Four Thunder Sword Sect, main hall.
Daoist Siji looked calmly at everyone.
"Although this Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention was not greatly connected to the Ten Nations Academy, I have received secret intelligence that the Jin Kingdom sent several hundred Sword Dao Masters to secretly investigate two matters."
"The first is the case of the lost Seven Treasures Vase."
"The second concerns the Jin State Academy."
"The Ten Nations Academy will soon open, selecting outstanding talents from the Ten Kingdoms. However, that will take some time. Aside from certain exceptional talents from academies who have already been chosen, the Jin State Monarch intends to select some promising seedlings from the thirty-three provinces and send them to the Jin State Academy."
"In roughly a year, ten true prodigies will be cultivated and sent to the Ten Nations Academy."
Daoist Siji explained the entire sequence of events, word by word.
The expressions of everyone in the hall turned utterly astonished.
"Sect Leader, does that mean the Jin Kingdom court will send Sword Dao experts to this Qingzhou Sword Dao Convention to inspect and supervise it? To select promising seeds?"
An elder came to this realization and spoke.
"Correct." Daoist Siji nodded, then continued, "And I already know who it is."
Daoist Siji's expression was solemn.
The moment those words were spoken, cries of shock filled the hall.
"Who is it?"
"In the past, the Jin Kingdom would indeed dispatch many capable people and strange talents to search the kingdom for outstanding geniuses, drawing them into the academies in hopes of entering the Ten Nations Academy. But such people are all proud by nature and skilled at disguising themselves."
"Sometimes, they would go somewhere and even conceal their names for decades, caring neither for fame nor profit, neither for glory nor wealth, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to serving the Jin Kingdom. Sect Leader, how did you uncover the inspector?"
The elders were thoroughly shaken.
Among the Ten Kingdoms, although the Jin Kingdom was not particularly powerful, it was still a kingdom.
In the world of immortal cultivation, the relationship between sects and imperial courts was incomparably delicate. The court permitted sects to be established, while the major sects likewise accepted its authority. So long as core interests were not involved, the two sides cooperated with each other to safeguard the mortal world.
However, the court's status stood slightly above that of immortal sects. It was not that sects were incapable, but that the two were entirely different. Unless it was an immortal sect standing above all else, no matter how many people a sect had, it would be no more than a hundred thousand. An imperial court, on the other hand, was far more than merely a hundred thousand people.
Of course, it mainly depended on what sect the court was facing.
If it were the Jin Kingdom's foremost immortal sect, then naturally even the Jin Kingdom court would have to show it some respect. But the foremost sect of Qingzhou had some weight, yet was still not enough to surpass the court.
In the eyes of the Four Thunder Sword Sect, the Jin Kingdom court was a colossal giant. It was difficult for the Four Thunder Sword Sect to learn of anything such an existence did. Yet Daoist Siji had actually discovered the existence of the "inspector."
How could this not excite the elders?
If they learned of it in advance, it was not as though they planned to bribe him. Simply avoiding offending him would already be good enough. But if they could win this lord's favor, it would bring nothing but benefits to the Four Thunder Sword Sect.
After all, such inspectors were all top-tier experts, not useless sacks of wine and rice.
The elders were stunned.
Daoist Siji said nothing, merely extending a hand.
In an instant, a scroll appeared in his hand.
Then the scroll unfurled, revealing a painting of a mountain peak beneath the evening glow.
The painting's scenery was beautiful. Everyone present was an elder, each of them having lived for several centuries. Aside from cultivation, they usually spent much of their time finding diversions.
They might not have mastered Qin, Chess, Poetry, and Painting in every respect, but they at least possessed some literary refinement. Naturally, they could tell at a glance that this painting was exquisite.
"The brushwork is superb, worthy even of being called the work of a national master. The evening glow settling over the peak is lifelike. Especially the figure in the painting—he possesses a Sword Cultivator's ethereal air, a Sword Cultivator's indifference, a Sword Cultivator's beauty. A fine painting, a fine painting."
"No, no, no. It is not merely that the painting is good. Look at the person in it—like a Sword Immortal, without the slightest trace of sharpness. Yet the feeling he gives me is one of piercing edge. Sword Intent lies within this painting."
"Hiss! I merely thought the painting was rather good, but hearing you say that, it really does seem so."
"The longer one looks at this painting, the more frightening it becomes. The man in it does not show his full face, yet merely this portion of his profile has displayed the bearing of a Sword Immortal to the fullest."
"Sect Leader, what does this mean?"
"What does this painting represent? Could it be...?"
The elders were all filled with curiosity.
Some of them seemed to have guessed something.
"Correct. The man in this painting is the Sword Dao expert sent by the Jin State Monarch."
Daoist Siji said solemnly.
The instant those words fell, shocked cries rang out one after another.
"Really?"
"Sect Leader, what evidence do you have?"
"Yes, he does look like an expert, but he is so young. That seems rather unlikely, does it not?"
"That's right, Sect Leader. Could you have misunderstood?"
Everyone spoke up, finding it somewhat unrealistic.
Yet Daoist Siji shook his head, his gaze upon the elders full of disappointment.
"Shallow. Shallow. You are all truly far too shallow."
Daoist Siji was somewhat helpless, disappointment showing in his eyes.
The elders were somewhat bewildered, but they did not dare say anything. Daoist Siji held an extremely high position in their hearts, and this painting truly was unusual. They were deeply curious.
"Do you know who painted this?"
Daoist Siji asked.
"Hermit Qinglian. I have heard a little about him. He is a renowned talent of the Jin Kingdom. It is said that even the Jin State Monarch greatly loves his works, though he has vanished without a trace recently."
An elder who knew a little about the matter explained the painter's origins.
"Yes." Daoist Siji nodded, then said with utter seriousness.
"The one who painted it was Hermit Qinglian. Though I have never met him, his talent overflows. It is not only the Jin State Monarch who appreciates his poetry; it is said that certain Jin Kingdom nobles also greatly admire his writings."
"And Hermit Qinglian completely vanished half a year ago. Think carefully—where could he have gone?"
Daoist Siji peeled away the layers of the matter.
"Could he have joined some small sect to cultivate immortality?"
An elder spoke, making a guess.
"Impossible. Hermit Qinglian is immensely famous. How could he join some small sect? If he were willing to join our Four Thunder Sword Sect, I would rather overstep my authority than refuse to take him as my disciple."
"Yes. How could someone of such talent possibly join a sect?"
"Oh, I understand now. Sect Leader, Hermit Qinglian must have been recruited by the court, right?"
Many people rejected the first elder's guess, while others believed he had been recruited by the court.
At those words, Daoist Siji nodded.
"Correct. Hermit Qinglian's talent overflows, and he earned the admiration of Jin Kingdom nobles. Naturally, he was recruited by the Jin State Monarch."
"Within the Jin Kingdom, there is a peerless swordsman who was once a genius of the Ten Nations Academy. Yet for some unknown reason, he was expelled from the Ten Nations Academy. In the end, he came to the Jin Kingdom and became the Inspector Commander."
"This man is extraordinarily remarkable and deeply trusted by the monarch. After Hermit Qinglian was recruited, he clearly met him. Hermit Qinglian must then have been astonished by his bearing and painted a portrait of him."
"Of course, it is also possible that the Jin State Monarch ordered Hermit Qinglian to paint him."
"And this expert did not like showing his face, yet could not easily reject the monarch. In the end, only a side profile was painted."
Daoist Siji's analysis was perfectly coherent.
But in the end, a voice filled with doubt rang out.
"Sect Leader, all of this is merely your speculation. What actual proof do you have?"
It was an elder. Although he also trusted Daoist Siji, he still felt that something was off.
Daoist Siji gave a cold laugh, then slapped the painting scroll.
The next moment, terrifying Sword Momentum erupted.