A cool breeze would occasionally blow over the mountain top.
Zhang Feiyu stood at the highest point, staring blankly into the distance, murmuring to himself, "Chen Ancestor, why have you not shown yourself yet? Is what Zhang Feiyu has done still not enough to satisfy you?"
The starry river shifted.
Zhang Feiyu clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth and saying heavily, "I will definitely lead the Zhang Family to the peak; I will not fail to live up to your teachings. I will definitely become a cultivator that satisfies you, I definitely won't embarrass you and Ancestor Ming!"
The three definites represented Zhang Feiyu's determination.
At the same time, the Zhang Family's leading young genius, Zhang Guang, broke through to the eighth layer of the Back Sea Realm in his four thousandth year, becoming the most ferocious young genius the Zhang Family had seen in thousands of years.
Zhang Guang's influence in the Zhang Family was also flourishing, second only to the Deputy Family Head and Second Ancestor Zhang.
This seemed to be good news for the Zhang Family. Zhang Feiyu even held a banquet to celebrate.
The four thousand one hundredth year.
The Zhang Family made another big move, directly inviting an old Sky Patching Realm powerhouse to join them, a cultivator at the Sky Patching Realm who had never joined any other sect before.
Water Immortal, Qiu Yi.
It was said that Qiu Yi had taken the initiative to propose joining the Zhang Family. Her cultivation was long past investigation. Legend has it that she reached the Sky Patching Realm six thousand years ago. Now, she was estimated to be at least at the fifth layer of heaven.
With such a prominent figure joining the Zhang Family, she was naturally treated with the utmost courtesy and given the position of Taishang Elder.
This was what had happened in the Zhang Family over the past few hundred years. Overall, things were stable and improving. Perhaps some minor incidents had occurred but they did not have an impact.
A small tavern was still open a hundred miles from the main hall of the Zhang Family.
The little tavern now had a three hundred year history, older than some low level cultivators. Its owner was also renowned among many low level cultivators, rumored to be a hidden great cultivator. A hundred years ago he had forcibly pinched a troubling Diet Ascension Realm cultivator to death with his bare hands.
As for how high this old man's cultivation was, speculation was endless. Finally, it was determined that this old man should have the strength to move mountains.
While they speculated, no one dared to actually test their skills against Chen Xia.
The reason was that Chen Xia was too poor, with only a tavern, straw hat and hoe, so there was no benefit to defeating him.
Time slowly passed by over wine.
After serving the wine, Chen Xia would sit comfortably on a small stool in front of his tavern, looking at the landscape in front.
Until one day, a boy with hair in a high bun came looking for him and seriously asked,
"Uncle, do you know how to slay dragons?"
Chen Xia turned his head in puzzlement and chuckled, "I know a thing or two."
"Can you teach me?" the boy looked at him admiringly.
"Why do you want to learn it?" Chen Xia asked back.
The boy excitedly replied, "Because slaying a dragon makes you a Sword Immortal!"
"I have heard this saying before," Chen Xia laughed and nodded, "If you want to learn to slay dragons that’s fine too. Come here every afternoon from now on and slash out a thousand swords towards the landscape."
"Okay!" The boy nodded firmly.
Chen Xia had assumed that he would at most persist for a few months before stopping, but unexpectedly, the boy persisted for years until he grew from a boy into a teenager.
"Master Chen, why can’t I slay dragons yet?" the teenager asked puzzledly.
"How could it be so fast? Have you considered the dragon’s feelings yet?" Chen Xia retorted.
"You’re right, that was inconsiderate," the teenager nodded obediently.
From beginning to end, Chen Xia had never asked the teenager's name or background, because he knew the boy was no simple person and Chen Xia did not want too much involvement.
Since he had asked about slaying dragons, teaching him to slay dragons was enough. Chen Xia did not care about anything else.
The teenager also seemed to avoid talking about such matters. Every day after slashing out a thousand swords towards the landscape, he would quickly take his leave.
Wang Yangzi often came to the tavern and upon seeing the teenager, he would gently push away his wine cup and shake his head, saying,
"The connections of this world form a circle. The end point of your enlightenment has come."
"Perhaps," Chen Xia nodded plainly.
Another twenty years passed.
The teenager grew into a young man and he still diligently practiced slashing out a thousand swords every day towards the landscape. The young man still maintained a high level of enthusiasm.
Today, Chen Xia asked an additional question,
"Where are you from?"
The young man stammered unable to answer, his eyes dodging around.
Chen Xia changed the question. "What's your surname?"
"Zhang," the youth whispered.
Chen Xia understood then as he gazed at the landscape without saying a word.
The young man quickly added, "Master Chen, although I'm from the Zhang Family, I really want to learn the dragon slaying skill from you. I think the cultivators in my family are not as powerful as you!"
"Which generation of the Zhang Family are you from and who did you worship?" Chen Xia asked again.
"The youngest generation, I worship Ancestor Ming," the youth said softly.
Chen Xia folded his arms, shook his head slightly, Wang Yangzi was right after all, the connections of this world form a circle.
"From today onwards, you don't need to come here anymore," Chen Xia said gently.
"But I want to learn the dragon slaying skill from you!" the youth insisted.
Chen Xia shook his head. "You've already learned it. One slash forwards is enough. What is meant to die will die."
That was Chen Xia's way of seeing off guests.
The setting sun slowly sank in the distance.
There were no sad feelings, because they were just passersby.
Passersby ask for directions, then leave again. What's there to feel sad about? These were just the many chance encounters in the mortal world.
The four thousand three hundredth year.
Another young genius rose in the Zhang Family. He claimed to have learned the dragon slaying skill and emerged at the Mountain Moving Realm. His momentum was on par with Zhang Guang.
It was said that this person had the potential to seize Zhang Guang's position as the leader of the younger generation in the Zhang Family.
Perhaps this was the struggle amongst the young geniuses of the Zhang Family.
The tavern was still open as usual.
Wang Yangzi still often came to drink at the tavern, helping Chen Xia run the place, chatting casually.
Today was a little different.
Because the tavern was completely empty of customers. Several Mountain Moving Realm cultivators stood guard outside, someone shouted loudly from outside,
"Elder Zhang Guang arrives, make way and take a seat!"
The ostentation was great. Customers were driven to the back, some still holding their wine cups, only able to crouch at a distance to drink their wine.
Next, a golden carpet several kilometers long was rolled out, leading straight to a ferry.
Several Mountain Moving Realm cultivators respectfully waited at the sides while two Back Sea Realm cultivators welcomed the guest.
Finally, Zhang Guang appeared in a golden brocade robe, a confident smile on his face, full of spirit, refusing to set foot on the ground himself. Instead he sat in a white jade palanquin carried by Mountain Moving Realm cultivators, stepping on the golden carpet as he approached.
"Elder Zhang Guang is here! Commoners kneeling on the ground, pay your respects!"