Xiao Tian let out a slow breath as he considered his next move. The first piece of preparation was already underway, but the second one seemed even more crucial—just like Tang San had done, he needed to establish a sect of his own.
Ever since he obtained the techniques of the Drunken Swordsman, most of his moves and body skills came from that lineage. It made perfect sense—why not take those techniques and form the foundation of a Shushan Sword Sect in this world?
He couldn't help but grin at the thought. What kind of face would Tang San make if the legendary Shushan Sect suddenly appeared in his world? The idea was too amusing to resist.
Still, Xiao Tian wasn't daydreaming blindly. He carefully weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
If he joined the Spirit Hall outright, things wouldn't be convenient for him. No matter how strong or talented he was, he'd still be subordinate to others. Unless he rose high enough within their ranks—something far from easy—he'd always be working under someone else's shadow. And he wasn't the type to enjoy bowing his head.
Sure, his system gave him monstrous talent, both in swordsmanship and in spirit power. But even with that, his roots in the Spirit Hall would always be shallow. He was not one of them, and he knew it.
Worst of all was Bibi Dong herself. At this point in her life, her mind was teetering dangerously close to madness. Who could say what she might do if he brought her the method of forming an equal soul contract?
Xiao Tian frowned. In the original story, Bibi Dong had chased after Xiaowu, Daming, and Erming with insane cruelty, wanting their spirit rings and bones no matter the cost. If he walked straight into her arms now, could he still protect Xiaowu and the others?
The only way would be to somehow cleanse the evil power of the Rakshasa from her heart and return her to sanity. Otherwise, aligning too closely with her was simply suicidal.
As for forging ties with Qian Renxue? He chuckled bitterly. Impossible. She only valued his strength and talent, and in her eyes a person like Xiao Tian wasn't a partner—he was a useful subordinate at best. Friendship? Nonexistent.
No, his path was clear. Establishing the Shushan Sword Sect was the way forward. With it, he could slowly build up his own power and, bit by bit, create the strength to stand against the Spirit Hall.
Besides, compared to conquering existing sects under Bibi Dong's banner, founding his own force was far less troublesome. If the Shushan Sect rose strong enough, it could even bend other sects to its own purposes.
But even with that decision, Xiao Tian knew one crucial detail wasn't perfect—the equal soul contract.
When Daming and Erming signed with him, their powers were suppressed, unable to reach their true potential. What he truly needed was an advanced form of the contract, one where they could sign with him as companions but still fight at their original strength. That would be the best outcome for both sides: they could grow beside him, yet remain free in their strength.
Inside the mental space, both Daming and Erming sensed his sincerity. Their hearts warmed. They had feared betrayal, but Xiao Tian had not disappointed them. Perhaps placing their trust in him wasn't a mistake after all.
The group's return journey was far more relaxed than their desperate sprint into the Star Dou Great Forest. This time, they paced themselves—resting whenever they stumbled upon an interesting place, taking their time to recover from the ordeal they had endured inside that ancient forest.
Xiao Tian also thought back to the parting words left behind by the Dragon Duke and Snake Woman. He didn't put much weight on them. In the original story, those two only helped Tang San because of his father. They wanted Tang Hao to owe them a favor, so they stood up to Yue Guan for him—but in the end, they walked away empty-handed.
Compared to them, Dugu Bo was far more admirable. He had begun by sparing Tang San due to respect for Tang Hao, but in the end their bond grew from a practical relationship into one of friendship, and eventually, unshakable loyalty. He joined the Tang Sect. He even went so far as to stake his life to aid Tang San.
The detoxification Tang San gave him wasn't even a permanent cure, but Dugu Bo still showed such character. Compared with that, the Dragon Duke and Snake Woman were shallow.
Xiao Tian smirked at the thought. Some people truly proved their worth not with gifts, but with loyalty.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered his system. The last time, he had been so caught up in survival that he hadn't properly checked its latest rewards. He summoned the familiar interface in his mind.
[Ding! Damn it, host, you've shocked me again! You actually managed to bind Daming and Erming as your soul companions, and even snatched the Shura Sword Sheath from Tang God King's Xiaowu! Triggering critical hit reward!]
The words made his eyes widen. Wait—what? He had only been thinking about stronger contracts, but the system had already prepared an upgrade?
[Reward: Advanced Equal Soul Contract Method, "Shushan Sword Method," and a God-Given Spirit Ring.]
Xiao Tian's lips twitched. The system was seriously something else.
The explanation rolled in next, glowing in his mind.
[Advanced Equal Soul Contract: After contracting, the spirit retains its full original strength. The spirit and soul master are completely equal. The spirit can advance its cultivation faster by relying on the master's energy, while the master can borrow the spirit's strength in battle. All power consumed in combat is drawn from the spirit's own reserves.]
Xiao Tian almost laughed aloud. This was exactly what he had wanted! With this method, Daming and Erming could remain in their peak form, standing beside him as equals. It was perfect.
The next line made him laugh even harder.
[Shushan Sword Method: A comprehensive sword art encompassing the Heavenly Sword, Ten Thousand Swords, and Sword Control Techniques.]
"System, you really understand me," Xiao Tian muttered, delighted. Finally, he'd be able to practice sword techniques in a systematic way instead of fumbling with half-remembered impressions. Even the sword-control technique he used before had been clumsy, but now he could truly refine it. His future swordsmanship was bound to leap higher than ever.
Soon his thoughts drifted toward another technique—the one that concerned him the most: the Bixie Sword. Its true name was the Exorcism Sword Art, a soul-shaking name. The only problem? Rumor said one had to castrate himself to practice it.
Xiao Tian swallowed hard as he opened the mental copy of the manual. The very first line stared back at him mercilessly:
"First Stage of the Exorcism Sword: To practice this art, castrate yourself."
"…"
His heart skipped a beat. Then sank. Then skipped again.
He hurriedly flipped the page, hoping for salvation. Words danced before his eyes.
Page after page… until finally, at the very end:
"Those unwilling to castrate themselves may also succeed."
Hah! Finally, salvation. Xiao Tian nearly cheered. But then he saw the small annotation underneath:
"However, the power will be greatly reduced, and the practitioner risks blood qi backlash, leading to madness or deviation."
His expression twisted. "…Useless. Completely useless."
But then a spark of inspiration struck him. His understanding of martial arts had been evolving day by day. If his comprehension could enhance other sword arts, why not refine this one too?
If he improved the Exorcism Sword Art with his insights, perhaps he wouldn't need to sacrifice anything. Sure, it might not reach the terrifying peak of the original, but it would be safe and usable. Better than turning himself into a half-man!
Resolved, Xiao Tian stored the manual away in his soul guide. He would study it more carefully when he found spare time. For now, he had bigger priorities.
The path forward was clear: build the Shushan Sect, master the advanced sword arts, and cultivate the advanced equal soul contract. From here on, everything would change.
And on this road, Xiao Tian's laughter echoed quietly, confident and unshaken. The rise of the Shushan Sword Sect was just beginning.
--
Unlock 50 exclusive advanced chapters for just $10 – don't miss out! Check the synopsis/description for the link! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: The Godly Drunkard System" & "Douluo Dalu: My Harem System is Bugged!" — don't miss out!