The Stench of Rot from Deep Within the Soul

Before he knew it,

Jiang Ding had spent years wandering through the Great Sun Sword Sect's territory and had finally drawn near its seat of power.

The Great Sun Sword Sect was a relatively traditional sect.

Its grounds lay deep in uninhabited mountains. It kept itself apart from the mortal world and allowed no outsiders to intrude. Trespassers were killed without exception.

Even so, a major power could not live in complete seclusion.

The Great Sun Sword Sect had a central immortal city where information and goods flowed freely between the sect and the outside world. Built atop a high-grade fourth-tier spirit vein, it drew Rogue Cultivators, envoys and spies from various powers, merchants, artifact refiners, spirit-plant farmers, alchemists, and many others.

This central immortal city was called Great Sun Sword City.

According to his intelligence, Great Sun Sword City had no walls or defensive formations. Anyone from any faction could enter and leave, so long as they obeyed its laws—laws so strict, even harsh, and so carefully designed that one could break them with the slightest slip.

Those who broke the laws had two choices.

First, pay an enormous fine—enough to bankrupt a cultivator of their realm in an instant.

Second, step onto the sword-dueling platform. If they survived, any offense would be wiped clean, unless it involved a core disciple of the Great Sun Sword Sect.

The Great Sun Sword Sect

treated its core disciples who had comprehended Sword Intent exceptionally well.

There was a distinct sense that punishment did not reach the scholar-officials.

The sect did everything it could to provide them with rare treasures and pills. It helped care for their families, too. Cultivators within the sect looked after and supported one another.

Back then, for instance, True Lord Xufang had chosen to put himself in