Hu Jing and Zhang Xiaopang were listening intently, while Wang Meng felt rather bemused. 'Teaching the basics to a demigod.'
The Holy Hall was comprised of nine major Sub-Halls, and the most outstanding among the younger generation of Third Generation Disciples were known as the Nine Heroes of the Holy Hall.
These included individuals like Jia Shidao from the Beast Hall, Liangyuan from the Immortal Origin Hall, Mingren from the Lingyin Hall, and Yang Ying from the Flying Phoenix Hall.
In Zhou Qian's notes, these were all major figures, the strongest of the strong, labeled as individuals one must never provoke.
Within Thunderlight Hall, the Third Generation Disciples were led by Zhao Guang. At twenty-five years old, he had reached the Seventeenth Layer of Life Mark. As a Sword Cultivator who also knew some Talisman Cultivator magic, he was the definitive representative of Thunderlight Hall and one of the Nine Heroes.
"By the way, how did you end up offending Zhao Guang?" Hu Jing asked.
Hu Xiaopang immediately recounted the events with great enthusiasm, including the battle where they witnessed Li Tianyi instantly defeat Liangyuan. Of course, he omitted the part about Wang Meng and Li Tianyi. This was at Wang Meng's request, not because he was afraid of anyone coming to cause trouble, but because he felt that fight didn't count as a win at all.
Hu Xiaopang's storytelling skills were truly impressive. It seemed that even if his cultivation failed, he could at least make a living as a bard.
A hint of envy appeared on Hu Jing's face. 'A crisis? More like danger and opportunity rolled into one. This is the world of a cultivator.'
"Wang Meng, I think Elder Xu has some sort of misunderstanding about you. Do you want me to find a chance to explain things to him?" With her sharp intuition, Hu Jing had naturally noticed Xu Huang's odd behavior.
Wang Meng smiled faintly. "With time, no explanation will be necessary."
Zhang Xiaopang, who was standing to the side, gave a thumbs-up. "Brother Meng, you're getting more and more of a mystic air about you. That's a good thing."
Wang Meng woke up early the next morning. He had slept soundly last night; it had been a long time since he'd slept so well.
He wandered casually through Thunderlight City. 'The Holy Hall is the largest sect of Saint Cultivators, with a presence spanning the Grand, Middle, and Small Thousand Worlds, but the dynamics in each are vastly different. Because the Grand Thousand World is the final destination, the struggles there are far more intense, and the competition among sects for Immortals is fierce. The Grand Thousand World has finite resources, so the Middle and Small Thousand Worlds serve as reserves. And though Immortals can't descend to the Lower Realms, they have many ways of bestowing benefits to ensure obedience. Compelling the weak has always been an instinct the strong never need to learn.'
'Compared to Demon Cultivators, Saint Cultivators are indeed far more moderate, and among them, the Holy Hall is the most unique. There's a Holy Hall in the Grand Thousand World and in the Middle Thousand World. It's surprising that even in this Small Thousand World, after so much time and so many changes, the Holy Hall still stands.'
'In my past life, I encountered many masters from the Holy Hall. One of them even saved my life in the Middle Thousand World; without him, I wouldn't be here today. I never thought I would one day become a Holy Hall Disciple myself. I suppose this is what they call karma.'
The Elemental Qi was denser at the top of Thunderlight Peak, which was where the Elders resided. However, halfway up the mountain, Wang Meng discovered a peculiar spot where Elemental Qi had gathered.
With nothing better to do, Wang Meng admired the scenery as he ambled toward it.
'No wonder the Spiritual Qi is so abundant. It's a sword-forging ground for a Body Cultivator. Attaining the Dao through forging swords... an unconventional path. Interesting.'
Wang Meng spotted a large, smooth rock that faced the sweeping, boundless view from the mountainside. As he sat down on it, he suddenly realized how many beautiful things he had overlooked in the past.
"Life is like a dream, both real and illusory. It's so beautiful."
After gazing for a while, Wang Meng stood up. An array formation blocked his path.
"Sword Tomb."
Wang Meng thought of the Sword Tomb on Linlang Street. 'It seems the master of this Sword Tomb has hit a bottleneck and is trying to find answers by re-engaging with the world. A pity he's not yet worthy of it.'
With a flicker of his body, Wang Meng entered the Sword Tomb. The moment he intruded, the array formation began to shake violently. Hundreds of flying swords transformed into the Ten Thousand Swords Light, lancing toward him.
Wang Meng smiled faintly, his gaze seeming to pierce through space itself. The swords reminded him of Silence.
SHING...
The sword light dissipated, leaving only ten Treasure Swords hovering in the air. Wang Meng couldn't help but shake his head as he looked at them. 'The technique is impressive, but the path is wrong.'
'Blindly pursuing the power of the blade isn't a good thing for a cultivator who's just re-engaging with the world. If you get lost in raw power, how can you ever comprehend the true intent of the sword?'
'No wonder the master of this place has hit a bottleneck.'
In a corner, however, was a pile of dilapidated swords, clearly deemed failures by their creator. A broken sword among them caught Wang Meng's attention. For some reason, it gave him a strange feeling. He picked it up. The break itself felt... peculiar.
"We were fated to meet, so you'll come with me. From this day forward, your name is Broken Blade." Wang Meng was quite pleased with himself. Clearly, such a straightforward name was in keeping with his true nature.
Just as he was about to leave, Wang Meng suddenly stopped and muttered to himself, "I can't just take your things for nothing."
Wang Meng casually left two words on the wall: "Let Go."
'A broken sword in exchange for two words. He's getting the better end of this deal.'
Shouldering the broken blade, he swaggered out of the Sword Tomb. The flying swords of the Sword Array flew about in a chaotic frenzy, beams of light shooting everywhere, but it was all just an illusion. This kind of array was more for intimidation than substance; mental attacks were utterly meaningless to Wang Meng.
Wang Meng strolled back to his room, placed the broken blade on the stone table, and enjoyed the sunrise. A new day had begun.
While Wang Meng was leisurely enjoying his morning, Thunderlight Hall was in an uproar. Someone had broken into the Sword Tomb!
And what was the Sword Tomb?
It was the holy land of Thunderlight Hall, left behind by Thunderbolt, the Body Cultivation Ancestor Master and one of the Holy Hall's six great Ancestral Masters. Hidden within were the Treasure Swords he had forged in his time, making it the place every Sword Cultivator in the Holy Hall yearned to visit.
Obtaining a Treasure Sword from the Sword Tomb could save a decade of arduous cultivation!
Otherwise, why would Zhao Guang of the Zhao Family have come to the declining Thunderlight Hall? It was precisely to obtain a Treasure Sword, as only disciples of Thunderlight Hall were permitted to brave the Sword Array and enter the Sword Tomb.
There was a popular saying in the Holy Hall that went something like this: The Sword Tomb of Thunderlight Hall saves a decade. The Talismans of Lingyin Hall have extra reach. The Spirit Pills of Immortal Origin Hall are truly potent. The Magical Artifacts of Fire Cloud Hall are the real deal. The Spirit Beasts of Beast Hall run wild in the streets. The beauties of Flying Phoenix Hall are the fairest in the land. The Elemental Qi of Hundred Herbs Hall flows like a spring. The disciples of Hengshan Hall are a bunch of thugs. And the standards of Dao Guang Hall are the highest of all.
Xu Huang and three others arrived outside the Sword Tomb. By then, the place had already grown quiet, but it was obvious that someone had entered and exited the array completely unharmed.
"This person's cultivation is extraordinary. It's definitely not the work of a disciple!" Zhao Ya said, feeling a little worried.
"Any common trespasser who enters the Sword Array left by the Ancestral Master would be walking to their death. Could it be that the Ancestral Master himself has paid a visit?"
"I heard the Ancestral Master is in secluded cultivation. Besides, he hasn't been to Thunderlight for many years. Should we go in and take a look?"
Only disciples of Thunderlight Hall under the age of thirty could attempt to claim the Treasure Swords within the Sword Tomb. This rule had been established by Thunderbolt to settle an old debt of gratitude. Without the Sword Tomb, Thunderlight Hall would truly be nothing.
Xu Huang and the others were indeed worried. They had arrived as quickly as they could, but the intruder had already vanished without a trace. Strangest of all, they hadn't left behind even the slightest sign of their presence.
Just as the four of them were hesitating, an aged figure appeared without a sound.