Heaven Ranking

The Succession Ceremony.

Qin Lian really wanted to ask a question...

Could he not go?

It was so far, ancient transportation was terrible, and there were no high-speed trains.

Making the trip there would take ten days or half a month at least.

It interfered with him grinding his proficiency.

But...

There was no help for it.

As one of the six true disciples of Cloudmist Peak, it seemed he really had no choice but to go.

"Such a minor matter, sending someone to deliver a message would have sufficed. How could I trouble two Junior Sisters to come personally to announce it?"

Qin Lian forced a response.

"Naturally, it's because I wanted to see Senior Brother earlier. Senior Brother, you're so terrible! You've been gone for four years and haven't returned to the sect even once."

As Chu Ying spoke, she pulled on Jiang Yi's hand. "Actually, Senior Sister Jiang stopped blaming you long ago. In the face of that kind of accident, nobody wanted to see it happen..."

Qin Lian recalled this piece of "Qin Lian's" memory...

He could only say that those who flaunted their affection died fast.

However...

It was precisely because he witnessed the tragic death of his beloved and felt deeply lacking in strength that Qin Lian had exchanged for a life-risking sword technique like the Blood-Burning Sword Art, practicing bitterly for many years. Only thus had he been able to slay the Blood Demon Zuo Qiudao when they encountered him more than a month ago.

Though he ultimately paid with his life, too.

"That's right, Second Senior Brother, did you really master the Blood-Burning Sword Art? If you truly used this swordsmanship to slay the Black Ranking Grandmaster Zuo Qiudao, your vital energy damage... must be very severe, right? The tone in your letters... was like you were saying a permanent farewell to Master..."

Chu Ying's gaze swept over him for a moment.

The letters...

Qin Lian recalled them.

Believing he could not pull through, the original owner had indeed written a parting letter to the Master of Cloudmist Peak.

This...

Was also impossible to explain.

He could only think of an excuse: "I thought for certain I would die, but unexpectedly, at death's door, I actually gained a new comprehension of the Blood-Burning Sword Art, achieving rebirth through destruction and returning from the jaws of death!"

According to the experience gained from [Swiftness], the Blood-Burning Sword Art would likely trigger a trait nine times out of ten.

If anyone really asked, he would push it toward this new trait when the time came.

"There is great terror between life and death."

Chu Ying nodded solemnly. "I believe that you too, Second Senior Brother, will one day be able to temper your divine intent, step into the Second Grade, and slay that Mirage Demon..."

Saying this, she suddenly stopped with an apologetic look on her face.

It seemed she realized she had touched upon his painful memories.

While Qin Lian...

Had not thought in that direction at all.

He only felt that they were about done chatting.

Should the two of them proactively take their leave now?

Hence, he did not speak up either.

The atmosphere in the courtyard lapsed into silence.

After a good while, Jiang Yi suddenly raised her voice to break the quiet: "What's past is past, Qin Lian. A person should look forward. Always wallowing in the past and fussing like an old woman-does that look like a man?!"

"I..."

Qin Lian was startled.

Considering this reason seemed quite good...

He immediately nodded. "I know what you want to say. Rest assured, I've already made a change. Just as Junior Sister Chu said, there is great terror between life and death."

He smiled with apparent nonchalance. "Consider the former Qin Lian as having died at the hands of Zuo Qiudao. The one standing before you now is a reborn Qin Lian."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ying was instantly filled with joy: "Second Senior Brother, you've finally pulled yourself together? That's wonderful! If Master knows you've finally walked out of it, she will definitely be very happy."

Qin Lian nodded, and then said to Jiang Yi: "One truly shouldn't wallow in the past."

This serious tone of his...

Actually made Jiang Yi somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Faced with his gaze, she even turned her head away coyly, feigning an interest in the scenery of Dragon Abyss Mountain.

"Since Senior Brother has pulled yourself together, when do you see us departing? I can't wait to tell Master, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, and the others this news."

Chu Ying said with anticipation.

Go right now?

Why go so early?

He might as well stay home and grind proficiency, arriving right on the nick of time.

This was not something he could easily state outright, so he only said: "A few days ago, my injuries were severe, causing many clowns in the surrounding area to crawl out. Although they've been temporarily dealt with, but... the Qin Family still has some matters that need handling..."

He looked at the two of them. "The two of you might as well head back first. Rest assured, I will arrive before the Succession Ceremony."

"How can that do?"

Chu Ying immediately said, "The Qin Family's matters are your matters, Senior Brother! Your matters are my matters! Senior Brother, whoever you need to discipline, leave it to me. I'll go help you!"

Jiang Yi's expression was indifferent and she did not speak.

Yet from the look of it...

She clearly did not want to leave now either.

For a moment, Qin Lian could not decline, and could only say: "Then I shall... arrange your lodgings..."

He summoned Qin Yue to make arrangements for the two of them, while he himself returned to his courtyard on the peak of the mountain.

Considering the relationship between Qin Lian and the two high-ranking guests from the Pure Yang Sword Sect...

Qin Yue actually arranged for them to stay in the guest courtyard not far from the dwelling on the peak.

At the same time, she apologized on Qin Lian's behalf: "Patriarch... The Great Elder has been practicing diligently day and night recently in pursuit of weaving astral qi into armor, and has neglected you somewhat during the reception. Please forgive him, two Pure Yang honored guests..."

"Weave armor into astral qi? Senior Brother is about to enter the Third Grade?"

Joy immediately appeared in Chu Ying's eyes. "With this kind of aptitude, I'm afraid he's not far behind Eldest Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Brother."

"The Great Elder indeed made such statements, and plans to seclude himself in closed-door cultivation in the near future to give it a try."

Qin Yue said.

"Seclusion in the Qin Family or seclusion in Pure Yang is all the same. Perhaps after receiving Master's guidance and sparring with Eldest Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Brother, he can grasp the profound mysteries of astral qi circulation even faster, successfully reach the Third Grade, and vie for that Grandmaster Ranking."

Chu Ying said with a giggle.

"Returning to the sect for seclusion? That is indeed the case."

Qin Yue also nodded.

Ever since their Great Elder came to Taibai Commandery City four years ago, he had never gone back. At the time, they had also given rise to all sorts of speculations, thinking he had suffered marginalization within the sect and not even daring to ask too much.

Yet viewed now, it seemed not to be the case.

At this moment, Jiang Yi asked instead: "As far as I know, Qin Lian took over the burden of the Qin Family Patriarch the moment he returned to Taibai Commandery City. How is it that today he has become the Great Elder? Could someone be harboring resentment?"

Her tone was indifferent, showing neither joy nor anger.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yue was deathly afraid of provoking a misunderstanding: "Everyone in the Qin Family is utterly loyal and deeply respectful toward the Great Elder. It's simply that the Great Elder is busy with closed-door cultivation, which is why he stepped down from the position of Patriarch so that he could concentrate on his cultivation."

She quickly explained: "Even to manifest his ambition, the Patriarch changed his name from 'Lian' [practice] to 'Lian' [refining], taking the meaning of tempering and refining the spirit, solely so that his momentum would remain unabated even after weaving astral qi into armor, making one final, unrestrained push to attain Second Grade Divine Intent!"

"To manifest his ambition, he changed his name from 'Lian' to 'Lian'? One final, unrestrained push to attain Second Grade Divine Intent?"

Hearing what Qin Yue said, Chu Ying instantly realized something.

Her gaze involuntarily shifted toward Jiang Yi.

After hearing it, Jiang Yi's eyes also flashed, deeply moved inwardly.

"Qin Lian, he..."

After dispatching Chu Ying and Jiang Yi to Qin Yue, Qin Lian returned to the courtyard.

"Patri... Elder."

Qin Lingzhi greeted him.

Qin Lian nodded at her and sat back down in his rocking chair.

"The matters of Taibai Commandery come to an end at last."

Nearly a hundred people from the Canglang Sword Sect were enough to deter all factions in Taibai Commandery City, making them not dare to act rashly again.

And he...

Could finally cultivate in peace and quiet.

"Originally, I intended to bring the Pure Yang Qi Refining Art to consummation as soon as possible to see if I could make one final push to weave astral qi into armor, forging a body-protecting power immune to blades and spears. Now it seems I must concentrate my energy on the Blood-Burning Sword Art to avoid having no explanation later."

Right then, he quietly pondered over this sword technique, and very soon, began cultivating again.

With proficiency increasing bit by bit and being able to personally feel his strength growing bit by bit, he did not find it boring in the least.

Instead, he immersed himself in it, finding joy in the ordeal.

To the extent that for several days running, he hardly entertained Chu Ying and Jiang Yi, who were guests.

Yet...

The courtyards where Chu Ying and Jiang Yi lived were not far off, and they could faintly see the sword light in Qin Lian's courtyard flashing without a moment's pause and True Astral Qi surging constantly.

Seeing that attitude of never stopping for even a moment, the two of them were filled with admiration and chose not to disturb him.

However, this peaceful cultivation was broken once more on the thirteenth day after the two of them arrived, this time by a group of visitors from the Pure Yang Sword Sect.

"Hahaha! Is Senior Brother Qin about? Good news! Tremendous good news!"

The congratulatory shout came from far away below Dragon Abyss Mountain, brimming with joy. "The latest issue of the Grandmaster Ranking has already been updated! Congratulations to Senior Brother Qin on successfully ascending the rankings. Starting today, Senior Brother Qin is a true Heaven Ranking Grandmaster!"