Chapter 67 Meeting the Immortal

The greatest swordsman in the world, Wen Gu.

Legend has it that when the Sword Immortal ascended, thunder roared across the skies above Youzhou. Senior Wen Gu first resisted with his sword, then the sword trembled, yet its sword intent remained resolute. If he were to force his ascension, the sword that had accompanied the Sword Immortal for so many years would likely be reduced to ashes by the lightning strike. In the end, Senior Wen Gu couldn't bear to do so.

He transformed himself into a sword, achieved the Dao of Ruthlessness, and ascended to become an immortal. The Ruthless Immortal Sword, which had once been used by the sword immortal, remained in the Wengu Clan. However, the scabbard had been missing for hundreds of years. The Wengu Clan had sent people to search for it, but to no avail.

Logically speaking, since the Wen Gu sword sheath has appeared in the world, Yun Zhou should return it to the Wen Gu clan. How dare he auction it off so openly? Besides, no one has been able to find a sword sheath that has been around for a thousand years. How can Yun Zhou be sure that this is definitely the sword immortal's sword sheath?

"You, Yun Zhou, dare to forge the Wen Gu Sword Sheath and auction it here!"

In room number five on the third floor, Wen Guyou forced himself to stand up. He walked to the railing and glared angrily at Yun Jiazhu on the first floor.

"The Wen Gu sword sheath has not appeared in the world for a thousand years. Yun Zhou, you have quite the audacity!"

Yun Jiazhu calmly looked at the weak young man on the third floor, "Young Master also said that the Wen Gu sword sheath has not appeared for a thousand years. How do you know that this sword sheath is not the Wen Gu sword sheath?"

"Yunzhou is the number one inn in the North. Our ancestor Yunzhou achieved the Dao of Peace amidst the chaos of the world. It has been a difficult and arduous journey of a hundred years. Why would Yunzhou forge a sword sheath in front of the cultivators of the Nine Provinces and destroy Yunzhou's century-old business?"

Upon hearing this, two-fifths of the innkeepers believed it. After all, Yunzhou had a stellar reputation for over a century, and was even more trustworthy to cultivators than the official Demon Suppression Pavilion. Regarding this auction item, you could suspect that Yunzhou had been cheated, but you couldn't openly accuse Yunzhou of deceiving people.

This branch of the Wen family is still too young, but it's understandable, since this is a major matter concerning the Wen family.

Seeing this, Cai Danglu stepped out of room number two on the third floor and said loudly, "Today at the auction, we cultivators have never doubted Yunzhou's auction items, but the Wen Gu sword sheath has not appeared for a thousand years, and the sword immortal has long become a myth. You, Yunzhou, must explain the origin of this sword sheath!"

Fei Yao, who was in room number one, also stood by the railing. The young man, holding his sword, said coldly, "The Wen Gu sword sheath is of extraordinary significance to sword cultivators in the Nine Provinces. Regardless of whether the sheath is genuine or not, does your Yunzhou's auction today show any respect for the Wen Gu Sword Immortal of yesteryear?"

On the second floor, many cultivators also came out of their rooms and stood by the railing, looking at the sword sheath—a black lacquered wooden sheath with golden patterns. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, it appeared incredibly mysterious and profoundly spiritual.

For a moment, the people in the inn were either silent or noisy, but deep in their hearts they all trembled. Wen Gu's sword sheath, that was the sheath of the number one sword in the world!

The sword of Wen Gu Wuqing, apart from the Emperor's sword of the Jin Emperor, has been unmatched for thousands of years. It is a true immortal sword, not the current one, nor the one of the previous generations, but the first sword immortal of the Nine Provinces for thousands of years, and the last immortal lord in the mortal world!

The ruthless sword sheath and the solitary sword immortal Wen Gu are the people most deeply revered by all sword cultivators.

Yun Jiazhu looked at everyone calmly, her face as serene as ever.

"Since I, Yunzhou, dare to auction it, I am not afraid of your doubts."

Yun Jiazhu continued, "Before explaining this matter, I, Yun Jiazhu, would like to tell you all a story."

The woman's eyes were calm, her chin slightly raised, and her words carried a faint yet profound emotion. All the cultivators present fell silent, listening attentively to her detailed explanation.

"As everyone knows, my Yunzhou family business has been around for three hundred years, with periods of prosperity and decline. Thirty years ago, Yunzhou was in crisis. My father, Yun Jianxian, as the head of the family at the time, came up with a plan to collect rare and precious items from heaven and earth and cooperate with cultivator families to hold an auction in order to help Yunzhou rise again."

“My father took this matter very seriously and personally visited and searched for it in many places. During this time, many aristocratic families offered their support, but there were also those who belittled him, mocked his cultivation, and insulted the peace of Yunzhou.”

“My father didn’t care about any of this. He only wanted the Cloud Boat to rise again, so he did everything himself. Perhaps heaven rewards those who persevere. Finally, in the depths of the South China Sea, my father retrieved this sword sheath. It was made of exquisite black lacquered wood and had not decayed even after years in the deep sea. At that time, my father suspected that this sword sheath was related to that Sword Immortal Wen Gu.”

"Afterwards, he personally carried the sword sheath and traveled from Qingshui in the South China Sea to Jianxue in the far north to pay his respects to Wen Gu. It took two years, from autumn to summer, and from spring to winter."

"Unexpectedly... he went through countless hardships to reach Jianxue, only to be turned away by Wen Gu, who called him rude. He visited her many times without success and was even bullied and ridiculed. That year, the far north was bitterly cold..."

Yun Jiazhu paused for a moment, then closed her eyes slightly to suppress the itch in her throat.

"In the midst of a heavy snowfall and bitter winter, my father stood in front of Wengu Gate all night. Eventually, the cold seeped into his body, and he collapsed unconscious."

"The world is vast and desolate. In the great city of Jianxue, the number one sword cultivator clan in the world, not a single person is willing to save him."

Her words were calm, yet carried unspeakable pain. What was Yun Jianxian thinking when she looked up at the sky, holding her sword sheath, and collapsed in front of Wen Gu's gate amidst the bitter cold and falling snow?

Suddenly someone spoke up, "It's snowing..."

The first snow of the year has arrived in Jizhou.

Outside the window, seemingly in an instant, the sunlight faded, and snowflakes, like flower petals, fell, fluttering and dancing. Many cultivators on the cloud boat remained silent.

It seems that they too have reached that day, the day Yun Jiazhu spoke of, the day when the number one swordsman in the world refused to let the immortal sword sheath enter.

On the third floor, Wen Guyou gritted his teeth. He looked at the cultivators' surprise and admiration at the snow scene and Yun Jiazhu's story. He couldn't help but feel indignant and ashamed. Those were things from decades ago. Who could know the truth back then?

"Empty words! You, Yunzhou, think you can just make up a story to cover up the matter of the sword sheath? The Way of the Lonely Sword is inherently ruthless. No one forced your father to spend the night in the snow. Besides, it's still unknown whether these things are true or false!"

Shangguan Han'er also ran out, still wearing a veil, so her face couldn't be seen, but her voice was clear, and many people recognized her as the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family from a few days ago.

"You tell a good story about Yunzhou! That sword sheath is nothing special, how could it be the Wen Gu Sword Sheath!"

Yun Jiazhu looked at them, and the woman smiled gently, "Yes, Wen Gu's sword path is ruthless, and this scabbard looks ordinary."

"But when my father fainted in the snow, it was this very scabbard that saved him!"

"Amidst the vast expanse of white snow, it was that sword sheath that gave my father strength, enabling him to rise step by step from the snow and stand up again before the Wengu Gate!"

“My father, Yun Jianxian, was of mediocre talent in cultivation, but he was a sword cultivator—just as you all have said, among sword cultivators who have entered the Dao, who does not know Wen Gu, and who does not respect the Sword Immortal!”

"When my father first stood before Wen Gu's gate, he did so with the utmost respect, traveling from south to north, hoping that the sword immortal's scabbard would be returned to its rightful place. Even after many fruitless visits, he still respectfully requested an audience!"

"When my father finally stood before Wen Gu's door, leaning on the scabbard, he was certain that the scabbard belonged to Wen Gu, but at the same time, he was absolutely certain that the current Wen Gu was not worthy of the scabbard!"

Seeing the immortal, seeing the immortal, half a lifetime of swordsmanship without achievement, his faith has never changed. In the Snow City, in front of Wen Gu's gate, the middle-aged man's last thought before falling into a coma was that this generation of Wen Gu is arrogant, a pity for the bloodline of the sword immortal.

What a pity.

The sword sheath glowed with an eerie light, like a celestial shadow. A fleeting glint of cold light seemed to summon the sun. When he opened his eyes again, he was covered in snow, his face pale, yet he laughed heartily. Holding the immortal's sword sheath, and with the last bit of power the immortal had given him, he returned to the cloud boat and went home.

His lover held his hand, the children knelt on the ground and cried, but he lay there seeing the sky, the clouds, and the snow.

I saw an immortal.

...

The sound of the cloud boat was clear and resonant, like jade falling to the ground, causing ripples across the land. At this moment, snow was falling heavily outside the cloud boat, and all the cultivators inside were looking at the sword sheath. If what Yun Jiazhu said was true, then the sword sheath on the stage was indeed the "Thousand-Year Snow-Seeing, Warm and Lonely Sword Sheath".

Amidst the uproar, some raised questions: "The story sounds good, but it's ultimately just Yunzhou's side of the story. The origin of this sword sheath is still in doubt!"

One cultivator retorted, "The deep sea is incorruptible, as the Yun family patriarch proved with his life. Based on Yunzhou's reputation over the years, I believe in the matter of this sword sheath!"

"This matter involves Wen Gu, and Yun Zhou has also completely broken off relations!"

"Nonsense! Wen Gu is so muddle-headed. Whether the scabbard is real or not, he would know once he puts the sword down. Yet he is so arrogant!"

"The hatred for the murder of his father, no wonder Boss Yun is auctioning it off today... But what about this sword sheath..."

"Speaking of the starting price... Yunzhou hasn't mentioned it yet..."

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, and almost everyone in the inn came out. The first floor was noisy, the second floor was crowded around the railing, and the third floor was filled with people watching.

Wen Chuan had stepped out of the room at some point. The aloof young man leaned against the railing, his eyes lowered. The black scabbard seemed to flash with a ghostly light for a moment. Quietly, he spoke amidst the chaos.

"It is said that a thousand years ago, the Sword Immortal Wen Gu ascended to heaven in Youzhou. The heavenly lightning was terrifying, and the Sword Immortal had no choice but to leave his sword to the descendants of the Wen Gu clan. So, if it is the sword of the Sword Immortal, how could it not fight the heavenly tribulation with its master, even if it is reduced to ashes?"

He paused, and the cultivators gradually began to discuss it. Many people expressed this question: a swordsman's sword is like the air a mortal breathes; in theory, it should stay with its master until death, unless the master dies or abandons it—this has indeed always been a point of contention regarding the number one sword in the world.

Yun Jiazhu looked up at Wen Chuan on the third floor. The young man stood tall and elegant, with light eyes, a calm expression, and a gentle temperament, yet he seemed to carry an extreme coldness.

"Because of the scabbard."

He spoke calmly, and at that moment everyone looked at him, at this nameless boy on the third floor.

Standing in front of room number four, Ah Ling mustered her courage and asked, "What do you mean?"

"It means that when a sword immortal ascends to immortality, he no longer has a sword sheath in his hand."

A clear female voice came from behind. Qingyu stood next to Wenchuan, while the girl in red gently leaned on the railing, gazing at the cultivators from Kyushu in the cloud boat.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators looked over, and before they could even voice their doubts, they were secretly amazed.

What a fine group of young men! Room number three on the third floor, directly facing the lobby of the Cloud Boat, they stood or leaned against the railing, looking down. Each young man had a striking appearance and unique features, with beautiful faces and elegant features. Their eyes sparkled with spiritual energy, and one could tell at a glance that their cultivation was superior. Such a gathering of young men, each with their own unique spiritual energy, was a rare sight in the Nine Provinces.

Qin Tianshu leaned lightly against the railing, and upon hearing Qingyu's words, he couldn't help but smile. He gently waved his jade fan and sighed softly.

"The Chronicles of the Nine Provinces once said that in the ancient primordial world, gods emerged from heaven and earth, and immortals cultivated themselves. Unfortunately, after the Great Flood, spiritual energy disappeared, and there were no more gods or immortals in this world."

"For a thousand years, cultivators across the Nine Provinces abandoned the pursuit of immortality. Yet one night, in the far north, the heavens shone with light, bestowing upon immortals once more—"

"A young man from the far north of Youzhou, surnamed Wen Gu, picked up a sword at the age of three, entered the Dao at the age of five, and became the number one sword cultivator in the north at the age of ten. He wielded the Immortal Sword and cultivated ruthlessness. By the age of fifteen, he had traveled all over the Nine Provinces—he can be said to be born with a sword talent and be the number one in the Nine Provinces."

"Unfortunately, people only know that the innate sword immortal is ruthless, but they do not know that the Great Dao is ruthless. The innate Wen Gu sword intent is also prevented from reaching perfection."

"At that time, a dragon was born in the South China Sea, causing chaos among the people. Wen Gu went to suppress it. The man and the dragon fought, and blood flowed across the sky. When the dragon roared and wept, he realized that the Great Dao is ruthless and the Heaven is heartless."

"He attained enlightenment because of the death of the dragon. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Wen Gu plunged his sword sheath into the sea to pay tribute to the dragon."

"Humans do not desire to become immortals, but Heaven wills them. After years of enlightenment from slaying the dragon in the South Sea, when the tribulation of lightning descended upon the Northern Netherworld, Wen Gu buried his sword sheath in the South Sea. Without the sheath, the sword in the sword immortal's hand lost its spiritual energy. Wen Gu had no choice but to abandon the sword."

The sword had no scabbard, trembled slightly under the thunder, and the sword immortal stroked it, ultimately leaving it in the mortal world.

Perhaps one day, the sword and its sheath will be reunited.

"Smack—"

The scholar closed his fan. "This is the real reason why Wen Gu abandoned his sword back then."

Zhang Xuan, holding Cai Cai, shouted, "Did you hear that? The Wen Gu sword sheath fell into the depths of the South China Sea, so it has been hidden from the light of day for a thousand years, and it has been searched for throughout the Nine Provinces without success!"

"Yunzhou's scabbard is Wen Gu's scabbard!"

Wen Guyou, who was not far away, said indignantly, "I have been reading the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces since I was a child, how come I have never heard of this passage!"

Qin Tianshu curled his lips and said in a calm voice, "The book I mentioned, the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces, is the one from Jinsha in Liangzhou. I wonder which one Young Master Wen Gu is referring to?"

His eyes held a smile, yet his expression remained serene. His blue robes couldn't conceal his beauty, yet strangely, they also exuded the air of a scholar. Qin Tianshu had been traveling throughout the Nine Provinces since he was eight years old; among the many cultivators on the cloud boat, some naturally recognized him.

A paper fan dances lightly, friends make friends through books, the world is like an illusion, and the scholar with a jade-like face is a scholar.

Just as sword cultivators wouldn't dare joke about Wen Gu, book cultivators would never fabricate anything in the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces. Although a hundred years have passed and the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces has split into several versions, only the two ancient books from the Wenxian Academy in Nanjiao and the Jinsha in Xiliang are the true compilations of the thousand-year history of the Nine Provinces. No scholar would joke about this.

Shangguan Han'er was unaware of these intricacies. The girl exclaimed, "Liangzhou Jinsha? How could an ordinary scholar like you possibly have read such a rare book!"

Why not?

A clear, elegant voice drifted over, and another young man in white emerged from room number two on the third floor.

"Everyone knows that the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces is a book written by the people, a masterpiece given to all people under heaven. If you want to, why can't you read it?"

Shangguan Han: "And who are you!?"

The young man laughed, “Jiaozhou, Wang Chengmo.”

Wang Chengmo is the current head of the Wang family in Jiaozhou, the president of Wenxian Academy, and the number one painter in the Nine Provinces.

These words caused a stir in the inn. No wonder someone like Wang Chengmo had come to Yunzhou. No wonder so many books and inkstones had been auctioned off in this room. Many people were wondering why Cai Danglu was buying these things.

After all that, it turns out there's a Wang Chengmo sitting inside.

At this moment, someone mustered up the courage to ask, "Dean Wang, could you please tell me whether the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces actually mentions the Sword Immortal of the South Sea?"

Wang Chengmo chuckled silently. He looked up and met Qin Tianshu's gaze, then spoke slowly.

"The matter of sword immortals is ancient, and the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces only mentions it briefly. It is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Since you all asked me today, I can only say that I believe it exists."

Some people cursed inwardly, saying that this was how scholars were, never saying anything definitively and leaving people to guess. But others felt that Wang Chengmo's words meant that the scabbard was genuine.

Even the dean of Wenxian Academy believed it, so what reason do they have not to believe it?

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The author notes: The five rooms on the third floor are numbered in no particular order.

Number One: Demon-Suppressing Pavilion (Wuxin, Wuming (i.e., Fei Yao), Mu Ke, the Demon-Suppressing Envoy of Jizhou (purely decorative)) [Sunglasses]

Number two: Wang Chengmo from Jiaozhou [glasses] and Cai Danglu from Xuzhou [oh oh oh]

Number Three: The Main Characters [Sprinkling flowers]

Number 4: Miao ethnic minority from Yizhou Yundi [eating melon emoji]

Number 5: Wen Gu from Youzhou [bursting into tears] and Shangguan [rolling eyes]