In the quiet courtyard, Zhuo Qingxu held his sword as light danced along its edge. The blade seemed to sing in his hands.
As he practiced, memories surfaced—not his own, but those of his life on Earth. He remembered watching Jiang Ningzhi practice her sword forms, her movements were graceful and deadly.
He had joined Dongyang Sword Sect six years before the end, and due to his great talent and excellent understanding, he had risen quickly through the ranks. But it was Jiang Ningzhi who first became a martial arts master. And it was he who earned the title of Sword Saint by defeating ten experts in a row.
Now, with the Chaos Temple's fourth-level comprehension enhancement and increased Sword Dao talent, many techniques that had once seemed impossible to grasp were suddenly clear.
Mysterious sword skills that had puzzled him for years now made perfect sense.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sword in Qingxu's hand transformed into flowing shadows of light. The blade moved with the wind, and the wind followed the blade.
The superior Shaoyang Sword Technique revealed its deepest mysteries under his enhanced understanding.
For a moment, he felt a breakthrough coming and stood still with his sword raised.
For half an hour, he remained motionless. Then a subtle roar began deep within his body. His blood started making sounds like flowing water, growing louder and more obvious with each passing moment.
The sound intensified. Suddenly, his body shook as if struck by lightning. A powerful force seemed to burst from his very bone marrow.
Marrow Cleansing—complete.
Without using Lan Yutong's pill, he had broken through to the Marrow Cleansing realm. But there was no joy on Qingxu's face.
On Earth, he had been a martial arts master—roughly equivalent to this world's Marrow Cleansing level, perhaps slightly stronger.
With his fourth-level enhanced comprehension and talent boosts, advancing the original Qingxu's body from late-stage Tendon Changing to Marrow Cleansing in one breath wasn't surprising.
He concentrated and quietly reviewed this world's cultivation system.
His current Marrow Cleansing level was the fourth of six mortal realms. Ahead lay Impurity Refining and Blood Exchange.
After completing those two realms, human potential would be developed to its limits. Only then could someone awaken their bloodline talent, activate true qi, and gain extraordinary power.
A Marrow Cleansing cultivator could be called skilled in Yunhuang City and even all of Lorraine Kingdom. At the Impurity Refining level, one could become an elder in any family or force.
Leaders of ordinary martial world sects were usually at this level. As for Blood Exchange realm—that was called a master. Such people possessed overwhelming power, they could split armies of thousands, and could easily earn noble titles.
The Zhuo family was the first family in Yunhuang City, but they had no Blood Exchange masters. They could only rely on Nalan Fei in Hunyuan Heaven Sect to deter other forces in the city.
"Human body limit..." Qingxu mused. "In Earth's martial world, martial arts masters were also called the human body limit. Beyond that was the end of normal cultivation. You had to break your own limits to become a saint—a martial saint."
In his mind, the "Dongyang Sword Code" qi and blood cultivation method from Dongyang Sword Sect flashed alongside the "Longevity Formula" technique he had inherited from the Zhuo family.
His fourth-level comprehension enhancement let him quickly identify the advantages and disadvantages of both skills.
In terms of long-term development, the Longevity Formula was better than the Dongyang Sword Code. Besides, this body had practiced the Longevity Formula since childhood, making it more suitable. As for the Dongyang Sword Code, he could only select certain special methods for minor cultivation.
"Hm?"
As Qingxu pondered, he suddenly realized that his energy and physical strength had recovered significantly from breaking through to Marrow Cleansing.
Could the Recovery characteristic not only heal injuries but also restore stamina and energy?
Step! Step! Step!
Just as Qingxu was about to enter the Chaos Temple to investigate further, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.
Zhuo Yunqing, who had left some time ago, rushed back into the yard.
"Qingxu! You have to leave Yunhuang City immediately and seek refuge with our sister-in-law at Hunyuan Heaven Sect! Father already knows what happened this morning. The clan elders are forcing his hand. He has to order your capture and removal from the family records after trial. This isn't simple expulsion—once you're removed from the ancestral records, you're no longer a member of the Zhuo family. Then..."
"Removal from ancestry?" Qingxu's expression showed little change.
After all, he wasn't the original Zhuo Qingxu. He felt no great attachment to the Zhuo family. Being removed from their records couldn't touch him emotionally.
"What are you waiting for? Pack your things and go to Hunyuan Heaven Sect immediately! Ask sister-in-law to plead for you! If she speaks up, father and the elders won't dare disobey. Or you could hide as a servant in her residence for a few years, then return after mastering your skills."
Seeing Qingxu's indifference, Yunqing grew worried and tried to pull him toward the house.
"Since I can't stay in Yunhuang City, I won't stay for now. There's nothing to pack anyway."
With Marrow Cleansing cultivation, he could make a living anywhere in Lorraine Kingdom. He didn't need to worry about survival.
"Yes, time is pressing. Better not to pack... I have three hundred silver coins that I've saved over the years. Take them for travel expenses."
Though Yunqing had mocked Qingxu earlier, they were siblings from the same mother. Her harsh words had come from disappointment, not hatred. Now that he faced real crisis, her true feelings showed.
"No, I—"
"Take it! Don't argue!"
Yunqing stuffed the silver coins into Qingxu's robes, then pulled his arm. "Let's go. When the clan people arrive, it'll be too late."
She dragged him straight toward the courtyard entrance.
But as soon as they reached the gate, three figures blocked their path at the intersection. When they saw the siblings, cold sneers appeared on their faces.
"Sister Yunqing, Qingxu—where are you two planning to go? The elders asked us to bring you back."
"Zhuo Fengyun, Zhuo Fenglei, Zhuo Xiangdong..." Seeing these three, Yunqing's face changed dramatically. "Qingxu, go now! You can't let them remove your status. I'll stop them!"
"You'll stop us, Sister Yunqing?" The first of the three, Zhuo Fengyun, sneered. "You think too highly of yourself. Haven't you only been in Marrow Cleansing for less than a year? I've been immersed in this realm for three years and am even expected to reach Impurity Refining. How can you possibly stop me?"
His sneer grew crueler as he turned to Qingxu, resentment burning in his eyes.
"I'm the top expert of the Zhuo family's young generation! If you hadn't stolen that token, I would have been the one to become a disciple of Hunyuan Heaven Sect! It's all your fault—you ruined my chance and cut off my brilliant future!"
His voice grew venomous. "Before, I was afraid because you were the patriarch's legitimate son. I only dared punish you secretly, not truly try to kill you. But soon you'll be removed from the family. You won't be one of us Zhuos anymore. When that happens, I want you dead!"
"Qingxu, run!" Yunqing heard the hatred in Fengyun's tone and shouted urgently.
"Run? Can he run? Get him!" A grim smile spread across Fengyun's face as he waved to his companions.
Clang!
As Zhuo Fenglei and Zhuo Xiangdong rushed toward Qingxu, Yunqing's sword flashed out to intercept them. "Stop!"
Seeing that Yunqing dared to draw her blade against fellow clan members, Fengyun's eyes flashed with vicious pleasure. His own sword sang from its sheath.
"Zhuo Yunqing! How dare you draw steel against your own people? Even if I seriously injure you, it's self-defense! Your father can't protect you! Die!"
"Qingxu, I'll hold them off! Go quickly!" Yunqing shouted as she bravely charged toward Fengyun.
However...
Qingxu didn't turn and flee as Yunqing expected. Instead, he stepped forward calmly.
"It was you three who injured me four days ago?"