During this time, the new disciples who joined the Abandoned Sword Villa started to practice martial arts under the guidance of their teachers according to their qualifications and strengths.

 

The Abandoned Sword Villa wasn’t really a sect or a clan, but instead the most advanced martial arts training site.

 

The accumulation of three hundred years of martial arts techniques made it so that almost anyone could find the right skills suited for them. Because of this, people were able to break through the shackles of the past and set foot into realms that were previously impossible to reach.

 

Many of the martial artists who joined the Abandoned Sword Villa stayed for their entire lives. Even if they returned to their original sect or family, later on, they would be still associate themselves with the Villa. Therefore, the head of the Abandoned Sword Villa might not be the strongest master in the world, but he controlled the strongest force in the world.

 

This model was completely different from the way things were in the past. The founder, Shen Mengtian, selflessly shared and distributed his martial arts experience with the Nine Hells Realm. After a few generations, the Abandoned Sword Villa skyrocketed in strength and became the number one force in the Nine Hells.

 

Compared to 300 years ago, the overall level of martial artists had increased and the amount of top masters was far larger than before. The age of prosperity for martial arts was commencing.

 

Originally, Shen Zhenyi was the brightest star in the martial arts. And Shen Shou, the master of Abandoned Sword Villa, was the leader during this golden age.

 

However, he was getting older as time passed, and more gray hairs were sprouting from his head. Since Shen Zhenyi's accident, he had become more depressed and haggard. Even when he recruited new disciples, he wasn't able to feel much relief or enjoyment.

 

…

 

"This week, Zhou Wenzi's performance was excellent. It shouldn't be difficult for him to break into the seventh realm within ten years. His potential is very good. If nothing goes wrong, the Villa will have one more master on the top ten list..." In the Abandoned Sword Villa, Shen Baihe, the first of the four princes reported to Shen Shou.

​

Shen Baihe was twenty-seven years old and had a short beard. He dressed meticulously and looked very restrained. Sadly, he couldn’t stand out much in the family and was sandwiched between his top ten ranking father and his brother who was a once in a thousand years peerless talent.

 

Shen Shou nodded but then smiled bitterly: "No matter how many masters we have on the list, who could match Shen Zhenyi?"

 

Shen Baihe's face became stiff, and he bowed his head saying nothing.

 

Shen Shou knew that he had created an uncomfortable atmosphere and explained, "Although it’s a great achievement, isn't a fully-fledged member of the Abandoned Sword Villa. Although his talent isn’t any worse than yours, he hasn’t cultivated long enough. After all, the Shanqing Palace and his Zhou family only have shallow foundations. With our superior resources, if he stays in the Villa for ten more years, he may even reach the eighth realm of martial arts.

 

Shen Baihe raised his head and said with a small smile, "Zhou Wenzi would be very happy if he heard father say this."

 

Baihe had stepped into the seventh realm of martial arts earlier than Zhou Wenzi. As a young man under 30 years old, this was an outstanding performance worthy of praise. But with Shen Zhenyi leading the world, even with his success seemed to be somewhat bleak.

 

Fortunately, he never showed his jealousy and instead just kept doing what he should be doing.

 

"Has there been any news from Shen Zhenyi?" Shen Shou was still worried about his third child. After taking care of business with the Villa, he turned to ask his eldest son.

 

Shen Baihe reported respectfully, "Third brother hasn’t been heard from in a long time. Tomorrow, I will go up again and see if I can persuade him to come down from the hill."

 

When Shen Baihe walked towards the White Pagoda the next morning, Shen Zhenyi was sitting at the top of the hill watching the sunrise.

 

He had sent Chu Huoluo to practice her basic skills. She who was already in the fifth realm of martial arts felt very uncomfortable. She felt that she had already passed the stage of basic skills.

 

But at the age of fourteen, the Third Prince won against the previous top swordsman in the world. He knew the most about getting stronger, so Chu Huoluo could only continue practicing what he told her to.

 

The first thing Shen Baihe saw was Shen Zhenyi’s lonely back, sitting by the sword grave.

 

He squeezed his fists tightly, and his nails pricked against the skin of his palms. He barely stepped forward and smiled: "Sure enough, third brother is here. When I talked to our father last night, we were both very worried."

 

Shen Zhenyi turned his head and said indifferently, "Thank you for your concern. Don’t worry, I am still alive."

 

Shen Baihe's pupils contracted sharply.

 

He was vigilant and quietly retreated a half step. His right hand squeezed a hidden dagger up his sleeve. He cautiously asked: "Why did third brother say something so unlucky? Although you are seriously injured, your life is no longer in danger..."

 

Shen Zhenyi didn't answer. He slowly pushed his wheelchair down the hill and brushed past Shen Baihe without even glancing at him.

 

A light voice cut through the wind.

 

"A proud disciple of the Buddhist Master Liu Ru Zen died here a few nights ago. Sooner or later, the Lanke Temple will find out. Big Brother will have to take great pains to smooth this over."

 

Shen Baihe started sweating.

 

He knows! He knows everything! Shen Baihe’s roared in his heart, and the stiffness of his shoulders and neck made him unable to look back at his biological brother.

 

"Also..."

 

Shen Zhenyi was now a distance away from his brother. He paused and then added, "If you want to kill me, the people in the seventh realm of the martial arts are far from enough. There is no need to create more meaningless bloodshed."

 

In the eyes of his gifted brother, the seventh realm of cultivation was as worthless as Chinese cabbage?

 

Shen Baihe’s mouth became bitter, and he finally summoned the courage to look back at his brother. However, by this time, Shen Zhenyi had already disappeared.

 

I am only at the seventh realm cultivation. Shen Baihe laughed at himself. Even the talented young generation Fojiao died here in the back hill of the Abandoned Sword Villa. If I want to get rid of my wicked brother, will only a top ten master suffice? (TL Blue: Fojiao was the assassin and buddhist disciple.)

 

He was stunned for a long time, and then slowly made his way down the hill, looking rather pale.

 

"Just now, when I was jogging around, I saw someone who I think was your older brother." Chu Huoluo appeared panting in front of Shen Zhenyi. "He seemed a little unhappy."

 

"If you do something that you feel guilty about, you'll never get over it." Shen Zhenyi was too lazy to explain much.

 

The back hill of Abandoned Sword Villa wasn’t a wilderness. Many assassins had been sent to kill Shen Zhenyi, but there wasn’t ever any internal response. No guards or fences were ever placed around the mountain.

 

Of course, for Shen Zhenyi, these means of defense were just trivial things. Ant-like people came to kill him, but he didn't seem to care at all.

 

The only thing he pursued was the supreme sword arts. (Blue: Not an actual term. Just means he wants to become stronger.)

 

"Third Prince, I’m out of energy... What’s next? Could I maybe take a rest?"

 

Although Chu Huoluo was curious about their relationship, she was too tired from practice and couldn’t wait to go back inside to bathe and sleep.