The gathering was over

News of the Green Mountain Sect's Sword Inheritance Assembly soon spread throughout the world.

By rights, the Sword Inheritance Assembly was merely an internal affair of the Green Mountain Sect, and involved only disciples at lower cultivation levels. It should not have caused such a sensation. But this assembly had featured two innate Dao Seeds, and a prodigy of the Sword Dao had suddenly emerged as well. More importantly... two of them had actually chosen to inherit the sword of Divine End Peak, and succeeded!

Divine End Peak had seen the light of day again. The news shook the Southern Commanderies, then quickly reached Chaoge City, Windknife Commandery farther north, and even the Nether Department and the Ice and Snow Kingdom. After all, Green Mountain's Ninth Peak had always held a special place in the cultivation world: True Person Jingyang's cave abode was there.

True Person Jingyang had rarely ventured into the world in those days, keeping a low profile and shrouding himself in mystery, but who dared ignore his existence?

Who dared say that the Green Mountain Sect's present position as a leader among the orthodox sects had nothing to do with True Person Jingyang?

With Divine End Peak reopened, who knew whether its Sword-Inheriting Disciple might become a second True Person Jingyang?

How could those cultivation sects and Chaoge City not be nervous?

How could the Nether Department and the Ice and Snow Kingdom not be worried?

As a result, Zhao Layue's name rang ever louder throughout the cultivation world.

The cultivation world had already known she was an innate Dao Seed, but she was still young, and ultimately they had needed to see how she developed. Now that she had successfully inherited the sword of Divine End Peak, it was naturally another matter altogether. At the same time, many people also learned of the disciple who had followed her up Divine End Peak. His name seemed to be... Jing Jiu?

The Green Mountain disciples were eager to know just what their great-granduncle Jingyang had left behind.

Since their great-granduncle had not taken the Unthought Sword with him when he ascended, perhaps there were other treasures atop Divine End Peak, such as the Nine Deaths Sword Art.

Whenever they thought of this, the disciples felt rather jealous of Zhao Layue and Jing Jiu.

Of course, they greatly admired the courage and resolve Zhao Layue had displayed during this sword inheritance, so the one they truly envied was still Jing Jiu.

"If Junior Sister hadn't cleared the way, how could he possibly have made it up Divine End Peak?"

Gu Han's face was frosty as he said, "We saw it with our own eyes that night. His methods were utterly base and shameless. In my opinion, he should be disqualified from inheriting a sword."

Guo Nanshan understood how he felt, but so long as Zhao Layue had no objection, who could use such a reason to disqualify Jing Jiu?

Lin Wuzhi looked at Gu Han with the ghost of a smile. "Even now, haven't you realized that you've misjudged Jing Jiu all along?"

"Enough, all of you."

Elder Bai Rujing said to Lin Wuzhi, "Though you were the first to discover Jing Jiu's talent, don't be overly protective of him. After all, you and Gu Han belong to the same Heavenly Light Peak lineage."

Lin Wuzhi said nothing more.

Elder Bai Rujing said to Liu S sui, who was following behind him, "Go to the Guest-Welcoming Platform. Once you've seen the guests off later, I'll send people to escort you home."

On the day after the Sword Inheritance Assembly, the new disciples would gather to see off the guests from the various sects who had come to watch the ceremony. This was both courtesy and custom for the Green Mountain Sect.

Naturally, the Green Mountain Sect would also send elders and teachers of standing equal to the guests. Disciples such as Guo Nanshan, Lin Wuzhi, and Gu Han also had to attend.

Countless pine trees grew around the Guest-Welcoming Platform before Past Arrival Peak. Seen from a distance, they resembled green flames, a beautiful sight.

More than twenty new Sword-Inheriting Disciples stood on the Guest-Welcoming Platform, ready to courteously see the guests out of the mountains.

Jing Jiu, Zhao Layue, and Liu S sui stood beneath the pines' shadows, with no one around them.

This was not deliberate exclusion, nor was there any other reason. The scene had formed naturally.

In the eyes of the new Sword-Inheriting Disciples, these three were different to begin with.

In particular, the gazes they directed at Zhao Layue held even greater awe and admiration than before.

No one knew the details of Divine End Peak's reopening the night before. They all assumed it was Zhao Layue's achievement. Wounds were still visible on her face, making it easy to imagine the dangers she had encountered on the climb. As for Jing Jiu... there was not a single injury anywhere on him. He looked as though nothing had happened, hardly like someone who had exerted the slightest effort.

Liu S sui wanted to ask Jing Jiu just what had happened the night before, and whether he had been injured, but in the end he held back.

Standing beside Zhao Layue and feeling those gazes upon them, Jing Jiu thought, If Zhao Layue hadn't undone that little braid, would those looks change at all?

The guests came down Past Arrival Peak one after another.

The head of the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple's Discipline Hall was speaking with the Peak Master of Past Arrival Peak inside the hall. Two dukes from Chaoge City were reminiscing with Elder Bai Rujing of Heavenly Light Peak, with Guo Nanshan keeping them company.

Such occasions were meant for cultivating relationships, so naturally the young disciples of the various sects had to talk. Long-established disciples such as Lin Wuzhi and Gu Han had many old acquaintances among the disciples of the various sects, and their conversations flowed naturally. New disciples such as Qi Yuanliang and Sikong Yimin, however, could not help feeling nervous, even stammering a little as they spoke.

As usual, the female disciples of the Water-Moon Convent stood together with the female disciples of Qingrong Peak.

Remembering Junior Sister Lian, Jing Jiu glanced their way, only for those female disciples to notice and burst into laughter like tinkling silver bells.

The little girl from the Hanging Bell Sect skipped up to Liu S sui and said, "Come visit me sometime."

Liu S sui was a little nervous and did not know what to say, so he nodded.

The little girl then went over to Zhao Layue and said, "Big Sister, you're amazing. You should come visit me too. I'll find you a good pair of bells."

Jing Jiu noticed a pair of silver bells attached to the little girl's earlobes. A Silver Bell Envoy at such a young age. I wonder which important figure in the Hanging Bell Sect she's descended from. Then, hearing her words, he thought, If I venture into the world someday, it seems I ought to get myself a pair of bells too.

The Hanging Bell Sect's bells were renowned in the cultivation world, far beyond comparison with ordinary law artifacts.

Zhao Layue knew this very well. Seeing how sincere the little girl was, she said, "Then I'll find you a good sword."

The little girl from the Hanging Bell Sect brightened at this. "It's a promise."

Then she looked at Jing Jiu.

Jing Jiu said, "I'd like bells too."

The little girl was somewhat surprised. "Everyone says you're shameless. It looks like they're right."

Jing Jiu said, "I'm merely making a request. You can refuse."

The little girl thought for a moment, then said, "That makes sense. When I ask Mama for sweets, she can refuse to give me any, but she can't call me shameless just for that."

Jing Jiu said, "That analogy is very apt."

Listening beside them, Zhao Layue and Liu S sui thought, How is it apt...? She's just a little girl, not your mother.

The little girl tilted her head as she studied Jing Jiu. "I can send you the bells, but don't come visit us."

Jing Jiu asked, "Why?"

The little girl said very seriously, "You're too good-looking. I'm worried Mama will want to marry you."

Jing Jiu considered this, then said, "That's a very sound reason."

The little girl from the Hanging Bell Sect skipped away. According to her, she and her martial uncle planned to return aboard Great Marsh's Void Boat.

The head of the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple's Discipline Hall came out. Who knew what the Peak Master of Past Arrival Peak had told him inside the hall, but he glanced at Jing Jiu from afar.

The two dukes from Chaoge City came up to Zhao Layue and looked at her affectionately, like elders. "Do you have any letters for us to take back?"

Zhao Layue said, "No."

Once disciples successfully inherited a sword and became direct disciples of the Nine Peaks, they could take some time off to visit home.

This was what Master Lü had promised Liu S sui back then.

Since Zhao Layue would not even write a letter, she naturally would not return to Chaoge City. Everyone knew she was wholly devoted to the Dao, so the two dukes were not surprised.

Liu S sui was preparing to visit his village. He looked at Jing Jiu, hesitated for a long time, then asked, "Anything you want me to bring back?"

Jing Jiu thought for a moment, then said, "Cut a few stalks of bamboo and bring them here. Not the ones by the pond; they're too damp. Get the ones behind the mountain. If you can transplant some here, that would be even better."

Zhao Layue glanced at him, thinking, What is he up to now?

Liu S sui asked, "Have the chair legs broken again?"

Jing Jiu nodded. "There's a hole in the backrest too."