Immortality begins with the Swordsman.

"Second Senior Brother, the senior brothers and sisters of the Sword Sect... seem to hate you a lot."

After the apprenticeship ceremony.

Daoist Zixiao took Gu Changfeng to the Sword Sect's headquarters on Lotus Peak to apologize for Gu Changfeng's beating of Cai Lingshuang.

Ning Zhongze was unfamiliar with the place and had nothing else to do, so he followed along to get acquainted with the environment.

The mountain road winds and twists, ancient pines lean against each other, a gentle breeze rustles through the leaves, and occasionally a mountain sparrow flutters its wings and flies by.

Along the way, they frequently encountered many disciples of the Sword Sect. When they saw Gu Changfeng's figure clearly, their gazes turned cold and sharp, as if they wished they could drink his blood and devour his flesh.

If it weren't for Daoist Zixiao being there to keep things in check, they probably would have already lost their temper and rushed up to gang up on Gu Changfeng.

Stared intently at by those fiery eyes, Ning Zhongze's palms were already drenched in cold sweat, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

She subconsciously turned her head and secretly glanced at Gu Changfeng.

The second senior brother, Gu Changfeng, looked radiant, with a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth and a smug, arrogant expression on his face.

His smugness made her want to punch him.

"Be more confident, and drop the word 'seems'," Gu Changfeng said with a smile, his voice unhurried but brimming with arrogance.

"These good-for-nothings have always disliked me but couldn't do anything to me, so they've harbored resentment for a long time. Now that I've beaten up their saintess, they naturally hate me to the core."

"It's alright, just beat him a few more times and he'll behave himself."

Ning Zhongze: (#-.-)

"Pay attention while walking." Gu Changfeng narrowed his eyes and glanced at the steep mountain path. "Don't keep looking around. Be careful not to slip and fall, or you might not even be able to find your bones again."

Ning Zhongze said "Oh," and then grabbed the corner of his clothes, afraid that he might stumble and fall.

Master Zixiao glanced at the two of them and said, "Changfeng, now that this matter is over, I plan to go into seclusion at the Cliff of Repentance for a while. I'll leave Ze'er's studies to you."

Gu Changfeng smiled and said, "Master, don't worry, I will teach my sister well..."

Master Zixiao nodded and said solemnly, "Yes, now that the 'Purple Cloud Manual' has been handed over to you, it's time for you to start taking over the affairs of the sect."

Gu Changfeng exclaimed "Ah!" and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Master, I'm still too young, I can't do it. There are over two hundred people to support in the sect, including the servants and attendants. I'm afraid I won't be able to do it well. If they follow me, they'll go hungry nine times out of three days..."

"I think you're just too lazy and afraid of trouble." Master Zixiao glared at him and continued, "More than thirty years ago, the Demonic Sect attacked twice, and the elders of the sect suffered heavy casualties. Your Uncle Cai and I shouldered the heavy responsibility at a young age and did not fail our ancestors in carrying forward the Huashan Sect. Your talent is far superior to ours, and you will definitely do better."

Gu Changfeng's eyes darted around, and his tone was somewhat hesitant: "Master, I actually think my senior brother is more suitable for these things than I am. Why don't we wait until he comes back?"

Master Zixiao said calmly, "When he returns, I will give him a chance. After that, it will depend on your own fate..."

At this moment, Ning Zhongze suddenly looked up and interjected with a serious expression, "Didn't our eldest brother go to take the provincial examination? What if he passes and becomes an official but never comes back?"

Gu Changfeng and Zixiao Daoist exchanged a glance, then shook their heads simultaneously.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

Zixiao Daoist thought to himself, "If that rebellious son really had such talent, he would have passed the exam eight hundred years ago."

Gu Changfeng thought, "This wasn't mentioned at all in the original story, so it's impossible for Yue Buqun to have passed the exam."

During their conversation, the three of them arrived at an old house halfway up Lotus Peak.

In front of the door.

A stunningly beautiful woman had been waiting for a long time.

She appeared to be around twenty years old, dressed in a simple white robe that fluttered gently, her figure graceful and upright. Her lips were bright red, her nose delicate and straight, her eyebrows long and slightly arched like distant mountains, possessing a captivating charm yet also a hint of aloofness and coldness, a beauty that was both alluring and refined.

Only her left eye was slightly red and swollen, which ruined her otherwise stunning appearance.

Gu Changfeng laughed heartily, stepping forward first, his tone teasing: "Oh, isn't this the Holy Maiden of the Sword Sect? You've become even more radiant and captivating in just a few days!"

"Despicable scoundrel!"

Cai Ling Shuang's gaze was like a knife as she gritted her teeth and spat out those four words.

He then bowed slightly to Daoist Zixiao and said, "My father heard that Uncle-Master Yue was coming to visit and has prepared fragrant tea in the backyard. Uncle-Master Yue, please come in!"

Master Zixiao nodded slightly, his expression calm, and walked in with steady steps.

Gu Changfeng followed behind with Ning Zhongze.

As he leaped over Cai Ling Shuang, a teasing smile played on his lips as he asked, "Senior Sister Cai, what have you thought about the suggestion I mentioned last time?"

Cai Ling Shuang's face instantly darkened, and she coldly replied, "Junior Brother Gu, I've learned a few sword techniques these past few days. Let's spar sometime."

"Tsk, young ladies like you, all you do all day is fight and kill. Be careful you won't be able to get married in the future." Gu Changfeng shrugged and quickened his pace to catch up with his master.

Cai Ling Shuang's pretty face turned red with anger. Her jade-like hand gripped the sword hilt tightly, her knuckles turned white, and her veins stood out. She could only glare hatefully at his back and hurried after him in anger.

Following the quiet corridor, the group turned left and right, making several turns before finally arriving at a pavilion.

Two middle-aged men were already sitting at the stone table in the pavilion.

The older man was about fifty years old, dressed in gray cloth, with a gentle and kind face, like an old farmer in the fields, except for his exceptionally bright eyes.

The other man was about forty-five years old, dressed in a long blue robe, with a free and unrestrained demeanor, and his speech and behavior showed a carefree attitude.

On the stone table, the tea set was already laid out, and a charcoal fire burned steadily in the center, the water in the kettle hissing softly, and wisps of steam rising gently.

"Senior Brother Yue, you've arrived just in time, the timing is perfect, please take a seat."

The man in gray invited him over while brewing tea.

The aroma of tea is irresistible and refreshing.

"It smells wonderful. Could this be Cloud Mist Tea that Junior Brother Cai planted himself?" Daoist Zixiao sat down in the pavilion.

"Exactly!" The man in gray nodded and said, "Senior Brother Yue recognized it just by smelling it; he is indeed an expert."

Another man in a blue robe chimed in, "Brother Cai's Yunwu tea only yielded one or two jin this year, which is usually impossible to get. Today, thanks to Brother Yue, we were able to fulfill our wish."

"Then I'm in for a treat today."

Master Zixiao smiled, looked at the man in blue, and said, "I heard that Junior Brother Feng encountered Ren Woxing, the leader of the Demonic Sect, in Jiangnan a few months ago?"

The man in the blue robe remained calm and nodded slightly: "It is indeed true."

Looking at the three people in the pavilion.

Ning Zhongze felt her heart pounding wildly, so nervous that she couldn't utter a single word.

at this time.

As their conversation reached her ears, she finally confirmed the identities of the other two people:

Sword Sect Master Cai Qingyan.

Feng Qingyang, the number one martial arts master of Mount Hua.