Heavenly Origin Sect

Early morning, the morning sun was just rising.

Behind the Su family's estate, beside a clear little lake.

Sword light flashed and Sword Qi surged, tearing the air to shreds.

Su Mo was practicing his swordplay. Ever since his battle with Wei Liang a month ago, his insights into the Divine Wind Swordplay had grown profound.

Actual combat was the best form of tempering.

During this period, he came here to practice his swordsmanship every morning.

The first three stances of the Divine Wind Swordplay had reached the Lesser Accomplishment realm half a month ago, and the final fatal stance had also completely reached Lesser Accomplishment two days ago, doubling its power.

Over this past month, Su Mo's cultivation had not fallen behind either. His cultivation had steadily advanced, reaching the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Of course, the Human Grade Sixth Tier Martial Soul cultivated very quickly, so Su Mo spent most of his time tempering his physical body.

The second layer realm of the Myriad Manifestations Divine Art had also reached its late stage, granting his physical body six-tiger strength, comparable to a Qi Cultivation Sixth Level martial artist.

If the current Su Mo were to fight Wei Liang from a month ago, he could kill him in a single move.

Not far away, on a smooth, glossy boulder, Xi'er sat in snow-white attire with a blue jade pendant hanging from her waist, resting her delicate cheek in her hand as she watched.

"Xi'er, do you want to learn this swordplay?"

After a moment, Su Mo finished practicing his swordplay and asked Xi'er with a smile.

"Hehe! Brother Su Mo, Xi'er is very slow, I don't know if I can learn such profound swordplay?"

Xi'er smiled.

"Who says Xi'er is slow? My Xi'er is smarter than anyone."

Su Mo smiled and said earnestly, "Xi'er, you've already reached Body Tempering Eighth Layer, haven't you? Soon. Once you complete your body tempering and awaken your martial soul, I'll teach you swordsmanship."

The Body Tempering Realm was simply about forging the body; only when the physical body was strong enough could it support a martial soul awakening.

"Mm!" Xi'er nodded.

"Right, Xi'er, I've noticed you wear this jade pendant every day and often stare at it in a daze. Is there a story behind it?"

Su Mo sat down beside Xi'er, looked at the blue jade pendant on her, and asked.

"Of course, if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. I was just asking casually."

Seeing Xi'er's smile fade the moment he asked, Su Mo hurriedly added.

"Brother Su Mo, this jade pendant is related to my background."

Xi'er reached out, unclasped the jade pendant from her body, and said softly, "When Grandpa found me back then, I was still an infant, and this was the only thing on me!"

"Perhaps this jade pendant is the only item connected to my origins."

Su Mo took the jade pendant from Xi'er's hands and examined it closely.

It was a pendant the size of a child's palm, sea-blue throughout, with a large character 'Xuan' engraved on the back.

The 'Xuan' character was carved with the vigor of a flying dragon and dancing phoenix. The moment Su Mo looked at it, he felt a majestic and imposing aura wash over him.

Su Mo instantly sensed that this jade pendant was extraordinary.

"Xi'er, if there is ever a chance in the future, I will definitely help you find your biological parents."

Returning the pendant to Xi'er, Su Mo said earnestly.

"Brother Su Mo, there's no need. My life is very good right now and I'm very satisfied. Being able to watch Brother Su Mo practice his sword every day makes Xi'er feel very happy."

Xi'er smiled.

"Hehe, silly girl!"

Su Mo couldn't help rubbing the top of Xi'er's head.

"Let's go! Xi'er, time to head home."

Su Mo led Xi'er back toward the clan estate.

The Su family.

After returning to the clan, Su Mo headed straight to the Su family's martial arts practice arena.

Today, the clan had important matters to announce concerning the year-end clan assembly.

A large gathering of Su family youths had already congregated in the arena, and many stepped forward to greet Su Mo upon seeing him.

"Good day, Cousin Su Mo!"

"Good day, Clan Brother Su Mo!"

In the battle a month ago, Su Mo had proven his strength to everyone, and no one dared call him trash to his face ever again.

Naturally, a vast majority still disdained associating with him.

They believed that while Su Mo's strength was formidable, it was ultimately temporary; his martial soul grade was too low, so his ultimate achievements would be limited.

Figures like Su Heng and Su Yu, for instance.

Su Yu was also in the arena. Seeing Su Mo arrive, he glanced over from afar and quickly withdrew his gaze.

Although Su Mo's battle with Wei Liang a month ago had shocked him, he still wouldn't deign to take Su Mo seriously.

A Human Grade First Tier Martial Soul was still just a Human Grade First Tier Martial Soul. Its potential was too low to ever keep pace with him.

At that moment, Su Yu was surrounded by a crowd engaged in a heated discussion.

"Brother Su Yu, I heard that Brother Tianhao and Brother Su Hai have both returned from the Heavenly Origin Sect."

"Indeed! Their cultivation levels have reportedly both reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Simply terrifying!"

"Hehe! Brother Su Yu's martial soul grade is even higher than theirs. He will be able to enter the Heavenly Origin Sect in the future as well, and surpassing them is only a matter of time."

Su Tianhao and Su Hai were back?

Overhearing their conversation from a distance, Su Mo raised both brows.

Su Tianhao and Su Hai were the sons of the Third Elder and Fourth Elder respectively, and the two strongest youths of the younger generation in the Su family.

Both were eighteen years old and had left the Su family a year ago to enter the Heavenly Origin Sect, one of the Four Great Sects of the Tian Yue Kingdom.

He hadn't expected that in a mere year, both would reach the realm of the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

At that moment, a commotion rippled through the crowd.

"Brother Tianhao and Brother Su Hai are here!"

Su Mo turned his head to look and saw two young men slowly walking over from afar.

The auras around these two were profound, far surpassing everyone else present.

One of them wore a yellow brocade robe with a resolute face and a slender build; this was none other than Su Tianhao.

The other wore black robes with a sturdy physique; this was Su Hai.

"Brother Tianhao!"

"Brother Su Hai!"

The moment the two arrived at the arena, a crowd of younger disciples immediately swarmed around them, each wearing a respectful expression.

"Brother Tianhao, Brother Su Hai, can you tell us about the situation in the Heavenly Origin Sect?"

"Yes, yes, we heard the Heavenly Origin Sect has masters as numerous as clouds and geniuses like rain. Is that true?"

"..."

Everyone chattered with questions, all driven by curiosity about the Heavenly Origin Sect.

Su Tianhao wore a look of aloof arrogance and had no intention of speaking at all.

Su Hai, on the other hand, wore a full smile and said, "What you're saying is correct. The Heavenly Origin Sect has five thousand disciples, and every single one of them is a genius."

"Not only that, but inside the Heavenly Origin Sect, all kinds of powerful cultivation methods, martial skills, and miraculous medicinal pills are countless."

"Every month we can collect various cultivation resources, and our cultivation progresses a thousand miles a day."

"I am currently quite valued within the Heavenly Origin Sect. Word has it that an elder figure even wants to take me on as a disciple!"

"..."

Su Hai spoke endlessly, growing more excited and exaggerated with every word as spit flew everywhere.

Yet the surrounding Su family disciples listened spellbound, consumed with envy, and even Su Yu was drawn over.

Su Mo curled his lip. Even without knowing anything about the Heavenly Origin Sect, he could tell Su Hai was just flexing.

As one of the Four Great Sects of the Tian Yue Kingdom, the Heavenly Origin Sect naturally had geniuses like clouds; that much was surely true.

Yet wasn't Su Hai only at the Human Grade Fourth Tier Martial Soul? In the Heavenly Origin Sect, he was definitely at the very bottom. How could he possibly be heavily valued, let alone have an elder figure wanting to take him as a disciple?

Utter nonsense!

Seeing the envious gazes of the crowd, Su Hai lifted his chin slightly, his face full of arrogance.

This feeling of being envied made him quite pleased.

At that moment, the corner of Su Hai's eye caught Su Mo standing nearby. Seeing Su Mo's expression of utter disdain, he instantly felt a surge of anger in his heart.

"Hehe, Su Mo, I heard your strength is comparable to the Qi Cultivation Level Seven, and last month you even killed Wei Liang of the Wei family."

Su Hai looked at Su Mo and smiled.

Su Mo did not speak.

Then, Su Hai changed his tune, saying disdainfully, "However, strength like yours is nothing in my eyes!"

"I heard you only have a Human Grade First Tier Martial Soul. With trash like that, you'll never reach the peak of the Qi Refining Realm in this lifetime, let alone enter the Heavenly Origin Sect."

Su Mo frowned. Was this guy mental? He hadn't offended him, yet the fellow came right over to mock him!

"Whether I can enter the Heavenly Origin Sect or not is not something that requires your concern!"

Su Mo said indifferently.

"Hmph! An ant!"

Su Hai snorted coldly, then turned to look at Su Yu with a smile. "Su Yu, I heard you awakened a Human Grade Fifth Tier Martial Soul. Not bad. After the Year-End Festival, you can go take the entrance assessment for the Heavenly Origin Sect. Entering it will be no problem at all."

"Of course, anyone else in the clan with a Human Grade Fourth Tier Martial Soul can also go take the assessment. However, a Human Grade Fourth Tier Martial Soul is merely the minimum requirement for the Heavenly Origin Sect, and passing the assessment is extremely difficult. Back then, Brother Tianhao and I also had to put in a tremendous amount of effort just to manage entry."

"Hehe, after the new year, I will definitely enter the Heavenly Origin Sect."

Su Yu smiled faintly, full of confidence, and cast a slight glance at Su Mo, his eyes brimming with mockery.