Severe cold in December, heavy snow falling.

  The Qianluo mountain range stretches for over a hundred miles, already covered in thick snow, a vast expanse of white. The large trees in the mountains are bent and broken under the weight of the snow, and the small rivers are frozen solid. This mountain is known as the Great Mountain with a thousand smaller peaks, like stars scattered across the sky, and is called Qianluo Mountain. At its center lies the Xuanmen Dao Zhen cultivation grounds - Qianluo Gate. Compared to the entire world, it may be considered a mid-sized sect, but within a radius of a thousand miles, it is the largest sect, with over three hundred years of history.

  Qian Luo Zu Shi built the sect at first, holding a sword to sweep away the mountain of evil spirits, intimidating thousands of miles, and was revered as Qian Luo Xian Jun. However, the path of immortality is difficult to seek, and although Qian Luo Xian Jun had high magical powers and profound Taoist practices, he could not resist the cycle of reincarnation and had already passed away in meditation on a mountain over a hundred years ago.

  More than a hundred years have passed, and the Qian Luo Men no longer has the majestic power it had when Qian Luo Xian Jun was alive. Even that kind of peaceful and quiet pursuit of immortality has almost disappeared.

  In the depths of winter, the cold is severe; at midnight hour.

  A faint light seeped through the gap under the door of the Qianluomen Scripture Depository, looking rather desolate on this quiet and cold snowy day.

  To the right of the gate, there was an old, long wooden table. In the middle of the table stood a gray oil lamp, and next to it lay a common wooden scabbard with a long sword inside. Under the light of the lamp, a young man sat with his head bowed, intently reading a scroll.

  In the dim light, one can vaguely make out this room. Apart from rows of bookshelves and books, there is only a table, a chair, a lamp, and a person, exuding an air of solitary clarity.

  Only the thousand Luo Men knew that guarding the scripture pavilion was a very bitter task, because once they took on this task, they could no longer leave at will, and even eating and sleeping had to be done in the scripture pavilion.

  This young mans name was Chen Jing, who had entered the Qian Luo Gate three years ago. At that time, it was also a cold winter with heavy snowfall just like now. He was brought back to Mount Qian Luo by Ye Qingxue, the only disciple of the previous gatekeeper, and then accepted as a disciple by the gatekeeper. Although he was considered a direct disciple of the gatekeeper, he had never seen the gatekeeper again, and even the Qian Luo Gates Qi training method was taught by his senior sister Ye Qingxue. Despite this, none of the older disciples looked down on him or were rude to him.

  He never thought that just as he had just learned the Qianluomens Qi Gong, the master of Qianluomen suddenly passed away. He felt a huge change in the attitude of other disciples. Coincidentally, the Scripture Pavilion was short of one disciple to guard it, so he asked to be assigned to guard the pavilion. The current sect leader, Jiang Liuyun, only encouraged him a few words and agreed. He has been guarding for nearly three years.

  "Knock knock knock......knock knock......"

  The door creaked open with a gentle knock, revealing the calm and composed mind of the person knocking.

  Chen Jing furrowed his brow slightly, picked up the sword from the table and stood it in the shadow of the table leg, but did not immediately stand up. Instead, he opened his mouth to ask: "Who is it?"

  "Chen Jing, my younger brother, its me, Xuán Tóng..." A gentle voice came from outside the door, a voice as calm and peaceful as his name.

  "Oh, its Brother Xuántóng." Chen Jingying said, getting up to open the door.

  Outside the door stood a young man in brocade, who looked refined and elegant at first glance. His name was Sun Xuantong, and he was the third direct disciple of Jiang Liuyun, the current master of the Qianluo Gate. However, it was now the eve of the New Year, and someone like him from a large family should have returned home long ago. Why would he come to find himself in the middle of the night? Chen Jing thought suspiciously. With a smile on his face, he welcomed Sun Xuantong into the house, walking behind him and saying, "The junior brother who usually delivers tea is not here today, so theres no tea inside. I hope youll excuse us, senior brother."

  "Hehe, no need to worry about it. Its indeed hard work for my junior brother to guard the scripture pavilion. When I return, Ill have someone send over some good tea and pastries. Please dont refuse them, junior brother."

  Sun Xuantong stood with his hands behind his back, scanning the library with a gentle tone, speaking in an attitude that was clearly a master of the house, and using this trick to show favor and kindness came naturally.

  "Thank you for your concern, senior brother."

  "Hehe, younger brother is being polite, but there are many fellow disciples who envy your position."

  Chen Jing smiled and said nothing.

  Sun Xuantong said, "Not only is there no one to restrain us, but we can also freely read the scriptures in this pavilion. Although the days are a bit quiet and deserted, for people like us who cultivate, its not a bad thing."

  "Haha, Brother Shifu is joking. As a direct disciple of the sect leader, you naturally understand that the key to cultivating techniques lies not in quantity but quality. If ones mental state is not sufficient, the more scriptures and incantations they read, the less beneficial it will be." He paused for a moment before asking, "I wonder what brings Brother Shifu here so late?" Chen Jing walked around Sun Xuantong and returned to his original seat.

  "Junior brother is right, the key to magic lies in refinement, not quantity. Alas, I have a younger sister at home who has been obsessed with magic lately. Last month when I returned home, I couldnt resist her persistence and promised to bring back a book of spells for her when I come down from the mountain. Hehe, junior brother can rest assured that Ill be back in three months. I wonder if senior brother could do me a favor."

  Sun Xuantongs tone was still gentle, with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were fixed on Chen Jings eyes.

  Chen Jings heart moved slightly, and he thought to himself: "With his status, it wouldnt be difficult at all for him to obtain a Borrowing Spirit Symbol. Why did he have to come find me in the middle of the night?"

  He thought to himself, but his face showed some difficulty as he said: "Senior brother, perhaps you dont know, when I was guarding the scripture storage room, the sect leader warned me that if I were to lend out scriptures without permission and got caught, I would be stripped of my powers and expelled from the mountain."

  "Heh heh, dont worry, young brother. If neither of us says anything, no one will know. Even if someone finds out, I can protect you, so just put your mind at ease." Sun Xuansuo said with certainty, revealing a sense of responsibility and determination that came with being in a superior position.

  Most of the cultivators inside Qian Luo Men are actually young masters from wealthy and noble families within a thousand miles, they do not aim to achieve immortality or enlightenment, but rather wish to learn magic spells to return to the mortal world and enjoy wealth and glory.

  Chen Jing smiled and met Sun Xuandongs gaze, saying: "Brother, please dont blame me. As a junior brother, it is my duty to decline."

  "Alright, alright..." Sun Xuantong patted his palm lightly and smiled: "Younger brother is indeed loyal to his duties. However, we are cultivators, not like those people in the mortal world who have official positions. We cultivate the Tao, dont be too constrained by worldly Confucianism. Hmm, I suddenly remembered something interesting that happened when I went home last month, and Id like to share it with younger brother."

  Chen Jing looked at Sun Xuantong who was standing by the door with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky, and said cautiously: "Please speak, Shixiong."

  "Last month when I returned to Ba Ling, I accidentally heard about a murder case that happened three years ago in the west of the city." Sun Xuantong turned his head around and looked at Chen Jing while speaking.

  Chen Jingru leaned forward slightly, listening intently, and under the lamplight, his facial expression couldnt be seen clearly.

  Sun Xuantong continued, "A scholar killed three sons of famous families in a brothel, and it was a sensation throughout the city at that time. Unfortunately, I was in the mountains at that time and didnt know about it until three years later. Its also a coincidence that the murderers name was Chen Jing, exactly the same as my junior fellow apprentice."

  "Haha, its really interesting that he has the same name and surname as me." Chen Jing raised his head and said naturally: "But I wonder if the portrait of the murderer is also the same as mine?" He was standing in the same place where he had been sitting and reading earlier. His wrist hanging down was just blocked by the table, so if there was someone behind him, they could see his fingers touching the hilt of a three-foot long sword that was hidden in the shadows.

  "The time at home was short, and I didnt get the portrait of the murderer. However, on my way back to the mountain, I had someone search for it below. Although three years have passed, I think it should be possible to find it, and this time when I go back, I will see it." Sun Xuantong stared into Chen Jings eyes, his gaze piercing, as if wanting to see into Chen Jings innermost heart.

  "I wonder if Brother Chen can bring the portrait back when he returns to the mountain, so I can take a look. What kind of scholar has the guts to kill three young masters from prestigious families in a brothel?" Chen Jing said with a smile on his face, his tone relaxed.

  "Heh heh, definitely, after March, at the same time, Ill come here again, hoping that by then, Master will be able to make a decision with a calm mind." Sun Xuantong said as he turned to leave, but suddenly turned back and said: "Oh, right, I heard that the three families who provided information each received a spiritual treasure?" After finishing speaking, he retreated backwards until he reached the door before turning around and leaving, as if afraid of being stabbed in the back by Chen Jings sword at close range.

  Chen Jing was indeed thinking of pinning him down with a sword at that moment, because those three young masters were the ones he killed. Three years ago, after killing the three young masters, he was also hunted down, and if not for Ye Qingxues rescue, he would have become a pile of bones by now. However, he had never regretted what he did.

  He picked up the sword leaning against the table leg in the shadow, slowly drew it out, and a faint sword hum floated in the pavilion.

  The sword body is clear and bright, as if there is a flowing water rhyme.

  "In this Qianluomen, I can no longer stay. Looking at the current situation, he just wants to control me. But Qianluomen will have to leave anyway, and the sooner the better." Chen Jings fingers lightly slid over the sword body, thinking in his heart.

  In a world where humans and gods coexist, as long as there is a prominent and wealthy family at home, someone will go to the mountains to worship and cultivate. Chen Jing can be sure that if its people from those three families, the master of the Qianluo Gate, Jiang Liuyun, will definitely hand himself over to them.

  Its just that Chen Jing wants to leave the Thousand Luo Gate, others may find it easier, but he finds it more difficult. Because he is the guardian of this scripture pavilion, when he asked for permission to come here, he had already promised not to go down the mountain for five years. Moreover, wanting to leave must be approved by the gate master, otherwise, it will be considered a betrayal and will definitely be pursued and killed, and all his magical powers will be abolished.

  Cant openly leave the mountain, can only sneak away quietly. However, before leaving, he still had something to do.

  He spent three years in Qianluo Mountain, only practicing swordsmanship. Now is the time when his sword will become spiritual. As long as he masters the sword, his swordsmanship will be complete, and he wont have such a hard time facing Sun Xuandong. Moreover, after leaving the mountain, he can also fight against danger.