Lin Jingzhi said, "This is the Soul Awakening Blade, the personal weapon of a supremely powerful Ultimate Grandmaster."

"If even Pavilion Master Lin says they're strong, then they must be truly formidable."

Lin Jingzhi's combat prowess ranked among the top few in Great Qian.

For Lin Jingzhi to acknowledge someone as strong meant they were undoubtedly his equal.

The personal weapon of a peak Ultimate Grandmaster was absolutely a priceless treasure.

The Soul Awakening Blade had a sleek black blade with fluid lines.

The chilling aura emanating from it made one's courage waver.

"Pavilion Master Lin, the Sword Establishment Pavilion is renowned for swords - why do you possess such a precious saber?"

"This blade was forfeited to me when its owner came to challenge me and lost," Lin Jingzhi replied calmly.

Lin Jingzhi stood with his hands behind his back, exuding composure.

The confidence of a supreme master radiated from his entire being.

You were deeply awed by Lin Jingzhi's overwhelming presence.

You secretly vowed to one day be able to show off like him.

After Lin Jingzhi left, you lingered for a while longer.

Just as you were finally about to depart, another familiar face appeared.

"Young Master He, I never imagined you had such deep connections with Young Hero Miao."

Wan Qingluan approached you with a playful smile.

Gone was her previous aloof demeanor - now she seemed lively and spirited.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity about the world.

She looked every bit the girl next door.

Noticing the Sword Establishment Pavilion disciple robes she wore, you asked in confusion:

"Heroine Wan, what act is this now? Did the Extermination Sect kick you out?"

Every time you met Wan Qingluan, she assumed a different identity - you no longer knew which was her true self.

Wan Qingluan beamed: "Couldn't it be that I've turned over a new leaf?"

"Heroine Wan, don't set me up - I never said the Extermination Sect was evil," you cautiously replied.

Over the years you'd heard more about the Extermination Sect.

One wrong word to their members could cost you your head.

The sect's reputation couldn't be worse.

"Young Master He, what do you consider evil, and what is righteous?" Wan Qingluan arched her eyebrows, her voice crisp.

"I believe there's no absolute good or evil - just people pursuing their own interests."

Wan Qingluan looked delighted: "You're not lying, Young Master He! You truly believe this!"

"You can tell when I'm lying?" you asked.

You'd wondered this since first meeting her.

Back then you'd just wanted to escape her, not daring to inquire.

Now in the Sword Establishment Pavilion, she presumably wouldn't kill you outright - she'd never escape either.

Wan Qingluan answered mysteriously: "That's my secret."

You remained silent.

After a moment, Wan Qingluan added: "But... if Young Master He wants to know, I could tell you."

You waved hurriedly: "No no no, button that pretty little mouth right up! I don't want to know secrets - knowing too many gets you killed."

Wan Qingluan looked perplexed, suddenly saying: "Young Master He, I'm growing more and more curious about you."

You couldn't fathom what about you intrigued her.

Last time she'd said the same bizarre thing.

"Heroine Wan, spare me your curiosity. I'm just your ordinary, exceptionally handsome guy. Goodbye."

You turned and left.

Best to stay far away from dangerous enigmas like Wan Qingluan.

Otherwise you'd die without knowing why.

Wan Qingluan called after you cheerfully: "Young Master He, you'd fit right in with our Extermination Sect! Won't you reconsider joining?"

Hearing this, you bolted like you'd seen a ghost, vanishing instantly with movement techniques.

Mentioning joining the Extermination Sect in a righteous sect like Sword Establishment Pavilion would get you both minced into filling if overheard.

Wan Qingluan didn't follow your panicked escape, merely giggling to herself.

Soon her expression turned thoughtful.

Her eyes seemed to reach some decision.

After leaving Sword Establishment Pavilion, you headed east.

Your target: the Golden Saber Martial Arts School.

Now you possessed absolute power to make it disappear.

Even if Wang Yuanyi was a martial arts prodigy, he stood no chance against you with the Nine Condensations Profound Skill.

You planned to destroy the school in this simulation first, to uncover any hidden risks.

The journey from Sword Establishment Pavilion would take over three months.

You traveled leisurely, sightseeing for half a month.

Then you bought a horse for transportation.

When tired, you rode the horse.

When the horse tired, you carried it.

Two months later.

Year 61.

You broke through to late-stage Bone Tempering.

Your bones had completely jadeified, reaching unprecedented hardness.

They could now serve as weapons themselves.

Even without channeling true qi for defense, ordinary blades couldn't scratch you.

The Nine Condensations Profound Skill completed its sixth condensation.

Your condensed true qi could now easily pierce mid-stage Skin Refining martial artists' defenses.

Launching condensed true qi became a key offensive technique.

Your Art of Hidden Breath reached minor mastery.

Even martial artists two realms higher couldn't discern your true cultivation level.

With your original talent, you wouldn't have progressed this fast.

But the Nine Condensations Profound Skill kept enhancing your martial aptitude.

Thus you could master top-tier techniques like the Art of Hidden Breath with shocking speed.

Another pleasant surprise was your Blood Qi Pill refinement skill.

You now succeeded every single attempt - ten out of ten batches perfect.

Even though you'd moved on to internal spirit pills for cultivation, you kept refining Blood Qi Pills.

For low-level martial artists, they remained miraculous elixirs.

You could sell them for funds to buy more internal spirit pills.

After all, you couldn't keep stealing forever.

Persistent criminal activity carried too much risk.

You also planned to leverage this refinement skill in future simulations.

One month later, you returned to Xian'an City.

Following memory, you swaggered to the Golden Saber Martial Arts School.

The Soul Awakening Blade slid into your grip.

You kicked the school's gates to splinters.

"Time to face judgment, you bastards!"

With a wild laugh, you charged inside.

But your ferocious grin froze instantly.

Instead of brawny martial artists, you faced over a hundred curious children.

Each held a book, with a terrified teacher at the front.

"Since when did the Golden Saber School become a nursery?"

Stepping back, you checked the sign - now clearly naming a private academy.

Baffled, you reentered.

Eventually the teacher explained everything.

The Golden Saber Martial Arts School had fallen twelve years prior.

Destroyed by Xian'an's top-ranked Black Tiger Martial Arts School.

Back then, Wang Yuanyi had reached mid-stage Bone Tempering, joining his early-stage father Wang Kun - giving them two Bone Tempering experts.

No longer hiding their strength, they frequently clashed with Black Tiger School.

The Black Tiger's leader was a late-stage Bone Tempering expert.

Naturally he didn't tolerate the father-son duo's provocations.

As tensions escalated, the schools finally erupted into violent conflict.