Not just curses, but nine Seven Meridian Secret Martial Masters also emerged from those carriages. Two more than Yin Yang had managed to gather intelligence on. Each of them wore a grim expression, staring towards the riverbank. They led dozens of Martial Masters, confronting a group of over a dozen figures dressed as servants, maintaining a standoff from a distance.

The situation on the opposite bank mirrored this tension, taut and ready to snap at any moment.

Zong Shou chuckled inwardly, realizing these merchants felt they had amassed sufficient strength and were preparing to make their move.

In truth, while those servants possessed decent strength, the truly troublesome one was likely the person standing next to the great blade near the waterfall.

This time, they were likely marching toward their own humiliation.

As expected, after a brief flurry of noise, the man beside the massive saber had clearly lost his patience. With a sharp snort, he sent a tremor vibrating through the air across the thousands of feet around them.

The giant saber, without any warning, shot up into the air and plunged directly into the ferry crossing. A mountain-like wave of intent pressed down upon both banks.

Ordinary folk, who only possessed a superficial understanding of martial arts, felt little. But those at the level of Martial Masters experienced tremors running through their bodies. The few Secret Martial Masters saw their faces flush red, then turn ghostly pale in quick succession. Some with weaker foundations even sank to one knee, their eyes wide with panic.

“All of you, scram! I, Old Lei, have traveled across a hundred landmarks and landscapes in the Five Directions Cloud Continent, comprehending the way of the saber. I was just starting to grasp something important today, and you disrupt me! Are you perhaps tired of living?”

His voice sounded like muffled thunder, whipping up rolling waves of sound. The master of the massive saber seemed utterly enraged, yet he forcibly suppressed his temper: “This crossing is forbidden for ten days!”

With another sudden sweep of his sleeve, over a hundred beast crystals were casually tossed out: “I don’t care what losses you suffer; these beast crystals should be enough compensation. In short, you are not permitted to pass until half a month later!”

Those Martial Master coachmen were already silenced, realizing dimly the caliber of the person they had managed to provoke. A person capable of wielding such a colossal steel blade remotely, if they were a Spirit Master, would have certainly surpassed the Night Roaming realm. If they were a Martial Master, then they must be at least at the Heaven Rank.

Hearing this, they felt as if a great pardon had been granted, and they quickly turned to leave. In moments, the hundred-plus carriages began to reverse course. Kicking up clouds of dust, they fled back the way they came.

Zong Shou also received one of the tossed beast crystals. Examining it closely, he saw it was a Grade Two Water Element crystal. His gaze flickered slightly; he conceded the man was generous. A single Grade Two beast crystal was worth ten thousand taels of silver. It could compensate for any loss, no matter how significant.

Looking at the expressions of the merchants, fear mingled with a subtle hint of joy—they had clearly gained considerably.

Zong Shou inwardly praised him, thinking this man wasn't entirely bad. He possessed supreme martial might yet managed to restrain himself, not abusing it.

The slight bad feeling he previously held had vanished entirely. Occupying the ferry crossing and barring passage was certainly overbearing. However, toward those who had verbally abused him, he had not only refrained from retaliation but had offered beast crystals as compensation. Such temperament could never be classified as truly wicked.

Yin Yang also maneuvered the eighteen Cloud-Flipping Steeds and began to turn around. After they had retreated about a hundred zhang, Chu Xue curiously asked, “Young Lord, that man mentioned comprehending the saber intent. Is that similar to the sword intent you and Uncle Yin talk about? Can one truly comprehend it just by observing mountains and water?”

“It’s similar! When the martial path first gains entry, one can perceive Yun (Rhythm/Charm). When Yun reaches its extreme, it can give rise to Shi (Momentum/Force). And the peak of Shi is Yi (Intent). Martial intent can be divided into sword intent, saber intent, fist intent, etc. Fundamentally, they are analogous, but since weaponry, fists, and feet differ in shape and possess distinct characteristics, there are minor variations between them. In short, reaching this stage means one is on the upper echelons of the martial path. This man claims to have traveled hundreds of landscapes; I suppose his martial intent is connected to mountains and water.”

Zong Shou didn't dwell on it, explaining casually, then added with a hint of helplessness, “Our luck is too good; we actually ran into a Heaven Rank expert at this location!”

Chu Xue’s eyes brightened: “But that demoness said the Young Lord has already achieved Spirit Enlightenment in the Way of the Sword, grasping three types of sword intent. This person is still only struggling with saber intent—isn’t he inferior to the Young Master?”

Zong Shou’s heart leaped violently. He instinctively wanted to cover Chu Xue’s mouth. Heaven Rank experts, even when meditating, could perceive sounds within a twenty-li radius. They were still within a thousand zhang of him; he couldn't afford to speak so carelessly!

Regarding the Lingyun Sect, he had used deception to his advantage. Forcing Zhao Yanran back was necessary. Against such a powerful expert at his current stage, it was best to avoid provoking them if possible.

However, before he could act, a surprised exclamation rang out from the riverbank: “Spirit Enlightenment in the Way of the Sword? Young man, please come over for a talk!”

Zong Shou’s brow furrowed, and he sat stiffly atop the carriage, pretending he hadn't heard.

But the next moment, a colossal, overwhelming force reached down to grasp him. Not only was the Cloud-Flipping Carriage immobilized, but Zong Shou himself was swept up. After a dizzying rotation, he found himself standing by the waterfall, directly in front of the master of the giant saber.

“Young Lord!”

Yin Yang cried out, abandoning the carriage and shooting forward like lightning. In a few breaths, he covered the thousand zhang distance. Drawing his saber, a flash of fire forced the servants back violently.

But before he could approach, the ten-foot great saber let out a sharp zheng sound, and another surge of potent intent pressed down.

Yin Yang was thrown back, retreating a full score of zhang before steadying himself. Leaning on his saber, his face turned ashen. Under the pressure of the intent, he struggled desperately just to keep from kneeling.

Zong Shou’s gaze shifted, but he did not try to stop the confrontation. Looking closer at the man before him, he realized the person was actually very young—perhaps in his early twenties. His features were balanced, suggesting he should be quite handsome, but he was unkempt, his beard bristling like steel needles. His build was burly, his eyes sharp, and his aura utterly domineering.

For some inexplicable reason, Zong Shou felt a strange sense of kinship, perhaps due to the ‘Intent’ emanating from the saber.

The master of the giant saber scrutinized Zong Shou in turn, asking in a muffled voice, “Someone said you have achieved Spirit Enlightenment in the Way of the Sword? Which martial arts master from the East Lin Cloud Continent made that claim?”

Zong Shou felt a headache building internally, knowing that these top-tier experts detested being lied to. After a brief pause, he answered directly: “A while ago, I met Zhao Yanran of the Seven Spirits Sect.”

“It was her?”

The master of the giant saber showed slight astonishment, then his expression settled: “That young woman’s skill is still lacking, but her judgment is usually sound. Yet, you, boy, are only thirteen. To say you possess Sword Intent Enlightenment and understand three types of sword intent—is that girl mad? Or are you the disciple of some Spirit Martial Venerable? No, your current cultivation is clearly only at the Martial Master realm, and you possess a Dual Meridian physique—”

Zong Shou smiled without speaking. Whatever this man thought, he resolved not to offend him. But in the next instant, the master of the giant saber suddenly shook his head: “Forget it. If she praised you that highly, then even if the statement was exaggerated, you must possess some aptitude in the martial arts. I, Old Lei, currently require someone to help me critique a thing or two.”

As he spoke, the master of the giant saber suddenly swept his palm out. There was no sound, but a massive boulder thirty zhang away showed two enormous saber marks. He then pointed toward the giant mountain to the east and the waterfall: “What do you think of this mountain and this water? And what about my saber intent?”

Zong Shou had already sighed inwardly countless times, but now he dared not evade the question. Mustering some energy, he observed carefully. Then, he shook his head: “This mountain is a mountain; the mountain is like a clear mirror. This water is water; the water is like a curtain of falls. As for this saber intent, the traces of the chisel are far too numerous—it is not worth mentioning! You clearly know the answer yourself, so why ask me?”

The face of the master of the giant saber immediately turned ashen.