Chapter 41 Sleepless Night "Finally, I've waited for you."...

The hidden gate appears, and the sword realm opens.

Lin Feiran tucked the Kinmen flag behind his waist, ignoring the commotion behind him, and leaped straight into the crowd with lightning speed.

The gate to the Sword Realm will not remain open indefinitely. Once the time is up, the Golden Gate Flag will automatically detach and return to Zhang Chunhe's hands. Therefore, the opportunity must not be missed. Seeing that she had already entered first, everyone tried their best to catch up.

Just as they reached the gate and were about to leap in, they were suddenly blocked by a tremendous force. The killing intent in that force was undisguised. Seeing that something was wrong, Mu Chun'e and the others immediately flew out, each protecting their disciples, and looked straight up.

A gray figure was walking intermittently through the mountains and forests, seemingly unhurried, yet moving extremely fast.

"You are all guests from afar. If you wish to enter and take a look, there is nothing wrong with it. Why force your way in and lose face?"

Before the words were finished, the person arrived; it was Zhang Chunhe, who had not shown up at the Immortal Gathering.

Seeing this, Taihui felt relieved, but then suddenly he was hung up. Now that this matter was over, he wondered what punishment he would receive!

The elder of Langhuan Sect couldn't help but sneer: "Your sect says that you can enter and take a look, but your disciples are guarding against it so strictly. What is the meaning of this? Since your sect is untrustworthy, we have no obligation to keep our promise. Today's events are witnessed by the Star Domain. Even if word gets out, we will certainly not be wrong."

Many people looked at Lin Zhengqing, but he didn't care about the farce. He just looked at Jian Jing, his expression thoughtful.

Zhang Chunhe glanced at Pei Yu and said with a smile, "What happened today was just a junior's misbehavior. We will definitely reprimand her afterwards. Why should Elder Ding hold a grudge against her? The top three in this competition can enter the Sword Realm. This is a sacred saying left by our master. No one in Daohe Palace dares to disobey it. You see, the disciple who won just now entered with the Golden Gate Flag. I did not stop him."

The remaining two winners are free to enter, but it would be unreasonable for everyone to force their way in; after all, the Sword Realm is the sacred ground of the Daohe Palace.

Upon hearing this, Taihui screamed inwardly, while the head disciple was unaware that the intruding disciple was Lin Feiran!

Mu Chun'e spoke up at the right moment: "If I remember correctly, the Sword Realm is a sacred place for cultivators all over the world, and it is not exclusively occupied by the Daohe Palace, is it?"

When the world is in harmony, all are in one palace.

The Grandmaster once said that the establishment of Daohe Palace was merely to provide a school and a sanctuary for cultivators throughout the world. If one day sects rise up and the Dao flourishes, he would be happy to see it. Anyone who has doubts, regardless of sect, can enter the Sword Realm to gain enlightenment.

Zhang Chunhe remained calm and smiled, saying, "Since you have all turned your backs on Daohe Palace for hundreds of years, why bother saying such things today? There's no point in dwelling on it. Alright, you may come in as you see who the remaining two disciples are."

Taihui could no longer contain himself. He reached out and ran to Zhang Chunhe's side, his expression urgent: "Chief, the person who just broke in was Lin Feiran!"

With concise and to-the-point words, Zhang Chunhe's expression slightly somber. Some people, unable to bear it any longer, sneered, "That person just now had a green fang mask, and his swordsmanship was excellent. Judging from his magic and spiritual power, he was probably at the Sea Illumination Realm. If he really is some Lin Feiran, then your sect's little disciple, who is so unknown, can fight Pei Yu to a standstill. You really have hidden dragons and crouching tigers!"

“The Sea-Illuminating Realm?” Zhang Chunhe immediately grasped the crux of the matter. He had examined Lin Feiran’s spiritual veins many times, and their weakness seemed to be congenital, with no possibility of repair.

He then turned to Taihui and asked, "Are you sure it's her?"

Although there was surprise in his words, there was no anger.

Taihui, after hearing this, also began to doubt himself, but the figure and the faint voice were definitely Lin Feiran, there was no mistake!

He was alarmed and immediately pointed at Pei Yu and Qiu Tong: "Chief, this new disciple Qiu Tong has known Lin Feiran for several months and I just had a conversation with her. As for Pei Yu, she fought with Lin Feiran for several moves, there's no way she wouldn't recognize him!"

The people around immediately fell silent and looked at Pei Yu and Qiu Tong.

Qiu Tong stood at the edge of the crowd, her expression not good. She had just been rescued by Lin Feiran, and was in a state of complicated emotions. Then she saw Wei Changzai, whom she had been searching for, break out of his seclusion and stop Pei Yu for Lin Feiran. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Facing the gazes of the crowd, she gripped the sides of her skirt with both hands and pursed her lips, saying, "...I haven't known Senior Sister Lin for long, and that person was wearing a green mask, so I didn't recognize who she was."

Taihui choked, then turned to look at Pei Yu, only to find that this ancestor's face was even more ashen. Facing the questioning gazes of the crowd, she squeezed out a sentence from between her teeth, word by word.

"I've known Lin Feiran since childhood. I swear on my life, that person just now was definitely not her!"

Asking her to admit that the person who had just made a big splash and defeated her with a sword in front of everyone was Lin Feiran was worse than killing her!

Someone couldn't help but speak up: "Stop relying on one person. There are many disciples who have gone down the mountain. Next time you want to shift the blame, you should choose someone else!"

The crowd burst into laughter, and Taihui's face turned pale and then flushed.

Zhang Chunhe glanced at Taihui and smoothed the whisk on his arm: "There are priorities. The Grandmaster's order is the most important. The top three winners this time, please enter first."

The other practitioners present were somewhat surprised. Sword realm was of utmost importance, and everyone thought Zhang Chunhe would keep it to himself and let the matter drop. They didn't expect him to bring it up first.

In the silence, someone suddenly spoke.

"Grandmaster, you said that three people should be selected to enter, but what if they are tied..."

The stammering voice stopped, and everyone turned to look. The speaker was Lin Zhengqing.

Several familiar masters remained unfazed, but many disciples who were meeting him for the first time were quite taken aback. No one had expected that the renowned Greedy Wolf Star Lord would actually be a stutterer!

So, Taoist practices can't cure stuttering?

Lin Zhengqing showed no remorse for his stutter. He looked to his side and said, "Mu Qian, you, speak."

Mu Qian immediately felt uneasy, and he naturally understood what Lin Zhengqing meant.

"What you mean, Star Lord, is that according to our master's words, the first three must be selected to enter, but does that mean there can only be three people? If the outcome cannot be determined today, does that mean none of them will be allowed to enter? This makes no sense and goes against our original intention."

Our grandmaster is magnanimous; he believes that as long as someone is in the top three, then a tie for third place is still third.

Mu Qian's momentum weakened slightly after his sophistry. He straightened his hair and immediately retreated behind Lin Zhengqing, fearing that Zhang Chunhe would slap him.

Those present suddenly realized that the first three people were different from the first three people when they scrutinized the wording.

The victorious third person immediately declared, "All those who fought me were evenly matched!"

The Immortal Tournament was already in chaos. Regardless of whether they were qualified to enter the final battle, all the disciples shouted in unison, determined to enter the Sword Realm.

Pei Yu has already broken the rules, so there is no need for the others to follow them. Those who are shouting today are all third parties!

Zhang Chunhe was also taken aback by this move and was speechless for a moment. He then turned to look at Lin Zhengqing and said, "I didn't expect that you, Star Lord, would also be interested in this little sword realm of Gan Dao."

Lin Zhengqing replied simply: "No, people."

Mu Qian explained for him at the right time: "The Star Lord said that he is not interested in the Sword Realm, but he is interested in the people in it."

"Was it that disciple who broke in?"

Zhang Chunhe's gaze was deep as he looked at the restless disciples of the sect and the several displeased True Persons. He sighed inwardly, realizing that they were in the wrong today and had given him a pretext for trouble. If they didn't smooth things over, would they really have to openly break off relations in the future?

Furthermore, so what if one has reached the Sword Realm? Is there really anyone here who can obtain the Iron Elixir Book? They probably don't even know how to find the book.

Moreover, he also wanted to go inside and see if that person was indeed Lin Feiran.

Is there really such a way to reverse things?

“What the Star Lord says makes sense. In that case, please come inside and witness the legacy of Dao He!”

*

Sword Realm is a cultivation place established by the founder of Daohe Palace. It can be considered a kind of Daoist temple, but it is more mysterious and exquisite.

Upon entering, one is greeted by an ancient and simple wall standing tall, reaching into the clouds. This is a dividing line. Inscribed on the wall are the maxims of the ancient sages, as well as the heartfelt words of unknown younger generations. All disciples who enter the Daoist temple for cultivation sit facing the wall here to meditate, comprehend the sages' intentions, and enter the fasting of the mind.

But what lies behind the wall is unknown to most. Only disciples who are about to break through to the Ascending Realm can enter to observe and comprehend the true path.

Lin Feiran raised her hand and released it. The long sword in her hand transformed into a green-eyed sparrow, which obediently perched on her shoulder. Its beady eyes gazed at the righteous stone wall, not daring to utter a sound.

She walked to the wall and embedded the Kinmen flag into it. Ripples spread out from the stone wall, growing larger and larger, gradually forming waves and creating a winding path.

The path was narrow and dark, but she resolutely walked in. Occasionally, stars would light up around her, leading her to the end as if guiding her. As soon as she emerged from the path, they merged into a string of starlight that soared into the sky.

Behind the wall lies a vast and desolate landscape, with hundreds of stone tablets scattered across the layers of steps. Countless blue and purple starlight surges from between the stone tablets into the twilight. In the sky, a vortex swirls, into which starlight converges, and after circling once, it splits into points of light that scatter like rain.

Everything happened in silence, grand, tragic, and vast, but there was no loneliness.

Looking at everything before him, Lin Feiran felt his mind clear and his body comfortable. It took him a long time to recover from the shocking scene.

"A forest of rotten wood steles?" Ru Xian's voice carried a rare hint of surprise.

As Lin Feiran walked forward, he asked, "What is a forest of rotten wood steles?"

As explained by the opening of a sleet pod.

“In the past, when a human saint passed away, those with no worries in their hearts could completely dissipate and return to heaven and earth to nourish all things. But if there were regrets in their hearts, a trace of their saintly soul would remain in the blessed land to ensure that their soul would not perish. That blessed land is now the Pilgrimage Valley.”

Legend has it that if a wisp of a holy soul remains and does not completely dissipate, then their physical body cannot be completely destroyed either. However, since this body is boundless, it can only remain in a miracle, which the saints who have not yet passed away call the Forest of Rotten Wood Steles.

Because it was the resting place of a sage, the Forest of Rotten Wood Steles was also known as the Lesser Land of Sages, and few people knew of it; it was unexpected that it was located within the Daohe Palace.

"So that's how it is."

Lin Feiran was somewhat surprised. She had only come to try and seize the Iron Khitan Book, but she hadn't expected this place to be so solemn.

Such an important place is naturally mentioned in the book, but it is not specified that it is the Forest of Rotten Wood Steles. It is only said that this place is after the Sword Realm, and the bones of the ancestors are buried under the steles.

In the book, the male protagonist Wei Changzai accidentally enters this place and stumbles upon an opportunity to awaken the Holy Spirit of his master. Unfortunately, he is not the one destined to be awakened, but out of consideration for the bond between the master and the sect, the master gives him a scripture after a long talk with him, which is called the Immortal True Man Scripture.

Legend has it that this scripture is the masterpiece of our grandmaster, containing unparalleled cultivation techniques. Those who possess it can either roam the universe freely or be reduced to dust, wielding the power to control heaven and earth. It is the most precious treasure in the world.

Unfortunately, the original book was a short sweet romance novel, and it did not explain the scripture in detail. It only said that Wei Changzai obtained the scripture and shocked everyone, and then it was never mentioned again.

Lin Feiran was not interested in the Immortal True Man Scripture; she came here more for the Iron Khitan Book.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath, stepped onto the stone steps, and suddenly a spiritual breeze arose, and the stone tablet on the same step slowly lit up, revealing a series of characters on it.

She immediately took three steps back, descended the stone steps, and reverently bowed three times to the forest of steles: "Junior Lin Feiran, I have mistakenly entered your precious land. I only came to try out the Iron Khitan Scripture and had no intention of offending you!"

"..." Ru Xian couldn't help but laugh. "Just now you acted like you were fearless, but were you actually afraid of ghosts? Your body has no spirit, how could you know these things? It's just a shell left, and it's only about the size of a handful. Even if it breaks out of the ground, it'll only be a reptile at most."

climb……

After a moment of silence, Lin Feiran immediately bowed three more times: "Whether you heard me or not, I apologize on his behalf!"

Like a long sigh.

After bowing, Lin Feiran finally felt a simple sense of peace. She stepped onto the stone steps again, and the stone tablets continued to light up slowly. She leaned down to look at the nearest one, where a deep blue starlight shone brightly, displaying a very familiar phrase.

The wind and snow weigh down the boat, leaving it in dire straits; the broken oars prevent the crossing of the heartbroken traveler.

This is a sentence that Chen Buqi wrote down in the sword manual. Lin Feiran had a deep understanding of it when he practiced Chen Buqi's Wind and Snow Sword Intent. He never expected...

"He actually became a saint?" Ru Xian's tone rose slightly, her words filled with a sense of amazement.

Lin Feiran asked in surprise, "You knew that too?"

How come he can say anything?

"Of course, I traveled in the human realm when I was young and met him three times. Although we can't be considered friends, we were still acquaintances... Strange, he was burned to ashes, yet a physical body remains here? Could it be that he became a saint during the burning?"

Ru Xian couldn't help but ponder.

Lin Feiran's gaze swept over the stone tablet, then continued upwards, finding it even more astonishing: "The book only records that Fengxuejian died with regrets, without mentioning that he became a saint or that his remains were recorded. How do you know that he was burned to ashes?"

"It was burned by my own hands, otherwise how would I know about his afterlife?" Ru Xian enunciated clearly, her tone matter-of-fact.

Lin Feiran's feelings suddenly became complicated: "...You killed him?"

"We have no grudges against each other, so why kill each other? It's more accurate to say that I helped him."

Ru Xian said in a loud voice: "Collecting the world's most precious treasures is one of my few hobbies. Do you remember that bead the size of a quail egg in my room? It was lustrous and translucent, black with iridescent colors. That was not actually a sea pearl, but a relic made from his body. It was the reward for my help."

"By the way, he's just like you, born with sword bones. Want to guess what color your spirit bones will turn after being burned?"

Lin Feiran paused in his steps: "I have no merit, so I can't burn any relics; I'll just end up with a handful of ashes."

Ru Xian merely chuckled upon hearing this, remaining silent.

This forest of steles is vast. With each step you take, the steles in the same row will slowly light up. There is no wind or waves, no monsters or evil people here, only the mountain breeze and the drifting spiritual light.

Crystal-blue dandelions grow between the stone steps, their fluffy seeds rising with each sway and carried high by the gentle breeze.

At the end of the steps lies an extremely vast and distant Taoist temple. To the left of the temple stands a set of chime bells, three stories high, supported by painted beams, heavy and ancient.

Upon closer inspection, the painted decorations on the beams are neither flying dragons and phoenixes nor auspicious beasts, but rather an extremely ordinary picture of a hundred lives: birth, growth, experiences, joys and sorrows, and finally, all characters stretch out a hand towards the sky and pass away peacefully.

The hanging chime bells are also engraved with unusual patterns. Upon closer inspection, most of them are faceless people, such as high-ranking officials, beggars, old farmers, or ordinary people. In addition to mortals, there are also Asura demons, Dipankara Bodhisattva, and cloud-riding Taoist immortals.

This is the appearance of all living beings.

Lin Feiran straightened up and looked around. Apart from the blue dandelions that had rolled on the ground, there was nothing else.

Recalling the plot, she channeled her spiritual energy and struck one of the bronze bells inscribed with "Immortal's Dust-Sweeping Blade." Instantly, the ethereal sound of the bell resounded throughout the sword realm, and the pure energy swept up the hem of her robe.

Suddenly, a gigantic hand emerged from behind the void of the dojo, climbing upwards. First, a jade crown as tall as a giant tree was revealed, followed by a broad forehead, a pair of eyes as wide and round as a stream, a straight nose, and a gaping mouth. Finally, the entire body emerged, its enormous form seemingly capable of supporting the heavens and the earth.

He looked down, his gaze extremely distant, as if he were not in this world, like a giant elephant looking at an ant, yet his eyes contained kindness and gentleness.

This is the Holy Spirit.

As the Holy Spirit appeared, the Sword Realm trembled. The crowd that finally arrived looked at this strange phenomenon, and then at the tiny figure standing at the feet of the Saint. They couldn't help but catch their breath, and their minds went blank. They just stared blankly at the high place.

Upon arriving, Zhang Chunhe looked at the scene. Unlike the others who were bewildered, his gaze frequently shifted between Sheng Ling and Lin Feiran, his eyes filled with astonishment.

How could she possibly summon her master!

But he still managed to get ahead of everyone, standing in front of them, placing the white jade whisk horizontally, bowing his head and kneeling down, respectfully kowtowing once.

"Zhang Chunhe, the 570th generation disciple of Daohe Palace, pays homage to his Grandmaster. May he enjoy boundless blessings and longevity!"

The moment the order to kneel before Biden brought everyone back to their senses, even though the various sects had long since broken away from Daohe Palace, they still acknowledged the name of their ancestor. Moreover, the overwhelming image of the Holy Spirit made them feel both insignificant and exhilarated, as if the vastness of the universe was nothing more than this!

This shock, this gaze, caused some of the young disciples to inexplicably tear up, and for a moment everyone knelt down in deep worship, the sound of which was like the clouds.

"Homage to the Grandmaster, may you enjoy boundless blessings and longevity!"

Lin Feiran turned around and saw everyone kneeling on the ground. She looked up at the Holy Spirit who was comparable to the gods, and her heart trembled. However, she still stood straight. A spiritual breeze swept across her face, and the dandelions that were stirred up fell into her hair and the hem of her robe.

The Grandmaster Holy Spirit closed his eyes slightly and looked at her. In an instant, the blue fang mask covering her face shattered into dust.

He spoke slowly, his voice like the tolling of a bell, echoing in everyone's ears.

He said, "Finally, I've been waiting for you."

Author's Note: The name "Immortal True Man Scripture" was inspired by a poem written by the First Emperor, but it has been lost.

P.S.: The next chapter will be about returning to the demon realm. There will be another update tomorrow, making up for Saturday's update, around 10 PM.

P.S.: Any character with a significant role in the story will appear later in the series.

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