Heavenly Sword Saint
Morning sunlight poured into the small courtyard.
A cool breeze slipped through the gaps in the old wooden windows, carrying with it the distant sounds of the Jian Clan.
Swords clashed.
Disciples shouted.
Instructors called out corrections.
The younger generation had already begun their morning cultivation.
The Jian Clan was full of life.
But inside the old courtyard...
Everything remained peaceful.
Jian Chen slowly opened his eyes.
He had just finished regulating his breathing.
For several moments, he remained completely still.
Then he lowered his gaze toward his hands.
His fingers slowly curled into fists.
Although only one meridian had been awakened...
He could already sense subtle changes within his body.
His breathing was smoother.
His senses were sharper.
His limbs no longer felt as heavy as before.
Even his previously weak heartbeat had become stronger.
The transformation was small.
Almost imperceptible.
But Jian Chen could feel every change.
After all...
He had once stood at the peak of the Divine Realm.
His understanding of the human body was far beyond anything an ordinary cultivator in the Mortal Realm could imagine.
He knew exactly what had happened.
The spiritual energy flowing through his newly awakened meridian had begun tempering his body.
This was the essence of the Body Tempering Realm.
A cultivator opened their meridians.
The awakened meridians allowed spiritual energy to enter the body.
That spiritual energy would then continuously temper the flesh, bones, blood, and internal organs.
The more meridians one awakened...
The faster spiritual energy could be absorbed.
And the greater one's cultivation aptitude would be.
But the number of awakened meridians did not determine one's cultivation stage.
Someone with only a few awakened meridians could still advance through the Body Tempering Realm.
The difference was simply speed.
The foundation.
And future potential.
Jian Chen understood this better than anyone.
He slowly stood.
His feet touched the cold wooden floor.
Yesterday, merely moving his body had caused considerable discomfort.
Today...
The pain had already reduced significantly.
Jian Chen stretched his arms.
Crack!
A faint sound came from his joints.
He smiled.
"The Heavenly Sword Scripture truly defies common sense."
His eyes became thoughtful.
Even now, he still couldn't completely understand the mysterious scripture.
It had opened a meridian that his body had never been able to use.
A meridian that should have remained sealed for his entire life.
Yet the scripture had forcibly awakened it.
And this was only the beginning.
Jian Chen looked inward.
The single awakened meridian quietly circulated spiritual energy.
A faint stream of warmth traveled through his body.
He could feel his flesh slowly becoming stronger.
However...
The amount of spiritual energy entering his body was still pitifully small.
Jian Chen frowned slightly.
"One meridian is far from enough."
"If I want to rebuild my cultivation quickly..."
"I need to awaken more."
But he immediately dismissed the thought of forcing another breakthrough.
His current body was still too weak.
Opening a meridian required more than sword qi.
It also placed enormous pressure on his body.
If he continued recklessly...
He could damage his foundation.
Jian Chen had already experienced the consequences of impatience in his previous life.
He would not repeat those mistakes.
"There's no need to rush."
"The path of cultivation is long."
"Building a flawless foundation is more important than advancing quickly."
He calmly walked toward the wooden table.
The breakfast Xiao Yue had brought earlier was still there.
A simple bowl of porridge.
Several steamed buns.
And a small plate of vegetables.
Jian Chen sat down and began eating.
The food was extremely ordinary.
There wasn't even a trace of spiritual energy within it.
In his previous life...
Such a meal would never have appeared before him.
Every meal had consisted of spiritual fruits, rare herbs, and the meat of powerful spirit beasts.
Even the water he drank had been infused with spiritual energy.
But Jian Chen didn't complain.
He slowly finished his breakfast.
To him...
The quality of food was insignificant.
What mattered was the path ahead.
After putting down his bowl, he looked toward the courtyard.
His expression became thoughtful.
"Everything has to be rebuilt."
"Strength."
"Status."
"Reputation."
"And eventually..."
"Justice."
The last word lingered in his mind.
A cold glint flashed deep within his eyes.
Lin Xue'er.
Long Tian.
The betrayal in the Heavenfall Secret Realm.
The sword that had pierced his heart.
The memories were still vivid.
A thousand years had passed.
But to Jian Chen...
It felt like only yesterday.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Then opened them again.
The coldness had disappeared.
Now was not the time.
He needed strength first.
Everything else could wait.
Just as he finished cleaning the table himself...
Knock!
Knock!
A gentle voice came from outside.
"Youth Master."
"The clan physician has arrived."
Jian Chen immediately recognized Xiao Yue's voice.
"Come in."
The wooden door opened.
Xiao Yue stepped inside.
Behind her was an elderly man.
His hair and beard were completely white.
He wore a simple gray robe.
A worn wooden medicine box hung from his shoulder.
Although the old man looked thin...
His footsteps were steady.
His eyes were clear.
The moment he entered the room...
His gaze immediately landed on Jian Chen.
A trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.
"You've already gotten out of bed?"
Jian Chen stood and gave him a respectful greeting.
"Greetings, Elder Xu."
The old man nodded.
"You still remember your manners."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"That's good."
"I was worried yesterday's injuries had affected more than just your body."
Xiao Yue hurriedly spoke.
"Elder Xu, the Young Master has been awake since early this morning."
"He even said he was cultivating."
Elder Xu's expression changed slightly.
"Cultivating?"
He looked at Jian Chen.
Jian Chen remained calm.
"Only trying."
Elder Xu stared at him for several breaths.
Then he chuckled.
"Very well."
"I'll examine you first."
He placed his medicine box on the table.
Then he gestured toward the bed.
"Sit."
Jian Chen sat down.
Elder Xu pulled a stool closer.
His two fingers gently pressed against Jian Chen's wrist.
The room immediately became quiet.
Xiao Yue stood nearby.
Her hands were clasped together.
She looked nervous.
Several breaths passed.
Elder Xu's expression slowly changed.
At first...
He looked relaxed.
Then his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
His fingers shifted.
He checked another pulse point.
Then another.
His expression became increasingly serious.
"This..."
Elder Xu withdrew his fingers.
Then placed them back again.
He carefully examined Jian Chen's pulse a second time.
Xiao Yue couldn't hold herself back.
"Elder Xu..."
"Is something wrong?"
The old man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at Jian Chen.
"Does anything hurt?"
Jian Chen thought for a moment.
"My ribs are still somewhat painful."
"And my muscles feel weak."
"Anything else?"
"No."
Elder Xu frowned.
"That's strange."
Xiao Yue's heart immediately tightened.
"Has his condition become worse?"
Elder Xu shook his head.
"No."
"That's exactly why I'm confused."
He looked at Jian Chen again.
"Yesterday, several of your ribs were cracked."
"Your internal organs suffered considerable shock."
"Your meridians were already severely damaged."
"With injuries like those..."
"You should still be lying in bed."
He paused.
"Yet your recovery is much faster than it should be."
Jian Chen remained silent.
Naturally...
He knew the reason.
The spiritual energy circulating through his awakened meridian had been tempering his body continuously.
Although the effect was weak...
It was still far beyond ordinary medicine.
Elder Xu continued examining him.
His expression became more surprised.
"The swelling has already decreased."
"The internal bleeding has stopped."
"Your pulse is considerably stronger than yesterday."
He looked at Jian Chen with disbelief.
"Did you take some powerful healing pill?"
Jian Chen shook his head.
"No."
"Nothing besides the medicine you prescribed."
Elder Xu became silent.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He had practiced medicine within the Jian Clan for decades.
He had treated countless injuries.
He knew the human body.
He knew what was possible.
And what wasn't.
Jian Chen's recovery didn't make sense.
Finally...
He sighed.
"Perhaps your vitality is stronger than we thought."
Jian Chen smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
Elder Xu didn't completely believe that explanation.
But he couldn't find another.
After another examination...
He finally sat back.
"Your condition has stabilized."
"You are no longer in danger."
Xiao Yue immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"But..."
Elder Xu raised one finger.
"You must not become careless."
"Your body is still injured."
"The ribs require time to heal completely."
"You must avoid strenuous fighting."
"Don't lift heavy objects."
"And absolutely no reckless cultivation."
At the last sentence...
Elder Xu looked directly at Jian Chen.
Jian Chen nodded.
"I understand."
Elder Xu opened his medicine box.
He removed several packets of herbs.
"These need to be boiled."
"Drink the medicine twice a day."
He then took out a small jade bottle.
"This contains medicine for your external injuries."
"Apply it every morning and evening."
Xiao Yue quickly accepted everything.
"I'll take care of it."
Elder Xu nodded.
Then he looked at Jian Chen.
His expression became slightly more serious.
"Youth Master..."
"I've watched you grow up."
Jian Chen remained silent.
"I know you've suffered."
The old man's voice softened.
"But sometimes..."
"Enduring humiliation is wiser than fighting when you don't possess the strength to win."
Jian Chen's eyes flickered.
He understood the meaning behind those words.
Elder Xu continued.
"Jian Hu has become increasingly arrogant."
"His father is the Great Elder."
"As a result..."
"Many people in the clan are unwilling to provoke him."
"If you clash with him again..."
"I'm afraid your mother will be the one who suffers."
The room became silent.
Jian Chen's fingers slowly tightened.
Liu Ruyan.
His mother in this life.
She had protected him for sixteen years.
She had spent nearly everything she possessed trying to cure his blocked meridians.
She had even stood between him and Jian Hu when he was being bullied.
Jian Chen would never allow anyone to hurt her because of him.
After a moment...
He calmly nodded.
"Thank you, Elder Xu."
"I understand."
Elder Xu looked at him carefully.
For some reason...
The answer surprised him.
The Jian Chen he remembered would either become frightened or angry whenever Jian Hu was mentioned.
But today...
There was only calmness.
No fear.
No impulsiveness.
Just calm.
Elder Xu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You truly have changed."
Jian Chen smiled.
"Perhaps nearly dying changes a person."
The old man chuckled.
"Perhaps."
He closed his medicine box.
Then stood.
But just as he reached the door...
He suddenly remembered something.
"That's right."
He turned around.
"The annual junior examination is approaching."
Xiao Yue's expression immediately changed.
"The examination?"
Elder Xu nodded.
"One month from now."
"According to the clan rules..."
"Every direct descendant who reaches the required age must participate."
"Those who demonstrate sufficient cultivation aptitude will receive greater resources."
"But those who fail to meet the clan's requirements..."
He paused.
"They will lose their status as core disciples."
Xiao Yue's face became pale.
Elder Xu continued.
"In Jian Chen's current condition..."
"It will be difficult."
The room became quiet.
Everyone knew what he meant.
For sixteen years...
Jian Chen had been unable to cultivate.
The examination had once seemed completely unrelated to him.
But now...
He had only one month.
One month to prove that he was no longer the useless young master everyone believed him to be.
Elder Xu sighed.
"You don't need to think about it too much."
"Recover first."
"Your health matters more."
He turned to leave.
Then stopped once more.
"There's still a month."
"Perhaps..."
"Something unexpected may happen."
With that...
He left the courtyard.
The wooden door slowly closed behind him.
Silence returned.
Xiao Yue looked at Jian Chen.
Her expression was filled with worry.
"Youth Master..."
"Don't worry."
"You don't have to prove anything to those people."
Jian Chen looked at her.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Why do you think I can't?"
Xiao Yue froze.
"I..."
She didn't know what to say.
Jian Chen stood.
He walked toward the courtyard entrance.
The sunlight illuminated his figure.
A month.
For an ordinary person...
It was short.
For a cultivator...
It could change everything.
Jian Chen looked toward the distant training grounds.
His eyes became calm.
"One month..."
He softly repeated.
Then...
A faint smile appeared.
"That's enough."
Xiao Yue stared at him.
She didn't understand.
How could one month possibly be enough?
But Jian Chen knew something she didn't.
He wasn't the sixteen-year-old cripple they thought he was.
He possessed the memories of a thousand years of cultivation.
He possessed comprehension that had once shocked the Divine Realm.
And now...
He possessed the Heavenly Sword Scripture.
A cultivation method capable of awakening meridians that even the strongest experts of the Divine Realm believed could never be awakened.
The first meridian had already opened.
The first step of the Body Tempering Realm had already begun.
And this...
Was only the beginning.
Jian Chen slowly looked inward.
That single meridian quietly circulated spiritual energy within his body.
A tiny stream.
Weak.
But growing.
His eyes became firm.
"Before the examination..."
"I'll make this body strong enough to stand on its own."
He turned toward the old courtyard.
There was still much work to do.
And for the first time in sixteen years...
The path ahead was no longer blocked.
It had finally begun.