Not a Single Day's Cold

"This is outrageous! Can even the inner sect examination be treated like a game?"

With Xue Yongge taking the lead, some of the disciples began shouting too.

When Junior Sister Yushan discovered that someone had taken the inner sect examination ahead of her today, she had been somewhat disappointed. But once she saw that it was Jing Jiu, all her disappointment turned to delighted surprise.

"Why not? Who at South Pine Pavilion doesn't know Junior Brother Jing's abilities? I think you're just jealous." Looking at the disciples led by Xue Yongge, she sneered. "Have you mocked him so often that you're feeling ashamed now?"

During his two years at South Pine Pavilion, Jing Jiu occasionally helped his fellow disciples resolve their questions. Though he had not done so often, it had been extremely important help to these young people who had never encountered cultivation before. Some disciples chose to forget that help and treat Jing Jiu as a stranger. Some even repaid his kindness with frequent mockery. But in the end, more of them still kept that gratitude in their hearts. They stood on Junior Sister Yushan's side, arguing until Xue Yongge and the others had nothing left to say, then shouted their support for Jing Jiu, who had already entered the Sword Hall.

"I thought he was rather unpopular."

Hearing the clamor outside the Sword Hall, Ming Xingguo was somewhat surprised.

The immortal master from Past Arrival Peak smiled. "He is a celebrity, after all."

With that, the two looked toward the tightly closed door.

They were very curious whether Jing Jiu could pass the inner sect examination, even more concerned than they had been when Liu S sui took it a year ago.

This group of Outer-Sect Disciples at South Pine Pavilion was well known throughout the Nine Peaks.

The most famous was naturally the innate Dao Seed, Liu S sui, followed by Jing Jiu. Everyone knew that a peerlessly handsome White-Clad Youth had come to the Green Mountain Sect. Some female disciples from Qingrong Peak had even found excuses to visit South Pine Pavilion several times, simply to see what he looked like.

But Jing Jiu always stayed in his little courtyard, so those female disciples from Qingrong Peak could only leave disappointed.

His extraordinary beauty alone would not have made Jing Jiu so famous. The key was that he was also exceptionally lazy...

That contrast really did make excellent fodder for discussion.

As Ming Xingguo had said, many people assumed Jing Jiu must be terribly unpopular, precisely because of those two things.

-A lack of ambition naturally invited contempt, while exceptional beauty easily stirred jealousy.

Who could have imagined that Jing Jiu would not only have reached perfection in the Spirit Embracing Realm, but also have so many fellow disciples standing on his side?

Suddenly, a clear, ringing sword cry sounded from behind the closed door, spreading across the cliff terrace.

Ming Xingguo and the immortal master from Past Arrival Peak exchanged a glance and smiled.

This sword cry fell far short of the one Liu S sui had elicited, but it was still clear and pure.

At the main entrance to the Sword Hall, Master Lü also heard the sword cry. His body abruptly relaxed, and an emotional look crossed his face.

In the quiet room, Jing Jiu withdrew his gaze from the black Sword Embryo, turned, and walked outside.

Apart from Jing Jiu himself, no one knew that he had never placed his hand on the Sword Embryo, much less mobilized all his True Essence.

Had he done what ordinary disciples did during the inner sect examination, he might have melted the Sword Embryo straight into a lump of iron.

From beginning to end, he had merely glanced at it.

The Sword Hall doors opened. Master Lü led Jing Jiu outside and smiled at the disciples' varied expressions.

Cheers rose, faintly interspersed with a few mutters of "What rotten luck" and the sound of spitting.

Looking at the fellow disciples who came forward to congratulate him, Jing Jiu calmly acknowledged them, but found it somewhat strange.

He did not remember having much to do with these people, much less sharing any friendship with them. He could remember only two or three of their names.

Was that little girl with the Returning Plum Bun called Yushan or Jinshan?

Returning to the little courtyard, he looked around and fell silent for a moment, then left without much attachment.

The bamboo chair and sand tray disappeared as well.

The peaks of Green Mountain were shrouded in cloud and mist all year round. Only upon reaching the legendary Nine Peaks did the mist thin considerably.

Yet the clouds atop Heavenly Light Peak Summit never dispersed, though they were much thinner than the rolling clouds around Cloud-Traveling Peak.

White mist flowed slowly over the ground by the summit's front cliff like a sea of clouds. Ancient stone gates and towers loomed in the distance, almost like an immortal realm.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Sounds of cleaving air rang out. Sword light illuminated the clifftop, stirring waves in the sea of clouds that only gradually settled after a while.

Five flying swords hovered silently above the sea of clouds. Some were ancient in design and coldly austere, while others radiated sharpness in every direction, all exuding an indescribable oppressive might.

The Three Feet Sword!

The All Emptiness Sword!

The Zither Sword!

The Returning Sun Sword!

The As the Years Sword!

Of the Green Mountain Sect's Various Peaks' main swords, five of the nine had arrived.

Heavenly Light Peak's Heaven-Bearing Sword belonged to the sect master and did not appear lightly.

Divine End Peak's Unthought Sword had already followed Granduncle Master Jingyang in his ascension to another world.

As for Twofold Forgetting Peak's Nondual Sword, it had been missing for many years. Moreover, that peak was where young disciples cultivated their sword hearts and did not ordinarily participate in the Green Mountain Sect's deliberations.

But why had Jade Lake Peak's Tide-Coming Sword not appeared? Had something happened to this seventh-ranked peak?

The clifftop was quiet. No one questioned the Tide-Coming Sword's absence.

An aged voice sounded from the Three Feet Sword.

Perhaps because this chief sword of Shangde Peak was itself very square in shape, the voice sounded square as well.

The voice belonged to Yuan Qijing, the Green Mountain Sect's Sword Disciplinarian and the peak master of Shangde Peak, renowned for his severity and coldness.

"The register of rewards and punishments was sent to the Various Peaks by flying sword several days ago. If there are no objections, it will be settled today."

In the sect master's absence, Yuan Qijing held the highest standing in the Green Mountain Sect. He also wielded great authority and had a cold, aloof temperament, so few opposed his opinions.

Today was no exception. Several voices sounded from the swords. "No objections."

A gentle, pleasing voice sounded from the Zither Sword, presumably that of Qingrong Peak's master.

"Several disciples from South Pine Pavilion will soon enter the inner sect, including a talent like Liu S sui. Nephew Disciple Lü has rendered a great service. We might as well reward him more generously."

No voice sounded from the Three Feet Sword. Yuan Qijing tacitly accepted the Qingrong Peak master's suggestion.

This did not surprise the Various Peaks, since everyone knew that Lü of South Pine Pavilion was his Personal Disciple.

The Cloud-Traveling Peak master's voice sounded from the All Emptiness Sword. "Since Little Martial Uncle's ascension, our sect's prestige has surpassed that of previous years. Presumably, no one will dare trouble us for a dozen years or more. Yet we must always place our hopes in the future. Whenever I think of those outstanding young talents from Chaoge at future Plum Gatherings, the clashes with the Nether Department, and those monsters that live on ice, I am filled with worry. Fortunately, after Nephew Disciple Zhuo came Layue, and now we have S sui as well. This brings me great comfort."

The Qingrong Peak master said, "Nephew Disciple Zhuo is in seclusion, and Layue is training hard among your peaks. But Liu S sui is still too young. Should we summon him to the peaks early?"

Yuan Qijing's voice sounded again, as cold as before. "My concern is whether Liu S sui truly is an innate Dao Seed. When Zhao Layue was born in Chaoge, members of our sect were already attending her, and we know her circumstances very well. But what about this Liu S sui?"

The Qingrong Peak master's voice cooled somewhat. "Senior Brother, there is no need for suspicion. I examined Liu S sui myself. There is nothing wrong."

Only then did Yuan Qijing learn that she had actually gone to see Liu S sui. After a moment's silence, he asked, "When?"

"A year ago," the Qingrong Peak master said.

Logically, since the Qingrong Peak master had examined him personally and made her intention to protect him so clear, Yuan Qijing should have let the matter rest. Yet he still said, "I have investigated the boy as well. Before entering the sect, he had already learned a certain rare breathing method. I suspect he is a spy. He should be thoroughly investigated."

The Qingrong Peak master's voice remained entirely unruffled. "Since you have investigated him, you should know that he absolutely cannot be a spy."

The other three swords had remained silent throughout, but the three peak masters behind them, possibly dozens of miles away, heard the exchange perfectly clearly. Catching the implication in the Qingrong Peak master's words, they knew that would be all for today.

Sure enough, after those words from the Qingrong Peak master, Yuan Qijing said no more.

However, the Qingrong Peak master did not continue insisting on summoning Liu S sui to the Nine Peaks early either.

A short while later, the five flying swords departed separately. The sea of clouds atop the cliff returned to stillness, as though nothing had happened.

The summit of Shangde Peak was very cold. Especially after that streak of sword light withdrew into the stone chamber, the temperature plunged further, and a layer of frost instantly coated the stone walls.

The chief sword of this peak, responsible for overseeing the entire Green Mountain Sect, was called Three-Foot.

The sword's name came not from "divine beings watch three feet above your head," but from "ice three feet thick does not form from a single day's cold."

Deep inside the cave abode, an old man looked at the frost on the walls without a word.

Yuan Qijing, the master of Shangde Peak, administered sword discipline and ranked second only to the sect master in the Green Mountain Sect. Cold and grim by nature, he had always been the one the younger disciples feared most.

"It seems that disciple named Liu S sui really is someone a peak selected in advance."

The middle-aged sword master who spoke was named Chi Yan, Yuan Qijing's junior martial brother from the same peak. Apparently, he had listened to the entire deliberation.

A cold, severe glint flashed in Yuan Qijing's sunken eyes.

Over the years, such things had become increasingly common in the Green Mountain Sect. To ensure their legacies continued unbroken and flourished still further, the Various Peaks had long grown accustomed to laying their plans early, seeking gifted disciples in the mortal world and bestowing favors upon them, even secretly teaching them cultivation methods. With such prior ties, they would be better placed to compete for them at the Sword Inheritance Assembly.

The gifted Nephew Disciple Zhuo, now in seclusion on Heavenly Light Peak, had received a jade pendant from the sect master at the age of six.

Had not those young people on Twofold Forgetting Peak likewise been contacted by the Various Peaks before entering the sect? Zhao Layue had even received special protection from people sent by the Green Mountain Sect before she was born, until she was brought into the sect at twelve. The only problem was that, even now, no one knew which peak had discovered Zhao Layue. That mystery might only be revealed at the Sword Inheritance Assembly a year later.

Of course, bound by the Green Mountain Sect's rules, the Various Peaks might not secure their desired disciples even after making these preparations. But it was still much better than making none.

Chi Yan's remark had been based on this judgment. Yet he was still curious why his senior martial brother had said no more after the Qingrong Peak master's words. Could his senior martial brother already know which breathing method that disciple named Liu S sui had practiced beforehand?

"The Jade Gate Breath Method."

Yuan Qijing's voice was exceedingly cold, as though mingled with wind and snow.

Chi Yan was slightly startled to hear this. So Liu S sui was chosen by the sect master. No wonder the Qingrong Peak master did not spell it out, and Senior Brother did not pursue the matter.

At this thought, he felt some regret, along with a faint, smoldering anger.

It seemed that at the Sword Inheritance Assembly a year later, neither his senior martial brother nor he would have any way to win Liu S sui.

However special Shangde Peak's position in the Green Mountain Sect, how could it compare with Heavenly Light Peak, where the sect master resided?

"He already has Nephew Disciple Zhuo, and half the disciples on Twofold Forgetting Peak are his. Now he wants Liu S sui too..."

Chi Yan sighed. "Since that is the case, we cannot miss out on the other innate Dao Seed, no matter what."

Despite saying so, he had little confidence. Among all the Various Peaks of Green Mountain, who did not want Zhao Layue to inherit their sword through Sword Inheritance?

Something occurred to him, and he said, "Nephew Disciple Lü has done very well at South Pine Pavilion these past two years. I heard another person has passed the inner sect examination. Should I go and take a look?"

"What is his name?" Yuan Qijing asked expressionlessly.

"Jing Jiu," Chi Yan said.

Yuan Qijing gave a cold snort. "That lazybones?"