Standing up, Chu Ming walked to the window and looked out into the night, muttering to himself, "There are only ten days left until the Chu family gathering. It's about time to go home."
From Cyan Yang Sect to Great Yan City where the Chu family resides is ten thousand li. If I ride the Blue Star Horse, twenty days would be enough to go and return.
After taking a day's leave from the Inner Sect Elder, Chu Ming hurriedly set out on his journey home. As he exited the sect, Chu Ming noticed that the sect was much stricter in their inspections of disciples, even familiar faces had to go through extensive questioning before being allowed to leave. Moreover, in the sky, he could see several Eagles swooping around, obviously monitoring the surroundings. These were demon beasts raised by the sect, clearly now used for surveillance.
Leaving Cyan Yang Sect, Chu Ming rode the rented Blue Star Horse.
"Hyah!"
At the foot of the mountain, Chu Ming squeezed the horse's flanks and sped away in a cloud of dust!
Chu Ming did not go straight back to the Chu family; instead, he first went to Li Family Town to retrieve the treasure sword he had forged. Ten days had passed, and it should be ready by now. From a distance, Chu Ming could see the outline of Li Family Town. Entering the Li family estate, he had someone inform them of his arrival while he sat waiting patiently.
"Hahaha, today is just the tenth day, yet Chu Young Hero has come so early." Chu Ming had only just sat down when hearty laughter came from the backyard. Following that, Li Lin walked in with Li Lingru behind him, eyeing Chu Ming with curiosity.
"I wonder if the treasure sword is ready?" As soon as Li Lin sat down, Chu Ming got straight to the point and asked.
"I didn't expect Chu Young Hero to be so anxious, but fortunately, we have not failed you!" Li Lin said with a smile. He then gave some instructions to a servant beside him. Shortly after, five or six martial artists carried a huge box into the hall.
"The spikes of the Tiger, Wolf, and Jackal Chu Young Hero provided were precious materials. Coupled with some of our Li family's collections, it took ten days to forge it, and today it is finally done."
He paused and gave a slight nod to the two martial artists beside the box. They immediately stepped forward and opened the box. He continued, "This sword was forged yesterday. After further refinement last night, it was fully completed today. However, this treasure sword is yours. The name... will need to be given by you."
As soon as Li Lin finished speaking, the two martial artists opened the box.
Swish, swish, swish
Brilliant silver light glimmered from the box, illuminating the entire hall as if it were a small sun.
"This sword is five feet long, three inches wide, and weighs two hundred and sixty catties! Grade... Top Tier Yellow Level!"
Li Lin slowly introduced the treasure sword by his side while Chu Ming nodded. A top-tier Yellow Level treasure sword was more than enough for his use until he reached the True Dao Realm.
Reaching out, he picked up the treasure sword, feeling a faint pressure emanate from it. Chu Ming lightly swung it, sensing its sharpness as if wanting to slice the air apart. He felt that this sword would increase his attack power by more than ten percent.
Although it seemed little, given that Chu Ming was already in the Transcendence Realm, a ten percent increase was significant enough to turn the tide in battle.
"A good sword!"
Chu Ming couldn't help but praise, his wrist moved, and a sword light flashed, swiftly creating a deep, immeasurable hole in the floor.
Li Lin's pupils shrank, and he praised, "Chu Young Hero has remarkable swordsmanship!" The sword just now clearly demonstrated a high-level Gathering Qi into a Pillar from the Sword Dao Realm, a move even a Sword Dao Master immersed in swordsmanship would find difficult to execute so easily. This showed that Chu Ming's swordsmanship could already be considered at the master level.
"This sword shall be named... Silver Light Sword!"
Chu Ming said blandly, a faint smile appearing on his face. He put away the Silver Light Sword and then looked at Li Lin with gratitude.
"I owe the Li family a favor. If there is anything the Li family needs in the future, as long as it is within my ability, I shall get it done!"
"You're too kind, Chu Young Hero!" Li Lin outwardly refused modestly, but his heart was overjoyed. Helping Chu Ming so earnestly, wasn't this exactly what he wanted?
"If there is nothing else, I'll be leaving now!" Chu Ming stood up and said lightly, knowing he couldn't waste too much time on the road; missing the family gathering would be a great loss.
"I'll see you off, Chu Young Hero!" Li Lin said with a smile, getting up to escort Chu Ming out of the town before turning back.
Beyond Qing Yang Town was Qing Yang City, the nearest city to Cyan Yang Sect. Exiting the north gate of Qing Yang City, the view suddenly opened up.
A blue sky, white clouds, wild wind, and a vast, flat land.
All these scenes appeared before Chu Ming's eyes. Riding the horse at full speed, Chu Ming felt an impulse to yell at the sky. He never imagined that one day, he could be like a wanderer in martial arts novels, carrying his sword alone on adventures, even though he wasn't exactly wandering yet.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...
Suddenly, a dozen coarse-clothed martial artists burst out from the dense forest beside him, riding horses, holding spears, many with deep scars on their faces, emanating startling evil qi. The leader's Transcendence Realm Sixth Layer cultivation was apparent!
Bandits!
Chu Ming narrowed his eyes, instinctively placing his right hand on the treasure sword!
"Little brother, we only seek riches. Hand over everything you have, and we will spare your life!"
The leader, dressed in black, with his head seemingly chopped off by a third, smiled while holding a big blade. Yet, his eyes were filled with indifference.
"What if I refuse?" Chu Ming said coldly, immediately drawing the treasure sword. Tiny sword auras began spinning around him, dazzling to the eye.
"Think carefully, don't lose your life over possessions and follow in others' doomed footsteps!"
The leader's face turned cold, his patience nearly gone. He signaled his men, who quickly surrounded Chu Ming.
Chu Ming's expression chilled, and a sword aura shot out, transforming into an aurora, piercing the air. The bandit on the left didn't even react before his brain burst!
"Kill! Kill him!"
The leader roared angrily, gripping his blade. A Sword Force erupted, striking Chu Ming like a thunderbolt. A few days ago, this attack would have been troublesome for Chu Ming. But now, a single sword strike was enough!
"Rainfall Kill!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The surroundings suddenly became humid, countless raindrops coalescing. Rainfall Sword Intent bloomed on the droplets, shattering like mirrors.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Initially, the leader could barely block the raindrops, leaving nicks on his blade, but soon his blade was pierced through. Next, his body followed, the raindrops turning to blood!
"Run!"
"The leader is dead!"
"Run, he's a demon!"
The remaining bandits, seeing Chu Ming's prowess, dared not stay. The smarter ones shouted, trying to create chaos and escape!
Chu Ming swung the sword again, killing all the remaining bandits. He got back on his horse and continued forward, his heart as calm as still water. These bandits deserved death, countless innocent martial artists had fallen to them. If his strength was lacking, he would have faced a different fate!
At year-end, sect disciples returning home were prime targets for bandits and robbers. Many disciples died due to inadequate strength or carelessness on their journey. This was the martial world!
Roaming the martial world was dangerous. Over the past decade, many Inner Sect disciples ventured out from Cyan Yang Sect. Some fell to petty criminals, some perished at the hands of Demon Dao experts, and others were killed by disciples of other sects or vanished without a trace, dead or alive!
Despite this, Cyan Yang Sect's higher-ups never took measures to reduce Inner Sect disciples' casualties. To them, flowers grown in greenhouses, no matter how beautiful, couldn't withstand the elements and couldn't become great or powerful. Only by letting them roam and survive would they grow strong!
...
Time flew by. After several encounters with bandits and robbers, five days later, Chu Ming finally appeared before a massive city.
Despite the familiar memories of this city, its reality still left Chu Ming momentarily awestruck.
The city walls alone stood dozens of zhang high, the gates wide and grand, allowing thousands to enter simultaneously. This city was exceptionally prosperous, martial artists and common people coming and going endlessly. From a distance, it looked like a beast lurking on the ground!
On the city gate, three ancient and mighty characters, instilling awe with a single glance, were engraved!
Great Yan City!
Chu Ming paused, slowly leading his horse toward the gate. As the Imperial City of Great Yan Kingdom and its most prosperous city, commoners had to pay a copper coin to enter. Martial artists, however, were exempt. This alone showed the gap between commoners and martial artists in Great Yan Kingdom. In fact, it was like this across the continent!
Great Yan City housed the Four Great Families and the Royal Family. Despite the complexity, the Royal Family barely maintained its dignity, while the Four Great Families remained generally independent!
Being one of the Four Great Families, the Chu Family's residence was massive, occupying a quarter of the city's northern part, spanning thousands of mu. Leading his horse, Chu Ming did not glance around but walked straight into Chu Mansion!
"Is this?"
"Young Master Ming, Young Master Ming is back!"
Among the gatekeepers, the one on the left did not recognize Chu Ming at first. The right gatekeeper, seeing Chu Ming's Cyan Yang Sect disciple attire, barely recognized him and shouted loudly.
"Take the horse to the backyard and feed it some fodder!" Chu Ming handed the reins to a servant and asked another, "Are my parents at home?"
The servant replied, "The Patriarch and the Mistress are both home. I've already sent someone to inform them."
"Good, I'll go greet them now!"