At the young age of fifteen, he had already managed to scratch the door of the Realm of Sword Intent. This caused a huge uproar in Redfall City. Achieving such a feat at the age of fifteen was unheard of.
Thus, everyone had dubbed Kaelan Rivenhart a potential future Sword Saint.
Initially, he had intended to join the Ethereal Blade Sect, renowned as the world’s top academy in the cultivation of swordsmanship. Even an elder from the Ethereal Blade Sect had commended his talent with the sword and had been willing to take him as a disciple.
But Kaelan turned down the offer, an action that left countless people confused.
However, the reason he rejected the offer was the same reason he was here today. It was because of the rumors of a reclusive master reappearing. Even from Redfall City, where his Rivenhart family was located, he could see the dark thunderclouds that had gathered countless times in the southern sky.
He believed that such a person couldn’t be any weaker than the elders of the Ethereal Blade Sect, and might even be stronger.
Hence, he joined this year’s intake, hoping to impress the reclusive master and be accepted as a disciple. He was confident that his skill and talent with the sword would entice the reclusive master.
“I’m interested in you. I’m here to take you in as my disciple. Are you willing?”
When Kaelan Rivenhart heard the black-robed man before him asking this, he narrowed his eyes. He bowed slightly and asked, “Esteemed Elder, may I know which department you are from?”
The black-robed man’s eyes shifted to the bowing boy, and he answered, “I’m from a small place called the Continental.”
The Continental!
Kaelan’s eyes widened in surprise when he heard the man’s answer. According to his father’s secret sources within the academy, the one triggering those Heaven’s Wraths had come from the direction of the academy’s southern mountain, the Continental!
Kaelan immediately cupped his hands and bowed deeply. “I am willing to accept, Master!”
When the other candidates heard this, they erupted in an uproar.
They recognized Kaelan Rivenhart as the genius of Redfall City. He was the same person who had rejected the Ethereal Blade Sect’s invitation, an opportunity that countless people could only dream of.
Moreover, the infamous Continental, which they had only heard rumors of, was now right before them, personally extending an invitation to Kaelan!
And Kaelan had accepted!
Underneath his bow, Kaelan was grinning hard. He was elated to be invited by the reclusive master of the Continental. He could already imagine the heaven-defying treasures he would obtain, the high-grade cultivation arts he would practice.
However, the black-robed man’s next words stunned him.
“I’m not talking to you.”
Instead, the black-robed man pointed at a scrawny teenager next to him.
The scrawny teen pointed at himself in confusion. “Me?”
“Yes, you,” Luther smiled. “My name is Luther L.K. Adnan and I’m here to take you in as my disciple. Are you willing?”
“H-h-h-huh?! W-what?!” the scrawny teen stammered. However, he knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He was someone who had barely passed the academy’s assessment. Even if accepted into the academy, his ranking would only allow him to become an outer student. He was a talentless bum, someone who had scraped by due to his dying family’s last-ditch effort to support him.
Although he wasn’t sure who the man before him was or the rumors surrounding the Continental, judging by everyone’s surprised expressions, he could guess the man was someone reputable.
He immediately knelt and kowtowed, shouting, “Yes, Master! Asher Dunamis is willing!”
Seeing this, Luther smiled and said, “It’s just a discipleship. You don’t have to go hog wild with kowtowing.”
Still kowtowing, Asher answered in a solemn tone, “A teacher for a day, a father for life. It is natural for me to kowtow before Master!”
Luther chuckled at this response. ‘He’s a talentless bum, a complete side character. But his personality is decent. I suppose guiding him into a high-grade Super won’t be much of an issue.
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Esteemed Foreigner, please reconsider your choice.
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‘Nope,’ Luther shook his head inwardly. ‘This is the one.’
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Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Esteemed Foreigner, please reconsider your choice.
The System will provide a hint for you.
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‘Nah,’ Luther rejected.
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Esteemed Foreigner, please take a look around you.
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Luther turned his head and saw a blue hue highlighting the protagonist kid he had shooed away earlier. However, Luther snickered in his mind, ‘No. Asher Dunamis is the “someone with the potential to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship” you mentioned. Not that idiot.’
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Esteemed Foreigner, please reconsider your choice.
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Ignoring the system message, Luther patted Asher’s shoulder and smiled. “Let’s go then, Asher.”
Seeing the system notification, Luther snickered in his mind without thinking too much about it.
He then waved at the elders on the stage and bowed slightly. “I’ll be leaving with my disciple then. Please do continue without me.”
The elders on stage were left puzzled. One moment ago, he had said he was just a brat unsuited for teaching, but now he had gone and taken a child away. Furthermore, there were so many promising seedlings here, so why did he insist on the worst of them? The child he had shooed away earlier was a potential future Sword Saint!
Every elder here was aiming for him!
***
The Continental.
Luther and Asher reappeared in the front courtyard. Luther shouted, “Charles!”
Immediately, a humanoid emerged from the manor. He was wearing a typical butler suit, standing at around two meters tall. Ignoring the atypical fashion for a xianxia setting, the humanoid’s head glinted silvery under the sunlight. His head was smooth and ovoid, with two glowing cyan orbs for eyes.
For someone who recognized it, the humanoid was a robot. But for someone like Asher, who was ignorant of such things, he was stunned.
He had never seen a walking metal figure before, much less one wearing a suit he had never seen in his entire life.
“Yes, Master Luther. How may I help you?” Charles bowed slightly.
“Go and prepare a room for this kid here,” Luther patted Asher’s back. “He’ll be joining the Continental starting today. He’s Asher Dunamis, by the way.”
Charles stared at Asher for a moment before greeting him, “Greetings, Mr. Dunamis. I am the Cognitive Helper and Administrative Residential Living Executive Servant, but you may call me Charles.”
“Master Luther, I’ll tend to Mr. Dunamis’s room. I’ll call when dinner is ready. Are there any other instructions, sir?” Charles turned to Luther and asked.
Stroking his chin, Luther thought for a moment before saying, “Set a study schedule for him. Teach him basic Mathematics, Science, and Geography.”
“Understood. Anything else, sir?” Charles nodded. Seeing Luther wave his hand, Charles bowed slightly before returning to the manor.
Listening to the conversation between the metal man with a long-winded name and his master, Asher felt his brain overheating. He couldn’t even understand the metal man’s name, and now they were planning to teach him something he had never heard of before.
Asher felt his tiny brain wasn’t large enough to process all of this. He turned to his master, pleading for an explanation, but his master was already sitting in a rattan chair.
Plopping down in the rattan chair, Luther waved at Asher. “Charles will be guiding you in your study session. Learn from him well. The knowledge you’ll be learning here is unlike anything else.”
Even though he wasn’t sure what knowledge he would be learning, Asher knew it should be of utmost importance to his cultivation. Hearing this, he nodded at his master's words. “I understand, master. I will do my best!”
“Oh, right,” Luther flicked his hand, and a sword and a potion appeared in front of Asher. “Since you’ve acknowledged me as your master, it’s only right for me to gift you with something. This sword could probably fly you to the moon.”
When Asher saw the sword, he was shocked. Although the seemingly normal steel sword was hidden in its scabbard, there was a faint Sword Intent constantly circling it. He could feel a Sword Path when he gripped it with his hand and even vaguely comprehended it!
How could a weapon related to the Path be ordinary?
What would happen if he drew it out?
Thinking of this, Asher wanted to unsheathe the sword.
“I suggest you not draw it now. You’re still not strong enough to withstand its energy,” Luther yawned, stretching his body.
Asher discarded this thought upon hearing his master’s words. But he still asked, “Master, what is this sword’s name?”
“Name?” Luther mumbled. “Lilac Cloud, I guess. I don’t know.”
“Lilac Cloud…” Asher mumbled, brushing his fingers against the scabbard. Eventually, he placed it down. “I’m sorry, master. I can’t accept this. This is too precious.”
Luther glanced at Asher and said, “Just take it. It’s been collecting dust for a while. Also, that potion will enhance your constitution. Go and find Charles, he’ll guide you on how to absorb the potion.”
Then, he pointed at Asher’s forehead. Information about a cultivation art entered Asher’s mind.
Psycho Sword Scripture.
One’s mind and body would be reformed, becoming a sword. An embodiment of a crazed sword.
The profundity behind this cultivation art stunned Asher. Never in his life had he seen such an art. What he was practicing right now wasn’t even a fraction of this Psycho Sword Scripture.
Asher’s heart was pumping furiously. He nodded at his master and didn’t refuse anymore. He picked up Lilac Cloud and the potion and walked into the manor to search for Charles.
Luther nodded at this sight and leaned back on the rattan chair. But a sudden chime interrupted him.
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Quest - Nurturing a Disciple.
Since you have chosen a disciple, you must ensure he will grow, regardless of his talent. Let him grow into a giant that can stand firm in any place in the universe.
Objective:
- Asher Dunamis comprehends Sword Intent within five days
- Asher Dunamis reaching Cobalt Formation
Reward:
- Full comprehension of Sword Path
Penalty:
- Death of Asher Dunamis
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“Meh,” Luther snorted, ignoring the system message. “I’m sure he’ll get it done with Charles’ help.”