As Long As My Strength Improves Fast Enough

Distant Mountain, a place where no one would notice.

Yuan Tiankuo's handsome phoenix eyes narrowed as he gazed toward the surface of the lake in the distance.

Sword Heart, Hidden Edge!

As expected!

Yu Xiu had truly managed to cultivate a Sword Heart.

The reason the Water Demon at the bottom of the lake was lured out by Yu Xiu was precisely because Yu Xiu had concealed all his sword intent. He had led the Water Demon—a creature of the second stage of the Four Great Passes—to believe that he had ceased his efforts and had not detected its presence, prompting it to strike suddenly in an attempt to assassinate him.

Yet, that Water Demon could never have known that a Sword Heart with a Hidden Edge is like great ingenuity appearing as clumsiness; with the edge hidden within, not a shred of aura would leak out.

Yu Xiu had long since permeated the lake with his sword intent, simply waiting for the Water Demon to take the bait.

This was also the reason why the Water Demon had claimed that Yu Xiu was fishing for him.

"But, water turning into a sword—what is the logic behind that?"

Furthermore, Yu Xiu, with the strength of the first stage of the Four Great Passes, the Five Viscera Realm, had managed to cross a major realm to slay the Water Demon with a single strike. Such power...

"It makes no sense!"

And then, there was Yu Xiu's sword strike...

I... could not even see it clearly?

Was it truly one strike, or were there dozens of sword techniques and sword arts unleashed simultaneously, or perhaps...

Yuan Tiankuo remained rooted to the spot, unable to recover from his deep contemplation for a long time!

Why?

He had clearly been prepared to intervene, to step in at the critical moment and slay that second-stage Water Demon!

Yet, there had been no need at all!

"Could it be that you..."

Yuan Tiankuo thought of a possibility, but he was unwilling to believe it!

It was too insane!

That was a realm that even freaks like the Ten True Seeds might not have reached!

"Just how high is his comprehension?"

In the end, Yuan Tiankuo stopped his train of thought and turned to leave.

On the lake, Yu Shang dove into the water, and before long, he leaped back out, clutching three items as he approached Yu Xiu.

"Brother Yu is truly lucky; you've brought out some good things." He handed the three spiritual items to Yu Xiu.

The first was a piece of ice crystal the size of a bowl, irregular in shape, known as 'Cold Yin Crystal Ice'. It could be used for forging weapons or for cultivating cold-attribute techniques.

The second was a piece of metal the size of a fist, deep blue in color, known as 'Essence of Cold Iron', used for forging weapons.

The third was a plant-like object resembling seaweed, the 'Moonlight Spirit Branch', the most valuable of the three.

The three Water Demons had been slain and transformed into these three spiritual items. In Yu Shang's estimation, they could be exchanged for over three thousand contribution points.

Yu Xiu offered his thanks, accepted the items, and returned to Guiping County with Yu Shang. After finalizing the mission with Guo Boyan, they boarded the Flying Boat to return to the sect.

"Is that the ruthless character who killed Fang Jiming and the other eight Inner Court disciples?" The middle-aged Guo Boyan watched Yu Xiu depart, his gaze lingering on the spot where Yu Xiu had stood.

"It is him." Yu Shang sighed in admiration: "Within the Sword Sect, another extraordinary sword cultivator is about to rise. He is very strong!"

Guo Boyan smiled: "I knew he was strong before I even saw him, and aren't you the same?"

Yu Shang shook his head: "No, he is even stronger than the sword marks we saw on Fang Jiming and the others!"

He looked at Guo Boyan: "If nothing goes wrong, he has likely cultivated a Sword Heart. In his sword intent, I saw the Hidden Edge!"

"A Hidden Edge that even a second-stage Water Demon could not detect!"

Guo Boyan's heart gave a violent jolt: "A freak comparable to the True Seeds of the various peaks?"

Yu Shang met Guo Boyan's incredulous gaze and nodded heavily.

"Sixteen years old, truly remarkable!" Guo Boyan exclaimed!

Qingwei Sword Sect.

Emerald Bamboo Mountain, Inner Court, Law Enforcement Hall.

"You are saying that the Water Demon, comparable to the second stage of the Four Great Passes, was slain by Yu Xiu himself?" The Hall Master, Su Wenjin, seemed to have lost his usual dignity, beginning to wonder if his hearing had failed him.

In reality, a cultivator of his standing could hear the buzzing of a mosquito from miles away with perfect clarity. It was not that he hadn't heard the man before him, but rather that he simply could not bring himself to believe it!

Yuan Tiankuo stood with his arms crossed over his long sword, his phoenix eyes quietly watching Su Wenjin lose his composure, yet he did not say another word.

"Fine!" Su Wenjin suppressed the surging tide of doubt in his heart, still disbelieving: "Tell me, how did he do it?"

Yuan Tiankuo pondered for a moment before retorting, "On what grounds?"

I'd like to know on what grounds myself!

As the eighth of the Ten Heroes of Dragon-Slaying Peak, how could he possibly fail to understand Yu Xiu's sword techniques, fail to grasp Yu Xiu's Sword Intent, and fail to understand even more besides?

Is this reasonable?

So, on what grounds indeed?

Su Wenjin asked him, but who was he supposed to ask?

"Just assume he has cultivated a Sword Heart!" Yuan Tiankuo, unwilling to listen to Su Wenjin's endless questions, turned into a streak of Sword Qi and vanished.

"A Sword Heart?!" Su Wenjin's eyes widened sharply.

A Sword Heart!

Can a Sword Heart, which conceals its edge, bridge the gap of an entire major realm?

He didn't know!

Because neither Su Wenjin nor Yuan Tiankuo had ever cultivated a Sword Heart themselves, so how could they possibly know?

They only knew that the Sword Heart was unfathomably profound, and every sword cultivator in the Qingwei Sword Sect—and indeed, the entire world—was in pursuit of it!

Therefore, there was no need to know if a Sword Heart could bridge the gap of a major realm.

Either way, the Sword Heart was just plain awesome!

"Good, very good, excellent!" Su Wenjin struck his palm with his fist, too excited to sit still, and began pacing back and forth in the Law Enforcement Hall.

He had snatched a freakish talent comparable to a True Seed for Dragon-Slaying Peak ahead of time; how could the Peak Master not reward him?

Head of the Inner Court Law Enforcement Hall?

Screw that, he wanted to be a Hall Master at the Main Sect, where even the Ten Heroes would be under his jurisdiction if they broke the rules!

He turned quickly and pulled out a message-transmitting flying sword, but after a moment of thought, he put it back down.

No, this was too important; he had to go to Dragon-Slaying Peak in person, or he feared the Peak Master might not honor the deal!

No, it's too early to ask for rewards now!

Wait!

I must wait a little longer!

When Yu Xiu arrived at the Inner Court Law Enforcement Hall again, Su Wenjin had already regained his usual composed and stern demeanor.

Yet, the moment he saw Yu Xiu, that stern expression instantly melted away: "You are quite excellent."

I already knew that? Yu Xiu was a bit confused, but he still cupped his hands in a salute: "I am glad I did not fail the Hall Master's commission."

Su Wenjin smiled as he completed the handover with Yu Xiu, and with a wave of his hand, the deaths of Fang Jiming and the other eight Inner Court disciples were officially set in stone: they had died at the hands of a Shadow Demon.

What, you say Fang Jiming and the others clearly died at the hands of a sword cultivator?

Can't a Shadow Demon be a sword cultivator?

If the Law Enforcement Hall says so, then it is so.

"Take this and go to the Internal Affairs Hall to find Deacon Tang to coordinate your mission for promotion to the Main Sect." Su Wenjin took out a letter and was about to hand it to Yu Xiu, but pulled it back halfway: "Forget it, I'll accompany you there myself."

Yu Xiu naturally had no objections; others might not believe what he said, but could the words of a Law Enforcement Hall Master be false?

Sure enough, as long as one displays enough potential and enough value, everyone one encounters will be a good person!

This was also the reason he had never hidden his strength in front of Su Wenjin and the others.

Besides, with his comprehension, there was no need to hide his strength.

Today he was at the first of the Four Great Passes, but in half a month, he might not be at the first pass anymore!

As long as my strength improves fast enough, no one will ever be able to figure out my bottom line!