Ye Wen remained still, his left hand resting behind his back, only slightly turning and maneuvering his right forearm. That boulder, nearly a meter high and round, was instantly carved into a stone tablet by his Purple Dawn Dragon Qi Sword. As the tablet took shape, Ye Wen halted the sword qi on his right hand, and his left hand, held behind his back, shot out in an open-palm strike.

This palm strike had no grand name; it was simply the channeling of his internal energy into a burst of wind to sweep the swirling dust aside. Yet, the effortless manner in which he produced such a formidable gust of wind still drew silent admiration.

Master Huixin, witnessing this display, murmured a Buddhist invocation and remarked to True Man Tianyi beside him, "This Sect Master Ye is young, yet his inner cultivation is profoundly deep!" He observed how Ye Wen first unleashed that domineering sword qi with casual ease, immediately followed by a powerful palm wind—all actions seemingly without strain, yet both feats demanded immense internal power.

Setting aside the palm wind, the sheer might of the sword qi surpassed that used by the Shu Mountain girl on the dueling stage earlier. Such tyrannical power was something Master Huixin himself admitted he wouldn't dare meet head-on.

True Man Tianyi remained silent, observing intently. After Ye Wen executed the palm strike and settled back into place, he let out a soft chuckle. Coincidentally, just as Master Huixin offered his praise, True Man Tianyi responded quietly, "Sect Master Ye’s inner arts indeed hold unique subtleties, but perhaps not as deep as you surmise, Master!"

"Oh?" Master Huixin knew his friend did not speak without reason; his comment implied he had discerned something. However, as a top expert in the martial world, how could he fail to see what True Man Tianyi observed? Yet, this was hardly the moment for questions, so he decided to discuss it in detail with True Man Tianyi later.

At this moment, Ye Wen’s palm strike dispersed the dust, revealing the stone tablet, which had previously been obscured. Scattered around it lay fragments of broken stone.

Though the shards varied in size, they shared one commonality: the surfaces cut by Ye Wen’s sword qi were all as smooth as a mirror, forcing continuous praise for the sharpness of that energy.

"With just this marvelous and potent sword qi technique, it is no difficult feat for the Shu Mountain Sect to secure a place in the martial world!" Previously, Beichen Yan had seen Ning Ruxue's fluidly changing azure sword qi. While she found it troublesome, she didn't believe it unbeatable—merely overly complicated.

She perceived that Ning Ruxue's sword qi seemed limited in power; if she met force with force, the younger girl would eventually run out of steam, as Beichen Yan's cultivation was presumably higher. Moreover, manifesting sword qi empty-handed must drain tremendous internal power, giving Beichen Yan the advantage in a direct clash.

But upon seeing Ye Wen's terrifying sword qi, she lost that confidence. Furthermore, Ye Wen had sculpted the boulder into a tablet between one casual movement and the next, without even a slight gasp for breath, indicating reserves of strength—a truly horrifying level of inner cultivation.

"Could another supreme master be rising in the martial world?"

With this thought, she glanced towards the monk and the Daoist beside her, only to find their eyes suddenly alight, watching with keen interest.

Turning back, she saw Sect Master Ye using his sword qi to inscribe characters onto the tablet. She wondered why these two old fellows had suddenly become so animated. Could the technique Ye Wen used for calligraphy be different?

As she pondered, True Man Tianyi suddenly exclaimed, "Fine calligraphy!!" Only then did she realize the two elders were not focused on Ye Wen's sword qi, but rather intrigued by his mastery of brushwork.

Taking a closer look, though the characters on the stone tablet were incomplete, the shape of "Shu" () was faintly emerging. Though unfamiliar with calligraphy, she too found the character exceptionally beautiful.

Shifting her gaze slightly, she noticed the subtle complexities in how Ye Wen directed his hand, seemingly casting out sword qi from a distance to write. Beichen Yan inexplicably perceived that Ye Wen was employing an extremely profound skill, which, combined with the overwhelming sword qi, made her blurt out, "Fine swordsmanship!"

Though unskilled in calligraphy, she was a recognized master of swordsmanship in the current era. After watching for a moment, she grasped numerous subtle points. By the time Ye Wen finished writing the character 'Shu,' she felt unsatisfied, eager to watch more.

Fortunately, Ye Wen had not yet finished the inscription. While she anticipated him writing the character 'Shan' () next, Ye Wen’s aura suddenly shifted, and his sword qi emitted sharp hissing sounds, clearly indicating he had increased the force applied.

The character 'Shan' required only a few strokes. Given its size, Ye Wen could have written it merely by rotating his wrist. However, while carving this character, he swung his entire right arm, each stroke distinct, the path of the sword qi clear to all observers. Yet, neither Master Huixin nor True Man Tianyi smirked at the exaggerated movement; instead, their expressions grew even more solemn.

When Ye Wen completed the character 'Shan,' both men let out a long breath and exchanged glances. True Man Tianyi sighed, "Truly a hero emerges young! Fine calligraphy, fine swordsmanship, fine skill!" He was praising Ye Wen’s script, sword qi, and internal cultivation, respectively. Earlier, he had only noted Ye Wen’s refined inner arts but not their depth. This 'Shan' character, relying not on variation but purely on momentum and inner power, revealed how much he had underestimated the youth.

After the two characters were complete, Ye Wen did not stop.

He had previously inscribed the words "Shu Shan" on his own mountain, a feat that nearly exhausted his entire reservoir of power; only the marvel of his Innate Purple Qi allowed him to complete it. That ultimate exertion had led to new insights, which he had diligently studied and understood more deeply afterward.

Having comprehended so much, he hadn't yet had a chance to practice inscribing characters with sword qi on stone again. Today presented a perfect opportunity. Though these two characters were not as exquisitely refined as the divine stroke he achieved previously, they were not far behind. Since each application brought a sliver of comprehension, and with the third character needed on the tablet, Ye Wen paused briefly. His Innate Purple Qi circulated rapidly, restoring much of the internal energy he had expended.

His wrist swept through motions, sometimes writing only with his forearm, occasionally swinging his entire arm. This final character, 'Pai' (), seemed to integrate the subtleties from the previous two, creating a character that subtly felt like it encompassed the essence of both preceding ones.

"Fine calligraphy!"

As the character 'Pai' emerged, True Man Tianyi offered another compliment, and Master Huixin smiled faintly, saying no more. Beichen Yan, profoundly affected by the myriad subtleties in Ye Wen’s earlier techniques, even those she didn't fully grasp or which didn't align with her own skills, found inspiration to integrate higher principles into her martial arts.

However, Ye Wen was dissatisfied with this final character. For this last 'Pai,' he had intended to perfectly synthesize the essence he grasped from 'Shu' and 'Shan,' but he felt he ended up pleasing neither extreme, resulting in something awkward—a stylistic hybrid.

Thus, immediately after the praise from the elders, Ye Wen cupped his hands and said, "Seniors, you flatter me!" He spoke honestly, feeling the last character lacked true refinement. Yet, he overlooked that his first two characters were already less perfect than the ones inscribed on his own mountain. To others, the three characters were excellent, their artistic intent profound—undeniably fine work—and they simply interpreted Ye Wen’s statement as modesty.

"Sect Master Ye, though known as the Gentleman Sword, you need not be overly humble!" Even while saying this, True Man Tianyi genuinely admired the young man's self-effacing nature. To find a youth with such formidable cultivation who was also a sect leader possessing such fine bearing was truly rare, significantly increasing his favorable impression of Ye Wen.

Master Huixin felt the same, smiling genially, "Sect Master Ye not only possesses formidable cultivation but also masters fine calligraphy; he must have put in much hard work!"

Ye Wen thought internally, Hard work my foot! This calligraphy is a bonus item from transmigration! This martial art was achieved purely through a string of fortuitous encounters! Since he couldn't explain this, he simply maintained his humble facade: "Not at all! The sea of learning is boundless; my meager skills are not worth mentioning. I still need to strive harder!"

Master Huixin and True Man Tianyi smiled and nodded again: "Sect Master Ye is modest again..."

While they exchanged pleasantries, Beichen Yan suddenly bowed to Ye Wen, saying, "I owe Sect Master Ye a debt today; I shall certainly repay it in the future!"

It turned out that Beichen Yan had gained considerable insight from observing Ye Wen inscribe the tablet. Feeling she had benefited from someone else's refined martial arts, she felt obliged to express her gratitude.

Ye Wen was momentarily confused by her sudden declaration until he glanced back at the stone tablet and understood.

Among those present, the Shu Mountain disciples had already witnessed Ye Wen’s inscription style and had already absorbed any possible enlightenment. Moreover, Ye Wen had not hidden his insights from his own people after grasping them. For instance, Guo Jing had received instruction on some subtleties of the 'Shan' character technique, and others had benefited similarly. Therefore, the Shu Mountain members showed no particular reaction to their leader's inscription.

True Man Tianyi and Master Huixin, possessing superior cultivation, had already understood many of the subtleties in Ye Wen’s technique, so there was nothing new for them to gain.

In the end, only Beichen Yan among those nearby had truly gained something. The other disciples of the North Sword Gate lacked the cultivation to grasp the essence; even Beichen Xuan only saw the surface.

Unintentionally, Ye Wen had forged a bond of gratitude with the North Sword Gate. As long as this favor remained, the relationship between the North Sword Gate and Shu Mountain would lean toward the friendly side!

"This is quite an unexpected bonus..." Ye Wen didn't mind that others had glimpsed his subtleties; after all, he had already carved the name outside his sect's gates, and anyone with sufficient skill could gain insight by visiting Shu Mountain. By doing a favor for the North Sword Gate today, he anticipated they wouldn't oppose him in the future, especially considering that the Tianle Gang had Elder Pei, who originated from the North Sword Gate. If conflict arose with Tianle Gang, having the North Sword Gate remain neutral—or even interfere—would be beneficial.

After a few more polite exchanges, Ye Wen turned to the stone tablet still resting on the ground and said, "Pardon me!" He then slowly pushed out his right palm, as if extending it casually forward.

The surrounding martial artists, who had been discussing the marvel of Ye Wen carving stone into a tablet and inscribing it with Lingyan script, were puzzled by this gesture.

"What is Sect Master Ye doing?"

They watched as Ye Wen’s palm moved slowly forward. After extending it about half an arm's length, it suddenly stopped dead in the air. As the crowd wondered, they suddenly saw the stone tablet seemingly brushed by a gentle wind. The fine dust accumulated from the inscription was blown off the stone, but unlike the previous gust, which felt like a gale, this was like a refreshing spring breeze.

The palm wind lingered for a moment. When it ceased, the tablet was perfectly clean, the three characters—"Shu Shan Sect"—clearly visible to everyone. Ye Wen walked to the tablet and lightly tapped it. To everyone's surprise, the stone shot straight up into the air. It was unclear how Ye Wen applied the force; though he struck horizontally, the tablet leaped vertically.

Once airborne, Ye Wen struck it again. This time, the tablet flew horizontally with extreme speed, suggesting it would travel an immense distance.

"Where is Sect Master Ye planning to send this tablet?"

Before the question was fully spoken, the stone tablet reached the area in front of the Shu Mountain disciples' seats. The force propelling it seemed to vanish instantly. With a thud, it landed directly before their seating arrangement. Anyone turning around could clearly see the tablet and the inscribed words: Shu Shan Sect.

"Fine skill!"

This time, the praise came not just from True Man Tianyi, but from martial artists throughout the entire assembly hall. Ye Wen’s sword qi carving had initially shocked them, but the subsequent inscription was less awe-inspiring to the masses due to their lower cultivation or distance, and carving on stone was inherently less dramatic than the initial cutting.

However, everyone present recognized the mastery in manipulating the stone with palm force. Merely sending a stone tablet that far with a single palm strike was beyond the capabilities of ordinary men. One man even flinched, muttering, "Ow, if Sect Master Ye struck me with a palm like that, I would surely die! My frail body isn't as sturdy as that stone!"

"I think Sect Master Ye's palm arts are quite solid. Perhaps the title 'Gentleman Sword' doesn't suit him; shouldn't he be called the Iron Palm Gentleman Sword?"

"Bah! What kind of title is that? Be careful the Shu Mountain people hear you and turn you into a stone to be smashed!"

The masters from the major sects paid less attention to this display. They were more focused on the sword qi technique Ye Wen had previously demonstrated. Lin Hai, though far away, caught a good glimpse and turned to Shen Yuqing, saying, "This Ye Wen actually knows such a domineering art. If you fought him, you might not have an easy time!"

Shen Yuqing merely smiled coquettishly without replying, but a flicker of worry crossed her features, and her thoughts raced: This sword qi is unlike ordinary internal energy. If I guide it into my body, it will be self-destruction! Moreover, judging from his earlier display, Ye Wen's sword qi is far more tyrannical and powerful than his junior sister's. I wonder if I can withstand it...

Thinking this, she glanced again at Huayi, musing that the reckless girl had truly brought a major problem onto them.

Jiu Jian Xian, showing keen interest, remarked to his senior brother, "So, the most powerful art of the Shu Mountain Sect is this sword qi. I suspect the sword-riding technique was something this young man stumbled upon by accident! With such potent sword qi, he no longer needs external aids. I misjudged him earlier! Ye Wen’s skills are much greater than I first thought."

Li Xuan remained relatively quiet, though a spark flashed in his eyes as he paid more attention to Ye Wen. Simultaneously, his gaze flickered toward his junior brother, noting the stern expression there, and he suppressed a slight smirk. On the surface, however, he remained impassive; if his eyes weren't open, one might mistake him for a wax figure.

With the stone tablet set up, marking the presence of the Shu Mountain Sect, everyone else took their seats in the designated areas. Only Ye Wen was detained by Master Huixin and True Man Tianyi for conversation and did not take his place, leaving the Sect Master’s seat vacant.

"Sect Master Ye, how do you intend to handle the banner of the Thunder Sword Gate?" True Man Tianyi and Master Huixin exchanged a look before True Man Tianyi decided to address the matter, holding the defeated Thunder Sword Gate banner.

Ye Wen looked slightly confused again, regarding True Man Tianyi strangely.

Seeing this, Master Huixin realized Ye Wen was unaware of the rules governing the martial assembly and explained, "According to the rules here, if a sect is defeated in a challenge where the stakes include seizing the rival's banner, the losing party's banner, representing their sect, belongs entirely to the victor! How it is disposed of is entirely up to the winner!"

Master Huixin pointed to the Thunder Sword Gate banner: "Therefore, this banner now represents the banner of the Thunder Sword Gate and is now held by you, Sect Master Ye! Without your consent, even if someone wished to re-establish the Thunder Sword Gate, they could not!"

Ye Wen blinked, realizing there was such a hidden stipulation. He recalled that when he first transmigrated, he had faced a similar situation, ultimately defeating the Orthodox Fist Gate, which allowed his Shu Mountain Sect to truly continue the legacy of the Mountain Book Sect.

"What do the two seniors think should be done?" After some thought, realizing that these two elders approached him with a specific agenda, Ye Wen skillfully passed the responsibility back to them, seeking their counsel first. After all, these two held high seniority and prestige in the martial world, and showing them proper deference was necessary.

True Man Tianyi stroked his beard: "In this Daoist’s opinion, although the Thunder Sword Gate has committed many wrongs in recent years, it has been a long-standing major sect. Its complete destruction would be a loss to the righteous path of the martial world. Perhaps we should find a successor of the Thunder Sword Gate who possesses both virtue and talent and task him with reviving the sect, thereby preserving its lineage! What does Sect Master Ye think?"

Ye Wen cursed internally: Damn it! The Thunder Sword Gate rose to power by destroying other sects. Why didn't you concern yourselves with preserving their lineage back then?

Fortunately, Master Huixin quickly interjected, "This matter, this poor monk believes, is best entrusted to Sect Master Ye! Firstly, the virtue of Sect Master Ye has been witnessed by this poor monk and many martial colleagues; we are entirely at ease handing it to him! Secondly, the Thunder Sword Gate was defeated by Sect Master Ye, so having them clear this hurdle with you first before any revival is only proper and conforms to martial custom..."

Hearing this, Ye Wen finally understood the old foxes' scheme. However, upon closer consideration, it didn't seem to negatively impact him much. If someone truly wanted to revive the Thunder Sword Gate, they would still have to approach his Shu Mountain Sect. Otherwise, even if they established a new mountain gate, if Shu Mountain publicly declared non-recognition, that sect would lack legitimacy and be scorned by the martial community.

If he agreed to the proposal...

"If the candidate is a righteous gentleman, it would be a favor to grant their request, enhancing his reputation further; if the candidate proves to be a wicked villain, this arrangement provides a way to lure them out and cut the weed by the root!"