kvmb Chapter 403: Shen Ming’s Story!
Chapter 403: Shen Ming’s Story!
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Li Yun soon arrived before Heaven Mandate Peak.
The moment his figure appeared in the skies above the peak, the entire Heaven Mandate Peak instantly erupted into commotion.
"It’s Elder Li Yun!"
"Senior Brother Li Yun has returned!"
"No, it should be Grand Elder Li Yun now!"
Countless disciples rushed out excitedly from every corner of the peak.
One after another, gazes filled with admiration, excitement, and worship landed upon Li Yun.
Then—
Thunderous cheers suddenly erupted throughout the entire mountain.
"Long live Grand Elder Li Yun!"
"Grand Elder Li Yun is invincible!"
"Heaven Mandate Peak is number one!"
The deafening cheers echoed continuously across the mountain range.
Li Yun looked down toward the countless excited disciples below and could not help revealing a faint smile.
Back then, Heaven Mandate Peak had always been the weakest among the four peaks of the Martial Ascension Gate.
Its disciples were constantly suppressed and looked down upon by the other peaks.
However, everything had changed because of Li Yun.
Starting from an ordinary disciple of Heaven Mandate Peak, Li Yun had risen step by step purely through his own strength until he eventually became the champion of the Hidden Dragon Tournament and the Heavenly Pride Supreme of the Southern Martial Domain.
Because of this achievement, the status of Heaven Mandate Peak had risen explosively within the Martial Ascension Gate.
The fact that the champion of the Hidden Dragon Tournament had once cultivated within Heaven Mandate Peak alone was enough to shock countless people.
Now, an enormous number of new disciples desperately wanted to join Heaven Mandate Peak.
Its reputation had completely surpassed the other three peaks.
In fact, within Heaven Mandate Peak itself, Li Yun’s prestige had already reached an absurd level.
To many disciples, Li Yun’s status and influence had even surpassed that of Peak Lord Shen Ming himself.
After all, Peak Lord Shen Ming was the one who governed Heaven Mandate Peak...
But Li Yun was the legend who had completely changed its fate.
----
Li Yun merely smiled faintly at the countless cheering disciples below before continuing toward the Heaven Mandate Hall.
Moments later, his figure descended before the grand hall standing at the center of Heaven Mandate Peak.
The instant Li Yun stepped into the hall, Peak Lord Shen Ming, who had been seated inside, immediately stood up from his seat.
A broad smile appeared on Shen Ming’s face as he looked toward Li Yun with unconcealed pride and satisfaction.
"Hahaha! Li Yun, you truly brought enormous glory to our Heaven Mandate Peak this time!"
"The champion of the Hidden Dragon Tournament..."
"The Heavenly Pride Supreme of the Southern Martial Domain..."
"Even now, this old man still feels like everything that happened was a dream!"
As he spoke, Shen Ming walked directly toward Li Yun and patted him heavily on the shoulder.
His eyes were filled with excitement.
Over time, the relationship between Li Yun and Shen Ming had already become far closer than that of an ordinary elder and disciple.
In many ways, they resembled trusted friends more than master and student.
After all, Shen Ming had personally watched Li Yun rise step by step from an ordinary disciple all the way to his current height.
Hearing Shen Ming’s words, Li Yun smiled calmly.
"I already told Peak Lord Shen Ming before. I would not disappoint you."
The moment those words were spoken, Shen Ming burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha! You little monster, how could I possibly have known you were this terrifying? When you first participated in the Hidden Dragon Tournament, your cultivation was still far too low."
"Of course I was worried!"
"Who would have imagined that you would directly crush all the geniuses of the Southern Martial Domain and seize first place?"
As Shen Ming spoke, the pride in his eyes became even more obvious.
Li Yun’s achievements had completely exceeded all his expectations.
At this moment, however, the smile on Shen Ming’s face slowly faded.
His expression gradually became serious.
"You are leaving for the Eastern Martial Domain, correct?"
Hearing this question, Li Yun nodded slowly.
"Yes. The envoys from the Eastern Martial Domain already arrived earlier. It was the Heavenly Sword Sect that came to recruit me."
However, the instant Shen Ming heard the words "Heavenly Sword Sect," his expression suddenly changed.
The relaxed atmosphere inside the hall instantly became heavy.
Shen Ming’s brows tightly furrowed while a troubled look appeared on his face.
Even his eyes darkened slightly.
Li Yun immediately noticed the unusual reaction.
"Peak Lord Shen Ming..."
"Is there a problem with the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Hearing Li Yun’s question, Peak Lord Shen Ming did not answer immediately.
Instead, he slowly turned around and walked toward the window beside the hall. His gaze drifted toward the distant mountains while a complicated expression appeared on his face.
After remaining silent for a long moment, Shen Ming finally let out a deep sigh.
"Li Yun, there are some things I originally did not wish to mention. However, since you are about to enter the Eastern Martial Domain and even join the Heavenly Sword Sect, I believe you deserve to know the truth. I was once a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect as well."
The moment those words were spoken, Li Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Peak Lord Shen Ming had once belonged to the Heavenly Sword Sect?
Shen Ming revealed a self-mocking smile before continuing.
"Back then, I could also be considered a fairly talented genius within the Heavenly Sword Sect. My cultivation speed was extremely fast, and several elders even valued me highly. However, I eventually formed a feud with another disciple who possessed terrifying talent and, more importantly, an extremely powerful background within the sect."
"At first, the conflict between us was merely competition between disciples, but as time passed, our hostility became increasingly intense. Eventually, during a sect mission, he directly attacked me with the intention of crippling me completely."
A cold light flashed through Shen Ming’s eyes as painful memories resurfaced within his mind.
"That battle almost destroyed me entirely. My meridians were shattered, my foundation collapsed, and my cultivation fell drastically. At my peak, I had already stepped into the Mortal Core Realm, yet after that incident, my cultivation directly fell below the Mortal Core Realm and never recovered again."
"If not for a sect elder intervening at the final moment, I would have already died there. That elder secretly saved my life and later advised me to leave the Heavenly Sword Sect completely because, with my cultivation nearly crippled, I no longer possessed the qualifications to remain there. More importantly, if I stayed, I would eventually be killed."
The atmosphere inside the Heaven Mandate Hall instantly became heavy.
Shen Ming slowly turned around and looked directly toward Li Yun.
"That is why I eventually left the Eastern Martial Domain and came to the Southern Martial Domain. In the end, I became the Peak Lord of Heaven Mandate Peak within the Martial Ascension Gate."
"Li Yun, the Eastern Martial Domain is far crueler than the Southern Martial Domain. There are countless geniuses there, and behind many of them stand terrifying factions and ancient families. With your talent, you will undoubtedly shine brightly there, but because of that, you must also be extremely careful."