Even Without Battle Aura, One Could Cleave Rock—But the Blade Would Break

"Please join our Red Beard Adventurer Party."

Carl sincerely extended an invitation to Cui Ciyou.

The Red Beard Adventurer Party was a registered "Red Beard" party with the Adventurers' Guild.

However, as adventuring commissions had become fewer and more dangerous in recent years, they had switched to merchant work as their primary livelihood.

This merchant caravan traveled year-round between Fitoia Territory and Asura's royal capital—Ars—transporting goods.

Seeing Cui Ciyou remain silent, Carl assumed he was considering the offer and immediately continued.

"I know that, with your strength, our Red Beard Adventurer Party probably won't be able to keep you."

"But at least, before you become fully familiar with this Central Continent and find a greater goal..."

Carl paused here, then continued in an even more earnest tone.

"If you travel with us, we can look out for one another. You'll also be able to learn about the customs and people of different places more safely and conveniently, won't you?"

"Adventuring with a group is always much safer and more convenient than going alone, isn't it?"

"We guarantee you the best treatment."

"You only need to lend us a hand if we run into a dangerous situation like the Grey Wolf Bandit Group last time."

"You needn't concern yourself with the caravan's usual cargo escort jobs at all."

Cui Ciyou calmly listened to Carl's tempting recruitment pitch, pondering inwardly.

If I were merely an ordinary transmigrator who knew nothing about this world and had no clear goal...

Then, in my current situation—having only just grasped the basic language and knowing neither the people nor the land—joining a reliable-looking local group that bore me goodwill would indeed be the lowest-risk, most efficient choice.

But... before I knew this was the world of Jobless Reincarnation, I might have considered it.

But now, I was one hundred percent certain that this was the world of Jobless Reincarnation.

Then... naturally, I had clearer goals and plans in mind.

I could go to Buena Village, where the original story began, or Magic University—Ranoa—or the fortress city—Roa.

I had more choices now, so I'm sorry, Carl.

Using Human Common Tongue, which still sounded somewhat unpracticed but was enough for basic daily conversation, Cui Ciyou slowly said,

"Carl, I appreciate your kindness. But for now, I have no plans to join any party."

Carl looked into Cui Ciyou's calm yet resolute eyes and knew that this attempt at recruitment had once again failed to move the young man before him.

He sighed in disappointment, yet still nodded sincerely.

"All right... Mr. Ciyou, since you've made up your mind, I won't force you."

"But my promise will always stand."

"No matter when, if you change your mind or need any help, as long as it is within my power, I, Carl, will never refuse!"

Cui Ciyou nodded, accepting the goodwill. "Thank you."

Just then, Dak, who had silently watched their conversation from the side, seemed to have finally found an opportunity to speak.

He suddenly gathered his courage, stepped forward, and said to Cui Ciyou,

"Mr. Ciyou! Even if... even if you aren't willing to join our Red Beard Adventurer Party..."

"But... but you should still be somewhat interested in North God Style swordsmanship, right?"

"I... I can keep teaching you more North God Style sword techniques and combat principles!"

"My father said that my talent is fairly good, and I've already mastered quite a few North God Style sword techniques!"

Cui Ciyou looked at Dak's young face, filled with sincerity.

Then he glanced at Carl, who wore a faint, relieved smile, and warmth rose in his heart once more. He gently patted Dak's slightly thin shoulder and said with a hint of a smile,

"Sure, Dak."

"I'm looking forward to learning more powerful North God Style sword techniques from you, my teacher."

At that, a radiant smile immediately blossomed across Dak's face, like a child who had received the most precious piece of candy.

After the conversation ended, Cui Ciyou did not immediately return to the inn to rest.

Instead, he went alone to a relatively secluded, undisturbed corner of the inn's rear courtyard.

There happened to be a pile of discarded, hard rocks of varying sizes there, likely leftover building materials from earlier repairs to the inn.

Moonlight flowed like water over the cold stones, reflecting a faint, ghostly sheen.

He gripped his iron sword, took a deep breath, and cast aside every distracting thought. He focused all his attention on the sword in his hand.

Then, he recalled the feeling of fighting the Assault Hound, as well as some of the most basic North God Style power techniques and sword trajectories he had learned from Dak over the past few days.

He poured the surging, terrifying strength within his body—strength completely enhanced by that mysterious power—into his right arm and the iron sword in his hand!

He used not a single trace of Battle Aura, relying only on pure, terrifying physical strength and speed that surpassed human limits!

"Hah!"

Cui Ciyou let out a deep roar. His iron sword carried an unstoppable, savage momentum, transforming into a swift silver flash almost impossible for the naked eye to catch.

It slashed down fiercely and mercilessly at a massive bluish-black boulder before him, roughly half a person's height and seemingly incomparably hard!

"Crack—"

A tremendous shattering sound, like thunder breaking through a clear sky, suddenly rang out!

The enormous bluish-black boulder that had appeared indestructible—

under Cui Ciyou's violent strike, which contained all the strength in his body, split cleanly in two as easily as the softest tofu!

The cut was smooth and level, like a mirror.

Yet beneath that astonishing destructive force—

the ordinary wrought-iron longsword in Cui Ciyou's hand could not withstand the recoil either.

With a crisp "clang," the blade snapped in half at the middle and fell to the ground.

Cui Ciyou stared blankly at the huge boulder he had cleaved apart with a single strike.

Then he looked at the broken hilt in his hand, lost in a daze for a moment.

This... this was my strength now?

Relying solely on pure physical strength, without using any Battle Aura, I could... I could easily cut through such a huge, hard rock!

But... He looked at the half of the broken sword remaining in his hand, his brow furrowing slightly.

Because my weapon cannot be reinforced by Battle Aura, its hardness and sharpness remain exactly as they were.

Against an opponent of the same level, my sword might break when our blades clash, after all...

This body of mine cannot refine even the slightest trace of Battle Aura!

This was a tremendous advantage, but also a fatal flaw. He possessed Saint-level destructive power, yet lacked the means Saint-level swordsmen used to protect and reinforce their weapons.

Still, even without Battle Aura, I can cleave rock.

Cui Ciyou tossed aside the broken sword and muttered to himself.

"If I get the chance later, I'll see whether I can obtain a magic weapon. Like that short blade in Paul's labyrinth in the original story."