Shen Liqian woke up on the bed, his eyes wide.
It wasn't a dream. It's real.
From his uncle's betrayal to activating the Clan Cultivation System and reshaping his Spiritual Root into The First Sword, everything was real.
The small, sleeping weight on his chest, Zhiyin, was enough to make him believe it.
Thank you for staying, Zhiyin.
If that wasn't enough, the pungent smell of his sweat and the phantom pain at his navel were proof that his life had taken a significant turn for the better.
Clenching and unclenching his hand, Shen Liqian felt the changes in himself.
His Cultivation base hadn't changed, yet he could tell his grip was at least three times stronger than before.
His vision was sharper and he could hear the distant sound of snow falling off the trees.
And I can smell my sweat even more.
Ugh, I need to take a bath as soon as possible!
Shen Liqian asked his cat.
"Are you sleeping?"
Zhiyin opened her eyes.
"No."
"It'd be amazing if you could sleep with me smelling like this."
Zhiyin jumped off his chest and proudly walked around his room.
"I sealed my sense of smell."
"Ah, that makes sense!"
Shen Liqian laughed.
He pushed himself up and sat up.
He noticed a blue-sheathed sword right away, its black guard protruding.
That must be my reward for the quest!
I took it immediately after shaping my Spiritual Root because I needed to hold onto something.
Shen Liqian walked over to the sheathed sword and picked it up.
[Spirit Seal Sword (Spirit)]
Unsheathing the sword partly, Shen Liqian could see his black eyes reflected on its polished, thin blade.
Shen Liqian: ( ⚆ _ ⚆ )
He fully unsheathed it and tilted the blade, checking it from various angles.
It was so well-made he fell in love with it.
Shen Liqian: (o˘◡˘o)
Zhiyin found his twinkling eyes adorable.
"It's just a Spirit Grade treasure.
"Don't drool over it."
Shen Liqian asked. "Is Spirit Grade a high grade?"
"Second from the bottom."
In other words, it wasn't a treasure akin to the Spirit Lotus.
Shen Liqian's smile didn't fade, though.
He kept smiling until Zhiyin mewled and forced him to sheathe his sword.
She then hissed at him!
"Go and take a bath! Right meow!"
"Yes!"
Shen Liqian took his sword with him to the bath like a kid who would take his new toy everywhere.
Zhiyin followed him across the cold manor, her paws cold.
At every step, she could see just how empty the Clan Chief's Manor was.
Cold permeated everything; there was little light and few windows, and the lack of furniture or decorations made the place feel dull.
If this was how the manor looked, how did the other clan members live?
Shen Liqian opened the old, creaking door and entered the bathroom.
In the middle stood a wooden barrel set on a stone.
Beneath the stone was a fire pit.
Shen Liqian walked to the small bucket and drew water from the water tank.
He poured it into the wooden tub several times, then took off his clothes.
Before jumping in, Shen Liqian picked up a few dark stones from the shelf.
They resembled coal, but were actually useful stones found in the caves at the feet of the Crown-forged Eight Mountains.
He pressed one between his palms and rubbed, creating friction until the stone glowed orange-red.
He tossed the glowing stone beneath the tub.
Shen Liqian added two more before finally jumping into the warm water.
"It took me much more strength and time the last time I heated dark stones!
"I can feel the difference in my cultivation at every step!
"I am so happy and grateful!
"Would you like to share a bath with me?"
Zhiyin stared at him with dead eyes.
(=`ω´=)
"Why not?"
She jumped in, her cat body becoming tangible and splashing water around Shen Liqian.
"I shall commend you on your fast recovery after severing your cultivation!
"You did well to return to the First Stage of Qi Attunement in three days.
"You have also shaped your Spiritual Root into a Sword and therefore can now start cultivating your Sword Intent."
Receiving honest praise from Zhiyin eclipsed the phantom pain Shen Liqian felt in his navel.
It felt great to receive it.
Shen Liqian replied, then asked:
"Thank you!
"What is the Sword Intent?"
Circling in the bathtub and splashing water around, Zhiyin spoke loftily while looking more like a playful cat than anything.
"It's the truth behind your sword."
Shen Liqian tilted his head in confusion.
Zhiyin mewled.
"Your actions and words may lie, but any Intent you comprehend from now on will never lie.
"That's why it's called Your Truth.
"The way you hold your sword, and the Intent behind it, are part of your path and part of your bearing as a Cultivator.
"It's only a faint trace of Intent, but it will be your main advantage over Shen Junce in your battle against him.
"Your clue is that you formed your Sword Intent at the beginning of your cultivation.
"Remember that comprehension and carry it over to your sword."
Shen Liqian grew serious the moment he heard about his advantage over Shen Junce.
He wouldn't waste it.
He then recalled the image of his uncle and how he came to accept this old man's talent.
And then Shen Liqian cut through that image!
That's the truth behind my sword!
He needed to consider the details of that memory.
Was he ruthless, decisive, or merciful?
What exactly did that single slash mean?
Only by fully comprehending that would he be able to take a step forward and expand the faint trace of his Sword Intent to enrich his swordsmanship and cultivation.
But for now, he needed to wash himself off.
"Could you stop splashing so much water around, Zhiyin?"
Zhiyin mewled in refusal.
(=`ω´=)っ っ っ