Southern Region.
Kingdom Chu.
Azure Light Sect, Back Mountain.
"Lin Xiao, your future duty is to clean and guard this Back Mountain Cemetery."
"This cemetery holds the graves of our Azure Light Sect's past Sect Masters and Elders. Guarding their heroic spirits here is a good thing for you!"
The Elder's voice was calm as he turned and left.
Lin Xiao looked at the cemetery before him, hundreds of tombstones, and couldn't help but sigh deeply.
He was a transmigrator.
Probably the worst-off transmigrator ever.
This was the Azure Light Sect, a third-rate martial sect in the Southern Region, and Lin Xiao was the Junior Granduncle Master of the Azure Light Sect.
His master was the previous Sect Master, Zhang Yuanhong.
However, Zhang Yuanhong had passed away three years ago due to a relapse of old injuries.
Now, the Sect Master of the Azure Light Sect was Zhang Yuanhong's son, Lin Xiao's Senior Brother, Zhang Yunyi.
As the only junior brother of the Sect Master, Lin Xiao's status in the Azure Light Sect was limited to every disciple politely calling him 'Junior Granduncle Master' when they saw him.
That's all.
Besides that, Lin Xiao, the Junior Granduncle Master of the Azure Light Sect, was like a transparent person, with no presence in the sect.
Lin Xiao's martial talent was extremely mediocre. At twenty-two, he was only at the 2nd Layer Qi Condensation, even inferior to most Outer Disciples.
Therefore, the sect didn't want to waste resources on Lin Xiao anymore. Sect Master Zhang Yunyi ordered today to send Lin Xiao to the Back Mountain to guard the cemetery.
Clearly, this was a complete abandonment of Lin Xiao, no longer nurturing him.
Lin Xiao looked around the cemetery, overgrown with weeds, and not far away stood a small wooden hut, lonely amidst the weeds.
Pushing open the wooden hut, he saw only a wooden bed, a wooden table, and a wooden chair inside, all covered with thick dust.
Lin Xiao didn't mind, cleaned up a bit, and prepared to settle down here.
He had already resigned himself!
As a transmigrator, Lin Xiao didn't believe in hard work always paying off, or that a hundredfold effort would eventually lead to success; all that striving and forging ahead was nonsense!
Since he had no martial talent, he might as well lie flat and enjoy life, with no need to strive.
Then, Lin Xiao began clearing the weeds around the wooden hut and the cemetery.
Although he had resigned himself, since he was in the Azure Light Sect, he still had to fulfill his duties.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Lin Xiao's gaze sharpened as he picked up a piece of jade from the weeds.
The jade was about the size of an egg, entirely green, with a purple glow flowing inside, quite beautiful.
"What kind of jade is this?"
Lin Xiao examined it closely but couldn't figure it out. However, judging by its appearance, it might be valuable, perhaps worth a lot of money.
So, he tucked the jade into his bosom.
"Junior Granduncle Master!"
At this moment, a clear and pleasant voice rang out.
Lin Xiao turned to see a young woman in a sea-blue long dress, with a graceful figure, fair skin, and a beautiful face, walking over.
"Ruoling, why are you here?"
Lin Xiao said with a smile. The young woman before him was Zhang Ruoling, the precious daughter of Sect Master Zhang Yunyi.
Lin Xiao and Sect Master Zhang Yunyi were not close, given the thirty-year age difference between them.
Back when Lin Xiao was adopted by the Old Sect Master Zhang Yuanhong and brought to the Azure Light Sect, Senior Brother Zhang Yunyi was already a renowned expert, second only to the Old Sect Master in the Azure Light Sect.
So over the years, Zhang Yunyi had only occasionally guided Lin Xiao a few times, and their relationship was quite distant.
However, Zhang Yunyi's daughter, being only three years younger than Lin Xiao, grew up with him, making them childhood sweethearts with a very close relationship.
"Junior Granduncle Master, the sect is too much. How can they make you guard the cemetery?"
Zhang Ruoling glanced at the weed-filled, desolate cemetery, her pretty face showing anger.
"Haha, there's nothing wrong with guarding the cemetery. It's quiet here, suitable for meditation!"
Lin Xiao said nonchalantly.
"No way, I'm going to find Father and have him transfer you out of here," Zhang Ruoling said, stomping her foot.
"Forget it, Ruoling, this is the sect's decision. No need to make things difficult for Senior Brother!" Lin Xiao shook his head.
"But... Junior Granduncle Master, guarding the cemetery is usually arranged for menial disciples or those severely injured and unable to serve the sect. How can they let you do it?"
Zhang Ruoling showed a look of indignation. Although Junior Granduncle Master had low martial talent, he was still Father's only junior brother and her uncle. He shouldn't be arranged like this.
"No worries, I quite like this place. The scenery is nice!"
Lin Xiao smiled indifferently. For someone resigned like him, this place, away from the hustle and bustle, was not a bad spot.
"Junior Granduncle Master, just wait, I'll definitely convince Father!"
Zhang Ruoling thought Lin Xiao was comforting her. After speaking, she turned and left.
Lin Xiao shook his head helplessly, not bothering further, and continued clearing the weeds.
A moment later, feeling a bit tired, he returned to the wooden hut, lay down, and fell into a deep sleep.
With food and drink, and no need to cultivate, a life of resignation was too good.
However, whether it was a dream or an illusion, as soon as Lin Xiao fell asleep, he suddenly found himself in a misty space.
There was no sky, no earth, just emptiness, with only strands of purple mist drifting around.
Taking a breath, the purple mist entered his body, and Lin Xiao felt his cultivation level increase slightly.
"Damn, where is this?"
Lin Xiao was bewildered. Hadn't he just fallen asleep from exhaustion?
How did he end up here?
Lin Xiao felt a bit anxious, never having encountered such a bizarre situation.
But at that moment, a mysterious piece of information suddenly appeared in his mind, leaving him stunned.
It turned out this place was called the Creation Space, the most mystical and wondrous place between heaven and earth, closest to the source of heaven and earth, closest to the great Dao of heaven and earth.
As long as one cultivated in the Creation Space, the speed of cultivation would increase by thousands or even tens of thousands of times.
Here, comprehending martial arts and the Dao of heaven would be thousands or tens of thousands of times more effective than outside.
And the Creation Space was within the strange jade he had just picked up. By wearing it or infusing it with True Qi, he could enter and exit freely with a thought.
"I'm going to rise!"
After a long while, Lin Xiao thought dazedly.
His heart was filled with excitement. He was just a martial waste, ready to resign himself, but unexpectedly, he had obtained such a great fortune.
Soon, Lin Xiao suppressed his excitement and immediately sat cross-legged to begin cultivating.
The technique he cultivated was taught by the Old Sect Master, called the "True Brightness Art," a High-grade Human-rank Technique.
In the Azure Light Sect, Outer Disciples in the Qi Condensation Realm generally cultivated Mid-grade Human-rank Techniques, and only those with outstanding talent would be rewarded with High-grade Human-rank Techniques.
Although Lin Xiao's talent was lacking and his cultivation was at the level of an Outer Disciple in the Qi Condensation Realm, his status was not ordinary, giving him a much higher starting point than ordinary disciples.
Lin Xiao circulated the True Brightness Art, his blood surging, True Qi flowing within him, rapidly growing stronger.
Moments later.
Buzz!
Suddenly, Lin Xiao's aura surged, advancing to the 3rd Layer Qi Condensation Realm.
"So fast!"
Lin Xiao was shocked. He had been cultivating for less than an hour and had already broken through.
Originally, at his cultivation speed, even if he practiced diligently for five to six hours a day, it would take him three years to reach the 3rd Layer Qi Condensation Realm.
But now, he had broken through in just an hour.
This, even if not a ten-thousandfold cultivation speed, was at least several thousand times faster!
"Let's try martial techniques!"
Lin Xiao quickly got up, drew the long saber from his waist, and began practicing martial techniques.
Martial techniques are combat skills that greatly enhance combat power.
If techniques are for strengthening the energy within, then martial techniques are for better utilizing and outputting that energy.
The two complement each other.
The martial technique Lin Xiao practiced was the "Gale Saber Art," also a High-grade Human-rank.
Swish swish swish!
As Lin Xiao began practicing the saber art, saber light flashed, and the gale howled.
The Gale Saber Art consisted of ten moves, the first seven being ordinary moves, and the last three being ultimate moves.
They were:
Gale Howl!
Gale Afterimage!
Gale Tempest!
As Lin Xiao practiced continuously, his understanding of this saber art in his mind grew endlessly.
Whether it was his proficiency or understanding of the saber art, both increased at an incredible speed.
Major Mastery!
In just over an hour, Lin Xiao's Gale Saber Art advanced to the Major Mastery level, greatly increasing its power.
The mastery of martial techniques is divided into Beginner Mastery, Minor Mastery, Major Mastery, Perfect Mastery, and Transcendent Mastery.
Lin Xiao had been practicing this saber art for nearly ten years, reaching Minor Mastery only last year, and now, in just over an hour, he had entered the Major Mastery level.
Phew!
Lin Xiao stopped, his eyes shining brightly.
He used to want to resign himself because he had no ability to rise, but now, it seemed he was destined not to resign anymore.