At the Five Directions Platform in the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm. This was the heart of the Cloud Realm’s mountain range. Three generations ago, the Sect Master of the Cloud Realm constructed an enormous platform here. Since then, all major events of the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm—such as the succession of the Sect Master or the annual grand ceremonies—have been held on this very platform. "Throughout all of Yunmeng Prefecture, neither the Heavenly Book Hall nor the Heavenly Water Manor can compare to the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm in terms of grandeur," Mu Pan remarked as he stepped down from his carriage. Looking at the Five Directions Platform, he couldn't help but sigh, "The Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm—this is what you'd call a true sacred sect." "How rare it is to hear the ever-arrogant Second Elder Mu admit inferiority." A palanquin stopped beside Mu Pan, its four sides draped with crimson curtains, and a sultry voice came from within. With a wry smile, Mu Pan extended his fist, his fingers opening and then clenching again with resolve. "I’ve never been stingy with praise for the things I admire. But when I praise something, I make a vow to myself—I’ll make it mine!" "Oh?" The voice from within the palanquin let out a disdainful snort. "The Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm, and so are you, dear Wan'er—both will be mine." Mu Pan lowered his fist. "I will have them all." Liu Duohan walked to Mu Pan's side and said in a deep voice, "Second Master Mu, we are guests here. Let's not…

Three days later. At Feng Manor in the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm. “Second Master, the ceremony is about to begin, ” came a disciple's gentle voice from outside. "Second Master," the person inside chuckled, holding up a translucent pearl to examine it carefully against the sunlight. "After today, that word 'Second' will never be heard again." The disciple outside lowered his head, not daring to speak further. Though the Second Master would officially ascend as the Sect Master after today’s ceremony, until it happened, he dared not change how he addressed him. This was because of the authority that Feng Yuhan had established during his years of ruling the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm - even with the main branch's fall from power, that aura of dominance hadn’t completely faded. “Let’s go.” A man dressed in ornate robes appeared before him. A curved saber hung at his waist, and his boots were adorned with gold threads, showing he had dressed meticulously for the occasion. Yet, despite his efforts, the man still gave off a gloomy and oppressive aura. His sunken eyes shone with a chilling light that unsettled anyone who looked at him. As he stepped forward, his limping gait was both pitiable and somewhat ridiculous. Compared to that day when Feng Yuhan stood before the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm, blade in hand, driving away dozens of experts from the two other sects of Yunmeng Prefecture... today's Second Master Feng Yuli fell far too short. The disciple shook his head - could the once-mighty Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm really be led…

At the Heavenly Water Manor in Yunmeng Prefecture. Young Master Liu Duohan stood respectfully behind an elderly man, cautiously asking, "Elder, the person... they will be here shortly." The elder did not respond. Liu Duohan dared not speak further. Although he was no longer young—having served as the Young Master for twenty-six years and now over forty—he knew that as long as this elder did not relinquish his position, he would forever remain the "Young" Master. In Heavenly Water Manor, the only one qualified to make decisions was this old man. Liu Ruyuan, Master of the Heavenly Water Manor, renowned for his White Cloud Fist and the Sword Intent of Washing Flowers. "Do it," Liu Ruyuan said in a deep voice, as if making a monumental decision. Liu Duohan raised his head, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. He nodded, leaped over the rear wall, and headed away from the manor.  Liu Ruyuan sighed softly, settling himself on a stone bench in the rear courtyard. He pulled a bronze pipe from his robes and unhurriedly lit his tobacco. A pipe's worth of time passed quickly. Liu Ruyuan slightly lifted his eyelids as Liu Duohan fell from the sky, landing heavily before him. After a few feeble movements, he lay still—whether dead or unconscious was unclear. "He's not dead," said the man in the wide-brimmed hat as he landed before Liu Ruyuan. "I even preserved his martial arts for your sake—the Heavenly Water Manor must continue to oversee Yunmeng Prefecture on behalf of Shanglin Heavenly Palace, and it cannot…

Since childhood, Su Baiyi's training with Xie Kanhua had focused solely on swordsmanship. When faced with Feng Yuhang's question about the saber—a weapon entirely foreign to him—he found himself at a loss for words. Feng Yuhan, however, didn’t mind and went on speaking.  "Ask any young person in the martial world to choose between studying the saber or the sword, and most would pick the sword. The sword is the weapon of scholars—there's something poetic about drinking fine wine, surrounded by beauty, playing with your sword and singing to the heavens. I had such dreams in my youth too. But the saber? It is the weapon of warriors, the courage of all arms. When you face an enemy, it's all or nothing. People often say it lacks that ethereal grace..." "No, no, that's not it!" Su Baiyi hastily explained. "Please don't misunderstand, Senior. It's just that I've learned only the sword from my master since childhood and have never touched saber. Your question caught me off guard." "Though thinking about it now, there's something appealing about being a saber-master. What freedom it brings—no need to worry about scholarly etiquette, just wearing ragged clothes and roaming the martial world as you please. It has its own kind of charm," Feng Yuhang shook his head. "But let's not dwell on this. I want to teach you the way of the saber because three days from now, at the grand ceremony, you must help me take back my position as Sect Master." "Naturally." Su Baiyi nodded. "That's why we came here in the…

Su Baiyi groggily opened his eyes, first noticing the crimson canopy above. Lowering his gaze, he saw a thick pink quilt covering him, its warmth carrying a faint, soothing fragrance. He paused for a moment in thought before suddenly sitting up in bed. By a small chair near the bed, Feng Wan’er was dressing her hair in front of a bronze mirror, wearing only a light inner robe. Su Baiyi stared in confusion, his mind utterly blank. Hearing the movement behind her, Feng Wan’er turned and smiled gently at the pale-faced Su Baiyi. “You’re awake?” "Aunt..." Su Baiyi's voice was still somewhat dazed. “Auntie is a person, not a beast.” Feng Wan’er initially wanted to tease him, but seeing his current expression, she softened. She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, ruffling his hair. “I slept on that bed last night.” Only then did Su Baiyi notice another identical bed standing against the wall near the headboard. His nerves finally began to settle. "Why does Aunt have two beds in her room?" A faint blush crept onto Feng Wan’er’s cheeks. She flicked his forehead lightly with a finger. “Sometimes, one bed just isn’t enough. Now, wash up and come eat breakfast.” Feng Wan’er stood and walked back to the table, where two bowls of lotus seed porridge and various small dishes awaited. As she picked up one bowl and began to eat, Su Baiyi climbed out of bed to find a basin of warm water and towels already prepared.  A sudden wave of emotion washed over…

On an unnamed mountain, a woman dressed in red sat atop a tall pine tree, gazing at the full moon in the sky. She spoke slowly, her voice calm, "What night is this, to meet such a fine soul?" "City Lord of Jimo, what poem are you reciting?" Below the tree, a man leaning against its trunk asked with a smile, cradling a golden broadsword in his arms. "A poem I heard long ago," Jimo Huaxue replied, her thoughts returning to the present. She glanced downward and smiled faintly. "Seeing this moon suddenly brought it to mind." "It's rare to see you smile—just as rare as seeing you draw your sword. But whether it's your smile or your sword, both are beautiful," the swordsman said softly. "City Lord Xu, I’m already married," Jimo Huaxue said coolly. The swordsman reached up to trace the scar running across his face, then chuckled. "I know that. But a married woman can remarry, can she not? Your husband is gone now, and before he died, he told you to find someone better to marry." "I won't. Because there’s no one better than him in this world," Jimo Huaxue said, turning her gaze back to the full moon. "Lord Xu, you really should stop waiting for me." The swordsman shrugged. "That's for me to decide." After a moment of silence, Jimo Huaxue suddenly said, "I should go now." "Back to Jimo City?" the swordsman asked. "Or are you going to find those children from the academy?" "You specifically arranged to meet me in Yunmeng Prefecture,"…

"The Pool of Heavenly Waters, boundless and infinite. All things unite, revered in the mortal realm." Su Baiyi chanted these words softly, as the hands he had placed on Feng Yuhan's shoulders gradually began to grow hot. Feng Yuhan frowned slightly, watching as the medicinal pool's waters begin to slowly swirl, and the energy within his body mirrored this flow, streaming through Su Baiyi’s hands and into his body. Surprised, Feng Yuhan asked, “There truly exists a martial technique that can absorb another’s inner power?” “Yes. As much as there is, I can take it all!” Beads of sweat formed on Su Baiyi’s forehead. His previous experiences drawing inner power from Wuya and his senior sister had left him feeling more confident in his mastery of this technique. However, when absorbing Feng Yuhan's inner energy, he felt an unprecedented sense of pressure. As the waters in the pool churned more violently, Feng Yuhan chuckled, “Do you even know what realm I'm at? Yet you dare say ‘as much as there is’?” “Senior Brother Feng once told me about the four realms of martial arts mastery. The first is the Autumn Water realm, meaning 'autumn waters flowing endlessly into the sea.' Next is the Ascending realm, where one's skills soar skyward like a rising wind, advancing a thousand miles in a day. The third is the Heaven's End realm—those who reach it are called grandmasters, having reached the peak, boundless and limitless. I suspect Sect Leader Feng has entered this Heaven's End realm.” Su Baiyi could feel Feng Yuhan's overwhelming inner…

Su Baiyi followed Feng Yuhan through the narrow secret passage, barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through. A few luminous pearls embedded in the walls cast a faint glow, offering just enough light to illuminate their path. Feng Yuhan remained silent throughout their journey, occasionally letting out a soft cough. Su Baiyi's mind wandered to the young man in green he had rescued on that rainy day. Could it be that their injuries shared the same cause? After walking for a short while, the two finally emerged from the passage into a spacious underground stone chamber. At the center of the room was a pool emanating a subtle medicinal fragrance. Su Baiyi asked, "Sect Leader Feng, is this where you recuperate from your injuries?" Feng Yuhan nodded slightly, then removed his upper garment and entered the pool. Leaning against the edge, he closed his eyes and said, "Young Master Su, I've suffered grave injuries. If I stay away from this medicinal pool for too long, the internal energy in my body begins to flow backward. I hope you'll forgive me." "How long has this condition persisted?" Su Baiyi asked. "Six months ago, my younger brother, along with several experts from the Heavenly Water Manor and the Heavenly Book Hall, ambushed me on the banks of the Li River. I was forced to retreat into the Changze Mountains. To break through their encirclement, I hastily practiced the martial art described in that book. I managed to return to the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm, but my body suffered severe backlash,"…

Six years ago. Apricot Blossom Village. Xie Kanhua had drunk too much again and was lying in an apricot tree, drowsy and about to fall asleep.  Beneath the tree, a young man in white clothes tirelessly practiced drawing his sword, over and over again. He had spent quite some time with this youth now. The boy reminded him of his younger self - cheerful, optimistic, and incredibly intelligent. Although in his earlier years, his adoptive parents hadn't taught him to read or write, he now had excellent penmanship. He could recite classical poems and elegant prose from memory with ease. But sometimes the young man was not like him, such as now when practicing swordsmanship. Too clumsy. Too persistent. "You've seen my swordsmanship," Xie Kanhua said with a yawn. "It's very impressive," the young man replied. "Yet I've only had you practice drawing your sword endlessly, without teaching you my sword techniques." Xie Kanhua let out another drunken hiccup. "Master must have his reasons," the youth said, swinging his sword once more to slice a falling apricot blossom. Xie Kanhua sighed and leapt down, sending a shower of blossoms fluttering from the apricot tree. He took the sword from the young man's hand and swung it gently. In an instant, all the falling apricot blossoms disintegrated into ash. He said in a solemn voice, "I rank first in sword intent on the Heavenly Martial Rankings. Do you remember what I told you about sword intent?" "Sword intent is the will to kill," the young man said bitterly. "Indeed, sword intent…

At the Shanglin Heavenly Palace, in the depths of its prison.