Sword Worship

Choosing to receive her at the sect's residence rather than finding a spot in the Hundred Flowers Garden was a gesture of respect. The Hundred Flowers Garden was, after all, a place of ill repute; clearly, Xue Qingqiu believed such a swordswoman deserved a more solemn reception.

It was a sign of appreciation for this younger generation, as well as a case of one hero cherishing another.

Mu Jianli understood this well. She did not spare a glance for the bamboo forest formations along the way, keeping her eyes straight ahead as she followed Meng Lan into a bamboo pavilion.

Xue Qingqiu sat in the seat of honor, with Xue Mu to her left and Yin Ye to her right. The three people with the highest status in the Star Moon Sect—and perhaps the entire world—were all sitting there waiting for her.

Mu Jianli paused, stunned. This level of protocol was higher than she had imagined; she certainly did not consider herself to be on the same level as her own master.

In truth, Xue Mu was simply curious about what "paying respects to a sword" entailed and had pestered them to let him watch. Yin Ye was staring with wide, sparkling eyes, brimming with excitement to see the "sword-worshipper"...

Dealing with such troublemakers, Xue Qingqiu, as the head of the house, felt a headache brewing.

Mu Jianli's gaze fell upon Xue Mu. Her sword heart remained calm this time, but she was even more surprised. When they brushed past each other that morning, he had possessed not a shred of cultivation. How, by this evening, had he reached the Great Completion of the Qi Sea?

On second thought, Xue Qingqiu's cultivation was peerless in this age; it would not be difficult for her to find a way to boost someone's power, even if it meant forcing the shoots to grow. She didn't dwell on it. What truly surprised her was that Xue Mu was seated to the left.

Left before right was the established custom. Xue Mu's status was actually higher than Yin Ye's...

Who was Yin Ye? Xue Qingqiu's only junior sister, the soul of the Star Moon Sect's formations, and a figure of renown across the world. Just last month, the Dao-Entering expert Xin Yi of the Mysterious Heaven Sect had been hunting down the rising Demon Sect star Feng Lieyang, only to be blocked by the child-like Yin Ye. No one had understood the exchange, only that Xin Yi had been casually slapped to death by this little girl...

The Righteous Path in the south had mobilized in full force to encircle the "demoness," but they hadn't even caught a hair of her. Even Feng Lieyang, whom they had been hunting, had escaped. The Righteous Path had been forced to vent their anger by destroying several brothels that had been exposed while helping Yin Ye and Feng Lieyang escape. In the end, the courtesans, led by a madam named Qin Li, had gone to the government offices to wail, cause scenes, and threaten suicide. Some had even gone to roll around on the ground at the gates of the Mysterious Heaven Sect, leaving the Righteous Path utterly humiliated.

This matter had slowly spread, shaking the world. The once-obscure Yin Ye had become famous overnight. Everyone said this little girl's cultivation was bizarre and her realm unclear, yet she could instantly kill a Dao-Entering expert. Some even speculated she was approaching or had already reached the Void-Piercing Realm.

A powerhouse equivalent to the Void-Piercing Realm was ranked below Xue Mu in the Star Moon Sect, and she looked perfectly happy about it, without a single complaint... What did that imply?

Outsiders, of course, didn't know the real reason was simply that Yin Ye was a troublemaker who couldn't care less about status—or perhaps she only cared if the seat looked prettier. Regardless, outsiders would only assume this man was about to defy the heavens...

Forget it. These were internal matters of the Star Moon Sect; what business was it of hers? Mu Jianli straightened her thoughts as she bowed. "Junior Mu Jianli greets Sect Master Xue."

Xue Qingqiu watched her quietly for a moment, her voice sounding somewhat distant. "Ten years ago, your master also came to me to pay respects to the sword. I refused."

"Yes. Master mentioned this to me, and he has never forgotten it." Mu Jianli stood straight, answering calmly. "That is why I have come—first, to seek the Dao for myself, and second, to make up for my master's regret."

Xue Qingqiu smiled, though not quite. "Are you not afraid that I might kill you right here to put an end to the Sword Inquiry Sect's lineage?"

Mu Jianli replied indifferently, "The Sword Inquiry Sect has talents as numerous as grains of sand. Losing one Mu Jianli would hardly end our lineage. Furthermore, Sect Master Xue is a grandmaster of her generation with the appropriate bearing; I trust you would not stoop to making things difficult for a junior."

Xue Qingqiu laughed, a hint of amusement in her smile. "You are the forty-eighth generation of the Sword Inquiry Sect, and This Seat is the fiftieth generation of the Star Moon Sect. By that logic, I should be calling you a grand-aunt-master. Who is the junior here?"

"..." Mu Jianli was stunned. How could one calculate seniority between different sects like that? Everyone had different founding dates, didn't they? The Blazing Sun Sect, for instance, only had three generations; their founding ancestor was still alive. Did that make him everyone's ancestor?

But she was not a sharp-tongued debater, so she remained silent.

Xue Qingqiu said lazily, "Do you know why I refused your master back then?"

Mu Jianli said, "This junior does not know."

Xue Qingqiu leaned back against her chair. "His sword-worshipping ceremony had been completed years prior, yet he suddenly came running to me... In truth, he wasn't there to worship the sword, but to worship the 'hall'... I just told him very cryptically: 'You are three generations my senior, over a dozen years older than me, and you're ugly to boot—do you have no shame trying to eat tender grass?' He didn't even worship the sword after that... I heard he was delayed from reaching the Void-Piercing Realm for five full years because of this, and nearly lost his position as Sect Master. I'm truly sorry; I didn't mean to hinder his path of the sword."

Xue Mu burst out laughing. Once she put it that way, it was clear: she had definitely been flirting with him on purpose back then, only to leave him utterly devastated, all to disrupt his Dao heart and eliminate a strong rival. There was no doubt about it.

Mu Jianli stood there woodenly, feeling her master's majestic image collapse... The atmosphere for seeking the Dao had been shattered completely. What was the point of worshipping the sword now?

Yet, at that moment, Xue Qingqiu offered the sword. "Well, now that the descendant of an old friend is here, sincerely seeking the Dao, I won't be petty and extinguish the world's sincerity." With a flick of her slender hand, a streak of starlight flew out from nowhere, stopping steadily before Mu Jianli and revealing its true form.

It was a very strange sword. The blade was extremely irregular, looking as if it were pieced together from various small stones. Strangely, however, it gave the impression of being a seamless whole. Each small stone emitted a faint, lingering power, and these powers intertwined, diffusing beyond the blade like wisps of clouds and mist, obscuring the true appearance of the starry sky.

One of the three divine artifacts of the Star Moon Sect: Star Soul Cloud Vague.

For the first time, a look of shock appeared on Mu Jianli's calm, pretty face.

Her Sword Inquiry Sect paid respects to famous swords across the world to inquire into their sword hearts, feel their sword intent, and seek verification against their own Dao in hopes of gaining insight. This required a very pious and pure resonance of the sword heart; it couldn't be done just by looking or bowing. That was why they always traveled as ascetics, single-minded and focused solely on the sword.

But what Yue Xiaochan had said about bowing in a weapon shop was clearly a joke... A sword worth worshipping had to be a famous blade stained with blood, tempered by a thousand battles, and imbued with the sword intent of its past masters, possessing a faint spirituality. Only then could one hope to gain something from it.

Under normal circumstances, the Righteous Path would give the Sword Inquiry Sect face and allow them to verify their insights with their swords. After all, it wasn't certain they would actually learn anything, so it was an easy favor to grant. But famous swords weren't only held by the Righteous Path; most were in the hands of enemies... Thus, there was actually another mode of "sword inquiry": not asking, but fighting. It meant challenging the world's masters of swordsmanship and experiencing their sword intent through real combat. This was the true essence of the ten-thousand-mile journey of sword inquiry.

There were different modes of battle, and a life-or-death struggle was different from a friendly spar. Mu Jianli's original intention in coming to see Xue Qingqiu was merely to hope that she would offer a pointer or two, allowing her to catch a glimpse of the intent behind Star Soul Cloud Vague. That would have satisfied her. She had assumed that a grand leader like Xue Qingqiu would have at least that much bearing toward a junior. Though the risk was high and the chance of not returning was significant, a sword's courage knew no retreat; she had been prepared to face it.

She truly hadn't expected Xue Qingqiu's bearing to far exceed her imagination. Not only did she have no intention of detaining her, but she had actually tossed the sword to her to examine as she pleased. She had merely used her words to disrupt her sword heart as a test.

She understood Xue Qingqiu's intent: the obstacle had been set, and whether she could overcome it was her own ability. This way, she could explain it to her sect—it wasn't that This Seat was aiding the enemy...

Such bearing and breadth of mind were truly worthy of a grandmaster. Was this why she could sweep across the world at such a young age?

Since that was the case, how could she fail to live up to the grandmaster's kindness?

Mu Jianli closed her eyes, remained silent for ten breaths, and opened them again. Her eyes were once again filled with a cold, detached sword intent, free of sorrow or joy. The momentary distraction from earlier had long since vanished with the wind, no longer weighing on her mind.

Under the curious gazes of the three Star Moon Sect members, Mu Jianli sincerely bowed to the Star Soul Cloud Vague before her. She placed one hand on the hilt and formed a sword seal with the other, holding it upright before her.

Xue Mu couldn't tell how she was communicating with the sword. Regardless, after a moment, the divine sword suddenly erupted with brilliant light. The blade trembled slightly, and even Xue Mu felt a strange sense of joy emanating from it, as if it had found a kindred spirit.

The light faded.

Mu Jianli released the hilt, stepped back, and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior, for granting me this opportunity."

Xue Qingqiu's eyes held undisguised appreciation. "The resonance of the sword heart is your own ability; you need not thank me. However, I will say this: talent like yours from an enemy sect is a great threat. Should we meet in the world of martial arts again, I will not hold back."

Mu Jianli responded solemnly, "Neither will I."

With that, she turned and left, her slender, upright figure as straight as a long sword. As for Xue Mu, who had piqued her curiosity earlier, she did not even spare him a second glance.