The old man abruptly raised his head, his voice hoarse. "Speak!"
"There are rumors in the Martial World that Gu Yuanqing, the Gu Family's concubine-born son whose noble rank was reduced by one grade, obtained the Secret Sword on North Spring Mountain. Your Sun initially thought it was merely a rumor distorted with each retelling, but someone from Vast Sea Valley later confirmed that, some time ago, a flying sword flew through the Void on North Spring Mountain, its ringing echoing throughout the mountain. It resembled the legendary Sword-Riding Arts."
"The Sword-Riding Arts?"
"Yes. After receiving the news, your Sun also went to Silver Moon Pavilion."
"What did Silver Moon Pavilion say?"
"It is true that the Sword-Riding Arts appeared on North Spring Mountain, and it is also true that Gu Yuanqing, the Gu Family's concubine-born son, is on the mountain and was an Origin Scholar a year ago. However, they could not verify whether he obtained the North Spring Sword Sect's Secret Sword. They did give your Sun another piece of information: half a year ago, Lingxu Sect Elder Qin Tianhan took his grandson Qin Baijun to visit North Spring Mountain at night. A Grandmaster was suspected to have intervened. Qin Baijun was at the True Martial Seventh Layer, yet Gu Yuanqing severed his arm."
"What do you think?"
"This news spread through the Martial World too quickly. In just a few days, it reached both north and south of the great river. Your Sun suspects it may be a ploy by the Imperial Court to lure out its enemies. But given how much is at stake, your Sun thought it best to report it to you, Ancestor."
The old man spoke slowly. "Send a letter for me to that old fellow in the Heavenly Fiend Sect. I'll dictate, and you write!"
One day later.
Deep within the Longbei Long Ridge Mountains.
A short old man looked sleepily at the message in his hand. He gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor and chuckled. "That old bastard Jiang Hongguang is tempted, eh? Still... I only have a few years left to live. I ought to go have a look and see just what lies Beyond Grandmaster."
In the Imperial Study of the Great Qian Dynasty.
Bang!
The inkstone on the desk struck the head of Yu Yijie, a Heavenly Catcher of the Heavenly Policy Mansion who was kneeling on the floor ahead. Ink splattered over him, and blood seeped from his forehead.
"A pack of useless fools! What good does the Imperial Court get from spending money to feed you? News of the Secret Sword on North Spring Mountain has spread throughout Great Qian. You monitor the Martial World, yet it took you this long to notice something was amiss!" Li Haotian flew into a rage. What truly angered him was not the news of the North Spring Secret Sword, but that someone had made Gu Yuanqing known to the entire world.
He had imprisoned Gu Yuanqing on North Spring Mountain precisely to keep him hidden, yet someone had now thrust him onto the crest of the Wind Dao.
No wall in the world could stop the Wind Dao from leaking through. If anyone investigated Gu Yuanqing, it would not be difficult to uncover certain clues. The dignity of the Imperial Family and Great Qian was at stake. How could he not fly into a rage?
"Your subject has failed in his duties. Please punish me, Your Majesty!" Yu Yijie knocked his head against the floor, not daring to raise it.
Xu Lianying stood to one side with his head lowered, not daring to interject.
"Punish you? Very well. I grant you death!"
Yu Yijie stiffened slightly, then said resolutely, "Your subject obeys!" As he spoke, he raised his head and brought his palm toward his own forehead.
Li Haotian snorted coldly and struck out with his palm, sending Yu Yijie tumbling across the floor like a rolling gourd.
"Investigate! Get to the bottom of this! Someone in my court must be involved. Within three days, I want to know exactly who it is. Otherwise, take off your own head and present it to me!"
Yu Yijie scrambled up and kowtowed. "Within three days, your subject will uncover the truth!"
The Qi Family, in the Imperial Capital.
The Qi Family was not a lineage of officials, but it had produced a prodigy who became a Grandmaster's disciple. From then on, its standing rose like a boat on a rising tide, making it no different from the nobility within the capital.
In the Qi Family's rear courtyard, Qi Daojie wiped the Flying Sword in his hand.
"Young Master Qi, are you satisfied with what our Eight Treasures Merchant Guild has done this time?" A potbellied middle-aged man bowed slightly, smiling ingratiatingly.
Qi Daojie was tall and slender, dressed in a brocade robe with a jade belt at his waist. His every movement exuded nobility. He smiled faintly. "Acceptable."
The middle-aged man said, "Then, regarding the matter I mentioned last time, could you help make an introduction, Young Master Qi? Rest assured, I understand the rules. Sixty percent of the proceeds will be our Eight Treasures Merchant Guild's tribute to you."
Qi Daojie slid his Flying Sword into its sheath, removed the Jade Pendant from his waist, and tossed it over. "Worldly wealth is merely an external possession. I have never cared for it. Still, if I refuse, I imagine you would not feel at ease. Take this Jade Pendant to the Ministry of Personnel and seek out Assistant Minister of Personnel Yu Rulin."
"Thank you, Young Master Qi. I shall go to the Ministry of Personnel at once." The middle-aged man caught the Jade Pendant with both hands, his face lighting up with joy.
Qi Daojie waved a hand indifferently.
The middle-aged man bowed repeatedly, then hurried away.
A cold smile appeared on Qi Daojie's face as he murmured, "Gu Yuanqing, since you did something you should not have done, you must pay the price." His eyes brimmed with murderous intent as he spoke.
At the foot of North Spring Mountain.
The Soldiers guarding the mountain gate sat somewhat lazily beneath a shade shelter, chatting.
"Old Zhang, have you noticed that North Spring Mountain feels different this year?"
"Different? Different how?"
"It just feels different. I can't really put it into words."
"You think too much. Instead of letting your imagination run wild here, you should get some proper rest. We might be busy again before long."
"Busy again? Why do you say that?"
"Haven't you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"You really don't know? It's being spread everywhere now. They say that young nobleman up on North Spring Mountain obtained the legendary Secret Sword of the North Spring Sword Sect. That Secret Sword points straight to the realm Beyond Grandmaster."
"He obtained the North Spring Secret Sword? Is that true?"
"I don't know whether it's true, but with rumors like these going around, how could North Spring Mountain not become lively? What cultivator wouldn't flock here like ducks to water? Tell me, won't we be busy?"
"But this is Great Qian's forbidden ground! Do those people from the Martial World have a death wish?" a young Imperial Guard beside them could not help interjecting.
"Heh, forbidden ground? If people in the Martial World really cared about forbidden ground, so many wouldn't have died here some time ago. If they can obtain a path of cultivation Beyond Grandmaster, what does it matter if they offend the Imperial Court?"
"Never mind Beyond Grandmaster. Once they become Grandmasters, even at court they would be Attendants, answering only to imperial commands."
"People from the Martial World make their living licking blood from the edge of a blade. They're different from us. They won't let an opportunity like this slip away."
Gu Yuanqing listened quietly to the conversations below the mountain. After a long while, he frowned slightly. "So word got out after all? But from what they're saying, it has spread everywhere in the Martial World. That seems far too exaggerated, unless someone is stirring the wind and fanning the waves behind the scenes."
Gu Yuanqing believed the Great Qian Imperial Family would not do such a thing. They could hardly hide him quickly enough; why would they thrust him onto the crest of the Wind Dao?
"Someone must be trying to muddy the waters. It seems I still underestimated the impact of the Secret Sword on North Spring Mountain. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so conspicuous back then."
"But if they intend to come up North Spring Mountain and make trouble for me, they're sorely mistaken!" With a stir of his thoughts, Gu Yuanqing's sharp aura burst forth. The air around him began to congeal, and every last insect fell silent.
In his previous life, he had struggled to make a living, and society had worn away his edges. In this life, he had lived under the roof of the Prince's Manor, where hierarchy was rigid. As a mere concubine-born son with no one to rely on, it was no exaggeration to say he had lived with his tail between his legs.
But now, he was at the Profound Martial Ninth Layer, capable of fighting a Grandmaster on North Spring Mountain. With the system at his side, his future was boundless.
Yet apart from a handful of people, no one knew any of this. It was like wearing splendid brocade on a nighttime walk, and he could not help feeling a little dissatisfied.
Now that someone was coming right to his doorstep, how could he not feel excited, his spirits soaring?
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