The massive gates of the Everlasting Pavilion groaned shut behind him, sealing away the quiet solemnity of the sect. Qin Yi didn't look back.
He didn't linger. Armed with nothing but his sword and a gourd of wine he'd shamelessly extorted from Situ Zhong, he began his descent from Mount Shu.
It had been a full year since he arrived in this realm, the world of the Sword and Fairy, and this was his first true venture down the mountain to witness the vastness of the land beneath the clouds. Comparing it to his memories of the Elemental Nations of the shinobi or the endless oceans of the pirates, Qin Yi understood one thing clearly: the scale of this world was on an entirely different level.
The six great realms of existence here dwarfed the geography of those previous worlds several times over. It was a boundless canvas filled with ancient wonders and terrifying, hidden masters.
Paradoxically, now that he no longer possessed the god-like power to act with total impunity, Qin Yi felt a strange, intoxicating sense of freedom. His mind was clear. The path of the Dao was, after all, a journey of understanding, understanding the world, and understanding oneself. That clarity brought joy.
Yuzhou City lay sprawled at the foot of Mount Shu. It was a rite of passage; every disciple descending to slay demons or gain experience had to pass through its gates.
Qin Yi drifted through the bustling streets.
The city was alive. A cacophony of hawkers shouting their wares and the sea of travelers created a tapestry of prosperity. A genuine, relaxed smile touched Qin Yi's lips. It was a familiar, grounding sight.
He moved quietly through the crowd. He wasn't just walking; he was observing. With his cultivation at its current height, his perception had fundamentally shifted. He didn't just see faces; he saw the hearts behind them. A glance was enough to read the ebb and flow of human emotion, desire, fear, joy, and sorrow.
For someone with Qin Yi's natural gifts, a simple walk down a busy street was a form of training.
Different eyes, different perspectives, different understandings. That was the charm of the Dao.
He watched a couple arguing over a few coins, lovers sharing a shy embrace, laborers sweating under heavy loads, and scholars bowing in polite greeting. He absorbed it all, the raw humanity of it feeding his insight.
Eventually, Qin Yi stopped. He looked up at a massive, ornate signboard hanging above a sprawling establishment.
New An Pawnshop.
"New An..." Qin Yi murmured, the corner of his mouth quirks upward.
This was the domain of Jing Tian, the mortal reincarnation of the Divine General Fei Peng. By this point in the timeline, Jing Tian had evolved from a simple clerk into a tycoon whose wealth could rival nations.
Qin Yi stepped inside. The interior was packed, a stark contrast to the modest shop of the past. It was grander than he expected, far surpassing the scale of the original stories. Dozens of attendants scrambled to serve customers, a testament to a business empire that had spread its branches far and wide.
Qin Yi couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration. The smart-mouthed kid had truly become a magnate.
As he moved deeper into the shop, the crowd instinctively parted, their eyes drawn to the distinct Daoist robes of Mount Shu.
On the third floor, away from the chaos, Qin Yi found him. Jing Tian was slumped in a chair, chin resting in his hands, humming a tune with the bored expression of a man who had everything.
"Shopkeeper Jing, life seems to be treating you well."
Qin Yi approached with a smile.
Jing Tian sat up straight, blinking in surprise. "And you are...?"
Qin Yi didn't speak immediately. Instead, he produced a letter from his sleeve, written by Xu Zhangqing, and placed it on the table.
Jing Tian eyed Qin Yi suspiciously before picking up the envelope. He read it carefully, his expression shifting from curiosity to nostalgia.
"Xu Zhangqing..." Jing Tian breathed out, lowering the letter. "It's been a long time."
He looked up, his gaze suddenly sharp, shedding the bored merchant persona. "Everything Senior Brother Zhangqing mentioned in this letter... I understand."
Qin Yi raised an eyebrow. He actually had no idea what the Sect Leader had written.
"Elder Chang Yi," Jing Tian said, a welcoming smile returning to his face. "Please, make yourself at home at the New An Workshop."
"According to Zhangqing," Jing Tian continued, tapping the letter, "with your natural talent, three months should be sufficient."
Qin Yi paused. "Three months?"
"Correct. For the next three months, I will teach you everything I can."
Qin Yi's eyes widened slightly. He realized now that Xu Zhangqing hadn't just sent him down the mountain to wander; he had called in a favor to get Qin Yi a teacher.
A wave of gratitude washed over him. Since the confrontation with the Demon Lord Chong Lou, the Sect Leader's mental state had been fragile. He had seemed unfocused, burdened by the weight of the sect. Yet, amidst that turmoil, and likely influenced by Chong Lou's own praise of Qin Yi, he had arranged this.
"I didn't expect Chong Lou to speak so highly of you, either," Jing Tian noted, seeing the look on Qin Yi's face. His eyes grew distant. "Back then... after we dealt with the Evil Sword Immortal, I fought Chong Lou. We both went all out. And the result? I only managed a draw against him, and he was restricting himself to half his power."
Jing Tian looked Qin Yi in the eye. "If he says your talent is extraordinary, then you possess the potential to stand against him one day."
He stood up, brushing off his silk robes. "I retired from the martial world years ago. But the debt I owe Mount Shu and Senior Brother Zhangqing is something I've never forgotten. Consider this... my contribution to the sect."
Qin Yi bowed respectfully. "Then I thank you, Shopkeeper Jing."
"Hah! I do like the sound of 'Shopkeeper' better than 'Hero,'" Jing Tian laughed heartily.
Half an hour later, the two stood in a secluded, open grassy field behind the workshop complex.
"Show me what you have," Jing Tian commanded, his demeanor shifting to that of a seasoned warrior. "I need to see where you stand before I can guide you."
Qin Yi nodded. He raised his right hand, fingers forming a sword seal, and thrust forward.
Snap.
The air screamed. A dazzling, heavenly light erupted from his fingertips. It wasn't just energy; it was a domineering, kingly intent, a Hegemonic Sword Will. The grass before him didn't just cut; it disintegrated, shredded by the sheer pressure until a long scar of bare earth was all that remained.
"What powerful intent! A truly domineering aura," Jing Tian praised, clapping his hands. "Your cultivation realm might not be at the apex yet, but with a Sword Intent like that, your techniques can be incredibly versatile."
His expression turned serious. "I cannot teach you the Dao; that is for you to walk. But I hope you study the sword earnestly."
"Rest assured, Shopkeeper Jing," Qin Yi replied solemnity. "I will not waste this time."
Qin Yi maintained a humble attitude. He knew who stood before him. This middle-aged merchant was the former Divine General, once the undisputed strongest warrior in the Heavenly Realm, the only being capable of rivaling the Demon Lord Chong Lou. Even diluted by reincarnation and a life of commerce, his instincts and understanding of combat were unfathomable.
He might not have the raw spiritual pressure of Xu Zhangqing anymore, but in terms of pure technique and combat wisdom, he likely had no equal.
"Sword Moves are distinct from Sword Intent, yet they are two sides of the same coin," Jing Tian began, pacing slowly.
"Sword Intent is the soul; it resides within you. But intent alone is like water without a riverbed, it cannot flow efficiently. Sword Moves are the vessel. Only with superior moves can you fully unleash the devastation of your intent."
Jing Tian stopped and looked at Qin Yi. "If your technique is perfect, you can seize victory even against those with higher cultivation."
"Now, watch closely. The first technique I will pass to you is this..."
Jing Tian took a stance, the air around him suddenly changing, heavy with the promise of a storm.
"Flying Dragon Lurking on the Clouds!"
(End of this chapter)
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