Leisurely Days

Over the next six months, the Sword Sect was renamed the Sword Origin Holy Land after its ascension to holy land status. It was much larger than before.

After Xie Lingyun won first place in the grand competition, he was also honored as the Sword Sect's holy son, and more and more people joined the Sword Origin Holy Land.

"Calling each other by our seniority feels too distant. From now on, I'll call you Ningshuang, and you can call me Lingyao!"

Zhang Lingyao had spent quite a while discussing it with Jian Ningshuang.

"But you're the patriarch's disciple!" Jian Ningshuang said worriedly.

"All right, it's settled. All those formalities are too much trouble. From now on, we can just call each other sisters."

Zhang Lingyao pinched Jian Ningshuang, who looked a little silly.

"All right, then I'll call you Lingyao from now on."

Jian Ningshuang stuck out her tongue and spoke coquettishly.

"Mm-hm, that's more like it."

Zhang Lingyao smiled happily, and just like that, the two grew closer.

With the advantage of her Ice Spirit Physique and the guidance of the patriarch Ye Tian, Zhang Lingyao's cultivation also entered the Nascent Soul Realm.

Jian Ningshuang had also reached Peak Soul Leaving. Cultivation speed like hers was top-tier among heaven's chosen anywhere.

"Since you've acknowledged him, follow him well."

Ye Zichen was speaking to the array spirit of the chessboard he had casually given away back then.

"Thank you, my lord! You're so nice!"

The array spirit, which had yet to mature, seemed particularly adorably silly, and even its speech was cute.

"Then all is well. Goodbye." Ye Zichen took his leave of Xie Lingyun and the array spirit and left Xie Lingyun's residence.

He had only come today to see how much the array spirit had grown. As things stood, it probably wouldn't mature for at least a few hundred years.

After Ye Zichen left, Xie Lingyun said to the array spirit, "Let me give you a name. I'll call you... Little Seven!"

"Yay! I have a name too! Thank you, master!"

The array spirit was delighted and circled Xie Lingyun several times.

Another year later, the Heavenly Cloud Sect, led by Xiao Feng, joined the ranks of the major sects thanks to his influence. The entire sect was thriving.

At this moment, Ye Zichen had arrived at the foot of the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

"May I ask who you are?"

A disciple guarding the entrance asked Ye Zichen.

"Your sect master regards me as an honored guest. Please inform him of my arrival."

Ye Zichen spoke calmly. He had come to visit the Heavenly Cloud Sect's new location, after all, so he ought to be polite.

The two went to report to Xiao Feng. When Xiao Feng heard the news, he hurried out to welcome him.

"Greetings, my lord! Please, come in!"

"In just over a year, you've reached Spirit Transformation. Not bad."

For an ordinary person cultivating on their own, breaking through from Peak Nascent Soul to Spirit Transformation would take at least a century. That was enough to show how formidable Xiao Feng was.

"You flatter me, my lord. I'm only breaking through quickly for now. It's hard to say what will happen later."

Xiao Feng was telling the truth. No matter how hard he worked at the later realms, becoming an immortal in this lower realm would take him at least a century.

"A Half-Immortal without comprehension might fail to become an immortal even after a thousand or ten thousand years. What do you have to worry about?"

Ye Zichen patted Xiao Feng on the shoulder, and the two made their way up to the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

After staying at the Heavenly Cloud Sect for a few more days, Ye Zichen left. On the way, he sensed something and vanished from where he stood with a thought.

At the back mountain of the Sword Sect, in that same little courtyard, Ye Tian had never touched anything there. The place had practically become Ye Zichen's exclusive domain.

"What is it?"

Ye Zichen appeared before the two of them, walked leisurely to the stone table in the courtyard, and brewed a pot of tea.

"My lord, tomorrow is the auspicious day when our Sword Sect will hold a banquet to celebrate its ascension as the Sword Origin Holy Land. We would like to invite you to attend. Many people also hope to behold your splendor!"

After Ye Tian finished speaking, he was a little worried. This lord was accustomed to following his own whims, and Ye Tian didn't know whether he would agree.

By now, Ye Zichen's name had shaken the Eastern Continent. Everyone in the Sword Sect knew that the senior Sword Immortal occasionally returned to their back mountain for a brief rest.

"Mm, I agree. You may leave."

He then poured himself a cup of tea and began to savor it.

"Thank you, my lord. We shall await your arrival!"

Overjoyed, Ye Tian hurriedly thanked him and withdrew from the courtyard.

The next day, the Sword Origin Holy Land was bustling. Forces large and small from across the Eastern Continent had all come to attend its ascension banquet.

They had come not only to celebrate its ascension, but also to behold that sacred existence once again!

"What do you think that immortal looks like? Is he handsome?"

"You really haven't seen much, have you? I was there at the time. His lordship was so handsome that gods and men alike would be outraged!"

"Exactly! He even looked so handsome when he made his move. I'll never forget it!"

"Pfft, he definitely can't be as handsome as the readers!"

In the square, Ye Tian and the others had long since made all the arrangements and were welcoming each guest as they arrived.

"Holy Lords Taiyuan and Xiaguang, I trust you've been well since we last met!"

When Ye Tian saw Lin Feng and Ji Yaoguang arrive, he stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Hahahaha! Should the two of us address you as Holy Lord Sword Origin now?"

The three traded jokes, and the atmosphere was exceptionally cordial.

Once everyone was seated, Ye Zichen made his dazzling entrance.

His bearing was so untouched by the mortal world, as though nothing in it could disturb him. His white robes billowed around him like an immortal about to ascend, and the bearing of an immortal descended to earth was on full display!

When Ye Zichen reached the main seat, he said, "Sorry to have kept you all waiting."

Among the guests below, everyone finally came to their senses. They all bowed and said, "Greetings, exalted immortal!"

Their voices were mighty and perfectly unified.

Then Ye Tian delivered his opening speech. "We are grateful for the kindness of the Eastern Continent's sects in coming to the Sword Origin Holy Land to attend its ascension banquet! We also thank his lordship for the trust he has placed in the Sword Origin Holy Land. It is our honor to have him here!"

After a few more pleasantries, the lively banquet began.

Those who had already met Ye Zichen before worked up their courage and came to offer him toasts.

Ye Zichen was speechless. Why are they acting as though I'm some great villain, so afraid of me? Still, he responded politely.

After the banquet ended, Ye Zichen wandered through many more places. Under the leadership of the three great holy lands, the Eastern Continent had now settled accounts with many sects that had committed countless evil deeds.

During his remaining months, Ye Zichen also ran into quite a bit of trouble.

But it hardly counted as trouble. He treated it as playing with them to pass the time.

"Three years have flown by. Time really does pass quickly. This trip to the Eastern Continent is coming to an end too."

On a mountaintop, Ye Zichen stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. That was where the Central Continent lay!

[Ding!]

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[Moving on with the main plot, less filler. Things get even more exciting later, definitely no filler!]