The back mountain of the Heavenly Origin Sect.
The barrier at the entrance of Wanjian Mountain.
Xuanweizi stood suspended in midair, robes flapping loudly in the mountain wind.
“Wanjian Mountain stores the weapons collected by successive generations of the Heavenly Origin Sect. Today, all newly admitted disciples may enter to seek a weapon suited to them.”
“Once a contract is successfully made, the barrier will automatically transport you out. If you do not find a suitable one, you must still leave before the Hour of the Rooster.”
“Weapons have spirits, and fate cannot be forced. Do you all understand?”
The disciples responded in unison, “We understand!”
Xuanweizi raised a hand and pinched a spell gesture.
The barrier slowly opened, and a wide entrance appeared before everyone.
The disciples lined up and entered one by one.
Only after entering did Xue Mingzhao realize that Wanjian Mountain was somewhat different from what she had imagined.
She had thought the so-called Wanjian Mountain would be a sword grave with swords stabbed all over the mountain.
Only after going inside did she discover—
Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, long staffs, soft whips, folding fans, crossbows...
All kinds of weapons of every description were present, a dazzling sight to behold.
Swords were indeed the most numerous, accounting for about half of them.
So Wanjian Mountain... was actually just a massive armory.
In the original book, Shen Chaoyue and Suguang entered Wanjian Mountain together.
Shen Chaoyue contracted the Xunyue Sword, while Suguang found a nameless ancient sword after her.
That sword had no name.
Suguang had looked at the Xunyue Sword in Shen Chaoyue's hand and casually named his own sword “Xunyang.”
One Xunyue, one Xunyang.
Hearing them individually was nothing, but put together, it was as if they couldn't wait to engrave “We are a couple” onto their scabbards.
Unfortunately, until Suguang's death, Shen Chaoyue only ever treated him as a younger brother, completely failing to notice his feelings.
His feelings were hidden extremely well.
So well that his beloved didn't notice them at all.
Xue Mingzhao's goal in coming to Wanjian Mountain today was precisely that Xunyang Sword.
According to the original plot, Suguang was supposed to join the Heavenly Origin Sect and naturally enter Wanjian Mountain to find his natal sword.
Now that Suguang was a disciple of the Grand Primordium Sect, he couldn't very well run to the gates of the Heavenly Origin Sect and yell, “Hello, I'm here to pick up my sword.”
The Heavenly Origin Sect most likely wouldn't give him the sword.
They might even stab him a couple of times instead.
Thus, Xue Mingzhao could only sneak in herself to bring the Xunyang Sword out for him.
“Junior Sister?”
Su Ye waved his hand in front of her eyes.
“What are you thinking about?”
Xue Mingzhao snapped back to reality. “Nothing. There are too many weapons here; my eyes are playing tricks on me.”
A hand happened to pat her shoulder at that moment.
“Junior Sister Lin.”
Xue Mingzhao turned around. “Senior Sister Mei.”
Mei Ziqing smiled and said, “Have you thought about what weapon you want to choose?”
“Not yet. I plan to first—”
Xue Mingzhao was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
“Senior Sister Shen!”
Xue Mingzhao raised her arm and waved enthusiastically at Shen Chaoyue.
Shen Chaoyue's footsteps paused.
She had originally just wanted to observe Lin Yue secretly, but she hadn't expected to be spotted the moment she approached.
Facing that overly radiant, smiling face, she remained silent for a moment before walking over.
“Junior Sister Lin Yue, what a coincidence.”
Xue Mingzhao: “...”
Coincidence, my foot.
All the new disciples had come to Wanjian Mountain to choose weapons; it would be weird if they didn't run into each other.
Xue Mingzhao replied with a beaming smile, “Senior Sister Shen, you've also come to choose a spiritual tool, haha.”
Shen Chaoyue: “...”
Otherwise?
Did she come to Wanjian Mountain to enjoy the scenery??
Mei Ziqing didn't notice the subtle atmosphere between the two and warmly invited, “Junior Sister Shen, would you like to join us?”
Shen Chaoyue was just looking for an opportunity to test Lin Yue, so she naturally wouldn't refuse.
“Sure.”
“Then let's go together!”
Xue Mingzhao immediately grabbed Shen Chaoyue's arm.
Shen Chaoyue's body stiffened slightly, and she instinctively tried to pull her arm away.
She couldn't budge it.
Xue Mingzhao held on deathly tight, as if afraid she would run away.
The alarm bells in Shen Chaoyue's heart instantly rang louder.
During their previous meetings, Lin Yue had practically gone out of her way to avoid her.
For her to suddenly act this enthusiastic now, it seemed like she definitely had something to hide.
Shen Chaoyue remained calm on the surface, letting out a faint smile.
“Senior Sister was in the wrong last time. Don't worry, Junior Sister Lin, I will definitely keep a close eye out for you this time and help you choose the most suitable sword.”
Xue Mingzhao's smile grew even more radiant.
“Great, then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Sister.”
One hid wariness behind her smile.
The other hid calculation behind hers.
Mei Ziqing watched the two of them, feeling a quiet pang of envy.
She had heard that this Senior Sister Shen had a cold temperament and didn't like to associate with others.
She hadn't expected Junior Sister Lin to be so charming that she could get along so harmoniously with anyone.
The three young women walked forward, chatting and laughing.
At first glance, it was a picture of peaceful times.
Su Ye silently followed behind.
Even though all three of them were smiling, he felt a strange, chilly breeze around them for some reason.
Xue Mingzhao held Shen Chaoyue's arm, smiling on the outside but anxious on the inside.
She had no choice.
She didn't know what the Xunyang Sword actually looked like.
The original book only mentioned that right after Shen Chaoyue contracted the Xunyue Sword, Suguang found the Xunyang Sword nearby.
The locations of the two swords shouldn't be too far apart.
Wanjian Mountain was so massive, containing at least hundreds of thousands of weapons.
If she had to rummage through them herself, she might not even find it by next year.
Following the female lead closely was the most effortless method.
“Junior Sister Lin.”
Shen Chaoyue couldn't take it anymore. “Could you loosen your grip a bit? My arm is getting a little numb.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
Xue Mingzhao quickly relaxed her grip, but she still held onto her hand firmly.
Shen Chaoyue looked at their clasped hands, her expression complicated.
Previously, she had always felt that Lin Yue was avoiding her.
Looking at her now, she was actually somewhat clingy.
Could she really have overthought things?
Xue Mingzhao pretended to look around while secretly leading the group toward the direction described in the book.
The further they walked, the fewer disciples there were around.
The weapons on display also grew increasingly dilapidated.
At first, they could still see some intact low-grade spiritual tools, but as they walked further, all they could see were broken swords, damaged blades, and rusted, discarded weapons.
Shen Chaoyue stopped.
“Junior Sister Lin, are we heading further and further off course?”
Mei Ziqing also noticed something was off. “The weapons here all seem to be damaged.”
Xue Mingzhao shook her head with a look of profound mystery.
“You guys don't understand.”
“I used to read storybooks, and those peerless divine weapons are often hidden in these inconspicuous corners.”
“The more battered the exterior, the grander the origin.”
“A place like this looks like a junk pile, but it's actually where treasures are most easily found.”
Shen Chaoyue and Mei Ziqing fell silent in unison.
You can actually believe things from storybooks?
Is there something wrong with Junior Sister Lin's head?
“Makes sense!”
The two instinctively turned their heads, only to see Lin Yi nodding in full agreement, even giving Lin Yue a thumbs-up. “My sister makes a lot of sense.”
Shen Chaoyue and Mei Ziqing instantly understood.
If the sister had a screw loose, it was mostly because her brother enabled her.
Rate on N.U.
