At the mountain gate of Qingyun Dao Sect.
Several somewhat dilapidated halls stood there, much of the paint on their walls already peeling away.
Outside the main hall was an incense burner, where a single lonely stick of incense burned, filling the place at all times with an air of shabby poverty.
Today, Su Changyu had risen early.
As the eldest senior brother of Qingyun Dao Sect,
the task of welcoming the sect leader naturally fell to him.
Of course, welcoming the sect leader back was a minor matter. The important thing was how to fool this newly arrived junior brother of his right from the start.
He had already arranged for the other junior brothers and sisters to go about their own business. In the early stages, it would be best for them not to have too much contact with the new junior brother.
For now, they had to maintain an air of mystery.
Of course, the most important thing was the first impression.
Su Changyu understood very well just how important first impressions were.
It was precisely because of this that Su Changyu had put on his battle robe: the Qingzhou Embroidered Daoist Robe that had been awarded to him when he entered the top five hundred in the Qingzhou Sword Trial.
Once he put on the Daoist robe, his entire bearing improved enormously. In particular, paired with a three-foot azure blade, he looked even more like a peerless sword immortal.
Looking at himself in the bronze mirror, Su Changyu felt somewhat moved.
He was so handsome, with such an outstanding appearance, so why was he merely an ordinary person?
He could not help sighing with emotion. After all, relying on this appearance of his had indeed caused many people to mistake him for an expert.
But paper could not wrap up fire. It was easy to deceive people once or twice, but without any true ability, he would be exposed sooner or later. Thus, Su Changyu did not particularly like going down the mountain. Quietly being the eldest senior brother in Qingyun Dao Sect was quite pleasant too.
Just then,
Su Changyu put down the bronze mirror.
Calculating the time, it was already noon. The sect leader should be returning soon.
Thinking of this, Su Changyu walked out of his room.
Arriving outside the mountain gate, Su Changyu quietly stood on a small slope. His gaze became very calm, and his handsome face appeared profound and unfathomable.
The three-foot azure blade hovered before him, while he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. The pose was already set; all he had to do now was wait for this junior brother he had never met to take the bait.
Just like that, in less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn,
two figures slowly came into view.
At this moment, Su Changyu felt a little nervous. However, he quickly steadied his emotions and displayed his unique bearing to the fullest.
On the slopes of Qingyun Dao Sect,
Ye Ping, who had climbed up on foot, was already somewhat out of breath.
Climbing a mountain was physically demanding. For a mortal who had never practiced martial arts or cultivated immortality, the winding mountain path was even more exhausting than hauling bricks.
If not for his heart brimming with the will to cultivate immortality, Ye Ping would have given up long ago.
Beads of sweat had already seeped out on Ye Ping’s forehead. Walking through the mountain paths was somewhat uncomfortable. In contrast, Daoist Taihua still appeared incomparably light and graceful. Not even a speck of dust had touched his body, displaying the bearing of an immortal to the fullest and making Ye Ping unbearably envious.
Just as Ye Ping was filled with envy,
very soon, a figure drew his gaze.
Not far away, atop a slope,
stood a man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight with his hands clasped behind his back.
The man was handsome, wearing a jade crown and an embroidered robe. Before him hovered a three-foot azure blade, and his gaze was deep, as though it contained the stars.
“A sword immortal?”
This phrase involuntarily surfaced in Ye Ping’s mind.
The figure not far away satisfied every fantasy Ye Ping had of a sword immortal.
Handsome and elegant, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, handsome in bearing and appearance, like a supreme sword immortal.
Especially those eyes—they looked down upon all things, as though everything beneath heaven and earth was nothing more than this in his sight.
Ye Ping froze where he stood.
To be honest, before joining this sect, Ye Ping had thought Qingyun Dao Sect was probably a very poor sect. Otherwise, how could a cultivator like him, who possessed no spiritual root, have been accepted?
But when Ye Ping saw this young man,
all of a sudden, Ye Ping felt that he might have been wrong.
Perhaps this sect appeared on the surface to be an unranked sect, but in reality, it was some hidden sect, where every member was a big shot—the kind who could casually carry him to soaring heights.
Thinking of this, Ye Ping could not help but grow excited.
It was also at this moment that Ye Ping could not help slowly speaking.
“Three million sword immortals in the heavens; upon meeting me, all must lower their brows.”
These words came from his heart, because only these words were worthy of the man before him.
Only these words could describe the bearing of such a peerless sword immortal.
Ye Ping’s entire being could not help but grow excited.
Su Changyu, too, could not help being stunned.
He could hear Ye Ping’s voice.
This line of poetry made him pause slightly.
Three million sword immortals in the heavens; upon meeting me, all must lower their brows.
This line was rather interesting.
Very good. Pretentious enough. From now on, this line is mine.
Su Changyu felt delighted inside. He had not expected that by coming out to welcome the sect leader, he would actually freeload such a pretentious line of verse.
Good, very good, extremely good. This junior brother knew what he was doing.
But very soon, Su Changyu withdrew the joy in his heart. His expression remained calm and indifferent the entire time. At this moment, however, he turned his gaze toward Daoist Taihua, then bowed respectfully.
“Disciple greets the sect leader. Welcome back, Sect Leader.”
His voice rang out, warm and gentle like jade.
“Mm.” Daoist Taihua nodded. He had taken in everything that had just happened. Ye Ping’s every movement, including every shift in his expression, had been observed by him in meticulous detail. Naturally, he already knew that Ye Ping had been fooled.
However, although he was delighted inwardly, Daoist Taihua still did his utmost to remain composed.
After all, if one was acting, one had to act the whole part. What would it look like to be flustered and noisy?
“Changyu, what are you doing here?”
Daoist Taihua slowly spoke, asking Su Changyu.
The latter grasped his sword, then opened his mouth and replied.
“Reporting to Master, your disciple is here comprehending the sword Dao of heaven and earth, and also came to welcome Master back.”
Su Changyu spoke without the slightest shame. The moment he opened his mouth, he spoke of comprehending the sword Dao of heaven and earth, causing Daoist Taihua to be slightly stunned.
Although he had sent a letter telling them to act like peerless experts, there was no need to go this far, was there?
If he came out to welcome him, then he came out to welcome him. How could he even drag the sword Dao of heaven and earth into it?
However, after seeing Ye Ping’s expression grow even more shocked, Daoist Taihua let out a slight breath of relief.
As long as Ye Ping was willing to believe it, it did not matter if the bragging was a little exaggerated. The key was to keep the person here. Any other methods were inconsequential.
“In that case, continue comprehending the Great Dao here. Ye Ping, this person is your eldest senior brother, Su Changyu. Go and pay your respects.”
Daoist Taihua spoke.
Ye Ping immediately came back to his senses. Then he walked a few steps forward, before bowing toward Su Changyu.
“Junior Brother Ye Ping greets Eldest Senior Brother.”
Ye Ping spoke and bowed in salute as well, appearing incomparably respectful.
“Junior Brother, there is no need to be so polite. Since you were chosen by Master, that proves you possess some talent. Your senior brother has no great possessions, so I shall bestow upon you a fortunate opportunity. Comprehend it well.”
As he spoke, Su Changyu waved his hand. Immediately after, a fresh breeze brushed over.
In an instant, Ye Ping felt relaxed and refreshed, as though his entire being had been elevated.
Daoist Taihua, who stood to the side, was even more amazed inwardly.
Poor was poor, yet even sending out a breeze could be described as a fortunate opportunity. He truly had not expected that this eldest disciple of his would be so good at posturing.
What a pity for such a fine talent for posturing.
“Many thanks, Eldest Senior Brother.”
Ye Ping did not know what kind of method this was. As a transmigrator, in his eyes, this kind of immortal art was no different from a miracle.
Whether or not it was a fortunate opportunity could be set aside for now. In any case, this eldest senior brother was definitely an expert!