The morning sun pierced through the mist over the Falling Sword Sect, illuminating cracks in the training grounds like veins of old stone. A gentle wind stirred, carrying the scent of dew and moss—and the faint tang of nervous anticipation.
Shen Liang stretched, broom in hand, yawning loudly. "Ah… nothing like a public stage to test the art of sweeping… and possibly survive."
A faint golden glow pulsed at the edge of his vision. The Universal Level-Up System floated before him:
[Main Quest Progress: 2/10 – The Sect Begins to Stir][Active Quest: Outer Sect Tournament – Rank in Top 50]
He grinned. "Rank in the top 50? That sounds… slightly terrifying. But nothing I can't sweep aside."
The outer courtyard was already packed. Disciples of all ages milled about, warming up with practice swords, shouting, and occasionally tripping over their own robes. Shen Liang approached the registration desk, nodding to the sleepy clerk.
"Outer Sect Tournament, huh?" he muttered. "A chance to earn XP and public humiliation in equal measure."
Behind him, Liu Qiming's glare could have carved stone. The bandaged outer disciple muttered, "If that broom-wielding fraud thinks he can survive this… he's dreaming."
Shen Liang waved lazily. "Dreams are half the fun, dear Liu. Sweeping dreams, mostly."
The system chimed:
[Warning: Rival detected – Liu Qiming (Hostile) / Outer Sect Tournament Participation][Hidden Quest Triggered: Survive Rival Challenges]
The first match was announced: Zhao Fei vs. Shen Liang.
Shen Liang's eyebrows shot up. "Wait… I'm against Zhao Fei first?"
Zhao Fei grinned, walking forward. "You ready to spar, janitor? Or are you planning to sweep the floor instead?"
Shen Liang twirled his broom lazily. "Both, if necessary."
[Combat Detected: Shen Liang vs. Zhao Fei / Difficulty: Moderate]
The fight began with Zhao Fei lunging forward, his wooden sword humming with qi. Shen Liang sidestepped, letting Zhao Fei crash through a low fence with a satisfying crack. He flicked his broom, stirring a swirl of dust into Zhao Fei's eyes.
[Action: Creative Distraction / +10 XP]
Zhao Fei coughed, then laughed. "Okay, clever. Didn't think of that!"
Shen Liang smirked, spinning the broom in a wide arc. A gust of wind shot forward, knocking Zhao Fei's balance off and sending him skidding across the courtyard.
[Skill Activated: Duststorm Sweep Lv.2 / +20 XP][Weapon Mastery (Broom) Lv.4 / +5 XP]
The match ended with Zhao Fei laughing and conceding, "Not bad, janitor. Not bad at all."
[Quest Update: Outer Sect Tournament / Progress: 1/5][Reward: +50 XP / Affinity +10 with Zhao Fei]
Next match: Shen Liang vs. a third-year outer disciple known for agility. Shen Liang's eyes twinkled. "Time to see if broom + sarcasm can win again."
The disciple charged, swift as a falcon. Shen Liang twirled the broom above his head, sweeping leaves, dust, and small stones into a miniature whirlwind that blocked the path. The disciple stumbled.
[Action: Environmental Manipulation / +15 XP][Hidden Quest Progress: Discover Sword Path Node / 20%]
Shen Liang grinned. "The path of the sword… might just be the broom in disguise."
By midday, Shen Liang had survived three rounds, gaining not only XP, but also the curious glances of mid-tier disciples. His broom glinted faintly, qi beginning to resonate more noticeably.
[Cultivation Progress: Qi Condensation Stage 3 / 276/300 XP][Main Quest Progress: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect / 3/10]
During a break, Shen Liang sat beside a broken fountain. Zhao Fei came over, handing him a bottle of water. "You're going to shock a lot of people today if you keep fighting like this."
Shen Liang took a sip. "All thanks to my broom. Sweeping, dodging, and a touch of chaos—oh, and a little System magic."
The system pulsed:
[Hidden Message Detected: Sword Path node latent in artifact broom. Unlock conditions: creativity + combat success. Current Progress: 35%]
Shen Liang raised his eyebrows. "Ah… so the broom is more than a broom. I like this… concept."
As the sun began to dip, the final match approached: Shen Liang vs. Liu Qiming.
The crowd gasped. The tension was palpable. Liu Qiming spat on the ground, glaring daggers. "I'll send you back to the toilets, old man!"
Shen Liang twirled his broom lazily. "Ah, yes, the reunion tour. Let's see… sweep first, insult later?"
[Combat Detected: Liu Qiming / Difficulty: High][Hidden Quest Triggered: Defeat Rival for Reputation / XP Bonus Available]
With a sly grin, Shen Liang prepared his broom. A faint golden aura of qi began to swirl around him. Dust, leaves, and small stones swirled in the air, forming a miniature storm.
"Let's dance, Liu. And remember… sweeping is an art form," he whispered.
[System Alert: Hidden Sword Path Node – Activation Threshold Near]
The courtyard erupted into cheers, dust, and the anticipation of one laborer rewriting the reputation of the Falling Sword Sect.