The question hung in the air, heavy as a battle axe: “Who is Qi Tingji?”

A damning query indeed, one that spoke volumes of the insular nature of the Tongye Continent. In days of yore, the continents of the vast world of Haoran were akin to individual souls, each bearing a unique character and temperament. The Foya Continent, with its bellicose populace, was a brawny warrior, almost kin to the savage Northern Juzhou. But Tongye, steeped in its own self-importance, resembled a wizened scholar, convinced of its unparalleled wisdom behind closed doors.

No doubt, the restrictions imposed by the Wen Temple, barring Yuan Ying cultivators and Golden Body warriors from the Five Splendor World, further fueled this isolation.

Zhang Fuzhi, the Grand Emperor of the Jinchan Dynasty, bore the Daoist name Shanzhi, a young Golden Core cultivator hailing from the ranks of Tongye’s registered practitioners.

He had but recently ascended the Dragon Throne, yet eschewed the regal crown and dragon robes.

Instead, he was clad in the flowing garments of a Daoist priest, his hair piled high upon his head. A man of imposing stature, with piercing blue eyes and strangely iridescent brows, his hands reached past his knees. He was known for his literary prowess and striking presence.

Without hesitation, the Emperor rose from the Dragon Throne, hurrying down the steps, fearful that he might be too slow, his head severed by a sword’s stroke, his torso cleaved in two. Only then could the young Sword Immortal, who professed a distaste for looking up at others, speak to him face to face.

Advancing a dozen paces, the Emperor bowed low, saying, “Zhang Fuzhi of the Hundred Cities Sect greets Sword Immortal Qi.”

Unlike many Immortal Houses, he had not adopted the “Zong” prefix, the Hundred Cities Sect retaining its ancient name. The customs of the mountains remained unchanged, the ancestral hall inviolate.

Xie Gou, speaking in his mind, chuckled, “Master, this Zhang Fuzhi is a lucky soul, stumbling into the role of Emperor. He still seems drunk with sleep, convinced that the throne is burning his backside. He’s itching to relinquish his position as soon as the realm is stable.”

Chen Pingan did not follow Qi Tingji into the grand hall, instead sitting upon the threshold. The roughly hewn, newly fired golden bricks beneath him were far from seamless, a shoddy construction that would cost a craftsman his head in Tongye.

“An Emperor is never easily,” Chen Pingan remarked.

Xiao Mo added, “My lord, this man was neither involved in the conspiracy to overthrow the former Emperor nor did he partake in the slaughter. He was a mere nominal vice-minister of rites, devoid of cruelty. Gouzi and I decided to spare him… for now.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “He seems a proper Daoist, his heart still dwelling in the mountains.”

A man in a blue robe and jade hairpin sat on the threshold, while a handsome youth in a yellow hat, blue shoes, and green bamboo staff stood outside, and a gleeful girl in a sable cap lingered within.

This scene, which should have exuded tranquility, clashed discordantly with the “wide-eyed” faces within the hall and the blood-traced patterns on the floor.

Zhang Fuzhi dared not inquire if the Jinchan Dynasty’s tragedy was the work of Qi Sword Immortal.

If the Emperor would not ask, the court officials certainly would not. Could these Sword Immortals from Ascendancy City intend another bloodbath, deliberately waiting for them to gather? Should they offer their necks to the blade, or fight back and risk a more humiliating demise?

Even if they knew nothing of Qi Tingji, the name of Ascendancy City was familiar.

Today’s urgent court assembly, ostensibly to discuss Zhang Fuzhi’s coronation, was truly concerned with one question: Who was the perpetrator?

Across the nation’s map, a sword of light had flashed, slaying over two hundred powerful cultivators in the Jinchan Dynasty, including two Jade Purity cultivators, one overt and one covert, and twenty-six Earth Immortals.

They were gone in the blink of an eye.

It was clearly the work of a Sword Immortal, capable of claiming heads from ten thousand li away.

Most suspected Ning Yao.

Who else in the Five Splendor World possessed such power?

Moreover, rumors whispered that Ning Yao had once visited the south, where she had slain.

Twelve famed Tongye cultivators, three Golden Core and nine Dragon Gate, had ambushed a beautiful woman they mistakenly believed to be merely a Yuan Ying cultivator.

One of them, clad in a military suit of dew armor, was felled with a single sword strike. His armor and body were as fragile as paper.

Ning Yao of Ascendancy City.

Her power and influence were unmatched.

The second strongest was said to be the young Daoist official of the Jade Capital, known as Shanqing, rumored to be the Dao Ancestor’s youngest disciple. However, he had suffered defeat at the hands of Ning Yao. A dispute over a monument had led to a confrontation. Ning Yao had soon traveled east, where she defeated the Daoist official, sending him into seclusion.

Heaven was vast and distant. It was no easy feat for an Earth Immortal to “ascend” to the heavenly realm and reason with the Confucian sages of the Wen Temple.

Even if one did reach the revered sages, what good would it do?

Ning Yao was recognized as the strongest person in the world. Some in the south were certain that she had reached the Immortal realm, while others believed she was already a Ascendant Sword Immortal.

Would Ning Yao listen, even if the Wen Temple offered their assistance?

As the strongest in the Five Splendor World, she was beyond reproach. What laws could constrain her?

Furthermore, the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Central Land Wen Temple were on good terms. Why else would they allow Ascendancy City to hold the center of the world?

Would the Wen Temple instruct the Jinchan Dynasty to settle the matter with Ascendancy City? Would Ning Yao and those bloodthirsty Sword Immortals simply stare them down, asking, “Who dares to accuse me?”

Rumors said that the last Hidden Official, a man named Chen, was not even native to the Sword Qi Great Wall. But he was Ning Yao’s Dao companion and a disciple of the Sage of Letters.

What was his standing in the Wen Temple now?

Was it possible that he would be waiting in the heavenly realm, ready to intercept their complaint? “Ah, you wish to accuse my Dao companion, Ning Yao?”

Qi Tingji glanced at Zhang Fuzhi. “Don’t accuse me. I did not wield the sword earlier. I have a temper, and I cannot tolerate being wronged.”

His words, uttered without mystical power, brought visible relief to the officials.

Qi Tingji smiled. “Do not think it was Ning Yao either. She is too busy to concern herself with you festering boils.”

Since Qi Tingji was not the true assailant, nor was it Ning Yao, could it be that this group had merely stumbled upon an opportunity? Regardless of how the heads had fallen into their hands, could they perhaps negotiate? The Jinchan Dynasty could not withstand further turmoil. It was on the verge of collapse.

Qi Tingji gestured behind him. “She wielded the sword,” he said, indicating Xie Gou. “If it had been me, you would not have convened this assembly today.”

Xie Gou, hands on her hips, her cheeks flushed red, wore an expression of pride, yet feigned modesty. “Mere child’s play.”

Zhang Fuzhi could only smile wryly. What could he say?

He had become the second Emperor of the Jinchan Dynasty due to his gentle nature, but more importantly, because his sect’s master, Qu Shengtong, was one of the few Yuan Ying cultivators in the Jinchan Dynasty. Qu Shengtong was skilled in astrology and divination, and soon after entering the Five Splendor World, he obtained an Immortal opportunity and fortunately broke through into Yuan Ying, opening a private dojo. For the past decade, he had been in seclusion, far from worldly affairs. As it turned out, he had just barely missed the disaster.

The once-dominant imperial court had just seen a slaughter, and even the Emperor’s head was missing. Who would dare sit upon the throne of execution?

Zhang Fuzhi certainly did not. If given a choice, he would not step into the spotlight. But a nation could not be without a ruler. The surviving Immortal Masters in the Jinchan Dynasty’s court did not wish to see the vast dynasty collapse, and after much deliberation, they chose Zhang Fuzhi. Zhang Fuzhi was incredulous. It was then that his master, still in seclusion, sent down a decree, instructing Zhang Fuzhi to follow the will of heaven and the people, and inherit the throne.

Zhang Fuzhi had no choice but to obey.

No one contested him, and Zhang Fuzhi was generally well-liked. So he became the ruler, though he was uncertain how long he would last. Would he join the former Emperor in the coffin, or would things take another turn?

Xie Gou stepped forward, treading on the face of a staring head. Accustomed to the rough streets below the Northern Juzhou mountain, she glared at the head and asked, “What are you looking at?” With a stomp, she crushed the face, and an eyeball shot out like a projectile, startling a newly appointed minister, who hastily dodged.

The girl in the sable cap looked up and scoffed. “I’m merely faster at killing. I’m nowhere near as creative as these Immortal Masters. This trip to the Jinchan Dynasty has been enlightening. For example, this General Jiang Miao was fond of turning soldiers into mincemeat, boiling them in oil, and building towers of children’s heads after sieging a city.”

Xie Gou raised her thumb to herself, her face turning sinister. “Our master said that my methods are the work of the wilder sects of the future. Can you imagine, now I have to admit that I’m still a novice?”

Xie Gou pouted. “Immortal Qi, you can continue talking. I don’t want to steal your thunder.”

Qi Tingji smiled. “There’s not much to discuss. I’m just reminding them to be more careful in the future.”

His jesting words, combined with the sight of the severed heads on the floor, made them shudder.

Qi Tingji walked forward and stood beside Zhang Fuzhi, their gazes fixed on the Dragon Throne.

Qi Tingji said, “There’s nothing wrong with using force. We Sword Cultivators have been using our swords to reason with beasts for ten thousand years. I can understand how you Immortal Masters of the Tongye Continent lord over mortals. You find yourselves in a new world where the Confucian scholars and the Wen Temple no longer govern you, where rules are broken, and desires unchecked. I can understand it. But there’s a problem.”

“You are too weak.”

Qi Tingji patted Zhang Fuzhi on the shoulder and smiled. “You are too weak, yet you do things that even I, Qi Tingji, would hesitate to do.”

A military officer who had been contemplating whether the Sword Cultivators were plotting to usurp the Jinchan Dynasty asked why they would not just take their share of the spoils, the Sword Cultivators needed material wealth, did they not? Before he could finish the thought, a sword of light pierced him, extracting his gallbladder.

Qi Tingji glanced at the corpse. “Not much courage either,” he sneered.

“You will be losing a few more today,” Qi Tingji said. “Tell them to hurry on the Yellow Springs road so they can join the others. Tell them it was Qi Tingji who said it. You are too weak to do such brazen things without a Ascendant guiding you.”

Qi Tingji paused. “You have no fear. It is as if you’ve descended to be no better than beasts!”

Xiao Mo, standing at the door, said calmly, “In many ways, you’ve been worse.”

There were about sixty officials present. Nine-tenths were Tongye cultivators, while the remaining tenth were there for appearances, relatives of old Yuan Ying Immortals or officials bought by wealthy families. Many of those attending court were hoping to strike it rich.

The blue-robed Sword Cultivator, still sitting on the threshold, suddenly asked, “Does anyone here know Zhao Tieyan or Shang Zuo?”

An old Golden Core cultivator, holding a jade tablet, took two steps forward and bowed. “I know them,” he replied, his voice trembling.

“What is your relationship with them?” Chen asked.

The old Golden Core cultivator replied respectfully, “I dare not hide anything. I am Song Zhou, the current master of the Danjing Sect. I will not mention my Dao name, lest I defile you. Zhao Tieyan and Shang Zuo were disciples of our sect. They chose to remain in the Tongye Continent against my wishes.”

Disaster.

Had those unfilial disciples become a scourge in the Tongye Continent? Had they clashed with this Sword Cultivator? How could he and the Danjing Sect escape punishment for their lack of discipline? The old Golden Core cultivator was filled with sorrow. Those children, though unremarkable, were not malicious. Had they met an unfortunate end?

Suddenly, the head of a man in the front row exploded, his body collapsing. He was instantly annihilated.

Because of the difference in their power, those present did not see who had made the move, nor did they question why that man had died.

The old Golden Core cultivator trembled, his Dao heart shaken. He forced himself to remain calm.

Chen Pingan said, “A crooked beam is holding up a crooked house. A rare thing indeed. As for you, you are not evil. You are passable. What is your official rank?”

“I work in the Guanglu Temple,” Song Zhou replied softly. “I am a third-rank official, not a principal officer.”

Chen Pingan nodded, and then he suddenly asked, “Are there any experts from the Xianqing Sect here? Perhaps that young Nieyun Sword Immortal?”

Zhang Fuzhi immediately said, “Immortal, the Xianqing Sect is not within the borders of the Jinchan Dynasty. Nieyun has been in seclusion for many years. Not long ago, he went to the neighboring country as a national teacher and has already entered the Yuan Ying stage.”

Xie Gou grinned. “Master, he’s just like you.”

Chen Pingan said, puzzled, “His Golden Core was mostly shattered. How could he have broken through into the Yuan Ying stage in just a few years?”

Zhang Fuzhi, of course, answered truthfully. “He has a sword of very high quality called Corpse Transformation, and the Xianqing Sect has high hopes for him. They have given him treasures and opportunities. It is not surprising that Nieyun has broken through.”

The country in which Nieyun resided was second only to the Jinchan Dynasty in the south. With this turn of events, it was difficult to say who would annex whom. Zhang Fuzhi, though uninterested in power, knew that many people in the hall, had the Sword Immortals not “graced” them with their presence, would have secretly sent messages to the Xianqing Sect, and even to Nieyun himself, once they left the palace.

Xie Gou turned and whispered, “Master, just so you know, he’s also a young Sword Immortal.”

Master, since that fellow once called the Sword Cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall the savages that liked to kill, why don’t I just go and get rid of him?

Chen Pingan shook his head, but reminded Qi Tingji to pay attention to that person. He was a shrewd Sword Cultivator.

Qi Tingji knew that Chen Pingan had changed his mind and personally came on this trip because he was concerned about the girl in Ascendancy City.

Feng Yuanxiao. She was born as an incarnation of the heavenly Great Dao of the Five Splendor World. In other words, she and Ning Yao suppressed each other.

If the Jinchan Dynasty were to become the norm in the south, it would have a significant impact on that girl’s Dao heart.

Outside, there had been speculation about the situation in the Five Splendor World. The consensus was that it would be somewhere between the Azure Billow World and the Wild World, with alchemists occupying the dominant position, and mortals becoming mere vassals, eventually reaching a delicate balance.

But no one thought that there would be a clear division between the mountains and the foothills, a “watershed” that could approximate Haoran.

The only place where mortals could govern all matters of the mountains was the Great Li Dynasty of Baopingzhou.

Qi Tingji had never been to Baopingzhou. When he heard that the Great Li had annexed a continent, he became curious about the national teacher, Cui Chan, and began to collect information about Baopingzhou. After leaving the Sword Qi Great Wall and the war ended, Qi Tingji learned more about the Great Li Dynasty and regretted never meeting the “embroidered tiger.”

Before returning to the Haoran world and going to the Wild World, Qi Tingji intended to visit Baopingzhou, especially the territory of the Great Li Dynasty.

Chen Pingan listed more than a dozen Dao names, sect names, and martial arts masters of Tongye, and asked if anyone in the hall was related to them.

The two Confucian sages who oversaw the Five Splendor World, one the first high priest of the Rites Academy, and one who founded the Heshang Academy, were responsible for recording the changes within the world, and had to endure disgust to identify Tongye’s stowaways.

It turned out that the monks and warriors who had tried to sneak into the Five Splendor World had been caught by the Wen Temple, with three Yuan Ying monks, seven Golden Body warriors and two warriors of the Long Journey stage having been expelled.

Some of them were dead, cut down by Xie Gou’s sword, but two of them stood in the hall.

The knowledge that the Sword Immortals knew such secret information scared all those present.

Chen Pingan smiled. “Your founding masters, Zhang Zongliu and Lianhu the True, are going to have to face some accounting soon. So starting with you, Song Zhou, say some names and say some reasons why those people are so evil. If you don’t give names, that means that you’re admitting that you are evil.”

The old Golden Core Cultivator’s face flickered. After some hesitation, he chose a man and said that this person was cruel and immoral, he enjoyed running children through with a sword, and he was a master of a wicked art. The man then said that because of his immoral army, it was an evil place. He claimed that some of the local women had been turned into ghosts, and that the pretty women were made into tools. This was a secret that was known by a friend who was good at seeing Qi.

That man rushed forward in an attempt to kill Song Zhou, but a sword of light took off his head. Furthermore, the sable-capped girl twisted his soul into a wick between her fingers and lit it. The candle produced a dim light and an unbearable shriek.

Xie Gou grabbed the man’s body and carved it, until she found a bronze furnace. She opened the furnace and let out all the trapped women, some of whom had become ghouls and some of whom had remnants of their spirits.

Holding the wick and looking at the scene, the girl in the mink cap sighed. “I can’t believe such a rough ritual would be practiced! It’s going to burn through the fuel quickly. My lamp will burn for years, and the souls won’t feel any relief. What’s more, I can replenish the oil with your Qi! Wow, you’re so lucky!

The people in the hall were horrified and could not look into the eyes of the sable-capped girl for fear that she would call on them.

The Emperor also said the name of a vile evil-doer, and was cut in half by a sword, and was lit as a lamp. At the end, there were just thirty-four people standing, with some sweating and some looking crestfallen. It was better to be chosen than to die as a random victim, and the men there were frightened to be looked at by the others. Qi Tingji sat and watched them with a bored look.

After this, some of the men who could not find another evil-doer asked if they could suggest those people who had not been present but who had done terrible things. The blue-robed man agreed and said that they had to give three names, and if he found any one of them was not deserving of death, then they would pay for the evil that had occurred.

Xiao Mo showed an immense form and began to search the entire dynasty, and after Xie Gou received the details, a sword of light flew into the distance.

After the last man had given his three names, the sword light flashed, and the man collapsed with sweat. He decided that he would never again take office.

With no warning, the men who thought they had been spared dropped dead.

The Sword Immortals did not provide any explanation.

Chen Pingan stood and said, “I hope that I did not take over your show.”

Qi Tingji grinned and replied, “Looks like you’re some strategist here.”

Xie Gou shook her head and said, “Those cruel people were brought to justice. What a great deed to do!”

Xiao Mo despaired.

Xie Gou called to the female ghouls, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll give you a chance to learn magic and take your revenge!”

Qi Tingji walked to the hall and said, “I’ll come again in three years.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be killing again. The more I come, the more you’ll see how far you can go.”

“That’s on the assumption that the Jinchan Dynasty is still here. But even if you change the government, you will still be in this world.”

How could they rest easy after that?

The Emperor escorted the Sword Immortal to the hall.

They did not immediately leave. Instead, they sat on a rooftop to observe.

Xie Gou laughed and said, “Master, are you worried that there will be another Huang Zhen here? Is revenge going to be important to people here? The Master took the robes, but what about this matter?”

Chen Pingan shook his head. “It’s nothing. We’ll each make our cases.”

Chen Pingan said, feeling a headache. “I’m just worried that Lu Zhi’s new disciple is named Cheng Sancai from the Jiaolong Gorge. I just gave the robes, and then you had to give over the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect.”

Qi Tingji chuckled. “You’re going to be the sect leader soon, so just take them back.”

Chen Pingan despaired. “Immortal, stop teasing me! The robes are special! It would be so awkward for me to ask for them back.”

Qi Tingji said, “It’s not my problem. I was just sending the sect over!”

Chen Pingan asked, “Are we going to Ascendancy City now?”

Qi Tingji shook his head. “I’m not going there. I’ll go to the heavens and wait for you. Next time I return, I’ll be like Chen Ji and take a disguise. I’ll walk around and see what’s going on.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “All right.”

Qi Tingji smiled. “Was this the best thing that could happen to me?”

Xiao Mo nodded and said, “Killing some bastards is going to give the common folk an easier life.”

Xie Gou said, “That’s right. It can’t be a funeral every day!”

Qi Tingji said, “I’m sure Chen Pingan will return to Tongye again soon!”

Xiao Mo asked, “Master, should we tell them the current conditions of Tongye?”

Xie Gou disagreed and replied, “Why?”

Chen Pingan agreed.

Xie Gou thought about it and said, “You’re right.”

Xiao Mo said, “Dao Friend Bixiao says that when the time comes, she wants me to tell Lu Zhi to take a disciple to the bright moonlight after the year ends. I asked Bixiao what that meant, but they refused to tell. They just said that I would find out when the time came. I’ll tell them now.”

Xie Gou exclaimed, “Dao Friend Bixiao is so generous!”

Chen Pingan thought for a moment but could not figure it out, and instead replied, “Let’s deliver the news first.”

Qi Tingji looked up into the distance.

Someone was heading south by the sword.

Was this the aura of the strongest person in the world?

Ning Yao appeared and asked, “What happened here?”

“Feng Yuanxiao had a sudden breakthrough! I don’t know how it happened.

Qi Tingji and Chen Pingan began to laugh, but Xiao Mo and Xie Gou expressed surprise.

Ning Yao seemed to have the air of someone who had seen the world and had the aura of an Emperor.

Qi Tingji was envious, but he felt no jealousy.