"I've... lost..." Zhong Qingling stared blankly at the sky, mumbling to himself.

Since the great defeat 150 years ago, Zhong Qingling rarely unsheathed his sword again, because up there at Buried Sword Peak, there was no need to draw the sword.

On that peak, what is buried is the sword, as well as the heart.

Thus, this defeat was unexpected, yet inevitable.

"The Sword Heart is like the Human Heart; when the heart decays, how can your sword not be defeated?" Qing Yu slowly walked in front of Zhong Qingling.

Although not a grandmaster in Sword Dao, Qing Yu's martial arts reached profound heights, naturally understanding many principles that are arcane to others.

No matter what the Sword Heart is to others, to Qing Yu, the Sword Heart is the Human Heart; the Human Heart is the Sword Heart, the Sword Heart is the Sword Will, and it is also the heart of other martial arts.

Proficient in various martial arts, to Qing Yu, there is little difference between sword and knife. Both the sword and knife are mere extensions of the body, carriers of will; wielding them with the heart, wielding knives, wielding all weapons is Qing Yu's attitude towards arms.

For this reason, Qing Yu could quickly master the introductory Piaomiao Swordsmanship and swiftly wield the first eight forms with utmost precision.

"Convey a message for me, from Xiao, to Buried Sword Peak. If they want the Heavenly Talent Fragment, that's fine. But in restarting Sword God Lake, count me in. Otherwise, they might as well bury the sword till their end."

"By the way, there's also this sword you need to deliver..."

Qing Yu suddenly reached forward and grasped the Execution Sword's handle, unmatched Sword Intent poured into the sword, along with a robust inner Sword Qi.

"Witness this sword of Xiao's before your death, and see if anyone at Buried Sword Peak can receive it. If no one can..."

"Then it's not about cooperating with Xiao to restart Sword God Lake, but Xiao taking the Heavenly Talent from Buried Sword Peak."

"Haha..."

Qing Yu laughed heartily as he vanished atop Cloud Peak.

Simply put, with Zhong Qingling's current injury, as long as the Sword Qi and Sword Intent from the Execution Sword did not erupt, he wouldn't die. He would carry Qing Yu's message and the sword form back to Buried Sword Peak to weigh its strength.

Gusts of wind swept up scattered dust; Zhong Qingling's eyes were lifeless as he was pinned to the ground by the sword, as if he were dead.

At a certain moment, the dazed person struggled to get up, using his chest to brace against the sword handle, pulling out the two-foot-long sword edge buried in the ground. With the sword in his chest, he disappeared into the swirling dust.

...............

In the tranquil valley, elegant and exquisite houses stood poised.

This is the residence of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, where the valley's environment has been adapted by generations of ancestors, becoming no less than those Cave Heaven Blessed Lands.

The serene and natural environment provided a sense of exhilaration to those who came here. Staying in such a place could literally extend one's lifespan by several years.

However, the current high echelons of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion didn't feel any delight; their brows were furrowed with burning anger, their faces filled with agitation.

Several days ago, the Hundred Herbs Pavilion suffered losses in Ling Province, not only failing to reclaim the Spirit Core Nine Ruins but also losing three Divine Farmer Hundred Herbs Pills in vain.

Soon after, that damned Jia Gui further worsened the situation by stabbing the Hundred Herbs Pavilion in their wound.

Although the Hundred Herbs Pavilion also cultivated medicinal herbs, some heavenly materials and earth treasures were beyond reach and not man-made. Hence, the Hundred Herbs Pavilion frequently purchased herbs from worldly society and some medicine farmers, aiming to acquire some rare Spiritual Medicine and ordinary herbs for the disciples' usage.

Just relying on this one valley was not enough to sustain the daily consumption of numerous disciples. Studying medicine and refining pills required not only energy and effort but also money and materials. Planting their own wasn't sufficient for the disciples' consumption.

The one responsible for purchasing herbs was the detestable Jia Gui, whom they wished they could dismember.

After Jia Gui left the Hundred Herbs Pavilion and sought refuge with Qing Yu, he took along some familiar supply routes as well. The Zhenwu Sect had the Taiping Association as back-up in Ling Province, and sellers naturally preferred to trade with parties with deep power backgrounds. With the world in chaos, having connections with the Taiping Association was considered a safe bet.

Yet the Hundred Herbs Pavilion stubbornly refused to join the Taiping Association, rendering this Ling Province-border sect rather isolated.

"Senior Jiang, what should our sect do now?" Yu Lingchang, plagued by concern, couldn't help but ask Jiang Shengchao for guidance.

After failing to secure the Spirit Core Nine Ruins, Jiang Shengchao was severely injured by the Taisu Nine Needles, nearing death. It was Yu Lingchang who expelled evil Qi, healed his ailments, and even provided him with a Divine Farmer Hundred Herbs Pill to extend his life.

Thus, Jiang Shengchao stayed with the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, becoming its officially recognized Guest Elder.

Hearing Yu Lingchang's troubling words, Jiang Shengchao was about to offer comforting advice when his brows suddenly furrowed, exclaiming towards the window, "Who dares cause trouble at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion?"

"Senior Jiang, it seems your skills are still sharp, but this junior apologizes for the intrusion,"

A gentle breeze wafted in, carrying a faint fragrance, as a young swordsman appeared in the room, greeting Jiang Shengchao.

The young man had a nonchalant demeanor, yet exuded a rugged pride. As Jiang Shengchao and Yu Lingchang scrutinized him, he offered a polite salute, "Yu, as the undercover agent under Six Gates, extends greetings."

"Undercover agent for Six Gates, you're one of the Four Gentlemen?" Yu Lingchang immediately pieced together the newcomer's identity.

"Indeed."

Yu said, "Pavilion Master Yu, unsure about the Hundred Herbs Pavilion's future, isn't this the perfect opportunity at hand? Ling Province belongs to Daqian, and no matter how powerful the Taiping Association becomes, it cannot alter Ling Province's affiliation. Moreover..."

Yu suddenly let out a sneaky smile, "Pavilion Master Yu, your enemy is also the enemy of Daqian. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?"

Qing Yu.

Yu Lingchang immediately thought of this enemy.

He had long heard that Daqian was quite antagonistic towards Qing Yu and even provided evidence at Qing Yu's ascension ceremony leading to the Young Heavenly Master's questioning. It now seemed to be true.

"What do you want? And what can the Hundred Herbs Pavilion get in return?" Yu Lingchang asked, both excited and cautiously.

He needed a strong ally, and Daqian appeared as a suitable choice, yet he had to ensure the conditions and benefits offered by Daqian before committing.

"Exert the expertise of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. Recently, there have been many conflicts with the rebellious ones, resulting in numerous casualties. Physicians like you are desperately needed. As for the returns?"

"In the short term, with the needed herbs that you lack, Daqian has abundant supplies. Even some heavenly materials and earth treasures could be used for refining pills. In the long term, Qing Yu must be dealt with, an adversary Daqian will assist in bringing to justice."

"Are these two points sufficient?" Yu mused with a smile.

"They are enough." Yu Lingchang's eyes seemed to burn with fiery resolve; he eagerly awaited the downfall of Qing Yu, the demon path practitioner. That scene would surely be exhilarating and captivating beyond measure.

"May our cooperation be joyous!"

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