Ten thousand sword cultivators of the Sword Suppression Hall set out together; while perhaps not unheard of, it was certainly enough to stagger the world.
The entire sect was in an uproar.
The War Bell rang nine times. At first, everyone thought it was a demonic invasion bringing chaos to the Northern Borders.
Yet to their surprise, the blades were pointed south, in the direction of the Central Province.
Although the Wendao Sword Sect and the Central Plains had been locked in overt and covert struggles for a long time, as fellow humans, they had never truly shown their teeth to one another or broken out into a full-scale war.
The Sword Suppression Hall mobilizing its entire force and pointing its blades southward was truly unprecedented.
How could they not be shocked today when ten thousand sword cultivators set out, with the Sect Master himself personally leading the charge?
One had to know that the Sword Suppression Hall, situated on Zhijian Peak, was the undisputed powerhouse among the Thirteen Halls of the Wendao Sword Sect.
The disciples within this hall all practiced the sword of slaughter; they were battle-hardened veterans, and the hall was filled with countless experts.
Setting aside the Sword Pavilion, the sword cultivators of the Sword Suppression Hall accounted for fifty percent of the entire sect’s combat strength.
Their peak was born for war.
Sheathed, they guard the gates. Drawn, they conquer the world.
The tolling of the bell faded, and the black clouds dispersed, but the disciples of the Seven Peaks and Thirteen Halls did not regain their composure for a long time. They gathered in groups, discussing the event incessantly.
"So overbearing!"
"What on earth happened?"
"I didn't expect even the Sect Master to take action."
"With a formation like this, it’s as if the Three Sects are about to invade."
"The swords are pointed south; this is a conflict between humans..."
"The thousand sects of the Three Sects have bullied our Northern Borders for too long. We should have struck back ages ago. We should sweep through them and fight until the world turns dark, letting the Central Province know that the swords of our Wendao Sword Sect are anything but blunt."
"May the Sword Suppression Hall return in triumph."
Among the mountains, voices rose one after another, filled with spirit and determination...
On the other side.
Near Yecheng.
Xu Xian, carrying over a thousand infants, found a small town.
There was a ranch in the town that raised many cows. Since it was far from Yecheng, Xu Xian thought it would be most appropriate to settle the children here first.
The situation in Yecheng was currently unclear, and it would take some time for the people from the Wendao Sword Sect to arrive. Before then, he had to remain cautious.
God only knew if there were other experts hiding in Yecheng. No one could guarantee that the city wouldn't attempt a desperate, suicidal retaliation once they realized their plot had been exposed.
When Xu Xian arrived, it was nearing noon.
The people in the town saw a wooden raft flying through the sky from a distance. Every single one of them was dumbfounded.
"What is that thing?"
"There seems to be someone underneath it?"
"It’s an immortal!"
When they saw that someone was actually lifting the wooden raft, their jaws nearly dropped. Only an immortal could perform such a feat.
Initially, they thought the immortal was just passing through, but to their surprise, he descended directly toward the town.
The quiet town instantly reached a boiling point.
"An immortal has come!"
"He’s at the cattle ranch on the back mountain."
"Quick, go inform the mayor..."
Xu Xian landed outside the ranch, finding an empty space to set the infants down.
Seeing this scene, some of the ranch workers were so terrified that they turned and bolted. Others prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to move. There was also an older man who gathered his courage and stepped forward.
"Greetings, Immortal Master."
Xu Xian looked at the old man and introduced himself. "I am a disciple of the Wendao Sword Sect. Please, call the person in charge of your town. I have urgent matters to discuss."
Hearing that he was an Immortal Master from the Wendao Sword Sect, the old man’s anxious expression shifted instantly. The fear in his eyes mostly vanished, replaced by profound respect.
Though still respectful, he was no longer just afraid. He bowed to Xu Xian and called out to a worker behind him.
"Ergou, quick, go get the mayor! Tell him an Immortal Master from the Wendao Sword Sect is visiting."
"Understood, I'm going now!"
The man sprinted toward the town, shouting as he ran.
"The Immortal Master from the Wendao Sword Sect is here!"
"The Immortal Master from the Wendao Sword Sect is here!!"
"What? An Immortal Master from the Wendao Sword Sect?"
"Where is he?"
"At the cattle ranch on the back mountain..."
"Let's go take a look."
The news spread through the town in a flash.
Before the mayor even arrived, the villagers had already swarmed the area, surrounding the cattle ranch so tightly that not even water could leak through. They crowded together, standing on their tiptoes and craning their necks to stare at Xu Xian. Their whispered conversations gradually grew into a loud buzz.
"Is this the Immortal Master from the Wendao Sword Sect? He certainly has a striking appearance."
"He’s so handsome!"
"Yeah, he's so fair, just like milk..."
"What's going on with those children?"
"I don't know..."
"Grandpa, is that an immortal?"
The villagers acted contrary to the norm; they didn't seem to have the slightest bit of dread or fear regarding Xu Xian’s arrival. Instead, they were curious and very enthusiastic.
In the crowd, the youths looked on with envy and burning eyes. The young girls were full of admiration, casting shy glances. The young children were bewildered and full of wonder, while the elders looked on kindly, chatting away.
The reputation of the Wendao Sword Sect was known to everyone in the Northern Borders. They were a true righteous sect—clearing paths, building canals, suppressing disasters, and slaying demons. They took the salvation of the common people as their personal responsibility.
These deeds were passed down by word of mouth among the mortals.
In the minds of these townspeople, an immortal who could fly wasn't necessarily a good person. However, the Wendao Sword Sect was the exception. If someone was a disciple of the Wendao Sword Sect, they were definitely a good person.
Of course, this also led to frequent occurrences in the Northern Borders where loose cultivators would use the name of the Wendao Sword Sect to swindle people for food and drink. The key was that it actually worked, and it was impossible to stop despite repeated bans.
Xu Xian stood with his hands behind his back. From time to time, people would bring him tea or water, but he politely declined them all.
Soon, a sharp shout came from the crowd.
"Make way, make way! The mayor is here! Move aside..."
The crowd parted like a wave to the left and right.
After a short moment, an old man wearing grey wide-sleeved robes walked out. He looked to be over fifty, with white hair, a goatee, and leaning on a peach wood cane. Holding up the hem of his pants with one hand, he jogged over with short, quick steps.
"Forgive me for keeping you waiting, Immortal Master! Forgive me!"
By the time he reached Xu Xian, the old man was leaning on his cane, doubled over and gasping for breath. His face was flushed red from the run, and he was covered in sweat.
Xu Xian felt a jolt of worry, fearing the old man might drop dead if he couldn't catch his breath.
The old man bowed hurriedly and said, "A sin, a sin. This old man is aged, and my legs aren't what they used to be. I’ve kept the Immortal Master waiting. I hope the Immortal Master will not take offense!"
Xu Xian maintained a composed yet approachable tone. "You overstate the matter, elder. It is no trouble at all."
"May I ask, Immortal Master, what brings you to our Old Cow Town?"
Xu Xian spoke plainly. "I would like to ask you for a favor, elder."
The mayor immediately voiced his support. "Whatever the favor is, the Immortal Master only needs to say the word! If Old Cow Town can help, we certainly will. If we can't, we’ll find a way to make it happen. The affairs of the Wendao Sword Sect are my affairs, and the affairs of Old Cow Town..."
Xu Xian got straight to the point. "Mayor, please look. Here are over a thousand infants, all of whom are less than a month old. I just rescued them from demonic cultivators. I saw that your town has a cattle ranch that produces a lot of milk, so I wish to entrust these children to you, Mayor, to look after them for the time being..."
The mayor looked at the infants on the wooden raft, his expression filled with compassion. He sighed, "They are all such poor children. The Immortal Master truly lives up to the name of a Wendao Sword Sect disciple; you are truly benevolent. If not for the Immortal Master, they probably wouldn't have survived."
Xu Xian smiled modestly, not particularly moved by the flattery, and followed up, "So, Mayor, can you help with this?"
The old mayor raised his eyebrows and said decisively, "We can! We absolutely can! Please leave them to this old man, Immortal Master."
Xu Xian let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "In that case, I thank you!"
Rate on N.U.
