Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 540 Mountain Sect, the Jianghu of the Eastern Territory, the hearts of the people are almost scattered.

In the entire Eastern Jianghu, there are very few masters who can be listed on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking.

It can be said that, without anyone realizing it, the overall strength of the Qingyun Sword Sect has already surpassed that of the Mountain Sect.

Before the pavilion, Duan Yun, an elder of the Qingyun Sword Sect, stroked his white beard and watched the Mountain Moving disciples carrying bronze cauldrons and treading through the frozen earth. He sighed softly, "The Eastern Jianghu is in turmoil. The leader of the Xuan Yin Sect has reached the Free and Unfettered level, two Dong Xuan cultivators have emerged from the Golden Crow Hall, and the Ironclad Sect has been making quite a few moves lately..."

Duan Yun's words caused the leaders of the surrounding factions to look extremely solemn.

With the arrival of powerful beings from other realms and the interference of the immortal path in the martial arts, the sects and martial arts schools in the Eastern Realm suffered repeated defeats.

If it weren't for the battle between the Great Qin Heavenly Division and the Grandmaster Realm experts from beyond the realm, the Eastern Territory would probably be even more chaotic.

"The Mountain Sect is now displaying its power to deter villains."

Duan Yun's gaze swept over the several seated figures not far away, a glint of sword intent flashing in his eyes.

The group seemed to sense something and turned to look at Duan Yun. The one in the lead chuckled and nodded.

Some people around recognized him as Elder Sun Zhentang of the Bai Chen Martial Sect.

"Bai Chen Martial Sect relies on the Jiujiang Prefecture Prefectural Government, and its power is growing stronger. It is said that they control the trade route on the Yuncang River, which leads directly to Eastern Wei," someone said in a low voice.

"Not only that, I've heard that their sect has now recruited immortal weapon refiners..." The speaker's voice lowered, as if he dared not mention it again.

Leaning against the railing, several tense-faced martial artists cast their gazes at the Xuan Tie warship sailing against the current.

"If you ask me, I'd say that the newly promoted Sea-Turning Master of the Zhenhai Sect is probably unwilling to remain a subordinate of the Mountain-Moving Sect any longer."

"The Zhenhai Sect now has at least five Grandmasters, far surpassing the Banshan Sect in strength. How could they possibly be willing to be controlled by the Banshan Sect? Besides—" The martial artist looked around, his voice growing even lower, "The Zhenhai Sect is isolated at sea, and its relationship with Eastern Wei..."

He didn't finish his sentence, and the others didn't press the matter further.

I understand everything I understand.

Among the guests watching the ceremony in front of the pavilion were mainly members of martial arts factions, as well as some members of aristocratic families dressed in brocade robes.

“Steward Zhao, isn’t Prefect Zheng supposed to stay out of the affairs of the martial world?” A middle-aged scholar wearing a jade crown and holding a folding fan looked around. “But are there any descendants of the Prefect who have joined the Mountain and Mountain Sect?”

Upon hearing his words, the old man in the brocade robe with a short beard shook his head: "Young Master Xun, isn't your Pingyun Marquis's mansion also uninterested in matters of the martial world?"

These words made the middle-aged scholar laugh heartily, turn his head, and search the square with his eyes.

The old man in the brocade robe smiled as he looked at the assembled martial artists in front of him.

He was the steward of Zheng Tianyuan, the prefect of Linyang County, and he came to attend the ceremony on behalf of the prefect.

Beside the sword-testing stone, Li Sihuan stood excitedly, gripping his sword tightly.

"Brother Zhang, look, this is the Mountain Sect."

"How wonderful it would be to join this sect!"

He clenched his free left fist and lowered his voice: "Once I've mastered my skills and roam the martial world, clashing with the warriors of Eastern Wei, then the name of Li Sihuan will be known throughout the martial world..."

Zhang Yuan ignored Li Sihuan's unrealistic aspirations and turned his gaze to the positions of the cultivators from the four major sects lined up in front of the mountain gate.

Beside him, an elderly man with a white beard, dressed in a gray robe and with a somewhat pale face, sighed softly.

"If the hearts of the people are scattered, the sect will fall apart..."

People's hearts have fallen apart.

Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Mountain Sect and the martial arts world of the Eastern Border are on the verge of collapse.

"boom--"

A deafening roar interrupted the discussion. The elder of the Mountain Moving lineage slammed his palms onto the testing stone, unleashing a powerful force that sent rocks tumbling down the surrounding mountains.

"Those who can lift the cauldron over the Dragon Gate will enter the Mountain Moving Sect; those who can comprehend the three sword marks will enter the Broken Mountain Sect; those who can stand under the hanging waterfall for half an incense stick's time will worship the Great River; those who can withstand three spear strikes from the disciples of the Sea Suppression Sect will board the Xuan Ship!"

"Upon mastering the fundamental techniques of this sect, one will be invincible among those of the same level, or one who has passed the four trials, and will inherit the name of the mountain."

The old man's voice resonated with a powerful, malevolent force, echoing for miles around.

The bronze cauldrons surrounding the bluestone plaza were slammed down by the disciples of the Mountain Moving Sect, their legs embedding half a foot into the bluestone. The booming sound stirred the blood of the onlookers. The elder of the Broken Mountain Sect pointed his finger like a sword and drew three cracks of varying depths on the Sword Testing Stone. The lingering hum of the sword energy resonated with the dragon spear shadow of the Xuan Tie ship in the distance.

The disciples of the Great River Sect strode upstream along the cascading waterfall, where the waves condensed into icy steps in mid-air, with sticks of incense burning and emitting blue smoke at the very top.

On the bluestone square, the elder of the Duan Yue Sect sheathed his sword, his voice like the clash of cold iron: "The trials of the four sects are different—Moving Mountains and Lifting Cauldrons tests one's foundation, Duan Yue Sword Exploration tests one's comprehension, Walking on the Great River Waterfall tests one's agility, and Zhen Hai Spear Strike tests one's courage. Passing any one of these trials will allow one to enter the sect."

"As for his status as a core disciple of the Mountain Sect—"

With his gaze sweeping across the plaza, the elder of the Duan Yue Sect said calmly, "One who has mastered the basic techniques before entering the sect, or who has passed the four trials, is acceptable."

Those who pass this test are considered outer disciples of the Mountain Sect. They will then undergo three years of training at the Mountain Moving Sect's mountain gate, after which they will be assessed again and assigned to the inner sects of the four sects.

The status of a core disciple of the Mountain Sect not only bypasses the status of inner and outer disciples, but also allows them to cultivate in all four major sects.

That was true practice of the four schools of thought simultaneously.

Someone in the crowd whispered, "It's rumored that all four sects need to master the Mountain Fist Technique. The last one to do so was Master Su Changming of the Mountain Moving Sect..."

Su Changming, a prodigy of the Mountain Sect a hundred years ago, was the son of the former sect leader of the Mountain Moving Sect. He was secretly groomed to unify the four major sects.

Su Changming mastered the Mountain Fist at the age of twenty, and was able to lift a cauldron with his bare hands and challenge four sects with his sword, becoming the first core disciple in two hundred years.

Su Changming traveled around sixty years ago, hoping to break through to the Grandmaster realm, but he never returned.

Thus, the four major sects, lacking a unifying figure, found their hearts scattered.

Someone pointed to the mottled dents on the cauldron and whispered, "Back then, Master Su Changming could shake the 50,000-jin Zhenyue Cauldron with his bare hands. Now, the trial only requires him to carry the 8,000-jin bronze cauldron for ten steps."

Before the words were finished, three blue lotuses suddenly burst forth from the incense sticks at the top of the ice steps of the Great River Sect, and the waterfall cascaded back to form a water curtain, reflecting the phantom of that genius from two hundred years ago who rode the waves, carried the cauldron, and challenged four sects with his sword.

"That is a photo of Ancestor Su Changming during his trial. Only those who cultivated together from the four sects could have their photos taken during the trial."

The martial artist's voice was full of emotion.

“Four sects cultivating together…” A hint of bewilderment appeared in Li Sihuan’s eyes.

Li Changqi pressed down on Li Sihuan's shoulder and whispered, "Don't be overly ambitious! The Broken Mountain Sword Mark has three levels of meaning; you only need to comprehend the Rock-Splitting Realm."

Li Changqi's words made Li Sihuan tremble and come back to his senses.

A look of guilt crossed his face, and he said softly, "Second Uncle, I—"

Li Changqi's fingertips traced the hemp rope wrapped around Li Sihuan's sword hilt, his voice softening considerably: "The Broken Mountain Sword Mark is divided into three realms of meaning: 'Splitting Stones,' 'Severing Flows,' and 'Crushing Mountains.' Once you understand the first one, you'll be able to enter the gate."

Li Sihuan nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing, when he suddenly noticed that Zhang Yuan was staring at the bronze cauldron of the Mountain Moving Sect, which was engraved with the totem of the Mountain Moving Warrior.

The dark red stains on the handles of the cauldron are clearly the bloody handprints left by trial participants throughout the ages, while the indentations on the belly of the cauldron are the marks left by strong people carrying it on their backs.

"Brother Zhang, you want to choose the cauldron-lifting challenge?" Li Sihuan turned his head and whispered, "It is said that the cauldron-lifting challenge is the most dangerous. Many people not only fail to pass the test, but also damage their vital energy."

Zhang Yuan withdrew his gaze and chuckled lightly, "I think—"

Before he could finish speaking, a crisp sound of metal cracking suddenly came from the direction of the sword-testing stone.

The trial participant who was trying to comprehend the sword mark was backfired by the sword energy, his fine steel sword shattered into pieces, and he fell into the snowdrift with his wrist twisted.

"The sixth one!" came an exclamation from not far away.

Li Sihuan's eyes widened, and he gasped.

It was supposed to be easy to pass, but this doesn't seem to be the case.

"Bam—"

Before the bronze cauldron, someone not only failed to move it, but also fell to the ground, causing the cauldron to sway.

The man who was moving the tripod was pale and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Not far away, beneath a waterfall, several figures fell into the water, bobbing up and down with the current.

……

(End of this chapter)