On the outskirts of the Tianjue Mountain Range, at the edge of an ancient forest where the miasma was thin.
Five Cultivators dressed in matching green martial arts attire with long swords on their backs were skillfully butchering valuable Materials from a recently killed second-rank Yao Beast, an "Iron-Back Mountain Boar."
On their lapels, a pattern of a flowing cloud encircling a sword was embroidered in silver thread.
These five were Inner Sect Disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, a hegemon-level power in the Southern Region that possessed a Mahayana Stage Old Ancestor. Their cultivation levels ranged from late-stage Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core Stage.
They had entered the outskirts of the Tianjue Mountain Range together to complete a Sect mission: collecting several specific Spiritual Plants and hunting a certain number of Yao Beasts to hone their combat skills.
The leader was a steady-looking man named Zhao Feng, who was at the Early Golden Core stage and served as the group's captain.
He had just removed the mountain boar's tusks and was about to tell his Junior Brothers to speed up to avoid the scent of blood attracting more trouble.
Right at that moment—
"Buzz..."
An indescribable, piercing aura suddenly swept past, seemingly from extremely far away, yet also appearing to originate from the depths of their Souls!
Zhao Feng's hand jerked to a halt. He abruptly looked up toward a certain direction deep within the mountain range, his expression instantly becoming incredibly solemn.
Not just him, but the other four Disciples also stopped what they were doing and looked up together, their faces filled with shock and confusion.
That aura... though extremely faint, like a lingering resonance transmitted across thousands of mountains and rivers.
But the lofty, cold, and all-severing sharpness contained within it was clearly imprinted in their perception!
"Senior Brother Zhao... just now, that was..."
A younger Disciple's voice trembled slightly as he instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.
The moment that aura swept past, he felt his life-bound Flying Sword, which he had nurtured for years, vibrate uncontrollably.
"Sword Intent... it's Sword Intent!"
Another Disciple, who was slightly more experienced, cried out in disbelief.
"Such pure Sword Intent... to be able to shake our minds from such a distance..."
Zhao Feng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, though his heart continued to pound wildly.
With the highest cultivation and the keenest perception, the impact of that fleeting Sword Intent had been even greater for him.
That was definitely not something an ordinary Sword Cultivator could possess!
During a Sect ceremony, he had once felt a trace of sword Dao aura occasionally leaked by their Mahayana Stage Old Ancestor from afar.
The Old Ancestor's Sword Intent was already as vast as the sea and unfathomable, filling him with immense awe.
But that distant Sword Intent just now... unlike the Old Ancestor's vastness, it was "higher," "purer," and closer to some kind of essence!
If the Old Ancestor's Sword Intent were compared to a towering mountain, then what he had just felt was a ray of radiance from the highest heavens.
Though it seemed distant and weak, its essence transcended the mountains of the mortal Realm!
"Higher... even higher than the Old Ancestor's cultivation!"
This thought jumped into Zhao Feng's mind uncontrollably, startling even himself.
"Senior Brother, that direction... it seems to be deeper in the mountain range?"
A Disciple pointed toward the general direction the Sword Intent had come from, his voice dry.
"Isn't that the legendary territory of the Fushan Ape King?"
"Could it be that some great sword Dao expert is fighting the Ape King?"
"Impossible!" Zhao Feng immediately denied it.
"If they were fighting, the Sword Intent would surely be violent and intense. How could it be so... naturally released and then quickly retracted?"
"It's more like... like a trace of Sword Intent inadvertently leaked by some great expert!"
This speculation made the five of them even more terrified.
A trace of true intent inadvertently leaked could shake their minds and cause their life-bound Flying Swords to warn them from such a distance?
Then what Realm must that expert's actual cultivation be?
Peak Fusion? Mahayana Stage? Or even... Undergoing Tribulation?!"
"This is no trivial matter!"
Zhao Feng made a quick decision, scanning his four Junior Brothers with a serious expression.
"Pack up everything immediately; we are returning to the Sect right now!"
"Senior Brother Zhao, but the mission isn't finished yet..."
One Disciple hesitated.
"Foolish!" Zhao Feng barked.
"Compared to this Sword Intent, what does a mere Sect mission matter?"
"A sword Dao expert with heaven-defying cultivation has appeared deep within the Tianjue Mountain Range!"
Their intentions are unclear and their stance is unknown. It is by no means wise for us to stay here recklessly."
"We must immediately bring this news back to the Sect and report it to the Sect Leader and the Elders!"
Seeing Zhao Feng speak so seriously, the other four dared not delay any longer and quickly gathered their spoils at top speed.
They followed Zhao Feng, racing toward the outskirts of the mountain range in the direction of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect.
Everyone's heart was heavy, filled with both awe for the unknown powerhouse and a faint sense of excitement.
They knew they might have accidentally stumbled onto the edge of a major event capable of shaking the Southern Region.
And a similar scene was not only happening with the Disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect.
The Tianjue Mountain Range was vast; besides the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, there were many other Cultivators from various Sects and families, either there for training or treasure hunting.
Li Hanyi's Sword Intent, though brief, was of an extremely high essence. Like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, the ripples were quietly spreading.
Some Nascent Soul and Nascent Soul Cultivator with keen perception also noticed this unusual fluctuation and cast their suspicious and uncertain gazes toward the depths of the mountain range.
"What a terrifying Sword Intent... which great expert has emerged?"
"The direction seems to be from 'Giant Rock Valley'."
"Could it be that the Fushan Ape King has broken through to the Tribulation Stage and even practiced the sword Dao?"
"It doesn't look like the style of the Yao Race... it seems more like a pure human! Could a great expert have entered the Tianjue Mountain Range?"
"Quickly send the news back to the Family or Sect, send more people, and investigate carefully! But remember, do not offend them!"
One after another, transmission Talismans and secret technique seals quietly flew out from various parts of the mountain range toward different powers.
Near the Tianjue Mountain Range, the winds and clouds were surging.
Yet the instigator of all this, Li Hanyi, was completely unaware.
She simply felt that the Yaochi Immortal Palace was indeed a good place; even practicing her sword was exceptionally smooth.
Gu Han would never have imagined that a simple morning practice by her Grand Elder would cause such a huge stir in the outside world.
Yaochi Immortal Palace, Side Hall.
Liu Ruyan was leading the Three Great Demon Kings, giving a general introduction to the main buildings and functional areas of the Immortal Palace.
"This is the Hall of Transmission. In the future, Master will preach the Dao here, and the Grand Elder might also teach her insights on the sword Dao here."
"Over there is the Scripture Pavilion. Currently, it lacks classics, but it will gradually be filled in the future."
"The Pill Refining Pavilion and Artifact Refining Pavilion are here. If needed, you can use them yourself, but you'll need to provide the Materials..."
"Yaochi has the most abundant Spiritual Qi; the Island in the Heart of the Lake is a good place for quiet cultivation..."
Liu Ruyan's introduction was clear and organized.
Although her cultivation was only at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, her attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, faintly showing the demeanor of a future Sect manager.
This was thanks to the steadiness brought by her three lifetimes of experience, as well as her absolute awe and loyalty toward Gu Han.
Ink Scale and the other two listened very seriously.
Although they were Demon Kings with extraordinary insight, many facilities of the top human Sects were also new to them.
Especially feeling the rich Spiritual Qi and dao rhyme present everywhere here, it made them feel that joining the Yaochi Immortal Palace was a wise move.
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