Too calm.

This sentence of hers was spoken in a truly unremarkable manner. Without excessive ornamental words, and not showing the slightest trace of pride or arrogance in her demeanor, she possessed entirely the bearing and cultivation of someone from a great prestigious sect.

So much so that in the instant this name was spoken, most people didn’t react at all.

“Oh, so she’s called Jian Chou…”

Until…

Suddenly someone realized something:

“Wait!”

“Fuck, what did she say her name was?!!”

“No… no way?!”

“Jian Chou?!”

Like a terrifying thunderbolt cast into the dark depths of the sea. After a moment of near-void silence, it finally exploded completely!

In that instant, all cultivators who had ever heard this name felt their vision blur and their ears ring!

On Liang Tingyu’s cold, unapproachable face, a barely concealed shock appeared for the first time;

Daoist Zhen’s gaping mouth was already wide enough to fit an egg;

Several traces of astonishment also appeared in Shen Yao’s beautiful eyes, but immediately afterward, an intense radiance burst forth;

Within the Gen Mountain chamber, Xue Wujiu suddenly recalled Qu Zhengfeng’s earlier words that “there are no blade users among Yashan’s disciples” and finally couldn’t hold back, bursting out with the first crude expletive of his life;

…

After a moment of deathly silence, the entire Silver Tower immediately fell into a kind of clamorous, even tumultuous uproar!

Almost no one could believe their ears. Only Zuoliu’s extremely smug laughter in the arena sounded so clear and grating: “Hahaha, bunch of fools! Told you not to mess with me…”

So infuriating!

This attitude, this voice, this tone!

So damn infuriating, it was like the living embodiment of a small person achieving success, making people want to jump down and strangle this guy – but they ultimately didn’t dare!

Why?

Hadn’t they seen the evil monk Shanxing’s fate earlier? This little bastard was so arrogant precisely because his big shot had arrived, his backing had come!

Son of a bitch, this “Jian Chou under Yashan’s tutelage” – wasn’t this the legendary female cultivator?!

If this had been in the Star Sea ten days ago, mentioning this name would have meant most people either hadn’t heard of it or only had a vague impression, knowing at most that she was a very talented female cultivator from Yashan decades ago.

After all, even with the addition of “Yashan,” this name was quite obscure. It couldn’t compare at all with titles like “Sword Emperor Qu Zhengfeng,” “Grand Marshal Shen Yao,” or even “Night Sailing Ship Chief Libationer.”

But in today’s time and place!

If you mentioned “Jian Chou” and didn’t know who that was, had you come to the Silver Tower just to make up the numbers?

One must know that this female cultivator in the arena was the true root cause of all today’s turbulent events!

Ever since news spread that the Silver Tower had captured Zuoliu, who could still not know her name?

It was precisely because of her disappearance that there had been visible discord between Yashan and Kunwu for these sixty years; it was precisely because of the mysterious relationship between her and Kunwu’s Xie Buchen that everyone paid such attention to Zuoliu, another missing person from Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm; it was precisely because it concerned her whereabouts that today’s Silver Tower had gathered such a convergence of influential figures!

The various legends finally, at this moment, slowly overlapped with the real person before their eyes, leaving everyone’s consciousness somewhat dazed.

“Yashan, Jian Chou…”

That brilliantly dazzling female cultivator from Yashan over sixty years ago!

Though she had just entered the sect, she had assumed the title of eldest senior sister;

Following closely after Kunwu’s Xie Buchen’s “Foundation Establishment in ten days, first place on the Second Heaven Tablet on the thirteenth day,” she became famous throughout the Central Domain with her extraordinary potential of “Foundation Establishment in thirteen days, bearing the Tianpan”;

Soon after, at the Left Three Thousand Small Assembly, she overwhelmed all rivals, standing out among many talented cultivators of the new generation to reach the summit of the Solitary Platform!

Whether it was her merciless battle against Jianzhu Sect’s Xu Lan’er or her breakthrough to Golden Core at the crucial moment during the fierce battle in the Empty Sea, all made people’s eyes light up.

As for the final battle, the appearance of another Jian Chou seated on the White Bone Throne emerging from the sea of clouds was even more mysterious and both terrifying and fascinating.

It could be said that before going to Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm, although she was still only a Golden Core stage cultivator, everyone could easily perceive that—

Whether in talent or temperament, this female cultivator was absolutely the foremost among Yashan’s new generation of cultivators!

Given time, she would probably become another giant-level figure.

For such a person to disappear without reason – how could it not attract attention?

Not to mention the “anomaly” on the Fourth Heaven Tablet in West Sea Square that caused a sensation and puzzlement shortly after her disappearance.

At that time, on the third and fourth Heaven Tablets, one after the other, almost simultaneously, the two characters “Jian Chou” lit up!

Moreover, the name on the Fourth Heaven Tablet disappeared without trace shortly after lighting up, while on the Third Heaven Tablet, though the name didn’t disappear, it was immediately pressed down by the original Golden Core stage first place Liao Kong’s name in the blink of an eye.

What did this mean?

If one reasoned according to the Heaven Tablets’ rules, it meant that in the brief time of the tablets’ changes, Jian Chou had cultivated to Golden Core peak and broken through to Nascent Soul. Moreover, the moment she broke through to Nascent Soul, her combat power could crush all cultivators of the same realm in the Nineteen Continents!

Only thus could both tablets light up with her name almost simultaneously!

Although Jian Chou’s name subsequently disappeared from the Fourth Heaven Tablet, mostly meaning this combat power couldn’t be maintained, wasn’t it terrifying enough for an early Nascent Soul to sweep through all cultivators of the same realm?

Moreover, how long had she been cultivating at that time?

No more than five years!

For ordinary cultivators, forming a Golden Core in five years would make them geniuses – what did reaching Nascent Soul in five years mean?

Even the former Yashan’s Fudao Shanren, Kunwu’s Hengxu Zhenren, and even Chan Master Xuelang, one of the three great Chan monks, didn’t have such speed!

It could be called absolutely insane!

Had the Nine Heaven Tablets made an error?

Or had there been some fortuitous encounter during the disappearance?

And regarding Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm, as a Yashan disciple who had always been on good terms with Kunwu, what unknown grudges and entanglements existed between her and Kunwu’s new generation prodigy Xie Buchen?

…

All these mysteries had triggered heated discussions at the time. Now, with the spread of news about Zuoliu’s bounty, there were naturally layers of speculation again, but everyone knew so little – how could they guess anything?

But now was different.

Now, a living Jian Chou stood right before them!

In a moon-white long robe, under the illumination of skylight above the Silver Tower, she was dyed with the colors of the heavens.

The layer of brilliant pale golden dragon scales around her body had already faded, revealing the snow-white skin beneath. Combined with those delicate features, it was an undeniable elegance.

The breeze lifted her robe’s hem, but this only made her current immovability like a mountain more apparent.

They could clearly see that she already possessed mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation and had just easily crushed the late-stage Nascent Soul evil monk Shanxing. Now, facing the recently prominent Liang Tingyu, she showed no fear!

“Junior Brother Xie, and her?”

On the upper floors, Wang Que in his dark green long robe gazed quietly, murmuring lowly, still somewhat unable to process this.

Jian Chou…

This name was truly not unfamiliar to him. Others might not know everything that happened in Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm, but as a true disciple of Hengxu Zhenren, he knew a thing or two.

However, it was precisely this “thing or two” that suddenly sparked Wang Que’s rare curiosity.

He recalled their first meeting at the Heaven and Earth Reverse Journey inn, when she had inexplicably asked about Junior Brother Xie and claimed to know Senior Brother Wu Duan, yet her words carried a hint of elusive hostility toward Kunwu…

Even with his normally detached temperament, he couldn’t help but pay more attention.

Moreover…

“Sixty years ago, listed on the Fourth Heaven Tablet; sixty years later, mid-stage Nascent Soul…”

Stroking his wide sleeves, Wang Que’s eyes flickered slightly with divine light as he suddenly remembered: the current first place on the Nine Heaven Tablets was himself.

He wondered, compared to Jian Chou, who was stronger?

One must know that this female cultivator before him had possessed the terrifying combat power to crush cultivators of her generation sixty years ago, when she should theoretically still have been in early Nascent Soul stage.

Now that she had reached mid-stage Nascent Soul, why did she seem inferior to her past self?

His gaze naturally fell on the blade in Jian Chou’s hand. Wang Que’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but ultimately he suppressed all thoughts in his heart and remained silent.

In the arena, Liang Tingyu across from Jian Chou also took a long time to recover.

Observing this female cultivator’s posture and bearing, an indescribable feeling suddenly surged in her heart, and she smiled with complexity: “A single leaf obscures the mountain – no wonder you have such strength. So you’re Yashan’s famous eldest senior sister. My apologies.”

“Just an unknown nobody, hardly worth any respect or lack thereof.”

Jian Chou’s brow furrowed slightly. She never considered herself very famous, nor did she often assume pride in her position as Yashan’s eldest senior sister. Combined with her poor impression of Liang Tingyu, she appeared quite cold.

“Earlier when Shanxing used treacherous schemes to ambush my fellow disciple, I suppose that was thanks to Chief Libationer Liang’s prior ‘guidance’?”

So she was finally going to call her to account?

Liang Tingyu sighed: “Indeed it was me. It seems today’s battle cannot end well.”

“Good that you understand.”

Jian Chou wasn’t being polite with her.

She was someone who kept appreciation and grudges very clearly separated.

Just as her appreciation for Xie Buchen didn’t affect the mortal enmity between them, her slight appreciation for Liang Tingyu wouldn’t make her lose her reason to overlook the unscrupulous means used against Zuoliu and abandon this battle.

Jian Chou had made her meaning very clear.

Liang Tingyu was no fool either, knowing that Jian Chou couldn’t possibly show mercy in this battle. At this moment, she should actually be afraid. But somehow, gazing at Jian Chou, gazing at this female cultivator who was both more outstanding and stronger than herself, a strong fighting spirit surged in her heart.

Retreat was completely impossible now.

Then…

Let her test whether this renowned eldest senior sister of Yashan was living up to false reputation!

Raising both arms, Liang Tingyu already held a pair of golden mandarin duck battle-axes in her palms, her entire aura immediately condensing. On her expressionless face, that old scar still looked ugly, but it added several traces of dangerous feeling to her.

With her late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, she was definitely no mediocrity!

“I don’t want to die, so I must use my full strength – though you’re strong, who will die is still unknown!”

“Is that so?”

Jian Chou smiled.

“How unfortunate. My blade – is named Deer-Cutting!”

“Swish!”

Almost simultaneously with her words falling, the blade in Jian Chou’s hand had already transformed into a gray bolt of lightning, shooting straight toward Liang Tingyu, while she herself followed like a shadow, immediately closing in!

Fighting when she said fight, without any hesitation!

Everyone was still thinking about her identity, thinking about the name of this blade she had just announced, but who would have thought she would start fighting directly without a word?

For a moment, many couldn’t react!

This style was too fierce and too domineering!

Bai Yin on the side also completely failed to react.

He still had a belly full of worried words of advice unspoken, but now there was no need to say them – originally, because he had some guess about Jian Chou’s identity, he wasn’t too surprised when she announced her background, only considering whether it was feasible for Jian Chou to fight two people consecutively.

After all, he had exchanged blows with Shanxing and knew how formidable the opponent was.

Though Jian Chou appeared effortless, it was impossible that there was no consumption of spiritual power and energy. Fighting Liang Tingyu under such circumstances – heaven knew what the situation would be.

But at this moment, it was too late to stop her.

Moreover, what could be used to stop her?

Bai Yin stood at the arena’s edge, watching the dangerous battle situation that had already begun, touching his prominent nose bridge and sighing helplessly for the first time: “How did I end up with such an unreliable guy…”

If he had come, perhaps the eldest senior sister wouldn’t need to take action personally.

Unfortunately, the other party was currently…

Perhaps still lost on the way?

“Achoo!”

At the dock by Lan River in Shattered Immortal City, a young man who was sneakily hiding behind a tree suddenly sneezed for no reason, his entire body uncontrollably leaning back and then forward.

Thus, with a crisp “snap,” the half watermelon he was holding fell to the ground and shattered to pieces.

“Ah, my big watermelon!”

He immediately cried out in anguish, his face showing infinite heartache. His expression didn’t look like he’d dropped half a watermelon, but more like he’d lost half his life!

“What’s going on? That Yashan guy must be urging me again. Geez, I’m about to find the place!”

Wearing a short beast-hide jacket that showed off his lean, energetic frame; the carefully braided small pigtail trailing behind his head added several traces of mischievous flavor to his appearance.

Though sixty years had passed, Xiao Jin was undoubtedly still the same Xiao Jin as before.

Sixty years ago, he had wandered around the Central Domain for a while, made a splash at the Left Three Thousand Small Assembly, then returned to the Southwest Aristocratic Family in the Southern Domain to be supervised by his family.

Recently, after hearing about Zuoliu’s situation, he had naturally volunteered to help rescue his old friend from danger.

However…

Things weren’t progressing as easily as he had thought.

Cough.

This was mainly because he had never been to Tomorrow Star Sea before, underestimating the complexity of the local terrain and roads, resulting in his inability to find his destination for a long time.

But at this moment, after Xiao Jin pulled out another watermelon and took a bite, slightly soothing the trauma caused by the previous watermelon, he looked up toward the shore where the dock was located.

“Night Sailing Ship, Night Sailing Ship, this should be the place.”

Now possessing mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, his eyesight was excellent.

Without even activating his spiritual consciousness, just looking ahead, he could clearly see the plaque hanging on the gate of that large garden-like building complex.

The three characters “Night Sailing Ship” were so obvious.

“Hmph, dare to put a bounty on Zuoliu! Today watch me not smash your dog heads!”

Xiao Jin fiercely bit into his watermelon, muttering to himself. He completely failed to notice that his destination was actually problematic. Aiming in the direction, he flashed and headed directly toward the Night Sailing Ship’s location.

Cultivators in black cloaks still stood guard outside the gate.

Arriving nearby, Xiao Jin briefly considered that he was here to cause trouble and had no invitation. If he were blocked outside, wouldn’t that delay important matters?

He simply activated a secret technique, concealed his form, and quietly climbed over the wall beside the gate.

But as soon as he entered and stood under the wall, he discovered he was going to faint: “Heavens, this place isn’t much smaller than my home…”

Everywhere he looked were buildings and roads. Under the cover of trees, everything looked the same, and unlike his home with specially marked road signs, it was impossible to distinguish directions!

Silver Tower, Silver Tower…

With so many towers here, which one was the one with Zuoliu’s bounty?

“I’m doomed, doomed…”

Xiao Jin couldn’t help but scratch his head anxiously, pulling out a communication spirit pearl, wanting to ask that big brother from Yashan for directions, or worst case have him come pick him up.

But just then, from not far ahead, faint conversation sounds suddenly came.

“How are things progressing at the Silver Tower?”

Silver Tower?

Xiao Jin immediately perked up his ears.

The Southwest Aristocratic Family had their own secret techniques, and he had never been one to fear trouble. Hearing “Silver Tower,” he was like a lost person receiving guidance from a bright lamp, following without hesitation.

There were two people, one in front and one behind.

The one walking in front wore a silver-gray long robe, all woven with silver thread, but a large hood also concealed his features, making them unclear; the one behind was a lean young man in black tight-fitting clothes, presumably a subordinate.

The one who had just spoken was the one in front.

The young man behind answered: “According to the latest news just received, Qu Zhengfeng’s whereabouts are unknown – people in the tower say he didn’t come. As for the bounty, two Yashan disciples have already appeared, and moreover, one of them claims to be that missing eldest senior sister from Yashan.”

“Oh?”

The person in the silver-gray robe was somewhat surprised, his voice quite hoarse, seemingly a middle-aged man. But he immediately laughed coldly, “This really is an unexpected delight. Lord Shaoji will definitely be pleased to know.”

“Yes…”

Upon hearing that name, the young man’s body trembled, his voice becoming somewhat low, suddenly not daring to continue the conversation.

The man in the silver-gray robe seemed to know what he was afraid of and directly snorted coldly.

“Alright, you may go.”

“Yes, this subordinate takes his leave!”

Upon hearing this, the young man felt like he’d received a great pardon and hurriedly withdrew.

The silver-robed cultivator watched coldly, not paying much attention, and proceeded on his own path toward the depths of this Night Sailing Ship complex, soon approaching the great hall at the very back.

Though it was daytime, the hall remained dim, as if perpetually shrouded in heavy shadows.

That eerie statue stood in the deepest part of the great hall.

It looked extremely like a centipede.

Its long body showed dense segmented sections; countless long legs arranged on both sides displayed blade-like sharpness; that eyeless head was particularly hair-raising.

It could be said that the current great hall only made people feel oppressive and terrifying.

But this middle-aged cultivator felt no discomfort whatsoever.

After entering, he walked to the front of the statue and respectfully bowed, actually speaking: “Wudao pays respects to Lord Shaoji Dazun.”

“Hmm…”

As if something was awakening from darkness, an inexplicably terrifying aura instantly emanated from the statue, spreading a massive pressure.

Even with the middle-aged cultivator’s current early Entry into the World stage cultivation, he could barely withstand it, his body beginning to tremble as he quickly continued: “Currently at the Silver Tower, several Yashan cultivators have appeared, and indeed a female cultivator has emerged. But this humble one is incompetent and cannot determine whether she is truly the one you mentioned wanting to find…”

“She has appeared…”

A hollow and ethereal voice seemed to float in the void, as if coming from another world, carrying an ancient coldness that was both stiff and harsh.

In this instant, Xiao Jin hidden in the shadows inexplicably felt like he was being watched. As if standing under broad daylight without any cover, with eyes staring at him from all around—

Nowhere to hide!

Though he had a fearless temperament, at this moment he couldn’t help but shrink his neck and unconsciously step back. However, just as his rear foot touched the ground, the entire great hall suddenly turned cold!

As if countless blades and swords had suddenly appeared!

“Who?!”

That voice actually harshly shouted with stiff tones.

Xiao Jin was immediately startled, the back of his head turning cold. He wanted to run immediately, but this pressure was too heavy – when he tried to run, he discovered his legs couldn’t move at all.

It was over.

This time it was truly over. He hadn’t found the Silver Tower, hadn’t fought anyone, and now he was going to die here?

His heart turning ice-cold, Xiao Jin’s face paled as he almost stood in place waiting for death. But what he didn’t expect was that the terrible thing he had anticipated didn’t come—

Light laughter actually rang out in the great hall.

“Heh…”

Floating and drifting, seeming to have no anchor, utterly indifferent, yet hiding a naturally pure demonic aura!

The massive statue standing in the hall suddenly blazed with fierce light the moment this voice appeared!

A head carved from unknown material actually forcibly turned three parts toward the right at this moment, using that eyeless face to face the direction of the great entrance.

“Is it you?!”

“It’s me, but probably not the me you’re imagining.”

Still that light, floating voice.

As the words fell, a figure in slate-blue robes slowly manifested from the void.

The complex patterns on the robes had an ancient, weathered feeling, like crawling moss; a small fish embroidered on the sleeve cuffs appeared particularly special. On the pale face floated an ethereal expression, as if wandering outside the world, merely a passerby.

Clearly looking very young, yet giving people a sense of twilight years.

A pair of eyes were extremely clear, but upon closer inspection, showed the most vicissitudinous changes of time.

He raised his head to gaze at this sculpture in the hall, his eyes faintly revealing traces of reminiscence, his lips only lightly curving as he sighed: “Passing through this place, I never thought I could still encounter an ancient clan…”