Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Qingzhou Five Peaks Mountain, in front of the Golden Sword Sect's mountain gate.

A group of five people returned here, worn out from their travels.

"Finally back home."

Xu Chang looked at the mountain gate ahead, quickened his pace, and the four junior sisters and brothers behind him followed closely.

After half a year, the aura around Xu Chang grew even sharper; standing there, he resembled an unsheathed sword.

"Halt."

The disciples guarding the mountain gate saw them and stopped them at first sight.

Because Xu Chang and the others were not wearing the Golden Sword Sect's attire but rather a set they bought, made from Ice Silkworm Silk—a blue robe.

The style of these robes was relatively novel, created using puppet machinery assembly lines, making them considerably cheaper. It was the latest fashion trend at Ghost Ridge Palace.

"I am Xu Chang, an inner disciple, and today I return from advanced studies at Ghost Ridge Palace."

Xu Chang showed the token in his hand, which represented his identity, allowing them to smoothly enter the sect.

Stepping onto the winding stone steps, entering the mountain gate area, the archway bore a plaque saying 'Sword Heart Clarity,' with two golden flying swords crossed on either side.

Disciples clad in green attire cultivated here, some maintained and refined their flying swords at the Sword Washing Pool, while others practiced sword techniques and demonstrated swordsmanship.

Noticing Xu Chang and his companions, dressed incongruously, many turned their eyes towards them.

Familiar faces recognized their identities.

Especially since Xu Chang, being an inner disciple, was quite well-known within the Golden Sword Sect.

"It's Senior Brother Xu Chang. They're back from Ghost Ridge Palace."

"I never thought I'd see them in my lifetime. I thought they'd never return after entering the Demon Cave."

"Let's go and check it out."

"It's been a while, Senior Brother Xu, tell us about Ghost Ridge Palace."

"Surely those demon cultivators bullied you, huh? You've suffered, haven't you?"

The curious Golden Sword Sect disciples gathered around, intrigued by Xu Chang and the others' experiences at Ghost Ridge Palace.

"Heh, we weren't bullied at Ghost Ridge Palace; rather, they treated us with genuine hospitality."

Upon hearing some slander, Jia Chuchu immediately became displeased and stood out to refute it.

While speaking, Jia Chuchu spread her spiritual power, displaying it to everyone, revealing Sixth Level of Yunling Realm spiritual power strength, and proudly said, "Look, my cultivation is now at the inner disciple level."

Seeing this, the other disciples returning from advanced studies couldn't help but boast about their progress, showing off new items from their storage bags.

"Come, everyone, I have some good stuff to show. This is called a mobile phone, the most popular item at Ghost Ridge Palace now. It can communicate over a thousand miles instantly, with many intriguing and entertaining functions."

"This is called the Spider Mecha, useful for combat and production. I saved up quite a bit to buy it."

"You probably haven't seen anything like this. It's a new flying puppet combining spirit stones with mechanics. With it, Yunling Realm disciples can have flight ability."

The Golden Sword Sect disciples took out their treasures, causing a stir among the crowd with various wondrous puppet tools, leaving them awestruck.

"Want a mobile phone? No problem, twenty spirit stones per unit."

Jia Chuchu, the most business-savvy among them, had signed a partnership deal with Puppet Hall, specially sourcing a batch of mobile phones to sell to Golden Sword Sect disciples.

Mobile phones are the latest creation from Puppet Hall. Though most functions are truncated, akin to Blue Star's standards from twenty years ago, it can communicate, take photos, and join forums, enabling cultivators to chat far and wide.

This is thanks to Puppet Hall's relentless upgrades and increasing launches of Sky Eye satellites.

In Qingzhou, mobile signal coverage is widespread and seamless.

Mobile phones were launched just a month ago, creating a sensation throughout Ghost Ridge Palace.

But in the insulated Golden Sword Sect, this was the first instance of someone bringing mobile phones here.

Not surprisingly, after Jia Chuchu demonstrated how to use the mobile phones, more and more Golden Sword Sect disciples grew tempted.

Despite the high price, many cultivators gritted their teeth and chose to buy one.

Not for anything else but for the opportunity to communicate with cultivators outside the sect. Some seniors even selflessly shared their cultivation insights on forums, invaluable for expanding one's horizons.

Jia Chuchu eagerly collected the money, realizing that the phones she brought wouldn't suffice for the demand, feeling this business had real potential.

Thrilled by the taste of success, she couldn't wait to rest for a couple of days before returning to Ghost Ridge Palace for more stock.

Increasing numbers of disciples gathered, including some inner disciples.

"Hmph, some people return from the Demon Cave without shame and make such a pompous display. Do they think this is something worth flaunting?"

A mocking voice rang from afar, and the gathered Golden Sword Sect outer disciples automatically made way as several inner disciples approached.

The speaker was a man in a white robe, bearing an extraordinary demeanour.

He was Pei Yuan, a Golden Sword Sect disciple of the Yunling Realm eighth level. He and Xu Chang apprenticed under the same master, but their relationship had never been amicable.

"Pei Yuan, stop looking for trouble."

Xu Chang curled his lips. He had past conflicts with Pei Yuan. Although they both shared the same master, the competition was always fierce. But because Pei Yuan's cultivation was higher, Xu Chang was mostly suppressed.

"I just can't stand you selling demon artifacts in the sect. Do you want to contaminate the sacredness of our sect? We sword cultivators only need to believe in the swords in our hands. All this talk of mobile phones and puppet machinery is just a distraction from our sword heart."

Standing on the moral high ground, Pei Yuan attempted to make Xu Chang the public enemy, sneering, "Today, I'll teach you sect traitors who spread demon path ideologies a good lesson on behalf of our master and the sect."

As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Yuan flicked his sleeve, and a gleam of cold light sliced through the air.

It was a shining mid-grade flying sword, its sword qi surging and roaring, producing explosive sounds.

Pei Yuan knew Xu Chang's situation well: with seventh-level Yunling Realm cultivation and a mere low grade lifebound flying sword, he had full confidence to crush his opponent.

Xu Chang remained expressionless, merely forming a sword technique with his hands: "If you want a sword duel, I couldn't be more pleased."

The low grade flying sword at his waist spun instantly, bursting with a shimmering blue light.

In the moment the two longswords clashed, the ground split into web-like ravines.

In the collision, the blue light instantly overpowered the golden light. Xu Chang's low grade flying sword's tip exploded with crimson rays, transforming into a three-legged golden crow that attacked with its wings.

The intense heat turned the hair of many onlooking disciples dry and curly. They cried out in surprise and retreated repeatedly.

Bang!

Pei Yuan's mid-grade flying sword was driven into the ground, its blade still vibrating, seeming to wail.

"What! What sword technique is that?"

Pei Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief. Clearly his flying sword was superior, so how did he lose so thoroughly? And the sword technique Xu Chang used, he had never seen before.

They both learned from the same master; there was no reason Xu Chang knew a sword technique he didn't. Had their master secretly taught Xu Chang something?

As that thought crossed Pei Yuan's mind, Xu Chang's flying sword had already reached him.

"Stop!"

"Daring, Xu Chang! Do you intend to harm your fellow sect brothers?"

"Let's go together, teach this guy a lesson, thinking he can act superior just because he returned from Ghost Ridge Palace."

The faces of several surrounding inner disciples changed. Being there with Pei Yuan, they naturally had a good relationship with him. They couldn't just stand by while Pei Yuan was bullied, nor did they want Xu Chang to steal the spotlight.

In an instant, several people controlled their swords, and several flying swords shot out in the blink of an eye, but they underestimated Xu Chang.

Xu Chang simultaneously performed sword techniques with both hands, channeling spiritual power through the sword edge. Countless runes appeared on the blade, igniting scorching golden flames, forming into true fire chains, finally assembling into a red profound snake, crossing the sky.

The incoming flying swords were directly entangled and wrapped by the golden flame profound snake; either they were knocked away, or they fell to the ground whimpering, with slight cracks on their blades.

Puff!

Several inner disciples spat blood, their pupils dilating in astonishment, suffering internal injuries.

Without barriers, Xu Chang's flying sword, like a red meteor, swooped down while Pei Yuan watched with frightened eyes.

Shh!

This slash could easily sever Pei Yuan's head, but Xu Chang restrained the flying sword's power just in time. A verbal dispute hadn't escalated to the point of killing, so the flying sword merely pierced Pei Yuan's shoulder, pinning him to a big tree.

"This is the 'Fiery Sun Breaking Sky Sword Technique,' from the Ghost Ridge Palace's Book Collection Pavilion, inherited from Qingzhou's Ten Thousand Sword Alliance's supreme art."

Xu Chang looked at Pei Yuan, whose face was ashen, speaking each word clearly, while displaying his own cultivation. The spiritual power fluctuation spread, revealing a Yunling Realm ninth level cultivation.

The entire scene was shocked, and countless disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were astounded.

Even several inner disciples couldn't contend together against Xu Chang, just how strong was his power?

"Yunling Realm ninth level, how is that possible."

Pei Yuan was dumbfounded. Wasn't Xu Chang supposed to be abused and humiliated at Ghost Ridge Palace? How did his strength improve so much in half a year?

The other disciples paid more attention to Xu Chang's words, mentioning the Ten Thousand Sword Alliance's inheritance from Ghost Ridge Palace's Book Collection Pavilion. The swordsmanship of the Ten Thousand Sword Alliance far surpassed their Golden Sword Sect, no wonder Xu Chang was so formidable.

"Ghost Ridge Palace has discarded sect prejudices and, under the wise leadership of Su Sect Master, undergone radical reforms.

Now in Ghost Ridge Palace, anyone who earns merit points can learn various powerful cultivation techniques.

No matter if you're a servant disciple, outer disciple or inner disciple, everyone has the opportunity for a destined change."

Jia Chuchu appeared honored, educating the Golden Sword Sect disciples on the various experiences at Ghost Ridge Palace.

Ample spirit stone rewards for work, lectures from Taoist Platform Realm masters, a non-hierarchical system for exchanging contributions for cultivation techniques...

The scene was again shaken, with many Golden Sword Sect disciples' gazes transformed.

Their hostility towards Ghost Ridge Palace turned into longing, feeling as if the air there was sweeter, yearning to go to Ghost Ridge Palace for study and advancement.

This is no Demon Cave, it's clearly a Holy Land!

Ghost Ridge Palace should indeed be called the Holy Sect.

And similar scenes were playing out in each righteous sect.

As righteous disciples returned to their own sects after studying at Ghost Ridge Palace, a cultural revolution sweeping across Qingzhou was spreading continuously.

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