Chapter 319: Shackles! The Suspended Sword Sect’s Chen Tianyuan! The Crane-Riding Immortal!

A shimmering light spread beneath the jade-green archway. The Jade Altar Blissful Land had opened within the mountains near Wei City. The news surged outward like a rolling flood in all directions like a tsunami.

Wei City, a small town of only tens of thousands of people, had since the last scattering of the Mount Jinting Blissful Land fragments become a hub of intrigue and power.

Many factions and families had placed spies here. Now, with news of the Jade Altar Blissful Land, if the Xinyi Dao had channels to learn of it, then naturally the major sects and powerful clans of the Kingdom of Qian had also received word.

In a short time, tiny Wei City once again became the center of attention for all. Prodigies on the road, wandering heroes, and extraordinary figures all rushed to Wei City within half a day.

The opening of the Jade Altar Blissful Land was happening right before everyone’s eyes. What an astonishing spectacle!

In Wei City, business at inns and teahouses boomed with activity. Much of the information was normally classified, accessible only to major sects. Yet somehow, it had begun spreading through teahouses and taverns alike.

“The last time the Jade Altar Blissful Land opened, before the Jiazi cycle, Zhang Huaihe of Mount Longhu, Master Wulong of Great Xiangguo Temple , the Sword Immortal Cao Ang, and Murong Yuan from the northern frontier all entered the Blissful Land!”

“Those were all mighty true immortals. They’re capable of subduing even tigers and dragons! They fought within the Blissful Land so fiercely that the heavens darkened and the sun and moon lost their light.”

The storyteller’s eyes gleamed as he spoke, his tongue dry from excitement. At last, the news exploded among the common folk. This was a trace of the immortal world!

Whether townspeople or wandering heroes, prodigies, and adventurers from afar, all surged outside the city in a massive, unstoppable tide. Figures darted like rabbits and falcons through the city, prompting the townsfolk to gasp in awe. These were wandering martial artists, performing incredible feats of

qinggong

, leaping across rooftops and scaling walls.

The crowds swelled, surging like a river.

Even the Taiping Inn grew quiet, as everyone rushed outside to witness the spectacle. The plump, mature, and enchanting innkeeper did not follow the crowd to see what was happening. Instead, her gaze was fixed beyond the city. Her cheeks glowed with a rosy hue, and her eyes seemed veiled in a soft mist, radiating vitality and charm.

Li Yanchu had just emerged from her room.

As the saying went,

a brief parting makes the heart grow fonder

. In the past few days, her complexion had grown even more radiant. She looked like a perfectly ripened peach; she looked fresh, juicy, and endlessly tempting.

“The Blissful Lands are opening more and more frequently. It seems the shackles are loosening considerably,” the innkeeper murmured with a faint sigh.

***

At this time, Li Yanchu stepped outside the city gate. Suddenly, the thunderous sound of hooves reached his ears; a rider was charging forward at breakneck speed.

The horse was a rare and magnificent steed, its eyes glowing red with a divine light. It was clear that it had been nurtured using secret beast-taming techniques, giving it extraordinary abilities.

Atop the horse sat a young swordsman. Dressed in flowing white, a three-chi green-bladed sword hung at his side.

His lips were cold, and his expression was solemn and sharp.

“It’s Chen Tianyuan of the Suspended Sword Sect! He’s here too!?” a sharp-eyed martial artist recognized the young swordsman and shouted in surprise.

The name Chen Tianyuan sent shockwaves through the crowd. Everyone gasped and whispered in awe.

In recent days, among the stories told in teahouses and inns, one of the most frequently mentioned names was Chen Tianyuan[1].

When they talked about Chen Tianyuan, they would say in praise, “A century of the

jianghu

, yet he stands alone in brilliance!”

Though a bit exaggerated, there was a consensus among ordinary martial folk: the mundane eye could not perceive the Dao of Buddha.

However, Chen Tianyuan was different. He should truly be called a sword cultivator.

By seventeen, he had comprehended the

Sword Scripture

left behind by the founder of the Suspended Sword Sect. His sword qi spanned the world, and he proved the Dao through killing. He had once slain a renowned martial expert of a demonic sect.

Among the Six Great Guardians of the Xinyi Dao, three were ambushed by Lu Li’s troops, and two died at Li Yanchu’s hands, while the last one fell under Chen Tianyuan’s sword. In the solo duel, he made one strike through the heart. Strictly speaking, he was a Daoist cultivator with a uniquely specialized system.

Dressed in a flowing white robe, Chen Tianyuan held the reins and slowly walked in Li Yanchu’s direction. His eyes were as icy as the perennial snow atop the great snow mountain.

A chilling killing intent wrapped in the wind swept past Li Yanchu, cutting at his skin. Li Yanchu felt a subtle pressure, making his internal aura circulate unevenly.

Even a nearby martial expert of the

jianghu

couldn’t help but sweat, and his qi and blood started to stagnate. Ordinary people nearby could barely breathe.

Does this guy have some kind of illness...?

Li Yanchu raised an eyebrow.

He used the Wind Tamer, and the terrifying wind around him vanished instantly. The immense pressure that had accompanied it disappeared as well.

“You must be Li Yanchu?” Chen Tianyuan looked down from atop his horse, his tone icy.

“Huh? You know me?” Li Yanchu was slightly taken aback.

He had employed the Sun Veil, blocking heavenly perception, lowering his presence, and concealing his aura. Ordinary cultivators wouldn’t have noticed him at all.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Chen Tianyuan remained silent as his cold gaze was scrutinizing Li Yanchu. Then, without a word, he turned his horse and rode straight toward the jade-green archway.

Li Yanchu was left completely puzzled. Who exactly was this guy? What did that look mean?

He didn’t rush to act, instead feeling a bit amused. He was so young, yet his status was so imposing?

The wandering martial artists nearby exhaled in relief once Chen Tianyuan departed. Whispers and speculation rippled through the crowd.

“No wonder Chen Tianyuan single-handedly carries a whole sect, the pressure he radiates is insane!”

“He’s under the patronage of the Grand Marshal Lu of Feiyun Prefecture. I heard he and Miss Lu are fond of each other; maybe he’ll even become the future son-in-law of the Marshal’s mansion!”

“But I heard it’s unrequited love. Chen Tianyuan pines for Miss Lu yet can’t win her over!”

In the

jianghu

, people were most interested in romantic gossip, especially when both male and female protagonists were young prodigies. The love story of a young sword cultivator with profound sword skills and the daughter of a Grand Marshal was irresistible.

After listening to the crowd, Li Yanchu’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Am I seriously about to get dragged into some ridiculous love story?”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Chen Tianyuan’s gaze had been filled with killing intent. It didn’t make sense. He and Lu Li had only met briefly, and it was nothing more than a chance encounter!

He shook his head. Perhaps it was normal for those who achieved fame at a young age to carry a bit of arrogance; nothing surprising there. As long as this Chen Tianyuan didn’t provoke him again, he would just keep his distance.

Li Yanchu made up his mind. His robe fluttered behind him as he strode toward the jade archway outside the city.

Before long, he saw the towering green jade archway rising from the ground. A dense crowd had already gathered around it. There were curious citizens of Wei City, wandering martial artists from across the land, monks and Daoist priests, and even eccentric practitioners of the unorthodox Dao.

For such a small city, it was now a gathering of many prodigies. Numerous prominent families had sent their young heirs to attend.

Suddenly, a white crane spread its wings and descended from the sky at incredible speed, landing before the jade archway. Its immortal aura was ethereal, and its wingspan about three meters, carrying an air of pride and dignity.

A young Daoist, around thirty years old, sat upright atop the crane. His features were strikingly handsome; his eyebrows slanted sharply toward his temples, and a streak of gray-white hair fell across his forehead. He gave off an aura both sharp and unfathomable.

“Danyangzi!”

“A disciple of Mount Mao!”

“He actually came!”

Exclamations rose from the crowd, one after another.

Especially among the Daoists present, Danyangzi inspired particular respect and fear.

1. 陈 Chen is a common Chinese-language surname and one of the most common surnames in Asia. It is the most common surname in Taiwan (2010) and Singapore (2000). 天 Tian literally means “heaven” or “sky,” suggesting a connection to destiny or extraordinary talent, and 元 Yuan means “origin” or “prime,” implying foundational strength and uniqueness. To me, 天元 can be interpreted as “heavenly origin” or “prime of the heavens,” signaling a character of exceptional skill and fated greatness. ☜