In the nineteen desolate eastern states, after the Divine Wood Sect split from the Five Elements Sect, it took over the territories of four nations.
However, since these four nations were previously under the influence of the Five Elements Sect, the Divine Wood Sect, although now nominally the supreme sect of the four nations, still had lingering ties with many cultivating families and the Five Elements Sect, as the split had occurred less than a century ago.
Among these nations, there was a Foundation Establishment family known as the Yuan Clan.
The ancestor of the Yuan Clan was originally an independent cultivator. Due to his exceptional talent and profound opportunities, he managed to cross the life-and-death threshold and succeeded in Foundation Establishment a hundred years ago, even without the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill.
But there was more to the story than met the eye.
The Yuan Clan’s residence was located on Black Cloud Mountain, at the peak where the spiritual veins were most abundant, rated as a third-grade lower-tier location.
Yuan Hongyuan, the Foundation Establishment cultivator and ancestor of the Yuan Clan, resided there, overlooking the mountain below.
“Kill this man for me.”
Today, an uninvited guest arrived at Black Cloud Mountain. After landing, he tossed a portrait to Yuan Hongyuan without facing him.
“Who is this person?”
Upon receiving it, Yuan Hongyuan saw that it was a portrait of a very young man.
“The number one true disciple of the Divine Wood Sect.”
The visitor did not conceal the truth and informed him directly.
“If I make a move, whether successful or not, my Yuan Clan probably won’t be able to stay in these four nations.”
As Yuan Hongyuan spoke, he crumpled the portrait in his hand, frowning deeply.
“Don’t forget that it was our sect that granted you a Foundation Establishment Pill, allowing you to have your status today.”
After saying this, the visitor snorted coldly and did not linger, transforming into a streak of spiritual light and disappearing from the top of Black Cloud Mountain.
Yuan Hongyuan stood under a peach tree laden with fruit, pondering for a long time before he sighed and descended the mountain he hadn’t left for ten years.
“Ancestor, why didn’t you notify us of your departure from seclusion?”
In the grand hall of the Yuan Clan, the current clan leader, Yuan Shaoyuan, was surprised to see Yuan Hongyuan walk in and immediately gave up his seat to him.
“Find out about this year’s number one true disciple of the Divine Wood Sect. I want to know everything about him.”
As the Foundation Establishment cultivator who founded the Yuan Clan, Yuan Hongyuan was the undisputed emperor in retirement. At his command, Yuan Shaoyuan personally made a trip to Giant Wood Ridge to inquire about the situation from several clan members who had joined the Divine Wood Sect.
Two days later, after hearing about Chen Mobai, Yuan Hongyuan’s face grew even more worried.
If this person were killed and it was exposed, even if he took the Yuan Clan and left the four nations, they would likely be pursued by the Divine Wood Sect for thousands of miles until they were exterminated.
“Ancestor, this person is recognized by the entire Divine Wood Sect as a peerless swordsmanship genius, invincible among his peers. If he reaches Foundation Establishment and then Golden Elixir, he will be an invincible existence in the world.”
Yuan Shaoyuan said this with a hint of worry in his voice.
As the clan leader, he was well aware that there was a dark hand behind their Yuan Clan, and it was precisely because of this that they were able to take root in the nation and even obtain Black Cloud Mountain, which had a third-grade lower-tier spiritual vein.
When Yuan Hongyuan was in seclusion, it was Yuan Shaoyuan, the clan leader, who liaised with the dark hand.
Now that the pillar of the family had suddenly descended the mountain and wanted to inquire about Chen Mobai, as the head of the clan, he had already guessed the reason.
“Take the fourth and sixth with you and personally keep watch over Giant Wood Ridge. As soon as this person leaves the nation, notify me immediately.”
After much deliberation, Yuan Hongyuan could only follow orders.
After all, over the past hundred years, he had done many things in the nation that were detrimental to the Divine Wood Sect and was already too deeply involved.
“Yes, Ancestor. However, although this person is the number one true disciple, he is still alone. If the three of us, who have completed Qi Refining, take action and use the Three Smokes Cloud Light Formation, we should be able to capture him without you having to make a move yourself.”
Yuan Shaoyuan offered a suggestion, feeling that Yuan Hongyuan, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was too high-profile. If he took action, it was very likely that the investigators from the Divine Wood Sect would detect something amiss.
“Hmph, even when hunting a rabbit, a lion uses all its strength. The reason I, Yuan, have been able to cultivate to this day is due to caution.”
“Every time I take action, I make sure I am fully prepared to eradicate the roots and leave no troubles behind. Only then does my Yuan Clan have its current foundation.”
“Moreover, I don’t mean to belittle you, but if this person is considered by the entire Divine Wood Sect to be a peerless swordsmanship genius, even if the three of you join forces, even with the formation, one or two of you might die.”
Hearing this, Yuan Shaoyuan’s face turned pale.
“Could this person be even more astonishing than Hong He?”
Hong He was the previously most famous number one true disciple of the Divine Wood Sect, holding that position for a full ten years, suppressing Zhou Wangshen and E Yun to only alternate for second and third place. His terrifying combat talent was even known by the great sects beyond the eastern desolation.
“The last one hailed as a peerless swordsmanship genius was the current Golden Elixir Taoist master of Golden Light Cliff.”
After Yuan Hongyuan finished speaking, Yuan Shaoyuan decided it was best to act cautiously according to the ancestor’s wishes.
However, he also felt pity for Chen Mobai.
With such talent, yet to be renowned in the world, he was about to die in a dark plot.
It should be known that Yuan Hongyuan was close to breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and had once repelled three early-stage Foundation Establishment invaders on Black Cloud Mountain single-handedly.
Even if Chen Mobai was exceptionally brilliant, he was still merely at the Qi Refining stage. Under Yuan Hongyuan’s personal suppression, there would be no chance of escape.
After bidding farewell to the clan ancestor, Yuan Shaoyuan made the excuse of going out to negotiate an important deal, took his two brothers, and left Black Cloud Mountain. They disguised their appearances and lay in wait outside Giant Wood Ridge.
It seemed that even the heavens were favoring them.
After only waiting half a month, Chen Mobai actually left the Divine Wood Sect.As they passed through a forest, they activated a Mist Talisman. This talisman had no offensive power, but anyone passing through would be marked with a subtle trail of smoke.
This smoke was colorless and odorless, able to linger for a month without dissipating, and only the special lenses crafted by the Yuan family could detect it.
The trio observed the movement of the smoke from ten miles away and after half a day, they noticed Chen Mobai entering a market town.
The town was guarded by Qi Refining disciples of the Shenmu Sect and also housed their family’s shops.
However, they did not plan to reveal themselves. After Chen Mobai rented a cave dwelling to stay in, the three of them also rented a nearby vacant one.
“It’s strange, this is the Shenmu Sect’s property. He could stay for free with the sect’s medallion, so why would he spend spirit stones?”
They were puzzled by Chen Mobai’s actions, but what puzzled them even more was what happened next.
They waited for two whole months and did not see Chen Mobai leave his dwelling.
“This is bad, could it be that we’ve been exposed and he’s realized it and fled?”
Yuan Shaoyuan, with his extensive experience in assassination, immediately realized this possibility.
But since the cave dwellings in the market town belonged to the Shenmu Sect, they dared not break the Formation and barge in to investigate.
“Let’s wait a bit longer. If it really doesn’t work out, we’ll have to report it and have the higher-ups track his movements.”
Another month passed as they waited.
Just as Yuan Shaoyuan decided to give up and leave with his two brothers, there was a creaking sound!
The door to Chen Mobai’s cave dwelling opened.
Their long-sought assassination target appeared before them.
“Damn it, this kid prepared so many Inedia Pills.”
Yuan Shaoyuan cursed under his breath, but at this critical moment of success, his years of assassination experience made him even more composed.
He instructed his fourth brother to set up the tracking smoke at the market exit, while he and his sixth brother waited inside the dwelling to avoid being detected by this top disciple of the Shenmu Sect.
“This is bad, the direction this kid is heading in, it looks like he’s going back to Jumuling!”
After Chen Mobai left, they followed the smoke trail, but after half a day, they realized something was amiss.
“If he returns to the Shenmu Sect, we’ll have no way to deal with him.”
They wouldn’t dare to kill someone in Jumuling even if they had a hundred times the courage.
“I’ll notify the ancestor immediately.”
Yuan Shaoyuan was decisive, knowing they might not catch Chen Mobai before he reached Foundation Establishment, and not wanting to miss this rare opportunity, he immediately activated a precious second-tier Heartlink Talisman.
This talisman came in a pair; activating one would send the desired message to the holder of the other.
In Black Cloud Mountain.
Yuan Hongyuan received the message and pondered for a moment.
Then, with a cold expression, he made up his mind and activated the other Heartlink Talisman.
[You three stop following. I will wait in advance on the inevitable path back to Jumuling.]
After receiving the message, Yuan Shaoyuan breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled his two brothers aside, informed them of the ancestor’s response, and the three of them withdrew towards the Yun Kingdom.
Externally, they claimed to be negotiating a spirit material trade with the Yun Kingdom’s cultivating family, the Luo family. To avoid suspicion and investigation from the Shenmu Sect after Chen Mobai was killed by their ancestor, they had to play their part convincingly.
Chen Mobai was completely unaware that he was being followed.
After leaving the market town, he headed straight for Jumuling.
His mind was preoccupied with how to maintain his persona as an unparalleled swordsmanship genius upon returning to the sect.
He would say that although he had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, during the breakthrough transformation, he was suddenly inspired and comprehended an overwhelmingly powerful sword strike. Unintentionally, he executed the move, injuring his meridians, internal organs, and consciousness, requiring two to three years of recuperation.
After all, he was registered at the Shenmu Sect for practicing the Dual Phase Technique.
In the future, beyond the Longevity Scripture, he would still need to reveal a bit of the Red Flame Sword Technique.
But for now, he was using the Critical Method to hold back, waiting until the Three Yang Body was cultivated before using the Pure Yang Scroll to disguise the foundation of the Red Flame Sword Technique.
When alone, he could use the Formless Puppet to execute the Foundation Establishment level Red Flame Sword Technique. If someone analyzed the battlefield afterward, they would find traces of his sword qi.
However, there was currently no one to test the power of the Formless Puppet with a top-grade spirit stone installed.
As Chen Mobai was thinking this, he arrived at a desolate mountain.
After passing through here, another hundred miles would bring the sight of Jumuling into view.
If it were the old Chen Mobai, he would have had to traverse the mountainous terrain.
But now, things were different.
He had reached Foundation Establishment.
He could fly!
Just as the effects of the two Swift Travel Talismans wore off, he stopped and initiated the flying technique.
His entire being soared up like a streak of green light.
Like a green flying sword slicing through the sky, he cut a clear path through the clouds, revealing the blue heavens.
Yuan Hongyuan, lying in ambush in the middle of the desolate mountain with the pre-arranged Formation flags in hand, watched Chen Mobai fly past in the sky, his mouth agape and his face in disbelief.
[He, he’s reached Foundation Establishment!?]
Realizing this, Yuan Hongyuan’s face twisted with conflict. The Formation he had set up was a second-tier mid-grade, originally intended for Foundation Establishment level opponents, capable of capturing even those flying in the sky.
But if it were used against Qi Refining cultivators, even a hundred caught in the Formation would be easily slain by Yuan Hongyuan.
However, Chen Mobai had reached Foundation Establishment!
He remembered the Shenmu Sect’s evaluation of this top disciple.
An unparalleled genius in the way of the sword!
Invincible among his peers!Although Yuan Hongyuan was confident in his own abilities, considering himself to be in the upper-middle tier of combat prowess among his peers, and even with the advantage of a pre-arranged Formation, he dared to challenge those at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
But Chen Mobai was a sword cultivator!
Moreover, he was an unparalleled genius among sword cultivators. Yuan Hongyuan had little faith in his chances of victory against such a prodigy.
“The information I gathered before was that Chen Mobai was invincible in the Qi Refining stage during the sect competition, and only later did he obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill refined by Zeng Woyou. I didn’t expect that in less than half a year, he would have already succeeded in Foundation Establishment.”
After connecting all the clues in his mind, Yuan Hongyuan’s estimation of Chen Mobai had soared to new heights.
This man was the first prodigy after the division of the Shenmu Sect!
In three years since joining the sect, he became the top disciple.
In a place like Yuhu Market, with its mere second-tier spiritual veins, he dared to consume a Foundation Establishment Pill and even succeeded in Foundation Establishment.
This showed his extraordinary talent. It was even possible that he had already comprehended a higher realm of swordsmanship at that time, which allowed him to enter seclusion right there in the ordinary spiritual land. Perhaps even without the Foundation Establishment Pill, he could have relied on his sword to break through this barrier.
Thinking of facing such an exceptional prodigy in a life-or-death battle, Yuan Hongyuan lost all confidence in his heart.
And when he acted, without certainty, he would never take risks.
So, gritting his teeth,
He ultimately chose to conceal his presence, allowing Chen Mobai to fly over his head without triggering the Formation.
【After all, it was a mistake in intelligence. I should be able to come up with an excuse to muddle through.】
Half a day after Chen Mobai disappeared, Yuan Hongyuan packed up the Formation and quietly slipped back to Heiyun Mountain.
Half a month later, pretending that their business had not been successful, Yuan Shaoyuan and his two companions returned and inquired about the matter with their ancestor. The latter, feigning to have suffered sword injuries, coughed lightly twice before speaking with a sigh about the “battle of life and death” that day.
“That Chen Mobai truly lives up to his reputation as a peerless genius of the sword path, having already reached Foundation Establishment. Unaware of this, I used the Five Smoke Cloud Luo Formation to detain him. However, his sword qi was too domineering. After a head-on confrontation that lasted a day and a night, my protective artifact and the Formation were consecutively shattered by his tyrannical sword qi. In the end, I had to abandon a life-saving talisman to barely escape from under his sword.”
Hearing that the battle was so fierce, Yuan Shaoyuan and the others gasped in shock.
It was fortunate that they had not risked ambushing outside the market.
Otherwise, their bones would probably be cold by now, and after death, no disguise would be of any use. The Shenmu Sect had many ways to trace their origins from their corpses.
If that had really happened, Heiyun Mountain would probably have been turned into a river of blood by this top disciple of the Shenmu Sect by now.
Unexpectedly, this person had managed to establish his foundation in such a place, no wonder he had not appeared for two whole months!
Truly worthy of being recognized by the entire Shenmu Sect as a peerless swordsmanship genius, even their own ancestor, who was close to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and had the advantage of the Formation and terrain, was no match and could only flee in disarray.
－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－
Two chapters in one, a bit more words than two separate chapters. Updates will likely continue to be two-in-one, in an effort to increase average subscriptions and aim for a featured spot.