Great Zhao

"Some of you may be wondering: how could the Celestial Maiden Sect have male disciples?

"The words 'Celestial Maiden' actually refer only to the origin of the cultivation method and have nothing to do with its current inheritors. It is just like the Imperial Daughter Sect, which refers to a sect descended from Nüwa, daughter of the Flame Emperor, yet whose disciples include both women and men.

"That Su Yunzhang actually came from a distinguished family of martial artists. His aunt, Su Liudan, was acclaimed throughout the martial world as the greatest beauty under heaven thirty years ago.

"Everyone, as the saying goes, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums each have their own splendor. Whenever enthusiasts compiled the Rivers and Lakes Beauty Register or the Jade Tree Martial Arts Rankings, there was often fierce dispute. Who made the list and who ranked above whom—everyone had their reasons. Those who disagreed frequently lashed out at one another, sometimes even spilling blood. Thus, for a long time, the rankings were not ordered. Anyone enjoying broad public acclaim could make the list.

"Since the court moved south, nearly two hundred and sixty years have passed. The world has been mired in turmoil, yet only two women have ever been recognized as the greatest beauty by the heroes and heroines of every nation. One was Su Liudan of the Celestial Maiden Sect thirty years ago. The other was Feng Yining of the Five Saints Sect ten years ago.

"When Feng Yining was young, she swallowed a phoenix egg. By the time she entered the martial world at sixteen, she had already reached the Law Realm and achieved the rank of Martial Grandmaster. For four whole years, her dazzling talent and beauty left the world stunned. Countless heroes fell for her and were willing to follow at her stirrup. In her final battle before returning to the Five Saints Sect, she even used the Righteous Spear and Faith Fist to break Ji Hanyi's Xingtian Method of the Sage-Slaying Path's demoness. This left a flaw in Ji Hanyi's heart, preventing her from ever entering the Celestial-Human Realm or joining the ranks of the Great Grandmasters.

"Some of you may say, 'Wasn't it just one defeat? How could that bring her martial path to a standstill forever?' Not so. Ji Hanyi was herself a peerless talent. She was only nineteen at the time and cultivated the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Scripture, one of the three secret classics of the Sage-Slaying Path. She sought out Feng Yining out of pride, taking the initiative to challenge her at her own door. Yet she lost far more than a single move. The foundational art of the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Scripture, the Heaven-Shifting Earth-Changing Divine Skill, emphasized 'imprinting the Heavenly Heart with one's own heart.' Once her own heart contained a flaw, how could it harmonize perfectly with the Heavenly Heart and achieve the Celestial-Human Realm?

"If she had later managed to defeat Feng Yining even once, her heart might have returned to wholeness. But after Feng Yining went back to the Five Saints Sect, she chose to enter a death seclusion in pursuit of the Celestial-Human Realm. It had already been eight years, and no news had emerged. Judging by precedent, she had likely perished long ago. As the saying went, what a pity for the lovestruck souls of the martial world—never again would they hear the phoenix's cry.

"These aren't stories I made up. The righteous sects of famous lineages love nothing more than publicizing the techniques and weaknesses of evil cults and heretical paths, so that our own people can guard against them. Ah, let's stop here for now. Otherwise, if some Sage-Slaying Path fiend happens to pass through Dingjiang Prefecture and hears all this, he might sneak into my home tonight and not even let me die a pleasant death.

"Everyone, this matter is dangerous. Reward me with a hot meal! Those with money, show your support with money; those without, show your support with your presence. Much or little, it's all a token of your goodwill. Give as you please!"

Ding Songyan tossed a few coins into the bamboo basket carried by his companion, then continued listening to the storyteller recount martial-world anecdotes and tales of the rivers and lakes.

By the time he heard the rest, Xu Chang'an was already lost in yearning. Unable to restrain himself, he said to Ding Songyan:

"Second Brother Ding, do you think I could become a great thief too? The kind who comes beneath the moonlight and steals treasures from under the protection of layer upon layer of experts."

You? Ding Songyan gave him a sidelong glance and said blandly:

"Straighten your back."

Xu Chang'an looked bewildered, but he still straightened his waist and back as instructed.

Ding Songyan examined him carefully for several breaths. A smile gradually appeared on his face, and after considering his choice of words, he said:

"Now that's the bearing of a great thief."

Praising someone cost him none of his own silver and could win him a little goodwill. Why wouldn't he do it?

Xu Chang'an was extraordinarily happy when he heard this. He felt that Second Brother Ding was truly the best friend he had ever had.

He kept his back straight and paced back and forth.

Ding Songyan listened for a while longer, then decided to visit another storyteller and find out what else was going on.

Throughout the process, he had been quietly observing his surroundings, watching to see who would be shocked by his "return."

After walking seven or eight steps, someone suddenly came up to him, pulled out a thin booklet, and said in a lowered voice:

"Interested? The Rivers and Lakes Beauty Register, with portraits and everything. The artist's brushwork is excellent. Only three fen of silver, or twenty-four copper coins."

Ding Songyan glanced at the bookseller without saying anything.

The bookseller, young but wearing a worldly expression, looked left and right.

"Not interested in this one? Then how about this?" The Jade Tree Martial Arts Rankings?"

He pulled out another booklet.

Ding Songyan pointed at the Rivers and Lakes Beauty Register with amusement.

"Guaranteed authentic?"

The bookseller more or less understood what he meant and was just about to make up some nonsense when he saw Xu Chang'an glaring viciously at him beside Ding Songyan. Meanwhile, the questioner wore an ambiguous smile, and he could not tell what the man intended.

He stammered before saying:

"The artist never saw them with his own eyes. He could only imagine them based on rumors from the martial world. If you two want the real thing, you can have someone go to Flame Capital and buy a copy drawn by Lay Buddhist Little Zhang. He's seen two or three of the people in it."

Ding Songyan did not pursue the matter. Instead, he asked thoughtfully:

"Do you have any books related to the Xiaoming Sect?"

He had already made up his mind to learn martial arts, and the most famous sect in the area seemed to be the Xiaoming Sect. Though being accepted into the Xiaoming Sect would certainly be difficult and his hopes were exceedingly slim, Ding Songyan had always believed that only by aiming high could one attain something worthwhile. If he started by aiming for an inferior choice, the result could only be worse. Thus, he felt that all his preparations in the early stages had to be made according to the standards for seeking admission to the Xiaoming Sect.

For that, he naturally needed to gather more information.

Upon hearing Ding Songyan's question, the bookseller abruptly retreated a step and shook his head firmly.

"No!"

Ding Songyan raised an eyebrow.

The bookseller glanced to either side and quickly explained:

"They really are in Dingjiang Prefecture!"

So you only bully those experts in the Jade Tree Martial Arts Rankings and Rivers and Lakes Beauty Register because they aren't locals and can't come after you, huh? Ding Songyan clicked his tongue, then turned with Xu Chang'an toward another storyteller.

After listening for a long while, Ding Songyan combined the earlier martial-world anecdotes with what his younger sister had said about the Zhen Estate and gained a preliminary understanding of the current world.

This place was called the Great Wilderness, or perhaps the Classic of Mountains and Seas World.

After Xia Qi, son of Emperor Yu, history seemed to have diverged from the world Ding Songyan had traveled from. The myths were similarly true and false at once.

There had also been a Qin, as well as a First Emperor who unified the Great Wilderness and subdued the hundred tribes, yet the dynasty had lasted for more than two hundred years.

Several poems familiar to Ding Songyan had appeared here as well, though their origin was currently unknown. The storyteller had been focusing on ancient events of the current dynasty in recent days and had mentioned only a few lines about the preceding dynasties.

The current dynasty was called Zhao. The imperial family claimed descent from Zhurong and used Hong as their surname. They had once ruled the entire world, but nearly two hundred and sixty years ago, the Giant People Tribe, Zhourao Tribe, Three Bodies Tribe, Three Heads Tribe, Jingren Tribe, Gentlemen Tribe, Shouma Tribe, Quanrong Tribe, and other nonhuman tribes suddenly rose in rebellion, throwing the realm into ruin.

A nobleman of the Hong clan reestablished the dynasty in Flame Capital south of the great river, saving the situation as it collapsed and propping up the empire as it tottered on the brink. Through alliances and stratagems, he finally stabilized the situation. Meanwhile, the various nonhuman tribes in the north fell into internal strife and fought for many years, eventually forming three great nations. The first was Yu, established by the Three Bodies Tribe, who claimed to be descendants of Emperor Shun, together with the Shouma Tribe and Jingren Tribe. The storyteller called it New Yu. The second was Gan, led mainly by the Giant People, Gentlemen, and Zhourao Tribes. The third was Feng, established by the Three Heads Tribe, the Quanrong Tribe, and the Rong Tribe. Feng lay beyond Yu and Gan and shared no border with Great Zhao.

Beyond the four nations were others, such as Ba and Tiandu, all situated in the borderlands.

Since the southward migration, the current dynasty had flourished and then declined. Sects and aristocratic families fought over profits, while fiends of the evil paths stirred up chaos. Then the late Emperor Chengzu Wen reconciled with the great top sects, pacified the internal rebellions, reformed the institutions, and governed with tireless dedication, finally bringing an age of prosperity once more. The current emperor was even more ambitious, sharpening weapons and preparing his troops, using Jianwu as his era name and hoping to reclaim the lost territories within his lifetime.

As for martial arts, there had been no powers on the level of gods, monsters, immortals, or demons. The Law Realm was considered the level of a Martial Grandmaster, the Celestial-Human Realm that of a Great Grandmaster, and the Spirit Platform Realm that of a Transcendent One. As the saying went, a Martial Grandmaster guarded a prefecture, a Celestial Being protected a province, and a Transcendent One blessed a nation. In the world today, there were only fourteen Transcendent Ones—ten on the righteous path and four on the evil path.

The distinction between righteousness and evil had nothing to do with nationality. Those who took the chaos of the world as their responsibility, delighted in spreading calamity, or practiced bloody and cruel arts were all considered part of the evil path and were hunted in every nation. Even so, there was no shortage of nations that cooperated with the evil path in hopes of stirring unrest in enemy countries.

A sect or aristocratic family needed a Great Grandmaster to qualify as a top power. Great Zhao currently had six sects and four schools, two religious orders and three surnames, two great sacred grounds, and two hidden sects. The Dangkang Agricultural Office, Body-Mind Heterodox Sect, Xingtian Clan, Gan, Yu, and Feng were roughly the same. The Everlasting Sect and Celestial Maiden Sect were both top sects of Gan.

The evil path was the same. Those powerful enough to be considered top-level forces were collectively known as the Twenty-One Evil and Demonic Paths, divided into nine upper paths and twelve lower paths. The Sage-Slaying Path was one of the nine upper paths.

The local Xiaoming Sect had once been a top sect, but it had suffered devastating losses during the upheaval more than two hundred years ago and lost part of its crucial heritage. Relying on a few disciples to struggle for survival, it rebuilt itself in Dingjiang Prefecture, Ning Prefecture, south of the great river. After many generations, it had barely recovered some of its vitality and now had several Martial Grandmasters.

Old Master Zhen Qianfan of the Zhen Estate was a Supreme Elder of the Four Waters Gang. The gang mainly held sway over the waterways within Ning Prefecture. It had declined somewhat in recent years and was down to only two Martial Grandmasters, with Old Master Zhen being one of them. He was a highly respected figure in Dingjiang Prefecture.

Every year, Great Zhao published an Exalted Orchid Roll, grading the outstanding heroes of the four corners. It had nothing to do with cultivation realms or official ranks, but consisted of brief evaluations determined by their displays of strength. The storyteller had so far mentioned only that Martial Grandmasters were divided into two grades: the lower grade was called Subtlety, while the higher grade was called Spirit Communion. Transcendent Ones and Great Grandmasters were few enough to be counted across the world and were not included in the roll...

Ding Songyan pondered as he prepared to move on to the next storyteller.

He had just turned his body slightly when he suddenly saw a pair of eyes.

The eyes had more black than white and were set on either side of a bronze-colored chest. Below them was an enormous navel that opened and closed to form a mouth. The lips slanted upward, and a conspicuous black mole marked what seemed to be the place where a nose might have been.

"Uh..." Ding Songyan's gaze slowly moved upward. He saw the bloody stump at the neck and the empty space where a head should have been.

Could a headless man really be alive? Wait—could he be from the Xingtian Clan?

The headless man, dressed in an open blue-black shirt with bulging muscles and standing nine feet tall, had already been planning to leave. He glanced back at Ding Songyan, turned around, and walked toward Dangkang Temple.

"That's a Headless Person from Qiaogan Prefecture. The current emperor wants to combine the Xingtian Method with military strategy to strengthen the soldiers, so he sent this Light Cavalry Commandant to Dingjiang Prefecture to reorganize the barracks." Xu Chang'an whispered to Ding Songyan, "Those Headless People dream of fighting their way back north."

The Xingtian Method? That might not be impossible to consider... Ding Songyan's heart pounded with excitement.

It was a one-sided excitement.

Excitement demanded action. He decided to make friends with that Headless Person Light Cavalry Commandant.