Lee emerged from the depths of the pool clutching over ten rare herbs and exotic flowers. When he saw the man, his jaw dropped wide open as if seeing a ghost, his shock matching Shuro's slaying of Pang Guan the night before.

"The Fox Magistrate has now taken to being a servant, it seems."

The man did not look at Lee, speaking evenly.

Fox Magistrate?

Shuro glanced at Lee in surprise.

Aside from cultivating alchemy and martial arts, Shuro's remaining passion was listening to storytellers and watching operas. The storytellers in Caelius Capital were an extension of the martial world, and famous martial experts often appeared in their tales. Many years ago, the Fox Magistrate had been a renowned martial powerhouse, ranking in the top ten below half-step transcendents.

Having his old nickname exposed, Lee's expression was complicated and volatile.

Shuro saw it clearly - in that instant, Lee's aura underwent an earth-shattering change, radiating an edge like a dust-clearing saber. But in a flash it was gone, and he reverted to a lecherous, cunning castle guard.

Bowing with clasped hands to the man, Lee smiled obsequiously, "Rumors say that when the Marquis of Flattery sought an immortal clan, he spoke out of turn and was killed by them. Lee never believed that even immortals would necessarily be able to kill the Sword of the Marquis of Flattery."

The Sword of the Marquis of Flattery...he's actually the Sword of the Marquis of Flattery!

Even though Shuro had just embarked on the immortal path, hearing the title 'Sword of the Marquis of Flattery' made him shiver.

Every era had its legends. In this one, only the Sword of the Marquis of Flattery, Marco, deserved to be called a legend in the mundane world. Marco had three legendary phases in his life. One was regarding his origins.

Marco was originally a descendant of the imperial clan of the Tera Dynasty. The year he was born, his father raised troops in rebellion and was killed the next year when defeated. To demonstrate mercy, the Tera Emperor granted the swaddled Marco the title Marquis of Flattery and raised him deep in the palace, forbidden from studying martial arts or letters.

When he was nine years old, Marco set the palace towers ablaze and killed his way out of the royal palace alone with his sword, seizing the chaos.

At eleven, Marco broke through to the grand elixir realm, making a name for himself in the martial world.

At thirteen in the small spirit realm, he challenged martial families across the land, losing battle after battle but fighting on until he finally attained grand mastery of the sword dao, earning the title Sword of the Marquis of Flattery.

At fifteen in the great spirit realm, he dominated the martial world with few rivals.

At seventeen, he broke through to half-step transcendent, his arm strength surpassing 100,000 catties, becoming the youngest half-step transcendent in the history of the Tera Dynasty. He established the Flattery Palace, and with a wave of his arm, all 99,000 villains and bandits in the land answered his call.

The Tera royal household was wary and invited transcendents to battle Marco.

The duel in the capital lasted three days and nights. Marco won with a single move, departing leisurely with unmatched fame.

After that, the Sword of the Marquis of Flattery gradually faded from prominence. Some said he was killed by immortals brought in by the Tera royal house, others that he was spotted by immortals and recruited behind sect walls. More outlandish rumors claimed he had broken through to transcendent and ascended in daylight.

Shuro was not unfamiliar with the tales of the Sword of the Marquis of Flattery. What young man did not enjoy legends and dream of becoming one?

Now, facing the living legend of the Sword of the Marquis of Flattery, Shuro's mood was quite different.

"So it's the Sword of the Marquis of Flattery. A pleasure to meet you." Shuro cupped his fists and spoke evenly to Marco.

In stark contrast to his attitude toward Lee, Marco stared directly at Shuro, his gaze like two sharp swords stabbing Shuro's skin with a faint pain.

"I've been searching for the Southern Wilds River Lord's estate for many days, yet you managed to get here first. If you don't tell me everything, don't think about leaving this place alive."

Marco's voice was like a bowl of still water, without the slightest ripple, yet exuding domineering coldness at every moment.

An immortal's secret estate, treasures beyond compare - who wouldn't want to claim them for themselves?

It was clearly Shuro who found the River Lord's estate first, yet Marco already viewed it as his own.

Shuro felt a surge of unreasonable anger. He looked up at Marco without any fear and said, "It was fate that brought me here, not you, that's all."

The first fifteen years of this life he had lived relying on others, at their mercy, his future unknown.

He had thought he would muddle through an ordinary life, but unexpectedly gained enlightenment through ten days of mortal danger, killing two masters in one night.

With his youthful ambitions fulfilled, how could even a Tera legend make him yield?

Two bolts of lightning flashed in their eyes simultaneously. Both released imaginary thunder in their gaze, making Lee retreat to the side drenched in cold sweat.

Having once been a prominent figure in the Tera martial world, Lee cleared his throat and gingerly walked between the two, bowing to each. "Let's talk this out, why argue over it? This is my young master Chuan, accomplished despite his youth and one of the outstanding talents in Caelius Capital."

Lee is introduced to Marco, leaving out Shuro's true identity.

"As for the famed Sword of the Marquis of Flattery, my young master has long admired you. When the Marquess retreated all those years ago, you were already at the half-step transcendent level. It's been seven years, no doubt the Marquess has broken through to transcendent level. My Tera will finally have another of the eight grandmasters of the realm. What a joyous occasion!"

Hearing Lee's words, Shuro's heart stirred.

The Marquess had retired at eighteen. Seven years later he would be only twenty-five, yet his temples were already white and wrinkles furrowed his brow, weathered by the years. Though still proud and aloof, his eyes no longer held the brilliance of youth.

And the imaginary thunder Shuro glimpsed in his eyes earlier clearly showed the dispersal of his vital essence, indicating his primordial spirit had started down its decline.

"Transcendent realm..."

Marco muttered under his breath, a fleeting hint of melancholy in his eyes.

Gifted as he was, all who knew him viewed Marco as a once-in-a-millennium genius. But genius has its own troubles - after seventeen, as he charged toward the transcendent realm, Marco chanced upon a terrifying, despairing secret during closed-door cultivation: once he broke through to transcendent, he would have reached his limit in life, unable to progress further.

So at eighteen he gave up on breaking through. After emerging from seclusion he inquired extensively, finally learning that the transcendent realm was merely equivalent to the grand perfection of foundation building in the Daoist sects. Beyond the four phases of foundation building were countless more realms. Naturally unwilling to stop there, Marco began to seek out immortals and ask about the Dao. He assumed that with his talents, entering an immortal sect would be easy. Yet he was rejected when taking the entrance trials of every sect he visited in Tera, repeatedly barred from crossing their thresholds.

It was only three years ago that Marco gave up on formally joining a sect and started searching ancient ruins and eccentric recluses in Tera. Three years passed, and though he found some ancient sites, they yielded nothing. Coming to Caelius Capital this time was just trying his luck, yet he really did chance upon an immortal's secret cave estate.

Far superior to Leonard, Marco's keen eyes long discerned this estate was deserted with nothing left but a few useless spirit herbs for him and no treasures whatsoever. Shuro was clearly empty-handed, unable to conceal anything either.

"Fate is with you, not me, perhaps so."

Marco sheathed his five-chi treasured sword, still cold and aloof.

Years of fruitless searching had already worn away his grand ambitions and confidence. He no longer had the drive of his youth - even he didn't know how much longer he could persevere.

He turned to leave when a murmur came from behind: "What a pity, my life will end at this point."

The most hidden, painful scar in the depths of his heart torn open, Marco's eyes flashed with anger. He turned back with a freezing stare at Shuro.

Lee jumped, shooting Shuro a deeply aggrieved look.

In all of Tera, perhaps no one dared to speak to Marco like this, not even the eight transcendent grandmasters who were called the hands of the nation. Seven years ago Marco was already a match for any transcendent, and after seven more years, who knew how profound his strength had become? For Shuro to say this was purely asking for trouble!

Shuro was unaware of Lee's thoughts, but with a glance he could see Marco's current state.

This time it wasn't entirely thanks to the Nine-Dragon Sovereign's memories, but Shuro's own insights into alchemy, martial arts and foundational cultivation techniques.

Marco was undoubtedly a once-in-a-millennium genius, yet in his early years he had overdrawn his body's potential wantonly, draining the pond to catch the fish, burning down the forest to hunt prey, causing his organs to decline prematurely. Now, not to mention condensing primeval essence, even his qi could scatter at any moment.

Shuro had also unleashed his potential on a massive scale, but due to the Nine Deaths to Reborn Technique, in absorbing primordial yin and yang to concoct the grand elixir, he replenished himself with the essence of heaven and earth even as he drew on his potential, maintaining a balance.

His premature aging and the dispersal of thunder in his eyes clearly showed that the once legendary Sword of the Marquis of Flattery had fallen to the dust, no longer the legend of the past.

Perhaps this was the ruthlessness of the immortal path.

Shuro thought to himself. Avoiding Marco's icy gaze, he strode over to Leonard's corpse and crouched down, searching his clothes.

Marco was truly angry now. Proud by nature, even in his current downtrodden state he would not allow his dignity to be trampled by some nobody youth.

"Explain yourself clearly, or don't blame my sword for showing no mercy!"

Azure light flourishing in his hand, Marco stared coldly at Shuro.

After searching Leonard from head to toe, Shuro only found a gilt-edged invitation. Nothing else. The invitation had the three characters for Five Flowers City on it, vaguely familiar though Shuro couldn't recall where he'd heard of it before.

He casually slipped the invitation into his bosom and stood, looking at Marco. "I don't believe you actually dare to kill me."

Lee's heart leaped into his throat. He couldn't fathom where Shuro found the nerve to speak like this. The Sword of the Marquis of Flattery had been infamous for his ruthlessness in the past - all who fought him and lost died without exception. Marco was decisive and merciless in killing, otherwise he could not have made such a resounding name for himself.

As a citizen of Tera, Shuro could not be unaware of this.

Shuro was indeed aware, but that was the Marco of the past. Just now when Marco shattered his water technique, Shuro sensed not the slightest killing intent. For the wandering Sword of the Marquis of Flattery to attack without killing intent was unimaginably bizarre!

Meeting Marco's icy eyes, Shuro gave a cold laugh. "If I'm not mistaken, it's been at least two years since you last killed anyone. The five viscera correspond to the five emotions - sorrow, joy, fear, pensiveness and anger. With your damaged organs and disordered mind, you can no longer give rise to the heart of killing!"

Marco's expression was unchanged, but his pupils contracted as if stabbed by needles.

Lee was secretly astonished, once again sensing that unfamiliar feeling from Shuro.