Zong Shou lay helplessly atop the carriage roof, yet he still exerted himself to maintain the circulation within his body. He vibrated the muscles around him, guiding the Inner Breath Cultivation technique to absorb the power of the scorching sun.

His limbs felt warm, as if he were situated beside a blazing fire. Yet within his spirit, there was only a wave of unease.

Soul power was Yin in nature, highly intolerant of the fierce solar fire. Ironically, at the very beginning of their cultivation, Spirit Masters required accumulating vast quantities of Yin Soul power. This was the inherent conflict with Martial Cultivators, a problem that would only ease upon reaching the Yang Return Realm.

However, practicing martial arts was not without its benefits; a strong physique and robust vital energy could also serve as a foundation for burgeoning soul power.

Under the relentless sun, Zong Shou felt his body growing stronger with every passing moment. It was just a pity that Yin Yang had still failed to break through to the Innate Realm.

Regaining some strength, Zong Shou sighed and sat up, saying, “Uncle Yin, do not fret. While breaking through to the Innate Realm also depends on opportunity, you have already brushed against that membrane. Advancement should occur within half a month. Just settle your mind, no need to force it. Perhaps it will happen tomorrow!”

“Thank you for the guidance, Young Lord!”

Yin Yang, concentrating on driving, turned back with a smile upon hearing this. His face showed no real frustration, only a touch of apology. “I am not that anxious, Young Lord. I only feel somewhat unworthy of you. These past days, you have taken so much time to demonstrate the profound mysteries of the Martial Way for me, yet my aptitude is dull, and I still cannot break through.”

Zong Shou chuckled, knowing his servant had already seen through the pretense. Practicing the Great Sun Brightness Fist on the carriage had been intended as a means to guide both of them. Then, Yin Yang asked curiously, “Young Lord, in your fight against Zhao Yanran seventeen days ago, did you employ Sword Intent?”

“Why do you ask?” Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, then gave a self-deprecating smile. “To deploy Sword Intent, one requires at least the Martial Ancestor Realm. How could I possibly qualify now? Merely grasping the resonance of swordsmanship would be satisfactory.”

“That is incorrect!”

Yin Yang shook his head, his expression grave, his eyes full of disbelief. “Since that day, I have reflected daily on your swordsmanship, Young Lord. The more I ponder, the more profound and unfathomable it seems, impossible to grasp its depths. I feel your martial accomplishments now surpass mine by several times. Especially that final strike—in my memory, I have absolutely no impression of it. Or perhaps, I simply could not retain the memory—”

Hearing this, Chu Xue also widened her eyes abruptly. Recalling carefully, indeed, that final sword stroke that repelled Zhao Yanran held no trace in her mind, despite having witnessed it clearly just over ten days prior.

“When that demoness departed, she mentioned that Your Highness had achieved Sword Dao Spiritual Attunement and asked if you understood Sword Intent. This surely was not without reason. At that time, even if you hadn't fully unleashed your Sword Intent, you must have been remarkably close!”

Zong Shou smiled without answering, musing internally: what good was profound martial intuition? Given his current state, even Zhao Yanran, without deploying her Innate True Qi, could only claim a narrow victory.

However, the fact that Yin Yang could perceive these subtleties suggested that the time for him to break through to the Innate Realm was indeed approaching.

Just as he prepared to offer a few more pointers, Zong Shou’s brow furrowed again, and he looked ahead.

“What are they doing over there?”

Without Zong Shou needing to prompt them, Yin Yang and Su Chuxue had already noticed the abnormality ahead.

About a thousand zhang away, there was clearly a surging, vast river. At a point where the elevation dropped, a massive, silver waterfall plunged over three hundred zhang, churning up a thunderous roar.

The banks on both sides were densely forested, with trees soaring up to forty zhang high. Only this central passage allowed for the passage of carriages and pedestrians.

But at this moment, that road was already jammed with over a hundred carriages of various types. The occupants, all wearing anxious expressions, stared toward the riverbank.

Zong Shou felt a flicker of curiosity, stood up, and then tiptoed, craning his neck to look far ahead. Vaguely silhouetted, he saw a single figure sitting right in the middle of the waterfall.

His expression was indistinct, but judging by his movements, he seemed to be sighing mournfully.

This person seemed unremarkable, yet none of the carriages by the river dared to proceed, halted at the crossing point. Zong Shou’s own expression tightened slightly. His gaze shifted to a massive, black steel blade beside the figure.

It was shaped like a blade, but perhaps describing it as a huge slab of steel would be more accurate. It was about ten zhang long, driven into the ground, inscribed with dragon patterns. Just looking at it projected an immense sense of pressure.

Besides this man and his blade, there were a dozen burly servants standing at the intersection, blocking all the carriages at the ferry point.

“This blade… why does it feel somewhat familiar!”

Zong Shou fell into recollection. What felt familiar was not the blade itself, but the 'Intent' and spirituality infused within it—the essence poured and nurtured by its owner day and night.

Over there, Yin Yang had already leaped out, traversing the ground swiftly. In barely a dozen steps, he reached the front. He casually found someone and inquired about the situation. A moment later, he returned with a face ashen.

“Young Lord, I heard the person ahead is meditating on martial arts. He wishes to behold this place’s Bright Mirror Mountain and the Descending Cloud Waterfall. He deems pedestrians disturbing, ruining the artistic conception here, so he forbids all passage! They say this person has been sitting there, unmoving, for seven or eight days.”

“Meditating on martial arts?”

Zong Shou frowned, glancing toward the east. A giant mountain soared there, not only shaped like a mirror but also polished smooth on the side facing them, appearing capable of reflecting a person. This was indeed a place of famous scenery and spiritual vitality, so it was somewhat understandable for a martial cultivator to choose it for insight.

“Why aren't any of these carriages gathered here protesting?”

While this was not the absolute only path to Cloud Saint City, it was the nearest and most convenient route. The Great Plain River spanned three thousand li, and even at its source, it was five hundred zhang wide. Most sections were swift, and only where the Descending Cloud Waterfall fell did the current briefly ease.

Yin Yang’s expression darkened further. “Several merchant caravans here have hired Martial Masters for protection, including seven cultivators of the Secret Martial Realm. They all tried to drive him away, but were all repulsed. I observed that man closely, Young Lord; I cannot gauge his depth—”

Zong Shou gave a dry laugh. Judging solely by the intent coalesced upon that massive blade, that person was definitely beyond the capabilities of a mere Martial Master.

Even Zhao Yanran from that day was far from being a match. And the Day Roamer Realm expert, Ling Yunlong, was similarly unqualified.

“Just someone who relies on brute force to oppress people!” Chu Xue snorted coldly, indignant at the injustice. “This man is too reckless! Where else could he choose to meditate but here, blocking everyone’s road?”

The Cloud Turning Carriage could fly ten zhang high, counting as all-terrain equipment, so finding a place to cross the river was not strictly necessary. However, changing routes would still cost them time.

Those other carriages were in a far worse predicament; unable to cross here, they would have to detour for ten days. And this was a desolate wilderness; lingering too long could attract beast swarms.

Zong Shou himself didn't worry overly about beast swarms; with that person present, even the smarter spirit beasts would steer clear.

But he could not afford to waste time now. After a moment of deep thought, he shook his head. “Let’s detour! Others cannot do anything about this person.”

Yin Yang nodded silently. This matter was not their concern; at worst, it meant an extra half-day’s travel. Just as he was about to turn the carriage, a sudden commotion erupted ahead. The coachmen and Martial Masters were growing agitated, some of the bolder ones starting to shout curses.

“Hey, fellow! Do you realize how much business we lose by being delayed here for a single day?”

“Fellow, be sensible and scram! If you want to meditate on the Martial Way, go somewhere else! Don't block the path here, damn it!”