Chapter 72

(First update of the day, it's Monday again, I'm asking for everyone's support with recommendations and new readers to add to their collections, thank you all.)

The Heavenly Gate Pavilion was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Su Qinnian saw that apart from the ancient Xuantong, there were over a dozen Huashan disciples in white robes, all staring intently at him.

"These Huashan people came to our Wudang Mountain, not visiting other peaks, nor ascending the Heavenly Pillar Peak, but specifically came to this Lion Peak. This already goes against the etiquette of visiting a sect, but my current status is not legitimate, so I cannot raise this issue. Moreover, they arrived neither too early nor too late, just before the outer court competition. This is because they have guessed our three people's resolve and want to hinder our cultivation to ensure absolute success."

In an instant, Su Qinnian's thoughts raced, but there was no better solution at the moment. Their foundations were too shallow, and any misstep could put them at a disadvantage.

After a brief deliberation, Su Qinnian said, "We should do our utmost to fulfill the senior's request, but our cultivation is shallow, and we have only just received the inheritance, not yet fully mastering it. If one day we find the shadow of the divine sword..."

"Rubbish! Are you saying there is no sword? You received the inheritance from Qingyang Peak, how could you not have seen the divine sword? Or are you trying to embezzle it and keep it for yourself!"

A cold rebuke interrupted Su Qinnian. This was a Huashan disciple, about seventeen or eighteen years old, the youngest among the dozen Huashan disciples. He had very light eyebrows, but his eyes were sharp like a sword, staring coldly at Su Qinnian without any courtesy.

In the Heavenly Gate Pavilion, some of the attendants and enforcers frowned slightly.

"Lin Ming! Hold your tongue. This is a sacred place, at the foot of Wudang Mountain. How can you be so disrespectful here."

Ancient Xuantong immediately rebuked him, but although he was scolding, there was no real anger on his face, rather, it seemed like he was trying to provoke a reaction. This made some of the Lion Peak's indoor disciples change their expressions subtly, their faces turning somewhat grim.

"Senior Uncle Guo, you are too harsh. There's no need to get angry."

At this moment, Qinggan smiled, his tone gentle and soothing, exuding a pure and warm aura. Ancient Xuantong was immediately startled, while the other Lion Peak attendants and enforcers were slightly shaken, showing a hint of joy. They could see that Qinggan had reached a profound level in the Lion Peak's peak internal skill, the "Heavenly Yang Awakening Lion Skill," which allowed his internal energy to be warm and harmonious, blending with his spirit, thus resolving hostility and making people feel close.

"Junior Brother Su," Qinggan then looked at Su Qinnian and said, "I believe you truly have an incomplete inheritance and have not yet fully mastered it. However, if your inheritance remains incomplete, Senior Uncle Guo, as a dragon general of the Heavenly Dynasty, responsible for protecting the Dragon Manor, cannot stay on Wudang Mountain indefinitely. I suggest we set a deadline. If within this period, Junior Brother still cannot fully inherit everything, we will hand over the inheritance to other disciples within the sect who have already established their foundations. They have solid foundations and profound cultivation, and can certainly carry on the legacy of Qingyang Peak. In this way, if Junior Brother eventually establishes his foundation, you can still be considered a disciple of Qingyang Peak."

"That is acceptable."

Some of the attendants and enforcers exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. In fact, for someone like Su Qinnian, a death row inmate from the Free and Easy Valley, they found it hard to tolerate him, despite their sighs and laments about Qingyang Peak.

In their view, Wudang's Tai Chi is harmonious and complete. Over the past few decades, many children of officials have joined Wudang, becoming initiates and even indoor disciples, but none have yet become the peak disciple of a lineage.

The current Han Emperor excels in both civil and military affairs, surpassing all previous Han Emperors. It is said that his mastery of the "Emperor's Qi Divination Technique" is on par only with the first Han Emperor. Since his ascension, he has issued various decrees, especially the establishment of the Dragon Manor, which has attracted outstanding disciples and renowned experts from various martial arts sects and noble families to form the Dragon Guard, a force dedicated to slaying demons and evil. In recent years, this has made the demons and evil spirits tremble with fear, and some old demons and demon races dare not appear casually, fearing they will be hunted down.

In the past few decades, although the demons in the Four Seas have been restless and their incursions into the border regions have become more rampant, the Heavenly Dynasty's territory has become more stable than ever before, with the people united and a sense of destiny converging.

However, many martial arts sects and noble families have seen that this Han Emperor has the ambition to establish a lasting legacy. Sixty years ago, the Heavenly Dynasty established the Arsenal, named "Heaven and Earth." The name "Heaven and Earth" implies a deep meaning, indicating the intention to collect all martial arts from the world and incorporate them into the Heavenly Dynasty.

In the Heavenly Gate Pavilion.

Su Qinnian stood tall, his expression unchanged, but he sighed inwardly. The deep scheming and meticulous planning of the Heavenly Sword had forced him into a dangerous situation.

"Six months, we can only wait for six more months."

Ancient Xuantong said, "Currently, the younger generation of the Demon Sect is producing many strong individuals, and the shadows of the old demons from the previous generation are also looming. We have been suppressing a demon lair, but in recent years, we have felt a lack of successors. If we can use the Purple Mist Divine Sword as the array eye, our Huashan Purple Light Splitting God Array will be complete, ensuring peace for another hundred years."

"Of course, five hundred years ago, the Great Master Jiyuan made an agreement with our Huashan. We respect the senior master, and even if we set a deadline, it will be done openly and fairly," Ancient Xuantong glanced at Su Qinnian, his tone indifferent, "At that time, a Huashan disciple under the age of twenty will come to the mountain and defeat you personally."

"In six months, on Qingyang Peak, I will be waiting."

At this moment, Su Qinnian straightened his back, his tone becoming unusually calm, exuding a natural aura of fearlessness in the face of danger.

This made some of the attendants and enforcers look at him with renewed respect. In such a situation, to remain so calm and maintain his dignity made them realize that Su Qinnian's inheritance of Qingyang Peak was not just a matter of luck.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Suddenly, the sound of a bell rang three times, echoing into the Heavenly Gate Pavilion.

What!

In an instant, even Qinggan was slightly moved, his eyes showing a hint of seriousness.

"This is the sound of the Tai Chi Bell. Three rings mean something significant has happened."

Soon, an indoor disciple entered the Heavenly Gate Pavilion, bringing shocking news.

Sigh!

Many people couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath, even the deadly sword immortal Ancient Xuantong stood up abruptly, his eyes wide with shock.

Qinggan stood up, his long sword in hand, a faint but astonishingly sharp aura brewing around him, which quickly dissipated. Despite this, Su Qinnian could sense the reality of the situation. Qinggan's sword cultivation had truly reached a terrifying level. Although he possessed the first-class superior knife technique "Xiuming Dao," it was far too immature compared to this sword aura and could not be mentioned in the same breath.

"Jiushan Beggar Gang, the leader from five thousand years ago, the first person in the martial arts history recorded by the Imperial Historian of the Heavenly Dynasty, a top-tier spirit person and martial arts patriarch, Hong Qi!"

"The spirit world of this person has appeared! Right here in Maoyan County."

All the attendants and enforcers were moved. Hong Qi of the Beggar Gang, a master of palm techniques from five thousand years ago, transformed the Beggar Gang's Dragon Subduing Palm several times, elevating it from a first-class to a top-tier technique, and was just one step away from reaching the supreme level. The Beggar Gang, once a second-rate organization, became one of the top sects in the Heavenly Dynasty.

"In his later years, despite his declining vitality, Hong Qi was still incredibly powerful, crossing the Eastern Sea and slaying four demon kings. He tore through the void with the first-generation demon emperor of the Heavenly Sparrow Clan, and both fell into the temporal chaos, disappearing without a trace, becoming a mystery from five thousand years ago."

An enforcer sighed, lamenting that this was a great person, but even his remains were not left behind in his later years.

Half an hour later.

Su Qinnian walked through Wudang Mountain, occasionally seeing fleeting shadows of light flashing by from a distance. These were Wudang experts descending the mountain to head to the spirit world of the former leader of the Beggar Gang, the great person Hong Qi.

Even the Huashan group, including the deadly sword immortal, had hurriedly taken their leave and descended the mountain.

This made Su Qinnian breathe a sigh of relief. He could imagine the turmoil that would ensue in Maoyan County, but none of it concerned him. Even if the treasures were tempting, they were far beyond his reach at the moment. However, this had attracted a lot of attention, and at least for the next few months, the Heavenly Sword would likely have no time to focus on other matters. (First update of the day, it's Monday again, I'm asking for everyone's support with recommendations and new readers to add to their collections, thank you all.)