A Grandmaster Arrives in Jianghai City

"Lao Qin, do you remember the Grandmaster from the capital I mentioned last time?"

"I heard he'll be arriving in the next few days. He'll be giving lectures at Jianghai Martial Arts Academy... We can go listen together."

As Xia He spoke, he suddenly took two prepared Credentials from his pocket and gestured. "I had to pull a lot of strings to get these. Do you want to come?"

"A Grandmaster giving lectures..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yang pondered for a moment and froze.

He vaguely remembered that, while the Sword God incident had been gaining traction a few days ago, rumors of a Grandmaster Realm expert descending upon the city had already surfaced online.

It was just that its popularity had always been completely overshadowed by the "Jianghai Sword God," so it had not caused much of a stir.

"Why would the higher-ups send an expert down here so quickly?"

Qin Yang walked side by side with Xia He toward their posts and asked softly, "Could it be because of what happened at Lishui Lake?"

"That's probably the only reason. What else could it be..."

Xia He yawned, hugging his "Ziwei" Plus as he said:

"Who could have imagined that monster, the Bloodthirsty Demon Worm, would appear? It directly crushed Jianghai City's combat strength. If Sword God Senior hadn't stepped in, we'd have been dead long ago.

Ever since the Bloodthirsty Leech incident, everyone across the country has known that Jianghai City lacks sufficient combat strength.

Even the mayor was dismissed and punished because of it... So this Grandmaster-level expert is most likely coming to reorganize our forces."

"And Lao Qin, to be honest, this Grandmaster-level expert being dropped in might not be here with good intentions."

Xia He suddenly leaned closer to Qin Yang and spoke in a low voice.

"Not here with good intentions? What do you mean?"

Qin Yang raised a brow at Xia He, confused.

"Think about it carefully, Lao Qin. Are these people really coming... just to teach?"

Xia He said gravely, "If you ask me, rather than teaching, they may have some utilitarian purpose as well..."

"For example, they want to find the whereabouts of the Jianghai Sword God?"

Qin Yang's thoughts raced as he immediately picked up where Xia He left off.

After all, when he had intercepted and killed the leech before,

he had displayed terrifying power capable of razing cities and toppling strongholds, already reaching the Grandmaster-level standard.

And for such top-tier combat power,

how could the nation's higher-ups possibly sit by and ignore it?

The Grandmaster Realm expert sent here this time was very likely using teaching as a pretext, while his real aim lay elsewhere! "Oh, not bad, Lao Qin. Since when did your brain become so sharp?"

Xia He glanced at Qin Yang in surprise, quite taken aback.

He had not expected this dullard to guess his meaning.

"Ahem, so are you coming to the lecture or not, Lao Qin?"

Xia He coughed lightly, concealing his surprise.

"I..."

Qin Yang pondered for a moment, wanting to refuse.

After all, the lecture from that parachuted-in Grandmaster expert would likely focus entirely on minor matters below the Innate Realm.

He was already in the Grandmaster Realm now, so it would be of no help to him at all.

What could he gain from joining the crowd? Going would be pointless.

But Qin Yang quickly reconsidered and swallowed his words, suddenly realizing a new possibility.

Whether he attended the lecture was not important.

What mattered was that he could use the lecture to gather intelligence.

Since the other party might be coming for him, he could not simply sit around and wait to be attacked. He should take the initiative to understand them.

There were differences even among Grandmaster Realm experts.

And he could take this opportunity to observe the other party's strength.

Take precautions, and only then could he avert trouble before it arose!

With that thought, Qin Yang nodded at Xia He. "Sure. Just let me know when the time comes."

"Great! Leave it to me, Lao Qin." Xia He immediately beamed when Qin Yang agreed.

Meanwhile.

On Broken Peak Mountain.

The stream murmured as it flowed.

Li Zixuan sat cross-legged on the ground, sensing the surging sword intent around her and continuously deepening her understanding of the sword.

She was now close to the mountain's broken face, only one step away from the center of Broken Peak Mountain.

The powerful storm of sword intent raged around her. Other than her, there was no trace of any other Star Warrior.

"I'm almost there."

Li Zixuan gazed at the center of the broken peak in the distance, her heart swelling with excitement.

Ever since witnessing her teacher's Immortal's Sword Strike that day, she had become even more engrossed in the sword, dedicating herself to mastering One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate as soon as possible.

From practicing swordsmanship at the Martial Hall, to studying basic sword techniques in the library, to comprehending sword intent on Broken Peak Mountain,

her life followed the same routine day after day. It was dull and tedious, but it had finally borne fruit.

By now, Li Zixuan had gradually mastered the sword intent of Broken Peak Mountain. It could no longer harm her in the slightest.

The day she reached the center of the broken peak would be the day her swordsmanship reached great mastery!...

Three days later.

Outside Jianghai Martial Arts Academy.

Before the grand stone gates, people packed the area in a noisy sea, all gathered to witness the arrival of the Grandmaster Realm expert.

Old Li wore a Zhongshan Suit and led the academy's senior officials in a line, personally waiting by the roadside to welcome him.

Before long.

A black luxury sedan came speeding from the distance, kicking up clouds of dust. It soon stopped by the curb, and its door slowly opened as a young man stepped out.

With sword-like brows, bright eyes, and a tasteful suit of understated luxury, he instantly drew the gaze of everyone present.

"Mofeng, welcome to Jianghai Martial Arts Academy. You must have had a tiring journey."

Old Li strode forward and warmly greeted him.

"Teacher, you're being too polite."

A respectful expression appeared on Mister Lin's face. He returned the greeting humbly. "No matter when, I will always be your student."

After a brief exchange of courtesies,

the two headed toward the Academy Auditorium, surrounded by the academy's other leaders.

The sight sent the crowd around them into an even greater frenzy, and they all took out their Credentials and followed behind.

Xia He and Qin Yang moved along with the crowd. Along the way, Xia He looked at the young Grandmaster's back and clicked his tongue in admiration. "Becoming a Grandmaster at such a young age... His future is truly limitless."

"What's this young man's background?" Qin Yang asked.

"This guy is no ordinary person, Lao Qin. His name is Lin Mofeng, a true young Heavenly Talent."

Xia He slowly explained to Qin Yang, "He also graduated from Jianghai Martial Arts Academy. His talent was exceptional. He reached the Grandmaster Realm before turning thirty, and now he's an instructor at Divine Martial Academy in the capital."

Hearing this, Qin Yang sensed Lin Mofeng's aura.

His aura was completely restrained, as if he were in Heaven-Human Connection. Every gesture seemed fused with heaven and earth—clearly the mark of the Grandmaster Realm.

His strength truly was undeniable. He was indeed powerful.

But... compared to Qin Yang, he was still just a tiny bit behind.

With that, Qin Yang was finally at ease.

It seems my current strength has already far surpassed that of ordinary Grandmaster Realm experts.