The morning sky was brushed with soft golden hues as two figures sat facing each other beneath a small pavilion located in the middle of a rock garden, far from the hustle and bustle of the main hall of the Eternal Heavenly Sword Sect. The sound of flowing water trickling through the gaps between the rocks soothed the soul like the purest song of nature.Between them, a simple yet sturdy round wooden table separated two jade teacups. Thin steam still rose slowly from the clay teapot in the middle of the table, filling the morning air with the fragrance of dried jasmine flowers that had been steeped for a long time.The Patriarch of the Eternal Heavenly Sword Sect, an old man with a neatly trimmed white beard and eyes as sharp as the mountain wind, looked at the figure before him with undisguised curiosity.“Wang Lin,” he said, his voice calm yet deep. “I heard you brought a young man here and registered him as your disciple. What is so special about that child... that you personally a

The sun had just risen, casting a warm glow over the training grounds of the Misty Heaven Sect. A thin layer of mist still lingered between the plum trees and meditation stones as the outer disciples began getting out of bed.Gao Lin stretched slightly before sitting on the edge of the simple wooden bed. “Shi Yan, come on! Today we're going to practice movement agility,” he said while rubbing his eyes.Shi Yan slowly opened his eyes and nodded. They changed their clothes and headed toward the public bathhouse, which was located not far from the outer disciples' dormitory.Behind the protective bushes, two small figures were sneaking around. Mu Ke and Zhou Peng, following Fan Wu's orders. Their eyes were filled with mischief as they watched Gao Lin leave his clothes on a flat stone before entering the warm pool.“Quick, take them and run behind the hall!” Mu Ke whispered.Zhou Peng nodded and moved lightly like a cat. He grabbed the clothes and quickly ran away, while Mu Ke followed fr

Instructor Sun raised one hand. “Fan Wu, you are at the Silver Star Nine Realm. For the sake of fairness, you must lower your cultivation to the seventh stage, the same as Shi Yan.” Shi Yan had deliberately concealed his true cultivation. Here, he was only showing the cultivation of the Silver Star Seven Realm. Fan Wu bowed slightly, appearing obedient. “Understood, Instructor.” He controlled his breathing and adjusted the flow of spiritual energy within his body. His powerful aura gradually weakened. However, the faint smile on his face never disappeared. “Even if I lower my cultivation, my experience still belongs to me. You won't be able to escape this, Shi Yan. Today, I'll break his leg so he won't bother me for months to come.” At the side of the arena, Gao Lin tightly gripped his sleeve, feeling nervous. Wang Lin stood not far away, narrowing his eyes as he noticed something strange about Fan Wu's behavior. “Shi Yan,” Instructor Sun said, “remember, victory isn't only abo

Night enveloped the training valley, bringing with it air that was colder than usual. Behind the main hall, a hidden meditation chamber was faintly illuminated by the soft glow of yellow lanterns. Wang Lin sat cross-legged in the center of the room, surrounded by a simple formation made of fire stones. Shi Yan entered slowly, carrying the scroll he had read throughout the afternoon. “Sit in front of me,” Wang Lin said without opening his eyes. Shi Yan obeyed. “First, clear your mind of all thoughts about strength. Forget your victory today. Forget Fan Wu. Even forget your desire to become stronger. Focus only on your breathing.” Shi Yan adjusted his sitting position and took a deep breath. “Now, open the scroll in front of you and read it slowly. Every character contains a vibration. Feel them merge with your breathing.” Shi Yan opened the scroll. The ancient writing glowed softly, as if it were made from tiny flames. When he read, “A burning heart must be cooled by a clear sou

“Shi Yan! Hey! Don't go in alone!” Wen Bo shouted in panic as he jumped several steps forward.Gao Lin ran as fast as he could, breathing heavily. “Wait! Wait! This... huff... isn't a trial, this is a horror movie trap!”However, just as they were about to cross the doorway, BAM!The stone door closed at astonishing speed, producing a heavy sound that shook the passage.And...THUD!Gao Lin's plump body slammed into the now tightly sealed stone wall. He bounced backward with a groan, his fake talismans flying everywhere.“Ouch, ouch, ouch! My nose! My cheekbone! My dignity!” he groaned as he sat on the ground, both hands covering his red and throbbing face.Nie Zhu narrowed his eyes. “Why were you running in front just now?”“I thought I could be heroic at least once in my life, but instead I became a wall-filled donut!” Gao Lin grumbled, still holding his cheek, which now bore the imprint of the stone.Wen Bo sighed. “The door is tightly sealed. There's a protective formation here.”