An Old But Useful Method

What could be so urgent in the middle of the night?

Zhang Yunlu withdrew her gaze and looked at the red jade in her hand. Her spiritual power had fully recovered, yet that warm current continued to flow endlessly from her palm, surging into her limbs and bones. She felt the fatigue in her body ease significantly.

She flexed the hand that held her sword, and the soreness had completely vanished.

Practice a few more times! she thought to herself.

There was a red string in the jade box; after threading the red jade through it, she could wear it around her neck.

Soon, the long sword was back in her hand. As spiritual light covered the blade, Zhang Yunlu recalled the sword moves and swung the weapon.

Compared to the slightly stiff sword moves from before, this attempt was incomparably fluid and harmonious.

Threads of warm current circulated through her body. The sword in her hand felt like a passing breeze; as the flowing clouds dissipated, the blade seemed to quietly vanish, only to suddenly reappear the next instant.

Swish!

A streak of white light whistled out, traveling three zhang before gradually dissipating.

This was Sword Radiance—it could slice stone into a mirror and pierce cold iron by three parts!

The first form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, mastered!

Had she really mastered it?

Even Zhang Yunlu herself was stunned; she had been so far from success just a moment ago.

Biting her lip, she gripped the red jade at her chest. Even through her clothes, she could still feel its warmth.

So, did he conclude that I could master the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique before the day after tomorrow because he deduced I would obtain this red jade?

Does that also mean he knows the origin of this red jade?

Zhang Yunlu's thoughts were in turmoil, and it took a long time for her to calm down.

I'll ask him after school tomorrow!

To say she didn't care about the truth behind her parents' fall would be a lie, and she was sure her older brother felt the same.

Now that an avenue for investigation had appeared, she would be a fool not to seize it.

As for the risks...

Heh, if a great cultivator of that level truly intended to scheme against them, could she and her brother even resist?

She was only at the Qi Refining realm, and her brother was merely at the Golden Core stage!

Having made up her mind, Zhang Yunlu put away her sword, grabbed the jade box and the Essence Recovery Liquid from the side, and turned to leave the rooftop to head home.

After washing up, she walked straight into her bedroom.

She lit a stick of calming incense. As the wisps of smoke rose, Zhang Yunlu lay down on the bed and closed her eyes, still clutching the red jade tightly in her hand.

She soon fell into a deep sleep, but she did not dream until dawn.

In a strange, gray, and boundless space, Zhang Yunlu looked around, completely bewildered.

Suddenly, a line of golden text appeared before her eyes.

[Alright, I admit this might be a bit cliché, but given your aptitude and comprehension, this method is the most suitable for you to master the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique before the day after tomorrow.]

"???"

[Enemy: Qi Refining Level 9 Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Technique (Minor Achievement)]

[Objective: Kill!]

What?

What is this?

I must be dreaming right now, right?

Without giving her a chance to react, the surrounding mist churned and coalesced into a long sword in her hand.

It felt cold and heavy to the touch—the weight proved it was the real deal!

Wait!

Could it be that he wasn't talking about the red jade, but this bizarre place?

A figure holding a sword emerged from the gray mist. Dressed in black martial attire, its face was obscured, and its Qi Refining Level 9 spiritual power was undisguised, matching her own.

Gulp!

Are we really fighting?

Without the slightest hesitation, the sword cultivator phantom stepped forward, raised its sword, and was upon her in an instant, its cold, gleaming blade slashing toward her head.

Its actions made it clear that this wasn't just a spar—it was a fight to the death!

Clang!

Zhang Yunlu swung her sword to parry while quickly pulling back to create distance, but the long sword followed like a shadow. She retreated several steps before her numb right hand finally recovered.

She threw herself backward. The sword in the phantom's hand only severed a few strands of her hair, but it continued to lunge forward due to momentum.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Yunlu thrust her sword forward. The situation reversed in an instant, and it looked as though she was about to pierce right through it.

The phantom of the sword cultivator drew a short blade from its waist, the steel shimmering with a layer of spiritual light.

Clang!

It had actually blocked the strike!

"That's cheating!"

After shouting this, she performed a clumsy roll to the side, rising quickly while thrusting her sword out in one fluid motion!

The blade vanished for a split second before reappearing, its intimidating edge stabbing straight toward the phantom's lower back. However, the phantom had already steadied itself, dodging the strike with a simple sidestep.

It then countered with a strike of its own, as light as a breeze and as fluid as drifting clouds, its blade also vanishing for an instant.

Alarm bells rang in Zhang Yunlu's mind. She hurriedly arched her back to evade the incoming sword radiance, but a sharp pain flared at her waist; as she turned her head, a flash of white light filled her vision.

Flowing Cloud Sword Technique (Minor Mastery), three sword beams!

At the critical moment, Zhang Yunlu raised her right hand and... gave it the middle finger. The next second, her head exploded like a burst watermelon, scattering into wisps of gray mist.

"Quite the cheeky one."

Inside the villa, Xu Xing watched Zhang Yunlu's headless body collapse. That final gesture was rather amusing; she certainly knew how to lose without losing her spirit.

"Her grasp of timing and her split-second judgment are both excellent. She is destined for my path of the sword cultivator."

"And to think she has already reached the entry level of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique—that is quite a surprise."

Zhang Yunlu's performance could be described as outstanding.

To remain calm and make sound judgments in the midst of a sudden life-or-death struggle, and to quickly compensate even after losing the initiative—these were rare traits.

In this current era, which is far more peaceful than the past, various conflicts have diminished significantly.

Therefore, practitioners like Zhang Yunlu, who possess such natural combat talent, are easily buried and overlooked.

Her innate constitution is slightly lacking; otherwise, even within the Sword Sect, she would be an excellent disciple worthy of being taken in by an Elder of the Return to Void realm.

"Very well. Since you possess such talent, what harm is there in me helping you forge a Heaven-Forged Dao Foundation?"

Once the Heaven-Forged Dao Foundation is formed, coupled with her superior combat talent, it is not impossible for her to be accepted as a disciple by one of the Four Great Elders in the future!

In the next instant, the entire gray space seemed to be hit by a fast-forward button, the imagery blurring into streaks.

Xu Xing turned his head to look outside.

"As expected, you couldn't stay at ease and came looking for me." Someone was approaching this place with extreme caution. "But doing this is rather unwise."

In the neighboring villa, someone was already on the verge of noticing, their vast and powerful divine sense gradually spreading out.

"Fine. Since you want to see me so badly, I shall give you a hand."

Xu Xing raised his hand and tapped lightly into the air before him.

Hum~

Invisible ripples spread outward. Just as he finished this, that vast divine sense had already enveloped the entire residential complex.

After scanning the area and finding nothing, the divine sense had no choice but to retract.

Within the complex, Zhang Xiu approached the target with extreme caution.

Upon arriving nearby, a faint layer of power attempted to distort his senses.

It was a formation.

Zhang Xiu had conducted an investigation before coming; a formation of this level couldn't even stop a practitioner at the Qi Refining stage, let alone him.

Soon, he reached the wall and formed a hand seal.

Wall-Passing Technique.

He walked directly toward the wall; the barrier, which possessed anti-magic properties, acted as if it were mere decoration, and he passed through it with ease.

Entering the interior, the lack of lights made the space look dim and somewhat eerie.

Keep going. No time to waste.

To save time, he passed through several more walls until he reached the living room.

The living room was empty, though the moonlight streaming in made the area much brighter.

"Breaking and entering is technically illegal, but I still feel compelled to say something."

The voice that suddenly reached his ears made Zhang Xiu's scalp tingle. On the previously empty sofa, a young-looking man suddenly appeared, watching him with a smile.

"Good evening."