Building Momentum! A Sword Immortal?

Countless factions began frantically investigating Qian Juechen's identity.

What surprised them even more was how quickly—even effortlessly—they uncovered it.

His identity was hardly a secret. Back when Qian Xunji still held the Pope's Position, he had married the daughter of the Wind Sword Sect's previous leader.

That wedding had been a major event in the continent's soul master world, and many sects had attended.

When Qian Xunji's eldest son was born, many sects had likewise sent envoys bearing gifts to Spirit City.

A few connections—or even a look through their own sect's old records—were enough to turn up information about Qian Juechen's early years.

As the son of Spirit Hall's Pope, he had naturally drawn the attention of factions across the continent.

But those records only covered his life before the age of six. After that, he had vanished without a trace. Outsiders could learn nothing, and even the informants they had planted in Spirit Hall had never heard of him.

Now the simplest way to learn more about him was to visit the Wind Sword Sect and ask the new Pope's uncle: the leader of a sect poised to rise.

Feng Bailong had been run off his feet lately. He had thought that, with such an impressive nephew, it would not be long before the Wind Sword Sect could once again ride Spirit Hall's coattails to prominence.

But he had never expected it to happen so fast. How long had Qian Juechen been back? He had already brought down that woman and become Spirit Hall's supreme authority—its Pope.

Once their family connection came to light, everyone took notice. Over the past few days, envoys from not only the Lower Four Sects but even the Upper Three Sects had come seeking information about the new Pope.

Soul master families that normally looked down on others had sent envoys too, all probing indirectly into the young Pope's upbringing.

Everyone wanted to know what this young man who had suddenly taken the Pope's Position had been through. How had he grown into who he was?

As the new Pope's uncle, Feng Bailong had naturally become the man everyone wanted to see.

In the Wind Sword Sect's great hall, Feng Bailong stood before the assembled elders and envoys. His booming voice carried to every corner.

"Since you're all so curious about Juechen's experiences over the years, I see no need to keep them hidden."

Feng Qinglong stroked his nonexistent beard, a reminiscent look crossing his face.

"From the moment my nephew was born, it was clear he was no ordinary child."

That opening silenced the murmuring hall at once. Every eye turned toward him.

Seeing this, Feng Bailong laughed to himself. The show was finally beginning.

"Several elders of the Wind Sword Sect should have witnessed it themselves. On the day Juechen was born, wind and rain swept through our sect, and ten thousand swords rang out together."

"Hundreds upon hundreds of ancient swords treasured by the sect sprang from their sheaths without a hand touching them. Their sword energy pierced the clouds and swirled above the main peak of Wind Sword Mountain, lingering there for ages. What power that was!"

"And at that very same moment, a vision of swordsmanship appeared above Spirit Hall. According to those who saw it, sword cries shook the heavens, and sword energy stretched across the sky. Above all of Spirit City, it looked as though a river of stars had formed from sword energy."

"It lasted for several hours, fading only after Juechen was safely born."

"Sadly, my poor sister may have been unable to survive childbirth because of it. Otherwise, with her strength and Spirit Hall's resources, how could she possibly have died in labor?"

"Whether Juechen's destiny was too great and his fortune too profound, I would not presume to say. Perhaps it was all coincidence."

Feng Bailong sighed, tears welling in his eyes. Whenever he spoke of his poor sister, he could not help himself.

He had never imagined that her death in childbirth could still be put to use today to build momentum for her son.

The hall erupted at Feng Bailong's account.

His story had already been extraordinary. That final suggestion only made it more so.

The more vaguely a matter was framed, the more people wanted to speculate. That was precisely the effect Feng Bailong wanted.

Even some of his own sect's elders looked startled. When had any of that happened? Why did it feel as though they had missed it entirely?

Many elders and envoys nodded to one another in amazement.

It made sense. Feng Qingyao had been a high-level soul master. With all of Spirit Hall's healing soul masters and rare treasures, she should never have died in childbirth.

At the time, they had suspected a hidden cause, perhaps an internal struggle within the Qian family. Who would have thought the child's fortune was so great it had led to such a tragedy? It was staggering!

"That really happened? Visions of swordsmanship appeared at both the Wind Sword Sect and Spirit City because the new Pope was born? Could the new Pope have been a legendary sword immortal in the making from birth?"

An unidentified old man suddenly cried out.

His words caused another stir. People began whispering among themselves, debating how much of the tale was true—and how remarkable it was.

Feng Bailong glanced around. The man he had planted had stirred the crowd exactly as intended, so he continued.

"I knew from the moment my nephew was born that he was no ordinary child. He carries a great destiny. His spirit is not even the Angel Spirit inherited by the Qian family."

That drew everyone's attention again. At last, he had reached the subject of the new Pope's spirit. If it was not the Qian family's Angel Spirit, that was important news.

"Juechen awakened a mutated spirit descended from the Wind Sword lineage of our Wind Sword Sect. It is an unprecedented, top-tier sword spirit. The sword intent of heaven and earth has accompanied him since birth, and from the day his spirit awakened, his heart has been clear to the way of the sword. He is truly exceptional."

Feng Bailong stopped there. He did not specify what Qian Juechen's spirit actually was. He only proclaimed that this extraordinary mutated sword spirit came from the Wind Sword Sect, drawing another veil of mystery over his nephew.

"After Juechen was born, he did not remain long at Spirit Hall. For us sword cultivators, nothing matters more than the heart of the sword. Without tempering it, how could one become a true swordsman?"

"So while he was still very young, he left Spirit Hall alone, concealed his name, and traveled the continent, training amid its countless mountains and rivers."

"Over the years, he crossed dangerous lands and faced life and death. Through countless hardships, he forged his foundation and built his strength. Now that his power has matured, he has felt destiny calling him back to Spirit Hall to take the Pope's Position that was rightfully his."

"This is heaven's will, an unstoppable tide. Who can imagine the heights Spirit Hall will reach under a young leader chosen by destiny? I, for one, cannot wait to see it!"

As he spoke, boundless longing flashed in Feng Bailong's eyes. He could already picture the Wind Sword Sect standing foremost among the Lower Four Sects—even surpassing the Upper Three Sects.