Heavenly Sword Saint
The decision was made.
Jian Chen would leave Moonriver City.
Not immediately.
Before entering Azure Mist Valley, he still needed to make a few preparations.
After leaving the Treasure Hall, he returned to the Jian Clan and went directly to his courtyard.
He had already obtained a map of Azure Mist Valley and gathered some basic information about the region.
The valley was rich in spirit herbs.
Some could strengthen the body, while others contained concentrated spiritual energy that could accelerate cultivation.
For Jian Chen, that was enough.
His cultivation had advanced rapidly since he began opening his meridians, but the resources available in Moonriver City were becoming increasingly inadequate.
If he wanted to continue advancing at the same pace, he needed better resources.
Azure Mist Valley was one of the closest places where he could find them.
Jian Chen entered his room and spread the map across the table.
The outer region of the valley was marked with several routes.
The eastern entrance was the most commonly used.
The northern region contained more spirit beasts.
The southern route was longer and less traveled.
Jian Chen studied the map carefully, memorizing the important locations and several areas where spirit herbs had reportedly been discovered.
He also took note of regions where the spiritual energy was unusually dense.
After studying the map for some time, he folded the map and put it away.
He would decide his exact route after entering the valley.
For now, there was something more important.
His mother.
Jian Chen found Liu Ruyan beneath the old tree in the courtyard.
She was sorting medicinal herbs.
When she noticed him approaching, she looked up.
"Chen'er."
"Mother."
Jian Chen sat beside her.
Liu Ruyan glanced at him.
"You seem to have something on your mind."
"Yes."
He was silent for a moment before speaking.
"I'm going to Azure Mist Valley."
Her hands stopped moving.
"Azure Mist Valley?"
"Yes."
Liu Ruyan frowned.
"I've heard of that place. It's dangerous."
"I know. I'll only explore the outermost region."
"You've only recently begun cultivating. Why go somewhere like that?"
"There are spirit herbs there that can help my cultivation."
Liu Ruyan looked at him quietly.
She knew how difficult the past sixteen years had been.
Her son had spent most of his life unable to cultivate. He had been ridiculed and called all sorts of names.
Now that he had finally stepped onto the path of cultivation, she naturally wanted him to remain safe.
"You can cultivate slowly," she said.
Jian Chen smiled faintly.
"Mother, if I stay in Moonriver City, my progress will eventually slow down."
Liu Ruyan lowered her eyes.
She understood.
The changes in her son were already impossible to ignore.
His body was no longer weak.
His injuries had disappeared.
Even his bearing had changed.
Whenever she heard people talking about how much Jian Chen had changed, a sense of pride filled her heart.
But pride could not erase her worry.
No mother would remain calm knowing her child was about to enter a dangerous place.
Still, she understood that Jian Chen had grown.
She could not protect him forever.
"How long will you be gone?"
"I don't know."
He thought for a moment.
"If everything goes smoothly, perhaps a few days."
Liu Ruyan's expression became worried.
"Then promise me something."
Jian Chen looked at her.
"Don't take unnecessary risks."
He was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"I won't."
Liu Ruyan studied his face.
"Your father and I only want you to live a peaceful life."
Jian Chen's expression softened.
"Father..."
He could barely remember what the man looked like from the original Jian Chen's memories.
His father had disappeared around the time he was born.
Apart from that, there was almost nothing.
And whenever the original Jian Chen had brought up the subject, Liu Ruyan had always found a way to change the topic.
Jian Chen noticed the same hesitation now.
But he did not press her.
There were things she could never understand, not because she lacked wisdom, but because they belonged to another life.
His memories.
The Heavenly Sword Scripture.
The betrayal.
The hatred that had survived death itself.
Those things were his burden.
Liu Ruyan reached out and gently straightened his collar.
"Then come back safely."
"I will."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Good."
Jian Chen stood.
"I'll leave tomorrow morning."
Liu Ruyan nodded.
"I'll have someone prepare some food and medicine for you."
"Thank you, Mother."
Jian Chen turned toward his room.
Behind him, Liu Ruyan watched silently.
She knew that her son had changed.
She also knew that whatever path he had chosen...
She could only support him and pray that he returned safely.
That evening, Jian Chen continued preparing for the journey.
He purchased several ordinary healing pills from the clan marketplace.
Their quality was nothing impressive, but they were sufficient for emergencies.
He also prepared food, water, spare clothing, and several basic supplies.
He deliberately avoided purchasing anything that would attract attention.
Azure Mist Valley was unfamiliar territory.
He did not know what he would encounter.
Nor did he intend to rely on luck.
Before leaving, he returned to his room and cultivated for several hours.
Spiritual energy entered his body through his open meridians.
The circulation was smooth.
His current cultivation was far stronger than when he had first awakened in this life.
Yet Jian Chen knew there was still a tremendous gap between his current strength and the power he had once possessed.
There was no point dwelling on it.
That strength was gone.
This body had started from nothing.
Every improvement he possessed now had been earned through cultivation in this life.
Jian Chen slowly opened his eyes.
Nine meridians.
That was how far he had progressed.
With nine meridians open, his cultivation speed had increased many times over.
But the tenth meridian would require even more spiritual energy.
Moonriver City could no longer provide enough resources to support rapid progress.
That was one of the reasons he had chosen Azure Mist Valley.
He stood and looked toward the black case resting in the corner of the room.
The Starfall Iron inside remained sealed.
The ancient silver markings had not disappeared.
Jian Chen had no intention of forcing it open.
Whatever secret it contained...
He would uncover it when the time was right.
He turned away from the case.
Tomorrow, he would leave.
Before sunrise, Jian Chen stepped out of his room.
The courtyard was quiet.
A thin mist covered the ground.
Liu Ruyan was already awake.
She stood near the courtyard entrance with a small package in her hands.
"Mother prepared this?"
"Food and medicine."
Jian Chen smiled.
"Thank you."
He accepted the package.
Liu Ruyan looked at him for a long moment.
"Be careful."
"I will."
"Don't stay in the valley longer than necessary."
"I understand."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jian Chen turned toward the gate.
"Mother."
Liu Ruyan looked at him.
"I'll be back."
She smiled.
"I'll wait for you."
Jian Chen nodded.
Then he walked away.
By the time Jian Chen left the Jian Clan, the sky was beginning to brighten.
He quietly passed through Moonriver City.
No escort followed him.
No one announced his departure.
He simply walked through the city gates and onto the road leading toward Azure Mist Valley.
The journey had begun.
Jian Chen did not notice the figure standing on a distant rooftop.
The man had been watching the courtyard since before dawn.
His face was hidden beneath a gray hood.
He remained perfectly still until Jian Chen disappeared through the city gates.
Only then did he reach beneath his robe and take out a communication talisman.
He infused it with spiritual energy.
"He's gone."
A voice answered after several breaths.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Azure Mist Valley."
Silence followed.
Then the voice spoke.
"Do not approach him."
The watcher frowned.
"Then what should I do?"
"Follow from a distance."
"How far?"
"Far enough that he cannot sense you."
The watcher hesitated.
"Young Master Jian Hu wants to know everything he does?"
There was another pause.
Then the voice replied,
"Not everything."
The watcher waited.
"Only what he becomes."
The watcher's expression changed slightly.
Before he could ask what that meant, the communication talisman went silent.
He slowly lowered his hand.
His eyes remained fixed on the road where Jian Chen had disappeared.
"Young Master Jian Hu..."
A faint smile appeared beneath his hood.
"So you're finally interested in him."
He put away the talisman and turned.
Within moments, his figure disappeared from the rooftop.
Far away, Jian Chen continued toward Azure Mist Valley, completely unaware that his departure had attracted more attention than he realized.
And somewhere inside Moonriver City...
Jian Hu stood before a window, staring toward the distant mountains.
A communication talisman rested in his palm.
He had heard only one thing.
Jian Chen had left the city.
His fingers slowly tightened around the talisman.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"Let's see..."
"How far can you really go?"