As the bell of Heaven-Reaching Peak tolled, the Top Four matches came to an end.
The battle between Chu He and Mo Li was the most uneventful of the six matches today. The latter had been heavily drained by her earlier fight with An Wentao. This Confucian true disciple put up little resistance before falling to Chu He of Myriad Arts Peak.
The audience filed down the mountain, animatedly discussing the day’s six matches along the way.
Whether it was Tang Hongdao’s shocking transformation using her Barbarian God Manifestation, the terrifying power of Ye Luqing’s Infinite Soul Entangling Formation, or Chu He’s overwhelming two victories, they all became hot topics among the disciples.
But the most memorable battle of the day was undoubtedly the “single-sword showdown” between Lian Tianliu and Pei Ruyi.
One sword was as brilliant as the sun, the other shattered waves like a tidal surge.
Although the entire fight ended in less than three breaths, the breathtaking collision of those two waves of Sword Qi surpassed the might of the Nascent Soul stage, leaving an indelible impression on all the disciples.
Pei Ruyi headed towards Ye Luqing’s small courtyard. However, just as she was about to set foot on Azure Sky Peak, she encountered someone unexpected.
It was a rugged old man with a grey beard and plain robes. A single glance and Pei Ruyi felt her cultivated Sword Qi nearly spiral out of her control.
She hastily summoned her Lifebound Spirit Sword into her hand. Her Sword Heart spun frantically, barely managing to still the seething Sword Qi within her.
Pei Ruyi instinctively knew this elder’s Sword Dao attainment was unfathomably deep, yet for a moment, she couldn’t recall such an Elder existing on Heavenly Sword Peak.
“Who might you be…”
With Feng Linyi, the Sect Master of Profound Firmament Upper Sect, now emerged from seclusion, countless Spirit Transformation and Void Comprehension cultivators from the great sects were present. She believed no one would dare cause trouble.
“This Seat is Tie Guhan. I have some minor accomplishments in the Sword Dao.”
“My fellow cultivators do not disdain me, and call me the ‘Soaring Cloud Dao Venerable’.”
Hearing this name, Pei Ruyi froze, then narrowed her eyes slightly. She slipped her right hand, holding the spirit sword, behind her back, readying her Hidden Sword Stance.
Memories of nearly being “sold” to the Southern Sky Sword Sect a few years ago surged back. Her enmity instantly peaked.
Her Sword Heart already belonged to Ye Luqing. Even if a Dao Venerable of the Dao Integration Stage stood before her, it would not change in the slightest.
Should the other party come with ill intent, she wouldn’t mind taking them down with her.
Seeing Pei Ruyi’s reaction, the old man didn’t get angry. Instead, he nodded with satisfaction.
“Little friend, your disposition is even more resolute than I had imagined.”
Tie Guhan nodded.
Sword cultivators below the Spirit Transformation Stage, in the Lower Four Realms, primarily cultivated Sword Qi. Their Sword Intent was yet unformed, their Sword Heart untempered.
And as the Dao Venerable of the Sword Qi lineage, even if he merely revealed a trace of his aura, these Sword Qi cultivators would feel a surge of reverence towards him, their Dao Master, even losing control of their Sword Qi in his presence.
This was the innate suppression a master of a Grand Dao held over those beneath him. Even some great cultivators at the Spirit Transformation or Void Comprehension stage couldn’t avoid it. Yet Pei Ruyi, standing before him, had managed it.
This went to show that Pei Ruyi’s Sword Heart was so resolute that it was a rare sight among sword cultivators.
He sighed inwardly. That madwoman Feng Linyi’s Emotionless Sword Dao might be a heretical path, but it certainly had a way of tempering the Sword Heart.
However, facing this Dao Venerable of the Sword Qi lineage, Pei Ruyi showed no sign of weakness.
“What guidance does Sect Master Tie have to offer?”
Hearing this, Tie Guhan came straight to the point:
“Come to the Southern Sky Sword Sect.”
“With your talent, as long as you are willing to join my tutelage, I can appoint you as the Sect Master’s Direct Disciple and cultivate you as my successor.”
Hearing this, the sword in Pei Ruyi’s hand trembled slightly, only for her to grip it even tighter.
“Sect Master’s Direct Disciple?”
She felt a moment of daze. She remembered six or seven years ago, she was only valued as a Sword Qi Furnace Vessel. Now, she actually qualified to become the Sect Master’s Direct Disciple.
Unlike the Profound Firmament Upper Sect, the Southern Sky Sword Sect focused solely on the Sword Dao.
Becoming a Direct Disciple of one of the eighteen peaks in the Profound Firmament Upper Sect merely granted access to that peak’s resources. But becoming a Direct Disciple in the Southern Sky Sword Sect meant receiving the full support of the entire sect, a future of incalculable potential.
Seeing Pei Ruyi’s hesitation, Tie Guhan continued:
“You’re right to think so. If you come to my Southern Sky Sword Sect, achieving the Dao Venerable position in the future is not impossible.”
The ‘Dao Venerable position’ Tie Guhan spoke of was precisely the Soaring Cloud Great Dao of the Sword Dao lineage.
Among the Upper Four Realms, there were many at the Void Comprehension stage and even the Peak Void Comprehension Stage. The vast majority of them possessed sufficient cultivation base but lacked a corresponding Grand Dao to become a Venerable.
Joining a Transcendent-Rank Power as a Direct Disciple and obtaining the venerable’s legacy and Great Dao was considered one of the most likely paths to achieving Venerable status.
“You must know the three Grand Daos of the Sword Dao lineage.”
“The ‘Void-Slashing Dao’ of the Sword Heart lineage is controlled by Feng Linyi. Even if she passes it on, it will likely go to that Sword Dao seed, Xiao Qingxuan.”
“And the ‘Dao of Myriad Transformations’ of the Sword Intent lineage… its master, Ye Anxing, can be called a Sword Dao genius rarely seen in ten thousand years. Without the enhancement of the Emotionless Sword Dao, in terms of pure Sword Dao talent, I’m afraid even Feng Linyi is not his match.”
As the Soaring Cloud Dao Venerable, his knowledge and attainment far surpassed ordinary cultivators, representing the very top echelon of understanding in the Immortal Cultivation World.
A few casual pointers from him could save Spirit Transformation or even Void Comprehension cultivators many detours.
“If you want to become a Dao Venerable, the Sword Qi lineage is the most suitable for you. As long as you are willing to join the Southern Sky Sword Sect, you can bypass the hurdle of competing with me for the Dao.”
Tie Guhan looked at Pei Ruyi confidently. His proposal was enough to tempt any Void Comprehension cultivator.
The position of Dao Venerable was bound to the Heavenly Dao. Throughout history, the number of such positions was fixed.
Apart from the mysterious and elusive Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Venerable, becoming a Dao Integration Realm Dao Venerable who wielded a Heavenly Dao was the ultimate aspiration of all cultivators under heaven.
But vying for the Dao with an established Venerable was too difficult. Both were on the same path, Dao Integration Realm against Void Comprehension. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the Dao Venerable who controlled the Grand Dao would win.
Thus, if one could eliminate the step of competing for the Dao, the probability of becoming a Dao Integration Realm Dao Venerable almost doubled.
Yet, Pei Ruyi shook her head.
“Many thanks for Sect Master Tie’s kind intentions, but this junior is ashamed.”
“My achievements today are mostly due to my Shizun’s and sect’s cultivation. I have never harbored thoughts of betrayal.”
“Furthermore, if I abandoned the Profound Firmament Upper Sect for profit today, what’s to stop me from betraying the Southern Sky Sword Sect tomorrow if faced with even greater benefits?”
Pei Ruyi’s face was calm, her words sounding righteous and just.
But in truth, what she couldn’t abandon even more than the Profound Firmament Upper Sect was Ye Luqing.
Now, both her Sword Heart and her life were intertwined with Ye Luqing. If Ye Luqing also transferred to the Southern Sky Sword Sect, she’d go without a second word, and everything she just said could be forgotten.
The problem was, Ye Luqing wouldn’t go there, and the Southern Sky Sword Sect wouldn’t accept a Nascent Soul array cultivator.
Listening to Pei Ruyi’s rejection, Tie Guhan was somewhat surprised.
The reasoning was indeed sound, but the question was… did a benefit greater than achieving the position of Dao Venerable exist in this world?
If it did, it could probably only be the opportunity to become a Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Venerable.
Tie Guhan sighed, but the look he gave Pei Ruyi showed he hadn’t given up.
With a thought, a Sword Talisman appeared in his hand, and he directly offered it to Pei Ruyi.
“If you change your mind, you can contact me anytime through this Sword Talisman.”
For any other disciple so deeply loyal and righteous, Tie Guhan might have given up.
But the Sect Master of Profound Firmament Upper Sect was Feng Linyi. What good was there in being a disciple under that madwoman?
Moreover, since ancient times, those in the Emotionless Sword Lineage forced to switch allegiances were not few. It wasn’t impossible in the future.
However, before this Sword Talisman could reach Pei Ruyi’s hand, an incomparable Sword Intent instantly locked onto Tie Guhan.
