Eternal Saber

At the entrance of the sleeping palace.

Grand Empress Dowager Yu gently tapped the back of the palace maid’s hand beside her.

The palace maid understood and said loudly, "You all may leave."

The eunuchs and palace maids in the courtyard withdrew one after another, leaving only two palace maids supporting Grand Empress Dowager Yu.

After everyone scattered, Grand Empress Dowager Yu straightened her body, her aura changing abruptly as she shook off the support of the two maids and descended the steps from the entrance.

"What is the background of this Chen Tang? So young, yet able to destroy one of my hidden magic altar bases in Cang Mountain?"

The man in the plain robe frowned deeply, an incredulous expression in his eyes, and said, "Moreover, Cyan Pine Sacrificial Wine is a Golden Core True Master. If this person is merely a Fourth Grade Awakening, how could he have killed Cyan Pine Sacrificial Wine?"

"He must have had help by his side."

Grand Empress Dowager Yu said lightly.

"Chen Tang, Chen Tang... this name."

Grand Empress Dowager Yu murmured softly, as if lost in thought.

After a while, she suddenly said, "Lingxiu, go back and investigate the origin and identity of this person. Beiqian once had a young man named ’Chen Tang,’ who logically should have perished in the East Sea."

The man in the plain robe, now known as ’Lingxiu,’ seemed to think of something, his expression changing, "You suspect that this Chen Tang from Great Xia is the same Dragon Slayer from Beiqian?"

"It’s quite possible."

Grand Empress Dowager Yu said, "It is said the one from Beiqian uses a saber, while the one from Nanxia uses a sword, so when Yuan Xian mentioned him, I didn’t think much."

"But now, several from Yuan Xian’s group have died by the blade, which is rather coincidental. Moreover, after the fierce battle in Cang Mountain, it is entirely possible for him to come to the capital to cause trouble for Yuan Xian."

Electric lights flashed in the eyes of the man in the plain robe as he said slowly, "If the two Chen Tangs are indeed the same person, he really is lucky!"

Grand Empress Dowager Yu said, "Although his cultivation isn’t high, his talent is very strong, and he is incredibly audacious and fearless of the Immortal Sect, making him a calamity. We should arrange for his early removal."

The man in the plain robe said, "Once we ascertain his origins, I will personally take action to send him on his way."

"Since he used the Immortal Sect to make his mark, I shall make sure he knows that daring to offend the Immortal Sect means paying with blood!"

-----------------

The news of the Cang Mountain battle spread throughout Wu State in less than half a month.

After all, too many people rushed to Cang Mountain that day, including soldiers, Jianghu people, and numerous Green Forest bandits.

Furthermore, it was spreading rapidly towards other states and would soon cover the entire Jianghu.

This battle brought an immense shock to people.

Whether they were in the imperial court or Jianghu people, all who heard it were shocked!

"Have you heard? The Profound Celestial Sect provoked Chen Tang, and as a result, Chen Tang, with one man and one sword, fought to Cang Mountain, wiping out a magic altar base and killing countless people!"

"I heard the Profound Celestial Sect plundered Meixiang County, and this Young Hero Chen was so enraged that he annihilated a Profound Celestial Army unit."

"Nonsense! One person and one sword could eradicate a Profound Celestial Sect magic altar?"

"Absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes. On Cang Mountain, bodies were strewn everywhere, and there were over a hundred Mystic Master’s corpses alone!"

In these days, almost everyone in Jianghu has been discussing this matter.

This battle has become the most discussed topic among the Jianghu people over their meals.

In the Drunken Immortal Tower, it was no different.

"I heard that back in the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, Chen Tang actively invited Master Xiaoyao, Master Qingfeng, and many other Jianghu righteous fighters to join forces to exterminate the Profound Celestial Sect in Cang Mountain but was mocked."

"Indeed, those people were simply afraid of the Profound Celestial Sect, shrinking back and not daring to have a frontal blood battle with it."

"These are all the well-known Jianghu seniors, but looking back now, they are merely so-so."

Master Xiaoyao sat quietly on the top floor, frowning slightly, his face dark as water.

Recently, he has been hearing similar discussions every day and finds them unbearable.

In the past, whenever he appeared, many Jianghu guests would rise to greet him with respect.

But recently, many Jianghu people’s gazes carried a subtle peculiarity and mockery.

"A rabble, a scattered lot!"

Master Xiaoyao clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, uttering a few words through clenched lips.

"When the year-end Martial Arts Assembly convenes, gathering all major sects and Jianghu people to form the Profound Slaying Alliance, let’s see who dares to speak randomly then!"

Master Xiaoyao thought to himself, "For now, I’ll put up with it and won’t quibble with you."

Both upstairs and downstairs, every seat was taken, and people continued to discuss this matter.

"I also heard Xia Yuanxian is dead. No one knows who killed him, and the murderer hasn’t been caught yet."

"Not only Xia Yuanxian, but in Cyan Jade Tower, Lin Mubai, Liu Yingxiu, and Xiao Wuhen were also killed, and even Capital City’s top courtesan Liu Mengzhen is dead."

"Such a pity for a great beauty; whoever was so ruthless, they sure don’t know how to cherish beauty."

"By the way, isn’t this year’s Wind and Cloud Ranking out yet?"

"After the Langya Pavilion battle, there were many changes; it was almost out, but with so many suddenly gone, especially from the top ten, they probably need to revise it."

As people discussed, there was a sudden commotion downstairs, as though something major happened, the noise suddenly burst forth!

"What happened?"

Many upstairs leaned over to look down, some shouting inquiries.

"The Sword Pavilion has released the ranking!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

"Where, get me a copy!"

"Ten taels a copy!"

"Damn, you’re raising the price? The Sword Pavilion sells it for just one tael."

"If you don’t mind, go out and buy for yourself."

"Get me a copy!"

Someone with no shortage of money snatched a copy from the person, and immediately a crowd gathered around to view it together.

This person took a deep breath and slowly opened the Wind and Cloud Ranking.

Generally, those who can make it to the top hundred in the Wind and Cloud Ranking will have some descriptions, including cultivation, martial arts proficiency, and past achievements.

The closer to the top, the more detailed the descriptions.

For the top ten of the Wind and Cloud Ranking, generally speaking, a page usually describes three people.

But this time, the first page of the Wind and Cloud Ranking has only one person.

Wind and Cloud Ranking No. 1, Name: Chen Tang.

Age: Nineteen.

Realm: Opening the Apertures.

Martial Arts: Horizontal Body Training, Inner Strength of the Viscera, Extremely Strong Bloodline, Long Breath, Proficient in Archery, Varied Swordsmanship, Buddhist Lion’s Roar.

Achievements: Just entered the Great Xia Martial World, killed the Fourth Manor Master at Sword Casting Manor.

Left half a book scroll in Langya Pavilion, blinded the eyes of former Wind and Cloud Ranking’s tenth, Xiao Wuhen.

In the Langya Pavilion battle, two arrows killed Imperial Guard, defeating Xia Yuanxian, crippling his Dantian.

In the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, defeated the discarded disciple Peng Shiquan, and killed Golden Core True Master Cyan Pine Sacrificial Wine.

Later went to Cang Mountain alone, with one person and one sword, slaughtered the Profound Celestial Army.

Sword Pavilion commentary: "Swept away Profound Celestial’s three thousand thieves, one sword frost cold shines upon the Divine Land! Top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking, commanding the mountains and rivers!"