Evolution Two: Sword-Inquiring Platform

[Dripping Water Swordsmanship: 96/100, not yet initiated]

In the half hour just now, after speaking with Hui Zhen, he had only had enough time to practice three times.

He would have to make up the remaining progress tonight.

In truth, even if he had ample time, Li Mu would still have saved the final attempt for the evening before breaking through.

After all, considering the strange sensation when he had wiped swords a thousand times and the Great Expansion Sword Register's "Evolution One" first appeared, Li Mu worried that "Evolution Two" might cause even more drastic changes to his body and draw unnecessary attention.

You could never truly know what lay in another person's heart. For now, it was better to keep a low profile...

After finishing his sword practice, Li Mu returned to work at Myriad Swords Tower with the crowd.

He had just taken out a sword and wiped it a few times when five rapid bell chimes suddenly rang out beside his ears.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

"The steward has arrived!"

Five bell chimes at Myriad Swords Tower meant something major had happened or an important figure had arrived. Everyone had to gather downstairs.

Quite a few sword-wiping slaves cursed inwardly as they hurried downstairs despite themselves.

Sword practice not only drained their strength, but also forced them to endure the blazing sun. Having just finished training and returned to their posts, the sword-wiping slaves were drenched in sweat and exhausted. Especially those on the higher floors—who wanted to keep running up and down?

But in Myriad Swords Tower, the steward was heaven.

When the steward arrived, sword-wiping slaves had to follow the rules and honestly wait for the steward's reprimand.

Li Mu hurried downstairs as well.

A graceful figure in black clothes and black boots slowly entered Myriad Swords Tower.

Her dark fitted outfit outlined her full curves. Silver sword patterns were embroidered on her shoulders, a Myriad Swords Tower token hung at her waist, and a longsword in a black scabbard rested at her side.

She was Leng Shuangyu, the steward of Myriad Swords Tower.

Her left hand rested at her waist, while her right toyed with a long whip. Her pointed chin was slightly raised, and her face was covered in an icy expression that warned strangers to stay away.

Li Mu secretly studied her from within the crowd. With a thought, information surfaced.

[Leng Shuangyu, Vitality: 48.9, Spirit: 5.0, Sword Dao Talent: 50.0 (green)]

Her Vitality is ten times mine! Even higher than Zhao Meng, the white-robed instructor.

Li Mu was secretly astonished.

Even with the Great Expansion Sword Register, without cultivation resources, how long would it take to reach such a level?

And her Sword Dao Talent is 50.0—green grade?

No wonder she looks under twenty, and despite being a woman, she can still serve as the steward of Myriad Swords Tower.

First servants, then formal disciples. The outstanding among them can become stewards... Li Mu's gaze shifted slightly.

Leng Shuangyu's eyes were sharp as she casually swept her gaze over the crowd, idly playing with the whip in her hand.

Everyone immediately lowered their heads, terrified of being whipped... Servants could not meet a steward's eyes. No matter how beautiful Leng Shuangyu was, no one dared treat her as an ordinary woman.

As steward, a single word from her could send anyone here to the mines, or even have them expelled from the manor.

She could also enforce the manor laws. With any excuse she liked, crippling or beating a servant to death would not be considered excessive!

Those were the rules. That was hierarchy. That was the world as it was now.

Reaching the level of steward was enough to command respect throughout the manor. Even in Azure River City, few would dare show disrespect.

The crowd fell silent and listened as the steward spoke coldly.

"The manor has received a major order. The Forging Sword Tower has requisitioned all the spirit spring water from our tower.

"Starting today, every afternoon, fetch several buckets of water from Spirit Ravine Peak before continuing your work."

"Do your work carefully. Let me tell you this: quite a few people are kneeling outside the manor again. If any of you dare slack off or act foolishly, then when the time comes... don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Li Mu was taken aback.

This batch had been here for less than twenty days, and they were already preparing to replace them with fresh blood?

Servants truly were worthless these days. Even if they knelt and begged to be taken in, no one might want them.

The others all showed a trace of panic. They took up shoulder poles, hung two empty wooden buckets from them, and hurried toward Spirit Ravine Peak in the inner courtyard.

She said several buckets, but they would have to make at least three trips. Servants recorded all of this, and carelessness would bring punishment.

The sun was blazing now. One round trip was at least a thousand paces. Carrying water was far more exhausting than wiping swords. At least inside the tower, they could enjoy the shade and did not need to run about carrying loads.

But once one became a slave, this was all the way of life they had left. Who dared utter a word of complaint?

Li Mu silently carried his wooden buckets and followed the crowd toward Spirit Ravine Peak.

After enduring the sun and finishing the water hauling, Steward Leng Shuangyu ordered everyone to resume wiping swords.

They worked a full half hour longer than usual before they were finally allowed to eat.

The group was already starving, and they wolfed down their food inside the wooden shed.

"Blockhead, quite a few people have agreed to do extra training at the practice ground tonight. Cao A-Man and the others went to speak with Instructor Zhao Meng, and he agreed. You and I can't fall behind."

Hui Zhen sat with Li Mu in a corner and immediately began urging him.

"I'm not going. I need to rest."

"Rest again? There are only a few days left. Haven't you seen Wang Que, Cao A-Man, and the others? They're even more fired up than we are."

Hui Zhen stuffed a steamed bun into his bowl and tried to persuade him earnestly.

"I haven't eaten enough. I'm nearly dizzy from training." Li Mu picked up the bun and shook his head.

After eating another bun, he immediately felt much better, as though some of his Vitality had been replenished.

Sure enough, martial arts training required eating well.

But where could he get money and food right now? Li Mu still had no good solution.

He could only take things one step at a time...

Moonlight flowed like water.

In the clearing behind the sword-wiping slaves' dormitory.

A figure hid beneath the shadow of a large banyan tree. The branch in his hand had already been whittled into the shape of a wooden sword.

After enduring until deep into the night, Li Mu could finally practice his swordsmanship freely.

Hui Zhen had not been wrong. Quite a few people from the dormitory had arranged to head to the practice ground early that evening.

Li Mu waited a while longer before sneaking over here.

The youth stepped forward and raised his sword, moving through four forms. The wooden sword in his hand hissed through the air, producing a soft sound like the cry of a sword.

If the white-robed instructor had been here, he would certainly have seen it.

The swordsmanship Li Mu displayed had already begun to carry a faint trace of force.

And after he practiced it four times, the information displayed on the Great Expansion Sword Register changed delightfully.

[Dripping Water Swordsmanship: 100/100, not yet initiated]

"The progress is finally full."

"Now, break through."

Li Mu endured the slight fatigue in his body.

Gripping the branch, he once more performed the opening stance of Dripping Water Swordsmanship, Dripping Water Pierces Stone.

He was more tired than usual today! But he did not intend to delay this progress any longer. He had to break through today.

With the support of Clear Sword Eyes, once he understood swordsmanship, he understood it forever. As long as he worked hard enough, success would come naturally.

A bottleneck? What was a bottleneck?

As he practiced the sword technique, threads of insight seeped forth like raindrops.

Then the raindrops joined into a line and pierced through everything in an instant.

Every sword move and pattern flashed through his mind like lightning. Countless sword shadows... condensed into a single sword.

Li Mu's gaze flickered. He summoned the strength of his entire body, stepped with the Looking-Back-at-the-Moon Step, twisted like a swimming dragon, and thrust!

A tiny yet sharp force shot forth from the tip of the branch.

It was a simple thrust, yet it contained every thrust within the eighteen moves and thirty-six forms!

It was as though, in that instant of dragon-like rotation, Li Mu had already thrust out hundreds of times.

Bang!

The air seemed to burst like a balloon, exploding with a loud sword cry.

In an instant, the air currents danced wildly and fallen leaves scattered!

"Force arose from the rain.

"Water droplets accumulated over time to form force, capable of piercing stone and gold.

"The Rain-Sting Sword Force is complete."

Li Mu slowly exhaled, his eyes bright.

[Dripping Water Swordsmanship: 1/500 (initiated)]

[Vitality: 4.7 ↑]

The sword register showed that this breakthrough had not only initiated his swordsmanship, but also raised his Vitality by 0.1.

Li Mu smiled.

His exhaustion vanished, and his whole body felt refreshed. Even the world before his eyes seemed somewhat different.

A drop of water fell from a leaf, and he could already sense an unusual flow of energy from it.

So this is what it feels like to cross the threshold into martial arts?

The water droplet fell from the leaf and shattered.

A familiar sword cry erupted from the depths of Li Mu's mind.

—Riiing!!!

That incomparably ethereal voice rang out again:

"Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself."

"Inquire of the sword a hundred times, and its Dao will become clear."

"Evolution Two: Sword-Inquiring Platform."