Chapter 46: Return, There’s No Wind, Rain, or Sun

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The spring mud made the rain smooth like a mirror, and the dawn tree carried clouds that were as light as a picture.

The Sixth Mountain.

In a pavilion halfway up the mountain.

The Sixth Mountain Lord, who was dressed in green, placed his palm on the pine sword case beside him. He lowered his eyes and saw through the hazy misty rain and the scenery at the foot of the mountain.

Madam Hua also stood in the pavilion. Her plain clothes fluttered in the spring breeze, and her eyes were filled with surprise and satisfaction.

“I once saw An Le enter Meditation in three-quarters of an hour and attained perfected-stage Qi Blood Awakening in three days. I expected that his talent would definitely be extraordinary. He’s an unpolished jade that matured late. Coupled with his proud backbone, he would definitely have some achievements in the future.

“However, I never expected him to be able to give me such a huge surprise today.”

Madam Hua’s voice echoed clearly.

A smile also appeared on the stiff face of the Sixth Mountain Lord in the pavilion. “The test of the Little Sacred Token never depends on the level of cultivation. It depends more on talent, temperament, and opportunity.”

“Although the Little Sacred Token is distributed to us Mountain Lords, every one of them contains an opportunity left behind by the Sacred Teacher. Since it’s an opportunity, it naturally depends on fate.”

“Zhong Shunchao and Ye Chong are quite talented, but the two of them have mostly developed murderous temperaments on the battlefield. They are not compatible with me in terms of sword comprehension, so they are not even as good as Luo Qingchen on the mountain path. However, if they go to Third Senior Brother’s Third Mountain, they might be able to go further.”

Madam Hua nodded slightly in agreement with the Mountain Lord’s words.

“Luo Qingchen is talented, but his only flaw is that his Dao heart was broken by Li You’an back then. Over the years, his Dao heart has not been firm and has become more and more fragile. This is also unexpected.”

The Sixth Mountain Lord spoke again and commented on Luo Qingchen.

“An Le used the sword qi of the Sixth Mountain to temper his Spirit Bone and visualized the Sword Waterfall Diagram you taught him. He gathered the Sword Pool in the Niwan Palace. Both advanced at the same time.”

“Such talent… It’s so good that it surprised me.”

“The swords in my case are trembling with excitement. He’s a very good successor. Unfortunately, he won’t be my Mountain Guardian anymore.”

The Sixth Mountain Lord’s expression was cold, but beneath his coldness was a sigh.

Madam Hua chuckled. She looked through the misty rain and saw An Le holding the Ink Pool Sword. She seemed to mutter, “This talent… is indeed surprising. ”

“Talent, temperament, and attraction to the sword. All three are in his possession. He truly deserves the Little Sacred Token.”

The Sixth Mountain Lord had a solemn expression.

He reached out and patted the pine sword case. The huge sword case landed on his back. He took a step out of the pavilion and headed down the mountain.

Madam Hua also followed.

As the young man drew his sword, the sudden rain in the world seemed to have its temper taken away. It suddenly became gentle, like slender cow fur, fluttering and gentle.

On the mountain path, many cultivators stopped in their tracks and looked up at the youth holding a sword under the peach blossom tree on the 300th step. Their expressions were complicated.

The hope in their hearts dissipated when An Le casually passed them.

Competing for the Little Sacred Token tested talent, temperament, and compatibility with the Little Sacred Token.

In the beginning, An Le’s difficulties gave them hope. Later on, they understood that An Le was only borrowing the sword qi of the Sixth Mountain to sharpen his Qi Blood. After breaking through, he displayed his outstanding talent.

He broke through the restraints and easily drew his sword.

Although Zhong Shunchao and Ye Chong were surprised, they were not disappointed. They were here to try their luck in the first place, so it was up to fate.

They also knew that the sword qi of the Sixth Mountain was not compatible with them. The possibility of obtaining the Sixth Mountain’s Little Sacred Token was extremely small.

Luo Qingchen’s gaze was stunned as he retracted his foot that could not land. The dust on his Dao heart did not expand, or perhaps… it was numb.

It was also because Luo Qingchen did not have much confidence in snatching the Little Sacred Token. The dust on his Dao heart made him very clear that he was not worthy.

With a bitter expression, Luo Qingchen took a deep look at the handsome young man holding a sword under the peach blossom tree.

Then, he turned around and walked down the mountain without looking back.

He did not want to stay in this sad place for a moment longer.

He had to go back and think about how to wash away the dust on his Dao heart and how to walk his future path.

The other cultivators took a few more glances at the youth holding a sword under the peach blossoms in the spring breeze, drizzle, and radiance.

Then, they all turned around and went down the mountain. They urgently wanted to know all the news about the young man.

After today, this child… would definitely become famous in Lin’an Prefecture!

An Le held the Ink Pool Sword and felt the joyous trembling and sword hum of the sword. He could not help but feel happy.

After breaking through to the second realm of Body Tempering, the Spirit Refinement Embryonic Breath also condensed the Sword Pool. He had a huge leap and was getting closer and closer to the third realm, Shedding Mortality.

He even obtained this Ink Pool Sword and Little Sacred Token.

It could be said that he had earned a lot. This trip to the Sixth Mountain was not in vain.

Holding the Ink Pool Sword, he could sense a wisp of sword qi hidden in the sword. As long as he probed with his mental power, he could sense it carefully.

That should be one of the conditions for the Little Sacred Token to converse with the Sacred Teacher.

The corners of An Le’s lips curled up as he caressed the Ink Pool Sword. He had a bright smile on his face and was in a good mood.

At this moment, it would be great if there was a pot of old yellow wine from the Yanchun Liquor Shop.

He drank wine, caressed the sword, sang loudly, and went down the mountain.

The misty rain was faint, and everyone returned intoxicated!

How satisfying!

On the mountain path, there was only a graceful girl holding an umbrella standing quietly and watching the dazzling young man in the spring rain.

The Sixth Mountain Lord, who was carrying the pine sword case, walked down the stone steps with Madam Hua and arrived beside An Le.

The girl held an umbrella and saw her. She bowed and nodded. “Ye Wenxi of the

Ye family greets the Sixth Mountain Lord and Madam Hua.”

The Sixth Mountain Lord nodded with an expressionless face. “You already have the Little Sacred Token and have already entered the Little Sacred Ranking. Why did you climb the mountain?”

The young girl, Ye Wenxi, looked at An Le and chuckled. “If there’s a new person on the Little Sacred Ranking, I naturally have to understand the opponent in advance and see if he deserves it.”

“I’ll take my leave.”

After the young girl, Ye Wenxi, finished speaking, she smiled freely and turned to leave with an umbrella.

An Le looked at the girl’s back. He knew that the girl had followed him all the way until the 300th step. The girl was actually qualified to take this Little Sacred Token.

In An Le’s eyes, the Age Qi on the girl swayed like seaweed. If only…

What?

An Le was suddenly delighted. His Qi Blood that had entered the second realm of Body Tempering and the Spirit Refinement Embryonic Breath’s new Sword Pool seemed to have ended the cooldown of the Age Qi extraction. It could actually be used again.

Without hesitation, An Le’s mind stirred and he absorbed the Age Qi from the girl!

Holding the oil-paper umbrella, the girl who turned around and went down the mountain did not notice at all. She did not know that she had given it to him for nothing.

Three wisps of Age Qi lingered on his fingertips before diffusing into his body. An Le was satisfied. However, with Madam Hua and the Sixth Mountain Lord by his side, he did not choose to observe the Age Qi.

The Sixth Mountain Lord looked at An Le, his eyes filled with admiration and pity. “Unfortunately, you didn’t enter my Sixth Mountain… I’m very satisfied with your ink bamboo and your Sword Dao talent, but it’s indeed a waste of your talent to let you be a Mountain Guardian.”

“My Sixth Mountain is open to you. If you have any new paintings, you can share them with me. During the period of climbing the mountain, you can use the sword qi in the mountain to cleanse your body. It’s better than the demon qi jade pendant at your waist.” The Mountain Lord said.

When An Le heard this, he sincerely cupped his hands and bowed. “Thank you, Mountain Lord.”

The Sixth Mountain Lord nodded and said more, “The Little Sacred Token is only the beginning. Your cultivation level is indeed a little low. You can only be at the bottom of the Little Sacred Ranking.”

“If you want to obtain the opportunity to speak to the Sacred Teacher, you have to at least enter the top three of the Little Sacred Ranking.” “You’re too weak now. Cherish your talent and don’t waste it.”

“One last thing.”

The Sixth Mountain Lord turned around coldly. “I have high hopes for you.”

Before An Le could react, he had already carried the huge pine sword case up the mountain.

Looking at the rather characterful Sixth Mountain Lord, An Le’s expression could not help but soften. He originally thought that rejecting the Mountain Guardian’s invitation would offend him, but from the looks of it, he had been too narrow-minded.

Madam Hua chuckled. “What the Mountain Lord said is the truth. Obtaining the Little Sacred Token is only the beginning. Don’t be arrogant.”

An Le bowed.

“Go down the mountain and return to Lin’an with Zhuifeng and Ninth Sister. I still have something on. I’ll bid you farewell here.”

Madam Hua stood in the spring breeze and looked at the young man with admiration.

Then, sword light surrounded her body and jumped into the fog on the mountain. She disappeared without a trace and escaped into the depths of the sea of clouds.

The spring rain stopped, and there seemed to be a setting sun behind the clouds.

When he reached the foot of the mountain, An Le turned around to look at the stone path in the mountain. He was in a sorry state when he first climbed the mountain. He could not help but smile.

Looking back, life had always been in a desolate state. When he returned, there was no wind, rain, or sun.

An Le’s white clothes fluttered, and his back was like an arrogant bamboo. There was Green Mountain at his waist, and he held the Ink Pool Sword.

He stepped on the fallen flowers and mud, accompanied by new grass after the rain.

He walked elegantly towards the Lin Residence carriage that was parked in the distance.

The rain stopped, and the sand slipped away. The wind settled the wild cicadas.

The buildings of the Literary Department had white walls and black tiles. After the spring rain, the fog was hazy.

The ordinary straw hut quietly landed inside. The water in the carbon stove under the eaves was still boiling, and hot steam rose.

The two old men who were playing chess were about to leave.

After tasting the last mouthful of West Lake Longjing tea, the old man of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Zhao Huangting, stood up and stretched. “Let’s end today’s chess game here. We won’t be able to decide on a winner. We’ll talk about it another day.”

The Third Headmaster was used to Zhao Huangting’s shamelessness. He chuckled and put the chess pieces back into the box.

“Did it go as you wish?” Third Headmaster asked.

“His performance is quite good. He might really not let Green Mountain down.”

Zhao Huangting was in a good mood and smiled.

“From today onwards, Young Friend An’s name will definitely spread throughout Lin’an. His paintings, poems, and sword equipment will be praised by others. The true prosperity of Lin’an Prefecture will open up to him. The riches that corrode his bones and soul will attack like a flood or ferocious beast.

I hope he can stay true to his heart.”

“The only flaw is that the Sixth Mountain Lord forced me to owe him a favor. He’s evil!”

Zhao Huangting placed his hands behind his back and walked out of the straw hut, stepping on the muddy path.

He waved his hand without looking back.

“I’m leaving. I need to get a pot of old yellow wine from Yanchun and cut two catties of braised beef from Dingya Alley.”

“It’s time to go to Imperial Ancestral Temple Alley to celebrate for Young

Friend An..”