2026-07-12 17:07:50“Dangerous. Truly dangerous,” Dai Duyi muttered, still supporting himself at the edge of the roof. “Tonight, Pindao must visit the Pure Sky Sect. The arrival of the Bat Demon from the Hadarac Desert must become a concern for the entire city.”
He looked toward the direction where Rong Tian had vanished. The night had already swallowed the black figure, but the fear left behind had not disappeared.
Below the roof, the servants an
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Seats Before the Sword
After the main gate, the site of the gathering gradually came into view.A broad stone terrace had been carved into the mountainside, facing a ceremonial platform surrounded by white pillars. Reception pavilions stood on three sides, while the rear opened toward a sea of clouds rolling beneath the summit.Rows of guest seats descended according to status.Those from powerful sects and official families sat closest to the central platform. Representatives of middle-ranking clans were placed along the sides, where they remained visible but could not easily join private discussions.Unknown cultivators and guests without backing received places farther away. They could see the platform, but from that distance, any quiet exchange among the important figures would be lost beneath the wind.Even the tea tables were different.The seats nearest the stage received ca
White Robes and Thin Pride
The crowd slowed as it approached the main gate.Pure Heaven disciples stood on both sides of the entrance with swords at their waists and white robes untouched by dust. Their expressions changed according to the guests before them.They smiled faintly at famous elders and lowered their heads to representatives of powerful families.When minor sect cultivators approached, those smiles vanished. The same disciples suddenly remembered the importance of rules, waiting lines, and proper distance.Rong Tian watched the change without surprise.The mountain presented itself as righteous, disciplined, and impartial. Yet even before anyone entered, status determined the warmth of every greeting.Two visitors from outside Bei Fang argued quietly on the steps ahead. One wore dark blue robes, while the other had a leather vest over his traveling clothes.
The Road to Qingyun Mountain
“If this is a stage for a trap, then everyone who attends will carry their own neck toward the blade,” Rong Tian thought.That was precisely why he had to go.He would not approach Qingyun Mountain as a treasure hunter intoxicated by legends. He would go as someone determined to read the layers hidden behind the stage, the audience, and the hands arranging every seat.Who would benefit most if the great sects gathered upon one mountain?Who would be foolish enough to come only because they heard the name of a legendary sword?If Huo Xin Jian truly existed, the imperial court would not be displaying only a treasure. Blood, ambition, and old grudges would be displayed beside it.Three days later, the road climbing Qingyun Mountain had become a river of people.From the mountain’s foot to the outer sect gates, the stone ste
A City Chasing Destiny
A guest near the entrance spoke first. “If the stage is this large, the audience cannot be ordinary.”The fat merchant scoffed. “If the sword is real, a stage or a graveyard will still be crowded.”The waiter laughed. “The more expensive the stage, the larger the thing hidden beneath it.”Rong Tian lowered his cup.That word fit perfectly.Stage.Qingyun Mountain belonged to the Pure Heaven Sect, one of Bei Fang’s great powers. Its white robes and orthodox reputation had been polished for generations.If the imperial court had chosen that place to display a legendary weapon, then the invitation was not meant only for treasure seekers. It was meant for every eye that wished to measure which sect stood beside which faction.“If Lin Zhao intends to split the sects, gatherin
The Sword Gathering
For a time, the teahouse continued as usual. Cups touched saucers, chairs scraped the floor, servants moved between tables, and two cloth merchants still argued over prices.Yet the rhythm of the room had already shifted.Rong Tian sat several tables behind the gray-robed cultivators. His back remained straight, one hand resting around his cup, while his eyes appeared calm.Inside, his thoughts had begun moving the moment the thin man spoke the name Huo Xin Jian.The words had not silenced the teahouse at once. The change was subtle. Porcelain spoons paused in midair. A servant slowed the stream of tea pouring from his kettle. A wealthy merchant dragged his chair half an inch closer.A woman in green silk pretended to adjust her hairpin while turning her head. A young cultivator, too inexperienced to hide his excitement, leaned forward with both hands on the table.<
Rumors Beneath the Teahouse Roof
Comments like those continued to collide throughout Biratama City, each retelling louder and less faithful than the last. A city never waited for truth. It only waited for the version of a story that was easiest to repeat.Rong Tian entered a teahouse near the eastern street. It was not luxurious enough to attract only officials and minor nobles, yet it was busy enough to gather rumors from every direction. Wealthy merchants occupied the front tables, wandering cultivators preferred the shaded corners, and the upper floor was often used by people who wished to speak softly while pretending to drink without concern.The scents of aged tea, dried chrysanthemum, and damp timber welcomed him. Water boiled in the kitchen, while a young waiter refilled a guest’s pot and pretended not to hear a conversation he was following.Rong Tian chose a half-hidden table facing the main hall. A wooden pillar shaded one side, giving him a clear view without placing him at the center of anyone’s attentio
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