To others’ ears, her final four words carried an ambiguity that couldn’t help but make one’s mind wander. But only Jian Chou knew in her heart what deadly killing intent those four words concealed.

She also believed that even if others couldn’t understand, Xie Buchen would certainly comprehend.

After all, in the Hidden Realm of Qingfeng Nunnery, he should be crystal clear about what kind of “friendship” existed between them.

It was just such a pity.

Having managed to catch such a once-in-a-millennium occasion as his Core Formation, she should have presented a grand gift. But he was at Kunwu, with elders and fellow disciples behind him in the Heavens Hall.

Even with all of Jian Chou’s abilities, she didn’t dare claim she could attack Xie Buchen in front of True Master Hengxu, one of the rare Great Masters with a realm in the Nineteen Continents, and still escape unscathed.

So, the future held plenty of time—what was the rush?

Weren’t they saying there was some great Kunwu calamity? There would surely be plenty of opportunities to strike in the future.

Now Jian Chou had defeated Wang Que, firmly seated in first place on the Fourth Heavenly Tablet, holding the title of first among Nascent Soul cultivators.

Though Xie Buchen’s second Core Formation was intimidating in power, at this juncture, seeing her return safely with even greater cultivation—what must his state of mind be?

Whether Xie Buchen was happy or not, Jian Chou didn’t know, but she herself was quite pleased.

Though she had always known this person’s intelligence and strategy were first-rate, and his talent probably exceeded her own, she completely dismissed it—

Since she could destroy his cultivation once, there would be a second time, a third time!

As long as Xie Buchen still wholeheartedly sought the dao and immortality, she would forever be that cloud hanging over his head that couldn’t be dispersed, the throat-sealing sword at his neck that couldn’t be avoided!

The wind blowing against her was somewhat bone-chilling.

But Jian Chou, through the faint clouds above, looking at the vast land of the Nineteen Continents below, felt no cold at all.

She had even forgotten her earlier regret about returning the Human Emperor Sword to its rightful owner.

She still remembered when she first came to the Nineteen Continents, understanding nothing.

Fudao Shanren, riding his wooden sword called “Nothing,” had brought her all the way from the Western Sea coast, crossing half the Central Region to reach Yashan.

The land of the Nineteen Continents she saw then differed little from this moment sixty years later.

Coming out from Kunwu’s Nine-Head River Bay was a vast plain.

The turbulent waters of the Nine-Head River became gentle and placid here. Until crossing this plain and encountering those precipitous mountains and deep canyons again…

The thin light of early sun enveloped the mountain forests, and she could already vaguely see many mountain gates hidden among the peaks.

This was the true Central Region’s Left Three Thousand.

Three thousand sects stood in forest, large and small. No one knew from which mountain gate the next great figure famous throughout the Nineteen Continents would emerge.

After sixty years, Yashan remained as it was before.

The long Yashan cable bridge hung suspended, with the broad tributary of the Nine-Head River below. On the shallow banks were patches of withered yellow wild grass concealing silent tomb mounds. The plank road carved into the mountainside remained as narrow, precipitous, and ancient as ever.

Standing and looking from the front, this was merely a solitary peak towering into the clouds.

But if one circled to its back, one could hear various voices—cheerful, low, or lively…

“In the blink of an eye, it’s the Minor Assembly again.”

“I heard True Master Hengxu of Kunwu has sent urgent messages several times urging, but why hasn’t Grand Master Uncle Fudao emerged from seclusion? What if such an important matter as the Minor Assembly is delayed?”

“What relationship do Elder Fudao and Sect Master Hengxu have? Why would we need to worry!”

“Sigh, we have to go to the Martial Treasury the day after tomorrow. I’m so worried…”

“Did you all hear? Our Yashan’s Great Master Uncle Jian Chou didn’t die, and she even reached first place on the Fourth Heavenly Tablet!”

“Great Master Uncle, ah, I heard she’s very formidable. Too bad I entered the sect late and never had a chance to meet her…”

“Isn’t our Yashan’s Blade-Drawing Sect led by her?”

“Shh…”

…

On Lingzhao Peak, young disciples gathered in groups of three or five, chatting casually with each other. Some beamed with joy, others looked deeply troubled.

Over the years, Yashan had admitted quite a few new cultivators, so it appeared much livelier.

Of course, most importantly, with the Left Three Thousand Minor Assembly approaching and recent upheavals throughout the Nineteen Continents, there were always news about Yashan disciples or former Yashan disciples circulating, causing everyone to discuss endlessly, completely unable to control their gossiping mouths.

After throwing that little brat across from him onto the Blade-Drawing Platform for the eighth time today, Shen Jiu finally couldn’t restrain himself. Quite inelegantly, he stuck out his finger to pick his ear, turned around, and shouted at the young disciples passing below the Blade-Drawing Platform.

“Hey, I’m saying, you lot—we’re drawing blades here! Can’t you go chat somewhere farther away?”

“Ah!”

The new disciples passing below were startled by this voice. Looking up to see Shen Jiu and remembering this Fourth Master Uncle’s “evil reputation,” they quickly apologized.

“We’ll leave right away, right away. We dare not disturb Master Uncle.”

“That’s more like it.”

Shen Jiu snorted, twirled the beautiful folding fan in his hand in a circle, then turned back to look ahead at his opponent.

“I say, you little brat, you’ve only been in the sect a few years and dare challenge me to blade-drawing? Hmph, even someone as formidable as your Great Master Uncle Jian Chou wasn’t as arrogant as you back in the day.”

“Enough nonsense—are you going to fight or not?”

Struggling to get up from the ground, Fang Xiaoxie used his dust-covered sleeve to wipe his face, his sword-like brows furrowed tightly, looking at Shen Jiu with complete defiance.

“Oh ho, quite the temper indeed.”

Shen Jiu flicked his fan and casually paced two steps on the Blade-Drawing Platform, sizing up this kid while shaking his head, but his eyes clearly showed appreciation.

Speaking honestly, Fang Xiaoxie was quite good.

This kid had only been in the sect six years and was only fourteen this year. Very young, not as sturdy as his peers, still looking childish.

But if one carefully examined his cultivation, one would discover he was already at early Golden Core stage!

It could be said this kid was another rare genius after Yashan’s Jian Chou and Kunwu’s Xie Buchen!

And unlike the fragility of typical beginners, though Fang Xiaoxie was young, his temperament was extremely resilient—the type who became braver with each setback.

But the problem was…

Too belligerent.

With his current strength, it was already difficult to find suitable opponents among his peers, so he persistently pestered Shen Jiu, determined to fight him.

Who told Shen Jiu to wander around the mountain all day looking idle?

Thinking of this, Shen Jiu got a headache.

Seeing the fighting spirit burning in his opponent’s eyes with no intention of extinguishing, he couldn’t help but grit his teeth: “Your Fourth Master Uncle isn’t some idle person with nothing to do. From now on, you can only fight me once a day—not even half a fight more!”

“Why? I don’t accept it!”

Fang Xiaoxie’s eyes immediately widened as he shouted indignantly.

But how could Shen Jiu bother with him?

He just laughed, leisurely walked over, grabbed the boy by the back of his collar, lifted him up, and walked toward the edge of the Blade-Drawing Platform.

“Don’t accept it? What can you do about it?”

“Our Yashan is a place where strength speaks. If you can fight well, you’re the boss. Even if you want to be sect master, there’s nothing to say. But if you can’t fight well, you’d better obediently bow to the boss.”

“You see, I’m also dissatisfied that I’m only ranked fourth instead of eldest senior brother, but I don’t make a fuss like you!”

Being lifted up, Fang Xiaoxie had absolutely no ability to resist, only twisting his body trying to struggle free. But hearing Shen Jiu’s words, he immediately rolled his eyes and sneered coldly.

“Isn’t it just because you can’t beat them?”

“Who says I can’t beat them?!”

In that instant, like having his tail stepped on hard, Shen Jiu jumped up, nearly throwing Fang Xiaoxie to the ground in anger!

“I already said to bow to the boss if you can’t beat them—are you itching for a beating? Who says I can’t beat them, huh, who says I can’t beat them?!”

“…”

Fang Xiaoxie said nothing, just looked up and used his gaze to tell him the answer.

This was completely contemptuous!

Shen Jiu had been “throwing his weight around” at Yashan for many years, relying on his considerable cultivation and high seniority, but this was his first encounter with such a troublemaker as Fang Xiaoxie, not to mention being questioned to his face like this!

Too infuriating!

Really too infuriating!

“If I don’t show you something, you really won’t know Lord Ma has three eyes!”

“I can’t beat them? How dare you say I can’t beat them?!”

“Don’t look at how eldest senior sister Jian Chou is now first on the Fourth Heavenly Tablet—her actual realm is only just late Nascent Soul. Wang Que couldn’t beat her because those Kunwu lackeys are useless. Your Fourth Master Uncle is at Nascent Soul peak cultivation. How do you know I can’t beat them?”

Carrying Fang Xiaoxie, Shen Jiu jumped directly down from the high Blade-Drawing Platform, not forgetting to lecture him.

“Anyway, now that Qu the Second Fool has already betrayed Yashan, and eldest senior sister Jian Chou’s cultivation level is still a line below mine, it’s time for me to sit in that eldest senior brother position.”

“When eldest senior sister returns, I’ll test my skills against her and draw blades.”

“Then I’ll let you little brat open your eyes wide and see clearly—who’s the real boss!”

When his words landed, his feet also landed steadily on the ground. He casually threw the Fang Xiaoxie he’d been carrying, and the boy rolled out like a gourd.

Recalling his heroic declaration just now, Shen Jiu felt quite satisfied.

So he leisurely dusted off his hands, preparing to send Fang Xiaoxie back to practice for another hundred or eighty years. But when he looked up, he suddenly discovered…

Fang Xiaoxie, who should have quickly gotten up from the ground, was lying there motionless.

In front of him was a pair of white satin boots with cloud patterns.

Looking up, there was a moon-white robe with a deep blue leather belt at the waist, appearing extremely slender and upright. From Fang Xiaoxie’s angle, he could only see her elegant pale neck, delicate pointed chin, and at her lips…

That bit of seemingly kind, gentle smile.

“So Junior Brother Shen also has designs on this eldest senior brother position. I just heard you want to draw blades with me?”

The clear, light voice also carried a smile.

But somehow, after hearing it, Fang Xiaoxie felt a chill rise from his tailbone, freezing him with a shiver.

Shen Jiu standing below the Blade-Drawing Platform felt even more bone-chilling terror.

He looked at that graceful figure standing before Fang Xiaoxie—still the familiar outline from years past, the familiar gentleness—but the terrifying aura emanating from her reminded him of the earth-shaking changes in her during these sixty years of separation!

Draw blades?

Even a genius like Wang Que couldn’t beat her—how could he possibly…

Not a chance!

Shen Jiu felt his legs go weak, his beautiful peach blossom eyes twitching constantly, his entire face completely frozen.

At this moment, he only remembered his own words when lecturing Fang Xiaoxie—

Bow to the boss.

“Ah, eldest senior sister Jian Chou, it’s been so long, so very long since we met.”

Shen Jiu quickly restored a spring-like smile to his face, but his words evaded the main point.

“That business about drawing blades—I was just joking with the junior below. No such thing, no such thing. Seeing eldest senior sister so travel-worn, this junior brother should go pour you some tea!”