The sword had returned, but some people could never go back.

The Yin-Yang Realm battle was won, Lord Qin Guang destroyed;

Kunwu suffered great calamity, True Person Hengxu drew his sword in suicide, atoning to the world. Though renowned throughout his life, his posthumous reputation was mixed;

Yashan elder Fudao Shanren ascended in one morning, vanishing from the Nineteen Continents;

Star Sea Sword Emperor Qu Zhengfeng also drew his sword in suicide. After death, he was brought back to Yashan by eldest senior sister Jian Chou and buried beside the Thousand Cultivators’ Tomb. No cultivator in the world dared voice objection.

The historical records state: The Yin-Yang Realm battle resumed, gathering the full might of the Nineteen Continents to attack. Lasting twenty-six days, they battled enemies at Bafang City, slaying Lord Qin Guang and reclaiming the Extreme Domain. Great Venerable Jian Chou wielded the Life and Death Book and was granted the title of Equal King. On the same day, tomorrow’s Star Sea Sword Emperor Qu Zhengfeng washed Kunwu in blood, killing over two thousand Kunwu disciples. Meeting with the Great Venerable’s single word, he forced the suicide of Kunwu’s then-leader True Person Hengxu, then took his own life before all the world. Thus ended Kunwu’s great calamity. Later generations called it the “Tomorrow Tribulation.”

The historians’ words were brief, but the few names recorded were enough to make countless later cultivators yearn with wonder, guessing what upheavals had unfolded in that turbulent day.

Truly, there are no walls in the world that don’t let through wind.

Moreover, so many cultivators had personally witnessed the events at the Hall of All Heavens that day.

Though many who left Kunwu never wanted to speak of those tragic scenes to others, there would always be some gossips who used those events as conversation pieces.

Thus various rumors spread without legs.

Some said Qu Zhengfeng had abandoned dao and entered demonhood, truly going mad;

Some said True Person Hengxu appeared righteous but was deeply scheming, death was too good for him;

Some said Fudao Shanren was most impressive, achieving enlightenment in one morning and ascending directly;

Others said Yashan’s eldest senior sister Jian Chou was truly ruthless, forcing Kunwu’s leader to suicide with one word and one oath, the first person of the righteous path…

Of course, some were more curious about certain ancient gossip.

Like the matter of killing one’s wife to prove dao.

The two people in this rumor were both prominent figures of the Nineteen Continents, and the matter involved gratitude, resentment, love, and hatred – truly the most suitable strange tale for street corners and after-dinner conversations.

Moreover, shortly after this incident ended, Yashan’s eldest senior sister formally took the position of law enforcement elder after Fudao Shanren’s ascension, wielding the Imperial Heaven Mirror. She became the youngest law enforcement elder in Yashan’s history.

Kunwu’s side was completely different.

After True Person Hengxu’s suicide, neither the steady and honest eldest senior brother Zhao Zhuo nor the detached and wise fourth disciple Wang Que inherited Kunwu’s leadership. Instead, it was the most famous yet most controversial Xie Buchen!

No outsider knew what had happened in between. All they knew was that the succession ceremony was very plain and low-key, fitting Kunwu’s post-calamity situation of recuperation and discreet conduct.

But outside criticism was severe.

After all, it was Xie Buchen.

Though he was indeed a rarely seen peerless genius in the Nineteen Continents who had displayed admirable talent and strategic wisdom in the Yin-Yang Realm battle, the matter of “killing his wife” remained. Even with his personal admission that it was “instigated by True Person Hengxu,” people still felt he might not be a good person.

Female cultivators in particular criticized him greatly.

Conversely, Kunwu disciples themselves never mentioned this matter, probably feeling it brought shame.

Besides “killing wife to prove dao,” the oath Elder Jian Chou swore before the Hall of All Heavens that day was also worth pondering. Previously at Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm and the snowy region’s esoteric sect, the two had fought inseparably, clearly harboring mortal hatred. With Qu Zhengfeng already dead, Jian Chou need only find an excuse to break free from her oath’s constraints and seek revenge on Xie Buchen again.

For example, by defecting from Yashan.

But such speculation, even hidden expectation, existed only in secret conjecture.

If brought to the surface and spoken before somewhat knowledgeable cultivators, it would only earn the response: “You understand nothing.”

Decades later, Zhilin Sou explained it clearly.

Once sworn, oaths are not broken – Yashan has its own integrity. Though hatred is great, promises are greater. Moreover, at the Sword Emperor’s dying moment, his single word “Senior Sister” entrusted Yashan to her – such words carry great weight. Anyone with feelings, who could betray such trust?

In the centuries after the Tomorrow Tribulation, the Nineteen Continents’ atmosphere became solemn, with unrighteous and unjust acts decreasing daily. After the losses of the Yin-Yang Realm battle, many cultivators realized that though the cultivation path was long, life and death were but a thought’s difference. Feeling the unpredictability of heavenly secrets and the uncertainty of future lives.

Great Venerable Jian Chou uniquely pioneered “My Dao” – cultivating this life, this present moment, questioning heart, self, and world, befriending the heavenly dao. Many followed this path, gradually forming momentum.

Her own cultivation level became the most fascinating mystery of the Nineteen Continents.

Thirty-two years after the tribulation, eighth Heaven Tablet, first in Having Boundaries;

One hundred thirty years after the tribulation, ninth Heaven Tablet, first in Penetrating Heaven;

Two hundred sixty years after the tribulation, Northern Domain Chanzong’s Master Xuelang achieved Penetrating Heaven enlightenment and ascended to the Upper Void. The name “Jian Chou” on the first position of the Heaven Tablet remained unmoved;

Three hundred seventy years after the tribulation, Yashan Sect Leader Zheng Yao achieved Penetrating Heaven perfection and ascended upon dao completion. The name “Jian Chou” on the first position of the Heaven Tablet stood firm as a mountain.

Generally, once cultivators reach Penetrating Heaven realm, they’re not far from ascension.

But regardless of how the world’s cultivators’ levels changed, no matter how many achieved this realm, Jian Chou’s name remained like an insurmountable mountain peak above all cultivators’ heads, impossible to match.

In the early years, people still discussed her actual cultivation level, combat power, and why she hadn’t ascended yet, wondering if she had inner demons.

Later, they gradually grew accustomed to it.

People became used to seeing the name at the top of the ninth Heaven Tablet as perfectly normal, as if Jian Chou’s name naturally belonged there.

Cultivators great and small passed by the Western Sea square repeatedly, rarely stopping beneath the ninth Heaven Tablet anymore.

Only Xie Buchen was different.

Nearly four hundred years had passed like a white steed flashing past, gone in a finger’s snap. His realm had also soared from Out of Body to Having Boundaries peak, only one step from entering Penetrating Heaven. Yet every time he passed the nine Heaven Tablets, he would stop, looking up at the words “Jian Chou” on the highest tablet, standing silently for a long time.

The more powerful a cultivator became, the higher their cultivation, the more they could feel the intense pressure those simple two characters brought.

No one would doubt Jian Chou’s strength.

As early as Kunwu’s Tomorrow Tribulation, she had already been the Nineteen Continents’ strongest force in reality. In the nearly four hundred years since, she rarely acted. Only over two hundred years ago, when three great old demons of the demonic path caused trouble and Kunwu-Yashan cultivators pursued them overseas without success, she returned from the Extreme Domain’s eighteen layers of hell, emerging from the seabed. She merely glanced at one old demon and reduced him to ash.

Her terrifying combat power was evident.

In the blink of an eye, another year brought the small gathering, coincidentally held at Yashan.

Cultivators from throughout the world gathered, creating rare liveliness.

After Zheng Yao’s ascension, Fang Xiaoxie took over as sect leader. This was his first time personally managing all complex affairs, and with Master Uncle Jian Chou absent from the Nineteen Continents these years, he could only rely on intuition and occasionally consult with Kunwu. Fortunately, no major errors occurred.

The formerly hot-tempered and combative boy had grown tall, his cultivation reaching the terrifying late stage of Entering the World, one step from joining the ranks of Returning to Void mighty cultivators. But his appearance remained between youth and young adulthood, possessing both youthful passionate dedication and more mature stability.

Neither frivolous nor worldly.

Silent, he carried authority; smiling, his lips curved, but his eyes still held a hint of his characteristic defiant mischief.

When Xie Buchen brought Kunwu cultivators to bid farewell at the Moon-Embracing Hall, he saw him wearing fire-cloud red Daoist robes, back to the crowd, facing the front mountain’s mist. He sat cross-legged on the window sill before the hall, head buried in concentrated study of something.

Only after they entered the hall did he notice.

So he closed what he was reading, stretched his long legs, and stood up from the window sill. Looking up, he showed no surprise, only raised an eyebrow and smiled: “The Saint Lord is leaving too?”

Originally, after the Yin-Yang Realm battle, Xie Buchen was called “Purple Forbidden Dao Child” by cultivators for his strategic planning. Later, taking charge of Kunwu could be considered accepting command in crisis. With Kunwu having lost half its core cultivators, he decisively contracted the sect’s original sphere of influence, keeping a low profile while personally nurturing disciples. Though he took no personal disciples, he compiled numerous cultivation texts covering cultivation, formations, alchemy, artifact refinement, and other aspects. Progressing from shallow to deep, they were remarkably penetrating. Not only Kunwu cultivators benefited, but cultivators worldwide held many as standards.

Through such efforts over two centuries, Kunwu truly recovered its breath.

Though still unable to match its former peak, it had recovered most of its vitality. The sect’s atmosphere was much more upright, especially the recently admitted young generation, who already showed hints of the purity proper to prominent immortal sect disciples.

Though the world criticized him for killing his wife, they couldn’t deny his supreme wisdom and powerful strength. Over time, they naturally felt the title “Dao Child” inappropriate.

So at some point, he became known as “Saint Lord.”

Though others used these two characters naturally, hearing them from Fang Xiaoxie, now Yashan’s sect leader, seemed strange and distant.

But Xie Buchen paid no mind.

After the events at the Hall of All Heavens years ago, Kunwu and Yashan’s relationship over these centuries naturally wasn’t very good. Moreover, Fang Xiaoxie cultivated “My Dao” and had been close to Jian Chou since childhood when he was an unworldly boy. His dislike was normal.

“Recently, Kunwu cultivators have stayed at Yashan, truly causing much disturbance. Now that the small gathering has ended, we naturally come to bid farewell.”

Xie Buchen wore azure Daoist robes, his refined features even more detached than before.

He truly seemed like an immortal, untouched by worldly concerns.

Standing in the hall with one hand behind his back, he glanced at the booklet in Fang Xiaoxie’s hand and naturally asked: “Elder Jian Chou still hasn’t returned?”

Fang Xiaoxie grew uncomfortable.

He had beautiful phoenix eyes, but his sword-like long eyebrows were sharp. His combative and unyielding nature added natural rebelliousness to his expression.

Looking at Xie Buchen now, he naturally showed dislike and hostility.

His actions were habitually domineering. He hid the booklet behind his back and said bluntly: “She hasn’t returned. But Master Uncle Jian Chou has fully entrusted all matters to me. If the Saint Lord has official business, speaking with me is the same.”

The words “official business” were emphasized somewhat.

Xie Buchen’s skill in reading hearts was first-rate – how could he not hear this?

But at his realm, he truly didn’t take such minor provocation seriously. Since Jian Chou hadn’t returned, he wouldn’t say more. He smiled slightly: “It’s not official business, just a private matter she asked me to investigate years ago that now has leads. When she returns, please trouble Sect Leader Fang to relay that Xie gives his thanks. I’ll take my leave now.”

Having finished speaking, he nodded slightly and left with the Kunwu cultivators.

Only Fang Xiaoxie remained in the Moon-Embracing Hall.

That almost beast-like intuition let him easily catch the words “private matter” from the other’s parting words – nearly confrontational to his “official business” – immediately furrowing his brow.

Utterly puzzled.

Most of the past four hundred years, Master Uncle Jian Chou had been in seclusion or traveling between the Extreme Domain and Nineteen Continents, rarely bothering with mundane affairs. Even for the triennial small gatherings, she never appeared. To outsiders, she had achieved dao – powerful and mysterious, reaching the point where her name alone could intimidate demons without needing to show herself. With Kunwu’s Saint Lord, it could be called “kings not meeting kings.”

What did she need investigated?

And years ago, she had entrusted Xie Buchen?

The more Fang Xiaoxie thought about it, the more unhappy he became. He lifted his hand and threw the booklet onto the window sill with a loud “snap.”

It was a travel record Zhilin Sou had written over ten years ago.

The open page happened to be about Yashan.

It read: Yashan’s three swords – the Yashan Sword as holy sword, Yixiantian as demon sword, the Nameless Sword as true sword. The Yashan Sword obtained by Qu Zhengfeng was a holy sword with demon heart; Yixiantian obtained by Jian Chou was actually a demon sword with holy heart; the Nameless Sword obtained by Fang Xiaoxie was a true sword with true heart.

Fang Xiaoxie remembered clearly – two months after he obtained the Nameless Iron Sword, Zhilin Sou’s travel record had spread throughout the Nineteen Continents. He had found a copy to read and told Master Uncle Jian Chou about it.

But she had only glanced at it and laughed.

After laughing, she fell silent for a long time.

So he asked: “Did Zhilin Sou write it wrong?”

She sighed softly, closed the booklet, and said slowly: “If the true sword has a true heart, the holy sword should naturally have a holy heart, and the demon sword must have a demon heart.”

Holy heart, demon heart…

Fang Xiaoxie repeated these words silently, still feeling confused.

Saying Senior Brother Qu had a holy heart was understandable. But Master Uncle Jian Chou – how could she say she had a demon heart?