7: Chapter 7: Everyone's a monster, and I'm the only newbie?

The rumbling sound inside Zhao Ruoan's body showed no signs of stopping.

Crack!

Seventh Layer of Body Refining!

This wasn't over yet.

Crack!

Eighth Layer of Body Refining!

Crack!

Ninth Layer of Body Refining!

Not until the Peak of the Body Refining Realm did that violent torrent of spiritual power finally show signs of weakening.

When the last thread of Spiritual Qi was absorbed by his body, the vortex dissipated, and everything returned to tranquility.

Zhao Ruoan slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath of turbid air.

He looked down at his hands; the knuckles were distinct, and a faint treasure-like radiance flickered beneath his skin.

"Immortal Rank Ninth-Grade talent combined with a Supreme Cultivation Technique... is the effect really this ridiculous?"

Even Zhao Ruoan himself felt it was somewhat surreal.

The 24/7 automatic AFK cultivation of the Great Dao Scripture, coupled with its terrifying efficiency when actively operated, was practically a super cheat code in the cultivation world.

With a thought, he inspected his own body internally.

In the Qi Sea of his Dantian, that mysterious ancient scroll of the Great Dao Scripture floated quietly, emitting an eternal and immortal aura.

No way, this thing is far too Heaven-Defying; it must never be exposed.

Zhao Ruoan made up his mind.

In the future, to outsiders, he would claim that he was cultivating the Jingxian Sword Canon bestowed by his Revered Master.

As his ultimate trump card, the Great Dao Scripture had to be kept strictly hidden.

Only by lying low can one live long.

Having made his decision, he took out the Jade Slip containing the Jingxian Sword Canon from his sumeru ring.

He extended his Divine Sense into it.

This time, he settled his mind and began to earnestly comprehend it.

Thanks to the Great Dao Scripture's analysis of the Origin of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao, Zhao Ruoan's Comprehension Ability was elevated to an unfathomable level.

Those sword moves and principles that seemed incomparably profound to others were simple and straightforward to him.

First Form: Startled Swan.

Second Form: Wind Chaser.

Third Form: Falling Moon.

...

A top-tier Heaven Rank sword canon showed not the slightest hint of difficulty in his hands.

In just one hour, he had fully mastered all nine basic sword forms recorded in the first volume of the Jingxian Sword Canon.

This speed of learning was nothing short of terrifying.

Only on the final form—and the most powerful one, the Cloud-Piercing Sword—did he encounter a Bottleneck.

This sword technique focused on condensing all the spiritual power and Sword Intent in one's body into a single point, bursting forth in an instant to pierce through the clouds.

Its difficulty far exceeded the sum of the previous nine forms.

Zhao Ruoan tried several times, but was unable to perfectly condense that power.

"It seems that after the Extraordinary Comprehension Card expired, there is still a limit."

He was not discouraged and put away the Jade Slip.

The path of cultivation was never something accomplished overnight.

Surging all the way to the Peak of Body Tempering in a single night was already ridiculous enough.

One shouldn't be too greedy.

He stood up and pushed open the room door; broad daylight had already arrived.

The morning sunlight fell upon his body, feeling comfortably warm.

"Junior Martial Uncle, you're awake."

Qiuyin's crisp voice came from outside the courtyard.

She and Xiamo were carrying wash basins and new Sect robes, waiting prettily outside the door.

Seeing Zhao Ruoan come out, both of their delicate faces turned red simultaneously again.

Having not seen him for one night, this Junior Martial Uncle's temperament seemed to have undergone some changes again.

"Thank you for your trouble, sisters."

Zhao Ruoan gently took the items.

He changed into the moon-white robe exclusive to Qingxuan Sect Personal Disciples, tied a jade belt around his waist, and put his black hair up with a simple wooden hairpin.

He appeared even more strikingly handsome, ethereal and otherworldly.

The two little maidens, Qiuyin and Xiamo, stared somewhat mesmerized.

"Junior Martial Uncle, Revered Master instructed yesterday that starting today, you can go to the Preaching Hall on Qinghan Peak to listen to lectures, or go to the Scripture Pavilion to browse ancient texts. If you want to practice sword techniques, there is a dedicated Martial Arts Field in the back mountain," Xiamo reminded softly.

"Alright, I've noted it down," Zhao Ruoan nodded.

Just then, Qiuyin seemed to remember something and hurriedly said, "By the way, Junior Martial Uncle, Eldest Senior Sister sent a message earlier saying she wants to see you. Calculating the time, she should be arriving soon."

Eldest Senior Sister?

Zhao Ruoan recalled Revered Master Yun Qinghan's instructions.

Besides him, Qinghan Peak had three other Senior Sisters.

Eldest Luo Li was currently on the Peak.

Just as he was thinking, a cold and fierce aura swept up from below the mountain without warning.

Qiuyin and Xiamo, the two handmaidens with low cultivation bases, turned pale under this aura.

Zhao Ruoan raised an eyebrow. The Fifth-Order Sword Intent within his body circulated on its own, forming an invisible barrier to shield the two handmaidens behind him.

That icy Sword Intent seemed to sense his resistance; far from restraining itself, it grew even stronger.

A figure dressed in white walked up the mountain path step by step.

The newcomer was a woman.

She wore plain white martial attire, her long hair bound high in a ponytail, her figure tall and possessing breathtaking curves.

Her features were cold and gorgeous to the extreme.

Behind her, she carried a sheathed longsword; though the blade remained sheathed, the air of the entire Qinghan Peak grew heavy due to her arrival.

"Greetings, Eldest Senior Sister!"

Qiuyin and Xiamo hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Luo Li.

Eldest Senior Sister of Qinghan Peak, and the most renowned sword dao Genius among the younger generation of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Rumor had it she began learning the sword at age three, comprehended Sword Intent at ten, reached Third-Order Sword Intent at fifteen, and now at barely over twenty, her sword dao cultivation had reached Transcendent realm.

Luo Li paid no attention to the two handmaidens; her full attention was focused on the equally formidable Sword Intent around Zhao Ruoan.

"Fifth-Order Sword Intent?"

She finally spoke, her voice as clear and cold as ice, matching her demeanor.

"That's right."

Zhao Ruoan replied, neither humble nor arrogant.

Between the two, invisible Sword Intent collided in midair, producing a series of faint crackling sounds.

The surrounding bamboo leaves moved without wind, rustling softly.

A moment later, Luo Li took the initiative to retract her Sword Intent.

"I just came out of secluded cultivation and couldn't restrain it in time. Don't mind it," she said faintly by way of explanation.

"You are too polite, Senior Sister." Zhao Ruoan also dispersed his Sword Intent and smiled warmly, "Junior Brother Zhao Ruoan greets Eldest Senior Sister."

"Luo Li."

She offered her name, making it a formal introduction.

"I heard Revered Master say that you had an Epiphany of Fifth-Order Sword Intent before the stone stele at the mountain gate?" Luo Li asked.

"Just good luck."

"There is no good luck in this world." Luo Li shook her head. "On the path of the sword, every step leaves a footprint; there is no room for falsehood."

She walked over to the stone table in the courtyard, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea.

"I just finished my secluded cultivation and was fortunate enough to make a Breakthrough. My Sword Intent reached Seventh-Order."

Pfft—

Zhao Ruoan was about to take a sip of tea, but hearing this, he nearly choked.

Seventh-Order Sword Intent?

Big sister, you're only in your early twenties!

Do you really have to be this competitive?

Could it be that everyone in the Qinghan Peak lineage is a monster?!

Revered Master is an Immortal Emperor Reincarnation.

Eldest Senior Sister is twenty years old with Seventh-Order Sword Intent.

Then what kind of Heaven-Defying Physique do Second Senior Sister and Third Senior Sister, whom I haven't met yet, possess?

A monstrous wave surged in Zhao Ruoan's heart, but on the surface, he remained completely unperturbed.

"Congratulations, Senior Sister."

"It's nothing to congratulate." Luo Li's tone was calm. "The path of the sword is boundless; Seventh-Order is merely the beginning."

She paused before continuing, "The second and third sisters—one is obsessed with Alchemy, the other absorbed in Formations, and neither practices sword dao. On the entire Qinghan Peak, I'm the only one practicing the sword, which is exceedingly dull."

"Now that you're here, there is finally someone I can talk to."

Zhao Ruoan understood.

This aloof Eldest Senior Sister was a sword maniac.

Having no like-minded companions, she was practically bursting from boredom.

"Having just stepped onto the immortal path, I have many doubts about sword dao. I hope Senior Sister can offer much guidance in the future," Zhao Ruoan said smoothly.

"Sure." Luo Li agreed straightforwardly. "Revered Master bestowed upon you the Jingxian Sword Canon, right? I've read that sword canon as well. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime."

This was truly like someone handing over a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.

Zhao Ruoan was just worrying about having no one to guide him on the Cloud-Piercing Sword.

"Thank you, Senior Sister." He cupped his hands. "I indeed have one point of confusion."

"Speak."

"When cultivating the final form of the Jingxian Sword Canon, the Cloud-Piercing Sword, I always feel that the spiritual power circulation is not smooth, and I am unable to perfectly condense the Sword Intent and spiritual power together."

After hearing this, Luo Li put down her teacup.

She glanced at Zhao Ruoan and reminded him in a calm tone, "Cultivation requires that one not aim too high without solid grounding. The Jingxian Sword Canon is vast and profound. Having just received the Cultivation Technique, you should start from the first form, step by step, to build a solid Foundation."

In her eyes, although this Junior Brother possessed high talent, he was new to the Sect after all, and impetuousness was inevitable.

Wanting to practice the hardest form right from the start was a common flaw among all novices.

However, Zhao Ruoan looked completely sincere.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister."

"However, I have already mastered all nine preceding forms."