Distinctions

"Shhk!"

As the sharp sword in Qin Lian's hand pierced Gao Qianchi's skull, several stifled cries rang out from the crowd on Gao Qianchi's side.

"Elder!"

"Master!"

"No!"

Dozens of people watched helplessly as Qin Lian drew the sword out of his skull.

"Trying to step on me to rise higher? What a wild flight of fancy."

Qin Lian flicked the sword in his hand and turned his gaze toward the terrified, furious, hostile, and fearful disciples of the Overlord Blade.

"Gao Qianchi challenged me several times, demanding we settle who was stronger. Now that I've granted his wish, does anyone have any objections?"

His voice rang out.

Though resentment lingered in the Overlord Blade disciples' hearts, they understood that Gao Qianchi had brought everything upon himself.

Moreover, the strength Qin Lian had displayed, together with the many Cloudmist Peak disciples behind him, was more than enough to wipe out all the Overlord Blade disciples at Taibai Mine Mountain.

If they dared voice their discontent now just to score a verbal victory, it would be no different from seeking their own deaths.

Only after a long while did a middle-aged man with fourth-rank true astral cultivation step forward and cup his hands. "Grandmaster Qin, you are worthy of your title as a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster. Your strength is extraordinary, and we are duly impressed. Our Overlord Blade will withdraw from Taibai Mine Mountain immediately. From now on, everything at Taibai Mine Mountain will belong to you."

With that, he called to the others and hurried down the mountain.

"Peak Master Liu, keep an eye on them. Don't let them take anything that belongs to Taibai Mine Mountain."

Qin Lian gave the order.

Liu Xu nodded and quickly made arrangements.

As for Qin Lian...

He, too, set off, surveying the cluster of buildings outside Taibai Mine Mountain.

The buildings had originally been quite extensive, predominantly built in the Overlord Blade's style.

But when Xu Hailong had brought people here, he had erected quite a few buildings in Chunyang's style, and many of the emblems had been replaced with those of the Taibai Sword Sect.

All these buildings had been preserved.

Judging by the number and size of the towers and houses, they could easily accommodate over a thousand people and their daily cultivation.

Of course, at Taibai Mine Mountain, not far from this compound, there were also numerous houses and a small town, home to thousands of miners and thousands of their family members.

Those people likewise fell under the Taibai Sword Sect's jurisdiction.

Not long after Qin Lian led the Cloudmist Peak disciples into the compound, a party of over a hundred hurried over.

Their leader was none other than Xu Hailong, whom Qin Lian had personally appointed deputy sect leader of the Taibai Sword Sect.

The moment he saw Qin Lian, Xu Hailong stepped forward, bowed, and begged forgiveness. "Greetings, Sect Leader. My strength was inadequate, forcing you to come down the mountain yourself before we could reclaim our Taibai Sword Sect's holdings."

"It had nothing to do with you. Gao Qianchi and the Overlord Blade behind him had simply been plotting this for a long time and were unwilling to relinquish Taibai Mine Mountain so easily."

Qin Lian replied.

There was no need for him to spell out to Xu Hailong the sect struggles involved, much less the covert clashes and schemes.

At that moment, a dozen or so men and women behind Xu Hailong, all at least in the True Qi Realm, stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Sect Leader."

Qin Lian nodded to them.

To his surprise, besides Wei Yang, there was another familiar face.

"Jiang Yi? What are you doing here?"

Qin Lian was somewhat surprised.

Jiang Yi was a Sun-Viewing Peak disciple. If she devoted herself to cultivating there, she might even join the ranks of the True Disciples once she achieved qi refining into gang.

Why would a disciple with such boundless prospects come to the Taibai Sword Sect?

"I just wanted to earn some more resources in Taibai and condense my gang sooner."

Jiang Yi pressed her lips together as she spoke.

"How long have you been here?"

Qin Lian asked.

Xu Hailong, standing beside them, answered for her. "Elder Jiang came here when Taibai was first being established, and she poured a great deal of time and effort into founding the Taibai Sword Sect."

Seeing this, Qin Lian asked no further questions and simply instructed everyone to take over Taibai Mine Mountain.

After all, the Taibai Sword Sect was his foundation.

Since he was already here, he could hardly show his face and leave.

Naturally, he had to meet the members of the Taibai Sword Sect.

During this time, for some reason, Xu Hailong assigned Jiang Yi to his side to attend to his daily needs.

This made him rather uncomfortable.

On the third morning, when Jiang Yi once again prepared his washing things early and waited outside, he could not help saying, "The Taibai Sword Sect exists solely for Taibai Mine Mountain. It isn't a suitable place for you to stay. You should return to Sun-Viewing Peak in Chunyang soon."

Jiang Yi glanced at Qin Lian. "I understand."

Her tone betrayed no change in emotion.

Qin Lian could hardly say more. After washing and eating breakfast, he was about to seek out Liu Xu, but she arrived first at the courtyard where he was temporarily staying.

"Grandmaster Qin, we've been away from Cloudmist Peak for three months now. There are many minor matters on the mountain that need attention, so I've come to take my leave today."

"You're leaving? We can go together, then."

Qin Lian said.

Liu Xu paused. "The Taibai Sword Sect is a sect you founded. Now that you've finally come here... won't you stay a few more days?"

"There's no need. Deputy Sect Leader Xu handles matters great and small. I don't need to concern myself with them."

As Qin Lian spoke, he called outside, "Jiang Yi, go ask Sect Leader Xu to come over. We're leaving together, so I should let him know."

"Leaving?"

Jiang Yi froze slightly, her gaze settling on Qin Lian. "You... you're leaving already?"

"Yes."

Qin Lian gave a definite answer, then added, "Go ask Sect Leader Xu to come."

Jiang Yi said nothing more. She merely turned and left, visibly downcast.

Seeing this, Qin Lian frowned, unable to understand. "Instead of being a perfectly good Sun-Viewing Peak disciple, she came running to Mount Tai Prefecture..."

Liu Xu gave him a surprised look.

But seeing that he did not seem to be pretending...

She finally said, "Grandmaster Qin, do you really not see it?"

"See what?"

"Junior Sister Jiang Yi probably came to the Taibai Sword Sect for you... even at the cost of letting half a year slip away here."

"For me?"

Qin Lian instinctively denied it. "How could that be? She..."

But before he finished, he carefully recalled his few encounters with Jiang Yi...

Especially some of "Qin Lian's" memories...

It really might be possible.

"I'm afraid Junior Sister Jiang Yi fell for you long ago. It's just that her temperament... makes it difficult for her to express herself. She can only show her feelings through actions like these."

Liu Xu enlightened him. "Half a year ago, when she learned that your battle with Blood Demon Zuo Qiudao had severely damaged your vitality, she spent a great deal of time and effort gathering materials before she managed to obtain a Nine Suns Returning Heaven Pill."

She looked at Qin Lian and smiled. "Grandmaster Qin-Junior Brother Qin-you're not all that young anymore, either. Haven't you thought about settling down and starting a family?"

Not only had Qin Lian never considered it, he found the idea troublesome.

For one thing...

The prickly, coy act had long since fallen out of fashion. He did not like it.

For another, the person Jiang Yi truly loved was her relatively perfect, devoted brother-in-law, "Qin Lian," not him.

He drew a very clear distinction.

If he actually chose to stay with Jiang Yi, who really loved "Qin Lian," even thinking about it made him uncomfortable.

"The current situation is lashed by wind and rain. I barely have time for my daily cultivation. How could I spare so much time for romance?"

Qin Lian refused outright.

"I know you've been cultivating day and night lately, Grandmaster Qin. But having someone who cares whether you're warm or cold would not only keep your daily life in perfect order; having someone in your heart could give you even greater motivation to cultivate."

Liu Xu offered her heartfelt advice. "Besides, it's clear that although Junior Sister Jiang Yi never says it, deep down, she truly likes you..."

Qin Lian could only shake his head as he listened.

Just because she likes me, I have to like her?

What kind of reasoning was that?

"I only see Jiang Yi as Jiang Xin's younger sister. I have no other intentions. Besides, if I really want someone to look after me, I'll find someone myself or mention it to the sect master. There's no need to say more, Peak Master."

He made his position clear.

It was not that he would never start a family in the future, or find himself a...

Or even several intimate female companions.

What was he cultivating so hard for?

To enjoy himself properly once he was invincible beneath heaven!

And what was the point of seeking immortality?

So that a life he could thoroughly enjoy would continue forever.

But he had already inherited "Qin Lian's" body. To inherit "Qin Lian's" feelings as well...

That was a hurdle he could not get past in his heart.

Hearing Qin Lian switch to addressing her as "Peak Master," Liu Xu knew there was little room to change his mind.

She sighed. "It seems that girl Jiang Yi simply isn't destined for this."

Qin Lian brought the subject to a close as well. "Let's set out as soon as possible and return to the sect."