Chapter 43: Grassland Sword Saint

「Several days passed in the blink of an eye.」

At Jianghai Martial Arts Academy, birch leaves in front of the main gate swirled in the wind, drifting down onto the roof of a luxury car parked by the road.

The students and teachers who had come to see him off gathered by the gate, watching Lin Mofeng and Elder Li say their farewells.

"Senior Brother Lin is returning to the Imperial Capital already? That’s so soon!"

"I heard something urgent came up. What a pity."

"I wonder when he’ll be back? I still have so much about my Cultivation that I never got the chance to ask him about..."

Lin Mofeng heard the discussions about him from the crowd and felt a little reluctant to leave, but he maintained a calm and composed expression.

"Mo Feng, you’re welcome back anytime you’re free."

Elder Li looked at Lin Mofeng and said kindly, "The academy will always be your home."

"Yes, Elder Li. I understand."

Lin Mofeng nodded, looked up at the Jianghai Martial Arts Academy plaque above the main gate, and said with a hint of regret:

"It’s a shame time was so short. I didn’t even get to meet the Sword God..."

Hearing this, Elder Li felt a sense of helplessness and said solemnly:

"Mo Feng, the Sword God’s temperament... is a bit peculiar."

Elder Li had seen Lin Mofeng’s deep obsession with the Sword God over the past few days, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Ever since the Sword God carved the words on the stone tablet, Lin Mofeng had been fixated on his identity, searching all over Jianghai City for any trace of him.

He even asked the Chief Commander of the Star Martial Police Bureau and the Hall Master to send people to search.

However, it was all a fruitless endeavor.

"It’s alright, Elder Li. It seems fate hasn’t brought the Sword God and me together yet. There’s plenty of time ahead; I’m sure we’ll have a chance to meet someday."

Lin Mofeng spoke softly, and he still shuddered at the memory of the Sword Intent he had felt on his way to Sword Valley.

The peak of a mountain sheared off, cliffs crumbled away—the majestic natural landscape had been transformed by a single person!

Amateurs see the spectacle, but experts see the skill.

Unlike Innate Realm masters like Elder Li, Lin Mofeng had long since stepped into the Grandmaster Realm and could better sense the terrifying nature of the Sword Intent.

At first, he had even begun to question his life’s path, and a deep sense of jealousy had taken root.

’What right does this Jianghai Sword God have to be so powerful?’

’Have the heavens truly blessed you so much?!’

But after a few days, as Lin Mofeng experienced more and more of the Sword Intent in the valley, all those feelings of jealousy and envy melted away, replaced only by sighs of resignation.

He was simply too powerful.

In the face of absolute power, words are useless.

When the gap in power is small, people feel envy and jealousy.

But when the gap is as vast as a galaxy, all jealousy dissipates, leaving behind nothing but immense admiration.

’That’s just the reality of it...’

"There’s always someone better out there."

Lin Mofeng shook his head, looked at Elder Li, and said guiltily:

"Elder Li, I was too arrogant before. I scoffed when you told me that, but now I see it’s true..."

"As long as you understand now, Mo Feng. The Sword God is truly extraordinary."

Elder Li stroked his white beard. Recalling the Sword God’s display of power, he said with a grin, "For an expert like him to watch over our Jianghai City is a great blessing... He is a Grandmaster, after all."

"Elder Li, there’s something I have to tell you."

Lin Mofeng looked at Elder Li and suddenly spoke with a grave tone. "Based on the Sword Intent I’ve sensed in Sword Valley these past few days, the Sword God’s power is likely above the Grandmaster Realm..."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Elder Li’s eyes widened abruptly, and he asked in disbelief, "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

Lin Mofeng nodded firmly. "The Sword Intent in Sword Valley is overwhelming. Even I couldn’t unleash an attack of that magnitude."

"Above the Grandmaster Realm..."

Hearing this, Elder Li muttered to himself, trying to process the explosive revelation. He could feel his heart pounding wildly in his chest. THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

What did it even mean to be above the Grandmaster Realm?

Even the top families in the Imperial Capital possessed only a handful of such formidable experts!

’And now one of them has appeared here, in Jianghai City?’

’Can a true dragon really emerge from shallow waters?’

"Elder Li, calm yourself. Don’t get too agitated,"

Lin Mofeng, seeing Elder Li’s emotional state, quickly tried to soothe him in a low voice. "This is just my own speculation. It doesn’t mean it’s the truth, just a guess...

...but I can guarantee that the Sword Intent in Sword Valley is absolutely at a level far beyond that of a Grandmaster."

"Excellent, excellent! That’s wonderful! The senior is as formidable as I thought."

Elder Li said joyfully, clapping his hands.

Beside him, Li Zixuan wore a look of immense satisfaction, the corners of her lips curling into a proud smile.

’After all, they were praising her very own master.’

’The greater the praise, the happier she, his disciple, was!’

Just then, Lin Mofeng glanced at Li Zixuan, suddenly remembered something, and reminded her, "It’s getting late, Junior Sister Li, there’s one more thing I want to tell you before I go."

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin, please speak. I will be sure to remember it."

"This matter is actually somewhat related to the Jianghai Sword God."

Lin Mofeng began to speak slowly. "I’ve received word these past few days that the Grassland Sword Saint is traveling the land with his disciple, challenging Sword Dao masters everywhere.

Now that the Jianghai Sword God has caused such a stir, it will likely draw them here."

"The Grassland Sword Saint? Who is that...?"

Hearing the unfamiliar name, Li Zixuan frowned slightly. It didn’t ring any bells.

Lin Mofeng understood her confusion and continued to explain:

"This Grassland Sword Saint isn’t active in the central regions. He comes from our nation’s Great Prairie, so it’s normal that you haven’t heard of him."

He paused, his expression turning grave. "According to the reports I’ve received, he has already reached the Peak of Grandmaster, and his understanding of the Sword Dao has reached the Transformation Realm.

Years ago, when an Emperor Level Star Beast Mammoth led its herd to besiege a settlement of herdsmen on the prairie, he single-handedly annihilated them all with just his sword."

"His disciple is even more exceptionally talented, having already defeated dozens of renowned young prodigies across Huaxia Country."

"The Grassland Sword Saint is now traveling with his beloved disciple, challenging Sword Dao masters across the land and defeating countless geniuses, all to forge a Sword Heart for his apprentice."

At this, Li Zixuan’s expression became grave. "They’re so arrogant. Do they really think we have no one left in the central regions?"

"Well..."

Lin Mofeng was at a loss for words for a moment. Thinking of the masters who had been defeated, he shook his head and said:

"Junior Sister Li, I stayed in Jianghai City these past few days hoping to face him myself, but I’m afraid it’s too late now.

The Grassland Sword Saint loves challenging the world’s experts, and his disciple is the same... The recent online uproar about the Jianghai Sword God will undoubtedly draw them here."

He focused his gaze on Li Zixuan and said with some concern, "As the public face of Jianghai City, the Jianghai Martial Arts Academy will likely be targeted by his disciple for a challenge.

When that time comes, Junior Sister Li, as the leader of the younger generation, you’ll probably have to be the one to accept it."

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin, you can rest assured. I understand."

Hearing this, Li Zixuan nodded, her expression resolute.

’As long as I can cultivate One Sword Opens the Celestial Gate to the stage of Great Success...’

’...this match will be in the bag!’