Sword Cultivation

Night fell over the Qinlin Sect, bringing silence that hung in the air. In the cold and damp dungeon, one figure still sat upright in the dark, while the others had already fallen asleep tiredly.

Lu Xian, with a determined face, stared at his simple-made sword.

"Learning the sword cultivation method is the easiest." he muttered softly.

"But I will only focus on one spiritual root — and that is the sword root."

On the other side of the room, Zhao Li was already sound asleep, snoring lightly without caring about what his cellmate was doing. But Lu Xian did not move.

He sat cross-legged, his back straight, the sword lying on his lap. With slow, regulated breaths, he began to open his soul, flowing Qi energy from the air into his body, following the first meridian path.

"Hngh… so hot… My soul feels like it is burning."

Sweat dripped from his temples. But as time went on, the pain turned into warmth — his body felt light, as if freed from a burden.

"After a while… it feels fresh and light. This is… amazing…"

But before he could continue, the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard from the hallway.

Tap… tap… tap…

A prison guard was walking around to check on the prisoners.

"Hey, what are you doing? It's already night. Go to sleep!" he called out suspiciously.

Lu Xian quickly lay down, making a soft sound.

"O-Okay…"

As the guard left, Lu Xian opened one eye in annoyance.

"What an annoying sect… Even in the underground prison, they have to have guards."

---

A few moments later, the sound of the guard's footsteps disappeared.

Opportunity.

"Damn it… I just managed to open the first and second meridians. But to move on to the third meridian, I need a guide. There should be a book about it in the sect library. But the problem is… I'M IN PRISON!" he whispered, holding back his emotions.

Lu Xian began to think hard. His eyes stared at the walls, floor, and ceiling as if looking for a logical gap amidst the limitations.

"If I go out and go to the library, I'll definitely be suspected.

Should I just beat up the guard?

…But no! I don't want to cause any more trouble!"

He frowned. Then, an idea crossed his mind.

"Well! That's it! I have to disguise myself and hide my identity.

Maybe… with a mask or a face covering."

Lu Xian searched the corner of the prison for a torn old cloth. He ripped off a piece of his robe and tied it around his face, forming a makeshift mask that covered half his face.

But there was one big problem…

"Even with my disguise… I don't know how to open this prison."

He looked up — and right above the pillar of the room, hung an iron key that seemed to be used to open all the cells.

The problem?

A guard was asleep under the pillar.

"If I drop the key, and he wakes up… it's over."

Very slowly and carefully, Lu Xian raised his sword, trying to hook the key. His heart was beating fast. His hands were shaking. The atmosphere was tense.

Clink.

The key swayed... and finally... fell slowly into his hand.

"Finally... got it."

Lu Xian opened the prison cell as quietly as possible. Once outside, he pressed himself against the wall, his face hidden behind a makeshift mask, his sword holstered behind his back.

But as he exited the prison corridor…

"DAMN IT! I thought there was only one guard. There are two more outside?!"

Two guards stood at the side of the main iron gate. Lu Xian swallowed, then closed his eyes.

"No choice… Forced!"

He moved slowly, trying to squeeze through the dark gap between the supporting pillars. But suddenly…

Clank!

Something fell out of his pocket — the pill he had yet to return.

Instantly, the guard turned his head.

"Hey! Who are you?!"

A scream echoed through the corridor. The sleeping guard immediately woke up.

Now, Lu Xian had to face three guards at once.

Without thinking, Lu Xian drew his sword.

The light from the simple blade reflected faintly on the stone wall.

"Then… it's time to fight."

One of the guards charged first, wielding a thick metal staff. But Lu Xian leaped back, then spun his sword to strike it to the side.

Clang!

The clash of sword and staff created a spark of light. Lu Xian turned and struck his opponent with the hilt of his sword.

The second guard advanced with a short sword. His strike was sharp, but Lu Xian met it with a simple sword technique — yet full of power and confidence.

Slaassh!

A single slash grazed his opponent's shoulder.

"Is he an ordinary disciple…? No, his movements… are too clean… too strong…"

The third guard advanced with the other two. Now Lu Xian was cornered, breathing heavily, but his gaze did not waver.

"I do not know any advanced techniques. I am not a system user. But I do know one thing—"

"This sword… is my own path!"

With a piercing cry, Lu Xian slashed straight forward. A sharp aura swept through the hallway like a mountain breeze. The three guards were thrown back and slammed into the wall.

Brakkk!

Silence.

Lu Xian stood in the middle of the hallway, his body covered in minor injuries, but his eyes were as sharp as his own sword.

"Heh… if it's just guards like this, I can still handle it."