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I have an instinctive reverence for swords, which is a shared sentiment among martial artists from my previous life. Back then, when the Five Supreme Masters gathered at Huashan Mountain to compete for the "Nine Yin Manual" and the title of the greatest martial artist under heaven, it was called the "Huashan Swordsmanship Discussion." Although only Wang Chongyang among the five used a sword, the name still stuck because the sword itself is a symbol of culture. I never had the chance before, but now that I possess a divine sword, I am determined to fully cultivate this sword technique.

At this moment, I am practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. In my previous life, I witnessed many martial arts, but my limited understanding and skill made it difficult to use them as a reference. The martial arts of this life, although not as refined as those of my past, often surpass the limits of human capability. To counter these techniques with swordsmanship requires even more dedication. As I wield "Divine Punishment," there is no lightning, only the fluid movement of the blade, simulating the suppression of various martial arts—a clear sign of initial mastery.

It is mid-winter, and the few sparse trees around have long since shed their leaves. The town near the desert is dry and cold; if not for the protection of nearby mountains, it would be perpetually covered in sandstorms.

"Uncle, I'm back." Jin Luosha ran into the courtyard and threw herself into my arms. Jin Luosha, who is usually quiet and introverted in public, becomes lively only around me. Since waking up from the Magic Tower, this little girl has grown even more attached to me. When I first sent her to school, she cried uncontrollably.

"Good, good, Jin Luosha is such a good girl. Shall we go eat?"

After settling Jin Luosha, it was already evening. I stepped out of the room, followed by Youlijia.

"Did you get any news from the church today?" I turned to ask Youlijia.

"Yes, Master Fengxuan. By intercepting the church's magical correspondence, we can confirm that the Radiant Temple has learned of your presence here from the church's priests. Their envoy will arrive in three days to escort both you and Miss Jin Luosha back to the Temple. Additionally, according to the information brought by merchants, the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce seems to be seeking reconciliation with the Temple and plans to negotiate with the Temple's representatives during the New Year celebration."

"If the Temple finds us now, it will complicate our efforts to seek justice for Jin Luosha. We must consider their stance, which would be too troublesome. Since the Temple will also be visiting the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce, let us strike directly, wipe out their entire family, and leave the mess for the Temple to clean up."

"Understood, everything will proceed according to your plan."

"Oh, by the way, shouldn't you be serving Jin Luosha? Why do you always follow my orders?"

"Although I have gained self-awareness and access to much information, the mental patterns I share with Miss Jin Luosha are still lacking due to her young age, making it difficult to make correct judgments on many matters. Therefore, I need your wisdom. Moreover, your actions in saving Miss Jin Luosha's life in the Nether River Tower proved your care for her. Unless Miss Jin Luosha issues a direct order against you while fully mature and conscious, Youlijia will continue to follow your instructions."

The next day, when Priestess Jenny discovered that Jin Luosha had not come to school as usual and informed the old priest Siehard, they found our residence empty upon checking.

---

Lima City is the largest city in southern Fasin and a major hub for goods traveling between the north and south of the Four Protectorate Kingdoms. This bustling metropolis, home to a million people, constantly attracts merchants from all directions. Though it may not match the scale and status of the Star Shattering Abyss, it remains one of the largest cities in the western part of the Mainland.

With the New Year approaching, various chambers of commerce in the city are holding numerous gatherings to strengthen relationships and lay the groundwork for future business. However, the most notable event this year is the recent leadership change in the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce. With the old guard almost entirely eliminated, the old network of relationships is collapsing, and everyone is watching how the new leadership will act.

Lord Radwi is both excited and nervous today. He is the newly appointed president of the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce, and today's gathering will determine his future. Naturally, he must prepare thoroughly. Looking back, his decision to support the Second Prince seemed hasty. He did not expect the old guard to have connections with so many powerful figures. They likely did not care about which prince ascended to the throne, as neither would affect their status. Now that he has killed off these old men, the chamber's position and influence have plummeted. To appease the anger of the powerful figures, the chamber has lost nearly half its wealth. With the disappearance of the hidden powers held by the old men, the Star Shield Chamber of Commerce, despite the backing of the Second Prince, has lost much of its former glory. Moreover, the Second Prince Lan Xiu supported their takeover primarily for the chamber's vast wealth, and it is expected that the chamber's finances will not be optimistic. Even the existence of this century-old Southern chamber might be in jeopardy.

Even knowing this, Radwi would not hesitate. No matter how prosperous the chamber might be, it does not belong to him. He would rather see its decline in exchange for his own elevated status. After all, he has been ennobled as a lord and promised the position of Deputy Minister of Finance once the Second Prince ascends to the throne. This is what Radwi truly desires, not the arduous path of commerce.

However, the takeover process was not smooth. Initially peaceful, it turned into an armed purge due to the unexpected strength of the old guard. Additionally, the escape of the former president Robart's granddaughter has caused Radwi endless trouble. Not only does it prevent him from gaining support from neutral factions within the chamber, but it has also drawn the attention of a young sword master. While a sword master might not individually surpass the chamber's collective martial power, they can easily attain high positions within the kingdom. Radwi's allegiance to the Second Prince is based solely on the support of a court sword master. If this sword master joins the opposing camp of the Second Prince, it would be a nightmare for Radwi. Moreover, a young sword master represents the potential to become a sword emperor in the future. Currently, the kingdom's only sword emperor is the king's brother-in-law, who helped the king ascend to the throne by marrying the king's sister. Such a figure is someone no one wants to face.