Himeko turned her head to look.
The newcomer was… utterly ordinary.
So ordinary that he didn't even have the visual presence of a Millelith soldier. He looked like someone you could grab at random off the street—
Unremarkable features, plain clothes, the appearance of a middle-aged man.
In one hand, he held a fishing rod.
In the other, a bucket sloshing with water—judging by the splashing sounds inside, his haul had been plentiful.
Unlike Ying'er or Draymond, he gave off no discernible aura at all.
He simply stood there, as if perfectly fused with heaven and earth. Every breath he took was natural, harmonious, seamless.
Sensing Himeko's gaze, Jiang Yan glanced at her and gave a slight nod—nothing more than a polite greeting.
Yet that single glance sent stabbing pain through Himeko's entire body.
Pain that pierced bone and soul alike.
Even the power of the Plague Gem was suppressed in that instant.
This man was strong.
Terrifyingly strong.
Strong enough that he seemed only a step below the immortal cultivators Himeko had seen yesterday—those who had already transcended the human lifeform itself.
Jiang Yan…
If she remembered correctly, he was the one Ying'er had mentioned—the strongest Great Grandmaster.
But…
Was this really the level of a Great Grandmaster?
Himeko felt that even if she pushed the Plague Gem to its absolute limit, Jiang Yan wouldn't need more than three moves to suppress her completely.
Could the gap between martial Great Grandmasters really be as vast as the difference between S-rank Valkyries?
Her doubts were answered the very next moment.
Draymond suddenly cried out in shock.
"Mind united with soul, intent manifesting as spirit!"
"Mr. Jiang Yan—you've broken through to the Landed Immortal realm!"
Jiang Yan smiled faintly and replied in a deliberately vague tone,
"You could say that. I was… fortunate."
In truth, he had already reached the late stage of the Landed Immortal realm. Only one final step remained before he touched the true pinnacle of martial arts.
But Jiang Yan felt that the Landed Immortal realm might not be the end.
He still remembered that day while fishing, when he had chanced upon Jiang Yan—and the word Jiang Yan had spoken to him.
Entering the Dao through martial arts.
If martial arts were pushed to their ultimate extreme, they too could become a Dao of their own. With the addition of an immortal cultivation method to convert inner force into true essence—
One would form a true Martial Immortal lineage.
Martial Immortals represented the pinnacle of close combat among cultivators, standing on equal footing with Sword Immortals.
Yet Mount Shu had produced very few Martial Immortals. After all, the sect was famed throughout the realms for sword cultivation.
Even Jiang Yan himself didn't fully understand how martial artists could truly enter the Dao.
He could only confirm one thing:
Entering the Dao through martial arts meant elevating "martial" into something akin to the great Daos cultivated by immortals.
The sword had its Dao.
Techniques had their Dao.
Talismans had their Dao.
So why wouldn't martial arts have one as well?
That was why Jiang Yan hoped Jiang Yan could truly refine martial arts into a Dao of his own. If he succeeded, then once he stepped onto the immortal path, his future would be clearer—and far smoother.
Otherwise, back when Jiang Yan had just reached the early Landed Immortal stage, he had already felt lost, seriously considering whether he should seek out Cloud Retainer for an introduction into immortal cultivation.
"But… Mr. Jiang Yan," Draymond said hesitantly, "that's an early-stage Essence-Refining Mangfang Elephant. It's no ordinary ferocious beast."
"Even a Landed Immortal might not be able to defeat it."
Draymond looked troubled.
Jiang Yan was someone Cloud Retainer held in high regard—a once-in-a-generation talent, destined to become a top disciple of Mount Shu. Draymond truly didn't want to see anything happen to him.
But Jiang Yan had clearly made up his mind. He chuckled softly.
"If I don't try, how will I know?"
"Besides… who says the Landed Immortal realm is the ultimate limit of martial arts?"
He lifted his bamboo hat and placed it on his head, then began walking forward at an unhurried pace.
Yet his figure flickered like a mirage—
And in the blink of an eye, he was nothing more than a tiny black dot in the distance.
"Everyone," his voice drifted back calmly,
"Just wait for my good news."
Watching his retreating back, Ying'er sighed with emotion.
"It seems Mr. Jiang Yan is no longer an ordinary Landed Immortal. Who knows—he might truly open up a brand-new realm."
"We'll talk about that later," Draymond said, drawing his weapon with a grave expression.
"I'm going to help. Miss Ying'er, I'll leave things to you. If we can't hold it back, activate the formation."
Ying'er nodded, watching Draymond leave before turning her gaze toward the restless Himeko.
"If you want to go, Miss Himeko, then go."
"My intuition tells me this won't end badly."
"But please know your limits. If something happens to you, I won't be able to explain it to Elder Alice."
Himeko grinned and nodded firmly.
"Don't worry!"
The moment her words fell, scorching crimson flames erupted across her body.
Violent molecular friction generated heat that surpassed all limits.
She stomped down hard—
The ground shattered.
And she shot toward the Mangfang Elephant like a blazing comet.
"Indeed… you're very strong, Miss Himeko," Ying'er murmured with a smile, shaking her head.
She turned and leapt toward the core of Mount Shu Village.
Over there…
Was the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Isolating Grand Formation.
Once activated, any existence beyond peak Foundation Establishment would be suppressed and immobilized.
But unless absolutely necessary, Ying'er didn't want to use it.
That thing consumed spirit stones.
And how many spirit stones did Mount Shu Village even have?
Those were treasures coveted by cultivators—
Even the wealthy Ningguang was reluctant to part with them.
…
At the foot of Mount Shu.
Inside the residence of an outer-sect elder.
Yunqing was seated in meditation. The Nine Nether Exploration Assembly was approaching, and he would be participating as well.
If he was lucky enough to obtain something valuable—or earn enough contribution points—
He could purchase a pill that would change his aptitude.
As long as he reached high-grade spiritual roots, he could finally shed the identity of an outer-sect elder.
Forget becoming an inner elder—
Even becoming an inner disciple would satisfy him.
Only the inner sect were true members of Mount Shu.
Yunqing believed that, as someone personally named by the Sect Master, there was no way he should spend his entire life in the outer sect.
The inner sect was where the geniuses gathered.
He needed a ticket.
A ticket into the inner sect.
Suddenly, hurried knocking sounded from outside his cave residence.
Yunqing frowned and rose to his feet.
"Elder Yunqing!"
The visitor was another outer-sect elder who had not yet converted to immortal cultivation. Yunqing's expression darkened.
"What is it?!"
Being interrupted during cultivation put him in a foul mood.
"Elder Yunqing, something terrible has happened! An early-stage Essence-Refining Mangfang Elephant has charged into Mount Shu Village and is wreaking havoc!"
Yunqing frowned, waved his hand, and summoned a round light mirror before him.
Within it played the scene of the Mangfang Elephant's rampage.
His head throbbed.
"Has no one been clearing ferocious beasts lately?"
"The inner disciples and elders are all in seclusion. Outer disciples can't deal with Essence-Refining beasts—this one must have slipped through because of that."
The elder looked anxiously at Yunqing.
Mount Shu Village fell under their jurisdiction. If there were casualties…
His quota for conversion this month might very well go up in smoke.
Yunqing thought of that as well. Though he had already stepped onto the immortal path, a blemish on his record was still unsightly.
After a moment of thought, he asked calmly,
"Are there any casualties?"
"There are injuries, but no deaths. The patrol units handled it well, but many houses have been destroyed."
Yunqing let out a quiet sigh of relief, then asked again,
"How many cultivation elders are currently free?"
"…Only you, Elder Yunqing."
The elder looked uneasy.
"Elder Yunhua has sealed himself off in isolation. The other four elders who converted to immortal cultivation are still acclimating to the immortal path."
Yunqing's irritation deepened.
"That Yunhua…"
"Elder Yunqing," the elder added urgently, "Miss Himeko—the one Elder Alice personally brought back and greatly values—is also in Mount Shu Village. If something happens to her…"
Yunqing's eyes sharpened.
"I'll go take a look."
With that, he formed a sword sign. A flying sword shot out beneath his feet, transforming into a streak of rainbow light as he rushed toward Mount Shu Village.
At his speed, he arrived at the battlefield in the blink of an eye.
Just as he prepared to act, a voice stopped him.
"Ehe~ Elder Yunqing, no need to rush."
Yunqing froze, then immediately bowed.
"Peak Lord Venti."
Venti, hidden within the wind, grinned playfully.
"Himeko needs a real battle to master the Plague Gem's power. And besides… that Jiang Yan is beginning to grasp the true essence of martial arts."
"Let them try. Who knows? They might give us a pleasant surprise."
Yunqing nodded in realization, his gaze settling on Jiang Yan standing before the Mangfang Elephant below.
"Indeed… exceptional talent," he murmured.
"Then I'll stay here and keep watch. Peak Lord Venti, you may return to cultivation."
"Cultivation can wait a bit~ Besides, I came to pass on a message."
Venti paused, then lowered his voice.
"A decree from the Sect Master."
Yunqing's expression changed instantly. He clasped his hands respectfully.
"Yunqing receives the Sect Master's decree."
"Outer Sect Grand Elder Yunqing and Second Elder Yunhua have served diligently during their tenure, managing the outer sect with devotion and contributing greatly to Mount Shu."
"Though their talent is limited and the immortal path difficult, the Sect Master cherishes ability."
"If, during this Nine Nether Exploration, you can obtain one million contribution points—"
"The Sect Master will personally refine a Ninefold Spirit-Transformation Pill, elevating your aptitude to high-grade spiritual roots."
"You shall then enter the inner sect as Inner Sect Protectors."
Yunqing was struck dumb for a heartbeat—then overjoyed beyond measure.
"Yunqing thanks the Sect Master! I will surely obtain one million contribution points and not disappoint him! Thank you, Peak Lord Venti, for delivering this message!"
"Ehe~"
Venti chuckled.
"Work hard, Elder Yunqing. And start preparing the handover of outer-sect affairs in advance."
"One million contribution points is difficult—but not impossible for you."
"I hope to see both of you in the inner sect. I won't go inform Yunhua myself—tell her when you have time."
Yunqing nodded solemnly.
"Yunqing understands. Thank you for your trouble, Peak Lord Venti."
"Then I'll leave things here to you. I'm off~"
Yunqing nodded eagerly.
"Peak Lord Venti, rest assured. I will take care of Mount Shu Village."
There was no reply—Venti had clearly vanished the moment he finished speaking.
Likely, he had only come to check whether Himeko was safe.
Feeling Venti's presence fade, Yunqing clenched his fist in excitement.
From an unlucky god captured by Jiang Yan, to Outer Sect Grand Elder—
And now, soon to become an Inner Sect Protector.
His journey had truly not betrayed his years of wholehearted service to Mount Shu.
Of course, Inner Sect Protector was probably his ceiling.
Inner elders and peak lords required far higher aptitude—
He had never dared to hope for that.
But reaching the peak of official rank didn't matter.
What mattered was possibility.
Every cultivator ultimately valued only one thing—
Their cultivation.
As an Inner Sect Protector, he would gain access to more resources, more opportunities to enter the Scripture Pavilion, and far better cultivation conditions.
His aptitude would improve.
His immortal path would stretch farther.
As for whether Venti might be spreading false news—
Impossible.
That carefree bard might love mischief, but he would never dare fabricate a decree from Jiang Yan.
Which meant—
His promotion was truly within reach.
The moment that realization struck, Yunqing couldn't help but jump in excitement.
This entire scene…
Was quietly recorded by Venti with a Kamera.
Satisfied, he tucked it away—and left.
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