Return, With Neither Wind Nor Rain Nor Sunshine

The spring mud, slick as a mirror after the rain, and the morning trees, faint as a painting amidst the clouds.

Sixth Mountain.

A pavilion halfway up the mountain.

The Sixth Mountain Lord, clad in green, rested his palm on the Pine Wood Sword Box beside him. His eyelids drooped, gazing through the misty rain at the scenery below.

Madam Hua also stood gracefully in the pavilion, her plain clothes fluttering in the spring breeze. A look of surprise and satisfaction graced her eyes.

"I had predicted An Le's talent would be extraordinary, like uncut jade that ripens late, when I saw him enter a meditative state in three moments and achieve Blood Essence completion in three days. Coupled with his unyielding spine and proud spirit, he was destined for great things."

"I never imagined he would give me such a great surprise today."

Madam Hua's voice, like pearls scattering on a jade plate, echoed crisply.

A hint of a smile touched the Sixth Mountain Lord's rigid face. "The trials for the Minor Sacred Token have never been about cultivation level, but rather about talent, character, and opportunity."

"Although we Mountain Lords issue the Minor Sacred Tokens, each one contains an opportunity left by the Sacred Master. Since it is an opportunity, it naturally depends on fate."

"Zhong Shun Chao and Ye Chong have good talent, but their battle-hardened temperaments, forged on the battlefield, are not in harmony with my understanding of swordsmanship. That's why they couldn't even keep pace with me on the mountain path, unlike Luo Qingchen. However, if they were to go to Third Brother's Third Mountain, they might go even further."

Madam Hua nodded slightly, agreeing with the Mountain Lord.

"Luo Qingchen has talent, but his only flaw was having his Dao heart broken by Li You'an. His Dao heart hasn't strengthened over the years; it's only grown more fragile. This is also unexpected."

The Sixth Mountain Lord continued, commenting on Luo Qingchen.

"An Le tempered his body and forged his spirit bones with the sword qi of the Sixth Mountain, and he also visualized your 'Sword Waterfall Diagram.' He gathered a sword pool within his Niwan Palace. These two approaches, working in tandem..."

"His talent... is surprisingly good."

"The swords in my box are trembling with excitement. He is a good successor, but unfortunately, he will not be my Mountain Guardian."

The Sixth Mountain Lord's expression was cold, but beneath the coldness lay a sense of regret.

Madam Hua chuckled softly, her gaze piercing through the rain and mist to see An Le holding the Ink Pool. She murmured, "This talent... is indeed surprising."

"Talent, character, and affinity for the sword – he possesses all three. He truly deserves the Minor Sacred Token."

The Sixth Mountain Lord's face was solemn.

He patted the Pine Wood Sword Box, and the massive box settled onto his back. He stepped out of the pavilion and began his descent down the mountain.

Madam Hua gracefully followed.

The sudden downpour across the heavens seemed to lose its ferocity as the youth drew his sword, softening into a gentle drizzle, like fine silk threads, falling softly and nourishing all things.

On the mountain path, many cultivators who had stopped their advance looked up at the young man standing beneath the peach tree at the three-hundred-step mark, their expressions complex.

Every shred of hope they had harbored had vanished as An Le effortlessly passed them.

The competition for the Minor Sacred Token tested talent, character, and compatibility with the token itself.

An Le's initial struggles had given them hope. Only later did they realize that An Le was merely using the sword qi of the Sixth Mountain to temper his own Blood Essence. After his breakthrough, he had displayed his exceptional talent.

He had broken through the constraints like a lone rider, easily drawing the sword.

Zhong Shun Chao and Ye Chong were surprised but not disheartened. They had come to try their luck, accepting whatever fate had in store.

They also knew that the sword qi of the Sixth Mountain was not compatible with them, making their chances of obtaining the Sixth Mountain's Minor Sacred Token extremely slim.

Luo Qingchen's gaze was dazed as he retracted his foot, which had been poised to step forward. The dust on his Dao heart had not spread; perhaps it was numbness.

It was also because Luo Qingchen himself hadn't had much confidence in winning the Minor Sacred Token. The dust on his Dao heart made him acutely aware that he was unworthy.

With a pained expression, Luo Qingchen cast a deep glance at the handsome youth holding his sword beneath the peach tree.

Then, he turned and walked down the mountain without looking back.

He didn't want to linger in this heartbreaking place for another moment.

He needed to go back and seriously consider how to cleanse the dust from his Dao heart and how to navigate his future path.

The other cultivators took a few more glances at the youth holding his sword, radiating brilliance amidst the spring breeze, the fine rain, and the peach blossoms.

Then, they all turned and headed down the mountain, eager to learn everything they could about the young man.

After today, in Lin'an Prefecture... this young man would surely become famous!

An Le held the Ink Pool, feeling the joyful tremor and sword song of the precious sword. Bathed in the spring breeze and rain, his mood also became cheerful.

His Body Forging had broken through to the second realm, and his Spirit Refinement had condensed into a sword pool, marking a significant leap. He was drawing closer to the third realm, Transcendence.

Furthermore, he had gained this Ink Pool, which also served as the Minor Sacred Token.

It could be said that he had profited immensely. This trip to the Sixth Mountain was truly worthwhile.

Holding the Ink Pool, he could feel a wisp of sword qi contained within the precious sword. As long as he probed it with his mind, he could perceive it clearly.

That should be the Minor Sacred Token, one of the conditions for conversing with the Sacred Master.

An Le's lips curved upwards. He gently stroked the Ink Pool sword, a bright smile on his face, his mood exceptionally good.

If only I had some old Huangjiu from the Yanchun Li wine shop right now.

Drink wine, appreciate the sword, sing loudly, then descend the mountain.

Misty rain, a return from intoxication amidst songs and laughter!

So satisfying!

On the mountain path, only a graceful young girl holding an umbrella remained, standing quietly as she watched the boy radiating brilliance in the spring rain.

The Sixth Mountain Lord, carrying the Pine Wood Sword Box on his back, and Madam Hua descended the stone steps, arriving beside An Le.

The girl, holding her umbrella, saw them and bowed her head, "Ye Wenxi of the Ye family greets the Sixth Mountain Lord, and greets Madam Hua."

The Sixth Mountain Lord, his face impassive, nodded, "You already possess a Minor Sacred Token and have entered the Minor Saint Ranking. Why do you ascend the steps?"

The girl, Ye Wenxi, glanced at An Le and chuckled, "With a new contender on the Minor Saint Ranking, I naturally need to understand my opponents beforehand and see if they are truly worthy of their reputation."

"This humble girl will take her leave."

As soon as Ye Wenxi finished speaking, she smiled freely, turned, and departed with her umbrella.

An Le watched the girl's retreating back. He knew she had followed him all the way to the three hundredth step. The girl was actually qualified to obtain the Minor Sacred Token as well.

In An Le's eyes, the Time Qi on the girl swayed like seaweed. If only...

Hmm?

An Le suddenly felt a surge of joy. His Blood Essence had reached the second stage of Body Forging, and his Spirit Refinement had gathered in the Sword Pool. In the "Time Qi" section of his 'Sage Mode', it could actually be used again.

Without hesitation, An Le's mind stirred, and he drew upon the girl's Time Qi!

Holding her oil-paper umbrella, the girl turning to descend the mountain was completely unaware that she had just given him a free boost.

Three strands of Time Qi swirled around his fingertips before flowing into his body. An Le was content. However, with Madam Hua and the Sixth Mountain Lord present, he refrained from observing the Time Qi.

The Sixth Mountain Lord looked at An Le, his eyes filled with admiration and regret. "It's a pity you won't join my Sixth Mountain... Your ink bamboo, your swordsmanship talent, they all satisfy me greatly, but having you be a Mountain Guardian is truly beneath your capabilities."

"My Sixth Mountain is open to you. If you have any new paintings, feel free to share them with me. During your breaks from climbing, you can borrow the mountain's sword Qi to temper and refine your body. It's better than that Demonic Qi jade pendant you have at your waist."

The Mountain Lord said.

An Le cupped his hands and bowed sincerely, "Thank you, Mountain Lord."

The Sixth Mountain Lord nodded and added, "Obtaining the Minor Sacred Token is just the beginning. Your cultivation is truly too low; you'll only be at the very end of the Minor Saint Ranking."

"If you wish to have the chance to converse with the Sacred Master, you must at least break into the top three of the Minor Saint Ranking."

"You are too weak now. Cherish your talent, don't let it go to waste."

"One last thing."

The Sixth Mountain Lord turned around coldly, "I'll be watching you."

Before An Le could react, he had already ascended the mountain, carrying the massive Pine Wood Sword Box.

Looking at the Sixth Mountain Lord, who had such a distinct personality, An Le's expression softened. He had expected to offend the Sixth Mountain Lord by refusing his invitation to be a Mountain Guardian, but it seemed his thinking had been too narrow.

Madam Hua chuckled, "Everything the Mountain Lord says is true. Getting the Minor Sacred Token is just the beginning; don't become arrogant."

An Le bowed and agreed.

"You may descend the mountain now. Return to Lin'an with Zhuifeng and Ninth Sister first. I have some matters to attend to, so I bid you farewell."

Madam Hua stood in the spring breeze, her eyes filled with admiration as she gazed at the young man.

Then, sword light enveloped her body as she leaped into the mountain mist, disappearing without a trace, vanishing into the depths of the clouds.

The spring rain had stopped, and a slanted sun seemed to shine from behind the clouds.

Reaching the foot of the mountain, An Le turned to look back at the stone path in the mountain. The initial clumsiness, the obstacles, and the hesitation of his first ascent made him smile knowingly.

Looking back at the desolate path I've traveled, as I return, there is neither wind nor rain, nor is there any sunshine.

An Le, in his white robes, stood tall and straight like proud bamboo. The Green Mountain was at his waist, and he held the Ink Pool sword.

He stepped through the muddy fallen blossoms, accompanied by the fresh grass after the rain.

He walked elegantly towards the Lin Manor carriage parked in the distance.

The sand flows shallowly in the stopped rain, the wild cicadas chirp in the still wind.

The buildings of the Academy of Literature, with their white walls and black tiles, were shrouded in mist after a baptism of spring rain.

A simple thatched hut stood quietly within, and the water in the charcoal stove under the eaves was still boiling, emitting wisps of steam.

The two old men playing chess, however, were about to conclude their game.

After savoring the last sip of West Lake Longjing.

Zhao Huangting, the old man from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, stood up and stretched, "Let's end today's game here. Neither of us has won, so let's play again another day."

The Third Master, accustomed to Zhao Huangting's shamelessness, chuckled and returned the chess pieces to the box.

"Is it as you wished?" the Third Master asked.

"He performed well. Perhaps An Le truly won't be let down by Green Mountain."

Zhao Huangting was in a good mood, stroking his long eyebrows as he smiled.

"After today, young friend An will surely become famous throughout Lin'an. His paintings, his poetry, his swordsmanship – all will be praised. The true prosperity of Lin'an Prefecture will open up to him. Wealth that corrodes the bone and soul, arriving like a flood or a ferocious beast. I hope he can maintain his original heart."

"The only imperfection is that the Sixth Mountain Lord insisted on using up my favor. So devious!"

Zhao Huangting placed his hands behind his back and strode out of the thatched hut, stepping onto the muddy path.

He waved his hand without looking back.

"Off I go to get a pot of old yellow wine from Yanchun and two pounds of braised beef from Dingya Alley."

"I'm heading back to Imperial Ancestral Temple Alley to celebrate for young friend An."

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