Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Ling Xiao tore open the envelope in public and glanced at its contents. A strange expression crossed his face. Su Xue and Shangguan Yutong, who were standing nearby, were curious but didn't ask any questions. Ling Xiao, however, handed the letter to them. After they finished reading, they too wore peculiar expressions. Su Xue shook her head and sighed, "If the heavens want to destroy the Zhe Family, nothing can stop it!"

It turned out that the boatload of exceptionally talented youths the Zhe Family had sent overseas had encountered a storm. The ship was destroyed and nearly everyone on board perished. The disaster occurred very close to the Song Family Island, and a few survivors were rescued from the water. Upon questioning, they were identified as members of the Zhe Family. With the Zhe Family recently going to war against the Ling Family, every hidden family and sect in the neighboring kingdoms was aware of the conflict, to say nothing of the Song Family, who had been keeping a close eye on the Shushan Sword Sect.

Therefore, the few Zhe Family disciples who survived the shipwreck were tragically thrown back into the sea and left to their fate. For the hidden families, such an act was utterly commonplace. Kindness was more often a weakness to be exploited. For the vast majority of these families and sects, only interests mattered, nothing else.

Ling Xiao and the others sighed at this outcome, but they felt no sympathy. The victor is crowned a prince, the loser is branded a bandit—it was an immutable truth.

In the days that followed, Ling Xiao began to make public appearances at the Shushan Sword Sect and started personally instructing a group of ten disciples. This group included Fang Yuan, who was widely acknowledged as the senior disciple of the Shushan Sword Sect. The other nine—six boys and three girls—all came from poor families. They were exceptionally talented, and if not for Thirteenth Master and Fourteenth Master's keen eyes spotting their potential, they would have likely remained buried in poverty their entire lives, with no prospects or future.

As a result, although these ten children were not old, they were all remarkably sensible. Compared to children of the nobility their age, they were far more mature.

With the exception of Fang Yuan, the other nine children had all reached the level of Tier Six Demon Swordsmen—an achievement of just three years. Even Ling Tianxiao and his cohort could only marvel at the children's talent. If not for Ling Xiao's elixirs and the Ice Crystal Celestial Silkworms from the Ice Sea Secret Race, even Ling Tianxiao himself might not have reached the level of a Tier Six Demon Swordsman by now.

After the formal discipleship ceremony, the ten disciples were the first to receive new names signifying their status.

The Shushan Sword Sect on the Canglan Continent used a classic poem for its generational names. The first generation of disciples would use the character for "Tian" (Celestial). Senior disciple Fang Yuan was given the Daoist name Celestial Garden. The remaining nine were six boys named Tianfeng, Tianyu, Tian Lei, Tianzhi, Tianming, and Tianhuo, and three girls named Tian Lan, Tianhui, and Tianxue.

One month later, the Shushan Sword Sect was formally established. Countless families and sects came to offer their congratulations.

Ling Xiao sat in the highest seat, the one belonging to the Sect Leader, and looked down at the vast plaza. Seeing the great, dark mass of people kneeling there, he couldn't help but feel his heart surge with emotion. At this very moment, he finally understood why, all those years ago in the Cultivation Realm, his master had been so excited during the Shushan Sword Sect's grand assembly, which was held only once every five years. That's right—the excitement came from simply being able to stand on this high platform.

Su Xue, Quefeng, Shangguan Yutong, Thirteenth Master, Fourteenth Master, Tiger, and the other Elders were all beaming with pride. 'This is an honor that one could never obtain, no matter how powerful they became on their own!'

Ling Xiao looked at the ten founding disciples of the "Tian" generation kneeling at the very front and announced in a clear voice, "The Shushan Sword Sect is hereby established! These ten founding disciples are your role models. From this day forward, all of you are the first generation of Shushan disciples! The rules of the Shushan Sword Sect are simple. Namely, you must never harm a fellow disciple! When recruiting, Shushan has only one rule: we look at talent, not background! I, Ling Xiao, as the Sect Leader of this Sword Sect, offer you an opportunity to become powerful! I will protect you as you grow for one single purpose: I hope that in the future, you will all become pillars of our sect and bring glory to the Shushan Sword Sect!"

"We shall obey the Sect Leader's command!"

Everyone roared their assent in unison. The countless disciples kneeling below gazed at the ten senior disciples in white robes on the high platform, their eyes burning with envy. They all thought, 'When will I get to stand up there?'

At the same time, many more secretly glanced up at the young man in the highest seat. They all knew... that was the head of the Shushan Sword Sect, Sect Leader Ling Xiao!

If the looks they gave the ten founding disciples of the "Tian" generation were filled with envy, then the looks they directed at Ling Xiao were filled with pure reverence—like the most devout believers gazing upon the god they worshiped.

Three years had been enough time for these children of humble origins to understand just what kind of existence this place was. Although Ling Xiao had never made an appearance, the legends surrounding him were already deeply engraved in the hearts and minds of these children.

The destruction of the Zhe Family, in particular, was incredibly morale-boosting. Their three years of lying low had not only forced the people of Shushan City to bear immense shame, but had also caused these disciples to wonder countless times, 'Is the sect I joined actually powerful? Why do we never fight back against insults and provocations?'

But today, seeing countless important figures from various families and sects behaving with such deference and caution before the Sect Leader, all the disciples of the Shushan Sword Sect finally understood.

'We *are* powerful!'

Although they didn't know where those important figures came from, it didn't stop them from worshiping the Sect Leader, the six Grand Elders, and the ten founding disciples of the "Tian" generation!