Remould the Glory of Sword Art

Ten years.

A full ten years.

Xie Xuanyi had not seen this face.

When he was accepted into Lotus Peak, he was still a young boy. At that time, only he and his senior brother were at Lotus Peak. Two years passed before Jiang Miaoyin joined the Sword Palace...

Later, with Qi Lie as a junior brother, Lotus Peak began to become lively, to have the air of life.

Xie Xuanyi's parents had died early, leaving him orphaned and alone.

If not for his senior brother, if not for Lotus Peak, he would not know what "home" was.

A brother is as good as a father.

This referred to Zhou Zhiren.

He grew up on Lotus Peak, and when the Sect Leader was absent, it was the eldest senior brother who treated him the best, taking him down the mountain for fun, strolling through the markets of the world, buying pastries and fine foods.

"Master… Uncle."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, "This junior, Xie Zhen, just entered the Sword Palace yesterday."

"...Xie Zhen?"

Zhou Zhiren paused, glancing at the jade token at Xie Xuanyi's waist, his expression becoming even gentler, "So it's you, my little junior sister mentioned the jade token to me this morning."

Xie Xuanyi's expression stiffened.

"I've also looked at the recent case files from Qing State," Zhou Zhiren said with a smile. "With your talents, strength, you indeed do not need to participate in the Sword Qi Ceremony… Don't worry about the sect rules; since your junior sister gave you the jade token of Lotus Peak, you should hold onto it well. As for those other troubles, I'll take care of them for you."

Having said this.

He left, carrying the case files.

Xie Xuanyi stood at the mountain gate, actually aware of what his senior brother Zhou Zhiren meant by "troubles."

This opening of the mountain was announced to the entire world.

If he chose not to participate in the Sword Qi Ceremony and took the Lotus jade token, there would inevitably be gossip.

And among the various peaks, it was Golden Turtle Peak that oversaw the enforcement of laws and sect rules.

"...My brother is as altruistic as ever."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head slowly, murmuring softly in his heart, "But this trouble, I can resolve myself."

...

...

The Book Collection Pavilion was huge, with a total of six floors.

The first floor, as long as the Da Sui Sword Palace was open to the outside world, anyone who came to pay their respects could enter. This floor displayed many copies of Sword Dao Heart Methods left by various masters, and if you gave an element pill as collateral, you could even borrow them.

All talismans in the world come from the Taoist sects; all swordsmanships come from the Sword Palace.

For ordinary cultivators, these masterpieces of swordsmanship were treasures they could not normally lay eyes on.

But in the Da Sui Sword Palace, these were just basic displays and not much to speak of.

While precious, the Sword Dao books on the first floor were not "unique." If one really had deep pockets, it was actually possible to buy similar books from places like Fangyuan Market.

The second floor, however, housed exclusive works that the Sword Palace would never allow to be spread outward.

Except for Sword Palace disciples, no one was allowed to ascend to the second floor.

The rare manuscripts on this floor could be viewed but not borrowed.

The third floor required the status of an inner sect disciple. This floor preserved old objects used by former Sword Palace elders. Most were broken treasures... and these treasures had one thing in common: they retained scattered remnants of Sword Intent. Observing these treasures and comprehending the Sword Intent could solidify one's own path and strengthen the Sword Qi Cave Heaven.

The fourth floor not only required the status of a core disciple but also the strength of the Cave Heaven Realm.

Because the Sword Intent contained in the objects on this floor was very fierce.

If one's strength was insufficient and they attempted to comprehend it, they would instead harm themselves...

As for the fifth floor.

It was not a place one could step onto simply by having a jade token.

It was said that Da Sui Sword Palace's Book Collection Pavilion had a "Keeper of the Pavilion" who was of very old age, who had not shown his face for years on end. If someone wanted to enter the fifth floor... they would need the consent of the "Keeper of the Pavilion."

Or the consent of the Sect Leader.

Now that the Sect Leader was in seclusion, although the Tongtian Law Enforcement was acting in place of the Sword Palace, he could not interfere with the rules of the Book Collection Pavilion, nor could he influence the decision of the Keeper.

As for the sixth floor, there was even less need to mention.

The curiosity of the people towards the sixth floor of the Da Sui Sword Palace's Book Collection Pavilion was no less than that of Xuanshui Cave Heaven; in fact, it could be considered even greater.

Even Xie Xuanyi in his previous life did not know what was contained within this sixth floor.

Of course... aside from the Sword Energy Cultivation Method, manuscripts.

Apart from these, the Book Collection Pavilion also displayed many other items, including the case files of the Da Sui Sword Palace over the years.

Xie Xuanyi, using his jade token status, directly entered the second floor, without giving the books in the pavilion a second glance. These manuscripts were too familiar to him... In his earlier years due to his master's compulsion, he had memorized the entire Daoist collection of Lotus Peak.

The Daoist collection of Lotus Peak was meticulously selected and transcribed from the Book Collection Pavilion.

What Xie Xuanyi was looking for were the case files from ten years ago, when he had fled to Qing State.

The Da Sui Sword Palace was protected by a grand formation.

For a long time, True Hidden Peak's cranes had always recorded the cultivators entering and leaving the mountain gate; each visitor left their names in the case files—

"True Hidden Peak... Si Qi..."

As today was the day for archiving the "case files," the majority of Xiao Chong Mountain disciples had gone to organize the records, leaving the second-floor storage area of case files in the Book Collection Pavilion unattended at this moment.

Xie Xuanyi walked alone between two rows of tall bookshelves filled with records.

These case files were not difficult to find. During the ten years the mountain was sealed, the number of files was few...

The case files from the time of his misfortune were right at this time node.

After a moment,

Xie Xuanyi stopped his steps, slowly drawing out a file. The pages of this file were yellowed, the writing old, and several pages in the middle, were missing.

"November 9th, Si Qi, a disciple of True Hidden Peak, rode a crane back to Da Sui."

"November 10th, Da Sui lifted the restrictions on the mountain gate, no longer limiting disciples from going out, Golden Turtle Peak issued 'Sword Dispatch Order'."

"..."

"November 18th, Golden Turtle Peak retracted the 'Sword Dispatch Order'."

"November 19th, Da Sui sealed the mountain."

...

...

Today was the first day of the Sword Qi Ceremony.

Before Golden Turtle Peak's mountain gate, the crowd was packed tight, with worshipers from all four territories who had come to pay their respects needing to pass through Golden Turtle Peak's "Sword Qi Test" to complete the corresponding qualification assessment.

Three days later, the real Sword Qi competition would take place.

Atop Golden Turtle Peak, clouds and mists wound around.

Stream after stream of golden brilliance shuttled within the layers of cloud.

The Golden Turtle Peak Master, who administered punishment, practiced sword techniques different from those of Lotus Peak—

These golden lights were their natal Sword Qi.

The dazzling great sun hung high in the sky, and the golden Sword Qi streaked across like shooting stars, capable of leaving behind splendid trails even in the daylight.

The summit of Golden Turtle Peak.

A tall young man cloaked in a golden robe stood amidst the clouds, silently looking down at the crowd at the far foot of the mountain.

At this moment, a laugh sounded.

"Qi Lie, Brother, we finally meet,"

The youth in the golden robe slowly turned around, fixing his gaze on the frail young man not far away.

Prince Jiangning smiled and performed a courtesy, saying, "Though residing in Jiangning, I have long admired you... Today I have finally met you as I wished, and I am truly delighted."

Qi Lie's face showed little expression.

He merely watched the prince before him and replied indifferently, "Your Highness has not yet entered the mountain, so calling me brother is somewhat premature."

Xie Sheng had long known that in recent years, the Jiangning Xie Family, riding on Xie Xuanyi's fame, had sent him soaring into the clouds.

The Da Sui Sword Palace, several fellow disciples who had been in the same sect as Xie Xuanyi years ago, must undoubtedly harbor resentment towards him.

He was not annoyed, but only calmly said, "Brother Qi speaks truly. With the Sealing Mountain for ten years, rumors abounded in Jiangning, my special visit today is to seek understanding with Brother Qi... after all, Jiangning is Xie Xuanyi's homeland, and the Xie Family is also an ally of Lotus Peak."

"You overstate the matter."

Qi Lie continued evenly, "Without any misunderstanding, what is there to resolve? If Prince Your Highness came today just for this matter, then you may take your leave. Today's Sword Qi ceremony, with me in charge as the chief examiner, will involve many trivial matters to attend to thereafter."

"Brother Qi,"

Prince Jiangning slowly withdrew his previous courtesy.

He smiled and said, "I have long heard that the laws of Golden Turtle Peak are strict and that the Law Enforcement has always presided over the Sword Qi ceremony... It is indeed congratulations to Brother Qi for presiding this year."

After speaking, he stretched out a hand and reached into his sleeve.

"I'm truly sorry."

With a flick of his sleeve, Qi Lie caused the air atop the mountain to quickly solidify.

An invisible pressure enveloped the space between the two of them.

"..."

Xie Sheng slowly lifted his head, smiling at the young man in the golden robe before him.

Qi Lie said calmly, "The Master of Law Enforcement taught us that Golden Turtle Peak does not accept gifts. Your Highness is naturally gifted, and for this Sword Qi event... everything depends on strength, there are no favors. If you present a gift at this moment, attempting to 'bribe' an examiner, then how should the results of the Sword Qi competition satisfy the masses later?"

"It's really nothing valuable,"

Xie Sheng slightly opened his sleeve, revealing a dazzling golden light inside, and sighed, "I heard that Brother Qi lacks a handy weapon, so I specially brought a set of 'Golden Cloud Mysterious Thunder' Flying Swords from Jiangning. They are mere Spiritual Treasures, nothing to speak of."

"The Xie Family really is different from previous years,"

Qi Lie gazed at the gleam of gold, and chuckled mockingly, "Even Flying Swords and Spiritual Treasures are now considered trifling?"

"Fine swords befit heroes,"

Xie Sheng spoke earnestly, "The opening of Da Sui Sword Palace has been the talk of the town far and wide, with everyone knowing that Huang Su took over Lotus Peak and assimilated the Pure Yang Sect Leader's 'Brush of the Flowing Cloud', but no one knows... that Brother Qi is indeed the true hero. Should such a hero not have a set of Spiritual Treasure Flying Swords stored within his Sword Qi Grotto Heaven?"

"..."

Qi Lie's expression grew complicated.

With his hands behind his back, he silently gazed at the prince before him.

Indeed, the news of Da Sui Sword Palace's opening had spread far and wide.

Not just the news of Da Sui but also that of Jiangning… had spread throughout Da Sui Sword Palace.

Qi Lie truly couldn't imagine that this prince before him, clad in luxurious robes, was the one acclaimed as "a peer to Xuanyi" and the next genius Sword Immortal.

"Prince Your Highness, do you know that in accepting disciples, the Sword Palace not only tests cultivation and realm but also character and temperament?"

After a moment of silence, Qi Lie began.

"Oh?"

Xie Sheng chuckled.

"Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness may have exceptional cultivation talent, but moral character, I fear, may not be quite suitable for the Sword Palace."

Qi Lie said without expression, "Regarding today's incident, I will report everything to the Master of Law Enforcement. As for the set of 'Golden Cloud Mysterious Thunder', Your Highness, please take it back... I am in no position to accept it."

Having said that.

He turned to leave.

Just as they brushed past each other, Xie Sheng's sigh rose again.

"Brother Qi, truly a man of integrity,"

Qi Lie paused for a brief moment.

"Just take this set of 'Golden Cloud Mysterious Thunder,' Brother Qi,"

Xie Sheng then fully brought out the several golden Flying Swords he had prepared in his sleeve, smiling as he said, "This set of Flying Swords was crafted on the way to Jiangning by the Master of Law Enforcement back in the day... The Golden Cloud Mysterious Thunder Sword Array pairs well with the Sword techniques and formations of Golden Turtle Peak. The Jiangning craftmasters spent several years to finally forge this sword."

Qi Lie frowned and turned back.

"This set of Flying Swords was indeed left for Brother Qi by the Master of Law Enforcement."

Prince Jiangning performed another courteous bow, earnestly saying, "For these years, as the mountain was sealed and the Flying Swords completed, I couldn't send them back... Today, by climbing the mountain, I am here to return the swords and clear the karmic debt. Of course, the brother can refuse, and after some time, I will simply climb Golden Turtle Peak again and personally seek the Master of Law Enforcement."

"You..."

Qi Lie re-evaluated the prince before him.

He realized that beneath the seemingly harmless facade... was another face that was not so simple.

"I've long heard that Golden Turtle Peak's laws are strict and completely impartial, and seeing it today confirmed it to be true,"

Xie Sheng spoke softly, "I imagine... with a person like Brother Qi presiding as the main examiner, this Sword Qi competition will most certainly be fair and just, without any oversight."

"Naturally."

Qi Lie spoke coldly, "Since it is I presiding over the exam, there will be no favoritism."

"Eh..."

Xie Sheng suddenly remembered something and asked, "But why have I heard that someone received the Lotus Jade Token without even participating in the Sword Qi competition?"

...

...

(PS: The second chapter will probably be around eleven.)