiang Wang was indeed the strongest among the younger generation of that peak.

Of course, looking at the entire sect, among the young generation he probably didn’t rank in the top five; Lingxiao Peak had many more formidable figures.

They swept over thousands of acres of forest, passed through faint clouds and mist, and the mountain’s pavilions and halls blurred past. In the blink of an eye, they were near the summit of Weiyun Peak.

They landed one after another on the side of the mountaintop’s training ground.

Several Weiyun Peak disciples were already gathered in small groups nearby, bowing respectfully upon seeing them.

With varying seniorities, they called out “Senior Sister,” “Senior Uncle,” or “Great Senior Uncle.” Chen Jin smiled and greeted them, and Su Zhen nodded without much attention.

She had expected that upon seeing these people again, she might be filled with hatred, recalling the ugly faces she saw on the Punishment Immortal Platform, wishing she could slaughter them all.

But now, looking at them, she realized most of them hadn’t even lived to that time.

Several hundred years later, the Tianyuan Sect had declined greatly compared to today, not only because the grandmaster had ascended.

Long before her execution, many fellow disciples—some familiar, some not—had passed away early, some failing advancement and falling into demonic madness, others dying at the hands of demon clans or demonic cultivators.

That was why someone like Wang Meng could become the chief elder, ruling over major sect affairs—nowadays, he was just an ordinary elder of Lingxiao Peak.

Although, even so, she still couldn’t kill him now, as he was much older and had reached the Celestial Immortal realm.

“Senior Uncle Su is truly a prodigy, achieving Transformation within a century—one of the best in all Five Domains and Fourteen Provinces...”

Some cultivators with keen insight who recognized her advancement to Transformation came forward to congratulate her.

“...Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Su Zhen contained her thoughts and responded one by one. Fortunately, there weren’t many people here, and seeing her lack of enthusiasm, they soon dispersed.

“Senior Sister Su, you seem displeased today?”

Chen Jin glanced at her. “By the way, why aren’t you sword-riding anymore?”

“Yeah, doesn’t Fourth Senior Sister usually like to flaunt your immortal sword—”

A voice came from nearby.

A slender, youthful cultivator approached.

He was handsome, with a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes, dressed in a goose-yellow brocade robe that drew attention.

The surrounding cultivators bowed again. “Greetings, Senior Uncle Zhou.”

Su Zhen replied coolly, “Junior Brother Wu.”

She tried hard not to kill this person on the spot.

Zhou Ziheng was from a prestigious family in the Eastern Domain. Compared to most cultivators, he was considered talented. As the youngest son, he was probably spoiled at home and had a rather arrogant personality.

Unfortunately, his senior brothers and sisters were more gifted than he was.

Jiang Wang’s age was understandable, but Su Zhen was about the same age as him.

They joined the sect around the same time, initially with similar strength, but decades later, Su Zhen had surpassed him by a whole realm.

She never took him seriously. If he behaved well, she would show some courtesy, but since he bore resentment toward her, she gave him no face.

Therefore, their relationship worsened, especially after Liu Yunyao joined the sect.

At first, Zhou Ziheng looked down on the young junior sister, thinking she was lacking talent. But Liu Yunyao’s outgoing, pure, and lively nature made her likable.

Over time, Zhou Ziheng cared for her more and more, often sending her expensive pills or talismans, frequently competing to instruct her in cultivation.

Although little progress was made, he developed feelings for her and soon became infatuated.

After Su Zhen’s remark that she despised the junior sister and wanted to expel her spread, Zhou Ziheng grew increasingly hostile toward her.

Later, since Su Zhen couldn’t bond with the immortal sword and refused to lend it to the junior sister, he despised her even more, often mocking her.

Su Zhen never repaid kindness with hatred; she cursed him when necessary and made his life difficult openly and covertly.

In the ruins of Feiyuan City, when Zhou Ziheng blocked her escape with all his might, she killed him outright.

His primordial spirit was shattered.

Unfortunately, Zhou Ziheng possessed a family heirloom that repaired his spirit, barely saving his life, but his cultivation was severely damaged and unlikely to fully recover.

Su Zhen found the whole thing absurd.

At that time, Zhou Ziheng and others were just passing by, saw her in the ruins, and assumed she was the one who slaughtered the city, trying all means to detain her.

Some others, enraged by the devastation, wanted to kill her outright.

At that time, Immortal Chongyun had ascended, and the new Tianyuan Sect Grandmaster had not been chosen—Yuchen Immortal should have succeeded but was gravely injured and resting, so the elder of Lingxiao Peak temporarily acted in his stead.

Su Zhen knew what kind of person that elder was and didn’t trust him to investigate properly.

Moreover, since she had become a demonic cultivator, if exposed, they would likely accuse her regardless of the truth.

Though some righteous figures might exist in the sect who would investigate carefully and delay sentencing, she did not want to pin her hopes on others.

So, even if branded a criminal and at the cost of killing everyone present, she had to escape.

Better than dying, no matter what.

Unfortunately, she had been injured and weak upon arriving at Feiyuan City, so despite severely wounding everyone, she failed to escape.

Clearly, the mastermind had calculated all this.

If she had been at her peak, no one could have stopped her.

However—

Su Zhen’s eyes darkened as she glared at Zhou Ziheng.

Given the circumstances, if even one person had held back, she might have had a chance to flee.

Zhou Ziheng seemed about to say something.

Suddenly, a white light as swift as thunder struck the training ground.

As the light faded, a tall, upright figure appeared.

Jiang Wang strode through the crowd, and the nearby Weiyun Peak disciples bowed their heads.

His gaze swept over the disciples without a flicker of emotion.

Chen Jin and Zhou Ziheng greeted him, and Su Zhen nodded perfunctorily.

“The time has come,” Jiang Wang said calmly. “Let’s depart.”

Over two hundred people had gathered on the mountaintop training ground. Besides these few, the rest were direct disciples of elders. Only they were to visit Lingxiao Peak to pay respects to that elder.

If all peak disciples went together, it would be chaotic.

Su Zhen glanced around, deliberately wearing an impatient expression.

Then, like a malicious antagonist, she spoke, “Where is the junior sister? She can neither sword-ride nor go to Lingxiao Peak on her own yet.”

Zhou Ziheng was about to answer when Jiang Wang shook his head slightly.

“Master will personally bring her.”

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Su Zhen: “?”

If the master was going and taking the junior sister along, that was not strange.

What surprised her was that the master was going at all.

Immortal Yuchen never liked socializing and was distant even with seniors. Was he really willing to go to Lingxiao Peak just to visit a senior uncle?

That man was a disciple of the grandmaster from two generations ago, not truly Immortal Yuchen’s senior uncle, only called so by seniority.

“...We depart,” Jiang Wang ordered.

The Weiyun Peak cultivators took off together; over a hundred ascended one after another. The few recent entrants were led by senior brothers and sisters to ride their swords.

Among those who could sword-ride, many had low cultivation and couldn’t speed up.

Thus, the usually brief journey was prolonged.

Young cultivators trembled nervously, afraid of losing control and embarrassing themselves, while older cultivators chatted leisurely with acquaintances.

“Who exactly are we going to see?”

“Don’t you know? He’s the greatest sword cultivator of the era, undefeated by top experts across the nine realms, known as the Sword God, Immortal Chaohua!”

“What?”

“I once heard stories about Immortal Chaohua; I never thought I’d see him in person...”

Someone excitedly said, “He must be the number one figure in the immortal world now, right?”

“Of course! Everyone knows Immortal Chaohua has never been defeated since emergence, and only the grandmaster Jingyang had similar...”

“The Sword Saint’s fame is known to all, but she ascended early and we never saw her in person. This one is alive and well!”

A newcomer tugged at a senior’s sleeve, asking about this elder.

The senior immediately launched into a detailed explanation: “Immortal Chaohua is the grandmaster Jingyang’s junior disciple, known as the Sword Saint. For hundreds of years he was low-key, but upon entering the Saint realm, he single-handedly overturned the immortal sects across the Five Domains and Fourteen Provinces, fearless and invincible. Later, he also struck down three demon gods in the Demon Realm and reduced the five demon gods to four in the Magic Realm...”

“No wonder we’re going to pay respects to him...”

“Naturally. Having this Sword God in our sect makes us the leading sword cultivators in all Five Domains and Fourteen Provinces...”

Su Zhen rubbed her ears in disbelief.

With her cultivation, she could clearly hear all nearby conversations whenever she wished, so she caught every word.

Immortal Chaohua?

Of course she knew the name.

He was one of the grandmaster’s direct disciples from two generations ago.

In terms of talent and comprehension, he was undoubtedly among the very best in the entire Tianyuan Sect.

However, the Tianyuan Sect was the top immortal sect in the Eastern Domain, ranking among the top five in the human realm for strength and resources. The sect always had many peerless geniuses.

Many had talents comparable to his—not only past grandmasters but their direct disciples in every generation had multiple prodigies.

Yet, only he had such brilliant and illustrious battle achievements.

He overturned all immortal lords in the human realm, severely wounded three demon gods alone in the demon realm, and reduced five demon gods to four in the magic realm.

Other realms suffered from chaotic spiritual networks and overlapping spatial layers, breeding countless monsters and spirits over millennia or abandoned due to ancient wars, riddled with dangers.

Immortal Chaohua had traveled through all nine realms.

Within a few years, he defeated countless strong opponents, undefeated in every battle.

There was, however, a question.

He had accomplished these feats as a Saint realm expert, but most Saint realm experts, unless their sect or family was threatened, remained in seclusion, as they could ascend at any time.

Saint realm immortals rarely went out causing trouble; one or two times was enough to establish prestige, after which they returned home to cultivate.

Because of this, when Su Zhen first heard of Immortal Chaohua as a child, her first impression was not that he was powerful, but strange.

She even thought he might not be very sensible.

She once lamented that if not for spending so much time fighting, he might have ascended sooner.

...Wait.

So he hadn’t ascended yet?

Right, in her previous life, this never happened because Immortal Chaohua should have ascended over two hundred years ago by this time.

Su Zhen raised her hand to her forehead, feeling as if her mind had broken.

She looked around to confirm everyone still seemed familiar.

Jiang Wang led ahead with a cold expression, controlling the pace so no one fell behind.

Zhou Ziheng was boasting to disciples of Elder Sun.

“...My great-grandfather even met Immortal Chaohua and had some acquaintance with him!”

Zhou Ziheng bragged, chin raised proudly. Catching Su Zhen’s gaze, he smirked.

“Why are you looking at me, Senior Sister? Your Su family is a prominent one in Huanhua Province. Don’t you recognize him?”

“We don’t have such prestige,” Su Zhen sneered. “If your ancestors knew him, then you’ve got backing. If someone bullies you, let Immortal Chaohua teach them a lesson. Or maybe I’ll beat you up and see if he defends you.”

Elder Sun’s disciples stifled laughter.

Zhou Ziheng’s face darkened, eyes flashing resentment.

He was bluffing; the so-called acquaintance was just a few words exchanged. Immortal Chaohua knew countless people and likely wouldn’t remember him.

Yet Su Zhen refused to give him face!

If the junior sister were here, she’d surely praise him admiringly, or at least stay silent like the eldest senior brother. But Su Zhen deliberately humiliated him!

Annoyed, Su Zhen moved next to Chen Jin. “Senior Sister Chen, do you know we’re going to see Immortal Chaohua?”

Chen Jin smiled brightly. “Of course. We didn’t mention it when we met because I thought you didn’t know and wanted to surprise you.”

Su Zhen: “?”

If she didn’t know that Immortal Chaohua had ascended two hundred years ago, she probably would have been quite surprised.

“Senior Sister Su unhappy?”

Chen Jin asked in surprise, “When you were little, you came to play here and pestered my master to tell stories about the immortals. I remember you loved hearing about Immortal Chaohua’s adventures?”

Su Zhen: “...”

Because he was always fighting!

Kids usually liked lively, action-packed stories!

Besides, those stories usually ended with “he ascended long ago.”

Though judging by everyone’s reactions, apparently no one thought he had ascended.

“I heard he’s been wandering outside for hundreds of years with no news. Some worried he might be missing.”

“I heard he went to the Void Realm. You know, the spiritual network there is chaotic, and its space-time rules differ from other realms.”

“Who is he? Which of the nine realms hasn’t he been to?”

They merely discussed such matters.

Su Zhen couldn’t help but recall the “Nine Realms Sword Chronicles.”

The book never mentioned Immortal Chaohua, but that was unsurprising.

First, she hadn’t read every chapter completely; if he had ascended early, the book wouldn’t focus on him much, maybe just a few lines she never saw.

Second, the protagonists were Liu Yunyao and Xie Changfeng. The narrative focused on their perspectives and associates.

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Some of Su Zhen’s well-known friends, acquaintances, or enemies never appeared in the book.

—But why hadn’t Immortal Chaohua ascended?

Su Zhen was certain she hadn’t remembered wrong.

As they spoke, they soon reached their destination.

Ahead, the towering peaks were lush and verdant, cliffs pierced clouds and mist, gradually revealing the true visage of the immortal mountain.

Jiang Wang waved his hand, and the group slowed, signaling everyone to prepare to land.

On the western summit of Lingxiao Peak, palaces and pavilions stood in orderly layers along the mountain slope.

Along the central axis, jade steps stretched upward, leading to a majestic, multi-eaved grand hall, eight-sided with nine levels, flying ridges and upturned eaves. Numerous cultivators stood guard at the entrance, all restraining their spiritual pressure, dignified and extraordinary.

Surrounding were auxiliary halls extending outward, the atmosphere solemn and reverent. Behind them, dense flowers and verdant shadows mingled with houses connected in succession, green lakes amidst floating mists, and winding corridors faintly populated with indistinct figures.

They landed one after another on the open ground before the main hall.

The chief disciples walked ahead, ascending the jade steps into the grand hall.

Behind them, cultivators from Qixia Peak arrived, more numerous.

Su Zhen glanced once before turning back. Just as she entered the main hall’s front door, she saw at least six or seven hundred people gathered inside.

Lingxiao Peak had many more disciples, and with those from Zhuri Peak, the hall was nearly full.

As the Weiyun Peak disciples entered, the palace seemed to quietly expand, silently growing one and a half times larger than before.

Thus, the space became roomy once more.

The hall’s dome was lofty, beams layered intricately, black jade pillars adorned with elaborate cloud patterns. Above hung perpetual stone lamps, providing ample light, brightening every corner.

Despite hundreds filling the hall, it was remarkably quiet.

Everyone stood, mostly silent, not daring to make a sound.

Only the three people seated on a raised platform inside the hall.

Three heavy jade stone chairs arranged in a triangle.

In the center sat the current Tianyuan Sect Grandmaster.

Immortal Chongyun wore a sky-water blue brocade silk robe, its hem entwined with delicate winding water and cloud patterns, silver threads painting peach blossoms drifting atop waves.

She had striking features, graceful bearing, refined manners, smiling courteously at the person on her right.

Her demeanor befitted a grandmaster but bore respect for her senior.

Yet upon closer look, she emanated a transcendent, ethereal aura, adding a mysterious, intangible quality.

To her left sat the chief of Weiyun Peak.

Despite being very familiar, Su Zhen looked again.

Immortal Yuchen sat upright, head slightly turned, a few strands of hair falling over his clear, handsome face.

Under the perpetual lamp’s glow, his complexion appeared coldly pale, clad in an ivory embroidered brocade robe, his entire figure like an ice sculpture.

Only a jade bead earring at his ear glowed softly, casting a warm hue on his porcelain-like cheek.

He seemed to listen intently to the other two, not joining in, only nodding occasionally.

Not surprising.

He was the youngest and lowest in realm of the three—both others were Saints; he was only quasi-Saint.

He usually spoke with the grandmaster and was well acquainted, but the visiting Immortal Chaohua, though having met before, probably had little connection.

Su Zhen’s gaze paused briefly, then shifted to the person on the right.

Due to the angle, she saw only half his back, not his face.

He rested his elbow on the armrest, legs crossed, sitting with a somewhat wild posture. His broad shoulders and long legs suggested great height, dressed in black.

Merely sitting there, he exuded a deep, unfathomable, overwhelming aura that inspired awe.

Many cultivators glanced up briefly, then quickly looked away, clearly uncomfortable staring too long.

The three immortals spoke quietly, their voices not leaking out, likely sealed by an invisible barrier.

Before Su Zhen could ponder further, two more people approached.

The sect’s four main peaks had their chiefs present: Lingxiao and Weiyun’s immortals sat above, while the chiefs of Qixia and Zhuri Peaks arrived as well.

These two were younger and less senior, greeting the “senior uncle” with deep bows, then respectfully addressing the immortals.

Their demeanor was extremely deferential.

These two chiefs hadn’t reached quasi-Saint realm yet, still at Golden Immortal level, so they did not hold the title of immortal and acted more cautiously.

Qixia Peak disciples had already entered, and elder figures soon appeared in the hall.

All the most talented and powerful disciples from the four peaks were present.

The four chiefs spoke briefly, then the three immortals rose, and the three jade seats vanished.

Immortal Chongyun stepped forward.

Nearly a thousand cultivators bowed deeply to her.

She smiled slightly, her clear voice resonating, every word heard by all, “Everyone, please come and pay respects to Immortal Chaohua.”

The crowd bowed again, nearly a thousand people respectfully lowering their heads, the grand scene magnificent.

The black-clad man on the platform turned to face them.

Su Zhen happened to look up, meeting those deep, bright eyes, shining like stars.

Su Zhen: “...”

Su Zhen: “?”

Wasn’t that the brother she threatened just last night while scavenging?

Su Zhen could hardly describe her feelings.

Her eyes widened as she looked at the platform, even instinctively standing up.

Around her, all cultivators bowed their heads, except for a green-clad young girl at the front of the Weiyun Peak group, whose water-like eyes were full of shock.

The hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Immortal Yuchen frowned slightly, evidently displeased at his disciple’s rudeness.

He looked at the elder who had just returned to the sect.

The latter seemed completely unperturbed.

Immortal Yuchen was puzzled.

When they spoke earlier, Immortal Chaohua’s attitude was polite but cold. Though his spiritual pressure was restrained, a mere glance emitted sharp intent, as if invisible sword qi approached.

Any cultivator weaker than him would have cowered.

He showed only partial courtesy, considering he was unfamiliar with them. Given the rumors surrounding him, this was expected.

Yet—

At this moment, Immortal Chaohua seemed quite pleased.

That devilishly handsome face lost its earlier sternness, instead showing a smile.

The tall young man in black smiled warmly, beckoning a certain young cultivator below.

Immortal Yuchen: “...”

Immortal Yuchen: “???”