Tou She Ancient God Jade

After careful consideration, Yao Chen chose to remain here and reconstruct his physical body. In his current state, he could no longer endure any more hardship. If he rashly left this place, his soul would completely collapse.

On the contrary, the Dou Qi here was abundant, and his soul desperately needed this kind of energy. Before long, he believed he would be able to recover a portion of his strength.

Deep within the Bamboo Forest, Sword Qi streaked like a rainbow.

A piercing hum surged and echoed, exploding throughout the valley.

"Clouds Part, Sword Intent, One Sword Cleaves the Firmament..."

Lin Che swayed as though drunk, wildly brandishing his sword. At the height of it, he threw back his head and took several deep gulps of strong liquor.

With a light stroke of his sword, he plucked down an entire tree's worth of peach blossoms.

With another sweep, peach blossoms filled the courtyard and danced through the air.

Though the icy Sword Qi contained no killing intent, it gave off an exceedingly terrifying feeling.

The Sword Qi tore through space. As he swung his blade, the lake water surged high, and the splashing droplets were swiftly cleaved in two. Several koi even flew through the air, enjoying a visual feast from above.

His sword moved like a roaming dragon, his white-robed steps like lotus blossoms. Every movement came with a tearing shriek, and a white dragon soared into the air in response, carrying sprays of water like cascading waterfalls.

The bright moon reflected off the blade, casting waves of cold glimmer.

"He truly is a natural-born sword vessel." Yao Chen stroked his pale beard, watching Lin Che's movements with a sigh.

Lin Che sheathed his sword and turned toward Yao Chen beside him. With a soft laugh, he said, "Why does it feel like you're insulting me?"

Yao Chen chuckled awkwardly. "This old man has seen many sword-wielding experts, but few possess your level of comprehension."

The sword arose from the heart. The stronger the sword condensed within one's heart, the stronger the Sword Qi unleashed.

Until one could split the heavens in two, cleave mountains and sever seas, dividing the continent in half.

"It is truly an honor to receive Old Yao's praise."

Lin Che lifted his wine gourd and took a drink. His body swayed again as he laughed. "Riding a sword through the skies for ninety thousand miles... hehehe."

As a Drunken Sword Immortal, there was one thing he had to understand at all times.

Drinking was not to drown sorrow, but to cultivate through wine—to turn himself into a sword, to use himself to perform the sword.

Until the Sword Qi casually swung from his hand could shake heaven and earth.

He began dancing this peerless sword dance on his own. His long robe fluttered, Sword Qi surged, and he occasionally took a sip from the gourd, proud and unrestrained like an immortal cast down into the mortal world.

"Green Lotus Sword Song, paired with Unstained Dust. This sword is called the Green Lotus Sword." Lin Che slid Unstained Dust back into its scabbard.

After working up a sweat, Lin Che took a cold bath and returned to his room to rest.

Yao Chen nodded with a smile, turned into a gentle breeze, and vanished from the area.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Lin Che arrived at the Xiao Family in Wutan City.

Xiao Yan was brimming with confidence as he returned to the stone monument used to test the disciples' strength.

At that moment, every Xiao Family disciple had gathered there, wanting to see whether Xiao Yan could successfully recover his Dou Qi.

With a composed expression, Xiao Yan stepped onto the platform. Under everyone's gaze, he placed his right hand on the icy black stone monument, slowly closed his eyes, and rapidly circulated the Dou Qi within his body.

As Dou Qi poured in, the black stone monument remained silent for an instant before suddenly erupting with brilliant light!

Dou Zhe... Three-Star!

As the mark appeared on the monument, the Xiao Family members erupted into an uproar. Even Xiao Zhan, the clan leader, could not help rubbing his eyes. Once he confirmed that it truly was the Dou Zhe realm, tears welled in his eyes.

"Yan'er! My Yan'er!"

"Xiao Yan, Three-Star Dou Zhe!"

The elder overseeing the test stared at the change on the monument, his heart filled with astonishment. Was this truly the young master who had been a good-for-nothing for three years?

This time, shock flickered in the eyes of every clan disciple. Especially after seeing the Three-Star Dou Zhe mark on the monument, they were fully convinced it was real.

Those who had once mocked Xiao Yan immediately felt too ashamed to show their faces. They quickly turned and left, afraid that Xiao Yan would punish them over the matter.

The three elders beside Xiao Zhan were equally incredulous. They had not seen him for only three days, yet he had truly broken through from the third stage of Dou Qi to a Three-Star Dou Zhe.

This speed...

Was far too fast.

"I knew Brother Xiao Yan would definitely return to the peak." Xiao Xun'er smiled with relief beneath the monument. It seemed that senior really was powerful.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists and murmured, "I've finally returned to the Three-Star Dou Zhe realm..."

"Congratulations, little fellow. From now on, you are a true Dou Zhe once more."

As the hearty voice rang out, Lin Che appeared within the Xiao Family compound at some unknown moment. Looking at the mark on the monument, he nodded in satisfaction.

Xiao Yan hurried over and clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you, Senior. This junior will never forget Senior's kindness for the rest of my life..."

Xiao Zhan also walked over with a broad smile. "Thank you, Senior. If not for you, Yan'er reaching Three-Star Dou Zhe in three days would have been nothing but wishful thinking."

"Senior, would you be willing to accept Yan'er as your disciple?"

Xiao Yan also looked up at Lin Che. If he could become this senior's disciple, the road ahead of him would be bright indeed.

Lin Che looked at Xiao Yan and gently shook his head. "I'm about the same age as them, and I've grown used to freedom. I have no plans to take disciples."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan were visibly disappointed upon hearing this. If they could gain this senior's support, the Xiao Family's status in Wutan City would soar.

It might even be possible for them to return to the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire.

"Xiao Yan, there's no need to lose heart. With your talent, it won't be long before you become an expert like me."

"Yes, Senior." Xiao Yan performed three kneelings and nine kowtows. "No matter what Senior asks this junior to do in the future, this junior will never refuse."

Lin Che nodded in satisfaction, then glanced at Xiao Xun'er in the distance.

Her gem-like eyes were also filled with deep gratitude. If not for this senior, Brother Xiao Yan would likely have found it difficult to break through again in this lifetime.

Xiao Yan happily took Xiao Xun'er out to have some fun. They could also spar and see how strong he had become after breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, can you give me that Ancient Jade now?"

"Of course, of course." Xiao Zhan grinned from ear to ear. Since it had allowed Yan'er to recover his talent, it was only right to give this jade fragment to Senior.

A special box flew out from Xiao Zhan's Storage Ring. The box was exquisitely crafted, with dragon and phoenix totems carved around it, and a faint ancient aura seeped from within.

As the box opened, a peculiar Ancient Jade appeared before Lin Che's eyes.

The Ancient Jade emitted a strange radiance. Under its glow, the unusual patterns on its surface seemed to breathe, brightening and dimming in turns.

Lin Che nodded in satisfaction and put away the Tou She Ancient God Jade. He then took out several cultivation manuals and placed them in Xiao Zhan's hands.

"These cultivation manuals are suitable for those between the Da Dou Shi and Dou Ling realms. Keep them."