After the great battle, recuperation was the natural order. Since the imperial army no longer posed a threat, and with Song Fengshan holding the fort at the manor, Song Yushao wasn’t in a rush to return. He would wait for Chu Hao to regain consciousness so he could question him about certain matters.

A pure martial artist who had reached the pinnacle, as long as their physical body and primordial spirit weren’t fundamentally damaged, could return to their peak after a period of rest and recuperation. The length of time varied from person to person. Song Yushao’s original understanding of the “Martial God Realm” was what Chen Ping’an referred to as the Golden Body, Ascended, and Mountain Peak realms. It was said that the conversion between the old and new true qi could be completed in an instant, imperceptible to outsiders, thus leaving no openings. The Green Bamboo Sword Immortal’s ambush on the battlefield earlier wouldn’t have been possible. Therefore, a powerful saying circulated in the Jianghu of宝瓶洲中部, “Before a Martial God falls in battle, they are always at their peak.” However, Song Yushao had only heard rumors. Chen Ping’an only knew the realm divisions and the scenery atop the Martial Dao mountain remained shrouded in mist for him.

Song Yushao noticed that Chen Ping’an’s complexion was not good, which was unusual. Logically, a martial artist’s aura should stabilize after leaving the battlefield, but Chen Ping’an showed signs of fatigue. He stopped and couldn’t help asking, “What’s wrong? Did you suffer a hidden injury?”

Chen Ping’an first checked on Chu Hao. His breathing was slow and steady, seemingly still unconscious. Without a word, Chen Ping’an, as if he were back in his youth following Liu Xianyang, roaming the mountains and fields, grabbed Chu Hao and, with a flick of his wrist, loosened his bones and dispersed his qi. Then, with another shake, he knocked the梳水国 Grand General completely unconscious.

Chu Hao, who thought he had concealed himself perfectly, wailed in his heart. His vision went black, and he lost all consciousness. To encounter such a sword immortal who disregarded Jianghu morality, he was truly helpless this time.

Chen Ping’an then explained to Song Yushao, “Because I am not a mountain-based swordsman, controlling two flying swords requires a lot of my mental energy. Although they can kill enemies on their own after leaving the sword-nurturing gourd, they still require me to allocate some of my divine will to them, like their scabbards. Otherwise, they won’t stay outside my Qi Palace or sword-nurturing gourd for too long. Also, I used the dimension talisman a bit too much, and the two qi exchanges were a bit rushed. I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable now, but it’s okay. As long as there are no major battles in the near future, I can gradually recover through breathing and meditation.”

Song Yushao breathed a sigh of relief. Walking in the forest, with the interplay of sunlight and shade, the old man felt refreshed and content. This was partly because a knot in his heart had been untied, and also because he had met a young friend he could entrust his life to, rekindling a flicker of hope for the Jianghu. Even if people’s hearts were not as pure as before, the Jianghu still existed.

The old man suddenly smiled and said, “Chen Ping’an, although you have a sword-nurturing gourd, so you don’t have to spend precious materials to repair your natal flying sword after each use, as mountain-based sword cultivators do, a debt is a debt. Chu Hao actually invited the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal of松溪国 to hold the line. Without your help this time, I would definitely have been trapped in the encirclement of the army. So, when we return to the manor, I will give you all my small snow coins as a gift of gratitude. The amount is not much, I’ve only saved up less than two thousand over the years. Fengshan used half of them to buy ‘Azure Water’ at the Immortal Ferry, so I can only give you a hundred small snow coins.”

Saying this, the old man felt a little embarrassed and mocked himself, “I never thought that the life of Sword Saint Song Yushao of梳水国 is only worth less than a thousand small snow coins.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and nodded, “Senior Song, three or four hundred small snow coins are enough for me. You don’t need to give me all of them. Song Fengshan will definitely need them in the future.”

Although there was a pile of snowflake coins that the 青衣小童 bought ordinary snake gallstones with in the dimension item Flying Sword Fifteen, as well as eight more precious Lesser Heat coins, it wasn’t a small amount. However, Chen Ping’an had witnessed the scene at the Cow Horn Mountain 包袱斋 under Wei Bo’s introduction. He was worried that he would miss out on desirable mountain items once he reached that Immortal Ferry.

As for Senior Song and the Sword Water Manor, Chen Ping’an believed in the old man’s words: “The green mountains will not change, and the green waters will always flow.”

Chen Ping’an chose to accept the money, but not all of it, which was beyond Song Yushao’s expectations. The old man couldn’t help but smile and said, “You are polite… and not polite! Do you know what the older generation of Jianghu people would say? They would pat their chests and say, ‘Talking about money between brothers hurts feelings. If you treat me as a brother, then don’t mention this matter again, otherwise, we can’t be brothers.'”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “It’s more uncomfortable to owe someone a favor than to owe them money. At least, that’s how I feel.”

Song Yushao deeply understood this and nodded, “That’s indeed the case.”

The old man added a final sentence, “As it should be.”

The mountain wind blew through the forest, the green leaves rustling, and the shade of the trees was cool.

Because he was concerned about Chen Ping’an’s physical condition, Song Yushao didn’t walk fast. However, with no worries weighing on his mind, the old man treated it as a scenic walk. Song Yushao only reminded Chen Ping’an that he had questions to ask Chu Hao when he woke up next time, and not to knock him out again. Chen Ping’an had no objections. Having determined Chu Hao’s approximate martial cultivation, the naturally cautious Chen Ping’an felt relieved. He didn’t want to carry Chu Hao through the mountains, but dragging him by the neck wasn’t appropriate. After thinking it over, Chen Ping’an simply dragged Chu Hao by one leg, like a mountain king inspecting his territory, using a broom to “sweep” the fallen leaves and branches in his own courtyard.

The Green Bamboo Sword Immortal, unafraid of being pursued by Song Yushao and the youth, leisurely returned to the state city along the official road. He suddenly turned his head to look at the distant mountain forest beside the road. After stopping, he reached out and grasped the section of green bamboo hanging at his waist. A familiar face to the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal slowly walked out of the forest. He was an old man of seventy, with distinct features, clearly not an easy person to deal with in the Jianghu. He wore a sword at his waist, with a scabbard wrapped in green silk thread of unknown material. The length of the sword far exceeded that of ordinary swordsmen, extremely conspicuous.

The Green Bamboo Sword Immortal walked off the official road, facing the ancient 榆国 swordsman he had met a few times before. They both stopped in unison, twenty paces apart.

The old swordsman smiled and said, “Su Lang, it’s been five or six years since we parted by the river last time, hasn’t it?”

The Green Bamboo Sword Immortal said calmly, “Lin Gushan, what do you want from me? Speak your mind, I’m not in a good mood right now.”
The seasoned swordsman, unfazed by the impudence of a younger martial artist, cut to the chase. “I’m here on assignment from the Imperial Advisor, to intercept and kill Chen Ping An. We’ve already clashed. A royal court cultivator and the Serpent Widow are dead by Chen Ping An’s hand. Now, only the Buy-Casket Pavilion Lord and I remain. We’re unwilling to give up. Having witnessed that impressive Immortal’s Array formation in the mountains, I wondered if we could join forces. After we capture Chen Ping An and Song Yu Shao, dead or alive, Song Yu Shao is yours to deal with. We’ll take Chen Ping An back to Gu Yu Kingdom.”

Su Lang glanced towards the dense forest and asked two questions: “In time? Odds of success?”

Lin Gu Shan, the Sword Revered of Gu Yu Kingdom, nodded. “The Buy-Casket Pavilion Lord excels at assassination. He’ll strike first, harassing them, which will buy enough time. As for the odds, I can only say it depends on our efforts. Even with the three of us working together, I, Lin Gu Shan, can’t guarantee how many of us will survive.”

Su Lang smiled. “If Senior Lin said the odds were extremely high, I wouldn’t have agreed.”

Lin Gu Shan inquired, “Is that a yes, then?”

Su Lang nodded. “Go support the Buy-Casket Pavilion Lord first. I’ll return the way I came, to find the Vice-General of the Chu Iron Cavalry and those two cultivators from Shuishui Kingdom. If you two can hold off Song Yu Shao and Chen Ping An, I can improve our chances of success.”

Lin Gu Shan hesitated.

Su Lang smiled slightly. “This hasty alliance is based on mutual benefit. It’s normal that you don’t trust me, Su Lang. But surely you can believe in the allure of personally claiming the head of an old Sword Saint of Shuishui Kingdom, for a Sword Immortal of Songxi Kingdom.”

Lin Gu Shan sneered. “Perhaps you’d also take the head of the Sword Revered of Gu Yu Kingdom while you’re at it? Then you alone would dominate the Way of the Sword across dozens of kingdoms! Wouldn’t that be ideal!”

Su Lang twirled a strand of hair at his temple with two fingers, casually tapping the bamboo flute in his other hand. “Your sword, Lin Gu Shan, has never caught my eye.”

Lin Gu Shan, whose reputation was abysmal, narrowed his eyes, offering a mirthless smile. “Cocky, aren’t we?”

Su Lang was candid. “The truth is rarely pleasant.”

Lin Gu Shan scoffed. “Regardless, Chen and Song are our primary enemies today. The Buy-Casket Pavilion Lord and I await your good news! If you’re late, I won’t presume to say whether that vengeful Buy-Casket Pavilion Lord will retaliate against you, Su Lang. But I, Lin Gu Shan, will certainly demand an explanation from you and the Songxi Kingdom’s royal family.”

Su Lang extended a hand, signaling Lin Gu Shan to proceed.

The Sword Revered shot away.

Su Lang also turned and headed towards the official road.

However, halfway there, Su Lang abruptly stopped. He saw a pure and innocent-looking maiden, dressed in a pristine yellow and pink dress, standing in the middle of the road.

Su Lang slowly advanced.

The maiden took out a sealed letter from her sleeve, sealed with vermillion wax to prevent the messenger from opening it. She smiled sweetly. “Song Feng Shan wanted me to give this to you. He said you’d understand after reading it. He also said that if you agree, just nod in front of me, and Song Feng Shan promises that for the next sixty years, you, Su Lang, will firmly hold half the martial world as a Sword Immortal, across dozens of kingdoms.”

Su Lang pondered for a moment, then took out a pair of snow-white silk gloves from his sleeve, put them on, and beckoned. “Toss it over.”

The maiden was one of the “Granny’s” four fiends from Shuishui Kingdom’s ancient temple. Besides keeping an eye on Song Yu Shao, and as a contingency, her more important task was to personally deliver this letter to Su Lang. This Qingzhu Sword Immortal, renowned in the martial world, was actually a distant relative of the Songxi Kingdom’s royal family, but due to impure blood, he had long lost any chance of inheriting the throne.

Su Lang carefully removed the seal, quickly scanned the letter, and a curve appeared on his lips. With a flick of his wrist, he shattered the letter, removed his gloves, and put them back in his sleeve. Su Lang nodded. “You can report back to Song Feng Shan. Since Swordwater Villa is so sincere, I, Su Lang, will reciprocate in kind. Tell Song Feng Shan that there will soon be a good, albeit small, piece of news, related to the Old Sword Saint. I hope Song Feng Shan keeps his word on the matters in the letter.”

The maiden, now carefree, put her hands behind her back, intertwining her fingers, and smiled brightly. “Although Song Feng Shan lacks romantic flair, he’s very reliable in his dealings, even more so than those centuries-old or millennia-old demons. So you can rest assured, Su Lang. You’ll be the ruler of the martial world across dozens of kingdoms, surpassing even those who sit on the Dragon Throne.”

Su Lang smiled. “I’ll take your auspicious words.”

“If Great Sword Immortal Su ever needs someone to warm his bed, just let me know! I’ll be at your beck and call!” The maiden winked at the handsome man, let out a string of silvery laughter, her form wavering and dissipating, then transforming into a cloud of green smoke that rose into the air and quickly vanished.

Su Lang continued on his own, beginning to weigh the pros and cons.

Should he be short-sighted, quickly securing the benefits?

Or should he join forces with Song Feng Shan, allowing him to elevate him to the high position of ruler of the martial world?

Su Lang suddenly chuckled. There was a particularly interesting suggestion in the letter. Song Feng Shan promised that they would orchestrate a grand spectacle in the martial world roughly every decade. The two of them would engage in a duel of the ages. Song Feng Shan would inherit the title of Sword Saint from Swordwater Villa and, as a Sword Saint, engage in a so-called life-or-death battle with Su Lang, who held the title of Sword Immortal. But it was merely a performance for the martial world. Song Feng Shan had even chosen three locations for their battles in the letter. The first was his challenge to Su Lang, at the peak of the palace hall within the Songxi Kingdom’s Imperial Palace. Su Lang would win decisively. The second would be at the top of the waterfall at Swordwater Villa, where Song Feng Shan would narrowly win. The third would be at the Burial Mounds in Rouge County of Colorful Garment Kingdom, where Su Lang would prevail.

Su Lang found it quite intriguing.

So he decided to take down the heads of the Sword Revered of Gu Yu Kingdom and the Buy-Casket Pavilion Lord, as a reciprocal gesture.

Su Lang quickly saw the figures of Shuishui Kingdom’s imperial troops, his mind still filled with Song Feng Shan’s interlocking schemes, muttering, “So the martial world can be played like this?”

In the end, this Sword Immortal of Songxi Kingdom did not go directly to the army but abruptly turned, heading alone into the mountains.
It was still a three-on-two situation, except this “three” consisted of Song Yushao, Chen Ping’an, and Su Lang. They would be facing Lin Gushan and the Pavilion Master of the Buyu Pavilion together.

After entering the mountain path through the woods, Su Lang deliberately slowed his pace, laughing, “The pugilistic world is indeed treacherous.”

Inside the state city, in an inconspicuous, secluded residence, a distinguished guest from the capital was staying. While the house wasn’t extravagant, it was exceptionally clean, with decorations imbued with the refined elegance of a scholarly family. Moreover, its location was both bustling and quiet, clearly a deliberate choice.

A pampered woman stood in the courtyard. Though advanced in years, she was well-maintained and still possessed a lingering charm. If one didn’t examine the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes too closely, she appeared to be a young woman in her thirties. She was currently bending over, tossing food into a large vat to feed the fish. Inside, a dozen graceful goldfish swam, interspersed with vibrant green water lilies, creating a picturesque scene of gold and green.

Besides the noble woman from the capital, there was only a sturdy, sword-wielding maidservant in the courtyard.

However, the surrounding alleys and streets concealed hidden guards. Not only were there elite soldiers protecting the perimeter, but several martial arts experts were also hidden among the commoners. Some of the most capable constables from the Governor’s mansion had already arrived to secretly impose martial law, demonstrating the significant importance of this guest from the capital.

Yet, amidst this heavy protection, the burly, almost masculine, sword-wielding maidservant suddenly collapsed to the ground without warning. Behind her, a handsome young master holding a folding fan appeared, creating gentle breezes. His hair swayed slightly at his temples as he smiled at the woman still bending over to feed the fish, her voluptuous figure on full display. The young master found the scene delightful, considering his trip worthwhile.

The woman stood up, turning to face the young man silently.

The young man smiled, “Madam, we’ve met before in the capital.”

The woman remained calm, sneering, “Since when do the disciples of the Han clan of Little Chongshan dare to challenge a Great General?”

The young master closed his folding fan, covering his face with both hands, and slowly smoothed them downwards, revealing a face intimately familiar to the woman. The young man used a voice equally familiar to her, laughing, “How about now? My dear Madam?”

Before the woman could scream in surprise, Han Yuanshan, a disciple of the Han clan of Little Chongshan, extended a finger and gently shushed her. “Madam, rest assured, Han Yuanshan only likes to steal hearts. I never steal or rob a woman’s body. However, I believe that one day, Madam will willingly offer herself, to be with me…”

Now appearing with Chu Hao’s face, Han Yuanshan pointed to the fish vat, pausing slightly before continuing, “…in mutual harmony, like fish and water.”

In Rouge County of the Colorful Garb Kingdom, an elderly scholar with a jade pendant hanging from his waist stood on the city wall, his expression solemn.

Within the imperial palace of the Colorful Garb Kingdom’s capital, a similarly aged scholar, with a jade pendant on his waist, stood by the window in the imperial study, silent. The Emperor of the Colorful Garb Kingdom stood beside him tremulously, not even daring to sit.

In the Ancient Elm Kingdom, there was still a scholar in his thirties, wearing a green robe and adorned with the same jade pendant. He sat in a crudely hired carriage, constantly complaining about the young carter. Twenty miles from the Ancient Elm Kingdom, the carter was utterly dumbfounded. His sharp eyes saw the approaching force of a thousand elite cavalry, surrounded by a large number of yellow- and purple-robed officials. There even seemed to be a man in a yellow robe standing by the roadside, waiting, as if expecting someone?

The scholar in the carriage put down his book and said to the carter, “Stop the carriage at the station. Don’t worry, they’re waiting for me. Besides the deposit I already paid, the Ancient Elm Kingdom’s court will secretly give you a reward, consider it my remaining expenses.”

After saying this, the middle-aged scholar packed his books, laughing, “It’s not easy to come out, don’t anger our Headmaster again when you reach the Combing Stream Kingdom.”

At Swordwater Manor, the Pugilistic Alliance Leader Ceremony was about to begin. In the main hall, some faces from the previous banquet were missing, but many prominent figures from the martial world had arrived. People from both sides of the law were present, representing the majority of heroes from the Combing Stream Kingdom.

Sitting high on the main seat, Song Fengshan didn’t show much emotion despite seeing these influential figures.

Among them were those who had come to pledge allegiance opportunistically, those harboring sinister intentions, those re-evaluating the situation before placing another bet, and even those from the court who believed they would witness a grand joke.

Not far from Song Fengshan sat his wife, dressed in full finery, her grace and elegance likely rivaling that of the palace consorts.

Song Fengshan was confident, and there were others below who also believed they had everything under control.

However, neither side expected the arrival of an uninvited guest, shattering their painstakingly planned years of scheming.

Without any report from the gatekeeper, nor any attempts to stop him by the disciples of Swordwater Manor, almost everyone instinctively bowed and saluted when they heard the name of the person.

The young man, wearing a Confucian robe and a scholar’s cap, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, walked into the Swordwater Manor’s crowded hall at an unhurried pace. After crossing the threshold, he looked around and announced his identity again, “Guanghu Academy, Sage Zhou Ju.”

Almost everyone in the hall stood up and bowed to him.

The young man returned the bows, then took two or three steps forward, looking at the young Master of Swordwater Manor on the main seat.

Song Fengshan’s face was gloomy. The young woman sitting nearby signaled with her eyes, indicating that he shouldn’t act rashly.

The young Sage of Guanghu Academy said calmly, “Is Han Yuanshan, a disciple of the Han clan of Little Chongshan, at the Manor?”

Song Fengshan suppressed his anger, forcing a smile, and said slowly, “Unfortunately, Han Yuanshan was still at the Manor yesterday, but he’s gone today. He said he had a sudden whim to travel the world. I wonder, esteemed scholar, what do you need him for? If it’s not urgent, I can pass on the message to Han Yuanshan.”

The young Sage smiled, “Han Yuanshan, as a scholar of the Combing Stream Kingdom and a disciple of my Confucian school, is cultivating demonic arts with ulterior motives, harming the country. I must take him to Guanghu Academy to be punished. As for how he will be dealt with, that will be decided at the academy. Song Fengshan, I, Zhou Ju, am not speaking as a Sage of the academy, but rather personally advising you: turn back before it’s too late, and mend the fold before the sheep are lost.”
Song Fengshan rested his elbow on the armrest of his chair, propping up his cheek, and with his head tilted, he smiled as he gazed at the virtuous scholar from Guanhai Academy, taking his time to size him up.

Rumor had it that these esteemed masters, whenever they left the academy on official business, would wear the jade pendant bestowed by the Sage of the academy at their waists. This pendant could record their observations and personal conduct along the way, to demonstrate the uprightness of their words and actions. The jade pendant was in the simplest and most elegant style of a safety amulet, but the inscriptions on them varied depending on the virtuous gentleman, each carrying profound meaning and often containing the Sage’s expectations and guidance for that individual.

Song Fengshan was exceedingly impolite, showing no intention of replying. Naturally, the young woman stepped in to smooth things over. After standing up to greet the academy’s virtuous scholar with a curtsy, she smiled and said, “If Han Yuanshan is truly as you say, then my Swordwater Manor will act impartially. Wherever righteousness lies, we will do our utmost to help the academy capture him.”

Zhou Ju looked at the woman and said in a deep voice, “It is only because you severed the Bridge of Longevity early on that you can stand here and spout such arrogant words. Otherwise, your fate would be no better than Han Yuanshan’s. Demonic practitioners who stir up trouble in the martial world will naturally be dealt with by righteous heroes, but if they dare to encroach upon a nation’s mountains, rivers, and altars of state, my academy will show no mercy!”

Song Fengshan sat up straight, staring intently at Zhou Ju. “You had best be more polite when speaking to my wife.”

“Fengshan!”

The young woman turned her head and gave a soft cry. Seeing the anxious look in her eyes, Song Fengshan sighed inwardly and leaned back against the chair, saying nothing more.

At this moment, Dou Yang, the self-proclaimed leader of the Demon Sect, took a swig of wine and slammed the cup heavily on the table, sneering.

The young scholar turned to look at this Qi cultivator and said, “Once I have finished the academy’s business, I will remove the jade pendant from my waist. I hope you, Dou Yang, will still be able to laugh then.”

Dou Yang glanced sideways at the academy master, who was probably not yet thirty years old, and chuckled. “Others may fear the name of your Guanhai Academy to the point of trembling, and I, Dou Yang, am also wary. But because I know the rules of your academy, I am not reduced to trembling fear. I am well aware of the thresholds for Confucian sages, the bottlenecks they face, and the approximate distance between them and a true gentleman. So, Zhou Ju, you need not try to intimidate me with words. To put it bluntly, even if you take off your jade token, I will still be wary of your academy and would not dare to fight you without restraint. But if you, Zhou Ju, have the ability to remove your Confucian robes and scholar’s cap as well, acting like a true martial artist, then if I, Dou Yang, don’t beat the shit out of you, I’ll take your name!”

The words of the demon Dou Yang were domineering and cathartic. Even some white-path bigwigs felt that although this man had committed many evils and caused countless bloody storms in the martial world, to be able to utter such words in the face of a virtuous scholar from Guanhai Academy was truly worthy of the title of a martial hero! Could it be said that having such a demonic behemoth in the Combing Water Kingdom was a way of overshadowing the martial worlds of the Colorful Cloth Kingdom and the Ancient Elm Kingdom?

The virtuous scholar Zhou Ju smiled slightly.

He lowered his head and muttered quietly to the jade token, “Teacher, listen to this. How can I possibly tolerate this? It would be one thing to restrain myself from beating up those academy scholars, but do I have to endure a demonic Qi cultivator when I’m far away from the academy? Okay, you’ll definitely say to endure and endure again, and by enduring, I can become a gentleman again, but… I really can’t stand it… What, Teacher, what are you saying… Hello, can you hear me? Oh, why is the jade token acting up? Teacher, you must properly discipline those fellows at the academy’s Manufacturing Bureau when you get back… Well, that’s it then, I’m not chatting anymore. Teacher, please help me get a new jade pendant when you return to the academy…”

In the end, everyone saw the young academy master, who was spouting nonsense, tightly clench the jade token that seemed to be shaking on its own. He shook it vigorously, and finally, using a two-finger incantation, he gently rotated it. A gentle breeze surrounded the jade token, enveloping it like a silkworm cocoon. Only then did the young scholar smile, remove the jade pendant, and put it in his sleeve.

Taking advantage of the others’ inattention, the young woman walked to Song Fengshan’s side and said with a wry smile, “Fengshan, I remember now. This man is one of the Sage of Guanhai Academy’s direct disciples. Among the disciples, he is the youngest and has the worst temper. His abilities… even if they aren’t the highest, they are definitely in the top two. He achieved the status of a gentleman at the age of twenty, which caused a great sensation at the time. He was hailed as the best candidate to become a ‘righteous’ gentleman after Cui Minghuang, and there was a high possibility that he would be personally examined and assessed by the Sage of the academy. Therefore, Guanhai Academy protected him very well. Our intelligence has always recorded him as Zhou Juran, not Zhou Ju.”

Dou Yang sat dumbfounded, swallowing hard.

Although he did not know that Zhou Ju was Zhou Juran, he still grasped the clues of “beating up scholars” and “returning to gentlemanhood”.

Therefore, Dou Yang stood up, ready to apologize and admit defeat.

There was no shame in admitting defeat to a Confucian gentleman.

However, Zhou Ju, who had temporarily left the academy as a virtuous scholar, held out a hand and pointed two fingers at Dou Yang, the demon who was once invincible in the Combing Water Kingdom, and smiled, “A Confucian sage once wrote a magnificent poem, asking future generations, ‘Have you seen, a stream of broken stones as big as a bucket, scattered by the wind, stones running wildly across the ground?’ Zhou Ju of later generations answers, ‘I have seen it!'”

Within a radius of ten feet of Dou Yang’s burly body, a cyclone of qi swept through, and a fierce gale, like a terrestrial tornado, frantically surrounded the demonic behemoth.

Dou Yang’s end was truly one of having his form consumed and bones exposed.

The gale dissipated, and a skeleton fell to the ground.

The young scholar did not even look at Dou Yang, who was reduced to a mere skeleton. He slightly raised his head, looked at Song Fengshan, and asked, “Do you now understand that I was already being very polite to your wife earlier?”

Song Fengshan’s hand clenched in anger, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, but the young woman, who was standing beside him, reached out and pressed hard on the back of his hand. She smiled and said, “My husband and I are, of course, aware of the goodwill offered by Master Zhou.”

Zhou Ju smiled. “Since Han Yuanshan is not here, then I will not disturb your alliance leader ceremony. I will go find him. You may continue.”

The academy’s virtuous scholar turned around freely and walked towards the gate. Just then, an old man and a young man returned to Swordwater Manor from the outside, walking side by side towards the hall, seemingly having gone through a series of dangerous battles, their bodies stained with blood.

Neither side stopped nor spoke, just passing each other as they stepped over the threshold.

The young scholar kept his eyes on the sword-bearing youth, who was a little strange, and turned to look at him. Their eyes met.
Even as the youth had already entered the grand hall, he no longer met his gaze. The young sage, once a gentleman of the Lakeside Academy, still craned his neck, his gaze fixed upon the departing figure of the young man.

Welcome to Great Scholars Academy.