Eli Shan continued to cultivate his sword intent and aura. Previously, he could maintain his sword aura for two days continuously, but after three months of rigorous training, he extended this duration to a week.
However, during his cultivation, he had a humbling realization. He once believed he was a genius, capable of mastering any technique instantly. But the book his father had given him shattered his arrogance into pieces. Even after three months of training, he could barely understand the workings of the techniques, let alone master them.
"Sigh, Father is a monster to effortlessly wield that sword aura. I wonder when I will become like him," Eli Shan mused while cultivating.
Setting aside his thoughts, Eli Shan pressed on, immersing himself in the book's teachings. He never withdrew his sword aura, except when he could no longer endure the strain.
A year flew by in the blink of an eye. During this time, Eli Shan had mastered the art of maintaining his sword aura. No longer did he need to withdraw it; he could now sustain the powerful energy effortlessly, without a hint of fatigue.
Now, the only thing he aimed for was perfection.
He continued to polish his sword aura, pushing his limits and striving to merge his sword intent into it. Despite countless attempts, he faced failure time and again. Yet, Eli Shan's resolve never wavered. With each setback, his determination grew stronger, and he relentlessly pushed forward, undeterred by the challenges.
Thus, another three years passed. Eli Shan's dedication and perseverance remained unshaken, driving him to new heights in his cultivation journey.
By now, everyone had grown accustomed to the formidable sword aura emanating from Heaven’s Peak. Initially, there had been widespread fear that the Sword God intended to obliterate the surrounding regions, causing many villagers to flee in panic. However, as time passed, it became clear that the aura, though awe-inspiring, posed no real danger to them.
This was because of the sword eyes technique! Even though Eli Shan had already learned this technique, the book his father had given him contained far more detailed instructions. These insights allowed him to refine his technique with unprecedented precision and depth.
It was not only the Sword Eyes technique that Eli Shan had mastered; he had also achieved the fusion of sword intent and aura. However, his relentless pursuit of perfection drove him to continue refining his skills. He remained steadfast in his cultivation position, unwavering in his dedication, and determined to perfect every aspect of his abilities.
He spent another year perfecting the fusion of sword aura and intent. Though his sword aura had not yet reached the level of his father's, it was nothing short of extraordinary. His aura had grown so powerful that it could envelop and dissolve the entirety of Heaven's Peak Mountain into dust.
Over the past five years, not a single soul dared to approach Heaven's Mountain, fearing they might be cut into pieces by the sword god's formidable aura.
After these intense years of solitary cultivation, Eli Shan finally completed his sword training. With his skills honed to perfection, he prepared to return home, ready to show off his parents his newfound strength.
Now he no longer needed a physical sword to fly; with a mere thought, a dark aura enveloped him, and he vanished from the mountain.
In an instant, the dark aura reappeared near his home, and a mysterious silhouette emerged from its depths, stepping forward slowly and knocking on the door.
Luise came out of the house and opened the door, her breath catching as she beheld the figure before her. A handsome man with long silver hair, striking features, and a sword in hand stood before her. The sight of him was almost too much to believe.
Seeing him, Luise's eyes filled with tears. Unable to contain her emotions, she ran forward and embraced him tightly.
"I'm back, Mother," Eli Shan said, smiling as he returned her embrace.
“You’re finally back, my little Eli,” Luise sobbed, her voice trembling with joy. Tears of happiness streamed down her cheeks. “Do you know how much your father and I missed you?”
Eli Shan felt a pang of guilt, his heart heavy. “I’m sorry, Mother. Next time, I’ll visit as often as I can. I promise.”
Luise nodded, her eyes still glistening with tears, and led Eli Shan inside. “Yes, my little Eli. Now don’t stand outside. Come in, come in.”
Gesturing toward the dining table, Luise’s face lit up with a motherly smile. “You sit here, and I’ll bring something to eat. You must be starving.”
With that, Luise hurried to the kitchen to cook something delicious, but Eli Shan interrupted. "Mother, where is Father?"
Luise glanced back at Eli Shan and replied, "Your father went to the school."
Eli Shan nodded. "Then let's go meet him."
Luise shook her head firmly. "No, first you need to eat. After that, we can go."
Eli Shan couldn’t argue with her and simply nodded.
Soon, Luise brought the food, and they sat down to eat together. As they ate, they talked about everything and nothing, cherishing the moment.
"It's been a while since I've been to Father's school," Eli Shan remarked as they finished their meal and got ready to leave.
Luise smiled, locking the house behind them. "Yes, you were just a little child the last time we went there."
Eli Shan grinned. "Yeah, and I’ve never attended the school. They’ll think I’m just a country bumpkin."
Luise clenched her fist with a playful grin. "Then let's break some of their teeth."
Eli Shan laughed heartily. "Hahaha, as you say, Mother."
Mother and son walked towards the school, reminiscing and sharing old memories.
After some time, they arrived at the school.
"It hasn't changed a bit from the last time. Now this is giving me some nostalgia feeling," Eli Shan whispered.
They made their way to the practice field where his father was teaching the new students the art of the sword.
Looking at his father's back, a gentle smile spread across Eli Shan's face as he walked forward, his heart beating fast with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He knelt down respectfully before his father. "Father, I am back."
The lord turned at the sound of his son's voice and saw his grown-up strong son kneeling before him. His chest puffed up with pride as he helped Eli Shan stand. "You are finally here, my son."
He pulled Eli Shan into a tight hug. "You've grown quite a bit, haven't you?" He released him and looked him over from head to toe. "I can't even lift you in my arms anymore," he said with a smile.
Eli Shan grinned. "Though I can still jump into your arms, Father."
"Aah, then I will be buried in the ground, hahaha!"
They laughed together, the joy of their reunion filling the air.
In the practice field, the students overheard snippets of their conversation and were filled with bewilderment. Was this incredibly handsome man the son of their teacher? Was this person living outside of the village? There had been rumors that despite the Lord being the strongest swordsman in the village, his son was nothing more than a delicate flower sheltered at home.
Many thoughts raced through their minds, but the girls couldn't take their eyes off Eli Shan, their gazes filled with awe. "How could a man be this handsome?" one of them whispered, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"I know, right? I've been out of the village with my father, but I've never seen anyone as good-looking as him," another girl agreed, her cheeks flushed.
"W-Will he talk with me if I approach him? Even just a glance from him would be enough for me to get through the day," another girl chimed in, her voice trembling with excitement.
Hearing their whispers, the boys on the field felt a surge of anger. But what could they do about it? Even if this guy had always lived off his father, he was still the lord's son.
While thousands of thoughts raced through their minds, the lord suddenly turned around and surveyed the students.
"I guess you've all already realized it, but let me introduce you my son." He gestured toward Eli Shan as he spoke. "This kid is my son, Eli Shan. You are allowed to call him your senior."
At the mention of Eli Shan’s name, the students bowed deeply, a gesture of respect for their teacher. Eli Shan smiled warmly at them, raising his hand in a gentle gesture. "You don't need to bow. Please, stand up straight," he said, his voice calm and reassuring as he looked at everyone.
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"Hey, hey, he looked at me just now!!!" one girl exclaimed, her voice barely containing her excitement.
"No! His eyes were clearly on me!" another girl protested, her cheeks flushed with enthusiasm.
The girls began to whisper excitedly among themselves, their eyes constantly darting toward Eli Shan. The lord cleared his throat to get their attention. "Today, my son wishes to teach you a thing or two. If anyone is up for a duel, you are welcome to challenge him."
"Huh? Duel with the sword teacher's son?" Many thought their teacher was joking. It was well-known that his son had never attended any school and had no cultivation. At most, he might have learned a thing or two, but they had been learning swordsmanship since childhood and had a minimum cultivation of the third stage of Qi Gathering Realm.
As for Eli Shan, all they could see was his miraculous beauty. Beyond that, they saw nothing special about him.
However, while knowing all this, all the girls still went into an uproar. "Teacher, please let me dual with senior!" one girl pleaded eagerly.
"No, I want to fight Senior Eli Shan!" another girl insisted, trying to push her way forward.
"You? You can't even beat me! What makes you think you can face Senior Eli Shan?" a third girl argued, her competitive spirit flaring.
Luise smiled as she observed the scene and leaned toward the lord, whispering playfully, "Our son is quite popular with the girls, unlike you in the past."
"Hmph, I was famous among the girls too," the lord replied, his chest puffed. "But I admit, I'm jealous of our son. He has inherited both your beauty and mine."
Luise teased him gently, "But all I see is a proud father. Where's the jealousy?"
The lord didn't reply, continuing to stand with a puffed-out chest and a proud look on his face.
As the girls continued to bicker among themselves, a clear voice broke through the commotion, capturing everyone's attention.
"I will fight against Little Brother Eli Shan."
Everyone turned toward the owner of the voice.
"Ohh, it's Brother Zun Liu!" someone exclaimed, their voice filled with recognition and excitement.
Zun Liu approached with calm confidence, his True Qi Realm cultivation evident in his every step. He halted before the lord and bowed. “Greetings, lord.”
The lord nodded with an indifferent expression. "It looks like you've grown enough not to call me master anymore."
Zun Liu shook his head. "It's not that, lord. In my new clan, I am not allowed to call anyone master except them."
The Lord nodded again, showing no reaction.
Eli Shan sized Zun Liu up, wondering what made him so special. Everyone here seemed to fear and respect this guy a lot. Despite not finding anything particularly special, he acknowledged that achieving the True Qi Realm in this village was an accomplishment on its own.
As the tension in the air thickened, the principal approached from behind, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Eli Shan. “Oh, Eli Shan has come to our school too, huh? What a coincidence that my son has just returned from the Taixuan Clan as well.”
Taixuan Clan? What is that?
Eli Shan was genuinely confused. Was there a clan by this name in the village?
Seeing his bewildered expression, Zun Liu was taken aback. “You really don’t know about the Taixuan Clan? It’s one of the top 50 clans in the world. Being an outer disciple of this clan means I can go anywhere without fear. My senior brother has even accompanied me this time.”
Eli Shan nodded in understanding. “So he’s not feared just because of his cultivation,” he mused.
Eli Shan’s thoughts drifted as he processed this new information. He didn’t know much about the world outside their village. Initially, he had tried to find Xie Meng using the universal law, but to his disappointment, she wasn’t even in this universe. She must have been reincarnated to a higher universe.
Though Eli Shan wasn’t worried about her, the former master of this soul universe had promised him that she would be reincarnated into the highest authority family of any universe. This assurance gave him peace, allowing him to focus on his training. Moreover, getting stronger was essential if he truly wanted to ascend to a higher universe and find her. He wasn’t sure how strong those in higher universes were and if he could fight against them if he needed to.
While Eli Shan was lost in thought, Zun Liu’s anger flared at his indifferent expression. He was trying to show off, but Eli Shan didn’t even react, which only fueled his frustration.
The principal sighed, shaking his head. "Eli Shan has always been at home, resting his whole life. Of course, he wouldn't know these things."
Luise’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she glared at the principal. “You better not speak about my son if you don't know anything. Otherwise, I'll cut out your tongue.”
Zun Liu, overhearing this, clenched his fists and replied angrily, “Miss, I respect you because the Lord taught me many things in my childhood and you are his wife, but I won’t tolerate any disrespect towards my father. Understand?”
“Oh?” Luise took a step forward, her brow furrowing. “I will cut out his tongue if he speaks ill of my son.”
Zun Liu didn’t back down, his eyes blazing with defiance as he stepped forward as well. “And I will cut down anyone who talks ill of my father,” he said hoarsely, his voice dripping with resolve.
Just as the sentence reached Eli Shan's ears, an innocent smile formed on his face. An invisible pressure filled the atmosphere as Eli Shan extended his hand toward a girl standing nearby.
She looked at Eli Shan's hand, puzzled, until her eyes widened in astonishment as her sheathed sword suddenly flew out at lightning speed toward Eli Shan.
Eli Shan effortlessly caught the sword, his smile never faltering. “How did he do it?” The girl stared at the scene, dumbfounded.
Then, she witnessed something she would never forget. Eli Shan placed the tip of the sword on the ground and walked between his mother and Zun Liu, dragging the sword along the earth, creating a sharp, grating sound.
“What will you do if my mother says anything to your father?” Eli Shan asked, looking deeply into his soul and smiling innocently.
Zun Liu’s heart began to race at Eli Shan’s smile. “Y-You, if she says anything bad about my father, then I will cut—”
Before he could finish, Eli Shan's sword left the ground, moving toward Zun Liu's neck with lightning speed.
“Shhiiiiii!”
The sword moved with such lightning speed that neither Zun Liu nor his senior brother could react. In that instant, Zun Liu felt only one thing: “I am about to die.” He couldn't fathom why, but in that split second, an overwhelming certainty gripped him: no one could save him from this fate. The world seemed to slow down around him, every heartbeat echoing like a drum in his ears, as the cold, sharp edge of inevitability closed in.
However, just as the sword was about to sever his head, another sword intercepted, clashing with Eli Shan's blade
Boom!
The force of the collision was so immense that everything behind them was obliterated, a shockwave tearing through the ground and laying waste to the surrounding buildings. A deep crater was left in the wake of the impact, a testament to the overwhelming power of the clash.
Eli Shan looked at the collided sword and recognized it. “Father.”
The Lord looked at Eli Shan and shook his head. “Little Eli, I know you’re angry, but this guy is just a kid. You don’t have to kill him.”
Eli Shan's eyes burned with fierce determination. “But Father, he dared to threaten Mother. He deserves to die!”
Luise stepped forward, her eyes filled with both pride and warmth. She gently placed a hand on Eli Shan’s head, her touch tender and soothing. "I’m really glad that my son is so strong and willing to protect his mother. But what’s the point of bullying the weak? It’s better to forgive while you can. However, you are allowed to punish him, and you’ve already done so"
Eli Shan looked down, the intensity in his eyes slowly fading as he absorbed his mother’s words. “Yes, Mother. I understand.”
Luise smiled, her expression softening as she leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his forehead. “That’s my son.”
The students on the practice field stared at the scene before them with wide eyes and gaping mouths. They couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed. Here, Eli Shan's parents were talking about forgiveness, but no one seemed to be addressing the enormous crater that had been created by a single swing of Eli Shan’s sword!
The crater was so massive that it dwarfed the entire practice field. The force of Eli Shan’s attack had demolished a significant portion of the field and shattered several nearby buildings. The ground was scarred by a deep trench, and debris lay scattered everywhere.
Looking at the scene, Zun Liu’s legs felt numb as he struggled to stay on his feet. He had just been on the verge of being sliced in half! The thought sent a shiver through him, his legs trembling uncontrollably as if drained of all strength. His whole body felt as though it had been emptied of willpower, leaving him a hollow shell. He continued to stare around in a daze, his mind reeling from the near brush with death, before slowly sinking to his knees.
He still remembered the moment vividly—when he had seen Eli Shan charging at him with the sword raised, he had been ready to counter the attack. But in that instant, as the blade left the ground, time seemed to freeze for him. He had been paralyzed by fear, unable to move or react, feeling as though he was already staring into the abyss of death.
It was a sensation like no other, as if the certainty of his demise had gripped him with icy fingers, snatching away any hope of survival. Even before the sword reached him, he felt as though he was already dead!
Beside him, his senior brother from the Taixuan Clan stood in stunned silence. Witnessing Eli Shan’s strength had been like looking into a realm of power beyond his wildest dreams. He had wisely chosen to stay out of the confrontation, fully aware that he was merely an unnamed character in the presence of such overwhelming might.
After dealing with Zun Liu, Eli Shan walked over to the girl whose sword he had taken. As he approached, the air around him seemed to shimmer with a gentle radiance, his presence commanding both awe and reverence. He stopped in front of her, his gaze softening into a warm, reassuring smile.
“Thank you so much for allowing me to borrow your sword,” he said, his voice carrying a tone of genuine gratitude. “I apologize for taking it without your permission.”
The girl’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of admiration and trepidation. His godlike strength and the serene, almost otherworldly beauty of his face left her momentarily breathless. “I-I’m honored to have been of help, Senior Brother,” she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. “If you wish, you can keep the sword as a token of our friendship.”
Eli Shan gently shook his head, the warm smile never leaving his lips. “I am deeply honored by your offer, but a swordsman must cherish their blade as a part of their very being. And as for friendship, all of my father’s students are like family to me.” His eyes swept over the gathered crowd, and he offered a kind smile to each of them, his expression radiating warmth and sincerity.
At this moment, even those who had harbored envy towards Eli Shan now found their resentment melting away, replaced by a deep-seated desire to befriend him. They looked at one another, exchanging excited glances as they silently celebrated their fortunate position as the lord’s students.
Eli Shan then turned to the principal, his demeanor shifting to a more serious tone. “You have always been kind to me since my childhood,” he said, his voice steady and resolute. “However, I won’t tolerate anyone speaking ill of my mother. Please keep that in mind.”
The principal’s eyes widened slightly, and a shiver ran down his spine as he felt the weight of Eli Shan’s words. But before he could respond, the Lord stepped forward, his presence imposing and authoritative.
“Principal,” the Lord began, his voice echoing with quiet strength, “I apologize for my son’s behavior, but...” His expression hardened, and an aura of unspoken authority radiated from him, more formidable than Eli Shan’s own presence. “Have you forgotten who I am? I will not tolerate any disrespect towards my family in the future.”
A cold sweat broke out on the principal’s brow, and he could not help but shudder under the lord’s intense gaze. “I-I will remember this, Lord,” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “And thank you for sparing my ignorant son’s life.”
With a smile, the lord continued, “Now let us put this matter behind us.” He turned to his students, his tone shifting to one of encouragement. “You may all leave now. We will resume our lessons at another time.”
The students bowed deeply, their faces alight with a mixture of relief and excitement as they dispersed to their other classes.
With a proud smile, Lord placed an arm around Eli Shan and his wife, a broad grin spreading across his face. “Let’s go home!”