Chapter 5: Mu Chenyuan Eliminated

Although Lei Pengfei was young, he placed great importance on rules and order, firmly believing that without them, nothing could be accomplished. He was renowned for his thunderous methods, but it was precisely because he valued rules that he was always scrupulously fair in all his dealings. “Mu Chenyuan, since you say you want a fair chance, then you and these two young men should venture into the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords together. You’ve come to Celestial Cloud, and if you don’t brave the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, it would be an immense pity. Old Blade, am I right?” In fact, if Old Blade were willing to join the Thunder Gang, Lei Pengfei wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.

“You’re absolutely right, I agree. Anyone who hasn’t been to the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords has no right to enter my tavern. Well then, you three lads—do you dare give it a try?” Old Blade laughed heartily. “We’ve all been there ourselves. Though we withdrew not far past the entrance, unable to bear the pressure, it still counts. You three seem no ordinary youths; surely you wouldn’t do worse than we did?”

Unless absolutely necessary, the Lingyun Codex was not to be used. But in the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, refusing to use it was all but impossible. “Of course we’ll go. Otherwise, why come here with so many people—just for sightseeing? Well, perhaps, since the scenery here is indeed marvelous. Still, even if we’re here to take in the sights, we must first see the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords.”

A surge of heroic spirit welled up in Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi. Indeed, as disciples of Qi Ying from Lingyun Palace, they could not allow themselves to be looked down upon. Mu Chenyuan, meanwhile, felt a trace of fear. He glanced at the distant Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, his throat tightening inexplicably. Retreat was no longer an option; to take a single step back today would be his undoing. “Of course I’ll go. And the final victor will be me!”

“Excellent! Since you’re all so confident, leave the rest to me.” Lei Pengfei laughed widely. “Old Blade, you know, since I founded the Thunder Gang, today is truly my happiest day—because I’ve finally found the people I need. All my brothers here are witness!”

Lei Pengfei was in high spirits. Even though Old Blade still hadn’t agreed to join the Thunder Gang, this unexpected harvest—meeting the three young men—was reward enough. Anyone with a heroic spirit would surely achieve great things; this was an immutable truth.

“Liang Xi, Zhuang Yunzheng, you must both be careful. What awaits inside the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, I can’t say. Whether you emerge safely depends on yourselves. Still, I know you possess supreme skills; this will be both a test and an opportunity. Only through real battle will your abilities awaken.”

“Yes, defeating Ironflow together was proof enough! I may have only just met you, but I know what you’ve accomplished. For your first battle since leaving the mountain, you did well. The Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, though, is the very symbol of Celestial Cloud. Everyone who comes here dreams of conquering it, but for years, no one has succeeded. You’re just beginners—if you can simply avoid injury, that’s enough.”

“You’re only in your teens—there will be many chances in the future. Failure is nothing. You saw my swordsmanship earlier; it’s quite good, but only after countless failures did I reach this point.” As Old Blade spoke of his past, a strange light shone in his eyes. Though those days were long gone, and he no longer possessed his former passion, now content to sell wine, the past was not so easily forgotten.

No one knew of Old Blade’s history, for he never spoke of it. Now, with the lid lifted, he chose to clarify: “Actually, I was the first ever to enter the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, fifty years ago. My swordsmanship was nearly perfect, and I thought myself capable of passing through. In the end, I failed—not only that, I was gravely wounded, my skills never recovered, and I became who I am today.”

Realizing he’d said too much, Old Blade collected himself. “I may have gone on at length, but you three are clearly the core of your group. You mustn’t come to harm. I say the same to everyone who seeks to challenge the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, but they rarely heed me, thinking I merely exaggerate the danger.”

Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzheng were now highly alert. “Senior, my brother and I are unlike others. We’ve only just left the mountain. Aside from a few techniques my brother knows, I know almost none. Since we’re resolved to brave the palace, our goal isn’t to seek conflict, but survival. Only by preserving our lives do we have limitless possibility.” Mu Chenyuan, meanwhile, paid little heed to the advice of outsiders; to him, such experience was useless. He was already growing impatient. Master, rest assured—I will not bring you shame!

As for preparations, there was little to do. Liang Xi, in truth, was filled with anticipation. Until today, he’d never realized the thrill of adventure ran in his blood. “Brother, I’m a little nervous, but even more excited. We’ve cultivated the Lingyun Codex for ten years—don’t you want to see what we can truly achieve?”

“You’re still the same as ever. But you’re right; after ten years of training, Master never let us use it lightly. The first time we did, we nearly made a grave mistake. Still, I think the Lingyun Codex has its own will. Perhaps it can sense our resolve now.”

Zhuang Yunzheng was even more curious about Mu Chenyuan’s plans. This man had been preparing for this task for a long time.

And what was Mu Chenyuan doing now? He was training. Thanks to Qi Ying’s earlier destruction of his meridians, he’d been reborn with powerful new ones. Techniques he’d once dared not use were now within his reach. For the first time, he unleashed his palm techniques—ethereal and agile. With three rapid strikes, the stones around him shattered, the force forming a domain.

His master had always said he had great talent for palm techniques, and that if he specialized, his future achievements would be limitless. Encouraged by this, Mu Chenyuan had only trained harder, determined to become a grandmaster of the palm. “Master, can you see me? Tomorrow, I’ll use these very palms to defeat Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzheng!”

“All my life you’ve told me to endure, and I have—for many years. I’ve had enough. Now, at last, my time has come.”

“Mu Chenyuan, it’s been hard for you all these years. I made you endure because the time wasn’t right. Now it is. You are my disciple, raised by my own hand. I know the effort you’ve put in. If there’s something you want to do, go and do it!”

“Master, you understand me now. I’m truly happy, and yet terribly sad. All the honor should have been mine, but in the end, what do I have? Yes, everything was ruined by Liang Xi and Bai Yunzheng!”

“No, my child, you’re far superior to those two. You must always believe in yourself. They’ve never truly trained. The Palace of Ten Thousand Swords is your domain—what is there to fear?”

“There’s one night left; you should polish your skills. I’ve never been to the Palace myself, but it’s dangerous. I can’t help you now, and it pains me. The rest is up to your own ability. But I have every confidence in your strength.”

Standing before the grand Palace of Ten Thousand Swords, Liang Xi was at a loss for words. He’d seen much in his life, but this enormous structure stunned him. If anything in all of Yun and Xuan Provinces could be called the pinnacle of architecture, this was it.

Exaggeration? Hardly. The Sword Tower was round above, square below—symbolizing the heavens and the earth. Three stories high, not tall, yet exuding an overwhelming sense of power. On the eaves a five-clawed golden dragon poised to soar, its eyes brimming with spirit—meeting its gaze, one could feel a surge of force from within.

Liang Xi and Bai Yunzheng were not so bold as to stare back. “You three are early—that’s good. The Palace of Ten Thousand Swords only opens upon sensing visitors, and only for an hour each day. We need only wait quietly.”

Fortunately, Yun and Xi had trained in the Lingyun Codex since childhood, enabling them to withstand the oppressive aura. “You three have impressive foundations. Over the years, many masters have ended their lives unable to bear this pressure. A pity, for if their skills had served the Thunder Gang, we’d have left Celestial Cloud long ago.” Lei Pengfei couldn’t understand why so many experts preferred death over joining him—was it all because of the Thunder Gang’s past reputation?

But reputation can change. Lei Pengfei hoped to remake the Thunder Gang anew, but the difficulties he faced were many. He’d often thought of giving up, but remembering the gang’s former glory, he could never abandon it. To be a disciple of the Thunder Gang was to take its honor as one’s own, and even in the hardest times, he would never quit. Years of perseverance had brought him Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi—surely a sign from heaven.

This was the best beginning. As the heavy doors finally groaned open, the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords revealed its trials. Blades of sword energy howled forth. There was no choice but to endure; to dissolve them was impossible. Liang Xi had never felt such power—his blood surged.

The Earth Scroll of the Lingyun Codex once again shielded Liang Xi, and under its guidance, he advanced step by step into the sword energy, making no defense. Was he relying on his body to withstand it? Each opening of the Palace was an event in Celestial Cloud. In the sky, even the birds gathered in spectacular formation. The experienced masters watching Liang Xi—a fifteen-year-old—brave the sword energy so recklessly could only sigh, seeing yet another youth throwing his life away.

But Mu Chenyuan knew Liang Xi would succeed. The sight of him and Zhuang Yunzheng slaying Ironflow together was unforgettable. The Lingyun Codex, a living art, released just enough energy to ward off the blades. Thus, the sword energy streaming toward Liang Xi faltered. Seizing the moment, he used the Soaring Bird Technique and slipped easily into the palace.

“Passed!” The final confirmation from the Palace amazed the onlookers. The first trial, which had claimed many experts, was so easily overcome by a fifteen-year-old? Moreover, the grace of his movement was exquisite, weaving through the gaps in the blades—no one had ever done such a thing.

Zhuang Yunzheng sought a similar effect, but unlike Liang Xi, he met the sword energy head-on with unfathomable technique, dominant and mysterious—he was the first ever to force his way in so. The regulars at Wild Blade Tavern were astounded by the brothers: one graceful, the other fierce. Old Blade, however, was not surprised; he knew these brothers would shock Celestial Cloud for some time.

“Passed!” As close brothers, Zhuang Yunzheng naturally wished to stay by Liang Xi’s side. Without his protection, the boy would surely cry. With a clap of their hands, they celebrated together. Now, after witnessing their skills, what would their senior brother, Mu Chenyuan, do?

Mu Chenyuan’s gaze was fierce, burning with resentment. With a long howl, he launched himself like an eagle into the sword energy. “Tricks are the lowest form of skill—now you’ll see what true ability looks like!” He unleashed three surges of inner force from his palms. With such overwhelming power, brushing aside the sword energy should have been easy. But the crowd’s faces grew strange. The sword energy of the Palace was not so easily neutralized.

Had it not been said? The sword energy could not be dissolved, only endured. Clearly, Mu Chenyuan had lost his composure. With a thunderous crash, as his palm met the energy, he was flung away by a force even more violent, coughing blood. Yet he was tough; with another outburst of strength, he forced his way in, albeit injured. “Passed!”

Though battered, he’d passed the first trial—a respectable feat. Mu Chenyuan paid no mind to his wounds. Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzheng had already drawn too much attention; he could not allow himself to lose.

Seeing his senior brother in such a state, Liang Xi was at a loss for words.

“This time, all three of you have performed well. Please wait patiently—a true victor will soon emerge.” Once more, the palace spoke, the voice of its guardian. Only three could enter at a time—a rare occurrence. The palace closed again. All who passed would receive a reward and be safely transported out.

“My friends, I am the guardian of the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords. You are fortunate—if any of you completes all the trials, you’ll claim the palace’s prize. But luck is not all on your side, for the coming trials are far more difficult and dangerous. Compared to them, the first was child’s play.”

The guardian did not appear, but his ethereal voice held authority. “There are three trials: first, evade the sword energy; second, ascend to the clouds; third, fight me!”

“If you wish to withdraw, now is your last chance. But since you do not, you must face the second trial. Do you see the white cloud above your heads? Your task is to reach it. The cloud is conjured from supreme martial arts. Since you are ready, let us begin.”

“The second trial is called ‘Ascending to the Clouds.’ There are no ladders—find your own way. The best of the light-footed have barely reached a few dozen yards; that is the limit. I eagerly await your attempts. There is no time limit, but the last to reach the cloud is eliminated. That is my rule.” The guardian’s tone brooked no discussion.

The three were at a loss. “You two just watch—I’ll show you how to win. You’ve had your moment; it’s my turn.” With that, Mu Chenyuan leaped up. His movement was impressive, but the trial was not so easily passed. A bolt of lightning crashed down, striking him to the ground.

Lightning and clouds are natural companions. “Mu Chenyuan, you seem to take the trials too lightly. If it were so easy, would the Palace have lasted so long? Good idea, but you will fail.” The guardian was ruthless. “If the three of you work together, you might stand a chance.”

“In your dreams! I would never join forces with Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi. I must come first. Since childhood, I’ve always been first. But ever since leaving the mountain, everything’s changed. I refuse to accept it. These trials cannot stop me—all the rewards will be mine.”

Mu Chenyuan had lost his calm, and worse, the space around them sealed itself off. The lightning had caused a violent tremor, and now, guided by its energy, the scattered weapons around them gathered into puppet-like warriors. With these guardians, reaching the clouds was impossible.

But there was no sense blaming Mu Chenyuan now. “Mu Chenyuan, you must work with us. If you want to die, that’s your choice. We won’t join you.” Zhuang Yunzheng’s eyes shone, his body radiating golden light. The puppet warriors shrank back—this golden defense was a power of the Sky Scroll of the Lingyun Codex.

Just as the Earth Scroll could briefly halt time, the golden body was an ability born from relentless training. With this shield, they were safe for the moment. The guardian was surprised. “The first could halt time; I thought that remarkable. But you, young man, possess such formidable golden defense.”

Well-traveled, the guardian instantly recognized the supreme Lingyun Codex. Though powerful, he was unperturbed; he simply deemed the brothers’ fortune extraordinary. These two abilities would help them survive many dangers.

“Brother, you can finally use your golden defense freely?” Liang Xi looked at Zhuang Yunzheng, who, though still a youth, now exuded the air of a master, inspiring awe.

“What, envious? Your senior is quite something. In this sealed space, you’ll have to rely on me. Honestly, it’s a good feeling.” As for Mu Chenyuan, Zhuang Yunzheng had no desire to argue with him. He would protect him only for the sake of their shared master. The consequences were unimportant. If Mu Chenyuan repaid kindness with enmity, so be it—he’d seen it before.

The puppet warriors hammered at the golden barrier with brute force, but to no avail—the defense held. Suddenly, the ground shook with heavy footsteps. The puppets parted, and their leader appeared: a giant, armored puppet, ten meters tall, wielding a greatsword.

This was clearly the leader. He looked down on the three youths as if they were ants, raising his sword—a single blow would spell death. Zhuang Yunzheng pushed his defense to the limit, but in this state, he could not move or be distracted. Attacks must be handled by Liang Xi and Mu Chenyuan.

He trusted his brother, but Mu Chenyuan was the variable. Should he attack them, their lives would be forfeit.

Mu Chenyuan, though at odds with them, knew that only by working together could any of them survive. To die here would be shameful. “Hmph. Zhuang Yunzheng, don’t look at me that way. The situation is critical. I’m not a fool. For once, I’ll cooperate with you.”

With that, he charged out. At that moment, Liang Xi activated his time-stopping power—this time by choice. How long could he sustain it? He didn’t know. Drawing his Silver Snow Flying Dagger, he teamed up with Mu Chenyuan’s fierce palms, swiftly destroying most of the weaker puppets. The leader slowed, sensing the halted time, and let out a howl.

Trying to shatter the temporal freeze, the leader struck Mu Chenyuan. But as he did, two flying daggers blinded him. Liang Xi spat blood, finally unable to bear the cost of time manipulation, and normal time resumed.

The time halt was most effective when used suddenly—prolonged use harmed the body. “Liang Xi!” Seeing his brother wounded, Zhuang Yunzheng was distraught. His distraction dissolved the golden defense. The leader, sensing this, howled in what seemed laughter—danger loomed.

Zhuang Yunzheng was also injured, his golden defense disrupted. Without their powers, Mu Chenyuan’s face darkened in despair. It seemed they would die here.

The leader raised his sword again. Was there truly no one to save them?

At the most perilous moment, a surge of mighty sword energy blasted the leader back. The sword energy spoke: “You three have truly astonished me. Your teamwork was impressive. The leader puppet has served me for years—let him be, for my sake.”

“Stand down!” The leader, shaken, retreated with his puppets, as if nothing had happened. Was this the guardian himself?

“You’ve passed the second trial. All that happened was real—manifestations of your true thoughts. From the start, you believed this was a dangerous place, and that fear made the puppet stronger. The more you feared, the more powerful it became.”

“You’ve passed as planned. You understand each other—though often at odds, together you are formidable. I shouldn’t have appeared so soon, but if you’d died, I’d be left without opponents. I know you seek to join the Thunder Gang. Now, I’ll be your opponent. Come at me together—your teamwork was impressive.” The sword energy faded, revealing a youth in plain clothes, whose presence was nonetheless commanding.

No humble garb could hide his nobility. “Don’t stare—I’m the guardian. You three are younger than I expected. Defeat me, and you pass the final trial.” Without further ado, he released a startling aura, flying up and striking at Mu Chenyuan’s face. The earlier sword energy could only be used once, and only against the puppets.

With a casual strike, the guardian suppressed Mu Chenyuan. “Young man, your palm technique is that of Master Yan Shiyu from Lingyun Immortal Realm. But you use it poorly. Do you know why I attacked you first? Earlier, when Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi’s powers faded, you grew angry and intended to use the puppet leader to kill them, didn’t you?”

“But I saw through you. That’s why I intervened. Someone like you is unworthy of the Palace of Ten Thousand Swords. For your master’s sake, I’ll spare your life—now get out!” With that, Mu Chenyuan was expelled by a surge of force.

“There’s movement in the Palace—has someone passed all the trials so quickly?” Outside, hidden masters whispered among themselves. Before they finished, Mu Chenyuan was flung out of the palace, landing heavily and losing consciousness. “Mu Chenyuan violated the rules and acted recklessly—his qualifications are revoked. For one year, he is forbidden to set foot in Celestial Cloud!” The guardian’s voice echoed across Yun and Xuan Provinces.

Yan Shiyu’s face darkened—Mu Chenyuan had failed? The boy was promising, but too impatient. Advancing further would be difficult for him. “Qi, congratulations! Your two disciples achieved great things their first time away from home. Compared to my useless disciple, what a contrast!”

Qi Ying was not convinced by Yan Shiyu’s congratulations. “There’s nothing to congratulate. It was just luck. Compared to their senior, Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi have much to improve.”

“Hmph, wait until the grand tournament!” Yan Shiyu snorted, then cut off communication. He needed to bring Mu Chenyuan back—leaving him here would only invite ridicule.

“Master, I’ve let you down. Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi worked together brilliantly. I can’t even say exactly why they’re so strong.” Upon waking, Mu Chenyuan’s first words were an apology. This was a poor start indeed.

“My child, you needn’t explain. I know all that happened. Your Uncle Qi always loved strange techniques; it’s no surprise Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi performed miracles. But miracles only happen once. Now that you’re back, focus on your training and prepare for the grand tournament. In the Lingyun Immortal Realm, you are the strongest. There will be many chances to deal with them—no need to rush.”

“I understand, Master. Next time, I will not let you down!” Damn it—this trip to Celestial Cloud had brought disgrace, and he hadn’t even completed the mission to eliminate the Thunder Gang. Such merit fell to Zhuang Yunzheng and Liang Xi—how galling!

“You two, just wait. At the grand tournament, I’ll make you pay.”