Chapter 423: At the Summit of Waves (Part 1)

At the stroke of Mao hour, the base of Jade Sword Terrace was already packed with crowds.

Compared to yesterday, the crowd was more orderly, with all eight avenues cleared; the scene was more solemn, for this was no longer a selection open to the martial world—it had truly come to the surface, recorded in the state gazette and countless official documents, all stating that the Shaolong Martial Register Assembly would open today.

Countless luxurious carriages lined the roadside, stretching endlessly; nobles, officials, and renowned scholars sat on designated viewing platforms, conversing. At the very center, a long, broad avenue led straight to Jade Sword Terrace, occasionally punctuated by figures clad in blue and purple robes, swords at their sides, walking directly onto the platform.

The sea of people mingled martial disciples with common folk; locals pointed and murmured as officials passed by, while martial wanderers and sect disciples eagerly discussed each swordsman as they entered.

The memorial submitted by Grand Secretary Sui aligned perfectly with Tang's current policy of integrating rather than controlling the martial world: "The court stands above the people; the martial world arises from the common folk. The court and the martial world alternate between order and chaos, clashing when they meet—but with the people as the bridge, all matters may succeed."

In this crowded setting, the two groups easily mingled: commoners asked martial guests curious questions, while wandering swordsmen and sect disciples suddenly realized that even without stepping onto the platform, they could still attract immense attention and gaze. Each straightened their backs, suddenly feeling their swords at their waists were their very faces.

Nearly every storyteller in the city had set up stalls here; every few paces through the crowd stood a small raised platform, where they sat and recounted the prodigious swordsmen of this selection, some of whom were already famed—their tales especially popular.

The massive golden banner displayed yesterday still hung outside the outer wall of Jade Sword Terrace, every name clearly visible under the morning sun.

The regulations of the register had been openly published and circulated:

Using this golden banner as the base, names would be reviewed one rank at a time, from bottom to top, until those on Jade Sword Terrace reached consensus. If a decision proved difficult, the two swordsmen would immediately descend from Jade Sword Terrace and settle their rank on the central sword platform before the eyes of the multitude.

On the other half of the outer wall, another blank, shallow-black banner of identical size and form had been hung; the finalized rankings would be written upon it in golden ink, one by one. After completion, a final phase would allow re-evaluation of earlier rankings based on later swordsmen's performances.

In sum, the Shaolong Golden Register sought precisely this: "Every name decided shall be affirmed before the multitude; every change shall be transparent and just," ensuring that once completed, all would accept it without doubt.

Yet this very ideal now faced unprecedented doubt, for under the bright sunlight and countless gazes, the name at the very top grew increasingly glaring.

Pei Ye.

After a night of rampant spread, these two characters filled more and more people with shock and bewilderment.

They were so abrupt, so forceful—and whether "Observing the Heroes" or "Appearing Before Final Registration," they carried an unmistakable air of strangeness—as if he stood a tier above all others, bordering on arrogance.

People scoured for information on this name, and only one account gained widespread confirmation—that this man hailed from a small county in the deep northern mountains, and was the autumn champion of Bowang Prefecture this year.

"I was there at Bowang's competition—he was truly formidable. On the championship match, he casually shattered the intent-sword of a Sixth-Life swordsman, and he himself wielded an intent-sword technique."

This was the rumor sold by Du Du Wuniang, sourced from a Bowang martialist, though he later added: "But Pei Ye is Fourth-Life—I don't know if that Sixth-Life was the same person."

A champion from a remote prefecture? Two life realms crossed in twenty days?

No definitive word emerged, for no one had seen this man or knew his whereabouts; when asked what he looked like, the Bowang martialist's description was recorded: "Wears a green robe, looks like a seventeen-year-old boy."

Unless he hasn't changed clothes in twenty days.

Though debate grew fiercer, the Register Assembly proceeded normally.

Swordsmen ascended one by one to Jade Sword Terrace, countless eyes fixed upon these prodigies destined for the Golden Register; it was certain that within the next one or two months, their names would spread across all of Shaolong.

————

Pei Ye wore a green robe.

As he walked forward, he was startled—this place bore no resemblance to yesterday's boiling martial atmosphere; there were more commoners, more officials, more order.

This morning, armored soldiers had waited outside his door; his carriage was already ready when he descended. But upon arriving here, he did not go to the pavilion. Qu Xin glanced at him questioningly; Pei Ye waved his hand: "Your eyes are sharp—you go."

In truth, he wished to enter this festive atmosphere and chat with the people around him—watching a spectacle meant watching while talking, and Qu Xin was clearly not a good conversationalist.

Gao Gao Feigong still shadowed him secretly; Pei Ye walked forward, shoulder bearing the black cat, scanning the chaotic noise for a spot.

But he arrived too late—there were almost no seats left. He was considering leaping onto the eaves when a voice suddenly sounded beside him: "Uh… you don't have a seat? Would you sit here?"

Pei Ye turned his head—a blue-and-white sword robe, again the Flying Swallow Sword Sect.

They still occupied yesterday's spot; the young girl looked at him hesitantly, and beside her was an empty seat.

"Oh, thank you so much!" Pei Ye hurried over gratefully—this spot was perfect: shaded, wide view, and just far enough from a storyteller.

The Flying Swallow Sword Sect's robes were uniform, their bearing distinctive; no one crowded near them.

"Small world, meeting again," Pei Ye sat with a smile. "Yesterday I saw two of your senior brothers listed on the Sword Register—congratulations."

Ren Ren Zixin smiled faintly but said nothing, lifting his chin toward the long street.

Pei Ye turned to see a blue-and-white figure walking down the central path—his face sharp and dignified, robes clean, hair neat, movements composed, one hand resting on his sword as he spoke humbly to a green-robed official, heading toward Jade Sword Terrace.

Behind them, the storyteller smiled: "This elegant gentleman is the direct disciple of the Flying Swallow Sword Sect, Zhu Wenyuan, ranked fifty-first, known as 【Sword Unraveling Wind's Whisper】. If you watched the first arena yesterday, you'd recall his exquisite 【Black Robe Sword】, firmly among the top ten of that arena. He won four consecutive matches, only losing to one man—"

"Su Su Xingke!"

"Precisely!" the storyteller stroked his beard. "Only defeated by 【Dragon's Jaw Plucking Pearl】 Su Su Xingke, currently ranked fourth!"

The crowd gasped; Pei Ye heard someone beside him whisper curiously: "Ah, that's their sect robe, isn't it?"

Ren Ren Zixin tilted his chin slightly, smiling with pride: "Too bad we didn't make the top fifty—I and my brother Qi didn't defeat anyone either."

Pei Ye clapped. "That's already impressive—losing to Su Su Xingke in the final match was just bad luck."

"Exactly!!" Ren Ren Zixin suddenly found this strange boy much more likable. "How could they rank him like that? It's like they sent him up just to lose!"

Pei Ye thought this might have been Grand Secretary Sui's decision—he nodded in silent agreement.

After all, he was sitting in their seat.

After venting, Ren Ren Zixin felt lighter: "So… are you here to compete?"

"Ah, no."

". Oh."

At that moment, the crowd erupted in loud cheers; many stood up, and the storyteller smiled: "Here he comes."

Pei Ye looked curiously—three nearly identical green carriages had halted at the end; Nan Sister Guan Nu descended, elegant as an orchid, her slender sword like a vine in bloom.

The storyteller murmured: "'Green-flower carriage, snow-treading steed, nine hundred seventy-two swords carved, yet not a single blossom in the peach grove'—this is the legendary true disciple of Luoying Mountain, 【Sleeping Blossoms, Counting Butterflies】—Nan Sister Guan Nu! Ranked seventh on the Golden Register, currently one spot above her famed rival 【Pearl Guardian】 Qi Qi Mengchen, though both are still labeled 'minor doubt.' In the next two days, these two immortal maidens will almost certainly duel to settle their true ranking!"

The surrounding crowd's excitement surged; people craned their necks and pushed forward.

"Let me see! Let me see!"

"Her sword is so beautiful!"

"Is it really that beautiful? I can't even see her face clearly."

"You say they grow trees inside their bellies—does that make their skin better too?"

Pei Ye had seen Nan Sister Guan Nu several times before and never stared, but now, as the crowd surged, he couldn't help leaning forward too, as if hoping to see if her face had changed.

"She earned her rank by her sword, not her face, really," Ren Ren Zixin muttered slightly annoyed, then turned and smiled. "Did you know? Yesterday she watched Qi's sword practice and gave him a few pointers—her sword is truly incredible."

Pei Ye quickly shifted his gaze to Nan Sister Guan Nu's sword, as if he'd never looked at her face, and turned back curiously: "How powerful is she?"

Ren Ren Zixin glanced at the sword at Pei Ye's waist: "You train swords too—you should understand—she's been in the Spirit Realm for four years."

"Ah! That's truly impressive."

Ren Ren Zixin sighed: "I was hoping she'd make fourth—never thought she'd only be seventh."

Pei Ye comforted: "The ones ahead are just too strong."

"True—Su Su Xingke is so powerful, yet he's only fourth."

At that moment, this gifted youth walked across the long street; the crowd roared in waves, but today he did not smile or glance around—he walked with lowered eyes, hand on his sword, heading toward Jade Sword Terrace, as if burdened by something heavy.

Pei Ye nodded: "After all, he only fought once—his record may still be surpassed by Cui Zi and Xiang Zhang Zongyuan."

He added curiously: "Who do you think is stronger—Cui Zi or Xiang Zhang Zongyuan?"

"What do you think?"

"I thought it was Cui Zi—I heard they're five years apart."

Ren Ren Zixin shook his head, smiling: "Not so! The martial world says Cui's true disciple has superior talent—that's true—but at eighteen, Xiang Zhang Zongyuan had already reached Eighth-Life Spirit Realm. These years, he's reportedly trained in secret with the Ancestor Master under the 【Withering Blossom Scroll】, accumulating strength silently—his sword talent cannot be judged by age."

"Ah!" Pei Ye realized. "So the Register Assembly does consider things carefully."

But Ren Ren Zixin frowned: "Still, I wonder who this Pei Ye really is."

"."

"Father says the Register Assembly places each name for a reason—but this man is unheard of. Pingshenme does he surpass so many brilliant talents?"

Someone nearby chimed in: "True! Even if his talent is high, shouldn't he show himself like Master Su? How can he claim first place with nothing but a name?"

". It's indeed hard to accept."

"Right? Besides, he hasn't shown his face at all. In my view, either he's a coward clinging to favor, or he's arrogant and rude—in short, likely a scoundrel."

"Ah? That's not necessarily…"

"Hm?" Ren Ren Zixin frowned, turning his head.

"Well, the Register Assembly said he's still recovering from serious injuries—I imagine that must be painful, maybe he really couldn't fight many matches, just one final duel."

". That's possible," Ren Ren Zixin reluctantly conceded, then turned. "Hey, by the way, I haven't asked—my name is Ren Ren Zixin. What's yours?"

"." Pei Ye paused. "Ah, I'm… Zhang Zhang Siche!"

"Oh, pleased to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you."

At Chen hour, amid countless expectant gazes, a clear voice recited the solemn 【Jade Sword Terrace Register Prologue】, and the ranking deliberations began amid cheers.

The first name under review was Cai Cai Wuzhi, ranked seventy-two. Though the Register Assembly had given the verdict "No Concern," and no one at the sword forum challenged his position, he himself requested a challenge against the seventy-first.

Thus, the first sword duel of the Register began—but in just seven strikes, Cai Cai Wuzhi was defeated.

The clear voice echoed across the venue: "First deliberation: Cai Cai Wuzhi, challenge from seventy-two to seventy-one—confirmed. No objections from any side. Final rank: seventy-two."

The name floated up from the bottom black column and settled.

Few mocked him; even the last-ranked, labeled "No Concern," still dared to strive forward—better than clinging to pride. His sect accepted the result without hesitation, and the second deliberation began immediately.

Pei Ye sat among laughing crowds; behind him, the storyteller detailed each swordsman in reverse order. He looked up at the towering Jade Sword Terrace, seeing no figures, hearing no words—yet he suddenly began to anticipate the moment when the final few names would be reviewed.

Because the speculation about "Pei Ye" had never stopped.

The two characters "Pei Ye" still glowed clearly at the top of the golden banner—whether questioning, curious, hopeful, mocking, sarcastic, or even insulting—this topic still filled every gap, even as sword duels had already begun.

For the first time, Pei Ye truly felt he had displaced so much benefit—some of which didn't even exist. One man said that without this sudden appearance of Pei Ye, he himself might have been ranked seventy-second.

In short, he had become the brightest, strongest target of all.

Pei Ye ignored it all during the first hour, even found it amusing—but as time passed and the topic showed no sign of ending, the boy inevitably began to feel a dull anger, especially when he realized he was just one among dozens here, while nearly two hundred thousand people were talking this way.

Are they all talking about "Pei Ye" like this?

Suddenly, he really wanted to win.

And amid this unceasing chatter, a shocking rumor began spreading at an unimaginable speed.

——At the hour of Si, the Shaolong Immortal Platform publicly announced the "Zhang Huan's Death and the Gui Face" case, warning the entire martial world to be vigilant against this dangerous organization.

The horrifying events had occurred in Qiong Dong during September; subtle details revealed in the report left everyone speechless with shock, and among a host of astonishing names, the two characters "Pei Ye" appeared for the first time with unmistakable clarity.

(End of Chapter)

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