Pure Yang

When Great Shang founded its dynasty, it received the support of the world's Sixteen Sects and promised to share dominion over the realm with them.

Three hundred years had passed since then.

Over those three centuries, only twelve of the Sixteen Sects remained. Four had lost their lineages for various reasons and never recovered.

After three hundred years of development, the Twelve Sects had further divided into the Three Sacred Lands and the Nine Sects.

The Pure Yang Sword Sect was one of the surviving Nine Sects.

Its headquarters, Shouyang Mountain, stood at the border between Jiangzhou and Qingzhou. Its mountains stretched for no fewer than a thousand li, with a million mu of cultivated farmland sustaining countless people, yet it fell outside the realm's nineteen provinces.

It was an independent sect-state.

In addition, its many disciples were scattered throughout Jiangzhou and Qingzhou, some holding high office in the commanderies, others establishing powerful commandery-city clans that dominated their regions. Its influence was extensive.

The Qin Family led by Qin Lian was one such powerful local clan.

However, Mount Tai Prefecture lay near Jiangzhou's southernmost edge. Beyond Jadeite Commandery lay the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

Thus, even in a straight line, Taibai Commandery City was three thousand li from Shouyang Mountain.

With the roads twisting and turning, even traveling four or five hundred li a day, reaching it would still take ten days.

On Jiangzhou's official highway.

A party of riders was swiftly making its way toward Shouyang Mountain in northern Jiangzhou.

They were Qin Lian, Chu Ying, Jiang Yi, Lu Shun, and the others.

Elder Wei Yang, however, had stayed behind for the time being.

He had his own considerations.

If Qin Lian truly founded a sect, he would certainly establish it in Mount Tai Prefecture. As an ordinary elder of the Merit Transmission Hall, Wei Yang could then choose to oversee its branch and seek the position of hall master.

Although that would take him far from the sect's core...

Better the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.

Thus, he did not mind staying a while to forge a good connection under the pretext of teaching Qin Daozhi and the others.

"Traveling in ancient times really wasn't easy."

Qin Lian let out a light breath as he rode.

After five days on horseback, he was not exhausted, being a Grandmaster.

But the monotony of traveling all day...

Was naturally a trial.

"It's getting late. There's a small county town ahead. Let's rest there."

Lu Shun said, "Once we pass that county town, we'll enter Pingjiang Commandery. Dragon Lake Commandery is an important holding of our Pure Yang Sword Sect because of its lake of dragon-patterned carp, and many disciples are stationed there. Once we arrive, we can take a proper day's rest, change horses, and continue."

After speaking, he immediately turned to Qin Lian. "What do you think, Grandmaster Qin?"

Qin Lian did not know the way anyway.

He nodded slightly. "We'll follow your arrangements, Elder Lu."

They rode another dozen li or so, and a county town came into view.

This small town was not even as large as Qingliu County, and its original population had probably numbered only a few tens of thousands.

But when they actually reached its outskirts, they saw a jostling crowd outside, with hundreds upon thousands of ragged figures gathered beyond the town.

They looked like displaced refugees.

The sight left Qin Lian somewhat surprised.

"Why are there so many refugees?"

This world had True Persons who could summon wind and rain, harmonize yin and yang, graft plants, and improve rice varieties, making its produce abundant.

Not everyone necessarily had enough to eat, but mass migrations caused by large-scale natural disasters were rare.

Yet outside this small county town...

"They're refugees from neighboring Yi Province."

Xu Qingsong examined them for a moment and frowned. "A year ago, I heard that the Tyrant Blade Sect had split internally. Three factions were fighting tooth and nail, dragging all of Yi Province into it. Now it seems that really was true."

"If the Tyrant Blade Sect wants a civil war, that's its business, but now..."

Jiang Yi swept her gaze over the refugees. "It's engulfed Yi Province, enraging Heaven and the people and leaving them unable to live. It might even bring the court down on them to suppress it..."

She glanced at Lu Shun. "Is our Pure Yang Sword Sect simply letting the Overlord Blade run wild?"

"The Overlord Blade's territory borders ours. With us so close, friction is inevitable. We even had a clash over the Purple Bamboo Forest three years ago. With the Overlord Blade in turmoil, it's already generous of the sect master not to throw stones down the well. Why would he send anyone to dissuade them?"

Lu Shun said mildly, "Overlord Blade disciples have always acted like tyrants. Now that they've caused this disaster, if they really bring the Heavenly Martial Bureau down on them and suffer a crippling blow, they'll have only themselves to blame. We can take the opportunity to pocket the Purple Bamboo Forest."

The elder wore a smile. "The Purple Bamboo Heart from the Purple Bamboo Forest is a crucial ingredient in refining Purple Jade True Pills. With more Purple Jade True Pills each year, our Pure Yang Sword Sect can cultivate more Fourth-Rank True Astral practitioners."

Not only he, but Xu Qingsong and Chu Ying shared similar thoughts and nodded.

Chu Ying in particular added, "Those Overlord Blade people are awful. I heard from a junior brother on the mountain that they ate without paying. When the proprietor asked them about it, they slapped him right across the face and knocked out several teeth."

"The Tyrant Blade Sect has its civil war, Ten Thousand Swords Manor has suffered the Calamity of the Demon Sword, and the Penglai Sea Pavilion lost all its senior leaders to a sea beast attack while out at sea..."

Jiang Yi frowned slightly. "These past few years, one thing has followed another so quickly that it's been hard to keep up."

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Qin Lian, who could be considered "well-read," suddenly had a thought.

He could not help asking, "Does the current emperor possess great talent and bold vision?"

"The emperor?"

Jiang Yi glanced at him. "The current Shang Emperor Yin Xin is indeed formidable in martial prowess. Not only was he born with divine strength, able to lift a great cauldron at ten, but he also reached First Grade through external cultivation at twenty-two. During Yin Yi's reign, he led a distant campaign against Dongyi as a general and achieved outstanding victories. After succeeding to the throne and spending three years recuperating, he personally led a campaign and razed Dongyi's royal court to the ground. Since then, the east has been free of trouble."

She paused. "But after crushing Dongyi, he seems to have quieted down. There hasn't been any activity these past six years."

Qin Lian listened, then put that together with his hazy memories and what he had seen and heard in his previous life...

Well, damn.

An emperor who crushed Dongyi in his thirties suddenly went quiet for six years?

Doesn't that make you nervous?

After a moment, he suppressed the somewhat wild thoughts in his mind.

This matter...

The sect's senior leaders would have their own considerations.

"With unrest among the people in this town, let's avoid getting caught up in it. We'll travel another four hours and enter Dragon Lake Commandery."

He did not want any extra complications.

"Then we'll do as Grandmaster Qin says."

Lu Shun readily agreed.

He smiled and said, "Dragon Lake Commandery is our own territory. There's no need to spare the horses either. We can ride there at full speed."

The others nodded slightly.

After passing into Dragon Lake Commandery, their pace became noticeably faster.

At every stop, disciples who could be counted among the local powers not only entertained them with fine wine and meat, but also offered horses and prepared their supplies.

Under these circumstances, the journey Qin Lian had originally estimated would take another five or six days was smoothly completed in just three, bringing them straight to Shouyang Mountain.

Shouyang Mountain was divided into the mountain itself and its foothills.

The foothills were primarily home to disciples' relatives and families, along with traveling merchants from various regions and liaison offices of other sects stationed outside. Over time, these had formed a large town.

Because it stood close to the Pure Yang Sword Sect, this town had no city walls. Instead, streets and settlements were scattered across a hundred li at the mountain's foot, housing a dispersed population of a million.

Upon reaching Shouyang Mountain, Qin Lian finally relaxed and had the leisure to survey the scenery along the road as he rode.

Most houses beside the road were low buildings of one or two stories.

From time to time, he also saw grand residences standing three or four stories tall.

What stood out were the streets in the central district...

Not only were they paved with bluestone, but people also inspected and swept them, giving them an almost modern...

A nostalgic feel, like the old streets of small towns decades ago.

They were not as clean and orderly as modern streets, but they brimmed with the bustle of everyday life.

After passing through the town below and ascending Shouyang Mountain, they saw towers scattered throughout the mountains and palaces clustered together.

Disciples also patrolled in groups of three or five.

As Qin Lian followed Lu Shun, Xu Qingsong, and the others up the mountain, many disciples turned to look at him.

Quite a few who recognized Qin Lian began discussing him.

"That's Grandmaster Qin, the newest member of our Pure Yang Sword Sect to enter the ranking! He reached the Heaven Ranking at thirty-three! Truly a man of extraordinary bearing!"

"Hahaha, seven Grandmasters in one sect! With such might, our Pure Yang Sword Sect stands among the foremost of the world's Nine Sects!"

"I remember joining the sect together with Senior Brother Qin thirteen years ago. Today, I'm still only at Hunyuan Wulou, yet Senior Brother Qin has already ascended to the Grandmaster Heaven Ranking! Truly admirable!"

"I wonder when Grandmaster Qin will establish his sect? When the time comes, I'm willing to follow him to open new frontiers and spread the might of our Pure Yang Sword Sect across all Jiangzhou!"

As they discussed him, everyone's gaze upon Qin Lian was filled with admiration.

When the party reached the sect's Righteous Qi Plaza, a figure hurried over.

"It's Martial Uncle Zhan Yi."

Chu Ying called out.

This "Martial Uncle" Zhan Yi hurried up before them and laughed heartily. "Hahaha, Grandmaster Qin, at last you've arrived!"

He declared in a ringing voice, "Your ascent to the Grandmaster Heaven Ranking is a blessing for our Pure Yang Sword Sect. Upon learning of your return, the sect master summoned the peak masters and hall masters and instructed me to take you straight to Pure Yang Hall, where we can all congratulate you in person on becoming a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster."