Chapter 133-134 (Patreon)

133. Stone Tablet Shattered

"Disciple, you are right, Yuan Gangzi deserved his death. Since Yuan Gangzi is dead, let it be. Guardian Primordial Mountain is indeed stronger than He Mountain Dao. However, with the imperial family suppressing the world, at least in recent years, they dare not do anything," Zhao Kongming said coldly.

Lin Fei raised his head, looked at Zhao Kongming, and calmly asked, "Master, there is something I don't understand, and I would like to ask for your guidance."

"Speak."

"Those immortal sects seem to be getting more and more unscrupulous. But they haven't caused any large-scale incidents. It's as if they are waiting for something. What exactly are they waiting for?"

Lin Fei had always been puzzled. Logically speaking, the Great Chang dynasty suppressed the world. Now that the world was unstable, the imperial family was weak and unable to control the local areas. It should be the time for these immortal sects to "be active". But although they were somewhat unscrupulous, they were also somewhat restrained. This seems contradictory.

Zhao Kongming's eyes were deep, and he sneered, "They are waiting for the imperial family's Supreme Elder to pass away! The world's instability is indeed due to the imperial family's poor governance and the corruption and degeneration of the court. However, the key point is that the imperial family's Supreme Elder is not far from his life limit.

Although the Supreme Elder is not as powerful as the Great Chang founder who could suppress the world, be invincible, and dominate everywhere, he is still an extraordinary cultivator, a top-tier Foundation Establishment expert.

It is precisely because of this imperial Supreme Elder that the Great Chang dynasty was able to revive. Otherwise, the Great Chang dynasty would have disintegrated long ago. Those immortal sects are now so active, yet they remain polite. They are actually fearing that imperial Supreme Elder."

Once the imperial's Supreme Elder passes away, it will probably be the time for chaos in the world and the disintegration of the Great Chang dynasty..."

Zhao Kongming, as an elderly martial artist, could see the situation very clearly. The current Great Chang seemed calm, but in fact, it had long been filled with undercurrents.

Once the imperial Supreme Elder passed away, the world would undoubtedly fall into chaos. Now those immortal sects were actually withholding. This time they probably won't mobilize a large force.

Even if Lin Fei just killed Yuan Gangzi, Guardian Primordial Mountain wouldn't be furious and they won't come to Nine Profound Sect to capture people. Because they are focused on the "big picture" and waiting for the imperial Supreme Elder to pass away.

Once the imperial Supreme Elder passes away, whether it's He Mountain Dao or Guardian Primordial Mountain, it probably won't be so easy to deal with. At that time, the immortal sects would surely rise. Perhaps, Nine Profound Sect would be in trouble!

Lin Fei's expression became serious. He understood everything. That is to say, even if He Mountain Dao and Guardian Primordial Mountain really gave birth to Foundation Establishment experts, they most likely won't do anything to the Nine Profound Sect.

The imperial Supreme Elder was like the anchor for the entire Great Chang. As long as the Supreme Elder didn't encounter any accidents, no matter how turbulent the world was, it would always remain an undercurrent.

But once the Supreme Elder dies, those immortal sects will raise their banners and return to the world, completely controlling the secular power of the world.

Such things have happened before. Before the establishment of the Great Chang, it was like this. Immortal sects controlled the entire world. Various forces fought, and the people suffered. Finally, the Great Chang founder emerged, with the supreme power of a Martial Saint, sweeping across the world, establishing the Great Chang dynasty, only then could the world enjoy 900 years of peace.

"However, disciple, you don't need to worry. If you can reach innate perfection and become a grandmaster, even if you can't compare to the founder, you won't be far behind. By then, even if the world is in chaos, you can still protect the Nine Profound Sect."

Zhao Kongming looked deeply at Lin Fei. The reason why the Nine Profound Sect values Lin Fei so much, even giving him everything he wanted and fully supporting him, even if it meant offending some immortal sects, was because they saw the hope of Lin Fei becoming a grandmaster.

At that time, if they want to protect the sect in the chaos of the world. There must be a grandmaster to sit in the town. And Lin Fei is almost the only hope of the Nine Profound Sect.

"Master, rest assured, I will definitely practice hard, strive to become a grandmaster as soon as possible, and live up to the expectations of the sect!" Lin Fei said solemnly.

"Good, I naturally believe in you. You continue to practice here at the Ancestral Master Peak. My sword intent is almost stable."

Zhao Kongming voluntarily gave up his position and left the Ancestral Master Peak.

Lin Fei didn't stand on ceremony. He immediately sat cross-legged under the stone tablet. Now that he knew that the entire world might fall into chaos in the next few years. He had to seize every opportunity to enhance his strength.

"A grandmaster of martial arts can protect the sect? However, my goal is not just to become a master or a grandmaster. What I want is longevity. To enter the Dao through martial arts and step onto the path of longevity..." Lin Fei murmured softly. Then, he closed his eyes.

Time flew by, and two months passed. Every day, Lin Fei practiced on the Ancestral Master Peak, using the saber intent left by the Nine Profound Sect's founder to sharpen his own saber intent.

On this day, Lin Fei was still doing the same thing as usual. He stimulated his own saber intent, hoping to trigger the saber intent on the stone tablet so that he could continue to sharpen his saber intent. However, an unexpected change occurred.

"Crack."

A soft sound. The stone tablet cracked!

Lin Fei opened his eyes. His gaze instantly fell on the stone tablet in front of him.

A crack had appeared on the tablet. Although the crack was small and subtle. If he didn't look closely, Lin Fei wouldn't even notice it. But, a crack is still a crack. This meant that there was a problem with the stone tablet.

But this stone tablet had been exposed to wind and rain on the Ancestral Master Peak for 900 years. There were no cracks before and it had only been slightly weathered but not seriously. How did it suddenly crack?

Lin Fei looked at the stone tablet in front of him. He sensed Martial Dao True Intent within the tablet. Suddenly, Lin Fei understood.

"It's Martial Dao True Intent! The Martial Dao True Intent left by the founder is in the perfection realm. Three strands of Martial Dao True Intent, for a full 900 years, had already merged with the stone tablet. But as I constantly stimulated the Martial Dao True Intent within the stone tablet to sharpen my own Martial Dao True Intent.

Over time, the Martial Dao True Intent within the tablet would naturally be consumed. And now, with excessive consumption, the Martial Dao True Intent is about to disappear. Once the Martial Dao True Intent disappears, this stone tablet will quickly become an ordinary tablet, rapidly weathering and cracking, eventually collapsing."

Lin Fei fell silent. He knew he couldn't continue. After all, this stone tablet was left behind by the founder and it still contained Martial Dao True Intent. He couldn't destroy it completely.

"System."

Lin Fei summoned the system to check his martial arts progress.

Host: Lin Fei

Martial Arts Realm: Innate Martial Artist

Master: Mid-stage

True Intention Scroll: Mid-stage (92% Progress)

Saber Intent: Mastery (96% Progress)

Fist Intent: Mastery (51% Progress)

Heavenly Saber Art: Transcendence (0% Progress)

Immeasurable Fist: Transcendence (0% Progress)

Close Yet Distant: Transcendence (0% Progress)

Lin Fei's True Intention Scroll had reached 92% progress. This was actually quite good. After reaching the mid-stage of Master, the cultivation speed of the True Intention Scroll had drastically reduced. Reaching 92% was thanks to the improvement of saber intent.

The progress of saber intent had reached 96%. The growth was not huge. But it was already close to breaking through. Once it broke through, it would be saber intent transcendence and Lin Fei's strength could increase by several times or even more than ten times. Heavenly Saber Art had also reached transcendence, and the Tyrant Saber could be condensed.

The Tyrant Saber was much more powerful than the Fierce Saber. Once the Tyrant Saber was released, its terrifying aura would not only affect saber wielders, even martial artists and Qi cultivators would be suppressed by the Tyrant Saber.

Immeasurable Fist and Close Yet Distant had both reached transcendence. However, after these three martial arts reached transcendence, there was no more progress. It seemed that reaching perfection still required some opportunities.

Lin Fei knew that the higher the martial arts and the more profound they were, the more difficult it was to cultivate them to perfection. This had nothing to do with the martial artist's efforts. To achieve perfection, one must rely on some opportunities.

"The Martial Dao True Intent on the Ancestral Master Peak can no longer be used. I must find a place to sharpen my saber intent and strive to make it reach transcendence. Where in the world can I find a place to sharpen my saber intent?"

A name flashed through Lin Fei's mind.

134. Down The Mountain Again

"Hidden Sword Sect!" Lin Fei murmured softly.

When it came to sharpening saber intent, the name "Hidden Sword Sect" appeared in his mind. After all, Hidden Sword Sect had Lu Zongyi. Moreover, it had once given birth to a Martial Saint. An innate martial artist with perfect sword intent was born there!

For Lin Fei to sharpen his sword intent, Hidden Sword Sect was undoubtedly the best choice. What's more, Lin Fei had also established a good relationship with Hidden Sword Sect. He had saved Lu Zongyi's life and Lu Zongyi had sincerely invited Lin Fei to visit Hidden Sword Sect.

"It seems that I need to pay a visit to Hidden Sword Sect."

Lin Fei stood up and prepared to leave the mountain. Under normal circumstances, he would quietly leave the mountain alone.

However, his identity was different now. Nine Profound Sect Grand Elder! Every move he made represented the Nine Profound Sect. Therefore, Lin Fei had to inform the Nine Profound Sect's sect master.

Moreover, he could also learn about the situation of He Mountain Dao and Guardian Primordial Mountain from the sect master. After all, if there were forces that wanted Lin Fei dead and had enough power to kill him, it would be these two.

Lin Fei had to pay more attention to the situation of these two forces when he left the mountain. So, Lin Fei went directly to the main hall of the Nine Profound Sect.

The sect master was also in the main hall. It seemed that he was listening to a disciple's report.

"Greetings to the Grand Elder."

Upon seeing Lin Fei, the disciple immediately saluted. Lin Fei's prestige in the entire Nine Profound Sect was higher than anyone else's. He had even become the symbol of the current Nine Profound Sect.

Lin Fei nodded. The disciple hurriedly left the main hall.

"Sect Master. I plan to leave the mountain soon and visit Hidden Sword Sect. So I came to inform Sect Master."

Upon hearing Lin Fei's words, the sect master's face changed drastically.

"Elder Lin, you... you're leaving the mountain again?"

The sect master was somewhat scared. Although he was always calm and steady, he couldn't help but feel an ominous premonition when he heard that Lin Fei was leaving the mountain again.

The previous times Lin Fei left the mountain, he always caused trouble. Moreover, the troubles he caused grew larger and larger.

When he was still in the Acquired Realm, he killed an ordinary Qi Condensation disciple of He Mountain Dao during a trip down the mountain. Then, he went to Chang City and killed a sixth-level Qi Condensation disciple of He Mountain Dao.

Even on the way back to the mountain, he successively killed two high-level Qi Condensation cultivators of He Mountain Dao. But that was not the end.

The last time he left the mountain, Lin Fei led a team to participate in the Martial Alliance Exchange. This should have been relatively safe.

Many Grand Elders had led teams to participate in the Martial Alliance Exchange in the past. Almost no problems occurred.

And Lin Fei?

He led a team to the Martial Alliance Exchange and ended up killing Guardian Primordial Mountain's Yuan Gangzi with a single saber strike. That was a peak Qi Condensation cultivator at the eleventh level and he was a core elder of Guardian Primordial Mountain!

When the sect master first heard this news, it was like a bolt from the blue.

He was somewhat dazed.

"How come? Can't I leave the mountain?" Lin Fei frowned.

The sect master smiled bitterly, "Elder Lin, you are the Grand Elder of our Nine Profound Sect, how could you not be allowed to leave the mountain? It's just that, for this trip to visit Hidden Sword Sect, I have a small request."

"Sect Master, just say it."

"I just hope that Elder Lin, during this trip down the mountain, won't provoke any powerful enemies. Elder Lin has already provoked a peak Qi Condensation cultivator at the eleventh level last time.

According to Elder Lin's pattern of leaving the mountain. This time, you may provoke Qi Condensation perfection or even Foundation Establishment cultivators. Our Nine Profound Sect can't withstand the wrath of Foundation Establishment cultivators now..."

Lin Fei raised an eyebrow, "So Sect Master is worried about this. Sect Master, rest assured, I can't defeat Foundation Establishment cultivators now, so I definitely won't provoke them. So, Foundation Establishment cultivators won't come to the Nine Profound Sect."

Moreover, I am going to visit Hidden Sword Sect to see if I can sharpen my saber intent there so that my saber intent can reach transcendence. For the matter of saber intent transcendence, I must leave the mountain!"

The sect master breathed a slight sigh of relief. As long as he didn't provoke Foundation Establishment cultivators, that would be fine.

But Lin Fei didn't say he wouldn't provoke Qi Condensation perfection? The sect master thought for a moment and finally didn't say anything. It was already good not to provoke Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As for Qi Condensation perfection? Almost all Qi Condensation perfection cultivators were desperately trying to refine Foundation Establishment pills. Therefore, there were very few Qi Condensation perfection cultivators roaming outside. There was no need to worry too much.

"By the way, have there been any recent movements from He Mountain Dao and Guardian Primordial Mountain?" Lin Fei asked again.

Hearing Lin Fei mention this, the sect master's eyes flashed with a trace of solemnity.

"Elder Lin, regarding He Mountain Dao and Guardian Primordial Mountain, we have been keeping an eye on them. Currently, He Mountain Dao is still sealed off.

As for Guardian Primordial Mountain, it's a bit strange. It's as if they're acting like Yuan Gangzi never died. They have no reaction to his death, which is really strange."

"No reaction?" A glint flashed in Lin Fei's eyes, "No reaction is the biggest reaction. That means Guardian Primordial Mountain is harboring resentment. Once the Imperial Supreme Elder dies and the person they fear disappears, they will definitely make a move against our Nine Profound Sect! Guardian Primordial Mountain is even more dangerous than He Mountain Dao!"

The Sect Master's face gradually darkened. He clearly considered the possibility as well.

"Rest assured, Sect Master. Once I become a Grand Master, or my saber intent reaches perfection. If Guardian Primordial Mountain dares to come, I will ensure they never return."

After speaking, Lin Fei turned and left the hall.

This time, Lin Fei didn't ride a horse. His movement technique, Close Yet Distant, had reached transcendence. Moreover, Lin Fei's Saber Qi was incredibly profound, using Close Yet Distant to travel was much faster than riding a horse.

A day later, Lin Fei had already arrived at the foot of the mountain where the Hidden Sword Sect was located.

The Hidden Sword Sect was situated on a continuous range of mountain peaks. At the foot of the mountain, there was a town named Sword City.

The people here, influenced by the Hidden Sword Sect, had some mastery in swordsmanship, almost everyone carried a long sword with them. Moreover, they were extremely hostile towards those carrying other weapons.

Lin Fei even saw a saber-wielding guest constantly provoked by the people of the city. The saber-wielding guest dared not fight. Once a real battle took place, and if he won, the trouble would be even greater. An endless stream of swordsmen would come to challenge, utterly annoying.

Lin Fei didn't bring a saber. Ever since he possessed Saber Qi, he had stopped carrying a saber. Otherwise, coming to Sword City rashly would indeed be troublesome.

Hidden Sword Sect was located on a mountain peak a few miles outside of Sword City. The peaks here soared into the clouds. Moreover, there was only one path for entering and exiting. That was a flight of steps. A total of one thousand and eight steps.

Hidden Sword Sect's gates were wide open. They didn't refuse anyone seeking to become a disciple. But the prerequisite was to walk to the top of the mountain on their own.

These steps were extremely narrow. One slight misstep, a slip of the foot, and falling would result in being shattered to pieces. Even some Hidden Sword Sect disciples had died, falling off the stone steps when entering or exiting the sect. But the Hidden Sword Sect showed no intention of improving the road conditions.

The Hidden Sword Sect's creed was only those who could climb the one thousand and eight steps were considered to have passed the test of will and courage and qualified to become a swordsman. Otherwise, they would be sent back to where they came from.

As for the danger? A swordsman's life was filled with life-and-death experiences. How could one become a swordsman without being tempered in life and death?

Lin Fei had learned a bit about the Hidden Sword Sect. At the moment, he had only one thought in his mind.

Ruthless! The Hidden Sword Sect was truly ruthless! Whether they were ruthless to others, Lin Fei didn't know. But the Hidden Sword Sect was indeed ruthless towards its own people!

However, perhaps it was such extreme and harsh conditions allowed the Hidden Sword Sect to endure for thousands of years.

Among all the martial arts sects in Great Chang, it was the only one with a heritage surpassing a thousand years, that could stand alongside those immortal and Daoist sects!

Lin Fei arrived at the foot of the mountain and saw many people gathered together. He made his way through the crowd. It turned out there were three unrecognizable corpses on the ground. All were young individuals. It seemed they had fallen from the tall stone steps.

"Another three dead."

"Five died this morning."

"More and more people are coming to join Hidden Sword Sect lately, and more are unafraid of death."

"Heh, these are all refugees. With the recent chaos, some think that joining the Hidden Sword Sect will at least provide food and clothing. And the result? People who can't even feed themselves think they can easily enter the Hidden Sword Sect?"

"Reaching the peak is nearly impossible for an ordinary person. Even martial artists with years of Body Refining and excellent physical strength often fall to their deaths."

Lin Fei gazed at the corpses on the ground. It seemed that the one thousand and eight stone steps of Hidden Sword Sect were not easily surmountable.

Lin Fei turned and stood at the base of the mountain. He prepared to step onto the first stone stair. However, he noticed a young man and a little girl standing before the steps.

The boy appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, while the girl was only seven or eight. Both were dressed in rags and reeked. They likely hadn't bathed in days and were probably refugees as well.

The number of refugees in Great Chang was increasing. This foreshadowed potential unrest.

"Brother, don't climb the stone steps. So many people just fell to their deaths. If you climb, you will certainly die too."

Tears streamed down the girl's face. The youth was thin and sallow, but resilient. He clenched his teeth, gazing at the towering peak, and whispered, "Sister, if I don't reach the top and become a disciple of the Hidden Sword Sect, we'll both starve to death. Father and mother are gone.

I swore I would raise you. Only by joining the Hidden Sword Sect and becoming a disciple can I support you. Perhaps I could even become a powerful swordsman, slaying our enemies and avenging our parents!"

The youth took a deep breath and he then prepared to step onto the first stone stair.

"This Hidden Sword Sect is interesting. They have people climb the stone steps to forge their willpower. Would carrying you to the top count as passing the Hidden Sword Sect's test?"

Suddenly, a calm voice sounded behind the youth.