With that thought, Xu Qingxian quietly exited the group chat and tapped on the check-in tab.
To his surprise, the reward arrived instantly.
However, it was not the spirit stone he had anticipated.
Xu Qingxian turned his gaze toward the sword lying a few feet away, glinting under the pale light, while a message from the transmigration app floated on his screen.
[Congratulations on checking in on the fourth day. You have received a Mortal Grade Sword.]
He slipped his phone back into his pocket, then stepped forward and picked up the weapon. He examined it closely, running his fingers across its cold, polished surface.
The blade shimmered with a metallic luster and appeared no different from an ordinary sword at first glance. But the moment his hand wrapped around the hilt, something shifted within him.
A rush of heat crawled up his arm, and vivid images began flashing through his mind. Perfect stances, flawless footwork, and sharp techniques poured into his thoughts like a flood. He felt as though all the sword techniques had been revealed to him.
Xu Qingxian could tell that the reason for this was because of his Basic Sword Technique...
He dragged a finger gently along the edge, a line of cold prickling his skin. The sharpness was unmistakable.
"At least now I have a weapon," Xu Qingxian murmured, his voice calm but tinged with satisfaction.
He held the sword upright and nodded to himself.
"Today marks the fourth day since I arrived in this world," he said under his breath. "If I can raise my strength just a bit more in the next three days, I won't need to fear that execution order."
A faint smile curled his lips. For the first time since transmigrating, he felt a sliver of hope.
With little else to do, he sat cross-legged on the stone floor and closed his eyes to cultivate.
"The life of a cheater is rather pitiful," he mused in silence.
With his attribute panel, there was no need to struggle with cultivation bottlenecks. As long as he mastered the techniques, the system would handle the rest. His only task was to learn.
And so he trained.
Time crept by slowly as he immersed himself in his cultivation. The sun sank beneath the horizon, and the moon began its slow ascent.
When he finally opened his eyes, the cold light of night had filled the palace.
Seventh stage of Qi Condensation.
"Hmm, not bad. Still room to grow," he whispered to himself, though inwardly he was pleased.
A sudden knock at the door broke the silence. He had sensed someone approaching and guessed it was Lin Fan bringing his dinner.
As expected, the door creaked open and the scholarly youth stepped in, holding a tray of steaming dishes. The aroma of spiced meat and stir-fried vegetables wafted into the room.
"Young Master, here is your dinner," Lin Fan said with a respectful bow, placing the tray on the table.
Xu Qingxian, still in a good mood, picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. The meat melted on his tongue, rich with flavor.
[Congratulations on devouring a Qi Condensation realm beast. You have received 1 Attribute Point.]
Golden text appeared in his vision, and Xu Qingxian's smile deepened.
"Youth Master, if you notice anything unusual here, please alert someone immediately," Lin Fan leaned closer, his voice low and serious.
Xu Qingxian raised an eyebrow, curious. "What are you talking about?"
The young attendant sighed. "While coming here, I passed a few cultivators near the entrance. Something about them felt wrong. Their presence gave me chills, but I can't explain why."
Xu Qingxian's expression darkened slightly, his gaze sharpening.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his tone calmer than before.
Lin Fan nodded, though a hint of unease lingered on his face. "I doubt they'll do anything to me. I was personally assigned by the royal princess and the king to deliver your meals. They wouldn't dare harm me."
Still, Xu Qingxian could sense his concern was genuine.
After a few more quiet exchanges, Lin Fan took his leave.
Xu Qingxian watched his silhouette fade into the darkness. His eyes turned cold.
He reached for his sword and ran his fingers along the blade.
"It seems someone is looking for death," he muttered, amusement and menace mingling in his voice.
He was cautious but not afraid. Anyone bold enough to infiltrate the Cold Palace wouldn't be too powerful, at least not enough to draw the wrath of the king.
He suspected they would be no stronger than peak Qi Condensation cultivators.
He, on the other hand, was already at the seventh stage and possessed the unparalleled Basic Sword Technique. That gave him confidence.
He resumed his cultivation as the night thickened.
Moments passed. The cold palace soon fell into complete darkness.
The lanterns on the walls flickered under the icy wind. Their flames danced uncertainly, casting long, jittery shadows on the walls.
Suddenly, a metallic groan echoed from the heavy steel door nearby.
The sound cut through the silence like a blade. Xu Qingxian opened his eyes slightly, his gaze calm and composed.
"They're here already," he whispered and shut his eyes once more.
The groaning intensified, followed by a loud creak as the door opened. Three shadowy figures slipped inside, each cloaked in black.
Their oppressive auras crashed into the chamber like waves, suffocating and fierce.
Foundation Establishment realm.
One of them scanned the room and muttered while eyeing Xu Qingxian, who remained seated and appeared shackled to the wall.
"Isn't this a bit much? Sending us to kill the so-called Prince of Nothing?"
"Right? They could've just sent a few weaklings from the Qi Condensation realm. Did the young master really think this guy was a threat?" another murmured with a scoff.
"Silence," the third figure barked. He stood at the center, exuding the most powerful aura of the three. His eyes glinted with cold calculation.
"Do you dare question the young master's command? Have you considered the consequences if his sister secretly gave the prince a few trump cards? If we fail and our identities are exposed, we're finished."
The room fell into silence again.
Then, the one on the right sneered and chuckled. "Look at him, sleeping so peacefully even though we're here to kill him. I say we play with him a bit before ending him."
They didn't see Xu Qingxian as a threat. To them, he was nothing more than a weak prince, a forgotten relic.
They advanced slowly, their blades drawn.
"Prince of Nothing, do not blame us for sending you to the afterlife. Blame your fate for being born into the royal bloodline."
A savage gleam ignited in their eyes as they lunged forward.
"Prince of Nothing? Not a bad name..." a calm voice rang out from the shadows.
In that instant, a streak of cold, brilliant light sliced through the darkness.
The sword light was pure and dazzling, like a star blazing through the night sky.
Time seemed to freeze.
The assassins stopped mid-step, their expressions blank, their minds stunned. The sword light hovered before them, silent and merciless.
Then, like a breath of wind, it swept forward.