Green Sword Sect

The Azure Sword Sect was situated amidst a range of mountains.

The mountains were towering and majestic, with overlapping ridges and peaks that pointed straight into the sky like swords.

Clouds and mist lingered in the mountains, ethereal as gauze, shrouding the pavilions and palaces in an immortal aura.

Occasionally, white cranes would pierce through the clouds, flying leisurely and letting out clear, resonant cries that echoed endlessly through the valleys.

This was the Azure Sword Sect.

With a heritage spanning hundreds of years, it possessed profound foundations.

Unlike government-affiliated institutions like the Celestial Master Mansion, the Azure Sword Sect was a true cultivation sect, possessing its own orthodox lineage, its own rules, and its own pride.

The inspection convoy traveled all the way up the mountain path.

The mountain path meandered and spiraled upward, flanked by towering ancient trees that blotted out the sky and the sun.

Occasionally, passing disciples of the Azure Sword Sect would stop in their tracks upon seeing this massive procession, casting curious glances.

Those gazes swept past the armor of the Golden Feather Guards, lingered on the Daoist robes of the Celestial Master Mansion cultivators, and finally landed on the largest carriage.

That was the carriage of the Celestial Master Mansion.

Who was sitting inside the carriage?

The disciples murmured among themselves, watching the convoy pass by and disappear into the depths of the clouds and mist.

Finally, the inspection convoy arrived at the mountain gate.

The mountain gate was magnificent, built from bluestone, bearing three large characters that read Azure Sword Sect. The calligraphy was vigorous, faintly exuding sword intent.

The gatekeeping disciples had long received the news, respectfully bowing and granting passage.

The convoy passed through the mountain gate and continued forward along the broad bluestone avenue.

After passing through several courtyards and bypassing a few great halls, they finally...

Arrived at the central plaza of the Azure Sword Sect.

The plaza was massive, paved with seamless bluestone, as flat as a mirror.

In the very center stood a giant bronze cauldron, from which curling incense smoke drifted into the air.

Surrounding the plaza were the main buildings of the Azure Sword Sect: the grand hall, the scripture tower, the alchemy room, and the sword pavilion. They were arranged in a well-proportioned manner, exuding a majestic aura.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered on the plaza.

Most were young disciples of the Azure Sword Sect, standing in twos and threes in the distance, curiously examining this clearly extraordinary group.

Their eyes wandered over the Golden Feather Guards and scrutinized the cultivators of the Celestial Master Mansion.

Eventually, they all landed on that carriage.

The carriage came to a steady halt.

The carriage curtain was lifted.

A figure stepped out from inside.

Gu Chengyin.

He wore a moon-white long robe with a jade belt around his waist. His ink-black hair was tied up with a single jade hairpin, making his entire person look handsome and unearthly.

His gaze swept indifferently across the plaza, brushing past those curious disciples.

Then, it landed on a group of people standing in front of the plaza's grand hall.

They were all the core higher-ups of the Azure Sword Sect.

The leader was a white-haired old man.

The old man had a tall and thin figure, wearing a blue-and-white Daoist robe, standing with his hands behind his back.

His face was gaunt, and his brow carried a bit of worldly detachment, but his eyes were as bright as stars, faintly flashing with sharp light.

More importantly, his eyes and brows bore some resemblance to Jiang Jianli.

Without needing to guess, Gu Chengyin knew who this was.

Jiang Qingshan.

The Sect Master of the Azure Sword Sect.

Shangguan Yunying's maternal grandfather.

Behind Jiang Qingshan stood over a dozen elders and higher-ups of the Azure Sword Sect.

There were white-haired old men, composed middle-aged cultivators, and a few existences who looked young but actually possessed unfathomable cultivation bases.

Their gazes all fell upon the carriage, upon Gu Chengyin who had just stepped out.

Carrying scrutiny, curiosity, and a trace of imperceptible anticipation.

Gu Chengyin was not in a hurry to step forward.

He stood by the carriage, turning slightly to wait for the person behind him.

A moment later, another figure stepped out of the carriage.

Lin Qingyan.

She was dressed in plain white robes, her sleeves fluttering in the wind, and her ink-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, making her look as cold and detached as frost.

Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, like a fairy from the highest heavens, untainted by worldly dust and mortal affairs.

After alighting, she stood beside Gu Chengyin, her gaze indifferently sweeping across the plaza.

At that moment, countless gasps could be heard across the plaza.

Those young Azure Sword Sect disciples had initially been curiously examining the convoy.

Now, all their gazes froze.

Froze upon Lin Qingyan.

Too stunning.

This kind of stunning beauty could not be described with words.

Even in a bustling metropolis like the Luo Capital, Lin Qingyan's radiance could not be concealed.

Now, in an ethereal place like the Azure Sword Sect, she seemed even more like a fairy from the highest heavens who had finally descended to her loyal sect.

The disciples stared blankly, even forgetting to breathe.

Even the elders and higher-ups behind Jiang Qingshan could not help but take a few extra glances.

Jingzhe of the Celestial Master Mansion.

They had all heard of this title.

But now that they truly saw the person herself, they realized that the rumors fell far short of reality.

Lin Qingyan paid absolutely no mind to these gazes.

She had seen too, too many of them.

From childhood to adulthood, from entering the Dao to reaching the Golden Core stage, she had seen such gazes countless times.

Stunned, admiring, covetous, wary, she was already immune to all kinds of looks.

Thus, she merely gave a faint glance before withdrawing her gaze, walking straight toward Jiang Qingshan without looking sideways.

Gu Chengyin walked shoulder to shoulder with her.

Their paces were synchronized, their robes gently fluttering in the wind. One was handsome, the other cold and detached. Standing side by side, there was an indescribable sense of harmony.

Stopping three steps in front of Jiang Qingshan, the two halted.

Lin Qingyan nodded slightly, her voice cold and clear:

Sect Master Jiang.

A simple address, devoid of any emotion, yet possessing its own bearing.

The smile on Jiang Qingshan's face faded.

Then, he solemnly cupped his hands and bowed to Lin Qingyan:

Lord Jingzhe.

His etiquette was comprehensive and impeccable.

Although the Celestial Master Mansion was different from a sect, Lin Qingyan's status and strength both warranted this bow from him.

After bowing, Jiang Qingshan looked at Gu Chengyin again, and the smile bloomed on his face once more.

It was even somewhat excessively radiant.

You must be Junior Preceptor Gu.

Jiang Qingshan's voice carried obvious enthusiasm.

His gaze sized Gu Chengyin up, from top to bottom, then bottom to top, as if trying to see completely through Gu Chengyin in this single glance.

Gu Chengyin's expression remained unchanged as he politely cupped his hands and bowed to Jiang Qingshan.

Setting aside his identity as Sect Master, Jiang Qingshan was also Shangguan Yunying's maternal grandfather.

The proper etiquette still needed to be observed.

Sect Master Jiang.

This junior has come under the imperial court's orders to inspect the Azure Sword Sect.

I hope Sect Master Jiang will forgive the intrusion.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingshan stepped forward and grabbed Gu Chengyin's arm to support him.

His action was as intimate as if he were seeing a junior of his own family.

No intrusion at all!

Jiang Qingshan laughed heartily, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.

It is only proper!

Saying this, he glanced at Lin Qingyan next to him, then looked at Gu Chengyin, and spoke meaningfully:

Junior Preceptor Gu, on this journey, everyone in the inspection team must be exhausted from the travel.

How about you rest for a while before inspecting our Azure Sword Sect?

Gu Chengyin's heart stirred slightly.

Rest first, inspect later.

These words sounded like mere pleasantries, but that look, that tone.

They were clearly talking about another matter:

I want to verify your token.

Gu Chengyin understood Jiang Qingshan's meaning.

For the Azure Sword Sect, inspections and the like could be put off until later.

The inheritor of the Azure Cloud Immortal Clan was the matter of utmost importance.

But, just because you say you want to verify it, does it mean we will?

From the very beginning, Gu Chengyin was extremely clear about the goal of this trip.

The reason he was willing to conduct the inspection tour was not because of Emperor Luo's overt scheme, nor was it due to Jiang Jianli's request.

Rather, it was because...

He intended to devour the entire Azure Sword Sect.