During the Tianqi reign of the Great Ming Dynasty, in the territory of Xinhe, Changzhou.
Rhino Mountain lay exceptionally tranquil beneath the night sky, its distant peaks dimly silhouetted against the starlight. Standing atop the main peak, one could take in the rolling expanse of mountains in a single glance. Soaring into the clouds and wreathed in mist, the peaks presented a breathtaking landscape unlike any other in the world. As the saying goes: mountains need not be high if they are home to immortals.
Lü Dongbin had attained the Dao and become an immortal right here; thus, since ancient times, the mountain had been revered as a Taoist capital and Buddhist sanctuary, a place where immortals retired to cultivate themselves.
Although night had already fallen, Rhino Mountain remained steeped in celestial energy and supreme beauty—a peerless ancient sanctuary blessed with unique scenery, revered by martial heroes throughout the realm.
Yet down in the deep valley at the foot of Rhino Mountain, a fresh-faced youth was quietly swinging a precious sword. It was evident that he was wholly absorbed in cultivating his swordsmanship, so much so that his intense focus bordered on obsession. Every stance and movement had reached a state of pure mastery, with just the right amount of force.
The reason the youth practiced with such tireless dedication, from dawn till dusk, was entirely due to his master's influence. As the saying goes, a strict master produces brilliant disciples—truly an eternal truth.
He had once heard his master mention that when he was still an infant in swaddling clothes, his biological parents had abandoned him by the roadside, and it was only out of the goodness of his master's heart that he had been rescued and brought back to the temple. Therefore, his master was his only family; it was his master who had raised him, teaching him literature and martial arts. In other words, their bond surpassed that of blood.
Before he knew it, he was already sixteen years old. Truth be told, his master cherished him dearly; it was simply that he felt disappointed in himself for lagging behind in his sword practice, failing to live up to his master's expectations.
With this in mind, he felt he needed to step up his training and strive to break through the tenth level of Qi Refining in the near future, so as to fulfill his master's wish. Propelled by this thought, he intensified his practice, his movements growing increasingly vigorous. Channeling strength into his arms, a violent gust of wind surged from his palm, unleashing a ferocious strike with the speed of lightning.
*Boom!*
A deafening crash rent the air, and where the blade struck, the miraculous happened: a massive boulder not far away was cleanly split in two.
"Not a bad display of power! This little brat's swordsmanship is quite a spectacle, hahaha!"
Suddenly, a dry voice rang out beside the youth.
Startled by the applause, the youth wondered who could possibly be watching him practice at such a late hour. Instinctively, he raised his head and looked toward the sound, spotting a Man in Black walking toward him.
However, the night light was dim, and the man's hood was pulled down to obscure half his face, making it impossible to see his features clearly.
Realizing the situation, the youth had to pause his practice. Since a guest had called upon him, courtesy demanded a proper greeting, lest he appear rude. The youth cup-saluted politely and replied, "Senior, you flatter me too much! This junior was merely flailing about clumsily, making a fool of himself before you."
"Hmph, for you to say that shows a modest streak, little brat. To be honest, achieving this level at your age is quite respectable—though you'll need to keep working hard if you ever want to truly master it," the Man in Black said casually.
"Thank you for the praise, Senior. By the way, what brings you wandering out here so late? Is something the matter?"
"Oh, nothing at all. I was simply passing by."
"I see. Might I ask your esteemed name, Senior? How should this junior address you?" the youth asked thoughtfully.
"Never mind my name. But there is someone I'd like to ask you about." Unwilling to reveal his identity, the Man in Black replied expressionlessly.
Surprised to hear that the Man in Black was looking for someone, the youth asked doubtfully, "Who is it you are looking for, Senior? Perhaps you could tell me, and see if this junior can be of any help."
Seeing how earnest the youth was, the Man in Black countered with a faint question: "Little brat, what's your name?"
"My name is Wuming."
"Wuming? What a ridiculous name. And where is your home?"
Wuming knew the Man in Black was amused by his name, but he didn't mind. After all, it was his master who had given him such an unappealing moniker. Sticking to the facts, Wuming answered honestly, "Actually, I don't know where my home is. My master told me that when I was still in swaddling clothes, he carried me into Yuanshun Temple."
"How old are you this year?"
"Sixteen."
"Little brat, the technique you were practicing just now was the Spiritual Deity Sword Technique, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"That means you are quite well-versed in the Spiritual Deity Sword Technique. You must have put in a lot of effort, eh?"
"It's not that I am particularly adept; it's simply the result of my master's personal instruction and guidance."
Hearing this, the Man in Black grew interested and pressed further, "By the sound of it, you have never actually laid eyes on the *Spirit God Sutra*, have you?"
"Senior is right. I have indeed never seen the *Spirit God Sutra*."
"And who is your master?"
"Kaishan Zhenren," Wuming replied truthfully.
Only then did the Man in Black confirm that the youth before him was precisely the person he had been searching for. It seemed that the iron shoes had worn out to no avail in his search, yet he had found what he sought without even trying. He had not expected such fortune today; the old scoundrel Kaishan, whom he had spent sixteen bitter years hunting down, was actually hiding right here.
Determined to get to the bottom of things, the Man in Black decided to find the old scoundrel Kaishan first to assess the situation. If it proved true, dealing with this little brat afterward would be easy enough.
With this thought, the Man in Black feigned casualness and asked, "Is your master at home?"
"I'm sorry, my master went out today and hasn't returned yet. Would you care to accompany me back to the temple to rest and wait a moment, Senior?"
"No, I don't think that's necessary. How about you come with me somewhere instead?" Since the old scoundrel wasn't home, he would deal with this brat first—better to kill a thousand by mistake than let a single one escape, the Man in Black thought fiercely.
"Come with you somewhere? Senior, what do you mean by that?" Puzzled by the proposal, Wuming widened his eyes and asked.
"Stop babbling and come along with me at once!" the Man in Black commanded.
Hearing those words, Wuming stood stunned.