The Cottage.
Chang'sheng casually pointed at a few of the bamboo huts and said, "Pick whichever one you like."
Netherworld King nodded in agreement. After settling in, he returned to stand before Chang'sheng.
Chang'sheng was seated in a lounge chair, waving his hand lightly.
Suddenly, a sword and a medicinal pill appeared before Netherworld King.
"You have chosen me as your master. I don't have much to give you, but I will entrust you with this Green Cloud Sword, sending you straight up to Qingyun."
When Netherworld King saw the Green Cloud Sword, his expression changed in shock.
The Green Cloud Sword rested sheathed in its scabbard, yet already a faint and sharp sword intent lingered all around it.
Just by holding it, one could sense the Great Dao of the Sword—faintly, an epiphany could be felt!
Anything linked to the Dao, be it cultivation techniques or weapons, could they be ordinary objects?
If unsheathed, what awe-inspiring sight would it be?
At this thought, Netherworld King couldn't help but want to draw the sword.
"I'd advise you not to do that. With your current level, you can't withstand the intent of that sword just yet."
Hearing this, Netherworld King gave up the idea.
"Master, this is too precious for me to accept."
Netherworld King's face was solemn as he returned the sword.
Chang'sheng glanced at Netherworld King and said, "Since I gave it to you, just take it. That pill as well—it'll solve the problems with your body."
As he spoke, Chang'sheng stretched out a finger and tapped Netherworld King between the brows.
Waves of information about cultivation techniques flooded into Netherworld King's mind.
Primordial Sword Scripture.
The sword becomes your Dantian, the sword forges your meridians.
Achieve the Supreme Sword Body.
The profoundness within was beyond anything Netherworld King had ever witnessed.
Compared to his clan's techniques or anything he'd seen in his travels, none of it could compare to even a fragment of this Primordial Sword Scripture.
Netherworld King felt an upheaval in his heart. He nodded, no longer refusing, popped the Creation Pill into his mouth, sat cross-legged, and began to comprehend the technique!
Seeing this, Chang'sheng nodded as well, then stepped into the wooden hut.
"System, what is the disciple-development task?"
[Initiating disciple development task. Within three days, have Netherworld King comprehend sword intent and cultivate at least to the Golden Core Pill realm. Upon completion, rewards will be given to the host based on completion level.]
Sword intent?
While this sort of thing was nothing to him—after all, these past twenty years hadn't been idle—how was a newbie like Netherworld King supposed to comprehend sword intent in just three days?
And Golden Core? Three days—for Netherworld King, starting from zero, to recover to the Golden Core Pill Realm…
Are you fucking kidding me?
Still, having finally triggered a quest, how could Chang'sheng give up so easily?
With that in mind, he began designing a hell-level training regimen.
Sword intent depended on comprehension.
Realm?
Damn it, even if he had to ram him up there with pills, he'd make him break through!
With that, Chang'sheng took out his pill furnace, and with a wave, summoned alchemist fire.
One after another, medicinal herbs with deeply hidden fragrances were tossed in…
Out of the allotted three days, one had already gone by before they knew it.
Sitting cross-legged outside, Netherworld King suddenly opened his eyes, and a vortex of spiritual qi formed around him, drawing in energy with Netherworld King as its core!
Chang'sheng walked out of the wooden hut at that moment, snapped his fingers, and a handful of array flags flew out, an array instantly enveloping the entire cottage!
"Formation, rise."
As soon as the words left his lips—
All the spiritual qi in the vicinity rushed madly into the cottage.
The vortex of spiritual qi swirling around Netherworld King grew even more solid.
His realm was constantly elevating at that moment!
The Third Realm of Qi Refinement!
The Sixth Realm!
The Ninth Realm!
...
Foundation Establishment Realm!
But the surging aura did not stop—after passing Foundation Establishment, only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm did it finally pause!
Just one step away from entering the Golden Core Pill Realm!
Netherworld King opened his eyes, casually picked up a tree branch, and began performing sword techniques one after another.
These were the very sword techniques found within the Primordial Sword Scripture.
When Netherworld King stopped, he found his talent and power had already far surpassed what they once were.
It could be said—Chang'sheng had given him new life.
Setting aside the tree branch, Netherworld King dropped to his knees and solemnly said to Chang'sheng, "Once I've taken my revenge, I shall serve by Master's side for life!"
Chang'sheng raised his hand and gently lifted Netherworld King up.
"Enough. Continue your cultivation. Take these pills—do your best to break through to Golden Core and grasp sword intent within the next two days."
Seeing the pills in Chang'sheng's hand, Netherworld King's eyes widened in shock again.
Pure Yang Scarlet Blood Pill, Concentration Pill, Vitality Nurturing Pill.
All three were rare and unattainable medicinal pills in the entire Southern Region.
The number of alchemists who could refine these three kinds of pills could be counted on one hand.
"Master, these are just too valuable!"
Chang'sheng, unconcerned, tossed the three pills to Netherworld King, "Valuable? I just refined a batch. If you run out, come get more."
A batch…
Since when did pills become as worthless as candy…
Thinking back to the crazy standards Chang'sheng set for him, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Breaking through to Golden Core Pill realm would be challenging enough.
Comprehending sword intent, though—that wasn't something you could force.
Some people spent a lifetime and still never grasped sword intent.
But mulling over it wouldn't help. Netherworld King's gaze grew steely, and he resumed cultivation.
After swallowing each pill, his strength soared rapidly.
At the same time, sword beams began swirling around him.
Inside his body, the roaring sound of swords echoed!
On a mountain cliff, a willow tree observed the scene, its branches rustling softly.
"This kid's got talent… To meet the requirements for practicing the Primordial Sword Scripture, only the Chaos Essence Sword Body would do."
On a branch nearby, a little bird with fiery red wings was watching as well, a hint of seriousness gleaming in its eyes.
Another day passed.
On a rock, Netherworld King sat atop it.
Suddenly, a surge of power exploded outward.
Sword qi roared all around Netherworld King's body.
Soon enough, the aura receded.
Golden Core Pill Realm!
Netherworld King rose to his feet.
He had reached the Golden Core Pill Realm, but as for sword intent—such an elusive profundity—how could one comprehend it?
His gaze wandered and settled upon a scroll on the wooden table. Curious, he walked over.
It was the Sword Immortal Sword Dance painting.
Netherworld King stood before the painting all night without moving.
Throughout the night, sword qi swirled around him.
The sword qi grew ever more substantial—even the Green Cloud Sword in his hand began to give off a faint beam of sword light.
Chang'sheng stepped out from the cottage, stretched, and caught sight of the scene.
Oh?
Touched the threshold of sword intent?
Chang'sheng nodded approvingly and spoke aloud, "A silver saddle on a white horse, swift as a shooting star."
As if he heard, Netherworld King's sword qi began to howl throughout the entire space!
"Within ten paces, one kill. Walking a thousand miles, without leaving a trace. Affairs finished, a flick of the sleeve—hiding merit and fame."
As soon as the words fell—
Netherworld King snapped open his eyes, and the Green Cloud Sword in his hand blazed with intense sword light.
A rush of the Sword Dao's will shot up to the heavens from within him!
The commotion rattled the entire Hidden Dao Academy!
"That's… sword intent!"
"Another swordsman is born, eh?"
Within the Martial Academy, Sword Hall.
A woman in red was meditating. She opened her eyes, looking in the direction of the sword intent's roar.
"The Hidden Dao Academy lives up to its reputation after all…"
She then recalled how Chang'sheng had once turned her away at the door, only to accept a completely ordinary youth as his disciple instead.
"I'll make you regret not choosing me as your disciple."
With these words, she closed her eyes again, continuing to comprehend the blood-red longsword before her.
...
To comprehend sword intent is to be a true swordsman.
And at that very moment—
A string of voices sounded in Chang'sheng's mind:
[Discipleship task completed]
[Host has gained: Nine Netherworld Formation, Law of Sword Dao, a thousand years of cultivation]