Jian Li quickly mounted the back of the beast, and Jian Chen did likewise. Jian Ye took the reins again and began steering the beast to where they needed to go.

After traveling for what seemed like a couple hours, the group saw the town of Banmian in the distance. It appeared to be a huge city, with tall towers and walls that reached the sky. The beast stopped, and Jian Ye dismounted. Jian Li and Jian Chen did the same.

Jian Ye then led the way towards the city. There were dozens of merchants and even mercenaries in front of them so they had to wait for their turn to get inspected.

Soon, they reached the gates, where they passed through. Jian Ye stopped and spoke to the guards, then pointed to the west. The guards nodded, and allowed them to pass. They led the beast away to the direction Jian Ye had pointed and the beast did not seem to mind them at all.

Jian Ye began leading the group through the giant gates and into the city, and Jian Chen and Jian Li followed.

Jian Ye led them towards the center of Banmian, and stopped at a market square.

Jian Chen and Jian Li looked around, and were amazed at what they saw. It was a city like none they had ever seen. The place was busy, and there were many stalls selling everything from food to clothing. The streets were paved with stone, and there were many shops lining the cobblestone paths. It was completely packed.

Jian Chen and Jian Li were excited. "This place is amazing!" exclaimed Jian Li. "It's definitely the biggest city I've seen." said Jian Chen. Jian Ye smiled and nodded. "Yes, it is. Banmian is a prosperous city. People call it the capital of the True Sword Sect."

Jian Ye then began leading the group away from the market square, and into the center of the city. They soon reached a large plaza, where Jian Ye stopped. "This is the plaza of Banmian. This is where all of the important events of the True Sword Sect take place." Jian Ye said.

Jian Li looked at the plaza, and noticed a large white building, with a statue of a swordsman standing in front. A stone archway stood in front of the building, with the name of the True Sword Sect engraved on it. "That building is the headquarters of the True Sword Sect, I guess?" asked Jian Chen.

"Yes, that's the headquarters of the True Sword Sect." Jian Ye then began leading the group towards the headquarters, and Jian Chen and Jian Li followed.

As they walked towards the headquarters, Jian Ye explained the history of the True Sword Sect to Jian Chen and Jian Li.

"There was once an old warrior named Qu Shen. Qu Shen was a renowned warrior, and was once known as the 'True Sword'. Qu Shen was very strict and disciplined, and only trained with a sword. Other weapons, such as spears and polearms, were shunned by him.

One day, Qu Shen came across a young soldier that was called Meng Xiang by everyone around him. Meng Xiang was a martial arts prodigy, and was already a skilled warrior. Unfortunately, he could not remember his name, or even his own past since he suffered from amnesia. Qu Shen took pity on the boy, and took him in.

Meng Xiang trained under Qu Shen, and became even stronger, but there was something strange about him. Meng Xiang would only use one weapon, his spear. Qu Shen did not mind, and Meng Xiang's skills improved greatly.

Meng Xiang's training was interrupted one day, when Qu Shen was attacked by a group of bandits. Meng Xiang helped Qu Shen fight off the bandits, but the rest of the bandits overpowered them. Qu Shen was badly wounded, and got fatally stabbed in the heart by a bandit.

Meng Xiang felt ashamed of the fact that his mentor died on his watch. So, he thought that he was not worthy of using the spear anymore and threw it into the sea." Jian Ye was so immersed in the story she was telling that she did not notice the strange look in Jian Li's eyes.

"What kind of strange person would throw the first weapon he ever used into the sea?" Jian Li mumbled to herself as she tapped her sheathed longsword.

"He decided to wield Qu Shen's sword instead. Meng Xiang became the successor of the 'True Sword' title to honor Qu Shen and founded the True Sword Sect we see now.

The True Sword Sect has since spread to many places, and is one of the most powerful sects in Alushan." Jian Ye finished her story. "The True Sword Sect was founded by a random nameless soldier?" Jian Li asked in confusion. " It just proves that in the end, everything in our world comes down to personal power. And that's exactly why you'll be joining the True Sword Sect. The sect is an elite sect of swordmasters, so the training here will be much better for you. You'll become a true swordmaster, just like Meng Xiang." Jian Ye replied seriously.

Jian Chen and Jian Li continued to walk towards the headquarters. They eventually reached the main gate of the headquarters, where two guards stopped them. The guards wore armour and had longswords strapped to their waists.

"Who are you? What do you want?" one of the guards asked. Jian Chen replied, "I'm Jian Chen, and this is Jian Li. We came here from Qianye Village to join the True Sword Sect." The guard looked them up and down.

"The recruitment camp is on the west side of the city, not here. Besides, you're way too late." He stared at Jian Li and Jian Chen but failed to notice Jian Ye.

"I remember you. Last time we met, you had barely entered the outer sect and now you're guarding the entrance of the headquarters? Well done boy." Jian Ye said as she lifted her palm. A snow-white phoenix appeared and flapped its wings.

"Honorary Elder? What are you doing here?" All of the guards had a look of realization as they looked at the two children accompanying Jian Ye.

"I came to bring Jian Chen and Jian Li here.", Jian Ye said calmly. The guards turned their heads and stared at the white phoenix that had now flown away from her. "Let's go.", Jian Ye said as she gestured towards the two of them. The guards nodded and opened the gates.

As they were opening the gates, Jian Li was surprised. Obviously, her sister was not the strongest cultivator in the world, but it seemed as if her name held some weight still. What was she previously doing in Qingye Village that she could not do elsewhere with better resources?