Su Bei carefully put away the letter from Key Smoke. The intentions in her letter were very clear: for Su Bei to gather the Sword Sect's inheritance, spanning millennia, within himself, allowing him to rapidly break through to the Mahayana realm. In this way, not only would he solve the problem of his own lifespan, but the Twenty-One Provinces would also gain another Mahayana realm expert, capable of confronting the cultivators from the South Emperor and the Western Wasteland without being utterly defenseless.

This was somewhat similar to his own previous life.

Honestly, Su Bei's innate talent wasn't outstanding, merely average. However, his temperament and comprehension were first-class, which was why in his previous life, he needed to absorb all the Dao in the world to ascend to the realm of Immortals. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

However, in this life, with the Blood Calamity concluding early, the South Emperor had already mastered most of the Dao. It was impossible to walk that path again, and Su Bei could no longer bring himself to strike down his loved ones with his sword once more.

Whether it was Xiao Ruoching, Mo Li, Li Zijun... or Nan Ji, Dan Wulan, Dan Wuque...

Now, aside from the four swords already in his possession, it seemed the easiest one for him to obtain was the sword embedded in the Northern Sea.

Mo Li had mentioned multiple times that things were not very peaceful in the Northern Sea, with the Phoenix and the Dragon Clan at loggerheads—

"My lord, I believe the most urgent matter is to return to Northern Border Pass and re-establish the banner of the Eastern Country."

"Wenren Pingxin and Yu Hongxiu are both at Northern Border Pass. Superficially, at least, there's no better place for you to recuperate, my lord."

Dan Wulan nodded in agreement.

After pondering for a while, Su Bei said, "I indeed have this in mind."

"Actually, I intended to cross Cang River on my way through Xiasui Pass and take my disciple to West State first, before making further plans. I just didn't expect such an incident at the Buddha Gate's Jinzu Court. Luckily, it ended without mishap."

"However, I believe it's unwise to provoke conflict now. It's not the time to settle scores with the Buddha Gate, so let's leave it at that for now. What do my dear wives think?"

Upon hearing Su Bei's words, Ji Nanjue fell silent for a moment and then shook her head gently.

Su Bei's eyes narrowed slightly. "Of course, I won't forget this debt. After I've dealt with other matters, I will settle scores properly with the Buddha Gate."

Ji Nanjue glanced at him and said slowly, "My lord, please heed my counsel: it's better to resolve animosity than to create it. The Jinzu Court incident was merely a consequence of circumstance. After all, we suffered no losses, while the Buddha Gate did. It's best to let the matter rest."

Su Bei shook his head. "You're right, my dear, but the tree may desire calm, yet the wind will not subside. When have we ever provoked the Buddha Gate? We may wish for peace now, but I fear they won't agree."

Ji Nanjue took a step back, looking Su Bei up and down with a teasing smile. "You're truly becoming more like an old man, so stuffy and set in your ways..."

Su Bei touched his forehead, somewhat embarrassed. "You're teasing, my dear."

Suddenly recalling something, Ji Nanjue inquired, "Did you truly overcome Jinzu Court all by yourself?"

Su Bei wasn't sure where Ji Nanjue had gotten her information, probably from some clues. He nodded and said, "Not just the abbot of Jinzu Court, but also the Supreme Elder of Wuhua Palace. Their combined strength was indeed substantial; I nearly succumbed to them."

"Thankfully, Wulan arrived in time and rescued me..."

Ji Nanjue smiled. "Several sixty-year cycles have passed—a very long time indeed. You and the others from the Sword Sect have always had more partings than reunions. This time, at Northern Border Pass, you can spend some quality time with your Eldest Senior Sister. She must be missing you terribly."

She left one thing unsaid: how he was to face Lin Jinyu. Thus, they both tacitly avoided the topic of Queen Lin.

Su Bei gave an affirmative grunt, and then the four of them flew off on their swords.

Once they were airborne, Dan Wuque, who had been observing quietly, suddenly widened her eyes. "Senior Brother, I heard Headmistress Yu is also one of your sweethearts..."

At these words, several glances immediately fixed on his back, making Su Bei, who was controlling his sword, nearly tumble from the sky. He turned around with a guilty cough. "Eighth Junior Sister, who told you this?"

Looking serious, Dan Wuque said, "Everyone says so. Why else would Headmistress Yu care so much about you?"

Su Bei was at a loss for words.

Dan Wulan pinched Su Bei's arm and grumbled in dissatisfaction, "Su Bei, when we return to Northern Border Pass, you'd better tell me all about these lovers of yours—especially the ones I don't know about..."

「Sacred Land, Wu City.」

The ground of Wu City was paved with large blocks of bluestone, making the city appear tidy. The streets were now even more meticulously planned, with shops lining them in an orderly manner, bustling yet restrained.

In terms of prosperity, Wu City surpassed South City.

Under the bright sunshine, the river flowed leisurely, flanked by green grass and red flowers on both banks, teeming with life and vitality.

The alley where Key Smoke now resided was called Black Garment Alley, so named in earlier years because the Sacred Land Disciples all wore black robes.

"Auntie, there is a visitor," said a young woman dressed in a light gauze skirt and a butterfly clip in her hair, walking into the main hall with small, brisk steps. She addressed Key Smoke, who was staring blankly at the fish swimming in the pond.

Key Smoke turned, nodded, and said calmly, "Please show them in."

A moment later, an elderly man strode into the main hall.

Key Smoke seemed to have anticipated the old man's arrival. Her expression was calm as she waved a hand, signaling Die Yi at her side to withdraw.

Once only the two of them remained in the room, Key Smoke sat down opposite Shangguan Wendao.

Shangguan Wendao's face was ancient and weathered, but age had only sharpened his shrewdness and strategic acumen. Indeed, one could count on one hand the number of elders in all the Twenty-One Provinces who had survived the Cataclysm of Ten Thousand Clans and lived to his venerable age.

"Since there are some things the Saintess finds inconvenient to say, it falls to this old man to broach the subject."

"That young lad, Su Bei... I understand him better than anyone. Once he's set his mind on something, not even ten oxen could drag him away from it."

"The Sword Sect's secret technique can indeed allow him to be reborn, to pursue the level of a Banished Immortal. However, you didn't clearly state the consequences in your letter. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but using this method means transitioning from innate to acquired. He will have no hope of Ascension in this lifetime, doomed to remain in the mortal realm, never to attain that undying longevity."

Key Smoke remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "This is a matter of necessity. He has less than twenty years of lifespan remaining. We have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure—draining the pond to catch the fish, so to speak—using the five ancestral swords of the Sword Sect to forge an acquired Sword Bone for him."

"Raising his cultivation realm is merely a secondary benefit. The true purpose of this method is to allow him to be completely transformed, to be reborn."

"'One must be willing to give up something to gain something. Sacrifice precedes acquisition.'"

Qingping Sword.

Divine Discretion.

Imperial Square.

The Ruddy Face Parts from the Mirror.

Three Divisions of Freedom.

These are the five swords preserved by the Sword Sect.

Ascension and proving the Dao are illusory and elusive goals.

Throughout the millennia, not one person has genuinely ascended. Even the well-prepared South Emperor has yet to step through the Heavenly Gate.

—Of course, this is also related to the flaws in the Heavenly Dao. However, after the Blood Calamity, the path to the heavens seemed to have opened once more.

Every Sect Master of the Sword Sect has been unparalleled in the world, with few able to rival them. Yet, the number who have truly ascended can be counted on one's fingers.

The Dao Sect emphasizes the path of accumulating virtue and alchemical refinement. Whether this accumulated virtue is genuine or feigned, the heavens at least recognize this merit and willingly open the Heavenly Gate for them—a truly enviable feat.

The Sword Sect, however, follows the Dao of slaughter. Regardless of whether one becomes engrossed in it, this path inevitably incurs heavenly wrath. This is especially true for the Sword Sect's heaven-defying secret techniques, which use swords of slaughter to forge bones of slaughter. Once one's cultivation reaches such a level, comparable to that of a true Ascended Immortal... it's difficult to say if they wouldn't ultimately meet a disastrous end, perishing as a result.

Key Smoke intended to use the Sword Sect's swords to forge twelve Sword Bones within Su Bei's body. This act of defying fate was bound to provoke the Heavenly Dao's rejection. Furthermore, cultivating the Sword Sect's Sword Dao would only add fuel to the fire.

If Su Bei truly managed to reach the point of Ascension, the Heavenly Tribulation he would face would likely be no less severe than a grand Heavenly Execution.

Shangguan Wendao's gaze remained calm.

After contemplating for a long time, he slowly nodded and said, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The Sword Sect needs an unparalleled Sword Immortal to lead it to prominence in the world once more. If the Sword Sect can be restored, what are mere worldly possessions? Even if it costs this old one his life, so be it!"

"If, one day, Su Bei truly ascends to a realm beyond Mahayana, I hope he will not hold a grudge against me for this."

「Xiashui Pass—The River Crossing.」

Su Bei's four female disciples were gathered anxiously on a cargo ship bound for Northern Border Pass, constantly peering out at their surroundings.

The gray sky was as if stained with a basin of thick ink.

The leaden clouds overhead grew increasingly heavy, and in a short while, the sky had completely darkened.

DRIP.

A raindrop landed on Li Zijun's face.

Then, the sound of numerous, urgent footsteps reached their ears:

"Search—"

"Su Bei has fled, but his disciples haven't gone far."

"The orders from above are clear: we must capture his disciples... This is Xiashui Pass. Block the river crossing, and they won't escape."

Countless threads of rain poured down from the highest heavens, seeming to envelop the entire world in a dense, fine curtain of mist.

"Mo Li, what should we do?" Xiao Ruoching asked, her expression stern as she watched the approaching figures. These cultivators weren't very powerful, merely at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul realm.

But they all knew too well that if they exposed even a hint of their whereabouts, cultivators as numerous as locusts would swarm them.

Once surrounded, escape would become truly difficult.

"Master seems to have departed safely. Let's head straight to Northern Border Pass," Xiao Ruoching said.

Sword Maiden blinked, gazed at the distant outline of Jinzu Court, then turned to Mo Li. "Sister Li," she asked, "do you have a way for us to leave here without using the waterways?"

Among the four martial sisters, only Mo Li often roamed the Twenty-One Provinces. Eldest Senior Sister Xiao Ruoching was hopeless with directions, and Fourth Junior Sister Li Zijun was a homebody. Clearly, their Second Senior Sister, Mo Li, was the most reliable.

All three sets of eyes were fixed on Mo Li, who had become the pillar of their small group.

After pondering for a while, Mo Li took a deep breath and whispered, "It's not that there isn't a way."

"It's just... would you dare to pass through Jinzu Court again?"

"Ao Yu, the Third Prince of the Northern Sea, should still be in the vicinity. If we can secure his help, the four of us could disguise ourselves as his attendants and leave this place openly."