This Yang Wang!

He never changes!

As he speaks, he starts to provoke opposition again, just like the rubbish on social media in a previous life, always stirring conflict between men and women, sneaking opportunities. It’s truly a skill.

"Eagle King!"

Tian Jing raised an eyebrow, ready to scold.

At this moment——

"Eagle King, do not stir discord between Senior Brother and Your Majesty!" A shout rang out as Chen Ze leapt in, sword light flickering. He saluted Emperor Yan and scolded Yang Wang: "Senior Brother respects Your Majesty’s great ambitions and prowess to unite the world with martial arts. In this era of fierce competition, we Great Yan Martial Artists should unite as one. The Mountain and Sea Realm is vast, why should Eagle King bother with the distinction between the court and Jianghu?"

The last day of the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion!

’Sword Lord’ Chen Ze has arrived!

"Sword Lord is right." Yang Wang, reprimanded by Chen Ze, surprisingly laughed, which is not like him.

But in truth, it is like him.

Chen Ze is Yan Chuan’s junior brother, they are close.

Yan Chuan helped the Bat King in Proving Dao, a debt of gratitude as heavy as a mountain.

As a member of the Black Hawk Sect, Yang Wang naturally wouldn’t be hostile to Yan Chuan’s junior brother, who is akin to an honorary hierarch of the Black Hawk Sect. His earlier words were just out of bad habits without malice.

Towards Chen Ze, he is willing to befriend rather than become an enemy.

"Sword Lord has arrived!"

"Since last year’s proving at Cang Mountain, it’s the first time Sword Lord has returned to Cang Mountain, isn’t it?"

"Sword Lord——"

...

With Chen Ze’s arrival, many Grandmasters greeted him proactively.

These people are different from Yang Wang, whose special attitude towards Chen Ze is due to his good relationship with Yan Chuan. But other Grandmasters are more respectful because of Chen Ze himself——

Double-Handed Sword! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Three Heads and Six Arms!

Chen Ze’s combat power is not low. He even became famous last year, and shortly after Proving Dao, he defeated the old Grandmaster Shen Gongtu with his sword, becoming known throughout the realm, ranked twentieth on the Heavenly List, surpassing more than half of the Grandmasters present.

Chen Ze can slay Shen Gongtu, and he can slay half of the Grandmasters present.

Facing such a formidable figure, there’s no need to offend him.

You’re good, I’m good!

Harmonious and joyful, this is the best.

"Sword Lord——" Emperor Yan looked at Chen Ze.

Chen Ze quickly replied, "I dare not claim such a title!"

Chen Ze also respects Emperor Yan, not for his throne, but for his management of Great Yan and his heroic ability to turn the tide. Moreover, last year’s Sword Discussion allowed him to Prove Dao, fundamentally due to Senior Brother’s guidance, but Emperor Yan’s contribution of the ’Mist Rain Stele’ was also crucial. Chen Ze was grateful.

Therefore, after Yan Chuan returned to Suanzao Mountain for a martial arts lecture and then took charge in Tan Valley Realm, Chen Ze was the first to rush to Cang Mountain to support Emperor Yan.

He understands gratitude.

Emperor Yan’s smile became even more amiable as he pointed to the arena below: "That young girl, like you, uses the Double-Handed Sword. Are you interested in taking her as a disciple?"

Chen Ze looked down and saw indeed, on the Chou Character Arena among the twelve arenas, a Martial Artist with graceful, nimble movements, defeating opponents with elegance and charm, using the Double-Handed Sword.

This is the first time Chen Ze encountered another adept in the Double-Handed Sword and possessing different swordsmanship. The Double-headed duck doesn’t count. Chen Ze’s eyes lit up, indeed the first time contemplating taking on a disciple.

But upon thinking of his senior brother and himself, Chen Ze shook his head: "I am still confused and not good at teaching, I shouldn’t mislead the youth!"

Comparing himself to Yan Chuan, Chen Ze figured he better not take on any disciples in this lifetime.

After all, when it comes to teaching, who can match Yan Chuan?

"What a pity." Emperor Yan chuckled.

Chen Ze, wanting to repay Emperor Yan and genuinely fond of this young girl adept at the ’Double-Handed Sword’, suggested with a smile: "Perhaps when Senior Brother arrives in a few days, he might be interested in guiding her a bit. Senior Brother loves talent."

Yan Chuan is coming?

Upon hearing this, all the Grandmasters around were excited!

Previously seeing only Chen Ze coming, they thought he represented Yan Chuan, that Chen Ze’s arrival meant Yan Chuan wasn’t coming.

They were disappointed!

Unexpectedly, Yan Chuan would arrive in a few days!

That’s wonderful.

This ’Innate Master’ can’t resist discussing martial arts and offering guidance at such occasions as the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, can he?

Not possible!

Once he gives guidance.

Once he discusses martial arts.

These Grandmasters will benefit from it to some extent.

"Able to teach people like Chen Ze and Luo Qi."

"Can help an almost 60-year-old like Wei Chibing in Proving Dao with just one visit to the Black Hawk Territory."

"How capable is this Innate Master!?"

Everyone was curious.

All were expectant.

"Oh?" Even Emperor Yan was a bit expectant: "When will the Tan Valley King arrive?"

"Senior Brother is in closed-door cultivation and enlightenment. He promised to arrive before the Sword Discussion ends, but the specific day is unknown." Chen Ze shook his head. Once Senior Brother went back, he guided each innate in Tan Valley Royal City, then went into seclusion. Chen Ze was the first to arrive at Cang Mountain, while Luo Qi and others, having gained from Yan Chuan’s guidance, were still in cultivation digesting it, but they would arrive in subsequent days.

After all, these people rose to fame in the first Sword Discussion, met each other there, and Cang Mountain, Sword Discussion, had a special meaning to them.

For the third, fourth, and fifth editions, the future is uncertain, but for this second edition, they would come to take a look, to reminisce.

Chen Ze arrived first.

Indeed.

Soon after.

Luo Qi came second: "Your Majesty, seniors, Luo Qi has just stabilized after recently proving the innate, apologies for the delay."

Luo Qi arrived.

Young and outstanding.

Swept away the distress and despair after failing to prove Dao the past half-year, Luo Qi newly proving innate, not yet thirty, spirited and impressive, causing everyone to catch a glimpse.

Luo Qi paid respect to everyone, then looked towards the top of Chess Stone Peak, at the twelve arenas, feeling as if he was many years away.

Today, last year.

Once he too fought on one of those twelve arenas, but not first tier, back then he wasn’t yet absolute, among the top-tier Heavenly Pride of the first Sword Discussion, Luo Qi was not noticeable, even though he ended up as one of the Twelve Strong, the assessment was only at Fourth Tier First Level, way behind the common Second Tier and Third Tier of the Twelve Strong of that time.

Great ups and downs!

He started from fourth in the initial edition of the Hidden Dragon List during the first Sword Discussion, and though he managed to get into the Twelve Strong by the end, he couldn’t make it into the top ten of the Human List, a substantial gap.

Until in the Tiger Hunting Land of Tan Valley Realm, at Little West Mountain, faced with a herd of beasts, Luo Qi achieved Enlightenment, first touching the innate threshold, that was an ’upswing’.

Unfortunately, interrupted by the Bear King, for the latter half of the year, he couldn’t touch innate again, even moving further away, almost despairing, truly in defeat, that was a ’downswing’.

Through these ups and downs, Luo Qi’s mental state was tempered.

He calmed down, followed Yan Chuan’s suggestion to cultivate in Hong Sea, among the waves. When Yan Chuan crafted the ’Sea Waves Raising Song’ for him, waves rushing and flowing, the turbulent flood rose, Luo Qi finally rose again, successfully proving Dao, thus becoming the seventh Heaven’s Pride to prove Dao from the first Sword Discussion.

Now.

Returning with innate cultivation, back at Cang Mountain, Luo Qi felt indescribable emotions, especially seeing familiar faces below——

Peng Fannian, Ban Xianfu, Jing Bao, Wang Ge, Fu Yunzhan, Ma Hongniang.

Liu Xin, Guo Xi, Zhuge Zhen, Cai Ru’an, Chi Gao, Gao Changyi, Shi Qingke, Shen Xia.

They are those who competed in the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion and fought together in Tan Valley Realm.

But now——

He is in the sky, stepping outside the mountain.

These people, though on the mountain peak, are still within the mountain.

For a moment, he felt sentimental.

For a moment, he sighed.

Yet extremely grateful.

The complexity of Luo Qi’s mood.

Beside him, Emperor Yan was equally delighted at Luo Qi’s arrival, smiling amicably, pointing towards the arena below and speaking to Luo Qi: "See that You Character Arena, the person on the stage known as ’White-Clothed God Ear’, named Guli, is equally versed in sound rhythm, proficient at all from zither to flute, reportedly possessing ’Divine Ear’, able to play any melody after hearing it once."

"’White-Clothed God Ear’ Guli!" Luo Qi had indeed heard of him before, Guli was once listed alongside him and Ban Xianfu in the first Hidden Dragon List, Ban Xianfu ranked second, Luo Qi fourth, and Guli fifth, hardly a ’newcomer’, an old name indeed, but Guli didn’t participate in the first Sword Discussion, only in the second edition did he come, which made him seem like a ’newcomer’, as if appearing younger than Luo Qi and others for no reason.

"Guli."

"What a pity!"

Luo Qi looked down, observing Guli’s exceptional musical talent, indeed not bad, impressing others, yet couldn’t help but feel sorry.

"Indeed!"

"What a pity!"

Tian Jing understood what Luo Qi meant, had Guli participated in the first Sword Discussion, under the environment of that time, coupled with Yan Chuan’s guidance, by the time of the second Sword Discussion, he might have had a place among the Innate Heaven’s Pride.

But Guli didn’t come then.

Coming now, a year late, lacking resources, most importantly, lacking Yan Chuan, missing just one edition, one year, yet the eventual achievement might differ vastly.

It’s destiny!

Truly regrettable!

Emperor Yan chuckled: "Interested in taking a disciple?"

He suggested taking a disciple again!

All the Grandmasters laughed.

If Chen Ze were to take Yu Shengyan as a disciple, it would be reasonable, as Chen Ze is strong enough to oversee Yu Shengyan.

But Luo Qi?

Though he proved Dao, being a Grandmaster, after all, his foundation is shallow, not extraordinarily outstanding. The gap with Guli is merely one of innate and non-innate, hardly convincing.

Luo Qi, of course, has self-awareness: "Guli’s musical achievement far exceeds mine, how dare I be his master?"

Take a disciple?

Not even a little bit!

Putting oneself in another’s shoes, Luo Qi knows best, for instance, if Chen Ze, Wang Zhengyi, Situ Fei, Ding Xiang, Ying Jifeng, and others who have proved Dao were to cheekily attempt to take him as a disciple, Luo Qi would surely curse internally.

Even Yan Chuan!

Luo Qi struggled for a long time, spending half a year after failing Dao Proving to recognize reality, only then seeking Yan Chuan, finally lowering his head to such a Heaven’s Pride of the same period who had succeeded first.

He himself was like this, naturally can foresee Guli’s attitude.

Take a disciple?

Mastership?

Too ridiculous!

Chen Ze does not take Yu Shengyan.

Luo Qi can’t talk about taking Guli.

These two newly proven innate have awareness, they, not yet thirty to Prove Dao, there’s no rush to take a disciple, they can strive for a hundred years first, see if they can achieve a War God status.

As for taking a disciple, they can consider it a hundred years later if War God isn’t achieved.

For now, no rush.

Not everyone is like Yan Chuan, loving to teach.

Seeing these two have no intention of taking disciples, Emperor Yan looked at the other Grandmasters present: "These Heaven’s Pride, is there any you fancy?"

...