Chapter 346

As one of the major sects in the cultivation world for swordsmanship, the rivalry and tangled history between the Wanjian Sect and the Xuanxu Sect could take three whole days and nights to recount.

Though the two sects often competed covertly, a mutual admiration between sword cultivators led them to naturally become allied brother sects, supporting one another.

According to tradition, at the end of every year, both sects would send some disciples on a three-day exchange program, ostensibly for “friendly interaction.”

In reality, it was an excuse to draw swords and spar, giving the younger sword cultivators the chance to fight tooth and nail until the skies darkened.

Pei Ji, injured by a heavenly thunder strike, had to stay behind at the Xuanxu Sect to recover.

Meanwhile, Zheng Weiqi, ever the innovator, went to collect dividends in Jialan City, where she had previously invested in its burgeoning tourism industry.

Thus, upon returning from the Tianhe Desert, the only disciples accompanying Master Tian Xianzi to the Wanjian Sect were Ning Ning, Meng Jue, Lin Xun, and He Zhizhou.

The first sight upon disembarking from their flying boat was two towering stone swords standing before the mountain gate.

The long swords were incredibly tall and slender, with an imposing aura that seemed to challenge the heavens themselves, pointing straight at the clear skies.

Snowflakes fell in a flurry, covering the sword surfaces in a stark, icy white. A thin layer of frost coated the stone, with cracks spidering across like a delicate web. When sunlight reflected on the ice, it exuded an unceasing chill.

Majestic indeed.

Meng Jue, a prodigious and renowned young sword cultivator, had garnered quite the reputation.

Hearing of his visit, over a dozen disciples had already gathered at the mountain gate, swords in hand, waiting for the chance to challenge him.

Though Meng Jue had a mischievous streak, he was, at his core, a pure sword cultivator with an unshakable dedication to the way of the sword. Rarely one to decline a challenge, he readily followed them to the sparring arena.

Ning Ning knew he was a popular figure but hadn’t expected so many people to wait specifically for her as well.

“That’s to be expected,” He Zhizhou explained.

“The Wanjian Sect is full of maniacs shouting ‘fight to the death’ all day. They don’t exactly show much chivalry.”

He added with a teasing grin, “And Ning Ning, do you really not know how famous you’ve become? You broke through the ancient  wood forest formation at Xiaochongshan, captured the Demon Lord alive in the Water Mirror Secret Realm, and became the champion of the Ten Method Assembly at the Golden Core stage. Tons of people want to spar with you!”

The thought of becoming the focal point of “eat, sleep, and beat up Ning Ning” made her shiver involuntarily.

“After the Ten Method Assembly, when you won the championship but skipped the banquet, many disciples from other sects asked about your whereabouts. They wanted to spar with you at the City Lord’s residence, but Senior Sister Zheng blocked them all,” Lin Xun said.

Thanks Senior Sister Zheng!!….she loves Senior Sister Zheng.

In retrospect, Ning Ning felt strangely relieved to have been unconscious at the time.

“Don’t worry,” Tian Xianzi reassured them.

“You’re all still recovering and won’t need to participate in any sparring. Today’s visit to the Wanjian Sect is purely to relax, enjoy the scenery, and refresh your spirits. As for the fighting, we can simply ignore it.”

—Long live Master!

Thus, the three little loser who were dedicated to eating, drinking, and having fun successfully escaped any sparring matches and began wandering around the sect.

Compared to the Xuanxu Sword Sect, the Wanjian Swords Sect’s architecture was more solemn and majestic.

Black tiles and white walls formed clusters of buildings, interspersed with massive sculptures of ancient swords.

Covered by a blanket of snow, they appeared as if shrouded in mist, exuding an ethereal sword aura.

“By the way, Su Qinghan from the Wanjian Swords Sect has also reached the Nascent Soul stage,” He Zhizhou commented casually as he admired the snowy scenery.

“She’s the one Xu Ye talks about all the time—Senior Sister Su. After the assembly, when she heard you were unconscious, she even came to visit you at your bedside. Did you know that?”

Ning Ning nodded.

Pei Ji had mentioned it to her.

Her connection with Senior Sister Su began in the ancient wood Forest of Xiaochongshan, where Su Qinghan had expressed a strong desire to spar with her.

Unfortunately, Ning Ning always seemed to encounter mishaps—either injured or on the verge of being injured—so their duel was perpetually postponed.

Su Qinghan, disdaining to take advantage of her in a weakened state, kept rescheduling, and to this day, the match had yet to happen.

“Quite a few people visited you, Senior Sister,” Lin Xun noted, his tone a bit awkward as he scratched his nose.

“You might not know, but… fellow cultivator Yun Duanyue also came by.”

He Zhizhou let out a low whistle.

“Well, well, Junior Brother Lin, this is the first time I’ve heard you mention someone from another sect.”

He smirked, rubbing his chin.

“And a girl, no less.”

Lin Xun’s face turned beet red.

Pale and dressed in white, standing amidst the silver-coated world, the blush on his face stood out glaringly, like a round, plump peach perched atop his head.

“Don’t tease him,” Ning Ning chided, casting a glance at He Zhizhou before turning to Lin Xun with a smile.

“I already know. She even sent me some calming incense. Pei Ji told me. But Lin Xun, I hear you’re on quite good terms with her?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the world seemed to fall into a momentary silence.

The pale little dragon froze like an icicle, stammering for a long time before muttering, “Not, not really. We only… occasionally exchange letters.”

Oh~

Ning Ning and He Zhizhou exchanged knowing smirks.

“I’ve been writing to Xu Ye as well,” He Zhizhou chimed in.

“He’s thrilled we’re visiting. Too bad he had urgent business earlier, but he’s meeting us in the dining hall later.”

He clapped his hands gleefully.

“Meeting us there means only one thing—Xu Ye finally feels guilty enough to treat us to a meal! I hear the food at the Wanjian Swords Sect is amazing!”

Ning Ning and Lin Xun nodded enthusiastically, full of anticipation.

The three wandered aimlessly, soon straying from the main path amidst the endless expanse of white, eventually losing their sense of direction.

After walking a while longer, they stumbled upon an orchard.

In the midst of the heavy snowfall, every tree—be it fruit tree, pine tree, or otherwise—was blanketed in thick white snow. Ordinarily, it would have been impossible to distinguish between them.

Yet Ning Ning immediately recognized it as an orchard.

—While the surrounding snow continued to fall, this area was covered by a warm spiritual energy, like a protective barrier shielding it from the biting cold.

Within the forest, greenery thrived, and each fruit tree stood lush and full, laden with fruit that seemed entirely out of place in the winter landscape.

It was like stepping into a completely different world from the snowy surroundings, not a flake in sight.

“So warm,” Lin Xun murmured, looking around in confusion.

“The spiritual energy here is so dense—could we have trespassed into an elder’s private domain?”

“You just don’t get it.”

He Zhizhou grinned widely.

“Xu Ye told me the Wanjian Swords Sect has a massive orchard open to all disciples, where anyone can pick fruit to eat. This must be it! Let’s go; I’m starving—time to grab some fruit!”

“But…”

Lin Xun hesitated, feeling something was off.

He tried to call out to He Zhizhou, but his senior brother was already venturing deeper into the forest.

Left with no choice, Lin Xun and Ning Ning followed him.

By the time they caught up, He Zhizhou was shaking a tree trunk, trying to dislodge the fruit.

“But if it’s open to all disciples, why do the fruits look untouched? It’s not like they’re some untouchable rare species.”

Ning Ning analyzed calmly, “Besides, the spiritual energy here is too dense. I suspect someone might be—”

Before she could finish, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye.

A young Wanjian Swords Sect disciple stood at the edge of the orchard.

When their eyes met, he froze, clearly startled.

Then, his expression shifted to one of shock, and he stammered, pointing behind them, “S-Stop shaking it! Elder Qingyun—Elder Qingyun is right there!”

What Elder Qingyun?

The other person’s panicked expression made Ning Ning instinctively feel a twinge of guilt, as if she were the one caught red-handed.

She quickly turned her head to look deeper into the woods but saw only dense foliage and no sign of anyone.

“Who’s there? There’s no one. That kid must be trying to scare us.”

He Zhizhou cast a quick glance forward and immediately looked away, focusing intently on shaking the tree.

“The branch is moving, it’s moving! The apple is about to fall—”

His laugh was so carefree, so full of joy.

Even He Zhizhou himself would never have imagined that such a happy smile would forever freeze on his face.

Amid the flickering light and shadows of the branches above, a figure suddenly crashed down with a loud thud.

But it wasn’t a plump, round apple.

It was a man’s body—rigid and unmoving as a block of concrete—plummeting straight to the ground.

With a dull ‘thwack’, it landed hard on the earth.

A belated apple fell, striking the man’s cheek.

As their eyes met, He Zhizhou found himself staring at the man’s corpse-like, expressionless face.

From behind him came a terrified young voice:

“Elder Qingyun—!”