Chapter 12: Where Did That Sword Cultivator Go?

Clang!

The wooden planks overhead were flung away.

Xu Xiaoshou, completely naked and looking utterly bewildered, stood up from the ruins of his collapsed room.

“This is the first form of Baiyun Jianfa: Baiyun Youyou?”

“This is totally modified!”

With one sword strike, he had shattered the entire room into pieces. Was this the Baiyun Jianfa he had practiced for three years without daring to show off?

Xu Xiaoshou could hardly believe it himself.

That move, Baiyun Youyou, had the same sword draw, trajectory, and intent as before, but the essence was completely transformed.

This Jian Shu Jing Tong was truly frightening.

It had directly infused him with countless swordsmanship experiences, and because Xu Xiaoshou already had a foundation in sword practice, he could instantly make use of them.

He pulled out some clothes from his ring, put them on, and stepped out of the wreckage, feeling at a loss for words.

He had only meant to test a single strike, but it ended up demolishing his house.

Still, getting to see the power of that sword firsthand... the house didn't die in vain.

As he relaxed, a wave of weakness hit him. That one strike had drained all his Lingli.

Xu Xiaoshou took out a Lingjing and took a shallow breath from it to recover. His body seemed to have developed some resistance after the last ordeal with the Lianling Dan.

Just a light taste, no major issues.

With a slight shiver, he noticed that his Qi Hai had grown significantly.

“Breakthrough?”

Xu Xiaoshou double-checked and confirmed that he had indeed reached the sixth realm, and not just the early stage—it was already at the peak of the sixth realm, just a step away from the seventh.

He had broken through without realizing it?

He recalled that scene in the illusion realm. It must have happened when he achieved enlightenment, pushing his realm forward along the way.

But it had pushed too far...

It had only taken him three days to break through to the fifth realm. After the intense group match battle, he had finally solidified his foundation and wanted a steady transition period.

Yet here he was, breaking through again!

Most people worry about breakthroughs being too slow, but this guy was concerned that cultivating so fast might leave his foundation unstable.

Of course, he was overthinking it. A breakthrough through enlightenment naturally aligned perfectly with the Dao—how could the foundation be unstable?

Breaking through just one realm at a time was actually quite rare.

True geniuses could leap from Houtian to Xiantian in a single enlightenment!

...

Two figures flew in from the horizon—that kind of flight was only possible for Xiantian experts.

Xiao Qixiu and Qiao Zhanglao?

What were they doing here?

That sword strike couldn't have made such a big commotion, could it?

Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled. His courtyard had a soundproof array, and the strike itself had been silent—only the room collapsing made some noise. How had it alerted the two elders?

“Xu Xiaoshou?”

As soon as Qiao Zhanglao landed, he exclaimed in surprise.

“Is this your courtyard?” Xiao Qixiu looked at the young man, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Wasn't this the guy from the group matches with the Xiantian physical body, who had basically acted as a punching bag?

“Greetings, Elders.”

Xu Xiaoshou cupped his fists slightly. With outsiders present, he had to give Qiao Zhanglao some face. “Yes, it's my courtyard.”

Xiao Qixiu carefully probed the surrounding Jianyi, confirming it had originated from here.

Even with the naked eye, it was obvious—the room was in ruins, after all.

He pointed at the collapsed and shattered house. “What happened here?”

“Uh...”

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated. He wanted to hide it, but the situation made that impossible, so he admitted honestly, “I was just testing my sword and accidentally chopped it up like this.”

“Suspected, Passive Value +2.”

Xu Xiaoshou: “...”

I knew it!

Even if I tell the truth, this is the result!

You just don't believe in me, Xu Xiaoshou, right? Just say it outright!

Xiao Qixiu frowned. If he hadn't seen the guy's Xiantian physical body with his own eyes, he might have actually bought this story.

He knew how difficult it was to cultivate a Xiantian physical body, and how tough it was to master Houtian Jianyi.

How could both be in one person who was only at the Lianling sixth realm?

If he had that kind of talent, he wouldn't have stayed in the outer courtyard for three full years—he'd have entered the inner courtyard and reached Xiantian long ago.

Qiao Zhanglao was even less subtle. He stepped forward and smacked Xu Xiaoshou on the head.

“Oh, ho, so impressive?”

“Lying without even drafting it first?”

“Last time, I didn't believe you about the Xiantian physical body, and that was my mistake, but now you're saying this Houtian Jianyi is something you cultivated yourself...”

He smirked. “Heh!”

Under normal circumstances, Xu Xiaoshou would have argued back, but right now, he was stunned. Houtian Jianyi?

Was that what Jian Shu Jing Tong had given him? But why hadn't he noticed?

Hmm...

A passive skill...

No wonder he hadn't realized it!

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't even considered that his sword strike contained Houtian Jianyi. No wonder the house had collapsed and the two elders had come to investigate.

After all, sword cultivators were several times harder to train than ordinary Lianling masters, precisely because of this Houtian Jianyi, which had stumped countless geniuses.

But clearly, that didn't apply to him, Xu Xiaoshou.

Faced with Qiao Zhanglao's doubt, Xu Xiaoshou felt like laughing again.

Last time at the Ling Shi Ge, with the Xiantian physical body claim, this guy had acted the same way. But by the end of the group matches, hadn't he come around and eaten his words?

What right did this old man have to doubt him?

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled to himself, but he couldn't say that out loud. He pointed behind him earnestly. “This is my house—who else could have done it besides me?”

“Ah!”

Qiao Zhanglao sighed, speaking with genuine concern. “I know you've gotten a bit arrogant since coming out of seclusion, and it's okay to be young and reckless, but everything has its limits, right?”

Xu Xiaoshou pursed his lips. I wasn't being arrogant—that's not my style. I'm actually pure-hearted.

Qiao Zhanglao continued, “Look at this. Now the people you've offended have come for revenge, but at least they showed some mercy—just destroyed your house and didn't hurt you, right?”

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

Where did you get that idea?

Your imagination is wild—does your head just have holes in it?

Even making up enemies showing up out of nowhere...

I've always been diligent, Xu Xiaoshou. When have I made any deadly enemies?

Qiao Zhanglao saw his shocked expression and immediately looked smug, as if he had everything figured out, his words dripping with “I told you so.”

“Out with it—who was that sword cultivator...”

“Uh, if you're embarrassed, that's fine. After all, they wrecked your place.”

“Here's the deal—you don't have to name them. Just point out which direction they went, and Xiao Elder and I will track them down ourselves!”

Xu Xiaoshou was floored by Qiao Zhanglao's ability to make things up and didn't want to speak.

He glanced at Xiao Qixiu. This one was a sword cultivator, so he should be more reliable. He shot him an inquiring look.

Xiao Qixiu nodded slightly, looking approving.

“The shame of a destroyed home— we'll settle it later.”

“So, where did that sword cultivator go?”

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

These two preferred to believe in some made-up person rather than that he, Xu Xiaoshou, had comprehended Houtian Jianyi?

He picked up his Zang Ku and pointed at the ruined house behind him, signaling that it was his sword that had done it.

The two elders' eyes were full of encouragement: “Go on, tell us!”

Xu Xiaoshou gave up. He casually pointed in a random direction.

“Good lad!” Qiao Zhanglao said with a look of approval, like a proud teacher.

“Keep at it!” Xiao Qixiu added, looking quite pleased.

“Encouraged, Passive Value +2.”

Xu Xiaoshou plopped down on the ground, staring up at the sky like a deflated balloon.

Why?

Why won't anyone believe me? I'm telling the truth!

Baiyun Youyou, gazing in silence, with only a few leaves from the spirit tree in the courtyard, severed by sword energy, drifting down in sorrow.

...

Xu Xiaoshou moved to the guest room. He'd deal with the ruins tomorrow by posting a task at the Ling Shi Ge and let someone else handle it—for just a few Lingjing.

After the group matches, there was a day of rest. He needed to recover quickly.

Back in his mind's red interface, he still had over seven thousand Passive Points left.

Xu Xiaoshou thought for a moment and used them all to buy skill points, then added them to Fengli.

Jian Shu Jing Tong had given him so much knowledge that he needed to digest it properly and not rush ahead.

If he guessed right, skills like this passive mastery type probably input knowledge like a sudden insight every time they leveled up.

Before he fully mastered that Baiyun Youyou, he wasn't planning to upgrade Jian Shu Jing Tong.

As for upgrading Huxi Zhi Fa? No way—he, Xu Xiaoshou, still wanted to live a while longer!

Until his cultivation broke through to Xiantian, Huxi Zhi Fa could only stay at Houtian Lv.1, and that was that!

Information panel:

“...”

“Fengli (Houtian Lv.8).”

Xu Xiaoshou raised his right hand. His fingernails hadn't changed, but his fingers had become longer and surprisingly elegant.

He poked at the ground again.

Sssh!

No pain!

It was like a sword piercing tofu—his entire wrist sank straight into the stone slab. In that moment, his clenched, slender fingers were like blades.

“Whew!”

Just as he thought, the level increase made a world of difference.

This was like having two permanent hidden weapons on him at all times!

No, not hidden—out in the open!

The kind enemies would never expect!

Xu Xiaoshou quietly stood up, staring at the small hole in the ground, lost in thought.

If he were in a fight someday and suddenly switched from fists to stabs...

Tsk, tsk!