Looking at the identical version of himself before him, Zhang Ze waved in greeting.
“Morning. Have you eaten?”
His clone did not answer and simply drew its sword and thrust.
Zhang Ze sighed, deflected the strike, and retreated several steps, thinking that this Trial truly lacked any Creative flair.
The Sword Spirit in this cave had no sense of humor either.
It was far too cliché. The so-called Heart Questioning with the sword was simply defeating oneself.
But there were far too many ways to skip class. Far too many.
For example, one could exploit the bug that, after the Sword Spirit finished making a Copy, it could not make another Copy, and that props could not be copied.
One could strip naked at the entrance, enter the Cave, wait for the Sword Spirit to finish making a Copy, and then put on one's equipment.
One could first swallow two doses of Poison at the entrance to gain some debuff effects, then take the Antidote once the fight began.
As for the Remaining methods of skipping class, Zhang Ze could think of several more.
It was just that Old Li was watching from Outside the cave. Skipping class Under one's nose was truly a Path to Death.
Outside the cave, Elder Li stood before a Mirror, watching Zhang Ze's movements. His fists clenched, relaxed, relaxed, and clenched again.
“His steps are unsteady, his wrists Powerless, and his Sword Intent scattered. Anyone can see he has been neglecting his training lately.
“Fortunately, his momentum remains intact, and the protective Daoist Magic I placed on him is Activated smoothly. I expect there will be no danger to his Life.
If he can endure this round, he may still be worth disciplining, but... hmm?”
Looking at the image in the Mirror, Elder Li's eyes were filled with deep Disappointment.
Zhang Ze had gone soft.
Inside the Heart Refining Cave.
Zhang Ze had not Really gone soft. The fight was simply too dull, and he wanted to directly pull out the small finishing move he had saved up last night to end the battle.
However, just as his fighting spirit ebbed, the Sword Spirit Clone's momentum ebbed as well. It tossed its sword aside and sat on the ground.
“Hmm?”
Zhang Ze raised an eyebrow. He had not expected the fight could be played this way. Was the Sword Spirit also a cowardly lizard?
“I need to study this carefully.”
However, the moment Zhang Ze's Curiosity arose, the Sword Spirit's momentum rose again.
Zhang Ze smiled. Even if he used his Buttocks to think, he knew that the reason this Sword Spirit had been Abandoned was probably because it was bugged.
Outside the cave, Elder Li felt Somewhat Powerless. He had Really never imagined that this Living Father Disciple could play things this way.
The Sword Spirit in the Heart Refining Cave did indeed have a problem. Because of certain past events, the Sword Spirit's operating logic had malfunctioned.
The Sword Spirit should have remained unchanged after making a Copy, forever launching fierce attacks at the Trial participant's weak points. Instead, it now changed its operating logic according to the Trial participant's fighting spirit.
The softer you became, the softer the Sword Spirit became. The stronger you became, the stronger it had to be than you, until it killed you.
It had already exceeded the scope of the Outer Sect Assessment, so the Heart Refining Cave was Abandoned.
In Elder Li's imagination, there were only two possible outcomes for Zhang Ze inside the Cave.
Zhang Ze's fighting spirit would be vigorous and unyielding until he was defeated by the Sword Spirit, at which point Elder Li's Restriction would save him between Life and death.
From then on, he would be reborn and become a new person.
The second possibility was that, before reaching the brink of Life and death, Zhang Ze's Dao Heart would be Shattered and he would flee the Cave.
But this third possibility—Zhang Ze doing sit-ups with the Sword Spirit in the Cave—was something he had absolutely not anticipated.
Inside the Cave, Zhang Ze walked toward the Sword Spirit, one step majestic and imposing, the next listless and dispirited.
The Sword Spirit also rose and sat according to Zhang Ze's momentum. Even its seemingly eternally tranquil, semi-transparent face developed a crack.
The Sword Spirit spoke.
“Are you done yet? If you don't want to fight, then get lost!”
【Outer Sect Sole Hidden Quest: Spirit of Bewilderment in progress, completion 20 percent】
Inside and Outside the cave.
Zhang Ze: “Holy crap, this thing can talk?”
Elder Li: “The Trial Sword Spirit can actually speak like a human!”
Low-level Sword Spirits can only act according to preset logic, while mid-level Sword Spirits possess a small amount of Simple Spiritual Intelligence.
As for High-level Sword Spirits, they can not only speak but also practice Cultivation on their own just like Cultivators.
Although Low-level and mid-level Sword Spirits can also become High-level through an Opportunity, when did that happen?
And why would a speaking High-level Sword Spirit still make the logical errors of a Low-level Sword Spirit?
Elder Li could not understand it.
“If you don't want to fight, then get lost! Has the Sword Sect truly fallen this far, leaving it full of scourges like you?
Your steps are unsteady, your wrists Powerless, and your Sword Intent scattered. Is your Master just eating for free?”
The Sword Spirit was quite talkative, but it had probably lived in this Cave for too long, since it repeated the same few lines over and over.
In the end, it began cursing Zhang Ze's Master.
Elder Li was flushed with embarrassment as he listened Outside, yet he had no way to Refute it.
Although Zhang Ze was not his direct Disciple, he did indeed count as his Disciple.
That scolding had landed squarely on him.
“Big Brother, take a break. This isn't my Master's fault.
I kept skipping class to get here. I...”
Hearing this, the Sword Spirit became even more agitated. “If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault! Once your Master, your Master for Life! If he failed to discipline you strictly, then he deserves to be cursed too! You...”
“Stop!” Zhang Ze pulled a gong from his Hundred Treasures Bag and struck it with a resounding clang.
‘What kind of Sword Cultivator puts a gong in a Hundred Treasures Bag?’ The Sword Spirit was left dazed by the shock.
“Senior Sword Spirit, please let me finish.”
“Fine. Go ahead.”
“This Disciple is currently only at Qi Refining Level 4. Senior, please raise your Cultivation Level to Peak Qi Cultivation so we can have a proper fight.
If I lose, you can hack me to death. If I win, you apologize to my Master.” Zhang Ze put away his joking expression, clasped his fists, bowed, and made a formal salute.
“Fine, brat. Today, I will properly teach you a lesson on behalf of your Master.”
After the Sword Spirit advanced in rank, it had devoted itself to Cultivation in this Cave for a hundred years and had long since reached the Golden Core realm.
Simulating Peak Qi Cultivation was a piece of cake.
After the Sword Spirit's momentum stabilized at Peak Qi Cultivation, it drew its sword and thrust forward. Its speed was more than twice as fast.
Zhang Ze was struck into a sorry state amid his stumbling, but his footwork was simply too Flamboyant. Although his Clothes were slashed into tatters, his Body remained completely unharmed.
That was because Zhang Ze had absolutely none of the bearing of a Sword Cultivator.
Rolling like an Earth Dragon, Flying Pounce, kicking off the wall to rebound, sliding sideways—if it let him Dodge, nothing was forbidden.
Whenever he found an opening, he even delivered two elbow strikes to the Sword Spirit's vital points while dodging at close range.
Although the Sword Spirit had no vital points, watching those movements was infuriating.
The Sword Spirit decided to stop fooling around with this unlucky Disciple.
It flourished its sword. “Have you had enough!”
“No!” Zhang Ze made an obscene Gesture.
“Fine, fine, fine. Die!”
The Sword Spirit retreated instead of advancing, dodged Zhang Ze's feeble strike, used several sword flourishes to seal off his movement, and then raised its sword and slashed downward.
With this strike, the Sword Spirit raised its momentum to Peak Qi Cultivation without holding anything back.
That was precisely the opportunity Zhang Ze had been waiting for.
When fighting a boss, naturally one had to wait for its long wind-up and massive recovery lag.
“My minions! Get him!” Zhang Ze snapped his fingers.
“Hah-ya!” Several ghostly cries rang out from every direction.
Cracks appeared once again on the Sword Spirit's face, which had remained as tranquil as an ancient well even while cursing.
Outside the cave, Elder Li raised his head toward the heavens and carefully counted through his several hundred years of Life.
He questioned the azure heavens above and the thick earth below. What sin had he committed? Why had he encountered a Disciple so rare in a millennium?
Elder Wang appeared Behind Old Li. “He won, so why are you sighing?”
Old Wang said this with a broad smile.
Elder Li let out a cold laugh. “Then this Disciple is yours.”
“Forget it. My Heart is not in good shape. Chatting with this brat is fine, but being his Master would cost me years of Life.” Old Wang was still smiling broadly as he said this.