Stepping into the world of the painting scroll.
The horizon suddenly opened up.
Spiritual Qi so dense it was almost tangible rushed toward her, turning into wisps of white mist that swirled around her feet.
Gazing into the distance, nine sword peaks rose steeply from the ground.
Each sword peak radiated a completely different, sharp Sword Intent.
Above the horizon, streaks of light flashed from time to time, and bursts of sword cries echoed from the depths of the abyss, lingering endlessly.
Jiang Yuechu stood on a wide square paved with white jade, her gaze calmly scanning the surroundings.
True Lord Linghan stood by her side, his peripheral vision fixed intently on her profile.
He was trying to capture even the slightest hint of shock or awe.
The result?
The girl merely looked at him in confusion: "What is it? Is there something else?"
"..."
He Wuya and Tang Wanyin exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
Their deacon was good in every way, except he cared a bit too much about Face...
Why must he insist on competing with a Junior right now?
"Little Friend Jiang, this way please."
True Lord Linghan took a deep breath, suppressing the frustration in his heart, and turned to lead the way ahead.
Inwardly, however, he was secretly determined.
This square was merely where the Outer Sect of the Jieqing Sect was located.
Once they reached the Inner Sect and she witnessed the true foundations of the Sect...
He would see if she could still remain this calm and indifferent.
The group ascended the white jade stairs step by step.
Along the way, they encountered many Jieqing Sect Disciples who all bowed respectfully upon seeing True Lord Linghan.
When their gazes swept over Jiang Yuechu and noticed she wasn't wearing Jieqing attire, they couldn't help but show a bit of curiosity and scrutiny.
The Jieqing Sect rarely invited outsiders into the Sect, let alone having a deacon personally lead the way.
Just who was this Girl in Black Robes?
Jiang Yuechu ignored these gazes.
As she walked, she silently calculated in her heart.
Truly worthy of being one of the Nine Great Dao Sects.
It looks quite grand; I wonder if I can find an opportunity to 'borrow' something from here to use...
However...
Since the Jieqing Sect is one of the Nine Great Dao Sects, there must be many Old Things inside.
I should still act low-key and not cause any unnecessary trouble.
If it really doesn't work out, I'll just take the heavy reward and slip away.
Before they knew it, the group had reached halfway up the mountain.
A magnificent sword pavilion appeared ahead.
The sword pavilion towered into the clouds, built entirely from some unknown green spiritual wood.
The pavilion doors were tightly shut, and above them hung a plaque with a black background and gold lettering.
Three large characters were written on it.
Hidden Sword Tower.
True Lord Linghan stopped and turned to look at Jiang Yuechu.
A meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth again.
"Little Friend Jiang, this is my Jieqing Sect's Hidden Sword Tower."
"Inside the tower are stored the personal swords left by the ancestors of our Sect, including Spiritual Artifacts tainted with the aura of Painting Realm powerhouses."
"Although you are not a Disciple of our Sect, you assisted this Lord in slaying demons today and have performed a service for Jieqing."
"This Lord shall take the initiative to make an exception and allow you to enter the tower for a look."
"If you can gain the recognition of any Senior's legacy sword, it will be your good fortune."
True Lord Linghan stroked his beard and smiled, certain in his heart.
The Sword Intent within this Hidden Sword Tower was as vast as the sea; ordinary Chess Player Cultivators would find it difficult even to stand firm upon entering.
Let alone having to withstand the terrifying pressure radiated by those Spiritual Artifacts.
No matter how strong this girl's combat power was, she was ultimately just a piece on the board.
Once she went in and suffered a bit, she would naturally understand the depth of the Jieqing Sect.
At that time, he would intervene at the right moment to save her... with both grace and authority, he wasn't afraid of not being able to subdue a wild girl.
Jiang Yuechu looked up, somewhat surprised.
Are people from the Dao Sects all this generous... giving away the personal swords of Painting Realm powerhouses just like that?
But only a fool would refuse something given for free.
She didn't refuse, merely offering a faint word of thanks.
"Thank you."
Then, she stepped toward the sword pavilion.
True Lord Linghan watched her back, the smile on his lips growing deeper.
Go on.
Go and experience what true Dao Sect foundation means.
The pavilion doors opened on their own without any wind.
A vicisitudinous and ancient Sword Intent, mixed with the aura of accumulated years, surged out from within the doors.
Jiang Yuechu's expression remained unchanged as she stepped inside.
The pavilion doors slowly closed behind her.
True Lord Linghan stood with his hands behind his back, waiting quietly.
He Wuya took a step forward, his brow slightly furrowed as he spoke hesitantly: "Senior Linghan, do you... really intend to gift a spiritual sword to Fellow Daoist Jiang?"
Tang Wanyin also showed a look of worry, following up: "Deacon Linghan, the sword pavilion is a restricted area of our Jieqing Sect, intended for Disciples to observe Sword Intent and temper their Heart-Nature... Allowing an outsider in like this without reporting it, wouldn't it be against the rules?"
It was more than just being against the rules.
It was practically reckless.
Since the founding of the Jieqing Sect, the Hidden Sword Tower had always been open only to its Disciples.
If an outsider really did take away a spiritual sword tainted with Painting Realm aura...
Even if True Lord Linghan was a deacon, he would likely Face severe reprimands from the Sect elders and would certainly lose a layer of skin...
Hearing this, True Lord Linghan waved his hand dismissively.
He looked at the black-and-gold plaque with his hands behind his back, his expression casual: "What is there to fear... This girl isn't even a Sword Cultivator and has no foundation in the way of the sword at all. Could she really make those arrogant spiritual swords in the tower recognize her as their master?"
Having said that...
Without waiting for the two to say anything more.
True Lord Linghan stroked his beard, appearing full of confidence: "In truth, this Lord merely wants to give her a show of strength... This girl's combat power is startling and her Heart-Nature is arrogant. If her spirit isn't dampened, how can she obediently follow the arrangements of my Jieqing Sect in the future? Once she suffers inside and cannot withstand that vast Sword Intent, this Lord will intervene at the right time to save her."
"At that time, she will naturally recognize the gap between herself and the Dao Sect and know the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth."
"As for the heavy reward, after this is over, just pick two ordinary Spiritual Artifacts from the treasury to send her off. There's no need to use the foundations of the Hidden Sword Tower."
He Wuya and Tang Wanyin exchanged a glance.
Both saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.
However, recalling the various methods that Girl in Black Robes had shown earlier on Guanlan Island...
A faint sense of unease grew in He Wuya's heart.
Would a person like this, who didn't follow common logic, really suffer a setback as Senior Linghan predicted?
"But..."
He Wuya wanted to say more.
True Lord Linghan impatiently waved his sleeve, interrupting him.
"Enough, enough. This Lord knows what he is doing; there's no need for you two Juniors to meddle."
He turned his gaze back to the tightly shut pavilion doors.
"You two just watch closely and see how many breaths she can last inside this Hidden Sword Tower."
...
The pavilion doors closed heavily behind her, cutting off the light and gaze from the outside world.
Jiang Yuechu stood quietly in place, frowning slightly, her dark eyes scanning the surroundings.
The space before her eyes wasn't very large; the surrounding walls were mottled, and several load-bearing wooden pillars were covered with traces of time's erosion.
In the center sat a dusty, long offering table.
On the table, over a dozen swords were laid out haphazardly.
Calling them swords was an overstatement; they were more like a pile of scrap metal.
Some sword bodies were broken, with only half remaining.
Some were covered in rust, to the point where the blade couldn't even be seen clearly.
Others had even lost their hilts, leaving only a bare iron strip.
Jiang Yuechu walked forward, looking down at this pile of junk.
This was the foundation of the Jieqing Sect?
Spiritual Artifacts tainted with the aura of Painting Realm powerhouses?
A flash of doubt crossed her eyes.
Could they be intentionally tricking her?
Saying they were making an exception to let her in for a look, but actually using a pile of junk to dismiss her as an outsider?
Jiang Yuechu extended her fair palm and casually picked up a broken sword.
It felt extremely light in her hand, with nothing special about it at all.
She flicked the sword body with her finger and casually tossed it back onto the table.
Then she picked up another rust-covered longsword.
She touched this one and that one.
She flipped through seven or eight in a row, all of which were scrap iron with nothing extraordinary about them.
Jiang Yuechu brushed the rust off her hands, a look of displeasure appearing on her elegant Face.
The Jieqing Sect is supposedly one of the Nine Great Dao Sects, yet they act so stingy.
If they didn't want to give a heavy reward, they should have just said so; why bother with these hollow gestures to disgust people?
She sighed and turned to leave.
She had only taken two steps...
When her footsteps suddenly paused.