“Foundation Establishment within thirteen days, possessing a Tianpan?”

Kunwu, beside Nine-Head River.

Still the rushing great river, still the endless long stream, still the dao robes, still the head full of white hair.

Hengxu Zhenren slowly walked forward along the river embankment, returning to Kunwu.

Following beside him was his third disciple, taken in his early years, named Wu Duan, now also a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

Wu Duan heard Hengxu Zhenren’s doubt and nodded: “It’s about that female disciple newly accepted by Yashan some time ago, named Jian Chou. Some say her Foundation Establishment time might have been even less than thirteen days. Her innate battle disc was one zhang, though no one knows its current size, but some witnessed with their own eyes that it’s a Tianpan.”

“Tianpan…”

And someone witnessed it with their own eyes?

Hengxu Zhenren smiled: “Who exactly are these ‘some people’?”

Wu Duan was startled: “Master’s meaning is…”

“No particular meaning, just demons dancing in chaos.”

He was truly curious about what the Jianzhu Sect had obtained to suddenly dare be so rampant.

Not only did they attack Yashan and fight with Yashan’s disciples, but now they dared spread such rumors—what was their purpose?

Kunwu had just recently produced a genius disciple who achieved Foundation Establishment in ten days and made the second level of the Nine Heavens Tablet in thirteen days, and then someone spread word that Yashan produced a female disciple who achieved Foundation Establishment in thirteen days with a Tianpan…

Their hearts deserved death.

However…

It had little to do with him.

Hengxu Zhenren smiled slightly and continued up the mountain path, returning to Kunwu.

Wu Duan remained in place, pondering this riddle for quite some time.

He didn’t follow Hengxu Zhenren’s steps, only gazing toward the broad river surface.

The setting sun spread across the water in a sheet of blood red.

Xie Buchen sat cross-legged in his azure robes amidst the river’s turbulent currents, with no light or radiance around him, seeming like an ordinary person.

Whether that Yashan female cultivator achieved Foundation Establishment in thirteen days, Wu Duan didn’t know, but he was very clear that this person before him had achieved Foundation Establishment in ten days—true.

How long had he been in the sect?

Yet he was already brilliant and glorious, even outshining all other Kunwu cultivators.

In the past, people knew of Kunwu’s Zhao Zhuo; in the past, people knew of Kunwu’s Yue He; in the past, people knew of Kunwu’s Wu Duan…

But now, no one cares about these people anymore. In everyone’s eyes and mouths, there was only ever Kunwu’s Xie Buchen!

Genius?

In that instant, an indescribable unrest stirred Wu Duan’s heart into turbulent waves.

He stepped forward, treading on the rolling river water, step by step, moving ahead.

Xie Buchen’s drooping eyelids slowly lifted.

First entering his sight was the endlessly flowing Nine-Head River. The river surface was broad, and being in the river’s heart, what he could see was more magnificent and spectacular than from the riverbank.

After watching for a while, he turned his head to look at Wu Duan, who had walked to the river’s center.

Without rising, Xie Buchen simply spoke: “Senior Brother Wu.”

His expression was too indifferent, his eyes emotionless, seemingly heartless as well.

Regarding Xie Buchen’s origins, Master never spoke to others, so all of them knew nothing about this newly entered junior brother. They didn’t know where he came from, much less what experiences he’d had or what his identity was…

Too mysterious.

And too dazzling.

Not being envied was mediocrity, and Xie Buchen was a genius among geniuses who could stand at the pinnacle even in the talent-rich Kunwu.

“Junior Brother has been cultivating in the river’s heart for so long, it seems you haven’t returned to Kunwu in quite a while.” Wu Duan casually started the conversation, smiling as he looked at him. “The Central Domain has been quite lively recently with several major incidents. I wonder if Junior Brother has heard?”

Not returning to Kunwu for so long, naturally, he wouldn’t know anything.

Xie Buchen wasn’t interested in so-called news either.

He said flatly: “I have not.”

Wu Duan sneered inwardly and spoke: “I heard Yashan has a newly entered female cultivator who achieved Foundation Establishment within thirteen days, with all Kunxian lines lit up—a Tianpan rarely seen in the world! Speaking of which, Junior Brother, though your ten-day Foundation Establishment is spoken of by thousands in the Central Domain, I, as your fellow senior brother, have never personally seen your battle disc. I wonder… Junior Brother, being such a heaven-sent genius, do you also have a Tianpan?”

Heaven-sent genius…

Not false.

As for whether it was a Tianpan…

Xie Buchen lowered his head, turned his eyes toward the rushing great river, and only asked: “Senior Brother wishes to see?”

Such a gentle tone, yet carrying a coldness mixed with ice shards, making one extremely uncomfortable.

Wu Duan felt insulted.

He knew Master currently cared most about this genius disciple, but unfortunately, aside from Master, few at Kunwu liked him!

Having already spoken today, Wu Duan wouldn’t be afraid of him.

“I not only want to see Junior Brother’s battle disc, but also want to witness Junior Brother’s abilities.”

That meant preparing to fight.

Xie Buchen’s hands had been lightly resting on his knees, slightly curved, but now they suddenly moved slightly, the gentle curves suddenly becoming powerful. His five fingers pressed against his knees as he finally rose from the river’s heart.

He didn’t look at Wu Duan, who was tense all over and full of wariness.

Xie Buchen bent down, extending his hand into the river water. The currents that had been quietly flowing suddenly became turbulent and noisy.

Wu Duan didn’t know what he was doing, but had already directly formed hand seals, and a white bone long sword floated behind him at a high position.

River water flowed, brushing past Xie Buchen’s left five fingers.

Fingers long and jade-like, with transparent, lustrous nails, forever proper yet showing refinement.

He slowly rose while withdrawing his palm…

The entire river seemed to freeze at this moment, and Wu Duan’s heart suddenly felt a warning, his hair standing on end!

The entire river surface, after freezing for that instant, suddenly surged with towering waves!

Xie Buchen withdrew his hand from the river water, rising from the river’s heart. The rolling, flowing river water rose with him, as if a waterfall had been pulled up from the river’s center!

Rushing currents!

Xie Buchen’s five fingers came together as if grasping that stream of river water, lifting it higher and higher!

The sound of “splash splash” echoed in their ears.

That stream of river water was finally pulled up from the river’s heart by him, and the river water on both sides, the moment that stream left, suddenly crashed together toward the space in the middle!

Bang!

Water splashed, wetting the hem of Xie Buchen’s robes.

His right hand behind his back, his left hand gave a light shake, and the water stream he held scattered droplets like a sword shaking off rain, with water beads flying everywhere, crystalline as blood under the setting sun.

When the water droplets dispersed, what Xie Buchen held in his hand was already a sword forged from river water, with rippling patterns that still seemed to flow!

Drawing river currents as a sword!

Wu Duan felt cold rising from beneath his feet, even more than when he first saw Xie Buchen flying through the air!

Xie Buchen stood holding his sword, river water flowing beneath his feet, saying calmly: “I hear Senior Brother is now at late-stage Nascent Soul with very high cultivation. My cultivation is still shallow—I humbly request Senior Brother’s guidance.”

***

“Master’s meaning is that someone deliberately wants to harm our Yashan?”

The sun had already sunk into the western mountains.

The sky had completely darkened.

Jian Chou and the others had already bid farewell and left. Fudao Shanren withdrew his feet from Returning Crane Well, stood at the edge looking back at all of Yashan, saying: “The matter of Senior Sister Jian Chou’s thirteen-day Foundation Establishment was already instructed not to be spoken of. This group of fools at Yashan, usually laughing and playing around, looking unreliable, but when it comes to such times, this old man still trusts them.”

After all, this was Yashan.

But…

What did he mean by “fools”?

Shen Jiu, who came to report, supported his knee and followed beside Fudao Shanren: “So the news wouldn’t have come from Yashan?”

“Extremely unlikely.”

Fudao Shanren pressed both hands on top of that thin bamboo pole.

“On the day Jian Chou emerged from Foundation Establishment seclusion, there happened to be people from the Jianzhu Sect here. Those malicious ones might have had some intentions. Think about it—Kunwu just produced Xie Buchen, and our Yashan followed with Senior Sister Jian Chou. If I were old freak Hengxu, I’d be wondering whether Yashan has some plot.”

As he spoke, he even pretentiously stroked his chin as if he had a very long beard.

Shen Jiu was speechless. The analysis made sense, but just how much did he hate Hengxu Zhenren to imitate that gesture so poorly?

“Master, should we go teach the Jianzhu Sect a lesson?”

“Teach them a lesson?” Fudao Shanren showed a disdainful expression. “If they dare act, they must have something to rely on—we just don’t know what. Let’s watch and see. I’ll go find that little bastard Zheng Yao to investigate.”

Saying this, he directly left Returning Crane Well, tapping that broken bamboo pole, and disappeared in no time.

Zheng Yao was in Lanyue Hall with a large pile of bamboo slips spread before him, his head aching.

“Can’t do it anymore, can’t do it anymore. With so many matters, I should just pack up and run away someday… Why is being a sect master so troublesome?”

Most of Yashan’s members were martial fanatics. He’d rather be in constant seclusion than stay here handling affairs—too difficult, too difficult!

Sigh…

A long sigh.

Fudao Shanren entered and, hearing this sigh, wanted to slap him.

“Sigh, sigh, sigh—what are you sighing about?! This old man isn’t even sighing, what are you sighing for?”

Zheng Yao was suddenly sprayed with this tirade, looked up still somewhat dazed, simply pushed aside the pile of things in front of him and walked over: “I sigh mine, Master Uncle sighs yours—we’re unrelated. Hey, wait, you’re not sighing anymore?”

He suddenly widened his eyes, looking at Fudao Shanren.

“Senior Sister woke up?”

“She woke up.” Fudao Shanren rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Heartless girl! This old man worried about her for so long, but as soon as she woke up, she ran off with that black-hearted Second! When she heard she could go to the Armory to select artifacts, she smiled so wide you couldn’t see her eyes—you didn’t see it.”

“…”

Wasn’t this normal?

Zheng Yao thought, when he first went to the Armory, didn’t he jump three feet high?

Just smiling?

Sigh, Senior Sister Jian Chou was too reserved!

Zheng Yao said, “But… is it appropriate for Senior Sister Jian Chou to go to the Armory at this time?”

“What’s wrong?”

Fudao Shanren looked up.

Zheng Yao’s expression was strange: “Senior Sister Jian Chou has a deficient soul and spirit. The famous artifacts in Yashan’s Armory are all extraordinary, especially the swords… I’m afraid… not many swords will choose her.”

“Oh…”

Fudao Shanren heard this and suddenly slapped his forehead, showing a stunned expression: “Right! That girl still wants a sword! We’re finished…”

This time, they were finished.

Which sword in the Armory would be blind enough to fancy the brilliant Senior Sister Jian Chou of Yashan?

This was a very serious problem!

Zheng Yao could only frantically wipe cold sweat. He moved closer to Fudao Shanren and asked again: “The Armory matter—at worst, Senior Sister returns empty-handed, but what about her deficient soul and spirit?”

“This old man has already thought it through.”

Fudao Shanren withdrew his thoughts from the Armory direction, speaking much more relaxed now.

“Girl Jian Chou is someone who has experienced life and death, far from as fragile as we think. When I asked her what she’d do if she met her ex-husband, guess what she said? Though just a mortal then, she said she’d kill him. Hehe, would a disciple this old man accepted have such weak willpower? So when she returns, I’ll tell her about this.”

That seemed reasonable.

Zheng Yao thought the same—if she continued cultivating in ignorance, if the Heart Questioning tribulation came someday, she truly wouldn’t even know how she died.

If Jian Chou knew her current situation, she could choose her future path.

Whether to continue cultivating, to what realm to cultivate, whether to control her speed…

These weren’t decisions they could make.

Zheng Yao nodded, agreeing with Fudao Shanren, however…

A flash of inspiration struck his mind: “Master Uncle, what did you just say? Ex-husband?”

“Didn’t I mention it before?” He hadn’t. Fudao Shanren slapped his forehead: “Her husband was a ruthless man who killed her to seek immortality and ask about the dao. That’s why Jian Chou was saved by this old man.”

“Killing his wife to prove the dao?” Zheng Yao felt horrified. “Then her husband… oh no, ex-husband—if he sought the dao and came here, he should also be in the Nineteen Continents now. I’m curious, what kind of person is her ex-husband? Does he have a name?”

“…”

Fudao Shanren was stumped, blinked, then shook his head.

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten this matter… Never asked…”

“…”

Zheng Yao immediately showed disdain.

Fudao Shanren waved dismissively: “When that girl returns with her artifact, we’ll tell her everything and ask everything. If it’s appropriate, we’ll directly help her catch that damned ex-husband and kill him for her to see!”

Now you know how to back up your disciple as a master?

Zheng Yao shook his head without speaking. Where were you earlier?

Forget it, better wait.

Looking at the time, the Armory should be opening soon.

What kind of artifact would Senior Sister Jian Chou, who kicked at the slightest disagreement, bring back?

Outside Yashan, the tributary of Nine-Head River flowed in the gradually darkening night.

Jian Chou followed Qu Zhengfeng and the group, leaving Yashan and traveling downstream along the river by artifact for about an hour.

Surrounding them were artifact lights illuminating the night.

Jian Chou looked up to see endless mountains with dark silhouettes in the night. After crossing a high mountain, she finally saw a huge basin appear before them.

Qu Zhengfeng stood on his Seagloss Sword not far from Jian Chou. Seeing they’d reached their destination, he said: “This is where the Armory is located. Please, fellow disciples, land and wait a moment.”

On the mountainside of this high mountain was a platform, seemingly specifically for people to land.

Hearing this, Jian Chou controlled her blood-bonded Liwai Mirror to descend.

Standing on this platform, she could overlook the entire plain below.

She couldn’t help but wonder: Armory, Armory—where was the Armory? Would it be like Yashan’s miraculous Scripture Pavilion?

Qu Zhengfeng was a senior disciple at Yashan with cultivation already at Nascent Soul peak, outstanding even across the Nineteen Continents. This time he was leading newly Foundation Establishment disciples and some Golden Core disciples who had lost their artifacts to the Armory to select artifacts.

Seeing everyone had landed, Qu Zhengfeng didn’t descend but remained suspended in the void on his Seagloss Sword.

Many people turned to look at him.

Qu Zhengfeng only gazed into the void of the deep, night. In the huge basin, forests were dense, birds had returned to their nests, all quiet, with only occasional sounds of small animals moving through the trees.

He extended his hand, and the Seagloss Sword flew into his palm.

Flying through the air, Qu Zhengfeng stood with sword at the edge of the basin beyond the mountain platform.

From behind, Jian Chou could only see his tall, straight back. The hem of his deep gray robes had exquisite embroidered patterns that seemed to flash with faint flowing light.

The sword rose.

Qu Zhengfeng focused, gazing at the basin below. A three-zhang battle disc instantly spun open beneath his feet, spiritual light blazing from his brow, and then the wind rose greatly. Countless streams of spiritual energy wandering between heaven and earth seemed to sense some attraction at that moment, surging madly toward Qu Zhengfeng!

Jian Chou widened her eyes, feeling this scene vaguely familiar.

Summoned spiritual energy.

All concentrated on that dark blue Seagloss Sword!

With each portion of spiritual energy that arrived, the Seagloss Sword’s radiance increased.

The originally dark blue color, after accumulating countless spiritual energies, finally gradually became clear, like the pure blue sky after rain!

Accompanying this was tremendous pressure generated by this spiritual energy accumulation!

However, Qu Zhengfeng didn’t let this pressure continue long.

He stood in the air, holding his sword—

One slash!

The azure sword light finally erupted, like a bay of moonlight rushing toward the huge basin ahead!

The silent night was illuminated by this brilliant sword light!

The dense forest in the basin, the shadows of surrounding mountains, even the streams at the basin’s edge… everything became visible under this blazing sword light!

Jian Chou tried desperately to open her eyes wide, but still couldn’t see Qu Zhengfeng’s figure hidden behind the sword light!

“Boom!”

The sword light fell!

That basin embraced by mountains was split down the middle by this sword light, actually retreating to both sides with earth-shaking tremors!

The Yashan disciples standing on the mountain platform all watched this scene in shock.

After the ground split open and retreated to both sides, the sword light hadn’t yet dissipated, but from the ground fissure, massive stone pillars slowly rose one after another!

The nearest two were right beside the platform, level with the mountains!

Qu Zhengfeng had seen this scene many times before.

He held the Seagloss Sword and turned back to see faces both familiar and unfamiliar, all bearing undisguisable shock. Even Golden Core disciples who weren’t here for the first time still showed full admiration.

Standing at the very front, Jian Chou gazed at that gradually dissipating sword light, her eyes very bright.

Those black, clear eyes seemed to have a small flame igniting in their depths.

Was it the sword light’s reflection in her eyes?

That expression—Qu Zhengfeng seemed to have seen it in others’ eyes before, somewhat like Shen Jiu.

Those were eyes of longing, of tenacity, of love for battle, of competitiveness…

Just hidden very deep, perhaps even she hadn’t noticed.

His form slowly descended as Qu Zhengfeng landed right beside Jian Chou, also gazing at that basin undergoing tremendous change.

Countless rocks were pushed away, and a platform slowly rose from underground, surrounded by countless stone pillars standing tall, matching the mountains’ height, embracing that platform.

“Any Nascent Soul cultivator has the power to open the Armory. One sword slash, and all phenomena open.”

Hearing this, Jian Chou snapped back from the shocking scene before her and turned to look at Qu Zhengfeng: “Brother Qu?”

What did this mean?

Qu Zhengfeng also slowly turned to look at her, but found that the faint light in her eyes had disappeared. The current Jian Chou standing before him had a gentle expression with a bit of confusion and curiosity, suddenly becoming soft.

His lips curved slightly: “I mean, if Senior Sister Jian Chou reaches Nascent Soul someday, she can also come to the Armory with a sword to have some fun.”

Come to the Armory with a sword to have some fun?

Jian Chou was slightly surprised, then couldn’t help but smile.

She looked again at the basin, beginning to restore calm, recalling that heart-stirring scene just now, knowing she was still far from it.

But…

If such a day came, standing here and splitting open the Armory with one sword for the newly Foundation Establishment Yashan disciples—wouldn’t that be magnificent?