MTLNOVEL Chapter 395: 115 The Visitor from Southern Jin
Chapter 395: Chapter 115 The Visitor from Southern Jin
Amidst a complexity of indescribable emotions, Cheng Zhi, Li Qingyao, Chu Qingchuan, and Zhao Qingshu met Zhou Heng.
He appeared to be a handsome young man of only around eighteen or nineteen years of age, still as dashing as they remembered, but now there was an intangible majesty about Zhou Heng that wasn’t there before.
Grandmaster!
It wasn’t just a title, it also signified a step beyond the initial interweaving of principles at the Secret Six Rank, the condensation of a Dharma Phase, turning the mighty laws of the universe into a part of one’s own cultivation.
That is to say, while a Martial Artist at the Secret Six Rank still manipulates the forces of heaven and earth with True Qi as a lever for “external forces,” a Grandmaster who has condensed a Dharma Phase and refined Mana uses their own power as the force of heaven and earth.
For a Grandmaster, every gesture and movement resonates with the rhythm of the heaven and earth and possesses natural power. The ability to control the forces of heaven and earth is no different than waving a hand or kicking a leg.
This creates a situation where those who have not achieved the rank of Grandmaster often feel an invisible oppression in the presence of a Grandmaster, causing their spirits to feel suppressed and uncomfortable.
Cheng Zhi, Li Qingyao, and the others were experiencing this feeling now.
Upon seeing Zhou Heng, they subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.
Zhao Qingshu’s situation was slightly better because he hadn’t reached the level of cultivation where he could sense the changes in the laws of heaven and earth, so naturally, he couldn’t feel the invisible Grandmaster’s pressure radiating from Zhou Heng.
But he had heard from Fang Wen what it meant to be a Grandmaster.
For any Sect, having a Grandmaster meant that, within the vast lands of Da Qi, they could be considered a force of the middle tier.
Among the countless Martial Artists under heaven, those who might become Grandmasters were few and far between.
To gather a Dharma Body, where every action resonates with the mighty power of the universe; for the vast majority, such beings were already as powerful as immortals and gods, unable to be simply described as Martial Artists.
“I actually harbored resentment against such a being before,” Zhao Qingshu now wished he could slap himself.
It was truly not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.
To become a Grandmaster at twenty, what would he become after more time passed? A Great Grandmaster at the pinnacle of the Fourth Rank?
And by that time, whether he could even step onto the Secret Six Rank was still uncertain.
The gap was too great.
While Cheng Zhi and the others were undergoing turbulent emotions, Zhou Heng was also observing the few of them.
Apart from Zhao Qingshu, the other three were considered old acquaintances of his, with whom he shared varying degrees of friendship.
Chu Qingchuan, in particular, had the closest anxious connection with him.
Back then, the two met through conflict in Wujiang Prefecture City, and later, when Yu Long, the Loose Immortal, attacked Huangtong Mansion City, Chu Qingchuan sought the help of his master, which was greatly beneficial.
Li Qingyao and Cheng Zhi were merely acquaintances he had met once.
Therefore, Zhou Heng approached Chu Qingchuan with a smile, gently clasped his hands together, and said, “Brother Chu, it’s been a long time.”
“Indeed, it’s been a long time,” Chu Qingchuan’s expression was filled with emotion as he sighed, “It seems like only yesterday we fought that battle in Wujiang Prefecture City, and now you’ve already condensed a Dharma Phase and become a Grandmaster.”
“It just happened naturally,” Zhou Heng smiled and then turned to Cheng Zhi and Li Qingyao, “It’s been a long time for you two as well, I trust you’ve been well.”
“Parting at the Sunrise Wine Gathering, only a year has passed, and you’ve become a Grandmaster,” Cheng Zhi said with admiration, “Amitabha, I hold utmost respect for your accomplishments, Master.”
“The favor of saving my life has always been on my mind,” Li Qingyao looked up at Zhou Heng with reverence and said, “I didn’t expect that before I could even repay you, you had already become a Grandmaster…”
With her current realm and cultivation, being able to repay a Grandmaster was almost impossible.
“Hahaha, Brother Zhou, I have been waiting for you with such anticipation!” At this moment, Fang Wen’s voice came, and he quickly approached, laughing, “Thank you for coming, Brother Zhou!”
“Brother Fang has extended such a gracious invitation, how could I not come?” Zhou Heng replied with a smile, “Are you prepared for the grand ceremony of founding your sect, Brother Fang?”
“Brother Zhou, what exactly are you referring to?” Fang Wen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Naturally, I’m talking about those who will come to test you.” Zhou Heng said with a laugh, “Brother Fang is raising the banner of restoring the Sword Pavilion, so there will surely be numerous sword sects coming to challenge you.
“After all, the Sword Pavilion is the ancestral hall of the swordsmanship across the world. By raising this banner, there will inevitably be those who come to test you. Even with the help of a master from the Longevity Way and having me support you here, this is unavoidable.”
“I am indeed prepared,” Fang Wen nodded, adding, “I can handle anyone below the rank of Grandmaster myself, and for those above, I have the help of my senior sect members. Should anyone from the Heaven Sword Sect come, I will have to trouble Brother Zhou.”
At this point, he paused for a moment, then offered with a smile, “Brother Zhou, may I have a word with you in private, if that’s alright with you?”
“If the Heaven Sword Sect dares to come, of course, I won’t be polite,” Zhou Heng smiled, understanding Fang Wen’s intentions, and then he left with Fang Wen.
Cheng Zhi and the others watched as Zhou Heng and Fang Wen walked away, their emotions growing even more complex.
A year ago, everyone had been peers, celebrated martial artists on the leaderboard. Now, they couldn’t even participate in the conversation the two were having.
It’s true, people should not be judged by the same standard.
…
“Thank you, Brother Zhou, for coming to meet with me. With your presence, the reconstruction of the Sword Pavilion is already more than halfway successful,” Fang Wen sincerely thanked Zhou Heng. He then took out a deep blue crystal, saying, “Brother Zhou, this crystal stores information related to the Taiqing Dao, including the location of the Sword Pavilion’s legacy in that other world, and a general outline of the situation there.”
“Thank you.” Zhou Heng took the crystal and placed it into the Cave Sky inside him, asking, “The legacy of the Sword Pavilion in that world, they don’t mind their information being leaked?”
“That world is very open and connected to many others,” Fang Wen replied with a smile. “The strength of the Sword Pavilion’s legacy is extremely powerful; although it lacks a Divine First Rank, there are several Tao Lords.”
“I see,” Zhou Heng nodded slightly, realizing that the legacy of the Sword Pavilion was not to be underestimated.
He also understood something else: it was probably the support from the Sword Pavilion’s legacy in another world that gave Fang Wen the confidence to restore the Sword Pavilion.
…
Three hundred miles from the Sword Pavilion’s gateway, there was an ordinary town.
But now, a few extraordinary people had arrived in the town.
They came from the Heaven Sword Sect of the Southern Jin Martial Dao Sect.
Two men and one woman, all at the pinnacle of the Fourth Rank, Great Grandmasters, had come to disrupt the founding ceremony of the Sword Pavilion.
Even within a major sect like the Heaven Sword Sect, pinnacle Fourth Rank Great Grandmasters were extremely rare and usually held high positions. Dispatching three at once was a significant investment, which showed how seriously the Heaven Sword Sect took this operation.
Originally, they were confident about this mission, especially after hearing that Zhou Heng might not be present at the Sword Pavilion.
After all, the person using the Sword Pavilion’s revival as their rallying cry was but a Secret Sixth Rank martial artist. Without a notable background, the help of a master from the Longevity Way, and Zhou Heng’s support, he would hardly be worth mentioning.
But today, they received new information.
Zhou Heng had already arrived at the Sword Pavilion, and at some point, he had developed a Dharma Phase and advanced to the rank of Fifth Rank Grandmaster.
This news instantly weighed heavily on the three of them.