Great Elder Zhou, that was naturally Zhou Zhiruo, as she was the only one among Ye Wen’s disciples with the surname Zhou. Moreover, that Sun Erniang earlier had mentioned that Zhou Zhiruo was still holding down the fort at Mount Shu. Elder Guo, that must be his fifth disciple, Guo Jing. Judging by the tone of this person’s speech, it could be inferred that both these figures are highly revered in the Jianghu (martial world). The last one, Elder Nangong, Ye Wen pondered for a moment before finally inquiring and learning it was Nangong Huang, a disciple of Xu Xian. This lad’s talent was also superb; unfortunately, he lacked the sheer, blind luck of Li Xiaoyao and ultimately failed to shatter the void (Po Sui Xu Kong). However, Ye Wen was puzzled: given Nangong Huang's talent, even without encountering rare heavenly treasures, his current cultivation shouldn't be weak, yet this speaker seemed rather indifferent toward him? "It is rumored that Elder Nangong suffered internal injuries many years ago while avenging a fellow sect brother, which is why his progress in cultivation has stalled!" Ye Wen didn't know how much truth there was to such rumors, but at least he had learned a reason. After asking a few more general questions, Ye Wen gained no further insight.

Waving his hand, Ye Wen executed all these villains one by one. The last person he saw was Sun Erniang, presenting a pitiable appearance and begging for mercy. "Knowing that every action will eventually bring retribution, why did you bother coming?" Sun Erniang retorted, "For years, the Imperial Court has been constantly fighting rebels; how many common folk have been displaced and left starving? Do you think I wanted to pursue this line of work?" Ye Wen remained silent. Although he understood there were underlying causes, he also knew that the evil deeds committed by this group could not be rectified in a mere word or two. With a sweep of his hand, he took Sun Erniang's life and utterly pulverized the small shop into dust, leaving nothing behind in the world. Only then did he summon his sword light and soar toward the northeast.

He now understood he was south of Xizhou, meaning he was in the southwest region of the Nine Provinces (Jiuzhou). To reach the Mount Shu Sect where he originated, he needed to fly diagonally across. Fortunately, he could now fly on his sword, and his speed was incredibly fast. Although the distance between the two places was immense, for the current Ye Wen, it posed no real issue. As he traversed the sky on his sword, a thought suddenly struck him: what did the lands beyond the Nine Provinces actually look like? Curiosity outweighing the immediate need to return to Mount Shu, he flew directly outside the boundaries of the Nine Provinces. After spending a considerable amount of time exploring the regions outside, he finally grasped the complete topography of this world.

It turned out that further to the west of the Nine Provinces was a mountain range stretching straight up into the heavens—at least, impossible for the current mortals to ascend its peak. Of course, this was no obstacle for Ye Wen. He flew directly to the summit and looked down, discovering that beneath the mountain peak lay a vast expanse of seawater. It appeared the continent ended here. Beyond the East Sea, there were numerous islands, but no significant landmasses. After flying for a long while, Ye Wen found a mountain range directly before him that pierced the sky—a—he had circumnavigated the globe. It seemed the world contained within the Nine Tripods (Jiuzhou Ding) was spherical, just like Earth.

The extreme north held massive tracts of land. The territory currently controlled by the Shang Dynasty actually occupied less than half of this land. However, the northern expanse was mostly desolate wasteland, completely uninhabited due to the intense cold. Yet, Ye Wen noticed that rebels from the Demon Sect in earlier years seemed to be developing this region, apparently intending to establish a kingdom there. To the south, there was little more. Shortly after leaving the Shang Dynasty's domain, there was only the sea. This implied that this world contained only this single continent; the rest was seawater and islands; no other continent existed capable of nurturing another civilization. He supposed that since the world within the Nine Tripods was conceived as a reference to the outside, and was created by the ancestors of Huaxia, there were no races like Caucasians or Africans.

With his understanding settled, Ye Wen finally landed his sword light just outside Shushan County. In truth, his wandering these past few days wasn't aimless; he was observing, considering whether it was possible to transform the Nine Tripods into a base for cultivating talent. Setting aside other matters, if he could fully refine the Nine Tripods, it would mean this world belonged to him; wouldn't he then become this world's deity? The evolution of the world would be entirely under his manipulation. He could sculpt a disciple just as one shapes a protagonist in a novel. If this person proved worthy and shattered the void to exit the Tripod, the Mount Shu Sect would gain another source of combat strength. However, this idea was only a rough outline; whether it could succeed would depend on future developments. For now, the priority was to attend to the affairs of the Mount Shu Sect!

Stepping to the foot of Mount Shu, Ye Wen could faintly hear the clear sounds of reading echoing from the Academy. Ever since Mount Shu's annex was converted into an Academy, passersby had shifted from being purely martial artists to a mix of scholars and martial artists, rich and poor alike. Combined with the nearby villages of Scholars and Swordsmen, the area beneath Mount Shu had become increasingly bustling. Ye Wen looked around; the place was rapidly turning into a marketplace. Fortunately, the market's location was well-chosen, slightly deviating from the main path leading up to the Mount Shu Sect, thus leaving the way clear for those intending to pay respects to the sect. He had initially planned to ascend immediately, but now he wanted to look around. He couldn't understand his own behavior; despite being anxious to see everyone, he kept finding excuses to wander. "Could it be nostalgia, or fear of returning home (Jin Xiang Qing Qiao)?"

Shaking his head, Ye Wen moved away from a stall selling crude stationery. Immediately, some poorer scholars took the spot Ye Wen vacated to browse the stall. Ye Wen glanced back and noticed the scholar's attire closely resembled the standard uniform of the Mount Shu Sect, but compared to the practical uniforms favored by disciples for martial practice, this scholar's seemed to be the authentic long gown of a scholar. His gaze caught the attention of someone nearby. The person sized up Ye Wen, seeing his richly woven and refined clothing, and assumed he was the son of a wealthy family: "Brother, have you come to Mount Shu Academy seeking instruction?" Ye Wen paused, turning around to see a young man, about twenty-four or twenty-five, holding a scroll and greeting him with a smile. He was also wearing the long gown of the Mount Shu Academy; apparently, he was a student there. Returning a slight bow, Ye Wen shook his head: "No!" Noticing the man's puzzled expression, as if about to ask more, Ye Wen preempted him: "I am intending to go up Mount Shu..." Upon hearing this, the man's expression changed drastically, losing all his previous geniality. He snorted and turned away, leaving Ye Wen feeling completely bewildered, muttering to himself: "Is the current trend favoring literary pursuits over martial arts? Do these scholars look down on martial artists?" But then he thought that didn't seem right. More importantly, the Mount Shu Academy was property of the Mount Shu Sect itself. Even if they favored literature, it shouldn't amount to this extent, right?

Puzzled, his pace naturally quickened. Luckily, Ye Wen's speed was astonishingly fast; even if someone saw a person appear beside them one second and vanish the next, they would dismiss it as failing eyesight rather than encountering some evil spirit in broad daylight. With Ye Wen's mastery, he could have reached the top of Mount Shu in a few steps, but having been away for so long, he wanted to observe the changes in the surroundings, so he deliberately slowed down, strolling leisurely toward the mountain. Even so, his speed was far greater than most people's. Along the way, however, Ye Wen noticed many people carrying swords and blades rushing towards Mount Shu, including several individuals with fierce expressions who did not look like mere visitors. Seeing this scene, Ye Wen realized something was amiss. He immediately lost the inclination to sightsee and activated his Qinggong (lightness skill), rushing straight for the summit. As he gathered his Qi and hurried, he reached the summit in the blink of an eye, stopping just outside the main gate of the Mount Shu Sect. It wasn't that he didn't want to enter; it was that he was blocked by those many Jianghu figures. These people were all gathered at the main entrance, slowly squeezing inward. The gate was currently jammed solid; unless he intended to scale the wall, entry was impossible. "What happened?" Startled, he unconsciously voiced the question aloud. Unexpectedly, someone beside him answered, looking curiously at Ye Wen: "If this brother doesn't know what's going on here, why have you come?" Ye Wen turned to see a middle-aged man, perhaps in his early thirties, broad-shouldered and powerfully built, carrying a great broadsword on his back, observing Ye Wen with a bewildered expression. "I have some private matters and was planning to visit the Mount Shu Sect!" Although Ye Wen wasn't speaking the absolute truth, he figured if he announced himself as Ye Wen, no one would believe him, and it might even provoke mockery. So, he used an ambiguous phrase to brush past and focus on the more pressing issue: what exactly was happening here? The man grunted an acknowledgment, but his gaze upon Ye Wen became somewhat complicated, making Ye Wen uncomfortable. Finally, he couldn't help but press: "Why are you looking at me like that?" "I don't know what business you have here, Brother?" The man casually cupped his fist: "I am Wu Qi. May I ask your name?" Ye Wen casually replied, "My surname is Ye. Those familiar with me call me Liu Zi (Number Six)..." "..." The man was stunned upon hearing Ye Wen's address. Given Ye Wen's refined attire and bearing, one would not expect such a common, earthy name. If Ye Wen were dressed in simple coarse cloth, such a name would be acceptable, but wearing a magnificent long gown while claiming to be Ye Liu Zi? That was hard to believe. Ye Wen hadn't initially realized the casual name he chose was odd, but as Wu Qi's suspicious gaze kept assessing him, he knew the name he fabricated on the spot was utterly unreliable. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Ye Wen abruptly shifted the topic: "Speaking of which, with so many people blocked here, what is the reason?" Seeing Ye Wen unwilling to elaborate, Wu Qi understood that many people in the martial world preferred not to discuss their affairs with strangers. Still, despite his understanding, he felt this young man was being evasive and not straightforward. His earlier warmth faded as he replied casually, "It's really nothing much. Just that a descendant of the Wang family from Dongzhou was killed by a disciple of the Mount Shu Sect, so the Wang family has broadly invited fellow martial artists here to demand an explanation from Mount Shu! Furthermore, the Mount Shu Sect's conduct has grown increasingly overbearing in recent years, so many people came to watch them squirm." "The Wang family of Dongzhou?" Ye Wen thought hard but couldn't recall any Wang family in Dongzhou; perhaps they were a lineage that rose after he shattered the void. But more concerning than that was the latter part: Mount Shu Sect had become increasingly tyrannical. Of course, he didn't know who was right or wrong in this incident yet, nor could he immediately assume his own disciples were at fault. He needed to investigate thoroughly. After all, as the Mount Shu Sect grew stronger, the principle of "a tall tree catches the wind" was something he understood. "Why was that descendant of the Dongzhou Wang family killed?" Wu Qi didn't pay much mind to the question, only glancing strangely at Ye Wen: "This matter has been widely discussed in the Jianghu; Brother, you don't know?" Ye Wen had no choice but to say, "I have been cultivating on the mountain these past years and only descended recently, so I am unaware!" Having finally fobbed him off with a passable excuse, Ye Wen listened quietly as Wu Qi explained the sequence of events. It turned out the incident was not a major affair initially. A Mount Shu disciple, traveling in Dongzhou, took a liking to a young girl. Pursuing a woman was fine, but a junior member of the Wang family had also taken an interest in the same girl. If that were all, it wouldn't matter; they could compete fairly using whatever means they had, and whoever won the girl’s affection would conclude the matter. However, the Wang family junior uttered a few mocking words, and the Mount Shu disciple returned the taunts. A dispute escalated into a fight, and unfortunately for the Wang family junior, his martial arts were truly subpar; he was run through by the Mount Shu disciple's sword and died instantly. "That's it?" Wu Qi replied, "That's what I heard. But judging by the forces gathered today, it seems it's not that simple!" Ye Wen stood on his toes to peer again. He saw only the backs of people’s heads; the crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder. Although he could see the interior using his divine sense and Glazed Eye (Liuli Tong), he felt deeply displeased—he couldn't even enter the gate of his own sect? Annoyed, he decided to stop caring about formalities. He unleashed his Innate Violet Qi power and pushed directly into the throng. With the powerful Qi swirling around him, ordinary martial artists couldn't withstand it; they were immediately shoved aside upon contact, creating a path where the dense crowd had been. "Ouch! Who is that?" "What are you shoving for? Are we not already stepping on each other?" "Who stepped on—damn it, whose hand is grabbing my—” "..." Ye Wen used his internal power to weave through the crowd. Before people could even clearly see who it was, his figure had vanished, leaving them only to curse and then return to craning their necks to see what spectacle was unfolding. Moments later, Ye Wen, who had forced his way to the front row, retracted his power and stood in the second row, peering forward. Though people were still in front of him, his view wasn't completely obstructed, and those inside wouldn't notice him. Although he had learned the general situation from Wu Qi, Ye Wen still wanted to see the actual proceedings and, more importantly, how his younger generation disciples intended to handle these matters. "Brother, what powerful internal energy!" Just as he stabilized his position, Ye Wen heard Wu Qi’s voice beside him. Turning, he saw the stout man had also squeezed through. After a moment’s thought, Ye Wen understood: as Ye Wen pushed forward, Wu Qi must have reacted quickly and followed closely behind. With Ye Wen clearing the path, Wu Qi managed to get through without much effort. Ye Wen looked around and saw everyone gathered near the main gate. Further in stood a line of Mount Shu disciples, holding weapons and glaring fiercely. It seemed they dared not advance further, perhaps deterred by the strength of the Mount Shu Sect. Seeing this situation, Ye Wen couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. However, he soon saw a woman with snow-white hair, appearing to be in her mid-twenties, emerge from the main hall and stand in direct opposition to the elderly man positioned at the front of the crowd. Then, everyone witnessed a truly bizarre scene: the old man, his beard and hair completely white, bowed slightly upon seeing the woman: "Junior Wang Pengzu pays respects to Elder Zhou!" "Wow! That's Elder Zhou!" "She looks barely twenty!" "Perhaps the Jianghu rumors are true; does the Mount Shu Sect really possess techniques for achieving immortality?" Only Ye Wen sighed deeply while watching Zhou Zhiruo in the center: "When Wuyazi mastered his skills, even past ninety, his hair remained as black as ink; only after passing on his teachings to Xuzhu did it turn completely white! But Zhiruo's cultivation grows stronger with practice; this shouldn't have happened. I wonder what reason caused her hair to turn entirely white..." While he pondered this, Wu Qi beside him exclaimed in admiration, "The cultivation methods of the Mount Shu Sect are truly marvelous!" This praise did little to lift Ye Wen’s spirits. Just then, Wang Pengzu spoke: "This junior has not come today to intentionally cause trouble for your esteemed sect, but if your sect does not provide an explanation for this matter, my entire Wang family, even if annihilated, will not cease to confront your sect!" Upon hearing Wang Pengzu’s declaration, Ye Wen knew the affair was likely more complicated than Wu Qi had described, and he coldly observed the unfolding situation. After waiting for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Ye Wen finally grasped the main points. It turned out the Wang family junior and the young woman had already developed deep affection and had even agreed to tell their families and request their elders to formalize the engagement. Unexpectedly, the Mount Shu disciple intervened at that moment. Initially, the young couple respected the renown of Mount Shu and tried to maintain amicable relations. When the Mount Shu disciple became increasingly aggressive, it provoked the girl's family disciple into a fight, resulting in the loss of his life. Looking at the situation from any angle, the Mount Shu Sect was in the wrong, and the sect’s subsequent lack of response only fueled the impression that Mount Shu relied on its immense power, disregarding right and wrong just to support its disciples. Hearing this, Ye Wen grew angry. While the Mount Shu Sect could be overbearing, they were not unreasonable. He hadn't expected them to become so arrogant fifty years later! Angrily, he mentally berated all those disciples, even including the deceased Yue Ning. To his surprise, his silent scolding was spot on, as he then heard someone nearby say: "The Mount Shu disciple who committed the murder is said to have been the sole favorite of the late Sect Master Yue..."