Chapter 1 The Beginning
Jian Feng, located in the deepest part of the Wudang Sect's back mountain, stood like a long sword piercing the heavens, inspiring awe.
Halfway up Jian Feng, a path was carved by generations of Wudang disciples, leading to its mid-level. The ascent took an hour. Wan Yunting and Duan Yingying followed Ziqing and Lan Xin, accompanied by their second senior brother Xiu Qi, fifth junior brother Qin Yuan, sixth junior brother Yang Xuan, and a young man named Huo Fei, the sect leader's eighth direct disciple. The ninth disciple was a young girl, barely twenty, who, upon hearing her seventh senior sister was bringing Wan Yunting to Jianya, naturally followed to witness the spectacle.
The news of Ziqing descending the mountain to Hua Du City to spar with Wan Yunting had already spread throughout the Wudang Sect. Now, with Wan Yunting at Wudang and visiting Jian Feng, disciples immediately understood that Senior Sister Ziqing intended for him to observe the ancient "Jian" (Sword) character left by the sect's Sword Dao Ancestor on Jianya.
Legend had it that the Wudang Sword Dao Ancestor had inscribed this character on a cliff face on this very peak. The character contained the Sword Dao Ancestor's profound sword intent, which led to the mountain being renamed Jian Feng.
The Sword Dao Ancestor was a prominent figure three hundred years ago. Yet, despite his sword intent legacy enduring for over three centuries, the Wudang Sect had not produced another prodigy with his unparalleled talent for the Way of the Sword.
Until Ziqing emerged over a decade ago. Standing before Jianya, she gazed at the character and fell into a state of enlightenment, comprehending a sword technique – the Great Dao Sword Technique, left by the Sword Dao Ancestor.
However, Ziqing had only grasped a fraction of the Great Dao Sword Technique's mysteries, insufficient to become Wudang's second Sword Dao Grandmaster.
Despite this, her partial comprehension surpassed that of her senior and junior disciples. Even the sect leader was no longer qualified to instruct her in the Way of the Sword.
This was because even the sect leader could not comprehend the sword intent of Jianya and the Great Dao Sword Technique, as Ziqing had.
Thus, Ziqing was an anomaly among the younger generation of Wudang disciples, hailed as the foremost in the Way of the Sword. She rarely appeared in public, often spending years without leaving the Wudang Sect's premises.
Her decision to descend the mountain and seek out Wan Yunting in Hua Du City for a spar, prompted by Lan Xin showing her a piece of calligraphy Wan Yunting had submitted for the Lanting Award, shocked and puzzled the entire Wudang Sect.
During the Wuliang Dao Guan Ancestor Worship ceremony, when disciples from various sects sparred, Wan Yunting had displayed extraordinary martial prowess and talent. What further astonished the disciples was that Wan Yunting had reached the mid-stage of Martial Dao Pill Core realm in just over six years since he first began practicing.
He was truly a martial arts prodigy worthy of fiction!
"For Senior Sister Ziqing to personally descend the mountain to spar with him indicates Wan Yunting's high attainment in the Way of the Sword!"
"Indeed. Now, Senior Sister Ziqing is taking him to Jianya to observe the ancestor's sword character. I wonder if he can glean any sword intent from it!"
"Heh, comprehending the sword intent legacy of our Wudang Sword Dao Ancestor is not that simple. Our Senior Sister Ziqing, hailed as a once-in-a-millennium martial prodigy, has only grasped a mere corner of the ancestor's Great Dao Sword Technique. While Wan Yunting is a martial prodigy, he still falls short compared to Senior Sister Ziqing!"
"Senior brother is right. It's likely no one in this world will ever fully comprehend the Great Dao Sword Technique legacy left by the Sword Dao Ancestor!"
"Not impossible, but highly improbable. However, Wan Yunting is special. After all, he went from zero to the mid-stage of Wudang Pill Core realm in just six years. You wouldn't find another like him in any major sect. This demonstrates his immense talent, perhaps he might actually comprehend something!"
"Ah, enough talk. Let's follow and see..."
A group of inner disciples from the Wudang Sect hurried towards Jian Feng. Many wished to witness whether Wan Yunting could gain any insight from observing Jianya.
On the mountainside of Jian Feng, behind them, stood a cliff. Next to the sheer, steep cliff face, a colossal "Jian" character was carved into the rock, remarkably conspicuous, written in a bold, cursive style.
Wan Yunting's cursive calligraphy bore a striking resemblance to this massive "Jian" character.
This was precisely why Ziqing had sought Wan Yunting out when she descended the mountain. She felt that Wan Yunting's cursive script shared similarities with the bold, cursive "Jian" character left by the Sword Dao Ancestor on this cliff.
"This way..."
Lan Xin walked beside Ziqing, leading Wan Yunting and Duan Yingying. Following them were second senior brother Xiu Qi, Qin Yuan, Yang Xuan, Huo Fei, and the ninth junior sister, Chong Ling'er. She wore a thick, grey cotton Daoist robe, her black hair tied into a bun, with a few wisps of hair framing her face, giving her a lively appearance.
Her round face, curved eyebrows, and large eyes, which crinkled into crescent moons when she smiled, were complemented by a straight nose and a small, cherry-like mouth that pouted adorably and temptingly, making one want to kiss her.
Although Chong Ling'er was only nineteen, her talent was exceptionally high, no less than Ziqing's. She had already reached the late stage of Martial Dao Transformation, and within two years, she would break through to the Wudang Pill Core realm!
Across all major sects, it was rare to find such a young martial prodigy with such a high martial realm.
Chong Ling'er met Wan Yunting for the first time that day. Following behind eighth senior brother Huo Fei and others, she remained silent, but her lively eyes constantly observed Wan Yunting with curiosity. She had also heard about second senior brother Xiu Qi's spar with him that morning. Though the outcome was not announced, she knew second senior brother couldn't defeat him, which piqued her interest.
Led by Ziqing and Lan Xin, Wan Yunting soon arrived at Jianya. The moment he saw the "Jian" character carved on the cliff face, his eyes widened in shock. His heart skipped a beat and then began to pound erratically, as if he saw something within the bold, cursive script.
"Such powerful sword energy!"
Indeed, upon first sight, Wan Yunting sensed an terrifying aura of sword energy emanating from the character, as if a sharp sword was thrusting towards him, instinctively making one want to recoil in fear.
But Wan Yunting did not retreat. He simply stared, his eyes fixed on the colossal "Jian" character on the rock face, gradually falling into deep contemplation.
Ziqing, beside him, raised an eyebrow and immediately noticed Wan Yunting's change. She signaled Lan Xin to remain silent, while Xiu Qi, Qin Yuan, Yang Xuan, Huo Fei, and Chong Ling'er behind them also looked at Wan Yunting with astonished expressions.
"Phew, that's terrifying."
Duan Yingying's face paled. The sight of the sword character on the cliff face had startled her into taking a few steps back. She patted her chest, a look of lingering fear on her face, and called out to Wan Yunting, who was staring at the character in a daze, "Hey, are you okay?"
"Don't make a sound..."
Lan Xin quickly pulled Duan Yingying back, still looking confused about what was happening.
"Let's go."
Seeing Wan Yunting staring blankly at the sword character on the cliff face as if in a trance, Ziqing knew he had entered a state of enlightenment. It was the same as when she first came. If he were interrupted, it would disrupt his comprehension, with severe consequences. Thus, she beckoned Lan Xin to take Duan Yingying, second senior brother Xiu Qi, Qin Yuan, and Yang Xuan away, who also consciously began to depart.
This surprised everyone. They hadn't expected Wan Yunting to truly fall into enlightenment. They wondered how much of the Sword Dao Ancestor's sword intent legacy, the Great Dao Sword Technique, he would be able to comprehend.
"Second senior brother, is he in enlightenment?"
A group of junior disciples who had come to watch from afar glanced at Wan Yunting, standing before Jianya, gazing intently at the "Jian" character on the cliff face. Xiu Qi and Ziqing had signaled for them to be quiet and waved them down the mountain.
This scene left the observing Wudang disciples in awe. It seemed that Wan Yunting, the new abbot of Wuliang Dao Guan, had indeed entered a state of enlightenment while observing Jianya's "Jian" character. They wondered how much of the Sword Dao Ancestor's Great Dao Sword Technique he would inherit.
"Master, do you want to stay?"
Lan Xin asked, seeing Ziqing preparing to stay and observe Wan Yunting from a distance, ready to assist if anything unexpected occurred.
"Seventh junior sister, we'll head down the mountain first. Call us if anything happens," said Xiu Qi and the others. However, looking at Wan Yunting standing in a daze before Jianya, Yang Xuan, Huo Fei, and Chong Ling'er felt a tinge of envy.
After all, Jianya was the legacy of their Wudang Sword Dao Ancestor's sword intent. If an outsider were to inherit it, wouldn't it be a laughingstock among other sects, implying Wudang had no one?
But there was no choice. Sect Leader Zhong Yulong had already decided to open Jianya to all major sects and martial arts enthusiasts. However, only those at the early stage of Martial Dao Pill Core realm were permitted to observe the "Jian" character at Jianya.
This was because individuals with lower cultivation, or those with unstable minds, could be affected mentally by the sword intent within the character.
This was why Duan Yingying, after merely a glance, had turned pale with fright from the sword energy and quickly lowered her head, refraining from further observation.
Wan Yunting's entry into enlightenment indicated his mental fortitude. However, it was uncertain how long he could maintain this state.
Ziqing's own enlightenment at Jianya had lasted only half an hour, and she had only grasped a fraction of the Great Dao Sword Technique.
In this state of enlightenment, external interference was not allowed. Therefore, Ziqing instructed second senior brother Xiu Qi to lead Lan Xin, Duan Yingying, Qin Yuan, and the others to escort the onlookers down the mountain. She remained alone, sitting on a rock at a distance, watching Wan Yunting who was in enlightenment before Jianya.
News of Wan Yunting's enlightenment at Jianya quickly spread throughout the Wudang Sect. Senior Uncle Zhang Yansong, Uncle Zuo Qi, and several other elders also heard the news and came out.
Tan Zhiyuan stood on a staircase of a mountain adjacent to Jian Feng. He narrowed his eyes, gazing at Jian Feng. He took out his phone and dialed a number, saying simply, "Hurry up the mountain. Now is the best moment to assassinate Wan Yunting. Don't miss it!"
The person on the other end said nothing more, only grunted in response before hanging up. In the forest north of Jian Feng, a middle-aged man in a black windbreaker was visible. A scar across his left eyebrow and his fierce, sharp eyes immediately gave the impression of a ruthless individual.
This man was known as Lin Yidao. A long saber was slung across his back. He looked up at Jian Feng and was quickly ascending towards Jianya via a little-known path.
This was the path Tan Zhiyuan had revealed to him the previous night, having anticipated that Ziqing and the others would bring Wan Yunting to Jianya to observe the "Jian" character left by the Sword Dao Ancestor.