Silence.
Whether it was the disciples of Qingxiao Sect or the gathered pilgrims, everyone was stunned speechless at the sight before them. The legendary Sword God Shen Yue had been defeated—struck down by a single sword strike from Li Qingqiu. For a long moment, no one could even react.
Li Qingqiu turned around, brushing his sleeve lightly. "Someone, take the Sword God up the mountain," he ordered calmly.
With that, he stepped forward again, passing once more by Jiang Zhaoxia.
Jiang Zhaoxia blinked as his senses returned. Turning, he asked quietly, "Senior Brother, that wasn't really Ten Thousand Swords Return to One, was it? It was the Supreme Sword Control Art, wasn't it?"
Li Qingqiu stopped, tilting his head slightly to glance back. A faint smile curved his lips. "Don't go spreading that around. The origin of the Supreme Sword Control Art isn't exactly clear. It might bring us unnecessary trouble."
Jiang Zhaoxia refused to let it go. "Then how were you able to use it to such an extent?"
Li Qingqiu didn't answer directly. He simply started walking toward the crowd ahead and said lightly, "When you reach the seventh layer, you'll be able to do it too."
The higher one climbed within the Nurturing Essence Realm, the greater the difference between each layer. It might appear to be merely an increase in vital energy, but in truth, each advancement brought subtler changes—like heightened control over one's qi.
There was also another kind of power—something invisible, intangible, yet undeniably real. A force like thought itself.
Li Qingqiu had lingered at the seventh layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm for quite some time. During quiet moments, he would experiment with this ability—using it to make leaves dance within the forest. It was through that same invisible strength that he could control so many swords at once.
He still couldn't tell whether this was a natural sign of his cultivation level or a special ability granted by the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra.
Perhaps this mysterious force was what legends referred to as Awakening Spirit.
"Seventh layer…" Jiang Zhaoxia murmured, turning to gaze into the distance.
Shen Yue's existence had proven that sword intent could surpass internal force. Yet Li Qingqiu's performance showed that true power still lay in mastery of internal energy. It left Jiang Zhaoxia uncertain—should he focus on sword intent or on inner cultivation?
His instincts whispered the answer. Senior Brother is the perfect example. Inner strength is the foundation.
Perhaps Shen Yue's inner force wasn't weak by choice—but because he had already reached his limit.
As Li Qingqiu approached the gathered crowd, the disciples of Qingxiao Sect surrounded him excitedly. In the midst of the cheering, his gaze briefly brushed past Chu Jing, whose expression shifted instantly—from cold calculation to eager admiration—matching the others perfectly.
Huang Shan soon arrived with two disciples to check on Shen Yue. When they saw the Sword God's injuries, all three gasped sharply.
Is he going to die?
The thought passed through their minds as they carefully lifted him from the ground.
News of Li Qingqiu's single-strike victory spread rapidly up the mountain. With witnesses like Yang Jueding and Jiang Zhaoxia to confirm it, no one could doubt the truth: the Sword God was indeed terrifyingly strong—yet even he had fallen in one move to the Qingxiao Sect Master.
Within days, the story had spread across the martial world, faster than wildfire.
This time, its impact was even greater than when Li Qingqiu had slain the Demon Emperor.
After all, Shen Yue, the Sword God, was regarded as the closest thing to a living myth in the past century.
Many in the martial world had believed that only he was worthy of being called "the Number One Under Heaven."
And now, that "Number One" had suffered a crushing defeat.
Qingxiao Sect's prestige soared like never before.
Half a month later, the aftermath still hadn't subsided. The number of visitors climbing the mountain doubled—proof of how deeply the event had shaken the world.
Zhang Yuchun rushed to find Li Qingqiu, unable to contain his excitement. "Senior Brother, your battle with the Sword God has completely secured our place in the martial world! Today alone, nearly twenty people came up the mountain seeking to become disciples. All of them said they came after hearing that you defeated Shen Yue!"
He grinned from ear to ear. "They're calling you the new Number One Under Heaven!"
Li Qingqiu chuckled softly and shook his head. "You're exaggerating."
Still, he couldn't deny it—Shen Yue's martial prowess was monstrous.
Even what others called his "weak" internal strength had already surpassed the limits of ordinary martial artists. And his sword intent—no words could describe it.
Li Qingqiu had been curious to see Shen Yue's fate panel through his system, but the man remained unconscious. He slightly regretted striking him so hard. Hopefully, he hadn't crippled the Sword God completely.
"By the way," Zhang Yuchun added with a furrowed brow, "the rumor about the Emperor Xuan Sword being in our sect has spread. That'll bring trouble."
Li Qingqiu waved it off casually. "Trouble? Let them come. How many Sword Gods can the world possibly have? It'll just give our disciples a chance to make names for themselves."
"Is that so…" Zhang Yuchun muttered, still uneasy.
The Sword God's power had left too deep an impression on him. He had always thought that the difference between Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Qingqiu was small—but if Li Qingqiu was Number One, then Jiang Zhaoxia was barely Number Two. And yet, Jiang Zhaoxia had been struck down by Shen Yue without mercy.
As Li Qingqiu predicted, once the Emperor Xuan Sword rumor spread, swordsmen from across the land came to challenge Qingxiao Sect, following in Shen Yue's footsteps.
But they never even reached the Sect Master.
Most were defeated before they could pass the trials of the inner disciples.
Whether it was because Qingxiao Sect spared their lives, or because some didn't truly believe the legends about Shen Yue's defeat, challengers continued to appear every few days. Each loss only added to the sect's growing reputation.
People now said, Qingxiao Sect isn't strong just because of its Sect Master—the disciples are terrifying too.
A month later, Shen Yue finally regained consciousness. Disciples had taken turns tending to him daily, and Li Qingqiu had honestly begun to wonder if the man would ever wake again.
When news came that the Sword God had opened his eyes, Li Qingqiu, Zhang Yuchun, and Li Dongyue immediately went to see him.
On the bed, Shen Yue lay pale and weak. The moment he saw Li Qingqiu walk into the room, his eyelid twitched.
Li Qingqiu smiled warmly, stepping closer. "You're finally awake. I was starting to think our Qingxiao Sect had lost a Sword God."
The corner of Shen Yue's mouth twitched, but he said nothing. He simply closed his eyes again, too tired to speak.
Li Qingqiu chuckled. "So then—are you ready to join Qingxiao Sect?"
"...A man must honor his word," Shen Yue said hoarsely, his voice rough but steady. "I lost. I'll keep my promise."
Li Qingqiu smiled again, then stepped aside as Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue approached. Zhang Yuchun had a thousand questions waiting to burst out, while Li Dongyue calmly prepared her Secret Technique — Rejuvenation Ghost-Immortal Needles, inserting three slender silver needles into Shen Yue's meridians.
Meanwhile, Li Qingqiu summoned his Dao Lineage Interface, quickly finding Shen Yue's profile.
[ Name: Shen Yue ]
[ Gender: Male ]
[ Age: 78 years ]
[ Loyalty (to Sect Master/Sect): 65 / 47 (Maximum 100) ]
[ Cultivation Aptitude: Excellent ]
[ Comprehension: Exceptional ]
[ Fate: Sword Dao Grandmaster, Number One Under Heaven ]
[ Sword Dao Grandmaster: Born for the way of the sword, skilled in creating and teaching sword techniques. ]
[ Number One Under Heaven: Achieved the title of the strongest mortal martial artist, comprehending the will of Heaven and Earth. His sword intent transcends its former limits. If he one day becomes the Number One in the Immortal Realm, his sword intent and comprehension of sword dao will undergo yet another transformation. ]
...
"Excellent aptitude, exceptional comprehension," Li Qingqiu murmured. "His talent isn't any lower than Jiang Zhaoxia's or Xu Ning's."
Two special Fates—one of them being Number One Under Heaven!
Li Qingqiu's eyes lit up. No wonder Shen Yue's sword intent was so formidable—his Fate had undergone transformation after attaining the title of the world's strongest. It explained how he could defeat a cultivator in the sixth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm despite not being a cultivator himself.
In a sense, Shen Yue had shattered the very limits of the martial world.
As for Chu Jing, he no longer counted as a true martial artist—he had lived far beyond normal years through spirit elixirs.
But a man like Shen Yue, with the Number One Under Heaven Fate, rightfully belonged in Qingxiao Sect. With him, the sect could rise to become the Number One Sect Under Heaven!
Of course, that was only Li Qingqiu's short-term goal. His true ambition was to transform Qingxiao Sect into a cultivation sect.
After Li Dongyue finished inserting three needles, Shen Yue's color began to return, his breathing evening out.
"Senior Shen," Zhang Yuchun began carefully, "what's your relationship with the Pei Clan?"
Shen Yue opened his eyes slowly. "There's someone in the Pei Clan who was an old friend of mine. He sent word that the Emperor Xuan Sword had fallen into Qingxiao Sect's hands. That's why I came."
"So the Pei Clan sent you to look for the Emperor Xuan Sword?" Zhang Yuchun asked quickly.
Shen Yue frowned faintly. "They were searching for it as well? Hmph. That's no surprise. Their clan is full of ambitious men. Seems they couldn't handle you themselves, so they lured me here instead."
His tone held no anger—only a trace of amusement.
Zhang Yuchun pressed on. "Senior, may I ask something else? In all the martial world, are there many who are as strong as you? Or perhaps someone even stronger—of course, aside from my Senior Brother."
At that, Shen Yue began coughing violently, his face flushing red. Startled, Zhang Yuchun hurried forward to help, but Shen Yue raised a trembling hand to stop him.
After several moments, his coughing subsided. He glared at Zhang Yuchun. "Brat, do you think the title Sword God was made up for fun? In my younger days, there were indeed a few troublesome opponents. But in the past thirty years, not one person has been my equal. Maybe somewhere out there exists someone stronger—but they haven't shown themselves."
Zhang Yuchun didn't look embarrassed. Instead, he sighed in relief.
The Pei Clan summoning a man like the Sword God had terrified him more than he cared to admit.
Li Dongyue chuckled softly. "Senior, my Second Brother meant no disrespect. It's the opposite—he just thinks you're too powerful. If the Pei Clan could find someone else on your level, our Qingxiao Sect would truly be in danger."
Shen Yue's expression softened. "The Pei Clan does have a few strong martial artists. Some have reached the Innate Realm. But they're no threat to Qingxiao Sect." He paused, then added with pride, "Now that I've joined your sect, once I've recovered, if anyone dares trouble Qingxiao Sect, I won't sit idly by. It's just that…"
"What is it?" Zhang Yuchun leaned forward eagerly.
With a master like Shen Yue on their side, Qingxiao Sect's strength would soar. After all, they couldn't have their Sect Master handle every challenge personally.
Shen Yue's weathered face reddened slightly. "Let me touch the Emperor Xuan Sword. I swear I have no ill intent. I just want to admire it. I've seen countless famed swords across the world, but never this one—the greatest sword in history. If I could hold it just once before I die, I'd have no regrets."
Zhang Yuchun looked over at Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu closed the Dao Lineage Interface and smiled. "If the Sword God wishes to touch the Emperor Xuan Sword, then so be it."
Shen Yue let out a long breath of relief. His gaze lingered on Li Qingqiu, filled with a complicated mix of admiration and humility.
"You can stop calling me Sword God," he said quietly. "Before you, I'm unworthy of the title."
Li Qingqiu met his eyes calmly. "Tell me, Sword God—are you truly willing to let yourself fade away like this? What if I told you there's a way for you to live another fifty years? Would you accept it?"
Shen Yue's eyes widened in disbelief. "Another fifty years? Do you even know how old I am?"
"Seventy-eight," Li Qingqiu said lightly.
"You—" Shen Yue's eyes narrowed. He was truly shocked. Most people only knew he was "in his seventies," but no one had ever guessed his exact age.
How does he know? he wondered, studying the young Sect Master before him. With such terrifying martial prowess and mysterious insight, Li Qingqiu seemed less like a man and more like something beyond mortal understanding.
But pride still kept Shen Yue from bowing too soon. Closing his eyes, he sighed. "Let me see the Emperor Xuan Sword first."