Chapter 863: Sword Saint Arrives
Li Min bit her lip and nodded gently, saying, "Actually, I’m not entirely sure either. It’s just that recently, the three ancestors of the Li family emerged from seclusion together to receive distinguished guests from the Ministry of War, which caused quite a stir within the clan."
"Only last night, when I went to pay respects to one of the ancestors, did I learn about the news of the ten experts coming to Qingli Commandery."
A rather thin Confucian student quickly asked, "Who exactly are these ten experts? They must be renowned and powerful figures, right?"
Li Min shook her head, "I’m not in a position to know about figures of that level. How could I possibly know who they are?"
All the students showed expressions of disappointment, though it was within their expectations. After all, the experts personally selected by Wan Zhaoyi were at least Half-Saints. Even their own clan ancestors were only Half-Saints. Given their status, it was no easy feat to meet an ancestor, let alone the ten experts of the Ministry of War.
Li Min’s watery eyes darted around hesitantly before she said, "I overheard a clan uncle mention some things, but I don’t know if they’re true or false."
"True or false, just tell us."
"Yeah, even a rumor is better than no news."
...
She bit her rosy lips again, "It’s said that all ten experts were selected from the Ministry of War’s camp in Yuan Mansion. Jian Kongzi and Feng Qin are two of them."
Hearing these names, the Confucian students all gasped in shock.
"Jian Kongzi is my idol. I heard he’s already cultivated Sword Three to the Great Perfection realm. Three years ago, he fought the Blood Dragon Hall Master and won. Among the thirty-six commanderies of Yuan Mansion, fewer than ten cultivators below the Saint realm can defeat him," said a Confucian student with a jade sword at his waist, speaking with great excitement.
Li Min only smiled faintly, her mind conjuring an image of a heroic and unparalleled figure. Her delicate face showed admiration and infatuation. Though Jian Kongzi was a renowned figure in Yuan Mansion, he paled in comparison to that person.
"Zhang Ruochen is also a legend, able to draw figures as famous as Jian Kongzi and Feng Qin to join forces against him."
"The title ‘Heir of Time and Space’ itself is a legend. They say he’s only in his twenties, about the same age as us. I really wonder how he cultivates, to already be able to challenge Half-Saints."
...
Listening to the Confucian students’ discussion, Zhang Ruochen gleaned quite a bit of useful information. Since Wan Zhaoyi was in Qingli Commandery, he had to be even more cautious. He had a deep impression of Wan Zhaoyi—that man was no ordinary opponent. Once targeted by him, even with a Sacred Edict in hand, escape would be difficult.
When Zhang Ruochen decided to stop hiding his identity, he had already anticipated that the road ahead would be arduous. Every step would be like treading on thin ice; one misstep could lead to utter ruin.
The Confucian students left one by one. Zhang Ruochen’s gaze locked onto the young girl named Li Min, and he followed her.
From the earlier conversation among the Confucian students, Zhang Ruochen had gathered some information. For instance, the Li family was a Half-Saint clan, one of the top powers in Qingli Commandery. For this reason, five of the ten experts had come to Qingli Commandery and were hosted by the Li family, which also highlighted the Li family’s transcendent status.
Li Min, hailed as a spiritual power prodigy of the Li family, naturally had considerable spiritual power. Though only sixteen or seventeen, she had already reached the thirtieth rank. Thus, Zhang Ruochen hadn’t followed her long before she noticed him. Of course, that was also because Zhang Ruochen hadn’t deliberately concealed his aura or intended to hide from her. Otherwise, with her spiritual power level, how could she have detected him?
Li Min didn’t panic but quickened her pace.
Zhang Ruochen watched the slender figure ahead and chuckled to himself, "Pretty sharp awareness."
He stopped following and, with a flicker of his form, appeared in front of Li Min, blocking her path.
Li Min was quite clever, knowing she was no match for him and couldn’t escape, so she immediately screamed for help, as if Zhang Ruochen were assaulting her. Her tactic was simple but effective. After all, in a commandery city, the scream of a pretty young girl would attract many cultivators. If anyone recognized her as the Li family’s proud daughter, they would surely come to her rescue.
However, her screams were useless. The cultivators on the street seemed unable to hear her, which was very strange. Though she stood in the middle of a bustling street, it was as if she were in another dimension, invisible to everyone.
No—someone could see her.
"Don’t be so scared. I just want to ask you a question," Zhang Ruochen said.
Li Min clutched her scroll tightly, her fingers turning white, and her voice trembled, "What… what do you want?"
Though clever, she was still a young girl who had never experienced such a bizarre situation. She was completely helpless—no one to call on, no one to turn to—so of course she was terrified. Moreover, in her mind, any man who followed a young girl was no good—either a creepy uncle or a perverted fiend.
Clearly, Zhang Ruochen now fit the description of a creepy uncle and perverted fiend.
Zhang Ruochen remained patient, "I already said, I just want to ask you a question."
"What did you say?" Li Min’s mind went blank; she couldn’t remember anything and only wanted to escape the pervert’s control.
Zhang Ruochen frowned, puzzled. He hadn’t done anything excessive, so how had he scared a spiritual power prodigy silly?
Without further ado, he asked directly, "Earlier, I heard you mention that Wan Zhaoyi came to Yuan Mansion in connection with the Underworld King Sword Tomb and the Undying Blood Clan. Can you tell me what’s going on?"
"I didn’t say that."
Li Min shook her head vigorously, refusing to admit it.
Zhang Ruochen’s frown deepened, "I clearly heard your conversation with those Confucian students earlier."
Not only had he followed her, but he had also eavesdropped on her conversation.
Li Min was even more convinced that this man was a perverted fiend, and a very creepy one at that—definitely not a good person.
She put on a pitiful look and begged, "Uncle, I really didn’t say that. You have to believe me. It has nothing to do with me. You must have misheard!"
"Uncle?" Zhang Ruochen said.
He had intended to get some information about the Underworld King Sword Tomb from Li Min, but instead, she had mistaken him for a malicious creepy uncle. It was clear now that he wouldn’t get anything valuable from her. He couldn’t very well put a sword to her neck and force her to answer his questions. If he did that, how would he be any different from a creepy uncle?
Zhang Ruochen dispersed his Space Domain and said to her, "You can go now."
Regaining her freedom, Li Min immediately lifted the hem of her Confucian robe with her small hands and ran off quickly, like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on.
"The Li family must have something to do with it—either the Underworld King Sword Tomb or the Undying Blood Clan," Zhang Ruochen muttered, watching her retreating figure, his eyes narrowing into slits.
After nightfall, the commandery city was still bustling with traffic and lively crowds. In the city, there was a wide river, and on both banks stood ornate pavilions. Sounds of zithers, songs, and laughter from men and women drifted out of the buildings, echoing over the water. This was a gathering place for talented scholars and beauties, where they discussed poetry and songs as well as difficulties encountered in sacred path cultivation.
Bright spirit lamps floated on the water like countless stars, casting a dreamy glow over the dark night.
At that moment, Zhang Ruochen stood beneath a willow tree on the bank, holding a purple spirit lamp in his hand.
"I hope I can meet the guide from the Underworld King Sword Tomb."
Zhang Ruochen condensed a sword intent, gathered it at his fingertip, and infused it into the lamp. The purple spirit lamp flew out. Strangely, among the tens of thousands of lamps on the river, only the one Zhang Ruochen released was purple. The purple lamp rose higher and higher, soon surpassing the others and flying into the clouds.
...
On the west side of the river, atop a five-story pavilion.
A gaunt old man sat cross-legged, wearing an immaculate Confucian robe. Li Min knelt before him, still shaken, recounting her terrifying experience earlier. "Ancestor, you don’t know, that man was really creepy. He not only followed me secretly but also eavesdropped on my conversation with others. He’s exactly like the perverted fiends described in books."
The old man smiled, "Based on your description, that creepy uncle is probably quite a formidable figure, at least someone who has cultivated his own domain. You were lucky to escape unscathed."
Just then, the old man’s smile faded as he sensed something. He stood up and gazed at the night sky, where a purple spirit lamp rose higher and higher, soon piercing through the clouds.
"A Sword Saint has arrived. Min’er, go and welcome that senior. Be sure to show him respect. The six Sword Saints are all honored guests of our Zhenyu Clan, and we must not offend them," the old man instructed.
Given his status and great reputation in the commandery city, it was inconvenient for him to appear personally, so he sent Li Min to welcome the Sword Saint.
Li Min was also very excited, her heart pounding. In her eyes, every Sword Saint was a legend. She wondered which Sword Saint had come to Qingli Commandery City.
...
(Writing until 2 AM to finish the third chapter. Even if it means staying up late, it’s worth it to avoid being scolded by readers, haha! Three chapters again tomorrow.)