"You good-for-nothing wretch!"

Shen Huai laughed and cursed upon hearing this: "If it weren't for Zong Shou, would the few of us be waiting here for you? Your temperament is truly bizarre; are you that obsessed with wealth? You’ve been elusive for an entire year, your whereabouts unknown. If not for the matter of the Nine Yin Nether Maiden, I fear you wouldn't have returned to the sect mountain at all. It's just that we worried you might disappear again after this Dragon Gathering Mountain affair, which is why my senior brother and I waited here for you."

"Heh heh! It's not that Buhui doesn't want to return to the sect. It's just that the entire sect is filled with fellow disciples whose brains have gone stiff and rotted from excessive reading. If I go back once, I’ll be lectured endless times—wouldn't that be self-inflicted suffering?"

Jin Buhui chuckled, then his expression grew serious, and he boldly walked over to sit before Xuan Taiji.

"Senior Brother, please speak. What is it you seek me for? Is it related to Zong Shou? Why do you all hold this person in such high regard?"

Su Chen stood nearby, smiling but silent. Xuan Taiji sighed with annoyance: "You wretched boy, why feign ignorance when you already know? Zong Shou, with his peerless swordsmanship alone, is enough to shake the Cloud Realm. Even if his cultivation isn't fully realized now, he is certain to dominate the Cloud Realm in the future. He is the foremost talent unseen in a thousand years. Moreover, beyond his innate talent in the Way of the Sword, this person is the lord of a city controlling a vast territory spanning ten thousand li. How could he not attract attention?"

Jin Buhui raised an eyebrow, then shook his head: "So what if he is the lord of a city? His Spirit Master cultivation has already reached the Reversion Realm. It’s estimated he won't need much time before he can roam the world during the day. And in this Cloud Realm, spiritual masters who surpass the Seventh Order can no longer linger in the mortal world—"

Xuan Taiji and Shen Huai exchanged glances, the latter letting out a faint laugh: "Buhui, I didn't expect you to be defending Zong Shou like this now. Rest assured, our Vast Profound Sect bears him no ill will. We merely want to inquire about the circumstances of your acquaintance with Zong Shou, purely to deduce this person's character. Within the Cloud Realm, there certainly is a rule that spiritual masters and martial cultivators beyond the Daytime Roaming and Celestial States cannot remain in the mortal world, but this is mainly dictated by the Central Dynasty. However, let's not forget, after his advancement, he still has a three-year grace period. As long as this person can control fifteen provinces or more before reaching the Seventh Order, establish his own nation, and amass sufficient national destiny from the populace—who in this Eastern Lin Cloud Land can force him to abdicate? The rulers of the Central Dynasty, the Five Continents, and the Ten Islands—the lords of those nations are all above the Celestial State—"

Jin Buhui's gaze flickered slightly as he fell into contemplation. Then he heard Shen Huai continue: "There is another matter. I previously mentioned to Junior Brother Su Chen about bringing Zong Shou into our Vast Profound Sect. Do you know what Junior Brother Su Chen replied? He said that Senior Brother Xuan and I need not trouble ourselves over this matter. When I asked why, I wondered if the Sword Sect had already taken an interest in the boy? Junior Brother Su Chen replied with a negative."

Upon hearing this, Jin Buhui’s expression instantly froze, and he looked towards Su Chen, only to see the man still wearing that familiar half-smile, looking as if he had sealed his lips shut.

"I recall Junior Brother Su Chen once mentioning that Tyrant Blade Lei Dong and Zong Shou are sworn brothers. I also ordered someone to investigate Lei Dong's movements recently. And what do you think we found?"

Seeing the curiosity genuinely surface on Jin Buhui’s face, Shen Huai chuckled dryly: "We discovered that this fellow has been with Zhao Yanran of the Seven Spirits Sect for a full six months. And his movements coincidentally align with Zong Shou’s route when he returned to Dry Heaven Mountain a few months ago. Furthermore, I happen to know that when Zong Shou ascended to his position, the Venerable Great Sun Blade Saint of the Boundless Life Sect returned to this realm!"

"Boundless Life Sect—"

Jin Buhui’s pupils contracted slightly, and a look of gravity finally appeared in his eyes. He could almost vividly picture the scene half a year ago: Lei Dong and Zhao Yanran being together could absolutely not be for romantic purposes. It could only be the Sword Sect and the Boundless Life Sect vying for a disciple.

And since the Great Sun Blade Saint had personally arrived in this realm, how could he possibly return empty-handed?

A thought suddenly struck him, and Jin Buhui couldn't help but cast a sidelong glance at Su Chen: "No wonder a few months ago, your Sword Sect and the Boundless Life Sect seemed to coordinate, bringing two top-tier geniuses into your respective sects one after the other. This clandestine deal was certainly executed well."

Su Chen laughed heartily, tilted his head back to gaze at the sky, and maintained his air of resolute silence.

"I have also said this very thing to Junior Brother Su," Xuan Taiji stated, shaking his head gravely. "Junior Brother Su hasn't uttered a single word. These matters are merely our speculations, nothing that can be brought to the table. As long as the Boundless Life Sect does not admit it, we can only pretend we know nothing. Junior Brother, can you see now why we place such importance on this individual? Master holds the very same view."

Jin Buhui let out a bitter sigh. How could he not understand why his two senior brothers held such high regard?

Zong Shou possessed unparalleled natural talent, backed by the resources accumulated by the Boundless Life Sect. Whether in his martial arts or spiritual techniques, his future accomplishments were bound to be earth-shattering. Observing his exceptional political acumen, even without the influence of the Three Sects and Six Gates, Dry Heaven Mountain City had at least a thirty percent chance of unifying the Eastern Lin Cloud Continent.

Such a figure, how could he not draw the world’s attention?

As he hesitated, about to speak, Jin Buhui’s heart suddenly stirred again. He recalled that Zong Shou had recently invited the Vast Profound Sect to conspire regarding the matter of Yin Dragon Gorge. He wondered if this fellow had already foreseen this turn of events?

Previously, he had assumed Zong Shou sought to borrow the might of the Vast Profound Sect to resist the Ling Yun and Upper Heaven Sects. Now, it seemed that might not be the case; rather, it appeared more like an attempt to curry favor.

Given Zong Shou's status, both the Boundless Life Sect and righteous sects like Five Absolute Mountain Villa could offer him aid. He might not need the Vast Profound Sect to protect Yin Dragon Gorge.

Thinking this way, he felt a touch of pity for the Ling Yun Sect. Offending such a person, it was easy to imagine the Ling Yun Sect’s power waning greatly in the Eastern Lin Cloud Land. This presented a perfect opportunity for their Vast Profound Sect to intervene in the Eastern Lin Cloud Land.

While he was pondering, Su Chen suddenly let out a light gasp and looked into the distance. After only a moment, a short sword, perhaps a foot long, suddenly arrived flying through the air.

It landed in Su Chen’s hand and hovered there for a moment. Su Chen frowned, and when the three gazes turned toward him, he openly handed the short sword to Xuan Taiji: "News from my sect. It's a bit troublesome! Four days ago, Sword Master Jue Yu emerged from seclusion. Not long ago, he defeated Ling Jian Ruo Tao using two hundred and seventy-four sword strikes. He declared his intention to spend three years challenging the great sects one by one, starting from the bottom of the Nineteen Spirit Mansions, to verify his Way of the Sword and martial arts. The Nineteen Spirit Mansions, the Ten Holy Lands, the Five Vault Realms, the Three Grotto Heavens—I fear none will be spared—"

"Sword Master Jue Yu? That martial fanatic?"

Xuan Taiji took the sword in doubt, then also furrowed his brow: "If it’s this fellow, it truly is trouble. His swordsmanship is peerless; he is not only the second greatest among the Three Peerless Swords of our Cloud Realm, but he is also unmatched among your generation. Two years ago, just like Zong Shou, he achieved Sword Dao Sentience. Having been in seclusion for two years, we don't know what level he has reached. I fear our Vast Profound Sect might inevitably suffer humiliation because of him."

Su Chen also let out a long sigh: "My Sword Sect will probably face the same, perhaps even greater embarrassment. As the so-called origin of all swordsmen, to lose on the Way of the Sword to an outsider—Ling Jian Ruo Tao has already lost. Now, we can only hope that person can salvage some honor for the sect. Sadly, his time in the sect is too short, and his realm hasn't reached the Seventh Order yet. I fear he will likely be no match for Jue Yu."

Xuan Taiji felt only bitterness filling his mouth. The Sword Sect and the Boundless Life Sect each still had one person capable of salvaging their honor. Their Vast Profound Sect didn't even have a suitable candidate to send into battle.

Thinking of this, Xuan Taiji couldn't help but glare fiercely at Jin Buhui. If speaking of natural talent, this fellow was in no way inferior to the Three Peerless Swords of the Cloud Realm, but he was constantly preoccupied with trivial matters, running around all day just to amass wealth.

He truly couldn't understand it—for a cultivator, enough wealth for sustenance should suffice. What use was there in having so much money? If this fellow had devoted seventy percent of his mind to practicing spiritual techniques and martial arts, the sect wouldn't have fallen to such a predicament.

Jin Buhui was first bewildered, then realized what was happening. He looked incredibly awkward, merely scratching his forehead and averting his gaze, nervously avoiding Xuan Taiji’s stare.

He knew that his carefree, comfortable days were likely over for good.

He had seen this Sword Master Jue Yu before. Rumor had it he was barely twenty, yet he was already a Martial Venerable of the Four Meridians. Having achieved Sword Dao Sentience, two years ago he single-handedly defeated five Celestial State experts, shocking the world and being regarded as a supreme swordsman. Not long after, this person announced his seclusion and vanished without a trace.

This Jue Yu was notorious as a martial fanatic and loved challenging others. Before his seclusion, he was actively searching for the whereabouts of the other member of the Three Peerless Swords. Thus, there were also rumors that Jue Yu disappeared after being defeated in a challenge.

In truth, there were people within the sect who could defeat him. However, in terms of age and status suitable for the challenge, only he and Shen Huai fit the criteria. Even if his Master indulged him, at a juncture like this, he certainly couldn't be allowed to continue idling about. Endless lectures and rigorous secluded cultivation would be unavoidable.

With the Nineteen Spirit Mansions and the Five Great Holy Lands ahead, the Vast Profound Sect was ranked twenty-fifth. At most, he had one year before Jue Yu would certainly arrive to challenge him. If he couldn't break through to the Seventh Order by then, he suspected his Master would skin him alive.

As expected, the next moment, Xuan Taiji let out a cold snort: "Junior Brother Buhui, although Master hasn't issued an explicit order yet, it’s best for you to return to the sect with me later, just to be safe."

Jin Buhui’s plump face immediately twisted into a knot, almost grinding his teeth: "That Sword Master Jue Yu—I truly wish I could hire an assassin to kill him right now."

Su Chen let out a wry laugh upon hearing this: "There really are people attempting to hire assassins. Several sects within the Nineteen Spirit Mansions have secretly offered astronomical sums just to take Jue Yu's life."

Jin Buhui couldn't help but slump in dejection, then his mind drifted back to Zong Shou. His mood slightly improved as he figured this fellow would likely suffer an embarrassment too.