The Cangyun Sword Sect has a history spanning over ten thousand years.

As a powerful sect that existed even in the game’s backstory, the Cangyun Sword Sect suffered heavy casualties in the early stages of the game’s narrative. Over the course of hundreds or even thousands of years across Zhutian Realm, it continuously absorbed new blood, gradually regaining its vitality.

Qin Zhou looked up and gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar mountain gate, filled with emotion.

Several colossal swords, formed from spiritual energy, soared through the air, encircling the entire Sword Sect. The twelve peaks of the sect were all encompassed within this formation. Suspended at the center of this protective sword array was what appeared to be a crimson orb.

That was the Qilin Pearl.

Before them stood white pillars dozens of meters high, and the signboard carved with the characters “Sword Sect” using fierce sword energy seemed to bear witness to the nearly ten thousand years of glory of the Cangyun Sword Sect.

Beyond the mountain gate lay a steep celestial staircase; from afar, one could see the twelve peaks standing amidst the clouds.

“Is Sect Master Ye still here?” Qin Zhou asked suddenly.

Those words stirred long-forgotten memories in Wen Jue.

Ye Dingsheng, the former Sect Master of the Cangyun Sword Sect—it was Sect Master Ye Dingsheng who had received them when Qin Zhou had brought him to the Cangyun Sword Sect.

At that time, Wen Jue was still a young cultivator with great talent but little worldly experience, while Ye Dingsheng was already an Ancestor at the Nascent Soul stage. In an era where most cultivators were at the Golden Core stage, Ye Dingsheng was already a formidable figure at the pinnacle of the cultivation world.

What Wen Jue remembers most clearly is that head of white hair, and the youthful face that seemed out of place with it.

He had followed behind the village chief at the time, watching the chief converse with Ye Yingsheng, and could only think how formidable the village chief truly was.

He showed not the slightest fear, even in the presence of the most powerful figure in the cultivation world.

In the village chief’s words, it sounded as though he were simply enrolling him in a private academy, sending him off to school. Except this academy was none other than the Cangyun Sword Sect, renowned throughout the land.

“He is no longer with us. The Great-Grandmaster passed away through meditation many years ago,” replied Jiang Huan. “The current head of the Cangyun Sword Sect is my senior brother, Ju Ming.”

Jiang Huan referred to Qin Zhou as his Great-Grandmaster because Qin Zhou had been the one to educate Lu Er.

As for Ye Yingsheng of the Cangyun Sword Sect, he was Lu Er’s true sword cultivation master.

Compared to Wen Jue—who was skilled with the sword but actually stronger without it—Lu Er was the disciple every sword cultivator longed to take under their wing.

Lu Er’s innate talent for sword cultivation also made him Ye Dingsheng’s final disciple—and the most outstanding among all his students.

“Sect Master Ye is an upright man,” Qin Zhou remarked.

Lu Er nodded slightly.

What Qin Zhou didn’t say was that he had originally sent Lu Yi to the Cangyun Sword Sect in the hope of tempering his temperament. After all, there are always those more skilled than oneself, and the sky is not the limit. Lu Yi was too strong, but also far too arrogant.

As a result, Sect Master Ye—who was the strongest NPC at the time—did not immediately accept Lu Yi as a disciple.

Qin Zhou understood the reason well.

Although Lu Yi was skilled with the sword, he wasn’t particularly devoted to it. His mastery of spiritual energy far surpassed his skill with the sword.

He even remembered the answer Master Ye had given him back then—

“Sir, placing this boy in the Cangyun Sword Sect would be a waste of his talent.”

At the time, Qin Zhou naturally felt a sense of pride; after all, the villagers he had raised couldn’t possibly be mediocre.

But after some thought, he ultimately persuaded the Cangyun Sword Sect to accept Lu Yi.

The reason was simple: if he had to send a villager to the Immortal Realm for training, the Cangyun Sword Sect was the best place.

Righteous and noble, just like Sect Master Ye, just like this ten-thousand-year-old sect. Those who associate with the virtuous become virtuous themselves; he couldn’t go wrong.

The result…

Qin Zhou glanced at Wen Jue, who had already lowered his head beside him.

The result was still a bit off.

But not by much.

“Did Sect Master Ye ever teach you?” Qin Zhou asked him.

Wen Jue whispered, “He couldn’t teach me. I don’t practice sword techniques, and he only knows sword techniques.”

“You came to the Cangyun Sword Sect without learning the sword, yet you still wanted to be the chief disciple,” Lu Er said coldly.

Wen Jue snorted coldly. “He wants a disciple who practices the sword. Since I don’t, I’ll find him one who does. He granted me the title of chief disciple—it’s a fair exchange. What’s wrong with that?”

Lu Er: “……”

That’s right—that’s exactly how Lu Yi had sent him to the Cangyun Sword Sect.

“Why did you want to be the head disciple?” Qin Zhou asked at just the right moment.

Wen Jue looked away, but reluctantly admitted, “Since you sent me to the Cangyun Sword Sect, I figured I’d better not disgrace you. Having a title would give me some face when I return to the village.”

Listening to the back-and-forth between them, Jiang Huan was completely baffled. He lowered his voice and asked Lu Xiao beside him, “Grand Demon… the way Senior Wen speaks, it sounds as if he’s actually spent time at the sect.”

Before Lu Xiao could respond, a figure flew in from the distance, landing right behind him.

“Because before he changed his name, he was called Lu Yi.”

Jiang Huan startled at the voice and turned around to see Lu Qi, wearing a mask, standing behind him.

He wouldn’t mistake the voice of the Supreme Patriarch.

“Aren’t you Sword Sect disciples familiar with the name Lu Yi?” Lu Qi asked.

Jiang Huan snapped back to his senses; they were indeed familiar with it.

The name Lu Yi was ancient, but the disciples of the Cangyun Sword Sect certainly knew a thing or two about it.

In the historical records of the Cangyun Sword Sect, the name “Lu Yi” held a prominent place.

He was another who shared the same surname as the Cangyun Sword Immortal—and even bore a name with the same numerical suffix.

Around one or two thousand years ago, he was a figure who dazzled the entire cultivation world—the true Purple Star of the cultivation realm.

Lu Yi, the Cangyun Sword Sect’s chief disciple.

Whether it was sect tournaments or contests among rising talents, he always made an appearance in any competition of note.

Without exception, wherever Lu Yi was, no one could stand against him.

Not only that, but he was practically the embodiment of the Cangyun Sword Sect. He traveled far and wide, punishing evil and promoting good, using his sword to prove his path to enlightenment. Before long, his fame spread like wildfire.

Everyone praised the Cangyun Sword Sect for producing a peerless genius.

Some who saw him a few years ago recalled him being at the early Golden Core stage; decades later, he had barely reached the Nascent Soul stage. In an era when even the Golden Core stage was considered elite, he single-handedly demonstrated what true top-tier talent meant.

Yet this genius was as fleeting as a morning glory. Shortly after gaining fame in the cultivation world, he vanished without a trace. A thousand or two years later, no one spoke of him anymore.

The most prevalent rumor was that he failed to reach the Spirit Transformation stage, couldn’t survive the Heavenly Tribulation, and was struck dead by lightning.

This rumor was eventually confirmed by members of the Cangyun Sword Sect themselves.

Every time he leafed through ancient texts, Jiang Huan found it puzzling.

How could someone of such extraordinary talent have died so abruptly? Could it truly be that heaven envies the gifted?

In his youth, Jiang Huan had been curious about this as well and had even dared to ask his Master. After all, strictly speaking, his Master’s surname was Lu too; whether by name or generational lineage, his Master surely must have known the details.

But his Master merely remained silent, offering no explanation, and only warned them never to mention this person again.

Jiang Huan dared not disobey, so he gradually forgot about this person.

So…

The Great Demon Lord was Lu Yi.

Jiang Huan looked down at his toes, beginning to doubt whether his memory had truly failed him. Lu Yi—he clearly remembered that name, yet he simply couldn’t match it with the Great Demon Lord’s face. It was as if a veil had been drawn over his eyes, allowing him to recall only the parts he was meant to remember.

“He wanted you to remember Lu Yi, so he wrote him into the Cangyun Sword Sect’s annals, yet he knew full well you wouldn’t remember. If anyone asked, he’d remain tight-lipped.” Lu Qi sneered. “Your master is just that kind of stubborn, dead-faced guy.”

Lu Er: “……How did you end up here?”

Lu Qi shot him a glance. “Who are you?”

Lu Er, having taken the Facial Rejuvenation Pill: “……”

Lu Qi rolled his eyes skyward. So what if he recognized him? He just didn’t want to deal with him.

“Father, weren’t you supposed to go find the Qilin Pearl?” Lu Xiao asked with a smile.

“There’s no such thing as the Qilin Pearl anymore. It wasn’t until I returned to the upper realm that I realized that brat Zhanyu had tricked me.” Lu Qi snorted heavily.

“Then why are you here…”

“To dismantle the Qilin Pearl.” Lu Qi raised his head to look at the pearl at the center of the Cangyun Sword Sect’s grand formation. “The village chief asked for my help, so naturally I had to come.”

Even if the memories sealed inside were to be released.

“There’s no rush to dismantle the Qilin Pearl,” Qin Zhou said. “Since we’re all here, let’s go in and take a look together.”

He was very interested in the records of Lu Yi in the Cangyun Sword Sect’s historical texts.

“Let’s go.”

As they spoke, the group approached the mountain gate.

Unsurprisingly, they were stopped by the disciples guarding the gate—

“What brings you to the Cangyun Sword Sect, sirs?”

Qin Zhou clasped his hands in a bow. “We heard of the Lord of the Heavens’ reappearance and have come specifically to pay our respects at the Cangyun Sword Sect.”

This excuse, it seemed, had been used by many recently.

The Cangyun Sword Sect disciple furrowed his brow slightly. “You really are… Well, guests are guests. Please come up the mountain.”

They let them in just like that?

The group exchanged puzzled glances.

Perhaps it had something to do with the rumors they’d heard in Boundary City.

Sure enough, the Cangyun Sword Sect disciple cleared his throat and said awkwardly, “Many people have been asking about this recently; you’re not the first. Everyone has gathered up here in the mountains. Since you’re guests, the Cangyun Sword Sect can’t very well turn you away. As long as you can prove you are not members of the Demon Sect, you are welcome to come up the mountain and have a seat. The ancient texts regarding the ‘Lord of the Heavens’ in the Cangyun Sword Sect’s library are all available for you to peruse.”

They exchanged glances. Although they noticed the unease in the disciple’s words, there was a more pressing matter at hand—

How could they prove they were “not members of the Demon Sect”?

Wen Jue, once the Cangyun Sword Sect’s chief disciple but now a great demon lord; Lu Qi, once a member of the Sword Immortal’s family but now the Supreme Patriarch of the Demon Sect; Lu Xiao, the Sword Immortal’s own son but now the Demon Sect’s Patriarch; and Jiang Huan, the Cangyun Sword Sect’s junior master but now the Demon Sect’s Left Guardian—all fell into silence one after another.

There was no need for proof. With this lineup entering the Cangyun Sword Sect, no one would doubt them even if they claimed the Demon Sect was attacking.

If not for the Village Chief’s Facial Cleansing Pill, they wouldn’t have even made it to the mountain gate; they would likely have been scattered by the Sect’s protective array activated at the foot of the mountain.

Lu Er also touched his face.

With this face, the disciples wouldn’t recognize him. How was he supposed to prove he wasn’t a member of the Demon Sect?

It was difficult to prove, because out of the three of them, two were members of the Demon Sect.

An eerie silence fell before the mountain gate.

The Cangyun Sword Sect disciples sensed something was amiss; their gazes grew increasingly wary as they scrutinized the group.

Just then, Qin Zhou took a token from his Cosmos Bag. “With this, can we prove that we are not members of the Demon Sect?”

The disciple was startled by the token.

A wisp of spiritual energy probed it; upon confirming its authenticity, the disciple immediately composed himself and bowed, saying, “I did not know you were a friend of the Sword Immortal’s Ancestor. Please forgive my rude words.”

The token in Qin Zhou’s hand was clearly the same one Lu Er had given him earlier—the token signifying a distinguished guest of the Cangyun Sword Immortal.

Qin Zhou gently helped the disciple to his feet. “Please lead the way.”

The disciple hurriedly rose to lead the way.

Qin Zhou followed.

The others naturally trailed close behind. But why did they feel inexplicably uneasy upon glancing at the sect’s protective sword formation in the sky?!