Liam Ardent willed his consciousness inward, a familiar interface materializing in his mind's eye.
System Update – Status Panel
Name: Liam Ardent
Sex: Male
Age: 19
Level: 9
Constitution: 208 (Insight and recovery speed increased by 20.8×)
Internal Energy: 270,000 (Peak First-Rate Expert)
Experience: 150,000 / 256,000
Storage: Growth Gift Pack (Unopenable) ×1, Golden Flower Silver Leaf Talisman ×1, Experience Vial ×1
Silver: 10,400
Weapon: Heaven-Reliant Sword (King-Tier Divine Weapon)
Technique Library: Nine Suns Divine Skill (King-Tier), Heavenly Foreign Visitor (King-Tier Sword Art, Incomplete), Nameless Medical Text (Diamond-Tier), Sunpierce Divine Finger (Diamond-Tier, Incomplete), Orchid Acupoint Hand (Diamond-Tier, Incomplete)…
A faint smile touched his lips. Without hesitation, he mentally commanded the use of the Experience Vial.
System Update [Experience Vial Used: EXP +100,000]
[EXP: 150,000 -> 250,000 / 256,000]
Only six thousand more, he mused, his gaze sweeping across the towering, snow-capped peaks that imprisoned the hidden valley. "It's time to leave," he announced to the silent, frozen expanse.
With his profound internal energy, he became a blur of motion. His feet barely touched the jagged cliff faces, propelling him upward like an eagle taking flight. In the blink of an eye, he had scaled the impossible height and vanished over the crest.
He stood on the mountain's shoulder, a free man once more, a genuine smile gracing his features. "Finally, I'm out!"
After getting his bearings, he set off towards Valehart Manor. A year had passed since his entanglement with Juliana and Selestine Valehart, and a peculiar sense of nostalgia drew him back.
In a small town nestled near the manor's lands, he purchased a new set of robes—elegant white silk that flowed around him, enhancing his ethereal, noble demeanor. Thus attired, he approached the main gates.
"Halt! State your name and business!" a burly guard called out, his tone cautious as he took in Liam's imposing aura.
"I am Liam Ardent. Inform Lord Valehart of my return," Liam stated calmly.
The guard looked perplexed. "The Lord is not here. You've had a wasted journey."
Liam's brow furrowed slightly. "Is the Lady Juliana present?"
"Neither she nor the Lady Selestine are here," the guard elaborated. "The six major sects are besieging Bright Peak! The entire Jianghu is in motion! Beyond the great sects, our Valehart Manor, the Beggar Sect, the Divine Fist Sect, the Witch Mountain Gang, the Three Rivers Gang, the Whale Gang… all have answered the call! Every notable name has gone. You picked a poor time to visit."
Liam's mind raced. Even after I killed Mother Clarisse, the campaign against the Ming Cult persists. The Imperial Court's hand must be guiding this.
Skeptical, he circled the manor to a secluded section and vaulted over the wall. A swift, silent reconnaissance confirmed the guard's story; the manor was devoid of any significant martial presence. Everyone of consequence had indeed left for the war.
This conflict involved the entire Central Plains martial world. Liam could not remain idle. After ascertaining the direction to Bright Peak, he set out at a breathtaking pace.
The Heavenly Shift skill, Little Moon… they are waiting. I must not be late.
Two days into his journey, a clear, piercing whistle—distinctly feminine—cut through the mountain air, followed moments later by an answering whistle from another direction, rapidly converging on the first.
Intrigued, Liam adjusted his course, his form flickering through the landscape like a ghost.
He soon arrived at a small clearing. There stood a young woman of notable beauty, her emerald-green robes fluttering in the breeze. A sheathed sword hung at her waist, and her bearing carried a newfound, authoritative dignity that seemed at odds with the sharpness in her eyes.
Liam paused, surprised. It was someone he hadn't seen in over a year: Saxa Quinn.
System Scan
[Detected: Saxa Quinn – Leader of the Emei Sect]
[Realm: First-Rate Expert (Early Stage)]
Astonishing, Liam thought. After I executed Mother Clarisse, this proud and sharp-tongued disciple actually took control of Emei. Her swordplay must have improved significantly to reach this level.
In the year that had passed, she had clearly progressed, trading some of her brashness for the grim authority of leadership.
Almost instantly, another figure arrived—another familiar face from his past: Viola Grace
System Scan
[Detected: Viola Grace – Disciple of the Emei Sect]
[Realm: Peak Second-Rate Expert]
Viola , ever the calm and disciplined counterpart to Saxa's temperament, had also shown marked improvement.
Their presence here could only mean the main force of the Emei Sect was nearby. The paths of the Jianghu were once again converging, and Liam Ardent found himself squarely in the middle of it all.
Glossary – Chapter 39
Saxa Quinn: Formerly a proud and sharp-tongued senior disciple of the Emei Sect. Following the death of Mother Clarisse Hale, she has unexpectedly ascended to become the new leader of Emei. Her cultivation has reached the Early First-Rate Expert level.
Viola Grace: A calm and disciplined disciple of the Emei Sect, junior to Saxa Quinn. Her skills have improved significantly over the past year, now placing her at the Peak of the Second-Rate Expert realm.
This story is inspired from various Wuxia novels ,so if you find any similarities please dont mind . and if you think this is boring wait till the Dual cultivation starts ,Thank you .
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