"Sword Wine."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes glinted with sharp light.
"With a name like that, your Martial Soul must undoubtedly be a sword."
"The sword is king among weapons—one of the top-tier Tool Martial Souls."
"But it's too rigid and easily broken. I've discussed this in my treatise, The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls. You—"
He didn't even finish his sentence.
A dazzling sword light split the night, piercing straight for Yu Xiaogang's throat.
Flender and Liu Erlong's expressions changed dramatically. None of them had expected that this Sword Wine would attack without hesitation.
Liu Erlong reacted instantly, flashing in front of Yu Xiaogang. Flames burst from her palm to meet the slashing sword light head-on.
Fire and sword qi collided in mid-air—
Exploding in a violent shockwave that rippled through the night.
The sword light was finally consumed by the searing blaze, but Liu Erlong's eyes flashed with visible shock.
"What a sharp sword…"
Yu Xiaogang stood frozen, his face pale. After a long pause, he clenched his jaw and spoke:
"Sword Wine, there's not much difference between Spirit Masters at the first two Spirit Rings!"
"Once the Continental Spirit Master Tournament arrives in half a year, you'll see Spirit Masters far more talented than you."
"And they'll all come from Shrek Academy!"
Li Zhexian shook his head and laughed coldly.
So now they were trying the "don't bully poor middle-aged men" speech?
He turned toward Dugu Yan.
"Sister Dugu, if you would, trouble Senior Dugu to step in."
"Gladly. I've had enough of those three," Dugu Yan replied with a smirk, pulling out a snake-bone whistle from her robes and raising it to her lips.
The Golden Iron Triangle's expressions changed drastically.
The name Poison Douluo was one known throughout the continent.
"Run!"
Without hesitation, Flender released his Martial Soul true body, transforming into a massive blue owl with a wingspan of five meters.
Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang hoisted the bed and leapt onto his back.
The blue shadow flashed, and the three disappeared into the night.
Li Zhexian watched them go and turned to Dugu Yan.
"I was just joking—could you really summon Senior Dugu?"
Dugu Yan casually slipped the whistle back into her pocket, lips curling in amusement.
"Just wanted to scare them off."
At that, Xue Qinghe, Ye Lingling, and the members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team couldn't help but break into laughter.
That night, the group wandered the city until midnight, full of joy and revelry.
Worth noting—since Li Zhexian's previous residence had been destroyed, everyone eagerly invited him to stay at their estates.
The tranquility of the Ye Clan, the depth of heritage in the Dugu Clan, even the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace—each was a place most people could only dream of.
But—
Li Zhexian declined them all.
Those grand manors, with their throngs of servants and rigid etiquette, simply didn't suit him.
He was used to living freely.
If the mood struck him, he might take a drink and dance with his sword under the moon, or stroll in the rain to listen to the wind.
In a place bound by rules and obligations?
It just wasn't comfortable.
So—
That very morning, he'd found a quiet little courtyard in the eastern outskirts of Heaven Dou City, and settled in.
Yes.
Li Zhexian refused to believe—
There could possibly be another Zhao Wuji in this world coming to kill him.
Creak—
The courtyard gate opened softly.
Under the hazy moonlight, a refined and elegant yard came into view.
To the right, at the base of the wall, a plum tree stood in full bloom, its branches heavy with ripe fruit, threatening to drop sweet nectar at any moment.
Across from it, nestled in the corner, a four-season plum blossom quietly unfurled its petals—true to its name, blooming fragrant all year round.
The sharp scent of plum blossoms mixed with the rich aroma of ripe fruit, filling the courtyard.
Looking toward the three rooms with gray-tiled roofs and blue-brick walls, Li Zhexian plucked a plum and popped it into his mouth, nodding in satisfaction.
"Not bad. Quite good."
"The Saintess really knows how to handle things properly."
Maybe he'd gotten too much sleep during those days in the bird's nest.
Li Zhexian felt no drowsiness at all.
After a quick wash, he changed into a loose plain robe, its collar slightly open.
Hands behind his back, he strolled into the courtyard.
Dusk had fully settled.
Even the stone slabs beneath his feet seemed to carry the sweetness of plums.
"Since comprehending the Qinglian Sword Song, I've only used it in battle."
"Never once have I danced with it beneath moonlight and breeze."
"And tonight, the moonlight is perfect…"
"Let's dance."
With a light tap on the moss-covered steps, Li Zhexian's figure glided like drifting clouds to the center of the yard.
The Qinglian Sword slid silently into his palm.
In that moment—
Before he even moved—
A burst of chilling sword qi erupted like a torrential downpour, engulfing the entire courtyard in an instant.
His sword moves flowed like a soaring swan—
At times drawing down starlight from the heavens, at others unleashing brilliant bursts of ice and fire.
As the sword sliced through the air, it let out a fine, sharp whistle, making the copper bells beneath the eaves chime gently in fear.
Beads of sweat slid down his cheeks—
Before they could fall, they were vaporized into mist by the surging sword qi.
"Ha! Wonderful!"
The more he danced, the more exhilarating it felt.
As his sword danced through the air—
The lingering, sharp killing intent swirling around him—
Was gradually refined, drawn inward—
Finally vanishing completely into the three-foot-six-inch sword blade.
His sword became more seamless. More whole.
"A sword, though a weapon of slaughter, must be sharpened constantly."
"Only by practicing its forms daily can its killing intent be hidden—its presence mastered fully."
Li Zhexian swept his sword in a wide arc.
The sword qi whipped up the pink petals of the plum blossom tree—
And in that instant, petals filled the air, like a dreamlike rain of rouge.
At the peak of his momentum—
A crisp crack echoed from within his body, like ice breaking.
A surge of Spirit Power, far more powerful than before, erupted outward—
Smooth and natural.
Spirit Power—Level 30!
Li Zhexian sheathed his sword and took a long swig of wine.
His eyes sparkled like cold stars as he sat casually on the stone bench beneath the plum tree.
"Level thirty…"
"Time to hunt for a new Spirit Ring."
He began contemplating the direction for his third Spirit Ring.
Originally, he'd planned a precise ring combination.
But with his first two Spirit Rings both reaching the thousand-year mark, that plan had already been thrown off entirely.
"My battle with Zhao Wuji…"
"It exposed a weakness in my defense."
"But defense…"
"Contradicts the essence of my sword path—pure offense."
"I already have enough sword techniques. The Qinglian Sword Song hasn't even reached mastery yet."
"Perhaps… I should seek a Spirit Ability that amplifies sword power?"
"Forget it. I'll go to the Star Dou Forest when the time comes and see which Spirit Beast has fate with my sword."
"Mm… best to find a companion to go with me."
...
The next day.
Li Zhexian arranged to go shopping with Xue Qinghe to furnish his new courtyard.
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance Douluo, standing nearby, scanned him sharply, their eyes widening:
"Wait—you reached Level 30 already?!"
Li Zhexian smiled and nodded.
Xue Qinghe gently ran her fingers over an elegant sandalwood wine table in front of her.
Li Zhexian liked to drink in the courtyard. Cold stone stools and tables were uncomfortable—something better was needed.
"Have you decided what your third Spirit Ring will be?" she asked softly.
"Even if I have a plan, it might not go the way I want," Li Zhexian replied with a grin.
"I'll figure it out in the Star Dou Forest."
Xue Qinghe paid for the wine table, then asked:
"Shall I arrange for Spirit Masters from the Royal Family to accompany you?"
"No need."
Li Zhexian waved it off.
"Traveling with outsiders just makes me feel restrained."
"Fair enough," Xue Qinghe replied, saying no more. She knew Li Zhexian had his own judgment.
Once the shopping was complete—
The two walked side by side toward the eastern outskirts of the Imperial City.
Unbeknownst to Li Zhexian—
Among the bustling crowd…
A familiar silhouette stood still in the distance, dusty and travel-worn—
Tears shimmering faintly in her eyes as she looked at him with unconcealed emotion.