Of course, Yeophyeon was not a Grand Swordmaster. The reason he had been able to emit sword energy before was simply due to the nature of his sword aura, which contained the One-Sword Life-and-Death Technique. In terms of skill, he was still far from being a Grand Swordmaster.
The martial artists, unaware of this, trembled in fear when the sword energy burst from his spirit sword. Everyone froze in an instant, and silence filled the room.
The room became completely still in a heartbeat.
Even the proud woman's gaze began to waver. Becoming a swordmaster was difficult, but not exceedingly rare. Grand Swordmasters, however, carried a different weight. Throughout history, no more than a hundred had emerged from powerful nations.
Yet here was a boy who had not even reached adulthood, claiming to be a Grand Swordmaster. The fierce expression on the woman's face softened. She pointed to the corpses scattered on the floor and issued commands to the martial artists.
"Take these bodies and feed them to the dogs. And capture anyone who tried to escape and throw them off the ship! And…"
She then turned to Yeophyeon with warm eyes.
"Escort this young master to the special suite. Treat him as you would any other guest staying there."
The woman addressed Yeophyeon directly.
"Master, please follow me."
Guided by the guards, Yeophyeon and Yeopryeong entered the special suite, and their mouths dropped open.
The suite was enormous—easily ten times the size of the room they had stayed in before. Plush carpets and lavish decorations made it feel like the residence of an emperor.
"Wow!"
Yeopryeong exclaimed, looking around in awe.
"Oppa, it's so big and beautiful!"
Yeophyeon smiled quietly without saying a word. Yeopryeong raised her head and gazed at him with sparkling eyes.
"Oppa, is it because you're a Grand Swordmaster that we're treated like this?"
Yeophyeon nodded. Just as he was about to speak further, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
It was the woman wearing the veil from before. She sat down, poured tea, and spoke.
"This is Lingsian Bamboo Tip tea. Please try it."
"I won't refuse."
Yeophyeon accepted the tea and sipped it. The smooth, refreshing taste flowed pleasantly down his throat.
Setting the cup down, Yeophyeon looked at the veiled woman.
"I am Yeophyeon of the Green City."
"I am Hanyangmong."
Seeing her respond only with her name, Yeophyeon smiled faintly. She seemed unwilling to reveal more about herself. Hanyangmong took a sip of her tea and said,
"It's impressive to become a Grand Swordmaster at such a young age. If it isn't too forward, may I ask where you trained?"
Yeophyeon smiled and shook his head. Hanyangmong furrowed her brow.
"Master, what do you mean?"
Yeophyeon looked her straight in the eye.
"Hanyangmong, forgive me if I am rude. But I wish to ask—do you judge people by their background when choosing companions?"
Hanyangmong was momentarily taken aback, not expecting him to confront her like that.
"I believe that in forming relationships, one should value sincerity over wealth or status. If that is not your approach, then we are not compatible."
Yeophyeon rose abruptly.
"Yeong-ah, let's go!"
Yeopryeong quickly stood and followed him. Without hesitation, Yeophyeon walked toward the door.
At that moment, Hanyangmong called out urgently.
"Master, please wait!"
Yeophyeon paused at the door. She spoke again, her tone softer than before.
"The girl was bold. Please forgive the rudeness."
Yeophyeon turned and looked at Hanyangmong.
"Hanyangmong, I will not forget that you overlooked what happened in the room just now. One day, I will repay the favor!"
Yeophyeon spoke with a voice tinged with resolve. Hanyangmong understood his intention and nodded slightly.
"It is already getting dark. Master, please take your seat."
After offering her respects, Hanyangmong quietly left the room.
Once she was gone, Yeopryeong, with wide, sparkling eyes, asked,
"Oppa, is a Grand Swordmaster really that amazing?"
"You could say that!"
"Then… Oppa, are you a Grand Swordmaster?"
"Jus…soon."
"Wow… so everything you just said was a lie…?"
"Hey! Can you be quiet? Otherwise, even if you are my sister, I would have no choice but to kill and silence you…"
"Hahaha… even with that scary expression, I'm not scared at all…"
Half an hour later, Yeophyeon laid the now soundly sleeping Yeopryeong on the bed and entered the Jade Tower to begin training.
Only the strong earn respect!
That was the principle Yeophyeon had come to understand. His level had already reached the peak of the Transformation Stage and the pinnacle of the Junior Swordmaster level. His strength, speed, and reflexes were beyond what ordinary Transformation Stage warriors could follow.
Yet it was still not enough to survive among the elite in the Imperial City. To face masters above the Mastery Stage, Yeophyeon had to train relentlessly.
He already possessed skills comparable to his shadow. But satisfaction was premature. His immediate goal was to completely surpass his shadow.
The Jade Tower was entirely Yeophyeon's stage. When training, no one disturbed him, allowing him to become a solitary swordmaster. Unless something extraordinary happened, the Celestial Lady did not speak to him, and he quietly devoted himself to his training.
Training, by nature, was boring and solitary!
Two hours later, Yeophyeon stood holding his sword, his entire body drenched in sweat.
"Celestial Lady, every time I spar with the shadow, I feel like I'm starting to catch up. But even in the next session, it's just that much. Every time I approach, it seems to take one more step ahead. Are you strengthening the shadow's skills?"
The Celestial Lady replied.
[That you feel this way is proof that your abilities are improving. But you are still far from the mark. By the standards of Green City or other powerful nations, your foundation is excellent. But on a global scale, you are still average. Stay longer in the Transformation Stage to strengthen your fundamentals, and then seek a solution for the Spirit Sword.]
"Understood."
Yeophyeon prioritized improving every foundational aspect of his skills step by step before reaching mastery.
After finishing his training, he rested. Excess in anything can be harmful; proper rest is essential for cultivation.
An hour later, Yeophyeon woke, followed by Yeopryeong. Soon, breakfast was delivered to their room, and the siblings finished every last bite.
Having spent much of their childhood starving, they never left food uneaten. Afterward, Yeophyeon led Yeopryeong to the ship's deck.
The Cloud Ship floated hundreds of zhang above the ground, flying over the river. Many passengers were already on deck. Yeophyeon led Yeopryeong to the bow, the best viewing spot reserved for guests of the special suites. Looking straight ahead, countless birds performed aerial acrobatics between the mountain peaks. It was a breathtaking sight.
"Wow!"
Yeopryeong shouted excitedly.
"Oppa, look! The mountains look so tiny!"
Yeophyeon gazed at the scenery. The harmony of white clouds and green mountains made it feel as if they had entered the immortal realm. Unlike the restricted view on land, everything was visible at once from the air.
Green City was small; the world was vast. Human existence was insignificant, and the heavens and earth were immense!
Yeopryeong walked to the bow, clutching the railing, exclaiming,
"It's so beautiful!"
"Ridiculously rustic!"
A mocking voice caught her attention. She turned to see a boy her age in flashy clothes. Despite the fine attire, his body was puny. He was so overweight that even his eyes were nearly buried in flesh.
Yeopryeong, not wanting to bother Yeophyeon, quickly looked away. The boy approached and scrutinized her from head to toe.
"Look at your clothes. Nothing but rags. Can't afford decent clothes?"
Yeopryeong paid him no mind.
"What's wrong with my clothes? They cover me, and I have my oppa—what else do I need?"
The boy proudly tapped his own outfit.
"Do you know what this is made from? The hides of magical beasts and spirit foxes. With one set, you could buy tens of thousands of outfits like yours."
Yeopryeong glanced at his clothes once.
"So what? I have my oppa."
The boy then suddenly pulled a clear, flawless jade from his chest. Yeopryeong's eyes widened. The jade was perfectly pure and beautiful. Seeing her interest, the boy acted even more arrogant.
"This is high-grade Spirit Jade, worth a fortune. You don't have one, right?"
Yeopryeong snorted.
"I have my oppa!"
The boy's voice turned annoyed.
"Can't you stop talking about your oppa?"
Yeopryeong ignored him, looking back up at the distant sky. Soon, her soft voice carried on the wind.
"I have nothing… except my oppa."
Indeed, Yeopryeong needed nothing beyond Yeophyeon.
The boy approached her again.
"Is your oppa really that amazing?"
"Extremely!"
"Doesn't he compare to my father, though?"
Yeopryeong tilted her head, gazing at him.
"Is your father impressive?"
The boy eagerly nodded.
"Of course! My father is the Lord of Tian Mountain City! Everyone bows to him!"
Yeopryeong's eyes widened.
"Wow, that's amazing!"
"Of course! Our family is the biggest in Tian Mountain City!"
Yeopryeong looked him over again.
"My oppa says that if a person isn't humble, they're likely to get beaten up outside."
"How dare you touch me when my father is around? Hmph, no way!"
Yeopryeong fell silent. In her eyes, the boy was just a spoiled child. The boy then pointed at Yeophyeon.
"Is that your oppa?"
"Yes, isn't he cool?"
"Tch, being cool doesn't fill your stomach ten times!"
Yeopryeong ignored him and returned to Yeophyeon's side. Not wanting to disturb his thoughts, she quietly stayed beside him.
By now, the Cloud Ship had flown past Tian Mountain over the river, which stretched endlessly, thousands of zhang wide. Yeophyeon, like a meditating monk, remained motionless, watching ahead.