The realm of Lingyang, Southern Territories, The Mystic Unity Sect.
“The lone goose flies away, the fair maiden pledges her troth.”
“Upon sobering from the wine, she is gone, vanished as if a dream.”
“Grudges dissolve, swords and sabres return to their sheaths.”
“A toast to the river rain, in a cold boat, I drink alone…”
As the strains of the song drifted through the air, a youth clad in white robes appeared at the far edge of the vista.
The boy, with a face of youthful innocence, carried a wine gourd; his noble bearing and majestic demeanor made him seem like an immortal who had stepped straight out of a painting.
“We pay our respects to the Arch-Elder.”
“Greetings, Arch-Elder.”
Those nearby, upon seeing him, immediately bowed in greeting, their attitudes one of utmost reverence.
“Mmm.”
The youth gave a slight nod and, with an air of nonchalance, passed through the crowd, heading towards the great hall ahead.
Only after the youth had gone far into the distance did the crowd dare to speak openly.
“The Arch-Elder has returned!”
“Such presence, it’s truly like that of a celestial being. So magnificent!”
“As expected of the Arch-Elder, we are not worthy to even follow in his dust.”
“…”
Qin Jue paid no mind to the discussions behind him.
His only desire now was to quickly report to his nominal senior brother about the recent Demon-Slaying Grand Conclave and then enjoy a comfortable rest.
“Oh? Master Uncle, you have returned?”
At that moment, a handsome man emerged from the great hall, looking slightly surprised upon seeing Qin Jue.
“So it’s Ji Chen. You seem to have grown significantly stronger.”
Qin Jue looked the handsome man up and down, his tone meaningful.
“You jest, Master Uncle. I still fall far short of you.”
The handsome man addressed as Ji Chen sighed.
“That is indeed true.”
Qin Jue nodded without a hint of modesty.
Ji Chen: “…”
“I have matters to discuss with your master. You may go about your business.”
Qin Jue waved his hand, adopting an impatient demeanor.
“Yes.”
The handsome man promptly withdrew.
Conversing with this Master Uncle would likely drive one to an early death, he thought, feeling a pang of sympathy for his own master.
The great hall was extraordinarily vast.
Upon entering, one’s eyes were met with two rows of exquisitely carved coiling dragon pillars of white jade, imposing and majestic.
The floor was paved with luminous Cristal-like stone, making it scarcely distinguishable from a celestial palace.
“Senior Brother, I have returned.”
Qin Jue took a swig of wine and announced loudly.
At the far end of the hall, sitting in a meditative posture, was an elder with an aura of an immortal, dignified and awe-inspiring, radiating powerful spiritual energy fluctuations.
He was Qin Jue’s senior brother, also the Sect Master of the Mystic Unity Sect, the nominal strongest cultivator within a thousand-mile radius—Bai Ye.
Hearing the youth’s voice, the elder opened his eyes and smiled.
“Excellent, excellent. Come quickly and tell your senior brother about all the interesting occurrences at this Demon-Slaying Grand Conclave.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Jue felt rather speechless.
Despite being over eighty years old, his senior brother always possessed an insatiable curiosity for novel things.
Had he not been tied down by his duties, it wouldn’t have fallen to Qin Jue to attend this Conclave.
With a sigh, Qin Jue took a step forward and instantly seated himself opposite the elder.
“Nothing of note happened,” he said listlessly. “It was just hunting a few demon beasts. They’ve held this over a dozen times already. Haven’t you grown tired of it?”
“Uh… That is true.”
The elder was momentarily stunned, left without a retort, and thus changed the subject.
“What about the rankings of the Four Great Sects?”
“Same as last year. The Celestial Mechanism Sect is first, the Mystic Yellow Sect second, the Sword Creation Sect third, and the Wind Thunder Sect fourth.”
Qin Jue replied offhandedly.
“So, the Celestial Mechanism Sect has held the top rank for five consecutive years? This does not bode well.”
“Who cares if it’s good or bad news? It has nothing to do with us anyway,” Qin Jue said dismissively.
Compared to the Four Great Sects, the Mystic Unity Sect was merely an insignificant, minor power in the Southern Territories.
Besides receiving an invitation to the annual Demon-Slaying Conclave, this place was practically forgotten at all other times.
“Alas, I hope you’re right,” the old man sighed.
“Ah, right!” Qin Jue exclaimed, his eyes suddenly snapping wide open as if he’d just remembered something.
“What is it?” the old man asked promptly.
“There was a girl, incredibly beautiful. I think she was the Holy Maiden of the Wind and Thunder Sect, right? Tsk tsk, that figure…” As he spoke, Qin Jue couldn’t help but take another swig of wine.
The old man: “…”
“Senior Brother, is there anything else? If not, I’m heading back to sleep,” Qin Jue said, getting to his feet.
“Get out of here.”
“Will do!”
“Wait!”
“What now?”
“Drink less wine.”
“Hah.”
“…”
…
Exiting the great hall, Qin Jue stretched comfortably and sighed with relief, “Finally, I don’t have to deal with those annoying people anymore.”
“Where does this path lead, this sword of mine? Love and hate are fickle, hard to devote to only one.”
“This blade of mine parts the vast sky; right and wrong, understood or not, I cannot tell.”
“Drunk, I am in a blissful haze; gratitude and grievance, illusion or void.”
…
Singing to himself, Qin Jue staggered away from the hall and soon arrived at his own secluded courtyard.
As the youngest Arch-Elder in the history of the Mystic Unity Sect, and perhaps even in all of Lingyang Realm, Qin Jue’s favorite pastimes were drinking, singing, and enjoying the scenery.
Therefore, his courtyard was built on the edge of a cliff. Its remote location meant he never had to worry about being disturbed.
“Hahaha, Little Cyan, long time no see!” Qin Jue laughed heartily.
Little Cyan was not a person, nor a pet, but a large, dark green rock at the cliff’s edge. In the past, whenever Qin Jue got drunk, he would sleep on this rock. Over time, he had come to regard it as a friend.
The Cyan Rock did not reply, remaining silently in its place.
Qin Jue leaped up and landed on the rock, saying contentedly, “The feeling here is still the best. No matter what, I must never agree to attend such boring events for Senior Brother again.”
Perhaps because he had grown accustomed to this life, Qin Jue now intensely disliked crowded places. He would often skip even the internal meetings of the Mystic Unity Sect.
With this thought, he drained the wine from his gourd, then lay back on the rock, slowly drifting off to sleep.
In truth, Qin Jue held a secret in his heart that he had never shared with anyone: he did not belong to this world.
Like most otherworlders, Qin Jue hailed from Earth. Fortunately, the day after his arrival, he was recognized by the previous sect master of the Mystic Unity Sect, who, overcoming all opposition, took him in as a personal disciple.
Ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Qin Jue’s master had long since passed away. After an election, his senior brother, Bai Ye, succeeded as sect master, and Qin Jue himself vaulted to the revered position of Arch-Elder.
During this time, apart from the deceased former master and Bai Ye, practically no one knew Qin Jue’s true level of strength. To be precise, not even Qin Jue himself knew.
Because he was too powerful.
Even if Qin Jue did absolutely nothing, his strength would continuously grow with age. A few years ago, he might have had a rough idea of his realm, but now it had completely surpassed all understanding. He could likely annihilate even the most powerful martial artist in the Lingyang Realm with a single strike.
Although Qin Jue possessed invincible power, he had never aspired to be a “superhero” who maintained world peace.
He still spent his days drinking, singing, and enjoying the scenery.
No earth-shattering event in the outside world could ever affect him.
If Bai Ye hadn’t been tied up with other matters, Qin Jue would never have attended something like the Demon-Slaying Conclave.
Who says greater power must come with greater responsibility?
At the very least, Qin Jue had no interest in that.
And no one could force him to do so either.
An unknown amount of time passed, and when Qin Jue awoke, it was already deep night.
A silver, platter-like moon hung in the sky, adorned with a breathtaking tapestry of countless stars.
In that moment, Qin Jue felt as if he were adrift in the cosmos itself, his body and mind profoundly at ease.
“Hmm? What’s that?”
Qin Jue looked up and suddenly saw a streak of light flashing across the sky, speeding directly towards him.
“A meteor?”
Qin Jue frowned slightly and raised his hand with a casual wave.
The streak of light immediately changed course in mid-air, arcing away to fly off elsewhere.
Having done this, Qin Jue lightly clapped his hands together.
Then, he returned to his room and went straight back to sleep.
