Nine Sword Immortal pointed at his own Black Iron Greatsword: “This dark iron possesses magnetic properties. Once forged into a greatsword, infusing it with inner force only strengthens that magnetism. If you understand the nature of this metal, the magnetic pull can be as strong or as weak as you command!”

Ye Wen already knew all this, recalling a certain novel where the protagonist owned such a divine weapon. Moreover, he knew this Black Iron Sword was the bane of all hidden projectiles; holding it meant fearing no sneak attack from projectiles.

Nine Sword Immortal seemed to have no intention of hiding anything, continuing his explanation: “These few longswords and short blades on my person have been with me for years. I am intimately familiar with their characteristics, so by leveraging the magnetic force of the Black Iron, I can manipulate them at will!”

Listening to this explanation, Ye Wen began to grasp the essence of the Nine Sword Immortal’s sword control technique. When the Immortal hurled a sword after imbuing it with Zhenqi, it was similar to the theory behind using hidden weapons—just on a much larger scale. The way the detached flying swords could execute turns in mid-air was entirely due to the shifting magnetic field of that Black Iron Greatsword.

However, with this sword control method, the Zhenqi clinging to the longswords was difficult to sustain. After a few uses, they had to be recalled to have Zhenqi reapplied; otherwise, they lacked significant killing power. This was certainly a flaw.

In theory, the concept was simple enough to grasp, but execution was far from easy. The Nine Sword Immortal had spent decades exploring and grasping the exact properties of his weapons to achieve such effortless control. If anyone else obtained this Black Iron Greatsword, they still wouldn't be able to wield this ultimate art.

Ye Wen surmised that the Nine Sword Immortal shared this secret precisely because he had this foundation as assurance. Furthermore, given the cultivation level of the Nine Sword Immortal, he wasn't afraid of anyone attempting to forcefully seize his Black Iron Greatsword—who would dare try to rob the foremost expert in the martial world?

Subsequently, the old man and the youth discussed the profound subtleties of the Black Iron further, elucidating every aspect of his unique arsenal. Only then did the Nine Sword Immortal ask, “Sect Leader Ye must now know what you wished to learn. I wonder if you would grant this old man a request?”

Ye Wen knew this was coming. If the Nine Sword Immortal hadn't needed a favor, why would he seek him out? Why bestow his most vital weapon upon him?

Never mind that the Nine Sword Immortal was famed for controlling nine longswords; the entire foundation rested upon that Black Iron Greatsword. If the greatsword were gone, the other eight longswords would be nothing more than ordinary blades. While someone of the Nine Sword Immortal’s prowess could still make ordinary swords devastating, being unable to execute his signature technique was undeniably problematic.

Had the Nine Sword Immortal not been on the verge of shattering the void, he likely would not have made such a decision.

He looked at Ye Wen, this young man of barely twenty-eight summers who already possessed considerable cultivation. After today’s spar, his resolve had only strengthened. He then voiced his request: “I have lived a solitary life—no wife, no children, not even a single apprentice. I should have no lingering attachments. However, I grew up learning martial arts in the Jade Cave Sect, and I still hold some affection for my (shīmén - sect).”

“Now, as I approach the shattering of the void, whether I succeed or fail, I will no longer exist in this world. And my senior brother is growing older and cannot guard the sect for many more years. Regrettably, there is no outstanding talent among the next generation of disciples, and I fear our sect’s lineage will be severed after my senior brother and I are gone.”

Hearing this, Ye Wen already had an idea and couldn't help but ask, "Senior Hu wishes for this junior to preserve the lineage of your esteemed sect?"

The Nine Sword Immortal smiled: “I only hope that if someone attempts to destroy my sect through force, Sect Leader Ye might intervene to preserve a sliver of life for the Jade Cave Sect, preventing the entire lineage from being wiped out! If our disciples prove too lackluster and cut off the heritage themselves, then that is simply our sect’s destiny; there is no need to force the issue!”

Ye Wen nodded, understanding the Nine Sword Immortal’s meaning.

The request was not excessive. Even in the event of annihilation, he only asked Ye Wen to save one or two, ensuring they weren't killed by others; if the disciples were unworthy, he needn't bother. In the former scenario, given Ye Wen’s current cultivation and reputation, unless Li Xuan of the Heavenly Mountain Sect was absolutely determined to utterly destroy the Jade Cave Sect, Ye Wen was confident he could protect them. Moreover, in a few more years, as his cultivation improved, even if Li Xuan made a move, he might not be able to fend him off.

As for other experts, they would likely grant him some face.

Thinking of this, Ye Wen suddenly inquired: “Speaking of which… the martial world currently respects you as the foremost expert. I wonder who ranks second…?”

In his memory, the Zen Sect's Master Huixin, the Celestial Dao Sect's True Man Tianyi, and Li Xuan of the Heavenly Mountain Sect were all figures whose martial arts were unfathomably deep. He wondered who was slightly stronger than the others?

Yet, deep down, he instinctively felt that Li Xuan was the most dangerous. Perhaps it was because this man was inherently arrogant and seemed to know nothing of restraint; even standing there, his brilliance was fully exposed, making him impossible to ignore.

The other two esteemed seniors, however, were as calm as water in an ancient well—still and waveless, making it impossible to gauge their depth.

Perhaps surprised by Ye Wen’s sudden question, the Nine Sword Immortal paused, then laughed: “The hierarchy among practitioners in the martial world—how easily can one truly delineate it? Moreover, most people only hear of others by reputation, and might never meet them in their lifetime, let alone spar if they did meet!”

“Besides, unless it’s a fight to the death, even if a difference in skill is established, it cannot be taken as absolute truth, unless the disparity in cultivation is vast... But if the difference were that large, they wouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath!”

At this point, the Nine Sword Immortal seemed to recall something, and his floodgates opened. With a nostalgic air, he smiled and said, “Speaking of the insistence on ranking people, I recall an incident from fifty years ago!”

“Oh? What was that?” Since the serious matters between the Nine Sword Immortal and Ye Wen were concluded, discussing other things was fine. Since the senior possessed such inclination, Ye Wen certainly didn't mind exchanging a few more words. Furthermore, when the Nine Sword Immortal had the upper hand in their spar today but proposed stopping, he had implicitly helped Ye Wen boost his prestige. Having accepted such a great courtesy, what was a little conversation in return?

“Fifty years ago, a singular marvel appeared in the martial world. This person not only created the 'Top Ten Martial Arts Experts Ranking' but also proceeded to compile the ‘Top Ten Wealth Rankings for Martial Sects,’ the ‘Top Ten Individual Wealth Rankings,’ the ‘Top Ten Martial Beauties,’ the ‘Top Ten Marvelous Skills,’ and a host of other miscellaneous lists. He introduced himself as Bai Xiaosheng, meaning ‘One Who Knows All Things Under Heaven’—there was nothing you didn't want to know that he didn't know!”

Ye Wen was astonished that such a character actually existed in this world, and had indeed created numerous rankings. He muttered inwardly, 'Aiya, such a fundamentally bored person truly exists. I wonder how this fellow is doing nowadays?' Based on the novels he'd read before arriving in this world, such figures were usually immensely formidable and revered, and rarely seen—unless you were the protagonist, who could meet them whenever they pleased, and who would patiently answer any query the protagonist had.

Curiously, he wondered if he should seek this person out to ask about various matters, but the Nine Sword Immortal’s immediate reply stunned him.

“This person was pursued by the entire martial world and eventually died at the hands of an expert!”

“What?” Ye Wen was greatly shocked. He hadn't expected such a ‘legendary, formidable figure’ to die so easily. “Why did he incur such a chase? Could it be…”

He was about to suggest that Bai Xiaosheng must have done something universally detestable, perhaps defiling the Ten Great Beauties one by one. But the Nine Sword Immortal misunderstood his thought and laughed: “Indeed. Those various lists he created incurred the public wrath of the martial arts community. Consequently, practitioners from both the orthodox and unorthodox paths hunted him on sight.”

The Nine Sword Immortal stroked his beard: “I was young and impetuous back then!” Ye Wen internally grumbled: You were already decades old then, how were you still young and impetuous? “Seeing that he had dared to exclude me from the Top Ten Experts List, I decided to have a serious talk with him. I chased him for half a year! You know, the fellow’s skill wasn't bad; I pursued him for six months but couldn't catch him. In the end, he was killed by a lightness skill master who also wasn't on any list!”

Saying this, the Nine Sword Immortal suddenly remembered something: “Ah, yes—I think Sect Leader Ye must have heard of that person; it was Ling Xuzi!”

“Hmm? Ling Xuzi?”

The Nine Sword Immortal stroked his beard: “Back at the Martial Arts Convention, I noticed that your junior brother's martial arts carried the shadow of that brat Ling Xuzi. I wonder how that fellow is doing now?”

Ye Wen then realized that Xu Xian’s style couldn't be completely concealed from the eyes of these experts. Even though his techniques blended many disparate elements, the shadow of Ling Xuzi’s lightness skill was faint, but those familiar with Ling Xuzi's ways could still spot the resemblance.

“If that’s the case, then the expert who killed Ling Xuzi could also be recognized?” He then recalled how Li Xuan of the Heavenly Mountain Sect seemed very attentive towards him at the Martial Arts Convention, thinking: Could it really have been Li Xuan who made the move?

However, since the matter had nothing to do with the Nine Sword Immortal, Ye Wen didn't elaborate, merely stating that Ling Xuzi had passed away and was buried within his own sect.

The Nine Sword Immortal sighed upon hearing this: “The number of people I knew in the martial world grows smaller and smaller…”

He then continued on the subject of Bai Xiaosheng: “In truth, Bai Xiaosheng brought the trouble upon himself. Martial artists in this world train primarily for competition; even a slight disrespect in words can lead to a fight to the death. Ordinarily, if two experts are far apart in reputation but similar in prestige, they might admire each other from afar and desire association. But when Bai Xiaosheng issued that experts list, he directly ranked people who had no prior feud, naturally causing dissatisfaction among those ranked lower.”

“Furthermore, his actions clearly had the suspicion of provoking conflict among others. The Zen Sect and the Celestial Dao Sect maintained silence at the time and said nothing, yet Bai Xiaosheng expected someone from the Celestial Dao Sect or the Zen Sect to say a good word for him. To end up in such a state, hunted to death, is hardly surprising…”

At this point, the Nine Sword Immortal sneered: “What's more, this man itemized the assets of those two sects, explicitly stating that a significant portion were imperial awards from the previous dynasty! Everyone knew these things in their hearts, but for him to bring them up and make them known to the world—that was asking for trouble!”

Ye Wen secretly wiped the cold sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, thinking: Aiya, no wonder I haven't seen any rankings since I arrived here. It turns out these lists are simply disasters; nobody dares provoke them! That Bai Xiaosheng was truly tragic. I estimate he wanted to use this to gain fame in the martial world and establish a transcendent status, but instead, he stirred up a hornet’s nest and died miserably.

The Nine Sword Immortal then recounted some amusing anecdotes from those years, such as how two experts who were both hunting Bai Xiaosheng met, exchanged greetings, and realized they were ranked consecutively on the list. If they had remained polite, it would have been fine; but if one showed even a hint of disdain, another great battle would inevitably erupt.

Fortunately, at that time, famous experts were scattered everywhere. If a passionate individual encountered another, they might mediate, so although that period was chaotic, no major disasters occurred. However, as these incidents multiplied, the accusation that Bai Xiaosheng intended to incite martial world disputes became more solidified. This led even the major sects that had been watching from the sidelines to take action, intending to eliminate this public enemy.

In the end, Ling Xuzi killed Bai Xiaosheng and thus gained renown throughout the martial world. It was precisely because he killed the elusive Bai Xiaosheng that his title as the foremost lightness skill master in the martial world was cemented.

“As for my current supposed position as the foremost expert in the martial world, it is merely because my peers respect my seniority!”

Given the Nine Sword Immortal’s age, no one in the martial world would fail to address him as 'Senior.' According to the custom of respecting elders, no one dared overlook him. Coupled with the Nine Sword Immortal’s genuine formidable strength, no one dared voice an objection.

But apart from the Nine Sword Immortal, the other experts were all close in age and seniority. If one insisted on establishing a strict order, it would immediately spark a dispute.

“Li Xuan of the Heavenly Mountain Sect, Master Huixin of the Zen Sect, True Man Tianyi of the Celestial Dao Sect, Nangong Wentian of the Nangong Family, Ximen Cuixue of the Ximen Family—these are the most renowned top experts in the current martial world!” He then glanced at Ye Wen: “Sect Leader Ye is still slightly lacking now. If you can advance a bit further, you can stand alongside these individuals!”

When Ye Wen heard these names, he knew exactly who the top experts in the current Jianghu were. He had heard of some, but others were entirely new to him. He thought: This martial world truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers!

Unexpectedly, the Nine Sword Immortal followed up with: “These are only the ones frequently seen moving about, hence their familiarity. There are many others who practice in seclusion; though their names are unknown, their skill is by no means inferior… When Bai Xiaosheng first created that experts list, it prompted many reclusive cultivators to emerge…”

Ye Wen silently commented: I imagine you were one of them!

The Nine Sword Immortal’s expression grew more self-satisfied as he spoke, further confirming Ye Wen’s suspicion. He even stroked his beard and narrowed his eyes, his posture clearly conveying: Your guess is right, you're quite sharp!

After some more idle chatter, the Nine Sword Immortal glanced at the sky outside and said, “It is getting late; I must return to my sect to bid farewell to my senior brother, so I will not trouble you further. In the future... I suppose there will be no future!” With that, he said no more about seeing each other again, merely waving a hand. He stepped forward and vanished without a trace. Ye Wen hadn't even managed to utter a couple of farewell words before the eminent senior was gone.

If the greatsword hadn't remained silently resting there, Ye Wen might have believed that everything that happened today was merely a dream.

Ning Ruxue, who had been sitting aside without interrupting, finally spoke when the Nine Sword Immortal departed: “Senior Brother, how do you plan to deal with this divine weapon?”

She walked over and lifted the Black Iron Greatsword, finding its weight far exceeded her imagination. Although her skill allowed her to lift it, wielding it freely would require a long period of adjustment.

Ye Wen looked at the Black Iron Greatsword and said, “Jing’er’s skill deepens daily; his old heavy sword is becoming unsuitable. I shall give this Black Iron Sword to him.”

He then stroked the sword’s dull, unsharpened blade: “Senior Hu likely had this in mind as well, but felt it improper to give his treasured item directly to another's apprentice, so he wished to pass it to Jing’er through me! Moreover, Senior Hu must have long seen that while my martial arts style bears some resemblance to greatsword techniques, I am not the most suitable user. Only Jing’er can unleash the full potential of this Black Iron Sword.”

Ning Ruxue nodded and did not pursue the matter further, instead changing the subject: “In a few days, we must depart. The Zen Sect sent an invitation to our Shu Mountain Sect, specifically reserving a seat for our sect. We shouldn't arrive too late.”

Ye Wen nodded: “I am aware of this. I also asked my junior brother to send a letter to Muyan, telling him that after this martial arts convention concludes, we will stop by the capital to see him! As for my junior brother, he will wait for us at the lodging arranged by the Zen Sect!”

Only then did Ning Ruxue realize why Huang Rongrong and Xu Xian hadn't been seen these past few days—they had gone ahead to arrange matters. She smiled: “So Senior Brother has already made arrangements!”

Ye Wen looked around, ensuring no one else was present, and drew Ning Ruxue into his embrace, patting her back: “At this convention, I plan to seek counsel from several seniors to break through that bottleneck soon. If I cannot succeed, I will try until the end of the year. After the New Year, whether I succeed or fail, we will marry then!” Especially True Man Tianyi; since they both practiced Daoist arts, his guidance should be helpful, shouldn't it? He had wanted to ask the Nine Sword Immortal, but the Immortal clearly knew he was stuck yet offered no guidance. Ye Wen understood he was unwilling to assist in that regard, so he didn't press.

Ning Ruxue leaned entirely into Ye Wen’s embrace, feeling a touch of worry upon hearing her Senior Brother speak this way. Although she had always hoped he would achieve the innate Purple Qi soon so they could marry, she felt she would be letting him down if her waiting delayed his cultivation for a lifetime. She said, “Senior Brother, there’s no need to rush!”

“I’m afraid Senior Brother is worried you’ll grow tired of waiting!” He then whispered conspiratorially: “Besides, Senior Brother is eager to see Junior Sister wear those few pieces of undergarments!”

At these words, Ning Ruxue blushed fiercely, recalling the few scraps of cloth Ye Wen had secretly sent her via Huayi last year. Those items were small and thin, worn directly against the skin. While comfortable, they were too scandalous to be worn for others to see—they were more intimate than mere underclothes, serving as private necessities. Had the two not grown so close over the years, she truly wouldn’t have tolerated Ye Wen speaking to her like that.

When Huayi had delivered the items, she had also wondered why her Senior Brother would create such things. Fortunately, Ye Wen was quick-witted enough to say directly: “There wasn't much Celestial Silkworm Thread left, so I could only make these two small items as a means to protect vital areas!” This was just enough to placate Ning Ruxue.

He gently kissed his junior sister’s lips. Watching her retreat to her room, Ye Wen immediately called out loudly: “Huayi! Quickly bring a cup of cool tea!”