Sword Qi Mountain Opening Order, Youth Receives Bamboo Breaking Sword

Madam Hua thought of An Le, the young painter who had astonished the Lin Manor with his sketches, seeking cultivation rather than wealth. She had gifted him the Sword Waterfall Diagram.

The Sword Waterfall Diagram was quite precious, a top-tier Spirit Refinement technique. If not for her appreciation of the young man's resilience, Madam Hua wouldn't have given it to him. In her eyes, the young man starting his cultivation at eighteen was indeed rather late.

Although the young man entered a state of meditation in three moments and achieved Fetal Respiration in two days, his talent for Spirit Refinement had made her eyes light up.

However, for the young man, who had started late, to make a name for himself in this Spring Imperial Examination, to ascend the official ranks and enter the prestigious Heavenly Profound Palace, was basically a pipe dream.

Retrieving Eldest Brother's Calm the Waves could only depend on her, Hua Jiebing, herself.

"Old Madam is extremely frail and her time for cultivation is drawing near. She doesn't wish to cause trouble at this moment and, for the future of the Lin Manor, she tolerates everything."

"But I, Hua Jiebing, cultivate a pure Heart Sword. If my heart is filled with indignation and I cannot vent it, causing my Heart Sword to be tarnished and my breakthrough to be hopeless, it is not my intention."

"Therefore, if I cannot tolerate it, I will not tolerate it."

Madam Hua let out a soft breath, returning to her senses, and continued to drink and enjoy the delicacies with Madam Ye, smiling.

The Ye family was also a family of military merit. However, unlike the Lin Manor, the pillar of the Ye Manor, the founding Great General, was still alive. Although past his prime, he still possessed immense presence. He was a top general of the current era, leading the army outside the Canglang River to block the Yuan Meng Empire's cavalry, even achieving frequent victories. He was feared, and even hated, by the Yuan Meng Empire.

This Great General Ye, who commanded the vastness of the land like a tiger, most often uttered two words: "Cross the river!"

It was said that this general, who rose from humble beginnings, once followed an old general. That old general fought enemies his entire life and, before dying with regret, cried out three times: "Cross the river! Cross the river! Cross the river!"

Cross the river, march north against Yuan Meng, and reclaim the lost lands of the Central Plains!

This was the inheritance of will.

If Old Master Lin's sacrifice to cover the retreat was to ensure the continuation of the dynasty, Then Great General Ye's ambition to cross the river and march north was a flame ignited for the dynasty's resurgence!

Madam Hua held Great General Ye in high regard. He was a hero of his generation. Unfortunately, his ambition for a northern expedition had not been approved by the court. Great General Ye had submitted memorials for the northern expedition twenty-four times, all of which were suppressed by His Majesty, who sat high in the Heavenly Profound Palace.

The deterrence brought by the Yuan Meng Emperor, the strongest person in the world, hung like a sharp blade over all the court officials, including the Emperor's head.

The nobles dared not gamble, and the Emperor dared not gamble.

Using the natural chasm of the Canglang River, they could block the Yuan Meng Empire's army. But once they were defeated and a breach was torn open, the prosperity and wealth of Great Zhao, which had migrated south for hundreds of years, might face the charge and trampling of the Yuan Meng cavalry.

Therefore, Great General Ye was not having an easy time at the border; the pressure was immense.

This was why Madam Hua was so touched that Madam Ye was willing to help.

Far up the cold mountain, a stone path winds; deep in the white clouds, a few houses reside.

Sixth Mountain.

A leisurely pavilion stood on a large flat ground.

The night was lonely, the evening wind howled, and the stars filled the sky.

In the pavilion, an elder in scholarly robes and a man carrying a pine wood sword box were still playing chess. As the last chess piece fell, a game was concluded.

"The game is over, it's time to draft the Mountain Opening Order and head to Lin'an."

The man in white stood up. The large pine wood sword box seemed somewhat peculiar.

He walked to the outside of the pavilion, gazing at the pitch-black mountainside under the dark night, his eyes as calm as an ancient well.

The elder in scholarly robes stood up. In his hand was the Ink Wash Bamboo and Stone Painting drawn by An Le. He looked at the man and smiled, "Mountain Lord, are you really going to open the mountain and take this young ink bamboo painter as the mountain guardian? If I recall correctly, this is the second mountain guardian you've chosen?"

"The opening of the Sacred Mountain by the Sacred Mountain Lord is a major event in the world. It will surely cause a huge stir, and countless geniuses and outstanding individuals will come, wanting to enter the mountain gate. At that time, if the Mountain Lord chooses only an ordinary young man who paints ink bamboo from among all the talents, it might cause unnecessary criticism."

The elder in scholarly robes chuckled.

The man clasped his hands behind his back, his expression as calm as the deep night. "Am I afraid of criticism?"

"I appreciate the young man's artwork and admire the noble integrity of a gentleman contained within his painting. Thus, I choose him as the mountain guardian. Who dares to criticize me?"

"If it weren't for the rules of the Sacred Mountain, I would want to go and receive the young man into my mountain gate right now, to see if this young man's spine is truly as upright as the ink bamboo."

The elder in scholarly robes smiled upon hearing these domineering and arrogant words. "As expected of the Sixth Mountain Lord of the Sacred Mountain. Since that is the case, I shall not persuade you further."

The man glanced sideways at the elder. "Persuade? You, Wang Banshan, just want to pick the fruit. You also admire that ink bamboo young man, don't you? Want to snatch him from me?"

"Your Academy of Literature has become increasingly uninteresting these past few years. Scholars should possess vast righteousness and uprightness in their hearts. But looking at your Academy of Literature, how many people truly possess vast righteousness and hidden uprightness?"

"The Temple of Martial Arts is more pleasing to the eye than your Academy of Literature."

After speaking, the man fell silent. The pine wood sword box behind him slammed onto the ground. He placed his palm on it and opened the box an inch.

Infinite sword qi erupted from the gap in the box.

The man clenched his five fingers, using his fingers as a brush and the sword qi as ink, writing in mid-air. After finishing, the sword qi transformed into a flowing order and shot rapidly towards Lin'an Prefecture.

That night, Lin'an could not sleep, as sword qi, like stars falling in reverse, pierced through the sky.

This was because the Sixth Mountain Lord of the Sacred Mountain had written the Mountain Opening Order:

Three days later, the Sixth Mountain will select a mountain guardian.

In the Ye Manor, within the waterside pavilion garden.

Madam Hua and Madam Ye walked into the courtyard. Both were powerful cultivators of Spirit Refinement, and sensing something, they couldn't help but look up. In the night sky, sword qi was cutting through the clouds.

"This is... Sixth Mountain Master's Sword Qi Mountain Opening Order?!"

Madam Hua and Madam Ye exclaimed in surprise, the sword qi reaching the treetops like a silver waterfall.

They exchanged glances. Was the Sixth Mountain looking for a guardian?

Why had it come so suddenly?

"The Mountain Masters of the Sacred Mountain are all exceptionally talented individuals. The Sixth Mountain Master is the sixth disciple of the Sacred Master, renowned for his domineering sword qi. To date, the Sixth Mountain has only had one guardian. So, are they looking for a second one?"

Madam Ye covered her mouth, unable to contain her astonishment. What could have caused such a major event to occur without any prior warning?

"If I recall correctly, when the Mountain Master chooses a guardian, it's not solely based on cultivation or talent, but more on intuition... In three days, the usually quiet Sixth Mountain will likely be bustling with visitors. I wonder who will be the lucky one chosen by the Mountain Master."

Madam Hua also chuckled lightly. Although she had her doubts, she didn't dwell on them.

However, the Sixth Mountain Master opening the mountain might be an opportunity for Zhuifeng, Qingyin, and the young masters of the manor to try their luck. If they could enter the Sacred Mountain, even as mere guardians, their status would be incredibly noble.

It wasn't just the Ye Manor; that night, the entire Lin'an Prefecture was shaken by a single Sword Qi Mountain Opening Order.

Numerous Duke's manors, Prime Minister Qin's residence, the Academy of Literature, the Temple of Martial Arts, and even the depths of Quiet Street, where the Heavenly Profound Palace, representing the Great Zhao's highest nobility, was located – all had gazes cast towards the Sword Qi Mountain Opening Order in the starry night sky.

Various forces were contemplating their next moves. Some were determined to seize the opportunity, while others preferred to wait and see.

But everyone was curious: what event had suddenly caused the Sixth Mountain Master to open the mountain?

The next morning, at dawn.

A light rain fell.

The night's commotion had no effect on An Le. He was unaware of the Sixth Mountain Master's Sword Qi Mountain Opening Order.

After meditating on the Sword Waterfall Diagram all night, An Le felt his spirit had grown much stronger. Perhaps it was the Innate Swordsman Dao Fruit that gave him a special boost in understanding sword cultivation methods.

His spirit, having just entered the Fetal Respiration stage, was already stable and was improving at a perceptible rate.

The next realm after Fetal Respiration was Transcendence, a crucial leap in the Spirit Refinement system. According to the descriptions in the cultivation method, the most significant characteristic of the Transcendence realm was the ability to project one's spirit externally, detaching from the physical body to roam the world!

In the Transcendence realm, one could engage in solitary combat, killing without a trace!

Although An Le had consolidated his Fetal Respiration realm, he was still far from achieving Transcendence in Spirit Refinement. However, this did not prevent him from aspiring to it.

He exhaled, his breath like a sword, releasing the pent-up frustration from the night. He felt as if he had been thoroughly cleansed, his complexion radiant.

An Le walked out of his room and into the courtyard.

The first drops of spring rain were heard, stirring old dreams of Jiangnan.

A night of spring rain had arrived unexpectedly.

The air grew a bit colder. In the courtyard, Hu Jingang's corpse remained. The pungent smell of blood that had permeated the air was suppressed by the spring rain, lessening its intensity.

Glancing at the headless corpse, An Le's expression was calm. A night was enough time for him to adjust his mindset.

Dressed in white, bathed in the spring rain, and accompanied by the old locust tree in the courtyard, he began practicing the Five Animals.

His blood essence, having ascended to perfection, churned like a carriage wheel and rumbled like a bell.

Tiger Style, Bear Style, Deer Style, Ape Style, and Bird Style – each transformed. With the addition of eighteen strands of Time Qi, his proficiency soared, becoming increasingly imbued with divine charm.

"Not bad. Although the Five Animals Body Forging isn't a top-tier body forging method, it's not easy to master. For a young man like you to grasp the divine charm of the Five Animals at such a tender age, your future is promising."

As An Le finished his practice and his blood essence subsided, a gentle laugh came from outside the small courtyard.

An old man in wide-sleeved plain robes, holding a paper umbrella and wearing straw sandals, with a broken bamboo sword tucked into his waist, entered the courtyard.

"Senior." An Le greeted the old man with a slight surprise.

The old man stroked his beard, smiled, and nodded slightly.

"Young friend An, it's been a day since we last met. Are you well?"

An Le cupped his fist in a salute. "I drank the old yellow wine yesterday. Since you weren't here, it all went into my belly. I'll buy some more after work today."

The old man waved his hand. "No matter. I took your painting, and didn't I promise to gift you a sword? That's why I came early this morning, to give you the sword."

With that said, the old man held his umbrella, smiling as he took the worn bamboo sword from his waist and handed it to An Le.

In the lonely falling spring rain, An Le gazed at the tattered bamboo sword, speckled with a few drops of spring rain, and fell silent.