After finishing the book, Madara immediately headed to the reception desk, where the old librarian was usually stationed. As he approached, he saw the elderly man crouched under the desk, organizing some things. Once he was close enough, he asked him about the book he had just read.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to have another copy of this book? Most of its content seems to be missing."
The old man stopped what he was doing and stood up, accepting the book from Madara. As soon as he laid eyes on the cover, a knowing expression crossed his face.
"Ah... No, young man. That's the only remaining copy of this book."
"I don't mean to pry, but... do you know what the story is about?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.
"Yes, I do," the old man nodded. "It's about a young boy named Lin Xuan who dreamed of becoming a cultivator, despite being born with low-grade bone marrow, a weak spiritual root, and an ordinary bloodline. In short, he was just an average cultivator. He wasn't alone, of course—many others were born with the same limitations. That's why people like them were labeled as 'Dust Cultivators'—a mocking term for those who are fated to remain grounded forever, unable to rise."
"So basically, he's like a background character if you place him in the context of a cultivation novel," Madara thought to himself.
"Sir, does the book mention what his cultivation path was? And he didn't receive any kind of inheritance to aid his journey?"
"There are different versions of the tale," the old man replied. "Some say he was a body cultivator. Others say he was a sword cultivator, or even a beast tamer. As for your second question... there's no definite answer. But if I remember correctly, in the version you read, it said: 'He had no sacred inheritance. No mysterious master. No ancient artifact awakening at his touch. All he had... was a stubborn heart, and a pair of calloused hands that refused to yield.'
"This story has been passed down for nearly a hundred million years. By now, it's hard to say which version is true—if any of them are." With no further questions, Madara gave a polite nod and made his way to the second chamber of the library. The old man watched him go. Once he was out of sight, the elderly librarian looked down at the book in his hands, his expression darkening with irritation. "So, there was still a copy left..."
With a flick of his finger and a whisper of flame, the book ignited, turning to ash in mere moments—reduced to nothing by his fire affinity. His face returned to its calm, composed state just as a new disciple approached the desk.
...
"If what he said is true, then Lin Xuan was truly remarkable," Madara thought to himself, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. When he returned to the second room of the library, he immediately grabbed the book that contained the details of the progression and stages of sword intent. Sitting down in one of the chairs in the reading area, he began to read it intently.
Sword Intent Progression:
Each Sword Intent level is divided into four distinct stages, each with a 0%–99% progression range:
0–29%: Early Stage
30–69%: Mid Stage
70–99%: Late Stage
100%: Peak Stage – A critical bottleneck that must be overcome to advance further.
(Seems like the stages of progression are quite similar to those in cultivation, after all.) Madara thought as he continued reading.
In the boundless cultivation world, where myriad Daos compete for supremacy, the Sword Dao stands as one of the most profound and feared paths. Its practitioners, the sword cultivators, are known for their unyielding hearts, unmatched sharpness, and relentless pursuit of perfection. But true mastery of the sword is not merely about wielding a blade — it is about understanding intent, the very soul of the sword. This journey begins with the simplest insight and ends with dominion over a realm forged from one's very will.
These are the realms of Sword Intent:
Basic Sword Intent: At the foundational level, a cultivator learns to infuse their sword strikes with a basic level of intent. This might involve focusing on precision, speed, or power, enhancing the effectiveness of their techniques.
Intermediate Sword Intent: As the cultivator progresses, they deepen their understanding of the Sword Dao. Intermediate Sword Intent involves a more profound connection between the cultivator and their weapon, allowing for more intricate and advanced techniques.
Sword Will: Cultivators at this level can concentrate their Sword Intent with intense focus. They can control the flow of battle, predict their opponent's movements, and use their sword with incredible precision. The sword becomes an extension of their will.
Sword Aura: The cultivator's Sword Intent expands to form an aura around their weapon. This aura can influence the surroundings, creating a palpable sense of pressure and intimidation. It may also enhance the cutting power of the sword.
Sword Mind: Cultivators who reach this level have transcended the ordinary constraints of the mind. Their Sword Intent becomes a state of perfect clarity and enlightenment. They can perceive the essence of the Sword Dao and execute techniques with unmatched proficiency.
Heavenly Sword Realm: Sword cultivators achieve a state where their Sword Intent creates a realm of its own. The Heavenly Sword Realm is a manifestation of their mastery, and within this realm, they wield absolute authority over the Sword Dao. Techniques executed in this realm reach an unparalleled level of power
~~~Increasing sword intent gradually enhances a cultivator's swordsmanship, energy control, mental clarity, and combat abilities. As sword intent grows, they gain deeper connection to the Sword Dao, manifesting unique techniques and sword spirits. It boosts physical and spiritual strength, leading to the formation of the Sword Embryo, which can project powerful attacks. With heightened perception and instinct, they can predict, and counter opponents' moves, eventually fusing with the Dao to reach an immortal-like state, transcending ordinary combat.~~~
...
Not wanting his visit to the library to go to waste, Madara decided to spend more time reading. He pulled out several books on the different types of cultivation paths, knowing the knowledge might come in handy for the upcoming sparring duel—and the duo mission that would follow. In his mind, they wouldn't just be facing spiritual beasts. There was a high chance they'd also encounter fellow cultivators.
By the time he returned to his residence, the sky had already darkened. After a simple dinner, he entered meditation and began training his technique within his inner realm.
The next morning, a crowd of outer disciples had already gathered in front of the Forging Hall to take the next phase of their examination. Just like the last time, the test lasted for two full days. Once the exam concluded, Madara went straight back to his residence and resumed his training without wasting a single moment.
The following day, all examinees were summoned once again to gather at the front of the Forging Hall. There, after several hours of waiting, Elder Jin Yanzhi stepped forward and began announcing the names of those who passed. To everyone's surprise—and perhaps, relief—there were no failures. Every disciple had passed the test.
This came as no shock, considering each of them knew exactly how important this assessment was. After the announcements, Elder Jin Yanzhi turned to introduce the man standing beside him.
The man had a solemn presence. He had long silver hair and deep black eyes, and wore flowing indigo robes inscribed with intricate formation patterns. His entire being radiated calm mastery.
"I am Elder Liang Zhenyu, a formation and sealing cultivator at the early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm," he said in a steady voice.
All the disciples respectfully cupped their fists in a formal greeting. Once the greetings were finished, Elder Liang Zhenyu motioned for them to follow him.
Upon entering, they found themselves in a vast, dimly lit hall. The walls were engraved with glowing runes that shifted and pulsed like living energy. Scrolls, jade slips, and talisman papers floated gently in midair, orbiting ancient formation compasses and seal arrays carved into the floor. The air thrummed with spiritual power, thick with the scent of ink, incense, and burnt talisman ash.
At the center of the hall stood a large stone platform, inscribed with intricate formation circles, where disciples practiced under the watchful gaze of robed masters. Around the edges of the hall, shelves were neatly lined with rare materials—beast blood, spiritual ink, and various runes.
As they made their way to one of the designated lecture grounds, they passed by several practice platforms. On each one, a disciple specialized in formation and sealing was performing their techniques, weaving runes and seals in the air with focused concentration.
Once they reached the lecture ground, the disciples took their seats.
When everyone had settled, Elder Liang Zhenyu stepped forward and began his lecture on the various types of formation techniques.
He stood tall, hands clasped behind his back, as the morning mist gently curled around his robes. With a casual flick of his sleeve, a jade disk and a crane-feather brush floated before him, both pulsing faintly with spiritual qi. His sharp gaze swept across the assembled disciples.
"Observe carefully," he instructed, raising two fingers and swiftly drawing an arc through the air. Golden runes burst into view like fireflies, dancing and aligning into a circular pattern on the platform. A soft, resonating hum filled the air as the formation took shape before their eyes.
"This is the Silent Binding Array (寂缚阵 / Jì Fù Zhèn)—a low-grade formation used to restrict movement and suppress the circulation of qi."
As the array locked into place, the air grew slightly heavier. Elder Liang turned toward the disciples and continued, "This type of formation is ideal for capturing low-level spirit beasts or stalling your opponent during duels."
He waved his hand, and the central rune flickered. "To dispel it, you must target the core rune—the glyph at the center. Channel your spiritual qi into it, but in the opposite flow from the one used during activation. This reversal will disrupt the array's balance and cause it to collapse."
With another graceful motion, the formation unraveled—its glowing lines dissolving like threads of light pulled away by the wind, fading silently into the stone beneath their feet.
After that demonstration, Elder Liang continued to display various formation arrays and sealing techniques. Their discussions and lessons lasted for two full days. Before dismissing the disciples, he reminded them that their examination would be held the following day. That night, Madara chose to postpone his usual training in order to conserve energy and prepare mentally for the upcoming exam.
That morning, outside the Runic Hall, a large number of disciples had already gathered, eagerly waiting for the upcoming exam. Their attention shifted as the doors of the hall opened, and out stepped their Elder Sect, Liang Zhenyu. Without wasting time, he retrieved a scroll from his storage ring—a list of the disciples who would be taking the exam. He began calling out names, selecting ten individuals in total. Madara's name was among those called.
Once all ten had been chosen, Elder Liang guided them into the Runic Hall and led them to a corridor with ten separate rooms—each prepared for one examinee. After assigning each of them a room, he gave a brief signal for them to enter. Upon stepping inside, Madara found himself in a dimly lit chamber. In the center of the room hovered a spirit orb, gently glowing with spiritual energy. To his right was a table with an ink brush and paper neatly arranged.
As soon as the doors closed behind them, Elder Liang's voice echoed through the room, giving the instructions for the exam.
With focused minds, the ten disciples began observing the projections within the spirit orb, which displayed a sequence of formation and sealing techniques. The exam lasted for several hours, testing not just memory, but comprehension and insight. Once it concluded, they were allowed to leave their rooms.
As Madara stepped out, he felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. Finding a quiet spot behind the Runic Hall—where examinees exited after their tests—he sat down and immediately began meditating, using his Yin-Yang Absorption Technique to restore his strength. After fully recovering, he didn't linger to chat with the other cultivators. Instead, he returned straight to his room, where he resumed mastering his technique within his inner realm.