After a month...

On this day, as Eli Shan prepared to climb the mountain, he spotted a silhouette approaching from a distance. "Huh? In this entire month, I haven't seen a single soul here. Who could be coming this way today?" Eli Shan whispered in bewilderment.

However, his bewilderment didn't last long. As the figure drew nearer, Eli Shan's eyes widened in recognition. "Father!!!" he shouted, his voice brimming with excitement.

The lord approached, his face lighting up with a warm smile. "Haha, son, did you miss me?"

Eli Shan nodded vigorously and sprinted towards his father, his heart pounding joyfully. "I missed you, Father! And Mother—how is she?"

The Lord's smile faded slightly. "Since you left, she has been shrouded in sorrow."

Eli Shan felt disheartened upon hearing this. However, he couldn't go back yet. He wanted to become stronger at any cost. Moreover, once he becomes the strongest, he can live a carefree life with his family, and no one will dare to disturb him.

With renewed resolve, Eli Shan clenched his fists. "I will work even harder to become the stronger faster," he vowed silently.

Seeing the determination in his son's eyes, the lord spoke up. "Son, after I returned home, I realized that teaching you only swordsmanship might turn you into a brute who knows nothing but combat. So, I've devised a plan to teach you various arts beyond fighting. I'll come here every month to instruct you. Meanwhile, focus on your sword training. Understood?"

Eli Shan's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Yes, Father! That's wonderful! I want to learn everything this world has to offer!"

The lord's lips curled into a proud smile. "Then let's climb the mountain." With a powerful leap, he used his cultivation to soar upwards. "Oh, and don't use your cultivation to climb. I'll be waiting for you at the peak."

Eli Shan looked up at his father in surprise. "Huh? You are willing to wait at the peak but won't let me use cultivation?" he shouted. Then, he broke into a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter since I don't have any cultivation to begin with, hahaha."

Then, with a determined grin, Eli Shan leaped forward with a powerful jump and began his ascent.

Hours later, Eli Shan finally reached the peak, gasping for breath, his muscles burning from the exertion.

"Huff... Huff..."

He found his father seated before a chessboard, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the scene. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he approached and sat across from him.

The lord smiled. "I thought it would take longer, but you arrived sooner than expected."

Eli Shan replied between breaths, "You were waiting for me at the top. How could I not hurry to reach you?"

The lord nodded with satisfaction. "You're a good kid. Hahaha." Then, gesturing to the chessboard, he asked, "Do you know the basics of chess?"

Eli Shan nodded. "I know how the pieces move."

"Good. How about tactics?"

"I know how to capture pieces. I develop tactics as I play."

"Then how about a match?"

Eli Shan nodded eagerly. "Yes, let's do it!"

After two breaths of time...

"Huh?!! Father, how did you do it!"

The lord's eyes twinkled with amusement. "You continued to attack relentlessly without considering defense against a checkmate. Chess, like battle, requires a balance of offense and defense."

Eli Shan nodded, his mind racing with new strategies. "Let's have another match!"

Three breaths later...

"Father! How did you beat me again?"

The lord explained patiently, "This time, you saw the imminent checkmate and defended against my queen, but you overlooked my knight and bishop!"

Eli Shan absorbed the lesson, determination burning in his eyes. "Father, please teach me how to play perfectly."

The lord nodded with a smile. "Chess is like a battlefield. You must understand the optimal positions for your pieces, where to attack, and when to defend. You are the god on that battlefield, overseeing every piece and making the best decisions. Sometimes, you'll sacrifice pieces to gain higher value ones or achieve checkmate. For example, knights and bishops are worth three pawns, rooks five, and queens nine. Sacrificing a knight or bishop for a rook is often worth it, but you need to learn tactics first."

Eli Shan listened intently. "What tactics, Father?"

The Lord continued, "Basic tactics include forks—attacking two pieces at once. For instance, a knight forking the king and queen forces the opponent to move the king, resulting in the loss of the queen."

Eli Shan nodded, understanding the importance of strategy. "What other tactics are there?"

"There are pins, skewers, and the powerful discovered attacks. You'll also learn openings, endgames, checkmate patterns, and much more. So get ready to learn everything!"

Eli Shan's body trembled with excitement. It was his dream to understand every single thing in the universe, and now, with his father's guidance, he felt that dream was within reach.

They continued to play chess throughout the day, the sun setting and giving way to the cool night. As the stars twinkled overhead, the lord stood up to bid farewell. "I must go now. Don't forget to work hard. I'll return every month to teach you more and check your progress. Farewell until then."

Eli Shan knelt down, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for teaching me, Father. I will be waiting for you."

The lord's lips curled up as he vanished from sight, leaving Eli Shan with a heart full of resolve.

From then on, Eli Shan dedicated himself tirelessly. By day, he honed his swordsmanship with unwavering focus; by night, he delved deep into the mysteries of the universal law, cultivating his mind and spirit. Each month gained new knowledge and skills imparted by his father—crafting, drawing, literature, calligraphy, and much more.

Days blended seamlessly into weeks, weeks breezed by, and before he knew it, years had slipped away like water through his fingers.

Six years later...

On Eli Shan's tenth birthday, his mother, Luise, was determined to celebrate with utmost fervor. She had persuaded the lord incessantly to bring Eli Shan home for this special day, and finally, her wish was granted.

"I'm back, Mother."

As Eli Shan entered, Luise's eyes welled up with tears at the sight of her grown son. She rushed forward and enveloped him in a tight embrace. "My son, you've grown so much. Did you forget about your mother? Do you know how much I've missed you?"

Eli Shan hugged her back warmly. "I'm sorry for being away, Mother. I promise, after reaching the peak of cultivation, I'll never leave you and Father again."

Luise nodded, kissing his forehead. "Happy birthday, my son. May you become the strongest cultivator in history. But never forget to be kind, no matter how powerful you become."

Eli Shan nodded solemnly. "I will remember your words forever, Mother."

Luise smiled warmly. "Isn't the house beautifully decorated today?"

Eli Shan glanced around, noting the girlish decorations that embarrassed him slightly, but seeing his mother's joy, he was willing to endure it forever. "It's beautiful, Mother," he replied with a genuine smile.

The lord interjected, "Today, I've invited our teachers from the school. They'll be joining us soon to celebrate."

Luise beamed. "Then I'll prepare a feast for everyone!"

She darted to the kitchen, excitement evident in her every move.

The lord chuckled softly. "She's still as lively and youthful as ever, isn't she?"

Eli Shan nodded with affection. "She's the best mother."

As they sat down at the dining table, Eli Shan couldn't help but reflect. Unlike here, he had never spent time with his real parents. He has always been away from them, forgetting the warmth of parental love.

He silently vowed that once he returned to the outside world, he would find his birth parents and spend precious time with them.

Lost in his thoughts, Eli Shan was brought back to the present as the aroma of the meal filled the room. The lord, noticing his son's contemplative expression, broke the silence. "Son, how is your training progressing?"

"I have completed the training from your book three years ago," Eli Shan replied confidently. "Right now, I've mastered all the basics."

"Then I assume your basic attacks could easily shatter nearby mountains with a single swing?" the Lord mused.

Eli Shan nodded confidently. "I could have done that nearly two years ago. I've progressed far beyond that now."

The lord chuckled proudly. "As expected of my talented son. You have more potential than I ever did."

Eli Shan shook his head modestly. "No, Father. You've always been my inspiration. Now that I'm stronger, I realize just how formidable you are. I don't think I could ever match you in combat."

"Haha, my son has become quite eloquent," the lord teased fondly.

They continued to chat and laugh, occasionally interrupted by Luise's joyful comments from the kitchen.

As evening approached, guests started to arrive, and the lord greeted each one at the gate. Eli Shan stood alongside him, greeting everyone warmly and graciously accepting their birthday wishes and gifts.

After receiving several decorative gifts, Eli Shan noticed none were useful for cultivation. He graciously accepted them nonetheless.

As they gathered around the dining table, Luise brought out a sumptuous feast.

The guests couldn't contain their delight after the first bite. One exclaimed, "This is... so delicious!"

Others joined in, praising Luise's culinary skills. "I've never tasted anything this good!"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"You're truly blessed, Lord, to have such a talented wife."

The lord beamed with pride. "I know. I get to enjoy meals like this every day."

"You're so lucky!"

Laughter filled the room as they chatted and enjoyed the meal, some indulging in drinks.

Then, one of the teachers brought up a topic that intrigued everyone. "Have you all heard of the rumored Sword God?"

The principal chimed in, "Yes, indeed. It's quite a legend."

Eli Shan, intrigued, asked, "Who is this Sword God?"

The guests looked at him incredulously. "You haven't heard of the Sword God?"

"Lord, you have kept your son sheltered like a delicate flower. He hasn't even been admitted to our school, and he knows nothing of the outside world," remarked one teacher, expressing concern.

The lord sighed deeply. "My son has chosen his path. He just wants to stay alone. I cannot force him to do anything."

Upon hearing these words, Eli Shan felt an urge to shout, "You were the one who sent me to that mountain, insisting I live and train there! If not for my birthday, I'd still be up there!"

But of course, he cannot say that as long as he doesn't want to get beaten.

The teachers regarded him with a mix of surprise and disdain.

The principal intervened kindly, "Little Eli, perhaps you haven't heard, but there's a rumor that a Sword God resides on the highest peak of a nearby deserted mountain range."

"Huh?"

Eli Shan was taken aback. A Sword God on the nearest highest mountain peak? Wasn't that where he lived? He almost argued that no Sword God resided there because he had been living there himself, yet he had never encountered anyone, but then he realized something.

"By sword god, do you mean the person who practices his swordsmanship daily on the mountain?"

The principal nodded eagerly. "Yes, exactly! Have you heard of him? It's said each swing of his sword contains enough power to level entire regions!"

Another teacher added excitedly, "And rumor has it that on his first day there, he sliced a cloud in half!"

Eli Shan didn't know how to respond to this revelation. Though he was still unsure if they were truly talking about him, so he asked, "Are you talking about the Sword God who resides on Heaven's Peak Mountain?"

The principal nodded emphatically. "Yes, Heaven's Peak Mountain is the highest in our kingdom. Surely you've heard of it?"

Another teacher spoke up excitedly, "It was said that one of the biggest clans tried to approach and meet the senior of Heaven's Peak Mountain. However, upon witnessing his simple, basic sword swing, they didn't dare come any closer, fearing that if they disturbed the Sword God, he might annihilate their entire clan."

Eli Shan was dumbfounded. He had no idea about any of this.

He glanced at his father, who remained impassive, indicating he was aware of these rumors.

The conversation continued late into the night before the guests took their leave.

Eli Shan didn't press his father for more information about the Sword God and went back to his room after bidding his parents goodnight.

In the early morning, a knock echoed through the stillness.

Eli Shan opened the door to find his father standing there, a familiar yet serious look in his eyes.

"Today, we're returning to Heaven's Peak Mountain. This time, it'll be even more interesting," the lord spoke with a hint of a smile on his face.

Eli Shan nodded, though he didn't understand what he meant by 'interesting'.

Together, they sat down for breakfast with Luise, who smiled warmly at her son.

"Mother, your cooking is as delicious as ever," Eli Shan complimented warmly.

Luise beamed and ruffled Eli Shan's hair affectionately. "You're such a good son. Come back to visit your mother as soon as you can, okay?"

Eli Shan nodded earnestly. "Of course, Mother. I'll miss you."

Luise kissed his forehead, holding back her tears. "Good son."

Eli Shan smiled, feeling a warmth in his heart.

After breakfast, Eli Shan and his father bid farewell to Luise and set off for Heaven's Peak Mountain.

Unlike before, Eli Shan flew on his sword to reach the heaven's peak mountain. The wind roared in his ears, and the landscape blurred beneath him. His father, matched his speed effortlessly, gliding beside him on his own sword.

This time, both of them were so fast that they didn't even take a day to reach the mountain. As they landed, the lord turned to Eli Shan and spoke with a firm voice. "Now, climb the mountain. I will be waiting at the peak for you."

Eli Shan couldn't help but sigh. "Father won't let me skip training for even a single day," he muttered to himself, a mix of resignation and determination in his eyes.

With that, Eli Shan began his ascent, running and leaping with lightning speed. In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, he reached the summit.

His father stood there, looking at him with a stern expression. "You've completed your basic training. Now, let me see how good you are."

He drew a dark sword and charged at Eli Shan.

Eli Shan's eyes widened in surprise. "Father, how can I fight against you?"

"Brat, it's just practice. If you hold back, you're disrespecting me," the lord replied, his tone firm and unyielding.

Taking a deep breath, Eli Shan's eyes grew determined. He unsheathed his sword, gripping it tightly. "As you say, Father," he responded, readying himself for the spar.

With that, he surged forward, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Both father and son raised their swords, executing a seemingly effortless swing. To an untrained eye, it might appear as if they were handling a sword for the first time, their movements deceptively simple. However, anyone with experience could sense the profound precision and raw power behind their simple strike.

In the next instant, as their swords collided, an immense shockwave erupted from the point of impact, powerful enough to devastate the entire surrounding region. The force of the wave rippled outward, reaching even Eli Shan's village, where the ground trembled beneath the villagers' feet. Fortunately, the area around the mountain was deserted, making it a safe place for their intense sparring.

Their swords clashed tens of thousands of times in that instant. Despite the intensity, both their expressions remained unchanged.

After six years of relentless training, Eli Shan's speed had become overwhelming, allowing him to swing his sword millions of times in an instant. This incredible ability was thanks to the book his father had given him, which taught him how to be precise, fast, and strong simultaneously.

Thinking of the book, Eli Shan realized his father must be a monster to have written it. Facing off against someone as powerful as his father... that was Eli Shan's ultimate dream!

They continued to exchange blows, moving so swiftly that it was beyond mortal comprehension to imagine a human could achieve such speed.

At that moment, people in nearby regions felt an oppressive aura emanating from Heaven's Peak. No one dared to approach the mountain, paralyzed by the overwhelming presence.

On the mountain peak, as they exchanged blows, Eli Shan felt a growing sense of awe. No matter how he attacked, his father deflected every strike with ease.

Their swords clashed repeatedly, a blur of motion too fast for the eye to follow. Despite using every technique he had mastered from the book, Eli Shan couldn't come close to touching his father.

"Father, how are you so strong?" Eli Shan asked, his voice breathless between lightning-fast swings. He couldn't shake the thought that his father must be using some kind of special technique.

The Lord parried another blow effortlessly, his expression serene. "You may be thinking I'm using some sort of special technique, right?" he replied patiently. "But what I'm doing is simply utilizing my foundation to its fullest potential."

"Utilizing foundation to the fullest..." Eli Shan whispered, a sudden realization dawning on him.

"So, all Father is doing is reading my movements, understanding my next step, and countering it. And he's able to do this because of his mastery of the basics. Without that understanding, no one could anticipate the next move of a swordsman," Eli Shan whispered, his eyes lighting up with newfound clarity.

The Lord continued to instruct as they fought, "Eli Shan, every sword technique you will use in the future is rooted in the basic swing of your sword. This means all advanced techniques are derived from your fundamental attacks. So why do you need a special technique? You can just create one when you need it, right? Because all you need is the best possible swing of your sword to resolve any situation. And don't forget, become a swordsman who cannot be predicted by others."

Hearing his father, Eli Shan felt something inside him break open.

It was as if he had always been a frog in a well, believing that mastering techniques was the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Even now, he had been waiting to complete the basics before learning new techniques. Although he had perfected his fundamentals, he was still using them in a rudimentary manner.

Now, reflecting on it, he realized how naive he had been. The basics weren't just simple sword swings—they meant executing the best possible attacks and counters!

A smile curled his lips as he acknowledged his narrow-mindedness. With determination burning in his eyes, he looked at his father and launched a counterattack.

This time, his every swing was imbued with a unique technique. He didn't need to learn special techniques anymore. He could simply create them as needed!

"Sky Sword!" he cried, swinging his blade from above, seemingly cutting the sky in half.

"Basic Slash."

"Iron-Piercing Thrust."

"Luminous Cross."

"Swift Gale."

In an instant, Eli Shan unleashed numerous special sword techniques, each created on the spot, each possessing a unique trait.

Lord's smile widened, a silent acknowledgment of his son's remarkable evolution.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The shockwaves from their clash reverberated through the region, creating an overwhelming sense that everything in the vicinity might be sliced into pieces.

Luise looked toward the mountain and sighed. "Father and son, both the same—always so engrossed in their battles that they never consider the impact on those around them."

She waved her hand, conjuring a barrier that shielded the nearby area from the sword energy unconsciously emitted by Lord and Eli Shan.

"Father, this is the best sword technique I could muster to defeat you. Even you'll have to take this seriously," Eli Shan proclaimed, determination etched in his voice.

Lord grinned confidently. "Come at me, my son."

This time, Eli Shan harnessed every ounce of his speed and strength, channeling it into a single, decisive swing.

"Heavenly Shadow Slash!"

This time even the lord was surprised. The precise movement, strength, and speed were in perfect harmony. "You've completed your basic training sooner than I expected, my son," Lord whispered with a smile.

With that, he also swung his sword that collided with Eli Shan's, and... Boom! A powerful shockwave, a blend of air and sword qi, erupted from their point of contact, threatening to devastate the entire kingdom below. Fortunately, Luise's barrier had already been deployed, preventing any casualties.

"Huff... Huff..."

Father and son lay on the mountain peak, their chests heaving with exhaustion.

The lord sighed, "My son has become as strong as me, huh?"

Eli Shan smiled wryly. "Don't joke, Father. You were using basic sword techniques this whole time. If you had unleashed your true power, I might have turned to dust."

Lord laughed heartily. "Hahaha, do you think your father is a god? I simply know a bit more about the sword than you, haha."

Eli Shan mirrored his father's grin.

Suddenly, the Lord rose to his feet. "From today, your basics are complete. Now, you will cultivate your sword aura and sword intent."

Excitement surged through Eli Shan. This was what he had yearned for!

His father looked at him deeply, still smiling. "I know you've already formed your sword aura and intent."

Eli Shan was taken aback. He had never revealed his sword intent or aura to anyone. How did his father sense it?

Lost in thought, he looked up at his father, his eyes widening in astonishment. He saw his father surrounded by a sword aura, and it wasn't just any sword aura—it was the dark sword aura that he had cultivated before!

However, before he could recover from his shock, his eyes widened even further in astonishment. The sword aura surrounding the Lord expanded, slowly enveloping the entire mountain in an ominous darkness.

"What is this sword aura?" Eli Shan trembled under its power. He realized that if his father wished, he could reduce the mountain, along with him, to dust with a single thought.

"Beautiful!" he murmured, shifting from fear to fascination. Instead of succumbing to terror, Eli Shan began to analyze the sword aura and realized that there was not a single impurity in it. "When will I reach this realm?" he whispered to himself.

Suddenly, sword intent manifested, and millions of swords materialized in the sky. Gradually, these countless swords, which had seemingly materialized out of thin air, began to melt and merge into the swirling sword aura.

With this fusion, the already formidable dark sword aura intensified to a degree that surpassed Eli Shan's wildest imaginations. "Emperors? Gods? Who are they compared to my father?" Eli Shan thought in awe. "This sword aura alone could annihilate all existence!" His eyes widened in utter shock, realizing the immense power his father wielded.

His own aura and intent seemed feeble in comparison, like those of a newborn in the presence of a titan.

Then, the Lord fixed his gaze on Eli Shan and imparted his wisdom, "Little Eli, remember, bigger doesn't always mean stronger. The best way to wield the sword aura is to compress it and sharpen it to its utmost. So sharp that even the strongest sword will be reduced to dust upon contact."

With that, his vast aura compressed until it was just large enough to envelop him.

Eli Shan listened intently, afraid to miss a single word, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on his father.

The lord smiled at his son's concentration and dismissed his aura. "Remember, you will practice sword aura and intent until they reach my realm. Even if it takes a year or ten years, you will stay here. Understood?"

Eli Shan nodded firmly. "Yes, Father."

The lord smiled and took out a book. He cut his finger and let a drop of blood fall on it, breaking a formation.

Handing the book to Eli Shan, he spoke solemnly, "This book is now yours. It belonged to our ancestor, acquired during his travels across the universe. Within its pages lie the teachings and secrets you need to become a master of the sword."

Eli Shan accepted the book reverently and bowed. "Thank you, Father."

Lord nodded solemnly, his gaze unwavering as he imparted his final instructions, "And one more thing, Eli Shan. Keep your sword aura active constantly, let it become as natural as breathing. Hone it relentlessly until it surpasses even my own. You'll find more details in the book. Farewell for now."

With a graceful gesture, Lord vanished from sight, leaving Eli Shan standing alone amidst the desolation of the mountain peak.

In the next moment, a distant voice echoed through the air, "Ah, and remember to restore the mountain and the nearby lands that suffered because of our actions."

Eli Shan surveyed the scene around him, scratching his head silly. "This mountain has been completely devastated. It's a wonder it wasn't razed to the ground during our battle."

Setting aside these thoughts, he invoked the universal laws and restored the mountain to its former state. "Yushh, that was easier than expected," he murmured in satisfaction. "Now, it's time to delve into the book my father gave me."

He eagerly opened the ancient book, excitement bubbling within him as he delved into the first few chapters. Pondering deeply, he wondered, "Could it be that, our ancestor met the owner of the cave from where I learned sword aura at first?".

He was already perplexed when he saw his father using that same aura, but now this book was also teaching about the dark sword aura in a more efficient manner.

"There's no sense in wasting time on what will reveal itself in due time. Now, it's my moment to grow even stronger with the help of this book!"