The next morning arrived quietly at Azure Cloud Sect.
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the mountain mist, casting a soft golden glow over the peaks and valleys. Birds chirped in the woods, and the distant sound of disciples practicing echoed through the air, marking the start of another ordinary day.
For most people in the sect, nothing
had changed.
But for Chen Fan, everything was different.
He woke up in his simple wooden hut, stretched lazily, and put on his usual handyman uniform. The fabric was plain and worn, but it felt comfortable. He picked up his bamboo broom and walked outside, his movements slow and relaxed, just like any other day.
The other handymen were already up and working. When they saw Chen Fan, they immediately tensed up and lowered their heads, pretending to be busy. None of them dared to meet his eyes, and none of them tried to order him around anymore.
The incident in the square had spread like wildfire the previous night.
Everyone knew that the seemingly ordinary handyman Chen Fan had sliced a thick tree in half with a single casual swing. Everyone knew that Elder Mu himself had spoken to him privately. Everyone knew that this mortal was not to be trifled with.
Chen Fan noticed their nervousness but didn't pay it any mind.
He didn't want to scare anyone, and he didn't want special treatment. He just wanted to do his chores peacefully and live a quiet life.
He walked toward the outer sect square, humming a light tune under his breath. Along the way, he passed several groups of outer disciples. When they saw him, their conversations immediately stopped. Some of them stared at him in shock, some whispered quietly, and others quickly looked away, afraid of attracting his attention.
"Is that the handyman who cut the locust tree yesterday?"
"Keep your voice down! He's terrifying!"
"To think he was just a mortal… what a monster."
"I can't believe we used to laugh at him."
Chen Fan heard their whispers but remained calm.
He had never cared about others' opinions. Whether they called him trash or genius, it didn't change how he lived.
He reached the square and began sweeping the fallen leaves and dust, his movements steady and unhurried. Not far away, a group of outer disciples had gathered to practice swordsmanship again. This time, however, they kept glancing nervously at Chen Fan, their hands shaking slightly as they held their swords.
They were afraid that if they disturbed him, he might unleash another terrifying sword qi.
Chen Fan found their behavior somewhat amusing.
He swept the floor quietly, occasionally glancing at their sword movements out of the corner of his eye.
With every casual glance, his comprehension silently took effect.
The disciples' sword forms were still clumsy, their timing off, and their control of qi weak. But to Chen Fan, every tiny detail was crystal clear. He instantly saw every flaw, every mistake, and every hidden principle within the technique.
Before long, he had completely understood the outer sect's basic sword curriculum.
Not only that, his talent automatically refined and evolved the techniques, turning ordinary moves into something far more profound. He didn't even need to think about it—it happened naturally, like breathing.
As he swept, he felt his body growing lighter. The hidden Chaos Root in his body continued to awaken, absorbing the free spiritual energy of heaven and earth without him trying. His meridians expanded, his physical strength increased, and his perception of the world sharpened.
He was growing stronger by the second, and no one noticed.
After finishing sweeping the square, Chen Fan decided to walk toward the Scripture Pavilion, as Elder Mu had permitted him the previous day.
The Scripture Pavilion was a tall, ancient wooden building located at the edge of the outer sect. It housed countless basic cultivation manuals, sword techniques, body movements, and introductory essays on the path of immortality. For ordinary handymen, it was a forbidden area—they weren't even allowed to stand near its stairs.
But today, Chen Fan walked straight toward it without hesitation.
The two disciples guarding the entrance tensed up the moment they saw him. They had heard about what happened in the square, and they knew better than to stop someone who had earned Elder Mu's favor.
They bowed slightly, their voices respectful. "Greetings, Senior Brother Chen."
Chen Fan was surprised by the title but nodded politely. "Good morning. I'm here to read some basic manuals."
"Please, go right in," one of the disciples quickly replied. "You may browse any of the books on the lower floors."
Chen Fan thanked them and stepped inside.
The air inside the Scripture Pavilion was calm and filled with the faint scent of old paper and ink. Rows of wooden shelves stretched out in all directions, filled with countless books and scrolls. Most of them were basic techniques that outer sect disciples studied daily.
Chen Fan walked slowly between the shelves, his eyes scanning the titles.
He picked up a simple manual called Basic Qi Refining.
It was the most introductory cultivation book, teaching beginners how to sense spiritual energy and guide it into their bodies. Most outer disciples spent months or even years mastering its contents.
Chen Fan flipped it open and glanced at the first page.
In that instant—
[Ding!]
[You have observed Basic Qi Refining.]
[Eternal Supreme Insight activated!]
[You have instantly comprehended the complete essence of Qi Refining!]
[Your cultivation base has automatically advanced to: Qi Refining Level 1!]
[Progressing rapidly… Level 2… Level 3…]
A warm, gentle current spread through Chen Fan's body. His dantian expanded, and spiritual energy flowed through his meridians like a river. He broke through three levels of Qi Refining in the blink of an eye, without meditating even once.
He closed the book calmly, as if nothing had happened.
To him, it was just a natural reaction.
He picked up another manual, Foundation Movement Technique.
It was a basic body art that taught disciples how to move faster and more lightly. Again, he only needed one glance.
[Ding!]
[You have observed Foundation Movement Technique.]
[Eternal Supreme Insight activated!]
[The technique has evolved into: Eternal Shadow Steps!]
[You have obtained Shadow Movement Intent (Initial Stage)!]
A clear understanding of the movement art appeared in his mind. He could now move so quickly that he would leave afterimages, yet he looked as calm and ordinary as ever.
Chen Fan continued browsing, picking up one book after another.
Basic fist techniques, medicinal knowledge, talisman drawing, array foundations—no matter what he read, he mastered it instantly. Every ordinary skill evolved into a supreme art, and every basic principle turned into a profound truth.
His cultivation rose silently, breaking through to Qi Refining Level 5 before he even realized it.
To any outer disciple, this speed would be considered a miracle.
To Chen Fan, it was just another ordinary day.
After spending about an hour in the Scripture Pavilion, he placed the last book back on the shelf and prepared to leave. He had learned enough to keep him satisfied for a while.
As he walked toward the exit, he ran into a young outer disciple who was rushing inside. The disciple was about sixteen years old, with mediocre talent and a nervous expression. He was carrying several books and looked like he was in a hurry.
He accidentally bumped into Chen Fan, and the books in his arms fell to the ground with a thud.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" the young disciple quickly apologized, bending down to pick up the books. He was terrified of angering the infamous handyman.
Chen Fan knelt down and helped him gather the books. "It's okay. Be more careful next time."
The young disciple looked up in surprise. He had expected Chen Fan to be arrogant and terrifying, but the handyman was actually polite and gentle.
"T-Thank you, Senior Brother Chen," he stammered.
Chen Fan smiled slightly and walked out of the Scripture Pavilion.
The young disciple stared at his back in confusion, then shook his head and continued inside. He had no idea that he had just interacted with a future invincible immortal who would shake the entire cultivation world.
When Chen Fan returned to the handyman quarters, it was already noon.
He ate a simple bowl of rice and vegetables, then rested for a while under a tree. The sun was warm, the wind was soft, and everything felt peaceful.
He closed his eyes and sorted through the countless techniques and knowledge he had absorbed that morning.
Sword arts, fist arts, movement techniques, Qi refining—his mind was like a vast library, filled with supreme skills that even inner sect elders would covet. Yet he remained calm, not feeling proud or arrogant.
He didn't want to be a hero.
He didn't want to rule the world.
He didn't want to be the center of attention.
He just wanted to live a quiet, relaxed life, getting stronger quietly while sweeping floors and doing chores.
As he lay under the tree, he saw several disciples practicing a movement technique on the distant training ground. He opened one eye and glanced at them casually.
Once again, his supreme comprehension took effect.
The movement technique's flaws were instantly revealed, and it evolved into a higher-level art in his mind.
Chen Fan smiled faintly and closed his eyes again.
Being a handyman was really quite nice.
No pressure, no competition, no trouble—just peace, freedom, and endless, effortless growth.
Little did he know that while he enjoyed his quiet life, Elder Mu was standing in his bamboo hut, staring at a jade slip in shock.
The jade slip recorded the faint energy fluctuations detected by the sect's formation.
"Qi Refining Level 5… in just one night?" Elder Mu muttered to himself, his voice trembling. "That boy… exactly what kind of monster is he?"
He had thought Chen Fan was just a genius with terrifying comprehension.
But now he realized—
Chen Fan was a existence that defied all common sense.
And the quiet days of Azure Cloud Sect were about to be completely overturned.