Morning mist still clung to the mountain ridges, curling like drifting clouds of pale silk. The outer courtyard was silent, save for the faint rhythm of sweeping — steady, calm, almost meditative.
Shen Liang stood in the center, broom poised in one hand, eyes closed, every breath synchronized with the pulse of his qi.
The System shimmered before him:
[Cultivation: Qi Condensation Stage 7 → 8 (Progress 490/500 XP)][Hidden Sword Path: Sword of the Laborer – Mastery 70% → 80%][Skill Progress: Sword Form Lv.2 → Lv.3 / Wind Slash Lv.1 → Lv.2][Passive Buff: Creativity in Combat +20%][Hidden Quest Progress: "Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect" – Stage 1 / Outer Sect Reputation +8%]
Shen Liang cracked one eye open and smiled lazily."Almost Stage Eight," he murmured. "One more sweep and I'll probably terrify the laundry team."
He raised the broom. Qi flared.
The bristles glowed gold-white, humming faintly. Then — boom! — a gust erupted from beneath his feet, swirling into a miniature vortex. Pebbles lifted. Dust scattered in perfect symmetry. The air vibrated as sword qi and wind qi fused.
A faint notification blinked:
[Skill Fusion Attempt Detected: Sword Form + Wind Slash → Wind Sword Sweep Prototype]
The broom hummed louder, edges shimmering like a translucent blade. Shen Liang grinned."So it's time to experiment, eh?"
He stepped forward and swung.
The air screamed — a single, razor-thin arc of golden wind shot forward, carving a perfect line across the training ground. When it dissipated, silence fell. Then, a loud crack echoed as one of the old stone dummies split cleanly in half.
Disciples nearby froze mid-step.
"That— That's not possible!" one outer disciple gasped. "That broom— he just cut stone!"
Another whispered, trembling, "He's… he's not even using a sword!"
Zhao Fei jogged in, wide-eyed. "Shen Liang! You— you cut the courtyard again! The maintenance elder's going to kill you!"
"Relax," Shen Liang said, twirling the broom. "I'll sweep the evidence away."
The System pulsed:
[Skill Created: Wind Sword Sweep Lv.1 / Damage: Very High / AoE attack utilizing fused wind and sword qi][XP +150 / Level Up Achieved!][Qi Condensation Stage 8 Reached! Attributes Enhanced.][Hidden Title Unlocked: Broom Saint of the Outer Sect – Increases reputation, 10% faster XP gain when using improvised weapons.]
"Stage Eight," Shen Liang whispered, feeling the smooth surge of qi through his meridians. "Not bad for a man with a mop's cousin."
Zhao Fei looked on in awe. "You're growing too fast… Elder Wei's going to notice you soon."
"Good," Shen Liang said, a spark of mischief lighting his eyes. "Maybe the sect will finally remember the people who actually keep it clean."
Before Zhao Fei could reply, a cold, mocking voice cut across the courtyard.
"Making noise again, janitor?"
A group of inner disciples strode in — led by Liu Qiming, his arm still bandaged from the tournament humiliation. His eyes gleamed with bitterness. "You think cutting rocks makes you special? I'll show you what a real sword looks like."
He unsheathed a gleaming steel blade — low-grade spiritual steel, etched with flowing inscriptions.
Shen Liang leaned on his broom, unbothered. "Ah, Senior Brother Liu. Have you come for your cleaning appointment?"
Murmurs rippled through the watching disciples. Even Zhao Fei winced."You're really going to provoke him again?"
"Provocation?" Shen Liang said innocently. "I'm just offering free maintenance. The broom's a versatile tool — sweeps floors, polishes pride, and occasionally… teaches lessons."
Liu Qiming lunged.
His sword flashed — fast, sharp, murderous. Shen Liang moved almost lazily, but the broom flared golden, deflecting the blow with a metallic clang! Sparks flew as the broom's qi blade met steel.
Liu Qiming's eyes widened. "Impossible!"
Shen Liang's grin turned sly. "Impossible? My broom disagrees."
He swept horizontally. Wind Sword Sweep!
The air exploded — a wide golden arc of energy hurled Liu Qiming backward, slamming him into a pillar with a thunderous crack. His sword arm trembled violently, blood dripping from his wrist.
The courtyard went dead silent.
[Combat Result: Victory][XP +120 / Sect Reputation +10%][Hidden Quest Update: Falling Sword Sect Prestige Restored – Stage 1 Progress: 65%][Main Quest Progress: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect 7/10] ✅
Shen Liang tapped his broom against the ground. "Senior Brother, your swordsmanship is sharp… but you forgot one thing."
Liu Qiming coughed. "W-what?"
Shen Liang smiled, sweeping the air — sending a gentle breeze to scatter dust over the broken stone dummy."Even a sword must learn to clean up its own mess."
Laughter broke from the outer disciples. Zhao Fei clapped him on the shoulder, trying not to grin too wide."You're insane, Shen Liang. Totally insane."
"Maybe," Shen Liang said, walking toward the sect gate. "But in this sect, sanity never rebuilt anything."
Above, Su Qinglan observed from her pavilion, lips curved faintly."He grows faster than I expected," she murmured. "Perhaps… the System's power is only the beginning. If he continues like this, even the Inner Sect will have to bow."
Far below, Shen Liang exhaled slowly, brushing dust from his robe.
"Stage Eight," he murmured, eyes gleaming toward the mountain peaks. "Let's see how high a janitor can climb."
[System Notification: New Quest Unlocked – Enter the Inner Sect Trials][Reward: Hidden Class Advancement Path Revealed][Main Quest Update: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect – Stage 2 Objective Unlocked: Gain Inner Sect Recognition]
The broom shimmered faintly in his grip, as if humming in agreement.