The waning moon hung low over the Falling Sword Sect, washing the outer courtyard in a pale, ethereal silver. The shadows of the ancient stone pillars stretched long, intertwining with the subtle, lingering whirlwinds Shen Liang had summoned earlier. Most disciples had long returned to their quarters, exhausted from the tournament, but one figure remained—a lone silhouette against the faint glow of the lanterns.
Shen Liang leaned lazily against a broom, now no longer just a tool, but a conduit of latent sword qi. The system interface shimmered faintly:
[Level Up Available: Qi Condensation Stage 5 → Stage 6][Hidden Sword Path Techniques: Sword Sweep Lv.2 → Lv.3][Passive Buff Active: Weapon channels sword qi / +15% attack efficiency]
He gave a low whistle, twirling the broom slowly. "Stage 6… not bad. I suppose the floor won't clean itself, but maybe… I can clean a few egos along the way too."
A soft rustle of movement drew Shen Liang's attention. Zhao Fei detached himself from the deeper shadows, his eyes bright with a mixture of curiosity and undisguised admiration.
"Still experimenting?" Zhao Fei asked. "You're… something else, Shen Liang. I've never seen anyone make a broom fight like a sword."
Shen Liang grinned, tapping the broom against the ground. The faint golden aura of qi danced along the shaft like liquid light.
"Observe," he instructed, dropping into a low crouch. Invisible qi surged from his Dantian and instantly saturated the broom's bristles. With a sharp, sweeping flick, a miniature cyclone sprang up, but this time, the airborne debris was shaped into lethal, sharp arcs that sliced the air with a faint, resonant humm of metal.
[Skill Activated: Sword Sweep Lv.3 / Damage + High / XP +35][Hidden Node Progress: Sword Path Node Integration 100% → Unlock Complete][New Passive Effect: Sword of the Laborer – Qi flow allows broom to mimic sword strikes / +20% effectiveness]
Zhao Fei's mouth fell open. "You… you're actually… turning a broom into a real sword weapon!"
Shen Liang chuckled, spinning the broom in a playful circle. "It's simply the result of ten years of dedicated janitorial experience and a dash of convenient System magic," Shen Liang replied, his tone light. "The broom merely required a firm belief in its own capabilities."
The System pulsed with a soft notification:
[Hidden Quest Update: Integrate Sword Path Techniques / Creativity + Combat XP – Progress: 40%]
Shen Liang raised an eyebrow. "Creativity… hm. Guess that explains why cleaning the fountain yesterday felt… strategic." He laughed, spinning the broom again. The golden aura formed a delicate spiral in the air, slicing through small stones and scattering them harmlessly.
"Try it yourself," Shen Liang said, tossing the broom toward Zhao Fei with a grin. "The broom likes company."
Zhao Fei jumped back instinctively, catching the broom mid-air. A sudden pulse of qi ran along the handle, and he barely managed to stabilize his grip. "It's… alive!" he exclaimed.
"Only when it wants to be," Shen Liang replied. "Now, imagine this—but on the battlefield against real swords. Sweep, dodge, spin… and then… surprise!" He mimed a rapid sequence, sending a cascade of dust and stones spinning in a controlled arc.
[Passive Buff: Creativity in Combat +10% XP Gain / Hidden Sword Techniques Active]
Zhao Fei laughed nervously, shaking his head. "I… I'll need training just to keep up."
Shen Liang stretched, brushing off imaginary dust from his robe. "Stage 6 is just the beginning, my friend. The Outer Sect Tournament was a warm-up. Tomorrow, I'll start integrating Wind Sweep into actual sword forms. Who knew broom-fu could become sword-fu?"
He glanced toward the inner sect, toward the gleaming halls and distant mountains where more advanced disciples trained. "From latrine sweeper to sword cultivator… hmm. Maybe I will embarrass a few elders along the way."
Zhao Fei nodded. "Just… don't get carried away. The elders notice everything."
Shen Liang tilted his head, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ah… let them notice. Let them all watch. After all, the floor of the Falling Sword Sect will be spotless… and the reputations of my rivals… slightly messy."
Above, in her secluded pavilion, Su Qinglan's jade eyes gleamed faintly. The wind stirred her dark robes as she observed the golden qi spiraling in the outer courtyard.
"Interesting," she whispered. "This laborer… no, this disciple… he isn't just clever. He's unpredictable. And perhaps… exactly what the Falling Sword Sect needs."
Shen Liang spun the broom one last time under the moonlight, golden qi blazing faintly along its length. "Tomorrow," he murmured to himself, "we sweep higher… and carve our path among swords."
The night air carried the faint laughter of a janitor who had just begun to transform into a warrior—and the Falling Sword Sect had never felt more alive.