Wang Xiao's eyes flickered upon hearing Mu Qingfeng's words.
He had a good idea where Mu Qingfeng was taking him.
The Sword Tomb!
It was the only place in the Sword Sect that Wang Xiao had never visited.
It was also a restricted area within the Sword Sect.
Even he couldn't enter without Mu Qingfeng's permission.
Legend had it that the Sword Tomb contained the personal swords and legacies left behind by the Sword Sect's past Martial Saints and Grandmasters.
It even held the Martial Saint legacy of the sect's founding patriarch, Dugu Cheng!
Every disciple of the Sword Sect, upon breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm, was qualified to visit the Sword Tomb to meditate and cultivate.
They went in hopes of advancing further and achieving the rank of Grandmaster!
Although Wang Xiao had yet to become a Grandmaster, his strength certainly qualified him for a trip to the Sword Tomb.
Zhang Tianyang patted Wang Xiao's shoulder and said,
"Go on. There's nothing more I can teach you now."
Wang Xiao bowed respectfully to Zhang Tianyang.
"Master, I'll take my leave then. I'll come back to see you when I have time."
Zhang Tianyang smiled. "Continue to cultivate diligently in the future. Don't slack off."
"Yes," Wang Xiao nodded.
He was, of course, deeply grateful to Zhang Tianyang.
Without Zhang Tianyang, it was debatable whether he would even be alive, let alone cultivating advanced Martial Arts.
For the past five years, Zhang Tianyang had cared for him meticulously, a father as much as a master.
'When I break through to the Martial Saint Realm,' Wang Xiao thought, 'I'll repay Zhang Tianyang properly.'
'At the very least, I have to help him break through to the Grandmaster Realm!'
He didn't stay any longer.
Wang Xiao followed Mu Qingfeng, slowly leaving the courtyard.
Along the way, Sword Sect disciples bowed respectfully upon seeing Mu Qingfeng.
"Greetings, Sect Leader."
Then, they would look over at Wang Xiao, their eyes filled with curiosity.
For the past five years, Wang Xiao had spent most of his time in his courtyard or the Library Pavilion, rarely appearing before the other sect members.
Thus, while the Sword Sect disciples knew a person named Wang Xiao had joined their ranks, they knew very little about him.
Some even speculated that Wang Xiao was the illegitimate son of the Sect Leader or one of the Grandmaster Elders.
Otherwise, how could someone so young have the privilege of freely entering and exiting the Library Pavilion?!
After all, only Sword Sect disciples who reached the Postnatal Realm were qualified to enter the Library Pavilion.
And even then, only once a month.
Those in the Innate Realm could only enter once every seven days.
Wang Xiao had heard some of the rumors circulating within the sect.
But he paid them no mind, simply offering an innocent smile and a wave to the other disciples.
Mu Qingfeng looked at Wang Xiao and asked,
"Xiao'Er, do you know why I've forbidden you from revealing your strength within the sect all these years, even going so far as to prohibit you from interacting with your peers?"
Wang Xiao answered respectfully,
"You were worried, Sect Leader, that if I revealed my true abilities, it would attract the wariness of certain powerful individuals."
He knew his own Talent was too astonishing, so he was careful never to reveal his abilities in front of others.
Over the years, he had only sparred with Zhang Tianyang within the confines of their courtyard to prevent prying eyes.
A five-year-old Martial Artist with strength comparable to a Grandmaster was enough to draw the wary attention of other Sects, and even the Great Xuan Dynasty.
If his strength were ever exposed, it would undoubtedly lead to a great deal of trouble.
Mu Qingfeng said gravely,
"It's more than just wariness. It could bring fatal disaster upon you. Xiao'Er, your Talent is a rarity in this world. It's only a matter of Time before you become a Martial Saint."
"But the world today is in turmoil, teetering on the brink of war. The major Sects have long harbored rebellious intentions, held in check only by the Great Xuan Pillar of the Nation, Wu Shengtiang. That is why they dare not act rashly."
"If Wu Shengtiang were to learn of someone with your extraordinary talent, he would certainly try to kill you to preserve the Great Xuan Dynasty. If that were to happen, our Sword Sect would be powerless to stop him."
"Therefore, you must lay low for now. You must endure until you break through to become a Martial Saint, or perhaps even stronger."
"That will be the time for you to astound the world and reign supreme!"
Wang Xiao nodded.
"Sect Leader, I understand. I will not leave this mountain until I become a Martial Saint."
Mu Qingfeng smiled faintly.
"Xiao'Er, your Talent and temperament are both superb. you are destined to be a central figure of this era, so there is no need to be hasty."
"A sword kept in its sheath is all the deadlier when it is drawn."
...
「Half an hour later.」
Wang Xiao followed Mu Qingfeng along a winding path through layers of mountain peaks, finally arriving at a dense forest atop one of them.
After walking a bit further, they came to the front of a massive cave.
In front of the cave stood a stone stele, upon which were carved the two words "Sword Tomb."
The characters were carved deep into the stone, a testament to the carver's extraordinary Power!
"Xiao'Er, come inside with me."
Mu Qingfeng stepped into the cave first.
Wang Xiao followed close behind.
Soon, the two arrived in a vast, subterranean chamber.
Rows of tombstones stood here, arranged in tiers like a staircase.
The higher the tier, the fewer the tombstones.
At the very top, only a single tombstone remained.
A sharp, keen-edged sword was plunged into each tombstone.
They were covered in dense script—clearly the legacies left behind by the Sword Sect's forebears.
In front of these tombstones sat ten figures, all cross-legged in meditation.
Each figure radiated a powerful, majestic aura, a clear tier above Zhang Tianyang's.
'These must be the Sword Sect's Grandmasters,' Wang Xiao's eyes flickered.
The Sword Sect had ten Grandmasters in total. They normally resided in the Sword Tomb to meditate and cultivate, seeking to break through to the Grandmaster Realm.
They rarely made an appearance unless a major event occurred within the Sect.
Hearing footsteps, the figures opened their eyes.
When they saw Mu Qingfeng, they all rose and bowed respectfully.
"We pay our respects to the Sect Leader."
Mu Qingfeng smiled warmly and waved his hand.
"There's no need for such formalities, Elders. I've come today to have this little fellow pay his respects to you all. His name is Wang Xiao. Zhang Tianyang found him at the foot of the mountain five years ago, and he has been cultivating with Tianyang ever since. He has now achieved considerable success, so I thought I would have him cultivate here in the Sword Tomb. I hope you will all offer him some guidance from time to time."
He paused for a moment. Then, he looked at Wang Xiao and said,
"Xiao'Er, aren't you going to pay your respects?"
Wang Xiao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said,
"This junior, Wang Xiao, greets the Elders. I ask for your guidance in the days to come."
Upon hearing this, one of the Grandmaster Elders looked on with suspicion.
"Sect Leader, the boy is only five. Isn't it a bit premature for him to be cultivating in the Sword Tomb?"
The other Grandmasters looked equally bewildered.
After all, the inscriptions in the Sword Tomb were the Cultivation Techniques and insights of past Grandmasters, and even Martial Saints.
Attempting to comprehend them before reaching the appropriate Realm would be counterproductive, and could even lead to Qi deviation.
Mu Qingfeng smiled faintly.
"Not at all. Now is the perfect time. While Xiao'Er has yet to become a Grandmaster, he has already reached Innate Perfection and has completely mastered all thirty-six of the sect's Upper-Grade Martial Arts."
"I've brought him here this time so you can all temper him. Help him bring those thirty-six Upper-Grade Martial Arts to the Transformation Realm as quickly as possible, so he can use that foundation to break through to the Grandmaster Realm!"
As soon as he said this, all the Grandmasters were stunned into silence.
Innate Perfection?
Mastered all thirty-six Upper-Grade Martial Arts?
What a joke!
He was just a five-year-old boy. How could he possibly accomplish such a feat?
Never mind five years old; even for a fifty-year-old, mastering all thirty-six Upper-Grade Martial Arts was the stuff of fantasy!
The strongest expert in the world today, Wu Shengtiang, was rumored to have only brought eighteen Upper-Grade Martial Arts to the Transformation Realm in his youth.
Mu Qingfeng looked at Wang Xiao. "Xiao'Er, it seems the Elders are skeptical. Why don't you have a friendly spar with them?"
"Yes." Wang Xiao cupped his hands. "Elders, please favor me with your instruction."
One of the Grandmaster Elders couldn't help but look toward Mu Qingfeng.
"Sect Leader, has this child... truly reached Innate Perfection?"
Mu Qingfeng said calmly,
"Elder Shi, why don't you find out for yourself?"
The Grandmaster known as Elder Shi nodded.
"Since the Sect Leader insists, I'll have a little spar with the boy."
He took a step forward. Without drawing his sword, he threw a punch at Wang Xiao.
Wang Xiao also refrained from using a sword. His Inner Qi surged around him as he met the attack head-on!
BANG!
Violent Inner Qi raged wildly throughout the Sword Tomb!
「A moment later.」
Wang Xiao sent Elder Shi flying several yards back with a single punch. He then cupped his hands and said,
"Elder, thank you for the match."
Seeing this, the other Grandmasters were all struck with expressions of shock and utter disbelief.
Elder Shi had been defeated in just eight moves.
And it had been a complete, one-sided rout!
'Is this child a deity descended from the heavens?!'
'Otherwise, even if he'd started his Cultivation in the womb, how could he possibly be this strong?!'
Elder Shi looked at Wang Xiao, not with frustration, but with brilliantly shining eyes.
"The young truly are a force to be reckoned with! A force to be reckoned with! Before long, our Sword Sect will welcome a new Martial Saint!"
Mu Qingfeng's tone grew solemn.
"This matter concerning Xiao'Er must not be leaked. For the time being, you will all stay here with Xiao'Er and help him cultivate. Assisting him in becoming a Grandmaster is now your top priority. You need not concern yourselves with anything else; I will handle it."
The Elders understood the gravity of the situation, and their expressions turned serious.
"We obey your command."
They all knew how powerful Wang Xiao would become if he managed to bring all thirty-six Upper-Grade Martial Arts to the Transformation Realm.
His future accomplishments were destined to surpass even those of Wu Shengtiang.
He might even become the strongest Grandmaster of all time!
And with Wang Xiao, their Sword Sect would become the number one Sect in the world!
Mu Qingfeng patted Wang Xiao's shoulder again. "You can stay here and cultivate in peace. Your daily necessities will be delivered to you."
"Yes." Wang Xiao nodded.
Ten Grandmasters as sparring partners, on top of the legacies of the Sword Sect's past Martial Saints and Grandmasters.
With his "Analyze All Things" Talent, his Cultivation speed would advance by leaps and bounds!
And so, Wang Xiao settled down in the Sword Tomb.
He would remain there for another three years.