"Many thanks for the teaching, Master." Ye Xiu didn't forget the proper etiquette, a confident smile playing on his lips. "But Master, my injuries have healed now. Shouldn't I try my hand at swordsmanship among the Four Sects?"

"Alas, I know you've always envied Chen Feng's swordplay." Mentioning swordsmanship made Wang Long sigh again. "Your master has absolutely no research into the blade. To put it plainly, in the entire Ghost Valley right now, besides Chen Feng, no one understands the true way of thrusting swords. I am ashamed."

Ye Xiu frowned, starting to consider some less than optimistic possibilities, wondering whether he ought to bring them up to Wang Long.

"I am also aware of this variable in fate," Wang Long said, hands clasped behind his back with a meaningful look. "Since Feng'er last struck you, the malevolent energy within him has been entirely released. He is an arrogant man. I suspect he may leave Ghost Valley. Put another way, if everything does not go his way, once he yields, it will surely bring disaster upon all of Ghost Valley, perhaps even the entire world."

"It's a pity my skills are insufficient, I couldn't possibly match Senior Brother Chen, otherwise, I might have been able to curb him." Ye Xiu suddenly felt utterly useless. Now, it seemed, let alone finding his sister, he couldn't even protect the person right in front of him.

"Then the time is ripe. Let us hasten to the Four Heavens Tower." Wang Long abruptly dismissed his previous sorrowful expression and strode directly into the main hall.

"Master, where are we going? Where is that place?" Ye Xiu exclaimed, astonished.

"The Ghost Sense Stone Gate, the Four Heavens Tower."

Ye Xiu said no more, merely following Wang Long behind him. This time, he no longer possessed the previous impish air. What he understood was a mission, a mission more intense than any before. There were many people he needed to protect, but the most important thing was to strengthen himself.

The Ghost Sense Stone Gate was not as terrifying as imagined; the entire location lay just behind the Asura Courtyard of Ghost Valley. However, as soon as he entered the first valley entrance stone gate, Ye Xiu knew: this was the 'Endless Sword Rain Array.'

Wang Long gave Ye Xiu a meaningful glance, clearly signaling him to proceed and break the formation.

The sword rain was another deadly element within the array. At every critical juncture, streaks of sword light would lash out. If one stepped on the wrong spot, there was no possibility of evasion.

Without another word, Ye Xiu took a deep breath and swiftly stepped onto the stones, planting his foot upon the formation's threshold. With a sudden whoosh, the stone gate opened a crack. He stood firm and called out, "Master, please."

"Hmm, finding the gate in an instant, truly remarkable." Wang Long stroked his beard, walking through smoothly. He was exceedingly pleased with his disciple.

The second gate's threshold was a torrent of fiery crimson. The surrounding grottoes were filled with trickling streams, yet the flow was bizarre, winding upwards in an unsettling manner.

"This isn't water, is it?" Just by inhaling the air, Ye Xiu knew this was not water, but oil. He hadn't expected the oil within Ghost Valley could appear so translucent.

"This is the Red Fire Array."

"The Red Fire Array? Let me try!" Ye Xiu clearly held no regard for this formation. The so-called Red Fire Array consisted of seven overlapping veils, each with its own exquisite mechanism, layered one upon another, merging thunder and fire, making it incredibly potent.

One must never attempt to force their way through this array. Ye Xiu produced several talisman papers; these, of course, were not for praying to gods or Buddhas. These sheets were naturally formed after squeezing dry the leaves of the Lin Zi tree and had the property of absorbing oil. Once the oil was drawn out, it served no purpose, and the roaring flames would consequently vanish.

"Indeed, calm and composed, well done!" Wang Long knew Ye Xiu's command of esoteric arts was precise, but he hadn't realized his understanding of nature had reached such a profound level.

"Thank you, Master." Ye Xiu executed a slight bow, believing this core array posed no real difficulty for a modern mind—it was merely a matter of physics.

The master and disciple continued past the rock piles. After walking a short distance, Wang Long stopped, addressing the murky air ahead. "Ye Xiu, we have arrived. This is the Four Heavens Tower."

"Here? I imagined that place would be especially eerie." Ye Xiu found it unbelievable; there was clearly nothing before his eyes. "Where is the tower?"

"Clouds obscure the sun; this is the secret of the array." Wang Long presented Ye Xiu with another test, indicating this one was out of the ordinary.

Ye Xiu walked to the edge of the cliff formed by the stone piles. The wind at the precipice was fierce, and sharp stones flew about, capable of easily wounding a person.

Wang Long watched everything from behind, keen to see how Ye Xiu would cope.

Ye Xiu didn't hesitate. He immediately brought forth the Azure Phoenix talisman from his chest. The Azure Phoenix could reflect the brilliance of the sun. As the light struck, it swept across the entrance, instantly dispelling the dark, cloudy atmosphere that had prevailed moments before.

A majestic four-cornered pavilion appeared before them—this was the Four Heavens Tower, the repository of all Ghost Valley's mysteries.

Calling the Four Heavens Tower a 'tower' was an overstatement. In reality, this four-cornered structure was only one level; calling it an altar would be more fitting. The place exuded a grim, terrifying atmosphere, resembling a sacred ground of the dead.

Wang Long walked ahead and pushed open the sluice gate. A wave of chilling air rushed out, carrying a dense odor that was almost unbearable.

"Whoa! What is this?" Ye Xiu, having never witnessed such a scene, jumped back in fright.

Wang Long glanced back at Ye Xiu, then slowly proceeded to the center of the room. At that very instant, all the lights within the structure flared to life, and a screen, exceptionally tall and imposing, rose up to stand between the two men.

"This thing..." Ye Xiu was stunned by the bizarre aura. There was nothing remarkable on the screen itself, only spirit tablets.

"Wang Long pays respects to the ancestors of Ghost Valley!" Before Ye Xiu could react, Wang Long shouted and knelt deeply before the memorial plaques.

After completing the formal rites, Wang Long slowly stood up and spoke, "All who have passed through here are the successive Masters of Ghost Valley. Therefore, I formally bring you in today, hoping you will not tarnish the revered name of our ancestors."

"How can I possibly bear this?" Ye Xiu had intended to decline, but seeing the resolute look in Wang Long's eyes, he found he had no choice.

Wang Long nodded with absolute certainty, then produced a token from his sleeve. "This is the Ghost Valley Kill token, a type of pass within Ghost Valley. To see the Ghost Valley Kill is to see the Master! You must preserve it well."

"Yes, Master, your disciple understands." Ye Xiu raised both hands to accept the Ghost Valley Kill. It was an exceedingly strange token; though called a token, it was merely an object resembling a feather. It looked light, but felt incredibly heavy in his grasp.

Wang Long then closed his eyes and continued, "In these chaotic times, the various sects and schools are restless, vying for supremacy. The Mohists favor aiding in defense; the Legalists prefer capturing cities. My Ghost Valley, however, specializes in assassination. Our strength lies in concealment, followed by strategic attack!"

"I understand," Ye Xiu nodded, committing every word to memory.

"Hoo... hoo..." At this moment, strange gusts of wind arose from all around, sounding like someone sighing, and the spirit tablets began to rustle.

"Hmm, the time has come," Wang Long gently brushed his sleeve, calmly telling Ye Xiu, "The Four Gate Lords of the southeast, northwest, etc., have descended. Go now; everything depends on your own destiny."

Ye Xiu drew a deep breath. Four large gates had now appeared in the four cardinal directions of the room, each bearing a distinct design: one was engraved with the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams; one held a depiction of a weeping short sword; one displayed a heart; and the last was merely a circle. These were perhaps the Four Ultimate Arts of Ghost Valley, coveted by all.

"Your Master has already succeeded in obtaining and fully conveying the essentials of Esoteric Arts and Heart Technique to you. Now only Swordsmanship and Soul Severing remain." At this point, Wang Long seemed to carry a hint of regret, for only two of the Four Ultimates had been learned. "Go, Ye Xiu. Your Master will wait for you here. Remember! You are the vessel carrying the variable of Ghost Valley. Be cautious in all matters."

"Yes, I am going in now!" Ye Xiu didn't dwell on other thoughts, heading directly for the Gate of Swordsmanship. Swordsmanship was what he desired most, as he had suffered a loss in that area, he was determined to reclaim it there.

Within the Asura Courtyard of Ghost Valley, night had fallen, the dim moonlight casting an exceptionally mysterious pall over everything.

Wan'er had been deeply troubled lately, dismayed that Chen Feng's affair had caused a rift between the two sisters.

In her helplessness, such a night called only for the guqin in the Lakeside Hermitage to express her sorrow. Yet, Ye Xiu was gone now too, and his song, 'The Moon Represents My Heart,' was likely gone as well.

"Wan'er, you really came," Chen Feng's voice carried an aggressive edge. He held a wine bottle, clearly intoxicated. "Don't you think we share a spiritual connection?"

Wan'er ignored the man she once respected, walking alone, intending to play a tune by the lake.

"Wan'er, why won't you even speak to me now?" Chen Feng was indeed drunk, staggering onto the pavilion and leaning close to her. "Do you think I don't know? You're thinking about that bastard again. What is so good about that fellow that everyone sides with him!"

"Senior Brother, you are drunk. I don't wish to see you." Wan'er did not want to exchange many words with Chen Feng; she particularly detested men when intoxicated. "Senior Brother, I'm going back to rest now."

"Don't go..." Before Wan'er could take a step, Chen Feng reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into his embrace. "Wan'er, don't leave. You must believe me; only I can give you happiness."

"Senior Brother, if you keep this up, I'll scream!" Wan'er struggled to break free from Chen Feng, but it was impossible. The man possessed immense strength, presenting no problem for a young girl.

"Can't you just love me? I don't believe it." Chen Feng descended into another round of hysteria, behaving utterly like a madman.

"Slap..." With another sharp sound, Wan'er slapped Chen Feng once more, attempting to shock him awake. "Wake up!"

"Hahahaha..." Chen Feng threw Wan'er away, his eyes wide and his face horribly distorted. "You really are siding with him. You hit me for his sake, fine!"

Wan'er dared not move. The man before her was no longer the refined, gentle Senior Brother of the past. She felt a surge of fear. "What are you going to do..."