Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Qing Wan

In truth, the so-called Sword Washing Pool wasn’t far from the plateau where Shen Hao had ascended; walking along a small path pressed tightly against the mountain wall, one incense stick’s time would suffice to reach it.

Nor was it as mysterious as imagined—just a pit of chaotic rocks about ten yards square, with some stagnant water inside, and a stone platform facing north big enough for one person to sit. Behind the platform, the mountainside bore a carving: Sword Washing Pool.

If the "Chang Bai" characters at the mountain gate pricked Shen Hao’s eyes, daring him not to stare long, then these three words, "Sword Washing Pool," were even fiercer; there was no need to even look—just drawing near within ten yards, his skin tingled with a strange, needling pain.

"This... is this also Sword Intent?" Shen Hao turned in shock toward Nie Yun. Only then did he notice Nie Yun’s face had changed from its usual nonchalance to one of severity, with a faint aura rising from him, as if resisting something.

"That’s right, it’s also Sword Intent, and an extremely powerful one. Somewhat akin to what’s called ’Sword Concealed Life’ in legend."

Sword Concealed Life?

Shen Hao didn’t understand this, but the Chang Baifeng disciple leading them smirked and said, "Deacon Nie, your insight does you credit. These three ’Sword Washing Pool’ characters were carved by our Sect’s founder after attaining Sword Enlightenment. Though a thousand years have passed, the Sword Intent on them has not faded—this is precisely the sublime Sword Cultivator realm, ’Sword Concealed Life’!"

Nie Yun continued explaining to Shen Hao, "What exactly the Sword Concealed Life realm is—I’m no Sword Cultivator, so I can’t say clearly. But its defining trait can be summed up: wherever Sword Intent exists, all living things mourn and bow."

Wherever Sword Intent exists, all living things mourn and bow?!

Is it really that arrogant?

Shen Hao marveled inwardly, but also doubted it a little; all he felt was a prickling all over, surely not enough for ’all living things to mourn and bow’?

The Chang Baifeng disciple added, "This is just the residual Sword Intent from the engraving. If it were deliberately activated, few would dare approach the Sword Washing Pool."

"If the two of you are interested, you can go to the Sword Enlightenment Platform in front and compose yourselves; there you can directly comprehend the Sword Intent within the characters. If fate favors you, perhaps even grasp some of its profundities."

Nie Yun gave the Chang Baifeng disciple a half-smiling glance and said, "If so, why does your peak open such a treasure ground to outsiders? Or is it that Chang Baifeng now cares little for such ’opportunity’?"

"Heh, Deacon Nie, opportunities are rare precisely because they vary from person to person. The Sword Washing Pool is here—who benefits, who leaves empty-handed, all comes down to ’fate’. The main sect’s grand celebration today aside, we almost never show such treasures to others."

So, is the Sword Washing Pool essentially a "benefit" Chang Baifeng offers to guests?

It’s possible. Nie Yun only smiled, offering no denial. At his side, Shen Hao simply kept his own counsel: speak little, think much, watch closely. He didn’t understand anyway, so let them talk; he’d just observe.

Nie Yun made a circuit around the Sword Washing Pool, mind unreadable. He walked to the stone platform—the so-called Sword Enlightenment Platform the Chang Baifeng disciple mentioned—not ascending, but standing beside it, facing the three carved characters, and closed his eyes, as if in realization?

"Tsk-tsk, Deacon Nie truly deserves to be one of the Jingxi Double Eagles, able to directly comprehend the Sword Intent in the carving. Such Soul Strength is terrifying!"

The Chang Baifeng disciple’s admiration filled Shen Hao’s ears, but in his heart he thought, "Oh! So understanding Sword Intent is tied to Soul Strength?"

Perhaps lost in concentration, Nie Yun’s aura grew ever more somber, clearly in no hurry to withdraw. Shen Hao stepped closer, alertly watching their surroundings. The Chang Baifeng disciple frowned at this, but said nothing.

Since they’d arrived early, while Nie Yun immersed himself in comprehension, only Shen Hao and several Chang Baifeng disciples were nearby. Yet people gradually gathered; the disciple who’d led them couldn’t linger forever, so, excusing himself, went to greet others.

Half an hour later, Nie Yun still showed no sign of coming out of his trance, and more cultivators from other sects had arrived to view the Sword Washing Pool.

Fortunately, Nie Yun’s renown—plus Shen Hao’s cold, forbidding expression—were enough to keep others at bay.

But not everyone was so obliging.

Exactly one hour into Nie Yun’s meditation, a commotion rose outside the Sword Washing Pool.

A woman garbed in plain, elegant robes, her figure supple and graceful, strode into the Sword Washing Pool surrounded by a bevy of handsome, refined male cultivators.

Shen Hao heard others address her as: Fairy Qing Wan.

As he glanced at the emblem on her waist, Shen Hao’s heart gave a jolt; he never expected to see such a Sect Emblem within Jingxi Territory.

It was a brass-hued hexagon, with a mountain embossed as the background, and an open scroll of a book engraved in the center.

At sight of this emblem, Shen Hao understood why so many cultivators, including several High-Tier Chang Baifeng cultivators, flocked around her reverently, all addressing her as "Fairy."

Fairy—a title not just given to any female cultivator, but typically a term of address for a young woman of very high status.

Thus addressed, this woman’s status was clearly extraordinary: One of the two Super Sects in the Jingjiu Dynasty, the Mountain of Ten Thousand Books.

As she drew near, Shen Hao realized she likely hadn’t mastered some youth-preserving Skill, but in fact was even younger than him—she looked not yet twenty.

At her side, never more than a step away, was an old crone, her figure hunched and unassuming, yet whenever Shen Hao glimpsed her he instinctively averted his gaze, wanting to avoid her altogether.

Originally, Shen Hao had no intention of standing out; he planned to guard Nie Yun quietly until he emerged from enlightenment, then resume his role as a follower. But after the woman entered, she walked straight toward the Sword Enlightenment Platform, forcing Shen Hao to speak up.

"Fairy, please halt. My senior brother is currently comprehending the Sword Intent here, and cannot be disturbed. I ask Fairy to kindly allow us a little convenience." Shen Hao stepped out, standing on the only flagstone path leading from the Sword Washing Pool toward the Sword Enlightenment Platform and Nie Yun, cupping his hands respectfully in request.

Were this any other sect, the refined male cultivators trailing "Fairy Qing Wan" would have already spoken out to drive him away. At worst, with High-Tier Chang Baifeng cultivators in tow, a few words could grant "Fairy Qing Wan" priority.

However, those arriving could ignore Shen Hao blocking their way, but could not ignore Nie Yun meditating behind him.

Nie Yun, one of the Jingxi Double Eagles, a figurehead of Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute—on Jingxi’s ground, few dared drive him away.

But others’ hesitation did not mean "Fairy Qing Wan" would hesitate.

"This place holds the Sword Concealed Life’s Sword Intent. His cultivation is decent, but he won’t comprehend it, and is merely wasting time. Call him out. Don’t block my path."