Chapter 26: At Fourteen, a Grandmaster

The sky was clear and bright when a bell toll echoed throughout the entire Cloud Sword Palace.

The silence was broken. Many disciples of the Cloud Sword Palace roused from their slumber, washing and dressing before taking up their swords to gather at the sect's central martial arts arena. It was time for the morning practice.

Groups of three or five converged on the arena, finding their designated spots to await the arrival of the Elder of Martial Arts and the commencement of the day’s lessons. For these young disciples, still in the Post-Natal realm, this was perhaps the most anticipated part of their day. When thousands of people formed a sword array to practice in unison, they could perceive the overlapping sword intent of the collective, and receive the baptism of the slight surge of natural energy generated by the formation. Often, half an hour of morning drills yielded greater progress than a full day of solitary training.

This unique method of cultivation ensured that even disciples of average aptitude could reach the Pre-Natal realm within their lifetime, while helping those with superior talent break through all the sooner. It was one of the closely guarded secrets that allowed a martial arts holy land to maintain its prosperity.

Clang!

At the second toll of the bell, the Elder of Martial Arts, Jin Ming, appeared punctually on the high platform in the center of the arena.

"The morning drill shall be—"

Before Jin Ming could utter the word "begin," a sharp, piercing sword intent suddenly erupted from the back mountains of the Cloud Sword Palace.

This sword intent was vast and formidable, possessing both the keen sharpness of a blade and a sense of ethereal, shifting mystery, like the mountain breeze or drifting clouds. High above, clouds began to gather. The sky grew dim, and under the friction of the swirling vapours, flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder emerged.

At this moment, even the disciples in the arena—who had yet to achieve the harmony of spirit and nature—could vaguely sense the energy of the world surging and rushing toward the back mountain.

"What... what is happening?"
"Could there be an enemy invasion? This pressure is terrifying; it must be a peerless master."
"No one would dare seek death at our Cloud Sword Palace. Look at the Elder!"

The arena, which had just quieted, erupted into clamour as people debated the cause. However, those closest to the Elder of Martial Arts noticed that Jin Ming’s expression lacked any sign of gravity or anger; instead, his face was illuminated with joy.

This realization trickled through the crowd, and a vague understanding dawned on them: whatever was happening, it was a good thing.

"Quiet."

Elder Jin Ming commanded with a soft shout that quelled the entire field. Then, with a smile in his voice, he announced, "The Young Sect Master has achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation."

At these words, joy broke out across every face. It was well known that their Young Sect Master, Lin Heng, had reached the Grandmaster realm several years ago. For such a massive phenomenon to occur now, and for the Elder to claim a breakthrough, it could only mean one thing: he was ascending to the level of a Peerless Grandmaster. Only a master of that caliber could stir the very heavens with their own power.

If they remembered correctly, the Young Sect Master had only just turned fourteen this year!

"As expected of the Young Sect Master, he is truly formidable!"
"The Young Sect Master possesses peerless grace and divine talent. Under his leadership, our Cloud Sword Palace will surely reach even greater heights."
"The Sect Master and the Elders deserve credit for their keen eye and for pouring their resources into nurturing him."

The crowd buzzed with chatter. The thought that such a prodigy was their own Young Sect Master made even the most mediocre disciples, who had only entered the sect by paying their way, puff out their chests with pride. They felt as if their own tuition fees had contributed to the Young Sect Master’s swift ascent to Grandmaster.

In truth, it was exactly as Elder Jin Ming had said. After two and a half years of steady accumulation, Lin Heng’s cultivation had reached the twenty-seventh layer of the Grandmaster realm—the Great Perfection—and he was now undergoing an ultimate transformation.

On the edge of the cliff, Lin Heng danced with his longsword against the breeze. His heart was hollow and clear, and a vast, surging mental power flowed through him. His physique had reached its absolute peak; every meridian and acupoint in his body was brimming with white, cloud-like internal energy. Driven by his state of mind, his mental power fermented and matured, gradually condensing into a sharp sword intent capable of piercing the heavens.

Finally, this intent reached its zenith and surged forth from Lin Heng’s heart.

At this moment, the natural phenomena of the world changed in accordance with his will. As the world’s energy poured in, drawn by the potent sword intent spreading through the air, the internal energy accumulated within Lin Heng began to undergo a metamorphosis, compressing from a mist-like state into something far more dense and potent. Every wisp contained a more powerful and astonishing force.

His body, once tempered like copper and iron, broke through its previous limits. A vast, surging vitality erupted from his blood, circulating through his entire being and prompting a new transformation. Flesh, bone, organs, and brain were all evolving. His body, as if refined in a furnace, became even stronger, capable of containing an even more immense power.

For the coming period, Lin Heng’s physique and internal energy would enter a rapid growth phase until the potential released by this transformation was fully realized.

"So this is the power of a one-man army. Its reputation is well-deserved," Lin Heng remarked, contemplating his new strength.

His internal energy was now vast as the sea; his physique was extraordinary, and his spirit was resilient and powerful. With a single thought, he could alter the weather. Even a vast imperial dynasty would be insignificant before him. In the eyes of ordinary people, such invincible powers were merely castles built of sand, crumbling at a single push.

This ultimate power was known as the Grandmaster level, and those who attained it were peerless masters of the highest order, even on a global scale. From this day forward, Lin Heng stood at the very pinnacle of the Lan Prefecture’s martial arts world. Only a handful of people in the entire world could stand as his equal, and within the power struggles of the martial arts holy lands, he was now a figure capable of shifting the tides of fate.

"Disciple, congratulations on becoming a Grandmaster."

"From today on, your apprenticeship is complete."

Xiao Rang, who had been watching quietly from a distance, walked over with a smile. Behind his relief, there was a touch of wistfulness. Initially, his expectation for Lin Heng was to reach the mid-to-late Pre-Natal stage by the age of fifteen; his wildest dream had been for him to reach the Grandmaster realm by that age.

He had never expected that Lin Heng would use his extraordinary self-discipline to push his talent to the absolute limit, becoming a Grandmaster at only fourteen. Not only did he far exceed his expectations, but he had reached a height that Xiao Rang had never dared to dream of in his own life.

Regardless of what astonishing achievements Lin Heng would reach in the future, it was certain that Xiao Rang’s name would be etched into history for his role as the master who had nurtured such a legend.