Chapter 503: The Immortal Sect's First Mount Hua Sword Tournament

The Immortal Sect's First Huashan Sword Discussion

"The Immortal Sect's First Huashan Sword Discussion will be held two months from now, on the ninth day of the ninth month. From then on, it will be held every year on this date."

Wei Hu continued his report: "Based on the invitations we sent out earlier through the various local swordsmanship halls, as well as the spontaneous registrations from the public, roughly a little over a million people will participate in this Huashan Sword Discussion."

This was only to be expected.

The prize money is likewise one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, with different rewards for those ranked from first to one-thousandth place.

Moreover, since it targets mortals and Qi Refining cultivators, a prize of this level is extremely rare. Even if only for the sake of the money, the turnout cannot be lacking.

Besides, in this era when swordsmanship has only just begun to develop, everyone's level is about the same, and the gap is not large.

Who knows, with a bit of luck, one could easily carry home a million mortal coins, become a big star among the masses, and gain both fame and fortune.

"Senior, for the champion of the Huashan Sword Discussion, could you arrange some kind of eye-catching award ceremony?"

Wei Hu hesitated for a moment before asking.

He knew very well that high-level cultivators extremely disliked being disturbed during their cultivation, especially at such a high frequency as once a year. In places with poor public order, one wouldn't even know how they died.

However, this one's attitude toward the matter was different, so he still wanted to give it a try.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you asking me to personally present the award to the champion of the Sword Discussion every year?"

Jiang Ding asked with great interest.

If his true body were here, he would have lost his temper. A cultivation cycle takes several months, and refining a flying sword takes several months for one cycle. If it were interrupted once a year, he would nearly suffer qi deviation every single time, and he would truly want to hack someone to death.

But for a clone, no problem at all.

"No, no, no…"

Wei Hu waved his hands repeatedly: "Our marketing department's supervisor says that being too approachable is actually not good. When something is too close to oneself, people find it hard to feel awe and longing. We need to make it more ethereal and otherworldly, more immortal-like."

He explained in detail.

"For example, an immortal crane delivering a sword in its beak, which lands in the champion's hands; or a beam of immortal light descending from the sky to cleanse the marrow and refine the body of this Qi Refining cultivator; or perhaps a Flower of the Great Dao descending from the heavens—something along those lines. It would be best to reveal a hint of Jin Dan's might."

"Like this? No problem."

Jiang Ding nodded thoughtfully.

Being too close was indeed not good. Take Wei Hu, for example—too much interaction, and all sorts of impolite things would often happen.

Of course, this was no big deal.

Cultivators rule the world through their own supreme might, unlike mortal Emperors or popes who rely on others' reverence to survive. When others lose that reverence and no longer submit, it is tantamount to the death of one's own life.

The power is here, whether you respect it or look down upon it.

But one must act according to the will of those who hold power. Otherwise, one is free to choose death along with one's disdain—and this should be permitted.

"Senior, then this Huashan Sword Discussion is absolutely foolproof."

"Our marketing department has already purchased trending spots, advertisements, and blogger recommendation previews on all the major Immortal Sect websites. Especially the Immortal Sect Central Television, which has agreed to broadcast our competition footage during prime time."

After finishing his report, Wei Hu respectfully took his leave.

The Swordsmanship Association, the Huashan Sword Discussion—don't be fooled by how briefly they can be described in a few words. In reality, they involve several million or even tens of millions of Immortal Sect citizens who practice swordsmanship, as well as a large number of practitioners. The work involved is incredibly complex, and the moment one relaxes even slightly, all sorts of messy problems arise.

Starting from the sixth year, he had been so busy his feet barely touched the ground. Apart from the time reserved for cultivation, he had hardly been home.

Naturally, he did not find it bitter.

If not for such troubles, how could a Jin Dan ancestor grow so impatient, and how could there be the gift of a Foundation Establishment Pill?

After Wei Hu left, Jiang Ding concluded his three-month inspection tour.

Three months ago, he had started from the swordsmanship hall in the Immortal Capital, traveling to every city and every swordsmanship hall in the Immortal Sect, meticulously examining the development of swordsmanship in the Immortal Sect—checking whether things were truly as Wei Hu had reported to him on paper—and also spot-checking a large number of financial accounts.

The results were acceptable. Though there were quite a few flaws, the overall picture matched the truth.

Qi Refining cultivators daring to deceive a Jin Dan cultivator and line their own pockets was still quite rare, and he had not encountered any such case this time either.

The Immortal Sect's swordsmanship had indeed taken its initial root. What came next was continuous nurturing, constant watering and fertilizing, hoping that one day it would grow into a towering tree that pierced through the world, carrying him toward a higher path of longevity.

Jiang Ding went home for a visit, staying with his mother and younger sister, cooking and cleaning every day.

Just like over a hundred years ago.

Stir-fried houttuynia with cured meat, cold cucumber salad with houttuynia, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and seaweed egg drop soup—these few dishes never grew tiresome, surpassing many state banquet delicacies.

The only change was that the ingredients had been upgraded from ordinary houttuynia to second-grade spirit-material houttuynia.

"Brother, do you know?"

At the dinner table, Jiang Yuan suddenly said: "Little Bear, Little Bear is ninety-two years old this year. It's like the age Grandpa and Grandma were all those years ago. It feels like such a long time has suddenly passed."

"Just like that, suddenly."

Though her words were calm, a trace of deep sorrow could still be heard.

Jiang Ding was silent.

Little Bear.

Was her child.

The boy of the twins.

This made Jiang Ding recall over ninety years ago, when the two children were born at the First Hospital of Rongcheng. The wails of the babies echoed out of the delivery room. At that time, Grandpa and Grandma were still alive, and the two elders tremblingly held their great-grandson, weeping with joy.

Cultivators who pursue longevity truly cannot afford to invest too much genuine feeling in mortals.

Otherwise, every few decades, after just a few sessions of cultivation, one would have to face another parting of life and death, and one's Dao heart would suffer a devastating blow.

In the long run, even the desire to survive might be lost.

His divine sense spread out slightly, covering the entire city of Rongcheng.

The evening sun was setting in the west.

By the park facing the long river.

An old man with a head of graying hair and a face full of wrinkles leaned on a cane, sitting on a bench, staring blankly at the crimson sun setting on the mountaintop in the distance.

For a long while, not a single word was spoken.

"Grandpa, we should head back."

Behind the old man stood two youths, one looking seventeen or eighteen, the other in his twenties or thirties. The older youth said gently, "It's getting a bit cold now; sitting any longer won't be good for your health."

"Oh, oh, good grandson, let's go home."

The old man seemed to startle awake, hurriedly gripping his cane and swaying as he stood up.

The two youths supported the old man, walking slowly toward home.

"Truly... such a resemblance."

Seeing this scene, Jiang Ding sighed softly.

He didn't know how many years ago, he and Lin Lin Yuanwang had supported Grandfather just like this, walking slowly home together, eating together, chatting together, going to the hospital for checkups from time to time.

Grandfather had always been this kind and gentle too.

Thinking about it, Grandfather Lin Gang, when he was young, must have had times like Little Bear's—wild and willful, mischievous and troublesome, unrestrained and unbridled.

Only as he grew older, he gradually matured and changed.

And so, just a few short decades later, Grandfather and Grandmother could never be seen again.

"... Sister"

Jiang Ding was silent for a long while.

"Just as many of my teachers have said, constantly seeing relatives and friends depart is the fate of us cultivators, and also the rule of the Great Dao."

"It cannot be changed, only accepted."

"Rules?"

Jiang Yuan muttered to herself, her whole body drained of strength.

Two

(End of Chapter)