The forbidden zone spanned a peak a thousand zhang high. The summit was choked with weeds and vines, clearly untouched for ages. "Whoosh!" A grey phantom descended from the sky—it was the Galehawk carrying Teng Qingshan and Li Jun. Li Jun had informed the bird this was a clandestine entry into the forbidden zone, so it remained exceptionally vigilant.

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun both leaped off the hawk's back in succession.

"Brother Teng, there aren't any signs of human passage around here. It seems no one has been up," Li Jun frowned.

"This entire towering mountain is the forbidden zone," Teng Qingshan swept his gaze around, lowering his voice. "However, the place hiding the sword technique manuals or treasures won't be the entire mountain. It must be a specific location within. And... the Sword Tower would never conceive that someone could approach from the air. Therefore, the summit is unguarded."

"Now, we descend cautiously. You and the Galehawk stay ten zhang behind me. Remember, make no sound," Teng Qingshan whispered.

"Mm." Li Jun nodded, simultaneously issuing quiet instructions to the Galehawk in the tongue of beasts.

The Galehawk was a Demonic Beast of the Innate realm; remaining silent posed no difficulty.

"Go." Teng Qingshan gave a low command.

Immediately, Teng Qingshan took the lead, with Li Jun and the Galehawk following ten zhang behind. The agility of the Galehawk and Teng Qingshan in motion went without saying, and Li Jun, being at the peak of Internal Strength, moved through the mountain undergrowth with the grace of an immortal.

...

Halfway up the forbidden zone mountain.

On a path worn smooth by constant foot traffic, a young man in a green robe strode forward, carrying two baskets, sweat beading on his forehead. He muttered to himself, "Hmph, my senior brothers all think I'm easy to bully, making me deliver the meals every day! It’s such a long trek up and down the mountain, and those four old monsters guarding this forbidden zone have such foul tempers. I heard last year, one junior brother was actually killed by those four old monsters."

Delivering meals to the elders guarding the forbidden zone was certainly no enviable task.

On Bright Moon Island, the eighteen General Mansions were locked in endless, protracted conflict. The Sword Tower, positioned high above, faced no external enemies, which led to fierce internal strife.

The Sword Tower harbored numerous family factions, some of which were affiliated with factions from the eighteen General Mansions. This resulted in intense struggles for power and profit within the Tower... and these newly inducted disciples held the lowest status.

"We're here!"

The youth in green instantly spotted a stone stele ahead on the path. Two large characters, stark crimson, were inscribed upon it—Forbidden Zone!

The youth stopped before the stele, not daring to take another step, and called out loudly, "Elders!"

"Mm!" A stooped old man with silver-white eyebrows emerged from the entrance of the cave dwelling within the forbidden zone, his gaze cold. Having been stationed in the forbidden zone year after year, the guarding elder's temper had grown bizarrely erratic. "The food, hand it over!"

"Yes." The youth quickly passed over the baskets.

The stooped elder took the two baskets, flipped through them casually, sniffed, and grunted, "Little fellow, bring two more jars of wine tomorrow!"

"Yes." The youth immediately agreed.

The guarding elders were all at the pinnacle of the Post-Celestial realm; being without food or drink for three to five days was not an issue. During their watch, one hearty meal a day was sufficient. Moreover... this period of guarding the forbidden zone was also an excellent opportunity for these elders to cultivate in peace.

Elders nearing the end of their natural lifespan would often volunteer for several years of long-term guarding duty.

Attaining the Innate realm granted an extra fifty years of life. If they failed, it meant death! Under such torment, it was hardly surprising that some elders developed such strange temperaments.

"Phew, thankfully it wasn't that one-eyed elder," the youth breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back down the mountain path. The stooped elder, carrying the two baskets, headed towards his cave dwelling. Neither of them noticed... that a pair of eyes were watching them from amidst the dense foliage just several dozen zhang away.

After the youth in green had walked some distance, that silhouette finally emerged near the cave entrance.

"This is the forbidden zone mountain. The Sword Tower must have rigorous defenses along the lower slopes and paths. Yet, coming down the mountain, there is no one," Teng Qingshan looked towards the shadowy cave dwelling. "This forbidden zone cave is clearly guarded by experts!"

Just then, Li Jun and the Galehawk cautiously approached Teng Qingshan's side.

"Little Jun, I'll enter first. You follow in shortly after," Teng Qingshan lowered his voice.

"Mm." Li Jun merely nodded.

Teng Qingshan, grasping his Samsara Spear, then proceeded cautiously into the interior of the cave dwelling. The interior was quite dim, but the cavern itself was remarkably square, clearly carved by human hands. Faint sounds of conversation drifted from within: "Old Vulture, hurry up and eat, or it'll all be gone."

"Fourth Brother, regarding the Eighteen Nightmare Swords, why do the sixteenth and seventeenth forms feel so awkward to me?"

A series of aged voices reached Teng Qingshan's ears.

A slight smile touched the corner of Teng Qingshan's mouth. Navigating the open cavern felt familiar. Turning a corner, he followed a passage, and soon saw the silhouettes of the elders gathered together, eating.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Teng Qingshan's figure flickered, and he arrived in the large, open room inside the mountain's belly. The four elders eating were startled by the sudden appearance of a guest.

"Who are you?" A stout, tall elder set down his bowl and chopsticks, roaring. "Which lineage's disciple dares to trespass into the forbidden zone?"

Within Bright Moon Island, the Sword Tower reigned supreme! Generation after generation, the Sword Tower had grown accustomed to its dominance; they possessed virtually no vigilance against external enemies. Apart from occasional passing sea beasts, they had no foes at all.

"Fourth Brother, why waste words with him?" A one-eyed elder spoke coldly, simultaneously reaching toward his waist. A soft, curving silver light chain materialized, like a silver serpent, piercing directly toward Teng Qingshan's brow. The other three guarding elders also reached for their weapons, prepared in case the one-eyed elder couldn't handle the intruder.

The Sword Tower had a strict decree—trespassers in the forbidden zone were to be executed without mercy!

Teng Qingshan's expression remained calm as his right hand moved subtly.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

The Samsara Spear virtually split into four in an instant. Four streaks of silver lightning simultaneously pierced the throats of the four guarding elders.

"Hh... hh~~" All four elders clutched at their throats, eyes wide open, gushing blood pouring from the puncture wounds. In their eyes, filled with terror, was sheer disbelief. They could not comprehend... that before their opponent, the four of them, the guardians, couldn't even utter a loud cry for help!

Too fast!

The corpses of the four elders slumped down powerlessly; some collapsed softly, others hit the wooden table, knocking over bowls and chopsticks. "Crack!" "Splash!" The sounds of shattering porcelain and wine spilling onto the floor were heard. The entire room filled with a thick aroma of wine, mingled now with a strong scent of fresh blood.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" The Galehawk and Li Jun followed the passage and entered the room.

Upon entering, Li Jun saw the four elders lying on the ground, eyes still wide open, refusing to close in death.

"There is no one left in this forbidden zone cave," Teng Qingshan stated calmly. "Little Jun, let's search both ends; see where the treasures might be." For this 'forbidden zone,' let alone these four old fellows, even an expert of the Innate realm guarding it would certainly die before Teng Qingshan. Even the strongest expert on Bright Moon Island, 'Huangfu Yujiang,' would only be able to flee after having his true essence depleted by Teng Qingshan.

"Alright." Li Jun nodded.

Immediately, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun began searching the adjacent private chambers, each containing straw mats and quilts.

Teng Qingshan examined a series of sword move carvings etched into the wall of one chamber.

"Looking at these stone carvings, some seem over a century old, while others were freshly inscribed," Teng Qingshan nodded internally. "Reflecting on swordplay generation after generation, etching their insights onto the stone walls—the accumulation of countless masters. Everyone on Bright Moon Island practices the sword; it’s no wonder the Sword Tower Master’s sword techniques are so formidable!"

In terms of swordplay foundation, no sect across the Nine Provinces could surpass the Sword Tower.

There were numerous small chambers within this mountain belly.

"Brother Teng, Brother Teng," Teng Qingshan had only been searching for a short while when Li Jun found him.

"Mm?" Teng Qingshan looked up at him.

"Brother Teng, follow me." Li Jun continued, "I've found a place."

"Oh?"

Teng Qingshan followed Li Jun curiously, proceeding along the winding mountain path within the cavern. It had to be said, the Sword Tower had excavated nearly half of this mountain belly, for the path stretched incredibly long.

"Brother Teng, there is a vast, empty great hall up ahead," Li Jun led Teng Qingshan nearly a hundred zhang forward, then pointed ahead.

The Galehawk was already waiting in the center of that hall.

Teng Qingshan stepped into the spacious hall. He saw that the stone walls were covered in an uncountable number of sword technique engravings.

"Flowing Wind Sword Eighteen... Sky Thunder Sword Technique... Slithering Snake Sword..." Teng Qingshan gazed at the various exquisite sword arts, each imbued with its own unique artistic conception. "Hmm, why isn't the 'Bright Moon Sword Canon' sword art that Huangfu Yujiang mentioned here?"

This caused a slight frown to crease Teng Qingshan's brow.

"That's right. That is the Sword Tower's supreme ultimate art; they wouldn't easily let elite disciples who reach this place see it," Teng Qingshan shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his expression. Although the exquisite sword arts were powerful, for him, who already stood on the very threshold of the 'Dao,' they offered at most a broadened perspective but held little practical use.

Suddenly—

Teng Qingshan's gaze fixed on a side door beside the main hall. On the mountain wall next to the side door were carved several densely packed lines of text—

"All who enter the forbidden zone and attain the Innate Realm may proceed to the 'Immortal Jade Wall.' This was left by Senior Li, benefactor to our Sword Tower's founding ancestor. The Third Generation Ancestor observed the Immortal Jade Wall and comprehended the Bright Moon Sword Canon. If one has not reached the Innate Realm, they must not view the Immortal Jade Wall, as it will be more harmful than beneficial!"

These lines stunned Teng Qingshan.

"Brother Teng, what is this 'Immortal Jade Wall'? Why does it say it's harmful if one hasn't reached the Innate Realm?" Li Jun asked, somewhat surprised.

"We must not doubt it."

Teng Qingshan whispered, "Little Jun, wait outside." With that, Teng Qingshan walked directly through the side door into the interior.

After only a few zhang, Teng Qingshan entered a vast, naturally formed cave dwelling. On one wall of this cavern, a faint green light seemed to flow.

Four great lines of calligraphy, written with a powerful, sweeping hand, caused Teng Qingshan to hold his breath entirely—"The rainbow serves as clothes and the wind as steeds, the lords of the clouds descend in throngs. The tiger plays the zither, the phoenix draws the carriage, the immortals array themselves like millet."