Guests from Afar

The Great Gan Dynasty's three Grandmaster consecrates.

Sword Saint Qin Wuya lived in seclusion within the academy, while Daoist Xuanqing kept out of sight at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Both remained in the Capital City year-round and scarcely involved themselves in outside affairs. It would not be wrong to say they answered summonses but not commands.

Only Divine Constable Zhou Yin had risen from humble beginnings. Carefully nurtured by the Great Gan Dynasty, he had climbed step by step from an ordinary constable to one of the Heavenly Catchers. Even after attaining the Grandmaster Realm, he had remained in service at the Heavenly Policy Mansion, personally handling nearly every major matter in the martial world.

The reason the Imperial Court could still suppress the martial world and keep the sects wary was largely because of Divine Constable Zhou Yin.

And now, the life or death of such a pillar was unknown. How could Li Haotian not be shaken to the core?

The officials in the great hall also saw the emperor's expression and knew something major must have happened. For a time, no one in the court dared make a sound, and the entire hall was deathly silent.

Li Haotian drew a deep breath and said in a grave voice, "I am feeling somewhat unwell. Let today's court session end here for now. If you ministers have matters to report, submit them tomorrow."

Xu Lianying loudly announced the end of court.

Li Haotian hurried into the rear of the hall.

Xu Lianying quickly followed after him.

Li Haotian stopped and looked back. "Invite Grandmaster Qin Wuya and True Master Xuanqing to the Imperial Study."

"This old servant will have someone deliver the decree at once."

Deep within the Red Rock Mountain Range of Hexi Province, one of Great Gan's twelve provinces.

In a hidden valley, miasmic fog lingered year-round, and human traces were scarce.

A brawny, towering man stood carelessly on high ground in the valley. His hair hung loose, his chest was bare, and he carried a five-foot Ghost Head Broadsword across his shoulder.

After looking over the valley, he said with a look of disdain, "I say, you people are really doing terribly. Chased everywhere by a mere secular dynasty like rats crossing the street, and this base of yours is hardly any better than a doghouse."

Several people in hooded robes followed behind him. At the front stood a white-bearded, white-haired elder—none other than Si Zhiyu, leader of the Crimson Dragon Cult. With a bitter smile, he said, "Please forgive our poor showing, Venerable. A great battle two hundred years ago severed our cult's inheritance. Even as its leader, this old man could only barely enter the Grandmaster Realm through other methods."

The brawny man gave a scornful laugh.

"Grandmaster? You can call yourself a Grandmaster? Grandmasters here are far too cheap."

The elder looked somewhat embarrassed. "Naturally, our cultivation is not worth mentioning in the Venerable's eyes."

"If I'd known this place was like this, I never would have chosen it. Vital Energy is scarce, spiritual materials are rare—it's a godforsaken place where birds don't even shit. This time, I've suffered a huge loss."

The elder gave an awkward smile and remained silent.

The brawny man dropped onto a nearby rock.

"Tell me. What experts does this Great Gan country have?"

"To this old man's knowledge, there are nine experts at or above the Grandmaster Realm in Great Gan. The Imperial Court currently has two: Sword Saint Qin Wuya and True Master Xuanqing. The Lingxu Sect has two as well: Sect Leader Gong Daoxian and Transmission Elder Long Fangrong. Then there are Le Huafeng, sect leader of the Profound Heaven Sect; Blood Blade Sect Leader Duanmu Xuanyue; Heavenly Fiend Sect Supreme Elder Chu Wusheng; Silver Moon Pavilion Master Jian Lanxian; and this old man himself."

The brawny man asked in surprise, "Only this many? Are there any above the Grandmaster Realm?"

"We suspect there may be Grandmaster experts within the Imperial Palace. The Li Family has ruled the realm for over three hundred years, and their direct-line Dragon Slaying Art is also a Grandmaster-level cultivation art. The Imperial Palace's inner treasury has collected quite a few Grandmaster-level arts as well. As for those above the Grandmaster Realm, there may be some within the Lingxu Sect. Recently, a person of such a realm may also have appeared."

The brawny man was clearly not very interested in Grandmasters. "Who?"

"Six hundred li from Great Gan's capital stands North Spring Mountain, once the residence of the North Spring Sword Sect. It is said that the North Spring Sword Sect possessed a Secret Sword pointing directly beyond the Grandmaster Realm. A month ago, Old Man Tianzhu Jiang Hongguang of Star Sea Valley was beheaded with a single sword strike on North Spring Mountain before countless witnesses. Jiang Hongguang was also a Grandmaster. Though he was nearing the end of his lifespan and no longer at his peak, he was still a Grandmaster. Unless one was above the Grandmaster Realm, it would have been impossible to kill him with one sword strike."

The brawny man nodded in agreement. "Though you lot are somewhat weak, even I wouldn't dare claim I could kill him in a single slash. It seems he does have some ability. As for whether his Dao Embryo has reached perfection and condensed Dao Fire, I'll have to meet him to know. By the way, what is his name?"

"This old man cannot be certain. There are currently rumors that he is named Gu Yuanqing. However, my subordinates investigated him. A little over a year ago, Gu Yuanqing was only an Origin Scholar. For some unknown offense, he was imprisoned on North Spring Mountain."

"He was still an Origin Scholar a year ago? How is that possible?" The brawny man was somewhat astonished.

"This old man believes it may merely be rumor upon rumor. In a little over a year, even one blessed by heaven would not reach such a realm. There should be someone behind him, someone unwilling to reveal himself."

A fly buzzed over and circled nearby. The brawny man raised his blade, and two flashes of saber light passed through the air. The fly's wings were severed at their roots. He lowered his eyes to look, then laughed. "That's rather interesting. As for whether he is this Gu Yuanqing, I'll know once I go take a look."

He drove his blade into the ground and stretched lazily.

"Looks like this Great Gan country isn't entirely without amusement."

On North Spring Mountain.

Having completed the foundation, Gu Yuanqing had thoroughly relaxed. What he did each day depended entirely on his whims.

Every five days, the Imperial Army at the foot of the mountain delivered fresh ingredients. Occasionally, they also brought delicacies from the Capital City.

Remaining in the mountains, Gu Yuanqing no longer felt imprisoned at all.

One day, he even left by the small path and walked down North Spring Mountain. The Imperial Army stationed there simply pretended not to see him.

It was as though, so long as he wished to leave, no one would stop him.

He had gone to Dangyan Mountain opposite to see its waterfall, descended beneath the chasm to feel the rushing river, and visited many places that had once interested him when he gazed at them from the mountain.

However, he did not venture too far. After testing it, he discovered that once he left North Spring Mountain, every form of Empowerment dimmed, and even his thoughts became several degrees slower.

He occasionally encountered people of the martial world and chatted with them for a while. One person, unaware that Gu Yuanqing was the figure beyond the Grandmaster Realm he spoke of, went on and on about how he had personally witnessed Old Man Tianzhu being slain with one sword strike in these mountains that day.

Gu Yuanqing smiled and went along with him.

In the end, once the novelty faded, Gu Yuanqing grew somewhat weary and stopped going down the mountain. The sense of insecurity from losing Spirit Mountain's Empowerment always made him uncomfortable.

One day, as he read in the courtyard, he suddenly sensed the old man standing outside the courtyard gate empty-handed, pacing uncertainly and hesitating.

With a wave of his hand, he flung open the courtyard gate and said indifferently, "Come in."

Hearing his voice, the old man became somewhat flustered. At last, he took a deep breath, made up his mind, pushed open the gate, and entered.

He came before Gu Yuanqing and dropped heavily to his knees with a thud, pressing his head to the ground.

"Please teach me the path of the Grandmaster Realm, Young Master. I will be your slave or servant; whether I live or die shall be entirely at your will!" A voice emerged from the old man's abdomen.

Gu Yuanqing smiled faintly. "So you can speak."

"This lowly one once happened upon a method of ventriloquism."

"Get up and speak. In this life, one kneels to heaven, earth, and one's parents. I do not particularly like others kneeling before me, especially when you are older than I am."

Thank you all for your votes~