The sect robes were stained with copious amounts of blood from shattered Dao hearts, and Shi Li had absolutely no intention of wearing them again.
By the hot spring, he stripped off his garments one by one, watching the lightning-charged broken sword in Shi Che’s hand. “Will it really work?” he asked.
Shi Che had activated the lightning scars on his back, his face pale from the electric current, his lips trembling as he forced a smile. “Whether it works or not, you have to listen to me. Get in the water.”
Shi Li stepped into the hot spring, tilting his face toward Shi Che’s direction, his blue eyes gazing at him through the rising steam.
Shi Che crouched down, gently cupping his face with one hand and turning his head to the side. He dipped the broken sword into the water, lightly scraping it over the bloodstained areas on Shi Li’s skin. The electric current gathered at the blade’s edge, gradually drawing the bloodstains away with each touch.
Shi Li’s breathing grew heavy, intermittent yet unmistakable pain spreading across his face, as if lightning had turned into blades, slicing his skin.
“Hold on a little longer. This is the cleanest way to wash it off, or else it’ll leave marks.”
“Mhm,” he grunted in response, his breath trembling from the intense pain.
“Good boy,” Shi Che said softly, his movements gentle yet swift. “I won’t let you rest, then. The sooner we finish, the sooner it stops.”
He himself was coursing with electricity and not faring much better.
“How did you wash it off back then?” Shi Li asked.
“I peeled off my skin.”
Shi Li’s eyes snapped open wide. Shi Che chuckled, “Just kidding.”
“Why do you always lie to me?”
Shi Che tapped Shi Li’s cheek with the broken sword, gripping his chin to turn his face to the other side. “You look easy to fool, and it’s fun to tease you.”
He continued, “Back then, I broke through to the third stage. The power from the breakthrough washed away all that blood.”
Shi Li frowned, “You broke through on purpose just to wash off the blood?”
“Yeah.”
It was a compromise, giving up the advantages of a natural breakthrough.
“Not entirely because of that,” Shi Che said calmly. “I was in a bad mood back then, with misfortunes piling up one after another. Breaking through made me happy. No matter how much those useless people clamored, they could never catch up to the tail end of my cultivation.”
Shi Li lowered his gaze. If Shi Che had been in such a state of mind, it was highly likely that he would have continuously accumulated merits, trained specifically to ascend stages, and fully utilized his own fortune to rapidly break through to the fourth stage.
The worse his mood, the more stimulation he needed. While others mocked him into the mud, he would defiantly rise to the top at the fastest speed, stepping over all of them.
Too rushed, Shi Li thought.
Perhaps from that point on, his Dao heart had already been thrown into disarray—recklessly ascending stages and breaking through, without consolidating, without mastering, without integrating it with his swordsmanship, allowing power to surge and multiply, filling the void within.
Shi Li was born with good fortune, capable of achieving whatever he set his mind to.
This fortune, if used well, could elevate him; if misused, it could also destroy him.
Shi Li tried to put himself in Shi Che’s shoes back then, fully combining his own fortune with the limits of his cultivation speed, arriving at an almost absurd conclusion.
“Three hundred years old,” he said.
Shi Che’s grip on the sword loosened abruptly, nearly dropping it into the water.
He tightened his hold, his tone calm as he asked, “What?”
Shi Li stared into his eyes behind the mask. “If I start cultivating nonstop from now on, solely to ascend stages and break through, I could reach the fourth stage within a hundred years. When you broke through, you were only three hundred years old.”
Throughout the entire Xuanqing Sect, only the sect leader, Qiu Yiliang, had reached the Enlightenment Realm. Even a figure like him, who had founded a sect and achieved such profound cultivation, only broke through to the Enlightenment Realm at the age of four hundred.
In the six hundred years since the Star Realm was established, a handful of individuals had managed to break through, but all of them were over five hundred years old none earlier than Qiu Yiliang.
If Shi Li dared to claim now that he had broken through to the Four-Element Enlightenment Realm at three hundred years old, the entire Star Realm would say he had lost his mind.
“Impossible,” Shi Che chuckled. “If it were that fast, would I even be human?”
“So you didn’t dare tell me, afraid I’d realize you had given up on yourself back then.”
“I didn’t,” Shi Che retorted, pinching his cheek harder as he sped up cleaning the bloodstains.
“You were too lucky. As soon as you broke through, the heavenly tribulation for ascension followed. But you couldn’t bear the weight the power you gained from rapidly advancing was chaotic within you, insufficient to withstand the tribulation. You said the first heavenly lightning didn’t strike you, most likely because the laws of heaven and earth didn’t recognize you.”
Shi Che turned his sword and pressed it against Shi Li’s neck, the blade biting into his skin and instantly drawing a thin line of blood.
“I didn’t want to kill you,” his voice was cold and hollow, the sword pressing deeper against Shi Li’s throat as if ready to sever his windpipe. “Your intelligence shouldn’t be used in such infuriating ways.”
This was an indirect admission back then, just as Shi Li had suspected, Shi Che had recklessly advanced within a hundred years, abandoning all his past foundations and allowing his personal power system to collapse into utter chaos.
“Was it worth it?” Shi Li asked softly, unafraid of the threat.
Shi Che sneered. “Don’t act so detached and question me lightly. The decision was mine, and I bear the consequences. What does it have to do with you?”
“How is it detached?” Shi Li countered. “What you experienced is what I was originally destined to face. You helped me avoid a future disaster. Isn’t it only natural that I care about your past?”
“Who asked for your concern? If I don’t want to talk about it, don’t ask or speculate. You’re over two hundred years old don’t you know any manners?”
“I”
Shi Che viciously pinched his face, cleaning the bloodstains quickly with a cold expression. “Shut up. One more word, and I’ll fuck you right here.”
Shi Li’s pupils dilated, stunned that he could say such a thing without batting an eye. He glared at him for a long moment before letting out a cold scoff. “Absurd.”
After they got out of the water, Shi Li asked him for clothes. Shi Che had said earlier that he had a new set he could give him.
“No,” Shi Che refused.
“So much for keeping your word.”
Shi Li didn’t press him further. He changed into ordinary sect robes, picked up the Huajing Sword, and left.
The expensive silver robe made of mermaid silk and jade iron was left discarded on the shore. Shi Che sat quietly in his chair for a while before walking over and picking it up with his broken sword.
Night fell outside Wentian Island. Under the moonlight, Meng Zhuo sparred fiercely with a sword puppet, each move swift and relentless.
His talent was average, and he learned slowly, but he had a madness within him an explosive strength fueled by rage and an endless surge of bloodlust, which was his greatest advantage.
That Shi Che had gone up to Wentian Island in the afternoon and still hadn’t come down. How proud must Shi Li be of him, unafraid of any gossip, keeping a new disciple on the island for so long?
“Die, die, die! Where did this wild man come from, not even daring to show his face, yet imitating my senior brother’s walk? Can you even do it right? And you dare go to Wentian Island! And learn swordsmanship from my senior brother! Why would my senior brother like you? Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die!”
Shi Che, who happened to be passing by: “…”
Meng Zhuo was fighting with fervor when two books suddenly fell from above, landing right on his head.
“Who’s there?!” he shouted, kicking the two books on the ground fiercely.
“Want to go to Ask Heaven Island? Pick up the books.”
The voice was low, coming from somewhere behind the shadows.
Hearing this voice, Meng Zhuo’s breath hitched, nearly blurting out “Senior Brother.” He held back, picking up the two books from the ground.
One was How to Master the Heartless Sword in Thirty Days, and the other was The Young Lord’s Secret Deep Dive into the Moves and Techniques Behind the Heartless Sword.
The voice spoke again, “From now until the end of the Sword Fate Tournament, you don’t need to practice anything else. Master these two thoroughly.”
He made no effort to hide his voice Meng Zhuo would recognize it even from inside a coffin. Unbelievable elation surged in his eyes as he dusted off the books and confirmed, “Really? If I learn these, I can go to Ask Heaven Island?”
The voice chuckled lightly, “Provided you actually learn them. If you don’t put in the effort, even I can’t save you.”
Save you, save you, save you, save you, save you, save you, save you…
Shi Li was giving him special training!!
Shi Li was going to pull him up to Ask Heaven Island!!!
Meng Zhuo couldn’t suppress the smile on his face at all. At first, he lowered his head and chuckled secretly, then suddenly leaped up, throwing his head back with a loud laugh. He jumped onto the back of his sparring sword puppet, clamping his legs around its waist and stretching out his arms. The tall sword puppet spun him around, scattering joyful laughter in all directions.
This was another bout of madness brought on by overwhelming joy.
Shi Che left and returned to his own quarters as a new disciple, not going to Shi Li’s place.
Once inside, he placed his sword on the table, leaned against the headboard, and resumed the task he hadn’t finished by the hot spring removing the mermaid silk threads from Shi Li’s sect uniform.
Jade iron was expensive but could be bought with money, while mermaid silk was rare. To make another identical uniform, the silk threads from the old one couldn’t be discarded.
Shi Che was angry with him and wouldn’t give him his treasured new clothes, but he also couldn’t bear to see him discard the mermaid silk along with them, leaving no materials to make a new one later.
As he was carefully removing the silk threads, the door opened. Glancing up, he saw the very young lord he had argued with that afternoon.
He averted his gaze. “No manners? Don’t you know how to knock?”
Shi Li looked around the room disdainfully. “So small?”
The room was small, and the bed was tiny, how could anyone sleep comfortably here?
“Exactly. It’s cramped enough for just me. There’s no room for you,” Shi Che said, pulling out a silk thread, carefully coiling it, and securing it with spiritual light before placing it in a box.
“Get out,” he added.
Shi Li saw him holding the uniform he had taken off, removing the threads, with a small box nearby already filled with neatly arranged mermaid silk.
Ignoring Shi Che’s cold treatment, Shi Li sat down at the table and opened a box of his own. Inside were three compartments, each filled with the cores of mid-tier demon birds, demon wolves, and demon bears. Each core was well-preserved, gleaming with a dark, glossy sheen.
This was the result of his and all the Ask Heaven Island disciples’ efforts that afternoon.
Since they had to practice swordsmanship anyway, fighting demon beasts counted as training too.
Shi Che’s black sword lay on the table. Shi Li grasped the hilt and drew it.
Hearing the sound of the blade being unsheathed, Shi Che glanced over, snorted, and went back to his task.
Soon, a series of clinking sounds came from the table. Shi Li took out more and more materials from his Qiankun bag and began repairing the sword right there in the room.
This is a high-grade sword, demanding far more spiritual energy than physical material. To fully restore it to its original grade would require a professional weapon smith. But for now, it only needs to condense a blade of a lower grade than itself once the materials are in place, the spiritual energy contained within the demon core can be fully utilized.
Shi Li’s knowledge of weapon forging was limited to maintaining Hua Jing. At this moment, helping Po Huang repair its blade mainly served as an aesthetic guide.
He provided Po Huang with materials, telling it which colors and styles should appear where.
In addition to the demon core Shi Che needed, he also contributed many high-quality materials for sword repair out of his own pocket. Finally, he took out a blood-red, top-grade demon core and embedded it into the sword’s guard the part between the hilt and the blade.
This elevated it another level, giving it a luxurious appearance.
Although Po Huang Sword didn’t mind voluntarily lowering its grade, Shi Li’s consideration for its dignity deeply moved it. A ball of golden light suddenly flew out from the sword, brushing against his palm.
Shi Li had seen his own sword spirit in its light form and recognized this as Po Huang’s sword spirit. He exclaimed in surprise, “You have a sword spirit too?”
A person could only have one life-bound sword in their lifetime, and only a life-bound sword could give birth to a sword spirit.
Shi Che’s second sword couldn’t possibly be his life-bound sword, how could it have a sword spirit?
The golden light slowly transformed into a tall spiritual entity before him golden-haired, blue-eyed, and bearing Shi Li’s face, differing from Hua Jing’s sword spirit only in hair color and demeanor.
Shi Li summoned the silver-haired sword spirit from Hua Jing and had the two spirits float side by side before him.
Hua Jing’s sword spirit gave off an elegant and refined aura, while Po Huang’s was cold, stern, and steady. As soon as the two spirits met, Hua Jing’s spirit drew Hua Jing Sword and placed it alongside the downgraded Po Huang Sword, its provocation was self-evident.
Po Huang’s sword spirit, however, showed no displeasure. Without even glancing at Hua Jing’s spirit, it slightly bowed its tall form and gently embraced Shi Li in thanks.
Seeing itself ignored, Hua Jing’s sword spirit floated to the table, picked up Hua Jing Sword, and extended it toward Po Huang’s spirit.
A silent boast: Look at this a renowned weapon!
“…”
Even Shi Li thought it was being a bit too much.
Po Huang’s sword spirit remained remarkably composed. Hua Jing’s spirit failed to provoke it, and the two spirits returned to their respective swords.
With Shi Li’s aesthetic guidance complete, all that remained was to wait for Po Huang Sword to gradually refine its blade on its own.
He strolled to the bed and looked down at Shi Che unraveling the mermaid thread.
“You’re blocking my light,” Shi Che said without looking up. “Move.”
This was tedious work. The mermaid thread was as fine as spider silk, yet incredibly resilient. Used in clothing, a single strand could stretch endlessly difficult to sew and even harder to unravel, easily tangling into a mess.
Shi Che perfectly removed each strand, tying them neatly and placing them in a small box. Any thread stained with blood was discarded on the spot once contaminated by such blood, the mermaid thread lost its original texture and became useless.
“Are you going back to sleep?” Shi Li asked.
“Back where? I’m staying here.”
Shi Che remained as indifferent as ever.
Shi Li undressed, hanging his outer robe on the clothes rack, removing his hair crown and accessories, taking off his boots, and climbing onto the bed. He lifted Shi Che’s quilt to cover himself, muttering, “I’ve never slept in such a small bed.”
With him moving to the inner side, Shi Che had to shift himself and the box outward. Seeing that Shi Li really intended to sleep here, Shi Che kicked him under the quilt.
“You’re really annoying, Shi Li.”
The blood marks on Shi Li’s neck from the injury had already healed. Such superficial scratches that only grazed the skin were nothing to a cultivator a mere touch of spiritual light would suffice.
“Mhm.” Shi Li closed his eyes. “Let’s finish this one and sleep. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
“Go back to your own home.”
“No.”
Shi Che set the clothes and small box aside, lowering his voice to intimidate him. “Then I’ll treat you as a bed companion and have my way with you right here.”
Shi Li opened his eyes and, seeing that Shi Che had stopped fussing with the clothes, leaned his head closer to him. He tugged at Shi Che’s arm, pulling him down to lie beside him. “Sleep.”
Shi Che felt a stifling frustration with nowhere to vent. He lay down with a cold expression. Shi Li grabbed his hand, just as he had the night before, and wrapped it around his own waist, knowing Shi Che liked to sleep holding him like this.
Shi Che tightened his arm fiercely, burying his face in the crook of Shi Li’s neck, and lectured, “You were very rude to me today, extremely disrespectful. You must stop making assumptions about me from now on.”
“Mhm.”
“Do you know you were wrong?”
“I know. I even came to keep you company in bed. Forgive me.”
“Do you know what a bed companion is supposed to do?”
“I’m so sleepy, about to fall asleep.”
“I want to kiss. You were very disrespectful today. Only a kiss can quell my anger.”
“Zzzzz… Mmm… Mmm…”
Who told you you couldn’t kiss someone who’s already asleep?