Chapter Fifteen: Long Time No See
Page 1 of 3
After skirting the Celestial Horizon Peak and crossing a desolate, uninhabited mountain range, the view suddenly opened before them. In the distance, two massive characters carved into a cliff came into sight: Sword Sect. They radiated an overwhelming majesty.
Di Yuan’s voice broke the stillness. “From here onward, we enter the Sword Sect’s inner domain. It is protected by the Three-Thousand Soul-Shattering Sword Formation. Flying on a sword is forbidden. Anyone who violates the rule will be torn apart by the formation.”
The two of them spoke little along the way, and neither mentioned what had happened the previous day.
Lin Fei looked up at the sky and sensed the hazy sword aura there. It was strikingly similar to the origin aura above the sea of swords on Northern Roaming Mountain.
He asked casually, “Is the master of the Three-Thousand Formation the Northern Roaming Mountain Peak Master, Xiao You?”
The instant he finished speaking, Di Yuan whipped around and stared at him in disbelief.
Noticing the astonishment in Di Yuan’s eyes, Lin Fei shook his head with a faint smile. “It was only a guess.”
“This matter concerns a secret of the Sword Sect and must not be disclosed recklessly,” Di Yuan warned in a grave voice. Afterward, however, his tone softened, and he added quietly, “Still, most core disciples have their suspicions. The Three-Thousand Soul-Shattering Formation is indeed connected to Northern Roaming Mountain. After all, among the four principal peaks, it is the only one located in the outer sect—and the only one that possesses a sea of swords.”
Where did the sword aura within the Three-Thousand Soul-Shattering Sword Formation originate?
The answer was obvious: the sea of swords.
Lin Fei nodded lightly, unsurprised.
Back when he had stood atop Northern Roaming Mountain, he had already vaguely sensed this connection.
What astonished him most was that within the ethereal sword aura in the sky, he had actually detected a trace of something strangely familiar.
The unexpected discovery stirred a ripple in his heart.
The two passed beyond the enormous cliff bearing the words Sword Sect and continued onward to another mountaintop.
Almost absentmindedly, Lin Fei glanced back. At last, ripples appeared in those eyes that had always been as calm as an ancient well.
“There is nothing in this world that cannot be solved with a single sword. If there is, then add another sword.”
This twenty-four-character maxim had been carved into the reverse side of the cliff with sword intent. Every character revealed an edge without equal, proclaiming the boldness and domineering spirit of the one who had inscribed it.
“Our Sword Sect’s founding patriarch personally carved this with the treasured sword Heaven and Earth. To this day, it is still celebrated by sword cultivators throughout the world,” Di Yuan explained, a trace of pride in his voice.
Seeing that Lin Fei was no longer as composed as before, he could not help but smile knowingly.
Nearly every newly arrived disciple lingered before this cliff for a long while, shaken by the arrogance and authority contained in those words, yet captivated by the carefree heroism they embodied.
In Di Yuan’s eyes, no matter how steady Lin Fei’s temperament might be, he was still a youth. Faced with such a grand declaration from the founding patriarch, he was bound to be moved.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Had Di Yuan observed Lin Fei’s expression more closely, he might have noticed that beneath the young man’s astonishment lay another, more complicated emotion.
“These words sound strangely familiar. It seems I really did say something similar back then—but why have they appeared here?”
Lin Fei pondered this inwardly, his gaze fixed upon the cliff as he sank into profound silence.
If the sword aura of the Soul-Shattering Formation above had merely surprised him, then these words left him puzzled—even unsettled by an indescribable sense of strangeness.
That strangeness gave rise to an ominous premonition in his heart.
Di Yuan noticed something amiss and asked, “What is it?”
Lin Fei gave the cliff one long look, then shook his head and turned away. “Nothing. Let us continue.”
…
The Sword Sect’s inner domain was governed by an ironclad rule: flying on a sword was forbidden.
Thus, the two could only travel on foot. Following the winding mountain roads, they walked for an entire day and night.
Along the way, Lin Fei suddenly asked, “What was the name of the patriarch who founded the Sword Sect?”
Di Yuan shook his head. “I do not know. I have never heard the Sect Master or any of the elders mention it.”
“Then how many years has the Sword Sect existed?”
“More than three thousand years, I suppose.”
On the journey to the Sword Sect’s inner domain, Lin Fei spoke far more than usual. He even began asking about various trivial matters concerning the sect.
As his guide, Di Yuan patiently answered every question without reservation.
At last, beneath the setting sun of the second day, Lin Fei made a request. “I heard that the Sword Sect has a stone chamber devoted to preserving portraits of its successive Sect Masters. I would like to see it.”
Di Yuan shook his head and explained, “Only the Sect Master and the masters of the other three principal peaks are permitted to enter those places. Ordinary disciples cannot get in without a written warrant.”
Although he did not understand why Lin Fei had suddenly taken an interest in the history of the Sword Sect, Di Yuan believed it would benefit his cultivation. He therefore added, “However, there is a statue of the founding patriarch on the Great Swordcasting Terrace beside Sword Mountain. If you are interested, you may go there to pay your respects.”
Sword Mountain did not refer to a single peak. Rather, it was formed by the convergence of a vast mountain range stretching for thousands of miles.
Within those boundless mountains stood a sheer cliff known as Severed Sword Cliff.
Beside Severed Sword Cliff were countless caverns, where the inner disciples of the Sword Sect cultivated, practiced swordsmanship, and lived.
Most importantly, the Sword Mound lay behind Severed Sword Cliff. That was the true destination of Lin Fei’s journey.
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Late that night, the outline of Severed Sword Cliff finally appeared before them.
“Because we were pressed for time, I could not prepare a residence token for you. Perhaps you can stay the night with Xia Yi. The two of you seem to share a close relationship.” Di Yuan’s voice sounded somewhat heavy in the darkness.
He paused, as though he still wished to say something, but in the end, everything became no more than a casually delivered “Thank you.”
Lin Fei waved his hand dismissively. He understood that Di Yuan had been trying to express his gratitude throughout the past two days, but Lin Fei himself had never expected anything in return.
When Di Yuan’s figure gradually vanished into the night, Lin Fei turned without hesitation and walked in another direction.
…
The Great Swordcasting Terrace was a magnificent square, vast enough to inspire awe.
Tens of thousands of stone steps extended upward, one tier after another, leading to a circular arena paved with bricks of the hardest spirit stone in the world.
Lin Fei stepped onto the lowest stair.
As the night deepened, a fine drizzle began to fall. Each raindrop struck the stone steps in time with his footsteps, producing a crisp echo that reverberated across the empty square.
Lin Fei allowed the rain to soak him completely, yet seemed utterly unaware of it.
Water streamed from his hair and dampened his clothes, but he continued upward, one firm step at a time.
At last, the drenched youth reached the terrace and stood before a statue two zhang tall.
He slowly raised his head. Through the curtain of rain, his gaze fixed upon the center of the Great Swordcasting Terrace behind the statue.
There, suspended above the sword platform, hung a long sword without a sheath. As though sensing Lin Fei’s arrival, it began to move of its own accord, emitting a deep, subdued tremor.
“Long time no see.”
Then Lin Fei turned his head and looked once more at the statue.
The man depicted wore a long robe. One hand rested behind his back, while the other lay across his chest. His head was held high as he gazed into the distance, his bearing magnificent, solemn, and imposing.
Although the statue’s face had been carved with a stiff, wooden expression, Lin Fei recognized him at first glance.
Page 3 of 3